The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything - Chapter 261

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 261: Brocade-Clad Night Journey (2)

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While I desperately shook Dang Seohui awake, Ak Byeongbi calmly and thoroughly recounted what had happened in the Black Alliance.

As his account continued, Jegal Somyeong's eyes filled with growing doubt.

“Is that true?”

“Of course it is.”

Ak Byeongbi answered calmly and continued, but the next part of the report left Jegal Somyeong speechless once more.

“...That really happened?”

“Yes. It did.”

“...”

Ak Byeongbi replied with an expressionless face.

There was not the slightest trace of deceit on it, yet Jegal Somyeong still looked utterly unable to believe him.

“Ilmyeong, is what the delegation leader said true?”

They finally bypassed Ak Byeongbi, the one making the report, and asked Ilmyeong directly.

Ilmyeong nodded as well.

“It is.”

“...What in the world happened?”

Jegal Somyeong furrowed their brow.

“Did you perhaps fall victim to dark arts in the Black Alliance? Or...”

Their suspicious gaze eventually landed on me.

“Did that bastard Jin Sowoon use dark arts on all of you?”

Come on, dark arts? Wasn't that a little harsh?

Why was this suddenly becoming my problem anyway...?

At that moment, Dang Seohui mumbled in her sleep from behind me.

“Mmm... mmm... this is all karmic retribution.”

Excuse me? You weren't actually asleep, were you?

As I stared in disbelief, Ak Byeongbi emphasized his point again.

“I repeat that there has not been the slightest exaggeration or omission in my report.”

Despite Ak Byeongbi's solemn bow, Jegal Somyeong's expression remained deeply skeptical.

Still, Ak Byeongbi was the Third Hall Master of the Inspectorate. He had been thoroughly vetted within the Martial Alliance. Did Jegal Somyeong distrust him that much?

“So, unknown individuals infiltrated the Black Alliance and provoked a war between the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance. Then the delegation was framed as murderers, but Jin Sowoon, a disciple of a Taoist martial sect, drew upon his Buddhist heart... and used the Mind-Reading Art to find the culprit?”

Um...

Hearing it summarized like that, it did sound strange.

It almost sounded like something a drunk person had blurted out at random...

“Are you certain... this wasn't an incorrect report?”

Jegal Somyeong looked as though they desperately wanted someone to offer an excuse. Ak Byeongbi answered in his usual calm tone.

“Of course, the ‘Mind-Reading Art’ Jin Sowoon mentioned was likely nothing more than a device to frighten the Black Alliance's Black Path martial artists.”

“So...?”

“Even so, that does not diminish what he accomplished during this Black Alliance delegation.”

“Hm?”

Jegal Somyeong looked surprised, and honestly, I was just as surprised by Ak Byeongbi's words.

“The delegation was in the worst possible situation. I, its leader, had been rendered helpless by a surprise attack, and there was no one within the Black Alliance from whom we could seek assistance.”

There was no rise or fall in his voice.

“It was the worst situation we could have imagined. I had no doubt that the Black Alliance and the delegation would become scapegoats in this incident, and all I could do, shamefully, was tell them to flee.”

His deep voice echoed through the great hall without the slightest hesitation.

It carried the weight of someone calmly stating the truth.

“Everyone had given up on everything. Except for one person.”

Ak Byeongbi slowly raised his head.

“Jin Sowoon.”

Unlike his expressionless face, his eyes gleamed.

“Even in that worst possible situation, where nothing could be done, Jin Sowoon gave up on nothing. He took risks, sacrificed himself, and never stopped trying, not even for a moment.”

As though he intended to say everything he knew, Ak Byeongbi continued without pause.

“A cool head, a passionate heart, bonds with his comrades, unshakable conviction, and integrity that cannot be swayed by petty personal gain.”

His gaze finally turned toward me.

“Because he possesses all those qualities, he was able to overcome that hardship through indomitable will.”

Listening to Ak Byeongbi, I almost wanted to be friends with the person he was describing.

“To take issue only with the ‘words’ that appeared on the surface is no different from taking issue with a handful of mud scattered into a clear lake. Jin Sowoon was the delegation's finest member and the greatest contributor to preventing what could have become a massive war between the Black Alliance and the Martial Alliance.”

Of course, once I realized he was talking about me, my cheeks burned so badly that I could barely lift my head.

“Hm...”

Hyeok Mugang, who had listened quietly from beside us, finally spoke.

“I heard there was a small dispute between the Ak Clan and Jin Sowoon not long ago.”

“...Shamefully, the Ak Clan was largely at fault.”

“I am not asking who was right or wrong. I am asking whether anything else happened between the two of you since then.”

That made sense.

He was probably wondering just how much Ak Byeongbi had been bribed to praise me this highly.

If it had happened to someone else, I would have been suspicious too.

Yet Ak Byeongbi firmly shook his head.

“Nothing happened.”

Confusion appeared on the Alliance Leader's face.

“And yet you rate him this highly?”

“When I was assigned to the Inspectorate, I was taught to state the facts as accurately as possible.”

“...”

Hyeok Mugang tilted his head.

Even without saying it aloud, it was obvious he wondered whether “accurately” was the right word here.

I had no idea what Ak Byeongbi was thinking either.

“...Ahem, Jin Sowoon.”

This time, Jegal Somyeong called me. For some reason, though, their gaze seemed directed at Dang Seohui, who was slung over my back.

“Yes.”

“Is what the Third Hall Master... no, the delegation leader just said true?”

I considered it carefully before answering.

“Yes.”

“...”

“I believe it was an exceedingly accurate report, just as the delegation leader said.”

“...”

Why? What?

I hadn't said anything wrong, had I?

I might be acting as Dang Seohui's babysitter, but that was because Senior Dang Seohui wanted it, not because I did.

And just because I was babysitting her didn't mean the things I had done should disappear or be undervalued.

Of course they shouldn't.

I shifted Dang Seohui higher on my back, then bowed toward Ak Byeongbi.

“As expected of the Third Hall Master, renowned for being fair and impartial.”

“...”

Jegal Somyeong stared at me in disbelief.

Then...

“Mmm... mmm... shameless.”

Dang Seohui mumbled in her sleep again.

You woke up ages ago, didn't you?

“Snore...”

After a brief silence, Hyeok Mugang spoke.

“W-well, regardless, it is true that the delegation handled the matter admirably.”

“That is true.”

“Then we should praise them, not interrogate them.”

“...”

Jegal Somyeong gazed at me for a long moment before finally letting out a small sigh.

“That is true. ...In any case, you did well. It is a little regrettable, but you handled it wonderfully.”

The Alliance Leader lightly tapped Jegal Somyeong's shoulder.

“Come now, Chief Strategist. Be honest. Didn't they handle it far better than anyone expected?”

“Ahem. A Martial Alliance delegation ought to be capable of this much.”

“Hehe. Are you that pleased?”

When Hyeok Mugang teased them, Jegal Somyeong's expression stiffened.

“Wasn't the Alliance Leader disappointed that we failed to form an alliance?”

Hyeok Mugang flinched and hurriedly glanced at us.

“Ahem, th-that was only a personal disappointment. Why bring that up here...?”

It seemed Hyeok Mugang had been quite disappointed.

He was clearly aware of the practical limitations as well, so it looked as though Jegal Somyeong had already given him an earful over it.

Having won the argument, Jegal Somyeong turned back to us and asked about the boxes before us.

“But what are those, that you brought them all the way here?”

Ak Byeongbi glanced at me before replying.

“They are gifts sent by the Black Alliance Lord through Dam Ak when we departed from the Black Alliance.”

“Hm? From the Black Alliance Lord?”

Ilmyeong and I rose from our seats and walked over to the boxes.

Jegal Somyeong and Hyeok Mugang naturally turned their attention toward us.

Clack.

The boxes opened, revealing their contents one by one.

Precious treasures that had once disappeared from the White Path martial world or been stolen away.

Their worth was beyond money. They possessed an irreplaceable value as artifacts of immense historical significance.

Even Hyeok Mugang gaped in shock.

“W-what are all these?”

Jegal Somyeong was naturally the most astonished of all.

This time, I answered.

“They asked us to convey that, though they could not stand with us now, they hoped the distance between us could gradually grow smaller.”

Jegal Somyeong stared at me as though they could not possibly believe it.

After the delegation members left, a long silence filled the great hall.

The silence continued for some time before Hyeok Mugang was the first of the two to speak.

“Is this even possible?”

Over the past twenty years as Martial Alliance Leader, he had experienced many things.

Through them, he had gained one crucial realization.

Things did not always unfold according to one's ideals.

That was why he came to understand human limitations. Having understood them, he learned to let go of his greed.

This delegation had been the same.

He had sent it out according to Jegal Somyeong's wishes, but he had never imagined it would accomplish anything.

Jegal Somyeong had said they did not expect much either.

“I feel as though I am dreaming.”

Yet the delegation that had left on an absurd mission brought back results beyond all expectations.

“I feel the same.”

Jegal Somyeong's eyes were filled with complicated emotions as they looked at the contents of the boxes.

“I cannot decide whether I should accept this as them accomplishing something that should have been possible, or consider it a miracle that they achieved something utterly impossible... I am completely confused.”

“Hehe. It truly is an astonishing matter.”

A hollow laugh escaped the Chief Strategist as they looked toward the door through which Jin Sowoon and the delegation had left.

“Besides, he is only an Academy student. He is hardly different from someone who has only just entered the martial world. How can he possibly accomplish things like this...?”

Hyeok Mugang nodded in agreement for a long while.

Then he carefully spoke.

“Chief Strategist, you saw it earlier too, did you not?”

“...Yes.”

“Dang Seohui was on his back.”

“...She was even talking in her sleep.”

“It was already surprising that Ilmyeong could not make his presence known, but...”

Little Buddha Ilmyeong was one of the exceptional talents destined to lead the martial world in the future.

It was shocking enough that someone like him had been unable to say anything, as though his very presence had faded away.

“And Seohui... even that child.”

The two of them thought that, if the Poison King learned of this, they might get to see even that stoic man cry out in disbelief.

“Should we consider him that exceptional?”

At Jegal Somyeong's question, Hyeok Mugang slowly shook his head.

“I do not know either.”

The Martial Arts Academy's previous class, the students who had entered the Academy four years earlier, had already been impressive enough.

New Plum Blossom Sword Hwa Jeongsan, Heavy Spear True Man Ak Buksan, and Heaven-Opening Divine Sword Namgung San.

It had been surprising enough that so many geniuses, each rare enough to appear once in a century, had enrolled at the same time.

Yet even those children had been overshadowed by Little Buddha, the White-Handed Divine Maiden, and Yong Soa. How astonished had he been when he saw that?

...But now, even their brilliance seemed to be fading.

All because of that one boy, Jin Sowoon.

Jegal Somyeong looked down at the boxes with disbelieving eyes.

“If the Black Alliance Lord sent even such burdensome items... Jin Sowoon must have pulled some strange stunt.”

“Hm, that must be it.”

“That is why it is even more astonishing. What young martial artist in the world serves as a bridge between the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance?”

It was not enough to possess exceptional martial arts and a brilliant mind.

One had to read the world, understand people, and accumulate countless experiences deep within the heart. Even then, it would be difficult to accomplish such things.

Yet that boy was doing it all with ease.

“I am somewhat afraid.”

“Pardon?”

Jegal Somyeong tilted their head at Hyeok Mugang's sudden statement.

The Alliance Leader examined the boxes again, concern and regret surfacing on his face.

“...At times, stars that shine too brightly disappear too soon.”

“...”

“Perhaps he may need to hide his brilliance, even deliberately.”

How base and petty were human emotions?

Yet...

What brought down great heroes and twisted history was always that petty emotion called jealousy.

Jegal Somyeong nodded and let out a sigh.

“Hm... I am afraid of something else.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

Fear and dread mingled on the Chief Strategist's face.

“I am afraid of the receipt... that bastard will present.”

“What?”

What was that supposed to mean all of a sudden?

Jegal Somyeong's face turned red with agitation.

“Did the Alliance Leader not see it? That bastard Jin Sowoon gave a meaningful smile as he left...! He will definitely squeeze something enormous out of us for this...!”

“...Tsk. It is not something we can simply let pass without compensation.”

Jegal Somyeong trembled as though they had seen a ghost.

“I am not confident. Alliance Leader, you should handle it yourself.”

“Chief Strategist, how can you be so irresponsible...?”

“I will do what I can. But has not the merit he earned exceeded the level of reward I am capable of granting?”

The gifts brought back by the delegation held significant value for the Martial Alliance as well.

The original owners of those treasures were the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans, the very powers that moved the Martial Alliance.

They were the owners, but the treasures could not simply be returned to them for nothing.

That meant the Martial Alliance could use those treasures to demand compensation from them.

‘They are practically enormous weapons for us.’

What price should be paid to the person who recovered such things?

Even Jegal Somyeong's brilliant mind found it difficult to calculate.