WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 267: A Damnably Familiar Face (2)

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“What?”

“...”

“I asked who the hell you are, you bastard!”

The moment I saw Yayul Jae’s fierce glare as he turned around, I realized.

‘Fuck...’

The current Yayul Jae didn’t know me. And...

“Answer me, you bastard! Why did you grab someone who was just walking by?”

...Yayul Jae had a foul temper in my previous life.

“...Did Jang Sikyeong send you?”

Yayul Jae moved his hand to the hilt of his sword as if he might draw it at any moment.

His temperament didn’t seem all that different in this life.

‘What do I do...?’

I couldn’t tell him that I had regressed to the past, but I also couldn’t simply walk away after calling him by name.

I wouldn’t lose if we fought, but that would only make him suspicious of me.

“Why aren’t you answering? Are you mute!? If you’re mute, how did you call my name?”

Without caring about my circumstances, Yayul Jae immediately prepared to fight.

The Sojeong Unit bastards were all hot-tempered...

‘Haa...’

Just as I was debating whether to use the Peerless Wanderer Divine Art and run away...

“Jin Sowoon?”

A shaggy-haired boy poked his head out from behind Yayul Jae.

He looked strangely familiar...

“What is Jin Sowoon doing here!?”

It was none other than Yayul Geuk.

At that moment, my mind began racing.

“Th-that’s right! Yayul Geuk! I was calling you.”

“...”

Yayul Geuk tilted his head as though he had no idea what I meant.

Pretending not to know, I asked, “I... was calling you, but someone else answered. Ahem. Who might this be?”

“...”

Yayul Geuk, still looking suspicious, answered curtly.

“Why do you want to know?”

This rude little brat...

He needed to spend a whole day rolling around once we got back to the Martial Arts Academy. Tsk.

While I was devising a plan to reform Yayul Geuk...

“If it’s Jin Sowoon, aren’t you Young Hero Black Flame Dragon?”

The reply came from Yayul Jae.

“To think we would meet like this!”

The man who had been ready to kill me because he thought I was Jang Sikyeong’s subordinate just moments ago suddenly clasped his hands in salute and bowed deeply.

Huh? What was this?

“I am Yayul Jae, Geuk’s older brother. I’ve heard much about you.”

His way of speaking changed all at once too. It was hard to adjust.

“Ah, I see. I thought you looked familiar somehow.”

“I also find this meeting with Young Hero Black Flame Dragon deeply moving.”

“Y-Young Hero?”

I tilted my head.

What was with him? He wasn’t the Yayul Jae I knew...

“I’ve heard a great deal from Geuk. He told me he has a friend at the Martial Arts Academy who helps him often.”

“Hyung! When did I ever say that!?”

Yayul Geuk’s eyes went wide as he charged at his brother.

Yayul Jae remained where he was and extended an arm, easily holding Yayul Geuk back by the head.

“Thank you for looking after someone who can’t be honest with himself. I heard you possess great chivalry, and it seems the rumors were true.”

It felt a little strange to be called friends with that screeching brat.

Then again, judging by how desperately he was trying to shut Yayul Jae up, he probably felt the same way.

There was no harm in playing the part of the Academy Representative overflowing with chivalry.

I put on a kindly smile and returned the salute.

“It’s nothing. It’s only... only what I should do.”

Yayul Jae truly seemed very different from the person I had known in my previous life.

There was still a sharp edge to him, but he didn’t feel full of venom. Sometimes, he even smiled when looking at his screeching younger brother.

Had his personality in my previous life been shaped after Yayul Geuk died?

This was really awkward.

“It seems Geuk admires Young Hero Jin a great deal. Please continue to look after him.”

“That’s not true! Shut up!”

Yayul Geuk’s face turned so red it looked ready to burst.

Oh, I couldn’t let this pass.

I looked deeply into Yayul Geuk’s eyes.

“I see. So Geuk had been thinking that...! I should take even better care of him from now on.”

His face went beyond red and turned dark, as if he were about to die.

This was quite a sight.

That was why he shouldn’t get ahead of himself, the little bastard.

After smiling at the kitten-like brat, I asked Yayul Jae, “May I ask what work you do, Great Hero?”

“Great Hero... Hahaha.”

Yayul Jae, who had immobilized the furious Yayul Geuk with an acupoint strike, scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“I’m not anyone so remarkable. I simply make a modest living by the sword.”

“Is that so? Still, I heard the Flowing Cloud Sect’s arts are far from shallow.”

Yayul Jae politely shook his head.

“That was all in the past. Still, I’m relieved that Geuk seems to have found a new path recently.”

He clasped his hands in salute again.

“I heard you helped him greatly in reaching that realization. It couldn’t have been easy to share something like that... Please accept my thanks once more.”

“...”

It was a path Yayul Jae had originally discovered himself, yet he had no way of knowing my circumstances. He seemed to regard the realization he had found through so much hardship as though it were a gift.

“No. I only passed it on.”

“...Passed it on?”

I slowly nodded.

Thinking of the Yayul Jae from my previous life, who had struggled more than anyone.

“Yes. Its true owner would have wanted it that way.”

Yayul Jae tilted his head.

It was a story he wouldn’t understand even if I explained it.

I quickly changed the subject.

“Do you plan to continue living as a wandering martial artist?”

“Ah, things haven’t been going well in that regard either, so I’ve been looking for somewhere to settle down.”

“Somewhere to settle down...?”

“I heard the Martial Alliance is recruiting low-ranking martial artists this time, so I plan to apply.”

So it would still turn out this way.

The events so far had unfolded differently from my previous life, but the results weren’t all that different.

Anxiously, I pressed him.

“Have you considered another line of work? Commerce, perhaps...”

“What do you mean by that...?”

A deep furrow formed between Yayul Jae’s brows.

Prepared to be cursed at, I said, “I’ve heard working as a low-ranking martial artist in the Martial Alliance isn’t easy.”

“...”

Contrary to my expectations, he didn’t curse at me or draw his sword.

“I appreciate your concern, but as a disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect, I’m confident I can overcome any hardship.”

At that moment, I realized something.

He had no intention of leaving the martial world where he belonged.

He had always thought of the Flowing Cloud Sect’s revival. He had never abandoned life as a martial artist, not even for a moment, and he never would.

Just as he hadn’t regretted it until the moment he died in my previous life.

“I see...”

“Ah... I’m sorry. I got worked up for no reason...”

I bowed politely.

“No, I was the one who said something rude.”

Even if he didn’t join the Martial Alliance, he would never leave the martial world.

Like the man from my previous life, the Yayul Jae before me would work tirelessly for the Flowing Cloud Sect’s revival.

And eventually...

He would step into the Orthodox-Demonic War.

‘If that’s how it will be anyway...’

If he couldn’t leave the martial world, then it would be best for him to remain by my side.

“If you pass, I recommend applying to White Wolf Pavilion.”

“White Wolf Pavilion?”

“Yes. I heard many outstanding people are assigned there.”

“Hm... Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Hoping he would join the Sojeong Unit of White Wolf Pavilion as he had in my previous life, and sincerely hoping we would meet again...

I turned and returned to my companions.

#

“Sniff, I’m trash.”

“That’s right, Mr. Mo Geumpyo is trash.”

At Eunho’s words, Geumpyo glared sharply at Eunho.

“Why do you keep changing my surname, you bastard!?”

“You got a Mu rating and still think you can keep the surname Yi?”

“It was a mistake! A mistake! I can turn things around in the practical evaluation!”

Eunho didn’t back down.

“For someone who loses to my younger brother Dongryong every time, you’re certainly confident...”

“You little shit! Want to die!?”

“Yes, yes, I’m Yi, while Mr. Geumpyo has no surname...”

Crash.

As Geumpyo lunged at Eunho and Dongryong tried to stop them, chaos broke out.

Nam Hwaseong, who had worn a sulky expression for the past few days, suddenly spoke.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“Hm?”

“Why bring a spy to sit with your companions?”

That big bastard was pouting his lips. It was disgusting beyond belief.

I gave him a short laugh.

“If I leave a spy alone in the Academy Representative Corps, you’ll steal classified information. That’s why I brought you along.”

“Fuck...”

Nam Hwaseong drained his cup and roughly wiped his mouth.

He refilled the empty cup and was about to drink it in one gulp when he suddenly whipped his head toward me.

“I don’t know what the hell I’m doing either.”

After hesitating for a moment, Nam Hwaseong emptied his cup again and asked me with blazing eyes, “Let me ask you something. If I become your man... will you protect my sect?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I’m serious, Jin Sowoon. If I follow you... can you protect the Samwon Sect’s position among the One Hundred Eight Peaks?”

Seeing Nam Hwaseong look more serious than ever, something must have happened.

“Why should I?”

“What?”

“Why should I take care of your sect’s position?”

I had never aligned myself with the Orthodox Society, the White Path Society, or the Twelve Peak Alliance because I wanted to stay one step away from their petty political battles.

That was also why I had never promised the Academy Representative Corps a rosy future.

“...”

Nam Hwaseong’s stiff expression loosened into a crooked smile.

“That’s right. It’s not your responsibility.”

As he raised his cup again, I continued.

“Instead, I’ll tell you how to protect your sect.”

His movement froze.

“What?”

“I’ll tell you how to keep your sect from being destroyed in the coming war. And if you find yourselves in danger, I’ll fight alongside you.”

“...”

A sudden silence fell over the noisy drinking gathering.

The executives, including Ilgak, and my companions, including my fellow disciples, all stopped speaking and listened to Nam Hwaseong and me.

“What does that...?”

Nam Hwaseong looked blankly at me, as though he couldn’t grasp the situation. I gave him a clear answer.

“That’s as far as I can promise. Your success or your sect’s rank is something you bastards will have to handle yourselves. I neither have the ability nor the desire to do that sort of thing for you.”

“...”

Still unable to understand what was happening, Nam Hwaseong stared blankly at me for a long while, turning his cup in his hands.

Ilgak asked in his place.

“Benefactor Jin... Do you believe a war will break out?”

I nodded readily.

“Why do you think there won’t be a war?”

“But the Blood Cult has already...”

“Is the Blood Cult our only enemy?”

“...”

“The Martial Alliance is enjoying a golden age more brilliant than ever. That doesn’t mean it has no enemies.”

I raised my head and looked over each person in the group.

“When this golden age ends, great chaos will sweep in, and the martial world will be trapped in the flames of a great war.”

“...”

As everyone considered the future I had described only in fragments, wondering who the enemies I spoke of were...

Nam Hwaseong, apparently having made up his mind, opened his mouth.

“Jin Sowoon, will you really fight for the Samwon Sect?”

I nodded.

“The sects of my comrades and subordinates are my sects as well.”

“Comrades and subordinates...”

Repeating my words, Nam Hwaseong drained his cup in one go.

“Kuh... Jin Sowoon, there’s something you need to know.”

“What is it?”

“I met Cheol Sunjik recently. And... I think the Twelve Peak Alliance bastards are plotting something.”

Cheol Sunjik. Was it finally time for him to make his move?

#

Schemer Cheol Sunjik.

That had been his nickname in my previous life.

He had another martial epithet, but people called him the Schemer.

No one could easily match him when it came to intrigue and schemes.

During the war, he achieved the most victories while suffering the fewest losses.

Considering that most of those assigned to his unit were members of the Twelve Peak Alliance, it wasn’t simply because he was skilled or brilliant at strategy and tactics.

The Demonic Cult had never been an opponent against whom proper strategy and tactics worked in the first place.

Then why had he earned so many victories?

He always fought the weakest units.

Whenever his unit was about to face a powerful enemy, he used every means available to pass that enemy onto another unit.

‘Well, I suppose that’s a talent too.’

Cheol Sunjik had been the person I considered most dangerous even before entering the Martial Arts Academy.

White Wolf Pavilion had suffered the greatest losses because of Cheol Sunjik’s unit in my previous life as well.

Perhaps my ill-fated connection with him had begun in that previous life.

‘That bastard has waited long enough.’

Considering our connection stretched back to the regular examination, he must have waited a long time from his perspective.

I had also strongly felt that it was about time for him to move for his own purposes.

Sure enough.

“Representative, the Academy students wish to arrange a meeting with you.”

“A meeting?”

I tilted my head at something I had never heard of in my previous life.

Jang Woojae continued his report with a worried expression.

“Yes. They say they wish to discuss the Martial Arts Academy’s future direction.”

“All of the Academy students?”

“No. Apparently, there are people who claim to represent the Academy students.”

“...”

Jang Woojae gave a derisive laugh, as though he found it absurd too.

“They call themselves the Academy Councilors.”

The moment I heard the unfamiliar term councilor, one face came to mind.

“Is Cheol Sunjik among them?”

“Huh? How did you...?”

How did I know?

The idea of choosing new people to represent the Academy students when there was already an Academy Representative...

“Hah. I can hear that bastard’s brain turning from here.”

No one but Cheol Sunjik could have come up with it.

Footnotes:

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