“How did you come to be here, miss?”
Seo Daeryong’s voice trembled as he asked. He had never imagined he would see her here.
“I was invited too.”
“How can that be?”
Today’s banquet had only been for those connected to the Lesser Dragon Tournament.
Then, an astonishing fact spilled from the woman’s lips.
“I advanced to the Top Eight at the Lesser Dragon Tournament held three years ago.”
Seo Daeryong, as well as the junior martial artists nearby, were all greatly surprised.
Since the Lesser Dragon Tournament was held once every three years, she had been a Top Eight contestant at the previous tournament. It was customary to send invitations to past finalists who belonged to the Martial Alliance for the Lesser Dragon Tournament victory banquet.
“Let me formally introduce myself. I am So Ok of the White Dragon Corps, Third Generation, First Squad Leader.”
“Ah, so you were a martial artist under the Martial Alliance.”
And a squad leader of the White Dragon Corps at that. When she had shyly approached him to cheer him on and left, she had not been wearing a Martial Alliance uniform, so he had never dreamed she was a martial artist of the Martial Alliance.
“I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t know. I never told you.”
“Why did you cheer for me?”
The two people’s gazes intertwined in the air. Even from beside him, one could feel Seo Daeryong’s excited emotions. A fluttering feeling, as if he had met his first love again.
In contrast, So Ok was calmer.
“Seeing Warrior Seo reminded me of my old self when I participated in the Lesser Dragon Tournament. I had also come up from the countryside knowing nothing. I didn’t know anyone, and no one knew me. I even ran out of money to stay at an inn, so later I camped in the mountains and came down to participate in the tournament.”
So Ok spoke of these things without a hint of shame. That demeanor appealed even more to Seo Daeryong. A fine fragrance emanated from her.
“I watched every single one of Young Hero Seo’s duels. Your dao technique was truly excellent. Especially the final match—it was so wonderful. My heart pounded so much I wanted to jump onto the dueling platform.”
Others might have taken it to mean she was so moved by the wonderful duel that she wanted to participate in the tournament again, but to Seo Daeryong, it was a statement that could be misunderstood as her wanting to jump up because she liked him.
“To think you defeated Miss Jin. Truly, it was the greatest duel in the history of the Lesser Dragon Tournament.”
Seo Daeryong felt as if he could fly. He had received much praise and acclaim after winning, but this moment, receiving it from her, was the best. A smile formed naturally at the corners of his mouth.
“You’ll be going to the Demon Extermination Squad now?”
The Demon Extermination Squad was the Martial Alliance’s most elite organization composed of young experts. Generation after generation, the Lesser Dragon Tournament winners had entered the Demon Extermination Squad.
“I could apply to the White Dragon Corps where you serve, Miss.”
At that, So Ok’s face turned slightly red.
“Thank you for saying so, but please don’t. Starting in the Demon Extermination Squad is the royal road to success in the Martial Alliance.”
“Thanks to your support, I was able to win. Therefore, I would like to treat you to a meal separately.”
It was a proposal made with truly great courage.
Having lived a life where he had been rejected by women more often than accepted, Seo Daeryong was inwardly anxious. Fortunately, contrary to such trembling, So Ok gladly accepted the proposal.
“It would be my honor. The Lesser Dragon Tournament winner is buying me a meal, after all.”
Seo Daeryong was truly overjoyed, as if he could fly.
Geom Mugeuk and Jin Haryeong were watching that scene from outside the window.
Geom Mugeuk could tell.
That she had been recruited by the Heavenly Mandate Society at the Lesser Dragon Tournament three years ago. In other words, it meant the Heavenly Mandate Society had been active in the martial world three years ago as well.
‘These fellows have taken deeper root in the Martial Alliance than I thought.’
It was a moment when, as the woman’s identity was revealed, he learned an unexpected fact.
He asked Jin Haryeong, who was beside him.
“Do you know that woman?”
“Squad Leader So? We’re acquainted enough to exchange greetings.”
“What kind of person is she?”
“She’s easygoing, has a good personality, and is popular with people. But it’s unexpected. I didn’t know she was cheering for your young master like that. Why? Are you worried about the young master? That he’ll be bewitched by a fox and hand over his prize money?”
“Of course I should worry. I’m his servant.”
Then Jin Haryeong’s true feelings suddenly burst out.
“Can’t you quit being a servant?”
After speaking, she thought, *Oops.* She had been told not to say things she hesitated over, and this was something she had even decided not to say. Thinking she had already come this far, she said what she had wanted to say.
“Can’t you just live as an ordinary martial artist? Since you’ve learned martial arts, you could take the alliance entrance exam, right? If necessary, I’ll help you.”
When Geom Mugeuk said nothing, Jin Haryeong spoke hurriedly.
“Don’t misunderstand! It’s not because I’m ashamed of you being a servant. I was just saying there’s a new life available to you too.”
Her face was slightly flushed. She was worried she might have hurt Geom Mugeuk’s pride.
After a while, Geom Mugeuk opened his mouth.
“It’s something I used to say often to someone. To try living a new life.”
“To whom?”
“To someone. A stubborn person who hated change.”
“Like you?”
Geom Mugeuk smiled and looked toward Seo Daeryong again. Though he was still monopolizing popularity and surrounded by people, Seo Daeryong’s gaze kept drifting to one spot.
* * *
The next day, Seo Daeryong went out to meet So Ok.
Having woken up before the crack of dawn, bathed, combed his hair, and changed clothes over and over again, he then said this:
“It’s not that I like her, but rather a meeting with someone who cheered for me. It’s a pure heart.”
“If you’re pure twice more, your mouth will tear. Please stop smiling.”
They were worried that Seo Daeryong liked her too much. When he learned the truth, the heartbreak would be great.
He had gone out with the vigor of someone marching to battle, but when he returned, he somehow seemed dejected.
“Why? Didn’t it go well?”
“No. I had a good time. She said she likes tea better than alcohol and enjoys taking walks. So we ate, drank tea, and took a walk.”
“Then why that expression?”
After a brief pause, Seo Daeryong sighed and spoke.
“We were sitting there in such a good mood, and suddenly I had this thought. This isn’t right? My life couldn’t possibly go this well. It was as if someone was whispering in my ear. When something this good happens, you should prepare for something bad?”
His instinct, which had been dormant until now, seemed to have awakened. Once fate begins to move, it shakes people awake like this.
“Did you tell her?”
“No. I parted with her with a smile, hiding my feelings as best as I could.”
“Inspector Seo. I told you, didn’t I? The path you chose is one of tying up an injured arm and stepping onto the dueling platform.”
“Blood flowing down from my whole body, limping on my leg, and even if one eye cannot see, it is a path I must walk—that is what you said.”
“Yes. It is also a path where you must suspect people even when meeting them. That is why making friends and truly loving someone are difficult on this path.”
Seo Daeryong, who had been silently lost in thought for a moment, uttered words he definitely did not want to say.
“Speaking in that sense, I must say something. This woman is suspicious no matter how I look at it. It feels like she approached me intentionally. Could she be someone sent by the Heavenly Mandate Society?”
I didn’t answer at all. Staring at me, he flinched in surprise.
“Is it true?”
“……”
“Is it really true?”
Seo Daeryong’s voice trembled. He must have felt something was suspicious, yet had hoped it wasn’t true.
“It’s true. She is a member of the Heavenly Mandate Society.”
“!”
Seo Daeryong opened his eyes wide. I had expected him to react as if the heavens were collapsing, but unexpectedly, Seo Daeryong was calm.
“As expected, my intuition was right. I knew it. How could someone like me... It was strange from the start. With handsome junior martial artists everywhere, the fact that she came to cheer for me specifically—I noticed it then. How pitifully must she have regarded me inwardly?”
“Rather than such self-torment, how about we be happy and celebrate that you correctly identified her true identity?”
“How did you know, Lord?”
“During the final duel.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid you’d act awkwardly and give yourself away.”
“Then why are you telling me now? You could have just pretended not to know.”
“Because a problem more important than whether you act well or not has arisen.”
“What is it?”
“Your survival instinct seems to have awakened in earnest.”
At my words, Seo Daeryong jumped in surprise.
“Everyone possesses a survival instinct. But a martial artist’s survival instinct is different. The greater the expert, the more different it is. The body knows first. Even if the other party smiles and speaks kindly, the body refuses. The fine hairs all over the body stand on end, the heart pounds. Conversely, you may also feel your mood sink, like you did today.”
“So my survival instinct manifested.”
“Yes. Remember well how this survival instinct manifested and what kind of feeling it was.”
Seo Daeryong was moved. That I regarded his survival instinct as more important than catching the leader of the Heavenly Mandate Society.
“Thank you, Lord.”
“From now on, you must act well.”
“You worried needlessly. I act better than you think. I’m a sly fellow.”
“We’ll see.”
“What do you intend to do from now on?”
“You must do it. You must guide her so that she leads you to the Heavenly Mandate Society. And as quickly as possible.”
There was no time. If she took her time to get close, it could take months or even over a year. But we were in a situation where we had to resolve this quickly and return.
Seo Daeryong, who had been pondering for a moment, recalled one method.
“Do you remember what she said at the banquet? That when she came to participate in the Lesser Dragon Tournament three years ago, she was in the same situation as me. I think those words weren’t a lie. I will dig into that aspect.”
“You’ll use a sense of solidarity? Since it’s an emotion you’ve experienced yourself?”
“Yes.”
“One more thing. You must definitely have me accompany you to the occasion where she introduces her backer.”
Seo Daeryong nodded.
“Please leave it to me.”
* * *
Two days later, Seo Daeryong and So Ok stood atop a hill overlooking the Martial Alliance at a glance.
“The scenery is good here.”
“It’s where I come when I feel stifled.”
“It’s a wonderful place.”
Seo Daeryong was inwardly astonished at the vastness of the Martial Alliance spreading out endlessly before him. He had thought there was no place larger than the Heavenly Demon Cult, but the scale of the Martial Alliance was no less.
“Actually, I was moved by your words that day, Squad Leader So. That when you participated in the tournament, you knew nothing and had no money, so you slept in the mountains. I am in a similar situation. I too will surely succeed here in the Martial Alliance.”
“It won’t be easy.”
“Pardon?”
“Though I hesitate to say this to someone who hasn’t officially joined the alliance yet, I’ll tell you for your sake, Warrior Seo. In the Martial Alliance, you cannot succeed without a backer who supports you. You might become a squad leader, but you cannot become a great lord. Even if you somehow go mad with effort and become a great lord, you can absolutely never become a faction lord. The limits are clear.”
So Ok’s acting was just as impressive as Seo Daeryong’s. If one didn’t know the truth, it would have sounded like advice given out of genuine concern.
“You’ll likely be even more disappointed, Warrior Seo, since you’re a winner. You might end your life as a squad leader after starting as one. Overcome it with skill? How? In peaceful times like these, it’s impossible. The myth of succeeding bare-handed is only possible in storybooks.”
Seo Daeryong asked with a serious expression.
“Then what must I do?”
Right now, Seo Daeryong was displaying his current emotions without the slightest sense of incongruity.
“Form connections. Throw away your pride and pledge loyalty to those who will push you forward. That’s what I did.”
“The connection that Great Lord So held—please let me hold it too. I have no such thing as the pride of a martial artist. Please help me.”
She said nothing for a moment. As she pondered, Seo Daeryong urged her.
“I beg of you.”
“Very well, it’s a connection that we met like this. I’ll speak to him.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t expect too much. The elder may refuse.”
“Ah, and there is one more favor I wish to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Please introduce my servant as well.”
“Your servant?”
“If the Martial Alliance is such a place, I must build my own strength too, must I not? I intend to have my servant pass the alliance entrance exam and raise him as my right-hand man. In the Martial Alliance where there is no one, I must have at least one person I can trust. That fellow’s loyalty alone is trustworthy.”
Seo Daeryong pushed forward like a country bumpkin displaying stubbornness.
“I’m not sure if that’s possible.”
Seo Daeryong bowed his head with an earnest face.
“I beg of you.”
* * *
Contact came from So Ok again three days later.
She took Seo Daeryong and me to a manor located far from the Martial Alliance.
They were not numerous, but the level of the masked men guarding the surroundings was no ordinary matter. It meant the person she was trying to introduce was no ordinary person.
“Elder, it’s Ok.”
“Enter.”
We followed So Ok into the room.
In the center of the large room, a screen was lowered, making it impossible to see the opponent’s face.
I unleashed the Divine Eye Technique. Focusing power in my eyes, I peered past the screen to see who was there. And the moment I confirmed who that opponent was, I was shocked. He was someone I knew as well.
The True Dragon Branch Lord, Jo Ibaek.
He was Jo Sin’s father.
Either the one who recruited Jo Sin was this Jo Ibaek, or the Heavenly Mandate Society had recruited this father and son separately. If that was the case, there was also a possibility that neither knew the other had been recruited.
Both cases were astonishing.
Jo Ibaek spoke in a low voice from beyond the screen.
“You wish to succeed in the Martial Alliance?”
His demeanor was completely different from when he was beside the Martial Alliance Leader. The father Jo Ibaek who had tried to form a marriage alliance with the Martial Alliance Leader by any means, and the imposing pressure from behind the screen now were completely different. This was likely his true nature.
Seo Daeryong bowed his head respectfully and spoke.
“Yes! I wish to succeed no matter what.”
I could tell.
That after the Hwamugi swept through, the Divine Dragon Clan had become the pillar of the orthodox martial world. It was because they had been scheming like this since that time.
Then was Jo Ibaek the leader of the Heavenly Mandate Society? Or was the leader of the Heavenly Mandate Society someone else?
One thing was certain: the Heavenly Mandate Society, which was gradually revealing its body, was a much greater monster than I had thought.
“If I help you, you will surely be able to succeed. Then, you…….”
Jo Ibaek added in a low voice.
“What can you do for me?”