“I do not know what you are talking about.”
To my question, Mukyeon consistently played dumb.
It wasn't that he didn't know.
*Where did he notice?*
The reason I had bothered to bring up that condition.
It was because it was a condition I would have drawn out from my side anyway.
Before coming up here, it was something I had prepared while writing an incident report about the accident.
Since the Alliance currently couldn't abandon me due to my value, it was justification to bring up even if I received punishment for this matter, in order to reduce it.
Support from two sword troops?
It was a part I had bothered to write down despite not needing it.
What need was there for their support? In truth, it was also to crush the spirits of the Great Lords.
*Justification to spark a fire.*
It was nothing more than a device to be used to cause friction.
Hadn't there been a few fellows who flew into a rage upon hearing it?
I intended to twist the flow using this, or to use it at a time like this if things went awry.
*He knew?*
That old man seemed to have noticed this like a ghost.
He might not have known all of my intentions, but it seemed he knew my current intent at least.
As if to prove it, the old man immediately brought up the amendment of the condition to me.
*Wow.*
Now I think I understand.
I had wondered how he would handle the backlash from the Great Lords at that time.
Did he wait because he thought something would explode anyway?
And.
*No matter what I do, it seems it will align with that old man's will. Is he planning to use me?*
During the Great Lords' meeting not long ago.
Mukyeon had taken a stance as if expecting something from me. I had vaguely discerned his intention.
Yes, Mukyeon.
He was a war god who had returned to the Alliance, and a ghost of the political realm.
*He wants a reshuffle.*
He wanted a reshuffle of the Murim Alliance.
A reshuffle significant enough to reduce backlash and overturn everything at once.
Rather than leaving the long-stagnant water as it was, he would ladle in new water to sweep it away.
Mukyeon sought to build a new system in preparation for the coming crisis.
To do that, it was necessary to replace the Great Lords who were called the pillars.
And for that.
*He intends to use me.*
The method the old man chose was me.
He intended to use me to seize the spirits of the Great Lords. It seemed he also intended to cut out those who needed to be cut if things went wrong.
Honestly, I didn't mind.
I wasn't going to be completely played by his intentions, but.
*I also have something to use.*
Since I too needed to create a connection within the Alliance, and with Mukyeon at that, I intended to go along with him for now.
However.
*Did he know this side as well?*
This conversation meant that just as I had figured out Mukyeon's intentions.
Mukyeon also knew my intentions.
He must have called me here immediately because he knew this.
*He really is a ghost-like old man.*
He deleted the condition using the accident I caused as the cause, in preparation for other units rising up due to friction with the Great Lord.
If this happened, backlash from other battalions would decrease.
*Since it was useless anyway and I had justification to remove it, I'm fine.*
Mukyeon was also in a good position since he was mediating from the center without harm.
*Hahaha.*
I had wondered how he would touch this tangled mess.
*It really isn't easy.*
This was why it was hard to do anything with people who had lived long in the political world.
*As expected. Is quickly dealing with them the answer?*
If I stayed by this old man's side for long, I felt I would only have more to lose.
"Regarding the conditions... I hope you will finalize them favorably at Strategist Muk's discretion."
"I shall take that to mean you are fine with it. Regarding the amended portions, I will send someone to deliver them again."
"...Yes."
"Originally, it would be proper for you to wait inside the Alliance until the truth is revealed. However, I shall exercise my authority a bit here as well."
"...Aren't you going to get cut down one day for abusing your power like this?"
"Haha."
It was a laugh that said such a thing would absolutely never happen.
Yes, I thought so too. Where would there be a madman who would cut down that old man?
"I shall consider this your consideration. Therefore, I will not forget Strategist Muk's wish either."
"What wish you speak of, this old man cannot quite understand."
His face was one that seemed to know nothing at all.
It was hard to tell whether that was an act or if he truly had no such intention, but.
*No, it's certain.*
I was convinced.
That old man had something he wanted to do using me.
Even while suspecting me, he would use me if he could use me.
Such would be Mukyeon's intention.
It was a risky choice to look at. Even so, this old man must have to go this far.
And he had his reasons.
*Even if I don't kill him... he doesn't seem to be a gentleman with much time left.*
The time remaining for Mukyeon did not appear to be very much.
*...*
Thinking about it quietly, I moved slightly as if something had come to mind.
"Strategist Muk."
"Yes."
"Might it be that you have finished all you wished to say?"
"I believe I have said all I needed to say. If you are busy, you may return for now. I shall speak separately with the Guardian Squad."
"Understood. Then, I shall visit again once the proceedings are revealed."
"Return safely. I shall not see you off."
"Yes. I shall see you next time."
I gave a light bow and turned around.
Just as I grabbed the door handle to go outside.
"Ah, and Strategist Muk."
I turned my head slightly and spoke to him.
"Regarding that tea."
"Yes?"
"Instead of that, you should dry and drink Muryeongcho. Taeseomhwa does have a paralytic effect, but no matter how much you dry it, a faint toxicity remains, so drinking Muryeongcho would likely be more effective for the pain."
"..."
"Then, I shall take my leave."
Finishing my words, I closed the door and left.
Immediately after.
"...Heheh."
Mukyeon whispered with an expression as if he had been hit.
"As expected... what a pity."
His voice was mixed with thick regret.
*****************
After finishing the meeting with Mukyeon, I returned straight to my quarters.
Since I had caused an accident, the gazes looking at me within the Alliance were quite odd, but.
It seemed Mukyeon had already sent word, as no one bothered to apprehend me.
To think I had beaten a Great Lord to a pulp and they were just letting me go.
Moreover.
*Some even had good expressions on their faces.*
A sense of satisfaction, one might say.
Amid faces that looked uncomfortable, I could clearly feel refreshing emotions.
*Twin Phantom Swords. Now I know well what that man was doing inside.*
Looking at this, it was easy to tell how much humiliation the Twin Phantom Swords had suffered while living in the Alliance.
Despite having been a Great Lord for quite some time, he had been struck down by me, who hadn't entered long ago.
Yet there were more people who liked it?
Just how had he been living to elicit such reactions?
It was truly fascinating.
*Anyway, Mukyeon said he would handle it. It seems this part will work out somehow.*
Mukyeon had said he would cover for me beating up a Great Lord.
The overall conversation had differed from that, but this had been the intention.
Also.
*Since I can cover for you if possible. Try it once.*
I felt this thought as well.
This part was purely my own thought.
*I should check this by crossing the line bit by bit.*
What exactly was Mukyeon's true intention?
How far was he watching, and how far could I cross?
This part needed to be checked step by step.
However, if there was one thing I was slightly worried about.
*It's ambiguous.*
There were many ambiguities in my perspective to move while grasping Mukyeon.
Even if I racked my brains, I didn't think I could outdo that gentleman.
If I seemed to be dancing in the palm of his hand, it was right to stay still as I was.
I had to be careful about judging and moving alone.
*Hmm...*
The opponent was an old ghost.
If there were the Three Venerables who were said to have reached the heavens through martial arts.
He was an existence who might have reached the heavens through a different path.
*...Even if Cheon Yu-rang-a said they were relatively lacking in practical combat sense.*
That side was an existence proficient even in that sense.
*I cannot move recklessly.*
When planning in Hanam, I had to rack my brains several times more than usual.
Of course, since I knew Jegal Hyeok would arrive soon, it would be better than usual, but....
*Whether I can add the current Jegal Hyeok to use against Mukyeon is also a problem.*
No matter how smart Jegal Hyeok was, he was not the same as in his previous life.
Since he wasn't someone to involve deeply in this matter from the start, I had to find many other methods as well.
"Huu..."
A sigh escaped naturally while I was thinking.
There were truly more than one or two complicated matters.
A suffocating situation that made me wonder why there were so many things to deal with.
Resolving them one by one with my ignorant head was nothing but despair. Such a damned situation.
"...Just what are you all."
I had to barely suppress my irritation as I looked at those before me.
"How did you find out and come here...?"
"..."
At my question, the three sitting before me flinched.
They were women with different hair colors. Each and every one of them stood with both arms raised high.
Namgung Bi-a, Wi Seol-a, and Dang So-yeol.
A sight as if they were being punished.
I hadn't ordered it. It was a posture they had assumed themselves.
"I had clearly tried to keep you from finding out. I'm asking how you knew."
Even when I spoke, no answer came.
They were busy avoiding my eyes each.
Among them, I pinched the cheek of Wi Seol-a, who was in the center.
"Eek...!"
"Aren't you going to answer?"
"Y-Young Lord, it hurths..."
Even as she said it hurt, Wi Seol-a did not actually give an answer.
The others were the same.
The reason I had gathered and tormented them like this was none other than.
"...Seriously, how did you find out and apply?"
It was because these three had all submitted applications to the Seongryongdae.
Since it was obvious they would apply immediately if they knew, I had deliberately posted a notice the day before and began urgent recruitment, but when I checked today, all three had already entered.
*How much trouble did I go through to draw attention.*
I had used several methods to draw attention without them noticing, on top of posting the notice.
Since no one had shown any signs of caring, I had thought the operation was successful.
*...That all three got in means.*
They had known from the start and prepared. It meant they had pretended not to know and suddenly appeared like this.
Thanks to that, things got twisted.
Honestly, even if I had noticed, I could have just failed them all, but....
*It was ruined starting from Namgung Bi-a.*
Things had gotten twisted when Namgung Bi-a started sparring with the Silver Wolf Sword.
Stories about Namgung Bi-a were already beginning to spread subtly in Hanam.
Her skill and the display she had shown were perfect to become known.
Since she had only been in her quarters recently, there shouldn't have been any such rumors.
Yet after coming out just once, things had turned out this way.
It wasn't even just Namgung Bi-a.
"...Why are you two here too..."
Seomwol Sword Wi Seol-a.
And Poison Fist Dang So-yeol.
They had shown tremendous displays at the martial arts tournament, so their names had risen sharply at this point.
Yet even those two had applied to the Seongryongdae and come.
Since I had passed Namgung Bi-a earlier, I ended up accepting these two as well.
Thanks to that, a false line had been added to the rumors about me.
What was it again.
*Did they say the Saint King put his women into the Seongryongdae to keep them at his beck and call?*
The moment I heard it, I wanted to find out who spread the rumor and tear them apart.
*I'm really going crazy.*
It was a situation where a sigh was inevitable.
"W-we can do well too."
"That's right... since it turned out this way. Wouldn't it be good if we tried hard?"
"...Yeah."
"Huu."
Work hard at what?
Of course they would do well at what they were good at. But that wasn't what was important now.
Since I had already accepted them, there was nothing more I could do, but I still regretted it.
*I shouldn't have accepted them.*
If I hadn't accepted Namgung Bi-a from the start, there wouldn't have been this problem.
Because I couldn't do that, this had happened.
Yes, well, let's leave that aside for now.
"Seriously, how did you know. Who was it?"
"..."
Again, none of the three answered.
"I'll let the one who talks go easy."
"That...!"
At my casually thrown words, Dang So-yeol immediately reacted.
*Whack-*
"Kya!"
Wi Seol-a in the center shot out her arm and covered Dang So-yeol's mouth.
"...Unni."
"...Mmph."
At Wi Seol-a's low call, Dang So-yeol hurriedly nodded her head.
I furrowed my brows at the sight and tried to ask again, but.
"Are you really not going to talk...!"
*-My Lord.*
*...*
At the voice that reached my ears, I had to stop the anger I was about to unleash.
It was Nahi's telepathic transmission.
*-I apologize for the rudeness of interrupting while you are speaking.*
*-...What is it?*
This was an important situation for me as well, but since Nahi usually didn't butt in like this, I asked what was going on first.
Then.
*-It is nothing else.*
*-They say the Dark King has just arrived in Hanam.*
*...*
An epithet I hadn't heard in a long time reached my ears.