The child of the Eullyeong Sword Empress.
At those words written in the letter, Mukyeon’s eyes trembled.
Watching his reaction, I lowered my gaze.
I was curious.
What sort of reaction would the man named Mukyeon, who had once been in the Martial Alliance, show upon hearing of the Eullyeong Sword Empress?
Did he also know what had happened during that “war”?
And.
‘Are you involved as well?’
What connection did this old man named Mukyeon have to that incident?
That was what I wanted to know, and it was the reason I had written something I could have omitted.
So show me.
If you know something, then show me even a little of your thoughts regarding the world you saw back then.
With that in mind, I watched Mukyeon.
“…The Eullyeong Sword Empress…. She….”
“...”
Mukyeon spoke in a faintly trembling voice.
Seeing that, I thought to myself.
‘On hold.’
His reaction was subtle. It was difficult to call it shock, but it was just as difficult to call it affection.
If it was affection, then what was he feeling affection for?
His reaction fell far short of someone who had recalled something.
That was disappointing.
‘There’s no way you didn’t know.’
The possibility that Mukyeon had known nothing about the Eullyeong Sword Empress?
It wasn’t nonexistent, but it approached zero.
He was an old man who must have handled most of the affairs of the Martial Alliance during what had been called its golden age.
Even now, he was the same.
It seemed he had been back for less than a fortnight, yet the Alliance was already changing systematically.
He had begun taking measures to restore its shattered public image, draining away the stagnant water and repairing its broken systems.
I was practically left speechless by the speed and security of it all.
There were countless things he could not have handled without knowing the affairs both inside and outside the Alliance.
If an old man who had merely returned after taking a long rest was this capable, what had Mukyeon been like back then?
‘Whatever else he might have been, he must have been no joke.’
However I looked at it, there was no way this old man had known nothing of the circumstances.
If so, there were only two possibilities.
Either he had worked together with them, depending on the situation.
Or else.
‘He knew, but turned a blind eye.’
I wanted to know which of those two categories Mukyeon belonged to.
Of course.
‘But the result won’t change either way.’
Regardless of which choice Mukyeon had made, my decision to eliminate him would not change.
Only the process leading to that result would change.
In that sense, Mukyeon’s current reaction was—
‘There’s still a need to sound him out further.’
As I thought that and continued staring at him, he added,
“How did the commander of the Seongryong Squad come to know this woman…?”
He was asking about my relationship with Bongsun, the child of the Eullyeong Sword Empress. I composed my expression and replied,
“Do I have to tell you that much? That seems like a question not included in our contract.”
“...”
Whatever circumstances she possessed, I would accept the five people I wanted as members of the Sword Squad.
That was what the conditions stated.
Accordingly, Mukyeon had no right to question me.
He must have known that as well.
“Commander of the Seongryong Squad.”
“Yes.”
“…Do you know who the Eullyeong Sword Empress is?”
“Of course. Naturally, I know.”
I answered Mukyeon as if he had asked something obvious.
“Wasn’t she the criminal who prepared to start a war between the orthodox and unorthodox factions?”
“...”
At my indifferent answer, Mukyeon’s brows twitched faintly.
Yes, the Eullyeong Sword Empress was a traitor and a criminal.
That was the history created by the Martial Alliance.
“You mean to say that you brought this woman here despite knowing that?”
His tone suggested that he was displeased by the idea.
Hearing it, I could not help but smile.
“Haha. Strategist Muk, what’s gotten into you?”
“…What did you say?”
“Her mother being a criminal and this woman being a criminal are two different matters, aren’t they? Besides, they say she’s an illegitimate child.”
“...”
“And furthermore.”
I reached out and pointed at one of the lines written in the letter.
“More importantly, the Emei Sect is vouching for this woman. What is there to worry about?”
Pi Yeon-yeon.
She was the daughter of the Pi family, and the one supporting her was the Emei Sect. Not just anyone, either—the sect’s master, Gwonseon.
One of the Nine Sects and One Alliance was proving her identity.
Thanks to that, she already had sufficient grounds for acceptance.
Only—
‘The Emei Sect is what bothers him.’
The Emei Sect, of all places.
In my view, there had to be some connection between the Eullyeong Sword Empress, the Emei Sect, and the Alliance. Because of that, even if they were guaranteeing her identity, doubts must have been erupting in Mukyeon’s mind.
“So I don’t see a problem…. Is there perhaps something troubling you?”
“…No matter how harmless it may seem, there is such a thing as public perception.”
“Well, naturally.”
“This is something that could become a problem even within the Alliance. No matter how much you mention the conditions, Commander of the Seongryong Squad.”
“A problem…. You mean putting a criminal’s child into the Martial Alliance?”
And furthermore—
“The child of the woman who would have become the spark for a war between the orthodox and unorthodox factions if she had succeeded?”
“…That is correct.”
I nodded at Mukyeon’s words.
As though I understood what he meant.
“Hmm.”
Of course, I was only pretending.
“Then what should I do, Strategist Muk? Should I leave her out and put someone else in? It doesn’t really matter to me either way.”
It was an ordinary statement: if it became a problem, I would leave her out.
“I only found out about this recently, too…. I thought it might become a problem, but I included her just in case. If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll take her out.”
“…That…”
“It does seem as though it might cause trouble, as you said.”
“...”
As I spoke, I reached out. I intended to take only the letter concerning Bongsun and leave.
But—
Press.
“Hmm?”
For some reason, the letter did not move, as though it had been fixed in place.
When I checked, Mukyeon was holding it and refusing to let go.
“Strategist Muk?”
“Given the conditions you mentioned, I was not suggesting that you exclude her outright.”
At those words, I narrowed my eyes.
“Then?”
“I will erase the final line. If you take care regarding that one point, I believe there will be no problem.”
The final line meant—
‘The part concerning the Eullyeong Sword Empress?’
The information that Pi Yeon-yeon—Bongsun—was a descendant of the Eullyeong Sword Empress.
His opinion was that there would be no issue so long as that alone was kept secret.
In other words—
‘He knows, but he’ll quietly let it pass. He’s telling me to include her.’
The fact that Mukyeon was reacting so strongly meant—
‘This old man really is involved in something.’
It was evidence that he had some degree of connection to the Eullyeong Sword Empress.
‘This seems a little reckless.’
Not my recklessness—Mukyeon’s.
Mukyeon was wary of me.
Separate from his intention to use me to filter the stagnant water from the Martial Alliance, I knew that he suspected something about me.
Moreover, Mukyeon must have known that I was not completely stupid. He would know that I might notice something strange about this.
Mukyeon was concerned about the Eullyeong Sword Empress’s child.
He was telling me to include her, even if it meant treating an important matter as a secret.
I had realized that.
Mukyeon must have known that I had realized it as well, yet—
‘And you’re still going to do this?’
It was surprising to me.
Naturally, I had expected him to tell me to leave her out. That was why I had prepared my next move with that in mind.
‘If things have turned out this way, I’ll have to go with the third.’
The first and second options were scrapped.
I had to move directly to the third.
“Since you already know, Strategist Muk, what difference would it make to call it a secret?”
“I will prepare a solution. I’ll speak with the Emei Sect separately.”
“Hmm.”
Did that mean he had no intention of hiding how much he cared?
At this point, I could not help but ask.
“Why?”
At my question, Mukyeon frowned.
“...”
“Is the Eullyeong Sword Empress herself the problem? Or is it the fact that she’s her daughter? I don’t understand why you’re acting this way, Strategist Muk.”
Recalling his reckless move, I asked him somewhat directly.
A hint of sharpness entered Mukyeon’s eyes.
“I’ll answer your question with the words you just spoke to me.”
“...”
I closed my mouth at that.
He had created a situation where I could not ask questions, so he was telling me not to ask any either.
‘Tsk.’
It was a shame, but as he said, digging any deeper would yield nothing.
Even this was a great harvest.
‘I know that Mukyeon is excessively concerned. And I know that he knows something.’
All that remained was to investigate.
“Yes, well. I’ll take it that it’s allowed, then. I’ll be going.”
“…I won’t see you out.”
At his words, I immediately turned my back.
At the same time, I raised a hand and wiped away the sweat that had gathered faintly on my cheek.
I had learned a great deal, but there was one disappointing point.
‘He probably figured this out, too.’
Just as I had learned one more thing about Mukyeon, he had probably noticed something as well.
‘That I seem to know something about the Eullyeong Sword Empress.’
I did not know whether he had realized it completely or merely sensed that it might be the case.
But he must have noticed something suspicious.
Even now, I wanted to turn around and look at Mukyeon’s face.
I wanted to see what expression he was wearing, but—
‘…That would put me in checkmate.’
It was an action that might give him certainty, so I held myself back.
Creak.
I pulled on the doorknob and swallowed a groan.
I recalled what I had obtained at the end of our conversation.
Do not reveal that Bongsun was the Eullyeong Sword Empress.
That was what Mukyeon had said, and—
‘I should comply.’
I decided to grant his request.
It was fine.
Because—
‘I only have to refrain from revealing it, right?’
My mouth was not the only mouth in existence.
******************
After leaving Mukyeon, I headed back toward the Seongryong Squad.
I did not go there directly. I was on my way out after briefly stopping by the Cheollyong Squad.
I had gone to ask Silver Wolf Sword something, but unfortunately, he was away.
Thanks to that, I left after seeing nothing but the Cheollyong Squad members’ narrowed, scowling eyes.
Those bastards…. I wasn’t the one who beat up Silver Wolf Sword, so I had no idea why they were looking at me so unpleasantly.
I almost turned the place upside down, but held myself back.
‘I’ll let it go for Silver Wolf Sword’s sake.’
Silver Wolf Sword had turned out to be more normal than I expected. For his sake, I decided to let things pass.
If it had been Ssanguihwang Sword, I would have left after making sure none of them could walk properly.
‘Tsk.’
In any case.
I clicked my tongue briefly and headed toward the squad.
There was still some time before the hour we had agreed upon was up, but I could simply go and take a look at what remained.
‘How did things turn out?’
I had ordered them to do it and left, but I did not know how things had proceeded.
Even if I had told them to fight it out, there was no telling whether they might have resolved things amicably through conversation.
‘The ones from the Alliance might have made a mess of it, but I doubt the volunteers would have gone too far.’
Not a single one of them was below the Peak Realm.
It was a group gathered with excessively powerful forces, but that might actually make things easier.
The difference in strength was so overwhelming that they would be able to recognize it without having to fight.
So perhaps only the Alliance’s people had fought like mad, while things remained relatively peaceful on the other side.
With that expectation, I headed toward the Seongryong Squad.
Whoosh—!
“Hmm?”
As I walked, I suddenly sensed an aura.
It was the wind of dense, heavy inner energy.
‘Huh….’
I frowned as I felt it. The sensation was familiar.
I was not the only one who sensed it, either. The martial artists faintly visible nearby were all staring in the same direction.
The direction of the Seongryong Squad.
The moment I realized this, I quickened my pace.
Grk—!
Boom—!! Screeech—!!
The closer I drew, the louder the sounds grew, along with the aura.
“...”
Once I sensed this much, I put strength into my toes and leaped.
My instincts were telling me that something had happened.
Whoosh—!
The scene changed in an instant, and I arrived inside the squad’s grounds.
At that moment—
“Crazy.”
I had to curse at the sight before me.
Screeeeech—!!! Bang—!!
“Aaagh!”
“G-get away!”
A tremendous aura was swirling violently within the grounds.
The pressure of the blades was nothing short of vicious.
The display of inner energy was brutally fierce.
Amid the violent gale formed from sword force, I looked around.
“D-don’t go any closer!”
“You’ll die if you get caught up in it!”
The Alliance’s martial artists and the volunteers alike were all busy evading the sword force.
Some were striking away and deflecting the energy whenever it came near. Others were desperately blocking it in case it injured someone.
Then—
Whoooosh—!!
A sword force flew toward me.
I immediately swung my hand and knocked it away.
Crack—!
The sword force shattered, sending fragments flying. My fingertips tingled.
It was an extremely powerful force, to say the least.
‘…This aura.’
The sensation was so familiar that I could not help but furrow my brow.
“C-Commander! Are you all right?”
I turned toward the voice.
Someone was approaching me. It was a familiar face.
It was Yeoltu Jeongeom, who had helped me during the evaluation.
The moment I saw him, I asked,
“Explain.”
“Yes, yes?”
I had used honorifics with him before, but not now.
Yeoltu Jeongeom was momentarily flustered by my changed manner of speech, but—
“This situation. Explain it to me.”
I ignored that and questioned him again.
I had no choice.
The owner of the vortex before my eyes.
The golden flying sword and the fierce gale of thunder.
The owner of the sword force that made my knees go weak just by looking at it was none other than—
“Why are those two fighting like that?”
Namgung Bia and Wi Seol-ah.
The two of them were fighting as though they intended to kill each other.