“Welcome! Jeok-un! Haha!”

“…….”

“Were you struggling on your way here? Have you shaken off the travel fatigue?”

The leader greeted me with a smile that felt rehearsed, causing me to step back a bit.

There’s always a reason behind excessive gestures.

He was conscious that he was sending me to my doom.

“Being the head of the Martial Alliance Support Warriors… what’s this sudden development?”

“Isn’t this something you’ve always done? I heard you made a significant contribution at Huashan this time.”

“…….”

“Not simply mediating a succession struggle, but curing a delusional martial artist… That’s quite the achievement! Really!”

The laughter vanished.

“Since you are far more capable than I expected, it’s only natural for me to provide you with an appropriate stage, right?”

“…Isn’t the inspection and battlefield a distant matter?”

“True. But what can we do… there aren’t enough people in the Martial Alliance. The Cheonryong Association keeps urging for support, yet no one wants to go. Even though civilians are suffering in the south because of Sapa… someone has to do it, right? Correcting what’s wrong is what inspection is all about. So, step up for justice.”

“I have no opinions on the matter.”

“Oh. You have an opinion? Speak up. I’ll listen as much as I can.”

“…….”

I looked into his beaming face, also piercing through the hidden dagger lurking behind it.

The military officer who had just been taking up space said nothing. They were silent as if everything was already decided.

What would happen if I declined?

There was no reason to refuse in the first place, but the moment I do, my reputation would be tarnished. They would spread rumors that Muk Geom fled in fear of Sado Clan.

It was clear they would create a situation where I had no choice but to go. Being pushed by everyone, I would ultimately set off to my doom as a Martial Alliance Warrior.

The Martial Alliance had already built the public opinion using its power. Somehow I had been ‘appointed’ as the head of the Martial Alliance Support Warriors.

It could easily turn into an excuse to put a leash around my neck for everything going wrong because of me.

Predictable.

So predictable that it elicited nothing but resentment.

So this is what it’s like when the Martial Alliance leader resorts to such tricks…

I could only imagine how much more rotten things were behind the scenes.

I stiffly lifted my sword, holding it with both hands in reverence.

“As the head of the Cheonryong Association Support Warriors, please relieve me of my position as inspector.”

“…What?”

The leader blinked in surprise at my unexpected words.

“Why is that?”

“Since I can’t promise when I will return, wouldn’t it make sense to relinquish the inspector’s position?”

“Well…”

“If I were to hold two positions at once, that would certainly create confusion.”

“That’s not an incorrect statement…”

The Martial Alliance leader nodded reluctantly.

I added an additional condition.

“If I am able to fulfill my duties as head of the Cheonryong Association Support Warriors completely, I will officially retire from the Martial Alliance.”

“……”

The Martial Alliance leader exchanged glances with the military officer.

A silent conversation of disbelief.

But what I was aiming for was simple.

It was to sever ties one by one. Observing the situation, it was clear the Martial Alliance leader would no longer trust me…

If I couldn’t obtain information from within the Martial Alliance, then there would be no reason for me to stay. In that case, it would make more sense to sever all connections entirely.

That way, I could act more freely, unbound by their gaze.

Most importantly, I wouldn’t have to see that insufferable nonsense anymore.

“…In that case, once you complete your duties as the head of the Cheonryong Association Support Warriors, there will be a welcoming ceremony in your honor. And the Martial Alliance will have prepared rewards for you as well. Are you saying you don’t need any of that?”

At the leader’s question, I nodded.

“I plan to roam around the Cheonryong Association area after the job is done without returning.”

“……”

“Please publicly announce my statements so that everyone can hear before I leave. That is my only condition.”

With this, I made it clear I intended to completely sever ties with the Martial Alliance.

At that, Jegeol Soak stood up.

“Inspector. Remember, fleeing from your position as the head of the Martial Alliance Support Warriors is not allowed, regardless of retirement.”

“I will do my best in whatever position I hold until the end of my term, just as I have until now.”

“…Is that the end of your conditions?”

“There’s one more.”

I stated confidently.

“Please ensure I have enough travel expenses. So that everyone can eat well and travel comfortably.”

“…Understood.”

. . .

Cheonryong Association Support Warriors.

“Ah, greetings! Muk Geom Dae-hyeop!”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I approached the sole reception officer who was manning a desk and chair out in the middle of the Martial Alliance.

No one else was in sight. This must be all there is to the manpower.

“May I see the registration list?”

“Y-yes, of course!”

The list was nearly blank.

A few names were listed, but they were all unfamiliar.

The stated high salaries and the glamorous rewards for mission success were enticing, but…

Not a single person had ever received them properly.

“I want to meet the people listed here. In the name of the head of the Martial Alliance Support Warriors.”

“I-I’ll call them!”

A handful of names from the list came to meet me.

“Ah, greetings! Muk Geom Dae-hyeop!”

“It’s an honor to meet you!”

Indeed, the end is near.

A battlefield at the same time.

I wanted to choose those who would be under my command myself. So, I assessed their martial prowess directly.

At the very least, they needed to be top-tier.

That would be the minimum required to keep their own lives in the middle of a battlefield.

But astonishly, not a single one of those listed met that standard.

Just a bunch of nobodies. All were mediocre warriors blinded by money and willing to throw their lives away.

“I’ll remove all of them from the list.”

“W-wait, please!”

“B-but…!”

“Is money more important than life?”

“…….”

I drew a straight line through the list.

The military officer, Jegeol Soak, came to me.

“We need to have a minimum number of people. We have to gather at least ten to have a premise.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“……”

Now that I knew they were already suspicious and hostile toward me, I didn’t hesitate any longer.

I began to recruit personnel in my name. Ironically…

People started to gather.

“Hyung! You won’t remove my name, right?”

“Jeok-un. Please add my name too.”

Bai Hyun and Gu Hwa-rin from Huashan Clan applied for the Warriors. It was somewhat expected as it was a predetermined story.

“Dad! Me too!”

“If we’re going to fill the ranks, it would be better to add my name as well. You can’t just throw around the name of the Lord without consequence.”

“Sua, maybe not…”

“Dad! I’m your aide! Plus, it’s just a list. I know it doesn’t have much effect. I want to be the deputy leader!”

“……”

On the list, Sua and Il-ho’s names were included. I couldn’t help but smile at Sua saying she would be the deputy leader, but I decided to write down their names on the list.

That way, even if Sua goes missing in the battlefield, the Cheonryong Association would officially look for her.

“Master. I’ve heard everything.”

“It’s time to showcase the martial skills we’ve accumulated.”

Narin and Gwangyang, who came down from Cheonmu Academy, requested to join. I refused, but they stubbornly stuck around.

“Do you want to watch me follow you without you knowing?”

“Master, please… I know what kind of place the battlefield is. I can’t let you go alone!”

Reluctantly, I recorded their names on the list. Now, four spots remained.

Ironically, two of the people who applied for those remaining slots were familiar faces.

“How does it feel to be abandoned like this?”

“…….?”

Myochoa.

The disciple of Elder Dan Ri Jin Su had put her name on the list.

“With that level of skill, isn’t it adequate?”

“What’s the reason for wanting to walk into a massacre like this? Once your name is on the list, you can’t withdraw until the mission is completed.”

“You mentioned your values and beliefs before. I just want to confirm them with my own eyes. Thanks to you, the momentum of the new Martial Alliance is greatly wavering, you know?”

Myochoa frowned.

“The plan to establish a new Martial Alliance leader has practically failed. Two of the biggest pillars have fallen. So, I’ll see for myself how the justice you so eloquently proclaim plays out.”

“I see…”

I nodded.

She made a line through the name she had written.

“Wait! What are you doing?!”

“Why should I accept a name that might openly cause trouble?”

“But… Isn’t this the moment where you’d let me prove myself?!”

“…You’ve watched too many plays, haven’t you?”

Of course, she also drew a line through Gu Yangdo and Geumpyeong’s names.

“I don’t need you to follow me to the battlefield, Geumpyeong. So stop watching me, would you?”

“…….”

Gu Yangdo and Purple Sword.

I mercilessly removed their names from the list. Naturally, there was no reason to retain them.

With four spots left empty, I pondered whether I should fill them with the Sapa Clan’s apprentices… but I didn’t want to place that burden on anyone else.

Would I have to fill those four empty spots with just anybody?

“Dad, can I write my name four more times?”

“You can’t joke around.”

“Hehehe.”

I waited with Sua in my arms for any potential support warriors. Then, from afar, I saw a woman approaching.

A small figure with a face I hadn’t seen before. Yet, for some reason, she felt familiar.

She stood before me and bluntly spat out.

“I’m here to apply.”

“…What’s your name?”

“Ran.”

“…….?”

A single-syllable name.

And a voice that was somehow familiar.

Her gaze was pinned on Sua. The girl who smiled brightly while clinging to me lowered her head.

“Hello!”

“…You look both similar and different at the same time…”

“Excuse me?”

“Hey!”

I saw two more women walking towards us from a distance.

Tall, with unfamiliar looks. Two slender women stood in front of me.

“I’m applying.”

“I-I am too.”

“…….?”

Once again, their gazes fell upon Sua. I was observing them with an expression of incredulity when I spotted one more girl rushing up from the back.

“You… you…!”

An unfamiliar girl glanced around cautiously before quickly lowering her voice.

“I-I’m here to apply first!”

“…….”

Again, their gaze landed on Sua. She blinked.

With a sly little finger raised, she wiggled it, and all four gazes followed suit.

Sua burst into giggles.

“Dad, the older sisters like me.”

“…Dad?”

“Is it true…?”

“Ahahaha… ugh… ahhh…”

“What is this madness…?”

I could see the boiling irritation on the faces of the four girls beyond the nostalgia washing over me.

Despite this reunion after several years, the first thing that blurted out was a question.

“…What the heck are you doing here?”

Eun Seol-ran.

Black Danhwa.

Ju Ryeongryeong.

Baekmae.

The faces of the four wearing the Infimyeon-Gu were distorted.

“Is that even a question?! Hey! Are you married?!”

“Jeok-un! There were no secrets between us! Why didn’t you tell me you had someone…?”

“This is cheating! It’s cheating!”

“Were all those actions toward me lies?! O, Older brother! Tell me! Just tell me!”

In an instant, the four became rowdy, making Sua cock her head in confusion.

She turned to face me directly.

“Dad belongs to me.”

“……!”

“……!”

“……!”

“……!”

At the sudden outburst, I awkwardly stood up.

What in the world is this ruckus, really.

 

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