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The newcomers were two women and three men.

They were all dressed in the Sword Team Uniforms provided by the alliance.

With a strange atmosphere, they soon positioned themselves behind me, drawing the attention of those in front.

Everyone appeared to be taken aback by their sudden arrival.

I had already explained the situation before, saying five more would come.

They just didn’t realize it would be today.

As both sides faced each other, someone exclaimed, “Introduce yourselves.”

As I gestured with my hand, one of the guys who had been standing there blankly stepped forward.

“…Nice to meet you.”

“…?”

“…”

The introduction did not continue further. I let out a breath and asked, “Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“Social skills have really gone down the drain, huh?”

“…”

“How are you planning to survive like this?”

The guy let out an awkward cough at my words. He was a young man with bandages wrapped around his arm. Seongyul, of course, was using a pseudonym.

Next was, “Nice to meet you. I’m Yeonhong from the Honam Poetry Club.”

A beautiful woman with long, flowing hair stood before us.

Her alluring presence was truly impressive.

As proof of this, the men standing in front were all staring at Yeonhong as if captivated.

Although Nangong Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah were excessively beautiful, Yeonhong had a charm that could mesmerize people, even if her looks didn’t seem too remarkable at first glance.

In reality, it was this charm that drove people to madness.

It was a sensation that felt almost tangible, as if you could reach out and grasp a colorful flower dancing before your eyes, making it unbearable not to touch.

That was the vibe this woman exuded.

‘…’

I turned my head away from her with a somewhat ambiguous expression.

The overly enchanting presence seemed destined to cause quite a bit of trouble for the men around… and I felt a bit sorry for them.

In many ways.

Afterward, the third person, a young man standing beside Yeonhong, stepped forward to speak.

“…I’m Cheol Jiseon. Nice to meet you.”

He greeted us with a somewhat sullen expression. This was Cheol Jiseon.

The others frowned slightly at his demeanor.

They all could tell he was a martial artist.

I couldn’t feel the vibe of a bet from the guy who introduced himself as Cheol Jiseon.

Perhaps it wasn’t like he felt entirely devoid of it. After all, he had claimed to have experience.

However, the level he’d achieve would probably only amount to a subpar second-rate. He would never make it into the Martial Alliance’s main sect or their Sword Team.

Could it be that he was hiding his power?

As everyone looked on with suspicion, I felt like thinking, ‘But there’s really nothing to see here.’

The reality of Cheol Jiseon being weak was unmistakable.

No matter who you paired him with, it would take nothing more than a blink of an eye to take Cheol Jiseon’s head.

Still…

‘If given time, it might be a different story.’

Under certain conditions, Cheol Jiseon could potentially kill anyone.

But the issue was making that heart of his eat it all up.

In any case, seeing the thoroughly weak-seeming Cheol Jiseon, I could guess the sentiments swirling around.

It seemed there were no words to be spoken.

It was likely due to the fact that I had personally brought him along.

They could look at him however they wanted. A sense of doubt was fine too.

What mattered more than their questions was that I found value in using him.

And then, after Cheol Jiseon, about to speak next was another individual.

“Whoa?”

“…No way?”

What set this latest person apart was that from the moment they appeared, they captivated everyone’s attention in a way different from the rest.

The gaze was far deeper and more intense than what Yeonhong had received. It was clear they were unexpected, blending shock and disbelief.

“…That young man—”

“If my eyes are not deceiving me… could it be him?”

“Why is he at the Star Dragon Sect…?”

Everyone reacted as if they couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing.

Under those circumstances, the young man ahead stepped forward and spoke.

With a swift motion, he slightly lowered his head.

His head bowed, revealing a shaved scalp that glimmered faintly under the light.

“Yu Yeon from Shaolin.”

“Ugh.”

“None other…!”

Everyone held their breath at his greeting.

The man with the freshly shaved head was indeed the current Shin Ryong, the divine dragon.

He was hailed as Shaolin’s hope and renowned as the top late-stage talent.

Although the Star King had since quieted down, it was confirmed that Shin Ryong had also reached the Transformation Realm; he remained a key figure.

For Shin Ryong to appear under the aegis of the Star King was an astounding development.

“Why is Shin Ryong…?”

“Why, of all places, is he at the Star Dragon Sect…?”

It was only natural to feel confusion.

“Even though the Divine Dragon Sect has emerged, he came to the Star Dragon Sect?”

Traditionally, Shin Ryong would always be affiliated with the Divine Dragon Sect.

Certainly, while the Divine Dragon Sect had slipped into obscurity for a time, seeing it resurface in the present moment made everyone expect Yu Yeon, the current Shin Ryong, to join the Divine Dragon Sect.

And yet, here was Shin Ryong, appearing at the Star Dragon Sect instead, which was no surprise to see him looking odd.

‘To achieve this, I worked my fingers to the bone.’

I went through all kinds of trouble to bring Yu Yeon back.

To be precise, it was Cheol Jiseon who did the actual legwork, but it felt like I had contributed nonetheless.

‘Honestly, I didn’t think it would work out.’

The notion of Yu Yeon being released from Shaolin genuinely seemed absurd.

Even now, it felt strange.

Of course, it was all possible because Yu Yeon earnestly wished for it.

‘If Shaolin wasn’t completely misguided, there must be some intention behind it.’

Even with that understanding, I took the divine dragon with me.

There were certain conveniences in having him around.

Especially when I was preparing my justification; having the name of the divine dragon was incredibly beneficial.

On top of that…

‘I quite like him.’

Yu Yeon seemed oddly likable.

I had thought of Shaolin monks as utterly devoid of meaning, but there was something distinctly admirable about this young man.

‘…Should I really be bringing someone like him to my side?’

I felt a slight twinge of guilt, but it was unavoidable.

In a situation where you had to use whatever you could, what was there to hesitate about?

“Is it really Shin Ryong?”

“Shin Ryong….”

They continued to look at Yu Yeon in disbelief. Their amazement showed no signs of fading.

This only further proved the tremendous value his name carried.

Perhaps Yu Yeon himself was aware of this, as a hint of tension surfaced on his face.

‘Kid.’

He seemed to enjoy the attention to some extent.

Strangely enough, he exuded a vibe of happiness for being in the limelight.

What was unfortunate was that this attention wouldn’t last very long.

The reason for that was simply…

“Hello!”

The final newcomer stepped forward with a bright demeanor, carrying a bundle wrapped in cloth on her back while waving enthusiastically.

She arrived, speaking casually, causing the expressions of others to twist slightly in surprise.

Despite their reactions, she paid them no mind.

She was always a free spirit.

I had no delusions about expecting normalcy from her.

If I had one hope…

‘Please, just stick to what I told you.’

It was something I had reminded her for several days. I hoped she would remember just that.

But.

“I’m Pi…”

“…”

“…Pi?”

She stumbled mid-sentence, as if she had short-circuited.

Seeing this, I sighed deeply within.

‘That crazy girl! Did she really forget?’

No way, right? How could she forget something so short?

She had better not have.

A few seconds later, she finally said, “Ah, Pi Yeon.”

Luckily, it seemed she had managed to recall her name with a glimmer of realization.

It appeared she genuinely had forgotten. It was almost akin to being a goldfish!

“That’s right. I’m Pi Yeon.”

As for that Pi Yeon… The others could be seen glancing at Bong-Soon with a mix of confusion at her reaction.

Could it be that she truly couldn’t remember her own name? A sense of doubt washed over me.

If this uncertainty dragged on, they would likely notice something odd.

No matter how you looked at it, this was hardly a normal occurrence, and it was perfectly reasonable to think so.

“Her name is Pi Yeon.”

There was no need to be concerned after all.

“Daughter of the Eulryeong Sword Queen.”

With that statement, the doubts evaporated for everyone present.

And right after…

—-!

The fierce response I had anticipated erupted.

The rumors spread faster than expected.

It hadn’t even been an hour since the mention of it, but in this not-so-small main sect, there was ample time for the story to get around.

The Eulryeong Sword Queen, who had fallen from grace and faced execution, had a bloodline emerge.

And the one who brought her was none other than the current hero, the youngest king—The Star King.

Such news spread like wildfire, and the subsequent developments were only natural.

“…Star Dragon Master.”

“Yes.”

The old man, now wrinkled with even more lines than before.

I responded to the remark from Muk Yeon.

“It has not even been an hour. Are you aware of this?”

“Are you speaking of the events from this morning? Yes, it seems so; we do appear to see each other quite frequently.”

“Let’s refrain from discussing matters related to the Sword Queen. It has been only a short while since those were mentioned.”

I chuckled awkwardly at his rather uncomfortable line of questioning.

“Ah, of course I remember. It was a strict request from you, Muk the Strategist. Naturally, it’s burned into my mind.”

“…Then why did you do it?”

When he asked that reproachfully, I looked at him as if to say, “Why would I ask such a thing?”

“I made sure to keep it well.”

“You kept it well?”

“Yes. I did keep it well… However, I never anticipated that you would mention it. This is indeed surprising.”

“…Hah.”

Yes, I had chosen not to mention it.

I had aimed to keep it a secret. But.

‘It’s not my fault if the person involved decides to reveal it, right?’

I had no control over whether the party herself would disclose such information.

So I responded with that in mind.

“And now.”

Naturally, Muk Yeon wouldn’t let it slide so easily upon hearing that.

“What on earth do you want?”

“Me? I don’t particularly want anything. Ah, if I must specify…”

I smiled slyly.

“Dismissal?”

“…”

“Just kidding.”

Clearly, it wasn’t the right atmosphere for light-hearted banter. But I couldn’t help myself.

“…Master. If you keep coming at me like this, my capacity to defend myself will have its limits. Unfortunately, this old man has grown weaker over the years.”

“That’s quite unfortunate…”

Having limits when it comes to defense made me feel quite pleased.

“But you know, I’m suddenly curious. Why is it that you seem so keen to put your effort into this matter related to the Sword Queen?”

“…”

“I’m quite curious about it.”

“Star Dragon Master—”

“Yes.”

“What exactly is it that you’re so curious about?”

“Why? Are you planning to enlighten me with your wisdom?”

During our exchange, I realized we had made some progress in our conversation.

Muk Yeon knew full well I was deliberately probing into matters concerning the Sword Queen, and I could tell he was overly cautious about it.

In terms of information, I held the upper hand. After all,

‘Hyper-reactive to views, with a slight twinge of guilt.’

Muk Yeon didn’t intend to take the heat of the Sword Queen’s case and remain silent.

Rather, I sensed he was concerned about what would arise if this became public.

Moreover, I could tell this concern wasn’t about the alliance.

‘Is it about Bong-Soon?’

It seemed Muk Yeon was concerned about Bong-Soon, the daughter of the Eulryeong Sword Queen.

‘But what’s your stake in this?’

I began to wonder why Muk Yeon was so sensitive about this matter.

Or perhaps…

‘Is it a tidbit of an illicit affair?’

A puzzling thought indeed.

An affair involving Muk Yeon and the Sword Queen?

If that were the case, it would make Bong-Soon his daughter, but I figured that was unlikely. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be a bad turn of events.

‘It just adds to Bong-Soon’s utility.’

Whether as a hostage or leveraging her against Muk Yeon.

It seemed like a neat situation to handle, but…

‘Sadly, it might not hold up.’

No matter how alluring it sounded, it felt like pushing it was a bit much, so I had to set it aside.

“You don’t need to answer. I’m just curious.”

As I stared into Muk Yeon’s eyes, I said, “The reason you’ve kept quiet despite knowing something different about history. Also…”

I weaved my true thoughts with lies.

“How solid is a peace forged at the cost of sacrificing a pitiful woman? What exactly is the consensus of the righteous faction that I believed in? I’m simply curious about all of that.”

“…”

“What do you think about it, Muk the Strategist?”

It was a line that could easily amplify suspicion.

Despite being a part of the righteous faction, I questioned its integrity and their history.

Given Muk Yeon’s likely suspicion against me, this could very well be problematic.

However, I was determined to confirm what the future would hold through Muk Yeon.

“If you plan to block me, then do so. I respect that. I harbor deep resentment toward the demonic sect; it’s true. But given my current thoughts on the righteous faction…. I don’t think it would be much of an issue if they were to disappear.”

I harbor resentment toward the demonic sect.

It’s true.

And while I despise them, I genuinely believe that the current righteous faction can be dismissed.

“…”

“…”

With that, the conversation fell silent.

Muk Yeon no longer spoke, and I awaited his response.

There were more words left unsaid.

Within those tightly sealed lips lingered sentiments yearning to break free from the folds of time.

Then.

“…You may leave now.”

Muk Yeon’s chosen path, unfortunately, was silence.

“Apologies for holding you back when you likely have matters to attend to.”

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue briefly, turning my back. It seemed like the timing wasn’t right for digging any deeper.

That was fine.

Having already tested Bong-Soon, I was sure there would be imminent reactions.

‘The arrow has already been drawn with a flame awaiting to ignite.’

Would they extinguish the spark before it flares up?

Would they bear the piercing daggers of humility with poise?

I was simply curious about what choices the Martial Alliance would make.

“Let’s meet again later.”

I bowed to Muk Yeon before turning away.

Today, I had to head back to the Star Dragon Sect and soon see Elder Lee.

With several schedules lined up, I was about to set off when…

“…Star Dragon Master.”

Muk Yeon’s call made me pause for a moment and turn my head.

Was it a continuation of our earlier conversation? I felt a hint of expectation.

“…Apologies for calling you back. I remembered there were important instructions regarding the Gyecheon Sect mission. I had almost forgotten about it.”

It seemed there was something he’d neglected to mention.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t about the earlier matter.

What intrigued me here was—

‘Did Muk Yeon forget something?’

That he, of all people, had overlooked crucial information.

This was curious indeed.

“It’s your turn to speak.”

So, wondering what it could possibly be, I prompted Muk Yeon.

“Regarding this mission, the Blue Dragon Sect has requested to provide support…”

“Hmm?”

I quickly sealed my lips upon hearing this.

“Since it will be the first operation for the Star Dragon Sect and, considering the risk isn’t exceedingly high, if you wish to proceed solo, please relay that to the Blue Dragon Master—”

“No.”

I had to suppress the grin spreading across my face.

“I was somewhat uneasy, but this seems fortunate.”

As it turned out, there lay a little gift within this mission that I didn’t want to turn down.

After all, it was something I had long awaited.

“Please convey to them my sincere thanks and let them know how eager I am to join.”

So sincerely eager!

 

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