novelraw Chapter 52
Chapter 52
Chapter 52
Gwan Uk was known as a good-natured man within the Eighth Division. Seo Mugyeom also believed he had rarely seen Gwan Uk get angry without reason. But he realized that this was only because he had never directly clashed with Gwan Uk before.
Now that even a small disagreement immediately brought out such an expression, Seo Mugyeom realized his previous judgment of the man had been wrong.
"Seo Mugyeom, this is a great opportunity for you. You know very well how many people go to great lengths to join our Eighth Division, don’t you? Not to mention the Tenth Division—people from the Ninth Division frequently try to move over to the Eighth."
The mention that the Tenth Division went without saying left Seo Mugyeom feeling hollow. He knew it was true, but hearing it out loud still left a bad taste.
"Do you think that’s not the case?"
Gwan Uk asked. When Seo Mugyeom didn’t respond, it seemed to him like Seo Mugyeom was trying to insult the Tenth Division.
"That’s not it. I understand that many people want to join the Eighth Division. But I like the teachings and training I receive in the Tenth Division. I also feel it suits me well."
"That’s only because you haven’t experienced anything else. Right now, you’re like a frog in a well. Don’t settle in the well—if you see the larger world, your achievements could become limitless."
Seo Mugyeom grew frustrated when Gwan Uk wouldn’t accept an answer he thought he had already made clear.
"I’m sorry, Division Leader. No matter how many times you ask, my answer will remain the same. I will not leave the Tenth Division."
"What if I take you by force?"
At that, laughter rang out from a distance.
Startled, the three turned to see Pyo Inhaeng approaching. Though he was laughing aloud, it was clearly to announce his presence, not because he was actually amused.
Seeing Pyo Inhaeng, Gwan Uk looked like he knew things had gone sideways. Even if he had seen a mad dog, he wouldn't have felt so unlucky.
He had seen Pyo Inhaeng head off to report to the First Division Leader and thought he’d have time to finish his conversation with Seo Mugyeom. He had counted on that, but talking to Seo Mugyeom felt like talking to a brick wall.
He hadn’t prepared a plan for what to do if the conversation failed. He hadn’t even thought such a thing could happen.
But when Seo Mugyeom didn’t listen easily, his pride was wounded. He even wondered if Seo Mugyeom would’ve acted this way had it been the Sixth, Fifth, or First Division instead of the Eighth.
Seeing him hold firm out of loyalty to the Tenth Division made Gwan Uk think that if he could just force him into the Eighth Division, Seo Mugyeom would likely remain loyal there instead.
At first, he had come reluctantly on the Vice Division Leader’s behalf, but seeing Seo Mugyeom’s stubbornness, he found himself both angry and intrigued.
"What brings the Eighth Division Leader here?"
Pyo Inhaeng asked as he approached, looking Gwan Uk squarely in the eye.
His expression was so confrontational that Gwan Uk couldn’t answer right away.
He couldn’t exactly say he came to poach Seo Mugyeom.
"What are you doing, Seo Mugyeom? You’re not even doing what I told you to."
When Pyo Inhaeng spoke, Seo Mugyeom looked relieved to be rescued and bowed his head. Then he greeted both Gwan Uk and Yoon Seok and drove the carriage forward.
Gwan Uk and Yoon Seok glanced sideways, wondering why the carriage had come all the way there, but Pyo Inhaeng immediately drew their attention.
"I don’t know what business brings the Eighth Division here, but to me, this feels like a provocation. Did you think you could just come into the Tenth Division and try to recruit one of our capable warriors? Would you sit quietly if the Fourth or Third Division came to the Eighth and did the same?"
Gwan Uk gave a wry smile.
"If someone did that in the Eighth Division, I wouldn’t let it slide. But I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong by coming to the Tenth Division. If you didn’t want this to happen, you should’ve built up your strength in advance."
Gwan Uk had been Pyo Inhaeng’s senior at the Martial Arts Academy, and among Division Leaders, they often spoke informally based on relationships formed back then.
"Is that so? Then I suppose you’re fine with the First Division turning the Eighth upside down?"
"The First Division Leader wouldn’t do something like that."
"Oh? You must spend a lot of time polishing the First Division Leader’s image, asking him not to behave that way. In the end, the most important rule in the Divine Martial Sect is the supremacy of the strong. You look down on the Tenth Division because you think we’re nothing. It would be rude to let you leave empty-handed after making such a difficult visit."
Gwan Uk felt the atmosphere taking a strange turn.
He knew well that Pyo Inhaeng was no easy opponent.
Pyo Inhaeng wasn’t someone whose actions you could easily predict. Watching him now, Gwan Uk had the sense he might even challenge him to a duel, and that wasn’t something he wanted.
If there was anything to be gained, he might consider it, but there wasn’t.
"Enough. There’s no need to get so worked up."
He gestured to Yoon Seok, and the two of them left.
Pyo Inhaeng glared at his back, annoyed, and then headed to the Division Hall. There, Seo Mugyeom and Ak Seol-ah were waiting in his office.
Ak Seol-ah was visibly nervous. She hadn’t even gotten out of the carriage and had likely been anxiously listening to what was happening outside.
"What happened, Division Leader?"
Seo Mugyeom asked, and Pyo Inhaeng answered with a triumphant look.
"I sent him packing. Are you really not going to the Eighth Division?"
"Yes. I already told you I won’t go."
Pyo Inhaeng nodded and took a seat.
"Those who returned from this mission will be exempt from other duties for about a month. That’s good news. You’ll be able to focus on your training."
"That’s great."
The two chatted briefly, then looked at Ak Seol-ah.
She sat quietly, just listening to them speak. She seemed to believe she could only live by doing what she was told now—that it wasn’t her place to voice her own desires.
Her cautious demeanor was evident, and Seo Mugyeom felt sorry for her.
"Soso, from now on, you’re one of the Tenth Division. Everything must seem unfamiliar and unsettling now, but there’s no need to be afraid. In fact, you won’t even have the strength to feel fear. I’ll show you how much of a luxury that kind of thinking really is."
"...Pardon?"
Ak Seol-ah glanced at Pyo Inhaeng, not understanding his meaning. Seo Mugyeom was also curious about what he meant.
Pyo Inhaeng walked to the back and pushed against the wall.
What they thought was a solid wall turned out to be a door. When it opened, Seo Mugyeom was astonished beyond words.
"What do you think? Bet you didn’t see that coming?"
"Division Leader, how long has this been here?"
"Since long ago."
"Then why didn’t you tell me about it?"
"If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret. A secret is easier to keep when fewer people know it."
Ak Seol-ah realized what was going on as she listened to the two men speak.
"If someone ever tries to force their way in, Soso, you can open this and hide in the back. The space back there isn’t huge, but it’s not uncomfortable either. And almost no one comes this far without my permission."
She seemed touched that the Division Leader had thought to prepare something like that for her.
"I’ll prepare some things to store in there, just in case. Hopefully it won’t come to that, but you never know. If I stock it with wall-sealing pills, you could even undergo isolated training."
He also handed her a few martial arts manuals.
"Think of it as mastering one technique a day. You’ll be tested daily. If you perform each move 200 times a day, time will fly. You started later than others, so you won’t have time to rest if you want to catch up."
Seo Mugyeom laughed, realizing this was what he had spoken so confidently about. But thinking it over, it made sense.
Training that intensely would leave no room for idle thoughts.
"How you use the time given to you from now on will completely change your life. Your future is entirely in your hands, so surprise us."
"Thank you, Division Leader. Thank you so much for coming to find me and giving me this opportunity."
"You don’t need to be that grateful. I’m not the kind of man who bestows kindness without expecting anything. I’m treating you well because I hope you’ll help me someday when I’m in trouble."
Ak Seol-ah couldn’t answer right away. She likely wanted to agree but lacked confidence. She wasn’t the type to make promises she wasn’t sure she could keep.
Both Pyo Inhaeng and Seo Mugyeom smiled, understanding why she couldn’t answer.
It was still the beginning, and everything was unfamiliar, but Ak Seol-ah no longer felt only fear.