novelraw Chapter 53
Chapter 53
Chapter 53
Those who knew their Captain didn’t usually speak that way to the Vice-Captain realized the atmosphere had taken a serious turn.
Yoon Seok was displeased about being treated that way in front of the subordinates, but since it had happened because he pestered the Captain, he had nothing to say.
“Bring him to the office.”
When Gwan Uk spoke and left first, Yoon Seok also went off to summon the man.
A short while later, when Yoon Seok arrived, Gwan Uk was waiting with a troubled expression.
The one who informed Yoon Seok about the duel with Pyo Inhaeng was a regular martial artist from the Eighth Division.
“Where did you hear that I and the Tenth Division Leader would be dueling?”
“I overheard some Tenth Division martial artists talking on the way back after buying supplies for the Eighth Division.”
“What exactly did they say?”
“That was the gist of it. That the Captain and the Tenth Division Leader would be having a duel.”
Gwan Uk didn’t believe it to be true.
“If you're leaving anything out, I won’t let it slide.”
Then the man hesitated before speaking.
“Apparently... the Captain wouldn’t last ten seconds against the Tenth Division Leader, and the Tenth Division Leader would demand the loser’s arm after the duel…”
It felt like Gwan Uk’s blood was boiling in reverse.
He had always known a day like this might come.
The hierarchy within the Guardian Ten Division probably needed to be rearranged once more.
If he followed his heart, he would have stormed straight to the Tenth Division Leader to demand why the arrogant bastard was spouting such nonsense. But he couldn’t.
“Leave! And know this—if you go around spreading nonsense again, I won’t let it go so lightly!”
As the subordinate bowed repeatedly and scurried out with an apologetic face, Gwan Uk glared at Yoon Seok.
“What do you plan to do about this!”
Yoon Seok was also shocked and flustered, as he hadn’t expected things to turn out like this, but the Captain’s attitude irritated him.
If challenged to a duel, just accept it and overpower the opponent. Wasn’t this the Divine Martial Sect, where the law of the strong prevailed?
Yoon Seok was not a particularly patient man. To him, his own feelings mattered more than his Captain’s predicament. The Captain, who never usually treated him harshly, had spoken so sharply—Yoon Seok was deeply offended.
“The Captain only needs to accept the duel with the Eighth Division’s honor on the line and defeat the Tenth Division Leader. Isn’t this a great opportunity? Honestly, I’ve long been displeased by how the Tenth Division Leader has been acting out.”
Gwan Uk was dumbfounded. Who wouldn’t want that? Of course he wanted to. But the point was—he couldn’t do that, and that’s why he was in this position.
“Go to the Tenth Division and find out exactly what’s going on.”
Yoon Seok held back his desire to retort, Why me? Normally, he would’ve said it, but the Captain’s grim expression made him decide to endure it this once.
Besides, he was curious to hear directly what the Tenth Division Leader intended. When Yoon Seok arrived at the Tenth Division with that in mind, the atmosphere felt... strange.
It was like a celebration was about to begin.
People seemed visibly excited, as if something good was coming.
Even though Yoon Seok had suddenly shown up, no one seemed nervous. Now that he thought about it, the demeanor of the Tenth Division martial artists had changed recently.
Previously, their eyes had shown admiration. There was a look that suggested they too hoped to someday leave the Tenth Division and join the Eighth.
At the same time, they had shown fear toward Yoon Seok, which had always pleased him. He felt pride whenever people feared him.
But now, he sensed something strange in their gazes. Not everyone had changed—some still looked at him the same. But far more had different expressions now.
They didn’t seem to be watching him nervously like before. Instead, they looked at him oddly, as if wondering why the Eighth Division Vice-Captain was here.
Thinking that nothing here pleased him, Yoon Seok stomped along grumpily.
As he walked, Won Jirim approached from a distance.
“Isn’t this Vice-Captain Yoon?”
Won Jirim was older than Yoon Seok but never treated him disrespectfully.
Yoon Seok looked down on him for that. He thought little of a man who only amounted to being the Tenth Division’s Vice-Captain.
Whenever he saw Won Jirim, Yoon Seok felt he was insignificant and often thought about replacing him with one of his own subordinates. If he’d tried to act on that, he’d have realized how difficult it was—but since it was only a vague thought, he had no opportunity to learn that.
Yoon Seok figured this was the perfect chance. If this was Pyo Inhaeng’s doing, Won Jirim would surely know.
“I heard the Tenth Division Leader plans to challenge our Captain to a duel. What’s that about? Vice-Captain Won, do you know anything?”
Won Jirim didn’t react to his arrogant tone and simply smiled calmly.
“The Captain has returned from a mission and won’t be taking on any assignments for a while. The First Division Leader told him to rest and focus on training for about a month.”
“What’s that got to do with our Captain?”
“Well, wouldn’t solo training get boring? So, to keep his practical senses sharp—and to broaden the horizons of the regular martial artists in the Tenth Division—he decided on a duel. And who better than the Eighth Division Leader?”
“What do you mean, ‘better’?”
“Well… a suitable match, I suppose. Many reasons, really.”
Won Jirim smiled again, as if to say Why ask what you already know?
Somehow, that smile felt sly. Yoon Seok wondered, Was Won Jirim always like this? It made him feel odd—wasn’t this supposed to be our role?
“Since I’m already asking, let me ask one more. Is it true that the loser must offer up an arm?”
“It’d be more accurate to ask the Captain directly. But since you’ve asked, yes, it’s true.”
Yoon Seok felt like he’d been slapped.
“Has he gone mad?!”
He couldn’t contain his rage and shouted.
Won Jirim was also angry, but he knew he wasn’t Yoon Seok’s match. Still, he couldn’t let a man scream at his Captain like that.
After a brief moment of deliberation, just as Won Jirim reached for his sword—
“Vice-Captain, allow me.”
It was Seo Mugyeom’s voice.
Neither Won Jirim nor Yoon Seok had noticed him approach until he spoke right beside them. They both looked at him in surprise.
Yoon Seok felt humiliated to be startled, but there was nothing he could do. How could Seo Mugyeom hide his presence so completely?
“Please allow me, Vice-Captain.”
Seo Mugyeom said, looking only at Won Jirim.
He didn’t even acknowledge Yoon Seok, showing utmost respect only to Won Jirim. Won Jirim understood this was Seo Mugyeom’s way of saving face for him.
“Very well. You have my permission.”
“Thank you.”
As Seo Mugyeom raised his head, Yoon Seok’s eyes seemed ready to burst into flames.
He had once admired Seo Mugyeom’s talent. But if Seo Mugyeom crossed the line like this and grew arrogant, he couldn’t be tolerated any longer.
Maybe it was better this way. If he insisted on remaining in the Tenth Division, then better to ensure he never picked up a sword again.
With that thought, Yoon Seok glared coldly at Seo Mugyeom and drew his sword.
“I’ll see how long your arrogance lasts. I let you get away with too much and now you don’t even know your place. Today, I’ll correct your damn attitude!”
Yoon Seok shouted, and Seo Mugyeom smiled.
“You’ve drawn your sword. Why keep talking? I’m ready—attack whenever you like.”
“You insolent wretch!”
Was he even offering the first move? Yoon Seok trembled with fury. How could this brat show no fear, even in this situation?
He wondered if he had made a mistake in picking this fight—but it was too late to admit that now.
He couldn’t let it be true.
If he hesitated any longer, he feared he wouldn’t be able to face Seo Mugyeom at all.
He swung his sword toward Seo Mugyeom.
But Seo Mugyeom wasn’t there.
It happened in an instant. Yoon Seok never imagined his attack would miss. He had expected Seo Mugyeom’s head to be split into pieces, but he felt no flesh-tearing sensation from the sword.
“This can’t be. I must’ve rushed and made a mistake.”
Yoon Seok prided himself as a seasoned warrior. He had countless battle experiences and had never spared himself for the Divine Martial Sect.
That someone like him would be thrown off just because he couldn’t handle Seo Mugyeom—it was unacceptable.
He steadied himself and fixed his eyes on Seo Mugyeom again.
Better to forget the failed strike. He would focus only on what came next. With that resolve, he swung his sword again. But even then, the attacks didn’t go his way.
Seo Mugyeom observed Yoon Seok’s movements. Just watching them made his head spin. The man was fast. Perhaps even among the Divine Martial Sect, Yoon Seok’s speed ranked among the top.
His sequences were so fluid, it was almost awe-inspiring.
Watching Seo Mugyeom unable to finish things quickly, Won Jirim grew increasingly anxious. He blamed himself, thinking this was all his fault. If he had dealt with Yoon Seok himself, Seo Mugyeom wouldn’t have had to step in. He knew if he had fought, he would’ve been the one injured.
If Seo Mugyeom got hurt, it would all be on him.
Won Jirim thought he had to intervene even now. He knew it wasn’t right to step into someone else’s duel, but he was ready to bear the criticism. He couldn’t let Seo Mugyeom get hurt—no matter the reason.
But just as he was about to step in, Seo Mugyeom looked at him and shook his head slightly.
Seo Mugyeom’s eyes as he looked at Won Jirim were utterly serene. Only then did Won Jirim realize—Seo Mugyeom wasn’t anxious or panicked at all. He wasn’t unable to block Yoon Seok’s attacks.
He simply wasn’t blocking them.