Kang Museong became a Manho.
Whether one wore blue robes or red robes, becoming a Manho could be called the beginning.
Kang Museong's long-held dream was to wear red robes, so it was obvious he would want to go out into the field and make a name for himself no matter what.
"I never imagined I'd be promoted like this."
My head hurts.
Originally, my plan was this.
Kang Museong saves Choi Hyojeong, and the rumors spread like wildfire.
Then Choi Hyojeong hears those rumors and develops feelings for Kang Museong.
At the same time, by bringing up that there wasn't just one hero—that Kang Museong had also been on the scene—I would reduce Lee Geon-ha's influence as well.
The problem was that Kang Museong performed too well.
I could have benefited a bit more if Kang Museong had stayed at Seongmu Academy.
"So he'll be leaving now, right? Immortal?"
Now that he was a Manho, he would surely ditch a mere academy instructor and leave immediately.
"What a shame. Such a shame."
From now on, I should move while considering more variables.
The broad strokes of the future hadn't changed, but the details had shifted so much it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say everything had changed.
When I let out a sigh, Arin, who was beside me, asked,
"Are you talking about Immortal Kang Museong?"
"Yeah."
"He came to work, though?"
"Huh? Ah, I guess he came to pack his things."
"Is Lee Seoha here?"
They say speak of the tiger and it appears—Kang Museong came looking for us at the training grounds.
"Immortal. Congratulations. I heard you became a Manho."
"What's there to congratulate? I decided to remain an instructor. If I'm a Manho and an instructor, I have no choice but to command the academy guard. So from now on, I'm an instructor and the commander of the academy guard."
"…What?"
"You haven't finished asking for my help yet. Winning the Seongmu Tournament. Judging by your skills, you're not just training—you want something more. I'll stay on as an instructor until you graduate, so that's that."
"Oh! Loyalty I never even imagined."
"What do you mean, loyalty you never imagined? I've always been loyal. You have to take responsibility for what you say."
"I thought you'd just shut your mouth and run away."
"Is that really how I looked to you?"
"I didn't mean it literally."
To think Kang Museong's sense of responsibility was this strong.
Things worked out better than expected.
If he stayed on as an instructor, he would become my perfect ally.
On top of that, even as an instructor, a Manho was still a Manho, meaning he could mobilize troops in an emergency.
Enough troops to protect ten thousand households.
On average, that meant between one hundred and five hundred warriors.
Even with the same ten thousand households, the number varied depending on who lived there.
Since it was the Seongmu Academy guard, they likely assigned the maximum number.
"Then I'll be counting on you again this time. Honestly, I have a lot to ask."
"This isn't 'this time.'"
"…What?"
Kang Museong glanced around, then bent at the waist and straightened up.
"Thank you for saving Hyojeong. Without you, she would have died."
This was awkward.
I hadn't expected him to bow so deeply and thank me with such a serious expression.
"I'll repay this debt for the rest of my life."
If Kang Museong said he'd repay a debt for life, he really meant for life.
I gained far more from the Northern Great Forest than I'd expected.
Kang Museong.
One of humanity's strongest weapons, who would later kill dozens of Rakshasa.
He was now on my side.
"Ahem, that's a bit much."
"Let's stop with the formalities here. What am I doing bowing to a fifteen-year-old?"
"By the way, did you tell Immortal Choi Hyojeong?"
"Tell her what?"
"That you were the one who saved her. Because Lee Geon-ha carried her into the city, didn't the rumors say that Lee Geon-ha saved her? Immortal Hyojeong was unconscious, so she'll believe that without question."
"Ah, that…"
Kang Museong scratched his head awkwardly.
"It felt a bit strange to say it myself. And Hyojeong seemed happy thinking Lee Geon-ha saved her, so…"
What kind of nonsense is that?
"So you didn't say anything?"
"I should. I have to. But I think I missed the timing. Hahaha."
"Is there something wrong with your head?"
"My head? Why?"
"If not, there's no way you'd do something this stupid. You must've gotten hit on the head by the Black Wolf and turned into an idiot. Let's go see the Medicine Immortal. They say a beating is the cure for stupidity."
"..."
With a sigh, Kang Museong said,
"I don't know why, but whenever I'm in front of Hyojeong, the words just won't come out. Seriously."
"Then hurry up and tell her. That the one who saved Immortal Choi Hyojeong was Immortal Kang Museong, and Lee Geon-ha just carried her."
"I will. But if I say it now, won't it seem like I'm bragging?"
"Come on! The more time passes, the more awkward it'll get."
"Alright, alright. I'll say it. I will."
"Then tell her today. As for the Seongmu Tournament, let's watch the situation a bit before talking about it."
"Fine."
"Make sure you tell her."
"Got it. What are you, my mother-in-law? Why are you nagging so much? I'll handle it."
"This is you 'handling it.' If you don't want to rot as a lifelong bachelor, just do what you're told."
"Ah, my ears hurt."
He's the kind of guy who makes you sigh.
It seemed Kang Museong still had a long road ahead of him.
The pleasure district of the capital, Cheonil, was brighter at night than during the day.
A place where humanity's primal desires gathered, it was both the darkest and brightest place in Cheonil.
A street where happiness was bought and sold.
A man wearing a bamboo hat was walking down that street.
A girl soliciting customers ran up to him without hesitation, despite his suspicious attire.
"Oppa! Stop by here. The ladies here are the best."
The moment the man turned his head to look at her—
Lee Juwon walked up behind the girl, smoking a long pipe.
"Sumin. That gentleman is my guest."
"Elder!"
The girl called Sumin smiled brightly, bowed her head, and said,
"Then this girl will take her leave."
The man in the bamboo hat looked at the girl and said,
"Even children that young work here?"
"They don't work. I'm not that despicable. The children just start by drawing customers in. Anyway, let's go inside."
Lee Juwon said with a smile,
"General."
Following Lee Juwon into a private room at a tavern, Lee Geon-ha removed his bamboo hat and sat down.
"Shall I bring you some tea?"
"No. I don't intend to talk long. It seems there was a mistake in this operation."
"A mistake?"
Lee Juwon tilted his head.
"My younger sibling and Kang Museong showed strange movements. They trained near the Northern Great Forest for days before the operation, and on the day itself, they were right in front of the forest entrance. I can't help but think they knew about our plan."
"Oh? Is that so."
Lee Juwon smiled faintly.
"So?"
"The only ones who know about this operation are me, His Highness the Prince, and you people. Am I wrong?"
"That's true, but are you saying we leaked the plan? For what reason?"
"I don't think you betrayed me. Not yet, anyway. What I want to ask is whether there was any point where information could have leaked."
"There are plenty of such points."
When Lee Juwon answered casually, Lee Geon-ha frowned slightly.
"Plenty?"
"When an organization grows, you can't monitor everyone. The information could've leaked from our side or from yours. If you start suspecting without evidence, there's no end to it. Haven't you heard the saying that mice hear words spoken at night and birds hear words spoken during the day?"
"I didn't come here for wordplay. This is troublesome. According to the original plan, my influence should have grown."
"Your influence seems to have grown plenty. The women at the pleasure houses are singing praises, wanting to meet Immortal Geon-ha."
"So you're saying you did nothing wrong and have no idea where the information leaked?"
"No. We don't know where it leaked from, but we're fairly certain about who stole the information."
Lee Juwon said confidently.
"It's Lee Seoha."
"Lee Seoha?"
"Yes. Your cousin. The top student at Seongmu Academy."
At the mention of his cousin's name, Lee Geon-ha frowned.
"In fact, this isn't the first time Lee Seoha has interfered with our plans. He's interfered quite a lot."
"Then we just kill him."
Despite it being about his cousin, Lee Geon-ha spoke as if it were about a stranger.
"You're cold. But that won't do either."
"Why not?"
"Because we've already failed once. One attempt could be dismissed as a personal grudge or a deviation, but repeated assassination attempts imply an organization behind it. Then Ironblood will move. No matter how well we hide, as long as we live in this kingdom, we won't get away cleanly. And then, naturally, talk about His Highness or you, Immortal, will reach Ironblood. Can you handle that?"
"…So we'll need to kill him naturally."
"Yes. Disguise it as an accident, or have him die during an operation—that's the only way out. But it won't be easy. In any case, assassination is no longer an option. We have to wait for the right moment and be careful that no more information leaks."
"Lee Seoha…"
The last time Lee Geon-ha saw Seoha, he was nothing more or less than a dim-witted little kid.
Someone who didn't seem worth worrying about at all had become the top student at Seongmu Academy, brought Kang Museong along, and saved Choi Hyojeong.
An unforeseen variable had appeared.
"Fine. Then I'll keep an eye on Lee Seoha as well."
"That would be much appreciated. After all, it'll be easier for you, as his cousin, to watch him than it would be for us."
"That's all for now. I'll be going."
"Take care."
Lee Geon-ha left without even looking at Lee Juwon, who bowed in farewell.
Lee Juwon put the long pipe back in his mouth.
"Even the Blue God faction is a mess."
The swords protecting the royal family were now aimed at each other.
Lee Juwon chuckled, then picked up an apple.
"Good. Rotten apples split easily."
Anything rotten splits easily.
Chuseok was just around the corner.
The holiday atmosphere was slowly building, and the children were buzzing with stories about the Seongmu Tournament.
With Chuseok, one of the biggest holidays, influential figures from all over gathered in the capital, Cheonil, and the already crowded city became overwhelmingly packed.
All students of Seongmu Academy were given a day off.
They needed to welcome family members coming from afar.
I, too, was waiting for my grandfather at a restaurant near the city gate.
"Arin is late."
Arin trained the Immovable Mind Technique every morning.
Since she could lose control at any time, she had no choice but to train without rest, even on days off.
She said she'd arrive around Misi, about one in the afternoon, so she should be here soon.
In the meantime, I might as well drink some tea and practice the Strong Path.
"You become a master by using spare moments wisely."
If you lack talent, you at least have to use your time well.
That was when someone approached and sat down in front of me.
"Hi."
Straight bangs and long side locks.
Her hair in the back was tightly tied into a single long tail—an unusual hairstyle.
I knew this girl very well.
Before my regression, she too had lived an unfortunate life, and later we had become quite close.
Park Minju of the Park clan of Sinpyeong.
I was planning to talk to her once things with the Seongmu Tournament were over anyway, so I was grateful she approached me first.
"Oh. Hi. This is the first time we've talked like this, right? Park Minju?"
"You knew my name?"
"We're in the same year."
Minju smiled shyly.
"Actually, I wanted to get closer to you too. You're the top student, and you're close with Arin."
"Arin?"
"Yeah! She's incredibly pretty. Seriously, even as a girl, I'd fall for her. Her aura, her abilities—there's nothing lacking."
"That's true."
She had the looks and the skill to take second place.
If I hadn't been here, she would've been the overwhelming top student.
"But you wanted to get close to me?"
"Yeah! Well, you see… there's something I want to talk about."
Minju glanced around, as if embarrassed to speak.
That's when my 180 years of intuition kicked in.
"Ah, the life of being popular."
Even in my past life, when I had neither ability nor background, I was fairly popular.
It surely wasn't only because all the decent men were dead.
And look at me now.
A promising talent of the Blue God faction and the top cadet of Seongmu Academy.
A decent face and build, and a height that wasn't small for my age.
Wasn't I a man with no lacking charms?
"There's something I want to ask you…"
"Hold on. Stop right there."
But I had no intention of getting a girlfriend.
"Huh?"
"I'm extremely busy. I don't have the time."
"Really? That won't do…"
"Yeah, sorry. I don't plan on dating…"
"It's about Sanghyeok."
"…What?"
"Huh?"
I looked at Park Minju, who was tilting her head.
"Sanghyeok?"
"Girlfriend?"
"…No, I mean."
"…Huh?"
Damn intuition.