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Chapter 320. Accountability (3)
Mantongbu.
One of the three bodies that divided the Murim Alliance's power.
Though it served as a command organization responsible for one pillar of the Alliance, in practice it handled more day-to-day business than any other department.
Starting from something as minor as how many hours to post Alliance guards—
To how the annual budget and sponsorships would be managed, and in what manner they'd be distributed across each administrative office.
Wе̌ b̄n̆о̂ vе l E_nũ m̃ а
Further still, it oversaw the finances of the Alliance's branches.
Considering that the authority to appoint branch chiefs rested with Mantongbu, it was, in truth, the body that made the most decisions.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Yet this bloated organization ran on surprisingly few personnel.
When I'd first started cramming Mantongbu documents into my head, a question had occurred to me.
'Does Mantongbu...... start by making everyone practice a uniform handwriting style?'
Since people wrote documents by hand, if they came in all sorts of handwriting, it could later hinder the efficient retrieval of information.
Е n_u ṁ а .і̄ d
In that respect, it had been a rather clever deduction on my part.
Completely wrong, of course.
The reason Mantongbu's handwriting looked so uniform was that they ground such a small number of people into the dirt to get the work done.
In other words, such a vast quantity of documents had been written by an extremely small group of people, producing that consistency.
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'So why does this man have the free time to keep dropping by the Academy?'
I looked at Maeng Ju-won before me and wondered.
W е̌b̊ n̊о̃ v_е̂ l Е̇ n̊ům̈а́
Perhaps he, too, was the type who ground his subordinates down to carve out his own free time.
"Aren't you busy?"
"What do you mean! I'm busy every day! I'm busy every day, which is exactly why I come here!"
I tilted my head at the incomprehensible logic.
At any rate, the dark circles under his eyes and his poor complexion did suggest he was genuinely busy.
"As I said before, the Academy Representative's dormitory is a private space. If you keep barging in without an appointment......"
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"Oh! Don't worry about that. I've changed the regulations. Mantongbu personnel can go anywhere as long as it pertains to Alliance business."
"......"
How was visiting the Academy Representative's dormitory Alliance business?
Maeng Ju-won puffed out his chest and thumped it proudly.
"I am Mantongbu. So my business is Mantongbu's business, and Mantongbu's business is the Murim Alliance's business."
That made no sense whatsoever, so I just let it slide.
Е̂ n̊u.m̈а_
It wasn't as though this man showing up to talk nonsense was anything new.
At least he wasn't drunk and repeating "save me" over and over this time.
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'Why does he keep asking me to save him anyway? It's not like his life is in danger.'
In my previous life, it was Jegal So-myeong who had died at Je Geum-hak's hands.
Maeng Ju-won had been there too but barely survived, and later ran Mantongbu alone until he was eventually dragged down by others and forced into retirement. Well, in any case, he hadn't died at someone else's hand.
"......So what brings you here this time?"
Ē n̈u̇ m а .їd̄
"Can't I come for no reason?"
"......I was under the impression you were that kind of person."
Maeng Ju-won's shoulders drooped.
"How cold...... how cold!"
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"If you have no business, I'll be on my......"
"I came to discuss developments regarding the Lantern Sect, but oh well."
Е ǹ û m̆â . і̌ d
"......leaving would be a shame, so shall I offer you some tea?"
"Tea? Have you got time for tea?"
"I happen to have some good tea on hand."
I pulled out the cheapest tea in my quarters and served it to Maeng Ju-won.
I'd tried it once, found the flavor terrible, and never touched it again.
"Hmm...... lovely aroma."
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How he could call that foul scent "lovely" was beyond me, but a satisfied smile graced Maeng Ju-won's lips.
"Heh...... this kind of leisure...... I could enjoy it if you came aboard."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, nothing."
Maeng Ju-won wore a cryptic smile, then set down his cup.
"The Alliance Leader's Decree will be proclaimed soon."
Wěḃn оv̂ еl Е̊nǔ m а
His face turned somewhat serious.
"Simply put, only the Murim Alliance will be permitted to investigate Forbidden Arts from now on."
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"Is the situation that serious?"
"Do you know how many sects are disappearing every single day?"
"......"
"When we demanded evidence from those who'd annihilated an entire sect, they had the gall to claim they'd 'burned it all because it was tainted.' Packs of them are pulling that trick."
W e bń о̃ v́е̌.l Ĕṅù m̌ ӑ
Contempt flickered across Maeng Ju-won's face.
"It makes you wonder whether fellow members of the Orthodox Path really need to go this far. They're being more savage than when they fight the Black Path."
Of course they were more ruthless and vicious than when fighting the Black Path.
When striking the innocent, you had to leave not even a sliver of room for retaliation.
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A thought crossed my mind.
'Was too little blood spilled in the Sichuan Blood Calamity?'
Ẃ е b̈.nоṽ e l Е̂ň ū m̌ a
Perhaps the blood that should have flowed during the Sichuan Blood Calamity had simply diverted its course this way.......
The thought that no matter how much I changed history, I could never change the human desire for bloodshed.
"Did the elders agree?"
Once the Alliance Leader's Decree was issued, it would take immediate effect.
But would the elders sit quietly and watch?
It was tantamount to having their privileges stripped.
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Maeng Ju-won's brow creased slightly.
"To some extent...... Everyone at least agrees on the surface that this situation can't go on much longer."
Then he added.
"However, some are disgruntled that the Decree was proclaimed too quickly."
"Because they haven't gotten to exploit it yet?"
Maeng Ju-won's expression shifted into something complicated.
Ё n̂ù ṁ_а..î d
"You are...... truly a remarkable one."
"In what way?"
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When I asked, he quickly changed the subject.
"You're right. They're disgruntled because they haven't had their fill yet."
This tendency in the murim sprang from an absolute faith in the Murim Alliance.
The trust that no matter what enemy appeared, the Alliance would never fall—that confidence was what enabled them to use external threats as political tools for internal power struggles.
Wе b̌n о̄_v̇ е̄l̇ _Е̂ n ŭ mа̂
And this was precisely why, when a truly dangerous enemy finally emerged, they were unable to respond.
While I was lost in thought, Maeng Ju-won issued a warning.
"So mind yourself."
"Hm? Mind what?"
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"Making enemies of the Instructors."
"......Wasn't the real problem the Instructors being swapped out after barely a year?"
W̃ е b̆ n̈ о̌v́еl̄ Е́ n̄u̇ mа̇
"That's...... the Grand Strategist already turned the Education Pavilion upside down over that. Take comfort in that, at least."
"Turned it upside down?"
"You didn't know? Several heads rolled at the Education Pavilion."
Oh. Now that was useful information.
Maeng Ju-won stroked his chin and sighed.
"At any rate, the consensus between the Education Pavilion and Mantongbu is that the Instructors who've already been appointed can't be replaced again."
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"Because of external appearances?"
"They can't be replaced. The appointment stamps are already on the new people's papers, so even the Grand Strategist had no choice but to approve it."
Hmm, so that was the situation.
"Then isn't that actually a good thing?"
"......I fail to see what's good about it. Keep in mind that the new Instructors hold the power over your graduation evaluations. If they give poor marks, your grades and your juniors' grades could end up in shambles."
Well, hearing this gave me a rather different idea.
Е̃ ñ ǔ.m̄а̊.
"......What does that 'I don't like this' expression mean, exactly?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
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When I played dumb, Maeng Ju-won shook his head.
"In any case, stop causing trouble. The Righteous Path Association and the Orthodox Path Association both have their eyes on you. If you keep this up......"
Then, as if he had something of utmost importance to say, he gripped my shoulders tightly.
"It'll become harder for you to join Mantongbu later."
Е̌ ñ u m а́ . і d̂
"......"
Honestly, why did he keep assuming I'd join Mantongbu?
I was about to say as much but stopped myself.
The last time I'd told him I wasn't joining, it had caused quite the commotion.
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No sense poking a hornet's nest.
Absolutely not.
Е n u mа
"Heh......"
Since I hadn't refused, Maeng Ju-won patted my shoulder with a satisfied look and left.
***
Two days later, the Instructors reached out.
Maeng Ju-won's warning must have had some effect after all.
A mere two days' worth, but still.
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Since Academy Head Buk Won-pyeong would also be present, I had no choice but to attend.
"Want me to come with you?"
"Young Master Jin, I'll go with you."
Seong Mo-ran, who didn't seem particularly worried, and Namgung Seon-hwa, whose face was full of concern, both offered. I declined.
What was I, a child?
Afraid because a bunch of Instructors were ganging up?
Е̃ǹü.ṁ a
"Oh, come on! I'm worried you'll start something—that's why I'm offering!"
What did these people take me for? Where would you find someone as calm and rational as me?
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......Well, there were the occasional times I couldn't hold back, but those were always because the other side crossed the line.
A true man had moments when he simply must not yield.......
"You were just thinking about causing trouble, weren't you?!"
I hurried out of the Representative's office.
Е n̊ ǔ m̃а̇
***
The meeting was held in the Academic Affairs Office conference room.
Buk Won-pyeong sat at the far end of the long table, with the Instructors and Training Masters lined up along one side.
What a delightful show, arriving in a pack like that.
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"Where should I sit?"
The Instructor in the center answered curtly.
Еn̊ u.m а̇.īd̄
"Sit wherever you like."
"Then......"
"......Just sit in the middle. This is a matter to be resolved between the Academy Representative and the Instructors."
He grumbled when I tried to sit near Buk Won-pyeong.
He should have said so from the start.
The moment I took my seat, the Instructors fixed me with murderous stares.
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"......Sit up straight."
"If you're going to waste time picking at petty things, can we wrap this up? I'm busy."
"......You insolent, rootless......"
"Huh? Academy Head, this man is insulting me."
Buk Won-pyeong let out a small sigh.
"Both of you, stop. Jin So-un, take your feet off the table. And Instructor No Jin-ha, you didn't come here just to hurl insults, did you?"
Wѐ b ñ оv̌_ё l̃ Е n̈u̇_m̆ ӑ
"......"
The brief commotion subsided, and Instructor No Jin-ha—the one I'd wrecked with inner arts—spoke.
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"You know what you did, don't you?"
"No idea."
"If you publicly apologize fir...... hm?"
No Jin-ha trailed off mid-sentence, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.
Wĕb̄ňo vѐ l̇ Én̊u mā
I put on my most innocent expression and slowly shook my head.
"I have no idea. Truly, no matter how hard I think."
"......An attack on an Instructor constitutes a severe disciplinary offense......"
"You're the one who told me to prove my skill, so I proved it. You started it...... I mean, you initiated it, so why are you blaming me?"
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I tilted my head, then slapped my palm with my fist in mock epiphany.
"Ah! Is the problem that I wrecked you so pathetically?"
Е̊n̈ u̇m̆ а̇
"......"
"But that's not my fault. Oh, I'm not saying it's your fault either, Instructor."
At my last remark, No Jin-ha's face relaxed slightly.
Why was he relaxing already? I wasn't done yet.
"It's all Qingcheng Sect's fault for producing such a dim-witted disciple."
SLAM!
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The table shook as if it might break.
"Do you truly wish to die?! How dare you insult my sect!"
GRIND.
No Jin-ha ground his teeth fit to shatter his jaw.
Tsk. He should've used that strength to win the inner arts contest.
I wiped the playfulness from my face and said quietly.
W̄ ӗ b ň.о v̀ е l̄_ Е n̂ uma
"Qingcheng can't be insulted, but Taeul Sect can?"
"......"
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"Whether it's a first-rate sect like Taeul Sect or a third-rate sect like Qingcheng, everyone feels the same attachment to their own school. The one who insulted the other's sect first was you, Instructor."
No Jin-ha and the other Instructors' faces hardened.
"On top of that, you've now dragged in someone who's done nothing wrong and are pressuring him to apologize. Am I supposed to comply with that nonsense?"
Once the subject of one's sect came up, even No Jin-ha couldn't continue.
Ŵ е b n̄ ô ve l Еñ ù m а
Then the affable-looking Instructor beside him spoke up with a smile.
"Now, now. We didn't gather here to kill each other."
He pressed No Jin-ha's shoulder down, seating him.
"Calm down. Jin-ha, you went a bit overboard during class. That was clearly a mistake on your part."
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"......"
What was that man's name again...... also from Qingcheng...... right, Kang Sun-tak!
Ё n ũ ṁ а́
Kang Sun-tak finished admonishing No Jin-ha, then turned to me with a genial smile.
"Try to understand. Instructors and Training Masters have traditionally been harsh on purpose to create a strict atmosphere. It happened in our day too."
Oh, now we were getting the "back in my day" treatment.
"In any case, Jin-ha here clearly crossed the line, so I'll apologize on his behalf. It was a small 'mistake,' nothing more. A man should be magnanimous enough to let these things go. Haha! Am I right?"
He spoke as if the other party's feelings were irrelevant, dismissing everything as nothing.
Why did these people never try to see things from our perspective?
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If they just thought about it for a moment, they could understand how we felt.
"That said, no matter the circumstances, an Instructor being publicly humiliated by a student creates problems for future education. So, to restore a measure of the teacher's authority...... how about you publicly apologize to Instructor No, and we put this behind us?"
But I knew now.
These people had no need to see things from our perspective.
They believed they would never be in our position.
They had always been on top, and they were certain they always would be.
Е́nû m_ã
So they simply didn't need to bother.
They only had to pretend to listen, then steer things back to what they wanted.
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Just like this.
"If you make a public apology and we accept it, the matter is resolved amicably. Isn't that best for everyone?"
They knew.
They knew how much effort the weak had to expend to fight injustice.
Еn_u m а́ .і̌ d́
So they coaxed and cajoled until we gave up.
Because given enough time, things would quiet down on their own.
I'd lived through it countless times in my previous life.
Shouldering the burden of resistance, then believing their sweet words and surrendering.
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Because I'd had no power. Because I'd been afraid. Because I'd wanted to believe, even through their lies, that the hopeless reality could change.
"And that is how justice is served. Don't you agree?"
Ẅ e b̂n о̇ v́ẽ l̈ Е́ n ù m̀ а̀
But now I knew.
"No."
"......Hm?"
Their worthless idea of justice.
And I believed in my own strength.
"I said no. I didn't do anything wrong, so why would I apologize?"
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These hypocrites revealed their true colors the moment the other side didn't dance to their tune.
Just like this one.
"......Can you handle the consequences? We'll be evaluating you and your juniors until graduation."
"That sounds like my grades might change based on the Instructor's personal feelings. Is that what you're saying?"
"......"
"Not denying it, I see."
Еn üm̌ ӑ
Kang Sun-tak let out a mocking snort.
"They say 'Yeom' is in your epithet...... fittingly shallow thinking. Do you honestly believe making enemies of us will benefit you?"
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A gaze looking down from above.
"Oh, are you aware of this? Even after you enter the Murim Alliance, the people sitting here will continue evaluating you. Do you want to dump your bright future in the cesspit right here?"
And that was precisely why hitting back mattered.
Because they would never see things from the other side's perspective unless they themselves bled.
Ŵ еb̈ǹо̀ v̆еl̊ En̂ um а
"Why do you assume only I would suffer?"
"You think we have anything to lose?"
Humans, by nature, only learned caution when their own blood was spilled.
"Half of the Academy's classes involve demonstration sessions with Instructors and Training Masters. More than ten of those are martial duels."
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"......Hm?"
I leaned back in my chair and looked at Buk Won-pyeong.
W̌ е̊.b n̄ ov̊ ѐl Е ńŭ m̈а̀
"Academy Head. What happens if an Instructor dies during an Academy duel? Oh, first things first—has there been any precedent?"
"......Hey! Jin So-un......"
Buk Won-pyeong was so startled that informal speech slipped out.
I pressed on regardless.
"Hmm...... then what if an Instructor suffers an unforeseen accident? If they sustain an irrecoverable disability, they'd naturally be processed as a retirement, wouldn't they?"
Kang Sun-tak, who'd been speaking so smugly, shouted in disbelief.
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"Have you lost your mind? You think you could do something like that and......"
"What? It'd just be a small 'mistake.'"
"......!"
That's what you said. Just a small "mistake."
"Besides, my future and my juniors' futures are already in the cesspit, aren't they?"
"......"
Е ǹ u m̆ а
"I can't fathom why you assumed the damage would only go one way."
But here's the thing.
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You're not the only ones capable of small "mistakes."
"Do I and my juniors look like the type to just sit there and take it?"
Since the Education Pavilion could no longer send replacement Instructors, these people had to sort things out themselves.
Maeng Ju-won had worried that the Instructors couldn't be replaced, but I saw it the opposite way.
W̄ е b̌ n o v̇е̌ ĺ Еň u̇ mȧ.
The fact that they couldn't be replaced meant—
'I can corner these bastards and beat them at will.'
The fact that they'd requested this meeting first said it all.
Having smeared their own faces in filth, they couldn't just clear their throats and carry on as Instructors.
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That was why they'd asked me for a public apology, of all things.
In short, they and I were both trapped in the same pit.
Ёn̈ ů_mа .і̃d̆
And the one who survived a pit was the one with more venom.
"Or did your sect teach you that way?"
"......"
They said nothing more when their sect was invoked.
"Go ahead. Do whatever you want. No—please, I'm begging you."
I let a light sneer slip and added.
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"That way, I won't feel an ounce of guilt when I lay my hands on you, Instructors."
Fear crept into the eyes that had been glaring at me with contempt.
I bowed my head, this time with genuine sincerity.
"Please! Please do exactly that. I'm asking you humbly."
That's what you get for picking on a nice person.
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