Chapter 1227: Scorched World

Right after I decided to look into the Divine Dragon Squad.

After finishing my talk with the Sword Saint, the place I went to was the library that existed within the Alliance.

Although I was under punishment, as befitting a member of the Eight Swords, entering and exiting the library was easy.

The inside was quiet. There were some people in the section with martial arts books, but there was no one in the section where history books were.

When would martial artists have time to study? They’d be too busy using their own bodies.

I wonder how many people would even come and go from the library amidst all that.

“This and…”

I packed up all the records. Counting them as books, it was over ten volumes. This much should be enough.

‘A day should do it.’

Just one day. That much time seemed sufficient. I’m naturally a fast reader, and I’m quite confident in my memorization skills.

‘The Poison King didn’t believe that, though.’

I recalled how the Poison King couldn’t believe it at first when I said a large volume could be finished in a day. When I showed him, he finally changed his expression.

‘What did he say again?’

He asked why I lived like this with such a brain.

That was quite a rude thing to say.

I chuckled at the memory that wasn’t quite a memory, and was about to sit down at a nearby table when.

“Huh.”

“……”

Someone was already sitting in front of me.

Surprisingly, it was the Poison King in his youth, whom I had just been thinking about.

It was Tang Cheongi of the Iron Dragon Squad.

“……You seem to like books?”

“Mind your own business?”

“Yes.”

I tried to strike up a conversation, trying to act friendly, but his response was sharp. I sat down a good distance away, chuckling awkwardly.

I immediately started reading my books.

‘History of the Alliance.’

I’ll skip this.

I already knew it well. I had read it thoroughly once out of boredom.

Ignoring it, I skimmed through other chapters.

‘Found it.’

I found it not long after.

‘Divine Dragon Squad.’

The Eight Swords. Specifically, the parts written about the Divine Dragon Squad.

‘These things don’t exist in the original world.’

When the Divine Dragon Squad disappeared, their records were also erased. I thought I might be able to see them now. Fortunately, this is correct.

The Divine Dragon Squad’s founding records. The reason for their founding.

Those things were written in considerable detail.

‘……The reason for their founding was Yeon Ilcheon.’

He created them, the first Alliance Leader. The reason was the protection of the Alliance and the eradication of demonic creatures.

This isn’t much different from the reason the Sword Squads were founded.

‘They gave it symbolism.’

By greatly emphasizing the symbolism of the Divine Dragon Squad itself, the squad itself began to change over time.

The Alliance’s elite.

As the value of the organization called the Murim Alliance increased. The value of the Divine Dragon Squad also rose.

Perhaps trying to protect their symbol, anecdotes highlighting the Divine Dragon Squad’s strength increased.

‘Is that why they started concealing the Squad Leader’s identity?’

There is absolutely no information on past Squad Leaders.

It seemed to be a rule to wear a mask and not reveal their identity.

‘……So they don’t even know who the current Divine Dragon Squad Leader is.’

I wonder if they could really not know someone just because they wore a mask.

‘The mask probably isn’t just any mask.’

I recalled the mask the Dark King had given me. Like that one, the mask worn by the Divine Dragon Squad Leader is likely a precious item.

“Hmm.”

Catching my breath, I examined the other books one by one. After reading for quite a while, I understood.

‘There’s a lot of information,’

but its quality isn’t that high.

I realized that most of the necessary information was missing from these officially recorded books.

“Tsk.”

I closed the book and looked out the window. Perhaps because I was concentrating, time seemed to have flown by.

‘There’s no point in reading further.’

The parts I wanted to check were lacking. Recalling that, I finally got up. I knew there was no point in looking further.

So, just as I was tidying up roughly and about to move.

“Hmm?”

I felt a gaze. Sensing something unusual, I turned my head, and Tang Cheongi, the Venomous Dragon, was glaring at me.

“……Do you have something to say?”

“No.”

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

“My eyes are always like this.”

“……Ah, yes. I see.”

Anyone could see he was radiating killing intent, but I decided to ignore it. If he denies it, what more can I say? I was just about to leave the library when.

Screech.

Tang Cheongi also pulled out his chair and followed me. This must be a coincidence too, right?

Thinking that, I started moving when.

“Let me just ask one thing.”

Tang Cheongi spoke to me, looking at me.

“Yes.”

“Miss Mi and Miss Hyeon. What’s your relationship with those two?”

“……What?”

I scrunched up my face at the question. What relationship?

“We have no relationship whatsoever?”

“Then you’re saying you committed such lewd acts without any relationship?”

“What… lewd? Did you just say lewd?”

I let out a hollow laugh at the unexpected word.

“You did such things with two women involved, so if that’s not lewd, what is?”

“I told you I didn’t do anything!”

“Miss Hyeon said everything while investigating.”

“What?”

She investigated Miss Hyeon? That’s the first I’m hearing of it. What could Hyeon Soyeong have said in the meantime?

“She said you held her in your arms.”

“……”

My head started to throb.

“Miss Hyeon said that?”

“Yes. And the fact that you came out of Miss Mi’s room must also be true. What exactly have you been doing? Do you like women that much? Enough to covet those who are already taken?”

“……No.”

Covet what? I’m so frustrated, honestly.

“Covet what? And, honestly, what business is it of yours whether I do or not?”

Right now, the Venomous Dragon was crossing the line. If it were an investigation as part of the Iron Dragon Squad, maybe, but this… This seemed filled with personal feelings.

“What is it? Why do you keep doing this?”

It’s so annoying.

I’m trying to tolerate it, but you keep making me angry. Pointing that out, I spoke.

“How could I possibly let my sister… be with someone like you…”

“Sister? Poison Phoenix?”

“I will never give my sister to a guy like you.”

“……”

My head hurt. Did they all go crazy together? Why are they doing this to me?

Besides.

“Why are you keep using informal speech?”

I’m consistently showing respect, but… This guy has been using informal speech since earlier.

“We aren’t really that close, are we? I haven’t really done anything wrong, so why the fuss……”

Grind.

Grinding my teeth, I spat out words to Tang Cheongi.

“I hate you.”

Tang Cheongi said that confidently.

“You’ll be participating in the Martial Arts Tournament too, right?”

“It seems so.”

Whether by choice or not, I ended up participating.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ll see you then.”

Tang Cheongi said that and turned his back. It sounded like he wanted to fight at the tournament.

“……”

I stared intently at Tang Cheongi. And then.

“Where do you think you’re going.”

“……?”

Grabbing Tang Cheongi by the shoulder, I spun him around. And drove my fist into his stomach.

Thwack!

“Guh!?”

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Tang Cheongi’s body hit the ground with a thump! I kicked his convulsing body backward.

Crash-!

The library door burst open, and Tang Cheongi rolled on the floor.

“Cough!”

Tang Cheongi, hit in the stomach, let out a hacking cough. Watching him, I said.

“Is it okay to just leave after saying whatever you want?”

And what? Meet me at the tournament? What kind of romance are you trying to maintain in a situation like this?

“You wanna die?”

“Guh… this bastard…”

“If you start trouble, you should be prepared to get hit.”

Even though my body has become weaker. I’m not the type to calmly overlook something like this. It feels like my luck’s been bad lately.

‘Namgung Jin too. And Tang Cheongi. Why is everyone like this towards me?’

“This… bastard…”

Tang Cheongi moved. Seeing his shoulder tremble slightly, I immediately took a step back.

Flick-

Something grazed past my side. A throwing knife.

“Ha.”

Using a throwing knife means he’s serious, right? I laughed. Actually, that’s better. If he wants to fight properly, I welcome it.

Thump-!

I stomped hard on the ground. Tang Cheongi’s body blurred. It looks like an invisibility technique. If I lose track of his presence now, I won’t be able to catch him.

So I focused my eyes. The angle of his toes, the position of his shoulders. The direction he was looking. From within that, I filter out feints.

It would have been difficult against another Shadow Guest, but… ‘Against him now, it’s fine.’

If it’s the Venomous Dragon at the level of a late-stage disciple, it’s a different story.

Tang Cheongi’s body blurred, and a moment later. I reached out and swept my hand through the air.

Wham-!

“What…!”

Tang Cheongi, grabbed by the collar, flinched. His face was filled with the emotion of ‘How did you catch me?’ Seeing that, I said.

“You should have hidden your scent. It reeks too much.”

“……!”

That was a lie. There’s no way there would be a scent. The basics for a Shadow Guest are scentlessness, and the Tang family is thorough in that regard. In fact, they know how to perfectly conceal it when using poison. By the way, this was something I saw in the Tang family’s archives.

I was about to grab Tang Cheongi and slam him onto the floor. His body spun around and crashed down.

Thud-!!

“Huh?”

Something intervened. Another person’s foot was placed near Tang Cheongi’s head. Perhaps to prevent injury to his head, it was properly supporting him.

I raised my gaze. I saw a familiar face.

‘Poison Phoenix.’

Poison Phoenix, Tang Cheongi’s sister. She had saved Tang Cheongi.

“……I suppose I must apologize first again this time.”

Poison Phoenix said to me with an awkward smile.

“We meet often… though I didn’t intend to meet you like this.”

“Should I even greet you?”

“Ahaha… No, I think it’ll be fine.”

Seeing Poison Phoenix, I released the hand holding Tang Cheongi.

“Noona……”

Tang Cheongi looked at her.

“Cheongi-ya.”

At her words, Tang Cheongi immediately spoke.

“This is all because of circumstances…”

He tried to continue his excuses somehow, but.

“I’m sorry.”

Before he could, Poison Phoenix apologized while looking at me.

“Please wait a moment. I need to handle this side.”

“Yes…?”

Just as I was wondering what she meant.

Wham!

“Gak!”

Tang Cheongi’s head shot backward. Poison Phoenix had thrown a punch at Tang Cheongi’s face. Blood splattered in the space tinged with orange as the sunset. It was Tang Cheongi’s nosebleed.

That wasn’t all.

Crunch crunch.

“Aaaargh!”

Tang Cheongi screamed at the subsequent harsh sounds.

“I clearly.”

His scream was desperate, but Poison Phoenix didn’t seem to care.

“Told you to stay put.”

Crack.

“Gueo…!”

“Didn’t I, Cheongi-ya? Why aren’t you listening to your sister?”

“S-Sister… please… Aaaargh!”

“……Wow.”

At the bizarre sight, I covered my eyes with my hand. It was quite a terrifying sight even for me.

‘……She’s a scary person.’

My perception of Poison Phoenix changed. She seemed much more cruel than I expected.

“Aah!”

Tang Cheongi howled, clutching his groin. It was a sight I couldn’t bear to watch.