Chapter 796: If you say one more word.

Seongryongdae is recruiting members.

This was information that came along with the news a few days ago that the Saint King had become the Grand Master of the Murim Alliance.

A special forces unit dedicated to the Demonic Faction, which the Saint King would lead.

Unlike other sword corps mostly founded to counter monsters, they said this unit focused on combat against people.

A unit dedicated to human combat, which had ‘officially’ disappeared after the emergence of monsters; the Murim Alliance announced they would establish it, spearheaded by the Saint King.

Everyone could tell this was a measure taken with war against the Demonic Faction in mind.

It was an era of peace that had been shattered after the emergence of B-rank monsters.

They had somehow painted over and disguised their appearance, but this incident made even that unavoidable.

The emergence of A-rank monsters.

Furthermore, a new organization calling itself the Demonic Cult was causing unknown incidents, pushing people’s anxiety to its peak.

In such a situation, when they announced the creation of a unit to counter the Demonic Faction, the reaction wasn’t bad.

No, it was rather on the good side, you could say.

Ah, of course…

‘This is largely due to my influence.’

Perhaps because I’ve put in so much legwork, my standing has risen considerably lately, and thanks to that, when the Saint King does something, there were people who viewed it favorably.

‘The hope of the era,’ or something like that.

It’s a title that feels burdensome just hearing it. My face has even become too well-known; it was difficult to move around Hanam in my original appearance anymore.

In reality, it would be enough to wear a veil or alter my body to move around, but…

‘I don’t want to go that far.’

Since I never liked going out much in the first place, I figured I just didn’t have to go out.

Thus, my influence had grown considerably by this point.

To put it excessively, it means they view even my crap favorably.

They assume there’s some meaning behind whatever I do, and watch me with sparkling eyes even when I just pass by.

‘…Was the Divine Sword like this in my past life?’

It wasn’t quite like that, but it felt roughly similar.

In my past life, just appearing meant being treated like a disaster, or like the most terrifying person in the world.

And in this life, I’m treated like a hero?

Even while clearly feeling that difference.

‘…Tsk.’

I didn’t enjoy it or view it favorably.

In the first place, this was a situation I created myself. I didn’t make it to enjoy this kind of thing.

I merely felt a sense of dissonance.

Anyway.

That special forces unit for the Demonic Faction, created by the Saint King.

The so-called Star Dragon Unit (星龍隊) declared its founding, and just yesterday, the Murim Alliance made a groundbreaking announcement.

It was the news that the Star Dragon Unit would recruit members not just from within, but also from the outside.

Originally, the Alliance’s sword corps were meant to be handled exclusively by the Murim Alliance’s martial artists, but…

The Star Dragon Unit surprisingly declared they would draft external martial artists.

Of course, not all of them are outsiders.

They did state that Alliance members would definitely be included, but…

‘Regardless, bringing in outside personnel is absurd.’

For the Murim Alliance, it was truly an unconventional choice.

That’s understandable, as the Murim Alliance is a group that values tradition.

They considered themselves the center and focal point of the Orthodox Factions, and this was the beginning of the rules they upheld to maintain that status.

‘When creating any organization, make it with members from within the Alliance.’

This is something not only the Murim Alliance but also other organizations fundamentally do, yet…

For the Alliance, which had lived by upholding that, to bring in not only the Grand Master but also the included members from the outside was quite an unusual event.

Perhaps because of this unusual event, and the purpose held by the newly founded sword corps, more people gathered than I expected.

Sarak-.

I check the letter placed before me while observing the numbers. It was a letter roughly detailing the information of the participating applicants.

The total number of people was one hundred and three.

That’s a considerable number for people gathered in just one day.

‘I heard that the clans and sects gathered in Hanam had also almost withdrawn.’

The renowned families and prestigious sects I sought out for the martial arts tournament.

Most of them left for their own lands after the memorial ceremony ended, and not many remained in Hanam now.

‘There are six clans and five sects remaining in Hanam.’

It’s surprising that there are this many people despite the majority having left.

Do they see the value of the Star Dragon Unit that highly?

If so, it was something I couldn’t understand.

Just then.

“As explained before starting the test, the total number of people we are selecting is ten.”

An Alliance martial artist began explaining to the gathered individuals.

Listening, I also rested my chin on my hand.

The number of personnel to be recruited from the outside is ten.

Besides them, ten people will be brought in from within the Alliance.

Thus, the Star Dragon Unit will have twenty-five members.

You might ask why the explanation says twenty but the total is twenty-five; that’s because five spots were something I discussed separately with Mukyeon.

That makes twenty-five in total.

It might seem like a lot at first glance, but compared to other sword corps, it’s a small, elite force.

The intelligence unit, the Azure Dragon Unit, has over eighty members alone. Even the relatively small Crimson Dragon Unit has over forty.

But twenty-five? That was a considerably small number.

Tuk. Tuk-tuk-tuk. At the sound of knuckles rapping the table, the Twin-Blade Sword next to me glances my way.

‘Hmm.’

Even feeling that gaze, my eyes were solely focused on the letter.

Everything is fine.

The fewer the members, the better.

So, up to this point, it was within my expected plan.

But.

‘…What is this?’

There was a slight problem.

‘Why are these here?’

Familiar names were appearing all over the letter.

Names that shouldn’t be there.

Several such names were glimpsed.

‘This shouldn’t happen?’

I went through so much trouble to avoid seeing these names here.

These names shouldn’t be seen here.

‘Ha.’

What on earth could have happened?

Just as I was filled with suspicion.

“…Hyeop.”

‘How on earth did they find out….’

“Grand Master-!”

“…!”

I looked up at the loud voice from the front.

Confirming, it was the martial artist who had been explaining. It seemed he had been calling me continuously.

“I apologize. It seemed you couldn’t hear me… Are you alright?”

“Ah, yes… I was just lost in thought for a moment. What is it?”

“The explanation is finished, and I wanted to report.”

Hearing him, I looked behind me; indeed, the martial artists were all looking this way.

“I heard that the part related to the test… you personally oversaw and prepared.”

“Ah, that’s correct.”

I cleared my throat a few times with my hand.

As the martial artist said, everything related to the test was solely under my purview.

As I had told Mukyeon beforehand, I had already stated that I would handle this part myself.

In other words.

It was no different than declaring I would pick whoever I pleased, and that I would conduct the test for it myself.

‘Swoosh…’

Although the situation was a bit concerning, I had to proceed for now.

I looked at the gathered individuals with narrowed eyes and said,

“Thank you for gathering. Since time is precious, I’ll skip the introductions.”

At my words, the surroundings began to murmur.

The reaction was that they hadn’t expected me to skip even the introductions.

At the same time, I could see the tension rising.

Hearing it was a test, they seemed to expect something would happen.

‘It’s not like that, though.’

Seeing that they even provided a martial arts stage, it seemed the applicants, as well as the Murim Alliance side, naturally assumed sparring would take place.

Usually, tests like these involve sparring or showing off strength, so it was a natural assumption, but…

I’m sorry, but I had absolutely no intention of doing that.

Sarak.

I flipped through a few pages of the letter.

Then, suddenly.

‘Good.’

I found just the right person.

“You there.”

I immediately pointed at someone.

The man pointed at looked around, then pointed at himself.

“…Me, you mean me?”

“Yes. You. Would you please come up onto the martial arts stage.”

“…”

It was a sudden request, but the man stepped forward without much else said.

His height wasn’t particularly great, and with his lean muscles, you could tell he was a sword practitioner by his development.

“It’s been a while. Are you feeling alright?”

Also, he was someone I knew.

As I acted like I vaguely knew him, the man’s eyes widened.

“You remembered me…”

“It wasn’t a brief encounter. Of course, I remember. Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes, no problem at all.”

“That’s good.”

The man nodded calmly.

I can’t quite recall his name. His sobriquet was probably…

‘Was it ‘Fervent Battle Sword’?’

He doesn’t seem like a very famous figure.

He was a martial artist who was present during the fight against the A-rank monster back then.

Fervent Battle Sword, called out so abruptly like that. He seemed flustered by the situation, rolling his eyes around.

I looked at him and said with a slight smile.

“Sorry for calling you so suddenly. It’s just that I have a small favor to ask.”

“Ah, no. A favor, you say? What…?”

“Until this is over. Please just stand there for a moment.”

“Huh?”

“I needed a clear standard. And you fit the bill perfectly.”

Standard. The ambiguous word only deepened his confusion.

Still looking confused, I added,

“Ah. For your reference, you’ve passed.”

“Huh? Yes…? What do you mean, suddenly…?”

“The test begins. Come up one by one, starting from the front row, left side.”

Leaving Fervent Battle Sword, who couldn’t even react properly, behind, I called each person onto the martial arts stage and had them stand beside him.

From then on.

“Fail, fail, fail. Hmm… Pass. Ah, the three after that are eliminated. You don’t need to come up.”

I determined the eliminated and successful candidates at an absurd speed.

The decision was made within seconds of them arriving.

Everyone undergoing this nonsensical test wore expressions of utter disbelief.

Naturally. It didn’t make sense even to me.

But it didn’t matter.

Because Mukyeon and I had already discussed this.

Right after eliminating ten more people after this.

“Yes. You’re eliminated… The next one… is.”

I trailed off slightly as I watched the person slowly ascending the martial arts stage.

‘Damn.’

My turn had finally come.

One of the people I mentioned earlier as a problem.

Tuk-tteok.

Light footsteps.

The murmuring in the surroundings vanished the moment that sound occurred.

A woman ascending the martial arts stage.

It was the silence she created.

Her collar fluttered with every movement, and perhaps bothered by her hair swaying in the wind, she brushed it aside with her hand.

Her deep blue eyes sparkled.

“…Whoa…”

“…Gasp…”

Faint exclamations.

Those were the only reactions that broke the silence.

About ten steps to reach the martial arts stage.

It felt like time slowed down during those mere ten steps.

Though it was just ordinary walking, the damned bastards were all staring at her actions.

I had to frown watching that.

‘Seriously, if you’re going to go out, wear a veil already.’

My head already hurts.

I don’t know why she gets prettier every day.

The woman finally reached the martial arts stage.

Fervent Battle Sword, who had been standing there, started sweating.

He didn’t seem tired. It was obviously because of the woman next to him.

I also rubbed the back of my neck and looked at the white-haired woman. Namgung Bi-ah, who was among the crowd.

“…”

“…”

Our eyes met.

Namgung Bi-ah gazed intently at me with her characteristic blue eyes.

Looking into those eyes, I observed the reactions around me.

Even the guys who failed without being able to do anything and were grinding their teeth, and those tense about the upcoming test, were all busy staring at Namgung Bi-ah.

Seeing that made me feel like shit.

“Haa.”

I can’t just pluck out everyone’s eyes.

I wanted to just pluck them out, but having to hold back made me even more pissed.

‘Tsk.’

Clicking my tongue inwardly, I looked back at Namgung Bi-ah.

Her eyes were beautiful but terribly indifferent.

At first glance, they seemed devoid of any emotion, but after observing her so much, I could now discern something.

Those eyes were wishing for something.

Eyes looking at me, wishing for something.

I knew what she was wishing for.

The fact that she came here without telling me in the first place revealed her intentions.

However.

‘No.’

Of course, I have no intention of granting it.

Would I be crazy enough to grant this?

As I recalled that, I was about to speak when…

“…Elimi-.”

KWAANG–!!

Suddenly, a roar came from the side.

It was the sound of the table being slammed.

Turning my gaze in the direction of the sound, I saw the Twin-Blade Sword, his face flushed red.

“What is…”

Wondering what he was doing, I looked at the Twin-Blade Sword.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing–!”

Filled with rage, he ground his teeth and roared.

Who the hell is this guy…?