Chapter 33
A bustling street.
Namgung Il was walking there alone.
'This place seems similar even after all these years.'
Namgung Il had been looking around the street with a sense of wonder for a while now.
The place Namgung Il had come to was Luoyang.
It had been almost thirty years since Namgung Il had been here, but compared to the past, the streets of Luoyang felt almost the same.
"Y-Young Master! Wait!"
Just then, Yeonghwa came chasing after Namgung Il from behind, out of breath.
Hearing her voice, Namgung Il stopped walking.
Yeonghwa stopped beside Namgung Il, looking like she was about to die.
"You're walking too fast, Young Master..."
"Ah, sorry. I wasn't paying attention because I was looking at the streets."
"...Hoo."
Hearing his answer, Yeonghwa let out a sigh.
Namgung Il seemed quite excited looking at the streets now, but to be honest, she just wanted to go back home as soon as possible.
She hated crowded places like this.
Just standing among the crowd felt like her energy was being drained away.
'How did I end up in a place like this...'
Of course, she knew the reason.
The entrance exam for the Flying Dragon Academy, which would be held here tomorrow.
Because of that, she, a maid, had no choice but to leave home and come to a foreign place like this, following Namgung Il.
'This... is no place for a person to live.'
Of course, looking at the well-paved roads and the tall buildings on the street, it could be said to be a very well-developed city.
But that and being a good place to live were separate issues.
At least, Yeonghwa didn't think she could last even a few days in such a suffocating place.
"Ugh—"
Just then, Yeonghwa hurriedly covered her mouth with one hand.
"Y-Yeonghwa! Are you okay?"
"...I'm fine."
Yeonghwa barely answered in a dying voice.
Fortunately, she had somehow managed to prevent what was inside from coming out of her mouth, but if she had made a mistake, a catastrophe would have occurred in the middle of the street.
No, it couldn't be said that she was completely safe yet.
If she didn't get off this street, even Yeonghwa herself couldn't predict when the bomb inside her would explode again.
'I should have drunk in moderation yesterday...'
Last night, with Namgung Il's permission, Yeonghwa had drunk liquor.
Just one cup became two, and soon it became two bottles.
She thought she was fine this morning, but when she came to a crowded place, her stomach, which had been quiet until then, began to act up.
"Young Master... can't we get out of here for a bit?"
"Alright, I was planning to move for the registration anyway."
"..."
That's a relief.
It'll be a little better if I get out of here.
Yeonghwa thought so to herself and moved her steps with difficulty.
However.
Crowded—
At the sight of a crowd much larger than before, Yeonghwa's body froze.
'Why... are there more people?'
Yeonghwa soon realized the reason.
Could it be that all the people here were now lining up to register for tomorrow's entrance exam?
The space had become narrower, but there were more people, so Yeonghwa felt even more nauseous.
"There are a lot more people than I expected."
"..."
"At this rate, I think we can barely register before the sun sets... Let's get in line for now."
Namgung Il said and was about to go to the back and get in line.
But his steps stopped immediately.
For some reason, Yeonghwa was not following Namgung Il and was still standing there blankly.
"Yeonghwa?"
"Young Master... I'm sorry."
"...?"
What was she sorry about?
Namgung Il couldn't understand the meaning of those words for a moment, but as if something had come to mind, he shouted urgently.
"Yeonghwa! Not here!"
"..."
Grin—
Yeonghwa gave Namgung Il a smile as if she had transcended life.
And at that moment, a waterfall poured out of Yeonghwa's mouth.
Seeing that, not only Namgung Il, but also the people around him froze.
"What is this!"
"The, the smell! What on earth is this woman getting on someone else's clothes!"
"Ugh, disgusting!"
"..."
I don't know this person.
Until Yeonghwa's vomiting stopped, Namgung Il tried his best to look away.
* * *
A moment later, Namgung Il took Yeonghwa to a nearby inn and returned to the registration office.
'I had a big dose of bad luck as soon as I arrived.'
Who would have expected Yeonghwa to vomit there?
If he had known, he should have just told her to rest at the inn from the beginning and wandered around alone.
Sniff, sniff—
As if something was bothering him, Namgung Il put his nose to his clothes and sniffed.
Fortunately, it didn't seem like the vomit had gotten on his clothes... but he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
'I should take a bath when I get back.'
Namgung Il thought so to himself and looked at the long line in front.
An incredible crowd, even looking at it again.
He didn't know if it was his imagination, but it even felt like the number of people had increased in the meantime.
'What, was everyone waiting for today?'
The registration for the entrance exam had probably started in earnest three days ago.
But there were still so many people.
Of course, he had expected that today would be the most crowded since it was the last day, but still, this was a number that far exceeded his expectations.
'Wasn't it two hundred to one last year?'
Namgung Il didn't know how many people had come here on other days.
But just by looking at the number of people gathered today, it felt like the competition rate was even more fierce than last year.
'Well, it probably doesn't matter.'
No matter how many people gathered, only a few of them were the real deal.
And only a small number of those real deals would be able to pass and enter the Flying Dragon Academy.
Of course, since Namgung Il was already convinced that he would be one of them, he wasn't particularly worried no matter how many people had gathered here.
Thud— Thud—.
With a very leisurely gait, Namgung Il went to the back and got in line.
'If I had known, I would have come a little more leisurely.'
It seemed he had left the Namgung Clan just in time.
If he had arrived in Luoyang in advance, he would have come here early in the morning and stood in line.
At that time, a crowd like this wouldn't have gathered, so he would have been able to register even if he had waited a little.
'It can't be helped.'
With this many people, it seemed his turn would come before evening.
Still, he should be glad that he had arrived on the last day like this.
If he had been late in arriving in Luoyang and couldn't register, he would have been in a position where he had to fail without even taking the exam.
"..."
How much time had passed like that?
Half an hour, an hour...
Only after two hours had passed did Namgung Il realize that something was strange.
'Is it just my imagination? It feels like the line isn't getting shorter at all.'
No, it wasn't his imagination.
In fact, the distance he had moved was probably not even ten steps.
Just then, he heard the voices of people talking in front.
"Why isn't the line getting shorter? What's taking so long just to register?"
"I think there's some problem at the front."
"A problem?"
"I heard some brat is blocking the front of the registration office."
Someone... is blocking the front of the registration office?
Namgung Il pricked up his ears and focused on the two's conversation.
"No, who on earth is blocking the front of the registration office?"
"I don't know that far."
"What is the Flying Dragon Academy doing! They should handle such problems!"
"..."
It was not yet certain whether those words were true or not.
But this abnormally slow speed could certainly be said to be strange.
Just then, a man who seemed to belong to the Flying Dragon Academy walked along the line and shouted something to the people.
"Registration will end in half an hour."
"...!"
"Those who have not finished registering by then should just go back."
When the man said that, the people's expressions darkened rapidly.
After all, to say that registration would end in half an hour.
At this rate, it was clear that the turn would never reach the back of this line within that time.
"W-wait a minute!"
Just then, a woman who was standing in line shouted at the man.
"What do you mean, registration will end in half an hour? Then what happens to the people who couldn't register?"
"Of course, they'll have to go back home."
When the man said that with a calm face, the woman was so dumbfounded that she was at a loss for words for a moment.
The same went for the other people standing in line.
Soon, as if she had come to her senses, the woman said to the man, as if arguing.
"Where is there such a law!"
"Isn't it natural that you can't take the exam if you can't register?"
"Th-that's true, but... right! You said that registration is being delayed because someone is blocking the way at the front, so what on earth is going on with that!"
"That has nothing to do with me."
"Nothing to do with you... aren't you an official of the Flying Dragon Academy?"
"Yes, my name is Ak Simin, and I am currently a student at the Flying Dragon Academy."
At the man, Ak Simin's, words, the woman was at a loss for words again.
Why was a student of the Flying Dragon Academy here?
But even excluding all of that, the woman couldn't understand Ak Simin's words now.
"I'm doing this as a volunteer activity now, so I would appreciate it if you would refrain from further questions."
Ak Simin said and was about to turn and leave the place.
But just then.
Grab—
The woman grabbed the arm of Ak Simin, who was about to leave, without realizing it.
"W-wait a minute!"
"..."
"Please just check the front once! It's too unfair to fail the exam without even being able to register because of someone I don't even know..."
At that moment, the woman couldn't say anything, her face pale.
Because the gaze of Ak Simin, who had turned his head, was considerably different from before.
Like a viper... it was a completely opposite expression from the smiling one he had before.
"So... don't ask any more questions."
"...!"
"In the first place, a brat who can't even register because of such a problem has no right to enter this Flying Dragon Academy. So it would save both you and me time if you just get lost."
His tone had changed as much as his expression.
The woman had already let go of the arm she was holding.
"If it were me, I would have moved on my own before making such a request."
"...!"
"In the first place, you're going to be eliminated in just half an hour, but you're just standing in line calmly... At that point, you're just eliminated."
Thud—
The woman's legs trembled, and she eventually sat down on the floor.
The same went for the other people behind her.
Dozens of people were overwhelmed by the aura that Ak Simin alone was emitting.
"..."
Seeing that, Ak Simin returned to his usual expression again.
But just then.
"Does that mean I can do as I please?"
"...?"
Someone asked Ak Simin.
At that moment, Ak Simin turned his head to where the voice had come from, and there, Namgung Il was looking this way with a meaningful expression.
"I asked if I could do as I please."
"..."
"Senior."
(End of Chapter)