The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

Cha Yul-ryeong was speechless with a blank expression.

Did the words 'Vermilion Bird Class' really just come out of Namgung Il's mouth?

Just then, a cheer that was the opposite of Cha Yul-ryeong's expression erupted from nearby.

"I-is that really true!"

"...?"

"Are you really going to join the Vermilion Bird Class?"

Ho Jeong-won approached Namgung Il and asked.

To think that Namgung Il would choose the Vermilion Bird Class instead of the Azure Dragon Class.

Since he had thought that Namgung Il would naturally choose the Azure Dragon Class when thinking normally, Ho Jeong-won couldn't believe this fact now.

"Yes, I will choose the Vermilion Bird Class."

"...!"

He hadn't misheard.

As he confirmed that fact directly from Namgung Il, an indescribable smile began to spread on Ho Jeong-won's lips.

Squeeze—

Just then, Ho Jeong-won suddenly got excited and hugged Namgung Il tightly.

A movement so swift that even Namgung Il could not react in time.

Namgung Il was now helplessly trapped in Ho Jeong-won's arms.

"Welcome!"

"W-wait...!"

"You cute thing! I'll take special care of you!"

As if he were hugging his young grandson, Ho Jeong-won tried to rub his face against Namgung Il's.

The beard that was shaggily occupying the area around Ho Jeong-won's chin.

Although Namgung Il desperately tried to resist with his hands, it was not enough to block Ho Jeong-won's strength.

Hah—

Just then, Cha Yul-ryeong laughed from the side.

"Ho Jeong-won, I see now that the rat was you."

"...?"

When Cha Yul-ryeong suddenly said that, Ho Jeong-won raised his head.

Not missing that gap, Namgung Il was barely able to escape from Ho Jeong-won's arms.

"You're calling me a rat? What on earth do you mean by that?"

"It means you bribed Namgung Il in advance."

"...What?"

"Otherwise, would Namgung Il choose the Vermilion Bird Class? And that's even after giving up the chance to enter the Azure Dragon Class."

Ho Jeong-won could somewhat understand why Cha Yul-ryeong was saying that.

Because even he had surely thought that Namgung Il would choose the Azure Dragon Class until he had heard the answer.

But he had never bribed Namgung Il, even if he had to bet everything.

"Cha Yul-ryeong, cut the ridiculous speculation."

"..."

"I bribed him? Weren't you the one who tried to bribe him first?"

When Ho Jeong-won said that, Cha Yul-ryeong's impression slightly distorted.

Soon, his gaze turned to Namgung Il.

Cha Yul-ryeong still said to Namgung Il in a sharp tone.

"Namgung Il, say it with your own mouth."

"...?"

"Did you really not receive any bribe from Ho Jeong-won?"

"What bribe? This is the first time I'm talking to this person like this."

Namgung Il answered with a face as if he had come back from the dead.

Then did Namgung Il really choose the Vermilion Bird Class of his own will?

No matter how much Cha Yul-ryeong thought about it, he could not accept that fact.

"Why... did you choose the Vermilion Bird Class instead of the Azure Dragon Class?"

"..."

"Did you not understand my words? The place where you can make your talent bloom more is the Azure Dragon Class, not the Vermilion Bird Class!"

Seeing that, it seemed that Cha Yul-ryeong was quite shocked.

'Well, generally, most people would choose the Azure Dragon Class in that situation.'

First place and last place. If one were to ask which of the two one wanted to belong to, most people would choose first place.

Perhaps the class selection would also be filled with the remaining people in the order of the front, as Cha Yul-ryeong had said.

That was why Namgung Il had chosen the Vermilion Bird Class instead of the Azure Dragon Class.

'Jong Seo-eon, that brat is also likely to be in the Vermilion Bird Class.'

No, he would surely be assigned to the Vermilion Bird Class.

Because Jong Seo-eon's rank was right before the last place.

So the class that people were reluctant to join. In other words, Namgung Il was sure that only the last place class, the Vermilion Bird Class, would be left, and he would be automatically assigned there.

'It would be better to be assigned to the same class if possible.'

That was the reason why Namgung Il had chosen the Vermilion Bird Class.

If they were in the same class, they would surely have more time to be together than if they were in different classes.

In other words, it meant that there would also be more time to train Jong Seo-eon's Beggar's Staff Style.

'And... the place where the memories with everyone are is also the Vermilion Bird Class.'

In the past, Namgung Il had also been in the Vermilion Bird Class.

The place where he had first met his friends and had built memories together.

Of course, Namgung Il couldn't help but have a little attachment to the Vermilion Bird Class.

"It doesn't matter."

"What do you mean..."

"Because I will become much stronger no matter where I go."

"...!"

"So no matter what class I go to, nothing will particularly change."

When Namgung Il said that, Cha Yul-ryeong's face was so distorted that he could no longer hide his emotions.

But he soon regained his composure and had a sneer on his lips.

Cha Yul-ryeong no longer had any thought of drawing Namgung Il into the Azure Dragon Class.

"You talk big, but aren't you just running away because you're scared?"

"..."

"To choose to become the head of a snake yourself... I guess I was wrong about you."

Saying so, Cha Yul-ryeong turned back.

And just as he was about to move his steps, Ho Jeong-won grabbed Cha Yul-ryeong from behind.

"Wait!"

"..."

"Don't tell me you're going to suddenly cancel Namgung Il's admission now."

Cha Yul-ryeong's purpose had failed.

So couldn't he just make Namgung Il's admission itself a non-existent thing?

When Ho Jeong-won asked, Cha Yul-ryeong lightly brushed off the hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry."

"..."

"I will proceed as it is."

When Cha Yul-ryeong said that, Ho Jeong-won let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

Swoosh—

Just then, Cha Yul-ryeong's gaze turned to Namgung Il.

"You will surely regret it later."

"..."

"Please try to struggle with all your might there."

With those words, Cha Yul-ryeong turned back to his original position.

Soon, his footsteps grew farther away.

Just then, Namgung Il shouted something to Cha Yul-ryeong from behind.

"Tell your kids. If they're complacent just because they got in through recommended admission, they might get bitten by a bird."

"..."

"It will hurt quite a lot if they get bitten by me."

Cha Yul-ryeong was clenching his fists in a place that was not visible.

His face, which had become quite murderous.

Cha Yul-ryeong hid that face from the two and walked on his way again.

'Did I provoke him for no reason?'

Looking at Cha Yul-ryeong's back as he moved away, Namgung Il had such a thought for no reason.

No, but to provoke him so openly like that, it would be a shame to just let him go.

Although it seemed he would be quite marked by Cha Yul-ryeong because of this incident, it didn't seem like it would be a big problem.

"Namgung Il!"

"...?"

"You lucky brat! It's been a really long time since I've seen Cha Yul-ryeong so flustered."

"Uh... is that so?"

A sense of crisis that was felt instinctively.

As expected, Ho Jeong-won was about to hug Namgung Il tightly like before.

Swish—

But this time, since he had been on guard in advance, Namgung Il was barely able to avoid Ho Jeong-won.

"Why are you avoiding me?"

"..."

Does he really not know and is asking?

The hug was one thing, but Namgung Il absolutely wanted to avoid touching that beard again.

"Come here. It's really rare for me to praise you like this."

"Uh... I don't think that's necessary."

"Don't be shy!"

For a moment, Ho Jeong-won's figure disappeared from in front of his eyes.

By the time he came to his senses, he was already tightly held in Ho Jeong-won's two hands, and Namgung Il's face turned pale as he saw the beard that was getting closer and closer to him.

"Let's do well together in the Vermilion Bird Class from now on, Namgung Il!"

"W-wait! I get it, so please, just the beard...!"

Rub—

Ah... did I choose the Vermilion Bird Class for no reason?

As Cha Yul-ryeong had warned, Namgung Il was already regretting entering the Vermilion Bird Class.

* * *

The hall was filled with people.

Among them, the figures of Jong Seo-eon and Gwangcheon were visible at the end.

The people gathered in this hall now were the students of the Vermilion Bird Class among the new students this year.

"It seems this is the hall of the Vermilion Bird Class."

"..."

"As expected of the reputation of the Flying Dragon Academy, it's very spacious. Don't you think so too, Young Master Jong?"

Gwangcheon asked Jong Seo-eon.

But Jong Seo-eon, who was sitting on the floor, did not answer.

From the first time he had arrived here, Jong Seo-eon had been in this state all along.

"How about you cheer up now?"

"..."

"The captain won't like it if he sees you like this."

Although Gwangcheon said that, Jong Seo-eon still did not answer.

Seeing that, Gwangcheon let out a low sigh.

In the end, Gwangcheon also sat down next to Jong Seo-eon with a dark expression.

"My heart is also heavy. The three of us even vowed to pass together..."

"..."

"Although this is also the will of Buddha, it feels really cruel."

"...Why did I pass?"

Just then, Jong Seo-eon opened his mouth for the first time.

"It was all thanks to the captain that I was able to come this far... for me to pass and for the captain to fail, isn't that something strange?"

"..."

"Besides that, I received a lot of help... but far from repaying that benefactor, I trampled on him and came up... I'm a really bad person."

Jong Seo-eon had been feeling a considerable sense of guilt from a while ago.

If his grades had been high, the guilt he was feeling now would have been a little less, but because he had passed by a hair's breadth, he felt as if he had trampled on Namgung Il and had come up.

"There's no need to think like that."

"..."

"If you think like that, then I also trampled on the captain and came up... in the first place, the entrance exam itself is a competition, so it's natural for someone to fail."

Someone fails. Jong Seo-eon also knew that part well.

But why on earth was that person Namgung Il?

At least, if Namgung Il hadn't shown such a great presence in the practical exam, Jong Seo-eon would have easily accepted Namgung Il's failure.

Thud— Thud—.

It was then.

A person appeared in front of the new students.

Due to the appearance of Ho Jeong-won, the atmosphere in the hall changed in an instant.

"..."

Receiving the gazes of the new students, Ho Jeong-won stopped.

And so, the tension in the hall became even thicker.

Especially since Ho Jeong-won had shown a quite eccentric side in the practical exam, the new students couldn't help but be more nervous.

"I am Ho Jeong-won, the head of the Vermilion Bird class."

"..."

"To put it simply, within the Vermilion Bird Class, I am the captain. So as long as you are a member of the Vermilion Bird Class, it will be good for your well-being to surely follow what I say."

As expected of his first impression, it was a quite eccentric self-introduction.

To have to live under such a person from now on... such a worry seemed to be already appearing on the new students' faces.

"Uh... Head Teacher."

Just then, a student raised his hand and cautiously called for Ho Jeong-won.

"When do we start taking classes at the academy?"

"Be quiet!"

"...Pardon?"

"That's not what's important now!"

"..."

When Ho Jeong-won shouted, the student who had just asked was at a loss for words.

If that's not what's important at the academy, then what on earth is important?

Just then, Ho Jeong-won pointed somewhere with one hand and said to the new students.

"Before that, there's someone I need to introduce to you!"

"...?"

"A lucky charm... no, a student who joined late due to some circumstances."

Is there a student who hasn't come yet?

The students immediately stared somewhere with a puzzled gaze.

"...!"

Confirming the person who had suddenly appeared, Jong Seo-eon and Gwangcheon's two eyes couldn't help but widen in surprise.

The same went for the other new students.

But soon, the surprise disappeared from Jong Seo-eon's expression, and a smile appeared.

"Namgung Il."

"...!"

"Just like you, he is a student of the Vermilion Bird Class."

Namgung Il, who was walking this way with one cheek slightly red.

It was the arrival of the last new student.

The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan