Chapter 56 : Class Assignment (3)
All the students in this place remembered Namgung Il's face.
In the first place, he had stood out so much in the practical exam, so wouldn't it be stranger not to remember?
Namgung Il walked towards where Ho Jeong-won was, receiving gazes filled with various emotions at the same time.
'It's hot.'
Although he had already guessed to some extent, it seemed he was receiving much more attention than he had expected.
This was why he had wanted to just join quietly if possible... Namgung Il let out a sigh inwardly and stopped walking.
"I am Namgung Il."
"..."
"I joined late due to some circumstances, but since I'm in the same Vermilion Bird Class as you, I look forward to your kind cooperation."
Namgung Il briefly introduced himself.
But what returned was only a cold silence.
The students still seemed to not have properly accepted Namgung Il's appearance.
"Now, applause!"
Just then, Ho Jeong-won shouted and suddenly began to clap enthusiastically by himself.
The expressions of the other students, who were momentarily stunned as they looked at him.
Of course, Namgung Il also found Ho Jeong-won's behavior now to be extremely embarrassing.
"What, you guys aren't clapping?"
"...!"
When Ho Jeong-won glared at them with a cold gaze, the students finally began to clap along.
But even while clapping, the students could not understand.
Why on earth was that Ho Jeong-won clapping as if he were happy at his grandson's talent show?
It was a sight that was extremely contrary to the Ho Jeong-won they had seen so far.
"I can't accept it!"
Just then, a sharp voice that pierced through the sound of applause was heard.
At that moment, the sound of applause that had been ringing loudly in the hall stopped at the same time, and people's gazes were all focused on the student who had just shouted.
"..."
Ho Jeong-won had also stopped clapping and was looking at that student.
Usually, if Ho Jeong-won looked at them like this, they would lower their eyes, but the student who had just shouted was confidently facing Ho Jeong-won's eyes without avoiding them.
"What are you?"
Ho Jeong-won asked in a displeased voice.
Who do you think you are to not be able to accept Namgung Il's admission?
Ho Jeong-won's two eyes seemed to be saying that to that student now.
"My name is Jeong Hyeon-yeong."
"..."
"Namgung Il, that person was not on the list of passers. So why is he in the same Vermilion Bird Class as us?"
Jeong Hyeon-yeong asked Ho Jeong-won confidently.
Although they hadn't said it, the other students also had the same question as Jeong Hyeon-yeong.
The number of people in the Vermilion Bird Class was surely a maximum of twenty-five, but with the appearance of Namgung Il just now, wasn't the number of people here now twenty-six?
And so, a sense of anxiety began to creep into the students' hearts.
'Why did that brat suddenly appear?'
'This... if this goes on, won't one person have to leave here?'
From the students' point of view, Namgung Il could only be felt as an uninvited guest.
As if he had sensed that, Ho Jeong-won explained to the students in a rather calm voice.
"Namgung Il was additionally admitted."
"Additional... admission?"
"So you don't have to worry about your admission being canceled. In other words, the Vermilion Bird Class will have a quota of twenty-six people from now on."
When Ho Jeong-won said that, some students let out a sigh of relief.
However.
Jeong Hyeon-yeong still said to Ho Jeong-won, as if he could not accept it.
"Additional admission... so you're saying that Namgung Il was not officially admitted."
"As a result of internal discussion, it was judged that Namgung Il was fully qualified to enter the academy."
"..."
"If you still can't accept it, then say more."
Although he said that, Ho Jeong-won's expression was completely different.
As if he would show him what's what if he babbled a little more there.
As if Jeong Hyeon-yeong had also sensed that, he did not say any more and shut his mouth.
"It seems there's nothing more to say now."
"..."
"Then... now, shall we go over there? Our precious... no, Namgung Il."
Ho Jeong-won said to Namgung Il, smiling with a gentle tone.
'It's a relief that I'm in Ho Jeong-won's good graces...'
Instead, it seemed he had been firmly marked by his classmates.
Even now, he could feel the sharp gazes directed at him from here and there.
As had been mentioned just now, since he was not a type who had been officially admitted, there would be brats who were especially jealous of him.
'My academy life is completely ruined from the start.'
Namgung Il let out a sigh inwardly and walked towards the students.
"Captain!"
Just then, a voice was heard from the front.
When he turned his head, Jong Seo-eon and Gwangcheon were smiling and waving at Namgung Il.
"..."
Well, it doesn't seem to be completely ruined.
Namgung Il grinned and walked towards where the two were.
* * *
Clink—
That evening, a small celebration was being held at the inn to celebrate everyone's admission.
"Ugh... it's bitter."
As he drank the cup, Jong Seo-eon frowned and said.
"What, is this your first time drinking?"
"It's not, but... I haven't drunk it many times."
Hearing those words, Namgung Il thought it was a little surprising.
Because when he was a Hougai, he had drunk almost every day.
At first, he had started reluctantly as his master's opponent, but as time passed, he had reached a point where he was brewing his own liquor.
"That's surprising. Didn't your master make you drink often?"
"He doesn't force me to drink."
"Really?"
"Yes, my master doesn't really like to force someone to drink... he said that he had been through that a lot in the past, so he didn't want to do that to me, his disciple."
When Jong Seo-eon said that, Namgung Il's expression changed subtly.
The person who had forced Gae Du-sik to drink. That was none other than Namgung Il.
He had unconsciously acted the same way towards Gae Du-sik as his master had done to him in the past.
'I'm a little curious.'
How on earth had Gae Du-sik talked about him to his disciple?
Since Jong Seo-eon was here, Namgung Il suddenly had such a question.
"It's a little out of the blue, but what kind of person is your grand-master?"
"Pardon? My grand-master?"
"Yes, I'm suddenly curious."
Jong Seo-eon, of course, could not understand the reason why Namgung Il was curious about that.
If he were to ask, it would be normal to ask about his master, but to ask about his grand-master.
Still, after thinking for a moment, Jong Seo-eon answered Namgung Il's question.
"Hmm... but I've never met my grand-master."
That grand-master is right in front of you.
Namgung Il forcefully suppressed the urge to say that.
"Still, you must have heard something from your master, right?"
"That's true."
"Tell me anything."
"..."
Why was Namgung Il looking at him with such expectant eyes?
Since it felt like he had to say something, Jong Seo-eon finally opened his mouth.
"So... I heard that my grand-master had considerable skills even among the successive leaders."
"..."
"Especially, his Beggar's Staff Style was at a level that no one could approach, to the point where there was a saying that he was the strongest in history."
To hear such words from his grand-disciple, it's quite embarrassing.
As Namgung Il was scratching his head as if he were embarrassed, Jong Seo-eon tilted his head slightly.
"Captain? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"
"Uncomfortable? Keep talking. Keep talking."
"..."
"Have you heard anything else?"
"Captain, your nostrils have been flaring seriously since a while ago."
Gwangcheon suddenly said from the side.
As he had said, not only his nostrils, but his lips also seemed to be twitching continuously... Jong Seo-eon just let it go and continued to speak.
"Especially, I heard that he was also very good at brewing liquor. They say that when they drank the liquor that my grand-master made, everyone felt like they were flying in the sky."
"That liquor! I'd really like to try it once!"
"Pardon?"
"Where can I go to drink the liquor that my grand-master brewed!"
As soon as the topic of liquor came up, Yeonghwa suddenly chimed in.
And so, Namgung Il pushed Yeonghwa's face with his hand as if it were nothing.
In that state, Namgung Il gestured to Jong Seo-eon to hurry up and continue talking.
"Uh... that's all I've heard."
"Have you heard any shortcomings?"
"Shortcomings?"
"Yeah, I'm just curious."
"..."
It seemed that Namgung Il would not let him go until he heard an answer.
Thinking that, Jong Seo-eon had no choice but to continue the story.
"That... my grand-master was a really good person, but..."
"He was a good person, but?"
"...I heard he was a bit stubborn."
"...What does that mean?"
The flaring of his nostrils, which had stopped at some point.
Jong Seo-eon, who had not noticed that, had said something he shouldn't have.
"They say he was a bit of a boomer."
"..."
"He forced me to drink even when I didn't want to, and he sometimes played harsh pranks on his disciples, so that's a shortcoming if it's a shortcoming..."
"Did your master perhaps say that?"
"Uh... yes, he did."
"I see... I get it."
He gets it? What on earth does he get?
Hearing those words, Jong Seo-eon felt an inexplicable sense of anxiety.
"Young Master, since the entrance exam is over, you'll be going back to the main house for now, right?"
Just then, Yeonghwa suddenly asked Namgung Il.
The official start of the classes at the Flying Dragon Academy was about a fortnight later.
So Yeonghwa had thought that Namgung Il would naturally be at the main house until that day.
However.
"No, you go back to the main house by yourself."
When Namgung Il answered, Yeonghwa's two eyes couldn't help but widen.
"Wh-what do you mean by that? You're not going back to the main house, Young Master?"
"Yes."
"No, why... you should at least say your last goodbyes to the clan head!"
"I've already said my goodbyes. So you go back and tell them that I'll be living at the academy from now on."
He said his goodbyes... then where on earth was Namgung Il planning to stay for a fortnight?
Although he could stay in the dormitory after a fortnight, he would not be able to live there before that.
"Then where on earth are you planning to stay during that time, Young Master?"
"..."
"Are you going to stay at an inn for a fortnight? If so, it would be better to go back to the main house..."
"No, there's a place I want to go before that."
Namgung Il said and was now looking at Jong Seo-eon.
"...?"
Why was Namgung Il suddenly looking at him?
As Jong Seo-eon was looking at him blankly, as if he couldn't understand, Namgung Il said something unimaginable.
"Jong Seo-eon."
"Yes?"
"I want to go to the Beggars' Sect."
"...Pardon?"
Did I hear something wrong?
As Jong Seo-eon had such a question in his heart, Namgung Il made him realize it for sure once more.
"Take me to the headquarters."
"..."
"You're a Hougai, so you can do that much, right?"
Just you wait, Gae Du-sik. The boomer is coming.
(End of Chapter)