Chapter 91 : Blood Dragon Cult (2)
The class was over.
"Then, that's all for today's class."
When Gok I-hyeon said that, the students got up from their seats and began to leave the lecture hall.
Just then, a person approached Gok I-hyeon, who was organizing the Go board.
When he discovered that Namgung Il had approached him, Gok I-hyeon smiled and looked that way.
"What is it? Student Namgung Il."
"Is it alright if I ask you a question, teacher?"
From a teacher's perspective, a student who actively asked questions was always welcome.
Gok I-hyeon said to Namgung Il with a happy expression.
"Of course. Was there a part you didn't understand during the class?"
"Rather than that, I'm asking this because I'm personally curious."
"...?"
"Do you think that the remnants of the Blood Dragon Cult still remain, teacher?"
This was the reason why Namgung Il had come to see Gok I-hyeon separately.
The remnants of the Blood Dragon Cult.
From the moment he had heard those words, Namgung Il could not erase the uneasy feeling.
'The people of the world know that the Blood Dragon Cult no longer exists.'
Namgung Il also knew that.
So he had been living without paying much attention to it until now, but for a teacher of the Flying Dragon Academy, of all people, to suddenly bring up such a thing in a place like this, he couldn't help but wonder.
'The Blood Dragon Cult should not remain in this world.'
Namgung Il was a body that had directly experienced the Righteous-Demonic War.
The Blood Dragon Cult could be said to be a group of fanatics, and the leader they followed, the Blood Demon, was a person who only enjoyed war and slaughter.
Although he had been able to barely kill the Blood Demon by sacrificing his own life and the lives of his comrades, who knew what the remnants would do later if they were alive?
If even a small ember was left, there was a possibility that it could spread into a huge flame again at any time.
'If the remnants of the Blood Dragon Cult remain... I will surely eliminate them all with my own hands.'
He could not let the peace he had barely regained be broken by such a group of fanatics.
Even to honor the memory of his fallen comrades, Namgung Il thought that he must surely pull out the roots of the Blood Dragon Cult.
"..."
Hearing Namgung Il's question, Gok I-hyeon did not say anything for a moment.
In the meantime, Namgung Il, who was still looking at Gok I-hyeon with a serious gaze.
Since the intention of wanting an answer was being very clearly conveyed from his gaze, Gok I-hyeon soon opened his mouth, which he had been keeping shut.
"As I said in class, no one can know that."
"..."
"About twenty years ago, the Blood Dragon Cult was certainly severely damaged by the death of the Blood Demon. Since they have not shown themselves to the public since then, everyone thinks that the Blood Dragon Cult is completely over."
Namgung Il also knew that well.
That was why he had somehow killed the Blood Demon, who could be said to be the heart of the Blood Dragon Cult, after all sorts of sacrifices.
"The Blood Dragon Cult is a group that worships the Blood Demon. So since the Blood Demon is dead, the Blood Dragon Cult no longer has a reason to exist."
"..."
"Cheon Gang-seon, who was the Blood Demon at that time... unless a being with skills equal to or greater than him appears, it seems that the Blood Dragon Cult will probably not be revived."
"Conversely, does that mean that if such a person appears, there is a possibility that the Blood Dragon Cult will be revived?"
"Well... you could think of it that way."
Gok I-hyeon said and was now smiling.
"At that time, the Martial Alliance sent ten skilled people to kill Cheon Gang-seon. But among them, only two survived."
"..."
"Just from that fact, you can tell how strong Cheon Gang-seon was. So you can think that it's realistically impossible for a being who surpasses him to appear."
The ten masters selected by the Martial Alliance to kill the Blood Demon. At that time, the world called those ten the Ten Stars of Light.
One of them was Namgung Il, when he was the Beggar King.
Even to live up to the name of the Ten Stars of Light, Namgung Il and his comrades had fought the Blood Demon, risking their lives.
'As he said, it's impossible for a brat like Cheon Gang-seon to appear again.'
He, who had fought him directly, knew that best.
Cheon Gang-seon was, how should I put it... in a word, a being like a disaster.
A being that could not be dealt with by human strength.
Namgung Il could be sure that if such a being appeared again, this world would walk the path of destruction.
"Cheon Gang-seon had no descendants. Also, I know that Cheon Gang-seon's martial arts were lost with that war."
"..."
"So even if there are remnants, there is no possibility that the tragedy of the past will be repeated. Nevertheless, the reason I am teaching you is to minimize the damage in case the remnants start a war."
As long as there was no proper Blood Demon, the Blood Dragon Cult could no longer be seen as the Blood Dragon Cult of the past.
A group that was nothing more than a defeated army.
Probably, even if they were to start a war again, this time the Martial Alliance would be able to win overwhelmingly.
"Now, has that answered your question?"
"Thank you. It has been answered sufficiently."
"But student Namgung Il seems to be quite interested in the Blood Dragon Cult."
"Pardon? Ah, that's..."
He was one of the Ten Stars of Light who had killed the Blood Demon.
Since Namgung Il couldn't say that, he just smiled awkwardly.
"It's a good thing. It means you're also very interested in my class."
Gok I-hyeon said and packed his teaching materials.
"If you have any more questions in the future, you can ask me as much as you want."
"..."
"Ah, of course, a personal question like who my first love was is a bit difficult."
"Haha... thank you."
Gok I-hyeon smiled with his eyes for the last time and left the lecture hall.
Namgung Il, who was silently watching him for a moment.
As expected, thinking about it again, unlike someone, Gok I-hyeon seemed to be a pretty good teacher.
'I should listen to this class properly.'
He was personally interested in the content of the class, and besides that, he liked Gok I-hyeon's educational philosophy.
To teach students to minimize the damage in a war that might happen... Namgung Il fully agreed with that.
"Ah."
Just then, as if he had realized something, Namgung Il let out a low exclamation.
'Come to think of it, the class is over, right?'
He had been so preoccupied with thoughts about the Blood Dragon Cult for a moment that he had forgotten, but there was a place he had to go after this class was over.
Namgung Il immediately moved his steps and left the lecture hall.
* * *
Namgung Il was walking, following Wi Ji-yang.
"Has the office been restored to some extent?"
Namgung Il asked indifferently from behind.
At that moment, Wi Ji-yang, who stopped walking.
Soon, with a trembling body, Wi Ji-yang turned his head.
"Do you think it can be restored in a day? Because of someone, a whole building has become unusable."
"..."
"Because of that now, the finance director is racking his brains to re-plan the student council's budget."
I'm a little sorry about that.
Since it would not cost a penny or two to restore it, it seemed it would be quite a headache for the finance director.
"Then where is the president working now?"
"..."
When Namgung Il asked, a momentary look of distant sadness was felt in Wi Ji-yang's eyes.
"...My office."
"Pardon?"
"The president came into my office today and kicked me out as she pleased."
Only then could Namgung Il understand the reason why Wi Ji-yang had been squatting at the main gate of the student council hall.
Although he had been puzzled why he was squatting on the street like a beggar, was he really kicked out?
It seemed that the space that Wi Ji-yang had originally used had been chosen as the temporary student council president's office until the building was newly restored.
'That's good.'
Although he felt a little sorry for the finance director, he did not feel a bit of sorry for Wi Ji-yang.
As Namgung Il smiled and turned his head, Wi Ji-yang discovered that and glared at him sharply, saying.
"Are you laughing?"
"I wasn't laughing."
"Don't lie! You just laughed!"
"I have a naturally smiling face."
"Ugh..."
How dare a first-year laugh at him, a member of the student council.
If Namgung Il hadn't been Cheon Hong-ryeon's guest, he would have shown him what's what.
"...Follow me."
Barely swallowing his anger, Wi Ji-yang walked forward silently again.
A moment later, the two who had arrived in front of a certain building.
Wi Ji-yang looked at Namgung Il with a still displeased face and said.
"Go in."
"Me again? Don't tell me a dagger will suddenly fly out as soon as I open the door again?"
"Is that my business?"
"Well, since it was originally your office, senior, the president probably didn't have the leisure to install a trap."
Namgung Il said and walked closer to the door.
Although Wi Ji-yang's face was flushed red behind him, Namgung Il opened the door wide without paying any attention.
Creak—
This time, nothing flew out even when he opened the door.
Just then, Cheon Hong-ryeon, who was sitting in front, discovered Namgung Il and waved her hand as if she were happy to see him.
"Oh, Namgung Il. What's up?"
"I've come to receive the reward as promised. You haven't forgotten, have you?"
"Ah, that? I remember."
Fortunately, it seemed she wasn't going to back out this time.
Namgung Il slowly approached where Cheon Hong-ryeon was sitting from the entrance.
"But you came earlier than I thought? I didn't think you would come to see me the very next day."
"I have a situation, so I need the merit points by today."
"A situation? What kind of situation?"
Cheon Hong-ryeon asked with sparkling eyes.
A look as if a child had discovered a toy.
Namgung Il instinctively sensed a crisis and held his tongue.
"It's nothing."
"Really? But I'm a little curious?"
"It's a personal matter. Does the student council president perhaps need to be told everything like that?"
"Well, there's no such rule."
"Then I won't say anything."
Since he had said it so clearly, Cheon Hong-ryeon did not ask any more questions.
But the gleam that still remained in those two eyes.
Namgung Il wanted to finish his business quickly and leave this place before he got involved in something troublesome again.
"Please give me what you promised quickly."
"I already did."
"...Pardon?"
"I processed it yesterday, so it will probably be registered on the score board within today."
Originally, merit or demerit points were processed automatically when a teacher submitted the documents to the administration office.
The same went for the student council president.
Cheon Hong-ryeon had already submitted the documents to the administration office yesterday, stating that she would grant merit points to Namgung Il.
"...Didn't you say yesterday that you couldn't give me the merit points because your office was in that state?"
"Ah, did I?"
"..."
"Come to think of it, it seems I can handle that much paperwork even without an office."
Then why had he come here?
Hearing those words, Namgung Il could tell that he had made a useless trip.
'...That's it.'
Although he felt a little bad because he felt like he had been caught in Cheon Hong-ryeon's prank again, Namgung Il muttered to himself and decided to just let it go.
Since his purpose was achieved anyway.
Namgung Il gave a simple greeting to Cheon Hong-ryeon to get out of here quickly.
"Then I'll be going."
"Wait."
"...?"
"I have something to talk about."
Something to talk about?
As Namgung Il looked with a puzzled gaze, Cheon Hong-ryeon continued with a smile.
"The reason I told you to come later was because I had something to talk about separately."
"...What is it?"
"Before that, wait a minute."
Cheon Hong-ryeon said and looked at Wi Ji-yang, who was behind.
"Wi Ji-yang."
"...Yes?"
"Why are you sneaking in? I have something to talk about with Namgung Il separately now, so go out."
"Uh... President, but this was originally my office..."
"It's my office now."
When Cheon Hong-ryeon said that, Wi Ji-yang could not say anything.
In the end, he walked out with a very dejected look.
Click—
When the door was closed, only Namgung Il and Cheon Hong-ryeon were left inside.
"..."
What on earth did she have to talk to him about?
Seeing that she had even kicked out Wi Ji-yang, Namgung Il's question only grew bigger.
"Namgung Il."
"...?"
"Join the student council."
Cheon Hong-ryeon said with a smile that felt quite different from before.
(End of Chapter)