The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

Hwang Dong-jae was sitting in his seat with a displeased face.

Seon U-jae, who was standing in front of him, on pins and needles.

In the heavy atmosphere, Hwang Dong-jae opened his mouth.

"So... you're saying you couldn't bring Tang Wol-yeong because of that brat, Namgung Il?"

"Y-yes, sir."

"..."

Bang—!

Hwang Dong-jae suddenly slammed his clenched right fist on the floor.

Seeing that, Seon U-jae wanted to leave this place right away, but he could only stand in his place, watching Hwang Dong-jae's expression.

'Why do I have to go through this?'

He had thought that he would be able to walk around the academy with his shoulders squared and confidently when he became a second-year.

But instead of squaring his shoulders, what on earth was this?

He was being pushed around by Hwang Dong-jae from above, and he was watching Namgung Il's expression from below... It was a situation where only sighs came out.

'Seeing that, I should keep that a secret.'

There was something that Namgung Il had told him to tell Hwang Dong-jae.

If he were to tell him that in a situation like this, it would be like pouring oil on a fire.

For his own safety, Seon U-jae thought it was better to just keep his mouth shut.

Grind—

Although he had slammed his fist on the floor, Hwang Dong-jae's anger still did not seem to have subsided.

'Namgung Il... this brat who is a thorn in my side.'

From the first meeting, Hwang Dong-jae had not liked Namgung Il.

Because among the first-years, the only brat who had looked at him so confidently was Namgung Il.

Although Tang Wol-yeong had also shown a rebellious attitude towards him, the person who had been the starting point was, as expected, Namgung Il.

"..."

He should have definitely won the bet with Namgung Il at that time.

So he should have definitely killed Namgung Il's spirit... but contrary to his expectation, Namgung Il had won the bet.

'If I just leave him alone, that brat will run wild even more in the future.'

Hwang Dong-jae already knew that Namgung Il was not an ordinary first-year.

But was he going to just leave Namgung Il alone like this?

Hwang Dong-jae could not stand by and watch a first-year who had just rolled in run wild as if it were his world, even if dirt were to get in his eyes.

"...Alright."

"...?"

As if he had decided something, Hwang Dong-jae muttered in a low voice.

Although Seon U-jae had no way of knowing what he was saying was good, still, he instinctively had a bad feeling from that tone and expression.

Swoosh—

Hwang Dong-jae raised his head and looked at Seon U-jae.

As their eyes met, the anxiety felt even stronger.

Hwang Dong-jae said to Seon U-jae in a cold voice.

"Seon U-jae, take the kids and go and catch that brat."

"Pardon...?"

As soon as he heard those words, Seon U-jae's face couldn't help but turn pale.

How on earth was he supposed to catch Namgung Il, who had leisurely escaped a siege of dozens of people?

Seon U-jae had a strong intuition that if he took a few more people, only a bad result would come out.

"I-I can't do it!"

"..."

"How on earth can I catch Namgung Il..."

"When did I tell you to catch Namgung Il?"

When Hwang Dong-jae said that, Seon U-jae couldn't help but have a puzzled look.

Then who on earth was he telling him to catch, not Namgung Il?

As Seon U-jae was standing with a blank face, not saying anything, Hwang Dong-jae opened his mouth.

"Tang Wol-yeong, catch that brat."

"T-Tang Wol-yeong?"

"Yes."

"Uh..."

To be honest, Seon U-jae was also quite troubled by those words.

'Why does he only give me such tasks!'

The task of bringing Tang Wol-yeong itself was not that difficult.

But the problem was, as expected, Namgung Il.

He had glared at this side as if he would kill him if he touched Tang Wol-yeong earlier... If he thought about Namgung Il's retaliation, it was wise to back out of this place.

"S-senior, in this matter, I..."

"That won't do."

"...!"

"Seon U-jae, I've let you off once or twice."

Hwang Dong-jae said in a cold voice.

Although the momentum that Namgung Il had let out was sharp, the momentum felt in Hwang Dong-jae's eyes was also by no means to be taken lightly.

He had been overshadowed by Namgung Il and had forgotten for a moment, but Seon U-jae belatedly realized that the person in front of him was one of the real powers of the Vermilion Bird Class.

"I don't like useless brats."

"...!"

"If you've decided to come under me, show me the results that match."

"I-I..."

"This is your last chance. If you fail even this, think that there will be no place for you to stand in the Vermilion Bird Class in the future."

There will be no place for him to stand in the future.

That one phrase came to Seon U-jae as a huge pressure.

'I can't make this person an enemy.'

No matter where one went, if there was a group, there was always an invisible hierarchy.

He had come under Hwang Dong-jae with the desire to be at least a little higher than the bottom in that hierarchy...

If he were to be kicked out of this gang, he would surely fall to the bottom of the bottom.

Hwang Dong-jae was a person who was capable of that, and Seon U-jae had seen people who had already become like that.

"...I understand."

In the end, Seon U-jae could not overcome his fear and had no choice but to answer.

No matter how great Namgung Il was, he thought that he would surely collapse in front of a huge group.

Hwang Dong-jae smiled a bitter smile as he looked at Seon U-jae, who had submitted to him.

'Namgung Il, I'll make you like that soon.'

* * *

Late evening. Namgung Il was lying on his bed, getting ready to sleep.

"So... you're really not in any kind of relationship with Miss Wol-yeong?"

Just then, Jong Seo-eon asked with a suspicious look from the side.

At those words, a wrinkle formed on Namgung Il's forehead.

How many times had he heard the same question? It was now to the point where he couldn't even count.

"Yes! I'm just taking the same class as Tang Wol-yeong!"

"..."

"I was just with her on the way back after the class was over!"

Namgung Il sat up and shouted.

Although he understood Jong Seo-eon's feelings, being annoyed was a separate matter.

If he were to ask the same question one more time, it seemed that Namgung Il would feel the limit of his patience, no matter how much he was his grand-disciple.

"Hoo— I understand."

"..."

"I know you're not the type to do that, captain... I'm sorry. I was misunderstanding."

Only then did Jong Seo-eon say with a relieved look.

Seeing that, Namgung Il sighed inwardly.

What should he do with that brat in the future... Namgung Il's head was a little complicated.

'From what I see, it's a pretty serious case.'

If Jong Seo-eon's love were to work out well, there would be nothing better.

But as a result of talking with Tang Wol-yeong a little today. Namgung Il could tell that this love was Jong Seo-eon's one-sided love.

'If Tang Wol-yeong had even a little bit of a feeling, I wouldn't know, but since that's not the case, it's more likely that it won't work out...'

Thinking realistically, it seemed difficult for Jong Seo-eon's love to be realized.

Although it was a problem that Tang Wol-yeong had no feelings at all, there was a bigger problem than that.

"..."

To be honest, Jong Seo-eon's face could be said to be quite manly.

But if he wore those ragged clothes, no matter how decent he looked, wouldn't he end up looking like a beggar?

Well, if he wore them, it might be a little better, but realistically, if Jong Seo-eon wore them, he just looked like a beggar.

'It can't be helped. Because he's a beggar.'

Namgung Il understood well why Jong Seo-eon was wearing such ragged clothes.

A member of the Beggars' Sect, and at the position of a Hougai, he had no choice but to wear such clothes.

Because that was the rule of the Beggars' Sect.

As he had said once before, the reason was that the leader or the Hougai had to look more like a beggar than anyone else.

'Normally, a woman wouldn't like a beggar.'

Namgung Il knew that better than anyone else.

Although he didn't want to admit it, the one who had always received the attention of women in the past was not him, but Namgung Jeongung.

Although their positions were now amusingly reversed, seeing Jong Seo-eon, Namgung Il couldn't help but be reminded of himself in the past.

"You're lucky, captain. To have a class with Miss Wol-yeong alone. If I had taken that class, I would have been able to get a little closer to Miss Wol-yeong."

"..."

"Ah, should I take that class too? It seems that elective subjects can still be changed."

"No... what about your Economics class? Didn't you say you would take that class for the future of the Beggars' Sect?"

When Namgung Il asked, Jong Seo-eon flinched and then smiled awkwardly.

"Haha... I was joking. There's no way I would change my class for such a reason, right?"

"..."

The future of the Beggars' Sect... is dark.

Hearing those words, Namgung Il could tell that Jong Seo-eon was in a much more serious state than he had thought.

If not, how could he try to abandon the Beggars' Sect for just one woman?

Although Jong Seo-eon had said it was a joke just now, Namgung Il knew that it was not a complete joke, but that there was some sincerity mixed in.

'This brat... don't tell me he'll have bad thoughts if he gets his heart broken?'

Although it might be an exaggerated thought, Namgung Il was considering the worst-case scenario.

It seemed this was the first time he had liked someone.

If he had a lot of experience with women, he wouldn't know, but if the innocent and timid Jong Seo-eon were to get his heart broken from his first love, it would come as a considerable shock.

'...For now, I'll have to try and hook the two of them up as much as possible.'

Although there was no guarantee that he would succeed... still, wouldn't the possibility be much higher than just leaving them alone?

For the sake of his grand-disciple, Namgung Il was trying to become a bridge of love himself.

Swoosh—

It was then.

A piece of paper that had flowed in through the crack in the door.

Since he was so preoccupied with his thoughts, Namgung Il did not notice that.

"...?"

Fortunately, Jong Seo-eon discovered the paper and approached the door.

Although he opened the door right away, there was no one outside, and Jong Seo-eon tilted his head and closed the door again.

"Uh... captain, it seems a letter has come for you."

"...A letter?"

"Yes, look here."

Jong Seo-eon said and showed the paper he had just picked up to Namgung Il.

Although his name was surely written on the surface of the paper, Namgung Il immediately asked Jong Seo-eon with a puzzled face.

"What's that, where did you get it?"

"It suddenly came in through the crack in the door."

"Who put it in?"

"I don't know. I opened the door right away, but there was no one there."

"..."

It was a letter that felt quite suspicious.

Jong Seo-eon immediately approached Namgung Il and held out the letter, and Namgung Il took the letter and just looked at it for a moment without looking at it right away.

"Could it perhaps be a love letter?"

"...?"

"You're handsome and cool, captain, so I think you'll be popular with the female students. Someone who was secretly watching you, captain, gathered up their courage and put a love letter through the crack in the door."

Jong Seo-eon said and smiled to himself as if he were happy.

Seeing that, would he perhaps try to do the same to Tang Wol-yeong later?

Namgung Il slightly shook his head and unfolded the folded paper.

'...This is?'

As expected, the letter was not a love letter as Jong Seo-eon had said.

On the contrary, the opposite content was written inside.

We have Tang Wol-yeong here.

The beginning of the letter started like that.

(End of Chapter)