Chapter 113 : Am I a Public Enemy of the Martial World? (1)
Public enemy of the martial world.
As the name suggests, it means the enemy of the entire martial world.
One could not usually become one by committing a minor crime, and only when one had committed a crime that was considered truly heinous could one become a public enemy of the martial world.
'Me... a public enemy of the martial world?'
Hearing such words out of the blue, Namgung Il was dumbfounded.
Did those words mean that he was a criminal now?
Although an evil person might feel good hearing those words, Namgung Il, of course, could not help but feel bad.
"What on earth do you mean by saying I'm a public enemy of the martial world?"
"From now on, that is the role you will play in this class."
"...?"
Namgung Il still could not properly understand Cha Yul-ryeong's words.
Just then, Cha Yul-ryeong looked towards the students and continued to speak.
"In today's special class, we will practice tracking."
"..."
"In the martial world, there are quite a lot of cases where you have to chase a fleeing enemy. In particular, you will learn how to efficiently catch one person when many are chasing."
Only after hearing those words could Namgung Il understand Cha Yul-ryeong's words.
'So... I'm the one who's running away?'
On the contrary, it seemed that the Azure Dragon Class students over there were in the role of the pursuers chasing him.
He had wondered why he had been called to a place like this from this morning... To think that he would be made to do something like this.
As Namgung Il realized his role, a deep sigh naturally escaped.
'Did I suddenly get a wandering star in my fate? Why have there been so many things to run away from lately?'
Recently, Namgung Il had been running away all day because of Cheon Hong-ryeon's prank.
And from most of the students in the academy.
It seemed that not even a month had passed since he had run away like that... He had no choice but to think that he had really been hit by a wandering star.
'If he says so, I have to do it.'
It was a relief that it ended at this level.
He had thought that Cha Yul-ryeong might make him do something more severe.
Since there was no reason why he shouldn't be caught like last time, it seemed he just had to play along appropriately.
"Is there anyone who can explain about the public enemy of the martial world?"
As Cha Yul-ryeong asked the students, Jegal Myeong raised his hand high.
"It refers to an evil person officially designated by the Martial Arts Alliance."
"..."
"Therefore, a member of the orthodox faction has the duty to arrest an evil person designated as a public enemy of the martial world and hand them over to the Martial Arts Alliance, or to kill them on the spot."
Once designated as a public enemy of the martial world, that person could no longer live with their head held high.
Because as Jegal Myeong had just said, the martial artists of the orthodox faction would flock to them at any time.
Since the situation was like that, being designated as a public enemy of the martial world was as good as a death sentence.
"That's right."
"..."
"You explained it very well so that it's easy to understand."
Cha Yul-ryeong said to Jegal Myeong.
At that moment, a hollow laugh escaped from Namgung Il's mouth.
It seemed this was the first time Namgung Il had seen Cha Yul-ryeong praise a student in this place.
'Isn't this a bit too much?'
In the Vermilion Bird Class, there were times when Cha Yul-ryeong often asked questions like that.
At that time, the person who raised his hand was almost always Jeong Hyeon-yeong, and even if he gave the correct answer like Jegal Myeong just now, he had never seen him praise him like that.
"That's the correct answer."
"..."
"This is something everyone knows. It's at a level where you can answer immediately if you've prepared properly."
Although he had spoken rudely with that kind of feeling most of the time, Cha Yul-ryeong was a person who knew how to praise.
No matter how much one's arm bends inwards, this is a bit...
At Cha Yul-ryeong's attitude, which was so different from the Vermilion Bird Class, Namgung Il was so dumbfounded that he couldn't even laugh.
"The public enemy of the martial world is usually hidden in a secluded place. And when his identity is revealed, he runs away to a secluded place again."
"..."
"You are the ones who will become the representatives of the orthodox faction in the future. Therefore, you have a duty to punish evil people like this public enemy of the martial world so that they can no longer commit crimes. This class will be conducted assuming such a situation."
He likes to be the representative of the orthodox faction.
Not only Cha Yul-ryeong, but also seeing the students who were accepting those words as if they were natural, Namgung Il felt his hands and feet cringe.
Swoosh—.
Just then, Cha Yul-ryeong pointed at Namgung Il with his finger.
"In a little while, that public enemy of the martial world will flee into the forest."
"...?"
"Think of this class as a real situation and do your best to punish the public enemy of the martial world."
That tone seemed to be really treating him as a public enemy of the martial world.
Although it was a role-play, to think that a day would come when he would be called a public enemy of the martial world.
To call a person who was once called one of the Ten Stars of Light a public enemy of the martial world... To him, who knew that, this situation was just funny.
"Namgung Il."
Just then, Cha Yul-ryeong called his name and approached Namgung Il.
"Do your best to run away, as befits your role."
"..."
"I heard that you have an outstanding ability to run away. That's why I specially had a troublemaker like you participate in the class, so you must be useful."
"Yes, yes. I understand."
Namgung Il answered Cha Yul-ryeong's words perfunctorily.
What would he do to him if he didn't do his best?
Namgung Il was just planning to wander around appropriately and kill time.
"Well, you'll probably be caught soon anyway."
"..."
"A brat in the Vermilion Bird Class can't beat the Azure Dragon Class students. I'll consider your usefulness fulfilled if you can just hold out for about two quarters of an hour."
Cha Yul-ryeong said with a sneer, with his characteristic expression.
'This... the more I hear it, the more it makes me angry.'
Not only did he call him a public enemy of the martial world from the beginning, but he was also openly discriminating between the Vermilion Bird Class and the Azure Dragon Class, which was honestly a little annoying.
Swoosh—.
Namgung Il slightly turned his gaze and looked at the Azure Dragon Class students.
According to Cha Yul-ryeong's words, was it that they would become the representatives of the orthodox faction in the future, and the Vermilion Bird Class was just a group of troublemakers?
Although the overall level of martial arts in the Azure Dragon Class could be said to be high since most of the students had entered through recommended admission, still, Namgung Il could not agree with those words.
"..."
Just then, as if he had decided on something, Namgung Il turned his gaze back to its original position.
"Is it really alright if I do my best?"
"...What?"
"As the teacher said, I'm going to try to become a public enemy of the martial world with all my might, but I'm asking for permission if that's alright."
Although he had originally planned to do it appropriately, his thoughts had now changed.
Since he had a chance, wouldn't it be fun to become a public enemy of the martial world properly at a time like this?
In fact, the biggest reason was that he wanted to flatten the noses of Cha Yul-ryeong and those Azure Dragon Class brats.
"...If you can, try it."
"..."
"You'll realize that the level is different. And then you will surely regret not accepting my proposal."
Cha Yul-ryeong said in a cold voice.
"...I understand."
This class was no longer just a simple class.
An unofficial showdown between the Vermilion Bird Class and the Azure Dragon Class.
Namgung Il and Cha Yul-ryeong knew that well.
"Then I'll try to run away with all my might."
"..."
"I, a troublemaker, will feel the dignity of the Azure Dragon Class."
Crackle—.
A spark-filled war of nerves was taking place in the gazes of the two.
***
At the front were Jegal Myeong and Moyong Ryeong, and a little behind them were Tang Il-yeong and Namgung Hae, walking through the forest.
"I'm a little excited that this is a class where we move our bodies. It feels like we're on a picnic."
Moyong Ryeong said with an excited expression.
Seeing that, Jegal Myeong smiled with a slightly troubled expression.
"Still, since the teacher told us to take the class seriously, I think it's a bit much to be too excited."
"I know that too."
"..."
"Of course, I plan to take the class seriously."
Moyong Ryeong said and soon ran off somewhere.
Although it seemed she had just said that she would take the class seriously... Seeing Moyong Ryeong, who was now squatting over there and looking at the flowers, Jegal Myeong slightly shook his head.
'Hmm... still, it's probably fine to have this much leeway.'
In this forest, the Azure Dragon Class students were chasing Namgung Il in groups of four or five.
If there were many opponents to catch, it would be different, but to be honest, Jegal Myeong thought that it would not be that difficult to catch just one Namgung Il.
'Unless he's really unlucky, he'll be discovered.'
If he was discovered, it was surely this side's victory.
Since the other groups were also moving in groups of at least four, it was safe to assume that there was no possibility that Namgung Il could escape when he was discovered.
"Jegal Myeong."
"...?"
"I will move alone."
Just then, Tang Il-yeong suddenly said to Jegal Myeong.
To suddenly move independently in a situation where they were acting as a group.
Jegal Myeong asked Tang Il-yeong with a puzzled face.
"Alone? There was no such part in the teacher's instructions, was there?"
"The top priority in this situation is to arrest the opponent."
"..."
"It's more efficient for me to move alone than to move in a group like this."
Tang Il-yeong said and glanced at Moyong Ryeong.
Moyong Ryeong, who was still looking at the flowers over there and smiling brightly.
Seeing that, Jegal Myeong seemed to be able to understand what Tang Il-yeong meant by saying that to him.
"...I understand. It certainly doesn't seem to be a problem if we just catch the opponent as you said."
In the end, Jegal Myeong allowed Tang Il-yeong's independent action.
It wasn't just because of Moyong Ryeong; the biggest reason was that Tang Il-yeong was from the Sichuan Tang Clan.
'It would be more efficient to use Tang Il-yeong's stealth skills if he acts alone.'
Jegal Myeong, as the group leader, had made that judgment.
Because stealth was not effective if they were clustered together like this.
As soon as he got Jegal Myeong's permission, Tang Il-yeong immediately turned his head.
"And to give you one piece of advice... it would be better not to underestimate Namgung Il too much."
"...?"
"I heard that all the students in the academy chased after Namgung Il a while ago, but they couldn't catch him in the end."
"Ah... come to think of it, I saw that name then."
Jegal Myeong also knew about that.
Because on that day, the public notice with Namgung Il's arrest warrant was posted on the bulletin boards everywhere, so he had no choice but to see it even if he didn't want to.
Jegal Myeong now remembered seeing Namgung Il's name fleetingly at that time.
"But at that time, didn't most of the Azure Dragon Class stay still?"
"..."
"Well, I heard that a few of the seniors chased him, but I remember that none of us first-years took part in that."
When Namgung Il's arrest warrant was issued, most of the students in the Azure Dragon Class did not chase Namgung Il.
Although there were various reasons for that, the biggest reason was that most of the students were not that desperate for merit points.
Because it was not that difficult to get merit points if they put their minds to it.
The Azure Dragon Class students mostly had that kind of thought as a basic premise.
"What would have happened if we had all stepped up like now at that time?"
"..."
"I think it would have been different."
Jegal Myeong said with a calm face.
Confidence, not arrogance.
Such an attitude was implicitly revealed in Jegal Myeong's tone as if it were natural.
"..."
Tang Il-yeong did not answer and turned his head completely.
His figure, which had soon moved away and was no longer visible.
Although it seemed he was still nearby, he could no longer accurately feel Tang Il-yeong's presence.
"Oh? Where did Young Master Tang go?"
Just then, Moyong Ryeong returned to her spot and asked.
At that voice, Jegal Myeong turned his head towards Moyong Ryeong and said with a smile.
"Young Master Tang said he would move alone."
"Alone?"
"Yes, I agreed because I thought that would be better."
Jegal Myeong's expression changed at the end of those words.
Although a slight smile remained on his lips, his face was more serious than before.
Jegal Myeong said to Moyong Ryeong and Namgung Hae, who was nearby.
"Then we will also start the chase in earnest now."
The time limit was two hours.
The chase, with the pride of the two classes on the line, was beginning in earnest.
(End of Chapter)