The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

Namgung Il was watching the situation for a moment, hiding his body on a tree.

'Four or five people are moving as a group, and it's a formation where they are gradually narrowing the range by searching the areas they are in charge of.'

It seemed to be a miniature version of the Heaven and Earth Net.

Just like driving fish into one place in a stream, the students were pressing him by forming a line.

'Sloppy.'

In Namgung Il's eyes, that formation could only be thought of as such.

No matter how limited the area was, a considerable level of proficiency was needed to search such a wide area without missing anything.

Although the individual skills of the Azure Dragon Class students might be outstanding, the overall formation had many gaps that could be escaped through, like a net with holes all over it.

'The real Heaven and Earth Net is not like this.'

A proper Heaven and Earth Net first puts mental pressure on the opponent.

Rather than this side chasing, it feels like it makes the opponent drive themselves into a corner.

Of course, a tremendous amount of training is needed to reach that level.

"..."

He didn't know when the Azure Dragon Class students had learned this formation, but they were still a long way from being able to use a proper Heaven and Earth Net.

The outside looked plausible, but the inside was an empty shell.

At that level, it seemed they could catch about one wild boar.

'But I'm not a wild boar.'

Namgung Il had broken through the encirclement of the Blood Dragon Cult several times during the Righteous-Demonic War.

Compared to the brats he had faced at that time, the students of the Azure Dragon Class were not even worth a snort.

If you can't break through, you die. At that time, everything was a real battle that could not be undone if you failed once.

'Then... what should I do now?'

To be honest, it seemed very easy to break through the encirclement.

Even if he just ran around here and there until the time limit was over, it would be this side's victory.

But Namgung Il had a feeling that if he ended it like that, the ending would be very bland.

"...Hehe—"

Just then, a gloomy laugh escaped from Namgung Il's mouth.

At the same time, a mischievous smile appeared on his lips.

It was an expression that clearly showed some kind of scheme.

"Yes... let's do that."

It wouldn't be fun if it ended so easily like this.

Since it had come to this, wouldn't it be a true public enemy of the martial world to act accordingly?

Namgung Il got up from his seat and muttered to himself as if he were talking to someone.

"Cha Yul-ryeong... you're the one who made me an evil person."

The distorted face of Cha Yul-ryeong was already visible in his eyes.

***

Jegal Myeong was still wandering through the forest.

"..."

On both sides of Jegal Myeong, Moyong Ryeong and Namgung Hae were walking in the same direction.

The three who were separated from each other to widen the search range as much as possible.

They had kept a distance just enough to confirm each other's location so that they could provide support immediately if something happened.

'I think I'll arrive at the temporary point soon.'

Until he arrived there, Jegal Myeong could not find any trace or appearance of Namgung Il.

That meant that another group had found Namgung Il's trace, or that they might have already caught him.

'It's a pity. It would have been nice if our group had caught him.'

Still, it couldn't be helped.

Even if another group caught Namgung Il, their contribution would also be included there.

It was most important to catch Namgung Il for sure while maintaining the formation as taught in class, rather than breaking the formation due to greed.

'I see it over there.'

As he walked a little further, the figures of other students began to be seen in front.

As Moyong Ryeong and Namgung Hae also discovered the students at the temporary point, they slowly narrowed the distance.

"You've come."

Discovering that Jegal Myeong and the other two were approaching, a man acknowledged them.

Bowing his head lightly to that man, Jegal Myeong immediately asked about Namgung Il.

"Have you caught the target?"

"It seems it's the same for your side."

"...?"

"For now, the groups here say they haven't even seen the target's shadow."

Those words would mean that they had not found any trace of Namgung Il at all.

Although it was understandable that they had not caught him yet, to think that they had not even found a trace.

Since it was a completely unexpected situation, Jegal Myeong couldn't help but be slightly surprised.

"There are still quite a few groups that haven't arrived, so I think we'll have to put our hopes on them."

As the man said that, Jegal Myeong looked around.

It seemed they had arrived early; only a little over half of the people were gathered at the assembly point.

'There are still three groups that haven't arrived.'

If there was no harvest on this side, there would probably be some harvest on that side.

The fact that they were later than the groups gathered here must have been for a good reason.

Since he had to wait until all the groups had gathered, Jegal Myeong decided to take a short rest here.

"We will take a short break here until everyone has gathered."

"Then is it alright to look around in the meantime?"

"Look around?"

"Yes, I think I saw a flower I hadn't seen before near there."

Moyong Ryeong said with sparkling eyes.

Since the search was not completely over, he wished she would replenish her stamina at this time... but how one spent one's break was up to the individual.

Seeing that she still seemed to have plenty of stamina, Jegal Myeong nodded with a smile.

"Go ahead. But you shouldn't go too far."

"I will!"

Moyong Ryeong answered happily and ran off with light steps.

Should he say she had no sense of tension, or that she was pure?

Every time Jegal Myeong saw Moyong Ryeong, he had the thought that she was a person like a cloud floating in the sky.

'Well... she didn't act selfishly during the search.'

From Moyong Ryeong's point of view, that would have been a lot of patience.

Swoosh—.

Just then, Jegal Myeong turned his gaze to Namgung Hae.

"Student Namgung Hae."

"Yes?"

"Are you feeling alright? Didn't you say you were feeling sick earlier?"

"Ah..."

Since it was a feigned illness, of course his stomach was fine.

Namgung Hae said to Jegal Myeong with an awkward smile on his lips.

"I think I'm fine."

"Is that so? That's a relief."

"Haha... thank you for your concern."

"But if it's not too much to ask, may I ask you one thing?"

Namgung Hae had not had many conversations with Jegal Myeong yet.

But he knew well that Jegal Myeong had a considerable reputation among the classes.

There would be many benefits in many ways to have a friendship with such a Jegal Myeong.

It was quite a welcome thing for Namgung Hae that he had approached him first and even asked a question.

"Ah, of course. Please feel free to speak!"

I have to get close to Jegal Myeong at this opportunity.

Namgung Hae thought so inwardly and answered vigorously.

However.

"What kind of person is Namgung Il?"

"...!"

"He's a first-year like us, right? But why did your younger brother enter the academy by taking the entrance exam, not through recommended admission?"

"C-cough—!"

As an unexpected question came out, Namgung Hae coughed as if his throat were blocked.

Seeing that, Jegal Myeong patted Namgung Hae's back and asked.

"Are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine..."

"Your complexion seems to have gotten bad again... Are you perhaps overdoing it?"

"No... but why are you curious about my younger brother...?"

After barely stopping his cough, Namgung Hae asked.

Although he had thought he had gotten away with it thanks to Cha Yul-ryeong, as Jegal Myeong asked about Namgung Il in this situation, a sense of anxiety began to creep up on Namgung Hae again, just like before.

"I had a brief conversation with your younger brother earlier... I got the feeling that he was a rather strange person."

"..."

"So should I say I became personally curious? I'm also curious about the reason why he is helping our class like this now."

"Uh..."

That's a rather difficult situation.

The fact that Jegal Myeong, of all people, had become curious about Namgung Il was even more difficult for Namgung Hae.

Gurgle—

Just then, a strange sound was heard from Namgung Hae's stomach.

"I'm sorry, but my stomach is suddenly upset."

"Pardon?"

"Can I... go and take care of some business for a moment?"

This time, it was not a feigned illness.

Just a physiological phenomenon that naturally occurs in humans.

He didn't know if his stomach had shown a rejection reaction because he had suddenly heard Namgung Il's name, but if he stayed a little longer, the dignity of the Azure Dragon Class and everything else would be gone.

Jegal Myeong also seemed to understand what Namgung Hae was going to do and gestured for him to go quickly.

"Q-quickly go."

"Th-thank... ugh!"

Namgung Hae hurriedly grabbed his pants.

Namgung Hae, who was gradually moving away into the forest in that state.

Although his steps were not that fast, it was a sight that anyone could see that he was in a hurry now.

Swoosh—.

After watching Namgung Hae, who was moving away, for a moment, Jegal Myeong soon turned his head.

'In the end, I couldn't hear it.'

Well... it wouldn't be too late to hear it when Namgung Hae came back after finishing his business.

If he heard the news that Namgung Il had been caught before then, it seemed he would not have to ask the question he had asked earlier again.

Because he had asked Namgung Hae that question just because he had time.

If the class ended, the curiosity that had briefly arisen about Namgung Il would also disappear immediately.

Crackle—.

It was then.

A figure that was quickly approaching from the forest.

Jegal Myeong first felt that presence and turned his head that way.

'Did another group arrive?'

The person who was approaching from there was a student of the Azure Dragon Class.

But... why was he running so urgently as if he were being chased by someone?

Moreover, since there was no one else besides that one person, Jegal Myeong realized that something was strange.

Phat—.

As soon as he had that thought, Jegal Myeong kicked off the ground and approached the woman who was running now.

At that moment, the other students who had belatedly noticed the woman's existence.

At that time, Jegal Myeong had already arrived by the woman's side.

"What on earth is the matter?"

"Haa—! Haa...!"

"First, calm down and catch your breath."

Jegal Myeong said to the woman.

Her upper body, which was heaving as if an earthquake had occurred, along with her rough breathing.

As Jegal Myeong calmed her down in front of her, the woman's breathing gradually returned to normal.

"Y-Young Master Jegal..."

"Yes, I am here."

"...I-it's a big problem!"

The woman barely managed to say so that she could be understood.

But the meaning of those words, which he still could not understand.

Jegal Myeong still could not understand what on earth was a big problem.

"What is a big problem?"

"A-a monster appeared!"

"...?"

"That monster suddenly appeared and attacked..."

The woman could not finish her words and coughed.

But the moment he heard the word 'monster', Jegal Myeong's pupils shook slightly.

To say that a monster had suddenly appeared... Jegal Myeong maintained his composure and asked the woman.

"A monster... what on earth is that?"

"I don't know either... I couldn't tell its identity because it was covering its face with something strange."

"...What about the others? What happened to the group members?"

"They were all taken down by the monster. I came running desperately to ask for help."

At those words, Jegal Myeong could not maintain his expression.

Were all the other students really taken down?

Although the monster that had suddenly appeared was a monster, the words that all the students of the Azure Dragon Class had been taken down were the most unbelievable for Jegal Myeong.

"Young Master Jegal!"

Just then, the students belatedly approached where Jegal Myeong was.

"What on earth is the matter?"

"..."

At the man's question, Jegal Myeong's mouth did not open immediately.

What on earth should he say first in this sudden situation?

Although Jegal Myeong was a person who maintained his composure in most things, his mind was now so confused that he could not properly distinguish right from wrong.

"Aaaack—!"

Just then, a scream was heard from someone, piercing through the forest.

The scream of Namgung Hae... who had disappeared into the forest, holding his pants with both hands.

(End of Chapter)