The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

Namgung Il was lying on his bed, looking up at the ceiling endlessly.

'I'm back to this life again.'

Whether the academy was in an uproar or not, Namgung Il was still spending his leisurely life of suspension.

Normally, he would have had to continue helping Cha Yul-ryeong, or if not, he would have had to go and help another teacher.

However, what was given to Namgung Il now was, as before, confinement in his room.

Since the academy had no time to worry about Namgung Il's punishment, it seemed that such a disposition had been made.

'This is no different from being treated like an old man in a corner of a room.'

If it was going to be like this, wouldn't it be better to just release the suspension?

Although the incident had ended to that extent without any casualties thanks to him, Namgung Il thought that this treatment was a bit too much.

'Well... still, considering that I would have been constantly overworked under Cha Yul-ryeong, it's much better to be stuck here.'

Still, he hadn't expected to get away from Cha Yul-ryeong in this way.

The original plan was for him to miserably defeat the Azure Dragon Class students, and for Cha Yul-ryeong, who had seen that, to get angry and kick him out.

Although it could be said that it had turned out as he had intended, many unexpected variables had occurred in the middle process.

"...The Blood Dragon Cult will rise again."

Namgung Il once again recalled those words in his head.

The last words that the remnant of the Blood Dragon Cult had said just before he died.

Although he had thought it was nothing and had tried to just let it go, for some reason, those words kept circling in his head.

'The revival of the Blood Dragon Cult... that can't be possible.'

Given the nature of the Blood Dragon Cult, it seemed likely that they would have continued to shout for the revival of the Blood Dragon Cult even after their defeat in the Righteous-Demonic War.

But that was just the wish of the Blood Dragon Cult, and it would be realistically impossible to regain their past glory.

Because the foundation of the Blood Dragon Cult was, after all, the Blood Demon.

Although the damage suffered in the Righteous-Demonic War could be restored in some way, the Blood Demon, which could be said to be the foundation of the Blood Dragon Cult, could not be brought back by any means.

'You can't bring a dead person back to life.'

Even if that weren't the case, he had heard that the Blood Demon had no descendants.

Even if there were a hidden descendant, hadn't the Blood Demon died before he could properly designate a successor?

No matter how much martial arts accounted for a large part of talent, that descendant would not be able to perfectly revive the lost martial arts of the Blood Demon through self-study.

'Yes, realistically, the revival of the Blood Dragon Cult doesn't make sense.'

At that moment, Namgung Il's two eyes suddenly widened as if in surprise.

A scene that flashed through his mind as if he had been struck by lightning.

A phrase he had seen in Cha Yul-ryeong's office flashed in Namgung Il's mind.

If you use the Blood Spot Grass, you can bring a dead person back to life.

It was surely written like that in that book.

Did that mean that the dead Blood Demon could also be revived if they used the herb called Blood Spot Grass?

If that were to become a reality, the revival of the Blood Dragon Cult would no longer be such a far-fetched story.

Swoosh—

Namgung Il raised his upper body and sat up straight.

His lips, which were trembling slightly as if he had recalled something frightening.

Even cold sweat was flowing from his forehead.

"No... it doesn't make sense."

Namgung Il immediately muttered and let out a hollow laugh.

In the first place, the herb called Blood Spot Grass was just an unknown existence written only in that book, and besides that, there was no part that could be called evidence.

Writing something like that in a book was something that he himself could do right here.

"..."

Namgung Il thought so and tried to deny the possibility he had just thought of.

But the more he did, the stronger the anxiety he felt.

The smile on Namgung Il's lips had now disappeared again.

'If that book is not someone's delusion, but is written based on facts...'

Also, if the Blood Dragon Cult was plotting the revival of the Blood Demon using the Blood Spot Grass, as he had thought... this was no longer a part that could be laughed off.

Because if only the central Blood Demon were to be revived, the remnants of the Blood Dragon Cult scattered in various places would gather again.

Not only that, but new followers who worshiped the Blood Demon might gather, just as they had in the past.

"..."

Who would have predicted it in the past?

That a group that had been created for less than twenty years would grow in size like a snowball... and that that group would even cause a war that would shake the martial world, no one had predicted.

The person who had achieved those seemingly impossible things was the person named Blood Demon Cheon Gang-seon, and at one time, people could not help but tremble in fear just by hearing that name.

"...It's worth investigating."

Realistically, the possibility of all this being true was remarkably low.

But the Righteous-Demonic War that had broken out in the past had also suddenly broken out while he had been thinking that it would never happen and had just left it alone.

Since he had already experienced that once, it was a rather uneasy feeling to just let it go.

If only he could be sure that his thoughts were just a delusion... that alone would be worth the investigation.

'Then... should I go to Cha Yul-ryeong's office again for now?'

If he read the back pages that he had not yet read, he might be able to find out something.

Although he had been thinking of going again someday, he might have to hurry more than his original plan.

Namgung Il thought so in his heart and began to think about how to sneak into Cha Yul-ryeong's office without being caught.

"At night... no, it would be better to aim for the class time..."

"What about the class time?"

"So he won't be there at that time, so I'll aim for that time and..."

...Huh?

Namgung Il stopped muttering to himself and turned his head to the heterogeneous voice he had heard from the side.

"...!"

At that moment, Namgung Il could not hide his astonishment.

A person who had approached nearby at some point and was looking down at him.

Namgung Il had no idea why Seo Shin-won was in his room.

"S-Seo Saeng... no, Headmaster?"

"How have you been?"

"Why is the headmaster here?"

"Well, I came to see you."

At Namgung Il's question, Seo Shin-won answered calmly.

Namgung Il, who was still looking at Seo Shin-won with eyes that did not understand.

He belatedly looked behind him and could see that the door was open.

'I didn't even notice this...'

Even though he had been deeply lost in thought, the fact that he had not noticed the presence of a person who had boldly opened the door and had come in was just absurd even to Namgung Il himself.

No, this was not just his carelessness.

If Seo Shin-won had deliberately hidden his presence and had approached, it would not have been easy for even Namgung Il to notice.

'That brat was like this in the past too.'

He was a brat who had a knack for suddenly appearing and surprising people.

Although he had been caught several times at that time, now that the difference in skill had widened remarkably, wouldn't it be easier to be caught?

On top of that, since his mind was full of other thoughts, it was even more difficult to notice his presence.

Gulp—

Although it was frustrating, he could not help but not feel his presence.

While he had become weaker, this junior brat would have become much stronger than at that time.

But Namgung Il was now nervous for another reason.

'This brat... how much did he hear?'

When he was lost in thought, he had a habit of muttering to himself without realizing it.

He had just muttered to himself according to that habit, and wouldn't a person in the room have heard those words sufficiently?

Since he had absolutely no intention of being caught by anyone, if Seo Shin-won had heard his muttering, it would be quite troublesome.

"Student Namgung Il."

Just then, Seo Shin-won said, looking at Namgung Il.

Even though he had just called his name, a sense of tension that enveloped his entire body.

Namgung Il tried to maintain his composure and looked at Seo Shin-won.

"Are you planning to play a prank during class?"

"...Pardon?"

"I can't interfere deeply in student matters, but please refrain from severe pranks. On top of that, aren't you still under suspension?"

"..."

At that moment, Namgung Il's face lit up.

Hearing those words, it seemed that he had heard his muttering, but had not understood it correctly.

Well, there would be a limit to what one could understand from a muttering.

Namgung Il let out a sigh of relief inwardly and smiled awkwardly.

"Haha... I understand."

"Yes, but have you been well until now?"

"Yes, of course! I haven't gone out at all except for meal times!"

"Hmm, it seems you're doing well."

Seo Shin-won smiled with satisfaction and stroked his beard.

But surely he hadn't come here to check if he was well in his room, right?

If that were the purpose, Namgung Il would be a little dumbfounded.

"I heard you played a big role in the recent incident."

"...?"

"Student Tang Il-yeong said that you saved his life from a strange man."

"Ah..."

Come to think of it, that was right.

Namgung Il answered with a sullen face.

"It's nothing."

"..."

"Although he's in a different class, that brat is also a comrade. So I just saved him."

As he said so nonchalantly, Seo Shin-won looked at Namgung Il with an amused expression.

If other students had done a similar thing, they would have been very proud of it.

In fact, the feat that Namgung Il had performed this time was enough to be considered quite great, and it was something that should be praised.

"I see you're a very humble student."

"Isn't humility a virtue?"

"Then you won't need a reward for that, right?"

"...?"

"I was going to release your suspension in recognition of your contribution this time, but if that's what student Namgung Il wants, then I..."

Click—

Namgung Il quickly grabbed Seo Shin-won's arm, who was about to turn around.

Seeing that, Seo Shin-won asked with a faint smile on his lips, as if he were puzzled.

"What's wrong?"

"...Humility is humility, and a reward is a separate matter, isn't it?"

"..."

"If the headmaster gives it, it would also be polite to accept it."

Hearing those words, Seo Shin-won's lips curled up more than before.

He had played a little prank, but the reaction was quite fun.

Before coming here, Seo Shin-won had been thinking of releasing Namgung Il's suspension early.

"You've thought well."

"Then..."

"Yes, I will release your suspension as of this time."

Hooray!

Namgung Il raised both hands in his heart and shouted.

'I'm finally a free body!'

A person who has not experienced how frustrating it is to be still in a room will not know.

Although he would have been happy enough even if the scheduled period had ended, since the suspension was released much earlier than expected, Namgung Il's joy felt several times greater.

"Are you happy that your suspension is released?"

"Of course. I was about to die of frustration because I was constantly in my room."

"Yes, I know that feeling well."

"...?"

Ah, come to think of it, Seo Shin-won had also been suspended quite a lot in the past, just like him.

To think that such a troublemaker was now the headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy... thinking about it again, it was a new feeling.

"This is a gift I prepared to congratulate you on safely enduring your first suspension."

Seo Shin-won said and suddenly held out his right hand.

A ring placed on his right hand.

Namgung Il looked at the ring and Seo Shin-won in turn with a puzzled gaze.

"...A gift?"

"Yes, since you seem to be the type to get suspended often in the future, this is a gift to tell you not to do it again."

"..."

What on earth did he think of him?

Although he was dumbfounded, he could not deny those words.

"I'm grateful that you're giving it to me... but why a ring, of all things?"

"I heard that it's a trend for even men to wear such accessories these days."

"Uh... is that so?"

"Yes, if you wear that, you'll be called a dandy among the students."

"..."

Namgung Il had, of course, never heard that such a thing was a trend.

But since it was something the headmaster was giving, wouldn't it be better to receive it without any complaints?

Namgung Il took the ring and gave a simple thanks.

"...Thank you."

"Yes, but there's one thing to be careful of when you receive that gift."

"...?"

A gift with a warning?

As Seo Shin-won suddenly said that, Namgung Il tilted his head.

"You must not give it to anyone, and you must not lose it. So you must always carry it with you."

"..."

"I'll come to check if you have it well from time to time, so you must keep my words in mind and keep it, right?"

"Uh... I understand."

He had no intention of giving it to anyone anyway.

Although losing it was something that was not related to his will... to say that he would even come to check it?

It was a gift that was quite reluctant to receive.

"...But what happens if I lose this?"

"Then you'll be expelled."

"...Pardon?"

"So keep it preciously so that you don't lose it."

"..."

I don't really want to receive such a gift...

Although Namgung Il wanted to say that, seeing Seo Shin-won's smiling face, he could not bring himself to say those words.

(End of Chapter)