The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

The students of the Vermilion Bird Class had gathered in the lecture hall early for the morning class.

"Did you hear that?"

"What?"

"I heard that the first-year students of the Azure Dragon Class were attacked by a strange man during class."

"Is that really true?"

"Yes, that's why Mt. Gyeryong is designated as a forbidden area now."

As was the case before most classes, the students were chatting idly before the teacher came in.

The topic of conversation now was the rumor about the strange man who had appeared in Mt. Gyeryong.

Although the academy had tried to hide this matter as much as possible, it was realistically impossible to hide everything.

"It's scary. A strange man..."

"Because of that, I heard that several people are now receiving treatment at the Heavenly Doctor Hall."

"Something's been happening a lot at the academy lately."

Even before the strange man appeared, an incident had occurred.

The brawl between Namgung Il and Hwang Dong-jae.

It didn't seem like much time had passed since that incident, but since another incident like this had occurred in succession, such words could not help but come out from among the students.

"Come to think of it, Namgung Il, wasn't he the main culprit who caused the brawl?"

"I don't know if he was the main culprit, but he was definitely involved. That's why he's even suspended now."

"I think I heard that he was also at the scene when the strange man appeared this time... Isn't that brat the problem?"

"What?"

"Whenever an incident occurs, he's always there. So even if you think there's something about him..."

Swish—

Just then, something flew from behind and hit the head of the man who was talking.

Because of that, the man had no choice but to stop talking in the middle, and he turned his head sharply, holding his throbbing back of the head with his hand.

"Ugh... what!"

When he turned his head back, a book was lying on the floor.

It seemed to be a textbook used in class... why was it lying in a place like this?

From the circumstances, it seemed that this textbook was what had hit the back of his head.

"I'm sorry. My textbook accidentally flew to the back of your head."

As he raised his head, Tang Wol-yeong was saying to the man.

"...What?"

Hearing those words, the man was dumbfounded.

There was no way that thick textbook had flown to him on its own, and of course, it was even more absurd that it had flown by accident.

No matter how much he thought about it, wouldn't he have no choice but to think that Tang Wol-yeong had deliberately thrown the textbook at the back of his head?

The man got up from his seat and immediately asked Tang Wol-yeong as if he were questioning her.

"Accident? Are you telling me to believe that now?"

"It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not."

"...?"

"Please refrain from spreading such absurd rumors about Young Master Namgung Il."

At that moment, the man was convinced that Tang Wol-yeong had deliberately thrown the textbook at him.

Was the reason, as she had just said, that he had badmouthed Namgung Il?

The man was momentarily dumbfounded that Tang Wol-yeong, who usually had no presence as if she were not there, was now pouncing on him like this.

"Why do you care about that?"

"..."

"Is that brat Namgung Il your lover or something?"

Flush—

At that moment, a noticeable blush appeared on both of Tang Wol-yeong's cheeks.

"L-lover! That can't be!"

"...?"

"Young Master Namgung Il is a really strong and cool person... he's too good for me."

Tang Wol-yeong said and covered her face with both hands as if she were shy.

The man who was staring blankly at her.

The sight of Tang Wol-yeong, who was twisting her body from side to side like a swaying willow tree, could not help but feel quite unfamiliar.

'Namgung Il... what on earth did he do?'

To think that he had conquered that iron fortress-like Tang Wol-yeong in that way...

As the man was staring for a long time, at a loss for words, someone approached from the front.

"...?"

At some point, Gwangcheon and Jeong Hyeon-yeong were standing in front of him.

The two who were standing on both sides of Tang Wol-yeong like gatekeepers guarding the main gate.

An indescribable threat was felt from the gazes of the two who were glaring at the man.

"Didn't Miss Tang Wol-yeong just say that she had thrown the textbook by accident?"

"I also saw with my own two eyes that she had thrown it by accident."

Gwangcheon and Jeong Hyeon-yeong said and took a step closer to the man.

"Still, if you can't admit it."

"Like a martial artist."

"Come out right now and."

"Shall we settle it with a conversation of the body?"

The two suddenly said to the man, taking turns.

The two's breathing, which was in perfect harmony as if they had planned it in advance.

As they came closer and closer like that, the man's shoulders shrank without him realizing it.

'Th-these brats... what on earth are they?'

Why were they suddenly stepping up and making a bigger fuss?

The man could immediately understand the reason.

'Come to think of it...'

The man belatedly realized that Namgung Il and those two were close.

Since he had seen them hanging out together most of the time during class or when eating, wouldn't it be safe to say that they were quite close?

Just like Tang Wol-yeong, it seemed that his badmouthing of Namgung Il just now had gotten on the two's nerves.

"..."

If it had been Tang Wol-yeong alone, he might not have known, but as those two suddenly joined in, the man had no choice but to be cautious.

Especially that brat Gwangcheon, there was a rumor that he wouldn't fall no matter how much you hit him...

Since he also knew that Jeong Hyeon-yeong was quite skilled, it was as clear as day that he would be defeated if he stepped up here.

"Haha... it was an accident?"

"..."

"Here, here."

The man quickly picked up the textbook that had fallen on the floor and handed it to Tang Wol-yeong.

After that, he sat down in his seat as if nothing had happened and just looked forward like a wooden statue.

"..."

Tang Wol-yeong took the textbook and bowed her head slightly to the two.

Tang Wol-yeong, who just bowed her head without a word of thanks and returned to her seat.

That was the Tang Wol-yeong that the students usually knew.

"Hoo— It feels like I haven't seen the captain for five days already."

"You can't visit his room during suspension. I haven't run into him at the dining hall either."

"I don't know if he's eating well."

The two said and sighed.

Since it was that Namgung Il, he thought he would be fine, but he couldn't help but worry.

Just then, the door opened and Cha Yul-ryeong came in.

"Sit down."

Discovering him, the students busily returned to their seats and sat down.

A moment later, Cha Yul-ryeong, who was standing at the podium and starting the class.

About an hour passed like that. In the middle of the class, the door of the lecture hall opened once more.

"...?"

As the door suddenly opened, the students' gazes naturally gathered there.

Was there a student who was late for Cha Yul-ryeong's class, of all things?

Although one should not be late for class, especially since the students knew well what would happen if they were late for Cha Yul-ryeong's class, they were all on time for this class.

No, there was one person. There was one student who had been late for Cha Yul-ryeong's class until now.

"Uh— I'm sorry for being late."

"...!"

The same person as that one and only one was standing there now.

Namgung Il, who was saying so with an awkward smile.

The students' faces were quite surprised at Namgung Il's appearance.

'Why is Namgung Il?'

Everyone could not help but have such a question in their hearts.

Because Namgung Il was currently under suspension.

Since he had not shown his face in class for several days, it felt quite unfamiliar for Namgung Il to be here now.

'Hah... why is the first class Cha Yul-ryeong, of all things?'

From today, thanks to Seo Shin-won's special favor, Namgung Il's suspension was lifted, and he was able to come to class.

But as they say, a habit is not easily corrected.

Although it had only been a few days, he had been lazing around in his room all day, so he had ended up oversleeping.

'There's going to be another round of nagging.'

Or he might give him a demerit again like last time.

Just then, Cha Yul-ryeong looked this way with an expressionless face and opened his mouth.

"Namgung Il, why are you here?"

"Well... the headmaster said it was okay for me to end my suspension and come to class from today."

"The headmaster?"

Seeing his reaction, it seemed that Cha Yul-ryeong had not been informed of anything this time either.

Since it was Seo Shin-won's instruction, Cha Yul-ryeong would not be able to say anything about this, but since being late was a separate matter, Namgung Il was bracing himself for a round of nagging from now on.

"I understand."

"..."

"Go to your seat."

"...Pardon?"

Namgung Il said that without realizing it.

To go to his seat... did that mean he would just end it without any reprimand?

Since Cha Yul-ryeong had never shown such a side before, not only Namgung Il, but also the other students could not help but be surprised at those words.

"What's wrong? Do you want me to say something else?"

"N-no!"

Before Cha Yul-ryeong could say anything else, Namgung Il quickly headed to his seat.

After that, Cha Yul-ryeong, who was conducting the class as if nothing had happened.

Seeing that, Namgung Il was still tilting his head.

'That Cha Yul-ryeong just let this go?'

Did he eat something wrong this morning?

If not, he had heard that the teachers had recently formed a search party and were searching the forest, so he might be tired from that and just letting it go.

'Well... good is good.'

Whatever the reason, it was a considerable stroke of luck for him.

Did he get lucky because he had come to class after a long time?

With this feeling, it seemed he could listen to even Cha Yul-ryeong's class with a good mood.

"Namgung Il."

"...?"

"Where did you sell your textbook and come?"

"...Ah."

"Go and stand in the back."

Of course.

It seemed that the day he could listen to this class with a good mood would never come in his lifetime.

***

In the end, Namgung Il stood in the back throughout the class.

"That's all for the class."

With those words, Cha Yul-ryeong, who was leaving the lecture hall.

As if he had completely forgotten about Namgung Il's existence, until the moment he left the lecture hall, Cha Yul-ryeong did not say a word to Namgung Il to come in.

'...He's still the same.'

Although he had thought that Cha Yul-ryeong had turned over a new leaf for a moment, it seemed that not much had changed.

No matter how much he had not brought his textbook, did it make sense to make a student stand in the back throughout the class?

Standing still for nearly two hours was more of a hardship than he had thought.

"Captain!"

Just then, Gwangcheon and Jeong Hyeon-yeong approached where Namgung Il was.

"It's been a while. Have you been well?"

"The headmaster released your suspension? What on earth does that mean?"

The two asked at the same time.

As if they were releasing all the things they had been holding back throughout the class at once.

Since it had been a long time, it seemed they had a lot of things they wanted to ask Namgung Il.

"Uh... it's a bit long to talk about..."

Where should he start explaining this?

Since quite a lot of things had happened, Namgung Il did not know what to say first.

"Huh?"

Just then, Namgung Il discovered Tang Wol-yeong, who was hesitating a little distance away and was looking this way.

Come to think of it, Seo Shin-won had said that Tang Wol-yeong had desperately defended him.

Since he had been thinking of giving his thanks separately later when his suspension was lifted, Namgung Il immediately approached Tang Wol-yeong.

"Tang Wol-yeong."

"...!"

"I heard you defended me to the headmaster."

As Namgung Il suddenly approached and said that, Tang Wol-yeong did not know what to do.

But as if she had barely regained her composure, she looked at Namgung Il with a smile.

"Thanks to you, the severity of the punishment was greatly reduced."

"No... I just told the truth."

"Still, your help was great. Thank you."

Swoosh—

Thank you.

That one word from Namgung Il pierced deeply into Tang Wol-yeong's heart.

"Why is your face so red? Are you sick somewhere?"

"W-well! I think I have a slight cold..."

"Really? Then don't overdo it and go to the doctor."

"Y-yes, I should!"

Namgung Il, who was genuinely recommending her to go to the doctor, and Tang Wol-yeong, who was happy even at that one word.

Gwangcheon and Jeong Hyeon-yeong were watching them from a distance.

"This... it's probably like that, right?"

"It's certain."

"As expected, if you're handsome, everything works out."

"I should think about growing my hair out from today."

It was then.

The students who were still in the lecture hall discovered something and began to murmur, and because of that, the lecture hall suddenly became noisy.

"...?"

Why did it suddenly become so noisy?

As Namgung Il sensed something strange, he immediately looked around.

"Namgung Il."

"...!"

"It's been a while."

As soon as he turned his head, a person whose eyes met his from the entrance.

Cheon Hong-ryeon was waving her hand at him as if she were happy to see him.

(End of Chapter)