MFESW 22

Chapter : 22

My Awakening is a Status Window (22)

Fist King Hye-gong

The final results of the White Tiger Squad had been announced.

Naturally, I was first place.

Second place was Moyong-hyeon.

And third was Kwak-eun.

Only those three could be promoted to the Flying Dragon Squad.

Unfortunately, everyone else failed.

“Wait here for a moment. The leader of the Flying Dragon Squad will arrive soon.”

“Yes.”

Under Umyeon-gae’s guidance, we arrived at the guest hall of the Flying Dragon Squad’s pavilion, where the members were waiting.

The scale of the pavilion was certainly larger—probably four times that of the White Tiger Squad.

“Can someone fail the interview?”

Moyong-hyeon asked, standing awkwardly with a splint on his broken arm, looking uncomfortable.

After the final martial arts test, he hadn’t even looked at me once.

Treating me as if I didn’t exist.

Apparently, doing so made his injuries feel a little better.

So, he should have played it cool. Heh heh heh.

Giving him only a year-long injury to his arm was already lenient.

If he hadn’t had the powerful Moyong family backing him, I would have crushed his arm permanently. But that would have caused too much trouble, so I held back.

“There are very few cases, but sometimes it happens. Usually, it’s when a person from Bi-Yeongjo has problematic beliefs or background.”

Umyeon-gae glanced at me as he said “Bi-Yeongjo.”

He raised his eyebrows slightly and lowered them, as if to say, “You shouldn’t have any issues, right?”

Being looked at like that suddenly made me anxious.

No way… Could it be…? Even though I’m first place, are they planning to fail me?

The Martial Alliance isn’t that kind of place… right? I trust them.

“You were supposed to come, right? Could it be… you got the time wrong…?”

“Hmm…”

It felt like we had been waiting in the guest hall for half a sijin (about half an hour).

But since there was no news, it seemed like something had gone wrong.

“Perhaps there’s a mistake. I’ll go check…”

No sooner had Umyeon-gae stood up than the doors of the guest hall opened, and a group entered.

“Oh! Umyeon-gae-nim, sorry for being late. Something urgent came up…”

It was Jo Min, leader of the Flying Dragon Squad.

A diligent figure from the Gongdong faction, he had been serving as the squad leader for a long time, a responsible educator.

“No matter what, making someone wait for almost half a sijin…!!”

I was about to complain about making someone wait that long when Umyeon-gae’s eyes caught sight of someone who shouldn’t be here.

“Ma… Alliance Leader! You’ve arrived!”

Umyeon-gae’s back bent sharply at a ninety-degree angle.

Walking beside Jo Min, hands clasped behind his back, was a sturdy-looking monk.

Though wearing monk’s robes, his intense appearance made one question whether he really was a monk.

A hero of the righteous faction.

The Martial Alliance Leader (盟主), Fist King Hye-gong.

“Umyeon, did waiting get you annoyed?”

Hye-gong grinned lightly and casually spoke to Umyeon-gae.

“No! Waiting is also a form of learning, isn’t it?”

“Learning, my foot. Nonsense.”

“Sorry!”

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes.”

When Hye-gong waved lazily, Umyeon-gae hurried to fully open the doors, making sure he could enter the pavilion comfortably.

‘He… he has that side?’

The imposing aura Umyeon-gae had shown in the White Tiger Squad was completely gone.

Now he acted like a rookie stepping into a military gate for the first time, leaving me stunned.

Not just Umyeon-gae.

Even Jo Min, the Flying Dragon Squad leader, was busily arranging chairs and tables to make Hye-gong comfortable.

“I will conduct today’s interview personally.”

“……!!”

Hye-gong’s words came as he lounged in a chair like a king.

Both the Flying Dragon Squad leader and Umyeon-gae nodded without objection.

Why?

Why would the Martial Alliance Leader personally interview mere White Tiger Squad members?

“I will present the record books, Alliance Leader.”

Umyeon-gae, bowing deeply, handed the documents containing our evaluations to Hye-gong.

“……!!”

With Hukong-seopmul (an internal energy skill to pull objects), Hye-gong pulled the documents toward him without bending, effortlessly taking them.

“Kwak-eun?”

“Yes!”

The first document contained Kwak-eun’s grades and evaluation. Hye-gong didn’t even read it carefully, flipping through it in one motion.

“Hwasan?”

“Yes!”

“Is Kwak-hoe still alive?”

“Yes, he is well.”

“Good. Convey my regards. Passed.”

“Thank you!”

Oh.

The interview was really just a formality.

What a relief. I had been worried it might turn into a nitpicking ordeal… phew.

“Moyong-hyeon?”

“Yes!”

“Your arm was injured?”

“During the martial arts match…”

“Passed.”

“Thank you!”

Moyong-hyeon was passed without even having his story listened to. No greetings about his family were asked either.

Good.

I have no family, so they’ll just pass me.

“Dancheon… you are Dancheon, right?”

“Yes!”

Hye-gong’s sharp gaze locked on me from his chair.

I felt an unknowable pressure creeping over me.

This feeling… I’ve felt it before.

The day I first met Taegam.

His eyes, looking down at me in the cave, had been just like this…

“What did Taegam ask you to fetch from the Martial Alliance?”

“Huh?”

Fetch? What are you talking about?

There was nothing like that.

Ah crap. I think I’m in trouble…

This feels ominous.

“Are you not a spy? A spy sent by Dongchang to the Martial Alliance?”

“Who are you referring to?”

“You.”

“Not me.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I am being promoted to the Flying Dragon Squad to join the Martial Alliance…”

“Then, take off your pants.”

“Huh?”

What?

Did I hear that wrong?

No… Sir Hye-gong?

The respected hero of the righteous faction, the man who defeated Mongolian warriors with his fists… and now he’s telling a junior warrior to remove his pants? Did I hear correctly?

“Just to check if it’s there.”

“What… what is?”

“That.”

“It’s there. Completely fine.”

“Really? There must be spies sent who are still wearing theirs, huh?”

“I’m not a spy.”

Hye-gong chuckled at my words.

‘He’s just teasing me…’

With his martial skills, determining my physical state would be trivial.

He could easily know even if I had male genitalia.

It seemed like he was joking to gauge my reaction. Perhaps he had another intention, but I wasn’t sure…

Anyway.

Please just pass me…

I can’t afford to fail promotion to the Flying Dragon Squad!

You crazy bastard!

“Born poor… debt collector… murder… possible spy from Dongchang…”

Hye-gong flipped through my document briskly.

It seemed Umyeon-gae had written it. My past, which I had only told him, was laid out in detail…

I glanced at Kwak-eun.

No surprise there… she looked a little shocked.

I had never revealed my past to her properly. That made sense.

Moyong-hyeon also had his mouth wide open, especially at the part about my backing being from Dongchang…

‘This guy must be misunderstanding something.’

Moyong-hyeon seemed to believe Hye-gong’s spy theory. It made sense from his perspective—if that were true, he could rationalize his defeat.

Being a spy sent by Dongchang explains why he was so strong! That’s why I lost!

People tend to believe what they want to believe. For Moyong-hyeon, who was struggling with defeat, this was the perfect excuse.

“With this kind of background, you expect to work for the Martial Alliance?”

“…….”

What could possibly stop me?

You guys have done plenty of killings yourselves!

Even Umyeon-gae killed a few during the White Tiger Squad evaluations!

Killing dozens of unaligned warriors!

If my poor and debt collector background is an issue, why even have preliminary trials?

And you know I’m not a spy from Dongchang!

I’m right here! I even used it this morning!

Damn it! Should I just drop my pants?

Do I have to strip here for you to believe me?

“Flying Dragon Squad admission denied.”

“Ah…!”

“……!!”

When the word “denied” came from Hye-gong, everyone was shocked.

Umyeon-gae, Kwak-eun, even Moyong-hyeon.

No one expected him to fail me.

Even so, who could be more surprised than me?

Hearing the word “denied”…

It felt like the world had collapsed.

Ah…

Is this how it ends?

Is there no way?

Should I beat that monk bastard and threaten him to say it again?

Impossible…

He’s Hye-gong, Martial Alliance Leader…

If I confront him, it would be faster than dying from a game over in the status window.

In other words, it’s suicide.

“But I’ll make you an offer.”

“……?”

An offer?

I refocused my clouded mind.

Let’s hear what he’s talking about.

“Become my personal aide.”

“Huh?”

An aide?

A lackey?

“Alliance Leader! This is a new member just promoted from the White Tiger Squad! How can you make him an aide…!”

Jo Min, the Flying Dragon Squad leader, exclaimed at Hye-gong’s proposal. Hye-gong raised his hand to stop him.

“I will soon dismiss all my current aides.”

“Ah…!”

He had multiple aides?

I don’t know the hierarchy, so…

But even if the aide position is prestigious, right now what I need is admission to the Flying Dragon Squad, not being an aide.

“I refuse.”

“……!?”

All eyes turned to me, shocked.

Crazy? they seemed to ask.

Yes. I’m crazy.

Aide or not, if I don’t get admitted to the Flying Dragon Squad, everything is pointless.

“Haha, you refuse?”

“Yes. May I make a proposal as well?”

“Go ahead.”

“If you want me as an aide, first admit me to the Flying Dragon Squad, then appoint me as your aide afterward. Otherwise, I will leave the Martial Alliance on my own.”

Everyone was stunned by my words.

Umyeon-gae, Jo Min…

Especially Jo Min—what is this crazy kid doing?

“Hahaha! Did you make some kind of bet?”

A bet?

In a way, yes.

A life-or-death kind of big bet.

“To keep a promise I made to myself.”

“Good. Very well. Dancheon, your admission to the Flying Dragon Squad is approved.”

[Mission Completed.]

[Not a situation to receive rewards. Reward acquisition is deferred.]

[A new mission has arrived.]

When Hye-gong approved my admission, the status window appeared in the air.

Finally!

The long, long Flying Dragon Squad mission was over.

Because many eyes were watching, the reward would be delayed, but my heart raced, wondering what the new mission would be.

‘Huh…!?’

I noticed Hye-gong’s gaze was precisely on my status window hovering at head height.

‘Could it be…?!’

Panicked, I quickly closed the status window.

I tried to look in front of me as naturally as possible, but I could feel Hye-gong’s curious gaze on me.

“Jo Min.”

“Yes! Alliance Leader.”

“Immediately transfer Dancheon to be my aide.”

“Ah…! Yes! Understood.”

Only a second after becoming a Flying Dragon Squad member, I was being transferred… unprecedented.

But surely it’s just my imagination?

He couldn’t have seen the status window, right? Master said no one could see it.

I clearly remember.

Master said the status window could only be seen by me.

The master’s words about the amazing status window couldn’t be false. It must be my imagination.

‘My gaze was directed into the air… maybe he wondered what I was looking at.’

Normally, if someone stares blankly, people instinctively look too.

Hye-gong must have glanced that way by coincidence.

“Good work, everyone.”

Hye-gong stood.

The Flying Dragon Squad leader and Umyeon-gae immediately returned to a perfectly upright, respectful stance.

“Dancheon. Follow me.”

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

I followed Hye-gong as he strode out of the Flying Dragon Squad pavilion. He walked so fast it was hard to keep up.

‘If we go this way, aren’t we leaving the Martial Alliance building?’

I kept up, catching my breath.

We quickly reached the main gate of the Martial Alliance building.

“Chung (Loyalty)!”

“Yes, good work.”

Even after receiving the salute from the gatekeeper, he didn’t stop. Hye-gong kept walking outside.

After taking the main road outside Gaebong, we soon turned into a narrow alley.

Unable to hold back, I decided to ask.

“Uh… where are we going?”

Hye-gong stopped abruptly.

‘W-what? Why stop all of a sudden?’

I was scared. The alley was deserted…

He’s not going to suddenly say, “Spy from Dongchang, die!” right?

No way…

“What was the energy that appeared in midair?”

“……!!”

I was stunned.

I immediately understood what he meant, but I couldn’t answer.

The status window is a unique awakening that no one can know.

What should I say?

I need a convincing excuse…

Think! Think, Dancheon!

“You’re quite a devious one. As expected, you’re perfect by my side.”

Time ran out. I couldn’t answer.

Since I didn’t respond, Hye-gong smirked and resumed walking.

He wasn’t pressing for answers…

But he must be keeping this in mind.

By the way…

Master.

What is going on?

You said no one could see it…

Ah no…

I think I really messed up.