I Am the Youngest Disciple of the Martial Arts World’s Mastermind
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
The Youngest Disciple of the Murim’s Hidden Mastermind
Chapter 12
“You may come later. A junior brother still needs his sleep to grow.”
Those kind words. Senior brother Hyeonhak was truly a man to be emulated.
To think he has the diligence to wake up at the crack of dawn….
When I looked up at him with eyes sparkling anew with admiration, he reached out a steady hand and pointed toward a small dining table already prepared.
“Then, I shall leave it in your hands again today, Saje.”
“Leave it to me!”
I answered vigorously and hoisted the small table up.
“Ah, but….”
“Yes?”
Just as I was about to rush out of Buyonggak, Hyeonhak-sahyeong stopped me as if something had just crossed his mind.
“Hmm….”
I stood rooted to the spot and tilted my head. After a moment of hesitation, Hyeonhak shook his head and waved me off, urging me to go.
“It is nothing. I was simply wondering if it was too heavy for you.”
“I’m fine! I’ll be back!”
“Yes. I hope you become closer with Junior Brother Gwangeum.”
The eldest senior brother, Hyeonhak, gave a faint smile of encouragement.
Right. The one I was delivering this table to was that very fellow. The boy with the funny name, Gwangeum.
***
“Soso, are you going again today?”
“Yes!”
Ever since our first meeting, I had been steadily delivering meals to Gwangeum.
The reason was simple. If I didn't do this, there would be absolutely no reason to meet Gwangeum, who kept himself shut away in the detached pavilion.
If I wanted to get friendly, I had to at least see his face like this.
I gave a quick nod to Danhwi, whom I encountered on the way to Gwangeum’s quarters.
“You’re really working hard,”
Danhwi clicked his tongue as he looked at me.
Then, leaning in as if sharing a deep secret, he whispered.
“Want me to tell you something good? Gwangeum is actually….”
“Um, Sahyeong, I’m sorry!”
I cut Danhwi off mid-sentence and stomped my feet in a hurry.
“I have to go quickly, okay? Can you tell me later?”
“Huh? Why?”
Danhwi straightened his back, looking slightly deflated.
Why, you ask? Well….
“The soup will get cold!”
“…Uh-huh, sure.”
I hurried past a dazed Danhwi, clutching the table and moving as fast as I could.
Right. That prickly Gwangeum.
Last time, I was just a little bit late, and what did he say?
‘The soup is cold. I’m not eating it.’
‘…….’
In all my life, I had never seen such a picky eater.
Regardless, for someone like me who needed to quickly get on good terms with all the disciples of the Murim’s mastermind, this was quite a predicament.
“Phew.”
Today, too, I climbed the long, long stairs and stopped in front of the door.
Has my stamina improved? It doesn't feel as difficult as the first day!
Now, shall we call out the crazy guy….
Having steeled my resolve, I reached out my hand to knock on the door.
Creak.
“Huh?”
The door I thought was closed swung open weakly.
“What’s this…?”
I pulled my hand back awkwardly and cautiously poked my head inside the open door.
“Gwangeum-sahyeong?”
The irritable voice that should have snapped back was nowhere to be heard.
That wasn't all. The courtyard beyond the door was completely empty.
Strange. Normally, I would have been met with a thunderous scolding for being even slightly late….
“…No way.”
Is he still sleeping?
Come to think of it, I didn't hear the sound of the bell ringing today.
“…….”
Is it okay to go in?
“…Excuse me!”
I hesitated for a moment, but my deliberation was short.
I stepped lightly into the detached pavilion, which bore a plaque reading Jinmyeonggak (晨鳴閣).
“Gwangeum-sahyeoooong…. I brought… food… breakfast… the table~.”
I dragged out my words as I took a sly look around.
To think I had entered the forbidden territory that Gwangeum usually guarded so fiercely, never letting anyone set a single foot inside!
The thought that I should just deliver the table and leave was quickly overtaken by a sense of excitement.
He's the one who overslept, and I'm just here to deliver his breakfast. Surely he won't get angry?
Directly opposite the main gate of Jinmyeonggak stood an enormous bell, surrounded on four sides by three buildings.
“Whoa…. Are these all books?”
Peering through a slightly ajar door, I saw that the interior was filled with shelves packed tightly with books.
What kind of fun does Gwangeum find being holed up in a place like this? Does he love books that much?
It didn't seem as interesting or dangerous as I had expected.
“Hmm.”
Feeling a bit disappointed, I caught a glimpse inside the last door.
“Ah!”
Finally, I saw a familiar face.
“So you were sleeping here?”
Whatever he had been so busy with the day before, Gwangeum was fast asleep, slumped over his desk.
“Phew. Delivery is here….”
Thump.
I finally set the heavy table down in front of Gwangeum and wiped the sweat from my brow with my sleeve.
Whether I was muttering to myself or making a fuss in front of him, Gwangeum remained in a deep, sweet slumber.
“…….”
He’s really out cold.
I was about to leave, but then I found myself staring intently at Gwangeum’s sleeping face.
With cheeks pale from a lack of sunlight and an androgynous appearance that hadn't yet hit puberty… with his eyes closed, he looked like nothing less than an angel.
“He looks pretty when he’s sleeping, at least.”
I muttered in a grumpy voice.
Hmph. To think I went through all this trouble just to feed this brat.
He must be a disciple cherished by Master, just like Senior Brother Hyeonhak or Danhwi. So, as the last one to join, it's unavoidable that I have to bow down, but….
“…He’s not even that much older than me.”
He should really tone down the hazing.
I barely resisted the urge to give him a flick on the forehead.
It would be a problem if he woke up and started acting like a lunatic again.
“Hmph.”
I let out a puff of air through my nose and stood up.
As I was about to leave the room, I stepped on an outer robe that had fallen to the floor.
“Ah.”
It was a man’s outer robe. It must belong to Gwangeum….
“…Sigh.”
As a final act of goodwill, I picked up the robe and gently draped it over Gwangeum’s shoulders.
At that moment.
“……?”
Gwangeum’s eyes snapped open, and he fiercely grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward him.
“Gah!”
My vision flipped in an instant. When I came to my senses, I had fallen, practically cradled in Gwangeum’s arms.
“…Is it you, Ugly?”
A voice much lower than usual brushed against my ear.
“U-Uwaa….”
“…….”
Wh-What a shock…! My heart was pounding wildly.
I pressed a hand to my chest, unable to find the words to answer.
“……?”
The gaze Gwangeum directed at me was cold and frightening.
He was usually prickly, but I had never felt he was truly threatening—until now. Even though he was calm and quiet, I felt an instinctive shiver run down my spine.
“…….”
Perhaps not yet fully awake, Gwangeum narrowed his eyes and stared down at me for a long moment before….
“Dammit.”
He shoved me away.
“Agh!!”
I tumbled backward, my backside hitting the floor with a heavy thud.
“Ugh… Ow, owow….”
As I groaned and rubbed the sore spot while still on the ground, Gwangeum scowled deeply and spoke.
“Why did you come all the way in here? Who told you to come in?”
I glared back at Gwangeum and pouted.
“Sheesh…. I came in because you were sleeping so soundly, Gwangeum-sahyeong! You know I bring the morning table! If I left it outside, you would’ve just gotten annoyed that it was cold again. Don’t you know how precious food is?!”
“What does it matter to you….”
“Senior Brother Hyeonhak worked hard to prepare this meal!”
“…….”
At the mention of Senior Brother Hyeonhak, Gwangeum fell silent.
Now that I think about it, I’m right, aren't I? You can’t argue with that, can you?
While I brushed myself off and stood up, Gwangeum, who had been silent for a moment, spoke as if making an excuse.
“…In the past, I would have woken up the moment you entered the room.”
“Then what about now?”
When I caught him on that point, Gwangeum brushed back his disheveled hair and added irritably.
“Because on Cheongsanbong, there's no need to be on edge like before. I just slept a bit deeply….”
Huh? Like before?
My annoyance vanished instantly, replaced by a peek of curiosity.
“…I heard that you also haven't been up here for very long, Gwangeum-sahyeong.”
“What? Who said that?”
“Senior Brother Danhwi.”
“…I see.”
Using Danhwi as a shield, Gwangeum furrowed his brow slightly and gave a blunt reply. I immediately followed up with a question.
“Why did you decide to become Master’s disciple, Gwangeum-sahyeong?”
I was curious. I didn't really know what kind of people Gwangeum, Danhwi, and Hyeonhak were, as they didn't appear in the game's main storyline.
Among them, Gwangeum was the most shrouded in mystery.
After a brief silence, he gave a characteristically prickly answer.
“A brat like you wouldn't understand.”
He keeps calling me a brat when there's hardly any age difference between us.
It seemed he had spent too much time with Danhwi; even his way of speaking had rubbed off.
Just as I was about to pout again.
“In this world, there are people for whom merely being born is a sin. That’s why I’m here. Because Master was the only one who would take me in. I’m sure it’s the same for you.”
“Oh….”
It was an unexpectedly dark answer.
