Seo Shin-won might know sothing.
Namgung Il had asked the question just now with that thought in mind.
'As the headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy, he must have a lot of information coming in.'
On top of that, if you were to count their pure age, Seo Shin-won would be much older than him.
Although he had a twenty-year gap, Seo Shin-won would have lived through those years steadily.
The knowledge accumulated during that ti was also by no ans at a level that could be ignored.
'It doesn't matter if he doesn't know. Just letting Seo Saeng-won know about the existence of Blood Spot Grass will be a great help to .'
It would be difficult for him to find Blood Spot Grass alone from now on.
But what if not one, but two people were looking for Blood Spot Grass?
On top of that, if the helper was the headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy, it would be a very big help.
'Now, then, let's see this guy's reaction...'
It was then.
Suddenly, Seo Shin-won grabbed Namgung Il's shoulders with both hands.
"...!"
Namgung Il couldn't help but be surprised by Seo Shin-won's sudden action.
On top of that, that expression.
Completely opposite to before, Seo Shin-won was glaring at Namgung Il with sharp eyes.
'Wh-what is it?'
Did he do sothing wrong?
As if he hadn't expected such a violent reaction, Namgung Il t Seo Shin-won's gaze with a bewildered expression.
"Did you just say... Blood Spot Grass?"
"Y-yes."
"...How do you know about that herb?"
A murderous atmosphere could even be felt in the voice asking that.
If he answered wrong here, would he be expelled again?
No, he had a strong feeling that sothing bigger might happen.
"I... I saw it in an old book!"
"An old book?"
"When I was young, I secretly entered my father's study, and it happened to be written in a book I saw then."
Namgung Il said, using his wits.
Because it seed that if the fact that he had secretly broken into Cha Yul-ryeong's office was also revealed in this situation, things would get more complicated.
Cha Yul-ryeong probably wouldn't tell anyone else about that, so he would be able to deceive Seo Shin-won with this much of a lie.
"..."
Seo Shin-won maintained his silence and looked at Namgung Il.
A gaze as if he were trying to figure out whether those words were true or not.
After maintaining that state for a while, Seo Shin-won lowered the hands he had placed on his shoulders.
'D-did he believe ?'
Seeing that, Namgung Il let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
Fortunately, it seed he had deceived him well... but Seo Shin-won's gaze was still as sharp as ever.
Wouldn't it be safe to think that that reaction ant he definitely knew about Blood Spot Grass?
With this, the possibility that Blood Spot Grass existed in this world beca almost certain.
'To think that an herb that can revive a person really existed in the world.'
If it were just Cha Yul-ryeong's words, he could have thought it was uncertain, but if Seo Shin-won was added to that, the story would change.
Because two people are more credible than one, and ten people are more credible than two.
Moreover, if that one person was none other than Seo Shin-won, it was as good as having the value of more than ten people.
"..."
What exactly was Blood Spot Grass, and where did it exist?
Namgung Il was about to ask Seo Shin-won that.
However.
"I know what you are worried about. But it will never fall into the hands of the Blood Dragon Cult."
"...?"
"The Martial Alliance... and I will also protect it thoroughly."
Seo Shin-won said first before Namgung Il could open his mouth.
'Wait, that tone is as if...'
Namgung Il couldn't shake off the sense of unease he felt from those words just now.
The Martial Alliance and Seo Shin-won protecting Blood Spot Grass... wasn't that sothing that could only be said from the position of already possessing Blood Spot Grass?
Although Seo Shin-won seed to have realized his slip of the tongue, he couldn't take back the words he had already uttered.
"Does that... perhaps an that the Martial Alliance has the Blood Spot Grass?"
"..."
Seo Shin-won said nothing.
Sotis, silence ans affirmation more than any answer.
Seo Shin-won's silence right now was just that.
"If so... why don't you dispose of the Blood Spot Grass?"
"..."
"If the Blood Demon can be revived because of it, isn't it right to dispose of it right now?"
Namgung Il imdiately argued.
To think that the Martial Alliance side had already possessed the Blood Spot Grass.
But Namgung Il couldn't understand at all the fact that they were keeping it without disposing of it right away.
"...It's not as simple a problem as you say."
"...?"
"An herb that can revive the dead has enormous value in itself. If you were in my shoes, could you easily dispose of that treasure right in front of your eyes?"
"That's..."
Namgung Il was montarily at a loss for words.
As he said, wasn't what he had just said similar to telling him to burn an unused elixir in the fire?
Of course, since Blood Spot Grass could have a more precious value than any elixir, it might be rude to even compare them.
"...Even so, I think it's right to dispose of it."
"..."
"In the first place, it is a being that goes against the principles of the mortal world. On top of that, if it is a dangerous object that has the potential to repeat the tragedy of the past... it must be disposed of without any lingering attachnt."
Namgung Il said with a firm voice.
A gaze and voice that did not feel a single bit of hesitation.
Seo Shin-won watched that for a mont and gave a bitter smile.
"Yes... you may be right."
"..."
"But the world is entangled like a skein of thread in the midst of each other's interests. If everyone thought like you, we could act right away, but since not everyone is like that, we can't easily act like that."
"Then, so that everyone can understand..."
Pat—.
Seo Shin-won placed a hand on Namgung Il's head.
Because of that, Namgung Il swallowed his words in the middle and looked at Seo Shin-won.
"This is sothing I can't do anything about on my own."
"..."
"If that person were alive, things might have been different now."
That person... As Seo Shin-won said that, a sense of longing seed to be felt in his eyes.
Swoosh—.
Seo Shin-won imdiately lowered his hand from Namgung Il's head.
Soon, with the sa benevolent smile as usual on his lips, Seo Shin-won said.
"You don't need to worry."
"..."
"I am also doing my best to prevent the tragedy of that day from being repeated. I can promise you that."
Seo Shin-won was trying to reassure Namgung Il even in this situation.
Since that feeling was conveyed through his expression and voice, Namgung Il couldn't say anything.
"Will you believe ?"
"...Yes."
"Thank you."
Hearing Namgung Il's answer, Seo Shin-won passed by him and walked away.
Namgung Il, who was silently watching him from behind.
Soon, Seo Shin-won's figure was no longer visible.
'I believe Seo Shin-won. But...'
Is it really okay to just stay like this?
That thought did not easily disappear from Namgung Il's mind.
***
As if to mock that worry, the academy was peaceful.
'...Was I worrying for nothing?'
Namgung Il was sitting at his desk with a sullen expression.
Since then, whenever he had ti, Namgung Il had mulled over the conversation he had with Seo Shin-won, and he still couldn't erase the sowhat uneasy feeling.
Should he say it felt like there was sothing he was forgetting?
If only that one thing ca to mind, it felt like everything would connect, but unfortunately, that one thing kept not coming to mind.
'Seo Shin-won keeps saying it's safe...'
For the past few days, Seo Shin-won had been visiting Namgung Il about once every three days.
Although he said he ca to check if he was carrying the gift well, Namgung Il could tell that there was actually a bigger reason than that.
"The Blood Spot Grass is being well protected in a safe place, so rest assured."
"..."
"And don't tell anyone about the Blood Spot Grass."
Whenever he t Namgung Il, Seo Shin-won never forgot to say that.
At first glance, it seed he had said that to reassure Namgung Il, but it seed that the latter words were his purpose.
'Does he not trust
that much? He keeps coming even though I said I wouldn't tell.'
In the first place, Namgung Il had no intention of telling anyone else about the Blood Spot Grass.
It wasn't a story that could be easily believed even if he told it, and why would he go around spreading a story that could cause confusion?
If the rumor that the Blood Demon could be revived were to spread in the academy, the students would be afraid and would surely not be able to live properly.
'Well... from Seo Saeng-won's perspective, it's understandable that he can't trust .'
If his usual life had been exemplary, it would be a different story, but he had been causing trouble recently to the point of being branded as a problem child by Cha Yul-ryeong.
Perhaps Seo Shin-won also thought of him as a problem child in his heart.
It seed natural in a way that he would visit so often and emphasize it several tis.
"..."
Although Seo Shin-won's frequent visits were a bit annoying, there were also so good points.
As long as the words that the Blood Spot Grass was safe ca out of Seo Shin-won's mouth, it would an that at least the Blood Spot Grass had not fallen into the hands of the Blood Dragon Cult.
Although he didn't know where it was being kept now, he could at least know that it was in a safe state.
'Co to think of it, where is the Blood Spot Grass really?'
Perhaps the most likely place was the Martial Alliance headquarters.
Since even the Blood Dragon Cult would not be able to easily invade that place, it seed to be the optimal place to hide the Blood Spot Grass.
'If the Blood Spot Grass is being kept safely... that should be enough.'
Thinking about it now, not knowing the source seed much more dangerous.
If he had his way, disposing of it would be the safest, but... since he didn't know what had happened during the twenty years he didn't know, he couldn't move recklessly.
If he moved recklessly without knowing anything, things might get even more twisted, so it seed better to just watch the situation for now.
Creak—.
Just then, the door opened and soone entered the lecture hall.
"Everyone, take your seats!"
The person who entered, shouting so heartily, was Ho Jeong-won.
Co to think of it, was this class Basic External Arts?
Because he had been lost in thought, Namgung Il only realized that after seeing Ho Jeong-won's face.
"...?"
Just then, another person followed Ho Jeong-won and ca inside.
Upon discovering that person, not only Namgung Il, but all the other students were also looking at that person with a puzzled gaze.
'Ak Simin?'
The person who had followed Ho Jeong-won was none other than Ak Simin.
It was supposed to be a first-year class now, so why had Ak Simin, a third-year, co in here?
Ak Simin walked to where Ho Jeong-won was, receiving the students' gazes.
Swoosh—.
As he walked there, Ak Simin waved his hand slightly at Namgung Il as if he were happy to see him.
"..."
But even after seeing that, Namgung Il, who just remained expressionless and didn't react at all.
As if he had expected it, Ak Simin didn't pay much attention and stopped his steps next to Ho Jeong-won.
"Before we start the class, I have sothing to announce."
"...?"
Ho Jeong-won said abruptly.
The fact that Ak Simin had co into a first-year class, and the fact that Ho Jeong-won was saying that before class, was a first.
As the students' gazes seed to be focused on him, Ho Jeong-won raised both hands and shouted cheerfully.
"It's a festival!"
"...?"
"The tradition of the Flying Dragon Academy. The Cheongmyeongje Festival will begin in half a month!"
Clear Bright Festival.
From that mont on, Namgung Il felt a sense of ominous foreboding creeping up on him.
(End of Chapter)
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