Namgung Il was montarily at a loss for words, unable to react.
'To think soone would be passing by here...'
In the past, when he had co in through the dog hole, he had just co out to a secluded place overgrown with bushes.
Although there were still bushes growing around now, compared to the past, a path had been made, and it looked sowhat organized.
"..."
If he had known it would be like this, he would have gone through the dog hole first and watched the situation at the exit.
Although Namgung Il belatedly had such a regret, it was already too late now.
'No, it's not the worst situation yet.'
Namgung Il maintained his composure even in the flustered situation.
Fortunately, the dog hole was hidden by the bushes, so the brat standing over there probably couldn't see it properly.
So the first thing he had to do here was to hide the existence of the dog hole. If only that was resolved, the rest could be handled sohow.
Rustle—
Just then, Gwangcheon, who was lying flat on his stomach, began to block the dog hole with the stones around him.
'Good, Gwangcheon.'
It was a relief that Gwangcheon was a brat who was quick to grasp the situation.
After exchanging a silent glance with Gwangcheon, Namgung Il looked at the man in front of him again.
'The problem is that brat.'
He didn't know who he was, but he shouldn't let that man approach this way.
At least until Gwangcheon's work was finished, soone had to hold that man back.
To focus the man's gaze on himself, Namgung Il pushed through the bushes and walked forward.
"Aigoo, I'm lost..."
"Namgung Il."
"...?"
"Why are you here?"
The man suddenly said to Namgung Il.
At that mont, Namgung Il stopped walking, and his expression changed slightly.
'He knows my na?'
The man had surely said his na just now.
On the other hand, the na of that man, which he did not know.
Namgung Il's mind couldn't help but beco complicated for a mont.
'...I think I roughly know who that brat is.'
Putting the current situation together, the outline of the man's identity was sowhat revealed.
The blue robe that that man was wearing now was the uniform worn by a student of the Flying Dragon Academy, and among them, a student of the Azure Dragon Class.
A student of the Azure Dragon Class who was attending the Flying Dragon Academy, who knew his face and na, and whom he had never seen before...
'Namgung Cheon.'
His half-brother and the eldest son of the Namgung Clan. It could only be Namgung Cheon.
Especially, although he had seen him for the first ti, he had felt that that appearance was not unfamiliar, and Namgung Il now realized that the reason was that he resembled his father, Namgung Cheong.
"It's been a while, brother."
"..."
"Have you been well?"
As soon as he quickly grasped the situation, Namgung Il imdiately greeted him with a natural expression.
"Never mind the greetings."
"..."
"I asked why you are here."
Although it must have been a very long ti since he had seen him, Namgung Cheon's gaze and voice were nothing but cold.
'Well, this must be the sa as the other two brats.'
In the case of Namgung Hae and Namgung Ji, their relationship with him was not good.
Perhaps the relationship with the eldest son, Namgung Cheon, was also similar to that.
Seeing that attitude, Namgung Il could roughly grasp the relationship between himself and Namgung Cheon.
'To be precise, it feels a little different from the other two brats.'
If he had felt that Namgung Hae and Namgung Ji openly disliked him, he just didn't feel any emotion from Namgung Cheon.
Should he say it was a feeling of just looking down on him from above?
A feeling of not even trying to deal with him in the first place. Yes, if he had to express it, it was a gaze as if he were looking down at a bug.
'I'm a little pissed.'
It would have been much better if he had sent a gaze of open dislike than now.
Namgung Il said to Namgung Cheon with a light smile on his lips.
"I am also a student of the Flying Dragon Academy from today."
"...You?"
"Why is that? Is there any reason why I can't be a student of the Flying Dragon Academy?"
"...There would be no reason why you can't. The blood of the Namgung Clan also flows in you, after all."
"Yes, the sa blood as you, brother, is flowing."
Although Namgung Il said that, Namgung Cheon's face was still expressionless.
He had thought he would be a little offended if he said that.
Namgung Il thought it was a sha inwardly.
"Your na was not on the list of new students of the Azure Dragon Class this year."
"That's because I'm not in the Azure Dragon Class."
"Then what class are you in?"
"The Vermilion Bird Class."
"..."
Just then, Namgung Cheon's gaze turned to the bushes behind.
Although he had thought that sothing might be approaching this way, Namgung Cheon turned back as he was.
"I don't know what the clan head was thinking when he sent you."
"..."
"I hope you don't tarnish the na of the Namgung Clan."
With those words, Namgung Cheon moved away.
'Is that Namgung Cheon?'
Since Namgung Cheon had never returned to the family after entering the academy, Namgung Il only knew about Namgung Cheon from what he had heard vaguely.
The genius of the Namgung Clan.
Such a modifier was always attached to the stories about Namgung Cheon.
However.
'An arrogant bastard.'
That was Namgung Cheon's first impression.
Well, if one grew up always hearing that one was a genius from those around, one would have no choice but to beco arrogant like that.
Although he had just let it go because the situation was what it was, he was a brat that he wanted to properly educate at least once soday.
"C-captain... did he go?"
Just then, Jong Seo-eon cautiously asked from behind.
"Yeah, he's gone, so you can co out now."
A mont later, the two who ca out of the bushes and revealed themselves.
Jong Seo-eon confird that there was no one around and let out a sigh.
"That's a relief... still, it seems he didn't notice us."
"No, he probably did."
"Th-then isn't that a big problem! He might co back here later and find the dog hole..."
"It's fine. That brat probably isn't interested in us."
To be precise, he probably wasn't interested in him.
Well, it was a relief for now.
Still, since there might be sothing just in case, Namgung Il looked at Gwangcheon and asked.
"Gwangcheon, did you block the entrance properly?"
"I've covered it perfectly."
Gwangcheon, who answered by giving a thumbs-up.
Hearing the answer, Namgung Il turned back.
"Then let's hurry."
At least, they would have to move before the entrance ceremony was over.
The three began to run diligently again with Namgung Il in the lead.
* * *
Namgung Il was hiding behind a cover with the other two.
"But... why are we hiding again?"
Jong Seo-eon asked Namgung Il, as if he couldn't understand.
Weren't they supposed to be heading to the entrance ceremony hall?
But far from going to the entrance ceremony hall, Namgung Il had now brought them to a place of unknown origin and was hiding.
"In a little while, the new students of the Vermilion Bird Class will probably pass by this way."
"Pardon? How can you be so sure?"
"What would they do after the entrance ceremony is over? They would gather by class and be led to the hall."
"..."
"We'll aim for that ti and join the group."
This was a path from the entrance ceremony hall to the Vermilion Bird Hall.
Of course, there were other paths, but unless sothing happened, Namgung Il was sure that they would head to the hall through this path nine tis out of ten.
"If so, wouldn't it be better to just go to the entrance ceremony hall now?"
"Then there would be no aning in sneaking in through the dog hole."
"..."
"We can just join naturally. Then there will be no problem."
Didn't he say that last ti and get caught by Namgung Cheon, which could have been dangerous?
Although Jong Seo-eon wanted to just choose a safe thod, since Namgung Il was a benefactor of the Beggars' Sect, he had no choice but to be here semi-compulsorily.
'I feel like things are going to get bigger for no reason...'
Jong Seo-eon turned his head with an anxious gaze.
And so, the sight of Gwangcheon next to him.
Although he had failed last ti, Jong Seo-eon said, with a little bit of expectation in his heart that Gwangcheon might be able to stop Namgung Il this ti.
"What do you think, Young Master Gwangcheon?"
"About what?"
"Wouldn't it be better to just go to the entrance ceremony hall from here?"
Please say it properly this ti.
Jong Seo-eon was even sending a silent signal with his two eyes.
However.
"I'm having so much fun right now."
"...Pardon?"
"This tension that I couldn't feel at the Shaolin Temple. As expected, I think I did well to leave the Shaolin Temple and co here."
It seed the silent signal had not been properly conveyed to Gwangcheon.
"Gwangcheon, this is academy life."
"Is that so? I'm really looking forward to the future."
Namgung Il and Gwangcheon seed to get along well.
On the other hand, Jong Seo-eon could not understand the conversation between the two at all.
For this heart-pounding thing to be academy life.
If those words were true, Jong Seo-eon felt as if he would want to quit the academy early.
"They're here."
Just then, Namgung Il stared sowhere and said quietly.
A group of people who were walking this way from the path in the distance.
Since he saw the faces he had seen on the day of the exam announcent, Namgung Il imdiately knew that that group was the new students of the Vermilion Bird Class.
'Th-they're really here!'
As the new students of the Vermilion Bird Class appeared as Namgung Il had said, Jong Seo-eon was extrely flustered.
If they hadn't co this way, he could have just been late with a comfortable heart.
Now it was a situation where he could neither go back nor move forward.
"When those brats pass by here, we'll quietly join at the back."
"I-is that possible?"
"It's fine. I'll do it first, so you guys just watch and follow."
"..."
Now it can't be helped.
As if he had made up his mind, Jong Seo-eon quietly clenched his fists.
Thud— Thud—.
Just then, people began to get closer.
As the distance got closer, Jong Seo-eon was nervous and even held his breath, and as soon as all the people had passed, Namgung Il moved first as he had foretold.
Rustle—
With a swift movent, Namgung Il ca out and joined the back row.
Strangely, the other people didn't seem to have noticed that, and Namgung Il calmly walked forward and sent a signal to the two who were hiding.
Phat—
Just then, Gwangcheon also released his concealnt and ca out.
Just like Namgung Il, Gwangcheon slyly stood in the back row without anyone noticing.
Now, only Jong Seo-eon was left.
'Th-they both succeeded?'
Is it not as difficult as he thought to join the line without being caught by others?
As the two had succeeded easily first, Jong Seo-eon seed to have gained a little more courage than before.
'...Let's go!'
There's no answer if he gets further away.
In the end, Jong Seo-eon also released his concealnt and ca out, just like the other two.
"Hey! A latecor is trying to sneak in over there!"
Just then, a voice shouting was heard.
At that mont, the students who stopped walking and turned back in unison.
Of course, Jong Seo-eon had not yet joined the line.
"...Huh?"
All the people's gazes were now directed at Jong Seo-eon.
And so, Jong Seo-eon, who had frozen like a statue in his current posture.
Seeing that, Namgung Il sent a quiet look of condolence.
'Farewell, Jong Seo-eon.'
The living must live.
Just then, the sa voice that he had heard earlier was heard in Namgung Il's ears again.
"The two brats at the very back."
"...!"
"You're also accomplices, right?"
A person who was standing at the very front of the line and smiling.
Ak Simin was looking at Namgung Il and saying so.
(End of Chapter)
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