Urban Vagabond: Reload

Kim Muhyuk kept prodding No Gucheon’s guilt.

He dipped his head low as he apologized, and forced the corners of his lifted eyes down as much as he could.

Then he coughed even though he normally never did, and spoke in a voice that seemed to shrink into itself.

“Cough! To be honest, I really wanted to place in the top three in this license exam. Because I wanted to earn that priceless chance to receive instruction from the Martial Alliance Leader....... But I got hurt like this, and I couldn’t even take the exam properly, so it feels like the opportunity slipped away...... Cough!”

It was the kind of story that stabbed right into No Gucheon’s chest, especially when he was already feeling sorry toward Kim Muhyuk.

Not being able to properly complete the license exam was because assassins had infiltrated the exam grounds, and in the end, that was the Martial Alliance’s fault for failing to stop it ahead of time.

“I’m not interested in anything except martial arts....... Cough! I got impatient and made an unreasonable request. If I put pressure on you, I’m truly sorry.”

“Heh. Well now.......”

No Gucheon was an old master who’d been worn smooth inside the Martial Alliance.

There was no way he couldn’t tell that Kim Muhyuk—who had been perfectly fine until No Gucheon arrived—suddenly coughing like a sick patient was blatant acting.

But that performance didn’t feel annoying. If anything, it felt pleasant.

‘It must be a request born from a martial artist’s yearning for a higher realm...... I can’t bring myself to dislike him at all.’

No Gucheon hesitated for a while, then let out a short sigh and nodded.

“Fine. I’ll take responsibility and find a way to arrange a meeting with the Martial Alliance Leader.”

He’d definitely get scolded by Yeo Pilgeuk for making that promise without even asking him, but No Gucheon thought this was the only way the Martial Alliance Leader would be able to give instruction without feeling guilty.

And the moment he said that, a bright smile bloomed on Kim Muhyuk’s face.

“Thank you!”

As his voice snapped back to normal from that weak, sickly tone, No Gucheon burst into laughter.

“You little punk. So it really was acting!”

“Maybe it’s because I’m so happy that my injuries improved?”

“What did you say? Hahahaha!”

Watching Kim Muhyuk trade jokes with an old master far senior to him, Shin Kangheon and Kim Bokja stared at him with expressions that said he was disgusting.

‘Wow. Shameless little bastard.......’

‘The teacher too, but why does he click so perfectly with middle-aged guys and grandpas?’

Shin Kangheon in particular pouted, clearly jealous that Kim Muhyuk was going to receive instruction from the Martial Alliance Leader.

Still, he didn’t think the reward Kim Muhyuk would receive was unfair.

‘Because I have to admit it.’

The assassins who had invaded the license exam grounds were strong enough that the late-bloom talents had to pile on in a pack just to suppress them.

‘And this lunatic held out against those assassins by himself.......’

Kim Muhyuk was the more you looked, the more unbelievable he became.

His martial skill. His brutally diligent personality. The eerie look in his eyes he showed now and then, and the composure so cold it felt chilling.

Someone who made Shin Kangheon feel an inferiority he’d never felt in his life.

And every time he felt that, a competitive urge to beat the other man boiled up inside him.

When Shin Kangheon silently glared at him, Kim Muhyuk narrowed his brow and asked,

“Why are you staring like that?”

“Just wait. My license exam score will be way higher than yours.”

After snorting as if to show off, Shin Kangheon turned his head and asked No Gucheon,

“So what happens to our exam?”

The license exam had been stopped halfway, but right before that, Shin Kangheon had been battling for the lead in the team missions.

He wouldn’t have minded starting over from the beginning, but honestly, it was still a little disappointing.

“I was going to tell you the results anyway.”

No Gucheon continued with an awkward smile.

“We scored it by analyzing the recorded footage from during the exam. For late-bloom talents whose pass or fail was clear, we’ll notify them of the results, and for those we believe are difficult to judge, they’ll take a reexamination later.”

At that very moment, Martial Alliance personnel were walking around the ward delivering exam results to the late-bloom talents.

“You two, in this exam......”

At that, Shin Kangheon swallowed hard and focused.

Kim Muhyuk, on the other hand, stayed calm.

‘I shouldn’t expect a good score. I’ll probably have to take a reexamination...... Or if my injuries don’t heal properly, it might be better to aim for the {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} next exam.’

Unlike Shin Kangheon, who had stayed in the leading pack the whole time, Kim Muhyuk and Yang Hayun had fallen into the Black-White trap and hadn’t even completed the first mission properly.

Of course, since he’d secured the most important goal—promising a private meeting with the Martial Alliance Leader—he wasn’t that dissatisfied.

‘And besides, I got an unexpected gain.’

Inside Kim Muhyuk’s lower abdomen, Yin-Extreme qi was still writhing.

He had wondered if it might disappear as time passed, but instead, it felt like it had settled in even more solidly.

‘If it’s someone as strong as the Martial Alliance Leader, would he know why Yin-Extreme qi seeped into my body?’

He hadn’t had time to ask his teacher, Choi Geon.

But since he hadn’t heard anything special even when he was told about his Five Elements affinity, all Kim Muhyuk could do was guess that either very few people knew—or it might not exist at all.

Even so, he had a gut feeling that if he learned the Five Elements Divine Art, he’d be able to handle Yin-Extreme qi properly too.

‘I’ve already found a trigger to become stronger from here on out, so the exam result doesn’t matter.’

It would be a shame, but he decided to think that way even if the result was bad.

As if No Gucheon had read Kim Muhyuk’s thoughts, he smiled playfully and continued.

“Congratulations. Both of you passed the license exam and obtained second-rate martial artist certification.”

“Yesssss!”

“...?”

Shin Kangheon threw his uninjured arm high and cheered, while Kim Muhyuk widened his eyes and asked back as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Me too? But my exam performance should’ve been near the bottom......”

“The mission you were assigned. There was a problem with the difficulty adjustment.”

As it turned out, the assassins disguised as Black-White had raised the difficulty drastically to make Kim Muhyuk and Yang Hayun fall behind as the exam proceeded.

Even though the evaluators scored them using only the footage from before the two entered the cabin, everyone unanimously said it would’ve been several times harder to progress than it was for other participants.

“That portion was taken into account in the evaluation. The Eight Great Sects’ Gate Masters also watched the footage and agreed, so it won’t be changed.”

Kim Muhyuk let out a baffled laugh and muttered,

“No wonder it was so brutal......”

“That’s great! Now you can go home and eat in peace.”

“Well, if only you failed, I’d feel kind of uneasy too.”

Kim Bokja and Shin Kangheon also giggled as if it were their own business.

Kim Muhyuk gave a weak laugh, nodded, and let out a sigh of relief.

He’d braced himself to fail, but of course, passing felt better than failing.

“Then I should go back to attend another meeting.”

No Gucheon got up, told them to take good care of themselves, and thanked them once more.

“You fought villains while accepting dangers that could’ve cost you your lives, and in the end you protected your comrades. I believe that is the spirit of the orthodox martial world. Please live for a long time holding pride and dignity in what you did today.”

“......”

Hearing that, Kim Muhyuk felt his chest swell a little.

Even back when he lived as a vagabond, he hadn’t forgiven villains, and he hadn’t abandoned his comrades.

But no one had acknowledged it. In the underworld, vagabonds always carried the label that they moved for money.

“...Yeah. I’m glad I became orthodox after all.”

“What kind of insane crap is that?”

Kim Bokja, who had been listening quietly, jabbed Kim Muhyuk in the side.

She knew he’d gotten recruitment offers from the underworld, so it was a warning to watch his mouth in front of No Gucheon.

“Hahaha! It’s fine! I also think it’s fortunate that you chose the orthodox side, Muhyuk!”

Fortunately, No Gucheon didn’t seem to find it strange.

He wasn’t just anyone—he was the Sword Demon’s disciple.

Even if his way of thinking was a little freer than most, it wasn’t unusual.

“Roughly one month from now. The suspended first-rate license exam and the pinnacle-expert test will be held together. And at the end, everyone will compete together and the final score will be decided...... I’ll be watching you.”

When he saw them next time, just how much more would these dazzling talents have grown?

Just imagining it made No Gucheon feel content.

Even now, weren’t Kim Muhyuk and Shin Kangheon already shining in the eyes?

“Competing against pinnacle experts? That...... sounds amazing.”

“One month, right? Hey, you lunatic! The moment you’re discharged, it’s special training!”

“You idiots, until you’re fully healed, don’t even think about gripping a weapon!”

And then, as if something suddenly occurred to him, Kim Muhyuk asked,

“Ah, do you know what happened to Yang Hayun, by any chance?”

*****

Yang Hayun regained consciousness three days after collapsing.

“No......!”

Trembling like she’d had a vicious nightmare, she struggled to lift her eyelids.

Her entire body was drenched in sweat, her limbs felt as heavy as stone, and even while lying still her breathing came fast.

“Hayun! Hayun! Are you awake?”

A familiar voice came from beside her head a moment later.

Through a vision that slowly came into focus, Yang Hayun saw snow-white hair and a slender face.

“Master?”

“Yes! Your master is here. Oh, my baby....... You’ve finally come to your senses.”

With tears pooled in her eyes, the Glacier Priestess pulled her disciple into a tight embrace.

Yang Hayun had completely exhausted her Yin-Extreme qi, and she’d nearly had her origin damaged as well.

Thankfully, between the Martial Alliance’s emergency treatment and the Glacier Priestess arriving in time, she was able to avoid major aftereffects.

The Glacier Priestess—who had waited in constant anxiety for her disciple to wake—smiled through a face full of tears.

“I contacted your parents, so they’ll be here soon. Do you hurt anywhere right now?”

“I’m okay....... Hehe. Master. Please hold me a little longer.”

“Of course. Today I’ll indulge any whining you want.”

Ever since her constitution manifested, Yang Hayun had grown distant from her parents and followed the Glacier Priestess even more like a parent.

Likewise, the Glacier Priestess, who had no children, cherished Yang Hayun like a daughter.

Grand Elder and strongest master of the Sun and Moon Gate.

Inside the gate she was a cold-blooded martial artist with influence comparable to the Gate Master’s, but in front of her disciple she was a foolishly doting teacher.

“I slept for three whole days?”

“Yes. Do you know how worried I was?”

The two of them talked about this and that for a while.

Then Yang Hayun suddenly remembered someone, and asked in an urgent voice,

“Kim Muhyuk! Do you know what happened to Kim Muhyuk?”

“The boy who was attacked by assassins with you? Don’t worry. They said his injuries were treated well, and he’ll be discharged soon.”

The Glacier Priestess gently patted her disciple’s head, looking proud.

She was kind-hearted. Even while lying here hurt like this, she still thought first of the companion who had been with her.

However, as the conversation continued, the Glacier Priestess began to sense something slightly off.

“He must’ve gotten badly hurt because he came back to save me....... He got so many wounds, and he was exposed to Yin-Extreme qi too......”

Yang Hayun trailed off and pressed her lips shut.

Because the image of Kim Muhyuk pushing Yin-Extreme qi out of his body before fighting Black-White 13 flashed through her mind.

‘He lied to me. He hid his constitution!’

He was her benefactor, but it made her mad.

But she was grateful that he hadn’t left her and had stayed with her, and she found him annoying, and she felt unbearably sorry.

The moment she thought of Kim Muhyuk, all kinds of tangled feelings mixed together until she couldn’t tell what was what.

“The Sun and Moon Gate will repay him in a very significant way. If he wants, we’re even willing to bring him into our gate and teach him martial arts.”

“Yes......”

But it was hard to picture Kim Muhyuk entering the Sun and Moon Gate.

“Oh, right. He came to visit yesterday.”

“What? Kim Muhyuk came? Why are you only telling me now!”

At her disciple’s reaction, the Glacier Priestess flinched.

Was this really something to get angry about because she said it late?

“I-I’m sorry. Anyway, he left something strange behind......”

“What is it?”

The Glacier Priestess went to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator in the corner of the room and took something out.

The moment she saw what it was, Yang Hayun stared with round eyes.

“Ah......”

The egg they had received as their first mission from Black-White was sitting there, perfectly intact.

Only one thing was different.

Kim Muhyuk had drawn an old-fashioned emoticon on the egg and written a message beneath it.

(^-^)/

I kept the promise, you keep yours too

Without realizing it, Yang Hayun tightly clasped the egg in both hands.

‘A promise? What promise?’

Her memory wasn’t clear, but words exchanged in that desperate situation definitely wouldn’t have been ordinary.

‘What is it? What promise did we make?’

Was it a promise to meet again after escaping from there?

A promise about the future?

Or if it wasn’t that.......

As her imagination ran wild, Yang Hayun’s ears slowly turned red and a blush rose to her cheeks.

“You idiot....... You have to say it for me to know......”

Yang Hayun kept holding the egg in both hands for a long time, as if it were precious.

‘What do I do with this.......’

And as the Glacier Priestess watched her young disciple, a new worry took root.