Chapter 874

"Th-that..."

The words stuck in my throat, refusing to come out. Tang So-yeol's transmission hit me like a blow to the chest.

How? How on earth did she find out? No matter how poorly I might act, there’s no way I could have been exposed so easily.

I wanted to avert my gaze to hide my trembling eyes, but doing so would only make it more obvious. What should I do?

“…Wh-what do you mean by that?”

“…”

Despite my feeble denial, Tang So-yeol simply stared at me. Her calm, unblinking gaze was more terrifying than any outburst.

What should I say? Her expression showed she wouldn’t believe me even if I denied it. What could I possibly do now? While I was drowning in these thoughts—

"Leader!"

Someone called out to me from behind, their voice loud and urgent. I quickly turned my head.

"Cheol is insisting we need to move immediately!"

"Ah, right," I replied, swallowing hard and turning away as though I had urgent business to attend to.

I took a few steps, feigning a hurried pace. I half-expected Tang So-yeol to stop me, but she didn’t.

“…First, we’ll stabilize the current situation. I understand the chaos caused by the attack, but we’ve located the headquarters of the Celestial Stream Sect.”

I delivered the words I had prepared in advance.

“…That being said, it seems more prudent to conduct a search later and focus on resolving the immediate chaos.”

I scanned the area, glancing at my surroundings.

The place was in complete disarray. Although there were no deaths among the Azure Dragon Division, several were injured.

As I took this in, I turned to Tang So-yeol.

“…We’ll delay the search. For now, focus on stabilizing the situation. Vice-Leader, you’re in charge of coordination."

“Understood.”

Tang So-yeol nodded without a word of protest. Oddly enough, that silence was even more unnerving. Why wasn’t she asking any questions? Could it be that my denial had worked?

I began to feel a faint sense of relief, but it was short-lived.

"I won’t let it slide this time."

“…”

Her chilling voice made me swallow dryly.

This wasn’t going to blow over so easily.

****************

The branch was hastily reorganized. We moved cautiously, wary of the possibility that Cheonma might reappear, which slowed our progress.

The mood was somber. Whether it was exhaustion or shock, grim expressions filled the area, but we managed to complete the cleanup.

Calling it "cleanup" was generous. It was the same routine—locking up the guilty and disposing of the corpses.

As for traces of the demonic beasts, they had dissipated as if they had never existed, leaving no need for further action.

The real problem was—

"Branch Leader."

"…"

"Your expression doesn’t look too good."

The new branch leader, Shin Dogyeom, sat across from me.

I had personally appointed him after killing Mok Ri-seon. His expression was uneasy, as though he wasn’t pleased with the sudden promotion.

“…Azure Dragon Leader.”

“Speak.”

“I don’t understand why I’ve been made branch leader.”

"Hmm?"

I tilted my head at his words. Why? The answer was obvious.

“Because I told you to.”

“…”

“Why? Do you have complaints?”

“How could I not?”

"Oh?"

I openly expressed my admiration at his boldness.

“…I’m not qualified to be branch leader, nor do I think this is the right way to handle things.”

His voice was firm and resolute. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Do you realize something, Branch Leader Shin?”

“I’m not the branch leader…”

“Your words just now have convinced me even further.”

“…”

Shin Dogyeom’s brow furrowed deeply. To behave this way in front of the man who had killed the previous branch leader—was he fearless? No, that wasn’t it.

‘He must be someone who values his principles over his emotions.’

That’s the kind of person he was.

He had been the same in my previous life.

‘When Sichuan fell, he was the last one standing, fighting until the bitter end.’

If you considered his demise as the conclusion, Shin Dogyeom was the one who had defended the branch to its very last breath.

During the invasion, when overwhelming numbers left no hope, he stood firm.

Of all the wars fought, the fall of Sichuan had been the most decisive victory, its causes rooted in Mok Ri-seon’s betrayal, Cheonma’s orders, and my own unhesitating response to the words of Cheon Yura.

Other regions had been simultaneously attacked, making support from the Martial Alliance impossible. The Divine Sword was occupied with the Demon Sword Queen, unable to move.

By the time we wrapped up those battles and arrived in Sichuan, it was far too late. Resources were scattered, and time had already worked against us.

Mok Ri-seon’s betrayal, combined with his intimate knowledge of the region, sealed our fate.

It had been a hopeless battle, obvious to even a fool. The branch officers and members had fled en masse.

‘I can’t blame them.’

It was a natural choice for any human being, no matter how disgraceful or cowardly.

And yet—

‘Why didn’t you run?’

Why hadn’t the man sitting before me, with his foul temper and unremarkable strength, chosen to flee?

Shin Dogyeom had stayed to the bitter end, defending the branch until he was killed by Mukwon.

Just one martial artist. Neither powerful nor memorable in battle. And yet, I remembered him.

"Hope? I don’t care for something as fleeting as hope."

A man who gripped his sword until the moment of his death, enduring ridicule and disdain.

"This was simply my duty. I am someone who protects Sichuan and its people."

When I told him there was no one left to protect, he replied:

"That’s not true."

Shin Do-gyeom had stood, even with his left arm severed and his right eye destroyed.

"Somewhere, someone must still remain."

His tone lacked certainty. Yet—

"If there’s even the faintest chance that someone remains, I’d rather die here than abandon them."

Even the slim possibility of someone surviving was more precious to Shin Do-gyeom than his own life.

"Dying here is preferable."

“…”

“Azure Dragon Leader?”

“…Ah, my apologies. My thoughts wandered for a moment.”

I snapped out of my reverie, focusing on the man sitting before me. Shin Do-gyeom’s impression hadn’t changed much since then.

“In case you didn’t hear me earlier, let me repeat myself. I neither desire nor feel qualified to sit in this position.”

“Why? It’s a promotion, isn’t it? Shouldn’t you be happy?”

“It’s because I cannot yet determine whether the actions you’ve taken are right or wrong.”

“Hmm.”

A clear and direct answer.

“So, until you’ve made that determination, you won’t do the job?”

“That’s correct. Furthermore, if it turns out that you’ve committed a crime, then all the more reason for me not to accept this position.”

“You speak strongly. What if I’m not a criminal? If you keep treating me like one, you might end up like Mok Ri-seon.”

“Even so, I cannot refrain from speaking my mind.”

“What, do you have more than one life to spare?”

“Even if I only have one life, I will not compromise my beliefs for the sake of the branch.”

He truly didn’t back down, not even an inch.

Ordinarily, I would’ve grown irritated and beaten him for his insolence. But for some reason, I could only laugh.

Perhaps it was because his sincerity was undeniable. Everything Shin Do-gyeom showed me, every word he said, came from the heart. That’s why I found it amusing rather than infuriating.

“Impressive words.”

“…That’s why I’m saying it again. I can’t—”

“Even so, you must do the job.”

“…”

I cut him off mid-sentence.

“There are plenty of reasons I could give, but the most important one is simple.”

It was the same reason I had mentioned before.

“Because I said so.”

“Azure Dragon Leader…!”

“This isn’t just my decision—it’s also the will of the Martial Alliance. Are you going to defy the Alliance’s orders in the name of your principles?”

“…”

“You don’t trust me? Fine.”

I felt like having some tea, but there was nothing to drink on the table. My throat felt dry.

“Whether I’m guilty or not, judge for yourself. It won’t take long.”

“Does that mean…?”

“It means there was clear evidence, and I acted in accordance with the Alliance’s will.”

Of course, I didn’t have the Alliance’s explicit approval. But that didn’t matter. That wasn’t the important part.

“And the same goes for you. I don’t think there’s anyone better suited for this position than you.”

Honestly, I would have preferred to send this man to the main Alliance headquarters.

‘But that’s never going to happen.’

With Shin Do-gyeom’s personality, he’d never accept such an order.

Actually, keeping him here might be better.

‘The main Alliance has been rotten for a long time.’

Perhaps it was better to leave him here than to send him to such a decayed place.

“Even if you hate being the branch leader, at least act as the interim leader. If you still hate it after trying, you can pass the position to someone else.”

“…”

After saying all this, there was no way he could run away. Also—

‘Pass it to someone else? Not likely.’

Once he tried, he’d realize what kind of disaster would unfold if the position went to someone else. He’d quickly notice the greed and ambition seething in others, and he’d never be able to relinquish the position.

“Why… why are you doing all this for me?”

At this point, Shin Do-gyeom seemed more scared than anything. His unease was palpable.

A man who had barely registered as significant within the branch.

Though skilled, his abilities weren’t remarkable enough to stand out in the vast martial world. It was clear he couldn’t understand why I was holding on to him so tightly.

“Who knows?”

Seeing his confusion, I gave it a little thought myself. Why had I chosen Shin Do-gyeom?

After some reflection, I found the words.

“The first reason is guilt.”

“Guilt? What do you mean…?”

“The second reason is that strength isn’t just about skill level.”

It was one of the things I had come to understand in this life.

No matter how skilled someone is, that doesn’t make them inherently strong as a person.

Even the greatest masters weren’t unbreakable, and even the weakest had their own hidden strength.

“That’s why you need to take charge here. It’s an order.”

“…Leader.”

“As I’ve said before, if you’re worried about the things I’ve done, just keep watching.”

I leaned back in my chair and continued.

“You’ll find that there’s no issue at all.”

To be more precise—

It meant I had already ensured there wouldn’t be any.