Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 396

“Commander.”

“Hmm?”

Turning his head, Tang Ma’s squad leader, Gyu-byeok, stood before him.

“The entire army has taken their positions. Everyone is checking their weapons and resting.”

“Understood.”

“Um…”

“Is there something else you want to say?”

Gyu-byeok clicked his tongue.

“Are you alright?”

Gyu-byeok was the most passionate and lively of the five squad leaders. He sometimes made mistakes, but his natural charm was outstanding, and many followed him.

He had been watching the commander’s mood for a long time, and now he was finally asking what he was curious about. That was how much he respected Moyong Gun.

Moyong Gun tilted his head.

“What do you mean?”

“We… well, we were a bit angry at first, but…”

“So, what is it?”

“Ahem! It’s about the existence of the Righteous Army.”

“I don’t understand at all. Why? Do you dislike the Righteous Army?”

“Ah, no. It’s not that.”

He wondered if it was a question that would needlessly prick his pride, but he had already come this far. Gyu-byeok decided to be true to his nature.

“Are you not dissatisfied that Commander Yeon, no, that Daesu [a respectful title meaning ‘Great Leader’] became the leader of the Righteous Army?”

It was an unexpected question. At least, from Moyong Gun’s perspective.

But it seemed it wasn’t for the squad leaders. The squad leaders and some soldiers who were scattered here and there perked up their ears.

Moyong Gun frowned.

“Daesu’s abilities are extremely outstanding. What dissatisfaction could there be with such a person leading the Righteous Army?”

When he asked that, there was nothing to say. If it were someone else, they would have been embarrassed and scratched their heads or coughed and retreated.

Of course, our Gyu-byeok was not like that. In a way, he was the most honest person in the Tang Ma Army.

“Either way… Daesu is too young, isn’t he? Even younger than you, Commander.”

“Can the age of a person be a measure of their ability? Rather, isn’t it normal to think it’s even more amazing that they have such abilities at a young age?”

“W-well, of course, that’s true. I know that Daesu’s talent is genius-level, and that he is more than qualified to be the leader of the Righteous Army.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Rather than a problem… aren’t you angry?”

“Angry?”

Moyong Gun kept tilting his head.

Gyu-byeok suspected that Moyong Gun was pretending not to understand his words even though he did. A normal person would not be unaware of what his question meant.

But looking at the commander’s face like this, it seemed like he really didn’t know.

Gyu-byeok spoke honestly.

“Commander, you have more seniority and experience than Daesu. Well, the two of you are called the ‘Twin Swords,’ but at least in terms of experience, you should be superior, yet I’m curious if you’re not jealous that Daesu, not you, is in the position of overseeing the Righteous Army.”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“Why? Did you think I was such a petty person that I would be jealous of such a thing and be unable to do my job?”

“Cough! N-no, I absolutely don’t think that! I just…”

“Hahaha.”

Moyong Gun burst into a clear laugh.

Gyu-byeok, as well as the squad leaders and soldiers, were surprised and looked at Moyong Gun.

Although he had always shown a strict and sharp demeanor in official matters, Moyong Gun’s nature was fundamentally gentle. His human charm was outstanding, and he clearly distinguished between public and private matters, so the entire Tang Ma Army sincerely followed Moyong Gun.

But even they had never seen Moyong Gun laugh like this.

Moyong Gun said, smiling.

“I’m sorry. Actually, I knew what your question meant from the beginning. I just wanted to play a little prank, but it seems I’ve embarrassed you more than I thought. I apologize.”

“No! Apologize?”

Gyu-byeok clicked his tongue. He was now regretting that he had said something unnecessary and made his superior feel frustrated.

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“But my heart is sincere. I am not jealous at all.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Perhaps, seeing me like this, you might click your tongues and call me a fool.”

“Gasp! Absolutely not!”

Moyong Gun looked up at the sky.

The land, the weather, and the people living there were different, but the sky was the same in Guangdong Province. Looking at the stars that filled the dark night sky, he felt that his complicated head and frustrated heart were becoming clearer.

“Daesu’s abilities are outstanding. Of course, you all know that. But I dare say, our Daesu is a much more outstanding person than you know. You are not even seeing one-tenth of Daesu’s abilities right now.”

Uncommon praise came from Moyong Gun’s mouth.

Moyong Gun was not stingy with praise, but he was also not stingy with pointing out mistakes. In other words, he was not a person who exaggerated.

And yet, he was evaluating the leader of the Righteous Army so highly. The squad leaders were surprised and speechless.

Moyong Gun smiled.

“Jealousy can only be felt when the levels are similar. What jealousy can there be for someone whose level is different from the start? Rather, it might take a lifetime to catch up and learn from him.”

“… !”

“I know your feelings. Although I didn’t say it separately, you must have been quite disappointed that I, your leader, didn’t become the leader of the Righteous Army. You might have felt a sense of defeat when looking at the soldiers of the Myeolsa Army [Elite army].”

The squad leaders and soldiers couldn’t bring themselves to say no. It was a time when their superior was opening his heart and speaking. It wasn’t the time to say flattering words as a matter of courtesy.

“Then I want to ask the opposite. In your opinion, has any of the Myeolsa Army soldiers ever looked down on you?”

Then, Jin-pae, the first squad leader, spoke.

“There was no such thing. Their eyes didn’t even change once. Rather, they seemed surprised that Daesu became the leader of the Righteous Army.”

Moyong Gun nodded.

“That is the Myeolsa Army. I also don’t have personal connections with each of the Myeolsa Army soldiers, so I can’t be sure, but they are not special. Their origins? Of course, they are made up of members from the Nine Sects and Six Families [powerful martial arts clans]. But origins cannot prove a person’s worth. They just have a slightly different way of learning.”

Gyu-byeok said.

“Isn’t it a world where ranks and status are divided because of that learning?”

His words contained an undeniable envy and a resentment that went beyond that envy.

He had been ignored because he had not learned properly, and he had wandered because there was no one to guide him. Even when he tried to achieve something on his own, he was powerless because he did not have the minimum foundation for success.

That was why he was obsessed with origins and felt a thirst for learning. Even though he had gained some fame in a region, the reason he cared about the world’s evaluation was precisely there.

Also, it was similar for most people. The root of the reason why he asked if Moyong Gun felt jealous was there.

“There are many people who make such distinctions. Implicitly. But the real ones are different. Those who have learned superficially are intoxicated with a sense of superiority, but those who have learned properly try to share.”

“… !”

The squad leaders pondered Moyong Gun’s words.

Those who are superficial think of what they have as special, but the real ones try to share what they have.

That was the standard by which Moyong Gun divided the foolish and the wise.

“The rules of a prestigious family are much more rigid and restrictive than you think. There are many who are born into good families and act like hooligans, or who think they are the best and act arrogantly, but many more scions of prestigious families live while contemplating what is right based on patience and self-control.”

Moyong Gun looked around at the Tang Ma Army.

The Tang Ma Army was scattered here and there. More than half of them were looking at Moyong Gun. The sincerity in Moyong Gun’s voice and the content about a world they didn’t know were making them focus.

“The person who brought such people together and made them into a near-perfect combat unit is our Daesu.”

The squad leaders swallowed hard without realizing it.

“Leaving aside the rules of prestigious families, the Myeolsa Army soldiers are all people with their own pride. Do you think it’s easy for them to bow their heads and pledge allegiance to a young man of similar origin?”

“…!!”

“That is why I respect and admire Daesu. He is the real deal.”

“The real deal…”

“Yes, the real deal among the real deals. The reason is that he is a person who burns everything he has for the sake of the world, not for his own fame.”

Moyong Gun’s smile disappeared.

“Since you were merged into one unit called the Righteous Army without prior notice, it’s unlikely that you would feel comfortable. However, what I want to say is this.”

“…”

“Daesu is one of the few true heroes in the world. The reason to choose death at his command is enough with just that.”

Then, Gye-eok, the fifth squad leader, said.

“As Commander said, there are few real ones in the world.”

“Hmm?”

“However, in our eyes, Commander, you are also the real deal.”

Gye-eok bowed his head.

“Since you trust him, we will also trust and follow him.”

They were not following Yeon Ho-jeong because an order had been given. It meant that since their superior, Moyong Gun, recognized him, they would also recognize Daesu.

Moyong Gun looked around again.

The squad leaders and soldiers all had similar expressions.

Moyong Gun, who had been looking at them with strange eyes, smiled.

“That will be enough for now. Thank you for trusting me.”

This was something Moyong Gun had not expected.

Just as much as he respected Yeon Ho-jeong, the reason why the soldiers respected him was also clear.

Because of Moyong Gun’s appearance, the soldiers also thought that Moyong Gun was no less than Yeon Ho-jeong.

Moyong Gun looked up at the sky again.

“…I wonder what Yeon-je is doing now.”

* * *

“Young Master Yeon! No, Daesu Yeon!”

“Speak comfortably. It’s been a while, Hu-gae. By the way, did you come here yourself as the head of this information warfare?”

“This is not the time to worry about that.”

Ga Deuk-sang explained to Yeon Ho-jeong in detail what had happened.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes gleamed.

“The Yin God’s chief disciple?”

“Yes. I don’t know his name, but he sent a message with this content.”

“Hmm.”

“What do you think, Daesu?”

Yeon Ho-jeong was lost in thought.

‘The current Yin God is Hong-gwan, that is, Yaryul Jeok, a spy of the Evil Yin Sect. Then his chief disciple is…?’

Yeon Ho-jeong had seen the Yin God during his time as the Dark Emperor.

At that time, the Yin God was younger than him. Of course, he was still middle-aged, but he was quite surprised that he was younger than he had thought.

‘Could it be that guy? No, it can’t be this guy, right?’

It was impossible to know. He had never met him directly. Even if it was the same person, there was no guarantee that the personality of the Yin God at that time would be similar to this guy’s now.

After a while, Yeon Ho-jeong said.

“Please handle that matter directly, Hu-gae. It’s difficult for me to make a judgment right now.”

“Damn it, I asked for your opinion because I feel the same way.”

“By the way, there was an earthquake in his territory?”

“It’s reported that two super masters collided. It might be a bit exaggerated, but it’s not a normal battle…”

“That’s strange.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.

“Although the goal was to create chaos… that damn woman, she wouldn’t be that thoughtless, would she? Could it be a trap?”

No matter how smart Yeon Ho-jeong was, there were bound to be variables in the world.

‘I can’t help it.’

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been lost in thought again, nodded.

“Arrange a meeting with the guy who calls himself the chief disciple. I will meet him myself.”