Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 987

The door creaked open.

The footsteps of the person walking through the doorway, which opened to the left and right, seemed strangely slow.

They were indeed slow. But it didn’t feel frustrating or lukewarm.

Rather, they were full of composure. However, even within that composure, a subtle tension was evident.

A strange atmosphere.

He moved without hesitation, but he harbored thoughts that others couldn’t know. He couldn’t shake off those thoughts, but he was okay with that state. His steps, his gaze, his very being were honestly revealing himself.

‘……’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘It’s true.’

He knew it as soon as he saw him. He sensed it.

The Moyong Gun he was seeing now was clearly different from the one of the past.

‘It’s hard to believe even after seeing it. Is that really Moyong Gun?’

His personality would be the same. He had lived that way his whole life. It wasn’t a personality that would change easily.

However, his view of the world had changed, and as a result, his actions and atmosphere were different.

A sword is just a sword. In the hands of a murderer, it becomes a killing blade; in the hands of a butcher, it becomes a meat-cutting blade; and in the hands of a doctor, it becomes a life-saving blade.

The sharpness of the sword does not change. Moyong Gun’s personality was like that.

However, the use of the sword can change. Moyong Gun’s change was like that.

Thus, a proper turncoat appeared, one who embraced his past self while also turning his eyes to a new world.

“……”

The two were silent for a moment.

Even Gang Ryang and Jin Yang hesitated in the heavy and strange atmosphere. Gang Ryang, in particular, felt more awkward because he knew well what the relationship between Yeon Ho-Jeong and Moyong Gun had been like in the past.

After a moment.

“It’s remarkable,” Moyong Gun said, his words striking.

“Overlord… When I first heard that title, I thought it suited you very well. At least from my perspective, you were neither black nor white. You were someone who broke through everything in your path and moved forward according to your beliefs, so the term ‘Overlord’ couldn’t have been more fitting.”

“……”

“But seeing you like this, the title ‘Overlord’ seems strangely ill-fitting.”

“Is that so?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice seemed to be a bit hoarse.

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“When you were at your peak, you were more ferocious and terrifying than a demon. You’ve calmed down a lot now. Unlike your past self, who was like a madman, you even show a strange dignity.”

“You’ve changed a lot too.”

“Is that so?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded heavily.

“Honestly, I was skeptical even after hearing about your change. The people I trust all spoke of the change in the Moyong Clan Head, but it was hard to believe, considering you were someone who boasted such flamboyant misdeeds, weren’t you?”

“Misdeeds… Yes, they were misdeeds.”

Just this part alone showed that he had changed.

Moyong Gun didn’t think of his past actions as misdeeds. To him, misdeeds were things like breaking his pride, submitting to foreign powers, and the self-justification of losers who couldn’t even try to burn their one life to the fullest.

He was not someone who would even jokingly call himself evil or his actions misdeeds.

Such a person had changed this much.

“But don’t be mistaken. I haven’t changed. I’ve simply changed my perspective on the world.”

“People call that change.”

“From my perspective, it’s not a change. It’s just an attempt to understand the environment I’m in and live more properly. I’ve always lived that way.”

“Your beautification is excessive.”

“I can’t say these things in front of others. I only say these things in front of people like you, who can curse each other out and then laugh the next day.”

“We did laugh. But we were sharpening our swords inside.”

“So, are you still sharpening your sword at me?”

“The dagger aimed at you is always in my heart. It’s just a matter of whether I draw it or leave it be.”

“That’s a pity.”

Even while saying it was a pity, Moyong Gun’s expression was full of composure.

Only then did Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckle.

“It’s really hard to get used to you acting like that. Anyway, you’ve come all this way, so come inside.”

“It’s not me who should go in, but you who should come out.”

“……?”

“Weren’t you going to the military advisor’s office?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

“How did you know?”

Moyong Gun looked at Gang Ryang and Jin Yang.

“Didn’t they tell you?”

The two’s expressions became awkward.

Yeon Ho-Jeong knew that there was something else that the two hadn’t told him. Perhaps he hadn’t given them a chance to speak.

Moyong Gun spoke frankly.

“I heard it from the Great Advisor. He said that the military advisor mediated the two of your issues.”

“……”

“Of course, he said that even if the military advisor hadn’t intervened, the two of them wouldn’t have drawn their swords. But their insides wouldn’t have been okay.”

“I see.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Gang Ryang.

Gang Ryang sighed and said,

“I understand Military Advisor Jeagal.”

“Is that so?”

“The Martial Alliance is a massive federation, almost on par with a national organization. To run such a place, there are things that must be sacrificed and things that must be given up.”

“……”

“We understood that. It would be a lie to say that we don’t feel bitter, but isn’t that the world we live in?”

“……”

“Everyone else lives like that. Perhaps martial artists are the abnormal ones. Because we’re so used to fighting, we fight to the death over things that could be easily overlooked.”

“That’s wrong.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“Before discussing whether martial artists are normal or abnormal, we need to discuss the right and wrong of the actions. I’m grateful that you suppressed your anger and endured, but it’s absolutely not right or good that the guys who did wrong are in the right.”

“I know. But there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“You may not be able to do anything, but the military advisor shouldn’t have been unable to do anything.”

Not ‘Military Advisor-nim’ but ‘Military Advisor’.

It wasn’t because he was disappointed in Jeagal Mun-Ho. Nor was he speaking coldly on purpose for the sake of the two.

The Martial Alliance had grown to be as large as a national organization, but it was not a nation.

Rather, it was an organization closer to a warlord. And in any warlord, discipline is important. If rewards and punishments are clear, then the punishment for those who break the rules must also be clear.

He didn’t know what he was thinking, but as a result, Jeagal Mun-Ho’s response was lacking. Whether he did it on purpose or not, the mistake was clear.

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked Moyong Gun,

“Are you going to the military advisor’s office?”

“I thought you’d be moving around by now, so I figured we could go together.”

It would have been quite awkward if they had met for the first time at the military advisor’s office.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said to Gang Ryang and Jin Yang,

“I’ll be back. Rest well.”

“Hyung.”

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of or worried about. Your response was mature. It’s just that the responsibility of everyone who caused such a thing to happen is great.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

It was the smile that always reassured everyone.

“Let’s have a drink when I get back.”

* * *

On the way to the military advisor’s office.

Even though they were halfway there, the two were silent. They just walked silently.

A heavy silence hung over them, but there was no awkwardness.

Awkwardness in relationships is closer to the feeling that those who care about the relationship itself feel when the relationship is faltering.

In that respect, the two were different from ordinary people. They were in positions where they couldn’t help but care about relationships, but they were stubborn people who stuck to their own paths no matter who the other person was, so it was actually good in times like this.

However, they couldn’t walk silently forever.

Moyong Gun was the first to speak.

“I heard that there are more impure elements in the Martial Alliance.”

“Impure elements?”

“I mean those who are making a fuss about driving out the black path and returning to the original white path.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“Rather than impure elements, it’s more like there are many who can’t see the situation clearly.”

“That’s what impure elements are. The enemy wants the downfall of our side. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be the enemy. Not only those who want our side to be in danger, but also those who thoughtlessly lead us down that path are all impure elements.”

Indeed, Moyong Gun was Moyong Gun.

He had changed, but he was constantly showing that his personality hadn’t changed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“That could be the case.”

“Do you think differently?”

“People’s feelings change from day to day, don’t they? I’m angry about what my brothers went through, but I can understand it if I try.”

The expression ‘my brothers’ was very affectionate.

If Yeon Ho-Jeong was surprised by Moyong Gun’s change, Moyong Gun was also surprised by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s change.

Of course, Yeon Ho-Jeong hadn’t undergone as much change as Moyong Gun. He didn’t need to. Whether in the past or now, he was like a thoroughbred horse running towards a single goal.

However, Moyong Gun had not properly seen Yeon Ho-Jeong in the past.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was one of the most renowned swords in the world. However, that sword had a nature that changed in myriad ways. When facing an enemy, it turned into a demonic sword, but when facing his own people, it turned into a dull branch that was hard to even swing.

Moyong Gun had only seen Yeon Ho-Jeong’s sharp side, not his gentle side.

That’s why he felt even more novelty.

“You understand, but you won’t forgive, is that it?”

“Forgiveness is not for me to give. While we’re on the topic, even though the Clan Head committed all sorts of schemes, he didn’t end up joining hands with the Three Sects, did he?”

“……”

“Although they are collectively called the black path, there are many villains within it who commit crimes as a matter of course. There are also many thugs who act up just because they have power. There must be many white path people who have suffered so much that they shed tears of blood because of them.”

“……That’s probably true.”

“Perhaps it was too early. The alliance between the black and white paths, I mean.”

“It wasn’t too early. It was just a little too soft.”

“The military advisor must have known that as well.”

“Of course, he would.”

Moyong Gun looked around.

The streets were deserted. But some of the martial artists walking on these deserted streets were glancing at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Moyong Gun could see that there were unspoken emotions in their glances.

Hate, longing, regret, disappointment, anger, jealousy, admiration…

Moyong Gun clicked his tongue.

“There’s no need to bring up grand causes, but these people are truly frustrating. If they couldn’t handle it, they should have just left the Alliance.”

“It wouldn’t have been an easy choice.”

“It’s not that it wasn’t an easy choice, it’s that they’re trying to live easily. If they hated the black path so much, they should have just left the Alliance. There are many ways to fight the Three Sects without being with the Martial Alliance.”

Since it was Moyong Gun, and no one else, who was saying this, his words were persuasive.

“They probably thought they would lose the rights of their sect if they left the Alliance, and they were afraid that if a war broke out, they wouldn’t be able to participate properly and would be pointed at, and furthermore, they were worried that they would be mistaken for cowards if they couldn’t put up the sign of a participating sect.”

“……”

“They’re foolish people. Those who are trying to fight with their lives as a participating sect should know that they can’t catch two rabbits at once.”

“It’s not just that simple of a problem.”

“Of course, it isn’t. Those who caused this situation, and those who were incited by them, will try to move to the center of power. What they want is not the anger itself. If they were truly angry, they would have left the Alliance or cried and shouted.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes darkened.

“They will try to use their anger to gain power.”

“……”

“If they succeed, they will say later that their path was right. That it wasn’t to gain power.”

“……”

“I hate the most the fools who are not honest with their desires in the world. Except for the Three Sects, that is.”