Chapter 129 – Bimu and Bimu (2)

The presidential secretariat visited the Sword Family the very next day.

Following the last time, the visitor this time was also Kim Jong-gwan.

Seeing him in person, I could tell that he was a considerable expert.

He didn’t bother to hide his mana and subtly revealed it.

‘Didn’t they say this guy was also from the Jeongjin Sword Family?’

But he couldn’t be called a parachute appointment.

I didn’t know what his swordsmanship was like, but with Kim Jong-gwan’s level of mana, there would be no shortage in protecting the president.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Kim Jong-gwan from the presidential secretariat.”

“I am Seo Ji-han of the Haewon Sword Family. Please have a seat.”

When I offered him a seat, Kim Jong-gwan crossed one leg and sat down in the chair in a relaxed posture.

Since he worked under the head of a country, he believed in his own power.

He looked at me intently, then opened his mouth a little while later.

“I believe you have an idea of the reason for my visit.”

“Well, roughly. It’s probably about Yoon Joo-hee.”

When I called her name without any title, Kim Jong-gwan’s brow twitched slightly.

But I had just called Yoon Joo-hee, Yoon Joo-hee.

What kind of honorific would be needed for a commander to call a member’s name?

“Commander Seo Ji-han. Let’s get straight to the point without beating around the bush.”

“Yes.”

“Expel the young lady from the Haewon Sword Family.”

I had thought it would be this kind of business, but I didn’t expect it to be so blunt.

“A member who is diligently participating in training, you want me to expel her just like that?”

“It is His Excellency’s opinion.”

“Yoon Joo-hee is not a child, the influence of a parent is too much.”

“What did you say?”

Kim Jong-gwan looked slightly agitated.

“At twenty-four, she is old enough to decide her own path.”

“It’s not a matter of age!”

“The presidential secretariat seems to be quite idle. To visit our sword family twice for such a personal request.”

“A personal matter? If something happens to the young lady’s personal safety, don’t you know that it will no longer be a personal matter?”

Kim Jong-gwan’s voice grew louder and louder.

“I am responsible for the safety of my members. And please lower your voice.”

“What did you say?”

“It’s a bit grating to the ears.”

I looked at Kim Jong-gwan coldly.

Then, he flinched slightly.

It wasn’t as much as a dragon’s fear, but overpowering an opponent with just a look was something I had done often since my Johan Raven days.

Now that my mana had greatly increased after consuming Ignarog’s Rune, it had become usable again.

Kim Jong-gwan flinched unconsciously, but his mouth was still alive.

“So in the end, you’re going against His Excellency’s will? Can you handle it?”

“Handle it?”

“Yes. I understand that the Haewon Sword Family is in a position of being checked by many other sword families.”

“So?”

“Due to these checks, the Haewon Sword Family will no longer be able to enjoy the benefits it has been receiving from the government. It would be perfect for misunderstandings if you gave benefits to a place where the president’s daughter belongs.”

In a word, it meant they would cut off the support the Haewon Sword Family was receiving from the state.

I was dumbfounded.

I was someone who hadn’t batted an eye at the power of an emperor.

Moreover, in the current political system, the president’s authority was like a firefly compared to an emperor’s. And he was threatening me with a limited 5-year term of power, so it was truly laughable.

“I’m sorry, but this kind of threat is ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous?”

“To think that this would work, it shows the level of the staff.”

“You’re speaking carelessly!”

I grinned at the agitated Kim Jong-gwan.

“Are you unaware that the financial soundness of the Haewon Sword Family is the highest compared to all other sword families, and that the donations made by the Haewon Sword Family are much larger than the benefits we receive from the state?”

Of course, it was true that the Haewon Sword Family was enjoying some benefits in dungeon bidding as a reward for its contribution to the country. But it didn’t matter even if the current president cut it all off.

The Haewon Sword Family had already secured a three-year supply, and by the time this time passed, the current power would have stepped down.

“And one more thing. Do you really think nothing will happen if you turn your back on our Haewon Sword Family? If you turn not only the Haewon Sword Family but also our allied forces into enemies, the next general election will be interesting.”

At my words, Kim Jong-gwan’s pupils shook.

He hadn’t expected me to come out this strong.

‘How much of a fool did he take me for?’

Above all, there was nothing wrong with what I was saying now.

That’s why Kim Jong-gwan couldn’t refute it.

I finished my words.

“If you want to assist the president well and maintain the administration, the secretariat should first reduce its nonsense. I will consider what you said today as not being the president’s will.”

As I pushed him hard, Kim Jong-gwan could only let out a sigh.

“Do you have anything more to say?”

“Since you’re coming out like this in the end, we have no choice.”

What on earth was he going to say?

His tightly shut lips and meaningful expression gave the feeling that he was about to pull out a trump card.

“A Bimu proposal will soon be sent to the Haewon Sword Family.”

“A Bimu?”

“Yes. The one requesting the Bimu is the warrior Nam Woo-hyun of the Suseong Sword Family.”

“Then, is the one being designated our Chamryongdan’s Yoon Joo-hee?”

“Yes.”

“As long as it’s not an absurd level, we will accept the Bimu. But what are you going to do with this?”

“The young lady will know that well, so you just need to convey this message.”

“I will. And if you’re done talking, please leave. I am a busy person.”

According to my usual routine, I should be in the physical training room right now.

I had wasted precious time on a fruitless conversation with Kim Jong-gwan.

“But before I leave, there’s something I want to ask Commander Seo Ji-han.”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s just pure curiosity, but do you personally give swordsmanship instruction to your members?”

“What do you mean?”

“Commander Seo seems more like a strategist than a martial artist. I was suddenly curious if the Chamryongdan has a separate instructor.”

To provoke me like this.

I was dumbfounded.

“Should I confirm it for you?”

“How so?”

I took out the business card Kim Jong-gwan had left behind a while ago.

“I’m returning it, so take it.”

I immediately infused the business card with mana and flicked it.

The mana that filled my dantian had removed many restrictions.

For example, the fact that the mana that had just left my hand was flying at a tremendous speed.

If it had been me a little while ago, I would have given up speed for efficient mana control.

Ssaeaeng!

The business card that flew like that grazed past Kim Jong-gwan’s neck.

If it had flown just one centimeter further inward, his neck would not have been safe.

Kim Jong-gwan only flinched and reacted after the business card had passed.

His face was already pale, and his eyes looked as if they would lose focus at any moment.

The business card that had passed his neck immediately floated up into the air at my gesture. And then.

Chwaak!

It fell straight down and slipped into the upper pocket of Kim Jong-gwan’s jacket.

At that moment, Kim Jong-gwan’s body trembled.

Even if he hadn’t wet himself, he must have broken out in a cold sweat.

“Are you a little more convinced now?”

“……Yes.”

He answered with a dazed expression.

“Then, you can leave.”

“Pardon? Yes!”

Kim Jong-gwan hurriedly stood up from his seat.

Then he bowed hastily and left in a hurry.

I immediately summoned Yoon Joo-hee.

“You know someone from the presidential secretariat visited, right?”

“Yes. I heard so.”

“You know the reason without me having to tell you.”

“It’s probably a request for me to leave the Haewon Sword Family. My father is not pleased that I have picked up the sword again.”

“I know that well. For your information, your father’s side threatened me. To kick his own daughter out.”

“I’m sorry, Commander.”

Yoon Joo-hee immediately bowed her head to me.

“Well, there’s nothing for you to be sorry about. I have something to ask.”

The story about the Bimu that Kim Jong-gwan had mentioned.

When I brought it up, Yoon Joo-hee closed her eyes and bit her lip.

She was angry, but she couldn’t express it in front of me.

“My father is really going too far!”

“Tell me. What’s the situation?”

“Actually, I made a promise with my own mouth.”

That she would put down the sword for the rest of her life if she lost to Nam Woo-hyun of the Suseong Sword Family.

“Why did you make such a promise? I heard the Jeongjin Sword Family and the Suseong Sword Family were close.”

“Because that bastard insulted me.”

The reason was that Nam Woo-hyun had said that it was unbecoming for a woman to hold a sword.

“So you said that in a fit of anger?”

“Yes. So I would appreciate it if you could prevent that Bimu from happening at your level. It was something I said impulsively anyway. And I don’t even remember how many years ago that was.”

“So, you’re saying you’re not confident you’ll win if you have the Bimu.”

“Pardon? Th-that is……”

Seeing Yoon Joo-hee’s troubled expression, I knew.

“It doesn’t make sense to pretend a promise you already made never happened.”

“But that promise……”

“And it makes even less sense to back down after feeling insulted.”

After hearing the whole story, I was able to reach a conclusion very easily.

“Do the Bimu.”

“Pardon?”

“As promised, if you lose, you put down the sword.”

Yoon Joo-hee’s face immediately went blank.

“Why? Not confident?”

“As you know, after our Jeongjin Sword Family closed down, I had a bit of a hiatus.”

“And Nam Woo-hyun would have improved in the meantime. That’s what’s bothering you.”

“That’s right.”

“Still, do the Bimu.”

If you’ve become a member of my unit, you should be able to overcome a handicap like that.

“We should start right away today. Get ready and come to the physical training room.”

Yoon Joo-hee couldn’t resist at all and was just being led by my command.

But the result would be a happy ending.

***

Stupeo.

Until now, Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon had been using it almost exclusively, but I didn’t know that Yoon Joo-hee would be next.

Because I had planned the training order through Stupeo according to seniority.

In the physical training room, I did my usual weightlifting, and Yoon Joo-hee was doing push-ups next to me.

Thud.

As expected, Yoon Joo-hee couldn’t last long and collapsed.

With her senses running wild due to Stupeo, it would be difficult to even maintain her balance.

And doing exercises in that situation was a very difficult task.

Of course, that didn’t mean it was my style to be nice about it.

“Stop slacking and get up.”

“Commander. I don’t think my body is my own!”

“That’s because your body is not actually your own. If you can’t even control your own body completely, how can your body do it? Get back into position.”

I don’t know if she could even hear me properly.

The chaos of the senses would be the same for her hearing.

In fact, the push-ups themselves were not important right now.

In a situation where her senses were confused, to recover and control all her senses from head to toe.

It would be difficult for now, but if that became possible, her ability to manage mana would also leap a step forward.

“Aaaaack!”

Yoon Joo-hee let out a scream, then got back into position and started doing push-ups.

“You can’t master the subtleties of swordsmanship just by repeating the same sword forms hundreds or thousands of times in the training hall. If it worked that way, would everyone become a Sword Master? The important thing is to awaken the five senses and the sense of mana. That has to be the premise to be able to perform proper swordsmanship.”

This was my usual theory.

In that respect, Stupeo was a very excellent teaching aid that aligned with my sword philosophy.

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