Namgung Il followed Namgung Cheon and arrived at the Azure Dragon Class's preparation site.
From the mont he approached, he felt piercing gazes from all around.
At the sudden appearance of an uninvited guest, people stopped their work and stared at Namgung Il.
'I'm getting a lot of attention.'
Well, it couldn't be helped.
Although there was no rule in the Flying Dragon Academy's regulations that a student could not enter the area of another class, students implicitly avoided entering other classes' areas unless it was for a class.
And wasn't this the preparation period for the Clear Bright Festival?
In such a situation, for a student from another class to walk in so confidently, it was only natural to draw the students' wariness.
Thud—.
Just then, Namgung Cheon stopped in his tracks.
"What is everyone doing?"
"...?"
"Don't mind this side and focus on your work."
As Namgung Cheon said that, people finally turned their heads back to their original positions and continued their work.
Was this the authority of the Azure Dragon Class's president?
He had felt it last ti, but it seed Namgung Cheon had the Azure Dragon Class firmly in his grasp.
'He's different from a certain soone.'
Of course, Ak Simin also had clear authority as a class president.
But compared to Namgung Cheon, what should he say... he couldn't erase the feeling that it was a little weak.
'Ak Simin still hasn't completely reined in the fourth-years.'
One could tell just by looking at the fact that he hadn't included the fourth-years in this preparation committee.
On the other hand, Namgung Cheon looked as if he had a firm grip on even the fourth-years.
Looking at the atmosphere here, it seed the only person in the Azure Dragon Class who could treat Namgung Cheon carelessly was the student council president, Cheon Hong-ryeong.
'Hmm?'
Just then, Namgung Il spotted sothing and looked in that direction.
He hadn't noticed it when he was looking from afar, but the people working over there didn't look like students of the Flying Dragon Academy.
'What? What are people who aren't even students doing here?'
No matter how he looked, they felt like nothing but professional carpenters.
Even to him, who knew nothing about carpentry, the skill with which those people handled the wood looked incredibly proficient.
A dozen or so of those people were gathered there, building sothing.
"They are building a pavilion."
"...?"
"We plan to build it as high as possible so that the surrounding scenery can be seen very well."
Just then, Namgung Cheon spoke from the side.
After hearing the explanation and looking at the lumber placed there again, he could guess that the scale of the completed pavilion would be quite considerable.
"For what purpose are you building that pavilion?"
"..."
"I'm asking just in case, but you're not building it to use at the Clear Bright Festival, are you?"
Namgung Cheon remained silent for a while at Namgung Il's question.
Their eyes t in that state.
Although Namgung Cheon hadn't said anything yet, Namgung Il felt as if he had already heard the answer just by looking into those eyes.
"Of course, it will be used at the Clear Bright Festival."
"..."
"After that, it will remain there and be used as a resting place for students."
Hearing the answer, a hollow laugh escaped Namgung Il's mouth without him realizing it.
What was this... hadn't it already surpassed the level of a student festival?
He had never imagined that they would go as far as to mobilize professional carpenters to construct a building for just a few days during the festival period.
"Isn't this cheating?"
"..."
"I was under the impression that the Clear Bright Festival was a festival run by students. If you bring in outside manpower, I don't think it can be called student-run anymore."
Of course, Namgung Il had also brought in outside help.
However, that was only used for the purpose of procuring necessary items; he hadn't used it so openly like this.
If that were allowed, he would have supplented his workforce from the outside from the very beginning.
The reason he hadn't done so was, as he said before, because the Clear Bright Festival was a festival run by students.
However.
"What's the problem?"
"...?"
"This pavilion is, in every respect, sothing the Azure Dragon Class has prepared personally. During that process, we received no help whatsoever from the academy."
Namgung Cheon answered calmly.
As if the act of mobilizing carpenters to build a pavilion there was not a problem at all.
His attitude even exuded a sense of confidence.
"There is no rule that says you cannot use outside manpower during preparations."
"..."
"Rather, this can also be called the students' ability."
The students' ability... those words weren't wrong either.
The students of the Azure Dragon Class were mostly composed of children from prestigious families.
That pavilion was also likely being built with support from their main families.
Namgung Il could now understand why the Azure Dragon Class had taken first place in sales every year.
'The starting line was different from the beginning, so they were bound to lose.'
Capital is power.
It was a natural principle that the more you invest in anything, the greater the profit you get.
The Clear Bright Festival was no exception.
The more capital invested during the preparation period, the better the results would be.
'On top of that... the Azure Dragon Class didn't receive an investnt, but a grant.'
The difference was quite significant.
An investnt is giving money on the premise of getting it back, but a grant is giving money without any compensation.
In other words, even if they didn't earn more than the money they used during the preparation period, it wasn't a problem for the Azure Dragon Class.
No matter how much they earned, it would go into their revenue.
The concept of a margin didn't even apply to the Azure Dragon Class in the first place.
'Co to think of it, wasn't this a truly absurd competition?'
No, could this even be called a competition?
He didn't know how much support the other classes were receiving for their preparations, but at least the Vermilion Bird Class did not have that much funding.
It was truly like hitting a rock with an egg.
It was a fight that made no sense from the beginning.
"..."
Namgung Il thought he understood why Namgung Cheon had sneered at him like that earlier.
If you were holding a sword and soone was trying to attack you with a wooden staff, how ridiculous would that look?
The pavilion being built over there was the very sword Namgung Cheon held.
"...Are you saying that receiving unconditional help from one's family is also a student's ability?"
"That's right."
"Don't you think it's cowardly?"
"Cowardly?"
Namgung Cheon let out a cold laugh as if he couldn't understand.
"It's much better than losing."
"..."
"People are already unfair beings from the mont they are born. Family, ability, even appearance. There are no cases where everything is the sa."
Namgung Cheon said and pointed at Namgung Il with his finger.
The finger was so close it could have poked his eye, but Namgung Il did not blink and continued to stare at Namgung Cheon.
"Even between brothers who share the sa blood, unfairness exists. Are you going to tell this is cowardly too?"
"..."
"The word 'cowardly' is nothing more than an excuse to sohow hide one's own incompetence. Yes... it's a word that weaklings like you spit out."
Hearing those words, Namgung Il could guess what kind of life Namgung Cheon had lived.
The gaze of one who always stood at the top, not the bottom.
It seed that Namgung Cheon had probably never felt the emotion of frustration even once.
What others had to swing ten thousand tis, Namgung Cheon could swing once and make it perfectly his own, and what took others ten years, Namgung Cheon had the talent to accomplish in just one year.
The previous remark also stemd not from arrogance, but from the strong confidence born from such experiences.
'Is this what happens when you're born a genius among geniuses?'
Of course, Namgung Il had also been called a genius in the past.
If he had never experienced defeat like the current Namgung Cheon back then, would he have beco like this?
Looking at Namgung Cheon, Namgung Il suddenly had that thought.
'Master, thank you.'
He was also grateful to the senior brothers of the Beggar's Sect who had not even treated him as a human.
If he hadn't learned humility from them when he was young, he too would have beco such a detestable person.
Just then, a man approached Namgung Cheon's side.
"Class President, the alcohol you ordered has arrived."
"..."
"If you're busy, shall I check the goods instead?"
"...No, I'll check it myself."
Namgung Cheon answered and lowered the finger he had been pointing at Namgung Il.
"Namgung Il, do you understand now?"
"..."
"The Vermilion Bird Class can never beat the Azure Dragon Class. That is a result that has already been decided."
With those words, Namgung Cheon turned around.
His expression was now completely back to normal.
Why had he beco so serious in his conversation with Namgung Il... Namgung Cheon shook his head as if he himself couldn't understand and was about to take a step.
"This is perfect timing."
Just then, Namgung Il spoke from behind.
At that mont, Namgung Cheon paused just before taking a step and turned his head back.
"...What's so perfect?"
"It seems the Azure Dragon Class is also planning to sell alcohol this ti."
The Azure Dragon Class too?
As if he knew what that tone ant, Namgung Cheon looked at Namgung Il with narrowed eyes.
"Does that an the Vermilion Bird Class is also planning to sell alcohol?"
"Yes, as it happens, we are."
"...But what on earth is so perfect about that?"
Namgung Cheon could not understand those words.
If the Azure Dragon Class's stall, built on overwhelming capital, was a high-end tavern, the Vermilion Bird Class's was nothing more than a tavern located in a quiet countryside.
It was a fact that even the most foolish person could tell which side the custors would flock to.
"If we're in the sa business, won't the winner and loser be clear?"
"...?"
"I will teach you what the experience of defeat is at this Clear Bright Festival, brother."
"Defeat..."
Namgung Cheon muttered to himself without realizing it.
To think he would hear those words from Namgung Il's mouth.
For a mont, soone's face ca to mind, but Namgung Cheon shook his head and looked straight at Namgung Il again.
"Defeat is sothing you've experienced countless tis."
"Yes, that's why I'm saying I'll kindly teach you."
"..."
"Then won't you also learn humility on your own, brother?"
Namgung Il was saying so with a aningful smile on his lips.
As if their conversation was heard by those around, people had stopped their work and were looking this way again.
"...I'll look forward to it."
"..."
"However, if you fail to teach that, you will have to take responsibility for the words you've uttered in so way."
"As you wish."
Namgung Il answered with an exaggerated shrug.
Namgung Cheon, who turned away silently while watching him.
Although his face was not visible, Namgung Cheon walked away with steps that felt different from usual.
'For now... I can't just stay like this.'
Although he had said that to Namgung Cheon, looking at the situation, it seed certain that he was at a disadvantage.
If things continued like this, it was a certain fact that the Vermilion Bird Class would suffer a crushing defeat.
In order to bring defeat to Namgung Cheon, a special asure was needed.
'It was a good thing I ca here.'
If not, he would have been helplessly defeated by that huge capital.
But... now that he knew their strategy, he could now co up with a counterasure.
Phat—.
The remaining ti was far too short.
As if every mont was precious, Namgung Il quickly disappeared from the spot.
(End of Chapter)
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