Namgung Il had no idea what to say in this situation.
Gok I-hyeon's appearance felt that completely out of the blue.
Namgung Il tried his best to understand the current situation.
'How did I end up here?'
To understand the current situation, it seed necessary to first slowly retrace his steps from that point.
If you don't want to lose the Blood Spot Grass, head to the marked location right now.
It all started with that letter.
So, the original purpose was to head to the location marked on the map to prevent the Blood Spot Grass from falling into the hands of the Blood Dragon Cult.
In that process, Gwangcheon and Tang Wol-yeong had unintentionally joined, and they had fallen into a place called the Labyrinth of Sacrifice due to an unforeseen accident.
'Wait... an unforeseen accident?'
Was their entry into this labyrinth really an accident?
Namgung Il had thought so until now, but thinking about it a little differently, he felt that might not be the case.
"..."
In the first place, the existence of such a labyrinth within the academy was truly suspicious.
Moreover, it wasn't just a labyrinth; it was even installed with traps that forced soone's sacrifice at every mont.
As ti passed, he had only thought about escaping this labyrinth sohow, but Namgung Il ca to recall the most fundantal question.
'What on earth is the purpose of this labyrinth?'
He would be able to figure that out if he recalled why he had headed to the restricted area.
Blood Spot Grass.
This entire situation had been created because of that one thing.
"..."
The Labyrinth of Sacrifice was a place that existed to protect the Blood Spot Grass.
The traps, which had seed cruel, were sowhat understandable if one thought of them as being for the protection of the Blood Spot Grass.
Those traps were all installed to eliminate intruders aiming for the Blood Spot Grass.
Gulp—.
As his thoughts were organized in that way, Namgung Il was glaring at Gok I-hyeon with a changed look in his eyes.
An intruder who had entered the Labyrinth of Sacrifice to get his hands on the Blood Spot Grass.
Excluding themselves, only one faction ca to mind that could be in this labyrinth right now.
"...Please tell for sure."
"..."
"Are you from the Blood Dragon Cult, teacher?"
Until now, Namgung Il had considered Cha Yul-ryeong as the most likely candidate.
Judging from various circumstances, all the clues pointed to Cha Yul-ryeong as a remnant of the Blood Dragon Cult.
But for Gok I-hyeon, whom he hadn't even considered, to appear, if the person standing there had been Cha Yul-ryeong, he wouldn't have even asked such a question.
"What are you talking about?"
"..."
"It's . The teacher who always gave you a kind smile."
It was just as Gok I-hyeon had said.
That was why Namgung Il couldn't believe that Gok I-hyeon was here right now.
Wasn't Gok I-hyeon a person he had liked, both as a teacher and as a person?
The image of Gok I-hyeon he had seen in daily life and the image of the Blood Dragon Cult that Namgung Il originally knew did not harmonize at all.
"Student Namgung Il, would you not give that necklace?"
"...?"
"The necklace you said you received as a gift from the Headmaster."
Just then, Gok I-hyeon said so out of the blue.
The ring he had received from Seo Shin-won was certainly hanging around his neck, but a question naturally arose as to why Gok I-hyeon was suddenly demanding it.
"...Why are you asking for that?"
"Don't we have to get out of here together?"
"...?"
"This is the exit. And... that necklace is the key."
Gok I-hyeon said and stepped slightly to the side.
It had been hidden until now, so it wasn't clearly visible, but there was a pillar of unknown purpose.
'What on earth is that?'
It didn't seem like a simple pillar.
First of all, its length was very short, and its material also didn't look like simple stone.
In the first place, the fact that only that one thing was erected in an empty space couldn't help but feel very suspicious.
"If you insert that necklace here, the exit to the outside will open."
Gok I-hyeon said and pointed to a part of the pillar.
Looking closely, there was a small groove there.
Among the smooth surface, only that spot was carved to a size suitable for sothing to fit in.
"..."
As soon as Namgung Il saw that shape, he felt a sense of familiarity.
Because wasn't that the sa shape as the ring on his neck right now?
The size also seed very similar at a glance.
'It's not just the size. The material is also very similar.'
The pillar, like the ring, was made of a silver-colored material.
Of course, he couldn't accurately determine with the naked eye that the two were the sa material, but they looked very similar at a glance.
Grip—.
Namgung Il wrapped his hand around the ring on his neck.
Gok I-hyeon had just said that this ring was the key to escape this place.
Then if he inserted the ring into that pillar, would the exit to the outside open?
He didn't know how Gok I-hyeon knew that, but Namgung Il had sothing he was more curious about.
'Did Seo Saeng-won give the ring knowing I would be trapped here?'
He had also added that he should always carry it with him.
Couldn't that be taken to an that he should carry it with him so that he could use this ring at any ti?
If this was really the key to escape the Labyrinth of Sacrifice... it ant that Seo Saeng-won had foreseen this situation to so extent.
"Now, hurry."
"..."
"What are you hesitating for, student Namgung Il?"
Gok I-hyeon urged, extending his hand.
However, Namgung Il, still clutching the ring tightly, did not stir.
The mont Gok I-hyeon was about to approach, Namgung Il opened his mouth.
"How do you know that I received this necklace from the Headmaster, teacher?"
"...That's because I had a chance to see it before."
"..."
"Don't you rember? When student Namgung Il was dueling without permission, didn't I pretend not to know and just let it go?"
As he said, Gok I-hyeon had had a chance to see this ring back then.
However.
Gok I-hyeon still didn't seem to realize what mistake he had just made.
"You certainly saw this back then, teacher."
Namgung Il said, taking out the ring.
At that mont, Gok I-hyeon's eyes glittered slightly.
"That's right. At that ti, I definitely..."
"I only said I received this as a gift. I didn't say I received it from the Headmaster."
"..."
"But how do you know that I received this from the Headmaster, teacher?"
That was the fatal mistake Gok I-hyeon had not realized.
As Namgung Il pointed that out, Gok I-hyeon said nothing more and remained silent for a while.
"...Hehe."
"...?"
It was then.
For a mont, a laugh of unknown origin was heard, and Gok I-hyeon's figure disappeared from that spot.
Clang—!
Namgung Il imdiately drew his sword and swung it to the right.
Another sword strike was already coming down there, and Namgung Il was able to safely block the attack.
"..."
The person who had swung the sword at Namgung Il was Gok I-hyeon.
It was definitely the sa face, but the atmosphere had changed so drastically that it raised the question of whether it was really him.
With their swords crossed, Gok I-hyeon laughed with the sa laughter that had been heard earlier.
"Hehehehe... Hahahaha—!"
"..."
"I wanted to remain a good teacher as much as possible... but it seems I won't be able to."
That was as good as answering the question from before.
Until just a mont ago, Namgung Il had still had doubts about whether Gok I-hyeon was really a remnant of the Blood Dragon Cult, but seeing that face now, those thoughts completely vanished.
That crazed expression and ruthless handiwork were the definite image of the Blood Dragon Cult.
Namgung Il was now clearly showing hostility towards Gok I-hyeon.
"To think a remnant of the Blood Dragon Cult would be this close."
"..."
"Is your purpose the Blood Spot Grass?"
At that question, Gok I-hyeon grinned.
Was that Gok I-hyeon's true form?
Namgung Il was still confused as to whether the person in front of him was the sa as that benevolent teacher.
"That's right!"
"..."
"His resurrection is our long-cherished wish! For His sake, I could offer all the blood in my body to Him!"
Now, Gok I-hyeon was no longer hiding his identity.
The 'Him' he was talking about now must, of course, an the Blood Demon.
Namgung Il realized that what he had feared was truly becoming a reality.
'This fellow... is undoubtedly from the Blood Dragon Cult.'
Even in his tone just now, the unique madness of the Blood Dragon Cult could be felt.
The madness he had felt countless tis in the past, during the Righteous-Demonic War.
Just as he said, there were plenty of Blood Dragon Cult mbers who would casually offer their own lives for the Blood Demon.
'To think they've already infiltrated the Flying Dragon Academy... Does that an the Blood Dragon Cult is still going strong?'
Learning of Gok I-hyeon's existence, Namgung Il couldn't help but have such thoughts.
How could the ones he thought were on the verge of extinction infiltrate the Flying Dragon Academy like this?
Moreover, to think he was disguised as a teacher who taught students... This ant that the power of the Blood Dragon Cult was still intact.
"...Is it just you?"
"What?"
"I asked if you are the only remnant in the Flying Dragon Academy."
As Namgung Il asked that, Gok I-hyeon's face beca montarily dumbfounded.
And soon, with a nasty smile on his lips again, he drew a sword from sowhere with his empty left hand.
Hwik—.
Namgung Il had been sowhat on guard for that sword strike.
Because he had briefly crossed swords with Gok I-hyeon before.
If he hadn't had that experience, it could have been a very dangerous surprise attack, but Namgung Il was not so soft as to be taken by a move he already knew.
"I thought so before, but you are a truly excellent student."
"..."
"There aren't many students who can dodge my attacks. The fact that you dodged it not once, but twice, is proof that it's by no ans luck."
Hearing those words, it now ca to mind that his encounter with Gok I-hyeon in the restricted area back then was by no ans a coincidence.
'He must have been doing so preliminary reconnaissance for today.'
He had run into him in the middle of that.
Of course, from Gok I-hyeon's perspective, he wouldn't have wanted to let the outside world know that he was in such a place.
The words he had said, that he would make it as if nothing had happened using him as an excuse, were also thoroughly for his own sake.
"To think I have to kill such a student with my own hands."
"..."
"As a teacher, it is truly regrettable... but this too must be His revelation."
Gok I-hyeon muttered incomprehensible words and took a stance.
With a long sword in his right hand, and the dagger he had swung earlier in his left.
The image of a teacher was no longer there.
"I find it regrettable too."
Just then, Namgung Il casually spat out.
At those words, a question montarily appeared in Gok I-hyeon's eyes, and Namgung Il continued to speak with a provocative smile.
"The Unorthodox Martial Arts class. I really liked that class."
"Did you? That's truly regrettable..."
"Because it was a class where it didn't matter if I openly slept with my head on the desk."
As Namgung Il said that, Gok I-hyeon's face instantly hardened.
After confirming that his provocation had worked very well, Namgung Il showed an even more provocative smile.
"What are you going to do about my nap ti now?"
"..."
"Take responsibility."
"...Then I shall let you sleep forever!"
Teacher and student.
The fact that the two were called that now felt like a distant past.
(End of Chapter)
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