IBM 30

Dormitory Assignment (2)

‘It’s been two days since I was selected as the 3rd Floor Manager of North Heaven Hall after the seniors from two years ago left…’

For Go Du-ho, whose lower body was stuck in the ground like a stake, bewilderment and shame surged through him.

The absurd situation of him, a Second Year of the Changcheon Martial Arts Academy, not only being brought to his knees by a New Student but also being slammed into the ground had actually occurred.

However, that emotion was quickly forgotten.

Despite protecting his entire body with Internal Energy, it seemed his hip and leg bones were broken or fractured when he was slammed into the ground.

“Gyaaaaah!”

At the sight of Go Du-ho unable to bear the pain, Mumu scratched his head.

‘…Was that a bit too much?’

Thinking that as long as he didn’t turn the Dial of his Strength-Limiting Ring, he wouldn’t stand out, he had failed to control his power.

But what could he do?

He couldn’t undo what had already happened.

‘This idiot…’

Watching Mumu, Jin-hyeok’s head throbbed as he massaged his forehead.

No matter the circumstances, shouldn’t he have gone easy on him?

They hadn’t even decided which Dormitory to enter yet, and he’d put a Senior from one of the dormitories in such a state in front of everyone.

The surroundings were already in an uproar.

“Good heavens…”

“He drove a Second-Year Senior into the ground like a stake.”

“Isn’t a Floor Manager supposed to be strong?”

“No, more than that, isn’t getting slammed into the ground the weirder part?”

“But isn’t that him? You know. The kid who was scolded by the Vice-Chief for laughing loudly during the Entrance Ceremony.”

“You’re right. But why is his Internal Energy so strong?”

He had successfully drawn everyone’s attention.

Haeryang also spoke to Mo Il-hwa in a troubled voice.

“Young Lady… I think we’ll have to give up on North Heaven Hall. Of all people…”

‘To think he’d touch a Floor Manager…’

He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.

Touching a Floor Manager was no different from touching the North Heaven Hall Student Council.

The Four Great Dormitories of the Changcheon Martial Arts Academy were called a Small Murim (小武林).

He had heard the competition between them was quite fierce.

In the midst of that, to have done that to a Floor Manager, who could be considered part of their strength, it wouldn’t be strange if some trouble arose.

‘Did I latch onto the wrong person?’

But Mo Il-hwa’s lips were twitching, and her body was trembling.

He thought it was because Mumu had caused trouble, but—

“No. This is good.”

“Pardon?”

“Since Mumu has set the stage anyway, we should use this to raise our organization’s value.”

“………”

‘Since when did we become “our organization”…’

Putting that aside, what did she mean by raising their value?

Mo Il-hwa whispered softly to the puzzled Haeryang.

“They’re trying to pick only the New Students that suit their tastes. If that’s the case, we should make them desperate to have us.”

“Pardon? How can we do that?”

“Watch carefully.”

Mo Il-hwa approached Mumu, placed her hands on her hips, and deliberately raised her voice for everyone to hear.

“Mumu. Even if the Senior suddenly tested your Internal Energy, what is this discourtesy? You should have gone easy.”

It sounded like a scolding, but the reality was different.

She was indirectly revealing that this wasn’t entirely Mumu’s fault, but the fault of Go Du-ho who had started it.

Thanks to her, the people around them started murmuring.

“So that’s what happened?”

Mumu tilted his head in confusion, then finally spoke.

“I did go easy.”

He really had gone easy.

“This is you going easy? Anyway, hurry up and tell the Senior you’re sorry.”

With those words, Mo Il-hwa whispered so only Mumu could hear.

“Play along. Let me set the stage.”

“Huh?”

Although Mumu was puzzled by her words, he soon scratched his head, approached Go Du-ho who was stuck in the ground, and bowed his head in apology.

“Senior. I’m sorry.”

“Guuuuh.”

‘This bastard is giving the disease and then the medicine.’

He was in so much pain that the apology didn’t properly register.

Mo Il-hwa also approached Go Du-ho and spoke.

“Oh my. Senior, are you alright? Still, since Mumu hasn’t learned Martial Arts, you weren’t hurt that badly, right?”

‘!?’

At her words, the crowd began to stir.

“He hasn’t learned Martial Arts? Is that true?”

“Then how did he slam a Floor Manager into the ground?”

“You mean he did that with just Pure Muscle Strength?”

“That’s impossible!”

They couldn’t help but be shocked.

For a Martial Artist who trains Internal Energy, strength was just a product of Muscle Strength.

But to say he did that to a Floor Manager with just strength was an event so shocking it couldn’t be laughed off.

‘He hasn’t learned martial arts?’

Even the pained Go Du-ho couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

Didn’t that mean he had ended up in this state because of a guy who hadn’t even learned Martial Arts?

In the midst of this, Mo Il-hwa crossed her arms and this time scolded Jin-hyeok.

“Hey. Yu Jin-hyeok. You should have stepped in and stopped him. It’s only because the Senior held back that it ended like this. Imagine if he had hurt Mumu, who hasn’t even learned Internal Energy. You would have been preparing your brother’s Ancestral Rite Table today.”

“Young Lady, that’s…”

Mo Il-hwa was deliberately and cunningly screwing over the Floor Manager, Go Du-ho.

‘Ha. So that’s what it was.’

He had wondered why she was stepping up like that, but she was unexpectedly shrewd.

He almost let out a laugh at that moment, but he felt he should probably play along.

“Hmph! So, were you wrong? Or were you right?”

“……I believe I was in the wrong. Miss Mo is right. As his brother, I should have stopped him to prevent Mumu from getting hurt.”

At those words, the surroundings stirred once again.

This time it was because Jin-hyeok had called Mumu his brother.

Most of the new students knew Jin-hyeok as the sole younger brother of Yu Jin-seong.

But thanks to her, it had been publicly revealed.

“He’s Yu Jin-seong’s younger brother too?”

“Then was he the one who tore off the castle gate?”

“No. That can’t be. Last night, that guy Yu Jin-hyeok there went on a rampage, slamming the five people who launched a surprise attack on his room into the ceiling.”

“But he’s strong too. So which one is it?”

“Ah! I get it! I knew something was strange. He said they were brothers. They’re both monsters.”

“Is that what it was?”

“No, what kind of family is this? Didn’t they say it was a Literati Family?”

Jin-hyeok frowned.

He had revealed that Mumu was his brother to take this opportunity to clear up the misunderstanding, but instead, it seemed people’s misunderstanding was heading in a strange direction.

He felt he needed to resolve this.

“That is…”

-Poke!

Mo Il-hwa poked his side with her finger.

“Shh. Are you trying to ruin everything after I went through the trouble of raising our value?”

“Pardon? But…”

“Let them misunderstand among themselves. And look. They’re coming over there.”

Where she gestured, the Dormitory Head of North Heaven Hall, Do Yang-un, was approaching with a terrifyingly hardened face.

His Vigor was so fierce that the crowd split to the left and right.

But he wasn’t the only one approaching.

“Look over there!”

“It’s Guyang Seo-rin.”

From the west, the Dormitory Head of West Wind Hall, Guyang Seo-rin, could be seen walking with elegant steps.

She was approaching, looking at Mumu with an interested expression.

Do Yang-un, who arrived first, looked down at the 3rd Floor Manager of North Heaven Hall, Go Du-ho, whose lower body was stuck in the ground.

“Is it true?”

“Th-That is, what…”

“Were you trying to test his Internal Energy?”

“Dormitory Head. That is…”

The flustered man tried to make an excuse, but Do Yang-un didn’t even pretend to listen.

Then, he looked at Mumu and said,

“It seems our Floor Manager has committed a discourtesy. As the Dormitory Head of North Heaven Hall, I apologize.”

He then cupped his hands in a Fist and Palm Salute.

As the man with chiseled muscles and overflowing Wild Beauty politely apologized, the female new students watching from the side didn’t know what to do with their delight.

‘A handsome man full of wild beauty is apologizing to a pretty boy.’

‘Where else would I see a sight like this?’

‘Aaaah. I’m so glad I enrolled in this batch.’

In their eyes, there was only Do Yang-un and Mumu.

Of course, the parties involved didn’t care at all.

Mumu thought this was a good opportunity.

The Floor Manager, Go Du-ho, had said that if he beat the Dormitory Head, he could take his position.

‘Then Il-hwa, Jin-hyeok, and Haeryang can all get into the same dormitory, right?’

So he was about to suggest a match of strength to him, but—

Do Yang-un, having released his Fist and Palm Salute, unexpectedly spoke first.

“Go Du-ho. You are hereby dismissed from your position as Floor Manager.”

“Wh-What is… Groan.”

Go Du-ho, who was about to say something in his bewilderment, couldn’t finish his words due to the pain.

Do Yang-un glanced at him once with a disappointed look, then approached Mumu, extended his hand, and said,

“A spot has become vacant. I’d like you to fill that position.”

“…….Me?”

Mumu tilted his head.

Haeryang excitedly told him,

“H-He’s offering you the position of Floor Manager, Young Master Mumu.”

“Floor Manager?”

Do Yang-un grinned and said,

“Not just you. Both of you brothers are more than qualified. Yu Jin-hyeok, was it? From what I hear, all the brothers seem to be outstanding.”

Do Yang-un had remembered what the new students were chattering about as it got noisy.

He thought it was one person, but if both of them possessed natural Martial Talent for Bare-handed Martial Arts, he was willing to accept them as new Floor Managers.

At his words, Jin-hyeok performed a Fist and Palm Salute and said,

“We are grateful for your offer, Senior. However, we are not greedy for the position of Floor Manager. We just want the four of us to enter the same dormitory.”

At those words, Mo Il-hwa grinned and nodded.

She had just instructed Jin-hyeok to say that.

The Dormitory Head of North Heaven Hall, Do Yang-un, glanced at Mo Il-hwa and Haeryang at Jin-hyeok’s words.

The Soft Sword Mo Il-hwa was wearing and the two daggers at Haeryang’s waist were extremely grating on his nerves.

‘Weapons…’

He could tolerate other things, but he absolutely could not tolerate Weapons.

That was a Dormitory Rule he himself had established.

But to give up on Mumu and Jin-hyeok because of this felt like a real waste.

It was a moment of brief contemplation.

“If that’s the case, how about you Juniors come to West Wind Hall?”

Guyang Seo-rin cut into the scene.

She had already taken a liking to and developed a strong curiosity for Mumu, who had driven the Floor Manager of North Heaven Hall, a rival, into the ground like a stake.

The Dormitory Head of North Heaven Hall, Do Yang-un, raised his eyebrows and said,

“Guyang Seo-rin. They are still in conversation with me.”

At that, she fanned herself with the flamboyant Fan she was holding and laughed.

“It’s so funny it’s making me hot. Hahahaha.”

“You’re laughing?”

“It’s funny. Isn’t it funny? According to our Floor Manager, that Stake Floor Manager there firmly refused to accept those four people.”

“That is…”

“And now you’ve suddenly changed your mind and the Dormitory Head himself has come for an invitation?”

At her provocation, Do Yang-un’s eyebrows twitched.

Guyang Seo-rin, pleased with his reaction, raised the corners of her lips in a grin and said,

“And besides, our dear Dormitory Head of North Heaven Hall, who runs around yelling that using weapons is something only wenches do, surely wouldn’t take back his own words just to get two people.”

With those words, Guyang Seo-rin burst out laughing again.

“Guyang Seo-rin!”

Sparks flew from Do Yang-un’s eyes.

Behind him, the Floor Managers of North Heaven Hall had gathered.

Likewise, behind Guyang Seo-rin, the Floor Managers of West Wind Hall also gathered.

‘Ah!’

Dang So-so, who had followed to match the numbers as it was turning into a war of nerves between the dormitories, spotted Mumu and was about to wave her hand and act like she knew him, but she quickly covered her nose.

‘Hup. The combination of wild beauty and juicy beauty.’

Her eyes spun at the sight of Do Yang-un and Mumu standing side by side.

She couldn’t stop the nosebleed that was about to flow from her excitement.

She hurriedly hid behind the others.

Whether she did or not, the Dormitory Head of West Wind Hall, Guyang Seo-rin, who was enjoying the situation, looked at Mo Il-hwa and said,

“From the looks of it, the real power in that clique of yours seems to be you, Young Lady. How about it? All four of you come to our West Wind Hall together.”

At Guyang Seo-rin’s words, Mo Il-hwa shrugged her shoulders with a satisfied face.

At that sight, Haeryang was internally speechless.

‘Did the dragon recognize the tiger?’

He couldn’t hide his surprise that Guyang Seo-rin had recognized the real power, Mo Il-hwa, at a glance.

Haeryang, who had for a moment doubted his choice, looked at Mo Il-hwa with eyes full of loyalty.

-Crunch!

Do Yang-un gritted his teeth.

At this rate, it looked like West Wind Hall would really snatch them all.

He could let them go to another hall, but he couldn’t hand over such precious talents in Bare-handed Martial Arts to West Wind Hall, who nonchalantly used not just Weapons but even Poison Technique.

He was conflicted about whether he should break the Dormitory Rule he had set himself.

‘My conviction… my conviction…’

However, his Conviction and his desire not to lose the talented individuals were in conflict.

It was at that very moment.

“If nothing has been decided yet, we at Southern Blade Hall would also like to place a bid.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the owner of the voice.

There stood Hong Hye-ryeong, who had appeared with the Floor Managers of Southern Blade Hall and its Dormitory Head, Wi Pyeong-ak.

The Dormitory Head was someone else, but from the atmosphere, she seemed to be the leader.

Hong Hye-ryeong glanced at Jin-hyeok and said,

“We at Southern Blade Hall would also like to take the four of you.”

At her words, the new students began to murmur.

Now even Southern Blade Hall had joined the fray, saying they would take those four.

This was an unheard-of situation.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

-Rumble!

Pushing through the new students, from the east appeared the Dormitory Head of East River Hall, Mu Hoe-seong, along with his Floor Managers and the Eastern River Sword Saint’s Third Disciple, Yeong-chun, who would become their new Representative.

“Hah.”

“East River Hall?”

The Dormitory Heads of the three halls showed open wariness.

A Floor Manager standing next to the Dormitory Head of East River Hall, Mu Hoe-seong, whispered something in his ear, and he soon nodded and looked at Mo Il-hwa, saying,

“We at East River Hall would also like to invite the Young Lady and the three gentlemen.”

East River Hall was a dormitory that extremely ostracized those from an Unorthodox Faction background like the Haomun Information Sect.

But they had set aside their characteristic pride and offered to invite the four of them.

“Awesome…”

“All Four Great Dormitories are desperate to take them.”

“Has something like this ever happened?”

A situation where the Power Dynamic (Gap-Eul) of the Dormitory Assignment was reversed had occurred.

‘Aaaah. It was a golden rope.’

In this situation, Haeryang looked up to Mo Il-hwa as if engaged in idol worship.