IBM 31

Dormitory Assignment (3)

‘How is this even working?’

Jin-hyeok was also inwardly amazed.

He thought it would end with just North Heaven Hall and West Wind Hall fighting over them.

But then East River Hall and Southern Blade Hall also jumped in.

This scene was similar to a situation where, once one or two people showed interest in a precious gem, everyone else began to covet it.

Mo Il-hwa’s little trick to raise their value had succeeded.

However, the key question now was which dormitory to choose.

‘What is she planning to do?’

Jin-hyeok personally wanted to go to either Southern Blade Hall or West Wind Hall.

If they joined Southern Blade Hall, he could get closer to Hong Hye-ryeong. If they joined West Wind Hall, he could make contact with Guyang Seo-rin, the successor to the West Wind Poison Kick.

If that happened, he could fulfill the First Master’s wish sooner.

Jin-hyeok whispered to Mo Il-hwa.

“Young Lady. If possible, I’d prefer Southern Blade Hall or West Wind Hall.”

At his words, Mo Il-hwa smiled gently and whispered back.

“Southern Blade Hall is rejected.”

“…”

He didn’t know why she hated Hong Hye-ryeong so much.

She kept going on about a woman’s intuition, but what was the problem?

“Then West Wind Hall?”

“Just wait. You’ll get to see something even more interesting.”

She didn’t know the details of the Murim like a child of a martial family, but she too knew very well what kind of beings the Four Great Grandmasters were.

And now, the successors of those Four Great Grandmasters were personally competing to recruit them.

Besides Southern Blade Hall, she didn’t care which one they joined, but how could she just let this golden opportunity pass?

Just then, Guyang Seo-rin scoffed and opened her mouth.

“Of all things, even East River Hall is stepping up.”

“Young Lady Gouyang. As a Dormitory Head trying to recruit a talented person, what would I not do?”

The Dormitory Head of East River Hall, Mu Hoe-seong, said, performing a polite Fist and Palm Salute.

“Oh, is that so? I heard East River Hall was creating a student group made up only of those from prestigious orthodox sects. Looks like you’ve had a change of heart.”

At her sarcastic words, a vein bulged on Mu Hoe-seong’s forehead.

Thanks to that provocative speechcraft of hers, how much had he suffered last year.

He couldn’t let this slide easily.

“Ahahahaha. Times are changing. How can we keep insisting only on prestigious families and neglecting such outstanding talented people?”

Mu Hoe-seong said, forcing a laugh as if it were no big deal.

This year, with Yeong-chun, the Third Disciple of the Eastern River Sword Saint, joining, he was determined to beat those other two dormitories.

Mu Hoe-seong turned his gaze to Southern Blade Hall and spoke.

“More importantly, when did Southern Blade Hall’s Dormitory Head change? Young Lady Hong is a freshman who just completed her academy enrollment. This is quite a strange affair.”

At his words, the Dormitory Head of Southern Blade Hall, Wi Pyeong-ak, raised his voice, laced with rage.

“How insolent. How dare you speak to Young Lady Hong Hye-ryeong in such a manner?”

One of Guyang Seo-rin’s eyebrows shot up.

“What manner? Ha. What’s this guy talking about?”

“Young Lady Hong Hye-ryeong is someone we have been waiting for for a long time. She is not someone you, Guyang Seo-rin, can treat so carelessly.”

At Dormitory Head Wi Pyeong-ak’s roar, the floor managers of Southern Blade Hall chimed in.

“That’s right! Young Lady Hong Hye-ryeong is the truth!”

“Young Lady Hong Hye-ryeong is the true savior our Southern Blade Hall has been waiting for.”

“No. Young Lady Hong is a god.”

“Hey. That’s enough. Don’t cross the line.”

“Ahem.”

‘…’

The venue fell silent for a moment.

Everyone stared at them with uncomfortable eyes.

Regardless, they were Hong Hye-ryeong’s devout followers.

‘Aah…’

Only then did Jin-hyeok seem to understand why Mo Il-hwa wanted to filter out Southern Blade Hall.

Just then, Guyang Seo-rin spoke with her characteristic arrogant smile.

“See? One side is full of Physical Prowess Faction fools who think guys who use weapons are no better than wenches, and the other side is obsessed with dignity or whatever, and that one over there… Pfft. Why don’t you make a decision already. No need to waste any more time.”

She extended a hand towards Mo Il-hwa.

It was a gesture for them to come to her.

“Wait!”

At that moment, the Dormitory Head of North Heaven Hall, Do Yang-un, stopped her.

Then, placing a hand on Mumu’s shoulder, he spoke in a determined voice.

“I’ve already claimed this fellow.”

At his words, some of the female new students nearby blushed and started squealing, causing an uproar.

‘Oh my, oh my. Such assertiveness.’

‘What is this? I could die today and have no regrets.’

‘Aaaah. I love it so much.’

“Oh?”

Gush!

Dang So-so, who had just managed to calm her nosebleed and come out, clutched her nose again at the sight and ran behind the floor managers of West Wind Hall.

Ignoring them, Guyang Seo-rin clicked her tongue and said.

“Why? Are you trying to reverse your own dormitory rules?”

“…This time, I’m making a special exception rule.”

“Wow. You’re going to make an exception rule just for them in front of all these new students, just to get those four?”

“It just shows how special they are. Besides, there have been cases where a few dormitory students who use weapons were admitted due to a lack of personnel, so bringing those two in won’t be a problem.”

Do Yang-un convinced himself this way.

Of course, he wasn’t wrong.

In reality, it was difficult to completely fill North Heaven Hall with only talented people proficient in bare-handed martial arts.

So they usually ended up filling the last spots with dormitory students who were skilled in fist and foot techniques in addition to weapons.

‘It’s better to properly persuade one person than to try and convince all four.’

With his hand still on Mumu’s shoulder, Do Yang-un raised a fist and spoke.

“You’re Mumu, right? A man needs the spirit to overcome everything with just this one fist. I believe you possess such a fiery passion and spirit.”

With that, Do Yang-un twitched his chest muscles, showing them off.

He thought that any man who saw these muscles would feel a surge of desire for training.

‘Why doesn’t he train his lower body?’

But Mumu was still bothered by Do Yang-un’s biased muscles.

At this, Mumu let out a deep sigh and spoke.

“I don’t belong to anyone.”

“If you join North Heaven Hall, as a senior, I am willing to personally train you.”

Do Yang-un had really taken a liking to Mumu.

But Mumu had not.

“I don’t know.”

With those words, he grabbed Do Yang-un’s hand that was resting on his shoulder and tried to remove it.

At this, Do Yang-un suddenly became curious about how strong Mumu was.

The Third Floor Manager, Go Du-ho, may have been the weakest among the floor managers, but he should have been superior to the new students, yet Mumu had defeated him with pure muscle strength alone.

‘Let’s see.’

He too had not neglected his muscle strength training, following his grandfather’s teaching.

He prided himself on being the best among the academy students in terms of pure strength.

But—

Krrrk!

‘This guy’s strength?’

Do Yang-un couldn’t hide his inner astonishment.

He had been confident that he had trained his pure external arts enough to face even a first-rate master.

Yet Mumu removed his hand without difficulty.

‘Does this mean he’s nearing the peak stage with just muscle strength?’

With this level of strength, it was certain.

It seemed it would be difficult to overpower Mumu without using internal energy.

It was truly amazing that one could achieve this with just muscle strength training.

‘…He’s the best.’

Do Yang-un’s face flushed with excitement.

This was the best talented person he had ever wanted.

He thought that even his grandfather would really like this fellow if he saw him.

“Mumu. The place for you is undoubtedly North Heaven Hall. With your friends…”

Hong Hye-ryeong stepped forward and cut him off.

“We can’t give in either.”

Having also heard from the floor managers how important the Dormitory Tournament was, she stepped forward to state her opinion directly.

Not to be outdone, Wi Pyeong-ak, the Dormitory Head of East River Hall, also came on strong.

“East River Hall wants the four of you. I’m confident that your dignity will be elevated if you come here.”

Guyang Seo-rin scoffed.

“Dignity, my ass. Hey, juniors. Aren’t you tired? Look. There’s no place as free as our West Wind Hall.”

“What did you just say?”

“Why? It’s not like I’m wrong.”

“East River Hall is the best dormitory, as much as it has dignity.”

“The best dormitory? Our Southern Blade Hall, with Young Lady Hong Hye-ryeong, is the best dormitory.”

“How ridiculous for two dormitories that failed to win the tournament even once last year to talk about being the best in front of North Heaven Hall.”

The light argument was gradually escalating emotionally.

The way they were adjusting their stances suggested they might fight right here and now if things went wrong.

The competition between the Four Great Dormitories was just that fierce.

“Just a moment, seniors.”

Just then, Mo Il-hwa stepped forward.

Everyone’s eyes turned to her.

‘I’ve raised our value enough.’

Deciding the time was right, she performed a polite Fist and Palm Salute to the heads of the four dormitories and spoke.

“First, I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to all the seniors for competing to accept us.”

Guyang Seo-rin said, fanning herself.

“Forget the thanks and just decide where you’re going to join.”

After all, even if the four dormitories fought like this, the decision-making authority rested with them.

The other dormitory heads agreed with this, so they stared intently at her.

At this, Mo Il-hwa suppressed a laugh that was bubbling up inside.

‘You’re getting anxious, aren’t you? Seniors.’

She was now planning to make them engage in a bidding war.

Because joining the side that offered the best conditions would be the most profitable.

Mo Il-hwa maintained her polite demeanor and opened her mouth.

“This is quite difficult. We simply wanted the four of us to enter one dormitory, but since all you seniors want us, we have no choice but to…”

“Il-hwa. Let’s go to North Heaven Hall.”

“Yes. Let’s go to North Heaven Hall… What?”

Mo Il-hwa looked at Mumu, momentarily flustered.

She was just about to pluck the ripened fruit, so what was this bolt from the blue?

Mo Il-hwa asked Mumu in a small voice.

“If we wait a little longer, the seniors will offer good conditions. Why the sudden change?”

“I’ve decided I want to go to North Heaven Hall.”

At Mumu’s words, Mo Il-hwa frowned.

She couldn’t understand why he suddenly wanted to go to North Heaven Hall.

Could it be because Do Yang-un, the Dormitory Head of North Heaven Hall, had shown such blatant interest in him?

As she was wondering, Do Yang-un laughed heartily and said in a joyful voice.

“Hahahahahat. I knew you’d choose our North Heaven Hall. That’s right, a man should have such passion and spirit.”

He spoke as if everything was already decided.

Of course, this was intentional.

It seemed there was a split opinion among the four, so wasn’t this the time to push hard and pull them into North Heaven Hall?

‘Ah, my head.’

Mo Il-hwa clutched her forehead.

She had barely set the stage, and he had turned it all for nothing.

Just then, Guyang Seo-rin, not understanding, asked.

“Hey, junior over there. Why do you suddenly want to go to North Heaven Hall out of nowhere?”

At that question, everyone looked at Mumu.

The other dormitory heads and floor managers were just as curious.

Do Yang-un of North Heaven Hall, looking triumphant, shrugged and flexed his upper body muscles as he spoke.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know? It’s because there are seniors in North Heaven Hall, including myself, who can satisfy this fellow’s thirst…”

“Aah… It’s really bothering me.”

“What?”

At Mumu’s words, Do Yang-un frowned.

What did he mean, ‘bothering’ him all of a sudden?

Just then, Mumu walked up to Do Yang-un, poked his well-developed, sculpture-like upper body muscles, and spoke.

“You’ve trained in a very biased way.”

“Biased?”

“You’ve only built up your upper body, so why haven’t you trained your lower body? Your muscle balance is a mess.”

“…”

For a moment, Do Yang-un was rendered speechless.

No one had ever belittled his muscles before.

But now, in front of so many people, Mumu had bluntly stated that his muscle balance was a mess.

“You… right now?”

“It’s not just you, Dormitory Head. The people behind you, you said they’re floor managers of North Heaven Hall, right?”

“That’s right?”

“Did everyone behind you also learn muscle training from you, Dormitory Head?”

Most of the male floor managers had well-developed upper bodies.

The person who had trained them for the past year was none other than Do Yang-un.

Mumu scanned their lower bodies and clicked his tongue.

“You’re all the same as the Dormitory Head. A mess.”

“A mess? Ha… In your eyes, the muscles of these guys I taught are a mess?”

“Yes. Especially the lower body.”

“I don’t know on what grounds you’re saying that, but you’ll take responsibility for those words…”

With those words, Mumu walked over to a floor manager.

Then he said nonchalantly.

“Tense your legs.”

“What?”

“I said, tense them.”

The floor manager, bewildered, tensed his legs.

As soon as he did, Mumu kicked the floor manager’s leg.

Thwack!

“Ack!”

The floor manager let out a final scream as his body spun twice like a pinwheel before he collapsed to the ground.

‘!?’

Everyone was momentarily so shocked they were at a loss for words.

Seemingly unfazed, Mumu pointed to the fallen floor manager’s leg and said.

“See? Their lower body is this weak.”

After saying this, Mumu rolled up one of his pant legs.

Then, hidden beneath the loose pants, his incredibly developed and finely-cut quadriceps femoris muscle and gastrocnemius muscle were revealed.

‘!!!’

At this, Do Yang-un’s eyes widened in shock.

“If you just train them this much, they wouldn’t fall over from a kick like that.”

‘This much?’