Book 25 Chapter 14

The Dementia Leader

- Unit Six Commander

Swift Sword Boy Jang So-ok.

He was short. However, if you dared to underestimate him for his height, you might regret it dearly. His small stature did not equate to a gentle disposition. His features were quite cute, but one should not be deceived by this appearance. Though small, he was stronger than any of the large men in Unit Six. Because of this, he was able to become the副隊長(Bu-dae-jang, Deputy Commander) of Unit Six of Machun. He had elbowed his way to this position after shutting the mouths of hundreds of people who had mocked him as a shorty. He had an important mission. He was on his way to the Commander's office to complete that mission. In his hand, he held a dispatch, a red envelope indicating urgency. Because of this, he moved his short legs even faster than usual.

"Rrrrrrrumble! Phew-w-w-w! Rrrrrrrumble! Phew-w-w-w!"

Jang So-ok's hand, about to knock as always, stopped abruptly.

'He's snoring again.'

This earth-shattering snore was unmistakably the Commander's. It was as he suspected.

'Well, that guy just sleeps whenever he can…'

And then, whenever he wakes up, he rambles about dreams. It's unclear whether these are memories or dreams, but most of them are clearly fantasies. Stories like fighting a thousand people at once and no one being able to defeat him – what else could they be but dreams?

Jang So-ok took a deep breath and then knocked forcefully on the door.

Bang bang bang bang! Bang bang bang bang!

"Commander! Commander Muyeong (Nameless)! Wake up! This is an urgent notice! Commander! Commander!"

He pounded on the door as if striking a large drum.

"Rrrrrrrumble! Phew-w-w-w! Rrrrrrrumble! Phew-w-w-w-w!"

To not wake up even with such loud knocking, shouldn't a martial artist of the Dark Path always sleep with a portion of their consciousness remaining, aware of potential ambushes? Though he was his unit's commander, it was a truly pathetic moment.

'And yet, he's survived this long without a single ambush.'

That fact alone was more astonishing.

'But I must complete my duty.'

Before he became a deputy commander, he had heard words from the previous deputy commander who had been transferred to the Heukcheon Alliance.

"Do you know the most important mission of the deputy commander of our Unit Six?"

"I do not know."

"It's waking up our sleeping Commander. Whether you hit him or kiss him, the method doesn't matter."

The previous deputy commander was a woman.

"You can use a sword if you have to. Or an axe. As long as you can wake him up, use any means necessary. He won't die anyway. He won't even get hurt. You can test it if you're curious."

"Th-that…"

"My predecessor did it, and the predecessor before them, and the predecessor before them. That is the rule of Unit Six that hasn't changed for a hundred years, and it's the most important mission."

At first, he wondered why it would be so difficult. But now, he knew well how arduous it was. Once he falls asleep, he sleeps as if dead. And yet, his snoring is so loud. If he were married, he would undoubtedly have been broken off his engagement due to his snoring. Thinking it impossible to continue here, he tried opening the door. But as expected, it was locked.

Click, click, click, click!

He unlocked the lock, not one designed for intruders, but one to prevent those disturbing his sleep, one by one. Today, there were six in total. This lock-picking skill was also one of the key abilities required of a deputy commander of Unit Six.

He quickly picked the locks and entered. There, he saw the Commander's profile snoring peacefully on his bed, and the disheveled back of his white hair.

Truly peaceful.

He approached step by step. Usually, a commander of this rank would have a sword flying at them within three steps. But this Commander had none of that. He didn't even have a weapon beside him. He was simply too peaceful. There was no trace of tension. In a way, he was impressed that he had managed to be a commander for so long.

Screeeech!

The sword was drawn.

"Commander, please wake up."

Jang So-ok said with a smile.

"Rrrrrrrumble! Phew-w-w-w!"

The reply was the same.

"If you don't wake up, I'll stab you."

But he still didn't wake up.

"Wake up!"

Wheeeeek!

Roll!

At that moment, the white-haired man turned his body halfway. The blade struck the innocent bedding instead. It missed. Another failure. To not wake up even now, he wasn't normal. However, he had never been hit by the blade swung to wake him up. This wasn't his first attempt, as evidenced by the scattered sword marks on the bedding. Yet, there wasn't a single scratch on his body. Jang So-ok, having failed again today, decided to use his secret weapon.

With a determined heart, he pulled something from his pocket.

"I'll give you a secret weapon just in case. With this, you can always succeed!"

The secret technique his predecessor had taught him was taffy.

But this was no ordinary taffy. It was taffy made by a famous confectionery shop in Sichuan, 'Paris Lang Shop,' so delicious that it was rumored that if seven people ate it and a murder occurred, the person holding the taffy at the end was the real killer.

Flinch!

Even just taking it out elicited a reaction. His nose twitched, as if sensing the presence of this taffy.

'Good. Now, with this, I can gradually lure him…'

He slowly brought the taffy from Paris Lang Shop close to his nose. If he brought it too close, it might get eaten. It was already expensive, and the shipping costs from a distant place added to the considerable price. If he used one every time he woke him up, the unit's finances wouldn't hold up.

"Sniff sniff! Sniff sniff! Sniff sniff! Sniff sniff!"

Flash!

The Commander, who had been sleeping soundly until now, rose like a ghost and lunged like a predator spotting prey. Jang So-ok, who had been prepared, quickly pulled the taffy he was holding back. Then, a gust of wind swept through.

"Ack!"

Caught off guard, Jang So-ok squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them again, his Commander was with the taffy, a yellowish blob, in his mouth, his eyes half-closed.

"Ack! The taffy from Paris Lang Shop, boasting the ultimate sweet taste!"

He had been robbed again. How could he be so quick only at times like these… He suspected if he had some kind of grudge with sugar in a past life.

The Commander chewed and swallowed the taffy in his mouth. Right now, eating that taffy seemed to be the most important thing to him. It hurt his heart that his Commander paid no attention to him, standing right in front of him.

"Huh? So-ok, when did you get here?"

"I am the Deputy Commander, not So-ok. Please call me Deputy Commander Jang."

This boy detested his name. Being short was already enough of a burden, but the name containing the character for "small" (小) caused him endless dissatisfaction. Moreover, it sounded too feminine.

"Yes, So-ok. What is it?"

He wasn't listening at all. Well, when had this man ever paid attention to what others said? Jang So-ok gave up and presented the red dispatch he came for.

"This is an urgent special-grade dispatch. It's from the Supreme Commander."

"What happened? I don't remember well, but this is the first time it's been issued in decades? No, is it years?"

"An intruder has entered. The emergency bell has been ringing continuously until just now."

"Really? Why didn't I hear it?"

'Because you were passed out and snoring!' he wanted to shout, but suppressed it and said curtly.

"Because you were sleeping."

"Sleep is a basic human need. It's very, very important."

"That doesn't mean you should sleep all the time."

The white-haired man scratched his head as if annoyed and began to open the sealed letter.

EXTREMELY URGENT.

Urgent Commander Meeting Convened.

All Commanders, report to the Supreme Commander's office immediately.

- Baek, Supreme Commander of Machun Thirteen Units.

"What does it say?"

"There's an urgent commander meeting at the Unit One Supreme Commander's office. It says to hurry over."

"Then you should prepare quickly."

"Do I have to attend? The Supreme Commander can handle it well."

"First of all, you are one of the twelve commanders of Machun Thirteen Units. You must attend."

Since there was a strong tendency to ignore the invisible thirteenth unit, the number of commanders was twelve, not thirteen.

"There's also the preference for the elderly."

"With a face that looks no older than your late twenties, complaining about age won't work. Hurry and prepare."

The white-haired man whined that he wasn't trying to avoid aging but that his body just didn't age outwardly, that inside he was already a hundred-year-old grandfather whose bones ached, and his fatigue from aging had increased his need for sleep, but it didn't work at all.

"Hurry and prepare. Your whining is no use."

"Yeeeeeesss~"

The white-haired Commander replied with a dejected face, then threw off the blanket he was covering himself with, leaving his beloved sleep behind. Then, he stretched both arms and yawned widely. Truly, among the commanders of Machun Thirteen Units, he was the oldest, yet his mental age was undoubtedly the youngest. It was also the duty of the Deputy Commander of Unit Six to support such actions.

Thud, thud, thud.

While lost in thought for a moment, another accident occurred. As he was getting off the bed, he bumped into a nearby table, and the items on it fell with a clatter, shattering into pieces.

"Did you cause trouble again?"

Jang So-ok exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. In the moment he looked away, he caused another incident.

"No, that… why is this here…? Was there something here…? My memory is hazy…"

He was truly careless and clumsy. It was astonishing how he could dodge the sword energies thrown by enemies when he couldn't even avoid a stationary table. His Commander was truly the most mysterious figure among the twelve commanders of Machun Thirteen Units. And he was the very person who often made the other commanders wonder, "How could this person possibly be a commander?"

Some commanders argued that he was ruining the overall prestige of the commanders and should be removed from his position, but their opinions were not accepted, and he had somehow maintained his position until now. This was because, despite his clumsy actions, he was actually the oldest and longest-serving commander here. Whether it was the realm of returning to youth or an ultimate beauty treatment, he maintained a youthful appearance in his early thirties, and he had also held the Commander position for the longest time. In fact, his age was a mystery to the entire Machun Pavilion. Rumors even suggested he was older than the Machun Pavilion Master, but this had never been confirmed.

He was also said to occasionally mumble incomprehensible words like, "Because I am a deserter," but this too remained unconfirmed. In a sense, he was a monster who neither aged nor died. Therefore, the prevailing opinion was that it would be normal for him to develop dementia.

"Did you forget again? That's why I suspect it's dementia."

"Ah, that's too harsh. To speak like that. My delicate heart is wounded."

This Commander was not only careless but also so forgetful that he suspected of having dementia. He often forgot things. Therefore, taking care of such matters was also part of the Deputy Commander's role.

"Is there a Commander who gets hurt by their Deputy Commander? The higher-ups would faint if they heard this, Commander."

"It's not dementia, I just have trouble remembering for a long time."

"That's what the world calls dementia. Now, hurry. It's the first time the emergency bell has rung due to an external intrusion in nine years. If you're late, you'll get nagged by the Supreme Commander again."

"Commander Yoo is a bit hasty."

Then Jang So-ok pointed out.

"The current Supreme Commander is not Commander Yoo, but Supreme Commander Baek."

"Huh? When did that happen? I was sure it was Supreme Commander Yoo…"

"Supreme Commander Yoo went missing 'recently'."

"That's truly a shame. Commander Yoo, that friend, had quite a promising future…"

He seemed to be spacing out for a moment, trying to recall his fading memories. If left like this, time would undoubtedly slip away endlessly.

"Supreme Commander Baek is more frightening than Commander Yoo now. He's so fiery."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. He was directly recommended by the Machun Pavilion Master. If you don't go quickly, you'll be scolded again."

"Supreme Commander Baek… Supreme Commander Baek… Supreme Commander Baek…"

"What are you doing, Commander?"

Jang So-ok shouted at the Commander, who was standing blankly and muttering.

"Ah, I was just practicing in case I forgot again."

The white-haired Commander said with a childlike smile. Deputy Commander Jang So-ok felt a throbbing in his temples.

"Come on, come on, we can do that on the way. Hurry and get your weapon."

"Weapon? Did I use something like that?"

Jang So-ok felt a sense of despair about his situation for a moment. It was the end. There was no other way. He felt like screaming, "Destruction!"

"Of course!"

Jang So-ok roared.

"Does it make sense that you don't even remember if you use a weapon or not!"

He didn't forget he was slow, but to forget the very fact that he used it? He was truly an unfathomable Commander the more he learned about him.

"No, well, it doesn't matter if I don't have a weapon… I can just pick up anything…"

"Do you remember your martial arts style?"

"Hmm…"

The fact that an immediate answer didn't come back was scarier. In such times, why couldn't he just laugh and say, "Of course, I would never forget something like that, hahaha!" and relieve the anxiety? This demented Commander, despite his poor memory, was unnecessarily honest. He was nothing like someone from the Dark Path.

"Hmm… I don't remember."

Jang So-ok felt a pain in the back of his neck and almost fainted. A deputy commander of a unit fainting from mental shock? If it were known to other units, he would be a laughingstock.

'This monster whose face doesn't age!!'

Alas, he not only forgot whether he used weapons but also his martial arts!

"Die! Die! Die! You demented Commander! Die! Disappear into the eternal world of oblivion!"

He found himself with his hands on the Commander's collar, strangling him. This happened in a fleeting moment when his reason snapped.

"Hahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahaha!"

However, the white-haired Commander just laughed good-naturedly even as he was being told to die and choked. His complexion didn't even turn pale as he was being strangled. He just kept laughing for some unknown reason. In a way, he looked like a grandfather watching his grandchild's antics, and in another, like a madman.

"It's okay, it's okay. I don't remember my martial arts, but I don't even remember my own name."

"What's okay about it?! And you've got the usage wrong. You should say you definitely remember your name, not your martial arts. If the front is negative, the back should be positive!"

"But I can't remember at all. So, what is my name right now?"

"Did you forget that too? You're Muyeong (Nameless)."

That's right. The name of this damned Commander was Muyeong. It wasn't for some grand reason like abandoning his name. He was simply Muyeong because he couldn't remember his name. The consensus among Machun Thirteen Units was that he had definitely forgotten due to dementia.

"See? Even my name is Muyeong. What did I forget? Who was I in the past? It feels like it was something important, but I can't remember at all. Compared to that, martial arts or weapons are trivial matters."

His lost past was always the only thing that bothered him. Other than that, he had little interest in things like the Dark Path or the Light Path.

"Commander…"

As Jang So-ok's complexion darkened, Muyeong let out another hearty laugh.

"Hahaha, it's okay, it's okay. Even if my head can't remember my martial arts, my body definitely remembers."

He had clearly been holding the Commander by the collar just a moment ago, but when he came to his senses, he was standing side-by-side with the Commander. His Commander was smiling as always and tidying his disheveled clothes.

"Huh? Th-this is impossible…"

He couldn't understand what had happened. Jang So-ok looked down at his empty hands, dazed as if he had been possessed by a ghost. He had clearly gripped the collar with these hands… He had definitely been strangling him… For a normal person, he should have fainted within half a degree. But how had the strangulation been released so quickly? It felt as if his memory had been surgically removed.

'Am I, am I also suffering from dementia…? Is the Commander's dementia contagious?!'

Otherwise, this would be impossible. Looking up, the Commander's face was smiling as thoughtlessly as ever.

"H-how? You just said you couldn't remember your martial arts…"

"Ah, that? Don't worry, I only forgot the moves."

"You forgot? The moves of your martial arts?"

"Yeah, all of them."

Muyeong replied with a completely refreshing smile.

"You liar! What just escaped my hands was definitely martial arts!"

"Forgetting doesn't mean you can't use it. Losing the moves also means breaking free from that framework. So, don't worry too much. You won't grow taller if you do."

"Wh-wh-who's worried! And I'm not short! I'm just… for the sake of our generation…"

"Yes, yes. I'm a happy Commander, that's what you mean."

"Kuaaaaaaak! Listen to me, you demented Commander!"

Jang So-ok exploded again. However, Commander Muyeong just smiled and accepted it.

"Shall we go? If we keep them waiting any longer, they'll dislike it."

"Ah, yes. Commander."

Muyeong (Nameless), Commander of Unit Six. He had forgotten what weapons he used and what martial arts he practiced, and he couldn't remember his own name, but there wasn't a single person who remembered him being defeated by anyone.

'As expected…'

Gulp!

Jang So-ok stood in front of the Supreme Commander's office, his body tense. Even with just one door separating them, the tension from beyond the door could be felt all the way here. He figured they were the last ones. It was all because of the damned Commander, but there was nowhere to complain.

"Commander Muyeong of Unit Six has entered!"

As the two guards standing on either side of the main gate announced loudly, the door slowly opened.

Muyeong stepped forward without any hesitation. There was not the slightest trace of tension. Inside the room, the commanders in charge of each dormitory were already seated. Muyeong looked at the few empty seats and opened his mouth with a bright smile.

"Wow, wow, I thought I was last, but there are still people who haven't arrived. Lucky me."

At that, everyone's gaze shot towards Muyeong like arrows.

'Hieeeeeeek!'

Jang So-ok, who was experiencing this for the first time, couldn't help but feel tense.

"You're a little late, Commander Muyeong."

Jeon Choong, the Deputy Commander of Unit Three, who was lined up, spoke first.

"Wow, wow, I'm sorry. But there are still five seats empty…"

It was indeed true. Unit Five, Unit Eight, Unit Nine, and Unit Four. These were units whose commanders were not from the Mukyo Gwan ( Martial Arts Academy) but were current students.

"They are already engaged in their assigned missions. It's highly probable that the intruders will head towards the Sea of Four Seas."

Supreme Commander Baek Cheon-jeol, who had been silent, spoke. Just by speaking a single sentence, an immense power was conveyed. Jang So-ok felt his knees tremble to the point of weakness, despite his shame. Cold sweat trickled down his spine. To exude such an oppressive aura with mere presence… He was truly worthy of leading Machun Thirteen Units.

"Ah, but Commander Ok Yu-gyeong of Unit Seven's seat is also empty, is she on a mission too?"

"No, she is simply late."

"Really? Gosh, that's unlike the diligent her."

"Perhaps she encountered the intruders."

"Ah, that could be it, Supreme Commander Yoo."

'He got it wrong againnnnnnnn!!'

Jang So-ok, utterly shocked, shrieked inwardly.

"It's Supreme Commander Baek, not Supreme Commander Yoo. Your memory is still the same, Commander Muyeong."

"Ah, right. This is really unfortunate. My memory keeps getting hazy… Shall I just rest?"

He seemed to wish to be kicked out of this meeting.

"No, just sit. You'll forget it anyway, but you should hear it for now."

Then, sounds of muffled laughter could be heard from here and there. Jang So-ok glared around with angry eyes. But only contemptuous gazes returned. Though he was indignant and resentful, he could only blame his own weakness. His Commander, however, seemed unaffected by such blatant mockery, simply smiling broadly. That also irked him. Though it wasn't something he experienced for the first time, he still couldn't adapt to it. It was no wonder that one of the virtues a Deputy Commander of Unit Six must possess was "extreme patience."

Thump!

At that moment, the Supreme Commander lightly struck the floor with the sword he was holding. Though it seemed like a light strike, sound waves imbued with immense internal energy filled the Commander's room. Some of the Deputy Commanders, who were weak in studies, had to clutch their eardrums and bow their heads in pain. However, the Commanders, with unperturbed faces, adjusted their posture.

"It seems a bit quieter now."

After looking around, the Supreme Commander declared the meeting open.

"Well, now that everyone is here, let's begin the meeting."