125

Gangwon Province, Hongcheon county and Chuncheon capital city, the Gari Mountain[2] spanning across those two areas.

This mountain, which was the source of Suyang river and riverhead of Hongcheon river.

Deep in this mountain was a shack, not well visible because it was buried in very deep shadows.

A person came to this secluded place.

Eungwang School 1st year class 0 homeroom teacher, Great Archer of Blue Sky, Ham Geun-hyeong.

He didn't get lost on the complicated mountain trails even for a minute and headed straight to the shack, knocking on the door.

"Elder, it's me."

Not much time passed when the door opened with a 'Kiiik' sound.

After the door opened, the smell of ink spread out, and an elderly man appeared.

It was the best painter of Korean Art, Hong Gyeongbok, who, if it was a few years ago, would very actively take disciples in Seoul, but a certain incident triggered[3] him to go into seclusion.

"No, who is that? It can't be Geun-hyeong, right? I said you can't come like this… hehehe."

"My last business trip got prolonged, so I decided to come to say hello after a long time."

"It's about that ski resort again? Our Geun-hyeong has a lot of trouble, heh? You say that, but you came to visit such a mountain valley."

Hong Gyeongbok talked like that, but his face was filled with joy.

He offered Ham Geun-hyeong a seat with the most sunlight, while he passed him a tea with soaked chaga mushrooms.

Hong Gyeongbok, who was asking about the news until they drank all the tea, stopped talking for a while and then carefully asked:

"… Is Geurin doing well?"

"Yes, recently she has been attending school every day."

"Yeah? That's good, huh? That's really good!"

Hong Gyeongbok burst into bright laughter.

"She is eating well, right? And made a lot of friends?"

"Yes. Class children are taking good care of her."

"Good, good…"

Ham Geun-hyeong handed Hong Gyeongbok pictures he printed from the data the class president Kim Yuri sent to him with the device.

The group picture of the Teacher's Day, with Min Geurin in the center holding the carnation painting she personally painted.

The picture during the day-start meeting where all class children get along eating snacks in the classroom.

She was wearing glasses she wasn't wearing before.

In every picture, although awkwardly, Min Geurin was smiling.

"Our Geurin expression got much better… You made a lot of friends, huh…"

Looking at the pictures, the wrinkled eyes of Painter Hong Gyeongbok were full of tears.

Ham Geunhyeong, who was looking at him, recalled his own students and juniors.

'Min Geurin was outstanding as a Player and an artist from a young age just like Jane, but… she went through brutal events unlike Jane.'

Unlike Kwon Jane who was from a famous family, Min Geurin's family was ordinary.

It wasn't like Kwon Jane, who had an environment to easily learn music, but Min Geurin was a genius whose talent bloomed after she saw brush strokes for the first time since she was born.

Thanks to that dramatic origin, she aroused much more jealousy.

The reason was that she looked so easy because of her extremely ordinary background.

In the end, she suffered from a long and persistent bullying.

'… It would be better if we find out sooner.'

When people who cherished Min Geurin like Hong Gyeongbok and Song Manseok realized what she had suffered.

Her mind was already ill.

With two masters of the art and Player worlds coming forward, the leaders behind Min Geurin's bullying were punished, but her mental illness was impossible to cure.

"I will take care of Min Geurin. Elder, please think about your health first. If something happens to You, it will be most difficult for Min Geurin."

Hong Gyeongbok who heard those words burst out into hearty laughter.

"Damn you! Geun-hyeong, how many times did I tell you I will live longer than you! Hehe, I'll at least live until I'm one hundred and fifty years old. It's a promise I made with Seong hyung, of course it is."

Whenever the story of health or age came up, Hong Gyeongbok perked up straight away.

Just as Ham Geun-hyeong intended, Painter Hong Gyeongbok regained his energy.

He mumbled while looking at the group picture hanging on the wall.

"Actually, I can't believe that Seong hyung, who made such a firm promise with me, left so soon after the 'Dark Age' ended. Alas…"

In the picture was young Hong Gyeongbok and a person who served as a previous head of the Player's Association Korean Branch.

***

After the dragon appeared in the previously peaceful class 0's classroom.

Children's reactions were diverse.

"Hello. Teacher Yong-nim, so you're going to be the temporary homeroom teacher!"

"Hello."

Sawol Seeum and Han Yi, who participated in the Stalmemate's beginner chess course.

The two of them greeted him brightly as if they were friends with Yong Jegeon.

"Ah, that's that man we saw at the baseball stadium at that time… No, you said he is a Yong, in any case, it's the Jin we saw at that time."

"Ah, Teacher Yong-nim who was the highest contributor during the Jamsil Baseball Stadium incident, right…!"

"It's the Person who made an opening show during the chess competition, correct? This is the first time I see Him up close."

Maeng Hyodon, Kim Yuri and Kwon Lena, who showed some interest.

"It seems rather strange for a Jin to proudly work as a teacher. Why does everyone accept it as if it's nothing?… I want to go home."

Min Geurin, who was on guard in the face of an unfamiliar dragon.

It seemed that she would flee home if she knew that there was one more Jin shamelessly playing the role of a student around.

"Is this punk the temporary homeroom teacher? Well, this is going to be convenient when there is a situation where I have to put him to work, eh?"

On the other hand, Hwang Jiho accepted this strange situation positively, with his eyes shining.

Lastly, I kept my mouth shut, because I couldn't decide what kind of reaction I should show.

"Though it's while Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim is absent, please take care of me. And contact me if anything happens."

With Yong Jegeon showing his device code on the electronic blackboard, a short start-day meeting ended.

"Then we will end the start meeting here. Change into gym clothes and gather in the gym no. 5."

Of all things, the class was Player's Combat Practice 1.

Yong Jegeon was really going to lead practice class?

I had a bad premonition.

Gym no. 5 specializing in the operating simulator exclusively for 1st years.

It was a meaningful location where the class children had their first teamplay.

'My bad premonition was correct.'

Today's topic was the basics of maze conquest.

It was a training on the premise of conquering high difficulty maze[4] type otherworlds.

In case of the maze type or labyrinth kind of otherworlds, there were times where it was divided according to gimmicks and times when the entrance was split into several ones from the beginning.

At those times, the highest priority goal of the otherworld conquest party was set to understanding the inside topography of the otherworld to meet with others quickly.

Today, our class' practice content was 'meeting together inside of the maze with split entrances'.

"I send the maze simulation introduction to your devices. I'll start dividing you into four groups of two people. Gather according to group. The time limit is 30 minutes."

Together with those words, Yong Jegeon opened two screens.

One was a timer indicating the limited time.

The other one was a hologram with group formations.

My head hurt as I looked at the group formations showed on the hologram.

'You can feel Yong Jegeon's evil intentions in that group formation.'

[Group A. Jo Uisin, Hwang Jiho.]

"Hahahaha, it will be fun, eh!"

Hwang Jiho has already become noisy.

It seemed he was awaiting what kind of trick Yong Jegeon would pull out.

"Hwang Jiho is laughing creepily again."

"Um, it's lucky our course is directly on the opposite side!"

Han Yi and Kwon Lena were allocated to group B.

Looking at the laughing Hwang Jiho, they became wary.

"Hyodon, let's avoid the route group A takes!"

"… Uh? Uh, let's do this."

Group C was Sawol Seeum and Maeng Hyodon.

Maeng Hyodon looked at the warming up while laughing Hwang Jiho, and then nodded his head.

"Geurin, let's move through the join points to avoid the route of Uisin and Jiho."

"I-I don't know much, so I'll leave it to you, Yuri."

Last, D group. Kim Yuri and Min Geurin.

Min Geurin avoided Yong Jegeon's gaze and hid behind Kim Yuri's back, and then nodded her head.

"Hmm, looking at the introduction, the difficulty level for our group A is plainly strange, eh? But if it's not to this degree, it won't be exciting."

Hwang Jiho, who read the maze's introduction, said.

As Hwang Jiho said, compared to all of the groups, group A's difficulty level was exceptionally high.

In addition to the rank of arranged Enemies being two steps higher and way more traps, the road itself was long.

As I discussed it with Hwang Jiho while looking at the introduction, the 30 minutes passed immediately.

— 3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 seconds.

0.

After the countdown ended, Yong Jegeon clapped his hands once.

"It was within the content of the introduction, but I will repeat it one more time. Usage of consumable items is prohibited. You're to use the equipment items provided by the school. If you keep in mind those two things, there won't be any problems."

Yong Jegeon spoke to us who finished preparations.

It couldn't be just my imagination that he looked at me and Hwang Jiho when saying 'there won't be any problems'.

"That's it, then let's start!"

Uung—

After Yong Jegeon operated the simulator, the gym no. 5 covered in black supernatural metal started to shine with various colors.

After a moment, a hologram floated up in front of me.

[Starting otherworld conquest simulator. Are you ready? (Y/N)]

I pressed the Y button, while strengthening my resolve to match the rhythm of Yong Jegeon and Hwang Jiho's jokes.

If we talk about the results, the otherworld simulator was overpowered in an instant by Hwang Jiho who went crazy.

"Hahahaha!"

"Hey, will it be fine even if it remains in school records?"

"It won't be a problem if I use my power to this degree. And if there will be a problem, if the records are manipulated, well…"

Hwang Jiho destroyed the SR rank trap with the R rank 'Iron Bō of Bō martial art beginner' provided by school and then showed off the power to crush the SR+++ rank paralysis gas container.

The traps and Enemies overflowing with Yong Jegeon's ill intentions ended up being one-shotted.

'He even ended up crushing the gas container to pieces with the Bō martial art. In case that is possible…'

If it was like this, it seemed that we would clear it with me at best taking out R rank basic Fire attribute magic weapon 'Rod of Flames of beginner magician' and not using it even once.

"You seem better at Bō martial arts than at Taehokwon."

"I roughly learned Taehokwon because 'that punk' provoked me with 'You will never be able to beat me with Taehokwon[5]'. From the beginning, physical attacks weren't my speciality. But I can manage Bō martial arts."

That punk?

'Are you talking about Cheong-ho?'

Cheong-ho, who was the founder of Taehokwon.

It seemed that Hwang Jiho learned Taehokwon because he was provoked by Cheong-ho.

But that guy fights like this when physical attacks aren't his speciality?

A want to pick up a fight with him surged, but there was something I was more bothered by.

"So, did you beat 'that punk'?"

"No."

Hwang Jiho who replied like this made a strange face.

It was a subtle expression of his pride being hurt but mixed with yearning for his old close friend.

"… I train while waiting for a rematch with that punk." [6]

Moment after that, group A reached the meeting point within 5 minutes thanks to Hwang Jiho's craze.

As we waited a little, children started to arrive.

"What, we're 2nd! Your route difficulty was so high, how did you do that?"

"Incredible! We won't lose next time!"

2nd place was group C, Maeng Hyodon and Sawol Seeum.

"… Sorry for holding your ankle, Han Yi."

"No. Without your support, I would be still in the middle of the maze."

3rd place was group B, Han Yi and Kwon Lena.

"Sorry… I unknowingly fled the moment I saw the first Enemy. We got too lost because of me."

"Haha, later Geurin captured the Enemies much better than me, so you would gather more additional contribution points, you know! As I said, it seems I have to work harder!"

Last to arrive was group D, Min Geurin and Kim Yuri.

After the two of them arrived at the meeting point, a hologram floated up.

[Simulation cleared! Clear time: 16 minutes 52 seconds.]

"A screen like this opens when you clear it, huh…!"

"Oh, not bad."

"Everyone worked hard!"

Soon the scenery in front of my eyes changed, and then Yong Jegeon, who looked to be in a very good mood, appeared.

"You worked hard. Then let's start with the overall rating."

It wasn't a record like during the first lesson, but the 1st year class 0's overall score was enough to get into Eungwang School's middle ranks.

But group A with me and Hwang Jiho received very good grades.

I didn't want to counter it because the fraud character called Hwang Jiho worked uselessly hard.

In any case, like this the first lesson with the Game category Yong in charge was concluded.

***

After classes.

As I checked messages after arriving in my dormitory room, the top messages which arrived were sent by Yong Jegeon.

[Yong Jegeon] I wanted to check how much power you hide in front of other people so I tried to play a little trick.

[Yong Jegeon] And I wanted to know to what degree chairman Hwangho-ssi uses his power when he uses that appearance.

You acted like this to find out about that?

Hearing those words, I had a doubt.

[Me] You knew that Hwang Jiho revealed his identity to me?

[Yong Jegeon] As expected, chairman Hwangho-ssi revealed his identity to you, huh.

He got me.

I knew that Yong Jegeon had such conversation techniques, but experiencing it myself, my mood was subtle.

But it seemed that Yong Jegeon already guessed everything.

[Yong Jegeon] But, it seems that you didn't openly show your Gwangrim to chairman Hwangho-ssi. ^^

I recalled and overlapped that '^^' emoticon with Yong Jegeon's unique ecstatic expression.

It seemed that there would be no gain if I tried to continue to exchange messages, so I closed the window.

Next message came from Seong Siwan.

[Seong Siwan] You remember that Geukeon hyung asked us to investigate the two current ghost stories, right? Can I take charge in the case of secret society?

[Seong Siwan] Among my Wings Council juniors, there is a guy who likes ghost stories, and so it seems he is very interested in the Student Council and Guideline Club's ghost stories. ㅎㅎ [7]

Seong Siwan messages continued.

[Seong Siwan] It seems that 2nd year and 3rd year class 0 is doing something, because the signal is sometimes cut off in the Heavenly Wings Mountain… It's difficult for me to stay in the Heavenly Wings Mountain for long.

[Seong Siwan] I'll leave the Heavenly Wings Mountain Ghost Gate story to you!

Class 0 seniors bastards are trying to do something again?

No, it's not that they are trying to do something, they would be in the middle of doing it already.

They should prepare a lot against the student-governed organization incidents, so it couldn't be helped.

[Me] Yes. I also wanted to investigate the Heavenly Wings Mountain.

After I sent the reply, I checked the item window.

'I have just the right item.'

'Ghost Gate showing Lenses'

It was one of the items I stole from the Fantasy Auction.

'Moon is currently visible, but it would be good to check now as a control group to compare when there is no moon.'

Like this, I headed towards the Heavenly Wings Mountain.

Late hour.

Walking trail without anyone heading towards Heavenly Wings Mountain.

At the hiking road in the Heavenly Wings Mountain which normally was always empty.

There was someone.

'That person…'

As his appearance was completely different from the one I saw before, he was difficult to recognize, but I got a sense of who it was straight away.

It was because he was a person who left an extremely deep impression.

'It's 3rd year class 0's president, remember?!'

3rd year class 0's president who after Teacher's Day declared surrender with the most wretched look, in front of the main gate's clock tower.

He was on the Heavenly Wings Mountain hiking road.

*~*~*

[1] No chapter title – 'Ghost stories, paintings and clues (1)' =-= Paintings could also be understood as beautiful scenery/scenes. Clues also have meanings of: 'trigger, signal to begin something', 'conditional clause (law)', 'writing carved in stone' or 'document written for the purpose of informing the public about the king's orders'.

[2] Gari Mountain – or Garisan, san stands for mountain.

[3] triggered – raws: with a chance/opportunity

[4] maze – 'maze' used for the type term can also be a mystery in the meaning of a problem/situation which cannot be solved or very difficult to solve.

[5] 'You will never be able to beat me with Taehokwon' – a curious thing. 'That punk' uses plain form in that sentence. It's very hard for me to explain the nuance, so please excuse my messy explanation. For a start, you should be aware that Korean has different politeness levels ranging from casual to very formal/polite. Plain form has no polite level. That doesn't mean that it's impolite, it means that it's nothing, it's literally plain. Usually, it is used when the sentence isn't directed at anyone in particular. For example, in articles, dictionary entries or books. It's also used when speaking to yourself (for example, Jo Uisin uses plain form during his internal narration or his thoughts). It's a form that is VERY rarely used when speaking to someone. You can use it when speaking with close friends and making some plain statement, for example, Hwang-ho also uses plain form in this sentence, it kinda gives off the feeling of him speaking into air, as if telling a story. But even so, the usage of plain form by 'that punk' is very curious (I mean, it feels a bit strange).

*There is one more person who uses plain form in previous chapters. It's White Shadow who gave Jo Uisin 'Unknown Fate'. White Shadow uses plain form the entire time. (I was so troubled how to explain plain form that I forget to mention it at all, I'm sorry ㅠㅠ)

[6] "… I train while waiting for a rematch with that punk." – Hwang-ho used plain form again. It seems he is talking to himself?

[7] ㅎㅎ – 'haha'

Translator's note: … But Hwang-ho doesn't usually use 'that punk' to refer to Cheong-ho… Perhaps… Oh, Hwang-ho ㅠㅠ

.

Note about Wings Council (again!): As I mentioned in the note when the Wings Council was introduced (which no one probably remembers), its full name is Earthly Wings Council. At that time, this translator decided to shorten it to just Wings Council (I believe my confusion with hanja played a part in that, but regardless), I still stand by it, the shorter name is better, but we still should remember that the full name is Earthly Wings Council. Therefore, I will from now on sometimes refer to it by its full name as a reminder for you, readers, that it is its full name. Don't be scared if Earth pops up, okay?

(Extremely sorry for delay. Hosting provider problems).