128

Me and Yeom Junyeol exchanged device codes during the previous chess tournament.

If I tell him my contact information now, it will be no different from revealing my real identity.

"I'd never bother you, master-nim. I'll use it when I sometimes need some teaching or when I have something I want to urgently tell you!"

Yeom Junyeol's attitude was subtle.

Looking at his attitude, it didn't seem like it was because he just wanted to often contact his master.

"What happened?"

"A day before Cymopoleia boat party, I met a Jin, who seemed to know master-nim. I wanted to inform master-nim straight away, but because I didn't have a method to contact you…"

Jin that seemed to know me?

Who are you talking about?

"It was a Jin wearing a red dress. She said She has something she wants to speak about and to follow Her. However, I followed master-nim's words. I didn't go with people I don't know."

As expected from my disciple, he is clever, polite, humble, full of desire to improve and a kind disciple who listens to his master well.

But did you say red dress?

In the PMH game story, there was only one Jin who appeared wearing a red dress.

"Descendants' existence is rare, correct? That Jin said She has a 'troublemaker son'… Who is that? I don't have a guess who that may be among the descendants I know."

That troublemaker was a descendant Yeom Junyeol also knew.

'It's Teacher Kim Sinrok-nim.'

He was a descendant that even received troublemaker evaluation from Ungnyeo of Grief?…

What the hell happened during the 5 thousand years?

'It's confirmed, it was Ungnyeo of Grief who approached Yeom Juneyol.'

Hearing she appeared wearing a red dress, I again recalled a hypothesis I was building in my head.

'Isn't the cause of Zhu Ganglie's disappearance Ungnyeo of Grief's interference?'

Some were thinking that Zhu Ganglie's fled, but I, who grabbed the Nine Iron Teeth Rake and faced him on the deck, knew.

'At that time, Zhu Ganglie didn't flee. Even though it was a situation where he could die at my hands.'

I didn't know the reason, but there was a difference in the nature of Zhu Ganglie I saw in the 'Journey to the West' and the appearance I saw at that time.

If it was like this, why was Zhu Ganglie missing?

'Someone must've interfered to make him disappear, regardless of Zhu Ganglie's will.'

That someone would be an existence who currently had a grudge against Zhu Ganglie and had an ability to pay him back.

'Because it's like this, when hearing the story of the red dress, I can recall nothing but Ungnyeo of Grief.'

If it was her, she would come running to rip Zhu Ganglie apart.

Incident which became a trigger for the PMH's concrete collapse.

In that story, the moment when Jeok-ho was severely injured, she appeared.

Ungnyeo of Grief wearing a red dress.

From the moment Jeok-ho died, she took upon such a terrifying form and interfered in the story to the point I wondered if the game genre didn't change.

'… In the end, Jeok-ho died, but thanks to Ungnyeo of Grief's interference, the incident was resolved.'

Because I knew about such actions of her in the game, I could request a deal during the Fantasy Auction.

'Zhu Ganglie's attitude seen on the deck. Ungnyeo of Grief said to wear a red dress. If we combine those two things with the current situation, the answer comes out. There is a high chance the cause of Zhu Ganglie's disappearance was Ungnyeo of Grief.'

If it was her, who acted wisely, she would figure out the reason why I didn't kill Zhu Ganglie and handle it appropriately.

There was no way she would rejoice at Dark Mastermind's actions which threatened Jeok-ho's safety.

'But why did she approach Yeom Junyeol?'

Was it to dig for information about me?

But even so, I hoped she wouldn't approach my disciple.

"You did well. Don't follow unknown beings, even in the future."

"Yes!"

Yeom Junyeol replied with power.

But like before, I was worried that as an extremely kind descendant, he wouldn't be asked for help and then follow an unknown person.

"Supposing there is such a situation, I hoped to have a method to contact master-nim… I lost in the chess tournament and couldn't succeed in 'Superpower Swallowing'. Is it too shameless for me to make a request?"

While I fell into thoughts, Yeom Junyeol replied with a voice without energy.

I never thought like this.

It can't be helped.

Yong Jegeon already found out about me, supposing someone else found out about me, would it make any difference if it was Yong tribe's descendant?

"… Please don't backtrack."

"Yes! I won't do that."

"I'll tell you my device code next time we meet. Wait."

There were many reasons for Players to possess several lines.

Kwon Jane possessed only one device but several codes.

Currently, I had one line synchronized with two devices, so it was fine if lines increased by one, right?

"Have this in reserve until the next lesson."

"Thank you, master-nim!"

SR– – – rank consumable item, 'Messageless Carrier Pigeon'.

It was a one-use consumable item, which could carry nothing but a message without words or superpower wave.

After filling it with my superpower wave to set the destination, I handed the card to Yeom Juneyol.

"Then let's start the lesson."

"Yes!"

Yeom Juneyol smiled with an expression full of enthusiasm as he replied.

As the disciple was so overflowing with excitement, I, as the master, also automatically got into a mood.

When about 30 minutes passed.

"Master-nim, at last I succeeded…! Please look, master-nim's flame is moving according to my command!"

At last, my disciple succeeded in superpower swallowing for the first time.

Yeom Junyeol was smiling, with his hair dyed red and vertical pupils.

It seemed that it was still impossible for him to Swallow Superpower without opening his Yong tribe's power, but if it's him, he will soon be able to control his power.

"Yes, well done."

"Thank you!"

Reflecting Yeom Juneyol's mood, who heard my praise, his Hongryong's flames flared up, while it spun around me.

"I succeeded in Superpower Swallowing for the first time, I obtained a method to contact master-nim…! Today is a really great day."

Yeom Junyeol stole the initiative of the flame I made to freely change its shape.

First, small Hongryong.

Fire wall I made during the Fantasy Auction.

Process of carnation changing from flower bud to full bloom.

And lastly, crow mask I was wearing.

I appreciated a ceremony worthy of star Player and sent an applause.

"If I continue to grow, one day will come when I'll fight with master-nim shoulder to shoulder… no, at least behind you, right? I couldn't take part in the boat party incident, but next time, I want to be of help to master-nim, for sure."

I guess he was frustrated and sad when he was left behind during the boat party.

"My next goal now is to win against the winner of the chess tournament, Uisin."

Suddenly my story came out?

I was surprised, but I again admired Yeom Junyeol's desire to improve.

"That said, I'm worried because there are many Players who want to compete against Uisin. Last year's winner Dong-ha also said he wants to play with Uisin. I'm worried my turn will be too late."

Eungwang School 2nd year Guideline Club, 'World in the Eye' Cheon Dong-ha.

He was also one of the Playable Characters.

I didn't have a point of contact with Cheon Dong-ha yet, but we may intersect with each other soon.

'Opportunely, the story of a person from the Guideline Club came out, so should I ask about that?'

From among the ghost stories, the secret society was said to be made by the Student Council and Guideline Club.

Following Seong Gukeon's words, let's ask Yeom Junyeol about it without drawing attention to the topic of ghost stories.

"Are you very close with the Guideline Club? Looking at the school announcements, it doesn't seem like there is any particular event you collaborate to host together, excluding the student representative meeting. Are there occasions in which both the Student Council and Guideline Club are both involved?"

"There are guys in the Guideline Club, I'm personally friends with, but nothing… ah."

Yeom Junyeol seemed to recall something.

"During the 1st year, I heard that a now graduating 3rd year Guideline Club Senior[2] suggested to Gyeong-gu, who is in the Student Council with me, that he joins some kind of group."

"Group?"

"Yes. They gathered a few people from the Student Council to make a study group or held an otherworld conquest research group. Is it not something like this?"

A Guideline Club's senior suggested Gwak Gyeong-gu from the Student Council to join a group?

If that is the case, isn't that a clue?

To divert Yeom Junyeol's attention, I threw a different question.

"It's like this, huh? Are you preparing for the final exams well? Are you going to join a study party?"

"I planned to study at home, because the Yong tribe's hyungs and noonas said they wanted to help me study. I can't outdo Dong-ha in the writing exam, but I'll make up for it with a practical exam and aim for first place."

"I'll cheer you on."

"Yes! I usually study diligently. So please call me whenever you want, even during the exam period."

Regretfully, I was preoccupied with our class children's study group, so it would be difficult to meet during the exam period.

Even after that, I accepted the words of excited Yeom Junyeol, and then the lesson ended.

***

Kim Yuri's house.

After the front door opened, I was welcomed by the children who were sitting in the living room.

"Uh, Uisin came!"

"Good, we are in the middle of eating midnight snacks."

"We also left the vice president's share on the side."

First midnight snack of the 1st year class 0's final exam study group was Chicago deep dish pizza with generously laid Kasseri cheese.

As the topping was chicken and shrimps sprinkled with barbecue sauce, and there was also chipotle sauce to go with it.

The instant I took a bite, the cheese flavor mixed with the taste of soft dough and topping in harmony inside of my mouth.

"It's delicious. Where did you order it from?"

Children, who heard those words, shut their mouths and then stared at Hwang Jiho.

No way, this guy again.

"Yeah, I made it. Because the last one I tried was particularly good."

Hwang Jiho ate his pizza's share terrifyingly well with a satisfied expression.

Thinking about it, this guy liked the Chicago deep dish pizza during the first lesson a lot, right?

You're saying you even made it like this because of that?

"Um, it doesn't seem we can beat him in cooking."

"Why is Jiho so good at cooking?"

"… Frustrating. It's delicious."

Han Yi had a frustrated face, but every time she took a bite of the pizza, she made a happy expression.

I guess it matched her taste buds very well.

"It's delicious, so it's fine."

In the middle of children's righteous anger, it seemed that Master Small Stone Maeng Hyodon gave up on thinking this time.

When I followed after Maeng Hyodon's example and stopped thinking to eat pizza.

Hwang Jiho abruptly asked.

"You went somewhere and then came back?"

"Just for a bit."

When the Newspaper Club's activities ended, I made up a story about going back to the dormitory for Hwang Jiho.

He made a dubious expression but concentrated on pizza again.

It seemed that I did well even today by leaving the device provided by school before going.

"Uh."

When I was about to take another bite of pizza, I stiffened as I was.

On the side of the living room, a round sofa that could find its way into a cafe.

On it, Min Geurin, with her whole body wrapped in the blanket, only the rims of her eyes out, was sleeping.

"… Min Geurin is still here, you know?"

At my question, Kwon Lena replied.

"Geurin fell asleep during studying. Even though we tried to wake her up a few times, it didn't work."

That Min Geurin, who was extremely wary, fell asleep around the children?

It seemed that with most of the malicious comments gone, she relaxed.

But the fact that she opened up to our class children didn't change, so I was happy, but there was a problem.

Seeing I fell into thoughts, Kim Yuri spoke up.

"Hahaha, don't worry. I contacted Dragon Teacher-nim to call Min Geurin's parents-nim. I also personally called Geurin's parents-nim, but they said that she can stay for a sleepover. I also hoped Geurin would go after she slept."

The problem wasn't her parents-nim.

Min Geurin's parents-nim were probably very happy, because she made friends.

However, the problem was a guy whose eyes would be turned upside down to search for Min Geurin right now.

"Let's wake her up."

"Uh? She is sleeping so well, waking her up is a bit…"

Before I could wake Min Geurin up.

Doorbell started to ring frantically.

Ding, ding, dingdingdingdingding.

"Who is that, at this hour?"

"Looks like a very impatient person!"

"There are no people who would come at this hour…"

There was surely a guy who would come.

Kim Yuri, who checked the interphone, said:

"Face isn't caught on the screen. I guess they're standing extremely close. Um… I should change the camera angle next time!"

Dingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingdigding.

"I used the Presence Detection. It seems they're alone."

"According to Danger Detection… There shouldn't be big problems."

Han Yi and Kim Yuri activated skills to inspect outside.

The children, who heard those words, shared their opinions.

"Yeah? If it's one person, even if something happens, I think we can handle them on our own, as long as they are not a Jin."

"If Jin was to attack, they could just break into the house and enter, you know? In any case, it wouldn't have mattered if the door was closed or opened."

"Ah, noisy. Let's just open and then think."

"Right. I feel sorry for making them wait that long, let's open!"

Our class children figured out each other's strengths while doing combat training together for the past few months.

All above statements were correct.

Excluding Kwon Lena and Sawol Seeum, wasn't everyone in our class in the upper ranks of the Eungwang School's combat power?

'It's excellent that even during an unforeseen situation, they calmly use their skills and analyze their strengths…'

It had to be because of my mood that our kind class children seemed a bit aggressive and worthy of class 0.

"Okay. Let's open!"

Landlord, Kim Yuri, received the children's opinions and nodded her head.

"Wait."

I stopped her, who was about to go to open the door.

Instead, I called Hwang Jiho who in the chaos was still devouring pizza like before.

"Hey, Hwang Jiho. You please open it."

I picked up the best guy to use as a shield to receive a bullet in our class in case something happened.

"Uh? Well, shall I?"

Hwang Jiho wiped his hands with wet tissue and then pressed the front door opening button.

Swish—

And visible after the front door opened.

Terrifyingly pure-white face.

Bloodshot eyes.

Hair scattered in every direction.

It was Song Daeseok looking like a ghost.

*~*~*

[1] No title – 'Ghost stories, paintings and clues (4)' =-=

[2] Senior – 'senior' is capitalized because Yeom Junyeol uses the polite form of the word 'person' when talking about them.

.

Translator's note: Hwang Jiho liked the pizza Jo Uisin gave him … Wait. Please wait. I'm not crying. Not at all. Just give me a moment… Oh gods, Junyeol's little flame theater is also here… I can't. That's too much.