133

32. Tiger and eyes (2)

Lunch time, after morning full of difficulties passed.

1st walk trail in the direction of the Heavenly Wings Mountain, with no humans around.

I decided to check messages piled up on the device, to organize my thoughts alone.

The first to catch my eyes were chess match requests.

'Did the previous year's winner, Cheon Dong-ha, not participate this year because he was flooded with match requests like this?'

Ma Jinseung sent a loud message, at least it looked like this because it was full of exclamation marks.

My disciple Yeom Junyeol and his friend, Gwak Gyeong-gu, made polite match requests.

The 2nd year class 0's Geum Chansol and Wang Chansol sent a match request on behalf of the Theater Club ace, Yeon Garam.

Bak Seung-hyeon contacted me to ask to play chess together and to send a simple regards.

'It seems difficult this week.'

It was a pity, but I decided to prioritize Seong Gukeon's commission of investigating ghost stories.

After I finished replying to all match requests, I checked the next message.

[Kim Sinrok] Hello, Jo Uisin-gun. [1]

What is this descendant suddenly contacting me about?

[Kim Sinrok] Didn't that dragon acting as a temporary homeroom teacher cause any trouble?

Yong Jegeon said the two of them were friends, right?

I guess he was worried because his friend became the Ho tribe's head's homeroom teacher, even if it was said to be temporary.

And, as he probably couldn't personally ask Yong Jegeon or Hwang Jiho, he contacted me.

'The Game category Jin people have a bit of a personality, but there are no problems with Yong Jegeon as a teacher.'

As I sent a reply that Yong Jegeon gets along with the class children very well, I saw the message sent by another teacher.

[Ham Geun-hyeong] I heard about Min Geurin.

[Ham Geun-hyeong] It seems that my business trip will get prolonged, so take care of her.

It seemed that he contacted me because he received a call from Song Daeseok, who searched everywhere for Min Geurin yesterday, and then he heard about the art clubs' raid today.

'Usually, he would leave those matters to Kim Yuri, who is a class president and the same gender as Min Geurin.'

As homeroom teacher, Ham Geun-hyeong was aware of Kim Yuri's Gwangrim Sealing Art case.

So he had to contact me because he thought she would be overwhelmed if she had to take care of other matters.

It seemed he was quite busy with the Hongcheon business trip, but I guess he couldn't stop worrying about his students.

[Me] Yes. Don't worry about class children.

[Me] Good luck with the business trip.

I observed the message window for a moment, but it wasn't marked as read.

It seemed that Ham Geun-hyeong couldn't rest even during lunch time.

If needed, I would have to nag Hwang Jiho about moderating the work ordered to our homeroom teacher.

The next message came up in the group chat with Jang Namuk and Yu Sang-hun.

[Yu Sang-hun] Need?

[Yu Sang-hun] (photo)

When I checked the picture Yu Sang-hun sent for some reason, I saw gift sets piled up so high, they towered over a human.

Gifts sets included healthy food, tea, daily necessities, etc. from famous brands.

I had no idea where they received it from.

[Jang Namuk] It's not a holiday, why are there so many gift sets!?

[Yu Sang-hun] Yu Sanghui-ssi.

[Jang Namuk] What is that sound? Ah, you mean that these gifts are for Sang-hui noona, huh? Sang-hui noona has healing abilities, so there are probably many People who express their thanks, right?

[Yu Sang-hun] n

[Jang Namuk] I guess I said something wrong? What is it?…. Ah! Perhaps, those gifts were sent not by several people expressing their thanks but by one person? [2]

[Yu Sang-hun] y

Are you saying those gifts were sent by one person?

'Perhaps, wouldn't the guy who sent those gifts be…?'

As I checked the photo Yu Sang-hun sent, I saw the Hwang Myeong Group mark engraved on the gift sets.

Seeing that all the gift sets were released by brands affiliated with the Hwang Myeong Group, I became certain.

'I was right, they were sent by Hwang Jiho, huh!'

Hwang Jiho said he would show his gratitude for healing Jeok-ho.

Even though Yu Sang-hui refused, there was no way that Hwang Jiho didn't give her anything in return.

[Jang Namuk] One person sent so many gifts?! … If you think it's too much, wouldn't it be better to give them back?

[Yu Sang-hun] Tried.

You're saying you tried?

[Yu Sang-hun] But then the lunatic from Jo Uisin's class sent them to the Student Council. __ __

Seeing how Yu Sang-hun started to talk a lot, I guess they went through some troubles.

'If it's our class' lunatic, there is no one but Hwang Jiho. Were these gifts sent in Hwang Jiho's name?'

But it would be natural as he appeared in Hwang Jiho's appearance in front of Yu Sang-hui.

[Yu Sang-hun] Because that crazy bastard, To Wonu, discovered it, frantically sent gifts.

[Yu Sang-hun] We only barely managed to give them back after contacting that crazy bastard's parents-nim.

Looking at Yu Sang-hun's message, I roughly guessed what happened.

At first, Hwang Jiho sent gifts to Yu Sang-hui's house, but then, after they were given back, he threw a gift bomb to the Student Council room.

These gifts were straight away discovered by To Wonu.

As he couldn't bear to think that Yu Sang-hui received a rain of gifts from some 1st year male junior bastard, his corrupted self would also waste money and distastefully shower her with gifts.

[Yu Sang-hun] Many dog bastards. Please take some.

As they couldn't communicate with Hwang Jiho, it seemed that they failed to give back the gifts.

Because Yu Sang-hun was so troubled he spoke a lot, unlike himself, I and Jang Namuk each decided to take a set of high grade toiletries.

'It doesn't seem like it will just end with a gift set downpour as she saved Jeok-ho.'

But worthy of my Playable Character, Yu Sang-hui, who was without any worldly desires, had no intentions of accepting it.

Next was a chat room with Eun-ho's three descendants siblings.

'Why are there so many messages piled up?'

There were a few times more messages piled up than usual.

[Eun Niho] Uisin oppa! Divine Beast prepared it specially for oppa!

[Eun Seoho] We wanted you to come to see it in person, but Hwangho-nim said Uisin hyung is busy, so… ㅠㅠ

Are you saying Snare prepared something for me!?

I still didn't know what it was, but happiness surged in my mind at the same time as gratitude towards Snare.

I scrolled to check the new messages.

[Eun Jaeho] (photo)

[Eun Jaeho] (photo)

…

…

…

All the pictures the youngest Eun Jaeho sent were pictures of Snare.

But it was Snare wearing the clothes I gifted it.

Looking at the pictures of Snare wearing numerous clothes, I could be nothing but amazed.

'What?! There are no clothes that don't fit? All of them fit so well, you know!'

Pet pajama with tiger motif, polka dot shirt, hooded cape, jean jumpsuit and overalls…

Whichever garment it was, Snare presented it perfectly.

Because all colors suited Snare, who was like a pure-white cotton ball, when they sold the same designs in different colors, I bought them all.

As I expected, there were no colors or designs that didn't suit it.

'Clothes suit it well, but the poses it takes are also perfect!'

Our bright Snare was changing pose and expression for every garment when shooting.

All its side profiles while looking through the window with a smiling face and shining eyes were cute and cool.

While I stopped thinking and scrolled down repeatedly pressing the save button, I realized a grave mistake.

'I didn't buy accessories, you know!?'

Hats, scarfs, ornaments, socks, bags, etc.

I forgot about items to show off Snare's charm?!

I, who only bought clothes, was an idiot, and Snare, who showed off its charm even with clothes only, was a genius.

"Uisin? … Why does it look like your intelligence is lower than usual? Strange."

In front of me, who was thankful for Snare's fashion show, Yong Jegeon appeared.

"What happened?"

"Uh, it's back to normal, huh?"

I ignored Yong Jegeon, who was making a dubious face, and closed the hologram window.

I couldn't guess how the hell he found me, but it would probably be a simple matter for a competent Playable Character like Yong Jegeon.

"I finished a conversation with Chairman Hwangho-ssi's certain alter-ego about 'eyes'."

It was about the morning conversation?

After the start-the-day meeting ended, I, Hwang Jiho and Yong Jegeon, the three of us, met for a moment to talk.

The topic of conversation was a warning from the Seo tribe's head about 'eyes' of something observing the Eungwang District.

In Cunning's opinion, the inside of Eungwang School and Hwang Myeong buildings was fine, but it seemed that something was observing the area outside of them.

Hwang Jiho's complexion changed when it was mentioned that Yong Jegeon, who was sensitive to space, also sensed the gaze, and called him to the chairman's office straight away to hear all the details.

But I asked to pass the story to me later and went to class.

"Chairman Hwangho-ssi isn't as sensitive to space and gazes as me or Cunning-ssi. It's not strange he wasn't able to notice, but he was frustrated. It was comparable to his appearance when he lacked enthusiasm."

It seemed difficult to sense those so-called 'eyes' so much only Cunning and Yong Jegeon felt them.

Yong Jegeon's words continued.

"It seems you already know, but the Ho tribe is aiming for the traitor inside of the 12 Zodiac Alliance on the Korean Peninsula. There were already attacks a few times, right? In such a situation, surveillance of the Divine Realm is a sensitive issue. But chairman Hwangho-ssi called me to hear my story? Isn't it strange? The Yong tribe may be a traitor, you know?"

Yong Jegeon's lips' corners started to raise little by little.

"But according to what chairman Hwangho-ssi said, you confirmed that Yong tribe isn't a traitor."

Hwang Jiho even said something like this?

He is restricted by 'Teacher Contract', but as before, it was enough to leave a Jin, Yong Jegeon, free in the Eungwang School.

It seemed that he trusted Yong Jegeon more than I expected.

Was it because Kim Sinrok and Yong Jegeon were friends?

"After hearing it, I was certain. It was you who changed lazy chairman Hwangho-ssi and moved the Ho tribe."

Yong Jegeon was making a special ecstatic expression.

It was because Hwang Jiho threw many hints this time.

But even so, did he figure it out too quickly?

"You told Junyeol your device code, huh? As 'Red Wall Phantom Thief'."

Where the hell did that come from?

"… I still didn't tell him."

"Looks like you plan to give it to him, huh?"

Though it was because my mind turned hazy thanks to suddenly hearing 'that word', I was tricked by Yong Jegeon's conversation techniques again and spoke.

"How did you know?"

"I thought it may be the reason why Junyeol suddenly bought a new device. Though he said that he bought it for a change."

It seemed that Yeom Junyeol bought a device to use it to contact his master.

My disciple wants to contact me so much, he is even acting like this, so I'll have to give him my device contact information the next time we meet.

***

After classes, Newspaper Club's room.

Hwang Jiho, who skipped all classes after disappearing to probably have a conversation with Yong Jegeon as his teen version as if he was using his alter-ego chairman Hwang Myeong-ho version somewhere.

He was sitting in the Newspaper Club's room.

"You came for the club activities."

"It's because I'm working at school as a chairman Hwang Myeong-ho. I'm having a break to cool down my head."

Looked like current chairman Hwang Myeong-ho returned to school.

'Should I have a conversation with Hwang Jiho or Yong Jegeon to come up with countermeasures against those unidentified 'eyes'?'

At that moment, the door to the club room exclusively used by freshmen opened, and Mun Saeron appeared.

"Yap! There is no peaceful day for class 0, huh? I listened carefully about the struggle to get painter Min Geurin-nim today!"

Mun Saeron, who spoke like this, had an expression as if her mouth was itching.

"Didn't that affair end with the temporary homeroom teacher, Yong Jegeon, intervening? I guess there is something more, eh?"

"Um, um! Because this incident is in some sense an extension of the Fantasy Controversy."

Why was the Fantasy Controversy coming up here?

After Hwang Jiho and I closed our mouths, Mun Saeron started to summarize with a proud face.

"It started after painter Hong Gyeongbok's declaration of going into seclusion during the previous incident."

Mun Saeron unfolded a hologram as if she finished an investigation in the meantime.

On the hologram, a complicated relationship graph between Hong Gyeongbok and his disciples and people connected to the Fantasy Controversy opened.

'It seems I saw some of those names on the Fantasy List.'

Hong Gyeongbok, who possessed an important position in the art world, smashed all his disciples and went into seclusion.

Those disciples were robbed from their position in the art world and were actually committing various acts of corruption.

And that empty seat was taken by the Fantasy Controversy gang.

"You know that art pieces are often used for embezzlement, tax evasion, slush funds and money laundering, right?"

"Yeah. Because an art piece's value is subjective and fluid, it's used as a method of avoiding donation and inheritance tax, right?"

"Yep! There are many loopholes in the tax policy related to art pieces. So, if it's like this, the important figures in the Fantasy Controversy and art world held hands and played many tricks while manipulating the value of art pieces."

"I think I understand what is the relationship between this and the Min Geurin's incident now, eh."

As if he reached a conclusion similar to me, Hwang Jiho spoke calmly.

"Majority of art teachers at Eungwang School were fired because of the Fantasy Controversy. There are difficulties in filling staff positions, right? Because people with teacher licenses, who are Players with some degree of ability, have knowledge of arts and no connections with Fantasy Controversy are rare."

"Correct! For that reason, all advisors of the art clubs disappeared now. There is one Person, who was a contracted teacher left, but… currently, They're dying from overwork. Hahaha."

Was the art clubs' conflict from which the members of Student Council were suffering, including Yu Sang-hui, the result of one remaining advisor's struggle?

"The fact about advisors' connections to the Fantasy Controversy were revealed, and then the art club members lost their masters, I guess they were anxious as a result and tried to ask painter Min Geurin for teachings. Well, that's how I see this situation. But I'll never say that art clubs guys suddenly confronting you were right!"

The expression of Hwang Jiho, who heard Mun Saeron's entire explanation, was stiff.

It wouldn't feel particularly good to hear about the results of his attitude in real time.

"Hey, look at this."

"What?"

To change Hwang Jiho's mood, I showed him pictures of Snare's fashion show I received from Eun-ho's three descendants during lunch break.

Seeing the pictures, Hwang Jiho made an absurd face.

"… Jo Uisin. Your intentions are praiseworthy, but I saw the entire thing in real time yesterday, so you don't have to show it to me."

"Seeing the real thing and seeing the pictures are different."

"Really, if something is related to Divine Beast, your intelligence…"

Hwang Jiho had an expression which said he had a lot to say but was not saying it.

Even so, his expression was better than before.

As expected, the effects of Snare's pictures were amazing.

Soon, other children arrived, and then after our club activities together were finished.

"Ah, today, I'll also be late to the study meeting."

"Why?"

"To train skill."

"Skill?

"I obtained the Brilliant Gaze skill, probably thanks to the elixir you gave me. I wanted to train it."

Hwang Jiho, who was walking beside me, abruptly halted and stared into my eyes.

"… You said you obtained the Brilliant Gaze skill?"

Hwang Jiho had a shocked face.

*~*~*

[1] Kim Sinrok's tone towards Jo Uisin – Kim Sinrok uses a formal (in other words, very polite) tone towards Jo Uisin.

[2] [Jang Namuk] I guess I said something wrong? What is it?…. Ah! Perhaps, those gifts were sent not by several people expressing their thanks but by one person? — In the previous message, Jang Namuk uses a polite form to refer to people giving gifts (which is why people are capitalized), but here he switches to a casual form (which is why it's not capitalized).

.

Translator's note: I don't think it was Snare's charms that worked on Hwang-ho, Jo Uisin…