155

Ahead of the end-of-day meeting.

The children were clamoring while awaiting a big event, the first one in a while.

Except for Maeng Hyodon.

"This embroidery in the shape of '1-0' is made with otherworldly jewels, right? Wow… They sparkle because superpower wave flows through them."

"I specifically ordered those otherworldly jewels from the handmade accessory store at the east gates! But because of the budget problems, I bought the cheaper ones, so the output is weaker."

"I bought a hologram application, so we can get higher output with it."

"… "

Among the children, who talked with bright faces while unfolding thin cheer towels, Maeng Hyodon was standing blankly, wearing a gym uniform.

Leaving alone the main character Maeng Hyodon, the children's conversation continued.

"The cheer towels were chosen so well…! It would have been better if we prepared something like this to cheer during Uisin's chess tournament." [2]

"It was the first time we decided to cheer as a group and during that time Uisin wasn't there for preparations, you know? Uisin gave a lot of good ideas."

"I think it's good when there are things worthy leaving as a memorabilia."

But it was an idea I come up after seeing 2nd year class 0's senior bastards' emblem worn in commemoration of group viewing of Kwon Jane's concert in the Hoyeon building.

"Hyodon, the cheer towels' backs and fronts have different printing designs, so which one do you like more? We will choose the one you like more as the main one."

"I don't know. They both look exactly the same."

At Kim Yuri's question, Maeng Hyodon roughly glanced at the cheer towel's front and back and then threw it away.

There were not one or two children who were dissatisfied with that reply.

"The color palette is different and the content of the little embroidery here is completely different! The front has Hyodon's middle school victory record, and the back has grades of subjugated Enemies and subjugation days."

"The front has the painting of your bastard's left side-profile and the back has the painting of the right side-profile, you know! Because our Geurin bothered, it was painted like this, so of course it's different, what was that sound?"

"What Daeseok means is: The face itself is symmetrical, but your hair is spiky, so the impression of the left and right are different. I worked hard to bring out the details, but…"

"Ah… Sorry."

Maeng Hyodon was unable to come back to his senses under the combo attack of Sawol Seeum and two childhood friends.

"Hey, why… When we cheered for vice president, we were hiding it, so why are you doing that in front of me? And when the hell did you prepare all of this?!"

At Maeng Hyodon's question, the class children replied as if they had one mind.

"During the study group when Hyodon wasn't there. Preparing it in secret was very thrilling, right?"

"We heard that unlike that time with Uisin, the news articles are going to be big. Hyodon's name is in the headlines, so wouldn't it be more strange if we didn't go to cheer you?"

"There was an idea to make it a surprise, but finally we decided to compromise and reveal it before the competition." [3]

"Uisin said that even during the competition we should be calm, because if Hyodon is surprised and embarrassed, you will make a mistake."

I also agreed with the class children's opinion.

It was because Maeng Hyodon experienced hatefulness towards himself, but goodwill and cheering were unfamiliar.

"Moreover, we didn't get caught preparing, with just that it's better than the first time."

"But the previous times we almost get caught because of someone."

Sawol Seeum and Han Yi[4]'s gazes turned towards Hwang Jiho.

"We didn't get caught, you know?"

Hwang Jiho shamelessly replied.

Behind that shameless bastard, Min Geurin quietly looked down at the cheer towels, while seeming about to say something.

"… On the contrary, if there was an atmosphere of no support coming, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on a spar, because I would feel very sad. If it was me."

"Geurin, if you're going to spar, I'll always go to support you."

"Are you also interested in sparring?"

"Naturally."

The class children were shaken by Song Daeseok thoughtlessly throwing a line full of salting power.

Hearing those words, Min Geurin spoke as if she was waiting for it.

"Great. I can't go to Hyodon's spar today, because there are a lot of people. Daeseok, please go watch it in person to tell me about it later."

The face of Song Daeseok, who from the look on his face was preparing to flee, twisted.

As expected, Min Geurin understood her childhood friend's personality well and knew how to deal with him well.

'At first, she couldn't handle Song Daeseok's attitude when it seriously came out. Min Geurin has grown!'

While I admired her inside, the class bell rang.

Today's class bell was a personal performance of the Orchestra Club of Light Cavalry Overture.

It was a memorable, lively introduction with trumpets, horns, trombones expressing the life of Hungarian light cavalry with music.

It was a piece that completely didn't harmonize with the end-of-day meeting which ended all classes.

'It was selected because of today's events, huh?'

As if even Maeng Hyodon, who completely didn't know classical music, knew the meaning of that class bell, I heard the sound of him mumbling 'Broadcasting Club's bastards…'.

Even Han Yi, who though she couldn't hear, always checked the class bell information, looked at the hologram and giggled.

***

After classes, 3rd zone.

The 3rd zone facilities were usually bigger and more solid compared to the facilities in the 1st and 2nd zone.

Players' growth increased rapidly during enrollment at highschool and reached its peak in the 3rd year of highschool, but the stress put on the 3rd year highschoolers of the Korean Republic remained the same as before, so they were emotionally unstable.

For that reason, more money and time had to be poured into the 3rd years' exclusive facilities to ensure the safety of students, school staff and residents in the vicinity.

Currently, we came to one of such facilities, the 3rd year exclusive gym no. 2.

"That's a bigger place than the first place that Uisin rented. How did you rent a gym in the 3rd zone?"

"It's because we're holding the 3rd year class 0 event at the same time. Those bastards learned about it and came like ghosts, saying that we have to make it much bigger, like it was done in the past."

The Newspaper Club president and vice president, wearing staff name tags, set up a holographic poster in front of the gym while talking.

The gym's wall was densely packed with holograms about the achievements of people entering today's events.

Besides that, there was one other eye-catching thing.

'Is it Hwang Jiho's doing?'

There was an ad balloon, high in the sky, with a plastered banner informing about the event.

Engraved on its surface was Eungwang School's logo.

Mun Saeron, who saw the phrase written on the banner, tilted her head.

"It's a bit bland because 3rd year class 0 has no modifiers… um."

Stuck in front of Im Yeonhwa were words 'Strong homeroom teacher'.

But class 0's only said 3rd year, so though there was intense pressure, it felt bland.

The 3rd year Newspaper Club members, who were in charge of the news-gathering among the 3rd years, made ashamed faces.

"We tried to discuss it with class 0 bastards, but we couldn't contact them."

"They were said to be busy training. We can't thoughtlessly put modifiers in front when they're fighting against their homeroom teacher. If they lose, they will blame all of us that 'they lost their fortune because of a modifier that came out in an article."

I guess Woo Gihwon's gang sold such reality to the Newspaper Club.

I thought I knew why the seniors said they would solve the mystery of the Energy of Universe and floating garden as if hanging themselves.

"But teacher Jegal Jaegeol-nim isn't coming? We have to do rehearsal."

"Teach Jegal-nim went to change clothes with a 2nd year club member and still didn't return."

The host of today's events was Newspaper Club.

As the advisor of the Newspaper Club, Jegal Jaegeol was naturally the teacher in charge of the referee role.

At that moment.

"We took group pictures, so let's go now."

"But we still didn't take personal pictures!"

"Right! Because it was such long time since You wore cool clothes, we have to take a lot of commemoration photos!"

My ears were hit by Geun Chansol and Wang Chansol's lively voices.

The 2nd year class 0's Jegal Jaegeol maniac fans were taking pictures with a dressed up in a new suit Jegal Jaegeol.

'It's a bit too flashy for a referee to wear, but it suits him very well.'

To hold this event, Jegal Jaegeol's referee suit was procured from Newspaper Club's funds in the Newspaper Club's name.

Jegal Jaegeol at first refused procuring new clothes, but when the Newspaper Club's president exploded into a fiery speech about how it would be for the children tired with exams, he got over it.

"Hey, what are you doing?! We will take pictures after this ends."

"What is that sound? After finishing taking pictures, you're going to take pictures again?"

"Right! We are going to the afterparty with teach Jegal-nim~"

"What is THAT sound? He should be going to the afterparty with the Newspaper Club!"

"Isn't teach Jegal-nim our homeroom teacher-nim?"

"Right. In addition…"

At that moment, Wang Chansol jumped out and took off his school uniform shirt and threw it away.

Underneath was a t-shirt with a magic pen[5] rough writing 'I'm the sponsor, sir'.

"Praise me!"

"Praise sponsor-nim!"

"In addition to teach Jegal-nim being our homeroom teacher-nim, thanks to vice class president, 'Neuru' is one of this event's sponsors, so it's our class 0's victory!"

I didn't know what the hell that victory was about, but the Newspaper Club's president wasn't able to hide an overwhelming sense of defeat.

However.

"Shouldn't we go to the afterparty with everyone together? And take pictures afterwards."

"… Yes!"

"Yes!"

With Jegal Jaegeol's one word, the situation was immediately settled.

The rehearsal started after finishing some affairs, and then after the audience's entrance also ended safely.

In the 3rd year gym no. 2, where lights went out, the octagonal stage prepared in the center.

After Jegal Jaegeol climbed up onto it, one spotlight lit up.

'I get it why the 2nd year class 0's bastards were hanging themselves for the memorial pictures.'

I was concerned if dignified and poor but living an honest life Player like Jegal Jaegeol would look good in such burgundy suit, but my worries were unfounded.

Wearing a suit in a flashy color and standing on a stage, Jegal Jaegeol was showing off those clothes in a lovely way.

"… Then I declare the event open."

After Jegal Jaegeol shouted like this, the gym's walls tuned transparent at the same time.

When I took off my gaze from the enormous ad balloon and the banner visible in the sky, my vision was fully filled with fireworks.

Bang! Bang-bang!

"For the world… It's not CG, those are real fireworks!"

"What kind of event is that to set off fireworks!?"

"Wow, everybody's school budget is exploding!"

"The money earned by the working to the bone members of the Hwang Myeong Foundation is just exploding in the sky!"

"How much did the hell all of this cost… but in any case, it's not our money, and we're just attending school, so it's not our problem."

The audience couldn't contain its admiration.

On my side, Hwang Jiho, wearing a staff nametag, was staring at the fireworks with a pleased face.

After the fireworks stopped, Jegal Jaegeol introduced the spar participants.

The first to appear was the strong homeroom teacher, Im Yeonhwa.

"Any kind of discipline is fine. Bring it on!"

Im Yeonhwa, wearing a school staff gym uniform with a school logo, shouted pompously.

The 3rd year class 0 bastards had yet to climb the octagonal stage.

"I'll announce the discipline."

[Spar discipline: 1 vs 1 traditional korean wrestling]

An enormous hologram floated up and Jegal Jaegeol started to briefly explain it.

"Usage of any kind of superpowers or items is prohibited. If superpower waves are detected, I'll treat that as disqualification. Teacher Im Yeonhwa-nim will face each of the members of the 3rd year class 0 one on one."

At Jegal Jaegeol's explanation, there was a stir in audience seats.

According to those rules, Im Yeonhwa had to overpower the 3rd year class 0's members with pure physical power.

After Jegal Jaegeol's entire explanation ended, the 3rd year class 0 bastards, wearing satba[6] around their gym uniforms, appeared on stage.

'Did you not study during the final exams and refused the Newspaper Club's interviews, because you were growing your bodies behind the scenes?!'

As if they were buffing up in secret, the members had a somewhat tough and bear-like[7] impression.

"I'll confirm both side's main conditions. If the 3rd year class 0 wins, during the summer break, teacher Im Yeonhwa-nim will sincerely work as labor force to fight back against the Energy of Universe."

It was an insane condition.

Even Jegal Jaegeol appeared embarrassed while reading the script, but he read the next line.

"If teacher Im Yeonhwa-nim wins, during the summer break, the 3rd year class 0 members will all participate in bootcamp… Yes? No, in the supplementary classes held personally by their homeroom teacher. Is that correct?"

At those words, everyone standing on the stage nodded their heads.

It looked like everyone was sincere.

"Teacher Im Yeonhwa-nim, will you accept?"

Jegal Jaegeol spoke, while handing over a satba.

Im Yeonhwa accepted the satba and shouted with a confident face.

"Call!"

The face of Jegal Jaegeol was filled with concern.

Somehow he didn't seem to be worried about Im Yeonhwa, who was on complete disadvantage, but about the 3rd year class 0.

And what followed was a one-sided match.

"Hey, Hwang Jiho."

"What?"

"… Is teacher Im Yeonhwa-nim human?"

"Yeah, she is human. I double-checked a few times."

In the instant, Im Yeonhwa obtained a heroic victory against the remaining ten guys from the 3rd year class 0 and roared.

"It's not fun like this. Bring on two!"

Im Yeonhwa immediately suggested and the 3rd year class 0's bastards responded straight away to raise their victory chances, even while they trembled with the sense of humiliation.

"I heard rumors, but she is really a transcendant[8]… Isn't she like a gorilla or something among Jin people?"

"I heard that she was treated as a Jin so many times that she majored in the subject related to Jin people to study them."

Listening to the sound of the Newspaper Club members' whispers, it seemed that teacher Im Yeonhwa-nim was really a human.

Midst our clamoring, I saw Im Yeonhwa grab the class 0's guys holding her with both hands from left and right by the satba with her one hand and throw them up into the air.

"The dominating opinion is that the class 0 homeroom teachers can't survive if they're not powerful. Ham Geun-hyeong, Jegal Jaegeol and Im Yeonhwa. You know this very well, but all of them are regarded as powerful Players, right? And I checked with my own eyes, but all three are humans."

Hwang Jiho watched Im Yeonhwa with eyes full of interest as he spoke.

"Did you check all staff members at our school?"

"No. This one is busy. I have no time to personally meet with every staff member when there is more than 500 of them. I probably usually end on just checking papers."

Isn't that busy guy here watching wrestling?

"Ah. Thinking about it… There is someone among the teachers whose abilities match those three's, but I couldn't meet with him in reality yet, eh?"

"Who?"

"Gong Cheonghwon."

Teacher Gong Cheonghwon-nim wasn't caught by that bastard yet, huh?

And the spar soon ended.

At last, the class 0's president and vice president's pincer attack was put to shame, and they ended up stretched out powerlessly in the sand pool.

"Teacher Im Yeonhwa-nim wins!"

"Ahaaaaaaa!"

After Jegal Jaegeol's declaration, Im Yeonhwa let out a victorious roar.

She stepped forward, over the 3rd year class 0 guys under the sand pool and outside the ring.

Majority of those guys cried bitterly with faces full of frustration.

Im Yeonhwa, who circled the ring, responding to the audience's cheers, ended her victory ceremony and looked at the children in that sorry state.

Suddenly, Im Yeonhwa snatched the mic from Jegal Jaegeol and said:

"Don't cry, guys."

That voice of an ordinary teacher overflowing with affection was an enormous incongruity by itself, but it somehow had a touching sound of sincerity to it.

"Teacher-nim…"

At Im Yeonhwa's comforting voice, they became even more tearful.

She added a word, while smiling affectionately.

"Crying causes muscle loss. What shall I do if you become even weaker there?"

At those words, as if they sucked their tears back in, starting with Woo Gihwan, the 3rd year class 0's gang's expressions turned grim.

It seemed that their dead fighting spirit soared again.

*~*~*

[1] No title — 'Connection with god (3)' =-=

[2] "The cheer towels were chosen so well…! It would have been better if we prepared something like this to cheer during Uisin's chess tournament." — Sawol Seeum's sentence

[3] "There was an idea to make it a surprise, but finally we decided to compromise and reveal it before the competition." — Sawol Seeum's sentence

[4] Sawol Seeum and Han Yi — reverse order. First sentence was Han Yi's, second was Sawol Seeum's.

[5] magic pen — I'm assuming it refers to a marker, because raws just says 'magic' (not fantasy magic word).

[6] satba — a band tied around the waist and one leg, used as a handle in korean traditional wrestling.

[7] tough and bear-like — raws' word doesn't have anything to do with bears. I just found it the best expression to express the korean meaning in english.

[8] transcendant — not really a word, but I'm out of ideas how to translate it. In raws the word literally means someone who transcends human limits.

Translator's note: Ham Geun-hyeong, Jegal Jaegeol, Im Yeonhwa and Gong Cheonghwon all mentioned together in the chapter titled 'Connection with god'? Suspicious.

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