Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
62. Way back home (7)
Kim Sinrok made a face that seemed to harden in determination.
I thought Kim Sinrok would think about it more, but I guess he made up his mind, during my short trip to Britain.
‘He made a decision faster than expected.’
There were teachers at Eungwang School like Yong Jegeon, who didn’t hide their true identities, but Kim Sinrok hid his true identity.
I didn’t know the precise reason for it, whether it was simply because he hated to draw people’s attention like Yong Jegeon, or because he hated to reveal himself as a descendant of the Ho tribe and Ung tribe.
The important thing was that Kim Sinrok kept his distance from his fellow teachers and students, and maintained his teacher position, while hiding his true identity until now.
Until Seong Gukeon, who seriously followed Kim Sinrok, appeared.
‘A student appeared, who came to pay condolences even at the fake identity funeral, shouted at Yong Jegeon, and was still respecting him enough to mourn after him. And that student happens to be…’
Seong Gukeon was the Student Council’s president, who was in the center of Eungwang School’s change fifteen years ago.
He had eyes that could see through Jin people and descendants, and he didn’t think favorably about Jin people and descendants.
He may have been worried that Seong Gukeon, who had special superpowers and would surely become a Player with great influence power, would find out about his identity and cause trouble for the Ho tribe.
There was also a chance he was simply afraid that his disciple would hate him.
In any way, as result of that choice, Kim Sinrok lost one identity and disciple, and Seong Gukeon lost a master.
‘Seong Gukeon probably became even more hateful towards Jin people and descendants because of it. Because he thought that Yong Jegeon assisted in his master’s death.’
The Dark Mastermind’s group, which targeted the Korean Peninsula included Jin people like Zhū Gāngliè and Ung tribe.
Seong Gukeon, who knew that fact, was wary of Jin people and descendants, and took careful routes.
Seong Gukeon’s extremely careful attitude brought bigger losses than profits.
Because in all plans he made, Jin people and descendants were excluded.
‘Supposing Seong Gukeon was helped by a Jin in the scenario, which became the trigger for his death, he might have survived.’
With the trigger of meeting teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim, who he regarded as a fogey, in Hongcheon, Seong Gukeon changed his thoughts and requested help.
Seong Gukeon may be able to change his thoughts regarding Jin people like in the example above.
And opportunely, Seong Gukeon tried to make contact with a certain Jin.
That Jin was currently at this mansion, and was very close to Kim Sinrok.
I made a certain suggestion with that fact as a foundation.
“What kind of suggestion are you talking about? It doesn’t seem like Jo Uisin would suggest using ‘Replay’, eh?”
“It seems so. If that was it, Jeokho-nim’s son-nim wouldn’t hesitate like this. Moreover, there would be no way He would speak up about it in front of us.”
As if Eun-ho heard from Hwang Jiho about that Replay, he figured out right away that my suggestion wasn’t related to Replay.
Kim Sinrok seemed to have no idea how and where he should start to explain my suggestion, as he hesitated, without opening his mouth right away.
I decided to help Kim Sinrok.
“Can I explain?”
“… Please.”
Kim Sinrok spoke with a relieved face.
Then the gazes poured towards me.
“Let’s hear what suggestion Uisin hyung made.”
As if Eun-ho predicted that the conversation would prolong, he spoke while preparing another cup of tea.
I spoke up to Hwang Jiho, as I received tea cup.
“I suggested, but I’ll need your permission first, Hwang Jiho.”
“My permission?”
Hwang Jiho elegantly placed down a tea cup, and happily replied.
“It’s a suggestion made by the benefactor, and the descendant said he would do it, so I have no plans of pouring cold water on it. I’ll permit it if it won’t put the two of you in danger.”
Did he know what kind of suggestion I made to say he would permit it right away?
It seemed that he will agree even if I don’t explain, but I decided to speak first.
“It’s related to your alter-ego, that’s currently attending the Gwangli Elementary School.”
“Hm, does that alter-ego have a connection with Kim Sinrok?”
“Indirectly.”
Hwang Jiho’s alter-ego was dispatched to the Gwangli Elementary School to deal with a certain teacher, who ruined Han Yi and Dokgo Miro’s elementary school life.
Hwang Jiho tried to do something useless to figure out ‘Time Without Traces’ — the Gwangrim used by Jeon Mu-yeong, who infiltrated that place — and revealed his abilities.
Because of this, Jeon Mu-yeong became wary, and Seong Gukeon became interested in Hwang Jiho’s young alter-ego, even attempting to contact him.
Hwang Jiho said this at the time:
— Jeon Mu-yeong dug around my residence in this form. It seems they’re planning to meet me around home, pretending it was a coincidence… For now, I ordered the subordinate, who took on the role of a fake parent to stay at the residence. The setting is that this one is currently staying to play at the house of a relative, so I’m absent.
It appeared that Hwang Jiho deliberately avoided the place and evaded Seong Gukeon a few times.
At my question if he was not planning to meet with Seong Gukeon, Hwang Jiho replied as such:
— For a time being.
To interpret this answer, it seemed to mean that Hwang Jiho had no plans on meeting Seong Gukeon, but he had plans to eventually meet him.
Seong Gukeon didn’t realize yet that the elementary school student-like Hwang Jiho was a Jin, and hasn’t exactly tried to contact him to meet a Jin.
However, this was an opportunity.
‘The reason Seong Gukeon sent Jeon Mu-yeong there was because of the missing teacher. He probably continued to investigate to catch the teacher that escaped law. If he knew that it was dealt with by Hwang Jiho, he could get a more favorable impression.’
Didn’t Hwang Myeong Group’s side scored some points for dealing with painter Hong Gyeongbok’s student?
If it was known more that Hwang Jiho was acting behind the scenes, even if his perception of Jin people themselves couldn’t change, it may be a different story for the Ho tribe.
In that case, there was a high chance he could also look favorably at the Ho tribe’s descendant.
“Are you planning to someday meet with senior Seong Gukeon-nim through the elementary school student alter-ego?”
“I have such plans. There are limits on how much I can avoid him.”
It seemed like Hwang Jiho almost guessed where the conversation was going, because Seong Gukeon’s name came out.
Hwang Jiho glanced in Kim Sinrok’s direction, and the corners of his eyes curved up, as he smiled.
“I think I roughly know what was your suggestion, eh?”
“…”
“… What kind of suggestion was it?”
Kim Sinrok avoided Hwang Jiho’s gaze and bowed his head.
Jeok-ho was suffocating as if he still was unable to guess it, and urged me.
“I suggested that when Hwang Jiho’s elementary student-like alter-ego and senior Seong Gukeon-nim meet, and that teacher Kim Sinrok would be present.”
At those words, all tigers showed a favorable reaction.
Eun-ho probably didn’t know about the past and present relationships, but he would have an idea how Seong Gukeon regarded Jin people and descendants.
Eun-ho and Hwang Jiho nodded, while showing an impression that they would agree.
“Good idea, son-ah. Weren’t you always worried about that old disciple?”
“… If it seems like he will cause trouble for the Ho tribe, I’ll step back right away.”
“What nonsense are you talking about trouble? Don’t worry about it. Ah, if your old disciple makes any hateful sounds towards you, I’ll teach him a hard lesson!”
While Jeok-ho ardently expressed his love for his son, he spoke with such a vigor it seemed like he would attack Seong Gukeon right now.
Kim Sinrok listened to Jeok-ho’s overprotective comments with a red face, and shook his head.
“Then I’ll have to take a moment to prepare the place, eh? Seong Gukeon investigated my alter-ego’s identity, but he wouldn’t figure out any relatives beyond the fourth degree relatives according to the documents. I can make up something.”
It seemed that Kim Sinrok would first meet Seong Gukeon as the elementary school student Hwang Jiho’s relative.
Seong Gukeon met Kim Sinrok at the airport not a long time ago, so if they met in such a place again, what would he think?
Seong Gukeon and Jeon Mu-yeong wouldn’t think of it as a pure coincidence.
No, Jeon Mu-yeong had a lot of trust in Kim Sinrok, so I felt like he would believe it if someone said it was a coincidence.
After my birthday party and tea time held at Hwang Myeong-ho’s great mansion’s side building, ended.
I wanted to return to the dormitory, but was very naturally caught by Eun-ho.
“Please stay over and then go. You had a lot to say today, but couldn’t say everything.”
Tomorrow was Monday, so I had to go to school.
Like he knew what kind of excuse I would make, Eun-ho said:
“We have to save time, correct? Hwangho-nim prepared many spare school uniforms, so please don’t worry.”
“Do you need anything else besides a school uniform? I’ll send a subordinate to the dormitory.”
After Eun-ho, Hwang Jiho added, and my angel dealt the finishing blow.
Keung….
Snare held a perfectly matching Snare’s size pillow in its teeth, as if asking where I’m going.
Did Snare find such a pillow and was biting it because it was a genius?
Anyway, by displaying such genius, my angel clearly meant that it wanted to sleep with me.
In the end, I stayed at the tiger mansion, although it wasn’t in my plans.
Hwang Jiho, Jeok-ho and Kim Sinrok returned to the main building, perhaps because they couldn’t keep Eun-ho’s descendants alone, but Eun-ho, Baek Ho-gun and Snare remained at the side-building.
“I heard that Uisin hyung has a bedroom at the main building, but I prepared one at the side building too. Hwangho-nim’s mansion is large, so it’s good to have many places to stay at.”
This is the first time I heard that I had a bedroom at this mansion’s main building.
Did you mean the guestroom I often used?
There were no people visiting this tiger mansion, so did they decide on a spare empty room as my room?
Even if there were no deep intentions behind it, if they decided it was my room, wouldn’t it be a bit complicated later when they were organizing things?
Woof woof!
Snare barked quietly towards the room designated as my bedroom, carrying a small pillow on its back.
What… how can my angel be so lovable!?
I hoped that if something happened, my room could become Snare’s room later.
Snare circled around me and Baek Ho-gun, and took the lead.
“…”
“Baek-ho hyung-nim, are You staying at the side-building today?”
“I think so.”
I guess there was Baek Ho-gun’s bedroom in Eun-ho’s side-building.
At Baek Ho-gun’s reply, he made a thoughtful face for a moment.
“You’re busy searching for the Mountain Spirit every time. Did You find any clues?”
Baek Ho-gun was chasing the Mountain Spirit?
The Mountain Spirit showed very suspicious actions just before Eun-ho woke up.
That day the Mountain Spirit put a branch of Heavenly Sacred Tree (Cheon-dam-su) on Eun-ho’s body, which was laying in a silver coffin, in Silver Light (Eunhwi) Building’s basement.
‘… Then Eun-ho opened his eyes.’
It wasn’t only that day, it bothered me that the first time I met the Mountain Spirit at the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain, in front of the Ho tribe’s spirit tree, the Heavenly Sacred Tree (Cheon-dam-su), they guided me to put my hand on its bark.
I could figure out, even without thinking deeply, that the Mountain Spirit and the Heavenly Sacred Tree (Cheon-dam-su) had a deep relationship.
The problem was the thing aside from the Heavenly Sacred Tree (Cheon-dam-su).
‘Every time, ‘Power of Fate’ activated.’
Power of Fate activated in numerous ways, but the form of activation of Power of Fate with the Mountain Spirit and Heavenly Sacred Tree (Cheon-dam-su) was always the same.
It was to guide to use ‘Communication with Transcendent Universe’.
That’s to say, the Mountain Spirit may have a connection with the Energy of Universe.
‘It’s clear that the Mountain Spirit knows something.’
It was very questionable, but it didn’t harm his side, and every time it occurred at the time of some other important event, so I couldn’t bother much the Mountain Spirit.
Now I may slowly have to dig deeper into the Mountain Spirit’s real identity, intentions, goals and the like.
When I was thinking about the Mountain Spirit.
“Don’t bother. I’ll deal with it on my own. You keep doing what you want to do and have to do.”
Baek Ho-gun spoke up like he read my thoughts.
‘It feels like I heard similar words a few times…’
As my main Playable Character was so considerate and told me that, I couldn’t ignore it.
Eun-ho, who was at the side, also added.
“Yes, Uisin hyung. Leave the Mountain Spirit case to me and Baek-ho hyung-nim. Please rest today.”
After Baek Ho-gun, Eun-ho was also like this, so it was difficult to meddle any longer.
I attempted it a bit more before sleeping, but as I hugged Snare and closed my eyes, drowsiness poured right away.
In the end, I wasn’t able to resist the sleepiness and slept without dreams.
*~*~*
Translator’s note: Sometimes when translating Snare-related sentences I feel like I’m losing my intelligence too- What did you just say, Jo Uisin?!
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