Translator: Wan ED/PR: Solarin
62. Way back home (11)
Eungwang School, that I was attending after a while, was still cheerful and boisterous.
‘It’s completely different from November in PMH.’
Because of the deaths that kept occurring among the students, the Eungwang School in PMH felt subtly quiet and gloomy.
In contrast to that, the current Eungwang School was an ordinary, peaceful highschool.
‘Can I call it peaceful? Considering the 2nd year class 0.’
The 2nd year class 0 caused an incident again today.
Though more than causing an incident, it felt just like 2nd year class 0 being 2nd year class 0.
‘Because this was for the sake of our class kid, it’s difficult to say something.’
The majority of reports and malicious individual fans were caught thanks to the Student Council and Guideline Club, but not all.
A certain malicious fan was aiming for a break time between classes when the guard of the self-govern student organizations was relatively weak and succeeded in infiltrating the school.
‘They even got an Eungwang School work contract for the sake of their fan activities.’
The first one to noticed that was one of the 2nd year class 0, Dokgo Miro’s homema Jeong Haeon.
Under Jeong Haeon’s lead, the 2nd year class 0 dealt with the malicious fan at lightning speed, and guided them into the gym hall with an otherworld simulation, turning it into hell.
Jegal Jaegeol, who belatedly learned about it, was working hard to deal with the aftermath of it.
‘They’re a Player at the level to infiltrate Eungwang School, so a bit of hellish training in an otherworld simulator won’t be a big problem.’
The 2nd year class 0’s senior bastards were said to have dealt with a few more people besides that, but the exact circumstances weren’t known yet.
Anyway, seeing as Dokgo Miro didn’t suffer any problems at the moment, it seemed that the efforts of the 2nd year class 0’s senior bastards were beneficial.
Like this, lunchtime came.
“Student Uisin, I heard from Han Yi. It’s late, but happy birthday.”
When I was checking the general bulletin board on a remote walk trail after eating lunch.
Gong Cheonghwon abruptly appeared and spoke up.
‘How on earth did you know?!’
Gong Cheonghwon said it was a coincidence, but it was the same situation as last time.
It seemed that Gong Cheonghwon had a surprising talent for catching students who were loafing around.
I was absent many times last week, but as a result, I felt a prick of guilt because I skipped all of Gong Cheonghwon’s classes.
“I’m always ready to talk. If You have some suggestions, I’ll hear them anytime.”
“… My apologies.”
Compared to other subjects, Gong Cheonghwon’s class had high difficulty, but I always thought it was very nutritious.
But unlike my thoughts, I ended up often skipping that class, so I had no way to excuse myself.
Gong Cheonghwon spoke with a smile, but it was difficult for me to smile.
“I hope to see You in the next class.”
“…Yes.”
“Then I’ll go first. Have a good rest.”
Seeing that Gong Cheonghwon was holding class materials in his hand, I guess he had a class next.
Gong Cheonghwon went first to prepare for the next class, but left behind, my heart felt heavy.
‘… I should make sure to attend the next class. And I have to aim to get full marks on the quiz test. Shall I study once I finish checking the general bulletin board?’
While making plans for today, I checked the general bulletin board.
The general bulletin board was all colored by stories about Dokgo Miro.
‘There are also quite a lot of stories about our class children.’
With Dokgo Miro coming to school, the 1st year class 0 became the center of Eungwang School’s conversations.
The posts about Dokgo Miro and after-event posts from people, who witnessed the Student Council and Guideline Club handling the malicious fans and reporters, were posted in real time on the Eungwang School’s bulletin board.
Though she was only a runner-up, Dokgo Miro stood in the center of the first audition program targeted at Players, and it was her first day attending school, so this degree of reaction from the surroundings was natural.
It wasn’t Dokgo Miro’s intention at all, but anyway, Dokgo Miro received the interest of the people of Eungwang School.
After seeing Dokgo Miro’s name, I recalled the two attention seekers from our class, who caused a scene.
It was doubtful how much the two people, who lived abroad for a long time, knew about Dokgo Miro, but anyway, they probably instantly instinctively noticed they wouldn’t be able to receive attention if they tried to show up right now.
‘It seems that everyone will be talking about Dokgo Miro for a while. I don’t know when the two of them will come to school.’
Around this time, those two would have investigated Dokgo Miro, and would’ve seen the posts published on the Eungwang School’s general bulletin board.
Even if they didn’t know Dokgo Miro, by now they would know, so it was certain that they would be wary of her and put off their time to attend the school.
‘When considering the current atmosphere, even if the identity of the Phantom Thief Neon is revealed, it will be buried. Phantom Thief Neon would also know that.’
It wasn’t known whether Phantom Thief Neon succeeded in the crime he so flashily announced.
Moreover, that crime ended in failure.
As such, at the moment, the Phantom Thief Neon was just a bizarro, who played a prank on Big Ben.
And so it was certain that rather than the unidentified phantom thief, Dokgo Miro, who had proven her abilities in front of everyone and left results, would receive more attention.
‘Right now, shouldn’t I be satisfied that the two people have made up their minds to attend school? There are still three people left from full attendance.’
There were overall sixteen people in the 1st year class 0.
Because of Phantom Thief Neon and Gu Seulbi’s quick escape, the number fell short of teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim expectations, but thanks to Dokgo Miro starting to attend school, the number of attending students increased.
The currently attending ones were me, Hwang Jiho, Kim Yuri, Han Yi, Kwon Lena, Maeng Hyodon, Sawol Seeum, Min Geurin, Song Daeseok, Mok Uram and Dogko Miro — that’s eleven people.
And if we include Phantom Thief Neon and Gu Seulbi, who appeared and disappeared today, there were thirteen.
‘It’s already November, but they didn’t appear in the classroom even once!… Do they really don’t plan to come to school at all?’
According to what Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim said, all of those who refused to attend school were regularly taking all the exams.
In addition, looking at the scores of the additional exam testers, it seemed like they had enough points not to fail.
‘From the beginning, if not for a talent to get grades, there was high chance they would have dropped off beforehand because of their particular personality.’
It appeared that teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim and Kim Yuri hoped that the two attention seekers would come back, but Phantom Thief Neon and Gu Seulbi didn’t return until the end.
“I also wanted to see the faces of our class kids, it’s a pity.”
Among our class children, Dokgo Miro was the only one, who couldn’t see the faces of the two attention seekers, Dokgo Miro who heard the story later expressed her regrets.
If the two attention seekers saw Dokgo Miro, they would obviously be wary, and there was no way that the street king would be pushed in a psychological warfare after an initiative, so something could have happened.
I thought it was good that they didn’t meet right now.
“From what those kids said, it seems that they’re going to attend school sometime. I don’t know if they will come today or not, but… do you want to perhaps wait with us?”
“… Okay!”
Dokgo Miro happily agreed to Kim Yuri’s suggestion.
Rather than being happy about remaining to wait to see the faces of the two attention seekers, Dokgo Miro looked happy that opportunities to talk with the class children increased.
Dokgo Miro also came for my birthday, but that day I was the main character and the class children mainly talked to me, so it would be difficult for Dokgo Miro to have in-depth conversation with the children.
“Ah, then I’m going to buy snacks!”
“… I’ll go too.”
Sawol Seeum and Han Yi also expressed their will to remain.
It seemed that the children, who were taking a break from club activities today or were unaffiliated in the first place, were planning to remain in the classroom and wait after the end-of-day meeting.
I thought if I should tell them that the two attention seekers will come to school when they can draw adequate attention, but in consideration for Dokgo Miro, I shut my mouth.
As there were reporters and fans outside the school, wouldn’t it be difficult to go out to play together?
Thinking about it as an opportunity for Dokgo Miro to solidify her friendship with the class children inside school, it seemed like a good thing to leave her to it.
“If those kids come, please contact me. I’ll come too.”
“Okay! Have fun at club activities!”
After finishing goodbyes with the class children, I and Hwang Jiho left the classroom first for the Newspaper Club activities.
While we were moving, two messages from my disciple, who had a lot of trouble today, Yeom Junyeol, arrived.
[Yeom Junyeol] Uisin-ah, happy birthday.
One was a message sent by a senior.
Together with the words he was sorry for being late, a stamp of Hongryong holding a cake was attached.
The other one was a message sent by a disciple, but it was a bit different from the one sent by senior Yeom Junyeol.
[Yeom Junyeol] Master-nim, happy birthday…!
[Yeom Junyeol] I apologize for the late congratulations. I won’t forget next year and congratulate on time.
Underneath it was a stamp of Hongryong holding a cake, but beside it was also a stamp of Hongryong with a seriously apologetic face.
With time, one more message arrived.
[Yeom Junyeol] I have no idea what kind of gift I should give to master-nim….
Wanting to soothe Yeom Junyeol’s worries, I replied that it is fine even if I don’t receive a birthday gift, but my disciple didn’t seem to like that reply very much.
Finally, I ended it with a message saying I’m going to look forward to Yeom Junyeol’s gift.
“Everyone probably know it, but it’s certain that the Phantom Thief Neon is the same ‘Phantom Thief’ we met at that time, sirs!”
Central zone, General Club Hall’s Newspaper Club’s room.
Mun Saeron said with a powerful voice.
Behind Mun Saeron, several holograms were unfolded.
‘These are… the incidents and troubles that the attention seeker caused.’
April Fool’s Day, Eungwang School’s clock tower prank.
Summer break, the self-proclaimed ‘Phantom Thief’ in traje de luces the Newspaper Club met on their information gathering trip.
Some time ahead of Halloween, Phantom Thief Neon’s notice letter that was left on Big Ben.
The holograms arranged by time were all related to Phantom Thief Neon.
‘If it’s Mun Saeron, she would obviously notice.’
Mun Saeron put forward several hypotheses about Phantom Thief Neon, while preparing to write a special article.
I was bursting with admiration looking at the articles, which showed Mun Saeron’s amazing observation skills, but there was a part that bothered me.
‘Why does ‘that word’ keeps appearing in the special article!’
I tried hard to somehow reduce the frequency of ‘that word’, but it wasn’t easy.
Mun Saeron said, ‘If there is a target to compare to, the article’s content will be much clearer, sir~!’, and completely refused my opinion.
I made an effort to come up with a good way somehow, but it was difficult to actively step forward.
The reason for it was the geezer beside me.
“Hmm….”
Every time ‘that word’ came out, his eyes twinkled extremely ominously.
Because of Eun-ho’s remarks, the geezer seemed to have already almost figured out my weakness, but I wanted to make a last ditch effort.
After the Newspaper Club’s activities, the road from school.
I headed towards the tiger mansion with Hwang Jiho.
“Let’s go then. Eun-ho is waiting.”
Hwang Jiho suggested that we also eat dinner together and asked me to choose the menu.
“What do you want to eat? I’ll make dinner once we get home.”
“I’ll eat anything.”
Frankly, I didn’t have an appetite, because I was harassed by ‘that word’.
I replied without sincerity, but because anything Hwang Jiho made was delicious, I didn’t say it without meaning it.
Perhaps because he was in a good mood throughout the entire day, Hwang Jiho laughed even at that insincere reply, and said:
“’Anything’ is the hardest to prepare. I got it. I’ll gladly accept the brain-teaser given by the benefactor. Hahahaha!”
Hwang Jiho, who was laughing heartily, suddenly shut his mouth.
He made a face like he was thinking about something.
I decided to ask out of courtesy.
“What’s the matter?”
Hwang Jiho beat around the bush for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“Seong Gukeon and Kim Sinrok made contact. Together with my elementary school student-looking alter-ego.”
*~*~*
Translator’s note: Wait a moment, I’m going to feel emotional about the constant usage of ‘road, way’ in this chapter.
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