Translator: Wan ED/PR: Solarin
65. Things that have to be hidden (5)
Even after the gate opened, Cheon Dongha didn’t move.
Instead, Cheon Dongha stood in place and started to take deep breaths.
Even though it was the second time Cheon Dongha visited Hwang Myeong-ho’s great mansion, he seemed very nervous.
‘He didn’t seem so nervous when he came here the first time. Was he preoccupied by his dongsaeng’s identity at that time and had no time to be nervous?’
In front of the splendid great mansion filled with Hwang Jiho’s aesthetics, and feeling the magic power penetrating it, anyone would tremble.
Knowing the identities of the tigers that were residing here was that of Myth category Ho tribe members, it was even more so.
When it was revealed that Cheon Eunha was Eun-ho, Eun-ho said this:
— I’m a Ho, who spent the myth era with the close friends here, Eun-ho, and I’m also the dongsaeng who Dongha hyung took care of for around a year, Eunha.
Ho, who lived through the myth era.
In addition, haven’t Hwang Jiho told Cheon Dongha the secret of the Hwang Myeong Group?
— Among the people known as the members of the Hwang Myeong Group, all beings with the surname Hwang, are Ho tribe members or are people related to them. For a reference, all Hwangs of the Hwang Myeong Group you have met were Ho tribe members.
In addition to simply being the Ho tribe members who existed since the myth era, Hwang Myeong Group’s influence was very wide.
The tigers there didn’t directly reveal themselves to be a Myth category Ho, but through Eun-ho and Hwang Jiho’s comments, Cheon Dongha would figure that out.
And in this mansion there were Myth category Ho tribe members.
It would be strange not to be nervous.
‘I too was a bit nervous when I first came here.’
On April Fool’s Day, when I saved Eun Seoho, I visited Hwang Myeong-ho’s great mansion for the first time.
I remember being in awe of its majestic sight of Hwang Myeong-ho’s great mansion, which didn’t appear much in the game, in reality.
But because it was my first meeting with the lovely Snare, my nervousness was immediately relieved.
At the time, it was difficult for it to run, because it was wearing a leg supporter, but now it seemed to be healthy, so I was reassured.
“Uisin-i is no different from usual, huh?”
Cheon Dongha looked at me and threw words of praise with a surprised face.
I was just thinking about the angel.
I don’t know how he took my short silence, but Cheon Dongha spoke, reflecting on himself.
“… I’m going to meet my dongsaeng, so what am I so worried? I should take you as an example.”
As if it was awkward to see me not show anything, Cheon Dongha was embarrassed.
But ‘meet my dongsaeng’?
Those words bothered me more than the words of taking me as an example.
‘You call him dongsaeng so naturally.’
Was it because he matched Eun-ho, who kept calling Cheon Dongha ‘Dongha hyung’? Or was it because of extraordinary love of Cheon Dongha?
It seemed that Cheon Dongha accepted that his dongsaeng was a Ho from the myth era.
But seeing how nervous he was, it seemed he wasn’t completely accustomed to it yet.
‘… Once Eun-ho enters Eungwang School, I’ll also have to naturally call him ‘Cheon Eunha.’’
I’ll have to pay attention to it to not raise doubts by hesitating.
It was something I should practice later.
I briefly organized my thoughts, and walked, while chatting with Cheon Dongha.
Usually, I would use an air shuttle to move through the maze garden, but today our destination was not the main building but the side building, where Eun-ho was staying, so we moved on foot.
In front of the side building, which among the numerous styles, had the most modern atmosphere, stood Eun-ho.
“Come in, Dongha hyung, Uisin hyung. I apologize I wasn’t able to welcome You at the mansion’s gates.”
Perhaps because it was a cold day, Eun-ho was wearing a thick cardigan alongside a turtleneck shirt, and just looking at this attire made me think of his days as Cheon Seong-heon.
Of course, it was just because the clothes and the special magnanimous atmosphere were similar.
Eun-ho, with this rich silver hair tied, looked very different from Cheon Seong-heon, who had short black hair.
In his Cheon Seong-heon days, his bangs covered his brows, so among the short-cuts, it was on a longer side, but compared to Eun-ho, it was ridiculously short.
“Is your body okay? It wasn’t long since you woke up, but I heard you’re helping with work, so I was worried.”
“Thank You for worrying about me, Dongha hyung. I’m unscathed thanks to You looking out for me.”
As if his worries took over his nervousness when seeing his dongsaeng, Cheon Dongha spoke right away.
I missed the timing having useless thoughts, but Cheon Dongha seemed to really be a much better hyung than me.
When we were about to enter the side-building under Eun-ho’s guidance, Hwang Jiho appeared from the direction of the main building.
Hwang Jiho didn’t seem to use air shuttle to move through the maze garden, but rather ran through it himself.
“Everyone came, eh? Did I narrowly come on time?”
“Hi, Jiho-ah. Did something happen?”
Last time Cheon Dongha felt awkward seeing Hwang Jiho using a geezer’s tone, but I guess he got used to it now.
It seemed that when Hwang Jiho used the appearance of a highschooler, he resolved to just treat him as a class 0’s junior.
“I made breakfast for my family members[1], and then ate with them, so I was late.”
Did Hwang Jiho came here after making a meal for Eun-ho’s descendants in the main building?
Hearing that the being, who he assumed to be a Myth category Ho, Cheon Dongha made a complicated face.
He replied with a short ‘Alright…?’, but it seemed Cheon Dongha didn’t know what else was good to say.
“For warm drinks we have a quince tea[2], for cold drinks we have orange juice.”
“I’ll ask for quince tea.”
“This one will also take quince tea.”
As we sat down, Eun-ho offered drinks.
I was about to instinctively answered orange juice, thinking that the weather was cold and wanting to taste the quince tea, I decided to follow the trend.
When I replied ‘Me too’, Hwang Jiho added a word.
“If you want to drink something else, speak any time.”
“’Kay.”
I answered like this, but the quince tea Eun-ho personally infused with jujube[3] and ginger[4] was so delicious, I didn’t seek another drink.
I was bothered by something else other than the drinks.
‘I don’t see Baek Ho-gun.’
Though Baek Ho-gun said little, he always participated in such meetings without a fail.
Because of missions, Jeok-ho was often absent, but Baek Ho-gun, who was the prisoner of the Divine Realm was almost always at the mansion.
I also didn’t see Snare, so has they perhaps went on a post-meal walk together?
No, usually they would postpone a walk and go straight to the meeting.
Seeing how Eun-ho didn’t take out a tea cup, it seemed that he knew he wouldn’t be coming from the beginning.
“Let’s hear Dongha hyung’s story first.”
“How the thing Jeok-ho was helping you with went?”
Did they mean organization of personal affairs, that they were preparing starting from the first day Eun-ho woke up?
Eun-ho decided to use the identity of ‘Cheon Eunha’, but according to the current documentations, Cheon Eunha was suffering from Locked-in Syndrome underground of Hwang Myeong Research Institute.
In addition, Cheon Eunha was an illegitimate child of the Cheon family, and Eun-ho couldn’t move thoughtlessly.
As the problems that had to be solved piled up, there would be many things to prepare.
‘Even so, with Cheon Dongha going all out, and the Ho tribe helping, there won’t be any problems, probably.’
As if my talented Playable Character thoroughly prepared for the briefing, he opened several holograms.
On them were graphs recording Cheon Eunha’s vital signs.
To speak precisely, they were not recorded but fabricated.
Seeing the shape of the graph, I knew what Cheon Dongha was aiming for.
‘You plan to make him open his eyes before the start of the Eungwang School’s document screening process for the entrance exam, huh?’
Among the holograms opened by Cheon Dongha, the Eungwang School’s freshman application form was included.
Abruptly, I recalled Cheon Dongha, who said he hoped that this dongsaeng could take Eungwang School’s entrance exam after playing chess.
Opportunely, everyone finished the quince tea, so I asked Eun-ho:
“Do you have mixed coffee?”
“…. Yes! I have all kinds of brands. Which one would You like?”
I thought he may not have any, but Eun-ho took out mixed coffee right away.
Seeing Eun-ho so happy, I guess the taste from Cheon Seong-heon days remained.
He wanted to drink it, so was it because of Hwang Jiho that he chose differently?
Actually, it seemed that it didn’t match Hwang Jiho’s taste, but I, Eun-ho and Cheon Dongha drank it very well.
Cheon Dongha continued briefing with a much brighter face.
“If we manipulate the numbers like this, it won’t be strange if you open your eyes a week before the start of Eungwang School’s application document screening.”
“If you’re going to be accepted in Eungwang School’s document application, you will need an educational level equal to middle school graduates. Can you prepare it?”
“We plan to take the middle school education qualification exam. Eunha has superpowers. The term of qualification exam for teen Players held is short, and the result announcements are quick.”
There were sometimes the cases where teen Players couldn’t graduate from elementary school or middle school.
They were hospitalized due to otherworld conquest or manifestation of superpowers, or they participated in Player related events, and weren’t able to graduate due their absence or inability to take the exam.
There were methods for substitute exam and assignments, but they were at the discretion of the educational facility, so the pre Players, who didn’t please a principal or homeroom teacher were at a disadvantage.
‘If not for the Tallae Middle School’s math teacher-nim, it would be difficult for Maeng Hyodon to graduate middle school.’
For the official Players above the age of 17, the Association would step forward and intervene or apply pressure, but the youth Players below 17, the elementary school students and middle school students, they couldn’t.
In the end, as a relief measure, there was an elementary school and middle school qualification exam for youth Players held with high frequency.
There was a limit on how much they could protect them from the school’s power tripping, so they recognized their academic credentials to let them escape, and encouraged to advance to highschool.
‘Considering his grades from his time as Cheon Seong-heon, there is no need to worry about the qualification exam or the entrance exam.’
At one time, Cheon Seong-heon was harassed by a rumor about the corruption in the admission process and illegal solicitation for grades.
The press and the people at school, who were usually picking fights with Cheon Seong-heon, who wanted to instigate the suspicions, were doubting his academical achievements.
But Cheon Seong-heon ranked first place at the prestigious university with his own power only and maintained his grades.
‘Won’t he take the first place even in Eungwang School?’
I recalled Eun Seoho and Eun Yiho, who were studying in the main building, aiming for the joint first place in Eungwang School.
I don’t know those two descendants’ academical strength, but it seemed difficult for the two to win against Eun-ho, considering his days as Cheon Seong-heon.
Around the time we drank all the mixed coffee, the topic has changed.
“The problem is our house… even after you open your eyes, it seems better to continue to stay at the Hwang Myeong Research Institute under the excuse of medical examination.”
“I agree with that. How about I stay at the Hwang Myeong Research Institute and then enter Eungwang School’s dormitory?”
At Eun-ho’s suggestion Cheon Dongha made a relieved face.
I guess the house was such a big mess it would be difficult for Cheon Dongha to resolve.
Around the time we’ve emptied another cup of mixed coffee, the topic changed again.
“And speaking about the TC Research Institute…”
Cheon Dongha explained about the TC Research Institute.
The story was complex, but summarizing the results, it was as follows.
In the TC Group that split into three factions, the Cheon family was rising up.
The TC Research Institute’s artificial descent project was led by the opposition of the assets split, but the fact that the research institute was under the Tao family didn’t change.
There were many parts, morally and legally, where they had to take responsibility for hosting the illegal project.
“The people in the Tao family, who took ulterior actions, are being purged, but with such an event occurring, the situation became even more complicated.”
In this complex situation, Cheon Dongha was moving, so no harm came to Tao Wonu or Yu Sang-hui.
Because the faction opposed to the assets split still couldn’t come back to their senses, there were difficulties in dealing with it.
Cheon Dongha smiled bitterly.
“I don’t know how they come in, but someone tried to approach Sang-hui noona. Thanks to that, we’ve caught one fry without incident.”
It was assumed that they probably tried to bribe Yu Sang-hui with hush money, but they almost died at Tao Wonu and Yu Sang-hui hands when doing so.
This simple event ended, but there was a point that bothered me.
‘I guess cleaning the insides of the Association didn’t end last time.’
At the time when Choe Pyeondeuk’s crimes were discovered, the satellite manipulation was revealed and the Association was turned upside down, but it seemed that the problem still remained.
Moreover, didn’t they say there was an Association’s official, who stubbornly opposed Yeom Bangyeol, insisting on securing Cadmus?
‘I should also take into account the scenario with the problem that occurred at the Association’s side.’
At that time, I heard a quiet sound at the entrance.
It seemed someone came in.
Hwang Jiho recognized the presence right away.
“Baek-ho came, eh?”
As Hwang Jiho said, Baek Ho-gun soon entered the side building’s drawing room.
Where was Baek Ho-gun wandering?
The answer to this question came immediately.
Because the sagging Mountain Spirit was captured in Baek Ho-gun’s hand.
*~*~*
[1] family members — it refers to family members who live with you, or sometimes metaphorically for members of the same company, who you work with.
[2] quince— Chaenomeles sinensis, 모과 (mokwa). There quite a few proverbs that use quince, largely talking about someone being ugly or have wicked and impure heart. There is also a proverb that says that quince is a fruit that surprises you three times (It looks ugly, but it smells wonderful, but it tastes bad). Quince tea taste quite bitter so its taste is often covered up by some sweeteners.
[3] jujube — Ziziphus jujuba Mill var. inermis Rehder, 대추 (daechu) also means the head of a clan or a great tribe of ‘barbarians’.
[4] ginger — 생강(seonggang) can be also understood as life river.
Translator’s note: Ooh~ You don’t like coffee Hwang Jiho? You don’t like coffee of your supposed ‘respected the most’~? May I also ask why your secretary is serving people coffee~?
Also the maze. Tell me about it please.
Patron thank you note:
Thank you patron, Nobody, please accept this Pterospermum acerifolium’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Al, please accept this Phymosia umbellata’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Dust, please accept this Pavonia intermedia’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Maru, please accept this Wercklea ferox’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, kamisonk, please accept this Sidalcea malachroides’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Kasimir Ilmonen, please accept this Sphaeralcea ambigua’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Tara Hess, please accept this Mollia lepidota’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Ice, please accept this Megistostegium microphyllum’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Hematite, please accept this Rhynchosida physocalyx’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Deflubs, please accept this Bixa orellana’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, TheFloorGuy, please accept this Alcea setosa’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Akemidy, please accept this Andeimalva chilensis’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, vicky moch, please accept this Pimenta dioica’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Diana-Maria, please accept this Ericomyrtus tenuior’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Ch W, please accept this Conothamnus aureus’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, aila ilzyana, please accept this Physaria chambersii’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, MeltedMochi, please accept this Beaufortia orbifolia’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Kia, please accept this Backhousia citriodora’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Links to support this translation and access to 8 advanced chapter (Patreon & Kofi)
> Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LibraryKeyTranslations
> Kofi-Euro: https://ko-fi.com/wanthetranslator
> Kofi-USD: https://ko-fi.com/wanthetranslatorusd
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
Leave a Reply