Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
67. Gap (3)
The two attention seekers, wearing garments imitating cranes, bouncing, holding the attendance books, were clearly record by the recording devices.
As I checked the video and listened to the summary of the attendance books theft incident, my head hurt.
Two of my Playable Characters were involved in the center of that incident!
In addition to both of them being part of our class, they also knew about ‘that word’, which seriously hung on my mind.
‘Why did those attention seekers steal attendance books?’
Without even thinking about it, it was clear that the theft was prep work to gather attention.
There was no difference between PMH and this world, they wasted their efforts and talents on getting attention exactly the same.
At first, I was just flustered and surprised, but as I kept watching the video, I felt other things too.
‘… Looking closely, the clothes are really well-made. It’s not just design, every time they jump, they look like cranes flapping their wings in sparkling light.’
Such an extremely eye-catching and brilliant costume must have been personally made by Phantom Thief Neon.
Because every time Phantom Thief Neon did phantom thieving, he wore clothes he had personally made.
He was an attention seeker, but Phantom Thief Neon’s tailoring skills were truly amazing.
I didn’t know how Gu Seulbi ended up wearing clothes made by Phantom Thief Neon, but she certainly enjoyed wearing them.
‘Even at her closest with Ju Su-hyeok, if he requested something she hated, she would refuse right away.’
In PMH, Gu Seulbi was the closest with Ju Su-hyeok among her classmates.
Close enough that when Ju Su-hyeok was in crisis, she would try to save him, even if it meant a serious injury.
But she didn’t show her face even once on the class events that Ju Su-hyeok asked her to attend.
‘She clashed with Ju Su-hyeok’s fans because of that.’
I thought there was no problem with her acting on her own, even for the class events, but I guess Ju Su-hyeok’s fans didn’t like Gu Seulbi’s personality, who would clearly express her opinions.
Finally, Ju Su-hyeok’s fans called Gu Seulbi to try to fix her behavior.
It was all done under the excuse of ‘for Ju Su-hyeok’.
Because Gu Seulbi had a strong mindset and gave Ju Su-hyeok’s fans a severe lesson, and Ju Su-hyeok witnessed and settled the situation, it ended without a hitch, but it was a bitter event.
“The clothes are the same. Is this a couple outfit? Why are they wearing it, while stealing stuff?”
“Well, perhaps it’s a special type of date? They look close!” [1]
“Ah, right. Show that scene when they open the door again. It seems that teachers inside didn’t know that the door opened.”
“That scene was on my mind too! Let’s watch it together.”
Sawol Seeum and Maeng Hyodon analyzed the bizarre actions of our class children, who were on good terms.
There were many powerful people among the 1st year teachers, including a Jin and a descendant, so I was speechless at how well they did manage to steal books while aiming for a gap.
I thought ‘As expected, those are observation skills and abilities to act worthy of my Playable Characters’.
Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim’s worries were probably increasing because of class children’s transgressions, but… considering his attitude, it seemed that teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim was okay even if they caused trouble, if that meant they were attending school.
Those who refused to attend school were causing trouble anyway, but even today, our class children continued to diligently attend school and manage school work.
“Guys-ah, SAT is soon, so we should prepare an event…”
After the start-of-day meeting ended, Kim Yuri wrote a big ‘D-8’ on a electric board and picked up the conversation.
Now there were just eight days left until SAT.
It felt like time was passing really fast.
“I know that 3rd year seniors-nim are taking SAT. What do we have to do?” [2]
“Usually, it ends at helping the Student Council with preparation work, but I guess this is a custom to take care of the seniors in class 0.”
There existed a subtle sense of camaraderie between classes 0, but that there was such a warm-hearted tradition was unexpected.
In the midst of doubts among class children, Kim Yuri’s explanation continued.
“When SAT finishes, the final exams are held right away so the 3rd years can focus on quickly getting a job or enrolling at university, you know?”
“Looking at the semester schedule, only 3rd years’ final exams are held early.”
“Yeah, the 3rd years’ final exams are right next week after SAT. Even if you flop on SAT, you can get into the university if you do well on your finals[3], so we should prepare an event, for the class 0’s seniors’ safe graduation.”
In the end, rather than senior bastards doing well on SAT or not, whether we could make them safely graduate seemed more important.
“Ah… I heard from a senior-nim in the String Club. There were sometimes oddballs who deliberately flop their final exams, so they can repeat a year.”
“… I heard about it in the Art Club. There was a class 0’s senior, who repeated a year, because they were angry they flopped SAT.”
At Kwon Lena and Min Geurin’s words, the class atmosphere started to stir.
The antics of 3rd year class 0’s Woo Gihwan’s gang was seriously famous.
What would happen if Woo Giwan declared they would repeat the year as a group to contend for victory with Im Yeonhwa for one more year?
GeunChan&WangChan’s gang and Woo Gihwan’s gang would combine into one and a terrible hybrid would be born!
‘… It could be a case. If it’s Woo Gihwan, he might impulsively repeat the year for the victory.’
Hwang Jiho added merit to that thought.
“Hahaha! There were a few class 0’s students who volunteered to repeat a year. There was also a class 0, who attempted to repeat a year as a group. Faculty’s persuasion stopped them in the end.”
Those things actually really happened, huh?
Didn’t it mean I may see those madmen for one more year?
It was obvious that Woo Gihwan and GeunChan&WangChan would engage in a game of thrones over the position of class president, and the effects of that were too gruesome to even imagine.
“Chansol seniors-nim contacted me and said that we have to make sure the 3rd year class 0 graduates, because They’d hate to be in the same class.”
“Ah, I heard that from Them too! Seniors-nim said They would hate if the number of students under teacher Jegal Jaegeol-nim increased.” [4]
Their reason was that they hated to be in the same class was Jegal Jaegeol?
It was difficult to understand the thinking of Jegal Jaegeol’s hardcore fans, but their attempts to try to stop 3rd year class 0 from repeating the year were welcome.
As such, our class decided to prepare SAT support event.
In fact, holding SAT support event may not stop the class 0’s senior bastards’ antics, but everyone seemed to be clutching at straws.
“I really hoped that Miro would participate, but… do you have time?”
“Ye, I don’t have any schedules for the time being, so I think it’ll be fine.”
Because of the rumors that there were fans of Dokgo Miro among the class 0’s senior bastards, Dokgo Miro was decided to be the center of the event.
The 3rd year class 0 were a swarm of savages and primitives, but when their fan spirit was stimulated, wouldn’t they behave somewhat gentle?
‘There are many people, who aim for university among the 3rd year seniors, so I should prepare gifts.’
The 3rd years seniors from the Newspaper Club, Oh Hyeji, Seong Siwan, Tao Wonu, Yu Sang-hui…
Most of the seniors I knew were planning to take SAT.
I didn’t know whether Woo Gihwan was taking SAT or not, but as a class 0 senior, and as an acquaintance who was guided by him around the Heavenly Wings Mountain in the past, I should also give him a gift.
‘Luckily they still take reservations. If they didn’t, I would have to try ask Ok Toyeon.’
Lunch break, the 1st year zone’s walk trail.
I sat alone on a bench and reserved SAT-limited chapssal rice cakes[5] set from Moon Rabbit Rice Cakes.
While I confirmed the reservation, my fingers touching the hologram were a bit chilly.
It seemed that the weather was quickly becoming colder.
‘Even so, I have things to do.’
While repeatedly clenching and unclenching my fist to try to get blood circulating in my fingers, I checked the device messages.
The first one to catch my eye was the message sent by Seong Gukeon.
[Seong Gukeon] Thank you for telling me about the coronation stone. As Crow Demon King is involved, I’m going to have to move even more cautiously, huh?
Seong Gukeon still had the device code given by Fomori Demons.
The deal with Fomori Demons was no different from Holy Grail with poison[6], and Seong Gukeon seemed to have no plans of taking that Holy Grail.
Even so, it seemed he figured out the location of that Holy Grail to a degree.
‘Anyway, with the arrangements Ryu Jang made to the coronation stone, Seong Gukeon wouldn’t be breaking the coronation stone.’
When I finished courtesies with Seong Gukeon and was about to close the message window.
[Seong Gukeon] Speaking of teacher Kim Sinrok-nim.
[Seong Gukeon] If he has anything to say, contact me anytime.
[Seong Gukeon] See you next time.
Seong Gukeon threw some meaningful words.
I heard that Hwang Jiho in the appearance of Hwang Yuho and Kim Sinrok attempted another secret meeting this week.
Seong Gukeon might have realized something in the process of conversation with Kim Sinrok.
‘… There is little I can do in this case.’
It seemed that we would have to observe a bit longer before we’d know how Seong Gukeon would accept the Ho tribe and their descendant.
I replied to Seong Gukeon that I got it and opened a new message window.
[Me] Team leader Hong Gyubin-nim, hello.
Hong Gyubin was someone who would check and immediately reply even if he was busy, but this time a reply was an automatic message.
The automatic message said to call if it was an urgent business.
‘Is he really busy? He must be busy.’
He seemed to be so busy that he couldn’t even check the device messages.
As there is not much time until SAT left, I hoped that Tao Wonu and Yu Sang-hui’s case would be tied up quickly, but…
I left the message asking to contact me if he has time and closed the message window.
Ding.
Just then a new message arrived.
It was in the group chat with me, Ju Su-hyeok and Maeng Hyodon.
[Ju Su-hyeok] Uisin-ah! I found Yunseop-i with cigarettes in his mouth. What kind of bread should he buy?
[Ju Su-hyeok] (picture)
In the picture attached by Ju Su-hyeok was Bang Yunseop nibbling on three cigarettes.
They weren’t lit up, but the amount of cigarettes was excessive, so I decided to rule him guilty.
Though I planned to just send him to buy bread if he was biting even one as a highschooler shouldn’t possess cigarettes in the first place.
[Maeng Hyodon] Why is this fucker like this these days?
[Maeng Hyodon] Because he often skips training, taoist gets angry.
[Ju Su-hyeok] Yunseop-i isn’t training?
[Maeng Hyodon] uhu
It looked like Bang Yunseop truly suffered a great heartbreak shock.
But if Tak Geosan left Bang Yunseop alone, even when he was skipping training, I guess his state didn’t look good even in Tak Geosan’s eyes.
It seemed he planned to turn a blind eye even if he was skipping training, so Bang Yunseop would pull himself together a little.
‘It’s close, I should go.’
Looking at the picture Ju Su-hyeok took, the place happened to be close to the walk trail, so I decided to go see him in person.
I felt I should check on Bang Yunseop’s state with my own eyes to figure out the situation.
[Me] I’ll be there in a moment.
I sent a message and started to run towards my destination.
I ran for a dozen of seconds, when:
“Both of you get out!”
Bang Yunseop shouted with a hoarse voice.
In front of Bang Yunseop was Ju Su-hyeok and a female student.
Ju Su-hyeok spoke softly, as if trying to soothe Bang Yunseop.
“Yunseop-ah, what are we supposed to do if you speak like this?”
“…”
Ju Su-hyeok stood between Bang Yunseop, who was oozing with animosity, and the female student.
It seemed that Ju Su-hyeok stood in that place worried that the female student would get hurt when Bang Yunseop goes wild, but it seemed to only instigate Bang Yunseop’s anger.
Bang Yunseop’s face was red with anger, but his eyes had this particular tiredness of a person, suffering from a broken heart I saw a few times on the smoking pictures.
Seeing those eyes, I had a hunch.
‘Is this the kid, who broke his heart?… wait, I know that face.’
The female student, who stood with a complicated expression behind Ju Su-hyeok was someone I knew.
It was because, though she appeared in PMH only briefly, she was involved with my Playable Character and was a person I recalled today.
‘You mean that is the kid who broke Bang Yunseop’s heart?’
Bang Yunseop’s heartbreaker was an alumna of the same middle school as Ju Su-hyeok, who harassed Gu Seulbi in PMH.
*~*~*
[1] “Well, perhaps it’s a special type of date? They look close!” — Sawol Seeum’s sentence.
[2] “I know that 3rd year seniors-nim are taking SAT. What do we have to do?” — Mok Uram’s sentence.
[3] Even if you flop on SAT, you can get into the university if you do well on your finals — It differs from country to country, so I believe it warrants an explanation. There are two ways to get into a university. One is SAT, aka one big exam administrated by the country, the second one is through the ‘academic record’. If you have a really good academic record, aka your grades were stable and very good throughout all three years of highschool, and you did a lot of school activities, and had recommendations from many teachers, you can get into the university with that. In fact, from what I heard, universities prioritize those with academic record applications over SAT applications (but I don’t know how true it is). But to put it simply, just attending Eungwang School and getting semi-good grades there should get you easily into the university (though I may be wrong). There is no need to repeat a year, because you flopped SAT.
[4] “Ah, I heard that from Them too! Seniors-nim said They would hate if the number of students under teacher Jegal Jaegeol-nim increased.” — Sawol Seeum’s sentence.
[5] chapssal rice cakes — 찹쌀떡, rice cakes made from glutinous rice flour.
[6] Holy Grail with poison — while ‘poisonous chalice’ usually would work better, it’s possibly a reference to Arthurian legends, so you know… ^^(smiling eyes).
Translator’s note: Yeah, Jo Uisin, it’s very curious how you/someone else will think of something, or someone will say something, or do something, and then one of the next scenes or dialogues are directly related to that. It’s as if some kind person arranged the scenes so that readers could easily connect clues, only to accidentally drive readers crazy…!
Anyway, Bang Yunseop, I really want to pet you. You can hiss all you want. That’s cute.
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