EX-rank’s Replay (269)

Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost

 
48. First practice (8)

Hwang Jiho was looking at me.

To speak precisely, he was looking at the rolled up school uniform, which was soaked in blood.
 

‘As the recovery item was a potion type and the blood was all washed away, I thought that smell wouldn’t stay.’
 

Compared to the amount of bleeding, blood didn’t particularly splatter on the clothes, so I didn’t expect him to notice.

Hwang Jiho’s voice wasn’t that loud.

But my Playable Characters and our class children, who possessed extraordinary senses, didn’t miss it and heard his words.
 

“Smell of blood?”

“Uh? Who is hurt? Is the recovery item necessary?”
 

Yong Jegeon immediately looked in my direction.

Before the otherworld was cleared and lost its material form, the nine people were in the same place.

But then, as after I joined Hwang Jiho made nonsensical sounds, everyone guessed that the subject was me.

Following Yong Jegeon, the class children’s gazes poured towards me.
 

“Uh, thinking about it, I seem to be smelling a bit of blood. It’s mixed with the smell of Enemies.”
 

Maeng Hyodon, who had a good nose, though not as much as a tiger, seemed to also smell blood.

As he shed blood a few times when fighting in the Fight Club, it would be difficult for him to detect it.
 

“… Uisin-ah, are You hurt?”
 

Sawol Seeum also had minor injures, but he was more worried about my body than his.

As he spoke, his face gradually turned pale, so by all accounts, it seemed to be because of Hongryong’s presence.

I guess he was thinking that because I sent Hongryong to Sawol Seeum’s side, I overexerted myself and got hurt.
 

“A small cut, but I used a recovery item. I’m fine.”

“Small?”
 

The ruined geezer kept nitpicking on my words.

Hwang Jiho didn’t look to be in a good mood after entering the Maze type otherworld, but it seemed that his mood was even worse right now.
 

“It seems that you already used a recovery item, eh? And it doesn’t seem like a school supply. Did you get hurt enough that you had to use a recovery item of higher rarity? And then did you think you could hide the smell of blood from this one?”
 

Hwang Jiho continued to speak with a low voice.
 

“The smell of blood is irritating, but what the hell were you doing for the superpower wave to look like…”

“Guys-ah, you worked hard!”
 

Hwang Jiho’s words were buried in a bright voice.

Kim Yuri, who cardified her lightsaber, was running towards us.

Behind her, I saw Ham Geun-hyeong, Kwon Jane and Jared Lee.

The fussing same-class lunatic was left alone, and the children, who had no idea what was going on, welcomed the agitated people.
 

“Yuri also worked hard!… Teacher Kwon Jane-nim! Hello!”

“So… the otherworld conquest difficulty raised a bit, so how was the defense team?”
 

The children worked hard to change the atmosphere.

As the kind class children actively responded like this, Hwang Jiho shut his mouth first.

In the meantime, Ham Geun-hyeong used recovery items on injured Kwon Lena and Sawol Seeum, it seemed that Kwon Jane was making plans on how to treat Kwon Lena for the rest of the weak.
 

“Uram-gun, long time no see, huh? How are you doing?”

“Yes! I’m doing well.”
 

On the other hand, at the side a conversation that could be included in a Korean conversation textbook for foreigners continued.

After Jared Lee confirmed Kwon Lena’s safety, he immediately spoke up to Mok Uram and stubbornly asked about news.
 

‘Jared Lee belonged to the Pledge of Three Knights, so I guess he knows something related to Mok Uram’s failed assassination attempt.’
 

After Mok Uram found his muse and was traveling penniless because he was broke, he was almost assassinated.

Mok Uram, who was a hogu overseas, had 0 funds even now, but Mok Uram replied as if he had a golden time of his life right now.

As my Playable Character was his muse, and they were in the same class, it was natural.

Jared Lee stepped back with a half-doubtful face.
 

“You worked hard during your first practice. The order of review is based on the contribution points.”
 

Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim opened the conquest result materials published by Player SAT-K.

The otherworld’s final grade, which our class conquered, was judged to be SR+ rank.

It was just a step below the SR++ rank otherworlds Yong Jegeon and Red Lion conquered at the Children’s Day Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

Kwon Lena and Sawol Seeum made frightened faces.
 

“It somehow seemed too difficult!”

“I thought that it certainly wasn’t an R rank, but that’s too high…”
 

The otherworlds were also revealed to have modifiers beside ‘Maze’ attached, like ‘Merging Reflection Structure[1] type’ and ‘Evolving type’, and the children, who saw those words, looked at Yong Jegeon.
 

“It’s an otherworld, whose conquest becomes more difficult based on how powerful superpowers the beings who enter have.”

“Ah… It seems I heard that name in the class.”

“What? It was because of vice homeroom teacher?”
 

It would also be because of the damn geezer.

And there was a chance it was also because of me.

But Yong Jegeon made no excuses.

In contrast to Hwang Jiho, Yong Jegeon looked to be in a seriously good mood.
 

“If I enter such a type of otherworld, the difficulty will certainly rise. It should also be because of me.”
 

Yong Jegeon threw meaningful words.

Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim looked at the conquest difficulty with a hardened face.
 

“I assumed there is a chance of the conquest difficulty raising, but I thought it would be SR- rank at best… It seems that I underestimated teacher Yong Jegeon-nim’s combat power.”

“That’s not the reason, teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim. I also assumed it would be to this degree. In the first place, there are a lot of variables in the otherworlds, remember?”

“What variables are You talking about? Was there a particular situation, which teacher Yong Jegeon-nim discovered?”

“I couldn’t see it with my eyes. However, if I was to give an example… Okay. There may be someone else besides us, right?”
 

Yong Jegeon gaze swept over Hwang Jiho and stopped at me.

Before Yong Jegeon opened his mouth to say more, Song Daeseok cut in.
 

“September is not the right time to tell otherworld horror stories. The contribution points were confirmed. Let’s finish it quickly and eat.”

“Daeseok-ah!”

“Even though he didn’t pack a lunch box properly, this fucker talks well.”
 

Min Geurin and Maeng Hyodon criticized him, but Song Daeseok stood firm.

It felt like he was forcibly changing the topic of conversation.

At a glance, it seemed that Song Daeseok was acting tactlessly like usual, but in my eyes it seemed that he was using a high rank skill of diverting words.

Even while Song Daeseok begged Min Geurin, saying he is sorry, he was glancing at me and Hwang Jiho.
 

“… Then I’ll confirm the contribution. Starting with the one with the highest contribution, I’ll briefly summarize and explain the conquest process.”
 

After the children quieted down, teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim unfolded a hologram.

In the screen, ranking based on the contribution points of the people participating in the otherworld conquest, was arranged in the ascending order.

Biggest contributor, me.

After that was Yong Jegeon, Hwang Jiho, Han Yi, Maeng Hyodon, Min Geurin, Kwon Lena and Sawol Seeum.

As if the damn geezer stole the kids’ entire share, Song Daeseok and Mok Uram had 0 contributions points.
 

“Jo Uisin, you first.”
 

The first turn started with the biggest contributor, me.

I omitted all circumstances related to my Gwangrim, Nine Iron Teeth Rake and Sillentium, and only shortly described the battle process with Enemies and movement route.

Ham Geun-hyeong, who heard my explanation, made a tumultuous face.
 

“Jo Uisin, did you forget the maze conquest strategy? I explained it during the briefing process.”
 

The maze conquest strategy was to join with other Players.

But I headed to the boss room alone.

It was an extremely risky action, and if one of our class kids, not Yong Jegeon or Hwang Jiho did such a thing, I also wouldn’t have a good expression.

Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim rebuked me with a stern voice.
 

“You became the biggest contributor, but I can’t praise you, huh? Write a report about this maze type otherworld’s outline, conquest process, and ways you can reflect and improve on it.”
 

I decided to write the report without any complaints.

After me, Yong Jegeon’s explanation followed.

At Yong Jegeon’s words that he went crazy and ran in a straight line breaking through the walls, teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim pressed his forehead.
 

“That, so… if teacher Yong Jegeon-nim hadn’t come, we would have been in danger. We almost got really hurt.”

“Right! Th-though I don’t know how He knew and came.”

“Right! Ra-rather how did He find his way in the maze?”
 

Before teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim could say something, Kwon Lena and Sawol Seeum diligently put on the shield.

As they hid the story of Hongryong, there were traces of awkwardness, but as the children diligently took Yong Jegeon’s side, teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim couldn’t question them any further.

Hwang Jiho summarized that he easily dealt with the Enemies in front of his eyes, and then moved to the place where he heard an explosion and joined with other children.
 

“… Next time consider the point of practice and team play when acting.”
 

Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim, who knew that because of Hwang Jiho’s rampage, Song Daeseok and Mok Uram had 0 contribution points, commented shortly.

After that, Han Yi and Maeng Hyodon received praises.

It seemed that because Maeng Hyodon’s body still wasn’t used to Tak Geosan’s teachings, he was having a hard time.
 

‘It would be like learning to run with a correct posture.’
 

Compared to his poor and familiar posture, his speed didn’t grow, and it felt uncomfortable, but it would be of help to Maeng Hyodon in the long run.

Kwon Lena and Sawol Seeum was judged to have fought well and received a big praise, but they criticized for remembering the ‘Emergency Escape Item’ late.

Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim stressed again not to forget about that item’s existence as he finished the overall review.

The two people, who had 0 contributions points, had dead faces, because they couldn’t hear anything particular.
 

“I guess we finished first! Others’ conquest completion messages are coming up now.”

“Wow, it’s true.”
 

We took a seat at the table installed inside the park to eat lunch.

Around the time when we got back the baggage that we left and took out our lunch boxes, everyone in the other classes finished their conquests.

As class 1 and class 2 had more people per class than us, they divided into group A and B, and conquered two otherworlds.

The class 1’s group A led by An Dain, and class 2’s group A taken by Ju Su-hyeok, completed the conquest quickly, but each class’ group B’s conquest took a bit more time.

I didn’t know the name of the biggest contributor of the class 1’s group B, but I knew the name of the class 2’s group B’s very well.
 

“Wow, Uisin’s Bread Shuttle was the biggest contributor?”
 

Bang Yunseop beat Mun Saeron and became the biggest contributor in the class 2’s group B?

There was a high chance that Mun Saeron thought of covering the subject of the attack team’s first practice, and didn’t concentrate on the conquest itself.

Even so, I didn’t expect Bang Yunseop to beat the outstanding Eungwang School’s students and become the biggest contributor.
 

“What is bread shuttle?”

“Before, during the first class, there was a kid who picked a fight with Uisin and…”
 

Mok Uram’s eyes were drawn to the word ‘bread’.
 

“Bread Shuttle Hunt… there is such a good side job, eh? I also wish to participate in the operation of smoking spot searching!”
 

Should that be called a side job?

Anyhow, I happily approved, as it was a good thing for the number of people helping to stop Bang Yunseop’s smoking to increase.

The lunch menu, if we exclude nori and rice Song Daeseok brought, leaned towards the wheat flour.

Kim Yuri had sandwiches, Min Geurin had pizza, but Hwang Jiho also had a bread kind.
 

“I didn’t expect you to bring frozen dough for lunch!”

“Where are you going to bake it?”
 

In the ice box Hwang Jiho brought were Danish pastries frozen dough, with ice cream and fruit toppings, and he even brought a mini oven.

I was doubtful why would he do such an inconvenient thing, but when he cut the freshly baked croissant in half and filled it with ice cream, I was at a loss for words.

I guess that as he ate ice cream to his heart’s content in his elementary school student form, his tongue got more acquainted with them.

Around the time when we finished the entire lunch, the Eternal Lake’s team members put up a ten minute performance to celebrate the first practice, and the sound drew people from other classes, who gathered and shouted for an encore.

After an hour long mini concert ended, we decided to part.

Because people seemed exhausted, we decided to have an after-party next time.
 

“Uisin-ah, there was someone else beside us, right? Someone who Player SAT-K couldn’t detect, you seemed to overexert yourself because of that. Right?”
 

Yong Jegeon spoke up to me with a voice full of confidence before parting.
 

“Show me your dragon next time.”
 

Yong Jegeon quietly said such a word and disappeared with a very happy face.

Just after that, Hwang Jiho, who finished the call, walked up to me.

Hwang Jiho wasn’t laughing, but it was a state where he managed his expression enough that the class atmosphere wasn’t ruined.
 

“Then let’s go.”
 

Because Jang Namuk was coming to the Hwang Myeong-ho’s great mansion today, I couldn’t escape.
 

*~*~*
 

[1] Structure — I didn’t mention it before, but homonyms of structure is ‘rescue’ and ‘bird’s claws (especially hook-like claws of birds of prey)’. Also ‘news that have been blocked for a long time’ and ‘tone of speech’.
 

Translator’s note: *this translator, shouting from far away* Why pastries, why croissant!? Why ice cream?! How did you know that!? What’s up with your prophetic menu choices, Hwang-ho?!

 

Patron thank you note

Thank you patron, Nobody, please accept this Ornithocephalus manabina’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Al, please accept this Oreorchis foliosa’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Luca, please accept this Orchipedum plantaginifolium’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Amy Peters, please accept this Pabstiella mirabilis’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Dust, please accept this Podangis dactyloceras’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Maru, please accept this Paphinia cristata’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, kamisonk, please accept this Papilionanthe vandarum’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Kasimir Ilmonen, please accept this Polycycnis lepida’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Tara Hess, please accept this Porpax meirax’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Ice, please accept this Paradisanthus micranthus’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, anonymous Kofi-supporter, please accept this Tuberolabium kotoense’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Links to support this translation and access to 5 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? 🐞


11 responses

  1. Anonymous

    Ooohh Hwang-ho is not happy 😅
    I wonder if Uisin will have to taste the medecine again

  2. Nishicchi

    *stunned* wasn’t the dish, that was named before the school trip also had a theme of burning…? Why are dishes actually kind of relevant in this novel?

    *remembers the peppermint bread with chocolate and straberries* HEY! YOU! WHAT ARE YOU HINTING HUH?!

    I was excited about this chapter for a different reason bit now… sighs in such an unpredictable event.

    Thanks for the sweet chapter, Wan <3

    1. *mumbling from the corner they curled up in* If you pay close attention then every food that appears will have some connection to the characters eating it, to the place they are, to the future events or to their thoughts and worries. In fact it’s not only the food, but also the colors, the directions, the materials of the furniture and buildings, the flowers… The cultural meanings drip from every object, like a prop on stage signalling the unspoken details of the play… … … Hey, if I finish translating this novel, can I just get a diploma in the literature analysis?

      Thanks for reading this crazy chapter, Nishicchi <3

    2. Bob from the Real Arm

      I always just thought the peppermint and strawberry bread thing was symbolizing Yong Jegeon and Kim Shinrok’s uh, *gestures vaguely* friendship… like the food version of a shipping name lol

      1. Bob from the Real Arm

        …Wait a sec. Wave toast… mint and strawberry… !!

        1. You’re so right, Bob from the Real Arm.

  3. Strangeirdo

    “Show me your dragon” 😳

    1. I wished to phrase it any other way, but the sentence wouldn’t let me. Yong Jegeon just said exactly that and left.

  4. Thank you for the update 🖤💯

    1. Thank you for reading <3

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *