Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
50. Set piece (11)
The in-game Hwang Jiho wasn’t like a lunatic, but he was a character worthy to be a Jin.
Every time he would step back to observe things happening to Ju Su-hyeok, or appear in unexpected places to whimsically help.
It was difficult to know what he was thinking, or why he was acting like this.
The only guess behind the principle of Hwang Jiho’s movements in the game was that he expressed an open interest in observing Ju Su-hyeok.
So, considering that movement principle, when I faced chairman Hwang Myeong-ho for the first time in this world, I tried to draw his interest through a conversation, and as result of that I ended up in the same class as Hwang Jiho and acting together.
But like before, I didn’t know what Hwang Jiho thought or what he was involved with in the game.
‘Even so, I can tell what he was doing when it snowed.’
The in-game chairman Hwang Myeong-ho was absent at the time when in snowed on Christmas.
No Jin looking like Hwang-ho’s alter-ego appeared.
“You weren’t at school that day.”
“Something happened to make me be away from school that day?… So much so that I didn’t deploy even one alter-ego?”
“No, you were probably away throughout the entire 1st year. By my standard, you only appeared in the 2nd year 1st semester.”
It wasn’t a story of one or two days when the lazy chairman was away from the school.
15 years ago, even when students, under the lead of Seong Gukeon, fought with the director board, the chairman wasn’t there.
Only after the Student Council made a video recording the process and evidence of the outgoing incidents, and released it to the media with subtitles in 38 languages, as result grabbing the attention of the entire country and overseas press, and turning the school upside down, did he return to the school.
It was a time when Seong Gukeon had a face-to-face negotiations with chairman Hwang Myeong-ho.
Hwang Jiho, who fell into thoughts for a while, spoke with a subdued voice.
“… You said that in ‘the things you know’, Jeok-ho only wears black clothes, right? And you, Jo Uisin, don’t appear.”
The day Jang Namuk visited Hwang Myeong’s great mansion, Hwang Jiho said this:
— There is something that bothers me about the thing that you said before.
— When you said that Jeok-ho would only wear black clothes, was it one of the ‘things you know’?
— I see, if you weren’t in that place that day, Kim Sinrok would have died and something like this would have happened, eh?
Hwang Jiho noticed through the conversation with me that I didn’t appear in ‘the things I know’, and with Kim Sinrok dying, Jeok-ho would live only wearing black clothes.
“What do You mean I would only wear black clothes?”
Jeok-ho, who blanked-out after the mention of Pungbaek, Usa, and Unsa, raised his head at the story about him and asked.
Jeok-ho was naturally doubtful about the mention of black clothes.
Even though he didn’t dress as extravagantly as Seodol, Jeok-ho was someone who cared about fashion.
It didn’t seem like he would wear clothes of the same color unless there were special circumstances.
“Jo Uisin knows what would happen in this world if he didn’t exist. Presume the case where Jo Uisin didn’t take Eungwang School’s entrance exam.”
Looking at Hwang Jiho’s expression, it seemed that he guessed why he wasn’t at school in the ‘things I know’.
But why trouble himself asking that to Jeok-ho?
‘Is the reason related to Jeok-ho?’
Jeok-ho’s face hardened.
“If Jo Uisin wasn’t there that day, besides students of course, the supervisor would also die[1]. Jeok-ho, supposing something like that would happen, what action would you take?”
“If something like that happened…”
Jeok-ho couldn’t easily continue.
It seemed even imaging it was horrible.
“If my son was killed by the hands of Ung in the divine realm, I wouldn’t be able to forgive Hwang-ho.”
“Right, probably.”
After that, Jeok-ho continued to spit out long toxic remarks, but Hwang Jiho just quietly listened to those words.
It seemed that he still didn’t get over the day when Kim Sinrok was hurt by the Ung.
“Hwang-ho, please don’t forget the contract between me and You.”
Jeok-ho finished his long toxic words with such words.
I think I heard the word ‘contract’ before.
“What is that ‘contract’?”
At those words, Jeok-ho glanced at Hwang Jiho.
Hwang Jiho nodded.
“I don’t have problem with talking about it.
“… Is that so? I’m also fine with it.”
“Then I’ll explain.”
Hwang Jiho spoke calmly.
“Just after Jeok-ho committed a sin, Jeok-ho offered to pay the price of his sin with his life, but in exchange he requested that I protect his son until he became an adult.”
That was the content of the contract?
However, Jeok-ho was still alive and Kim Sinrok remained at the Ho tribe’s side even after becoming an adult.
It already wasn’t like the content of the contract.
“At the time I was acting as a temporary head in Eun-ho’s stead. As a Ho tribe representative I rejected Jeok-ho’s request, and then instead suggested a personal contract. Well… It would be closer to a threat than a suggestion, eh?”
“A threat?”
“Yeah, because I suggested a contract that Jeok-ho absolutely couldn’t refuse.”
Hwang Jiho recited the content of that contract.
“Jeok-ho will pay for his sin, while living, and obeying my orders[2], and I’ll treat Jeok-ho’s son as a Ho tribe’s descendant, and protect him. But, the moment Jeok-ho dies, I’ll regard that son as the descendant of Ung tribe.”
Hearing those words, it seemed like the story blanks, because of which I felt a faint sense of incongruity up till now, were being filled up.
There was a reason why Jeok-ho, who committed a great sin survived, and Jeok-ho’s son Kim Sinrok, remained in the divine realm.
Hwang-ho would have made such a contract to save his close friend, who wanted to die, and his son.
“I accepted that contract and decided to be tied to the Red Rack for a long time. Because the only way for my son to survive was to follow Hwang-ho’s words.”
Jeok-ho added a word.
“Instead, I boldly added a condition. My condition was that my son wouldn’t know that I’m his father, and he would never be told about any part related to the contract. It was an impudent condition made in the position where I begged for my son’s life, but Hwang-ho had mercy and agreed.”
After Hwang Jiho and Jeok-ho’s words ended, some scenes flashed in my mind.
— I’m okay. I didn’t leave traces on the Don tribe’s side. Don’t worry…
— Hwang-ho, just in case something happens, that child… the contract…
Jeok-ho, who was pierced by Zhu Ganglie’s fork and collapsed, as he informed that he safely completed the work, begged Hwang-ho for mercy before he collapsed.
According to the contract, if Jeok-ho died there, Kim Sinrok would be treated as an Ung descendant, and as a father, he would hate to imagine what would happen after.
On the other hand, I had such a conversation with Hwang Jiho.
— Why did you leave those two alone until now?
— … Because of the ‘contract’ I made with Jeok-ho, I can’t interfere between the two of them.
Hwang Jiho made a promise through the contract that he wouldn’t interfere between the two.
Although Kim Sinrok ended up learning that Jeok-ho is his father with his own power, he couldn’t involve himself in the matter after that.
Hwang-ho and Jeok-ho made such a contract, so what would happen if Kim Sinrok was attacked by Ung in the Eungwang School, which was the divine realm, and died?
‘In the game, the relationship between the two Ho would be completely broken.’
There was said to be a traitor in the 12 Zodiacs, but if the Ho tribe’s descendant was killed by the Ung inside of the divine realm, the biggest responsibility would be on the divine realm’s guardian.
From the standpoint of Jeok-ho, who asked to protect his son’s life, while making a harsh contract, it would be difficult to forgive Hwang-ho.
‘Ung harming Kim Sinrok inside of the divine realm would be a move to break the relationship between Hwang Jiho and Jeok-ho, huh?’
I think I knew why Hwang Jiho appeared in the story only after Jeok-ho died.
“Supposing Kim Sinrok died, Jeok-ho would absolutely never forgive me. As he would want to revenge his son with his own hands, he would say ‘Take Your lazy hands out of it’, right?”
Jeok-ho didn’t deny Hwang Jiho’s words.
The Dark Mastermind’s first move would be aiming to create a rift in the Ho tribe by aiming at the Eungwang School’s entrance practical exam’s supervisor Kim Sinrok.
“Jo Uisin, it would be difficult for me from ‘the things you know’ to interfere at that time, eh? What were my actions after that?”
There was almost nothing I could tell, because I didn’t know.
“I don’t know much.”
“Is that so, eh?”
At the reply that I didn’t know, Hwang Jiho didn’t show particular disappointment, and didn’t show signs of questioning me any longer.
I was also curious about the actions of the in-game Hwang Jiho.
Why the hell did Hwang Jiho disappear?
According to what was said right now, after Jeok-ho died, Hwang Jiho would actively interfere.
He would move the Ho tribe where the eyes of the title hero, Ju Su-hyeok, didn’t see, and operate the school.
Even so, it was only a guess from the Player’s standpoint, I couldn’t know for certain.
‘No, there is a certain way to learn it.’
At that moment, one thing came to mind.
The ‘Replay’ function.
It was a function which showed Jang Namuk and Yu Sang-hun the scene from the moment the practice exam was held to the moment they died through a dream.
‘If I used this function on Hwang Jiho, wouldn’t we be able to see what kind of actions he showed in the game from the day of the practice exam?’
According to this thinking, even if considering the moment Hwang Jiho disappeared as the moment he died, Hwang Jiho would at least experience a year and a half through a dream.
Supposing he lived until the ending, the dream would be much longer.
But besides that, the side effects were still unknown.
“I guess you have a way to find out about my actions, eh?”
Hwang Jiho, who was looking at me, who shut his mouth, suddenly spoke up.
That geezer was uselessly fast to notice.
I decided to reply honestly.
“I have, but I don’t know if I can use it, and there is a risk.”
“Risk? Whose life is at risk?”
“Yours.”
At those words, Hwang Jiho replied straight away.
“Then try it.”
He replied without a hesitation, but I was reluctant.
It was difficult for Jang Namuk and Yu Sang-hun to replay what wasn’t even an hour.
“I showed such obscure actions that you don’t know very much. Whether I’m safe or not, there may be a problem, right? Wouldn’t I be more safe if we figure out that information beforehand?”
Hwang Jiho spoke coldly.
It was as Hwang Jiho said.
‘I have to learn why and when Hwang Jiho disappeared. It would be better to try it.’
I opened the menu window and opened the Replay function tab.
[Replay]
Future recorded in a different dimension in a form of a game, reenacts the record through the dream. (Phase 1)
After selecting Replay, the list of people that ‘appeared in the game’ and I recognized, unfolded.
The list was arranged like a chessboard, and the people looked like chess pieces on it.
At the top of the list that grew since the previous time I saw it, was Hwang Jiho.
I hesitated for a moment, and then selected Hwang Jiho.
⟨Can’t be selected at the current phase.⟩
But like the previous time, selecting Hwang Jiho was impossible.
“It seems that I can’t use it yet.”
“Yet, you say… so it will be possible at some point?”
“It seems I have to level it up like a kind of skill.”
But I didn’t know the way to raise its phase.
Both the methods of level uping the Exclusive Menu, and raising its function values were unknown.
‘It seems I should try the easiest method.’
The method would be to try to use Replay several times.
The parties I can use Replay on.
The parties that there wouldn’t be much problem with even if I used it.
I came up with such a person straight away.
“For now, I’ll try to level it up. Instead, please observe someone. If possible, attach a doctor to him, to monitor his superpower wave.”
“Got it. Who?”
I selected the person, who was located in almost the most upper corner of the Replay list.
That target was a person, which became an opportunity to speak with chairman Hwang Myeong-ho.
“Son Mingi.”
*~*~*
[1] die — when Jo Uisin and Hwang-ho use the word ‘die’ here, they use word 사망하다 (samanghada), which can also mean ‘to lie/fabricate’ or ‘to think and hope’. Starting with Jeok-ho a different word for die is used later.
[2] obeying my orders — ‘명 (myeong)’ is used here, and the word ‘obey’ literally means ‘hear/listen’, so it could also mean hear my name or hear my life…
Translator’s note: *Sigh*… Driving me nuts…
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