Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
54. Dongsaeng (10)
Perhaps because it was inside of the Eungwang District, Snare and Baek Ho-gun accompanying it was also there, and perhaps because this many Ho tribe members were gathered, even Eun-ho’s descendants, who were banned from going outside, were here.
I saw the Myth category Ho tribe members, the Legend category Ho tribe members, the Ho tribe’s descendants, the Ho tribe’s Divine Beast and Ho tribe members who I didn’t exchange even a few words with.
‘Over there are Cheong-ho’s disciples, there is someone I don’t know…’
I spotted the tigers I knew, but I couldn’t easily open my mouth.
Because everyone was holding a white chrysanthemum tied with a black ribbon in their hands.
‘No way, did they come to offer flowers to our family?’
The Ho tribe didn’t hide the fact that they investigated my background, so it wasn’t strange that they knew about our family’s death anniversary.
Even so, in no way did I expect them to come and take their time to express condolences.
And I couldn’t imagine that it wasn’t just one or two, but everyone would come like this.
If those tigers truly all came to pay respects to our family, there might be much more mourners than the 1st anniversary in the previous world.
When I was still unsure, Hwang Jiho, who stood at the very front, walked up to me and made me certain.
“We came to express condolences[1] to our benefactor’s family. I sent a message saying we will come to pay respects, but it wasn’t checked. Is it okay to pay respects?”
Hwang Jiho, who was wearing a school uniform, didn’t actually feel like those tigers’ representative, but anyways, the head of the Ho tribe declared they came to pay respects.
I should have replied that it was okay and that I was thankful that they came to pay respects for our family, but somehow my mouth didn’t open.
When I couldn’t reply right away, Hwang Jiho guessed by himself the reason why I couldn’t open my mouth, and spoke as if to reassure me.
“If it’s the problem of the ‘Eyes’, don’t worry. We made dummies to disrupt their senses[1], and paralyzed communication in some areas to cut off the ‘Eyes’.”
“But it’s difficult to stay here for long. That dragon is scouting around. If he detects any abnormalities, we plan to disperse right away.”
Hwang Jiho was reluctant to reveal that I have a relationship with the Ho tribe in front of the Demons’ ‘Eyes’.
But did that dragon meant Yong Jegeon?
According to what Kim Sinrok said, it seemed that Yong Jegeon was making an effort for the sake of the Ho tribe paying group respects.
Hwang Jiho’s gaze turned to the chrysanthemum bouquets in my arms.
“I thought it would be burdensome for you if there are many flowers, but looking at those bouquets, it seems my thoughts were wrong, eh? I should send a wreath next time.”
“Depending on the enshrinement hall, flower baskets and wreaths may not be accepted.”
“That can be negotiated from our side, right? If our benefactor wants to give a lot of flowers to his family, should we lend our strength?”
Hwang Jiho was about to laugh, but he didn’t, considering the place, and had a conversation with Jeok-ho with a low voice.
Although each of the tigers had only one white chrysanthemum, as many tigers came to pay respects, there were quite a lot of flowers.
‘… This time on the 1st anniversary, our family will receive a lot of flowers, huh?’
After I graduated highschool, my situation got better, because I worked part-time and assorted this and that, so I could prepare chrysanthemum, but not before that.
I vividly remember visiting the enshrinement hall without properly preparing at the 1st anniversary in the previous world and looking with abject defeat, because the chrysanthemum were more costly than I thought.
“…”
Baek Ho-gun was holding a chrysanthemum in one hand, and leash of Snare, who was holding chrysanthemum in its mouth, in the other.
He didn’t say a word like usual, but somehow his expression looked as if he was worried about me.
I looked around the tigers and spoke.
As I usually spoke formally to Jeok-ho and Kim Sinrok, and there were a lot of unfamiliar tigers, I spoke the most politely.
“Thank You for coming. Let’s enter.”
Trying to reassure my main Playable Character and the tigers, I spoke, doing my best to pretend to be composed.
As I said that, it instantly became so quiet, I even thought I made some sort of slip of a tongue.
“Jo Uisin, you…”
Hwang Jiho spoke, but stopped.
I repeated the words I said in my head three or four times, and after confirming there were no problem, I took the lead and entered the enshrinement hall.
Even when the tigers with gloomy faces finished offering flowers and left the enshrinement hall, no one said a word.
The one who broke silence was Hwang Jiho.
“Is it okay if we come the next year to offer the flowers again?”
Naturally it was okay.
In case something happened to me, there wouldn’t be anyone to offer flowers to my family, so it was always good for my family if the tigers came.
“Yeah, thank you.”
“Let’s go to the enshrinement hall together next year.”
It wasn’t necessary to come with me.
Even so, I was thankful that they would offer flowers to our family, so I nodded.
Thinking about it, usually Hwang Jiho would say a word about why I don’t read and ignored his messages, but he didn’t say a word today.
When I sent off the tigers from the enshrinement hall and was about to go back.
“Uisin hyung, let’s go together!”
“We’re going to take a drive back, so ride the car with us.”
“We came out of the mansion after a very long time, so we hate to just go back.”
“Can’t we go back to the mansion together and have a meal…?”
Woof woof!
Eun-ho’s descendants and Snare cling to me.
They came out after a long time, and the place they came after a long time was an enshrinement hall, so I felt pity and was sorry for the descendants.
However, I couldn’t go to the Hwang Myeong-ho’s great mansion.
In the end, I hesitated and then suggested a compromise.
“I have an appointment, so I don’t think I can stay in the mansion, will that be okay?”
After Eun-ho’s descendants nodded, Hwang Jiho put me in the air limousine, as if he was waiting.
I felt cheated, but considering the kindness the tigers showed today, I thought it’s okay to be cheated a few times.
* * *
I rode the Ho tribe’s car, returned to school and visited the dormitory, changed into casual clothes, and then headed to the place I promised with Cheon Dongha.
The place I decided to meet with Cheon Dongha was Hwang Myeong Research Institute.
Strictly speaking, Hwang Myeong Research Institute was located outside of the Eungwang School’s campus.
However, it was very close to the Eungwang School’s research zone, and it was said that the students affiliated with the research zone, or some researches among the school staff often used the research facilities of the Hwang Myeong Research Institute.
In other words, Hwang Myeong Research Institute wasn’t Eungwang School’s facility, but it was a school facility for casual usage of the research zone affiliated Eungwang School’s members.
‘I saw it featured in the Eungwang District’s key facilities guide, but it’s the first time I saw it in person.’
As the sunlight hit the glass walls of the Hwang Myeong Research Institute, some colors changed and Hwang Myeong Group logo was revealed on their surface.
Not as much as the Silver Light (Eunhwi) Building, but the research institute’s building seemed to have quite a lot of thought put into its outer appearance.
I was about to ask if the designer of Silver Light (Eunhwi) Building, at my side, also personally designed this building, but Hwang Jiho said useless things before that.
“How about taking rest today? I’ll talk with Cheon Dongha.”
I didn’t say anything beforehand, but Hwang Jiho knew about my movements and followed along on his own.
It wasn’t just a day or two when that geezer digs into my matters and location, and I was visiting the research institute under Hwang Myeong Group, so he obviously couldn’t help but knew, and naturally did so.
“No.”
“I knew it would be like that. I’ll watch from the side, and if I judge it’s not okay, I’ll take action to take you back home.”
“And if I hate it?”
“If you hate going back to the dormitory, I’ll invite you to our mansion. The descendants will like it, eh?”
I hated it even more.
Even though I didn’t speak back, he clearly knew what I was thinking, and Hwang Jiho just smirked.
I guess he was making plans on inviting me on his own, but after I finish today’s schedule, I’ll head back straight to the dormitory.
“Ah, there is a bit of an important matter from yesterday. But I don’t feel like talking about it today in this place. In case you want to talk, we will do it at the mansion.”
A bit of an important matter?
I was bothered by what was that matter, but I hated moving according to Hwang Jiho’s intentions.
Yet, I was curious what that important matter was…
“Think about it well. Speak any time when you want to come to our mansion.”
As we argued inside, Cheon Dongha, wearing a white lab coat, appeared five minutes before the appointed time.
Even after seeing Hwang Jiho at my side, Cheon Dongha didn’t show any particular signs of being flustered.
“Hi, I heard that Jiho came. Both of you, come in.”
“You know each other?”
“Ah, I saw Jiho’s face a few times, so we know each other. Our house was indebted to Hwang Myeong Group in the past, and also there is the research. Let’s go.”
Hwang Jiho and Cheon Dongha knew each other?
I recalled Cheon Dongha’s personal information from PMH, but besides Eungwang School, I didn’t recall any of such relationship between the two.
It may be because the information and incident weren’t revealed in the game, or perhaps the two got involved as the result of Hwang Jiho’s action being different in this world.
Even if not today, I should somehow ask Hwang Jiho how he got involved with Cheon Dongha later.
“When I reported to the higher-ups, I got the answer that if you want to join Hwang Myeong Research Institute, they will accept you as visiting researcher right away. Take a tour today and think about it.”
Wasn’t the position suggested before was an intern?
Right now I received an offer for the visiting researcher position like Cheon Dongha and Song Daeseok?
As I recalled the old tiger, who was breathing down the higher-ups necks, and looked to the side, Hwang Jiho spoke, very talkatively.
“Jo Uisin, you’re a famous Player, who received an alias before entering Eungwang School. After you entered, you maintained amazing grades, and did various activities, like subjugating Enemies or rescuing people. It’s more than enough for a visiting researcher position. As Hwang Myeong Research Institute can’t miss opportunity to acquire such talent, such a suggestion was made.”
“That’s what they said.”
Hwang Jiho and Cheon Dongha somehow seemed to speak the same language, so it was a bit much.
Cheon Dongha, who was satisfied after hearing my answer that I’ll think about it, took the lead and guided us around the Hwang Myeong Research Institute.
Introduction to the Hwang Myeong Research Institute’s key facilities.
Research papers published to the public.
New technologies applying that research.
When we rode the elevator, while listening to Cheon Dongha’s words.
“Then let’s start the tour from the highest floor and then go down…. Uh?”
Even though he pressed the button, the elevator didn’t react.
The elevator’s door closed, but it had no plan of going up.
Was there a malfunction?
⟨Skill ‘Power of Fate’ activated.⟩
Together with the system message, the sound of the elevator operating at its own came out, and it started to move down.
Hwang Jiho looked at me, as if sensing the Power of Fate.
“… This power!”
Power of Fate wasn’t something I could control.
I even prepared to activate Player’s Trajectory at any time, so I could do something.
Cheon Dongha activated his Gwangrim ‘Eyes Embracing Heaven and Earth’ and seemed to got the information about the surrounding, but even though he checked the central control room, he had a dubious face, as if he couldn’t find abnormalities.
Ding.
The elevator, which descended to the basement for a while stopped and the door opened.
When the three of us, who judged it would be difficult to handle if something occurred inside the elevator, quickly came out.
“People should have been sent out. They will check the elevator.”
“It’s a floor without staircase. We will have to wait.”
It seemed that Cheon Dongha thought that it was the elevator’s malfunction or perhaps attack from outside, etc.
“What is here?”
“Ah, that…”
Cheon Dongha looked at Hwang Jiho instead of answering.
After Hwang Jiho nodded, Cheon Dongha began speaking again.
“… My dongsaeng is here.”
“Your dongsaeng is at the research institute?”
“Yeah. Do you remember there is something that bothers me about my dongsaeng?”
“You said that there is something different from the Locked-in Syndrome.”
Cheon Dongha nodded with a heavy expression.
“Yeah, the look of superpower waves my dongsaeng shows extremely resembles the ‘Deep Sleep’ of Jin people. I’m cooperating in the research to wake up Jin people from ‘Deep Sleep’.”
I heard the explanation about Deep Sleep before from Hwang Jiho.
He said that unlike humans, the Jin people’s and descendant’s souls are unstable, and can leave the body at any time.
And that the body in the state where the soul left falls into a ‘Deep Sleep’.
‘There have to be a reason why Power of Fate called me here. It’s clearly something about Cheon Dongha’s dongsaeng.’
I carefully asked.
“Can I meet Your Dongsaeng?”
“… I suggested I would bring you to my dongsaeng in the past. He refused right away. I guess he hates to bother you.”
When Cheon Dongha hesitated, Hwang Jiho suggested:
“That dongsaeng and Jo Uisin seem to have a relationship, eh? There is a cause[3] to come here, so let’s go.”
And after walking a dark corridor for a while, we arrived at the place that I couldn’t classify if it was a superpower laboratory or an intense care unit.
The barrier was filled with spells in ancient language.
Life-support devices made with modern technology.
In the room, where high-density superpower wave flowed, full of the all kinds of spells and devices, my eyes focused at only one thing.
‘The person over there… no way…’
The face was much younger and thinner than the face I remembered.
No, there was no proof that the dongsaeng I thought about was the person over there.
As I struggled to hardened my face and maintain a poker face, Cheon Dongha’s dongsaeng started blinking.
“… He almost never reacted so actively.”
I heard Cheon Dongha’s surprised voice.
Cheon Dongha’s dongsaeng, who blinked for a while, closed his eyes.
I felt chocked up after I interpreted the blinking.
I recalled the conversation I had with that dongsaeng in the past.
— Uisin hyung, when hyung was a chess player, You had a nickname.
— Stalemateless, correct?
The blinking communicated a certain English word in Morse code.
S, T, A, L, E, M, A, T, E, L, E, S, S.
Stalemateless.
That was my nickname.
*~*~*
[1] condolences — as MTL readers are probably aware the word here is ‘조의 (joui)’ which matches the first part of Jo Uisin’s name. It’s the only part of the chapter, which uses it. The rest of the chapter uses ‘조문 (jumun)’, which has almost the same meaning as 조의, and in this chapter was translated as ‘offer respects’.
[2] senses — 신경 (sin-gyeong) literally ‘nerves’ (weirdly medical heavy sentence), but 신경 also means the realm of god. It also makes me think of a divine dog, if you wanted to play with hanja.
[3] cause — 인연 (inyeon) has a bit of a metaphysical meaning, as it’s some sort of reason/ connection that links people, events and consequences. It’s sometimes translated as karma or fate depending on its usage.
Translator’s note: People just drop words in this chapter. I think it should be illegal.
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