Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
11. Qingming – the sky gradually clears (4)
During February, at the time when the Fantasy Controversy was on everyone’s lips.
On the top floor of the skyscraper located in the Seoul Jongno-1-ga, the headquarters of the one of top 5 Korean otherworlds subjugation teams and one of the top 10 teams worldwide, the Red Lion.
Little Red Dragon Yeom Junyeol had a private meeting with the team master, Ruler of Red Flames, Yeom Bangyeol in his office.
“I changed my mind. I plan on remaining in the Eungwang School this year.”
Yeom Junyeol decided to study abroad for one year.
But that decision has changed, when on the 1st January this year, ‘Red Wall Thief’ smashed the Fantasy Auction.
“Junyeol, are you really thinking of giving up on studying abroad?”
“Yes, dad. During March, for two weeks each, I will visit Player training centers in US and China and then come back.”
“If it was me, I would be glad to have you in Korea, however…”
Yeom Junyeol unfolded a hologram as he spoke.
“I was interested in the Korea-China-Japan teenage Player exchange that will be held this year or the next. And most of all…”
The hologram showed the ‘Wall of Fire’ in very low resolution and quality.
“I want to find Red Wall Thief, so I have to remain in Korea.”
After Yeom Junyeol pushed a resume button, the wall of fire merged into one and ascended into the sky.
He has watched this video like possessed hundreds of times already.
Identical Gwangrim doesn’t exist in this world, but why does it look like Red Dragon?
The ignition speed, the relative power, the scale, the power control…
Whatever skill Red Wall Thief used, it looked nothing short of a miracle[1].
It seemed to be an embodiment of the aspirations and future he had dreamed of.
“I have Red Dragon so I recognize it. His ability and mine are very similar, they feel the same even though they can’t be… And Red Wall Thief is much more powerful than me.”
Yeom Bangyeol was flustered by the faint longing he felt in his gaze.
When he married the descendant of the Yong tribe, he gave up on having children.
Then after his precious only son, Yeom Junyeol, appeared like a miracle, he always was Yeom Bangyeol’s highest pride and treasure.
There was no such longing for him or for anyone in the Yong tribe.
He acknowledged Red Wall Thief’s strength, but the problem was the part of his mind that couldn’t accept this as a father.
“Sti–Still. There is no child stronger than you! This Red Wall Thief… He has to be a veteran of similar age as me!”
“Yes. Probably.”
Yeom Junyeol replied to Yeom Bangyeol’s words with a calm face.
‘I want to find Red Wall Thief.’
Throughout the entire vacation Yeom Junyeol thoroughly investigated Red Wall Thief.
He dug into every small testimony and clue one after one.
“There were two weird things. First, the testimony of the Eungwang School’s freshman, Lee Lena. It’s the child who was forcibly dragged there by her parents and answered every question sincerely unless it was a part of the vow of silence. However, in Red Wall Thief’s case she evaded questions by saying she doesn’t know. It’s as if she is covering someone up.”
If Red Wall Thief really had the same appearance and skills as him, there is a chance that Lee Lena would keep her mouth shut in case she would harm her senior.
However, was it really just it?
Couldn’t there be other reasons besides this?
Yeom Junyeol, who thought so, continued his words.
“Second, there was a suspicious word among recovered documents. Among the information gathered independently by the Red Lion most of the documents were successfully restored. Do you remember a particular word there?”
“No. I have no idea what you’re talking about?”
“Sawol Seeum. I thought it’s a secret code or dummy data. However, there is a student of that name in the same class as Lee Lena expected to enter our school. I could check freshmen register as a Student Council member. That student was reported to have gone missing the previous year. But it was concluded to be a simple runaway incident before anyone noticed.”
Yeom Junyeol drew a conclusion from his reasoning.
“Both of them belong to the Eungwang School, and what more to the 1st year class 0. Is it a coincidence?”
As expected, my son is clever, handsome, with outstanding abilities, manners, humbleness and overflowing with the desire to improve! There is nothing my son lacks!
Woow, my son is so great!
Barely holding back an exclamations that seemed about to burst out, he tried to speak strictly as he pushed down his pride in his son.
“… Red Wall Thief smashed the Fantasy Auction alone. He possesses his own information route and dangerous abilities. Don’t get involved! I can’t agree. Go study abroad! Instead, come to Korea often, call every day, go out with bodyguards and don’t go playing somewhere!”
Not even one strict word came out of the mouth of Yeom Bangyeol, that son fool.
“Thank you for loving me as always, dad. But even so, I’ll remain in Eungwang School to search for Red Wall Thief.”
“Junyeol…”
Red Wall Thief that had an extremely similar ability to him was far more powerful.
He certainly wanted to meet him.
Yeom Bangyeol’s words came in one ear and came out another, while he read the results of the Fantasy Controversy investigation and the list again.
“Don’t worry about Junyeol, Yeom Bangyeol.”
“Yong Jegeon-nim!”
An eccentric Yong tribe member, Yong Jegeon, who formed a school contract with Hwang-ho on his own accord to tie up his power and become a teacher at the Eungwang School, appeared without sound.
Freeman, no, free dragon Yong Jegeon appeared anywhere anytime whenever he wanted.
“Nothing will hurt Yeom Junyeol as long as I’m at Eungwang School.”
“Yong Jegeon-nim, please!”
Yong Jegeon looked outside the window at the night landscape with an ecstatic face.
“I have great expectations for this year of Eungwang School. Junyeol with Unknown Supernova. If Red Wall Thief is also there, then it will be even more delightful.”
That Playful Dragon was an oddball whose eyes turned upside down for ‘delightful things’.
Seeing Yong Jegeon with that expression, Yeom Bangyeol felt extremely uncomfortable, but he shut his mouth.
***
The Eugwang School 2nd year, the star Player of the Student Council and Yong tribe’s descendant, Little Red Dragon, Yeom Junyeol.
As if he had some business with us, he walked in our direction without hesitation.
When Yeom Junyeol walked, the school road seemed to become a runway and the Eungwang School’s uniform became the highest grade costume worn by a model.
“Junyeol just finished his studies abroad early and came back! Originally he planned to study abroad for the entire 2nd year. Great.”
“We’re going to attend the same school as Red Dragon in the future? Really?”
“Junyeol oppa is truly handsome in his entirety… He is even better in reality…”
“Junyeol is the same age as us.”
“If you’re handsome, you’re oppa. I don’t have any conscience!”
I guess that they heard that he was going to school and that indistinguishable mass of 1st, 2nd and 3rd years gathered here.
My head became complicated because of worry.
Yeom Junyeol should be studying abroad currently, why is he here?
No way?
‘No way, it has nothing to do with me.’
Is it about Red Wall Thief?
When I became nervous like this.
Yeom Junyeol stopped before Sawol Seeum.
“I want to talk to you for a bit, Seeum.”
I guess Yeom Junyeol has a business with Sawol Seeum.
I became dumbstruck.
‘There is no relation between Yeom Junyeol and Sawol Seeum in the game.’
Yeom Junyeol died when Ju Su-hyeok was in the 2nd year.
Sawol Seeum was rescued by Ju Su-hyeok in the 3rd year, so the two never met in the game.
“What? If you have something to say, we will hear it together.”
Maeng Hyodon spoke as he put Sawol Seeum behind him.
It seemed Maeng Hyodon, who during his time as a middle schooler got into trouble with seniors because of his outstanding fighting abilities and reward records, was on guard.
But of course Maeng Hyodon has beaten back all those seniors who tried to play with him and became the strongest legend.
At his confident attitude, Yeom Junyeol’s eyes were a bit bewildered.
“It’s okay, Hyodon.”
Sawol Seeum ended the two’s short confrontation.
He stared straight at Yeom Junyeol.
“I also want to talk with senior Yeom Junyeol!”
“Okay. There is some time left before the day-start meeting. I’m sorry to find you so suddenly.”
Yeom Junyeol turned his head towards the enormous group of fans.
He smiled at the fans who gathered around the 1st year building’s entrance, flew in the air or climbed the cherry blossom trees in the background, and then the space turned into a photo studio.
“I want to talk with Seeum alone, so please step aside for a bit.”
Kyaaaaaaaa!
The air broke under their frequency.
The high pitch screams rang out.
“Junyeol looked this way. Looked at me, looked…!”
“Yes. Step aside right now.”
“Yep. Guys, let’s go!”
“Junyeol said it like this, but he knows how to find things that didn’t disappear.”
“I’m okay to be found, so may I remain?”
“Follow me to the gym.”
“I’m going to write in the diary today and sleep. I’m going to write two times.”
The fans dispersed at Yeom Junyeol’s one word.
There were also kids who couldn’t move out of regret, but they were dragged away by the fans’ overflowing momentum.
After the fans disappeared, Yeom Junyeol turned his gaze to us.
The look in his eyes said he would be glad if we stepped aside, please.
“Maeng Hyodon, let’s go. Sawol Seeum, don’t be late for class.”
“Wait a minute, vice president…”
“Then we will get going.”
After giving Yeom Junyeol a simple goodbye, I dragged Maeng Hyodon inside the 1st year building.
Maeng Hyodon complied and got dragged away, but he still had a worried expression.
By just looking at it, Sawol Seeum seemed weak, while Yeom Junyeol was tall and overflowed with a powerful aura, so I decided it was natural to be worried.
“Is it really okay, vice president?”
“Yeah. Senior Yeom Junyeol is a good person. He is a celebrity, so if he commits a mistake, the articles will come out straight away, so he can’t act carelessly.”
“He is a celebrity?”
I opened a hologram and showed him Yeom Junyeol’s profile and articles with his name.
Maeng Hyodon, as if he really didn’t know who Yeom Junyeol was, looked at the pictures with an excited face.
He especially couldn’t turn his eyes away from the compilation videos of Yeom Junyeol’s performances during otherworlds conquests and Enemies subjugation.
Then.
⟨Skill ‘Power of Fate’ activated.⟩
One more completely unexpected thing bursted out.
I decided to leave Maeng Hyodon, who was absorbed in opening the videos with his device.
“I’m going to the bathroom for a bit.”
“Uh.”
Hearing Maeng Hyodon’s insincere reply, I examined my surroundings.
‘Give me some warning and then pop out! Should I use Player’s Trajectory or…!’
Then something caught my eye.
In the quiet corridor before the classroom was a very unnaturally moving cherry blossom petal.
The cherry blossom petal which was much redder than usual, lightly moved up and down as it swayed before my eyes.
‘It looks like it’s signaling me to follow it.’
I made up my mind to follow after the cherry blossom petal.
It leisurely floated in the air, moving forward in the corridor without even a bit of wind.
As if I was the only one seeing it, students sometimes bumped into it, but they remained completely unaware of it.
Like this, the place we ended up arriving at was a traditional history classroom at the end of the 1st year building, 2nd floor corridor.
‘Thankfully this classroom isn’t frequently used and no one is here, because it’s before the day-start meeting.’
Traditional paintings on Korean paper hung on the walls, and under the walls were dozens of mannequins wearing various hanboks[2] made of silk, calico, fine gauze, hangra[3] and other traditional fabrics.
At the side I saw commoners’ clothing, official clothing of the army and official ceremonial clothing and even royal robes. In the opened mother-of-pearl cabinet I could see a pen and ink boxes engraved with dragons and tigers.
‘Such an investment into a classroom that isn’t even particularly used?’
The red cherry blossom petal clinged to the sliding lattice window and disappeared as if melting.
‘Is this the destination?’
The lattice window was slightly opened.
I killed my presence and quietly moved closer to the window.
‘Do you want to show me this?’
Under the window were Sawol Seeum and Yeom Junyeol.
As it was quiet around, their voices reached up to here.
“Senior Yeom Junyeol really isn’t Red Wall Thief-nim.”
“… Yeah. I’m also looking for Red Wall Thief.”
In the instant, my hands, legs, space and time shrunk.
The two were chanting that shameful title I wanted to forget.
‘Did the Power of Fate activate to let me hear this!?’
I guess Yeom Junyeol was investigating to find Red Wall Thief.
With the Red Lion’s information power, he would find Sawol Seeum’s name on the auction list and guess that Sawol Seeum who disappeared was rescued by Red Wall Thief.
‘Why is Yeom Junyeol searching for Red Wall Thief?’
Did he want to sue me for the crime of impersonation?
“Senior Yeom Junyeol, why are you searching for Red Wall Thief-nim?”
Sawol Seeum asked on my behalf.
“I want to ask Red Wall Thief to become my master[4].”
This was something I couldn’t expect.
“Master…? I heard that senior Yeom Junyeol masters-nim are his father Ruler of Red Flames Yeom Bangyeol-nim and one of the members of the Yong tribe.”
“I guess Red Wall Thief really looks like me. As it seems you investigated me.”
The color drained from Sawol Seeum’s face as if he thought he made a slip of a tongue and he covered his mouth.
It’s okay. Because, after all, it seemed that my imitation of Yeom Junyeol was already discovered.
“No worries. If I knew about the Fantasy Auction, I would do the same. Though dad and the Yong tribe members would probably stop me, so it would be difficult to go in person.”
Yeom Junyeol was a good person.
As expected from my playable character.
“My dad and the Yong tribe love me very much, so I wasn’t trained properly. I want to become a bit more powerful.”
Yeom Junyeol possessed a personality worthy of the star player that everyone was envious of.
His biggest strength wasn’t his looks, lineage or abilities, but his desire to improve himself.
“Red Wall Thief is powerful. The courage to attack Fantasy Auction alone, the precision in putting hidden embers beforehand, the timing and speed of igniting hidden embers, the power to maintain that wall of fire, the control to freely control the flames and… I can’t even imitate that.”
“Yes! He is really powerful and cool! If not for Him, I wouldn’t be able to come to school. I truly want to find Him and thank Him.”
“… Looks like Red Wall Thief is not only powerful, but also popular.”
For a moment, it seemed that the space around me distorted.
I shrunk.
Stop! My sanity has already reached 0!
The two continued the excessive praises for Red Wall Thief for a long time.
Did Power of Fate call me here so I lose my mind, hands and feet and then perish?
Luckily, the day-start meeting’s time gradually grew closer, so the two exchanged device codes and ended their conversation, which was tormenting my sanity.
“Okay, contact me if anything happens. I’ll help if I can. If you find Red Wall Thief, please contact me, if that’s okay.”
“If Red Wall Thief-nim says it’s okay… If senior Yeom Junyeol learns who Red Wall Thief is then…”
“Okay. I’ll be sure to ask.”
“Yes…!”
It’s not yes. Not okay.
I have to be more careful in the future if I want to live.
‘You said you want me to become your master?’
I would feel reassured if Yeom Junyeol grew stronger.
It would be nice if the characters that were predicted to die could become stronger and prepare for that.
‘I didn’t expect Yeom Junyeol to return to Korea, but I may be able to use it.’
Next month, early May.
Ju Su-hyeok will face a big crisis.
It was on a scale that was difficult to block with my power alone.
It was a great incident in which the number of dead and injured reached four digits and would become a reason for enmity between Ju-Oh and TC group.
I came up with several kinds of moves to deal with it, but if I borrow Yeom Junyeol’s power I could handle it very naturally and neatly.
And it would be easy to hide from the eyes of the mastermind in the dark.
‘I should try to think about it.’
In addition to how to reveal Red Wall Thief before Yeom Junyeol.
I had really a lot to worry about.
***
1st year class 0 classroom.
Sawol Seeum arrived earlier than me.
Maeng Hyodon stuck to his side and was checking if he suffered any harassment.
It was similar to the time with the bulgogi slap, so it seemed that Maeng Hyodon had a secret nanny side.
“Woah, this is the first time I saw senior Yeom Junyeol in real life. He is handsome just like rumors said.”
“… Yeah, he is.”
“I was surprised when he went to talk with Lena. What were you talking about?”
“Nothing, I just thought that senior Yeom Junyeol may be a person I know… It seems they are different people.”
“Okay?”
Looks like Yeom Junyeol also had a conversation with Lee Lena.
As a person with the highest level of social skills, Kim Yuri showed consideration to Lee Lena and didn’t pursue further.
‘She would recognize we’re different people, without even Yeom Junyeol sharing a few words with her. Lee Lena is highly sensitive.’
“I don’t know if senior Yeom Junyeol is that handsome.”
“Yes?”
Han Yi threw a bomb without warning.
“He is not particularly different from the guys in our class.”
Han Yi was completely expressionless.
The guys in the class, including me, were Maeng Hyodon, Sawol Seeum and Hwang Jiho. We all opened our mouths wide and stared at Han Yi.
You’re saying we’re at Yeom Junyeol’s level? What?
‘That’s a call for an execution from Yeom Junyeol’s fans.’
From that, it continued to the praise relay, completely without impure intentions.
Hwang Jiho held back a burst of laughter and just said thank you. The faces of Sawol Seeum and Maeng Hyodon in particular turned bright red as if they were burning.
Then it came my turn.
I received a comment: ‘Your face when you’re deep in thoughts is nice.’
Hearing that, Maeng Hyodon stared at me as if evaluating.
“When vice president thinks about something, he looks extremely suspicious.”
“Hahaha. Hahahahaha!”
At Maeng Hyodon’s words, Hwang Jiho couldn’t hold back and burst out in laughter so loud as if he lost his mind and rolled on the floor.
In the end, the atmosphere in the classroom turned into a dogshit mess and maintained its foolishness until the class bell rang.
[We choose together. Everyone’s one clean ticket, the flower of democracy–]
The class bell was a camping song to promote the election, made by the election administration committee, which often came out before the general election and National Assembly member election.
It was a needless display of talents from the Choir Club. The choir of mixed voices, with soprano, alto, tenor and bass tonations, mixed so very well that I seemed to listen not to an election song but a hymn.
‘Ah, the general election is soon.’
I knew the results of the general election.
The non-party candidate chosen in the Eungwang District constituency will become the youngest National Assembly member among those chosen this year.
He was a great senior who graduated from the Eungwang School and a Playable Character.
‘We still don’t have the right to vote. But I guess everyone likes to prepare class bells for special occasions.’
Soon the class bell stopped and Ham Geun-hyeong entered the classroom to do day-start meeting.
When Ham Geun-hyeong entered the classroom, the chaotic atmosphere inside instantly calmed down.
“Good morning. As you already know, we finally have seven people coming to school.”
Seven people.
It was still less than 50% attendance rate.
It was a bit sad to hear.
The panel with the class motto ‘Time to go to school’, hanging above Ham Geun-hyeong’s head, seemed to sparkle unusually.
“The basis of the otherworld conquest is team play. Our class will also be training your team play.”
It was recommended to have at least five team members for the conquest of otherworlds.
Our class had only four people, but in a short period of time, three people started to come to school and it became seven people.
The close range attackers: Maeng Hyodon, Kim Yuri and Han Yi.
The long range attackers: Lee Lena, Sawol Seeum.
All-rounders: Me and Hwang Jiho.
The gathered classmates had quite a good balance.
“Morning common class, Player’s combat practice 1. We will start training team play using the otherworld conquest simulator. Change into your gym clothes before the first class starts and gather at the Gym no. 5. That’s all for day-start meeting.”
*~*~*
[1] miracle – ‘an outstanding skill’ or ‘divine skill’ (literally) in raws.
[2] hanboks – traditional Korean clothing, I’m putting an image and a description for those who can’t see it below:
[ID: Set of four pictures with 2 mannequins wearing hanboks of different colors each. The hanboks on female mannequins are a type of dresses with wide skirts, cloth belts above the waist, wide or thin sleeves and various vibrant colors (red, yellow, pink, blue, etc). There are small trinkets attached to the neckline and belt. The male mannequins’ hanbok resemble a wide bathrobe with cloth belts above the waist and wide pants, the sleeves are usually wide too. Their colors are usually darker or toned down compared to female hanboks. Also, they’re all wearing black wide-brim ‘pot hats’ (that’s not their name, that’s what this translator calls them, I’m sorry. Not a fashion person really, can’t describe any of this better.) End of ID.]
[3] hangra – fabric made from silk, ramie and cotton thread.
[4] master – Yeom Junyeol is using a pure korean word for teacher ‘스승‘ which is considered a bit more polite than ‘선생(님)‘ which is usually used by characters. They are not that different though, but I’ll translate ‘스승‘ as master.
Translator’s note: We have confirmation! The more suspicious Jo Uisin looks, the prettier he is!
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