Translator: Wan ED/PR: Solarin
63. Surveillance (4)
The Phantom Thief Neon and Gu Seulbi, whose surveillance was detected by the 1st year class 0’s students, and retreat.
After the two returned home, they never contacted each other.
They thought there was a chance they would one day meet in Eungwang School, but that was it.
Until they ran into each other yesterday in the classroom, and ran into each other today again.
The two attention seekers recognized each other the very moment they met their eyes in the 1st year class 0 and heard each other’s voices.
Today, when they hid and watched the 1st year class 0’s classroom, the two sensed each other right away.
“Hey! Why are you following me!? Go away!”
“You’re the one who is on the road I’m taking!”
“You look really strange when you speak Korean.”
“The Phantom Thief should be bizarre and strange!”
The two people didn’t talk about it beforehand, but they moved precisely through the same route.
Because the attention monopolized by one person was much bigger, the two people felt somewhat uncomfortable about their very fitting cooperation.
However, right now the two attention seekers faced the same danger, and as a result of it, they formed a consensus.
“The class the phantom thief devotes himself to is indeed different. It’s not easy to make an eye-catching appearance.”
“… I thought I might catch their attention, because that idol wasn’t there today!”
“From what I heard, the Idol Dokgo Miro is currently waiting at the gym.”
The two people’s expressions turned dark.
Dokgo Miro, who started to attend school, was the main character of the big events the 1st year class 0 was looking forward to.
Right now, no matter how brilliantly they appear, they would obviously play the second-fiddle and had to mix among the class children to watch Dokgo Miro’s spar.
The two were the attention seekers, who thirsted for attention, but they were no fools.
They were extremely sharp and intelligent, especially in the matters of getting people’s focus on them.
‘Wouldn’t it be better to join forces here?’
‘I can’t be buried like this! Halving the limelight[1] is better than getting zero of it, right?’
Gu Seulbi and the Phantom Thief Neon judged that their interests aligned and decided to temporarily join forces.
The two people sat side by side on a bench in the corner of a secluded walk trail, and decided to discuss each other’s plans.
First, the Phantom Thief Neon recited his well-organized plan.
He planned to steal the 1st year class 0’s students’ souls with superpower wave fireworks and make a leisure appearance among them.
“… The fireworks explosions aren’t very visible during the day. It won’t be eye-catching.”
“If I cover the classroom’s windows and turn off the lights, it won’t be a problem. There, my plan is over. What is your plan?”
“I plan to come in and make a plan on the spot.”
At Gu Seulbi’s words, the Phantom Thief Neon gave her a gaze like looking at something pitiful.
“You… don’t have a plan, huh?”
“What is that sound? I told you I plan to make a plan! Matching the situation, I’m going to draw everyone’s eyes with brilliant and perfect arts of a druidess.”
“That is to say, you don’t have a plan.”
The two attention seekers had completely different opinions on what a ‘plan’ meant.
But they aligned in their opinions about their future action guideline.
“We keep watching for even more perfect appearance timing!”
“Okay!”
The Phantom Thief smiled widely and stretched his hand with the intention of shaking hands.
Because Gu Seulbi almost never experience a situation where it was worthy to shake hands with someone, she stared blankly for a moment.
After Gu Seulbi grew up, the only one she had proper conversations with was her master, Merlin.
There was never a situation worthy shaking hands with Merlin, so she needed a few seconds to realize the meaning behind the action.
“Tough it’s temporary, we’re forming an alliance. I hope you will honor me by accepting my handshake.”
“Uh? Ah…”
Gu Seulbi belatedly took in the Phantom Thief Neon’s hand.
Gu Seulbi was surprised by the size of that hand first.
‘… that’s a big hand.’
The Phantom Thief’s physique was below average by a highschooler’s standards, but his hands were big compared to that.
Gu Seulbi felt for a moment that rather big hand and the warmth that hand gave, and then let go.
What at a glance was like a scene of a girl and a boy in school uniform from a youth movie, but in fact was a scene of national attention seekers forming an alliance, ended like this.
* * *
The 1st year exclusive gym no. 3.
There was a mishap of running into the attention seekers from the 1st year class 0 and my Playable Characters on the way, but we safely arrived at the gym.
“I guess those guys aren’t coming.”
“They are not around here. They ran far away, eh?”
“But, how did you notice them right away? Did you use a skill?”
“This level of hiding technique can’t fool this one’s senses. Hahaha!”
Maeng Hyodon was noticeably curious about what skill Hwang Jiho used, but the geezer made a no-answer like sound and laughed.
Hwang Jiho must have detected the attention seekers not thanks to a skill, but thanks to his long experience and abilities that came from his status.
And this was the divine realm, Hwang Jiho was the guardian of the divine realm — that would also be related.
“… Guys-ah, let’s go in!”
Kim Yuri stood at the very back, confirmed that all children had entered and closed the door.
After the class children entered the gym, the topic of a spar was on their lips.
“There is no one around. I guess rumors didn’t spread.”
“… I was worried, because there are many Miro’s fans at school, but that’s lucky.”
At Kim Yuri’s words, Min Geurin said with a reassured face.
At one time, Min Geurin suffered because of the gangs from the Art Club and Eastern Art Small Group, so I guess she was worried about Dokgo Miro.
All the windows were in the blackening mode, it seemed everyone was wary of this spar becoming a topic of gossip.
At that moment, we heard a blunt voice.
“Everyone, go change into your gym uniforms.”
In the center of the gym stood teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim in the teacher staff’s gym uniform.
Han Yi stood in the center of the gym close to teacher Ham Geun-hyeong, and Dokgo Miro stood closer to us.
The two people were so focused, they didn’t notice us, and were warming up, while glaring at each other, across teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim.
“Um, we should probably greet them later.”
“… Let’s change into gym clothes and then greet them.”
“I bought snacks and drinks, but wouldn’t it be better to just not bring them? Ah, can we eat a bit of them, while watching the spar?”
“Oh, what did you buy?”
Before Sawol Seeum and Maeng Hyodon, who were heading towards the changing room, stopped in their tracks and opened the bag, a voice that was much more blunt than a moment ago, rang out.
Ham Geun-hyeong was glaring at the bag with a scary face.
“It’s a lesson time.”
“Yes…”
“Eat after it ends.”
The class children were fighting, but our class children didn’t seem particularly worried.
If I had to compare, it was an atmosphere like when I and Bang Yunseop sparred during class on the first day.
But unlike that day, teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim held his ground with a terrifying face, and there weren’t BGM or a signboard prepared by Mun Saeron.
“Uh, Lena came!”
“Please, this way, Lena.”
Before we entered the changing room, Kwon Lena entered the gym.
“Sorry… I overslept.”
“… What happened?” [2]
“Ah, nothing. I was just browsing news and went to sleep a bit late…”
Kwon Lena had a tired looking face.
At Kwon Lena’s words ‘browsing the news’ I thought of Kwon Jane right away, but no new concert plans or interview articles were released.
‘What happened?’
However, a teenager, who could freely use a smart device, staying a bit late wasn’t a big deal.
It was a bit unexpected that Kwon Lena did so, but if it was something related to violin or Kwon Jane, she would force herself to stay up until late somehow.
Anyway, Kwon Lena wasn’t late, so there were no big problems.
Not long after the class children changed into gym clothes and came out, the class bell rang.
“… I think I heard it somewhere?”
“It’s a song Miro sang in Playlist.”
“Daeseok-ah, this is a song Miro sung during the first preliminaries. I watched it with you, do you not remember…? Are you very tired these days?”
“No, that…”
Today’s class bell was a cover performed on haegeum[3] of the song Dogko Miro sung for the first time during the preliminaries, when she appeared on the Playlist.
What Dokgo Miro sang was a first solo song of the main vocal of a certain popular idol group, which showed off a powerful falsetto, but preformed on haegeum, it had a different vibe.
‘Did the Traditional Music Club had Dokgo Miro’s fan?’
It seemed they heard that Dokgo Miro had started to attend school since yesterday, and the Traditional Music Club hurriedly to arrange a song specially for Dokgo Miro.
There was almost no time to practice it, so their fan spirit was amazing.
But as I listened to the outstanding performance of the haegeum, something bothered me.
‘There was a person who was good at playing haegeum among the 3rd year class 0’s senior bastards.’
The campfire and candle ceremony on the Ju-Oh Island, hosted by Woo Gihwan.
At that time, one of the 3rd year class 0’s senior bastards performed on a haegeum, to set the atmosphere.
Candle and haegeum didn’t match at all, but the senior bastard’s performance skills were so magnificent, it tugged on the heartstrings of all the people there, students and teacher alike, and left a deep impression on me.
On the other side, when the class bell rang, Dokgo Miro stopped for a moment.
“Ah…”
Was it because this class bell rang so affectionately with a song that she sang for the first time on the Playlist?
Dokgo Miro’s face lost her nervousness.
She discovered us, who sat in the audience seats far away, and waved her hand.
It seemed she was able to relax.
Dokgo Miro warmed her body to the tune of haegeum performance, but Han Yi, who couldn’t hear the class bell, didn’t react and was just repeating basic motions of taehokwon.
“… It’s a pity, eh?”
Hwang Jiho mumbled, while looking at Han Yi, but didn’t say what was a pity.
I didn’t bother to ask for the reason, and other class children let the geezer’s words slip like always.
Clap!
After the class bell ended, teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim filled his palms with superpower wave and clapped loudly.
The gym instantly became quiet at the sound, and Han Yi turned her head and looked towards teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim, sensing superpower wave.
“You know well the reason I permitted your spar even without me explaining it.”
Because teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim’s face was so extremely stormy, it felt as if a weak-hearted student saw it they would say they were wrong for no reason at all.
But because the two, Dokgo Miro and Han Yi had no ordinary guts, they quietly listened to teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim’s words.
“I hope you will resolve this conflict through this spar.”
Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim, who had finished his short admonishment, looked at Han Yi, so she could clearly see his lips and explained the rules again.
Usage of Gwangrim was prohibited.
Usage of consumable items, excluding weapons, was prohibited.
If sustaining damage that is impossible to recover with a below SR rank recovery item, the spar will be immediately halted.
The sparring time is until class ends.
Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim, who finished his explanation, raised his hand.
“Both of you, on your spots!”
After teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim manipulated the device, two circles appeared in the gym.
One was Han Yi’s spot, the other was Dokgo Miro’s spot.
Above the circles, a holographic number floated up and looking how it decreased by each second, it seemed to be counting down to the start of the spar.
With ten seconds remaining, Dokgo Miro spoke.
“Han Yi, I accepted it, because you said you want to fight with me, but how about you withdraw right now?”
Saying that, Dokgo Miro lightly moved the R rank Beginner Morning Star, provided by the school, with one hand like a balloon stick.
Whosh!
The movement was light, but the shock wave was heavy.
Because of the pressure of the morning star, Dokgo Miro’s side ponytail fluttered widely, and even Han Yi’s bobby hair fluttered.
‘Oooh!’ shout burst out among the class children.
It seemed like not anyone could be the elementary school backstreet king.
“… Isn’t that a weapon to use with two hands? Why is she using one hand?”
“Probably because it’s more comfortable. I think I can also use it with one hand.”
At Mok Uram’s doubtful question, Maeng Hyodon wisely replied.
Han Yi didn’t reply to Dokgo Miro’s provocation and just took on the taehokwon posture.
The numbers gradually decreased.
“Start!”
At teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim’s signal, Dokgo Miro and Han Yi clashed.
*~*~*
[1] limelight — in raws ‘attention level’
[2] “… What happened?” — Mok Uram’s sentence
[3] haegeum — Korean traditional string instrument. 해금(haegeum) also means ‘to lift a ban’.
[?] About the title — The title reading backwards can mean ‘visibility’.
Translator’s note: I love when this story manages to pull off more than three dramas happening at the same time. What a lively world.
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