Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
64. Faith and test (4)
Tao Wonu was strange.
No, Tao Wonu became normal.
Originally, Tao Wonu was unsightly and strange in things related to Yu Sang-hui.
Among Tao Wonu’s acquaintances, only the Guideline Club Ju Su-hyeok, who was extremely dense regarding relationships, didn’t notice that he became strange.
On the other hand, the first one to notice Tao Wonu’s change were members of the Student Council.
“… He is sane today too.”
“Didn’t the exchange trigger him to grow up?”
“There is not much left until the graduation.”
“The seat of Student Council’s president will soon go to Yeom Junyeol.”
Plausible opinions and reasons appeared, but the theory that Tao Wonu belatedly grew up immediately crumbled.
It was because Tao Wonu’s attitude towards Yu Sang-hui was too business-like.
Usually, Yu Sang-hui would also notice there was something strange about Tao Wonu, but something was on her mind, and she seemed to have no time to bother with it.
The Student Council’s members, who had a lot of work because of handover, often stayed working till late, but when the two people were absent, someone would carefully talk about the two.
“Did he lose interest in Sanghui?”
“Doesn’t seem so.”
“Or did he learn about ‘push and pull[1]’ somewhere and is doing it alone now?”
“Then Wonu hyung would be now diligently pushing alone?”
When an opinion came that Tao Wonu’s solo push-and-pull strategy was going strong, someone expressed the opposite.
“There is no way.”
The person, who cut in and spoke was the previous Student Council’s vice president and Tao Wonu’s best friend, Ji Myeong-su.
Tao Wonu Ji Myeong-su knew was book-smart, but life-stupid.
Such a clever Tao Wonu acted same as when he first met Yu Sang-hui during the elementary school about things related to her.
When he looked like an elementary schooler, it was cute, but once he grew up and became a highschooler, it just looked ugly.
It may have looked different in the eyes of adults, but in the eyes of peer highschoolers, Tao Wonu was arrogant, rude, and stupid, not knowing where to draw the line.
If Tao Wonu was this stupid, he was too stupid to disguise himself as a perfect Student Council’s president in front of Yu Sang-hui or use TC Group’s power.
Ji Myeong-su was certain that Tao Wonu had no head or ability to pull off a ‘push-and-pull’ tactic.
“Myeong-su hyung, did You perhaps hear something from Wonu hyung?”
“No. I don’t know what’s going on between the two, but that’s surely not it. Ah, Gyeonggu-ah. About the next year cheerleading squad….”
After that Ji Myeong-su openly changed the topic.
Everyone was obviously curious about why Tao Wonu was like this, and seemed to be worried, but as they didn’t know the cause, they decided to leave it alone.
‘He may be like this just temporarily. Perhaps it’s a late puberty.’
In fact, there was a point that Tao Wonu was presumed to undergo puberty, but Ji Myeongsu decided to keep a positive mindset.
But as the days passed by, the situation grew even more serious.
The two people, Tao Wonu and Yu Sang-hui looked like complete bundles of nerves and very tried.
They tried to hide it in front of the Student Council’s members, but as all members were Players, they immediately saw through it, because they spent a long time with the two.
“… Is Senior Tao Wonu-nim sick?”
“Or is there some trouble at home?”
“There are always troubles at TC Group. Recent week, there was not a day when TC Group’s name wasn’t mentioned on the main news.”
“He might be possessed by a higher being or a Jin, and his mind was stolen.”
“Isn’t actually this Tao Wonu fake, and the real one is locked up in an otherworld somewhere?”
The worries of the Student Council’s members deepened.
Majority of people, who shrewdly noticed Tao Wonu’s abnormality and became worried were 2nd and 3rd years, but among them was also the 1st year An Dain.
‘Now that I think about it, Dain-i was secretly caring for Wonu and Sang-hui, didn’t she?’
He thought An Dain may have a debt to Tao Wonu, so Ji Myeong-su asked frankly and an unexpected answer came back.
“… I want to cheer for senior Tao Wonu-nim.”
An Dain said so, while gazing in the direction of the Guideline Club building.
It appeared she was thinking of Ju Su-hyeok.
Perhaps looking at Tao Wonu she thought of her own unrequited love for Ju Su-hyeok, but Ji Myeong-su thought it was a bit strange.
‘Strictly speaking, What Dain-i has is not an unrequited love, right?’
As Ju Su-hyeok also so openly liked her, there was no point of comparison between the ugly Tao Wonu and An Dain’s positions.
Anyway, starting with An Dain, the number of 1st years, who worried about Tao Wonu and Yu Sang-hui increased, and Ji Myeong-su decided to step forward.
Excluding Tao Wonu and Yu Sang-hun, Ji Myeong-su summoned the members of the Student Council.
Then, excluding some members, who were busy with external activities, all Student Council members responded to the summon.
All members guessed the reason Ji Myeong-su called them even before they accepted the summon.
“It seems something is going on with Wonu and Sang-hui.”
Ji Myeong-su said what the Student Council’s members predicted.
Standing in the center of the Student Council hall’s conference room, Ji Myeong-su got straight to the point.
“As a Student Council’s member and a friend, I plan to help those two. However, if it’s a problem difficult to solve with Wonu or Sang-hui’s power, my power alone won’t do. Help me.”
Ji Myeong-su usually had fun watching Tao Wonu turn stupid in front of Yu Sang-hui, but he regarded both people as precious friends anyway.
Because of Ji Myeong-su’s full of sincerity words, the Student Council members all decided to help the two.
Even though it was only Student Council’s members gathered here, they made up a better team than a common pro Player team, and with the Yong tribe’s descendant here, it was even more so.
Yeom Junyeol, who arrived late because of personal schedules, also expressed that he would join.
“Myeong-su hyung, I’ll help too.”
“Wonu acted so ugly towards you… thanks, Junyeol-ah.”
“Hearing father’s old stories, Wonu hyung doesn’t seem that ugly.”
Yeom Junyeol passed over it with a smile, like he didn’t care much about Tao Wonu’s unsightliness.
The stories of Yeom Bangyeol, who was a devoted husband and a fool for his son, were famous even in Eungwang School.
Yeom Bangyeol’s younger days had some similarities with Tao Wonu.
But where Yeom Bangyeol eloped with Yeom Junyeol’s mother, it was unknown what the conclusion of Tao Wonu’s ugly love would be.
“Recently, Wonu had been digging into the TC Research Institute.”
“I confirmed that senior Yu Sang-hui entered the TC Research Institute after the summer break.”
The more they learned, the more certain it became that there was something between the two people and TC Research Institute.
Time gradually passed while the Student Council’s members paid attention to the TC Research Institute and the two people.
And, today, after classes.
“Myeongsu-ah.”
Tao Wonu called Ji Myeong-su.
Looking at Tao Wonu, Ji Myeong-su felt a corner of his heart turn cold.
Unlike in recent days when he appeared absent-minded, Tao Wonu today stood tall.
It was no different from his appearance before entering an otherworld.
“What?”
“This is the password to my locker.”
Saying this, Tao Wonu wrote numbers and alphabet letters that didn’t have any system on the transfer hologram.
It was really a Tao Wonu-like password.
Ji Myeong-su’s doubt deepened even more.
“… Why are you telling me this?”
“I was busy, so I couldn’t help with Student Council’s work these days. If you can’t contact me, you will find the materials there. It has daily activity record I personally keep on a data chip.”
At those words, Ji Myeong-su became certain that Tao Wonu was going to do something today.
According to Tao Wonu’s words, it was obvious that the daily activity records were in the locker.
But it seemed that a will was mixed somewhere among those extensive activity records.
‘Wonu, you crazy bastards, what the hell are you planning…!?’
Ji Myeong-su pretended not to notice anything and accepted the secret code.
And then, among the members, who could move today, he immediately gathered people skilled at combat.
Among the gathered people, the people with the most outstanding combat superpowers was Ji Myeong-su himself, Yeom Junyeol, Gwak Gyeong-gu and An Dain.
“Yuri said she has classes today, so she can’t come. In case of emergency, I’ll fight for Yuri’s part.”
“Other members will act as support. Even with just four people, it seems enough.”
Accepting An Dain and Gwak Gyeong-gu’s words, the party of four was formed, and they decided to watch Tao Wonu.
If the team increased beyond it, there was a high chance that Tao Wonu would notice.
At that time, a variable appeared.
“I said that I have some Student Council work today. The Person, who was in charge of guarding me today, just let it go, but…”
“No way…”
“Then, Jegeon hyung… teacher Yong Jegeon-nim wanted to bring Him with me, because He knew everything.”
Swish!
Behind Yeom Junyeol, something descended from the sky.
Teacher with long, loosely tied hair, Yong Jegeon.
“… It seemed difficult to stop Him, so we came together. I apologize.”
“Hi, kids-ah. Ah, it wasn’t that I found out, because Junyeol-yi made a mistake. Wonu and Sang-hui were acting strange these days, right? I was interested, so I observed.”
Yong Jegeon was smiling ecstatically.
Looking at the conduct of the Game category dragon, who had too much free time, it was clear that he aimed for a timing to interfere, and when he saw Yeom Junyeol slip the bodyguard, he clung to him right away.
‘Teacher Yong Jegeon-nim isn’t lacking in combat power.’
‘If something happens, I was going to protect everyone with 100 Seconds of Grace, but if needed, we can use teacher Yong Jegeon-nim as a shield.’
‘… Well, he seems to be having fun, so it’s fine! With dragon teach going, Wonu also will be safer.’
Yeom Junyeol was ashamed, but An Dain, Gwak Gyeong-gu, Ji Myeong-su decided to think positively.
Of course, among the one, the one who thought most positively was Yong Jegeon.
“Shouldn’t we move fast? It’s about time Wonu arrived at the TC Research Institute.”
“… Let’s go.”
And when they drew close to the TC Research Institute.
Enormous lightning struck the TC Research Institute.
Paaat! Zaaaap!
Behind the transparent space unfolded by Yong Jegeon, enormous power swallowed the TC Research Institute, and soon the research institute fell into darkness.
The team was at a loss for words at that fierce energy that seemed to be Tao Wonu, but a feeling of anxiety surged in them.
“Let’s enter. Everyone arm yourself!”
Just before Ji Myeong-su was about to enter, Yeom Junyeol stopped him.
“Wait?”
“Is it urgent? Let’s talk when we enter.”
He tried to have a conversation, while moving, but Yeom Junyeol grabbed onto Ji Myeong-su again.
“Please wait. It’s urgent. I got two messages right now.”
“What messages?”
Yeom Junyeol’s face was half flustered, half happy.
“One message was sent by Dongha. Before departing, I asked Dongha about TC Research Institute. Based on the materials Dongha sent, there is a barrier and secret research lab underground.”
“Isn’t that where Wonu is heading…? Then the other message?”
Yeom Junyeol didn’t reply right away, and he carefully chose his words.
It seemed he was worried that if he makes mistake in what he says, he might cause trouble for the person, who sent the message.
“The other message was sent by a Person I respect. He knows that our group and Wonu hyung are at the TC Research Institute.”
“… Uh? He knows we’re here?”
Ji Myeong-su was confused, but Yong Jegeon smiled even more ecstatically.
Student Council’s members felt ominous about Yong Jegeon’s face, but Yeom Junyeol’s expression and voice were overflowing with trust in the target of his respect, so they decided to shut their mouths and hear him out.
“That Person requested a joint operation.”
On the screen Yeom Junyeol was looking at was a message sent by his master, Jo Uisin, as Red Wall Thief.
*~*~*
[1] push and pull — a slang for couples/courting people (folks, I don’t know the terms for those things, I never did that) acting sometimes warmly, sometimes coldly towards their love interest.
Translator’s note: Look, Jo Uisin, your disciple can take part in an operation AND read important messages from his allies.
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