Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
25. Stalemate (2)
Eungwang Highschool Chess Small Group, ‘Stalemate’.
The Stalemate’s advisor was Yong Jegeon.
Yeom Junyeol played chess under Yong Jegeon’s influence.
“Master-nim! You know I’m going to participate in the chess tournament organized by Stalemate!”
Hearing my words, Yeom Junyeol beamed.
“In fact, I was going to participate with a light heart. But if master-nim is going to observe, I’ll aim for the victory!”
It was not just observing, I may be sitting across you on the other side of the chess board during the match.
“Okay, I’ll cheer you on.”
“Yes! But it’s a pity the intensity of the classes will decrease. If I bring good results during that chess tournament match, master-nim will also acknowledge me more, right?”
As I gave a nod to Yeom Junyeol who seemed to be overflowing with enthusiasm, he smiled even brighter.
Seeing him smile like that, I wanted to teach him all the skills I know, but before that I have to ask something.
“I have something to ask.”
“Whatever it is, please speak, master-nim!”
“Are you also going to the boat party organized by the Ju-Oh Group and TC Group this weekend?”
Soon the Ju-Oh and TC Groups collaboration boat party will be held.
According to the content of the invitation sent through the Association, all Players who played an active role during the Children’s Day Jamsil Baseball Stadium incident were invited.
‘It corresponds to Yeom Junyeol and the Red Lion. The Yong tribe could also be invited.’
A boat party is hosted on the sea or a river.
In addition, the Don tribe’s head, Zhu Ganglie, was the admiral who commanded celestial naval forces.
There was a high chance that the powers of the Fire category Gwangrim or Flame Art, like those of Yeom Bangyeol and Yeom Junyeol, wouldn’t be able to display their strength against Zhu Ganglie on the water.
‘Even so, the Red Lion and Yong tribe would still be threatening.’
There are also people who possess skills and Gwangrim from other elements categories like Yong Jegeon’s Space Art.
I don’t know if it’s only Yeom father and son, but in the situation where all of them are invited, he may not be able to cause an incident.
If that is the case, Dark Mastermind would make a move to separate them from the boat party.
“At first we planned to participate, but… we ended up having dinner on Friday night with their families. It’s difficult for team members to adjust their schedule, and there are also People who don’t want me to stay on the water for a long time.”
Yeom Junyeol and also the Red Lion and Yong tribe are not coming to the boat party.
It must be after they replied that they will attend the Friday night dinner rather than the boat party that the Don tribe made up their minds to carry out the operation.
“Do you know who suggested it?”
A person who suggested it to separate the Red Lion and the Yong tribe from the boat party.
That person had a high chance of being influenced by Dark Mastermind.
“I’m not quite sure… I heard that the Ju-Oh side really wanted to invite us to the boat party because the dragons are their team’s symbol. It’s likely it was the suggestion of Someone on the TC side.”
TC Group?
If I had to choose the most suspicious group among the 4 great groups currently, it would be TC.
‘They’re becoming more suspicious.’
In the game, after the group’s next head’s withdrawal from the frontline with the chance of the baseball stadium incident.
TC Group kept their mouths shut, even when the Ju-Oh was branded as the culprit behind the assassination and terrorism.
Moreover, the TC Group’s head’s eldest grandson, Tao Sihu, who was assassinated during the 4 great groups secret war scenario, was bothering me.
“Is something going to happen again? Should I go to the boat party?”
“No. Don’t come.”
“I guess I won’t be helpful this time.”
Yeom Junyeol made a depressed face.
To put it bluntly, it was true.
Yeom Junyeol and Zhu Ganglie had the worst compatibility.
And considering a case if Yeom Junyeol came to the boat party followed by the Red Lion and Yong tribe, there would be a high chance that the Don tribe would abandon their plans.
‘If that happens, the information Jeok-ho caught while sustaining an injury would become useless.’
I couldn’t openly talk about it, so I turned the words around.
“If you didn’t come the previous time, people would get hurt. Thank you. Even so, this time take it easy.”
“… Yes. And if there is something I can do, please make sure to call me.”
Yeom Junyeol’s expression softened at my thank you, but he looked sad as before.
I started to worry because it seemed that my disciple was following people too well.
“And don’t follow unknown people on Friday’s dinner.”
“You talk like my dad.”
Yeom Junyeol made a bit of an embarrassed face.
However, in an instant, that face turned happy.
“I’m glad that master-nim cares about me just like dad!”
Hearing that reply, I became even more worried.
I was starting to understand Yeom Bangyeol and the Yong tribe’s overprotective mindset about Yeom Junyeol.
***
After finishing the training with Yeom Junyeol.
After using ‘Colorless Man Jeon Muyeong’s’ Gwangrim ‘Time without Traces’ and leaving the off-limit zone, I headed towards the 1st year class 0’s classroom.
‘In the end, he couldn’t swallow even the palm-sized flame.’
Even today, Yeom Junyeol failed to ‘Swallow Superpower’.
‘Even so, he has improved greatly since the previous time. Because of it, the times when he couldn’t steal the initiative were very regretful.’
I expected the disciple’s growth.
While I was making an exclusive Superpower Swallowing training curriculum for Yeom Junyeol in my head and opened the door to the 1st year class 0.
“You came at last, Jo Uisin.”
1st year class 0’s classroom.
Hwang Jiho was here.
Hwang Jiho, who was perched on my desk, swiftly jumped down with his eyes twinkling.
“What are you doing here?”
I was secretly surprised, but I feigned composure.
Hwang Jiho quickly walked up to me without a word.
With shining eyes, Hwang Jiho started to examine my face up close.
‘What are you looking at? Ears?’
Hwang Jiho moved his head, checking both of my ears.
Why are you looking at my ears?
‘Ah, that is a bit of a bad situation.’
When I realized it, it was already too late.
“You’re wearing an earring.”
Ruined.
“Jo Uisin, recently you often happen to ignore my messages, but … to ignore even the message from the Newspaper Club’s president was strange, right? So I tried to track your location because of the ‘emergency’.”
Ruined bastard.
As expected, he had to track my location, huh?
Even today, the chairman’s authority is misused like this.
Looking at Hwang Jiho’s expression, it seemed that he kept in mind each read and unread message I left him with.
For a 5 thousand year old, he was very petty in that subject.
“The device paid by the school was located in this classroom, to be exact, in your locker. So the earring type wearable device you’re wearing now should be purchased by you personally, is that right?”
I was caught by the annoying guy using two devices.
“If so, then your location and your device’s location aren’t always the same. I obtained a good clue.”
No way, was he tracking my location beside April Fool’s Day?
I guess he was digging into my identity even in unseen places in the meantime.
“The remains of a dragon’s energy are very faint. Jo Uisin, what were you doing?”
Hwang Jiho read through the dragon’s traces.
I was aware that even though Yeom Junyeol was a descendant, he carried dragon’s traces, but compared to Jin people, it was weak.
‘It’s good I put Yeom Junyeol’s flame carnation in the item window before coming here.’
If I put it in my school uniform pocket, I may have been discovered straight away.
I have to be careful each time I finish training and come back.
“Something.”
“I guess you have no intention of talking.”
“What are you doing here then?”
“Because I heard an interesting story from the chairman. And I wanted to talk to you about the event which happened at the Newspaper Club today. So I came looking for you, because you ignored the message.”
Are you thinking of coming looking for me in the future if I ignore your messages?!
Seeing I was making a subtle expression, Hwang Jiho made an extremely satisfied face.
“So what are you going to talk about?”
“The 2nd year class 0 invaded the Newspaper Club today.”
What was that sound again?
I guess the reason why the Newspaper Club’s president called the club members was to respond to the 2nd year class 0’s raid.
“Do you remember the Newspaper Club’s ‘Jegal Jaegeol special magazine’ on Teacher’s Day? The electronic version was handed to Jegal Jaegeol on Teacher’s Day, but the printed version was completed today. The 2nd year class 0 made a raid aiming for that magazine.”
The 2nd year class 0 again.
Why did they make a raid when they could just ask for it?
“If they talk with the club president senior, he would just print it for them again.”
“They said they don’t want the 2nd edition, but the ‘1st print edition’. After he refused to hand over the 1st print edition, they made a raid.”
They made a raid because of the 1st print edition, huh?
Worthy look of Jegal Jaegeol’s fanatic fans.
‘As loyal fans and maniacs, they couldn’t help but be obsessed with the first edition.’
It’s often in the cold world of first editions that there is only a demand and no supply.
There were many books that were spread as premium on the account of being the only first edition.
Much more so for the super rare limited magazine made as the gift for teacher Jegal Jaegeol-nim and to be distributed to the club members in the Newspaper Club.
It was natural for the fantastic fans of Jegal Jaegeol to crave that rare 1st print edition magazine.
“I said raid before, but it would be better described as a ‘challenge’. The Newspaper Club and the 2nd year class 0 would be sparring. They declared that if Newspaper Club wins, the club will get lodging tickets at the air hotel ‘Icarus’, and if the club is defeated, they will steal the Jegal Jaegeol special magazine’s first editions.”
I can almost see it.
It’s evident that though they were talking about a competition, if the club didn’t agree to it, they would cause trouble in some other way.
The Newspaper Club’s 3rd year president would know that well, so he would bite the bullet and accept the competition.
“The spar was set to take place in the public gym inside of the General Club Council’s building. Each side selected three representatives and played a supernatural tag-team match. On our side, the club president, club vice president and I were selected. At first the club president recommended Mun Saeron, but she refused as she wanted to make the field coverage, so the vice president went instead.”
Mun Saeron thought that she had to become strong to become a war correspondent.
Even among Playable Characters, Mun Saeron’s combat power wasn’t bad, so though she was a 1st year, it wasn’t strange that she received the club president’s recommendation.
“I was curious about the 2nd year class 0, so I decided to fight them wholeheartedly. They fought pretty well, but it wasn’t enough against me.”
The scene of Hwang Jiho knocking down the 2nd year class 0 guys, while laughing ‘hahaha!’, lingered before my eyes.
Summarizing the continuation of Hwang Jiho’s story after that, it was as follows:
Hwang Jiho came out as the first batter and overpowered the 2nd year class 0.
After Hwang Jiho made a perfect victory by knocking down even the 2nd year class 0’s vice president, Wang Chansol, the class president, Geun Chansol, came out with a suggestion.
‘If they give at least one copy of the 1st print edition, she will offer the Icarus’ suite rooms in the peak season.’
Hearing those words, Hwang Jiho handed over his share of the 1st print editions and obtained an Icarus’ suite room lodging ticket.
The 2nd year class 0 was said to be holding a battle royale over the one magazine, which was Hwang Jiho’s share previously.
“Even if you have money, it’s difficult to grab suite rooms in the air hotel Icarus in peak season if you don’t make a prior reservation. During the summer break, the club members will stay together in Icarus’ suite rooms. Make some free time.”
“I may not be able to go.”
“Why?”
Because I have to take care of the events during the summer break.
At the current point in time, I didn’t know the exact dates, so it was difficult to make future plans.
I have to for sure participate in the event that was deeply related to our class’ kid.
“That’s like this, then what interesting story did you hear on the chairman’s side?”
As I changed the topic, Hwang Jiho was dissatisfied, but he replied:
“Recently the 2nd year class 0 succeeded in dominating an otherworld.”
Otherworld Domination.
It’s a term which means an action of interfering with an otherworld with a supernatural wave to subdue that otherworld and related to it Enemies.
A term that I couldn’t even expect came out.
“They said they planned on giving that otherworld made into a ‘Garden’ to Jegal Jaegeol as a present.”
I guess the 2nd year class 0’s gift prepared for Teacher’s Day was a freaking otherworld, a ‘Garden’.
***
Player’s Association, Korean branch.
Regulation Enforcement Department office.
A place that closer resembled a bunker than an office.
Hong Gyubin, who had been recently dealing with important cases, was using this place rather than the PR team office for the security.
“Gyubin, how much did you sleep?”
The senior of Hong Gyubin in the Regulation Enforcement Department and the team leader of the Satellite Management Team of the Otherworld Conquest Support Office, Im Jihwa, asked him with a haggard face.
Hong Gyubin, who was perfectly groomed, but had bloodshot eyes, replied:
“I slept for 2 hours.”
“… Lucky. I want to change departments.”
Im Jihwa, who couldn’t get a blink of sleep, developed a habit of shouting ‘change departments!’.
“Senior-nim initiated ‘that project’. It will be difficult to change departments.”
“I know that! I know that so…”
Im Jihwa fumbled as she stared at dozens of holograms.
“The consequences of Otherworld Domination, the Frozen Otherworlds, which can’t be detected by the PlayerSAT-K, erased coordinates… my head already hurts, but Eungwang School…”
A list of Players from the Eungwang School’s 2nd year class 0 registered by the Association came up on Im Jihwa’s hologram.
“Not even Jin but human, and what’s more, barely eighteen years old students succeeded in ‘Otherworld Domination’… At first I was convinced that an error occurred in the PlayerSAT-K’s conquest record, but then the shock. Hahaha.”
It was the first time humans succeeded in Otherworld Domination to make a garden according to official records.
Hearing Im Jihwa’s weak laughter, Hong Gyubin added:
“If it can be confirmed that Jin people also can use the method those children used, then the Otherworld Domination would become easier. In that case, the number of Frozen Otherworlds may increase, right?”
With the end of Hong Gyubin’s words, the bunker turned quiet.
Aware of its importance, the Association cooperating with the Eungwang School, completely erased the records of the 2nd year class 0 students’ Otherworld Domination.
‘Is there no way of using the Otherworld Domination theory found by those students?’
When Hong Gyubin fell into thoughts.
Ding.
He heard the notification of a new message arriving through his personal communicator.
Checking it, it was a message from an annoying Jin who bestowed a blessing on Hong Gyubin as he pleased.
After checking the message, Hong Gyubin’s expression hardened.
‘You’re asking me to investigate the students of the Eungwang School’s 1st year class 0?’
One of the students pointed out by that Jin, Hong Gyubin was pretty close with.
‘… you’re asking me to investigate Uisin?’
One of the students the Jin requested to investigate was Unknown Supernova.
*~*~*
Translator’s note: … Where are my footnotes ㅠㅠ
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
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