Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
25. Stalemate (4)
Under the moonlight, the Ho tribe’s head stood wearing a school uniform.
That Hwang-ho’s hair and eyes’ color was brown.
‘He didn’t even open his power!’
The SSR rank hiding protector Kim Sinrok prepared overnight as a breaching method couldn’t deceive Hwang-ho’s eyes, it couldn’t even make him open his power.
Even though Kim Sinrok was poignant about the overwhelming power difference, even he couldn’t help but marvel.
“There is no way Baek-ho did such a commendable act like passing the news to you, so… It was Jo Uisin, huh?”
It seemed Hwang-ho was completely aware of how and why Kim Sinrok came here.
Even so, Kim Sinrok pretended he didn’t know anything, feigning calmness.
“Hwangho-nim is very skilled in playing a seeker, huh?”
“I watched over you in the old times. When you scribbled on Cheong-ho’s dojo, when you sneaked to Sinin’s treasury to admire the treasures alone, and again when Baek-ho’s… Um, Baek-ho may be currently listening, so I’ll keep my mouth shut about it. In any case, I know about all of them.”
Mentioning the events from a few thousand years ago, Hwang-ho smiled.
Thinking that Hwang-ho may have seen through all of his pranks, even those he thought were successful, Kim Sinrok felt his mind turn hazy[1].
Controlling his face, burning with shame, Kim Sinrok spoke:
“The hide and seek is finished, so I’ll be going.”
“Why?”
Looking at Hwang-ho, who was smiling, pretending to know nothing, strong emotions were about to well up in him.
Since becoming a teacher, it was the first time Kim Sinrok wanted to hit a target wearing a school uniform.
“Didn’t you come to see Jeok-ho?”
“No.”
“No? If so, why are you sneaking into my mansion?”
“Just for the satisfaction.”
“Hahaha! For the satisfaction you say! You are indeed young for such an excuse, huh? Because of it, Baek-ho still treats you like a child, even when you’re 5 thousand years old.”
Looking at Hwang-ho who was smiling widely, Kim Sinrok’s not so good feelings turned even worse.
“From the moment this mansion was built, I gave you permission to freely enter and leave this place. Why trouble yourself doing such dangerous things, hm?”
Kim Sinrok didn’t even give any shameless excuses like before and shut his mouth.
“Don’t do that next time. Enter through the main gate. Your luck will fall.”
“… You have no thoughts of punishing me?”
Kim Sinrok assumed he would receive a punishment, big or small, like Cheong-ho’s disciples, who were punished after sometimes crossing the line when bragging before Hwang-ho.
However, Hwang-ho did nothing but smile, he looked like he had no plan of punishing Kim Sinrok.
“Follow me.”
Kim Sinrok didn’t think of following, but the shackles holding his ankle started moving on their own.
Kim Sinrok, who struggled at first, soon gave up and walked on his own, following behind Hwang-ho.
“…”
Hwang Myeong-ho’s mansion’s rooftop.
Baek-ho was looking down at Hwang-ho and Kim Sinrok who started moving, holding the divine beast in his arms.
***
Eungwang School residential zone.
The walk trail between the 1st year building and 2nd year building.
Middle of the sideroad leading to the Heavenly Wings Mountain.
Under artificial lights, Geun Chansol and Wang Chansol were waiting for me.
“Welcome, junior Jo Uisin-nim!” [2]
GeunChan&WangChan duo bowed 90 degrees while giving a polite greeting.
“Please sit down, junior-nim. The days are still cold, so we put a blanket on the bench in advance!”
“Many thanks for troubling yourself for coming all the way here. We prepared some snacks for junior-nim in case you’re hungry!”
“We didn’t know what junior-nim would like, so here is coffee, green tea, black tea[3], and juice. We prepared only four kinds!”
“Junior-nim, is there something more you want? We will order it straight away!”
“Tell us if you need anything, junior-nim!”
The two politely guided me to the bench.
At the side of the walk trail’s bench, a simple table was installed.
‘The hell, did you set it up just now?’
At a simple table adorned with tablecloth and napkins, refreshments and drinks were prepared.
The gift set of swiss roll and dacquoise with the logo of air hotel Icarus.
Three thermos bottles and one juice bottle.
I felt Geun Chansol’s and Wang Chansol’s desperation anew.
“Thank you. Seniors-nim, you also sit down please.”
“Taking care of even such lacking seniors! Junior Jo Uisin-nim is overflowing with consideration!”
“I’m happy to have such a courteous class 0 junior!”
Geun Chansol’s and Wang Chansol’s flattery didn’t end.
The attitude couldn’t help but change once they become flatterers and kowtowers.
The moment the two kowtowers took seats, they tried to pour me tea and feed me.
I refused their excessive personal service and spoke as I grabbed the juice bottle.
“I want to hear about the Otherworld Domination. And about Supernatural Wave Link.”
At my words, the kowtowers returned to their senses a bit.
“Where did you hear about it, junior-nim?”
“Junior Jo Uisin-nim seems to have his own information routes. And there was also teacher Jegal-nim’s matter.”
“… Um. What to do, Geun-Chan?”
“… What should we do, Wang-Chan?”
The two faced each other as they shared their opinions.
“It doesn’t seem that junior Jo Uisin-nim will use it for something bad? It will be fine.”
“Right. He especially won’t try to harm teacher Jegal-nim. Even at that time this kid saved teacher Jegal-nim.”
“Exactly, exactly. It’s fine. We absolutely are not doing this because we’re thinking about teacher Jegal-nim magazine’s 1st print edition.”
“Exactly! We’re only giving insight to the talented and kind junior Player! As you said, it’s not because we’re blinded by that super-rare limited merchandise!”
The magazine’s 1st print edition’s influence power was amazing.
“Okay. We will tell you, junior-nim!”
“We will tell you everything, but if you don’t give us the magazine, the seniors will be angry.”
“We will be very and deeply angry, junior-nim.”
Blinded by the merchandise, the kowtowers explained the process of the Otherworld Domination.
“Each supernatural wave possesses its own frequency[4]. Because those frequencies are unique, the supernatural waves don’t mix. A research paper was released which stated that the supernatural wave’s frequency changes based on a Player’s feelings and thoughts.”
Ping.
It was a paper released by the research corporation specializing in commercial superpowers under the Namkung Group, Namkung Superpower Research Institute.
‘Research related to Supernatural Wave’s frequency fluctuations based on Player’s ideas and emotions.’
Geun Chansol unfolded a hologram of the latest research paper released by that place as she continued to speak.
“Our hypothesis was that ‘Then if each of us matches our feelings and thoughts and our supernatural wave’s fluctuations match it, won’t they mix?’.”
“I easily succeeded with GeunChan, but it was difficult to match with all of our classmates.”
“Even so, we were determined to give teacher Jegal-nim a special present, so we linked our supernatural waves and combining the supernatural waves of twenty people, we succeeded in the Otherworld Domination.”
As I listened to GeunChan&WangChan’s explanation while reading the research paper, I had an idea.
Supernatural wave’s frequency.
Frequency changes based on the ideas, emotions, thoughts and feelings.
Supernatural Wave Link based on that.
Otherworld Domination through the combined supernatural wave.
‘There is a law like this, huh?!’
The instant I organized my thoughts.
I heard a system notification, and a pop-up window floated up.
⟨The dimension understanding of the Suitable Other Dimension Future Modification[5] had raised.⟩
⟨The skill level of ‘Suitable Other Dimension Future Modification’s Exclusive Menu’ raised from 3 to 4.⟩
Was it because I discovered and understood a concept and a phenomenon which couldn’t be figured out through the game?
The Exclusive Menu’s level has raised.
“Thank you, senior-nim.”
I obtained an unexpected bonus.
After I handed the vinyl wrapped magazine to the two people, GeunChan&WangChan were so happy as if they were about to fly away.
“Thank you for your patronage, junior-nim!”
“Please keep using our services even in the future, junior-nim!”
“And if you plan on printing teacher Jegal-nim magazine again, also choose our class. Alright?”
“Yeah! On Teacher’s Day our class all united and succeeded in the Otherworld Domination, but it was all ruined with the battle royale.”
What is that sound that the bastards, who won by spitting on cooperation in that battle royale, are making?
And there was also something I was curious about.
“Why did you want to give teacher Jegal Jaegeol-nim a ‘Garden’?”
At my question, GeunChan&WangChan suddenly showed strong emotions.
“It’s because of the nasty acting ‘first disciple’ of teacher Jegal-nim!”
“Yeah! He said he received all decent presents from that clinging first disciple. So we thought about a present that that bastard wouldn’t be able to give himself, and ended with this.”
“Even in the previous years, he came earlier than us, so he could give a carnation and go! Even this year!”
“Anyhow, we gave ‘Garden’ as a gift, so we won. In any case, victory!”
A clinging disciple of Jegal Jaegeol with a nasty behavior.
Somehow I thought I may know this person.
***
My dormitory room after parting with GeunChan&WangChan.
I put the shopping bag full of gifts given by GeunChan&WangChan duo under the sofa.
‘I’m worried about what gifts they gave, but let’s check the Exclusive Menu first.’
The menu that opened in the Exclusive Menu was ‘Open surrounding area map’.
In the game, after finishing searching the entered area at least once, it was possible to view the mini-map of the surrounding.
‘It seems difficult to keep it on.’
If I keep the possible to use windows of the Exclusive Menu open for a long time, my spirituality drops and I get a headache.
As I observed the mini-map, my head started to hurt bit by bit.
When I finished possible checks of the mini-map.
Ding.
A message arrived form Jegal Jaegeol’s clinging and nasty old disciple, Hong Gyubin.
[Hong Gyubin] Uisin, nothing occurred at school?
[Hong Gyubin] Contact me immediately if something happens!
Why was Hong Gyubin, who was busy with overwork, suddenly sending a message like this?
‘Did he sense something with Foresight skill?’
If I consider the schedule this weekend, it’s likely he might have sensed something.
[Me] Yes, I’ll contact you. Good luck with overwork.
After checking Hong Gyubin’s reply, I fell asleep without a dream like usual.
***
Next day morning.
The 1st year class 0’s classroom I came to after finishing the morning personal training.
Today I was the last to come.
After finishing greetings with the children and sitting down, Hwang Jiho spoke up to me.
“Jo Uisin, do you have nothing to tell me?”
“Yes.”
Hwang Jiho lowered his voice a bit.
“In the middle of the night, a person broke into my mansion.”
What, someone without fear broke into the Ho tribe’s head’s mansion?
No way, was it an act of one of the traitors in the 12 Zodiac?
“Surprisingly, it was Jeok-ho’s troublemaking descendant.”
… Kim Sinrok, huh!
Even though he didn’t respond to my message, where I said Jeok-ho was seriously injured, I guess he was so worried he secretly went to visit him.
“Hahaha! It’s been a very long time since I enjoyed playing hide and seek with that child. But he seemed to be pouting a bit, even though we played a lot.”
“You didn’t kick him out for trespassing, right?”
“No way. That child spent a few hours observing sleeping Jeok-ho and then quietly returned.”
Hwang Jiho also treated Kim Sinrok like a child, same like Baek Ho-gun, huh?
Hwang Jiho didn’t describe the scene of hide and seek or Kim Sinrok’s pouting in detail, but I could roughly guess what happened.
“Jo Uisin, you didn’t give me a clue beforehand, so I also won’t tell you about ‘that’.”
Hwang Jiho’s eyes were sparkling as he said mysterious words.
His eyes continued to shine, expressing he wanted some kind of reaction from me.
I decided to ignore him.
As I opened the electronic textbook on the hologram, Hwang Jiho snapped first.
“… Not curious?”
“Uh, not curious.”
Hwang Jiho made a very dissatisfied expression, but I continued to ignore him.
I truly wasn’t curious, so it couldn’t be helped.
***
After classes.
And after finishing Newspaper Club activities, where we had a party watching the tag game tournament with the 2nd year class 0’s video, no, with Hwang Jiho’s runaway’s video.
I decided to go to see clothes for the boat party with Ju Su-hyeok and Maeng Hyodon, those two people.
“I heard that you have to make a reservation beforehand here, but thanks to Uisin we can buy clothes here. When did you make a reservation?”
The place we came to was the VIP store of ‘Neuru’[6], Korea’s luxurious high-end fashion brand.
One of the brands under the company Wang Chansol’s family operated and one of the 5 great fashion brands in the world, ‘Neuru’.
It was such a highly popular fashion brand that even through the years, there were many reporters who chanted ‘Do you know Neuru?’ against famous foreigners visiting Korea.
Among the presents Wang Chansol gave, the priority reservation ticket to this place, Neuru’s VIP store, was included.
“Yesterday I received a priority reservation ticket from senior Wang Chansol-nim. I called the contact that came with the priority reservation ticket and was introduced here.”
“Ah, this place is probably always kept empty for the VIPs who visit without prior reservation.”
“There are all kinds of things here.”
The Neuru’s VIP store possessed all kinds of things, from shirts, through tie pins, shoes to even perfumes harmonizing with clothes.
The store staff politely guided even us, who were highschool students.
It may be like that thanks to Ju Su-hyeok, who emitted an aura worthy of cheobol’s child, and using a priority reservation ticket.
“All of it seems the same. Can’t I just roughly choose?”
“Yeah, you can’t.”
“In any case, our time here is set, so we can’t stay here for long. Let’s look around.”
We were only using this store for a set amount of time.
The time was limited, but I was able to browse the store to my heart’s content.
After briefly conveying it was for the boat party, the store staff showed us a tuxedo catalog with real examples.
Ju Su-hyeok asked the store staff several kinds of questions while he carefully chose clothes. Maeng Hyodon chose the first among the recommended tuxedos without any thoughts.
I observed the two, then selected the tuxedo design which didn’t overlap with the two.
“Uh, I think that Person is Neuru’s chief designer. Why is He here?”
Neuru’s chief designer?
At Ju Su-hyeok’s words, I looked through the glass wall into the staff area. Over there I noticed someone who turned his head.
‘I think I saw him somewhere. Did this person appear in the game?’
Thinking like this, I opened the Exclusive Menu, but…
⟨Character not registered in the database. Character data can’t be read.⟩
Perhaps he was an extra with little importance or I was mistaken.
“Hey, didn’t you say you bought a suit before the start of school?”
Maeng Hyodon, who finished paying first, asked.
I did, but I needed one more for the boat party.
“I want to buy one more as a reserve.”
“It’s fucking expensive, but do you have to have two?”
Maeng Hyodon grumbled, but in any case Maeng Hyodon was a guy who didn’t use his money on anything beside eating, so we came to a place selling fucking expensive clothes.
I hated to see Maeng Hyodon being looked down on because of shabby clothes.
“Let’s go to the sky lounge! I made a reservation in the restaurant. The ricotta cheese salad with ribeye steak is delicious there.”
I nodded at the recommendation of Ju Su-hyeok who finished checking out.
After fitting the ordered clothes and explaining when we want for them to be delivered, we headed towards the highest floor of the department store.
When we finished the meal in the restaurant with the view of the Han River and returned to the dormitory, it was late night.
Under the excuse it’s late, I turned away from the chess board even today and went to sleep.
In the end, the day of the chess tournament came without me trying to hold a chess piece even once.
*~*~*
[1] his mind turned hazy – in the meaning his mind is fogged / conscious is dim or because he is confused, not knowing what he should do about it.
[2] “Welcome, junior Jo Uisin-nim!” – Geun Chansol and Wang Chansol are using a formal tone towards Jo Uisin in this conversation, in other words, they’re being extremely polite here.
[3] black tea – this translator is paranoid, so I would like to remind everyone that the black tea is called red (hong) tea in Korean.
[4] Each supernatural wave possesses its own frequency – the frequency in raws is just ‘wave (physic/math)’. As it wouldn’t make much sense in english, I’m using frequency as the closest synonym to wave I could come up with. That said, frequency is a characteristic of a wave… Welp, let’s pray that science won’t come to bite me later.
[5] One who can change Other Dimension’s Future – Before, it was One who can change Otherworld’s Future, but as it may lead to confusion with the otherworlds (dungeons), I changed it. You may expect I’ll keep changing it, because balancing that ambiguous title so it makes sense in English but also being as close to Korean is … extremely hard.
[6] Neuru – the word neuru in Korean means ‘lasting, something that continues for a long time’, but this translator is a bit suspicious that this name may have other meanings. Like the pronunciation is close to ‘Neru’ or ‘Neeru’, depending on how quickly you say it. There is also the possibility of some romanization I didn’t figure out.
Translator’s Note: It bothers me why Hong Gyubin’s Foresight would activate when Jo Uisin checked the minimap tab… Unless it’s the time when Hong Gyubin received a request to investigate him… It still would be a weird coincidence though.
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
Leave a Reply