Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
9. After the rain stops (3)
There were numerous article headlines pointing at this incident.
Most noticeable were articles about performance and the interview with the famous player ‘Great Archer of the Blue Sky Ham Geun-hyeong’, currently employed as a teacher in the Eungwang School.
[The great performance in the dead of the night of the Blue Sky Archer, the teacher of the elite Eungwang School. He subjected dozens of Enemies alone.]
[The heavenly archer who alone blocked the otherworldly outbreak at the Hongcheon County’s ski resort 20 years ago, the Great Archer of the Blue Sky defends the Eungwang District this time around]
They introduced Ham Geun-hyeong as a Player who was first to notice the Enemies and single-handedly repel dozens of the demonic beasts, when the PlayerSAT-K experienced a ‘suspicious malfunction’.
The interview with Ham Geun-hyeong was short and concise.
‘I only did what a teacher should do to protect his students.’
I checked the comments while thinking it’s an interview worthy of a true teacher like Ham Geun-hyeong.
[Because there is such a person, I can sleep at ease in the heavens of the otherworldly Korean Hell today.[1]]
[Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim is a famous superhuman in the Player industry. 1 tier marksman category, kk. Sir would do well as a professional team master if he wasn’t a teacher. Even now, it seems the scouts are coming?]
[I checked the time of the Enemy attack and it was a little bit after 12pm (shivers) I live in Eungwang District. I’m so thankful I’m tearing up… If something went wrong, I would die without even knowing why]
[Did Player’s Association see it? You’re still standing thanks to teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim. If you receive taxes, do a little bit better!]
As expected from my playable character and my homeroom teacher.
Ham Geun-hyeong receiving praise made me very happy, so I made as many screenshots of the articles as possible.
Of course, the articles weren’t about Ham Geun-hyeong only.
The rise of Choe Pyeondeuk’s name was unavoidable.
Because with just seeing the certified copy of the real estate register, you could confirm that Choe Pyeondeuk was the owner of the collapsed buildings in front of the Eungwang School.
‘This case is also a spin-off of the Fantasy Controversy, isn’t it? It’s like adding fuel to a fire that was going out.’
In the content of the next opened article…
The disaster sight of the Players who were lucky enough to escape the Fantasy Controversy.
Brief summary of the illegal adult entertainment business established by Choe Pyeondeuk in the education protection zone, just under the nose of the Eungwang School.
In addition, it described the Players found underneath ‘a building that suspiciously collapsed’ in their disgusting outfits.
‘All the bastards caught in this case will be charged with criminal punishment.’
Those bastards were the reason of the Player’s Association’s employees’ anger and overtime.
According to what I heard from Hong Gyubin, they plan to handle this case very strictly while holding hands with the investigation office.
Hong Gyubin said the cooperation was easy to establish with the help of the veteran.
‘Seems like Iron Arm Song Manseok decided to join in.’
Being involved in the Fantasy Controversy wasn’t the only reason, but it was also because Song Manseok’s grandson was enrolled at Eungwang School.
There was no way those fucked up places in front of the Eungwang School, would look good in Song Manseok’s eyes.
‘Let’s check the comments.’
Did you even put an alarm on the keyword ‘Fantasy’?
The article was filled with comments by what I assumed to be fans of Yeom Junyeol who wrote the Fantasy list.
[This time it’s Eungwang School’s teacher? Junyeol’s school teacher? That’s crazy, I’m going crazy.]
[It’s Korea’s most prestigious highschool where God King teachers-nim like Blue Sky Archer are Why such trash… Luckily he was caught now hehehe;]
[It’s so heartwarming that those shitheads turned upside down.]
[Fan+syLS[2] latest update is finished, members-nim. Download it fast before they take it down again hehe]
This time the updated Fantasy List not only included Choe Pyeondeuk, but also Lee Lena’s parents.
‘Finally, Lee Lena’s parents were added.’
The identification photo of Lee Lena’s parents they put was very decent.
However, the most recent news written in the remark column of the Fantasy List weren’t particularly decent.
[After jumping down the Hwang Myeong Tower half-naked, they showed symptoms of delirium. The Hwang Myeong Tower management team reported them a few times for property damage, obstruction of business and obscene performance]
Because of the strong rainstorm that day, the rooftop scene wasn’t properly filmed by CCTV.
But that was probably Jeok-ho’s work.
‘They almost lost their souls, so they won’t harass Lee Lena for the time being.’
Among the articles, one reporter was lucky enough to secure a well-preserved video record and obtained my picture.
The article was titled: ‘A mysterious person standing on the degenerated establishment, who are they?’
It was a picture of me changed into Yong Jegeon with the Player’s Trajectory, wearing a crow mask and surrounded by red lightning.
‘Because I was wearing clothes hiding my build, no one should have recognized it was Yong Jegeon… Probably.’
I endured discomfort and wore large clothes, even a mask, and also changed my voice.
It should be okay.
‘It will be okay if they won’t create a weird title again.’
Fortunately, titles didn’t change after I checked the status window.
It was thanks to directing the bulk of public attention on the Great Archer of the Blue Sky.
As expected, my homeroom teacher is great and outstanding.
***
Monday.
Even today, the sky was deep blue.
The weather on its own was clear and beautiful.
But because of the still persistent spring frost, the air was a bit cold.
It was nice weather that made you want to endure the cold and ride an airboard into the sky.
In the good mood, I finished outdoor morning training and headed to the dormitory cafeteria, where I found students talking only about Ham Geun-hyeong.
“The Teacher Head of the Student Department is amazing. Did you see the scene when he caught the Enemies at the school’s main gates? The moment they smashed into the barrier and were stunned, it was a one-shot insta-kill. It was heavily edited and only a part was cut out, but even just watching this, it was fantastic.”
“It was a Gwangrim, right? I thought only his face was scary, but even his Gwangrim is terrifying. I shouldn’t mess with him.”
“He is the homeroom teacher of the 1st year class 0? Class 0 kids are lucky.”
Yeah, we’re lucky to have Ham Geun-hyeong as a homeroom teacher.
From the morning, I was filled with pride about my homeroom teacher.
Aside from Ham Geun-hyeong, the story of Choe Pyeondeuk was also a hot topic.
The affair grew bigger because the Player’s Association disclosed their plans to put a more than 1 billion bounty on Choe Pyeondeuk.
“Did you see announcements on the party recruitment notice board? There is nothing else than Choe Pyeondeuk’s hunting parties’ recruitment.”
“You can join them in the second half of the 1st year, right? I had that dog-like class with Choe Pyeondeuk. I also want to go to catch him. Can’t 1st years form a party?”
“It’s against school rules. I’m gonna donate an item card.”
The Eungwang School actively supported the students’ autonomous otherworldly subjugations.
Every day, students recruited the otherworldly subjugations parties on the Eungwang School’s homepage, but it was an uncommon event to create a party with a goal of bounty hunting.
‘In the game, you also could participate in the Wanted Player subjugation party with the Eungwang School’s notice board.’
After opening and checking the hologram, I didn’t see any otherworldly conquest parties, but it was filled with Choe Pyeondeuk hunting parties.
[Choe Pyeondeuk, we’re gonna catch you now ^오^ Bounty 1/n, users of the insight type and tracking type skills are welcomed (7/10)]
[Party leader doesn’t need a bounty. Instead, I hope for a one-to-one interview before handing over Choe Pyeondeuk to the Association. Detailed consultation through the device. (9/10)]
[!OpeningOfTheGreatBountyHuntersEra!♡100%coop/law◑➫Start ! PyeondeukBareHandHuntingParty✰🟊Week🟊OnlyEating🟊ThenBeating◐☞NOSTRESS☜Zero♡feeForRecoveryItemsSupport§Go€Get§🟊※Anyone※♫Can§Participate♫(10/10)] [3]
[Let’s fool around together and then never meet again! Recruitment of the support party for Choe Pyeondeuk’s hunting party. We’re donating the recovery and assistance type consumable item cards. Full party, we set up an additional party. (10/10)]
[Choe Pyeondeuk hunting support party 2 (8/10)]
Those were such nice parties I wanted to violate the school rules and apply to participate.
‘I feel sorry because the parties won’t be able to achieve their goals.’
As the days go by, the bounty will grow, but the person to claim that bounty will never appear.
Because Choe Pyeondeuk will taste hell until he dies in the basement of the Eungwang School’s Silver Shadow Building.
‘Except for Choe Pyeondeuk, all Players related to this case were arrested, so there probably won’t be any other bounties.’
Numerous Players were caught.
They held the biggest sin of negligence and working together with the Ung tribe on fostering Enemies in the Eungwang School’s protection zone.
Additionally, the number of charges about usage of illegal entertainment establishments, crime assistance, drug usage and trade, human trafficking, exceeded the double digits.
It wasn’t questioned in articles, but there were also the people involved in manipulation of the PlayerSAT-K satellite signal, so the Player’s Association would suffer.
‘Hong Gyubin will have to work overtime throughout March.’
Hong Gyubin was a sneaky character type.
As before, he was a target to be vigilant about, but it was a bit pitiful to watch him go through all those hardships.
‘Should I send a message with my regards?’
Even the Player’s Association Korean Branch was a dogshit mess, so there was no answer.
It wouldn’t be a good experience, but what else could I do?
Work hard to make a clean Association, Hong Gyubin.
I sent a simple message with my regards.
[Me] Hello. I saw the news. Team leader Hong Gyubin-nim suffers a lot. Please stay strong.
The answer came before even a minute passed since I sent it.
[Hong Gyubin] Thank you, Uisin ^^ There is a strong temperature variation these days, so be careful of the cold. Nothing unusual at school? Please tell me straight away when anything happens.
As usual, Hong Gyubin sent a nice, sharp response.
I didn’t reply to him, because I didn’t want to disturb him again.
It wasn’t a deliberate ghosting. Anyway, no.
‘The Trainer Ung was caught by Jeok-ho, Hwang Myeong Foundation fired three directors and the Eungwang School fired five teachers. The Player’s Association is also gonna change the water in their fish tank.’
Both the Eungwang School and the Association were gradually becoming clean.
I ate breakfast and headed towards the 1st year class 0 classroom with extremely light steps.
Until I saw Hwang Jiho there, waiting for me.
“You did a good job.”
Could he have really been waiting here for me?
There was little traffic in the direction of the class 0 entrance, so there was no one around.
“As a chairman, my head hurts. Thanks to Choe Pyeondeuk I had to clean up three directors and five teachers. The gap in school administration is enormous. I have to check all the documents again because of Choe Pyeondeuk’s group fooling with them. Did you know that Choe Pyeondeuk was in charge of the Korea-China-Japan teenage Player school exchange program committee? That’s what that dog bastard tried to thwart with. We have to start from the planning stage again.”
What is this headache nonsense?
Hwang Jiho made a face like he would die and his eyes sparkled for something interesting.
However, today I was in a very refreshing mood, so I could be merciful.
I decided to give a little help to Hwang Jiho who pretended to be busy.
“Wasn’t Choe Pyeondeuk in charge of full-teacher screening up till now? There were many people, even with abilities, who were unable to raise because they didn’t pay the bribe. If those people rise to the position of full-teachers, there will be more people to work with.”
“I’m guessing you want to recommend a teacher?”
As expected from the 5 thousand years old Ho tribe member, Hwang Jiho noticed quickly.
‘That teacher was held in strong check, probably because his major overlapped with Choe Pyeondeuk’s.’
It was a person who was outstanding in the game, but had no money or background and couldn’t become a full-time teacher, only being a temporary short-term teacher.
He was a good person who was active as a volunteer at an orphanage for the past 10 years and an excellent Player with specs.
He was a being who loved being a teacher at the Eungwang School, even though he received a poor salary and had to endure Choe Pyeondeuk marking his territory.
He was also one of the very few successors of Teohokwon in Korea.
“His name is Gong Cheong-hwon[4].”
Gong Cheong-hwon was a teacher and benefactor of Han Yi, from the 1st year class 0.
In the game, he couldn’t become a full-time teacher before he died.
In this world, he will be able to achieve his dream.
‘Both Gong Cheong-hwon and Han Yi will be happy.’
It seemed that happy events for our class will continue.
My heart became warm when I thought about Han Yi’s happy expression.
The Introduction to Enemy Studies, the lecture which Choe Pyeondeuk was in charge of, will soon change to Gong Cheong-hwon.
When I entered the 1st year class 0 classroom with Hwang Jiho, after I finished Gong Cheong-hwon’s story…
Kim Yuri shouted and ran towards me and Hwang Jiho the moment she saw us.
“Uisin, Jiho!”
Did something happen again?
Kim Yuri had the brightest smile I’ve ever seen till now.
Kim Yuri showed us a classroom which was a bit covered by her body before.
“Our class attendance rate has risen!”
In the classroom were Maeng Hyodon and Lee Lena.
“See! Our class has six people now!”
Kim Yuri had a moved voice.
She said she liked to use a spacefull classroom, but having only four classmates must have felt lonely.
Kim Yuri even quietly worried about the attendance rate.
“Lena, continue to go to school in the future!”
“……Okay!”
Thanks to Lee Lena’s parents’ mental attack disappearing over the weekend, she looked a bit brighter.
I thought it may take a bit longer to fully recover, but was glad she came today.
It was Maeng Hyodon and Lee Lena’s first day at school, so the attention would be split in half between them and the burden on Lee Lena would lessen.
‘Kim Yuri will do very well with Lee Lena, because she even became friends with An Dain who completely closed her heart to others.’
Under Kim Yuri’s leadership, Han Yi and Lee Lena exchanged introductions, even though it was awkward.
Worthy of Kim Yuri, who in the game maxed levels of communication ability, sociability and popularity power.
It seemed the three became close in the instant.
On the side, Maeng Hyodon stared intently at Kim Yuri who was a span of a one hand taller than him.
“She is the class president…”
Even though he said he was not curious at the Fighting Club.
I guess he was curious about the person who cares about the attendance rate.
Feeling Maeng Hyodon’s gaze, Kim Yuri walked towards him and greeted him brightly:
“Hyodon, welcome! Let’s get along during this 1st year.”
“Oh, uh….”
Maeng Hyodon made an embarrassed face and turned his eyes away at Kim Yuri’s energetic words.
He was from the boy middle school, and furthermore, even in that boy middle school, he used to walk with his head in the clouds.
The situation where a peer and a stranger of the opposite sex suddenly come up to him to talk was too difficult for the innocent highschool student, Maeng Hyodon.
Meaning Hyodon couldn’t even answer and frantically looked around until his gaze settled at the center of the classroom’s electric blackboard.
1st year class 0’s motto.
‘Time to go to school’ [5]
Just by looking at Maeng Hyodon’s expression, I could tell he was thinking ‘What kind of dogshit bullshit is it?’.
“What is that motto? Did the vice president write it?’
I didn’t.
However, before I could answer.
Maeng Hyodon crossed the river with no return.
“Isn’t that motto foolish? Who wrote it?”
“I wrote it.”
The one to answer Maeng Hyodon’s words was Ham Geun-hyeong who arrived in the classroom.
It looked like Ham Geun-hyeong came early because it was Maeng Hyodon’s first day at school, and he was worried.
Maeng Hyodon froze when he saw Ham Geun-hyeong.
Without caring about Maeng Hyodon, the class bell rang indifferently.
[Bye—Bye Bye Bye Byeee—!]
It seemed that the broadcasting club and the band club that was in charge of the class bell today sucked their anger[6] and the song selection of all things was So Myoung’s song ‘Bye bye’.
This Korean trot song about ‘parting’ was usually used to express the meaning of ‘Go to hell!’.
It would be a song selection made for Choe Pyeondeuk who went missing and a large number of corrupted directors and teachers who were arrested.
‘Articles appeared on Sunday. Did you record it in the meantime?’
The electric guitar and drums created a base for a powerful music accompaniment for the husky head voice of the vocalist who shouted, filled with desperation.
‘Such a high quality without reason.’
The club activities start from today, so the one who produced the class bell had to be 2nd and 3rd year students.
The class bell disregarded the original song completely and only endlessly repeated ‘Bye Bye Byee’.
‘Seems like Eungwang School’s seniors build up a lot of emotions.’
Maeng Hyodon’s comment.
Ham Geun-hyeong’s entrance’s timing.
The class bell selection.
The 1st year class 0 was overturned by a silly mood.
As if the recording was exactly 1 minute long, the class bell didn’t fade out, and it ended with shouting ‘Bye Bye Bye Byee-ack!’.
Thump thump.
After the class bell ended completely, Ham Geun-hyeong, who stood in the door of the dead silent classroom, moved towards the teacher’s desk.
Frozen Maeng Hyodon reacted to Ham Geun-hyeong’s movement and hurriedly sat down.
Bang!
Maybe because Maeng Hyodon was very embarrassed, he banged his head against the desk.
The sound of Maeng Hyodon’s knucklehead hitting against the extremely strengthened ceramic material surface of the desk was quite loud.
If it was a very ordinary desk used in other highschools, it would have broken into pieces.
“Maeng Hyodon, let’s use the school equipment carefully.”
“…. Yes.”
The ears of Maeng Hyodon, who slammed his head against the desk, were deep red.
“And follow that foolish motto in the future.”
“…. Yes.”
Ham Geun-hyeong delivered the last hit with a smile.
Maeng Hyodon burned out completely and his mental strength reached 0.
“Hahahaha!”
Finally, everyone from the 1st year class 0, excluding Maeng Hyodon, burst out into laughter for a long time.
Lee Lena laughed so much she had a bit of tears in the corners of her eyes.
After Maeng Hyodon calmed down a little, the 1st year class 0 used the day-start meeting to exchange self-introductions.
Maeng Hyodon and Lee Lena’s first day at school ended very smoothly.
***
After classes ended.
It was the start of the first club activity.
In front of the clubroom located in the General Club Hall, in the central zone.
‘Newspaper club.’
Hwang Jiho spoke while I stood and looked up at the notice board.
“I couldn’t even imagine the newspaper club. You don’t fit there.”
I often read newspapers, but nowhere in the world, wanting to read them is the same as wanting to be a reporter.
‘Even I think me and newspapers aren’t compatible.’
I didn’t answer Hwang Jiho’s words and entered the clubroom.
Hwang Jiho’s eyes twinkled as he followed behind me.
I chose this club solely for one person.
‘No, if I save this person, this will be for the whole Eungwang School so it isn’t exactly for only one person.’
In the newspaper clubroom were about twenty people including both freshmen and seniors.
The freshmen’s seats were marked with name tags, so we could soon find our seats.
“Jo Uisin, our seats are here.”
“Okay.”
Hwang Jiho and I sat down.
Before a small electric board stood the newspaper club’s advisor, who spoke as he pointed at the device code written on the board.
“I’m advisor Jegal Jaegeol. Contact me if anything happens. Then freshmen, let’s start with the introductions.”
Jegal Jaegeol, the newspaper club advisor and the head of the school affairs department.
He was a righteous teacher who in the early stage of the game story, took upon the curse instead of the students and left the stage to slowly die within an year.
I decided it would be most efficient to prevent Jegal Jaegeol’s death if I participate in this club activities.
“Hello, I’m 1st year class 0, Jo Uisin. Nice to meet you.”
I prepared the groundwork to prevent Jegal Jaegeol’s death.
Choe Pyeondeuk disappeared from the Eungwang School.
I secured the list of illegally admitted students, who entered with Choe Pyeondeuk’s special screening process, thanks to Jeok-ho.
Now was the time to play the next move.
*~*~*
[1] I can sleep at ease in the heavens of the otherworldly Korean Hell today – First off, this translator isn’t sure whether this person is speaking about literally sleeping or they are planning on dying peacefully. Second, I don’t remember if I explained the Korean Hell meme before or just changed it to something like the ‘ditch’, ‘hell of inequality’ or something… Well, reminder (or explanation), Korean Hell is a meme/slang which calls out to the horrific class inequality in Korea. You know, just natives looking at their country’s politics and social norms and saying ‘we’re living in shit’. Korean Hell just says: We’re living in really deep shit.
[2] Fan+syLS – raws plays with the ‘Fantasy’ word to hide it. If you remember, it was mentioned ‘Fantasy List’ keyword was banned, so people can’t just write it normally now.
[3] This one crazy named party recruitment – I wish I could explain half of the word plays there, which I couldn’t even start to explain… But the more I look at it, the more I believe that this group’s name may be the biggest hint about the greatest secrets in this novel… Why? I don’t know. I just stared at it for such a long time, I’m starting to see prophecies in this bullshit. If you want to descend into madness with me, I’m afraid you can only analyze this sentence in Korean. It’s very much impossible for it to be translated into English.
[4] Cheong-hwon – Fun fact! Did you know that Cheong-hwon means clear sky and warm weather?
[5] Time to go to school – I realized it’s a better translation than ‘Go to school on time’.
[6] sucked their anger– actually Jo Uisin might have meant ‘suck on drugs’ or ‘washed their anger’, there could be numerous interpretations of this sentence.
Translator’s note: This is the only novel which makes me double check the meaning of every word, because I feel like the author hid the secret message in every random sentence.
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