Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
16. Central Library basement stack room (4)
Hwang Myeong-ho’s mansion, entrance.
Thinking about the usual pattern, the moment the door opened, Snare would run towards me and I would hug it and pet it and…
… That didn’t happen.
“Snare…?”
Snare sitting before the entrance was only softly wagging its tail.
It had no thoughts of coming to me.
I had a terrible premonition.
‘No way, I didn’t come often, so it’s pouting!’
Snare was waiting for me until it had a fight with Baek Ho-gun.
I really fell out with it at that time!
My mind started to become complicated.
‘How can I calm it down? Should I buy and give it something to eat? What do divine beasts like? No matter how much it is, I have to pour out everything so I can feed Snare something it wants to eat. If I’m short on money, I can sell the items I don’t use on the Player’s Market and then…’
Keuk—.
Snare, who was observing me intently, immediately approached me and started to rub its head against me.
I’m lucky.
I guess it didn’t hate me so much yet.
“Why are you so weak, Snare?”
Snare continued to slowly wag its tail.
It looked like it didn’t have energy.
Woof—!
Suddenly, Snare looked behind me, its body stiffening, and then it actively jumped into my arms.
What? I didn’t understand, but I guess I’ll hug it first and then think.
I held Snare in my arms and looked behind me to see Baek Ho-gun who appeared without me noticing.
Woof-woof—!
Snare was on alert against Baek Ho-gun, while burrowing into my arms.
While moaning, it alternated its gaze between me and Baek Ho-gun.
After worrying for a moment what it meant by it, I soon arrived at the answer.
‘It fought with Baek Ho-gun, so it’s telling me to take its side!’
At this outstanding ability to communicate its thoughts, I unconsciously held Snare high and shouted:
“Our Snare is a genius!”
Clever Snare realized I was praising it and fluttered its tail quickly, sticking out its tongue.
“Jo Uisin, there are some times when you look very stupid.”
Hwang Jiho, who after class moved with me, was observing this chain of events.
He was making a ridiculous expression, but I completely didn’t bother with it.
What about that?
Even if I’m stupid, our Snare was such a genius!
***
After finishing dinner with the three siblings, Eun Seoho, Eun Niho and Eun Jaeho.
Holding Snare in my arms, I moved to the living room.
Today Jeok-ho was absent and the only three present were Baek Ho-gun, Hwang Jiho and me.
The tea served by the automatic maid was wisteria flower tea, and the refreshments were pine pollen dasiks[1].
It was served in a tea set engraved with a pattern of wisteria flowers.
‘Hwang Jiho has a good sense like before.’
As wisteria started to bloom around May, it was a choice worthy of the aesthete Hwang Jiho.
“Then let’s get to the point.”
The first topic Hwang Jiho brought out was the Central Library basement stack room incident.
“Hong Gyubin contacted me. This time we decided to settle this case while moving only a minimum number of Hwang Myeong Foundation’s personnel.”
“You’re acquainted with team leader Hong Gyubin-nim?”
“Yeah. Hong Gyubin received a blessing from a bit irritating Jin bastard, so I observed him a few times. And that guy’s chance to become a Player was also interesting.”
Hong Gyubin said that he received a blessing from an annoying Jin because of his Foresight skill.
I guess Hwang Jiho knows who that Jin is.
In addition to the chance why he became a Player.
I didn’t know all the secrets related to Hong Gyubin which weren’t revealed.
“That’s unexpected.”
“What?”
Hwang Jiho’s eyes sparkled while he looked in my direction.
“I thought that the target of your protection are students or weak beings. However, this time the one in danger was a teacher and a powerful person, Jegal Jaegeol.”
Hwang Jiho seemed to dig for the principles of my actions.
I guess he was still observing me.
“Let’s talk about the next topic. Jeok-ho’s report. The Moon Rabbits used the Moon Palace’s techniques and based on its observations, Jin people are gathering on the Korean Peninsula. The number of higher beings who show interest in it has also increased.”
Thinking about the future developments, it was natural.
It was encouraging that the Ho tribe and To tribe knew about it.
It will be easier to handle if they understand that situation.
“Is that so?”
“You’re not particularly surprised?”
“I’m surprised.”
Hwang Jiho had an expression saying he didn’t believe me even a bit.
I stroked Snare, pretending not to know.
“That’s all.”
It seemed that Hwang Jiho finished all the things he wanted to talk about.
My turn was next.
I took out the ancient book given me by Power of Fate from the inventory and passed it to Hwang Jiho.
“Try reading it for a bit.”
“Is this the book you brought out from the basement stack room? Why did you bring this book?”
“Just because.”
“… I guess you have no intention of telling me. Let’s take a look first.”
Even though Hwang Jiho was dissatisfied, he took the ancient book.
The moment he held the book in his hand, his eyes changed.
Paat—!
Hwang Jiho’s eyes and hair immediately changed to golden color.
It was evidence he released his power as Hwang-ho, the mythical category Ho tribe.
Golden light filled the living room.
“Jo Uisin, was this really in the basement stack room?”
The ancient book slowly raised above Hwang Jiho’s hand, emitting light.
It floated in the air before Hwang Jiho’s eyes, turning one page after another.
His beast eyes, glowing with golden light, were filled with shock.
“… The signs of numerous gods or higher beings remain in this book[2]. No, perhaps… it’s connected to ‘Something’ higher and more distant and hazy[3] than higher beings, I don’t know.”
Hwang Jiho’s voice gradually became dry.
“A lot was lost, but this ancient book describes only one ‘power’. It would be better to call it ‘something’… Okay, in this country’s language it would be most accurate to call it ‘Power of Fate’.”
Power of Fate.
That’s the word I didn’t expect to come out.
Was this ancient book describing Power of Fate?
“It’s unknown whether Power of Fate currently exists in this world. Supposing this power does exist as a skill… It could be expressed as nothing but EX rank. Because there is no higher classification. Depending on that skill level, it would be a skill powerful enough to change this world.”
One drop of sweat formed on Hwang Jiho’s forehead and flowed down.
Is it something that makes even that easy-going guy react like this?
Hwang Jiho pressed his temples while canceling his power.
The golden light in the living room disappeared, and then the ancient book lightly landed in his hands.
“This ancient book has no power by itself but is worthy of interpretation. I’ll need a bit of time, but… Leave it to me, Jo Uisin.”
I nodded at Hwang Jiho who spoke seriously.
After the conversation ended, entrance.
“Jo Uisin hyung, goodbye.”
“Uisin oppa, see you next time!”
“Ah, goodbye…”
Eun-ho’s descendants three siblings gave me polite goodbyes.
Hwang Jiho, who got to interpreting the ancient book straight away, didn’t come out to send me off.
He declared that when he doesn’t have to use his power for group work and school work as his other alter-egos, he will devote himself to interpreting the ancient book.
Then the very last one I have to say goodbye to was Snare.
Keeuk…
Snare was restless.
It hectically looked at the leash hanging in the cabinet arranged for Snare near the entrance, then looked at me, then at Baek Ho-gun.
‘It seems that it wants to go on a walk so it can follow me until the road to the dormitory.’
Eun-ho’s descendants three siblings, who are banned from leaving the mansion, are out of the question.
Hwang Jiho was stuck interpreting the ancient book and Jeok-ho was absent.
And it had a fight with the only one remaining Baek Ho-gun, so it couldn’t ask for the escort.
‘Even when worried it’s cute. What should I do?’
My worries about how I should soothe Snare deepened.
“Let’s go.”
The one to break the confrontation was Baek Ho-gun.
Casually and naturally he grabbed the leash and stretched it out towards Snare.
Snare didn’t react straight away, but when it saw the leash, its eyes sparkled brightly, and then it threw itself at Baek Ho-gun.
Woof-woof!
Snare spun around Baek Ho-gun’s feet in circles.
Baek Ho-gun put a leash on Snare with an indifferent expression, and then we left the mansion.
Until we arrived before the 1st year dormitory building, Snare ran between me and Baek Ho-gun while showing its charms.
‘Should I say that the two of them reconciled like this?’
The fight between Baek Ho-gun and Snare ended like that.
But if Snare will be sulking on its own, I’ll be sure to soothe it.
***
Next day, school.
The 1st year class 0 was like usual.
If I had to point out something special, Kim Yuri was making a more detailed plan for the outing with a more excited face than usual.
The children told Kim Yuri what they hoped for during the outing one after one.
Hwang Jiho’s face looked a bit tired.
Besides these, there was nothing particular.
However, I couldn’t spend my time like usual.
‘Today is an important day.’
Afternoon elective class was Gong Cheong-hwon’s Introduction to Enemy Studies.
However, I didn’t participate in class.
It’s the first time after April Fool’s Day when I skip classes.
The place I currently am is my dormitory room.
‘Teacher Gong Cheonghwon-nim, I’m sorry. Han Yi, sorry.’
It was a class with a small number of students, so it will be noticeable, but I couldn’t help it.
Advanced ticket war will be held soon.
It was a ticket for one of the big matches of the Korean Peninsula’s professional baseball.
Today was an advanced ticketing day for Children’s Day Jamsil derby match of the two home teams of the Jamsil Baseball Stadium.
[05/05 14:00 Ju-Oh Dragons vs TC Knights]
Regretfully, the advanced ticketing was during weekdays and even started during the class time, so it couldn’t be helped.
‘If possible, middle VIP seats or terrace seats. If that won’t do, blue seats. And in the worst case, red seats will also be okay…’
Preparations complete.
I read the how-to ticketing guide a few times whenever I had time.
‘I can do it!’
And at 2pm.
Advanced ticketing started.
“Why is the pop-out window not closing!? Server overloaded? What is that bullshit? Are you saying to start from the beginning?”
“Loading? Even with the standard of the technological progress of this world, you’re still doing it?!”
“What? ‘Seat already selected’?”
“Why didn’t the payment go through?!”
After 10 minutes of the lonely chaotic fight.
[Middle VIP seats remaining: 0]
[Terrace seats remaining: 0]
[Blue seats remaining: 0]
…
…
…
In the end, all that remained were countless ‘0’.
Everything was sold out, and only dozens of outfield seats remained.
At the device hologram, the window with the completed payment for an outfield seat opened.
I stared at this miserable sight with dead eyes.
‘Ruined.’
Completely ruined.
If that won’t do, blue seats? Red seats?
What a joke. I can’t even grab a dark blue seat.
In reality, I was pushed out to the most distant seat from the dugout, to the outfield seat. [4]
‘It’s insane to buy an illegal ticket. Should I aim for a field seat cancellation ticket? Will the high grade tickets be released on Children’s Day?’
I may have to completely revise my plan.
Filled with a sense of defeat, I headed towards the 1st year class 0’s classroom to participate in the end-of-day meeting.
“Vice president, why is your face so rotten?”
“What.”
Entering the classroom, Maeng Hyodon gave me a truly cheerful greeting.
I ignored him and sat down at my seat, when Han Yi, who was seated before me, turned around with a ‘swish’ sound.
Han Yi, using Presence Detection skill, always looked like a ghost.
“Why didn’t you come?”
“… I had something to do.”
“Do you want to see my notes?”
“Thank you.”
Han Yi didn’t probe me deeply.
The kids in our class are so kind.
My hurt mind by the blood drying ticketing and picketing was cured.
While I was asking Han Yi about the progress of the Introduction to Enemy Studies.
Ham Geun-hyeong entered with a dark face.
I guess Ham Geun-hyeong heard about the mid-term exams cheating incident.
“You worked very hard to follow the lessons. During this end-of-day meeting the results of mid-term exams were supposed to come out and the schedule of additional exams should be released, but it was delayed a day. I’m going to tell you the reason for this.”
Ham Geun-hyeong informed us of the mid-term exams’ questions leakage incident.
Ham Geun-hyeong’s explanation finished, all the children besides me and Hwang Jiho started to tremble.
“This time not only the teachers and students personally connected to this illegal matter hold responsibility. As they belong to the same school, the managers and supervisors also failed in fulfilling their responsibilities.”
Ham Geun-hyeong didn’t stop at the explanation as if this matter could be simply handled.
“We didn’t give our best and put all efforts into protecting the fairness of results. I’m sorry.”
“Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim…”
There were trash-like teachers who acted wild in Eungwang School, but the reason why Eungwang School wasn’t ruined was because there were good teachers like this.
‘As expected from my Playable Character.’
Ham Geun-hyeong ended the meeting in a bit of a heavy mood.
“That’s all for the end-of-the-day meeting. Go home.”
As a vice class president and moreover for my Playable Character, I had something to say.
“Teacher-nim, we’re planning an outing, do you have time this weekend?”
*~*~*
[1] Dasiks — dasik is a type of cookie (hangwa) made by kneading seed flour or pollen with honey.
[2] numerous gods or higher beings remain in this book — there is a comma between gods and higher beings in raws. Now, comma isn’t exactly used the same as in English, it could be just a pause, yes, but it could also mean ‘and’, ‘or, or be just a fancy period, or change of thoughts. It sounds similar to English, but believe me it feels very different in Korean. The gist of it is I’m not exactly sure if it was meant as ‘or’ as Hwang Jiho is changing the term he wants to use, or there are some ‘real gods’ out there who are called ‘gods’.
[3] hazy – this word in raws means ‘something which is vague’ as if it’s so far away that you can’t hear or see it clearly, or a memory being so old that you remember it only hazily.
[4] stadium seats – so this translator couldn’t figure out what the seats at the baseball stadium are called, as everyone seems to have their own naming system, so here is a map:
[ID: Map of baseball stadium’s seat block. The seats around the foul area are marked as outfield seats. The most outer half-circle seat blocks around the playing field are dark blue seats. The inner seats along the foul lines to the infield area are red seats. Then they’re blue seats until it gets closer to the center and they change into terrace seats. The seats directly behind the home base are Middle VIP seats. End of ID.]
Translator’s note:
*holds Jo Uisin into the sky* He is a genius!
Everyone: He is a genius!
*Snare appears!*
Everyone: … Okay, maybe sometimes he lacks intelligence.
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
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