Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
[1]
“Teacher-nim, what happened for you to be here?”
There was a strange edge to Seong Gukeon’s voice.
‘Is he wary of teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim?’
15 years ago, those two people were a teacher and a student.
There was strange tension flowing between them.
“Let’s eat a meal together next time. I’ll be going.”
“Yes? Teacher-nim, you’re just going?”
Seong Siwan spoke flustered, but Ham Geun-hyeong turned around without any regrets and was about to leave.
Seong Gukeon spoke up to Ham Geun-hyeong who turned his back.
“Are you going to just go? Who knows what that old disciple, who caused only trouble, will do with teacher-nim’s young disciple?”
“Won’t it be troublesome if I stay here?”
“Teacher-nim is a good person. I also respect you as a Player. However, teacher-nim…”
“I know what you want to say.”
Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim spoke calmly:
“You don’t have any animosity towards me, but you’re worried that because I act like a geezer, I’ll hinder your junior, right?”
It was the first time I saw teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim use such a blunt word.
Him using such an extreme word was surprising, but the attitude of Seong Gukeon, who didn’t deny it, was even more surprising.
I thought that he would pass it with ‘Hahee! Geezer? What are you talking about?!’ while laughing cheerfully, but he kept his mouth shut.
“Hyung! What is that sound? Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim looks scary, but he is a person who you can communicate with well no matter what.”
Seong Siwan covered for Ham Geun-hyeong while politely dissing his menacing face.
On the other hand, Seong Gukeon, who heard Seong Siwan’s words, made a disbelieving expression.
“… Communicate well?”
“Yes! From the beginning, he didn’t come here to scold or monitor us. He came because I wanted to treat him to lunch. Hyung, what happened? Why are you suddenly like this?”
“You know that you can’t thoughtlessly offer a meal to a school staff, right?”
“I didn’t take teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim’s class this semester. He is the head of the Student Departament, but he is not in charge of 3rd years’ guidance and… there is no duty relation, so it’s fine. Come in, teacher-nim.”
Worthy of the Earthly Wings Council president, Seong Siwan dealt with the situation and led Seong Gukeon and teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim inside.
Sarangchae[2] of the modern family hanok[3].
Even after we passed a wide daecheong-maru[4] and arrived at a nu-maru[5], the two, the teacher and student, seemed awkward.
‘Those two are unlike usual.’
But it was difficult to compare because the scene of the two meeting didn’t come out in the game.
It was certain that the two of them looked very different now from when I met them separately.
“Idam, teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim and Gukeon hyung came.”
“….”
Gye Idam, who was examining the willow, which was visible in the front backyard of the nu-maru, stood up from his seat.
He wordlessly bowed 90 degrees, welcoming the two people.
Like before, he seemed reticent as if he was practicing silence.
“I and Idam will prepare a meal. Please sit down.”
“I’ll also help.”
“Uisin, you sit down. I can’t shove around a junior who came to our house for the first time, right? In any case, mom left everything prepared before she left, so there is nothing to do.”
Looking at how he shoved around Gye Idam, it seemed he didn’t come here for the first time.
After the two Wing Council’s seniors disappeared.
I carefully said:
“I don’t know what happened between the two of You, but teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim is neither a geezer, nor a Person who would hinder students.”
And I was about to say ‘And senior Seong Gukeon-nim isn’t a Person who would bring his junior to cause an incident’, but when I looked at it objectively, I shut my mouth as it was different from reality.
Because just looking at the in-game record of Seong Gukeon and his junior, Jeon Muyeong, they caused an enormous amount of incidents.
Even after hearing my words, Seong Gukeon didn’t withdraw the doubtful look from his eyes.
“I made a lot of mistakes with Gukeon. It’s natural to think so.”
“… Teacher-nim, unlike the dog-bastards at that time, you didn’t act like this for self-protection but out of worry for students.”
“As a result of me choosing to act like this, you guys got hurt.”
They seemed to be talking about events from 15 years ago.
At the same time, Eungwang School became a doghouse during Hwang Jiho’s indifference.
In that mess was a self-proclaimed geezer, a principled teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim.
And Eungwang School’s worst troublemaker, with an unconventional action pattern, the first ranking place and the Student Council president, Seong Gukeon.
It was sure there were conflicts between the two.
‘Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim said he was reminded of Seong Gukeon when looking at me, while talking about the story from 15 years ago.’
And teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim always acted carefully and made considerate choices towards students.
‘If it was 15 years ago, it would be the first time teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim entered Eungwang School.’
It would be impossible for him to adjust straight away in that mess during his first year at work.
The fact that even Ham Geun-hyeong wasn’t a perfect teacher from the start, made him feel unexpectedly human.
“When talking with teacher-nim in the past, I had a feeling of hitting and screaming at a wall.”
For him to even say that, I became a bit curious about the inflexible version of Ham Geun-hyeong.
Should I look for video records of Ham Geun-hyeong from that period later?
“Teacher-nim, you have changed, eh?”
Even though Seong Gukeon was confused, he was convinced.
But it was not that teacher Ham Geun-hyeong-nim had changed, but rather it was that he didn’t know how to communicate with students at the time.
“My apologies. I misunderstood teacher-nim.”
“There is no need to apologize. I’m a geezer even now.”
“Hahee! Geezer? What are you talking about?! Teacher-nim really can’t be a geezer, because you talk like this. If you visit Yeoui Island[6], I’ll introduce you to the true geezers.”
“Done. Not curious.”
Seong Gukeon, who laughed cheerfully, and Ham Geun-hyeong, who responded bluntly.
It seemed that they now returned to be the two people I knew.
“Lunch preparations are finished!”
When the two people had a sparse conversation, the lunch with buckwheat dishes in the center was prepared.
The most delicious was Hongcheon buckwheat chongtteok[7].
The spicy and refreshing taste of buckwheat pancake tightly filled with radish and napa cabbage was memorable.
“Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim, you were the vice homeroom teacher during Gukeon hyung’s 3rd year?”
“Yeah. At the time their homeroom teacher was often absent for business trips, so I was almost no different from their homeroom teacher.”
“Awesome. Why didn’t you tell us about that all along? Please share some of Gukeon hyung’s 3rd year highschool stories!”
“Gukeon was exactly the same in the past as now.”
The two adults had something similar to reconciliation, and with Seong Siwan in the middle, the meal conversation continued in a favorable direction.
In particular, Seong Gukeon’s 3rd year of highschool episode was worthy of class 0.
The incident, where the dormitory manager, who was living at the dormitory because they were indicted without detention for a minor crime, made a fuss saying that they were haunted by a ghost.
The incident, where the devices were manipulated to show crimes and predicted sentences of the dormitory managers and teachers, who were backing them up, every time they entered the classroom.
The incident, where after the director board was about to gang up to make a fuss, the portal leading to the door of the exclusive director board meeting room was changed to the old school’s rusty restroom.
The incident, where nonalcoholic champagne was flowing from the school fountain for three days after firing corrupt dormitory managers.
As expected, the scale of my Playable Character’s jokes were extraordinary and his sense of justice was overflowing.
“Ah, right. Gukeon hyung, why did you come here today?”
After the change of the conversation topic, Seong Gukeon smirked as he spoke:
“Because you called that you’re going back to your home in Hongcheon. I wanted to hear about the progress on the task I gave you.”
“You’re talking about investigating ghost stories, correct?”
At Seong Gukeon’s words, Seong Siwan shortly briefed them about the ghost stories investigation we did.
Secret passage hidden between Guideline Club Hall and Student Council Hall.
Old type simulator hidden in that place.
His grandfather’s video in the boss room.
Connection between ghost gates and ley lines on Heavenly Wings Mountain that I investigated.
Seong Siwan finished the explanation, which was neat enough that even teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim, who didn’t know the situation, could easily understand.
“In addition, I wanted to speak to you about my guesses after investigating the information in grandfather’s study today.”
Did he finish investigating the study left behind the previous Korea Branch’s head in the morning?
While Seong Siwan explained like this, he sent everyone a data file through the device’s data sharing.
“Grandfather was researching the connection of the Korean Peninsula’s ley lines with ghost gates. Comparing it with the Earthly Wings Council’s activity records, the wild boars were frequently appearing in the areas around the ghost gates’ locations, in other words, in location of ley lines.”
Seong Siwan opened a hologram comparing the Heavenly Wings Mountain map I sent him beforehand, with the research data left by the previous Korea Branch’s head, while he spoke.
“I think that something is trying to destroy Eungwang School’s ley lines and grandfather knew about this and left a warning by burying it in the ghost stories. Gukeon hyung, you should have also noticed that while you were enrolled, correct?”
After Seong Gukeon nodded, Seong Siwan continued his words as if he gained confidence.
“And the being, which is trying to destroy the ley lines, is probably a Jin. So hyung told us to watch out for Jin people and descendants. And because of it, grandfather couldn’t personally pass a warning.”
Clap clap clap.
After Seong Siwan completely finished speaking, Seong Gukeon clapped slowly.
“Correct. Excellent.”
Seong Gukeon looked around us as he spoke.
“There is a Jin aiming at this Korean Peninsula. But I have only indirect evidence and my own conviction. And their invasion probably already started in Eungwang School which has the most powerful Power of Earth.”
I had a vague guess when observing Seong Gukeon’s actions in the game, but I guess he sensed the existence of Dark Mastermind and moved.
He continued his words:
“The influence I can exert in Eungwang School is limited. I’m sorry for testing you. Still, I hope you will help. As it’s a dangerous matter, I’ll give you time to think.”
Seong Gukeon looked at Seong Siwan, Gye Idam and me[8] in turn, and then his gaze stopped in front of teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim.
“You too, teacher-nim.”
***
Next day’s morning, Hongcheon.
I stayed at Seong Siwan’s house and teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim spent a night at painter Hong Gyeongbok’s shack.
‘Seong Siwan and teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim will naturally share Seong Gukeon’s goals. I don’t know how Gye Idam will turn out.’
It seemed that Seong Gukeon had no thoughts of hearing our answers straight away.
It looked like he didn’t want someone to reply ‘I’ll cooperate in this dangerous matter’ because they were swept up in the atmosphere.
‘If I move together with Seong Gukeon, a few scenarios in the future will be easily dealt with, right?’
In particular, scenarios that will occur outside of school.
There were developments, which were difficult to deal with my status as a student.
‘The number of moves I can play has increased.’
While thinking like this, I organized device messages in a good mood.
The first messages to check were in the group chat with Jang Namuk and Yu Sang-hun.
[Yu Sang-hun] ?
[Yu Sang-hun] Hey
There was nothing but two new messages sent by Yu Sang-hun.
‘There are no messages from Jang Namuk.’
Jang Namuk’s last message was when he confirmed the coordinates I told him about and said he was going to catch To Sihu.
‘Did something happen? It seems Yu Sang-hun is also concerned about what is going on.’
Jang Namuk was a person who would give an excruciatingly detailed explanation of how it ended, even if he was tired.
I was worried, but I had a more pressing matter right now.
“It seems that we’re overflowing with power, eh? If it’s this much, even Association won’t be sending reinforcement, right? Because the Association is suffering from a lack of manpower every day. Hehee!”
Gari Mountian’s Muswimaljae, where warning phenomena were detected.
The ones to respond to the Association’s Player recruitment before conquest, were painter Hong Gyeonbok, teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim, Seong Siwan, Gye Idam and me.
In addition, there was Seong Gukeon and his personal secretary Jeon Muyeong, who joined this morning.
It was nothing but seven people, but it was a powerful team of talents who attended the Republic of Korea’s most prestigious highschool and veteran Players.
“Then let’s divide into an attack and defense team. First of all, assemblyman-nim and I will be joining the attack team. Supposing there is no problem.”
“I hoped to go with Gukeon hyung!”
“I have no problem being anywhere.”
In the middle of planning party allocation.
I raised my hand to speak.
“Can I and teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim, just the two of us, be on the defense team?”
Everyone made surprised faces as me, the youngest, speaking like this probably sounded a bit daring.
“Ooo, Uisin comes out strong.”
“If you pour power into the attack team, you can clear it fast, correct?”
Gazes turned to Ham Geun-hyeong.
It seemed that they thought of following my homeroom teacher-nim’s opinion.
“Got it.”
Ham Geun-hyeong approved straight away.
The eyes of Seong Gukeon, who observed his light attitude, were very peculiar.
I guess he was comparing it with the inflexible geezer from the past.
Zzzig… Zzzig…
“It’s an otherworldly crack.”
Soon, together with sparks, the warning rang out from the smart devices.
SSR rank dungeon occurred, matching the time predicted by PlayerSAT-K.
Soon, the people in charge of the attack team each wished us good luck and entered the dungeon.
The only ones left were me and teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim.
“What do you plan to test?”
As expected, I guess my homeroom teacher-nim guessed that I wanted to do something.
“Seeing how you pointed me, who is a distant range attacker type, out it seems that you want to test out a close range attack technique, huh?”
“Yes. It’s because I wanted to try to use it in an actual fight.”
I took out an equipment card from the item window.
“Rake type UR rank item…! No way…”
Teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim stared at the materialized Nine Iron Teeth Rake with an astonished face.
As it was a well-known fact that Zhu Ganglie, who owned it, appeared on the Korean Peninsula, there was no way that he, the Player of this caliber, didn’t know about the Nine Iron Teeth Rake.
Pat!
After I grasped the materialized rake into my hand, I heard the system voice one after another.
⟨Skill ‘Use of Everything’ activated.⟩
⟨Warning, Enemy approaching.⟩
“Please shoot at the time when I can’t block it.”
Soon, an enormous, shrouded in fur Enemy appeared between the otherworldly crack.
I faced a Kaiju species Enemy.
Opportunely, it was a physical category and close range attacker type, which was good to test out the Nine Iron Teeth Rake.
Kraaaaaa—!
SSR rank otherworld is not a simulation.
It was the first time I was facing an Enemy with a close range attack method after facing the Rinoselon at the practical entrance exam.
The Kaiju Enemy raised its front leg, which was bigger than my entire body, and swung it towards me.
However.
‘Slower than Baek Ho-gun!’
Compared to Baek Ho-gun pincer attack with Yeong-ho as he swung the White Fang, this type of Enemy was nothing.
⟨Skill ‘Brilliant Gaze’ activated.⟩
Paat!
Before Kaiju Enemy’s attack landed, I activated Brilliant Gaze and boldly burrowed into it.
‘Its weak point should be a soul crystal or soul stone[9] hidden in the fur!’
I kicked the ground, aiming at the vital point that was above my line of sight, and jumped, swinging the Nine Iron Teeth Rake.
Kwa-clang!
The rake’s blade hit the mark of the vital point perfectly, but the Enemy’s black-red soul stone only cracked and didn’t break.
‘There is a gap in overall stats level, but I thought I could overcome it with the weapon’s efficiency, yet…!’
Kuuuuuuu!
Because of the shock of the soul stone cracking, the Enemy started to shake violently.
As a result of it, the Brilliant Gaze was released, and I had to take a step back.
Chink! Kwa-clang!
Explosions sporadically burst out because of the clashing shock waves of the Nine Iron Teeth Rake and Enemy’s blows.
In the midst of the sound of explosions, I heard a system voice.
⟨Warning, Enemy approaching.⟩
I still couldn’t take down the Kaiju Enemy, but it seemed there was another Enemy added.
‘As it’s SSR rank, the speed of Enemies appearing is fast.’
As if Ham Geun-hyeong also sensed it, I saw him put an arrow steaming with a superpower wave on a bowstring.
At that moment.
[Forks…]
I heard a faint sound, which I heard somewhere before.
As I traced back my memories, I recalled that being straight away.
‘…It’s the voice of the Nine Iron Teeth Rake I heard on Cymopoleia!’
*~*~*
[1] no title – Outcome of choice (5) =-=
[2] Sarangchae – a building or room of hanok, used mainly by guests and for mind activities by the master of the house.
[3] Hanok – traditional Korean housing.
[4] daecheong-maru – a large floor space, slightly above the ground.
[5] nu-maru – a floor above the ground, standing on the pillars.
[6] Yeoui Island – the place where the Fantasy Auction was taking place. It’s also a place where the National Assembly Building is located, which is why Seong Gukeon (a member of the national assembly) is mentioning it.
[7] Hongcheon buckwheat chongtteok – chongtteok is a type of pancake-like rice cake rolled with filling. Buckwheat chongtteok are Hongcheon speciality as they very often use buckwheat.
[8] Seong Siwan, Gye Idam and me – in raws: ‘Seong Siwan and Gye Idam, me’. Just thought it was funny for those in the know.
[9] soul crystal or soul stone – soul crystal is normal Korean but soul stone is hangualization of English, so I’m not sure if they’re two different things or Jo Uisin just gives us two different terms for the same thing.
Translator’s note: Willow? Why willow? What is your connection to Gye Idam?
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
Leave a Reply