The nameless supervisor who died in the tutorial level, Kim Shinrok.
Not even his name was mentioned in the game, and so I had no idea that he was a son, a pupil, and a friend to the main character.
I didn’t even know exactly how he died.
‘Was there something else besides the attack of the enemy?’
Shortly after I came to this world, Kim Shinrok appeared in a critical state, just like the supervisor in PMH.
At that point, all that changed with my intervention was that he survived in the gym.
If Kim Shinrok got any information during the attack that happened in this world, it would have been information that could be obtained without the use of the Replay function.
That’s why I thought Kim Shinrok had no new information to gain from me using the Replay function on him.
‘Maybe there’s something that was so shocking that he couldn’t remember it?’
It wouldn’t be strange if some of the memories slip out of his mind because of the shock and serious injuries he suffered.
I have an idea of what the ‘long tail’ is, but I can’t be happy about it.
Because I’ve put him through that experience again.
“Is there anything different from what you experienced? How was the ‘future where Jo Euishin doesn’t exist’?”
Kim Shinrok didn’t answer Hwang Jiho’s question right away.
He seemed to be recalling the events of the dream.
“Everything was the same. However, without Jo Euishin, I and the Group 13 students died.”
Kim Shinrok, who was about to get up from the recliner, paused to look at his knee.
I heard that he was severely injured to the point that he couldn’t walk and that he had to undergo rehabilitation.
It seems like the feeling of it is still vivid to him.
They weren’t in a good relationship yet at that time, but Red Tiger seemed to know where and how his son got injured, and he was fuming.
“Don’t get up. You don’t need to speak at this moment. If you’re still tired, why don’t you rest some more? Yellow Tiger, my son’s teacup is empty. Please prepare more tea.”
“…I’m alright. I want to relay everything while the memory is still vivid.”
Perhaps uncomfortable by the fact that he was the only one sitting on the reclining chair, Kim Shinrok got up and moved to the central sofa in the living room.
Red Tiger had his hand on Kim Shinrok’s back throughout the short distance that he had to walk.
After sitting down, Hwang Jiho handed the newly filled teacup to Kim Shinrok.
Red Tiger’s face was so serious to the point where I thought he would send lighting over me or Hwang Jiho.
‘I think I’d feel somewhat better if he struck me with lightning…’
Kim Shinrok found calm thanks to his father’s care, and he finally began to speak.
“…It was shortly after I encountered the enemy sent by the Bear Clan to attack Eungwang High.”
Kim Shinrok explained the nightmare he saw through the Replay function.
He said he confronted someone else who was of royal lineage.
Kim Shinrok wasn’t sure if the person was of the Bear Clan.
“You mean it was someone of royal lineage who destroyed your leg?”
“We can’t be sure, but only the heads of the 12 clans in the alliance can break through the boundary of Eungwang High. Probably after breaking the boundary, they carried the attack with the enemy from the Bear Clan.”
There was a sign of anger in Red Tiger and Hwang Jiho’s voices.
After the anger of the two tigers slightly eased, Kim Shinrok continued speaking.
“After the ambush, he said something to me. Considering what he said, I think the Long Tail have descendants in their clan.”
“What made the person suddenly mention descendants? That’s odd. Perhaps the remark was intended to cause confusion?”
“…I don’t think so.”
Hwang Jiho asked, but Kim Shinrok’s response was vague and he couldn’t answer properly.
I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t remember it well.
There seems to be another reason.
“Son, you don’t have to say if it’s difficult to do so.”
Red Tiger spoke in a worried voice, but it seems like that gave Kim Shinrok the courage to speak.
Kim Shinrok hesitated before starting to speak again.
“…The person said they’re glad that they don’t have a ‘mixed race’ among their descendants”
Fwaa! Crash!
At Kim Shinrok’s words, the tigers unknowingly released energy waves, causing several furniture in the living room to break.
Autumn isn’t finished yet, but it looks like they need to replace their interior design early.
White Tiger’s surroundings looked clean, unlike Hwang Jiho’s or Red Tiger’s, but I found it difficult to look into his extra-cold eyes.
“The person must’ve wanted to humiliate you. I’m sure they said something else.”
“How dare… To my son…!”
Hwang Jiho guessed that Kim Shinrok must’ve omitted something else, seeing that it was difficult for the latter to speak right away.
Red Tiger looked as if he was about to curse like he had never done before, but when he saw his son’s face, it felt like he barely managed to keep it in.
Perhaps to cool off their boiling anger, Hwang Jiho put some ice in the tea and gave it to the tigers.
Meanwhile, hot tea was still given to me and Kim Shinrok.
I was lost in thought while I tried to warm my cold hands with the hot teacup.
‘Now that we’ve obtained a clue, I need to think.’
Getting angry here wouldn’t do anything to soothe the tigers’ hearts.
I am an outsider, therefore I need to think objectively.
That is my role here.
The remaining clans who are most likely the Long Tail are the Cow Clan, Snake Clan, Horse Clan, and Monkey Clan.
Among the four, the Horse Clan provided important information about the Demon Race’s Eye and even formed an exclusive agreement with the Tiger Clan, making it highly unlikely that they’re the traitors.
‘So that leaves us with three – Cow Clan, Snake Clan, and Monkey Clan.’
I tried to think of the track record of the three clan’s heads.
The remarks they made during the 12-point alliance meetings.
The words that Kim Shinrok heard in his dream.
As I organized my thoughts, I came to one conclusion.
“You seem to have found out something. Speak, Jo Euishin.”
At some point, the tigers’ eyes were all on me.
The living room was a mess due to the brief outburst of the tigers, but everyone seemed to have calmed down a little while I was lost in my thoughts.
“I want to keep an eye on the two remaining suspects.”
“…Did you say two?”
I thought Hwang Jiho would know right away, but it seems like it’s difficult for him to think objectively since Kim Shinrok is involved here.
“With the recent alliance with the Horse Clan, the suspects are narrowed down to the Cow Clan, Snake Clan, and Monkey Clan.”
Hwang Jiho’s eyes slightly opened wider and he nodded.
“I see. The monkeys had no descendants.”
During the 12-point alliance talks, Cheongryong (Blue Dragon) declared that she would cooperate fully with the Tiger Clan, considering that Yong Jegun and Yeom Junyeol belonged to Eungwang High.
A conversation followed that declaration;
[Max Level Blue Dragon] If our descendant, Junyeol, gets hurt, forget whatever this alliance is. Your territory will be a sea of fire.
[The strongest in the universe, Jecheondaesang] Alright, alright. Royal lineages are so sad without their descendants.
The one who spoke was Son Wukong of the Monkey Clan.
“The Monkey Clan has a small population, and they have no descendants. They used to envy the other clans who have descendants whenever they encounter one.”
Hwang Jiho is right.
“That leaves us with the Cow Clan and Snake clan. We can keep an eye on those two. Full monitoring on both of them would be difficult, since we’re sending troops to Heukma and we’re keeping an eye on Jogangryeob.”
“Yellow Tiger, I will go!”
Red Tiger shouted with enthusiasm, but Hwang Jiho shook his head.
“You can’t. What are you going to do if someone sees through your weakness in the long tail’s territory?”
“No one in the Tiger Clan is better than me at collecting information.”
“Even if he’s not as good as you at collecting information, I will send a man who can at least save himself.”
Hwang Jiho and Red Tiger disagreed, but when Kim Shinrok looked at his father with an anxious face, the situation quickly settled.
He forgot about his son for a moment and offered to jump into the enemy’s camp.
“Thank you, Jo Euishin. We almost missed out on some important information.”
Kim Shinrok expressed his gratitude with a much more relaxed face than from when he first woke up.
I don’t know if I can express his gratitude after making him go through that nightmare.
When I remained silent, Kim Shinrok spoke again.
“Honestly, after being attacked, my mind became blurred by the pain. There might be some more information that I missed. Jo Euishin, if you don’t mind, why don’t you give me one more chance to…”
“Son, what are you talking about?!”
Red Tiger interrupted and Hwang Jiho scolded Kim Shinrok.
“Even if Jo Euishin can use that skill again, I will not allow it. Take arrest for today and stop by Nurse Room 1 in the central area early in the morning tomorrow for a thorough examination, and then you are going to take three days off from your job.”
“I am okay. Perhaps seeing the dream twice in a row will help me recall more memories…”
“It could also have damage on Jo Euishin.”
I was suddenly called out.
I was fine, but I decided to stay silent because I worry that if I spoke, it would give Kim Shinrok an excuse to keep pushing for what he wants.
“The ability to interfere with others’ dreams and minds usually has aftereffects on the user’s mind and spirit.”
I don’t dream though, so I’ll be okay.
Still, I decided not to speak.
“Jo Euishin, come to the nurse’s office tomorrow too. You and Kim Shinrok will undergo an examination.”
I think that’s better than having to drink customized medicine.
I think Hwang Jiho’s making a fuss out of this, but I decided to just agree with him for now.
* * *
In front of the dormitory building.
White Tiger and Olmu escorted me back, and Olmu’s expressing regret with his whole body.
Woof woof! Whimper…
He looked in the direction of the mansion and then at me, and it almost made me want to go back with him.
The tigers recommended that I stay at the mansion throughout Chuseok, but I can’t do that.
The other kids are still in the dorm, and the tigers need to spend time as a family.
I used the midterm exams as an excuse, and Hwang Jiho replied with a generous tone.
— If that’s what you wish, then I’ll let you go. Instead, free your schedule on October 3rd.
— …Oh, and don’t forget to go to the nurse’s office tomorrow. If you don’t come in time, I will personally visit you.
I didn’t respond to that nonsense, and instead just wished them a good Chuseok.
I don’t know about going to the nurse’s office, but if need be, I’d ignore the thing about October 3rd as well.
However, unlike Hwang Jiho, this cute little angel in front of me cannot be ignored.
“I can’t right now because it’s the exam season. I’ll go see you more often after the exam.”
Whimper…
I lowered my body to say goodbye.
That’s when I heard someone call me.
“Vice pres., you’re back!”
Mok Wooram called me.
It seems like he was staying in the lobby.
He spoke as he looked at Olmu who was at my feet.
“Vice pres., is that your pet?”
“No.”
It seems like I looked very close to Olmu, that’s why he asked.
But Olmu is not my pet.
While contemplating on how to introduce him to Olmu, Mok Wooram changed the subject.
“Have you seen Lena-nim today?”
“No. Why?”
Mok Wooram said something unexpected.
“Lena-nim said she was going to see her family in front of the school for a while, but it’s already quite late.”
