When the first Special Luncheon was held, it was said that the host actively talked with the children present.
The children thanked the host for saving them, and the host listened to other stories from the children.
The dilettante listened and did their best to soothe the children’s unhappiness.
However, no matter how young they were, the children were not simply innocent and good.
There was one child who seemed kind on the outside, but that child tried several tricks to win the favor of the host by messing with the other children.
The host was confused by the child’s actions at first, but eventually, he realized the child’s plot and kicked him out of the luncheon.
After that, the host became reluctant to show up at the luncheon.
– Have I been insincere with my actions that this kind of bastard dares do this thing?
– From now on, I will only listen to your stories behind the scenes. Have fun on your own.
From then, the host seldom made an appearance at his own luncheon and has only watched the event from afar.
Today, however, with the sudden appearance of the host, the Special Luncheon went on a different route than usual.
It was the first time in a long while that the host, although adorned with a mask, appeared personally at the luncheon.
Of course, since special conditions should be met to be invited to the luncheon, everyone would expect that all the guests have never spoken to the host before.
Ddak!
The Yellow Tiger in his high school student appearance snapped his finger and a golden boundary began to surround him and the host.
“I didn’t expect you to say ‘long time no see’ to me.”
The Yellow Tiger spoke with a visibly uncomfortable expression.
The masked host giggled.
“Is there a problem with that? It is true that we haven’t met in a long time.”
“Saying that in front of the other kids is a problem.”
“That doesn’t sound like a big problem then. When I heard that a high school student from Hwangmyeong Group would attend, I had my suspicions. Turns out it’s really you! What are you doing here, though? Aren’t you supposed to be looking for the traitor? Do you find it fun cosplaying as a high schooler?”
“Unlike you who’s busy meddling with other people’s children, this body is busy leading the Hwangmyeong Group. I’m attending social events for the future.”
The Yellow Tiger’s words seemed to have made the host emotional, but so far, he couldn’t stop laughing as if he was very glad to see an acquaintance after a long time.
“Anyway, stop trying to reveal our identity in front of those children. I’m not really hiding it, but I refuse to be outed by a slip of the tongue in this place.”
“What a bother. You didn’t have to get mixed into the human world. You could’ve stepped back like me and you wouldn’t have had that kind of trouble. Why don’t you stop pretending to be a human now?”
“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll tell the world who you really are. I’ll show you what a real bother is.”
The Yellow Tiger quietly stared at the masked host.
The dilettante’s mask seemed to have a hole for the eyes, but a black cloth could be seen inside.
The host was blindfolded.
Yellow Tiger made hypotheses on the host’s condition based on the mask he was wearing.
‘His divinity must’ve risen again. Is it because various media reinterpreted and recreated it with various works?’
Although the dilettante of royal lineage doesn’t have his roots and origin in the Korean Peninsula, his recognition seemed to soar as time passed.
Well, it could be because the dilettante hasn’t committed any crime after the worldy collisions, and he was actually doing good deeds behind the scenes.
‘It’s not so strange. He’s supposed to be on the level of a god anyway.’
The dilettante was a great and legendary adventurer, and his life story was known worldwide and he’s even revered as a god in some places.
What most people don’t know is he stayed as someone of royal lineage, refusing to be on the level of superior beings.
It’s not even well-known that he’s staying in Korea and a part of the 12-point alliance.
When the dilettante stayed silent after Yellow Tiger’s bluff, the latter concluded their conversation.
‘It’s difficult to take more time. Let’s talk later, Jecheondaesung.’
The dilettante was the head of the Monkey Clan, Son Wukong, nicknamed Jecheondaesung, which means a sage equal to the heavens.
Jecheondaesung nodded and Yellow Tiger released the boundary around them.
Fwaaaa…!
The golden energy wave scattered as soon as the boundary was deactivated.
People were seen through the particles of energy waves, mostly the bodyguards of the children who ran after sensing the powerful energy wave.
Among them was Joo Soohyuk’s bodyguard, Kim Chul.
Most of the people were looking at the host, but Kim Chul was staring at the Yellow Tiger.
‘I see he still hasn’t given up.’
The Joo-Oh Group was trying to identify the student who performed the sword dance at the sports exchange event recently.
Yellow Tiger found out and traced the person who ordered the investigation, and it turned out to be Kim Chul.
White Tiger’s identity is still safely hidden, but it’s difficult to hide the fact that the one who performed the sword dance was related to Hwangmyeong Group and its Chairman.
Therefore, it’s reasonable for him to think that the White Tiger and the freshman Hwang Jiho have some sort of connection.
‘Even if they find out, Joo-Oh Group can’t reveal it to the public unless they want Hwangmyeong Group as their enemy. The problem now is why. Why is he digging around?’
The Yellow Tiger Hwang Jiho smiled directly at Kim Chul.
Jwaaak!
At that time, Jecheondaesung clapped once.
All the players in the hall looked at him.
“Let’s all take a seat.”
With that, the Special Luncheon started.
Many students from Eungwang High are here, but many took notice of the freshman Class Zero crazy head.
They talked to the Yellow Tiger, asking if he knew the host, but the Yellow Tiger did not respond.
Others backed down right away, except for Geum Chansol and Wang Chansol.
“Hwang Jiho hoobaenim, what was that earlier?
“The host said it’s been a while. Do you know each other?”
“Hahahaha!”
“Aigoo, hoobaenim, you keep laughing. You’re not answering us at all.”
“Hahaha!”
In the midst of the chaos, the Special Luncheon ended.
All the children eventually left the luncheon hall and headed home.
Yellow Tiger also left the venue to avoid attention, but he came back after a while.
Jecheondaesung was waiting inside, and he gestured with his chin when the Yellow Tiger returned.
His mask was now off.
With the mask now off, a long golden headpiece (jingguquan) was seen surrounding his head, and an eyepatch of the same color.
Although his eyes were covered, his features were outstanding enough that warrants his being called the Beautiful Monkey King.
“What made you make an appearance here? I doubt it’s just to say hello.”
“You’re very impatient. It seems like you’re really busy?”
“Have I not told you that already?”
“It’s not like I’m not busy either.”
The Yellow Tiger wanted to get straight to the point, but they ended up talking about this and that before getting down to business.
“There’s something I want you to cooperate with. If you lend me your strength, I’ll repay you for your kindness.”
“It’s not like I have no idea of what situation the Tiger Clan is in. You want me to lend you strength?”
The Yellow Tiger recalled the Jogangryeob, which has some sort of connection to Jecheondaesung.
Jecheondaesung burst into laughter as he saw the wary expression on Yellow Tiger’s face.
“Hahaha! I don’t mean to ask for anything grand. If things go well, I might even cooperate in finding that traitor later on.”
“How can I be sure that you’re not the traitor?”
“I don’t really have anything to gain from betraying the alliance. As for an assurance…”
Jecheondaesung thought for a while before showing an amulet sealed with an energy wave, its contents not visible.
Yellow Tiger looked surprised as he saw the seal of the talisman.
“…The gingoju is here. Why do you think I haven’t gotten rid of this?”
The Gingoju has a spell that can control his headpiece, the shackle, and the weakness of Jecheondaesung.
Although it was sealed, it’s crazy to carry around the talisman containing the spell.
It’s as if Jecheondaesung was carrying his heart in his hand.
“The seal was done by Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara himself. Under no special condition will it open, even if the Jade Emperor comes. I could get rid of it, but no one would be able to see inside.”
“The conditions to see inside seem quite tricky.”
“Yes. It’s up to me to open it.”
Jecheondaesung declared as he pointed at the seal.
“I am not the traitor of the alliance. If I and the Monkey Clam betray the alliance, the long-cherished Gingoju will fall into Yellow TIger’s hands.”
Energy wave flowed from Jecheondaesung’s fingertips and was sucked into the seal.
Yellow Tiger activated his glare skill to watch the scene.
Jecheondaesung put on collateral to prove that he wasn’t the traitor.
“…You’re going to this extent and yet you won’t ask for something grand?”
Although the situation was flustering, the head of the Tiger Clan wouldn’t miss the chance to borrow Jecheondaesung’s strength.
It’s said that Jo Euishin already took care of the sangbosimgeumpa, but they still shouldn’t let down their guard.
Yellow Tiger calculated things in his head for a while when Jecheondaesung spoke again.
“Did you know that I had a dongsaeng?”
Is his favor about his dongsaeng?
Yellow Tiger recalled the story of Jecheondaesung.
“You’re talking about the Seven Great Brothers?”
“No. Real brothers. I’m the third of five siblings.”
“I see there’s something like that. There was a story about your brothers in the Yuan Dynasty’s records. The fourth, Tongcheondaesung is now a superior being.”
Jecheondaesung spoke with a heavy voice.
“I want you to find out where the youngest is.”
* * *
It was the weekend but I left the dorms in my school uniform.
There’s a condolence etiquette that students should wear their uniform when visiting relatives.
‘I didn’t expect I would be wearing my uniform and offering flowers to my family again.’
Early in the morning, I went to a flower shop and the florist spoke kindly to me.
He asked if I came alone or if I had any company, but I just laughed it off with an ambiguous expression.
I left the flower shop with bouquets of chrysanthemums in my arms, but they were bulkier than I thought, making it difficult to move my arms.
There weren’t many passers-by, but everyone looked at me carrying a handful of chrysanthemums.
‘Should this be enough?’
Flowers have several meanings.
Things like wishing the deceased a comfortable rest and eternal life, but anyway, it’s all the same as long as condolences are expressed.
There isn’t really a convention on the number of flowers to bring, but since I’m only visiting the fake remains of my family in this world, shouldn’t this amount of flowers be enough?
Well, I couldn’t really buy flowers for them in the real world since I didn’t have much time…
I want to give my parents and my siblings enough this time.
I entered the charnel house when…
“Oh…?”
At the entrance was someone, no, a tiger I knew.
