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Bamboo leaves shook open the road, revealing two shadows headed toward us.
Perhaps because of the soulless movement of the shadows, the sound of the wind was bleak.
Jukho bowed his head as if he couldn’t bear to look at them, while Hwang Jiho murmured something low.
“Revenge didn’t change anything…”
“…”
The high bamboo trees blocked a lot of sunlight, making the groove a little dim.
It was just time for the sun to set, and it was getting darker and darker.
At first, I thought that was the reason why I couldn’t see their faces, and because they were still quite far away.
But I seem to be wrong.
They were deliberately hiding their faces.
‘They’re wearing masks.’
The mask was plain white, with openings only for the eyes and mouth.
It was a good choice of masks, and even I would use that if it weren’t for the special conditions, but…
The sight of the masked couple sent a chill down my spine.
“It’s been a long time, Hwangho-nim.”
“For me, it’s only been half a year.”
“It’s only been half a year?”
The couple wearing white masks greeted leisurely.
Contrary to the eerie feeling that I got from their masks, their greetings were polite, and the conversation was normal.
It wasn’t to the point that I could say it was amicable, but the atmosphere was not so bad.
Right until Hwang Jiho asked about the masks.
“Are you going to keep that mask on?”
The Tiger Couple flinched and couldn’t keep their balance, but they immediately caught themselves.
Through the hole in their masks, the couple looked at Hwang Jiho.
“Huhuhu, Hwangho-nim. Why are you asking us the obvious?”
“How could a parent, who couldn’t protect their child… whose child died before them… How could we dare show our faces?”
“Our sins are so heavy that we dare not to show our faces under the sky. I’m sure you know it well.”
“Our child is gone without even seeing the light of the world. How can we live under the light then?”
Without seeing the light of the world.
It somehow caught my mind.
Is that couple’s descendant miscarried?
After hearing that, I felt even sorrier for the miserable couple.
They are just parents who lost their child, and they are scared.
“…I see. I was short-sighted.”
“Not at all. It wasn’t you who failed to protect your child, Hwangho-nim. It’s all our fault.”
“I’m not trying to say that.”
Hwang Jiho stepped back bitterly.
Hwang Jiho must’ve thought that their masks would come off after they took revenge on the bear, but it seems that it was still not the time.
“…I see there’s a human here?”
The couple’s eyes turned to me.
Didn’t Hwang Jiho inform them beforehand that I’d be coming?
The couple looked confused that I, a human being, was present there when they suddenly exclaimed “Ah!” and walked toward me.
I felt considerable pressure as the white-masked couple walked.
If I didn’t know who this couple was, I would’ve immediately activated my light skill.
The couple stretched to hold my hand but stepped back immediately at Hwang Jiho’s show of restraint.
“You are the Tiger Clan’s benefactor! We give our greetings to you, benefactor.”
“My husband and I have always been grateful. Apologies that we only greeted you now.”
“Thanks to you, our long-cherished desire has come true. Eunho-nim’s descendants are safe. Thank you very much.”
The couple bowed their heads and thanked me.
I said that I didn’t really do much, that the capture of the bear was thanks to Hwang Jiho and the other tigers, but the couple seemed to not hear the words.
“Our benefactor is humble. I heard that it was from the benefactor’s words that Hwangho-nim and Baekho-nim started to move.”
“I also heard that it was the benefactor who fearlessly saw through the ones who tried to infiltrate the territory.”
“Yes, if it weren’t for the benefactor, who knows what ruthless things those people would’ve…”
I don’t know how stories of me circulate among the Tiger Clan.
I think the stories are a little exaggerated, so what the heck is Hwang Jiho saying to them?
After the couple thanked me, they spoke to Hwang Jiho.
“You’re too much, Hwangho-nim. Why didn’t you tell us something important in advance?”
“If we knew the benefactor would be visiting then we would’ve prepared some presents.”
Hwang Jiho, who has been silently observing us, finally spoke.
“Jo Euishin would feel troubled by that. I didn’t tell you in advance because I knew you’d do that. But I see you recognized Jo Euishin as our benefactor right away.”
I don’t feel like Hwang Jiho has any intention of preventing the couple from painting gold on my face.
Rather, this old man seemed to be encouraging them.
He looked excited with the way the couple was talking about me.
“Isn’t there only one human that Hwangho-nim would bring to this place?”
“It’s only natural that we’d recognize the benefactor.”
“Excellent. As expected of the Tiger Clan led by yours truly.”
Hwang Jiho joined the couple and took the lead in praising me.
If I knew this would happen, I would’ve just stayed at the newspaper department office and heard about Moon Saeron’s overseas coverage.
It was only after long minutes of soullessly listening to the tigers’ conversation did the mention of the Bear Clan finally arrived.
The couple spoke in a brighter tone, obviously in a much better mood than when they first appeared.
“Come to think of it, you said you would come here to interrogate the garbage bear. Ah, though I don’t think you’d kill the bear, correct?”
“Let’s go together. We’ve tried various ways, and we’re curious how Hwangho-nim would deal with the bear.”
Was Hwang Jiho intending to torture the bear himself?
This was a little unexpected.
After all, it was Kim Shinrok who was the expert on torture.
‘So those tigers interrogated the bear, but they didn’t get any information… well until Kim Shinrok tortures him at least.’
The bear wasn’t giving away any information, so I thought for sure Kim Shinrok would be called.
I thought the ‘permission’ that Hwang Jiho mentioned was for Kim Shinrok to torture the bear.
Looking at Hwang Jiho’s expression, I seem to be mistaken.
Hwang Jiho asked Jukho.
“…I don’t think we are on the same page. Did you deliver the letter that I sent?”
“I opened a gap in the garden and wrote a letter to get an answer. From what you are saying, there seems to be a problem?”
Jukho lifted his long sleeves, covering his mouth as he was lost in thought.
When he put down his sleeves again, he looked perplexed as if he had identified the cause.
“When the space axis of the garden was shaken last time, perhaps it wasn’t fixed properly. I’m sorry…”
“It can’t be helped since your student’s power is strong. It’s not your fault.”
There seems to be some sort of miscommunication.
The couple, who were listening to Jukho and Hwang Jiho’s conversation, asked.
“What are you talking about? Did we misread the letter?”
“The letter was somewhat torn, yes. The message was all tangled up. We sent a reply based on what we understood…”
“So, uh… The letter I delivered…”
When Jukho began to stammer, Hwang Jiho spoke on his behalf.
“Not long ago, Jukho got a student with great power. That disciple has the powerful strength of water.”
Hearing Hwang Jiho’s words, he might be referring to Kim Yuri, who has a light skill related to water.
But what does this situation have to do with Kim Yuri?
Kim Yuri has never made it obvious to us, but it seems like her extracurricular lessons with Jukho haven’t been going smoothly.
Even though she was having a hard time, our class president and my playable character always showed a smile in front of us.
But I wonder why Hwang Jiho brought it up.
‘Don’t tell me, what wasn’t included in the letter was…’
The relationship between the Bear and Tiger Clans, the descendant that the couple lost, and the torture of the captured bears.
From those three, I could guess what was missing.
If I’m correct, then it would explain why Hwang Jiho was dragging this on.
It may seem that Hwang Jiho hid the fact from the couple to ask permission from them.
“The aftermath appeared in the garden managed by Jukho. That’s why there’s a problem with the letter.”
“We understand that there’s been a problem. We also felt that the garden was shaken. So what was wrong with the letter?”
“Please tell us what you originally wrote.”
Hwang Jiho slowly spoke.
“I wrote to ask permission for Jeokho’s son to interrogate the bear.”
The couple who lost their descendant to the Bear Clan, being asked to leave the interrogation to a Bear Clan descendant.
It wouldn’t be easy for them mentally.
Hwang Jiho must’ve explained it like that to be considerate.
The sun began to set while the couple stood silently, unresponding.
As the sun completely set and the surroundings darkened, Jukho lit up a bamboo lamp.
When the light turned on, the white-masked couple spoke.
“…So Hwangho-nim wouldn’t personally interrogate the garbage bear?”
“I will be present, but I wish to leave the interrogation to Kim Shinrok.”
The couple answered.
“…Doesn’t the choice belong to us?”
“Yes. I told you that you can do whatever you wish.”
If it was Hwang Jiho’s decision in the end, he could just force them to let Kim Shinrok interrogate the bear.
If it is the order of the head of the Tiger CLan, Jukho will move and the couple would have no choice but to concede.
Still, Hwang Jiho chose to respect the couple’s will.
The couple looked at each other.
“…We need some time to think.”
Hwang Jiho nodded at the couple’s words.
“Alright. I will contact you again.”
The couple asked to be excused and left the bamboo forest first.
When they were completely gone…
“Sorry for calling you all this way.”
Hwang Jiho said while staring into the air.
I don’t think he was apologizing only to me.
“I didn’t mean to make you hide to hear this story. Your face must be heavy for them still.”
Don’t tell me, those people are here now.
I hoped my prediction was wrong, but Hwang Jiho soon called out their names.
“…Jeokho, Kim Shinrok. Let’s go back now.”
At the end of his gaze, a red fog began to emerge, and soon, Kim Shinrok and Jeokho appeared.
‘Those two were here from the beginning…!’
Jeokho was expressionless, but Kim Shinrok looked pale as paper.
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