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After morning classes.
Except for Song Daesok, everyone in our class gathered in our room.
An autumn picnic is scheduled for the weekend, so Song Daesok had to go first because he had to finish his work in advance to be able to join.
‘Song Daesok said he’s working with Ok Toyeon right now.’
At the time of the broadcasting station incident, the Moon Palace detected abnormalities before the satellite could detect them.
The cause wasn’t properly identified, but based on Song Daesok’s hypothesis, the abnormal phenomenon was from the otherworld simulator developed by the Namgung Group.
Song Daesok is looking into it further with Ok Toyeon, and only a few people in the association know about it.
Not just his family, but I think even Min Geurin doesn’t know much about it.
I only found out because of the connection between Ok Toyeon and Hong Gyubin.
“Sorry, I’ll do my best to cover Daesok’s work.”
“It’s fine. We can just make Daesok work more next time.”
Kim Yuri soothed Min Geurin.
Both Min Geurin and Song Daesok had been busy these days so the time they spent together has been greatly reduced.
Although she doesn’t show it in front of Song Daesok, Min Geurin must be quite lonely.
And the slow Song Daesok doesn’t notice it since he’s too busy with work.
While Hani offered Min Geurin some salted caramel macarons, Kim Yuri presided over the meeting.
“Euishin is here too so I’ll explain this afternoon and tomorrow’s schedule!”
Tomorrow is the day of the CSAT.
We’re not going to take the test, but we have to prepare some cheering events for our seniors.
That culture existed in the previous world too where juniors come in front of the test site to cheer on their seniors.
“We’re going to move in two teams this afternoon. The first group needs to help Geurin-ie finish the placards, and the second group needs to help Miro prepare for the song performance. There are four people with fixed roles!”
Kim Yuri wrote the names on the electronic board.
Group 1: Min Geurin
Group 2: Dokgo Miro, Mok Wooram, Lee Lena
Kim Yuri assigned the groups in consideration of the other kids’ specialties.
Kwon Lena and Mok Wooram must be in charge of the live accompaniment again this time.
“Since we’re only ten people right now, I’ll divide our class through a ladder game.”
As a result of the ladder game, the groups were divided like so;
Group 1: Min Geurin, Kim Yuri, Maeng Hyodon, Hani, Hwang Jiho
Group 2: Dokgo Miro, Mok Wooram, Lee Lena, Saem of April, Me.
Dokgo Miro seemed somewhat dissatisfied that Hani and Hwang Jiho were together, but she accepted it since it was a fair game.
Saeum of April is happy to see Dokgo Miro’s practice and to be in the same group as me.
“Would you two like to play instruments with us? We still have time so I guess we can practice.”
“That’s right. It’ll be nice if we could play together.”
After we moved to our groups, Mok Wooram and Kwon Lena suggested something.
Should I have learned instruments for my playable characters?
No, on second thought, I think I learned one when I was in school.
“I learned how to play the gayageum from my uncle in the past, but it’s been a while since I practiced that so… Can you play any instruments, Euishin-ah?”
“I can play the castanets and the triangle.”
Well, I also know Korean traditional musical instruments like recorders, melodica, tambourine, sogo, danso, and samul nori.
I can handle any instrument that I learned in my music class before.
But I learned them for simple evaluations, I don’t know if I can play them for a musical performance.
“Oh, I see! As expected, you’re so amazing Euishin-ie!”
“Gayageum and castanet… could you give me a week or so to come up with an arrangement?”
“Hmm, tomorrow’s the CSAT so that won’t do.”
“I wanted to share a stage with everyone though… what a shame.”
Yeah, I think it will be hard to perform on stage with everyone.
In the end, we decided that the three of them will perform while Saeum and I will help organize the stage.
Saeum and I worked as daily staff during Kwon Jein’s performance in Korea, so the experience let us be able to proceed quickly.
After a brief meeting in groups, Kim Yuri floated the schedule on the electronic board again.
Kwon Lena saw it and expressed doubt.
“Huh? Weren’t spots supposed to be first-come-first-serve? I heard it’s customary for freshmen to take their spots at dawn.”
There would be students from multiple schools who will come to the CSAT site.
To get a good spot in front of the main gate of the exam center, it was necessary to come early.
Both in my previous world and in this world, freshmen usually take the front spot.
“Seniors from Year Two Class Zero said they’ll deal with it.”
“Chansol sunbaenims? They’re not gonna wait for Professor Jegal?”
Saeum of April suspected it and asked the right question.
Those seniors usually avoid annoying miscellaneous tasks like these, so it was natural to suspect their intentions.
“They told us not to come before 6 AM, so we can’t go! They declared that they’d make a fuss if any Eungwang High students come earlier than them.”
What are they planning to do until 6 AM?
Well, they said they’d make a fuss, so we decided to come after 6 o’clock.
“Then the rehearsals won’t be possible until after 6 o’clock. Until then, can we practice in front of the school gate?”
“I think we need permission from the school.”
Dokgo Miro’s words made me look at Hwang Jiho.
Hwang Jiho was in the middle of giving Hani a piece of pecan pie with the sweetest topping, but the old man’s sharp ears surely heard our conversation.
“The chairman will allow it.”
We just got permission from the chairman, so we can do whatever we want in front of the school gate.
The kids looked at Hwang Jiho suspiciously, but the old man laughed, unbothered.
***
Day of the CSAT, 6 AM.
After some rigorous preparations, we arrived at the CSAT site.
As a symbol of the enthusiasm for education on the Korean Peninsula, many people gathered around the test site at this early hour despite the CSAT cold wave.
We hadn’t reached the main gate yet and it was already hard to move.
“My hands are cold. I should’ve worn gloves!”
“Warm up with your energy waves.”
“…I’m not good at delicate control.”
“Wow… There are so many people! Are they all here to cheer the seniors on?”
Saeum of April was impressed by the students, parents, and reporters who gathered in front of the CSAT site.
On the other hand, despite the cameras around, Dokgo Miro’s eyes beyond her hat and mask looked calm.
I felt it too during her last performance for Playlist, but it seems like Dokgo Miro’s almost overcome her camera phobia.
Meanwhile, Min Geurin shivered not because of the number of people but because of the cold.
“I heard they usually take the CSAT at a school. I don’t think this is a school.”
“It’s because this is a player-only test site! If they take the exam somewhere with no countermeasures, it could be a big problem…”
Kim Yuri briefly explained the test site.
Players with abilities are specially quarantined when taking any national exam.
There are cases where, due to heightened emotions during exams, objects would get damaged and accidents would occur.
And players can cheat using their abilities.
To prevent this, there needs to be special supervision for them.
Simply put, all the examinees taking the CSAT at this examination hall are players.
Dududong!
When we almost reached the front gate, the sound of a bass drum beating and loud shouts hit our ears.
“Pa! Jeok! We wish our seniors good luck on their CSAT!”
On one side of the main gate, a military band and cadets of the Player Military Academy were standing.
They saluted and chanted every time a third-year cadet of the military academy entered.
It was a lively scene, but some people may feel like they are being punished while entering.
At the head of the energetic group was Jang Namwook, the platoon leader of the freshmen students.
‘Yeah, he said ‘see ya’ in our group message room.’
Jang Namwook left a long message in our group message room about his schedule for the military academy’s CSAT cheering rites.
His long message expressed that it would be nice to meet, but Yoo Sanghoon clearly said that he wouldn’t be able to since he was not going to cheer on our seniors at the break of dawn.
Jang Namwook was disappointed, but it was quickly dispelled when Yoo Sanghoon explained that he’d escort Yoo Sanghee.
Jang Namwook greeted me with joy when he found me.
I know military cadets aren’t supposed to stand out during group activities, but Do Sihoo was standing in the front row, waving his hands and pretending to know me.
Sure enough, he got hit in the back of his head.
‘That Do Sihoo guy…’
Even if Jecheondaesung watched over Do Sihoo, it’s uncertain how Wu Zhiqi would act.
It seems like Jang Namwook was worried.
Since he was beaten up, I roughly waved my hand back to say hello.
The kind kids in our class recognized Do Sihoo and waved at him too.
The guy seemed to like it so he waved even more, earning him another smack on the back of his head.
Anyway, Do Sihoo looked fine so I decided not to worry about him.
“Hmm…”
Kim Yuri had a troubled look on her face when she saw Do Sihoo.
During the sports exchange match, Kim Yuri said something when we watched Do Sihoo play.
— Euishin-ah, about Sihoo… I don’t think he should go into the water.
— I can’t hear what the superior beings are saying because they’re talking at the same time, but I think he should avoid water.
The superior beings who lent their power to Kim Yuri were all related to water.
Wu Zhiqi is a royal lineage related to water, so they must’ve given that warning after knowing about Wu Zhiqi’s grudge.
Kim Yuri whispered to me quietly.
“It’s less than before, but there’s still a little…”
Jecheondaesung already comforted his sister, but it seems her grudge remains.
If the superior beings who are only interested in Kim Yuri are saying such things though, that grudge could still be considerable.
If Wu Zhiqi moves one day, Do Sihoo would have to face her wrath…
“…What the hell is that?”
While I was lost in thought, we already arrived in front of the main gate of the test site where we found that the Year Two Class Zero took over.
There was a huge screen in front so we couldn’t see beyond it.
Geum Chansol and wang Chansol were in front of the screen so I didn’t want to approach either.
We eventually had to go closer in fear.
“Hohoho, we’ve been waiting for this.”
“Now, look! The teaser of the photo book that will go down in the history of Eungwang High festivals!”
GeumChanWangChan saw us and gestured loudly before the screen went down.
Hwik!
As the screen disappeared with the sound of cutting through the wind, a huge Jegal Jaegul figure appeared.
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