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Jeokho guided Yong Jegun to the top floor of the Eunyeonggwan.
The top floor seemed to be neither an office nor a torture room, but Jeokho’s private room.
It hardly had any sense of living, but some ornament of poor workmanship was enclosed in a glass case somewhere in the room.
Yong Jegun paid attention to the handmade paper carnations.
Kim Shinrok also had a handmade paper carnation enclosed in a glass case, something that he cherishes so much that Yong Jegun couldn’t touch it even once.
‘I guess the kids in the mansion made it for them.’
Yong Jegun recalled the three descendants he met at the Hwangmyeong mansion.
He remembers that Eunho was good at making paper crafts, but it seems like it wasn’t passed on to his descendants.
‘Seeing this here, it really seems like Jeokho-ssi’s private space…’
Yong Jegun half-expected that he’d be lured using apples and drinks to a torture room and questioned about his connection with Ungnyeo.
He was even more surprised to see the liquor table set up by Jeokho.
Sashimi and spicy fish stew, perfect for the November weather, and well-aged red cheese wine and yongjung tea.
As Jeokho mentioned, Yong Jegun wasn’t fond of sweet things and instead likes to eat seafood just like Yeom Junyeol.
The dishes prepared on the table were suited to Yong Jegun’s taste.
“I asked my son what you like. Feel free to tell me if there’s anything that doesn’t suit your taste.”
Yong Jegun had to stop himself from bursting into laughter.
Just imagining how Kim Shinrok must’ve felt when he was asked by Jeokho about his personal preferences in food and alcohol made him want to laugh.
Kim Shinrok was mad at him not too long ago too.
Perhaps if someone else asked him about Yong Jegun, he’d reply “What would I know what that kind of dragon likes?”, but since it was his father who asked, he endured it and came up with a sincere response.
“They’re all my taste. Shinrok knows me well. Thanks for the meal.”
Having something to tease Kim Shinrok about would keep him from boredom for about a week.
Yong Jegun prepared to enjoy every dish on the table.
The thought of reciting every menu to Kim Shinrok and him getting fed up made Yong Jegun very excited.
“Please accept my drink.”
“Thanks, Jeokho-ssi.”
Jeokho and Yong Jegun poured alcohol into each other’s glasses and clinked them.
The glass seemed to have been prepared with great care, and the red tiger engraved on it made Yong Jegun sure that it was custom-made.
‘It’s a brand that Hwangho-ssi uses often. I bet it’s probably from Hwangho-ssi. They seem to be getting closer these days.’
Yong Jegun appreciated the glass, enjoyed the taste of the snacks, and slowly savored the alcohol.
Meanwhile, Jeokho was gulping the alcohol well.
Apparently, Jeokho forcibly blocked the flow of his energy waves for him to fully feel the effect of the alcohol.
Someone blocking their energy waves while drinking would quickly slow down their central nervous system.
In short, Jeokho was getting drunk.
“I couldn’t do anything for my son. I have no right to face him as his father.”
As Jeokho got more and more drunk, his tongue got lighter.
Yong Jegun thought for a while if he should stop Jeokho.
But his worry didn’t last long.
The mischievous dragon’s instincts shouted that he wanted to see the legendary tiger, his close friend’s father, getting drunk.
‘There must be a reason why Jeokho-ssi wanted to get drunk and why he invited me like this. I’m not gonna say anything even if he asks me something.’
Yong Jegun decided to peacefully make Jeokho open up.
Just in time, the opportunity was right in front of him.
“That’s not true. Shinrok respects you so much. Now, let’s have another drink. Shall we make a toast to Shinrok?”
“…Thank you. Really, I think I misunderstood you a lot.”
‘That doesn’t seem true though,’ Yong Jegun held back from saying that and instead poured Jeokho another drink.
He encouraged Jeokho to take another and another, his words seemingly from an expert at drinking parties, and Jeokho became helplessly drunk.
Jeokho didn’t refuse a single shot that Yong Jegun offered.
As the empty bottles piled up, Jeokho was drunk enough that his words were getting slurry.
“I don’t know if you’re the Dragon King’s favorite or a debauchee… you…”
“Hahaha, I think your real thoughts are coming out now that you’re drunk. I will take it as a compliment. Please accept this drink from a debauchee, Jeokho-ssi.”
Looking back on Yong Jegun’s dragon life, it seems like the word suited him more.
He poured more alcohol, agreeing with the honest and rancorous remark from Jeokho.
Yong Jegun confirmed that Jeokho was drunk and took his chance.
“It would’ve been nice if Shinrok-ie was here too. Shall we call him? I bet he’ll be happy to share a drink with his father.”
“No, we don’t have to… there’s nothing served here that my son would like…”
“Hahaha, I’m sure he’ll be happy sharing any drink with his father. Maybe he’ll be upset that he didn’t get invited.”
The reason why Jeokho didn’t want to call Kim Shinrok.
It would help Yong Jegun determine why Jeokho wanted to get drunk, and why Jeokho’s perception of him changed.
Normally Jeokho would’ve noticed Kim Shinrok’s sly attempt, but he was already very drunk.
“I can’t call him here. I couldn’t properly mourn him back then…”
Back then?
He had to mourn Kim Shinrok?
Yong Jegun listened with great excitement.
Jeokho seemed to be saying confidential things, but he wasn’t stopping.
Yong Jegun pushed the side dish that Jeokho often reached out for and poured him another drink.
Jeokho drank the alcohol and started talking again.
“After I saw that, I…”
The words made Yong Jegun’s ears perk up.
He wanted to hear more right away and rip the information off of Jeokho, but Yong Jegun suppressed himself.
He usually uses mischievous words to make the other person say what he wants to hear, but he decided that it was best for Jeokho to continue speaking on his own.
Yong Jegun smiled, feigning ignorance, and waited for Jeokho to continue.
Jeokho drank two or three more glasses in a row and spoke with his tongue twisted.
“I owe the benefactor a favor that I could never repay… You know well too… about Jo Euishin…”
Jeokho’s eyes were heavy, threatening to close shut.
After a few more shots, Jeokho fell asleep, his last words being Jo Euishin’s name.
He really got wasted.
When he fell asleep and his energy waves circulated again, Yong Jegun confirmed that the royal lineage was fine as his complexion improved.
‘He’s asleep. It’s my first time seeing this.’
Even if he intended to get drunk, it felt like he really trusted Yong Jegun to let him see him in such a state of weakness.
Jeokho’s attitude toward Yong Jegun changing overnight was very strange.
But of course, Yong Jegun enjoyed this peculiar situation.
‘Jo Euishin huh…’
Yong Jegun got one of Jeokho’s outerwear clothes hanging around and covered Jeokho with it.
Jeokho was wearing black today, so he chose bright-colored outerwear.
The legendary tiger wouldn’t catch a cold like this, but Yong Jegun left a gesture to show that he was at least considerate of him.
He left a note saying that he’d be leaving first, and then…
Dingdong.
A message arrived on Yong Jegun’s device.
Many people have Yong Jegun’s device code, but not a lot of them contact him.
It seems like a lot of people are looking for him today, which made Yong Jegun excited.
Seeing the name on the device increased that excitement.
[Jo Euishin] Hello, Professor Yong Jegun.
Yong Jegun looked at the polite message, addressing him as “Professor”
He just decided that he had to get more clues from Jo Euishin, but he didn’t expect to get a message from him so soon.
[Jo Euishin] There’s something I want to consult with you, sir. Please reply when you have the time.
Yong Jegun exchanged messages with Jo Euishin while on the move.
Jo Euishin was asking for counseling for something that seemed very exciting, which was nothing short of a reward from Yong Jegun.
‘This picnic is going to be a lot of fun.’
When Yong Jegun was completely out of the Eunyeonggwan, he felt someone’s presence.
He looked in the direction of it and found his friend staring at him.
“Hey.”
Kim Shinrok called Yong Jegun in a rough voice as he rushed toward him.
Perhaps he already knew what would happen when Jeokho asked him about Yong Jegun’s preferences.
Kim Shinrok stopped right in front of Yong Jegun and frowned.
“You reek of alcohol.”
Hiding traces of alcohol was simple using energy waves.
But since he had to tease Kim Shinrok, Yong Jegun didn’t bother to do so.
“I was drinking with your father, Shinrok-ie. The snacks and drinks were delicious. I enjoyed it.”
Kim Shinrok looked vexed.
Perhaps he wanted to share a drink with his father too.
“…Is Jeokho-nim up there?”
“Yeah, he got drunk so he’s sleeping right now. He drank too much.”
“…?”
Kim Shinrok looked in the direction of the top floor once and the sky once, his expression full of incomprehension.
The day was cold, expected from the CSAT cold wave, but the sun was shining clear.
It seemed unbelievable that Jeokho would get drunk enough to fall asleep in the middle of the day.
Yong Jegun tried to hold back his laughter when he saw Kim Shinrok’s face.
He thought of ways to tease Kim Shinrok before saying something.
“I covered him up for now, but I’m sure it’s uncomfortable sleeping on the sofa.”
Kim Shinrok blinked once before rushing into the Eunyeonggwan.
While seeing off the scene, Yong Jegun flew up in the air with his flight skill.
After using his energy waves to blow away the faint tipsiness, he began to move toward his destination.
‘Alright, I’ll prepare what Jo Euishin asked for.’
***
A theme park in Jamsil.
The once-considered best amusement park in Korea was temporarily closed.
“This theme park is temporarily closed. It doesn’t matter since no guests are coming.”
When the head of the Tiger Clan, the new owner of the theme park, said so, our classmates looked excited.
They questioned at first when Hwang Jiho suddenly switched up and made us go to the theme park, but they were now thrilled.
“Then are we going to rent the amusement park for a day?”
“Wow… It’s my first time coming to an amusement park!”
“Me too! Oh, would you like to fly together and look around?”
The kids who haven’t been to a theme park in their life went around with wide eyes.
Although they had different circumstances — fear of a lot of strangers, family problems, and lack of money — the kids were excited just the same.
“Hey, I don’t think the rides are moving.”
Maeng Hyodon asked while looking at the rides that were not powered on.
“All the rides will be in operation on that day. All existing rides will be sold before remodeling begins, and it will be necessary to test drive everything to check their condition before getting sold.”
The old man answered like so.
It seems like he wants to change everything.
The price of that would be enormous, and I wonder where Hwang Jiho will get that money from.
The old man, who answered the excited kids’ questions, suddenly looked over the front gate, his eyes sharp.
“Hmm.”
Don’t tell me…
They’re already close enough for Hwang Jiho to detect?
When I thought about making him relocate the other people from the Tiger Clan who were on standby in the area…
Hwang Jiho smiled at my nervous face.
“Those are our classmates over there.”
At the end of Hwang Jiho’s gaze were the two attention-seekers clad in aurora-colored puffer jackets hiding behind the main gate.
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