Support Ex-Rank
Eungwang High Light Skill Research Hall 4, Eunyeonggwan’s basement.
Kim Shinrok’s laboratory was located there.
He didn’t have work that day, but Kim Shinrok was in his lab.
The laboratory provided by Jeokho was full of stationary from Kim Shinrok’s favorite brand, so just being there calms his mind and body.
‘That dragon was bullying my students behind my back? What a pathetic dragon.’
Kim Shinrok witnessed Yong Jegun teasing his young students earnestly.
He noticed Yong Jegun being a little too happy these days, and it turns out he was playing tricks on Year One Class Zero students.
When he saw Yong Jegun smiling so happily at the agonizing students, he forgot that he was in front of students and almost launched a tack at Yong Jegun without realizing it.
Despite that, he tried his best to speak to Yong Jegun like a fellow teacher.
— Sir, what did you say to the Class One students?
With the model student Ahn Dain’s lead, the students of Class One were all good, sincere, and gentle.
But some of them were huffing and puffing at Yong Jegun.
From his experience of Yong Jegun being a bad friend and his analysis of the situation, Kim Shinrok concluded that it was all Yong Jegun’s fault.
Yong Jegun normally would’ve admitted that he was playing a trick, but this time he denied it.
— Your students asked me a question, Professor Kim Shinrok, but it was hard for me to answer.
Yong Jegun’s brazen attitude made Kim Shinrok feel worse.
If it weren’t for the kids watching, he would’ve thrown anything at Yong Jegun, whether it was an apple or a blade.
…Though that dragon wouldn’t be hit so easily.
— As a teacher, shouldn’t we do our best to answer students’ questions?
— But professor, I don’t think your students asked that question as students.
Kim Shinrok looked at the students.
As if Yong Jegun wasn’t lying, the kids’ mouths were shut.
Kim Shinrok ignored the smiling Yong Jegun and asked his students.
— What sort of question was it? I’ll answer it instead if I know the answer.
The students’ faces turned pale.
As if they had been waiting for it, one child decided to speak on their own.
— Professor! Uhm… what kind of food do you like?
So that’s why Yong Jegun was making fun of his students.
It was easy to answer, but Kim Shinrok wasn’t willing to speak.
He thought of any food, intending to lie to his students, but he was reluctant.
He can’t leave a clue to his identity.
Kim Shinrok’s favorite food is dried persimmons.
If in his next identity, he is seen eating dried persimmons, it might raise suspicions.
He hesitated for long before finally answering.
— There’s nothing in particular…
— Ah…
The students sighed, visibly disappointed.
They’re usually bright kids so Kim Shinrok thought they figured it out.
The kind students felt bad but didn’t push Kim Shinrok any further.
Rather, they seemed to resent Yong Jegun for making Kim Shinrok resort to such an answer.
Kim Shinrok blamed him too.
He could’ve just dismissed the question by saying he doesn’t know, but he decided to tease the children by making them think he’d give them an answer.
That day, Kim Shinrok heard some unpleasant news from Hwangho.
‘I don’t want to see him, but Replay…’
Hwangho was inviting Yong Jegun to the mansion to put him under replay.
Kim Shinrok would’ve gone there if it weren’t for today’s events, but he really didn’t feel like seeing Yong Jegun’s face today.
However, when he reached the faculty house, Kim Shinrok’s heart was uneasy.
‘Did the dragon hear what kind of thing replay is? Does he know how it ends…’
The replay only ends once the dreamer dies.
The nightmare continues and only ceases once you die.
He doesn’t know what kind of end Yong Jegun would face, but it was certain that Yong Jegun would experience death if he is put under the Replay function.
The thought of it made Kim Shinrok uneasy.
He couldn’t do anything, but he didn’t want to see Yong Jegun either.
In the end, Kim Shinrok headed to his lab, alone and anxious.
Knock, knock.
He heard a knock.
There was only one person who would come.
He jumped out of his seat and approached the door.
“Please come in, Jeokho-nim.”
“Ah, there you are.”
Jeokho was standing by the door.
The building was under Jeokho’s management so he was free to come and go any time, but he always made sure to ask for permission every time he enters Kim Shinrok’s room.
“This is your place, Jeokho-nim. You can come and go as you like.”
“I gave you this space. It’s a given that I need to get your permission to come.”
Kim Shinrok felt warm at Jeokho’s thoughtful words.
He was telling him that Kim Shinrok calls the shots.
It’s still hard to believe, but Jeokho really was treating him and cherishing him as his son.
While Kim Shinrok was preparing tea to serve to Jeokho, the latter began to speak.
“I’ll take over if you’re busy with your work today. Why don’t you head to the mansion? Your friend is coming.”
Kim Shinrok felt subtle at the word friend.
Jeokho never said it directly, but he was under the impression that he didn’t like Yong Jegun.
Although it was the mischievous dragon, Kim Shinrok felt complicated about his father not getting along well with Yong Jegun, his only friend.
However, since the day Jeokho was subjected to Replay, the two’s relationship had rapidly become better after their drinking session.
He was a little relieved by the fact, but he was mad at Yong Jegun right now so he felt conflicted.
“Based on your face, something must’ve happened with you two. Did that dragon play some tricks on you again…”
“…”
Kim Shinrok admired Jeokho’s kindness.
Although Jeokho somehow acknowledges Yong Jegun now, he still understands the mischievous dragon’s tendency to play jokes.
Nevertheless, Jeokho seemed to want Kim Shinrok to go to the mansion.
Kim Shinrok decided to follow his father’s will.
“…I’ll go if it’s your order, Jeokho-nim.”
“This is not an order, son. How can I give a command about your friendship?”
Kim Shinrok felt ashamed at Jeokho’s soft words.
He felt sorry because it seems like he distorted his father’s intent.
“Your friend will see a world without you. He’ll be relieved to have you around once he wakes up.”
…Will that dragon really?
Kim Shinrok believed that Yong Jegun would mourn his death.
However, just as how Yong Jegun easily became friends with him, Kim Shinrok thought that the dragon would move on quickly and find another friend and be happy even when he was not around.
Yong Jegun would be surprised, but Kim Shinrok doesn’t think he’d show as much emotion as Jeokho when he woke up.
“You don’t know how fortunate it was for me to have you by my side when I opened my eyes.”
Jeokho didn’t mention Yong Jegun’s name any further, but Kim Shinrok was in agony.
***
Yong Jegun’s only friend died.
His first friend, his only friend in his long life, died in vain.
Yong Jegun didn’t feel like it was real.
The funeral was held, and he was the chief mourner.
Perhaps it’s because he’s held several funerals for Kim Shinrok’s fake identities, or because it’s Kim Shinrok, not Jeho, who was being mourned…
Or perhaps it’s because he just couldn’t accept that Kim Shinrok was dead.
“Shinrok-ah.”
Yong Jegun called his name whenever he had time.
As the Cintamani, he wanted to revive Kim Shinrok.
But Kim Shinrok doesn’t answer him.
He doesn’t want to be resurrected.
He knew that, but Yong Jegun couldn’t give up.
‘Will he answer if I call him by another name?’
The more he used his power as the magical stone, his soul and spirit quickly wore off.
Nevertheless, Yong Jegun called him by every fake name his precious friend ever used.
But there was no response.
Finally, he called the name that he first heard.
“Jeho-ah…”
The light emitted by the stone only became blurry, and Yong Jegun’s friend didn’t return.
Yong Jegun thought he was in a nightmare.
But his parched throat and his deteriorating energy waves tell him that this was real.
His friend was dead.
“…”
Yong Jegun, who was guarding the funeral hall, suddenly felt a refreshing energy.
When he looked up, he found the Dragon Clan led by Cheongryong.
Cheongryong didn’t say a word to express his condolences to his friend, but he tried to offer him food again and again, obviously worried about Yong Jegun.
But Yong Jegun couldn’t swallow even a drop of water.
‘…I won’t be able to call you if I don’t have strength. I can’t become weak.”
Yong Jegun was still far stronger than an ordinary player, but the more he made the wish, the weaker he became.
‘Should I stop wishing and do something else?’
Many people were pointing their fingers at his friend.
They say that the children died because of him.
Kim Shinrok’s students stepped forward to try to defend their teacher’s name, but Yong Jegun didn’t move.
Jeokho tried to avenge his son, but Yong Jegun didn’t help.
Yong Jegun knew everything going on around him, but his heart was focused on trying to revive his friend.
Even after he realized that Kim Shinrok didn’t want to be resurrected…
Even though he knew it was futile.
‘No, life is more fun if that kid is alive. Much more than getting revenge or protecting his name…’
Yong Jegun stuck to his instinct as a dragon of amusement.
Before the start of the school year, the Dragon King gave a revelation in his dream.
[Listen to me, Yong Jegun. You know how weak you are right now but you insist on using that stone!]
The Dragon King was furious over the weakened Yong Jegun.
His most beloved Cintamani and his cherished dragon deteriorating was something the Dragon King couldn’t just stand by and not do anything.
The Dragon King ordered him with a dignified voice.
[Immediately return to the Dragon Palace and control your body. If this continues, your soul won’t be able to endure!]
“If I return to the palace and regain my strength, can I revive that child then?”
[…]
The Dragon King didn’t answer.
There seems to be no way, or even if there was, the Dragon King couldn’t help with his ability.
Yong Jegun spoke to the Dragon King.
“You gave me freedom, Dragon King. You told me I could do whatever I wanted.”
[I gave you freedom and I warned you. There’s a wish that you can’t make even with your strength.]
Yong Jegun remembers.
However, the warning doesn’t limit his freedom.
The Dragon King stepped down, giving up trying to persuade Yong Jegun.
[If you plan on staying on this land, at least get treatment from my shamans!]
Yong Jegun woke up from his dream and the revelation from the Dragon King.
The moment he woke up, he called the Cintamani.
A blurring magic pearl appeared in front of Yong Jegun.
Its jade color was dimmer from the day of the funeral.
One day, while he was repeatedly making the meaningless wish, Ungnyeo came to Yong Jegun.
The lady was wearing a dress made of red silk.
Support Ex-Rank
