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After school, in the Stalemate Chess Club’s room.
There were boards and pieces set up everywhere, a sign perhaps that the club plans to hold a chess event for the festival.
From chess classes for beginners to trick-or-treating for masters and multi-faceted matches, the Stalemate seemed to have prepared a lot.
As it is only a small group and not technically an official club, its membership isn’t very large.
For that, it doesn’t seem like the club prepared a large-scale event, but the traces of work in the room reflected the members’ enthusiasm.
As I was opening and closing my cold hands, Yong Jegun took a can of coffee out of the warm storage and handed it to me.
“You did a great job in today’s class meeting. Too bad. Want some?”
“Thank you.”
“The Dragon Clan’s benefactor is very polite.”
I just thanked him for the coffee though…
Yong Jegun said something exaggerated.
And can he stop calling me a benefactor?
Hwang Jiho and Yong Jegun did a who-can-call-me-benefactor competition over breakfast, making my ears hurt.
Anyway, Yong Jegun looked so well that I couldn’t believe that he wandered around in a nightmare for a year.
I wouldn’t know how he feels inside, but he was slick enough to call me to the Stalemate’s room to avoid the Tiger Clan’s eyes.
‘It wouldn’t have been obvious in PMH.’
When he woke up from the nightmare and saw Kim Shinrok alive, Yong Jegun was so impressed that he told me the origin of his name and offered to grant a wish of mine.
It was clear that Yong Jegun was deeply heartbroken after losing Kim Shinrok.
However, the close relationship between the two wasn’t depicted in PMH.
I didn’t even know that Yong Jegun was an adviser to a small chess group.
Yong Jegun was a popular player, but I hardly knew anything about him.
“As for today’s class meeting, if you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask me.”
Yong Jegun’s words reminded me of what transpired at today’s class meeting.
It was a Friday, and before the weekend, our class held a meeting about the preparations for the festival.
— Did you try contacting Gildong — I mean Luis and Seulbi?
— Yeah, I asked them to attend because we’re going to prepare for a festival but…
Kim Yuri successfully contacted the attention-seekers, but she didn’t get much success.
They left Korea shortly after they made us souvenirs from the theme park picnic.
— It would’ve been nice if they attended school, but what a shame… What are they going to do abroad?
— Hmm… I asked, but they didn’t answer. They said they want to surprise us later.
Unexpectedly, Min Geurin gave a hint to Kwon Lena’s question.
— …Uh, I think I heard something like a hint from Luis.
— What! You keep in touch with that aurora attention-seeker bastard?
Song Daesok was furious at the fact that Ong Gildong and Min Geurin were in contact, and the former got scolded right away.
—Daesok-ah, don’t call your classmate an attention-seeker bastard! At least remove the word bastard!
Being called an attention-seeker isn’t very nice either, but I decided to glaze over it.
— So what’s the hint?
— Our class motto.
Min Geurin showed us her messages with Ong Gildong.
It was full of praises from Ong Gildong who praised Min Geurin’s words, along with rhetoric of regret to have to leave.
When asked where he was headed, Ong Gildong sent a photo and said “I can’t say yet, but I’ll give you a hint.”
The photo showed a holographic panel with our class motto “Go to School on Time.”
— The photography is great. Also, the words wouldn’t have shown if the light wasn’t adjusted.
— …He doesn’t even attend school. Where did he get that photo?
Hani’s question was reasonable, but I’m sure the attention-seekers took it while moving around.
Our class motto.
A stolen attendance book.
The attention-seekers who crave the spotlight.
The two people enjoyed the picnic, with Ong Gildong becoming close enough to us for him to make souvenirs.
And then the two suddenly went abroad.
These clues alone don’t make sense scattered, but by putting them all together, I thought I knew what their plan was.
‘Don’t tell me they’re going to look for the other kids?’
I wasn’t the only one who reached the conclusion.
— They stole the attendance records last time.
— Ahaha… That’s right.
Dokgo Miro and Kim Yuri seemed to get the hang of it right away.
Starting with the two, our other classmates seemed to have figured it out one after another.
Except for Maeng Hyodon.
— …?
Maeng Hyodon stared at our class motto as if trying to find an answer but to no avail.
Then, Hwang Jiho opened his mouth.
— They must’ve gone looking for our other classmates. Two of the three of them are overseas.
Year One Class Zero has a total of 16 students.
Three of them have never shown their faces.
Like Mok Wooram, two of those three are overseas.
Though why doesn’t the other one attend school when they’re already in Korea?
It would be nice to see their faces though.
While thinking like so, Hwang Jiho looked at me with a face that looked like he was about to laugh.
I was expecting it, but I decided to ignore him because I didn’t want to deal with the old man.
— Hm… then Seulbi and Luis wouldn’t make it to the festival.
Kim Yuri looked at our classmates with a troubled expression.
A lot of our classmates still aren’t attending school, and those who were attending were busy with extracurriculars.
— Sorry… I didn’t expect the Taehokwon club to be so busy.
— No, that’s fine, I’ve been busy with student association work too.
It was a shame that the kids who have extracurricular activities can’t find the time.
Hani said she could spare some time, but the conditions seemed to have changed.
The Taehokwon club became understaffed because some third graders went abroad for volunteer work after an injury occurred during the demonstration practice of the group.
‘Even if Hwang Jiho helps, it’s still limited. No matter how much the school supports us, it’s gonna be hard if we don’t have enough manpower.’
It would be impossible to make a plan for the festival at this rate.
As the atmosphere of our class was about to go down, Professor Ham Geunhyung said something.
— The festival is for the students to enjoy together and admire their achievements. Don’t pressure yourselves.
— Professor Ham Geunhyung….
The professor’s words were short, but his intentions were well-conveyed.
Our class was small in number and everyone was busy.
We have no choice but to be burdened since all clubs and classes have prepared something grand.
It would be impossible to enjoy the festival if we were pressured.
— Our achievements… enjoying together…
With Kim Yuri’s muttered words, the class seemed to have telepathically thought of something.
That’s how our class’ festival participation was decided.
It wasn’t grand, but I think we can prepare for it well.
“It’s fine, professor. You must be busy with work for Stalemate too. Thank you for your words.”
“Our members took care of everything though so I don’t have anything to contribute.”
“Our class will be like that too.”
“Hmm, alright.”
I refused his help, but he still seemed to be in a very good mood.
He briefly looked ecstatic when we first arrived in the club room, but I didn’t know why.
“Then should I get straight to the point? As you guessed, Euishi, I called you to tell you about some things that are difficult to include in the report.”
Things that he can’t put in the report that the Tiger Clan will see.
That means it’s related to the person he made a deal with.
He seemed to be continuing what we glazed over in the morning.
“I met Ungnyeo-ssi during Replay.”
Starting with that, Yong Jegun told me the story of how he met Ungnyeo.
“Ungnyeo-ssi made a deal with a demon to get some information. In exchange for the items produced by Ungnyeo-ssi, information about the person who broke into Eungwang High’s boundary.”
Ungnyeo got information through an unfavorable deal with the Demon Race.
The intel was that the person who broke the boundary was aiming for the Dragon Palace by colluding with the Dragon King’s shaman.
“Even in this world, Ungnyeo-ssi dug up information from the Demon Race and recommended that I go to the Dragon Palace. Maybe it’s the same demon.”
The difference is that Ungnyeo didn’t trade with the Demon Race.
Although Ungnyeo didn’t get detailed information, the item card didn’t fall into the Demon Race’s hands.
‘That item card is with me.’
The Weight and Wealth of Life.
I got the card earlier on, right after the Hwanmong Auction.
“Ungnyeo-ssi urged me o go to the Dragon Palace this year, but I was actually thinking of postponing it a little. You’re supposed to go to the palace next year, right Euishin? I was planning to just go with you.”
I’ll go to the palace in time for the succession ceremony of the Dragon King’s shaman.
It will be held on the first day of the Lunar New Year next year.
I was thinking of going a week before the ceremony, but that’s still next year.
‘I guess it wouldn’t be bad for Yong Jegun to visit the palace ahead of time. It would be safe if the shamans remain in Korea.’
Yong Jegun seemed to have made up his mind.
“I’m going to leave as soon as next week’s practical entrance exam patrol is over.”
“…That’s very soon though.”
“I have to hurry and visit the palace so I can enjoy Eungwang High’s festival and Christmas.”
Yong Jegun’s cyan eyes opened for a moment.
After experiencing the First Christmas scenario, Yong Jegun seemed to be extraordinarily determined.
“I wanted you to come with me, but it would be difficult, won’t it Euishin?”
“I’ll go with you next year.”
“Haha, I knew you’d say that. I’m sorry I didn’t treat you to dinner. What do you want to eat?”
Yong Jegun stood up from his seat.
He listed the names of nearby restaurants, inviting me to have dinner.
It was a little late, but maybe Yeom Junyeol had already left school.
As if seeing through my thoughts, Yong Jegun spoke.
“Junyeol will leave school late today. Let’s go get dinner together. Didn’t Junyeol-ie message you? You know the entrance exam is next week.”
“That’s true but…”
“I guess Junyeol-ie still sends you a message every morning.”
I shouldn’t have answered.
I was caught in Yong Jegun’s trap.
After deciding to go to a seafood restaurant, Yong Jegun sent a message to someone.
“The student association is still busy checking everything and the site. We’ll have to wait a little.”
I will have dinner with Yong Jegun and Yeom Junyeol tonight.
But I think he wrote an overly long message to Yeom Junyeol.
Seeing him laugh ecstatically, he seemed to be plotting something again.
“I’m calling Shinrok too.”
…Will Kim Shinrok enjoy this meal?
I know he’d be forced to come because he looked very worried about Yong Jegun.
And as expected, Kim Shinrok appeared at the dinner table.
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