A human?
I doubted my ears.
His appearance is much different from what he looked like during the mythical age, but isn’t it one of the laws in this world that people of royal lineage recognize each other?
Even with the reversal skill used by Jeokho, he’s still recognized by other people of royal lineage.
Though given that Yeom Junyeol didn’t recognize Hwang Jiho when his mind wasn’t in its best shape, there could be some exceptions.
‘But Yong Jegun clearly doesn’t recognize Eunho. Why?’
Thinking that far, I remembered a conversation I had in the principal’s office.
Principal Hwangbo Yoon explained how people of royal lineage recognize each other.
— People of royal lineage and descendants seal their true names deep in their unconscious, their hearts.
— It seems that people of royal lineage who have true names recognize each other.
If so, then it seems that Yong Jegun didn’t feel that Eunho has a true name.
That’s why he judged that he was human.
‘Then how does he see Baekho-gun?’
Since Baekho-gun remains in history and mythology, people of royal lineage who meet him immediately recognize him.
It seems to be known to some extent that Baekho-gun lost his true name.
‘There was a scene in PMH where Yeom Junyeol was surprised when he ran into Baekho-gun.’
When Joo Soohyuk introduced Baekho-gun to Yeom Junyeol, the latter didn’t recognize him right away.
My playable character, like the kind student that he is, apologized profusely as soon as he realized it.
In fact, it’s possible that Yeom Junyeol didn’t recognize Baekho-gun to be a royal lineage at all.
‘I don’t think Eunho lost his true name though…’
Upon hearing Yong Jegun’s words, the tigers shut their mouths as if they were coordinated.
Hwang Jiho looked like he was stifling a laugh.
“I guess you’re a test-taker too since you’re looking at sample questions for Eungwang High’s entrance exam. You look a little younger than Euishin too. A test-taker who has a connection with the Tiger Clan…”
Yong Jegun said as he looked at the printouts in front of Eunho.
Sample questionnaires and answer keys are posted on Eungwang High’s website every year.
Though it was impressive that Yong Jegun recognized it just from a glance at a single page.
‘Is this why Yong Jegun was targeted during the exam.’
Eunho, who was staring at Yong Jegun with an ambiguous expression, smiled lightly.
“It’s been a while.”
Yong Jegun seemed to trace his memory.
But there’s no way he would have a memory of Cheon Eunha.
Eunho looked satisfied that Yong Jegun couldn’t figure it out.
“You have a deep insight and have a special talent for seeing. You recognized the descendant of the Tiger Clan in one glance and you saved him from danger. You even took inspiration from his name.”
It seemed like a compliment at first, but hearing the latter seemed to be a thorn hidden somewhere.
Did Eunho not like the name that Kim Shinrok gave Yong Jegun?
Instead of being offended, Yong Jegun looked excited.
“It’s great that I could fool the eyes of the Cintamani. You can say it now.”
“Hahahaha!”
With Eunho’s permission, Hwang Jiho began to laugh.
The permission was for him to speak though, not to guffaw like that.
Meanwhile, Yong Jegun looked calm as he used Hwang Jiho’s reaction as a clue.
“There aren’t a lot of people who can use soft words to stop Hwangho-ssi from laughing as much as he wants. And considering how you fooled my eyes…”
Yong Jegun was getting close to the answer.
However, seeing the silent tigers, they still seem to be reticent.
Yong Jegun carefully chose his words.
Eunho’s name is in almost every building in Eungwang District.
If he makes a slip of the tongue, his teaching position could be in danger.
Although Yong Jegun is the dragon of amusement, he still has the concept of a fine line.
‘Yong Jegun is the type to observe, consider, and see through things rather than being hasty.’
While Yong Jegun hesitated, Eunho finally revealed the answer.
“It’s EUnho. I will be going to Eungwang High as Cheon Eunha soon.”
“The dragon couldn’t recognize him. That’s amazing, hahaha!”
Rather than feeling enraged for being tricked, Yong Jegun looked amused at Eunho who looked like a middle school student.
Hwang Jiho said something to take a jab at him, but Yong Jegun paid no mind.
“I see Eunho-ssi has awakened. Probably around October?”
Eunho woke up before the final episode of Playlist, that is, by the end of October.
How did Yong Jegun, who couldn’t even find out Eunho’s identity, know that?
As Hwang Jiho’s laughter subsided, Yong Jegun spoke with confidence.
“It’s not as much as when he made up with Jeokho-ssi, but there was a time when Shinrok-ie looked very excited. I thought there must be something. I didn’t have time to dig it up because the broadcasting station incident happened.”
Yong Jegun quickly regained momentum.
His cyan pupils moved through his narrow eyes, landing on me.
I think he’s noticed that I’m involved in this too.
“Euishin didn’t go to school for a few days at that time. That means Euishin has something to do with this too.”
“Yes, Euishin hyung is the Tiger Clan’s benefactor. Much before the broadcasting incident where a dragon was targeted and hyung was badly hurt.”
Eunho spoke in a quiet voice, but the words “badly hurt” seemed to have stung.
Perhaps he doesn’t like that I was hurt.
Eunho must still feel indebted for what happened last time.
Yong Jegun smiled and responded.
“Yes, because of that incident, Euishin became the Dragon Clan’s benefactor. Of course, my personal benefactor as well since Euishin saved Shinrok.”
“Why are you saying Euishin is your benefactor for saving a descendant of another clan?”
That’s what I thought.
Hwang Jiho spoke in a sour voice, but he continued to talk about nonsense.
It was Jeokho who controlled the situation.
“Weren’t we supposed to share information with Yong Jegun today? I think it would be better to explain the Replay function that Jo Euishin used and what has happened. Please read this for reference.”
“Thank you, Jeokho-ssi.”
Jeokho handed a data chip to Yong Jegun.
Inside it was the report he wrote on Replay.
Yong Jegun immediately checked it out, his face looking half ecstatic while reading the report.
Hwang Jiho looked at the scene and said something.
“…You’ve changed a lot, Jeokho.”
“What do you mean I’ve changed? You haven’t grown in 5,000 years, Hwangho, so it might seem like I changed. Alright, you can start explaining it, Jo Euishin.”
Jeokho’s words made me feel relieved.
I wanted to go straight into sharing information with Yong Jegun, not wishing to waste another second.
I began to explain things, summarizing most of the information shared with the Tiger Clan.
Yong Jegun seemed to be keeping up well.
Seeing that his face had grown more and more ecstatic, it seems like he’s deduced something I haven’t figured out yet.
“This world, implemented in the form of a game… Interesting.”
It was a rather long story, but Yong Jegun didn’t lose his concentration for a moment.
I admired my playable character’s concentration and comprehension, but what he said next was rather unpleasant.
“Jiikhoe’s Gye Idam. Is Idam related to that game too?”
How did that bastard’s name come up?
Although I guess it can’t be helped considering Yong Jegun’s thinking ability.
“Idam wasn’t there in the replay that I went through. Of course, any child of that quality in our school and Jiikhoe would’ve been known.”
Gye Idam? Quality?
Is it because PMH was a failed game, or is Yong Jegun still confused?
Either way, he said something that didn’t make sense to me.
“I can think of two possibilities from Euishin’s explanation. First, Idam is someone that Euishin saved. Just like the kid that Euishin saved from the auction.”
I can’t believe the kind Saeum of April and Gye Idam were mentioned in the same sentence.
Yong Jegun observed me for a second.
“But that’s not the case with Gye Idam, judging from Euishin’s face.”
“…”
“Then that means Idam is like Euishin. Though I think Euishin is better… Haha, I guess it’s not good to compare. Sorry, Euishin-ah.”
“It’s fine.”
Yong Jegun recognized my feelings and apologized!
It was like he gave me the disease and the medicine, but thinking about it carefully, there was no need for Yong Jegun to apologize.
Eunho, who was silently sipping his tea, said something.
“He must’ve played PMH too. There aren’t many people who have the surname Gye.”
Meanwhile, Yong Jegun, who already talked to his heart’s content, still had something to say.
“If it’s a simulation in the form of a game, then it’s Euishin who was controlling me on my last day. Though it’s obvious.”
“…What?”
“The day when it snowed. I wasn’t in very good shape. My mind and body were at their limit. But I was very efficient in battle, and my route was very strategic. As if an outstanding player possessed me.”
Did Yong Jegun realize he was being controlled?
Of course, it’s because it was the replay of my gameplay.
Still, it couldn’t have felt so good to find out that he was being manipulated.
“Did you lead me to where Baekho-ssi was, Euishin?”
Yong Jegun didn’t want to go out, but I forced him as much as I could.
Although he was limited by the contract, he refused to leave in the end.
Should I apologize for controlling him?
For now, I decided to nod to affirm his question.
And then Yong Jegun said something unexpected.
“It wouldn’t have been easy to drag me there. I was a mess… Thank you, Euishin-ah.”
Hundreds of replays.
Each of them shows how Yong Jegun dies.
I couldn’t answer for a long time as I remembered that helpless winter.
