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Oh Hyeji and Joo Soogyeom walked side by side along the corridor of the long underground library.
The height of the underground library was similar to that of a three-story building.
The height wasn’t a big problem for a player, but it seemed to make it difficult to find books.
In the first place, the library was for storage and not reading, so it seemed that readers are not taken into consideration at all.
‘Where did Soori go? I wish she didn’t go underground.’
The height of the bookshelves makes it impossible to see other places even when extending your neck, and there are a lot of places where light doesn’t reach well.
The surroundings were dark and visibility was quite low.
Even though it was dark ahead, Joo Soogyeom walked with no hesitation as if he activated an insight skill.
Although there was a difference of a few steps because of the difference in physique of the two, Oh Hyeji had no problem walking together.
The two moved quickly, but they examined each aisle thoroughly.
‘There’s a strong power here, but there’s no sign that the old books here have ever moved.’
Nervous, Oh Hyeji suddenly looked at Joo Soogyeom.
She was worried about Joo Soori, but she was also curious about the man she was with.
‘…It’s been a long time since I’ve been alone with Soogyeom oppa.’
The last time the two met was when Joo Soogyeom saved her on the day of the CSAT.
After escaping, they were joined by Joo Soohyuk and she was taken to the exam site right away.
And technically, it wasn’t just the two of them there.
The underground library was arranged like a labyrinth, but there were other search teams dispatched to the area.
However, due to the high ceiling and dark lighting, along with the energy emitted by the books, it was difficult to detect the presence of others.
For Oh Hyeji, it felt like they were alone.
She suddenly became nervous and couldn’t concentrate.
If she knew this would happen, she would’ve opted for a bodyguard to join them.
“I shouldn’t have lost Soori.”
“No, I should’ve notified you in advance about the underground library.”
Oh Hyeji immediately refuted what Joo Soogyeom said.
However, the latter remained firm.
“Soori’s parents trusted me and sent me here. I’ve betrayed their trust. I’m sorry for causing this incident at your last high school festival.”
Joo Soogyeom’s flawless eyes were shaded.
Seeing that, Oh Hyeji realized why Joo Soogyeom, who was soo busy that he couldn’t sleep well, said he would come to the festival.
He came to protect Joo Soori, Joo Soohyuk, and Oh Hyeji.
If Joo Soogyeom hadn’t come, Joo Soohyuk wouldn’t have enjoyed his first festival and Oh Hyeji her last festival.
They’d be focused on guarding and guiding Joo Soori.
And Joo Soori wouldn’t have enjoyed the festival as much as she wanted.
‘Soogyeom oppa didn’t have to do all this…’
Oh Hyeji took the kindness and consideration of adults lightly when she was younger, but not now.
The seemingly natural kindness was accompanied by sacrifice and responsibility.
The heavy smoker Joo Soogyeom was forced to quit smoking and reduced his break time to come to Eungwang High.
Oh Hyeji knew that Joo Soogyeom’s actions weren’t for himself.
“…I wish I didn’t know he was so sweet.”
“…”
Rather, if they hadn’t encountered each other on the Kimopolea at that time…
Oh Hyeji sighed.
Joo Soogyeom didn’t reply to what Oh Hyeji muttered to herself.
Instead, the two continued with the search as if nothing happened.
And some people were watching the two unintentionally.
“…”
“…”
Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain were hiding with their fingertips touching the wall nearby.
A rare book suddenly fell in front of the two people while they were searching the maze-like library.
Wary, the two investigated the book, but it turned out to be a collection of love letters exchanged by old writers.
While the two skimmed the book, Joo Soogyeom and Oh Hyeji passed by.
Amid the abnormal phenomenon, the two were surprised and decided to hide.
However, the tips of their fingers touched in the same direction, and the two were unable to move as if they were caught in a petrified state.
Eventually, the two unintentionally overheard the conversation and missed the time to say hello.
‘Don’t tell me Hyeji unnie is…’
Ahn Dain looked at Joo Soohyuk who was still stunned.
Joo Soohyuk didn’t respond much even after hearing the conversation, which tells Ahn Dain that he already knew about it.
‘…Have I misunderstood?’
Joo Soohyuk belatedly felt Ahn Dain’s gaze and pulled back.
Their hands pulled away, but the temperature at their fingertips remained vivid.
Ahn Dain held her own hands and recalled a rare book that Moon Saeron told her about.
‘If we find Soohyuk’s cousin safely, should I ask him to go around the festival together? It’s been a while since we talked about books…’
Ahn Dain resumed the search with thoughts that Joo Soohyuk would be happy to hear.
***
As soon as the Destiny skill was activated, the books began to move on their own.
One, two, three…
In no time, so many books were moving as if someone were pulling them.
In turn, the books that began to be drawn from the shelves fell on me.
“This power is… Jo Euishin!”
Hwang Jiho sensed that the skill was activated and looked back, but I was already buried in the books.
Before I knew it, the Fate of the Unknown card was in my hand.
Fwaa…!
A black energy wave that far exceeded my usual output wrapped around the card and my surroundings.
Hwang Jiho hurriedly developed a boundary, but the first thing I did was to spread energy waves to protect myself from the books falling from the sky.
When the black energy waves completely blocked the view and then died down, I found that I was in a place of nothingness.
There was no Hwang Jiho, books, or library.
“It’s been a while.”
There was a white shadow when I looked back at the sound of various voices.
‘The one who gave me the Fate of the Unknown…!’
At the time of Jegal’s library incident, I obtained a book that mentioned the Destiny skill.
Hwang Jiho interpreted the old book that left a myriad of signs of superior beings.
Their existence looks more human than I remember, but I recognized them right away.
Standing in front of me was a white shadow that gave me the Fate of the Unkown.
“Hello, did Tott make the ‘road’ for you again?”
“You remember me. That’s correct.”
The white shadow looked to be in good spirits.
They felt like an inorganic being the last time I encountered them, but now they seemed alive.
In the past, it felt like I was hearing dozens or hundreds of voices at the same time, making my ears ring and my vision blurry.
But now, I thought I could feel their face and voice when I listened carefully.
‘I thought it was white but it’s a little different. I think I’ve seen and heard this somewhere…’
I couldn’t conclude yet.
“Did something good happen?”
“Of course. You’ve grown, and my children are here.”
It was spring when we met, and now it’s winter.
In the meantime, I raised my overall ability and skill levels.
Considering the energy waves in this subspace, it may be hard for a player with a lower level to bear.
I can stand it now though.
‘I can also use Baekho-gun light skill longer now.’
Rather, it would be weirder if I didn’t grow, so I don’t know if I should regard it as a good thing.
But who are they referring to? My children?
“You seem to have a lot of questions. We didn’t have time then, and you were immature. But you are different now. You can ask me the questions because I’m fully prepared.”
I guess it was this white shadow that led me to come here.
I asked the most important question first.
“Is Joo Soori safe?”
“Of course. The guardian of the library cares for those who are interested in books.”
Did Tott like Joo Soori?
Like the title hero, Joo Soori seems to have a great desire for knowledge.
I was relieved to hear that Joo Soohyuk was safe.
Still, the festival seemed to be put in panic so I still felt complicated.
“I’m sorry that I ruined the festival. But there is a crisis on this land and I needed to see you before that.”
Was there no other way?
Well, it was difficult to enter the basement library unless there was an emergency.
People wouldn’t come to such remote places unless they were on a library tour, and if a person unrelated to me went missing, there was a high possibility that Hwang Jiho would deal with it without informing me.
‘The crisis on this land… the first Christmas.’
I was called before Christmas and when I have grown to some extent.
I think they’re going to give me some time to ask questions before we talk about the crisis, so I decided to sort out their identity.
“Are you a superior being?”
“No.”
“So you are a royal lineage?”
“No. And I’m not human.”
This existence seems to like riddles.
Or maybe they’re just testing me.
I decided to entertain that test.
“Do you have the Destiny skill?”
The white shadow mentioned the Destiny skill the last time we met.
— Destiny’s handover and interference were safely achieved.
— Destiny skill is the power that a ‘person who saved the world’ has or when he or she comes into contact with a ‘distant unknown’. Don’t forget that.
The white shadow nodded.
“That’s right. I defended this land a distant time ago.”
“Will you defend this land yourself again this time?”
“My life is already over so it’s impossible. The spirit is only tied to this land without exceeding the bond of reincarnation.’
The spirit is tied to this subspace, in the depths of the Tiger Clan’s territory.
Is it possible to say that they left this land in this state?
Questions only increased, but I felt like I knew the identity of this white shadow.
I threw in the last question.
“How did you not cross the bond of reincarnation?”
“I was helped by a certain royal lineage.”
Not a superior being, nor a royal lineage or a human.
Someone who defended this land before.
Someone whose life is already over.
A person who was close to a royal lineage who helped them not cross the bond of reincarnation.
Someone who would be happy to see the children visiting Eungwang High.
I felt a familiar figure in the white shadow.
Taking into consideration these things, there was only one conclusion that could be reached.
“You are a descendant of the Tiger Clan.”
Saying so, I could see the original color of the white shadow.
It was a silver lining around him.
The one in front of me was Eunho’s daughter; the mother of Eun Seoho, Eun Iho, and Eun Jaeho.
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