Support Ex-Rank
I had a lot of questions while playing PMH, but the game ended with most of them unresolved.
And as the time I spent with Hwang Jiho increased after coming to this world, a question that I had for the longest time deepened.
‘Why didn’t Hwang Jiho appear in the First Christmas scenario?’
At first, I thought it was because of his negligence.
It’s not just about his track record in PMH.
When I met Hwang Jiho in this world, he seemed unmotivated and indifferent despite attending school.
I confirmed the image of Hwang Jiho being negligent in PMH.
However, as time passed, I changed my mind as the old man laughed well most days.
‘Was Hwang Jiho really neglectful?’
Hwang Jiho was indeed lazy, but I think he had a lot of opportunities to change.
After all, a descendant that he treated as his nephew almost died when the Bear Clan invaded Eungwang High.
Hwang Jiho would’ve changed a lot since the entrance exam last year.
Rather, it would be strange if Hwang Jiho — who cares about his clan’s descendants, hates the Bear Clan, and values the dignity of his territory — would remain negligent.
Thinking like so, a contradiction begins to appear.
Why didn’t Hwang Jiho cooperate right away when I first met him?
Some nonsense about the old man changing thanks to me being in the same class was said, but nature doesn’t change that easily.
If so, there must be a reason why Hwang Jiho showed an attitude to me at first.
‘Because he didn’t trust me at first. I wouldn’t have believed me right away too.’
Hwang Jiho suffered the betrayal of the Bear Clan.
Although I saved Kim Shinrok, there’s no way he could trust a human that he’s met for the first time.
Perhaps he suspected that I was conspiring with the Bear Clan to get his trust and take the position of the Tiger Clan’s benefactor.
Maybe that’s why Hwang Jiho didn’t easily say his connection to Kim Shinrok and didn’t lend me a hand right away.
‘Hwang Jiho investigated and did a background check. But he wouldn’t tell me that.’
I think he started to trust me after I destroyed Choi Pyeondeuk, an incident that led to the descendants’ safety.
After that, his attitude toward me changed significantly, and he embarrasses me with his frequent mention of the word benefactor.
However, there’s a question that becomes more difficult to resolve if my reasoning was all correct.
‘How the hell did the Black Screen get Hwang Jiho out?’
Hwang Jiho’s negligence ended when Kim Shinrok was attacked.
Hwang Jiho in PMH must’ve been at the height of his alertness.
I kept thinking about how Hwang Jiho could be killed.
It will be hard to catch him even with the strength of a royal lineage.
After all, even the heads of clans of the 12-point alliance paid tribute to Hwang Jiho’s power.
‘They must’ve had to work on catching Hwang Jiho for a long time.’
Just like how many moves must be made on the chessboard before checkmate.
Hwang Jiho is not someone that can be beaten by tricks like a scholar’s mate.
First, Kim Shinrok was killed, then the trust in Eungwang High was destroyed and the school was isolated…
One of those would’ve been First Christmas.
‘To execute the First Christmas scenario the way they wanted, they had to prevent Hwang JIho from intervening.’
Jeokho threatened him not to intervene, but he would’ve anyway because his territory is being attacked by the Black Screen and the life of his friend is at stake.
Even if he pretended to be negligent to fool the enemy, it was like Hwang Jiho to remove his camouflage at some point as he seeks redemption and protects Eungwang High students.
If Hwang Jiho was in Korea, he would’ve emerged as his main body and used his alter egos to reach Eungwang High.
Nevertheless, Hwang Jiho didn’t show up.
‘Maybe Hwang Jiho was outside Korea because of Black Screen’s plot?’
When we returned early from the overseas coverage, Hwang Jiho talked to me about his powers.
His alter egos cannot go outside Korea, and if his main body is out of the country, it’s impossible to jump from one body to another.
— It’s impossible to move the other pieces if the King itself is not on the chessboard. There’s also a limit to the alter egos if the King is away. Moving the alter egos while the true self is outside the Korean Peninsula is quite tricky. In other words… it’s like I need to create a separate hand with energy waves to be able to move the other pieces on the board
— The ability to think, the precision of skills, and the ability to concentrate are greatly reduced. That’s why I took care of everything important before hopping on this overseas trip.
If the main body, the true self, is outside Korea, the ability of his alter egos is greatly reduced.
Considering all these, I came to a conclusion.
Hwang Jiho was outside Korea during Christmas.
From that conclusion, I don’t know if Hwang Jiho was aware of the situation at Eungwang High, but he couldn't help Jeokho and the students with his alter egos.
Considering that Baekho-gun struggled to break the boundary even with the White Fang, it would be difficult for Hwang Jiho’s handicapped alter ego to break through.
‘They lured Hwang Jiho out of Korea in preparation for Christmas.’
The Black Screen would’ve prepared a secret move to make Hwang Jiho vacate his position at the desired time.
That card seems to be a trace of Cheongho and Shinin.
He flew to England on a private jet to celebrate my birthday.
If he found a trace of his old friends overseas, would he have stayed put?
Hwang Jiho in PMH would’ve checked it out on his own right away.
‘Black Screen knew about Cheongho and Shinin’s whereabouts. The clue was probably real.’
At the youth retreat, the Shapeshifter, the right-hand man of the Bear Clan, moved under the auspices of the Black Screen.
He knew that Cheongho and Shinin became human.
There was no way that the Black Screen didn’t know what he knew.
The Black Screen manipulated Hwang Jiho by thoroughly keeping a card up their sleeves.
“I was determined to go. You told me something the day we got together for Christmas. That the opponents will have the ability to seal my movements.”
We had a meeting at the mansion ahead of the First Christmas Scenario.
Everyone wondered why Hwang Jiho didn’t appear in Jeokho’s and Yong Jegun’s replay, and even in the PMH that Eunho and I remember.
The hypothesis came up easily because I had been thinking about how the Black Screen could’ve gotten rid of Hwang Jiho.
“But that sneaky opponent couldn’t have confronted this body head-on, and there would be no means to seal all of my alter egos and the main body in the Korean Peninsula. You predicted that they would’ve devised a scheme to lure me out of the country.”
That was the conclusion that I came to.
There was no way that the Black Screen could’ve stopped Hwang Jiho from intervening.
Hwang Jiho’s power is strong, and the Black Screen has yet to take control of Eungwang High at that time.
They haven’t killed all that they needed to kill.
At least Hwang Jiho will be safe by the end of the second year.
What the Black Screen did to take out Hwang Jiho, what the silver hero was concerned about, and more variables have to be taken into consideration.
“This body hung bounties and treasures that even people of royal lineage would covet to find the whereabouts of Cheongho and Shinin. I’ve heard reports from time to time, but not a single thing that’s worth a direct report. Until today.”
It seems that it wasn’t a secret that Cheongho and Shinin disappeared as a bounty was posted even for royal lineage to see.
I don’t know what Hwang JIho put on the line and through what process he went through to select reports.
But don’t tell me Hwang Jiho is going abroad to get it.
I was thinking about what to do if Hwang Jiho said he would travel overseas.
“If it weren’t for you, I would’ve moved to get the clue without hesitation.”
There was a determined light in Hwang Jiho’s narrow eyes.
His agitation and anger seem to have died down as he spoke firmly.
“Yours truly will not go. It’s been a long time since my benefactor found Cheongho and Shinin.”
He fully regained composure after those words.
He adjusted the leash of Olmu, who looked sullen as if he was lonely to be out of my arms, and continued to speak.
“Now that I know their trick, I can use it in reverse. I’ll be consulting Eunho through my alter ego. Eungwang High’s next ambassadors will be announced soon so you better hurry up.”
Ambassadors…
Those words made my footsteps heavy.
Did he really need to add that?
I couldn’t keep Yeom Junyeol and the others waiting, so I forced myself to walk.
I headed to a studio inside the student association hall.
“I will be introducing the next ambassadors who will represent Eungwang High next year.”
“I hope those watching over their screens will also welcome our new ambassadors with a warm round of applause.”
The introduction of the next ambassadors was conducted live in the studio.
The broadcast is streamed through the school’s website and holograms throughout the campus.
This year’s ambassadors, Yeom Junyeol and Yeon Garam, were the hosts.
The two’s hosting flowed like water, and before I knew it, I was pushed in front of the camera.
‘Do I really need to be here?’
Excluding me, the next ambassadors were Joo Soohyuk, Ahn Dain, and Dokgo Miro.
Considering the three’s popularity, I didn’t need to be here at all.
Negative thoughts were on my mind, but I tried to correct them.
‘Let’s just think that I’m helping those three.’
Also, they weren’t the only ones who I can help.
There was another ambassador for next year.
“Starting next year, we will be having a special ambassador. The first professor to be Eungwang High’s ambassador is…”
When Yeom Junyeol started the phrase, someone standing outside of the camera frame began to walk.
Appearing with an awkward smile was Jegal.
‘I heard there were more candidates among the teachers, but Jegal was selected after all.’
Yeon Garam introduced Jegal in a proud voice.
‘A player who only speaks the truth and a poet whose words shine like aquamarine (Namok), the Namok Poet — Professor Jegal Jaegul!”
By now, Hong Gyubin who’s staying in the association booth, and the Class 2-0 seniors, must’ve cheered like crazy.
Jegal was wearing a suit that seemed to be newly tailored by Neuru.
The navy blue jacket was decorated with aquamarine jade.
Although it wasn’t a design that could be worn every day, Jegal easily pulled off the bold outfit.
‘Neuru’s design is really something else…’
It’s a shame that the designer himself isn’t very good.
The model and the clothes were very good though, so after the live broadcast introducing the ambassadors, I didn’t forget to take a picture with Jegal.
When I was about to leave the studio with the other student ambassadors…
“Wait a minute, Euishin-ah.”
Yeom Junyeol called me up.
His manager from the Dragon Clan must’ve thoroughly prepared for the shoot seeing that Yeom Junyeol had fantastic makeup and hair setting on.
I was impressed when I saw him in his chair from far away, but seeing him up close made me realize how handsome my student was.
“You just got here, so why don’t we talk for a bit before you go?”
Yeom Junyeol asked me to make time because he wanted to introduce me to someone.
The person was the wanderlust dragon, one of Yeom Junyeol’s teachers.
Support Ex-Rank
