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The roar of a beast sounded through the sky.
It sounded so dark that I wondered if the sky would collapse.
I was still bleeding from one ear, but strangely enough, the sound didn’t hurt me at all.
Instead, the more I listened, the more relieved I felt.
And then I realized.
‘That roar is blocking the sound of the drum that has Pungbaek and Usa’s power.’
As long as the roar continues, Pungbaek and Usa’s power cannot reach me.
This must be the measure prepared by Hwang Jiho.
I wanted to find the source of the sound, but I couldn’t move yet.
The ritual wasn’t over, and Pungbaek and Usa were fast approaching.
I took a glance while doing the sword dance to get even a glimpse of that being.
I incorporated the movements into the dance so as to not interrupt it.
Then, I saw the source of the roar through the five-colored fan.
‘It’s a tiger.’
A blindingly white tiger was escaping out of the shadow of the Cheondansu.
That white tiger seems to have been hiding itself in the shadow all this time.
Although the Cheondansu is large, it seemed impossible that such a huge tiger was hidden that not even his hair was visible.
The white tiger seemed to have literally melted into the shadow.
‘It’s not Baekho-gun.’
As soon as I saw the white tiger, I thought of my main playable character, Baekho-gun.
But the beast was different.
The fierce eyes stared at the sky and its mouth that gritted to reveal its sharp teeth was different from the Baekho-gun that I know.
The biggest difference was the color of its energy waves.
Its overall appearance was like the incarnation of Mt. Cheonik.
Then, I heard a whisper from the sky.
“Tiger? Is it a Tiger Clan?”
“It’s not a royal lineage. To think that such a power can heal like this…!”
As I turned to the source of the voice, I saw two boys floating in the sky.
They were still up high and difficult to see clearly, but they were wearing unique costumes.
They held a drum and a mirror respectively, in clothes that would’ve been worn by a priest in charge of a ritual.
There was no doubt.
Those boys were the traitors, Pungbaek and Usa, who turned their backs to the Tiger Clan and joined hands with the Black Screen.
Grrrr!
The white tiger saw Pungbaek and Usa and growled.
It was such a fierce sound that even the air seemed to tremble.
It made the descending Pungbaek and Usa flinch.
“Does it know who we are for it to scream like that?”
“Whether it knows us or not, it’s blasphemous!”
Perhaps they were humiliated for flinching at the sound, but Pungbaek and Usa blew evil energy at the white tiger.
Not backing down, the white tiger roared and threatened them again.
While staring at it roar, I met the white tiger’s eyes.
The eyes of the giant beast overflowed with courage.
I was admiring it without realizing it, but somehow, the white tiger lowered its eyebrows when it saw me and made a grim expression.
It acted like it knew me.
At that moment, the sudden urge to kneel and apologize immediately rose.
I’ve felt this way a few times in this world before.
It was always against the most intelligent, kind, and wonderful genius in the world that I felt this way.
‘Don’t tell me, that tiger is…’
A mythical being strong enough to fight against Pungbaek and Usa.
A being who can trick their eyes as it hid on Mt. Cheonik.
A being who’s not of the Tiger Clan but has a close connection to them.
‘There’s no way that the Black Screen let someone like that live… if so…’
A being that the Black Screen has sought after but survived.
That same being is kind enough to worry about me.
Taking all the clues together, there was only one conclusion that could be reached.
I recognized the being, the white tiger that was in front of me.
The Tiger Clan’s Shinsoo.
I didn’t immediately recognize Cotton Wool because he looks a little bigger, yet all the same strong, wonderful, beautiful, and cool.
I felt sorry and overwhelmed at the same time.
“…Olmu-yah.”
Olmu blinked as if responding to me.
My foolish self recognized him too late, yet he still responded!
I see now that not only is Olmy small, cute, and perfect as an angel, but he can also be a big, strong, and genius warrior.
Grrr? Grrrr…!
The kind Olmu suddenly roared like a sound that came from hell — no, the sound of a brave warrior on a battlefield.
He must’ve seen my bleeding ears.
If it weren’t for the ritual, I would’ve wiped it off quickly and reassured Olmu, but the situation made it difficult to do that.
Grrrr! Roaar!
“Euuahh… My ears hurt!”
“Endure it. I’ll kill the Tiger Clan’s Shinsoo once we get close enough!”
My Olmu roared a little, but Pungbaek and Usa shouted back in a loud voice.
They threatened to do something to our precious Olmu!
But instead of falling back, Olmu revealed his claws.
Evil spirit was oozing from Pungbaek and Usa, but my Olmu was ready to fight without losing.
I didn’t think my genius Olmu would lose, but I worried that I might get in his way since I was defenseless.
I was worried that those mythical beings would do something to him.
‘Olmu is a kind angel so he won’t hesitate to get hurt while covering for me. That’s why… I need to make my final move!’
There’s still a long way to go before the end of the ritual.
The amount of accumulated snow is so large, along with the evil that laced it.
It was impossible to stop it on my own right from the start.
After being attacked by Pungbaek and Usa, my energy waves depleted even faster.
To the extent that I can’t afford to stop blood from flowing out of my ear.
‘Just a little more…!’
I felt Pungbaek and Usa move slowly.
I held out on the ground until they came closer.
For my final move to work, I need Pungbaek and Usa close to the ground.
However, that meant that their attacks had stronger effects.
Eventually, Pungbaek and Usa set foot on the ground and clashed with Olmu.
Grrrr!
“You dare put your claws on us? We’ll cut off your feet first then!”
“I’ll slice his neck while you do that.”
They had a splendidly decorated knife in their hand.
The blades had their names engraved on them.
Perhaps it was one of the tools used in ancestral rituals, the energy rising from the blade was unusual.
At that moment, Pungbaek and Usa’s eyes stopped for a moment toward me.
“…Royal lineage? There’s a royal lineage among the students?”
“The descendant of the Dragon Clan studies in Eungwang High so it’s not strange, but a royal lineage who’s not from the Tiger Clan dare to wield a sword in front of Cheondansu?”
I was wearing a mask, but I retained my physical appearance as Jo Euishin.
I was using Yoon Yeorang and Baekho-gun’s light skills at the same time.
Perhaps that’s why I was mistaken for royal lineage.
‘But it’s strange…’
There was a strange contradiction between what I know from my experience in this world and their words.
But that wasn’t the point now.
“Royal lineage or not, it doesn’t matter. We can find out after we deal with Shinsoo.”
The two pointed their blades at Olmu.
At the same time…
My plan was completed.
‘Everything is placed just where it needs to be. I just need to move the last piece.’
In order to complete the ritual, I need to deal with Pungbaek, Usa, and the Dragon King’s shamans.
It’s hard to defeat those mythical beings on my own.
I could make a surprise attack or ambush them, but it was difficult to do that this time.
They were holding a ritual to make snow, while I was holding one to stop them.
It was virtually a head-to-head match.
I couldn’t choose to move secretly because I had to clean up whatever evil they placed in the sky.
If I block their eyes with the Tiger Clan or any other royal lineage, it’s impossible to catch any more clues.
I had to move alone and bring them out, face them head-to-head, and still win.
That’s why I put this plan in place.
— Pungbaek and Usa know the Tiger Clan well. They’ll know right away that you’re not from the Tiger Clan. They won’t think of any other royal lineage either. I think they’ll conclude that you’re an Eungwang High student who’s holding a ritual.
— That’s true. There’s no tiger who has the same color of energy waves as you, so they’ll think that the moment they see it.
Hwang Jiho’s eyes were twinkling as if he recognized what I wanted to do.
He interrupted for a while, saying that he’d find out for himself, but he couldn’t get the complete thought.
Hwang Jiho’s assistance is essential for this to work, but wouldn’t it be a little difficult that he can’t even guess it?
I thought so, but seeing Hwang Jiho’s expectant look, I thought he’d allow it if I did well.
So I finally laid out the suggestion.
— There’s something I need you to do to allow me to go after that loophole. It’s better if we practice.
— What do you suggest? You need my permission? Practice? It’s hard for me to allow if it’s even more dangerous than the other things.
— It won’t be dangerous. Probably.
— I don’t like how you said “probably,” but… Say it.
Hwang Jiho was a little sour as if he was reluctant to hear the answer without him successfully guessing.
Still, it seemed like he was looking forward to what I’d suggest.
— Let me be able to use earth power.
Hwang Jiho looked surprised for a moment as if what I suggested was unthinkable.
— You’re going to use earth power?
It is difficult for non-royal lineage to use earth power.
But I can use it through my Player Identity light skill.
Not just that, but the power of the mythical Baekho.
— Alright, Jo Euishin. I will allow you to use earth power, and I will help you.
The look of surprise on Hwang Jiho’s face quickly changed from surprise to anticipation, and strangely pleasure, as he helped me complete the plan with a twinkle in his eye.
Fwaaa…
“Wait, what is that? Hwangho’s power…?”
“Why, that is…!”
A golden energy rose from my wrist, proof of Hwang Jiho’s permission.
The head of the Tiger Clan and the Guardian of this territory allowed me to use this land’s earth power.
The golden energy went up my wrist and covered the White Fang which was previously painted the color of my energy waves.
Earth power from Mt. Cheonik reacted with every swing of the White Fang.
“It’s earth power…!”
“He allowed a non-tiger to use intelligence? Hwangho?”
“I saw the seal on his wrist! We need to get rid of him first!”
Grrrr!
Pungbaek and Usa belatedly tried to come after me instead of Olmu, but they were blocked by the genius’ roar.
In the meantime, I increased earth power even more.
Eungwang High, the place where earth power is the strongest.
On Mt. Cheonik, in front of Cheondansu at that.
They may be mythical beings, but they won’t be able to deal with this power easily.
Hwiii…!
Earth power quietly rose from the ground as I swung the White Fang, its blade and whole body wrapped.
I wielded earth power against those who came after Eungwang High.
Towards Pungbaek and Usa who covered the school with snow.
And toward the cloud that covered Eungwang High.
Kwaaaaaa!
A blow full of earth power soared toward Pungbaek, Usa, and the clouds.
As it reached the sky, Yong Jegun’s miracle faded as if it were waiting, and the snow piled up was about to pour down.
But the snow was no longer dangerous.
The clouds covering Eungwang High scattered and the snow fluttered.
The snow became black, the color of my energy waves.
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