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Student Association Hall, shortly after Joo Soohyuk and Yoo Sanghoon noticed Jo Euishin’s absence.
“Euishin isn’t here. I looked through exits 1, 2, and 3 just in case, but I didn’t see him.”
“Yeah, he was acting suspicious earlier. Looks like he really left.”
Despite Joo Soohyuk using his Seer skill, he couldn’t see Jo Euishin at all.
It seemed like a while since the Class 1-0 vice president left the hall.
“Let’s ask the Class Zero kids.”
At Joo Soohyuk’s suggestion, the two decided to ask the students of Class Zero about Jo Euishin’s whereabouts.
There they found Maeng Hyodon sitting alone in the hall’s lobby.
Maeng Hyodon, who was in charge of the other kids while they went to get something to eat, vaguely recalled what happened just now.
‘Suspicious…’
Incidents suddenly happened in the school, a runaway Bang Yoonseob, and a suspicious vice president…
Many things happened at once, so Maeng Hyodon had a difficult time putting two and two together in his head.
But a scene constantly repeated in his mind.
— After using this skill, it will be difficult for Saeum to participate in battle, so the next part has to be you two.
— …What about you?
— Of course, I will fight with you. Until we get to the central area.
Students from Class Zero were in the classroom when the abnormalities first occurred.
Jo Euishin responded to the emergency as if he had been prepared for everything.
Jo Euishin always seemed ready and thoughtful so it wasn’t that strange, but he looked more suspicious than his usual suspicious self.
When Jo Euishin declared that he’d move on his own after they arrived in the central area, Maeng Hyodon suddenly suggested something.
— Can’t I join you?
At Maeng Hyodon’s words, Jo Euishin contemplated for a moment but shook his head in the end.
He didn’t elaborate, but Maeng Hyodon sensed it.
Maeng Hyodon would only get in the way of Jo Euishin’s suspicious plans.
It’s widely known that Jo Euishin is strong.
Most players know that he received his alias even before entering Eungwang High and that he’s a talent just below the geniuses Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain.
But in reality, Maeng Hyodon knew it was more than just that.
It was Jo Euishin, wearing his crow mask, who saved Maeng Hyodon from the fight club.
Maeng Hyodon grew from then, but his journey was like being lifted from hell and suddenly compelled to act like a normal person.
He doubted if he could succeed.
“Hyodon-ah, have you seen Euishin?”
“…!”
Maeng Hyodon, who was spacing out from feeling helpless, was suddenly awash.
He turned his head and saw Joo Soohyuk and Yoo Sanghoon.
“The VP isn’t in the hall?”
“Yeah, I think he went somewhere.”
“…Yeah.”
Jo Euishin headed for the residential area amid the chaotic situation.
Before Maeng Hyodon answered again, Yoo Sanghoon spoke.
“He doesn’t look surprised. I guess he knew that Jo Euishin would be away.”
“It looks like it. Do you know where Euishin is, Hyodon-ah? Did he go alone?”
Following Yoo Sanghoon, Joo Soohyuk also asked a question.
The two seemed to have a clear look at what Maeng Hyodon was thinking.
Joo Soohyuk and Yoo Sanghoon were quick to notice, but emotions were displayed clearly on Maeng Hyodon’s face in the first place.
Still, Maeng Hyodon desperately tried to cover it up.
“…That dude moved separately from my classmates.”
“You must’ve heard from him then. He’s not the type to leave without giving a heads-up to you guys.”
“Yeah, Class Zero would surely go looking around for Jo Euishin if he suddenly disappeared. He must’ve told you guys in advance.”
The two grasped the situation perfectly despite Maeng Hyodon’s attempt.
He had no escape since Joo Soohyuk and Yoo Sanghoon knew Jo Euishin and Maeng Hyodon well.
At this rate, Joo Soohyuk and Yoo Sanghoon might go out to find Jo Euishin.
Maeng Hyodon was also worried, but he remembered how Jo Euishin refused his help when he offered it.
As the stonehead was reaching his limit, Maeng Hyodon’s face turned red.
He could barely say his next words as he seemingly squeezed them out of his mouth.
“…We might get in his way.”
Maeng Hyodon skipped all the details and only gave the reason why he didn’t insist on following Jo EUishin.
If he said anything more, it would seem like Jo Euishin knew from the start the things that were happening in Eungwang High.
In the end, it would be interfering with Jo Euishin’s suspicious behavior, so Maeng Hyodon carefully chose his words.
Watching Maeng Hyodon breaking a sweat, Yoo Sanghoon said something.
“I saw Jo Euishin holding an energy gun earlier. He looked suspicious.”
Maeng Hyodon also felt the suspiciousness just from the thought of it.
It was odd that he picked up a weapon that he doesn’t normally use in this emergency, though it doesn’t matter much since Jo Euishin has the skill to use it.
As if that was the most suspicious point, Joo Soohyuk immediately added.
“Euishin usually uses magic when he wants to finish something quickly. But earlier, he was holding an energy gun. I think he wants to save up energy waves. Wouldn’t it be dangerous if he ran out?”
“Yeah… That’s true but…”
“I have an insight skill. How about we just watch Jo Euishin from afar and only join him if he’s in danger?”
Maeng Hyodon was shaken by Joo Soohyuk’s proposal.
Wouldn’t that be okay?
No, but if he does that, it would be a lot of pressure on Joo Soohyuk to continuously use his skills.
While Maeng Hyodon was lost in thought and couldn’t react properly, the two were ready to go.
They seemed determined to find Jo Euishin even if Maeng Hyodon didn’t join.
“Seer can see from afar, but the range isn’t that wide. It consumes a lot of energy waves too. We need to know the approximate location at least so… Let’s ask Saeron.”
“She’s in the conference room. I think Do Wonwoo would stop us if he knew.”
Yoo Sanghoon didn’t bother calling Do Wonwoo “hyung” or “sunbae,” perhaps because he’d known him from childhood and saw his ugly side.
Aside from that though, Yoo Sanghoon’s prediction wasn’t wrong.
Just because one of the students left the hall, Do Wonwoo would never tolerate them leaving on their own.
Then, Joo Soohyuk said something.
“I thought of a way.”
“What?”
“There’s a bit of room in terms of manpower in the hall right now. Wonwoo hyung will try to send some people to check the situation elsewhere. Let’s volunteer.”
Not all students evacuated to the Student Association Hall.
Some people fled to the Jiikhoe Hall, while others stayed in the library.
In the first broadcast, Do Wonwoo asked the students to find a place where they could stay for more than a day.
Most of the students who weren’t confident in their combat skills chose to stay in places nearer to them, and as of the moment, their safety is yet to be properly confirmed.
“The head of the newspaper department contacted us from the Jiikhoe Hall using a skill, but there are many people who don’t hear much from us. Among them are people from the Student Council.”
The Student Council was dressed up in Santa costumes and distributing presents for the event when the incident broke out.
Joo Soohyuk was able to join the Student Association Hall because he was close by, but others were not.
In particular, most of the Student Council members who went to the research area couldn’t join them.
Still, Joo Soohyuk was sure that they’d be safe.
Cheon Dongha, the head of the Student Council, showed them a map of where they should distribute gifts, and the map showed emergency evacuation facilities around the research area.
The student council members probably headed there.
Considering this fact, it was highly likely that Do Wonwoo would send Joo Soohyuk, a player who can handle himself well, to take on the role of a liaison.
Hearing the explanation, Yoo Sanghoon said a word.
“You must’ve wanted to go outside.”
Joo Soohyuk was slightly stung.
Kwak Gyungu’s words have been on his mind for a while.
— Jo Euishin’s Bbang Shuttle exploded when he looked at you. I don’t know if it’s because of the demon, but it’s better to keep your distance for now.
He was distancing himself, but he was still worried about being in the Student Association Hall.
He thought to himself that he wanted to leave.
“…I’m actually curious about the situation outside. And I’m worried about Euishin too.”
“Really?”
Yoo Sanghoon didn’t say anything more.
While the two were about to head to the hall, Maeng Hyodon suddenly spoke as if he’d finally made up his mind.
“I’m coming too.”
The three went to the conference room first to check with Moon Saeron where Jo Euishin was.
In case Do Wonwoo disapproves, they would already have Jo Euishin’s location.
Moon Saeron found Jo Euishin with her derived skill Intensive Coverage.
There are two conditions for the skill to activate.
First, the target must be within a certain distance.
There was no problem with that since Jo Euishin was inside Eungwang High.
Second, she must know some information about the target to be tracked.
Moon Saeron belongs to the same newspaper department as Jo Euishin, so the two conditions are easily met.
Fwaaat!
In front of Moon Saeron, a report made of energy waves materialized.
The document contained Jo Euishin’s possible routes.
“There are many candidates since the Suspicious VP is so preoccupied… but I think the most likely place is Mt. Cheonik!”
After receiving the information from Moon Saeron, the group began to persuade Do Wonwoo.
At first, Do Wonwoo stopped them, saying it was too dangerous, but they were able to secure his approval when they leveraged the other students who could be isolated.
Do Wonwoo was very reluctant to let Yoo Sanghoon out since Yoo Sanghee hadn’t arrived yet, but he eventually trusted him and Joo Soohyuk and decided to let them go.
In addition to finding Jo Euishin, they had the mission to contact isolated students, so they were sent out with consumable item cards, food, and carrier pigeon item cards.
The three went to the research area and library before finally arriving at the residential area, handing out the items that they carried.
When they reached the residential area, they suddenly felt a cold wave.
“Something’s happening. Let’s hurry!”
The three immediately headed to Mt. Cheonik.
By the time they arrived, the Tiger Clan was evacuating and Jo Euishin was about to hold a ritual.
The truth was, Pungbaek and Usa saw the three on the mountain, but because they weren’t royal lineage and only a group of three, the twins weren’t wary.
At best, they judged that they were students who were backed into the mountain while fighting against enemies.
Then, an intense force rose to the sky and black snow began to fall.
“It’s snow…! The VP said not to get hit by snow! Oh?”
“It’s Jo Euishin’s energy waves.”
“Yeah! It’s different from the force from earlier.”
And finally, the three found Jo Euishin in the dark snow.
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