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Hwangmyeong mansion, in the living room of the main house.
A huge tree was decorated, its peak reaching the high ceiling of the mansion.
Perhaps because the tree was too big, there were still patches of the tree that remained undecorated.
The empty parts were being filled in by Eun Iho, Eun Seoho, and Eun Jaeho, who sat on the ladder.
The Tiger Clan asked the descendants to wait inside the mansion because something big would happen outside, but they decided to leave them a tree to decorate in case they got bored.
The children felt sorry for not being able to participate in Eunwgang High’s Christmas event, but they quickly became absorbed in decorating the tree.
“Wouldn’t it be better to put a little light around here once more?”
“I want to put more decorative bells though…”
Eun Jaeho was holding a box full of various colored items.
Eun Iho saw it and spoke brightly.
“Then let's put the symbolic colors of the tiger-nims who are out today. That’s okay right, Hwangho-nim?”
Eun Iho asked Hwangho’s alter ego who was sitting on the sofa in the living room, but no answer came back.
Hwangho’s alter ego was in the form of Hwang Myeongho in his 60’s.
It was unlikely that the Hwangmyeong Mansion would be targeted, but Hwangho deployed one of his alter egos just in case.
Hwangho’s main body was dealing with Uma, so his alter ego’s reactions were slow.
After a few beats, Hwang Myeongho looked at Eun Iho and nodded.
When the children saw it, they lowered their voices and whispered to each other.
“Hwangho-nim’s old self is responding very slowly.”
“He’s been sitting still since morning. Maybe he’s having a difficult time outside.”
“Euishin hyung must be busy too, right? I wanted to put the last star with Euishin hyung.”
Eunho’s descendants were disappointed to see the top of the tree missing its last piece — the star.
Tree toppers are usually yellow or red, but what they prepared was black.
The black star had gold, red, blue, white, and silver pearls.
The material was luxurious in its elaborate form, and the colors of the tigers were evenly distributed, making it to the liking of the descendants.
“The topper made to order came out so pretty though. What a shame.”
“I wonder where they ordered it from.”
“Hwangho-nim didn’t say.”
“Really? Let’s order again next time.”
The creator of the black star was Eunho.
When Hwangho said that the Christmas tree would be decorated with a black star, Eunho immediately started work despite his busy schedule.
His descendants were not aware that it was his craft, but the children were very satisfied with the product.
The children, who were talking while looking at the topper in the box, suddenly looked at the clock and changed the topic of conversation.
“It’s past lunchtime. Let’s cook!”
“Yeah, Hwangho-nim looks busy so we should prep it.”
“Should we ask Sanryeong for help too? Oh?”
The children looked around, but they didn’t see Sanryeong anywhere.
The tree was big so they thought he was hiding in between, but they really couldn’t find him.
“Where’s Sanryeong?”
“He was helping us decorate the tree earlier…”
“Is he hiding as a joke?”
“Sanryeong-ah, where are you?”
Eunho’s descendants called for Sanryeong, but there was no answer.
They were flustered because Baekho or Shinsoo weren’t there to catch him.
Since then, they searched the entire main house for Sanryeong, but to no avail.
Eunho’s descendants eventually returned to the front of the tree without getting what they were searching for.
And the tree in the middle of the living room still had no star.
***
About three hours after Eungwang High’s boundary malfunctioned.
The attack on the otherworlds that spawned at each entrance of the school was almost completed.
When the gaps of the otherworlds seemed to disappear, those holding the defensive lines cheered.
All the members of the attack team were players elite enough to handle energy poison, but they couldn’t help but worry.
Everyone was relieved to think that the otherworlds, which are believed to be the source of the energy poison, would finally disappear and that the members of the attack team would return.
There was more good news.
A player who was contacting outside using a carrier pigeon item shouted loudly.
“Satelite information reception is back!”
“Wait, I’ll check my device too. Hey, communication signal’s back to normal!”
Finally, proper satellite information reception and communication are possible again.
As the unknown communication failure was resolved, messages began to pour on the devices worn by the players.
The top of the flood of messages was a warning message from the player satellite.
The backlog of warning messages was quickly updated with the latest information.
The latest one was the message announcing the completion of the otherworld attack.
— The otherworld in the area has been cleared.
The attack team returned from the gap of the disappearing otherworld along with the message.
There were quite a few injured people, perhaps because they had to attack the otherworld while dealing with energy poison and the side effects of the antidote.
Recovery items had to be used to treat gut damage, so the number of injuries has increased more than expected as blunt trauma was left untreated.
Still, everyone returned alive.
Additional messages came in when the attack team returned.
— Player SAT-K has successfully accessed recording devices in the area.
— Player SAT-K will analyze the process.
— Top contributor: Iron Arm
— Top contributor: Red King
— Top contributor: Cheongryong
Everyone nodded in agreement when they saw the team masters’ aliases and the name of the Dragon Clan’s head as the top contributor.
The next team was the Lake of Eternity, so everyone expected to see the Blue Violinist’s name.
However…
— Top contributor: Dark Blue Curtain
Dark Blue Curtain — Jared Lee’s alias.
Many people were surprised that the top contributor wasn’t Kwon Jein, but Jared Lee was also an excellent player so they were easily convinced.
Energy poison disappeared when all the otherworlds around Eungwang High were dealt with.
The boundary was yet to be normalized, but the disposition is looking to be very positive.
Now that the communication signal is back, more support will be available if otherworlds occur in other areas.
Players in charge of the defense line spoke to the returning attack team in a bright voice.
“Welcome back. We will be transporting the injured!”
“Good work. We’ll take it from here.”
However, there were no players from the attack team who wanted to leave.
Even the injured tried to hold their spot, saying that their damage was only minor.
Attackers remained here, saying similar things as they looked at the still isolated Eungwang High.
“I’m not leaving until we confirm the safety of the students.”
“But we don’t know when the boundary will be normalized…”
“…”
The returning players couldn’t be sure, but they thought the problem would soon be solved.
They believed.
The plan of the benefactor who gathered them here, Jo Euishin, will work.
***
Near the west gate, at the bamboo forest.
Kim Yuri was anxiously waiting for everything to end.
As if to appease Kim Yuri’s long wait, a notification sound went off on her device.
There were no messages from the kids inside and outside the school just yet.
However, the communication between those outside the school and the satellite was smooth again.
“Wait, let me contact some people for a second!”
Kim Yuri first reassured her parents that she was okay.
The friendly Kim Yuri had a lot of people worrying about her.
Her inbox was full of messages from relatives, previous classmates, and friends she got from outside activities.
While Kim Yuri tried to reply to everyone, the group message room ‘ ♡ Class 1-0 ^▽^ ♡’ caught her attention.
There aren’t many members in that group, but they must’ve been worried too.
‘Neon and Seulbi heard the news too. There was a communication failure in Korea so the news must’ve reached abroad quickly.’
The Player General Headquarters confirmed that the Korean Player Satelite was malfunctioning.
The general HQ selected players to be dispatched to Korea, making headlines in international news.
The two saw it and decided to go to Korea.
Ong Gildong and Goo Seulbi’s last message was them saying that they boarded a plane heading to Korea.
Although the two wouldn’t arrive in time, they would hopefully spend Christmas together.
Kim Yuri read the following message, thinking that she must invite the two if they can organize a Christmas party.
The next message was from Dokgo Miro, who was in the charity event at Eungwang Light Nursery.
[Miro ★○▽○ ♡] Professor Gong Cheonghwon suddenly left so I looked into it.
[Miro ★○▽○ ♡] Something must’ve happened at school.
[Miro ★○▽○ ♡] I’m coming too.
The short message from Dokgo Miro somehow contained great power.
Without realizing it, Kim Yuri had a mental image of Dokgo Miro wielding the Morning Star with one hand and bursting into Eungwang High.
But Dokgo Miro’s attempt seemed to fail.
The reason was Hani’s message.
[Hani ●▽ < ♡] The volunteers blocked me. I can’t go.
Kim Yuri felt relieved when she saw the message.
There are player teams and Dragon Clan around the gates of the school, so those two will be prevented from doing anything reckless if ever they did come.
Kim Yuri was relieved that Dokgo Miro and Hani would be staying safe in the nursery.
“Okay, let’s go! Ah, no I’ve changed my mind.”
When Kim Yuri finished writing messages, she saw the head of the Dog Clan get up from her seat with a hood over her head.
The head of the Dog Clan seemed eager.
I didn’t have a chance to warm up because of that couple. Well, I’m not here to fight though. Anyway, the time has finally come for me to show my strength.”
Wasn’t the head of the Dog Clan called to fight in the bamboo forest?
Kim Yuri’s prediction seemed to be inaccurate.
According to the head of the Dog Clan, those who dealt with the attackers of the bamboo forest were Jukho and the tiger couple so she had no chance to step up.
“Uhm, may I ask where you’re going?”
“I’m gonna fix the boundary.”
“…!”
Kim Yuri looked bright at her words.
‘I can finally see the kids in the school!’
Kim Yuri was excited, but she wasn’t sure whether she should come with or not.
So she asked Jukho first.
“May I come too? I’m worried about my classmates and friends. I have a gift to give to Euishin too.”
Kim Yuri said so as she held the gift from the tiger couple in her hand.
Proud of his student’s big heart and worried about the unidentified item in her hand, Jukho quickly gave Kim Yuri permission.
“Of course. But I will be coming with you.”
“Yes, thank you!”
Other than Kim Yuri and Jukho, the head of the Dog Clan had another companion.
It was the Dog Clan’s Shinsoo who looked like a tiger.
Grrr….
“Yes, yes, the Tiger Clan’s shinsoo will be there. Don’t worry, I’ll let you meet soon. Help me if you want to see him sooner.”
Whimper…
The dog-tiger calmed down when the head of the Dog Clan soothed him.
And just like that, two royal lineages, a human, and a shinsoo headed to the boundary between the bamboo forest and Mt. Cheonik.
When they arrived, they saw the boundary’s poor condition.
It had a murky glow, and even if they were qualified to enter, they couldn’t pass.
“It’s been a while since the otherworlds were cleared. The energy poison must’ve subsided, right?”
“I think so.”
“Good.”
After hearing Jukho’s answer, the head of the Dog Clan put her hand on the opaque boundary.
Then, a lethargic energy wave rose around her.
Fwaaaa…
Kim Yuri was standing behind and couldn’t see clearly, but she saw the head of the Dog Clan’s silhouette change under her long clothes.
In accordance with the contract of the 12-point alliance, she had to be in her true form to be able to manipulate the boundary.
When a dog’s ears and tail were fully sprouted, the head of the Dog Clan shouted.
“I’m restarting the boundary!”
Kwong!
Following her, the Dog Clan’s shinsoo responded.
The animal released its tiger appearance and turned into a dog.
Kim Yuri was stunned, and soon a light came out of Eungwang High’s boundary.
It was an arrangement that the head of the Dog Clan put up in advance to quickly restart the school’s boundary.
Shwooo…
The connection disappeared through light and reappeared.
The boundary was restarted, and someone Kim Yuri was familiar with started to be visible.
Beyond the opaque boundary was someone she was glad to see.
A child from Class Zero, Hwangho in the form of Hwang Jiho.
However, his face was shaded and his expression was unrecognizable.
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