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The area where Class 1-1 gathered.
The class vice president Yoo Sanghoon went home, but most of the students from the class remained.
The atmosphere of their class was somewhat different from their surroundings.
While the crisis was safely dealt with and everyone shared their joy, students from Class 1-1 gathered at a distance.
It was reminiscent of the festival where they confronted Yong Jegun.
“I don’t think Professor Kim Shinrok can come. He must be busy.”
The kids’ shoulders dropped at the words of Ahn Dain, their class president, who contacted their professor.
Ahn Dain tried to soothe her classmates.
“Professor Kim Shinrok would be worried if we kept staying here.”
“I’m sure he’s busy dealing with things, so I don’t think we should add to his worries…”
“It would be nice if he could rest for a while, but I guess he can’t right?”
“There are already reporters trying to cause a fuss.”
Sporadic words of worry for Kim Shinrok were everywhere.
Ahn Dain waited for the class to settle down before speaking again.
“Please consider my proposal until before the end of this year.”
The sharp atmosphere returned at Ahn Dain’s mention of “proposal.”
After learning about Kim Shinrok’s identity and the threats to his life, Ahn Dain proposed something to her classmates.
— Guys, we need to talk.
With the full attention of her classmates, Ahn Dain carefully chose her words.
She couldn’t reveal Kim Shinrok’s secret but had to do something for her treasured teacher.
— Dangerous people are coming after Professor Kim Shinrok.
— You’re not talking about the Class Zero assistant homeroom teacher, are you?
Yong Jegun was immediately mentioned.
Indeed, the dragon was a dangerous being who always came after Kim Shinrok to mess with him.
But Yong Jegun wasn’t the enemy.
Ahn Dain saw Yong Jegun cough up blood and how Kim Shinrok protected him.
She saw Kim Shinrok’s expression when Yong Jegun covered his eyes and said that he might ascend soon.
‘Professor Kim Shinrok had real danger coming after him, and I only added to his worries!’
Ahn Dain swallowed her distress and shook her head at her classmates.
The expression of Class 1 became serious when Ahn Dain said that the enemy wasn’t Yong Jegun.
— Does it have anything to do with what happened to the school today?
— …
Ahn Dain didn’t answer, but she didn’t deny it either.
The students were speechless at finding out that the dangerous people coming after Kim Shinrok caused the unprecedented incident in Eungwang High.
With the serious atmosphere falling in the class, Ahn Dain suggested something.
— I’m going to train during the winter vacation to fight against those people. It’s for dealing with something dangerous, so only sign up if you’re confident to commit to training.
Following the proposal, Ahn Dain coldly added that she would drop those who fail to produce the desired results required in training.
Some students expressed their intention to participate without worry, but others who weren’t confident in their combat abilities hesitated.
The dangerous enemy was the Bear Clan so there was no choice but to set the standard high.
For the sake of their safety, those who have half-baked abilities and determination should sit out.
Ahn Dain told the kids to think about it for a week and then excused herself.
“The Class 2-0 seniors said they had to negotiate with some people, so I have to stay here. Get home safe, everyone.”
It was only after watching each of her classmates leave in agony that Ahn Dain turned her back.
It was time for her to head back to the conference room of the Student Association Hall.
As the number of students leaving school increased, she got to face someone in the quiet hallway.
“Ah…”
“Oh…”
Ahn Dain and the other person let out a small sigh at the same time.
It was Joo Soohyuk, someone she couldn’t meet all day because of the constant crisis.
The two couldn’t take their eyes off each other.
They were speechless to see each other even though they recalled, worried, and missed each other even in the midst of the battles today.
As if only the two of them existed in the world, they faced each other and barely opened their mouths to greet each other.
“…It’s a relief that you’re safe, Dain-ah. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“…Yeah, thanks for your concern. Are you okay? I heard you went outside the hall to get in contact with others. You worked hard.”
After asking how each other was doing, the two fell speechless again.
They belatedly realized that they were wearing Santa costumes side by side and felt embarrassed.
Ahn Dain’s red cape costume and Joo Soohyuk’s red fur coat made them look like they were wearing a couple’s costume.
Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain spoke to curb their embarrassment.
“Your Santa clothes.”
“Your outfit.”
But the conversation quickly stopped.
Their words overlapped as they tried to praise each other.
As they looked at each other, blushing and awkwardly smiling, a sweet tune rang from nearby.
The two couldn’t tell if it was a real performance or if it was just in their minds.
The two looked at each other silently until the song was over.
Clap clap clap!
At the end of the performance, they belatedly regained their senses and looked at the source of the applause.
They saw Kwon Jein holding a blue violin and people clapping through the opening of the door to the hall.
It seemed that Kwon Jein played an impromptu song.
Kwon Jein carded her violin and asked Jared Lee something.
“Is it recorded?”
“Of course, Jein-ah! It was a really random performance, but it was great!”
Kwon Jein and the Lake of Eternity Team were waiting to run to Kwon Lena.
They were considerate because it might make Kwon Lena feel burdensome if Kwon Jein were to run to her when many people were watching.
Besides, Kwon Lena was still talking to her friends.
The Lake of Eternity was watching Kwon Lena from afar and waiting for Class Zero to part ways.
Meanwhile, Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain, who were stuck in the hallway, caught Kwon Jein’s eyes and inspired her to play.
“Seeing those two in Santa costumes reminded me of this tune. Please upload it on our official account before the end of Christmas.”
“I’ll upload it right away. Thank you for the wonderful Christmas present, Jein-ah…!”
Jared Lee’s emotional words resonated loudly.
Ahn Dain was embarrassed to hear that the song was inspired by her and Joo Soohyuk.
‘A Christmas present…’
Ahn Dain recalled the book wrapped in her locker.
It was a Christmas present that she was hesitating to give to Joo Soohyuk, though she was gravitating toward giving it to him.
Oblivious to this, Joo Soohyuk was also thinking about giving Ahn Dain a Christmas gift.
***
The Tiger Clan’s bamboo forest had especially many guests today.
Those who were uninvited were on the floor with their eyes, mouths, and ears sealed with bamboo leaves.
They were originally supposed to be interrogated in the garden or deep in Eunyeonggwan, but there was someone who wanted to see them.
Jukho spoke as he spawned a bamboo leaf on his fingertips.
“Their lapels will disappear soon.”
Not all the uninvited guests were sealed with bamboo leaves.
Some of them were wrapped with five-colored lapels.
It was maintained from the energy waves of someone who wasn’t here now, and it was blurred as if it were about to disappear.
Hawaii!
Jukho whipped his hand and put leaves on the lapel.
As the leaves were added, the five-colored lapel melted in the air.
The golden pig Gullinbursti watched the scene with interest.
Gullinbursti was part of the Pig Clan who attacked Eungwang High, but Hwangho’s alter ego witnessed him fighting against the clan and being poisoned with the energy poison.
As a result, it was found that he was caught up in Jogangryeob’s ruse.
No matter, the Tiger Clan was still wary of the Gullinbursti whom they had no prior connection, and they opted not to give him an antidote.
Gullinbursti is only allowed to observe because he’s not a threat and he can’t properly use his energy waves.
Jukho spoke to Gullinbursti.
“You must never intervene. Hwangho-nim is in a bad mood right now.”
“Yes, understood.”
Following Gullinbursti, another guest answered.
“Got it.”
It was Jecheondaesung.
He was in a worse condition than Gullinbursti.
His energy waves hit rock bottom because of the miracle, and the only thing left on his body was the Gingoju.
Jecheondaesung’s complex feelings were shown on his face because his blindfold was burned out.
He had his eyes tightly closed, but his face was directed at the fainted Jogangryeob.
Jogangryeob was unconscious all throughout after being beaten by Jecheondaesung.
Without saying a word, Jukho handed a bamboo leaf blindfold to Jecheondaesung.
“Thanks. I would’ve brought a spare if I knew this would happen.”
When Jecheondaesung covered his eyes, someone was seen walking in the bamboo forest.
It was Hwangho who had just finished circling Eungwang High’s boundary to check its status.
Hwangho was in his 20-year-old form.
His eyes glanced at Jecheondaesung and Gullinbursti once and then passed by.
Hwangho’s attention settled on the cruel appearance of the traitors who were lying on the floor of the bamboo forest.
Step, step.
Hwangho stopped in front of Jogangryeob first.
Jogangryeob’s body was torn from head to toe, except his stomach.
It seems that Jecheondaesung thoroughly kept his promise to Hwangho.
He would’ve pointed it out if it were a normal situation, but Hwangho didn’t have the ease to do that.
Hwangho pointed to the bamboo leaves blocking Jogangryeob’s senses.
Hwik!
Jukho understood and immediately removed the bamboo leaves.
When the leaves disappeared, Hwangho radiated a golden energy wave.
Fwaaat!
The energy waves turned into magic in the form of a sharpened blade.
As Hwangho moved his fingers, the number of blades began to increase.
It was inefficient considering Hwangho’s specialty and abilities, but no one pointed it out.
Upon finally completing dozens of blades, Hwangho beckoned.
The blades all headed to Jogangryeob’s stomach.
Shwiiii!
“Geuuuhk!”
Jogangryeob came to his senses as he screamed from the intense pain.
He saw the sky covered by bamboo when he opened his eyes.
His pain turned into fear when he heard Hwangho’s voice laced with eerie anger.
“I vowed to tear the stomach of you pig who hurt Jeokho with your nine-pronged weapon.”
Jogangryeob’s insides were already torn into more than nine branches.
However, golden blades gathered again at Hwangho’s fingertips.
“I’m not going to kill you. I have a lot of questions for you, bastard.”
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