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The power from the combination of that word + hyung was too great.
Eunho saying it in the form of Cheon Sungheon made the impact even harder.
I felt a sense of deja vu from Eunho’s face.
Cheon Sungheon sometimes said praises that would make me feel embarrassed.
He had the same expression as back then.
‘But why is he in the appearance of Cheon Sungheon?’
I tried to forget the shock of that word, but it didn’t last long.
Eunho’s next attack followed quickly.
“Are you surprised I’m suddenly calling you ‘Red Wall Thief hyung’? Or are you surprised by my appearance? But hyung, I’m also very surprised. Please understand, Red Wall Thief hyung.”
Why does he keep using that word + hyung!
I didn’t do anything special, why do I have to be called like this?
Is it because I went to the underworld with the Tiger Clan’s treasure?
Then it can’t be helped.
However, aside from Ereshkigal’s help, I also needed a powerful medium to reach the underworld.
And this incense burner was contaminated, making it dangerous to leave it as it is.
“I read the scheduled messages from you, Red Wall Thief hyung. But even if I read some parts many times, I couldn’t understand. I don’t know why you had to go to the underworld without prior notice.”
This won’t do.
My thoughts keep breaking off every time I hear that word + hyung.
Hwang Jiho would normally laugh out loud, but he was just listening.
Even though there were several tigers in the room, everyone was quiet and I could hear Eunho’s every word clearly.
Sanryeong sometimes attempts to run away from Hwang Jiho, but he stops at searching for gaps.
Among the quiet tigers, only Eunho spoke using my weakness and in a hushed voice.
‘He’s going to use it every time.’
I had to stop my hands and feet shriveling from cringe.
The indoor temperature was appropriate and the blanket around me was warm, but I felt chills.
I felt like time passed as slow as the underworld while listening to Eunho.
“Please tell us what wasn’t in your scheduled messages, Red Wall Thief hyung.”
I was finally given a chance to speak.
The tigers don’t seem to be in a very good mood, so I should do something to improve the situation.
To this end, I took out the Tiger Clan’s carded treasure.
An incense burner carved with a tiger was depicted on the card, indicating that it was a UR-rank item.
“This is the Tiger Clan’s treasure that Uma was aiming for.”
“We heard from Hwangho-nim. So this the treasure.”
Hwang Jiho remembered?
So many things were happening, but it’s only natural that the head of the Tiger Clan kept an eye on it.
But I thought he forgot because he didn’t mention it when we were talking through the mirror.
Another thing was strange.
‘…Why do the tigers not seem interested in the treasure?’
The tigers showed a sour reaction even when they saw the treasure.
Did they feel bad because the treasure fell to the underworld?
I’m sure they’re worried about me, but I thought it was because of the treasure.
“So? What’s the connection between the underworld and the treasure of the Tiger Clan, Red Wall Thief hyung?”
As if he sensed that my guard went down a little, he threw in that word again and I came to my senses.
Before he could utter it again, I quickly explained the whole story.
How the treasure can only be used by corrupted ones and how Uma aimed for it.
I used it as a medium and purified it in a place away from this land.
When I explained that far, the tigers’ eyes became sharp.
“Did you go to the underworld only for that reason, Red Wall Thief hyung?”
“How could you have taken such a big risk for such a thing?”
The former and current heads of the Tiger Clan scolded me at the same time.
Their clan’s treasure is on the line, how can they say that?
I felt somewhat unfair.
‘Wasn’t Hwang Jiho in PMH very angry when he saw the masked tiger couple with the treasure?’
In Gye Bastard’s memory shown by the former head of the association, in Ahn Dain’s hidden quest, the masked tiger couple used the treasure to attack Ahn Dain.
When Ahn Dain repelled all the power, the couple stepped forward and revealed the box containing what seemed to be the Tiger Clan’s treasure.
At that time, Hwang Jiho, in the form of Hwang Myeongho, appears.
— Do you know what you have in your hands?
— H-hwangho-nim…
— The treasure hasn’t been seen in two thousand years, so this is where it has been.
Hwang Jiho shows his anger.
— Were you going to use our treasure to harm a child in our territory?
The scene where the golden light soared to cover Mt. Cheonik was so great that could make anyone nervous just by looking.
If Ahn Dain hadn’t stopped him, Hwang Jiho would’ve killed the couple then and there.
I saw how much Hwang Jiho valued their treasure from that scene, but I don’t know why he’s acting like this right now.
Well, it is my fault that I took the treasure without permission, so I didn’t really have the right to feel unfair.
I bowed my head in silence.
“You haven’t reflected on yourself yet, Red Wall Thief hyung.”
“Jo Euishin…”
Come to think of it, I still haven’t apologized.
“I took the Tiger Clan’s treasure to the underworld without permission. I’m sorry.”
“You’re clueless!”
Hwang Jiho rose from his seat.
“The Tiger Clan does not waver even without the treasure. But if you were not here, all of us wouldn’t be gathered right now.”
Hwang Jiho seemed angry at first glance, but it didn’t seem so.
He seemed to feel sorry for me.
Maybe he feels responsible that I said that I went to the underworld for their treasure.
I didn’t mean for that to happen, but I made the slip of the tongue.
“I do not care about the treasure. All the other tigers here feel the same. You are more precious than the Tiger Clan’s treasure.”
No one refuted Hwang Jiho’s words.
“Hwangho-nim and Baekho hyungnim kept waiting at the cracks left by the underworld gate opening.”
Eunho didn’t directly mention what they were waiting for, but I could tell.
Those two must’ve been waiting all night on that cold Mt. Cheonik.
On Christmas Eve, the night of the fierce battle.
‘So they waited all that time.’
Baekho-gun reached out as soon as I arrived at the spring.
I thought he came right away because he detected something at the spring, but it turns out he was just nearby.
I didn’t know if I should be sorry or grateful.
I felt many emotions and couldn’t react properly.
“Not just those two. Shinsoo also waited with them.”
What, Olmy waited for me outside on such a cold day?!
The several emotions that swirled quickly condensed into one.
It was anger against myself.
How come I didn’t think of the possibility of our Olmu waiting outside?
I should’ve made sure that he didn’t have to wait, or I should’ve prepared a comfortable, safe, and warm place for him.
I was deeply disappointed and angry at my own folly.
Come to think of it, where is the good, magnificent, genius warrior and angel who waited for me?
“Are you curious where Shinsoo is? He was sad too when he saw your message with his Christmas present, Red Wall Thief hyung. He’s been waiting for you, but perhaps he can’t bear to see your face because he’s too sad.”
The anger was followed by despair and sadness.
Whatever the reason, it’s my fault for making Olmu sad.
I couldn’t keep up with the shock.
“You’ve been soaked for a long time. We have a lot more to talk about, but we’ll put it off. Wash up and change into your school uniform.”
That’s right, I need to be fully prepared to apologize to Olmu.
I should dress neatly and think of what to say.
I scrambled up and headed toward the front door to head back to my dormitory.
Then, I heard someone click their tongue.
“Are you going out in this freezing winter like that? I used up too much energy waves just now, so I can’t protect you with my power.”
Hwang Jiho suggested that I wash up and change though.
When I stopped, Eunho talked to me.
“Did you forget that you have uniforms at the mansion? Do you want to go to your dorm? We won’t stop you if you want to, Red Wall Thief hyung.”
Eunho won’t stop me?
I flinched a little at that word, but I was relieved that Eunho would let me go.
Perhaps Eunho’s reaction was unexpected, Hwang Jiho frowned at him.
Eunho only smiled and spoke softly.
“If Red Wall Thief hyung catches a cold, I’ll bring him here and take care of him myself. Don’t worry.”
That made me feel more worried.
I guess he’s going to use that word + hyung to his heart’s content while I’m trapped by a disease and he’s nursing me.
I had no plans of catching a cold in the first place, but to reduce the possibility of that happening, I decided not to go back to my dorm room.
I should do my best to avoid catching a cold.
“…Where are the school uniforms?”
“It’s in the closet in your room.”
“My room?”
He told me not to go to my dorm room.
After a moment of confusion, Hwang Jiho pressed his temple and spoke.
“The room you stay in every time you come here.”
Oh.
That room.
The tigers must be calling it “my room” for convenience.
It’s impossible for them to invite anyone to the modern annex where Eunho stays, so I guess that works out.
Convinced, I headed to my room, but I heard Hwang Jiho click his tongue again.
I did what I was told, what is he so unhappy about?
‘I should wash up and change into my uniform first, and then make plans to apologize to Olmu and… Oh?’
I opened the door to the room and fell speechless.
There was almost no empty space in the room as something huge took up all the space.
‘What is that?’
Something that was too large for the size of the room.
I couldn’t recognize him immediately, but I soon called his name with overwhelming emotions.
“Olmu-yah!”
A huge tiger, my genius warrior Olmu, was curled up.
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