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In the living room of the modern annex, just after Jo Eushin left.
“I think there’s something that Euishin hyung isn’t telling us yet.”
Eunho called Jo Euishin a nickname that he hated, but as soon as he left, he used his real name again.
It was intended to hurt Jo Euishin’s spirit so there was no need to use it while he was away.
“I don’t know what and how much he didn’t say, but I can guess.”
Hwangho, who was looking in the direction that Jo Euishin disappeared to, replied.
“What do you think did Jo Euishin not say?”
“It must be about the watchman.”
The Tiger Clan judged that the reason why Jo Euishin went to the underworld was related to the watchman who guarded the bridle of reincarnation.
It was hard to think that the only reason he went there was to greet the watchman.
Hwang Jiho made a guess.
‘Jo Euishin saved someone again.’
The Tiger Clan didn’t know any details, of course.
It was expected that Jo Euishin had to go to the bridle of reincarnation to help in a matter that the watchman couldn’t solve alone.
The watchman looked very bright and energetic over the mirror, but there must be a problem.
‘But Jo Euishin will find it difficult to talk about the watchman. At least here.’
Hwangho turned to Eunho.
He seemed to agree.
“As long as the watchman is the father of those children, it will be difficult for Euishin hyung to talk about it in front of me.”
“Yes, Jo Euishin wouldn’t rush to talk about the watchman.”
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence among the tigers.
If Jeokho were there, he would’ve said “Look, if he had taken responsibility as their grandfather, Jo Euishin would’ve spoken without feeling uncomfortable. It’s all Eunho’s fault.”
However, Hwangho respects Eunho’s will, and Baekho takes Eunho’s side as his older brother.
There was no one there to say anything.
Ignoring the discomfort, Hwangho changed his words.
“I don’t know if Jo Euishin isn’t talking because of you, or if he’s hiding something else. Or perhaps he’s just missed the timing to talk.”
“If Euishin hyung had more opportunity to talk, would Hwangho-nim have been angrier?”
Hearing that, Hwangho felt choked up and regretful at the same time.
Jo Euishin only said a few words, but Hwangho couldn’t hold back and shouted out loud.
While was angry at Jo Euishin who apologized for the wrong thing, he felt sorry for shouting at him who had been suffering.
“Don’t you have any experience, Eunho? Even in your previous world, surely Jo Euishin has done something to scratch your insides quite a bit.”
“Yes, there’s been a number of times. Among them, the suicide note was the worst.”
Hwangho felt a headache.
The message left by Jo Euishin as a Christmas greeting came to mind.
The treasure that Jo Euishin left at the table also hurt his head.
“My friend, his son, and the benefactor suffered because of this.”
A long time ago, Kim Shinrok made a big incident when he found out that Jeokho was his father.
He used it to heal Jeokho from his wounds from being tied up.
The treasure disappeared after treating Jeokho, and it was very difficult to recover.
From the perspective of a friend, it didn’t matter whether the treasure disappeared if it meant JEokho’s suffering could be eased.
However, as the head of the Tiger Clan, he couldn’t have let it pass.
Kim Shinrok was not punished because Jeokho directly asked Cheonshin to be punished instead, but the relationship between the two was significantly strained.
‘Was the treasure that Kim Shinrok used to heal Jeokho a consumable item? How unlucky.’
While Hwangho was lost in thought as he looked at the item card, Baekho, who had been quiet all the time, looked around.
He seemed to be looking for something.
Hwangho guessed that Baekho thought of something similar when he saw the treasure.
“Baekho, are you looking for Jeokho and Kim Shinrok?”
“Yes.”
Still not over what Baekho did at the crack to the underworld, Hwangho spoke sarcastically.
“You’ve been foolishly waiting there so it’s natural that you don’t know. You wouldn’t have had to wait if you didn’t let go of his hand or if you used the item that Eunho gave.”
“You waited too.”
“You haven’t forgotten that I have alter egos, have you?”
Before Baekho could answer, Eunho stepped in.
“Except when you contacted Euishin hyung using Hwang Yuho, your main body has always been in Hwang Jiho.”
Baekho stared at Hwangho after Eunho spoke.
He seemed to be saying ‘Same goes for you.’ with his eyes.
Hwangho made an excuse for the well-harmonized tiger brothers.
“…The entrance to the underworld was opened, so I need to be there just in case. That’s why I put my main body there.”
Before more words could come out, Hwangho changed the subject.
“Jeokho and Kim Shinrok are at school. Kim Shinrok had a lot of work to do, and Jeokho said he would escort him because the school was still chaotic.”
“Jeokho-nim’s son is working? I thought he’d be resting.”
“I hoped so too, of course. But Kim Shinrok doesn’t have much time.”
“Time?”
Hwangho has placed one of his alter egos at Eungwang High to deal with things.
In the form of Chairman Hwang Myeongho, he stayed up all night to deal with everything.
When the son rose and it was time for students to arrive one by one, a teacher visited Hwangho.
It was Yong Jegun.
He placed papers on Hwangho’s table with a smile on his face.
“Yong Jegun handed in his resignation this morning. He said he’s going to ascend after the first day of the first lunar month.”
***
Olmu didn’t respond no matter how much I talked.
He was looking at the wall.
Because he was not in his usual form, there wasn’t space for me to go in front of him.
There was still water on my clothes, and I was careful not to get too close because I might wet his fur.
As I was restless, Olmu raised his tail and tapped on the bathroom door.
He seemed to mean that I should wash up quickly.
“Sorry, Olmu-yah. I was about to get close to you without washing up.”
Grrr…!
Olmu growled in anger when I apologized.
Did I say it wrong?
I’m not as smart as Olmu so I couldn’t think of a proper apology.
Disappointed, I headed to the bathroom with my head down.
“I was wrong, Olmu-yah. I’m sorry.”
Grr…
Even after I freshened up, Olmu did not feel any better.
His face was hidden, but I could sense sadness from his whole body.
Then, Olmu wriggled and looked up at me.
A large eye turned toward me, and his throat rang to reveal his sharp fangs, but I was relieved to finally see his face.
‘The tiger version of Olmu is such a genius warrior! …Oh, is that the Santa doll I gave him?’
I saw a doll wearing a Santa hat in Olmu’s arms.
It was a pity that the doll was too small for him.
If I were a little smarter, I would’ve prepared a bigger one.
Beep.
[Hi, Olmu-yah. It’s me, Euishin. Merry Christmas. Sorry, I couldn’t hand you the gift myself. Actually, I think I’m going to be gone for a while…]
Olmu tapped the doll and my voice came out.
It was my apology and goodbye to Olmu.
Grr…. Grrr!
Olmu sounded threatening while we listened to the message.
I couldn’t tell what he was trying to say, but I could tell that he was angry.
After much thought, I concluded why.
“I’m sorry. Did you not like the present? I’m going to give you something else…”
Keung? …Grrrr!
When I tried to reach for the doll, Olmu hid it in his arms.
That wasn’t it?
Then what’s the matter?
I fired up my brain at full capacity and managed to get an answer.
“Is it because of the message?”
Grrr…
Olmu nodded.
I apologized for everything I said, pointing out the details of the message one by one.
After delivering my apologies, Olmu finally relaxed, raised his head, and came to my arms.
Well, it’s more like he put his chin on my shoulder.
“Have you eaten?
Shall we go eat?”
Grung!
Olmu walked behind me with the Santa doll on his back.
I felt so reassured and happy to have a genius warrior behind my back.
“You must be hungry. I’m sure you haven’t eaten or drank in the underworld. Come.”
Hwang Jiho must’ve prepared a meal while I was away.
Matching the Christmas spirit was the risotto with cream tomato sauce and broccoli.
It was relatively watered-down, obviously done to make it less burdensome on my stomach.
‘Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten anything for so long.’
When was the last time I ate or drank anything?
Probably when Professor Gong Cheonghwon handed me water.
“You would’ve been bound to the underworld if you ate something there. It would’ve had an impact too if you did in the bridle. The fact that you returned safely means you starved.”
Eunho’s words reminded me of the story of Persephone who had to spend half a year in the underworld because she ate some pomegranates.
I was aware of that, so I didn’t say anything.
Ereshkigal and the watchman never suggested that I eat something in consideration of that.
The meal went smoothly, but I felt uneasy.
‘I want to go to school, but what if they stop me?’
All those who played PMH’s First Christmas scenario would feel the same way as me.
I want to see the Christmas the Eungwang High celebrates.
I can check it later through photos and videos, but experiencing it firsthand is different.
“Let’s go to school together once you’re done eating.”
Hwang Jiho made a good suggestion in a long time.
I thought I heard it wrong, so I listened more closely.
“I want you to relax like a chimney, but I want to show you how Eungwang High looks.”
“Yes, it would be better to see it in person.”
Hwang Jiho, who had been in a bad mood all the time since I went to the underworld, smiled for the first time.
Eunho also agreed.
There seemed to be something more than just showing me Eungwang High.
As if he noticed my curiosity, Hwang Jiho bluffed.
“I can tell you if you’re really curious.”
“Forget it.”
I sternly refused Hwang Jiho’s offer.
In the end, we headed to Eungwang High after being sent off by the light tigers.
It was quiet around the entrance because it had been a while since visitors started entering.
As we approached the entrance, Hwang Jiho spoke to me.
“What happened this time has created numerous good and heroic stories. However, because many things happened at the same time, only a few people in Eungwang High grasped the whole story. But there is something that everyone has seen.”
What is it?
Is it the three rays of light that came down on Eungwang High?
Everyone must have seen that.
“You must not know the answer. Look for yourself.”
The moment I entered the school and crossed the boundary, I could see what Hwang Jiho was saying.
‘This is…’
Black snow was falling from the sky.
An artificially made black snowflake fell from the air.
“It’s this black snow.”
Hwang Jiho held one on his palm and said so.
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