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At the same time Jo Euishin and Yeom Junyeol met at a place around Eungwang High, Yong Jegun was seen leaving the Red Lion team building.
There was a separate security guard in charge of Yeom Junyeol, but he decided to pick him up.
There were many reasons to meet with Jo Euishin and enjoy the reaction of the student who will be caught off-guard.
When asked by Chokryong where he was going, Yong Jegun didn’t keep his intention secret.
— Tsk, you don’t know what a waste of time is.
Chokryong clicked her tongue but didn’t add any more words.
Yong Jegun flew toward Eungwang High with a grin.
When he was midway, a red-laced handkerchief was caught within his wide field of view.
‘Is it a message from Ungnyeo?’
After confirming that there was no one around, Yong Jegun descended toward the handkerchief.
He immediately felt Ungyeo’s energy waves when he got close.
The handkerchief was emblazoned with GPS coordinates.
After checking the coordinates, Yong Jegun laughed ecstatically alone.
‘Even if there’s a little distance, it’s quite close to Eungwang High. Her method of calling me out was quite rough. Is it urgent?’
It was clear that Ungnyeo left the message for Yong Jegun who could fly.
But he was on vacation, and going out today was an impulsive decision.
There was a high possibility that someone else could’ve found the handkerchief.
Judging that it must be an urgent matter, Yong Jegun stifled his presence and moved quietly.
‘I can’t pick Junyeol up. What excuse should I make? Maybe I’ll just laugh.’
He could always say ‘Why? Are you curious? You wanna know?’ and laugh out loud.
Everyone backs down when he says that.
Thinking about it, he was looking forward to seeing who would ask him further questions.
“You’re here.”
On the top floor of an abandoned building, Ungnyeo was waiting for Yong Jegun.
She looked at the blindfold worn by Yong Jegun, and the latter looked at the dark coat that she wore.
‘Yong Jegun’s divinity increased to the point where he needed a blindfold. I can feel it well seeing him up close.’
‘She’s not wearing red. She wouldn’t have looked for me unless it’s related to Jeokho or Shinrok.’
The two royal lineages thought something about the other’s attire.
Ungnyeo spoke again as she hid her mouth with a scarf and pretended to be calm.
“I see the Cintamani will be in the sky soon. You haven’t forgotten your deal with me, have you?”
“Of course not.”
Yong Jegun and Ungnyeo had a long standing deal.
In exchange for doing Ungyeo’s son a favor, she will let him know if something interesting happens.
The deal went on thousands of years later.
“I’m going to do Shinrok a favor even after I ascend.”
“I wonder if the child will be willing to take that favor.”
“Even if he refuses the order, he can’t refuse the light skill. A god’s favor is hard to resist.”
Just as Kim Yuri, the embodiment of Lady Magnolia, forcibly has a light skill with numerous superior beings, Yong Jegun wanted to give Kim Shinrok a one-sided favor.
It’s a pity that Kim Shinrok might refuse his order, but he also thought of giving it to the people around him.
Yong Jegun was planning to do Kim Shinrok a favor that he wouldn’t be pleased with.
Ungnyeo vaguely expected it when he heard the news of Yong Jegun’s plan to ascend, but her emotions were mixed when she heard the explanation in person.
“If you become a superior being, it will be difficult for me to complete our deal. It’ll be hard to tell someone in the sky something interesting.”
“Then, Ungnyeo-ssi, do you want to receive my order?”
“I don’t think a superior being will see anything good from me. And if I receive your order, that child will be sad. So no.”
As if he expected Ungnyeo to refuse, Yong Jegun didn’t look disappointed in the slightest.
Yong Jegun asked something after confirming that Ungnyeo wasn’t wearing red.
“It’s a good day, but why aren’t you wearing red? The Red Wall Thief completed his transaction with you, Ungnyeo-ssi, so Jeokho-ssi is safe.”
“That eye has strengthened so it’s difficult to wear red.”
“Eye? Are you talking about the Demon Race’s eye?”
Ungnyeo’s eyes were blurred by Yong Jegun’s question.
“The Eight Real Bears who were asleep are waking up. I’m on the lookout because I don’t know if it’s good news for the Bear Clan. It’s also difficult to go out.”
“…Didn’t those bears fall into a deep sleep?”
“They did. However, their eyelids are shaking and warmth is returning to their bodies. The cycle of their energy waves is getting closer to normal. I don’t know how many years or days it will be, but they will soon wake up.”
The smile disappeared from Yong Jegun’s mouth.
He faced Beonmin the Bear of Anguish during Christmas Eve.
Immediately after a wish was granted through his light skill, he confronted the Bear Clan in a state of exhaustion.
If he were alone, the helpless Tiger Clan descendant Kim Shinrok would’ve been vulnerable.
‘Three of them are in a deep sleep. We cleaned one up and there’s more?’
Yong Jegun saw personally how Kim Shinrok was put in pain.
He watched closely knowing that the hand supporting him when he threw up blood was shaking but he couldn’t use his skills.
Yong Jegun believed in Jo Euishin, but he indirectly felt helpless and fearful of Kim Shinrok’s situation.
He couldn’t do anything when the life of his only close friend was in danger.
‘If those three wake up, there’s a good chance that they’ll go after Shinrok first. Shinrok is the easiest prey for the Bear Clan.’
By the time Ungnyeo finished conveying the situation of the Bear Clan, Yong Jegun was smiling again.
Seeing that expression on his face, Ungnyeo saw through what he was thinking.
Yong Jegun wanted to ascend right away to give Kim Shinrok strength.
‘I knew that he’d think that the moment I told him this…’
Weighing her son’s safety and sorrow, Ungnyeo chose safety.
In the distant past, she made a similar choice for her old lover.
‘I hope this is the right choice.’
Many things were lost, but Jeokho survived.
Seeming to have made a similar choice again, Ungnyeo was distressed.
***
In the annex of the mansion.
As soon as I arrived, I saw a tiger who seemed to be waiting.
It was Hwang Jiho, wearing a school uniform on the last day of this year.
“You didn’t run away. Good job.”
I wanted to reject coming to the tigers’ family feast, but I didn’t mean to run away.
I didn’t say anything, but the old man guided me with a laugh.
“Hahaha! I can see what you’re thinking. But it’s okay since you’re here. Let’s hurry and go.”
I frequented the modern annex where Eunho stays, but today, we are headed to the main house.
The main house, protected by the strongest boundary, had no room for sound or presence to leak out, but somehow it seemed lively.
‘There’s no way Hwang Jiho will make poor arrangements on a day like this. Maybe it’s just my feeling.’
When the front door opened and we entered, I saw that the main hose was many times more lively than usual.
Not long ago it was decorated with Christmas decor, but now it was changed to celebrate the new year.
Looking at the lucky bags and overflowing spirits, it felt like it was already the new year.
On the wall of the living room was a hologram floating with a countdown to the new year.
“Euishin hyung, come on in!”
“Wasn’t it cold outside? Come in and rest up please!”
Eunho’s descendants welcomed me with an excited voice.
The reason for their excitement caught my eye.
“Hi.”
Ahn Dain was there.
I knew it in advance, but I felt touched to see that Ahn Dain was in the main house of the Tiger Clan’s mansion on the last day of the year when families usually spend time together.
I realized that Ahn Dain had a real family and a home now.
“I came on behalf of mom and dad. They’re preparing dinner.”
Ahn Dain greeted me and Hwang Jiho and headed back to the kitchen.
Eunho’s descendants couldn’t talk to her, not wanting to disturb her, but it was obvious that they wanted to talk.
“I heard that Dain noona is a human but also a Tiger Clan!”
“I didn’t know that the unnie I saw at the entrance ceremony would be a Tiger Clan! I’m so happy to have an unnie.”
Eun Seoho and Eun Iho, who will soon become Ahn Dain’s juniors, seemed happy to have her as an older sister.
I was a little worried about how Ahn Dain, a human being, would be accepted by the descendants, but I must’ve worried for nothing.
Like PMH’s title heroine, Ahn Dain was accepted as a family and welcomed without any problems.
“I heard that Dain noona is Shinrok hyung’s student!”
The words “Shinrok hyung” made me feel dazed for a moment.
The descendants are calling him that.
They didn’t say anything wrong, but it felt quite awkward.
“Hahaha! Now that you’re going to be a student at Eungwang High, you should call Kim Shinrok “teacher” soon. Isn’t that right, Kim Shinrok?”
“…Y-yes.”
“I have a long way to go before I enter Eungwang High, so I can call you hyung, right…?”
“…R-right.”
“Shinrok oppa is using formal language again.”
Kim Shinrok acted awkwardly as if his soul wasn’t present.
Perhaps not liking the awkwardness, the descendants expressed their familiarity with Kim Shinrok without any ill will.
In the meantime, Kim Shinrok looked like he could melt from the awkwardness, and all the tigers, including his father, were watching with satisfaction.
‘I think it’s a good time to suggest to Kim Shinrok.’
Kim Shinrok is in a state of daze and there are the other tigers here, so I’d better suggest what I was thinking.
“Professor Kim Shinrok, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Go ahead.”
Kim Shinrok answered immediately as if he had been waiting for the topic to change.
“Please train fighting with the Tiger Clan.”
“You mean combat training? I’ve practiced fighting with Baekho-nim several times…”
It’s natural to think that he’d train on the same side, being that he’s a descendant of the Tiger clan.
But that’s not what I was asking.
“I want you to practice fighting against the Tiger Clan.”
“…What?”
There was one more thing I wanted to ask.
While Kim Shinrok was puzzled, I spoke again.
“And please go with me to the Dragon Palace on the first day of the new year.”
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