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Kim Shinrok didn’t respond to my request.
The tigers seemed to first wait and see how he would react.
Hwang Jiho looked at me and Kim Shinrok alternately as if he was urging an answer to come out.
Under the harsh gaze of the tigers, Kim Shinrok spoke after a long silence.
“As much as I want to do the benefactor a favor, this is not something that should be decided with just my opinion. And as you may know, I am a descendant.”
“I know. That is why I suggested training.”
Kim Shinrok looked more confused when I showed confidence.
On the other hand, the tigers seemed to be interested in my words.
Hwang Jiho in particular was watching the conversation with a shine in his eyes.
Kim Shinrok hesitated before speaking again.
“I need permission from Hwangho-nim, and for Baekho-nim and the other tigers to train…”
“Hahaha! This body intends to allow it.”
“Of course, I will help my son.”
“I will help.”
Kim Shinrok tried to delay the decision by involving the other tigers, but he failed.
Starting with Hwang Jiho, even Jeokho and Baekho-gun pushed Kim Shinrok’s back.
“We’d better make a training plan first. For the time being, don’t work overtime and get off work right away. No, you better use the vacation time that you didn’t use.”
“That’s a good idea. If it’s Baekho who will teach my son, why don’t you train him at adding and controlling power?”
“Got it.”
While Kim Shinrok was hesitating, his vacation and training schedule was already set.
The teamwork of the tigers who have known each other for thousands of years was amazing.
“It would be efficient to stay in the mansion during your training. You have a room in the mansion, so you don’t have to go back to the faculty house, Kim Shinrok. It’s next to Jeokho’s room.”
“It’s good that I maintain my son’s room.”
“What? My room in the mansion…”
Following the schedule, Kim Shinrok’s stay in the mansion was decided.
However, the old man added some nonsense.
“It’s Jo Euishin’s suggestion, so of course, he has to be there. They should both stay in the mansion during the training period. Hahaha!”
I was caught somehow, but I couldn’t pull my foot because I needed to be present at his training.
It’s a move that I set up to shorten Kim Shinrok’s time to think and quickly organize the plan with the tigers to increase his training time, but it might’ve been a mistake to do so.
“Even though the training is set, going to the Dragon Palace isn’t something that the Tiger Clan alone can…”
“The Dragon Clan made a pledge to allow Jo Euishin and another one of us who has the Yongsae to enter the Dragon Palace. Any tiger can enter as we please.”
“B-but, we’re only allowed one person so it doesn’t make sense to spend that precious thing on me…”
“Hwangho, you don’t have to use the Yongsae on my son.”
Kim Shinrok looked hopeful at the thought that his father was finally siding with him.
Jeokho spoke kindly to his son.
“Son, if you ask your friend for a ticket to the Dragon Palace, he will give it to you without a doubt. It is said that Yong Jegun was allowed by the Dragon King to bring his friends, but aren’t you his only friend?”
Kim Shinrok’s excuse was broken down by Hwang Jiho and Jeokho.
“You were among the candidates to send to the Dragon Palace anyway. It was only quickly decided at Jo Euishin’s recommendation.”
Are they trying to be considerate so that Kim Shinrok can spend even a little more time with Yong Jegun?
The problem is that something dangerous is set to happen at the palace, and there’s a possibility that the Bear Clan will invade.
‘It’s questionable whether the Bear Clan can even invade the Dragon Clan’s territory since their power has been cut off.’
Considering that, the Tiger Clan must’ve been agonizing about who to send to the Dragon Palace.
In the meantime, they agreed right away when I asked Kim Shinrok to accompany me, perhaps thinking that I had a plan set.
Even if the Bear Clan invades, it will be okay as long as the measures I put in work properly.
In such a short time, Kim Shinrok’s training and trip to the Dragon Palace were set.
Kim Shinrok looked bewildered over the sudden decision, but I decided to feign ignorance.
The result is a path for Kim Shinrok.
“Can the Tiger Clan’s descendants fight against the Tiger Clan too?”
“We want to fight too!”
“Yeah!”
When the conversation was over, Eunho’s descendants added a word.
Although the children were still young, they were full of strength and triumph, perhaps from the blood of their ancestor.
Eun Seoho and Eun Iho are determined to be top students at Eungwang High.
“The year will change soon. You will practice using your light skill first.”
“Can’t we train that at the same time?”
“No. You need to be supervised for at least a month when using your light skill.”
Hwang Jiho disallowed and nagged the kids.
I thought the old man had a soft heart for the kids, but he drew the line this time.
I understood the explanation/nagging.
Eun Seoho and Eun Iho have a large total amount of energy waves, so if they use their light skills incorrectly, there might be an explosion.
“Dinner is ready.”
After the tigers and I talked for a while, Ahn Dain came to call us.
The tiger couple apologized, saying that their cooking skills were still lacking.
Ahn Dain apologized that it took so long to prepare the meal.
When the tigers were about to respond…
Woof woof!
I heard an angel’s voice outside the front door.
He must’ve taken a walk because I didn’t see him from the start, but I guess he’s home now.
After his angel-like voice, I heard a rumble.
“Okay! Stop shoving me! Don’t bite me!”
I heard Sanryeong’s voice clearly.
He sounded like a normal person now.
Soon, the front door opened and Olmu and Sanryeong appeared.
Ahn Dain, who was standing near the front door, found Olmu and smiled warmly.
She smiled the same snow-melting smile when she first learned that Olmu was the Tiger Clan’s Shinsoo.
“Welcome, Olmu-yah. I prepared a meal for you too.”
Woof!
When she saw Sanryeong next to Olmu, Ahn Dain asked.
Sanryeong had a child-like silhouette although he wasn’t completely visible yet.
It must be the two’s first meeting.
Since she leaned down to pet Olmu, Ahn Dain and Sanryeong were at eye level.
“Is the person next to you a Tiger Clan?”
Keung…
Olmu thought for a while when Ahn Dain asked.
He could simply say no, but it’s true that Sanryeong is also mixed with the Tiger Clan.
Even the human Ahn Dain is regarded as a Tiger Clan, so it’s understandable that it’s difficult to answer.
I was moved by my thoughtful genius’ hesitation.
“This guy is Mt. Cheonik’s mountain spirit, Sanryeong. He’s been quickly regaining strength lately, and you can see him better now.”
“I see… I’m Ahn Dain. Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, nice to meet you!”
As if he liked Ahn Dain, Sanryeong said hello several times.
However, because he didn’t know who had prepared the meal, Sanryeong said something rather tactless.
“It’s better than the descendants’ cooking. But compared to Hwangho’s… Ahk!”
Before Sanryeong could finish his words, Jeokho quickly shot him a thin lightning.
The warm dining table almost became awkward.
The meal began after Hwang Jiho introduced Ahn Dain to the tigers, descendants, and even me, calling me the Tiger Clan’s benefactor.
‘Ahn Dain stayed here for a few days already, so she might know everyone’s faces and names roughly, but it’s meaningful that the head of the Tiger CLan created a space for an official introduction.’
I was worried about the couple and Jeokho being in the same place, but fortunately, there was no big problem.
Even though the two families didn’t have a friendly conversation with each other, they maintained a gentle atmosphere with Ahn Dain between them.
The food was a little bland enough for Sanryeong to grumble, but it was a remarkable end-of-the-year dinner.
‘It would’ve been nice if Eunho was here as well.’
Eunho must be preparing for the new year with Hwang Jiho’s alter ego by now.
Cheon Dongha planned to visit the annex and celebrate New Year together, but it seemed that he couldn’t be left out of the family event of the Cheon family.
Eunho urged him to attend, saying that he could follow as Cheon Eunha anyway.
‘But how can we explain that Eunho, the grandfather of the descendants, is also a junior of Ahn Dain?’
I was wondering where to start explaining to Ahn Dain, but she quickly accepted that she was a Tiger Clan, so I decided to believe that Eunho’s complicated situation would be understood quickly.
“I want to ask you something, Euishin-ah.”
After dinner, Ahn Dain called me for a moment under the pretext of helping prepare the refreshment table.
“Euishin-ah, you’re close with Congressman Sung Gukeon, right?”
“Yeah, Sung Siwan sunbaenim connected us.”
It’s not a big secret that Sung Gukeon and I were close.
I once ate with him around the school, and we were side by side in some otherworld attack at Hongcheon.
We also talked during the festival.
“Does he know that Professor Kim Shinrok is a descendant? Also his secretary Jeon Muyeong.”
Ahn Dain was almost certain so it didn’t sound much like a question.
‘She must’ve run into those two in front of Kim Shinrok.’
I know that Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong figured out Kim Shinrok’s identity, but it’s surprising that they revealed it in front of Ahn Dain.
Did they not try to hide it because they knew that she was also a student of Kim Shinrok?
“They seemed worried that the professor might regret it if Professor Yong Jegun ascends.”
I felt Ahn Dain’s worry for Kim Shinrok.
The pile of dried persimmon next to the refreshments confirmed it.
I tried to reassure Ahn Dain.
“It’ll be okay.”
I didn’t say specifically what I would do, but Ahn Dain looked relieved.
She started carrying the dried persimmon snacks for Kim Shinrok with a lighter expression.
Baekho-gun was silently looking at us heading there as if he already sensed the energy of the dried persimmons.
I vowed to eat a lot of the dried persimmon so that Baekho-gun wouldn’t have to.
“Take a seat, the year is changing soon.”
Not long after drinking tea, the number displayed on the hologram was close to zero.
There are less than twenty seconds before the end of the year.
No one asked to do it together, but starting with the descendants, everyone started to count down.
“3, 2, 1…”
“0!”
The number turned zero and thirty-three bells began to ring.
It was the new year.
And unlike last year, I wasn’t alone.
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