Chapter 426: Trust and tests (5)

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In the end, I couldn’t attack Yoo Sanghoon.

“Okay. Let’s go together.”

The sharp-witted Yoo Sanghoon also seemed uncertain about what my decision would be.

His eyes perked before his expression turned to relief.

“Good thinking.”

Was it really a good decision on my part?

Maybe he’d get hurt more if we go to Do Wonwoo together instead of me attacking him here.

And to think that Yoo Sanghee does her best to protect Yoo Sanghoon too…!

“Stop worrying and let’s go. Where to?”

Yoo Sanghoon spoke without knowing what I was thinking.

His tone wasn’t any different from when he would invite me to play basketball after eating.

I couldn’t help but worry when I think about all the things related to the TC Research Institute.

However, it was impossible to retract now.

“…We’re going to TC Research Institute.”

“It’s not that far from here. What are we gonna do there?”

He wants to come with me even though he has no idea what we’ll do.

I don’t think he’d change his mind even if I told him just how dangerous that place is, but I decided to tell him anyway.

“Do Wonwoo sunbaenim attacked the institute on his own.”

As soon as Do Wonwoo’s name was mentioned, Yoo Sanghoon’s expression became complicated.

Yoo Sanghoon is one of the victims caught up in Do Wonwoo’s ugly acts so I couldn’t blame him.

Our conversation continued as we headed off.

“It’s highly likely that a royal lineage is there. Maybe an otherworld would spawn too if we go there.”

“What do you mean if we go there…? So there are otherworlds that don’t occur naturally. Is it like a garden?”

A garden is an otherworld dominated by someone, but a frozen-type otherworld is different.

Its entrance is literally frozen and the only way to enter is by releasing its frozen state.

From the moment it is activated, it’s no different from a usual otherworld, except for one big difference.

‘Energy poison is released during thawing.’

A poison that can encroach upon humans, royal lineage, and descendants.

Among beings who possess energy and abilities, only those that originate in the same otherworld are not affected by the energy poison.

There are several ways to counter energy poison;

First, wait for a long time for the body to recover naturally.

In the case of royal lineage, their self-healing power is excellent so the time needed to recover is short.

However, their abilities are greatly reduced while they are poisoned.

The second method was for a healer with Yoo Sanghee’s level of ability to treat a person.

Third was the antidote developed by Hyangrok, which, however, still has the side effect of melting internal organs so it’s only available to those of royal lineage.

‘And the fourth is…’

We reached TC Research Institute when a message from Eunho arrived.

I don’t know about Hwang Jiho, but it wasn’t easy for me to ignore Eunho’s messages.

He must know what’s going on right now, but he decided to contact me which tells me that this is urgent.

[Cheon Eunha] Hello, Euishin hyung. I’m sorry, I know you’re busy.

[Cheon Eunha] Here’s the institute’s structural diagram I got from Dongha hyung. It includes the underground boundary not shown in the guide map. Dongha hyung says he’ll find out more about it.

As expected, unlike Hwang Jiho, Eunho doesn’t say unnecessary things.

While I memorized the map, another message came from Eunho.

[Cheon Eunha] Some Eungwang High people arrived earlier at the institute than you.

People who arrived there first?

It doesn’t seem to be Do Wonwoo or Hwang Jiho.

Eunho sent me a list of locations that seems to be traced from devices.

In addition to Do Wonwoo, there were names of members from the student association.

Ji Myungsoo, Yeom Junyeol, Kwak Gyungu, Ahn Dain…

‘…They’re all my playable characters!’

As expected, my intelligent and righteous playable characters couldn’t ignore Do Wonwoo’s crisis.

I didn’t expect them to be this quick though.

[Cheon Eunha] Hwangho-nim is waiting nearby. I’ll leave it up to you to join him, hyung.

No message came after that.

I could guess why Eunho reminded me of Hwang Jiho’s existence.

It’s up to me now how to deal with the student association members.

Given that only the combat-ready top players were there, it seemed that they were assembled by Ji Myungsoo.

They were people who wouldn’t die or be seriously injured easily.

However, they were the characters who died in the front lines in PMH.

‘…I can send the students back with Hwang Jiho’s help. If it’s too late, we can call in a big crowd as a backup.’

The same goes for Yoo Sanghoon.

I could change my mind and have him subdued with Hwang Jiho’s help.

‘If we fight like this, even if we don’t die, we might get seriously hurt. Wouldn’t it be better to send them back and I and the tigers will deal with things?’

But I couldn’t willingly do that.

Yoo Sanghoon’s determined face is imprinted on my mind.

‘If I try to solve it alone like the incident at the broadcasting station, maybe a similar situation would come up.’

Maybe it’s because of Yeom Junyeol.

His words when I came to the dragons’ territory are forever imprinted in my mind.

— I couldn’t do anything but stifle my presence, something that my teacher taught me, and watch as everything unfolded in front of my eyes.

— My teacher was already someone who put himself in danger’s way to save many people before he even met me. You were like that even after you agreed to have me as your student. I guess it makes sense that today’s incidents weren’t that big of a deal for you, teacher.

— I know it’s not convincing if I say these things because I’m much weaker than you, teacher. I know I’m just burdening you by saying all these but… I…

Wouldn’t it be more difficult if I don’t fight with Yoo Sanghoon, Yeom Junyeol, and the other student association members?

Ideas derived from poor ground become more and more convincing because they’re solidified by experience.

I hope Yoo Sanghoon or my playable characters don’t get physically hurt.

But I don’t want any of them to suffer either.

If there’s a way to ensure that none of them would get injured, then it’s not the right choice for me to barge in alone.

‘…I need to think of the best move.’

TC Research Institute.

Frozen-type otherworlds lurking around it.

The Tiger Clan keeping an eye on everything.

Avaritia’s priest.

Yoo Sanghee, Yoo Sanghoon, and Do Wonwoo.

The student association members who came to help Do Wonwoo.

After checking all the chess pieces in position and considering the variables one by one, I came to a conclusion.

‘Let’s fight together this time.’

If things don’t go as planned, I could still minimize the damage.

“You’re thinking of suspicious things again.”

Yoo Sanghoon said so by the time I reached a conclusion.

I must’ve been smiling suspiciously again.

I didn’t dwell much on those words as I took out the crow mask from my item window.

“Cover your face from here on. There’s an eye watching us so it’s best not to show your face.”

“What’s that? A CCTV?”

“Something like that. Take out some protective gear from the school that can cover your face. If you don’t have one, I’ll give this to you.”

We’d better be careful of the Demon Race’s Eye since we’re dealing with them this time.

‘And there’s something I want to test with this mask…’

I sent Yeom Junyeol a message suggesting joining forces when Yoo Sanghoon snatched the mask from my hand.

He moved quickly, but it was also because I didn’t consider him hostile that I wasn’t able to respond quickly.

He wore the crow mask.

“I want to use this.”

“No, I’ll use that.”

I tried to stop him, but it backfired.

“You’re stopping me so it means you have to use it. Wearing such a noticeable mask makes me think you’re thinking of making yourself bait.”

…How did Yoo Sanghoon figure that out when he doesn’t know much about crow masks?

I couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on with this guy’s head.

I saw his smile from the bottom of the mask.

“Knowing you, you must have an extra. Use that one. If you don’t want to, then find yourself a different one.”

Yoo Sanghoon was right — I had another one.

I use it during battles so it’s natural for me to prepare another one in case the one that I’m using gets damaged.

‘There’s a big possibility that the demons would go after the crow mask though…!’

Knowing Avaritia’s Priest’s eye, I’m sure of it.

Yoo Sanghoon should never take off that mask, but he’d be possessing information on the Demon Race, both things putting him in great danger in the future.

I can’t let Yoo Sanghoon wear a crow mask on his own, so I ended up using my extra crow mask.

“Oh, you’re physique changed too.”

I used my Player Identity light skill and selected a character that could give a clear alibi this time.

I wore a modulator that changed the tone of my voice.

“Student association members are there. I’ll talk to them. Wait here.”

“…All of them are here?”

Yoo Sanghoon wants to know if his sister is here.

Instead of answering, I just shook my head.

Not all of the student association members came.

“I didn’t expect you to come. I’m so happy you suggested that we fight together!”

Yeom Junyeol immediately recognized and welcomed me when he saw my crow mask.

Conscious of the others in the scene, Yeom Junyeol was careful not to call me ‘teacher’.

Still, I decided to act as his teacher, that word, in this operation.

“You know what’s down there, right?”

“Yes, I heard from Dongha.”

I briefed them on how we’re going to move forward.

The gist is Yoo Sanghoon and I would team up, and the rest of them would move together.

“What about Jegun hyung?”

“…I have a separate request for him, so I’d like him to wait here.”

Yong Jegun smiled ecstatically as he looked at me.

“So I have to be away from Junyeol… Do I have to stay here?”

When I nodded, Yong Jegun fell deep in thought.

He seemed half-worried about Yeom Junyeol, and half-willing to stay here since it would provide him with more fun.

“So he knows Yong-ssaem too.”

“Maybe he’s someone from the Dragon Clan?”

“Our shield…”

Yong Jegun decided to stay, and Kwak Gyungu seemed to be slightly disappointed.

The student association members hesitated a little when I told them that their faces should be covered.

Except for Yeom Junyeol and Hongryong, the others aren’t so easy to identify.

Even if it’s just a little, it would be a win if we could surprise the Demon Race.

“Then we’ll use crow masks too!”

…But that isn’t very necessary.

I tried to stop them, but Yeom Junyeol immediately took out an item card and materialized it.

The card turned into a crow mask in no time.

Seeing that the mask was from an item card, it’s no ordinary mask.

It’s made with energy.

“I know someone who’s good at making things like this. I asked them a favor.”

Yeom Junyeol said so shyly.

I don’t know why Yeom Junyeol is carrying around a crow mask with him, but I decided not to ask when I saw Yong Jegun smiling creepily behind me.

“This crow mask, can it be…”

“I think I saw it in an article about Choi Pyeondeuk’s collapse.”

I heard Ahn Dain and Ji Myungsoo talk about the mask.

Indeed, they seem to know about the majority of things happening at the school.

“…Follow where Do Wonwoo entered. I and my party will enter the other way.”

I said something important.

“From now on, Ahn Dain and I can’t be less than a few feet away.”

I held the Fate of the Unknown card in my hand.

The character I’ll be using is Ahn Dain.

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