Chapter 437: What must be hidden

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Year One Class Zero classroom.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Kwon Lena.

Her eyes were busy looking at her hologram and she didn’t notice me enter right away.

‘Doesn’t she usually practice violin in her free time? The exam period is still quite far…’

Though I don’t think the hologram she’s looking at were lecture notes.

It seems to be a news article with the keyword “Namgung” at the top.

I put down my bag and approached Kwon Lena to say hello.

“Hey.”

“…Oh, hey Euishin-ah.”

Her reaction was a beat late, but Kwon Lena greeted me with a smile.

Her expression was bright, but fatigue couldn’t be hidden from it.

I decided to do whatever I could to turn that around.

“You’re here early. Did you come to school early to practice violin?”

“Yeah, I took lessons early in the morning with Kwon Jein sunbaenim but…”

At this early hour?

I think Kwon Lena usually has her violin lessons in the afternoon though.

Did their schedule adjust to fit Kwon Jein’s schedule?

Kwon Lena seemed hesitant on explaining it, but she soon spoke again.

“…I’m going to take violin lessons in the afternoon. I took different lessons this morning.”

“A different lesson?”

“Yep, I practiced dealing with energy waves with my energy violin. Kwon Jein sunbaenim is busy so I take extra lessons either late at night or early in the morning.”

So that’s why she looks quite fatigued these days.

But isn’t she supposed to learn that thing already during her violin lessons?

What could be the reason for dividing those two lessons?

Maybe Kwon Lena is now full-fledged practicing dealing with energy waves.

“It’s hard to keep up with others’ combat styles, but I think I can fight with you guys together if I can play the energy violin well.”

Kwon Lena said with a slightly disconsolate look.

I guess it still bothered her that she wasn’t able to fight during the broadcasting station incident.

Following Kwon Lena’s logic, Kim Yuri and Mok Wooram also “can’t fight” because they don’t use weapons.

Though I don’t think Kwon Lena thinks that way.

Her words at the dormitory rooftop suddenly came to mind.

— My friend was there and I just watched…

— …What are you saying? I told you I couldn’t do anything!

That night, Kwon Lena blamed herself for not being able to do anything for Saeum of April.

She must’ve forgotten that she tried saving Yeom Junyeol who I was disguised as that night.

‘It’s not that she didn’t do anything.’

Even then and now, Kwon Lena cherishes her friend so much and still blames herself, but I don’t think that’s all that’s on her mind.

“It’s hard to practice violin and manage energy waves at the same time. But I still want to fight alongside you guys the next time something happens.”

Kwon Lena is transforming.

That’s why she compromises her sleep and rest and does her best all the time.

‘She looks tired, but stopping her is a bit…’

I wanted to cheer on Kwon Lena, but I was worried for her at the same time.

Maybe Kwon Jein feels the same way.

“Honestly, reading the news takes more of my time than lessons. It’s a little hard to research stuff so… And I haven’t been able to contact my sister lately. I wanna know what’s going on.”

Namgung Group must be busy right now because they’re under investigation by the Players’ Association for the incident at the broadcasting station.

On top of that, Kwon Lena’s sister, Lee Yeoreum, was there at the time of the incident.

“I have an article search application created by Moon Saeron. Wanna use it?”

“Hm? There’s something like that?”

Having despised s and the overall mechanics of portal sites, Moon Saeron created an article search application to make researching easier for her.

It didn’t get much attention when she posted it on the newspaper department’s website, but I found myself using it often.

I installed the application on Kwon Lena’s device and she immediately used it.

She thanked me, saying that it certainly makes searching a lot easier.

“Tell me whenever you need help.”

“…Thanks.”

I’m sure Kwon Lena has the desire to solve things on her own at the moment, but I offered her my help anyway.

Kwon Lena went back to searching for articles.

It just so happens that Bang Yoonseob has been smoking a lot these days, so his Bbang Shuttle activities have increased.

I could use him to buy snacks for Kwon Lena to make her feel better.

While I was looking at MITRON’s new menu, the automatic door to our classroom suddenly opened.

Willing!

“I’m back!”

It’s not something people usually say when entering a classroom early in the morning, but Mok Wooram looked pumped.

“Oh, Wooram-ah. Come on in.”

Looking at Kwon Lena’s expression, it seems like Mok Wooram really just went somewhere for a while.

Come to think of it, I saw Mok Wooram’s bag hanging on his desk.

He must’ve come to school early too but just went outside for a while.

“Where’d you go?”

“I went to the dorms. I think I have something that Lena needs for her condition.”

Did Mok Wooram buy something weird again?

Kwon Lena took her eyes off the hologram and looked anxiously at Mok Wooram as if she had the same idea.

“…Did you buy something weird?”

“No. I didn’t buy it, but I got it for free from a kind person I ran into the street.”

…Somehow that’s even more suspicious.

Only teachers, student leaders, and our classmates give something free of charge out of goodwill to Mok Wooram, Eungwang High’s biggest pushover.

Mok Wooram took something out of his arms.

It was a stiff paper leaflet.

It contained untested ingredients and was full of -ish phrases and rustic-colored photos that exaggerated the effect.

“Here are some healthy foods that can help eye fatigue. It says here that just eating them helps blood and diurnal circulation. It’s an amount that I can buy if I save for a few months, but thankfully the kind person suggested that I can pay in installments so —”

“Wooram ah! Where in the world did you meet such a person and get this thing? You didn’t meet them at school, did you?”

“I was out for a while and they talked to me first…”

Mok Wooram must’ve been out for about an hour at most, and it’s almost an amazing feat that he was scammed in that short amount of time.

I heard Kwon Lena sigh.

Before Kwon Lena became even more stressed, I took initiative.

“Let’s throw away the paper waste in the recycling bin.”

Mok Wooram tried to refute it, but when Kwon Lena told us the location of the recycling bin in detail, he obediently followed.

I’ll have to talk to Hwang Jiho and ask him to crack down on merchants going around the school.

***

At lunchtime.

Some students were absent from school, but the atmosphere was generally peaceful.

Do Wonwo, Yoo Sanghee, and Yoo Sanghoon being absent sparked conversation around campus.

Those who were aware of Do Wonwoo’s feelings for Yoo Sanghee were worried that the latter and her brother finally decided to deal with the guy.

But those three still weren’t in the spotlight.

‘There are still a lot of people who come to see Dokgo Miro.’

I thought it would last for at least a week.

Dogko Miro couldn’t even eat lunch at the student cafeteria so we accompany her for lunch.

Including Hani.

‘I was worried about what would happen to those two after their match.’

They seem to be civil with each other, though Dokgo Miro is unilaterally very friendly to Hani while the latter just seems to tolerate it.

‘She treats Hwang Jiho the same way I think.’

But even though it’s the same, Hani openly looks annoyed and hateful of Hwang Jiho when he plays pranks.

Dingdokg.

I walked alone to organize my thoughts after lunch, and I heard a message notification arrive on my device.

It was from my student.

He usually sends two messages, one as my student and one as my sunbae, but I guess he has something else to say.

[Yeom Junyeol] Thank you for inviting me yesterday, teacher!

[Yeom Junyeol] I was about to send you my usual morning message, but I realized I didn’t thank you yesterday.

[Yeom Junyeol] Please invite me again next time!

[Yeom Junyeol] (Stamp)

He didn’t have to thank me since we met at the scene already.

And I’m not the one to thank too since the student association members were the ones who helped a lot by dealing with the enemies.

Still, my good and sincere student sent a Hongryong stamp waving his hand in front of the words “Thank you!”

‘I didn’t know he’d be so happy that I called him in for work.’

Should I ask for his help more often from now on?

No, it’s not good to put Yeom Junyeol at a lot of risks.

And if yesterday’s incident comes to light, Yeom Bangyeol and Cheongryong might burn me.

Messages kept coming to my device since it was lunchtime.

[Jang Namwook] Guys, I heard from Jecheondaesung yesterday. You guys did a great job. I would’ve gone with you guys if you told me in advance though. What a shame. I hope you don’t forget to call me next time.

[Yoo Sanghoon] Yep.

Yoo Sanghoon was at the association now, but he sent a reply.

But what does “yep” mean?

Does it mean he’ll call Jang Namwook if something happens?

Jang Namwook’s messages kept coming, and it seems to mean that there was no trouble given to him by the Military Academy.

I was relieved that Do Sihoo could rest, but my relief was erased right away by Jang Namwook’s next message.

[Jang Namwook] Ah, and if I need to be in a crow mask, I’ll prepare one in advance. Jecheondaseung-nim told me about the design in detail. I’ll make one with Sihoo too. Sihoo says he wants to fight with us too if something happens.

…What did he make?

I tried to stop whatever ridiculous thing Jang Namwook was thinking, but Yoo Sanghoon just riled him all up.

[Yoo Sanghoon] (Photo)

[Jang Namwook] Oh, there’s a picture too. Thanks, Sanghoon-ah. We’ll use this picture as a reference when making the crow mask.

Yoo Sanghoon took the crow mask I lent him that day.

I knew he’d use it again someday, but I can’t believe it appeared here.

I can never know what that guy is thinking.

For now, I decided to stop Jang Namwook.

[Me] No, no.

I meant that he shouldn’t do what he was planning to, but Jang Namwook interpreted it in his own way.

[Jang Namwook] Oh right, it’s not too good if it’s the exact same. Should I change up the design a little? Okay, I’ll make it a little different. I’ll buy some tools now. I’ll message you once I’m done!

[Yoo Sanghoon] Lol.

The danger of sending extremely short messages…

I sent more to clarify what I meant, but seeing that he’s not reading them, it really seems like Jang Namwook went out to go shopping already.

Thinking it was too late to stop him, I finally gave up.

A message from Do Sihoo arrived after a few seconds, but I didn’t have the energy to reply any more so I just glazed over it.

While I was checking my messages, I noticed one from someone who has been buried in work for quite a while now.

[Hong Gyubin] Euishin-ah… There are so, so many cases related to Eungwang High this year … ^^;

The TC Research Institute incident broke out just after the broadcasting station incident, so it was surely painful for Hong Gyubin.

However, those cases have some connection to the cases dealt with by Hong Gyubin before so it can’t be helped.

When I was about to tell him “Cheer up”…

[Hong Gyubin] The researchers here are mentioning something about crow masks.

[Hong Gyubin] On top of that, traces of Spiritual Word skill being used underground was found during the investigation.

At the time of the Central Library’s basement incident, a crow mask was shown in front of Hong Gyubin.

[Hong Gyubin] I’ll take care of this. Instead, you should take good care of me in the future! ^^

Detailed explanations were omitted, but it seems to mean that I should send him more Jegal-related articles from the newspaper department.

‘The Class Zero sunbae-jerks said they’d make a 3D Jegal Exhibition right? I’m sure Hong Gyubin would like to see that.’

Though if the “first student” of their beloved teacher comes, the sunbae-jerks would surely hate it.

Meanwhile, the message I’d been waiting for finally arrived.

[Hwang Jiho] Come to the chairman’s office.

I headed to the chairman’s office to meet the two painters.

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