Chapter 453: Another candidate (5)

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Time passed and Gye Idam’s disposition got worse and, as if he knew of it, Sung Siwan talked to him more often.

When the second semester started, even the other student council members noticed something was up with Gye Idam.

“Idam-ah, are you feeling okay?”

“…”

Gye Idam couldn’t properly answer Oh Hyeji and only nodded his head.

Even Gye Idam knew that his condition hasn’t been so good recently, but whenever other people notice it, Gye Idam feels choked up.

This was especially true when particular people showed concern for him.

He tried to find similarities between him and that person — gender, grade, affiliation, and personality — but none of them matched.

Student Council’s adviser Ham Geunhyung, student council’s next leader Oh Hyeji, his colleagues Cheon Dongha and Ma Jinseung…

The mere thought made him feel dizzy.

‘I’ll take care of myself. Anyway, these people would…’

When the rest of his thought suddenly burst again, a message arrived on his device.

He was examined in the central area’s Nurse’s Office 1 at the suggestion of Ham Geunhyung, and the results seem to have arrived.

Gye Idam hurriedly checked the message.

‘The test results are… all normal.’

His energy waves and his physical condition were all normal.

Other than signs of sleep deprivation, there were no abnormalities detected in him.

Gye Idam felt a chill.

‘I’m normal?’

Even the professional nurse at Korea’s most prestigious high school declared that he was normal.

That means he would have to live like this for the rest of his life.

No, he was sure that he’d go crazy if he lives his life like this.

“Idam-ah.”

He hurriedly turned off the hologram and looked in the direction where the voice came from only to discover Cheon Dongha.

The latter’s gaze seemed to see through everything.

People with a weak mentality would collapse at Cheon Dongha’s cold gaze.

Gye Idam didn’t mind, perhaps because he got used to it or because he knew that despite Cheon Dongha’s cold gaze, the man was kind to everyone around him.

Cheon Dongha spoke in a calm tone as usual.

“Take a break from student council activities for now.”

“…Why?”

Gye Idam asked why, but he knew the answer.

It’s clear that responding belligerently every time an incident breaks out was becoming a problem.

Not long ago, during Year Three Class Zero’s fifth attack on the old school building, Ma Jinseung almost got hurt because Gye Idam made a mistake in shooting his energy gun.

It was also wrong of Ma Jinseung to jump out without ensuring that his front and back were protected, but Gye Idam’s mistake was heavier since he impatiently pulled his trigger without aiming properly.

‘If it weren’t for Professor Ham Geunhyung, Ma Jinseung would’ve been hurt…’

That day, Ham Geunhyung showcased his phenomenal skill by shooting down the bullet with his arrow.

Ham Geunhyung did not scold Gye Idam too much, but he was ordered to submit a letter of apology for the case and made to review the general guide for using weapons.

He thought Cheon Dongha would scold him, but he didn’t mention it at all.

“We don’t have much to do these days anyway since our Class Zero listens well to Professor Jegal. Jinseung and I will take care of things.”

He was contemplating quitting the student council at that time, but somehow he didn’t want to let go of his work like this.

As if Cheon Dongha saw through him, he reassured Gye Idam who hesitated and didn’t answer.

“You can tell me if anything happens. Doesn’t have to be related to the student council.”

And so Gye Idam took a break from student council activities.

Having obtained some free time, Gye Idam began to investigate what was happening to him.

However, the more he looked into things, the fewer answers came to him.

The only thing he gained was more questions.

‘Symptoms that cannot be explained by science or energy waves…’

Gye Idam, who was looking for data through his device, visited the central library.

He hoped that he might get an answer from the books collected by their eccentric principal and bookworm Hwangbo Yoon.

While Gye Idam was searching for related books through the keyword search function, a classmate of his, Heo Chaeah, talked to him.

“Are you researching Eungwang High’s ghost story?”

Heo Chaeah was part of the library department.

Due to the huge volume of books and the size of the library, the library department of Eungwang High has always suffered from a heavy workload, mostly organizing books and guiding students who find themselves lost in the sea of books.

Heo Chaeah, even though she was busy, seemed to want to help Gye Idam.

He would’ve refused normally, but the words “Eungwang High” and “ghost story” caught his ear.

“…A ghost story?”

“Yeah, I figured from what you were searching. The newspaper department covers it every two or three years, and there are still many things that haven’t been explained.”

Something — a ghost story — that even the competent students of Eungwang High cannot figure out.

That fact gave Gye Idam a flicker of hope.

After all, his symptoms got to this point because of Eungwang High.

He came to the idea that perhaps his symptoms are because of this “Eungwang High ghost story” that his classmate told him.

Since then, Gye Idam was engaged in researching the matter.

‘There are so many ghost stories and unclear stuff that I don’t know which one’s related to me…’

Gye Idam’s investigation into the mysterious Eungwang High story soon ran into difficulties.

Even the newspaper department which gathered the best intelligence and information on Eungwang High cannot figure out the matter so it wasn’t surprising.

Nevertheless, Gye Idam did not give up.

“Oh? Idam-ah? Come in. When did you get here?”

He visited Jiikhoe’s office to investigate the ghost story related to Cheonik Mountain.

He frequented the Jiikhoe office before, and he encountered Sung Siwan right after he entered the room.

Of all people, the nosy one caught him there.

Gye Idam replied half-heartedly, unhappy that he was caught by a troublesome sunbae.

“…I came in because the door was open.”

“Hahaha, I wasn’t gonna ask you what you’re doing here, but I’ll help you if you’re looking for something. The Jiikhoe office’s doors are always open.”

Sung Siwan began to explain why the door was always open.

Unlike the other facilities of Jiikhoe, the door of the Jiikhoe Office is not an automatic doer.

It was a manual door that had no locking function.

“I think it’s related to some ghost story in our school. You like those?”

Gye Idam had left a hologram open by accident, and it showed some information regarding ghost stories.

Sung Siwan asked him then.

He doesn’t particularly like or dislike ghost stories, but Gye Idam just nodded, thinking that it would be too annoying to explain.

Since then, whenever he investigated the ghost story related to Jiikhoe, Sung Siwan would appear and talk to him.

Sung Siwan ran his mouth and spoke of matters unrelated to ghost stories.

“Professor Choi Pyeondeuk almost became Jiikhoe’s adviser this year.”

According to Sung Siwan, Jiikhoe’s adviser retired last year so the organization needed a new adviser.

However, Choi Pyeondeuk was the only professor who expressed intent to take on the job.

When Choi Pyeondeuk spread the word saying that he would become the next Jiikhoe adviser, other teachers refused to take the position to avoid getting into conflict with Choi Pyeondeuk.

“So I talked to the people who weren’t influenced by Professor Choi Pyeondeuk. That’s when Professor Yong Jegun gave me some advice.”

Yong Jegun was one of the professors that Choi Pyeondeuk does not have an influence on.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Yong Jegun was unable to serve as Jiikhoe’s adviser since he was already the chess club’s adviser.

Instead, Yong Jegun provided very useful information to the Jiikhoe.

— Have you asked Professor Kim Shinrok? He was the first adviser to the Jiikhoe.

Hearing that, all the members of Jiikhoe came personally to Kim Shinrok and bowed their heads.

Kim Shinrok showed reluctance, saying that although he was the first adviser, he didn’t know about the organization’s work well since he only served for a year.

However, after persistent persuasion from the Jiikhoe members, Kim Shinrok eventually agreed.

‘It’s a relief Choi Pyeondeuk didn’t get control of Jiikhoe. But…’

The sense of relief didn’t last long.

He knew that Kim Shinrok wasn’t a bad professor, but for some strange reason, he felt uneasy.

On the other hand, Sung Siwan’s nosiness continued, perhaps because he was worried that Gye Idam didn’t look so good.

He often encountered Sung Siwan at Cheonik Mountain, but he just couldn’t figure out how they would often run into each other when the mountain wasn’t small.

“Are you okay?”

Sung Siwan dealt with the wild boar that tried to attack Gye Idam.

The man being genuinely worried about him made fanned Gye Idam’s irritation.

That inability to properly determine just why in the world he feels annoyed drove him even crazier.

“I could’ve caught it.”

“Hahaha, I knew you’d say that.”

Suddenly, Gye Idam asked like an impatient dog.

“…Why in the world are you like that?”

His question wasn’t just about the wild boar.

Sung Siwan’s eyebrows slightly lowered at Gye Idam’s words.

Sung Siwan himself seemed to be aware that he was being a bother to his hoobae.

“I was worried that night when I saw you and Kihwan at Cheonik Mountain.”

‘Then you should chase after Woo Kihwan, why are you bothering me?’ was what went through Gye Idam’s mind at that time.

Of course, between Class Zero Woo Kihwan and the student council member Gye Idam, the latter wasn’t the dangerous one.

“Even though his mind is wandering, Kihwan is always busy preparing for a showdown with Professor Im Yeonhwa or Wonwoo. That’s why I’m not too worried about him. But you… You just don’t seem to be thinking about the future.”

It was already difficult for Gye Idam to handle what he was going through at the present.

He doesn’t have the capacity to think about the next thing.

Gye Idam doesn’t know how Sung Siwan saw through him like that.

However, it remained unchanged that he found Sung Siwan a bother.

‘He doesn’t bother Woo Kihwan as much though… So…’

A bright idea came upon Gye Idam.

At the mention of Woo Kihwan being busy trying to beat his homeroom teacher, Gye Idam suggested something.

“Let’s have a battle.”

“Huh? Out of nowhere?”

“If I win, then you won’t bother me again.”

Sung Siwan looked surprised, but soon smiled and nodded.

“Okay.”

Gye Idam was confident because his ability is optimal for fighting against players.

He believed that he would be able to overpower his sunbae without breaking a sweat.

‘Now this annoying sunbae won’t bother me.’

However, the result of the battle was Gye Idam’s crushing defeat.

In all aspects, light skill and skill, Gye Idam completely lost.

Even when he fully utilized his Mist of Night Silence light skill, Sung Siwan remained unstoppable.

Sung Siwan’s stiletto dagger completely crushed Gye Idam’s energy gun.

“I won so I’ll continue bothering you from now on.”

Gye Idam was furious, but he had no choice but to accept defeat.

Just as Sung Siwan promised, Gye Idam continued to be bothered by his annoying sunbae.

Gye Idam and Sung Siwan explored the mysterious stories of Eungwang High and spent time together.

And then he slowly got influenced by Sung Siwan.

So much so that he decided to join the Jiikhoe to help Sung Siwan who was then elected as the organization’s new chairman.

A few days after the general elections, Gye Idam submitted his resignation to the student council.

“…You’re really quitting the student council to join Jiikhoe?”

Oh Hyeji, who was elected as the new student council president, couldn’t hide her disappointment.

But Oh Hyeji didn’t actively try to stop him.

Because thanks to Sung Siwan, Gye Idam has become noticeably brighter and more stable.

“Yeah, there are a lot of talented kids in the student council still.”

Gye Idam looked at Cheon Dongha and said so.

“That’s right, leave the student council up to me!”

He wasn’t referring to Ma Jinseung, but the man answered vigorously.

Gye Idam would’ve formed some criticism in his mind in the past, but he didn’t feel like it anymore.

‘Yeah, well, that guy’s a bit stupid but he’s not too bad. He’ll help Cheon Dongha well.’

Just when he was about to leave, Oh Hyeji said one more thing.

“We won’t treat you like a stranger. Come visit the student council anytime.”

The student council had nothing but really good people.

There was a time when Gye Idam didn’t like them very much, but he didn’t feel like that at all anymore.

He may have been influenced by the nosy Sung Siwan.

Soon, the entrance exam period for Eungwang High came.

Gye Idam was appointed to serve as a guide to students who cannot find their test site.

Students from the autonomous organizations were placed and dispersed all throughout Eungwang High, but because the school was large, no matter how many students were placed, they couldn’t cover the entire school.

‘What was it like when I took the exam?’

Of course, he couldn’t remember it very well.

No, he shouldn’t remember it but…

Something was wrong.

As if a thick fog has cleared up, everything suddenly came to Gye Idam’s mind.

In the sudden flood of information, Gye Idam found the answer to all the questions he had so far.

‘PMH…!’

Gye Idam remembered that his own name wasn’t even “Gye Idam”.

And he remembered everything about PMH.

‘Wait, that means… Group 13!’

At that time, the school broadcast rang out.

It was as if someone out of their mind was talking.

— I want to kill some of you here. If you want to rescue others, have the courage and try to find them. Bye!

Other students’ voices were heard in the distance.

“An attack from a royal lineage!”

“Everyone check the examination rooms!”

“Look for the supervisors that can’t be contacted!”

“…There are too many! Some are untraceable because the exams are ongoing!”

Gye Idam felt like his surroundings were turning white.

The tutorial level, which he had only done once, was unfolding right before his eyes.

‘Those guys are gonna die anyway so we have to deal with the public and move on…!’

When he played PMH, Gye Idam only thought that he wished Ahn Dain would appear in the scenes faster.

It took Gye Idam a long time to recall the details of Group 13 from the tutorial level.

Gye Idam turned on a hologram and ran to check the location of the examination site and the supervisor in charge.

‘The supervisor is… Kim Shinrok!’

He remembered how Sung Siwan smiled brightly when he talked about Kim Shinrok.

He also remembered how Kim Shinrok talked to him, saying that he heard from Professor Ham Geunhyhung and he looks forward to having Gye Idam with the Jiikhoe.

Although there was something odd about him, he was basically a friendly and good teacher who treated students fairly.

‘What the hell, why am I here…?! No, it’s not the time to think about that!’

Although the rush and mixture of information from his old world and the new world confused him, Gye Idam sprinted at full speed.

The moment he finally saw the gym where Group 13 was…

Fwaaang!

In front of the gym where Group 13 was having their practical exam stood White Tiger who swung a huge sword.

Gye Idam knew who he was.

One of PMH’s playable characters, Baekho-gun.

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