Chapter 515: Treasure hunt (8)

Support Ex-Rank

Hwang Jiho found another note while searching inside a bumper car.

He took off the cyan note next to the brake pedal and spoke without emotion.

“Found it.”

It should be a treasure note at best, but no one in Group 6, including Hwang Jiho, expected anything.

Hwang Jiho has fallen into the dud trap set by Yong Jegun.

Every note he’s found so far only contained teasing from Yong Jegun.

I thought it would be a dud again, but when Hwang Jiho opened the note, his eyes were doubting instead of the usual sour expression.

“It’s the best prize, but I’m not happy at all.”

Hwang Jiho showed the note to Mok Wooram.

It contained a long message left by Yong Jegun.

[You thought it’s gonna be a dud, did you? Looks like I didn’t live up to your expectations. Congrats on getting first place! ^^]

“Congratulations! The first one you found is the best. You’re very lucky.”

Rather than being lucky, it feels like Hwang Jiho was completely played on Yong Jegun’s palm.

What kind of prize did he prepare for him to willingly give to Hwang Jiho?

I was concerned, but I decided to celebrate with Mok Wooram since he was sincerely congratulating him.

“Congrats.”

Hwang Jiho, who seemed to be seriously contemplating whether he should throw away the note, raised his head.

“Hmm, yeah. It’s not bad to be congratulated.”

Hwang Jiho put the note in his pocket and went on a search again.

I guess the congratulations were better than the unknown prize.

And then, two hours after the treasure hunt, alarms meant for missing children rang throughout the theme park.

Dingdong, dingdong.

[Treasure hunt is over! Please gather at the meeting place we set. If you don’t come in ten minutes, I’ll go find you myself.]

Maybe it’s because “^^” was written on all the notes, but I can almost see Yong Jegun’s smiling face.

It was strange because I felt like I’m being treated like a lost child, but the comment was effective to gather the children right away.

Mok Wooram, who wanted to take another look at the rotating swing, switched up as soon as he heard the broadcast.

“Professor Yong Jegun is calling us. Let’s hurry back.”

Even Mok Wooram is wary of Yong Jegun.

On the way to the bridge connecting the inside of the theme park, Mok Wooram stopped to look at the lake.

The surroundings were seemingly unchanged from when we first came.

There wasn’t a trace of the blackness that covered the floor, and the lake path was still.

However, the lingering energy waves gave a sense of incompatibility.

‘The energy waves couldn’t be erased completely.’

Traces of the fierce battle were on the path.

There were probably three people who fought here — Seodol, Submaster Jared Lee, and a Grand Cross.

If those three were the ones who clashed here, it’s impossible for there not to be a trace.

‘I should rather think it’s a relief that only this many traces were left.’

Mok Wooram probably doesn’t know the details, but I’m sure he noticed something.

“…Someone fought here. Are they okay?”

“I’m sure the attacker isn’t.”

“I see…”

Mok Wooram looked relieved at Hwang Jiho’s brutal answer.

“I really want to thank them.”

Jared Lee was also one of the targets, so strictly speaking, the fight wasn’t for Mok Wooram alone.

Still, Jared Lee came here and was exposed to danger because he was protecting Mok Wooram, so I guess it’s best to give thanks.

I asked Seodol to hold Jared Lee anyway, so we’ll meet after the picnic.

“You’ll have a chance to after the picnic.”

“Really? Thank you. I’ll make sure to give my thanks.”

Only after saying that did Mok Wooram continue walking.

We crossed the bridge and I finally felt warmth as the cold piercing wind couldn’t reach us anymore.

Inside the theme park, around the bench where we had lunch.

All of the kids were gathered except for us.

They seemed to have heard the broadcast loud and clear.

“Euishin’s here.”

“Did you find lots of treasures? It must’ve been cold outside…”

The kids greeted us as soon as we arrived.

While the kids greeted us, Professor Ham Geunhyung stared with his eyes wide open.

Only a part of the plan was relayed to him.

‘Considering Professor Ham Geunhyung’s personality, I’m sure he’ll come forward once he knows a kid in his class was the target of an assassination.’

It’s obvious that he doesn’t care about the Oath of the Three Knights, so I only conveyed the fact that danger exists without revealing the whole story.

Anyway, we needed someone to protect the kids inside.

Yong Jegun was in charge of supporting Seodol, and there was a possibility that the attackers would be wary if the head of the Tiger Clan were put in front.

Therefore, I decided that Professor Ham Geunhyung should look after the kids.

‘I didn’t expect him to accept so quickly.’

Before the picnic, I asked Professor Ham Geunhyung to protect the kids and make sure that they stayed inside because I had something to deal with outside the park.

Professor Ham nodded right away.

He said yes, but I’m sure he’s been worried about our group who went outside.

Only after confirming that we were uninjured did Professor Ham Geunhyung take his eyes off of us.

“…Are you not cold?”

Maeng Hyodon approached us and asked.

He was in the same group as Kim Yuri, and I can see that he only had two treasure notes in his hand.

I don’t think he should be worried about us.

“We’re fine.”

“Really?”

Maeng Hyodon looked at me with suspecting eyes.

Before I could say anything else, Yong Jegun interjected.

He’s been in a good mood since morning, but it looks like his mood improved some more.

I guess he found the treasure hunt fun.

“I’ve always been on the receiving end of a treasure hunt, but it’s fun hiding stuff too.”

“Are you talking about the treasure hunt with your friend?”

“Yeah, my friend prepares surprise treasure hunts for me every time.”

More than half of our class didn’t seem to believe it.

Hwang Jiho had a face that screamed “Kim Shinrok is preparing events for you?”

Knowing what treasure he’s talking about, I know it’s true.

“Good job finding the treasures. Everyone seemed to have found the notes I hid.”

“Not all of them. What a shame!”

Saeum of April said while holding a lot of treasure notes.

As expected the group who found the most notes was Dokgo Miro and Saeum of April.

King of Back Alleys Dokgo Miro had even more notes in her hands than Saeum.

On the other hand, the group with the fewest notes were Min Geurin and Ong Gildong.

Min Geurin looked disappointed.

“Sorry… Daesok kept on cutting in so…”

“It’s alright. There’s always an ordeal to find treasure. This time, we just couldn’t get over it.”

“Gildong— I mean, Luis, you’re much more mature than Daesok even if you speak grandly.”

“Thank you. It’s an honor to hear that from a genius artist.”

Goo Seulbi and Song Daesok, who held more treasure notes than Min Geurin and Ong Gildong, looked mad.

Based on what they’re saying, Goo Seulbi and Song Daesok continued interfering with Min Geurin and Ong Gildong, playing dirty as they stole the notes that the group was about to find.

As a result, it seems that Goo Seulbi and Song Daesok got more notes than the artist-and-thief duo.

Though looking at the atmosphere, it looks like they suffered defeat.

“God damn it…”

“…”

“Ah, do you want this? This cream cheese churro is delicious!”

“I’ll cut some for you.”

While Song TB and the great druidess were digging the ground with their feet, Kwon Lena and Hani gave them snacks to cheer them up.

The two managed to find lots of notes despite prioritizing eating snacks.

Maybe those two are the real winners of this game.

“Now, shall we have the treasure exchange ceremony?”

“Yes!”

Yong Jegun called out a cyan space that could fit a person in one corner of the park.

I guess he was going to leave the picnic and exchange the notes right away.

The kids checked out the notes and prepared to get the gifts.

At that time, the gloomy Goo Seulbi and Song Daesok raised their hands.

“…I want to ask a question.”

“Me too.”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Yong Jegun looked like he knew what the two would ask.

“What is this?”

Song Daesok unfolded the otherworld paper that looked abused.

On the cyan paper, strange words were written in Yong Jegun’s penmanship.

[So close. You were almost in first place! ^^]

Almost first place.

What the hell does that mean?

The way his words teased them, and it’s most likely just a dud.

“A note that’s almost the first place prize.”

Questions deepened.

Yong Jegun added an explanation that only made the two look resentful.

“I actually hid the first-place notes in many places. The first one to find it will get the real prize and the other notes will get changed to duds.”

Why did he put so much effort into this treasure hunt?

Well, it’s expected of a recreational activity hosted by the mischievous dragon.

Anyway, it’s clear now that Goo Seulbi and Song Daesok missed winning the best price by a strand.

When Yong Jegun finished explaining, Min Geurin spoke to Song Daesok.

“It’s because you took away someone’s note in front of their eyes, Daesok-ah! Bad people can’t win good things. That note… Luis found it first.”

“I didn’t find it first, but the one who takes it first gets to keep it.”

“You’re not just a fool, Daesok-ah, you’re a mean fool!”

Going beyond being a fool into being a mean fool, Song Daesok was shocked.

He tried to make excuses to Min Geurin, but it was useless.

Meanwhile, Ong Gildong spoke to Goo Seulbi affectionately.

“Even though I tried to get out of the chase a few times, you caught up to me quickly. The flying squirrel was yours, right? Your tracking skills are excellent.”

“…”

The flying squirrel, believed to have been called by Goo Seulbi, wagged her tail on her shoulder as if to console her.

Goo Seulbi used her power as a druidess to chase those two, so it seems.

Our classmates looked over at the flying squirrel on her shoulder as if wanting to pet it, but they couldn’t ask for permission because Goo Seulbi looked depressed.

“I want to change groups and compete again next time. It was a good game.”

Ong Gildong used a soft tone, but Goo Seulbi looked tearful.

“So who got the best prize?”

“I don’t think it’s in there.”

Hwang Jiho raised his hand.

“Yours truly.”

“Oh really? What’s the best prize?”

“Congrats!”

Hwang Jiho gently showed the kids the note.

“The best prize is…”

“Professor Yong Jegun…”

While the kids lost their words after seeing the phrase written on the note, Hwang Jiho looked at Yong Jegun.

“Every note has a prize name on it, but there’s none on the best prize.”

It wasn’t written on the note, but it looks like we’ll get to know what it is soon.

Yong Jegun asked back, pretending not to know what Hwang Jiho was saying.

“Everyone’s curious about the prize?”

“Yes! All the other prizes were good, so I wonder what the best one is.”

Saeum of April answered instead, and Yong Jegun smiled ecstatically.

Saeum seemed to regret answering the question when he saw Yong Jegun’s smile, and Hwang Jiho seemed to regret finding the note.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“The first place prize is none other than… an invitation to the Dragon Palace.”

Support Ex-Rank