Chapter 701: Mask (5)

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The moment the tiger couple said they wanted to meet Ahn Dain, everything was arranged immediately.

The couple, guilty of having the treasure but never imagined meeting their child in this world, were at a loss.

They didn’t know what or how to prepare, but Hwang Jiho recommended that they keep themselves in order.

Hwang Jiho called his secretary to help prepare clothes for the couple.

Even though it was a late Christmas night, seeing the VIP longue and the luxurious items reminded me that Hwang Jiho was a chaebol.

The couple was puzzled, but they hurriedly prepared to meet Ahn Dain.

Their appearance was still skinny, but their scary impression was considerably eased by the good clothes and their faces were recalled with tension and expectations.

— Wouldn’t the child be asleep at this hour?

— If she has to come a long way, wouldn’t it be better to see her in the morning when it’s bright? Isn’t it cold tonight?

The couple only worried about Ahn Dain throughout the preparation.

They’re going to meet soon anyway, so I guess we can reveal a little bit about Ahn Dain.

As if thinking the same thing, Hwang Jiho spoke.

— That child is an Eungwang High student. She’s on campus, so we can get her here safely in no time.

The couple was relieved to hear that Ahn Dain would be safe.

And they seemed surprised that she was a student at Eungwang High.

— Our child is a student at Eungwang High… It seems that it hasn’t been long since she saw the light of this world.

— Eungwang High is Korea’s most prestigious high school. And I heard the students there are outstanding.

— Our child attends Eungwang High, and I’m sure she’s outstanding.

The tiger couple had a good grasp of Ahn Dain more than her biological parents.

As the couple speculated, Ahn Dain wasn’t short of any talent.

If there was anything that she lacked, it was family.

It was something that I couldn’t give up, both as a PMH user and a friend, no matter how hard I tried.

At most, I thought it would be nice if she formed a family with Joo Soohyuk someday.

‘I hope those two and Ahn Dain talk well.’

At the couple’s speculations about Ahn Dain and the school, Hwang Jiho, both a student and the chairman, was very satisfied.

It must be nice hearing the couple compliment Eungwang High.

— You know it well. All the students of the school of yours truly are excellent, of course. You’ll see it just from Jo Euishin.

Hwang Jiho suddenly shot at me.

If he’s looking for a model student, shouldn’t he mention the title heroine?

However, I guess it would be good to lower the couple’s excessive expectations somewhat.

— Ah, I see! We’re happy to just hear that she’s healthy, but to hear that she’s excellent and polite…

— She’s like the benefactor? Guilty parents like us do not deserve a child like that.

— The benefactor knew a lot about our child. Are they friends by any chance?

Hwang Jiho’s unnecessary example prompted a flurry of questions from the couple.

I had to wrack my mind to carefully choose a response as I endured the praises.

My awkward responses made Hwang Jiho purse his lips and hold back his laughter.

I decided to ignore it for now since there’s something important coming up.

‘Now that the two are ready, it’s time to call Ahn Dain.’

It would be enough to call her through her device and ask her to come to the Silver Hall, but it’s difficult to make her come on her own to such an important event.

I thought about making Kim Shinrok pick her up but with some reservations.

‘When they get to know Ahn Dain, they’ll know that he’s her teacher anyway. It would be better to let him pick her up now.’

I thought about picking up Ahn Dain instead, thinking that it would be difficult for the couple and Kim Shinrok to see each other.

However, before I could speak, Hwang Jiho revealed it already.

— I don’t know how you’ll react, but that child’s homeroom teacher is Kim Shinrok.

— What…? Ah… Right, that child was a teacher.

— Our child’s teacher…

— I can make Kim Shinrok pick her up since they’re in the same place.

Hwang Jiho gave the couple a choice, and it seemed like the couple wanted him to be there.

The long-running conflict will lead to a new phase.

Although there was such a will, Hwang Jiho didn’t force it and emphasized that the couple could choose otherwise.

After hearing Hwang Jiho’s words, the couple looked at each other for a while and spoke.

— If he’s the homeroom teacher, that means he’s the closest to her, correct…?

— That’s usually the case, but there are some exceptions.

— I see…

A homeroom teacher is in charge of guiding students belonging to their advisory class, so they get to spend more time with their students than other teachers.

It may still vary depending on the situation.

In Ahn Dain’s case, however, she was affectionate enough to Kim Shinrok for her to gather her classmates to fight against Yong Jegun.

If Ahn Dain is asked which teacher she’s the closest to, the answer will be Kim Shinrok without hesitation.

Though I don’t know what Kim Shinrok thinks about it.

The couple spoke after much consideration.

— Can we call that child here too…?

— Of course. I will explain the situation.

I don’t know how Hwang Jiho will relay it, but I felt sorry for Kim Shinrok.

How would he feel if the head of the clan suddenly said that the child of the couple, who went through a miscarriage in the war with the Bears, was a student in his class and that he should bring her to them?

No matter how well Hwang Jiho wrapped the story, it will be difficult.

I don’t know if Kim Shinrok will be able to come here in his right mind.

Hwang Jiho smiled as he ordered that Ahn Dain be brought in through Kim Shinrok.

That’s how the conversation about homeroom teachers and parents was created.

‘I was worried about how Ahn Dain would accept those two.’

Though, as it seems, I don’t need to worry at all.

Ahn Dain grasped it as soon as she saw the couple’s faces.

At first, common sense and reason made her hesitate, but in the end, she called the couple “Mom and Dad.”

‘I don’t know if I should be at this reunion…’

Hwang Jiho kept the couple here, but my heart was full.

I can’t believe I’m seeing Ahn Dain with her family.

‘Ahn Dain said she was longing for them. I wish I had figured it out sooner.’

Ahn Dain met the couple in PMH, but I didn’t know of it.

Unfortunately, only the garbage-like bastard knew about it.

Still, it would’ve been almost impossible to get here without that piece of garbage.

‘If the couple took off their masks in PMH, would Ahn Dain have recognized them?’

There was no way to confirm, but I didn’t feel optimistic about it.

Ahn Dain lost a lot of people she was close to and her heart had no space left, while the couple was in a state of depravity enough to hurt the innocent for their children.

Although they look alike, it would’ve been difficult to recognize each other in PMH.

“A long time ago, this child came to us and said he really wanted to play with you.”

“Professor Kim Shinrok? With me? Really?”

“Yes, he was a troublemaker who broke through the boundaries that we set up.”

After Ahn Dain’s proud introduction of Kim Shinrok, the couple revealed Kim Shinrok’s dark past.

Kim Shinrok once infiltrated their place hidden by a boundary.

The young troublemaker Kim Shinrok greeted the couple casually.

— Why do you cover your face with cotton yarn?

— You have a child? Where? Can I play with them?

The couple responded that they had great shame and couldn’t show their faces.

— But if it were me, I’d want to see my parent’s faces. So you two should show your face to your child.

Ahn Dain said she longed to see her parents’ faces as soon as she met the couple, so Kim Shinrok’s words weren’t wrong.

He understood her feelings long before they even met, and he’s really a teacher who deserves respect.

After hearing Kim Shinrok’s childhood story from the couple, Ahn Dain spoke with joy.

“Professor, you’re a descendant of the Tiger Clan, and I’m a child of tigers. We’re like family. I’m happy.”

“Ah, r-right…”

Kim Shinrok couldn’t speak properly for a while.

The color of his face changed surprisingly quickly, and I worried if he had enough blood for circulation.

Ahn Dain smiled brightly while Kim Shinrok couldn’t speak.

There were traces of tears around her eyes, but she smiled so brightly that one could be blinded if they looked at her.

“Professor Kim Shinrok, please spend more time with me and my classmates.”

“Dain-ah, Student Dain… I’m…”

Kim Shinrok was so flustered that he slipped from his usual teacher tone.

Ahn Dain was able to adapt to the situation, but Kim Shinrok couldn’t keep up.

Then, the couple spoke to Kim Shinrok.

“Spend a lot of time with our child.”

“…!”

Seeing Ahn Dain’s attitude toward Kim Shinrok, the couple also made up their mind on how to treat him.

The couple who spoke to the young Jeho who wanted to play with their child now spoke to him as Kim Shinrok, Ahn Dain’s homeroom teacher.

“And… Please continue taking care of our child, Professor Kim Shinrok.”

The couple spoke fondly to Kim Shinrok.

Kim Shinrok bit his lips as he answered “Alright.” in a crawling voice.

While Hwang Jiho suggested that Kim Shinrok take a seat, an arrow suddenly shot my way.

The couple introduced me to Ahn Dain as their benefactor, and both began to thank me.

I told them I didn’t really do anything, but words just kept flowing.

“Euishin is a friend from school. He’s helped me several times, and now…”

I didn’t know what to say.

Regardless of the process, it was Ahn Dain herself who recognized her parents.

Regardless of what I did, if Ahn Dain hadn’t recognized them, the whole thing would’ve ended very awkwardly, leaving only sadness and pain.

I didn’t do anything important, but the number of tigers calling me “benefactor” has increased again, making my head hurt.

“That phrase again. Ah, I happen to have something to say.”

Hwang Jiho interrupted me when I was about to say again that I didn’t do much.

“I’m giving you two of the treasures. I’m giving it to the benefactor of the Tiger Clan, so no tiger will oppose my decision.”

Hwang Jiho said something crazy.

The incense burner that I used to enter the underworld and the jewel that the couple held onto was pushed toward me.

Two cards on the table were in front of me.

I didn’t know how to start refuting.

Hwang Jiho looked straight at me.

“We won’t be holding onto the treasures ourselves, but we’ve gained something more valuable.”

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