Chapter 706: Mask (10)

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At the basement of the mansion covered in golden otherworld ores.

As if it were prepared in advance, the magic circle was shining finely.

“We’re just in time.”

“Looks like everyone’s here.”

“It feels refreshing today because Ok Toyeon’s not in front of me unlike then.”

“That damned rabbit won’t come. It can’t be more chaotic because Ahn Dain’s stay in the house would complicate things.”

Ok Toyeon was here the last time the 12-point alliance talks were held.

The topic at that time was about the traitor so Ok Toyeon was physically present, but it seems like the process will be different this time.

‘As Hwang Jiho said, too many people in the house would complicate things. That’s why I didn’t want to come if possible.’

Still, I couldn’t afford to be absent.

It’s become difficult to rely on my existing knowledge because a lot of development has deviated from PMH’s storyline.

What I need now is new information.

There are still heads that I haven’t met in person so I wanted to be present in the meeting.

“Let’s get started. Step back from the magic circle.”

Ddak! Fwaaa…!

Hwang Jiho snapped and the circle began to move.

The force and pattern flowed and the circle was transformed into partitions of twelve.

Above each area were characters indicating the twelve clans.

Hwang Jiho, who stood in the area of the “Tiger,” had his hair dyed gold.

“The meeting will begin.”

Fwaaaa!

An eye-popping golden hue covered our vision.

As the light faded, shadows rose in ten of the twelve areas.

Except for Hwang Jiho and the ten shadows, one spot was empty.

Words began to appear soon enough.

Rat Clan [This Kkeodori received the Best Designer of the Year Award]

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim]

Rabbit Clan [DMR]

Dragon Clan [Respected By Nephew, Full-Level Cheongryong]

Snake Clan [Finished Shedding LOL]

Horse Clan [More-Sensitive-Than-Usual Heukma]

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare]

Monkey Clan [Strongest in the Universe, Jecheondaesung]

Rooster Clan [Chicken That Will Fly From Mt. Gyeryong]

Dog Clan [My Dog Fur is Expensive]

Pig Clan [Serves Northern Europe’s Most Handsome – The Golden Wild Boar]

The names were all over the place, but some were unchanged from the previous meeting.

I expected this, but I fell speechless when I actually saw it.

Only Hwang Jiho and Jecheondaesung’s names were unchanged, but those two actually looked most normal.

Looking at the names with disdain, Hwang Jiho spoke.

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “We have confirmed the attendance of all leaders of the alliance except for the Sheep Clan. This meeting is called to order.”

Rat Clan [This Kkeodori received the Best Designer of the Year Award] “Why aren’t you answering me, Hwangho? Can you stop leaving me on read?”

Seodol replied at a horrifying speed after Hwang Jiho’s first sentence.

Hwang Jiho didn’t reply to Seodol last I saw their conversation, and it seems like he didn’t respond until the end.

Hwang Jiho ignored Seodol, and instead, the other heads reacted.

Horse Clan [More-Sensitive-Than-Usual Heukma] “Can you stop using formal language?”

Snake Clan [Finished Shedding LOL] “Yeah, it’s giving an ominous feeling from the start. Annoying.”

Dog Clan [My Dog Fur is Expensive] “Kkeodori’s nickname is annoying.”

Rooster Clan [Chicken That Will Fly From Mt. Gyeryong] “You’re in no position to say that.”

True.

Seodol’s nickname is lacking, but there were more than one or two nicknames that seemed to be formidable.

Seodol didn’t seem to care much about the other leaders’ words though.

Rat Clan [This Kkeodori received the Best Designer of the Year Award] “It’s a choice to appeal to my ambassador candidate! I’m a wise mouse who can proudly show off my prize.”

Ah…

Is he still thinking about making me an ambassador?

He seems to have expected me to appear here with Hwang Jiho.

I wonder if he’ll lamely ask me again.

I deeply understood Hong Gyubin and Kwon Jein who must’ve had enough of this rat.

Rat Clan [This Kkeodori received the Best Designer of the Year Award] “You see my nickname, right? I’m a famous and competent designer.”

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “Who asked? So what hahaha… Wait, why is my name like this!”

(T/N: DMR = Damned Moon Rabbit)

Ok Toyeon screamed as she had just seen her conversation name.

I was wondering about it too, and it seems like she wasn’t the one who set it.

Seeing Hwang Jiho smile with satisfaction, he seems to be the culprit.

Maybe Ok Toyeon didn’t reveal the relationship between the watchman and the descendants easily for Hwang Jiho to do this.

It was very childish considering that he’s supposed to be a reputable head of the 12-point alliance.

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “I wrote a cute conversation name though. What’s wrong with you ㅠㅠ”

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “You’re only finding out now? What a silly rabbit.”

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “Hwangho, did you do this? What the!”

Pig Clan [Serves Northern Europe’s Most Handsome – The Golden Wild Boar] “Wow… he intervened beyond the magic. How incredible! It’s not a usual power.”

Ok Toyeon demanded to return it, but Hwang Jiho didn’t even pretend to listen.

Meanwhile, the other heads were guessing what “DMR” meant.

Rooster Clan [Chicken That Will Fly From Mt. Gyeryong] “Sashimi, Chicken, Jaw, Honey.”

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare] “Dog Model Room.”

Monkey Clan [Strongest in the Universe, Jecheondaesung] “Match.”

Dog Clan [My Dog Fur is Expensive] “I throw up everything”

Snake Clan [Finished Shedding LOL] “Damned Moon Rabbit”

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “Ughhhhh”

The meeting started like a grain of sand.

Perhaps the leaders already knew it but feigned ignorance on purpose.

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “Everyone got more stupid in a year!”

Rooster Clan [Chicken That Will Fly From Mt. Gyeryong] “Right back at you, DMR.”

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “We’re not even in the same place this time, why am I caught up like this!”

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “There’s no way you can stop yours truly’s interference with the magic circle. Besides, did you forget who restored the circle in your territory?”

It was quite a long time ago that Hwang Jiho went to help the Rabbit Clan.

I guess he’s been trying to play this childish prank since then.

Ok Toyeon grumbled and sighed after the moment of realization.

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “Gah, you always choose the worst nicknames! You didn’t even put spaces!”

Rat Clan [This Kkeodori received the Best Designer of the Year Award] “That’s true. Hwangho has been treating me badly in the past, but he’s lost his sincerity these days. I wonder where he learned that.

The tigers looked at me when Seodol talked about Hwang Jiho.

Are they saying that Hwang Jiho got it from me?

Horse Clan [More-Sensitive-Than-Usual Heukma] “Sincerity huh… Yeah, he used the same name as the last meeting. Like the other one.”

Monkey Clan [Strongest in the Universe, Jecheondaesung] “Because I’m still the strongest in the universe!”

Jecheondaesung refuted, obviously liking his nickname.

The lowly conversation was ended by an unexpected leader.

Dragon Clan [Respected By Nephew, Full-Level Cheongryong] “Enough with the small talk. It’s a waste of time.”

Cheongryong, who had been reticent, spoke.

But his nickname…

Well, since he’s made a brotherly relationship with Yeom Bangyeol, he must consider Yeom Junyeol his nephew.

Dragon Clan [Respected By Nephew, Full-Level Cheongryong] “I’m very worried about my nephew’s vacation. Stop wasting time on nonsense.”

It turns out that it wasn’t really a serious matter.

Did Cheongrong make plans with Yeom Junyeol this vacation?

Cheongryong is busy with the issue with the Dragon King’s shaman so his schedule should be quite tight.

That means he has less time to spend with Yeom Junyeol.

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “This body is busy too.”

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “It must be nice having alter egos that could play even while you’re on a meeting, Hwangho!”

Monkey Clan [Strongest in the Universe, Jecheondaesung] “When it comes to alter egos, I’m the strongest.”

Horse Clan [More-Sensitive-Than-Usual Heukma] “Send one of your powerful alter egos to clean you every day.”

Monkey Clan [Strongest in the Universe, Jecheondaesung] “I don’t know if you’re complimenting me or picking a fight. If it’s a fight, I’ll take you on.”

Dog Clan [My Dog Fur is Expensive] “Fight! Fight!”

Hwang Jiho scolded that chaotic meeting place.

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “Enough!”

Hwang Jiho’s loud shout was accompanied by magic which covered the circle.

Then, the heads stopped for a moment.

It had the same effect as in the past.

This time though, Hwang Jiho’s contribution to the chaos was large.

In any case, Hwang Jiho got to the point when the room became quiet.

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “You all must know why we’re gathered today.”

Rat Clan [This Kkeodori received the Best Designer of the Year Award] “Of course.”

Dog Clan [My Dog Fur is Expensive] “It’s impossible that any leader forgot about the traitor.”

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare] “…Hm.”

Judging from the Sheep Clan’s reaction, they seem to have forgotten.

Snake Clan [Finished Shedding] “Even if they forgot, isn’t it obvious from the empty spot and new recruit today?”

Rooster Clan [Chicken That Will Fly From Mt. Gyeryong] “There’s a new recruit, so why don’t we introduce him?”

The vacant spot was Uma’s, the head of the Cow Clan.

The new recruit was attending instead of Jogangryeob, Gullinbursti.

It’s his first attendance so perhaps he wants to show off that he serves a handsome superior being.

Pig Clan [Serves Northern Europe’s Most Handsome – The Golden Wild Boar] “I am Gullinbursti, the temporary head of the Pig Clan.”

Monkey Clan [Strongest in the Universe, Jecheondaesung] “…Temporary, huh.”

Pig Clan [Serves Northern Europe’s Most Handsome – The Golden Wild Boar] “There are almost no pigs who weren’t caught or participated in the previous incident. There are only three or four who didn’t participate or haven’t been in contact. I’m not officially appointed, so it’s only temporary.”

Gullinbursti explained the situation in a friendly tone.

His nickname wasn’t the best, but he seemed more mature than the other heads.

Horse Clan [More-Sensitive-Than-Usual Heukma] “Then what about the absent Cow Clan?”

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “I will explain that one.”

Hwang Jiho answered Heukma.

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “The Cow Clan is fighting over the position of the new leader. The Cow Clan’s spot will remain vacant until that is over.”

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