Chapter 727: Countdown (8)

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The item gifted by Hwang Jiho can temporarily develop a boundary.

With this type of energy wave consumable item card, one can use an ability that can prevent enemy attacks despite not having a defensive skill as powerful as it is.

It looks like a fraudulent item card at first, but not many players have this type of card.

‘There are some players who specialize in using item cards, but they’re rare talents.’

Among the people I met in this world, only Hong Gyubin has something related.

Fighting with consumable item cards is usually inefficient compared to using energy waves, so only a few players can do it well.

For example, Maeng Hyodon can fight more efficiently by using his fighting skills rather than item cards even against enemies who are weak to them.

Considering several factors, a player should use their energy waves and light skill rather than rely on cards.

‘But at Kwon Lena’s current level, it’s better for her to use item cards than to fight hand-on-hand.’

Assuming that she’d encounter an enemy as strong as a demon priest, it would be safer for her to develop a boundary and flee rather than to fight.

Hwang Jiho gave a good gift, but I was worried that Kwon Lena would decline because of the card’s high rarity.

I just hoped that Hwang Jiho would show his years of experience and hand over the gift well.

Although Kwon Lena hesitated, she accepted the gift faster than expected.

“Thanks… I thought about what I should do if a similar situation came again.”

My head ached when Kwon Lena smiled while receiving the card.

She decided to take it so she could save her friends in case of another crisis.

How did such a nice kid come to play the villain in PMH?

‘Based on PMH’s timeline, Kwon Lena will turn into a villain this year.’

Kwon Lena’s environment has changed significantly, so the developments in PMH are unlikely to happen.

Instead of being with her adoptive parents, she became a dorm student and met her teacher and true family, Kwon Jein.

‘When will Kwon Jein reveal their familial relationship? I guess the Oath of the Three Knights is making it difficult to reveal now.’

If the secret of Kwon Lena’s birth is revealed, she will be targeted by the OTK.

Just spreading secrets can shake Kwon Lena’s mind, and they’d surely take her hostage.

I wondered if they would do that to the high school student Kwno Lena, but the OTK is a shameless team that attempted to assassinate Mok Wooram.

“You made it yourself? You must have boundary skills similar to the chairman.”

“So Jiho’s good at not just Taehokwon and staff. Did you get help from the chairman?”

“Hahaha! You could say that.”

After hearing the conversation between Saeum of April and Dokgo Miro, Hwang Jiho laughed and commented.

Hwang Jiho is the chairman, so they’re not technically wrong.

Goo Seulbi, Ong Gildong, and Jin Jungmok observed Hwang Jiho with serious expressions and exchanged glances with each other.

Perhaps they doubted Hwang Jiho’s identity, but it didn’t last long.

“Hahaha! Now, this body will put scribbles. Come on.”

Hwang Jiho gathered the kids and held a water-based pen, disrupting the concentration of the three newcomers.

Except for Kwon Lena, who had the right to be exempted from penalty, the Cake Faction looked jaded.

Hwang Jiho scribbled on their faces with a good laugh.

He sometimes wrote phrases and small doodles, but Min Geurin praised the tiger that Hwang Jiho drew on Hani’s face with a blue pen.

‘He drew it well.’

Even though Min Geurin openly praised Hwang Jiho, Song Daesko just let it pass.

Just before being scribbled, Saeum of April said “I don’t like chickens!”

Hwang Jiho then stopped and thought again as if he was really thinking of drawing a chicken at first.

Instead, he drew a croak.

“It’s not a chicken but… I think it’s better than a chicken…”

“Hahahaha!”

Looking at the old man’s smile and the doodles on my classmates’ faces, it was worth thinking hard about the gift.

After that, Hwang Jiho suddenly talked to me.

“What a shame, Jo Euishin. If you had gotten it wrong, I would’ve drawn something that would suit you.”

And what on earth is that?

A chess piece or a crow came to mind, but I remembered Hwang Jiho trying to dress me up as a tiger last time.

Anyway, I got it right so Hwang Jiho won’t be able to scribble a tiger on my face.

I’m glad I got the answer right.

Kwon Lena drew lots to select the next person.

When she flipped the panel with the selected number, Mok Wooram’s name came out.

“Next is Wooram’s turn. Are you ready?”

When the host Kim Yuri called, Mok Wooram hesitated before stepping forward.

The kids who knew about him, especially those who knew about his recent activity, didn’t bother asking and immediately wrote their answers.

They must think that it’s an energy violin.

‘It’s likely an energy violin, but Mok Wooram still seemed hesitant.’

Our classmates asked questions related to instruments.

However, Mok Wooram’s answers made it seem like it wasn’t.

When asked whether he made it…

“No. I did not make this present.”

“Oh?”

“What?”

The kids who knew that Mok Wooram was locked in his workshop and immersed in making the violin expressed their doubts.

Min Geurin in particular, who helped with the violin’s design, looked dissatisfied.

“This is the gift that I prepared.”

Mok Wooram’s gifts were Kwon Lena’s favorite snacks.

Several limited edition items had to be reserved too.

They were within the guidelines for the cost, and although they don’t lack sincerity, there seemed to be a gift that Mok Woram really wanted to give.

‘Is it not finished yet? I don’t think so… When is he going to give it?’

Kwon Lena happily accepted the gift, but I was doubtful.

At the end of it, we all cleaned up together.

The Lake of Eternity said we could leave it to them and go home, but we decided to help with what we could.

Cleaning up a whole party isn’t easy after all.

“Vice President, I heard the table has to be kept in the warehouse downstairs. Could you help?”

When Ong Gildong gracefully beckoned and asked in a unique exaggerated tone, I took the stand and endured the cringe in my hands.

Ong Gildong is a good child, but it’s regrettable that he got immersed in whatever thief-ness he’s now indulged in, so cringe is built into his daily life.

‘Is this the warehouse? Looks more like a showroom.’

The storage room for musical instruments and stage equipment was very spacious.

A small sofa was in the room, perhaps in consideration of people looking around the room.

Indeed, the warehouse of a player-performer team is on a different level.

While I was looking at the organized designs and colors…

Click.

The warehouse door closed with a small sound.

Considering that I hadn’t felt anything, it seemed that someone intentionally stifled their presence and approached me.

I looked around, but I couldn’t see anyone.

They must be hiding between the instruments.

‘They made the door closing sound on purpose. The opponent has no ill intent. They won’t do anything nonsense in the Lake of Eternity’s team building.’

Then, a countdown began.

“…Three, two, one.”

“Zero!”

Pop!

Ong Gilding and Goo Seilbi appeared through aurora-colored flames.

The two of them were dressed in strange clothes.

No, it’s weird, but I’ve seen them in that outfit.

‘They wore that during the Fomorian auction.’

Ong Gildong was wearing a swan mask and the bullfight costume, and Goo Seulbi was wearing an oak mask and a cape.

What changed from then on was Goo Seulbi’s mask which became more sophisticated with the added aurora-colored beards.

Seeing that, I knew what was going to happen next.

“VP, you’re the Red Wall Thief, aren’t you?”

My head was dazed by Goo Seulbi’s words.

I was expecting it, but the attack from that word made me feel complicated.

“As a fellow thief, I really wanted to see you again, Red Wall Thief!”

Ah…

Eunho only recently stopped calling me that too…

Now I’m going to hear it from a self-proclaimed thief.

***

Eungwang High’s landscape area, Eunryeonggwan.

Under the ceiling of the star-studded sky that he made, Kim Shinrok was surrounded by Baekho’s Shadow Tiger and White Fang, eventually surrendering.

“Your evasion skills improved.”

“…Thank you.”

Kim Shinrok was in a mess.

As Baekho said, his evasion skills have improved, but it wasn’t paying off at all.

It’s been a few days since he accepted Jo Euishin’s proposal and started training, but Kim Shinrok still can’t fight against the Tiger Clan.

‘I shouldn’t be training to evade and run away though!’

Kim Shinrok became more nervous when he thought of Jeokho standing behind him silently.

His guilt grew at the thought that Baekho and Jeokho were wasting time because of him.

The reason why Kim Shinrok struggled wasn’t simply because he’s a descendant.

It’s largely due to his failure to deal with his light skill properly.

‘I can’t use my light skill even if I’m in a crisis…’

Kim Shinrok’s light skill is similar to Yeom Junyeol’s Summoning Hongryong.

He could summon a tiger or a bear, but he hasn’t used it for a long time.

He’s indebted to be born as a descendant of the Tiger Clan, but it was difficult to summon a tiger and a bear because he was born a descendant of the Bear Clan as well.

“Can’t you use your light skill?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t ask for an apology.”

After Baekho’s words, the White Fang and the Shadow Tiger disappeared.

“Training with me won’t help.”

“N-no! I’m not saying that you’re not helpful, Baekho-nim…”

When Kim Shinrok hesitated in panic, Jeokho spoke up.

“Do you mean you won’t train with my son, Baekho?”

“For now.”

Baekho stared at Kim Shinrok with cold eyes.

Kim Shinrok had kept trying to use his light skill, but regardless of Baekho’s presence, he couldn’t summon either a bear or a tiger.

The forced attempt to use his light skill consumed energy waves, physical strength, and mental strength.

Baekho, who was checking Kim Shinrok’s condition, said,

“It’s best to ask for help from someone who uses a similar light skill.”

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