EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school - Chapter 829

After the most delightful walk with my angel, we arrived at the tiger mansion.

I stood in front of the gate and wondered if it was okay for me to join Kim Shinrok’s birthday party, but my thoughts stopped when Baekho-gun passed by me as he was led inside by the angel.

He let out a short “Woof!” and I only returned to my senses when we already arrived at the main building.

The distance felt so short that I wondered if the angel used some genius teleportation skill on us.

“Welcome. How do you feel? Hmm, you look alright.”

Hwang Jiho had the sleeves of his uniform shirt rolled up and was wearing a half apron.

I didn’t answer his question, but Hwang Jiho observed me and then turned his back.

“Take a seat. Kim Shinrok hasn’t arrived yet. Let’s set everything, quickly.”

“Hwangho, I checked the amount of food again. Are there enough dried persimmons?”

“Hahaha! Of course. There’s enough food, not only for your son but also Baekho. You don’t have to worry.”

Baekho’s eyes narrowed as he listened, while the other two tigers paid him no mind.

The sweet scent coming from Hwang Jiho looks like there’s going to be a dried persimmon party to celebrate Kim Shinrok’s birthday.

‘If they wanted to celebrate this much, they should’ve taken care of him last year too.’

Considering Kim Shinrok and Jeokho’s relationship around this time last year, a birthday party was out of the question.

It’s doubtful if he would even agree to look at Jeokho’s face.

Last year on Parents’ Day, Kim Shinrok heard that Eunho’s descendants made paper carnations.

I don’t know if he made one himself though.

“Phew, it’s done!”

“We can give it before the birthday party.”

“Don’t you think we did better than last year?”

In a corner of the living room, Eunho’s descendants were making carnations.

Unlike last year, the carnations were made from felt.

‘It’s still a little sloppy.’

The descendants worked hard to make them, but I’m not sure about the quality.

If I hadn’t known they were making carnations, it would’ve been difficult to decipher what they were trying to create.

Still, the color combination made it look like carnations.

If the dexterous Eunho had helped, the results would’ve been very different, but the ones made by the descendants weren’t that bad because their individuality and sincerity showed.

“Have you finished everything?”

“Yes! Hwangho-nim, Baekho-nim, please accept these flowers!”

“Here’s one for you too, Euishin hyung!”

Just like last year, isn’t it a bit weird for me to receive flowers from the descendants on Parents’ Day?

I thought so, but when the angel appeared with a felt carnation in his mouth, all I could say was gratitude and praise.

“This one’s for Sanryeong!”

“Me?”

While the tigers were receiving the flowers, Sanryeong, who had been fiddling with a block toy, jumped up from his seat.

I guess he pretended not to be interested but really wanted to receive one.

The flower-giving session ended simply.

‘They said it’s the descendants’ suggestion.’

Today is the first time Kim Shinrok would celebrate his birthday at the mansion.

The descendants said they wanted the main event to be Kim Shinrok’s birthday party instead of the little flower-giving ceremony.

It ended quickly, but there was one tiger that didn’t receive a flower.

‘Jeokho said he’d take the flowers offered by the descendants later.’

It’s obvious who Jeokho wanted to receive a carnation from.

Finally, the person Jeokho had been waiting for finally appeared.

“Hello, I’m here to drop off Professor Kim Shinrok.”

“…Hello.”

Unlike the smiling Ahn Dain, Kim Shinrok had a withered face.

It seems like Class 2-1 successfully held their birthday party for him too.

“It looks like you had a good time. Do you want to stay for a bit?”

“That would be nice, but thank you. I’d feel sorry to take up more of your time on this great day. My parents are waiting for me too.”

Ahn Dain politely declined Hwang Jiho’s offer.

Her words made me admire her warm heart as she took care of both her teacher and her parents on this special day.

When Ahn Dain was about to leave through the door…

“Hi, I’m here too. Thanks for the invite.”

Yong Jegun, who had been finding the right timing, suddenly appeared.

Seeing that he was intentionally stifling his presence, it seemed like he wanted to surprise the celebrant.

Ahn Dain and Kim Shinrok were shocked as they had no idea Yong Jegun was that close to them.

Yong Jegun looked satisfied by their reaction.

‘I guess it’s a bit weird not to invite his only friend to his birthday party.’

Even if he pulls useless pranks like that.

Ahn Dain smiled faintly at the immature Yong Jegun before leaving.

The heroine looked much more mature than the professor.

Perhaps having the same thoughts as me, Kim Shinrok looked at Yong Jegun with pity.

Pop!

Party poppers and small fireworks exploded everywhere when Kim Shinrok entered the living room.

The specially-made items made a silky red light spread and the words “Happy Birthday” appeared.

The ones who set off the fireworks were the descendants, Sanryeong, and Baekho-gun.

“Happy birthday, son!”

Jeokho, with his back to the red light, shouted his greetings as he held a dried persimmon cake.

Kim Shinrok was in a daze as if he hadn’t expected it at all.

‘He was at a birthday party earlier, how come he didn’t expect this?’

Not only did the tigers make Kim Shinrok come over today, but Yong Jegun appeared and mentioned something about an invitation.

Everyone openly hinted that there would be a birthday party.

In any case, that was Kim Shinrok’s reaction.

I really felt like he had no idea.

“…Thank you.”

In a daze, Kim Shinrok found it difficult to speak.

His face was contorted and I couldn’t tell if he wanted to cry or laugh.

Fortunately, he came to his senses and composed himself when he made eye contact with the grinning Yong Jegun.

“You must still be full, you just had a meal with your students. You don’t have to eat everything.”

“No, it’s alright.”

Kim Shinrok didn’t refuse the birthday table prepared by the tigers.

“Thank you for the food.”

Kim Shinrok tried everything, including the seaweed soup.

Although he didn’t eat much because he was full, the tigers who prepared the meal were satisfied.

Baekho-gun looked a little distressed at the amount of dried persimmons on the table, but other than that, the meal was enjoyable.

“Son, I got you a birthday present.”

After finishing the meal, Jeokho handed over the birthday gift he had prepared.

The box, beautifully wrapped in red, was large enough to be held in one hand.

Flustered, Kim Shinrok couldn’t receive it right away.

“A gift… Even just a greeting for me is already…”

“I prepared it for you. It’s alright if you don’t accept, I’d just dispose of it.”

I’m sure he’d kneel on the spot to make him take it.

Fortunately, Yong Jegun intervened before that happened.

“Shinrok-ah, if you don’t take it, can I have it instead? I’m curious what kind of gift Jeokho-ssi wanted to give you.”

“I’ll take it.”

As his one and only close friend, Yong Jegun had an extraordinary skill in making Kim Shinrok do things.

Persuaded in an instant, Kim Shinrok received Jeokho’s gift.

‘Jeokho took it well.’

If it were in the past, he would say something like “Why are you trying to steal my son’s gift? Don’t ruin this good day and get out of here.”

But he’s generous and let it pass.

He seemed grateful that he had led his son to accept the gift obediently.

At Jeokho’s request, Kim Shinrok opened the gift on the spot.

It was a fountain pen carved from ruby with red ink.

The word “Jeho (緹虎)” was carved on it.

“…I’ll use it well. Thank you.”

Kim Shinrok opened the case and looked at it for a while as if he really liked it.

Hwang Jiho, who was happily looking at the scene, intervened.

“Jeokho prepared more than one gift, Kim Shinrok.”

“What?”

“Though I think you’re already using the other gift at Eunyeonggwan well already. Isn’t that right, Jeokho?”

Eunyeonggwan is at the Light Skill Research Center 4, located in the school’s research district.

That is Jeokho’s space, and I heard a part of it was given to Kim Shinrok.

Hwang Jiho’s words make it seem like Jeokho will present all the gifts he prepared that he couldn’t give before.

“Don’t tell me the phrases there are…”

Kim Shinrok must’ve thought that they were mere fixtures as he hastily apologized.

“I-I’m sorry. I failed to thank you even once…”

“Why do you apologize son? You don’t have to thank me. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to properly greet you on your birthdays.”

Kim Shinrok became even more at a loss when Jeokho spoke kindly.

The time passed quickly as we chatted and the sunset before we knew it.

I was thinking of excusing myself to head back to the dormitory when Yong Jegun stood to leave for home.

“Shinrok-ah, aren’t you gonna give that to Jeokho-ssi? You worked hard to make that. Looking at the other tigers, it looks like only Jeokho-ssi doesn’t have one.”

Yong Jegun’s voice was sly.

He’s probably talking about a carnation.

I could see that Kim Shinrok was still worried.

Yong Jegun must’ve wanted to see him give it personally before he left.

“…Here’s a carnation.”

Kim Shinrok took out a carnation from his arms.

It was made of felt and was made so delicately and elaborately that it looked like a real flower.

The descendants burst into cheers when they saw it.

How much effort does it take to make something like that?

I thought Kim Shinrok would swipe at Yong Jegun before handing the carnation, but he just ignored him.

‘Why’d he hesitate if it made him this happy?’

It warmed my heart to see Jeokho and his son happy after exchanging gifts.

While I was momentarily distracted by the heartwarming scene, Yong Jegun already left, leaving me and Kim Shinrok at the mansion.

‘I feel sorry for staying the night suddenly, but it would be nice to talk tomorrow.’

I decided to rest today considering it was Kim Shinrok’s birthday and Parents’ Day, but I can’t afford to rest tomorrow anymore.

I went to my designated guest room and opened my device to check my schedule for tomorrow when I saw a message in my inbox.

[Maeng Hyodon] Thanks for today.

[Maeng Hyodon] I ran into Joo Soohyuk and we talked about you.

Was Joo Soohyuk worried about me?

I asked what they talked about, but Maeng Hyodon just said “I didn’t say much.”

The shock from this week’s events made me worry that the stone head might have cracked.

* * *

The next Monday.

I didn’t make any plans with the dormitory kids, but we ran into each other on the way and ended up going to school together.

Although they didn’t say it, everyone seemed to be worried about Maeng Hyodon.

‘We came early but the classroom’s already buzzing.’

All the kids in Class 2-0 went to school early.

One of the reasons must be Maeng Hyodon, but the other reason was probably because of the big event this week.

“How about this, Miro-yah? I think the kids in the daycare can make stencil decorations.”

“I think it will take a long time to make a design. Is that okay? I can’t reduce my practice time these days…”

“Should I make the stencil?”

Kim Yuri, Dokgo Miro, and Min Geurin were huddled around a hologram, the search bar displaying “Teachers’ Day Event Ideas”

Teachers’ Day is approaching.