EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school - Chapter 837 - Side (2)

At a Korean restaurant near Tanrae Middle School, Maeng Hyodon and Tak Geosan met with Hyodon’s former teacher.

Maeng Hyodon exchanged messages and talked on the phone with his previous teacher a few times, but it has been a year since they met in person.

It wouldn’t be strange for the air to be awkward or for empty words to be exchanged, but the middle school teacher still treated him warmly.

The skinny teacher pushed a bowl of grilled bulgogi toward Maeng Hyodon, saying that he has to eat well to grow bigger.

Hesitant and unable to speak properly, Maeng Hyodon chose to narrate how much he eats in Eungwang High to get his teacher to eat more instead.

“Alright, alright. You eat food in the dormitory in the morning and then share snacks with your friends?”

“Uhm… well… our class president often makes snacks so…”

The middle school teacher was happy to hear that Maeng Hyodon was eating well, but the news of him eating with friends brought her to the brink of tears.

Maeng Hyodon was an outcast in middle school because of his poor family background, his shabby clothes, and his small build which made people look down on him.

The middle school teacher tried hard to narrow the gap between Maeng Hyodon and his peers, but it ended in failure.

Coincidentally, Maeng Hyodon was classmates with the child of the president of Tanrae Middle School’s parents’ association.

The president told their child about Maeng Hyodon’s family history and warned not to be friends with him, and the child spread the word to all their classmates.

That’s how Maeng Hyodon ended up alone all the time.

Cautiously, the middle school teacher asked,

“So, how are the friends who came with you last time? Ah, I’ve seen a couple of them in the news a few times.”

“Our class vice president said he was busy today… I didn’t ask Joo Soohyuk, but come to think of it, he asked me what I was up to today… Oh, the kid who teaches me math is our class vice president.”

Although Maeng Hyodon’s words went in circles, the teacher still felt his closeness to the two people he mentioned.

The topic switched to Maeng Hyodon’s hurdles in his math class.

The teacher knew well how Maeng Hyodon’s mind worked, and they were very moved after hearing his journey.

“That course is difficult even for kids who are good at math! You really worked hard…”

“My student put in a lot of effort. I was worried that his head might split open.”

 Even Tak Geosan who had been listening silently had a lot to say about Maeng Hyodon studying math.

Maeng Hyodon swallowed his embarrassment as he bit into the ginseng braised beef ribs.

Being praised for his efforts made him flustered.

As a plum hwachae was served for dessert, the teacher brought up something unrelated to Maeng Hyodon with a worried face.

“I have something to consult…”

“Go ahead.”

Tak Geosan enthusiastically replied.

He knew Maeng Hyodon’s experiences in middle school and the fact that without this teacher, he wouldn’t have been able to attend Eungwang High.

That’s why he planned to help as much as he could, no matter how heavy the request was.

“…I think another student from Tanrae Middle School will attend Eungwang High this year.”

Maeng Hyodon thought about it.

If the kid would go to Eungwang High this year, that means Maeng Hyodon is older than them by two years.

The kid would’ve been a freshman middle school student when he was in his third year.

‘At our school? Was there any other player at that time?’

Tanrae Middle School wasn’t exactly home to a lot of players.

Maeng Hyodon was the only one, and if there had been another, people would’ve known about it.

‘If there was another player in our school, they would’ve compared them to me the same way they compared all the sporty kids. There’s no way I wouldn’t have known if I had a junior who’s worthy of going to Eungwang High.’

Maeng Hyodon couldn’t think of one.

Perhaps the student was a transferee, but Maeng Hyodon couldn’t think of that.

As Maeng Hyodon shoved some dessert into his mouth to cool his heated head, Tak Geosan said,

“Hoho, my student will have another junior. Can I watch that kid fight once?”

Tak Geosan guessed the teacher’s intentions and spoke in a way that made talking easier.

Anyone who mentions a talented child to Maeng Hyodon, a legend in bare-handed combat, is most likely asking for his instruction.

He doesn’t really care about school ties, but he is willing to do what the middle school teacher asks.

However, seeing the teacher’s unnatural smile as they said “As much as you wish,” it seemed like Tak Geosan guessed wrong.

The teacher spoke again.

“The student just started manifesting special abilities this year.”

Hearing those words, Tak Geosan’s eyes opened wide.

“The kid manifested special abilities in the third year of middle school? Is the kid good enough to be in Eungwang High?”

“Yes, they weren’t a player until last year. But I’m sure about their skills. I learned about the Youth Special Abilities Test when Maeng Hyodon was preparing for the Eungwang High entrance exam…”

It didn’t seem like the teacher was lying or exaggerating.

The teacher continued to talk about the student’s talent and physical abilities, and the more they listened, the more it seemed like the kid was worthy of attending Eungwang High.

Maeng Hyodon didn’t know what those numbers meant, but he guessed based on Tak Geosan’s reaction.

‘Is it possible for someone to develop abilities during the third year of middle school?’

He vaguely remembered learning from the common player theory course that the abilities manifest at different times for every individual.

Maeng Hyodon gave up trying to think of related theories and just listened to the story.

“But there’s something strange. When I used the energy wave testing kit on that kid…”

Hwik!

Tak Geosan and Maeng Hyodon jumped from their seats and moved like the wind before the teacher finished speaking.

Maeng Hyodon immediately went between the space between the door and the teacher, while Maeng Hyodon positioned himself closer to the door.

The teacher was in surprise at the two who almost looked like they teleported.

Tak Geosan quietly raised his hand and opened the sliding door covered with Korean paper.

Slide…

He opened the door and saw no one there.

The restaurant looked the same as when they first entered, but there were no customers or employees in sight.

Maeng Hyodon wordlessly took out a protective gear item card, materialized it, and put it on.

Tak Geosan spoke softly.

“We’re sieged.”

A siege?

But no one was around.

The teacher, thinking it was strange, looked towards the front door of the restaurant.

Looking outside through the glass door, the teacher also noticed something unusual.

The sun had not set yet, but it was pitch black.

* * *

Afternoon, at the central district of Eungwang High.

Two adult men in suits walked through the school grounds holding a bouquet of carnations.

People would’ve thought it strange if they walked around Eungwang High at this time on a weekday, but today was Saturday and there weren’t many people around.

Sung Gukeon said,

“15 years ago, no, 16 years ago now. Do you remember what happened then? We held a silent protest right here.”

“Of course.”

Sung Gukeon turned his head and looked at the old school building.

Students who participated in the movement to oust the housemaster used to hold strategy meetings where there were no recording devices, either outside the school or in the old building.

He smiled when he thought about the faces of his peers who were pumped up talking about plans to oust the housemaster, but he still felt sick to his stomach when he thought of the people who cried and begged for help at their abuse.

“The housemaster poisoned the student association executives so they went to an otherworld to get an antidote, right?”

“Yes. At that time, everyone had to move cautiously because the family history of the senior student association secretary was perceived as a weakness. I remember I wasn’t allowed to participate in the raid.”

“No one would’ve been injured if you were there.”

“I can’t necessarily agree.”

Jeon Muyeong was a freshman in his first semester at that time, so he needed permission from his homeroom teacher and the chairman of the board to participate in raids.

Jeon Muyeong’s homeroom teacher seemed to be planning to allow him, but Ham Geunhyung fervently opposed and convinced the teacher as well.

Ham Geunhyung offered to accompany them instead, but since Sung Gukeon didn’t trust him, he refused.

There was only one teacher in Eungwang High that Sung Gukeon trusted.

“Professor Ham Geunhyung was a boomer back then.”

“You could say he’s still one.”

Sung Gukeon and Jeon Mueyong, who were walking as they talked, stopped at the exact moment as if it were coordinated.

There was an analog-type bulletin board in front of them, with paper handouts attached to it.

These were things that did not appear in the Replay.

“Ah…”

Jeon Muyeong let out an exclamation that seemed to block his throat as his eyes turned red.

Sung Gukeon pretended not to notice.

“Muyeong-ah, don’t you have someone to give carnations to?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“The teacher didn’t come to work today, so let’s leave it in the sophomore faculty’s office.”

“…Understood. I’ll be back, sir.”

Jeon Muyeong went to drop off the carnations.

Since the teacher who he wants to give carnations is hiding his identity, he had to keep holding his own bouquet.

After a while, an empty-handed man appeared.

“I guess I’ll just have to go. The professor would hate for his student to waste his time.”

“…”

Sung Gukeon took the lead and headed toward the parking lot, the bouquet of carnations still in his hand.

Now it was time to leave school.

* * *

In the darkness, Docheol, the one with the curved horn, was watching over Eungwang High.

He wasn’t using his own power nor the ‘Eye’ of the proud Demon Race but through Hondon’s senses.

Through the Jin, he briefly connected Hondon’s senses to his eyes.

The Four Perils boasts Hondon as one of great senses, and the surrounding area of Eungwang High was clearly visible.

“Sung Gukeon is moving. His secretary is also there.”

Sung Gukeon’s air sedan took off and moved along the route they expected.

The people around him were cleared out, so all there was to do was activate the trap and swallow Sung Gukeon.

But that person instructed him to do one thing before activating the trap.

‘Use Unsa’s power to check the surroundings before swallowing them. If you find that, we have a change of plans.’

One of Docheol’s hands was on Hondon.

Using his free hand, he placed it on the surface of the furnace where Unsa was sealed.

The heat burned his palms, but Doceol’s skin wasn’t damaged.

Hwaaak!

The unlit brazier caught fire and lit the surroundings.

When Docheol released energy waves into it, the flames burned dizzyingly as if Unsa was resisting.

But no matter what Unsa did, it wouldn’t change the outcome.

Unsa’s power will be sucked out through the furnace either way.

As Unsa’s power was added to Hondon’s senses, his vision became hazy as if there were clouds.

His vision blurred before finally seeing things he couldn’t see before.

‘…Red fog!’

A red fog was moving beneath Sung Gukeon’s air sedan.

It was one of the things that that person was wary of.

‘As expected, the Tiger Clan predicted our movements!’

It was clear that someone made a move for this to happen.

This time, Docheol looked at Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong.

Sung Gukeon, who was holding a bouquet of carnations, couldn’t be seen clearly.

However, Jeon Muyeong’s face in the driver’s seat was clear.

When he looked at him with Unsa’s power, he felt a sense of discomfort from his face.

‘It’s a sign of a reversal skill. That person said that Cheongho was an expert on that, and someone from the Tiger Clan learned it.’

It was as that person predicted.

Sung Gukeon and the Tiger Clan prepared a fake and placed Jeokho next to them.

However…

They were already instructed on what to do if the Tiger Clan had appeared.

Docheol used Unsa’s power again to look around Eungwang High.

As Docheol exerted all his strength, the furnace burned loudly as if someone was screaming inside.

Hwaaarak!

Docheol shouted against the background of the screams coming from the furnace.

“The real one is over there!”

Finally, Docheol found Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong. 

The two were watching the air sedan carrying their fakes from afar.

They were unmistakably real, with no traces of reversal magic being used.

Docheol observed them as he modified the coordinates where to launch the attack.

But a sense of discomfort went over him again.

‘It’s strange. Somehow, that congressman looks more…’

In Docheol’s eyes, Sung Gukeon looked suspicious.