EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school - Chapter 838 - Side (3)

All the signs outside the individual rooms disappeared, replaced with an ominous energy.

As soon as Maeng Hyodon sensed the shift, he immediately took a position to protect his teacher.

He seemed calm at first glance, but he was panicked inside.

It would’ve been different if only he and Tak Geosan were there, but the thought of being in a dangerous situation with a non-player made him anxious.

Looking at Tak Geosan’s reaction, it seemed like Maeng Hyodon’s instinct was right.

‘Even the Taoist didn’t notice.’

It’s not easy to deceive someone like Tak Geosan.

As Maeng Hyodon guessed, their opponent seemed to have instantly stifled their presence and filled the air with something ominous.

Even though his middle school teacher was surprised, they judged that this anomaly was simply related to a strange ability and she tried to send the coordinate information to the Players’ Association.

However, the phrase “Failed to Transmit Coordinates” came up.

“I can’t send messages through my device. Will the landline in the restaurant work?”

“This isn’t the restaurant anymore.”

“My student and I aren’t ordinary players. Thorough preparation is needed to deceive us. I don’t know what exact ability it is, but I’ve experienced this type of trick before.”

For a while, Tak Geosan and the teacher spoke in words that Maeng Hyodon couldn’t comprehend like “phase change through transition,” and “space distortion through coordinates.”

The middle school teacher taught in regular schools, but they seem to have studied a lot about players while helping Maeng Hyodon take the Eungwang High entrance exam.

The active player Maeng Hyodon listened to the words in satisfaction.

‘So someone secretly moved the entire room we were in? They created a fake restaurant to trick the Taoist and my senses… Ah, whatever.”

Giving up on trying to understand, Maeng Hyodon decided to just stay alert.

It still looked like the Korean restaurant from outside the sliding door, but it was slightly different from what Maeng Hyodon remembered.

The basket near the counter, which was about two-thirds full when they came in, was now empty.

He remembered it clearly because he took a mental note of taking two of those candies once they settled the bill.

The material of the wallpaper, the number of chairs, and other details were also different.

‘It’s not a coincidence.’

They made a reservation in advance because the establishments around Tanrae Middle School were underdeveloped and this was the only restaurant with a menu that suited Tak Geosan’s taste.

It seemed like their enemy knew that Maeng Hyodon would come here to meet his old teacher.

“I’m sure the restaurant owner is on the same side. I don’t think our food was poisoned though…”

If there was a problem with the food, the experienced Tak Geosan and the taste-sensitive Maeng Hyodon would’ve noticed it.

They couldn’t tell if it was a relief that their food was untouched.

Either way, considering the situation they were in, it seemed like the targets were either or both Tak Geosan and Maeng Hyodon.

In other words, the middle school teacher is just caught up.

‘I shouldn’t have come… Because of me, my teacher is…’

A distant regret rushed into Maeng Hyodon’s heart.

He remembered the uproar not too long ago when his father caused a scene at the school.

Senior members of Eungwang High’s autonomous organizations had to move quickly to resolve the situation.

Tak Geosan was investigated, the question being whether his actions were self-defense or excessive.

Fortunately, it was taken to account that it was an act of defense against someone who attacked minors and he was released safely.

In that process, Maeng Hyodon felt like his blood was drying up, just like now.

‘Aish, it’s all strange. Is this related to that incident? How did those guys know my device code, and how did my father gather all those players?’

Even if they were to extort money from Maeng Hyodon, each of them wouldn’t have much if they shared it equally.

The reason mustn’t be money then, but perhaps his involvement with the fight club.

Perhaps those players who attacked him were related to the fight club and this whole incident was orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.

His deduction, which kept leading him to the fight club, gave him chills.

When his mind led him to that place, he suddenly remembered Jo Euishin.

Jo Euishin was the one who saved him from the fight club, and he said some strange words yesterday.

— Alright, take care. If you have any math questions, go ask them.

Jo Euishin pushed Maeng Hyodon to meet his teacher.

Jo Euishin knew about the fight club, his problems with his father, and…

‘That’s right, there’s no way that VP guy wouldn’t know!’

If things were connected the way that he’s guessing, there’s no way that Jo Euishin didn’t prepare anything.

He must’ve silently done something suspicious again.

Jo Euishin’s strategies in times of crisis came to his mind.

Although he had no concrete evidence, a sense of security suddenly filled Maeng Hyodon’s heart.

“Are you okay, Hyodon-ah? Professor Tak Geosan said this room would be fine for the time being. Let’s rest for a bit before going.”

“…Yes.”

“You seem okay. That’s good.”

The middle school teacher comforted Maeng Hyodon.

He must’ve been noticeably calmer when he thought about Jo Euishin.

“Then where in the world are we?”

“This must be an otherworld. Since it seems like it was a designated transfer, it must be a garden.”

Creak… creak…

The wall of the Korean restaurant caved at the end of Tak Geosan’s words.

The wall distorted as if a huge hand grabbed it, revealing a large gap filled with enemies wandering around.

Seeing this, Tak Geosan clicked his tongue.

“It looks like waiting for backup isn’t an option. We’d be swallowed up before they arrive.”

“…What should we do then?”

Even Maeng Hyodon, who couldn’t understand most of the adults’ conversation earlier, had a guess on what was next.

It’s something any player would instinctively think of.

“A garden is still an otherworld. We have no choice but to conquer it.”

* * *

Upon finding the people who were presumed to be the real Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong, Docheol began moving around busily.

In just a few seconds, Docheol readjusted the coordinates and activated the ability again.

For the most part, he just followed the borrowed power and the plan given by that person, but it wasn’t easy handling high-dimensional power without making mistakes.

‘All recording devices are turned off, and there are no traces of royal lineage except the Tiger Clan.’

Docheol was secretly impressed as he watched the red fog manipulated by Jeokho.

It moved fast enough to match the air sedan’s speed, and it was a supernatural ability that couldn’t be detected if it weren’t for Unsa’s power.

Indeed, Jeokho was a man from the myths.

Thinking of such great power and secretly prepared strategy failing gave Docheol joy.

‘Finally.’

This operation had many variables.

The Fomorian demons were invading Eungwang District not long ago with the Black Forest running rampant after them.

It’s possible that some variables may act up, but that person prepared a perfect plan in case the Tiger Clan appeared.

The preparations are over.

Docheol decided to throw a bait, pretending not to know that he was deceived.

‘I can send a fake bait to that air sedan.’

The plan was to do that and simultaneously throw the medium to activate the supernatural ability toward the real Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong.

‘Now I have to choose which bait to throw.’

If Pungbaek and Usa hadn’t been caught and the people in the air sedan were real, the bait would’ve been the two disguised as children.

It’s impossible to activate the trap and swallow them into a subspace just by applying energy waves to the medium.

‘Should I use this one?’

Hwaraaak!

Clouds flew out when Docheol fed energy waves to the furnace, its shape turning into that of a young man.

It was hard to see his face because of the shaggy hair, but its body was so thin and twisted that it might almost collapse anytime.

It was a decoy that borrowed Unsa’s appearance.

He threw the bait, anticipating how Jeokho would react.

Fwaat!

The bait that passed through the subspace fluttered and walked along the deserted road in Eungwang District.

The air sedan slowed down upon seeing the bait, and the red fog below the car began to visibly shake.

He seemed agitated as he saw the borrowed appearance of Unsa.

Docheol didn’t miss the opportunity.

“Self-destruct.”

Kwaaaang!

The decoy exploded, its effect so devastating that even the nearby shopping center was swallowed up in an instant.

The fakes in the air sedan either escaped or weren’t caught in the explosion.

The same was true for the tiger who hid behind the fog.

Although the explosion’s power was quite large, it wasn’t powerful enough to pierce the red fog.

There was no significant damage to those inside the air sedan, but Docheol’s goal was accomplished.

‘That’s it, we pulled them into the garden!’

Traces of subspace were visible beyond Unsa’s sight.

In the place where the real Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong were just moments ago, a faint sect of energy waves was burning and fading away.

Fwaaa…

Taking advantage of the explosion, the real trap was activated and swallowed Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong.

It seems like the Tiger Clan hasn’t grasped the situation yet.

They only looked around to see if there were any other explosions and didn’t seem to know about those who were swallowed up by the subspace.

Meanwhile, traces of the trap were slowly flying away.

‘They only noticed now? It’s too late.’

When the traces had completely melted away, they seemed to have realized something was wrong and started to move around.

After looking toward where the people who had fallen into Docheol’s hand were, he covered his mouth and lowered his voice as if talking to someone.

It seemed like they were searching for the missing two.

‘The Congressman and his assistant are in the garden now. Anything they do is useless.’

On top of that, he’s playing tricks on the congressman now.

Docheol silently thought about the special ability being activated in one corner of the garden and laughed.

It was quite funny considering that the real owner of that ability was Sung Gukeon’s grandfather.

Since the kidnapping was a success, there was no need to keep an eye on Eungwang District anymore.

Before Docheol withdrew Unsa’s power, he looked around to laugh at the fakes one last time.

‘The reversal skill on Jeon Muyeong is obvious, but it looks like Sung Gukeon is almost real. He’s a pretty well-made fake.’

Docheol kept his thoughts to himself and withdrew the power that observed Eungwang District.