EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school - Chapter 839 - Side (4)

In an area of Eungwang District where traces of the trap and the explosion have disappeared.

The person whom Docheol referred to as ‘a very well-made Sung Gukeon fake’ stood silently.

The truth is, he was the real Sung Gukeon.

Sung Gukeon thought of Jo Euishin, who was somewhere else.

‘It’s really as Euishin said. I hoped his prediction was wrong.’

Jo Euishin’s plan was based on the assumption that the opponents would know their moves.

Since the Black Screen’s assassination intent was identified through Replay, a technology that transcended common sense, Sung Gukeon didn’t think this action would be necessary.

Regardless, he followed Jo Euishin’s words.

It wouldn’t be a bad thing if Jo Euishin’s prediction was wrong and he was the one who was kidnapped.

Although invisible to him, on their side was a legendary tiger who hid himself with a skill called “Red Fog” so there was no trouble in terms of manpower.

More than anything, Sung Gukeon was beside someone he wanted to fight with.

‘It’s a shame that I can’t fight alongside you, Professor. The opponent is using all kinds of vicious tactics to target you, so it would be safer to avoid a confrontation…’

Sung Gukeon looked at the person who had Jeon Muyeong’s appearance.

His build wasn’t much different from the Jeon Muyeong that Sung Gukeon knew.

Even his clothes and posture matched the original.

The only flaw was that his face had traces of reversal skill that had been left on purpose.

If it weren’t for that, it would’ve been impossible to see through that he was a fake.

‘I can’t believe this level is sloppy. He’s a much greater player than I remember.’

The identity of the fake Jeon Muyeong beside Sung Gukeon was none other than his teacher.

The professor, who supported him through his youth, and who now goes by the name Kim Shinrok, was here to protect him.

“I received a message from the dragon. He said the surveillance on Eungwang District has disappeared.”

Since Sung Gukeon was the target of the assassination, he was most likely to be wiretapped which is why Kim Shinrok is in charge of all communications during the operation.

Kim Shinrok spoke quietly so as to not let his voice leak outside the temporary barrier.

Despite the retreated surveillance and protection from the barrier, his tone and actions were still matched to Jeon Muyeong.

But of course, there was one hole in his words.

‘It would’ve been perfect except he called Professor Yong Jegun as that dragon.’

Sung Gukeon didn’t point it out and just observed Kim Shinrok as he continued speaking.

The latter checked the status through his earring-type device and reported it to Sung Gukeon.

Kim Shinrok looked a bit anxious.

Without thinking too deeply, it was obvious what he was worried about.

The teacher must be worried about those who disappeared on behalf of the real Sung Gukeon.

The congressman waited until Kim Shinrok finished speaking before taking his turn.

“Understood. It seems like there are no problems elsewhere.”

“…The situation of the one who disappeared hasn’t been confirmed properly.”

“I’m sure they’ll be safe. Muyeong worked hard on the homework that Euishin assigned. Don’t worry.”

Kim Shinrok’s face became much softer at the mention of Jo Euishin’s name.

Although it wasn’t said out loud, he felt just how much Kim Shinrok trusted Jo Euishin.

‘Just hearing his name made the professor relieved.’

Not only Kim Shinrok, but most of the Tiger Clan seemed to have deep trust in Jo Euishin.

If it was a different junior, whom he believed was not connected to royal lineage and their descendants in any way but turned out to be wrong, he might’ve felt complicated.

On the contrary, though, he felt grateful.

The fact that Jo Euishin was so trusted was enough proof that he had saved Kim Shinrok.

Just then, Kim Shinrok’s expression became clouded.

“There’s a problem at the Tanrae Middle School side.”

Jo Euishin modified the plan to account for Maeng Hyodon being attacked, which included examining the surroundings of Tanrae Middle School.

He wondered if the school had anything to do with the assassination, but he got involved there once before.

‘It was Euishin’s first request. There’s a lot of strange things about the Tanrae Middle School situation.’

Last year, Jo Euishin filed a civil complaint involving the school based on its outdated facilities, the tyranny of the teachers’ and parents’ association, and the suspicious flow of funds as seen in their budget statements.

After reviewing the complaint and receiving a response that there were no irregularities, Jo Euishin went to Sung Gukeon for help.

‘Euishin’s complaint has no loopholes. The Office of Education just tried to cover it up.’

Although the Office of Education could silence a student, they couldn’t do anything about an active member of the National Assembly.

Sung Gukeon thought there must be a reason for the Office of Education stepping in to block a civil complaint, so he checked the accounts of all middle schools in the Gyeonggi Province.

That’s when he learned about the problems that occurred in about 50 public middle schools, including Tanrae.

All kinds of embezzlement and corruption were rampant, but there was one thing in common.

The support funds from the Players’ Association for prospective youth players had evaporated.

‘I didn’t think it was strange at that time. It’s an easy target since it’s easy to steal compared to a large amount of money.’

The association isn’t capacitated to manage and help all prospective youth players so it had to cooperate with the government.

Problems large and small arose while establishing the partnership process.

Structural loopholes emerged, and along with it the number of people taking advantage of the same.

Even though the association knew about the stealing, they weren’t in a position to cut off support because it knew that some of the money still reached some prospective players who were in really desperate situations.

At that time, a comprehensive audit was conducted under Sung Gukeon’s leadership.

After seeing the involved teachers receive disciplinary action and criminal punishment, he ended up withdrawing.

Although he was particularly bothered by the decay of the schools around Tanrae Middle School, he was able to determine that the teachers in question were the cause.

However, looking at the situation now, it seems like the case ran deeper than he thought.

‘Did the teachers at Tanrae Middle School hate Hyodon? But if an outstanding player like that appears, the association would likely take notice.’

Other than Jo Euishin’s mediation, Maeng Hyodon’s presence made Sung Gukeon pay attention to Tanrae Middle School.

If someone is trying to target Maeng Hyodon and Tak Geosan at the same time, he can’t help but think that it’s connected to Tanrae.

Sung Gukeon asked Kim Shinrok.

“It looks like Dongha contacted you. Is there any problem?”

“Yes, while looking at Maeng Hyodon-gun, he saw…”

Kim Shinrok suddenly stopped speaking.

Instead of urging him to say his next words, Sung Gukeon quietly checked their surroundings.

Someone was approaching the two through a long alley.

The figure was walking in the shade so they couldn’t see clearly.

When the figure got close enough, he saw that they were wearing a blue mask.

“Oh king-worthy man, I’ve come to make you fulfill your promise.”

The blue-masked demon’s voice was full of laughter.

* * *

In an otherworld filled with murky clouds and fog, the sound made by Tak Geosan’s power broke through the silence.

Fwoooo!

His posture was textbook perfect, his fist trained enough to crush even high-rarity weapons.

 His speed was impossible to avoid, and his timing was perfect.

Even Maeng Hyodon, who sees Tak Geosan’s martial arts skills every day, was once again amazed.

However, Tak Geosan’s attack did not reach.

Hwiii…

The intangible energy dispersed into the air like a cloud before taking shape again.

The incorporeal-type enemy, which literally meant intangible, was able to temporarily disperse.

Although Maeng Hyodon doesn’t remember everything about this type of enemy, he knew that it was difficult to land a strike on them.

‘I’m always told to step aside whenever a freak like that shows up. They said it’s best to leave it to other players than wasting my energy.’

Incorporeal enemies were strong against physical attacks but very weak against other types.

For example, Saeum of April’s wind skill and the druidess’ skills, among others.

However, both Maeng Hyodon and Tak Geosan were martial artists with no long-range skills.

“What a troublesome guy.”

Fwaaat!

A clear-spirited energy wave rose from Tak Geosan’s toes.

He soon floated high in the air with energy waves around him, and he fired a kick.

The incorporeal enemy tried to hide again, but the moment the high-density energy waves touched it, he became visible.

In the end, the sound that tore through the air left the enemy scattered.

“It’s no big deal. Let’s move.”

Tak Geosan’s tone feigned ease, but Maeng Hyodon saw through the bluff.

It was clear that the one who caused this incident specifically targeted Maeng Hyodon and Tak Geosan’s weaknesses.

Even though the rarity of the enemies isn’t that high, their abilities aren’t compatible in dealing with them.

If they continued to waste their energy like this, it was obvious what would happen once they encountered the floor master or the owner of the garden.

‘…Can I protect the teacher?’

Fortunately among the misfortunes, the intangible enemies would attack him and Tak Geosan first.

Although the teacher was still safe and unharmed, the teacher couldn’t escape the garden alone, so Tak  Geosan and Maeng Hyodon had to clear the garden somehow.

“I think I’ve seen all the enemies I’ll ever see today. The area around Tanrae was so quiet that it’s designated as a no-otherworld area.”

Although the teacher must’ve been very shaken, they spoke in a light tone.

Both the teachers seemed to be trying to hide their anxieties from Maeng Hyodon.

“Maybe it’s because of this garden that otherworlds couldn’t occur nearby.”

“This thing had always been around Tanrae?”

“I guess so. But no matter the preparation, considering the power it takes to transfer three people somewhere far away is…”

Tak Geosan gave a brief explanation of the theory of otherworld phenomena decrease due to gardens and the amount of energy waves it would take to transfer people through distances.

The explanation wasn’t easy for Maeng Hyodon to understand.

It almost felt like he was speaking a different language and it was easier to deal with incorporeal enemies than understanding those words.

Maeng Hyodon was half-fazed catching enemies when he suddenly felt the air become heavier.

Gugugugu…!

Energy waves swept through the area as the garden moved.

The structure of the garden was transformed, and the once complex path became simple.

Beyond the wide open road, enemies could be seen riding on low-hanging clouds.

There was only one enemy in the garden who wielded enough power to transform an otherworld.

“The floor master has paid us a visit.”

Tak Geosan looked up at the translucent floor master.

Around the floor master were several enemies that crackled, repeatedly forming shape and disappearing.

All of them were incorporeal enemies.

Hwiii!

The floor master moved the eye of the whirlpool and stared at Tak Geosan, Maeng Hyodon, and the teacher one at a time.

The eye, which spun round and round, stopped in the direction of the middle school teacher.

With a much higher intelligence than goon enemies, the floor master has accurately identified the weakness.

Tak Geosan and Maeng Hyodon understood the floor master’s intention and became very anxious.

As the floor master gave instructions, the smaller enemies all rushed toward the middle school teacher.

Seeing this, Maeng Hyodon’s body moved before thinking.

Fwaaat!

A gigantic fist embodied by Maeng Hyodon’s energy waves flew through the air.

Maeng Hyodon immediately activated his light skill, Fighter’s Gravity.

The target who was singled out by this skill can’t escape the “battlefield” set by Maeng Hyodon.

Maeng Hyodon assigned all the enemies nearby as the targets and selected a place away from the teacher as the battleground.

Tak Geosan was astonished when he saw the huge fist appear and disappear, and he realized that the enemy’s target was now Maeng Hyodon.

Guuuu….!

The floor master instructed the enemies to attack Maeng Hyodon instead of the middle school teacher.

The moment his eyes became blurred with the swarm of small enemies, Maeng Hyodon felt like time passed slowly.

Tak Geosan tried to rush to him, but he was blocked by the floor master’s attack.

The middle school teacher was frozen, everything happening too fast for them to understand.

The only thought in Maeng Hyodon’s mind was to sacrifice his arm to defend his vital point.

He decided to use his left arm.

“Don’t move, Hyodon-ah”

Inside the dark garden, Maeng Hyodon heard a voice that he knew well.

From the other side, wings that seemed to be turned against the light began to flash and flew towards Maeng Hyodon.