EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school - Chapter 843 - Side (8)

When I went to the underworld, the gods of death asked me for help, saying that the deceased alone couldn’t protect the cycle of reincarnation.

They added power to my skill, transforming it into the Glare of Life and Death.

[Effect] Creates a special phenomenon by gathering energy waves in the eyes.

The will of the gods of death adds power.

[Explanation]

Glare bearing the will of the gods of death.

Can only be used by those who are permitted.

I don’t know yet the full extent of what this skill is capable of, but I know what it can do.

When I had just received this power, I saw that the Black Screen was creating gaps in the cycle of reincarnation, trying to steal the secrets of life and death and creating a hit list.

With the Glare of Life and Death, I sifted through the forces of life and death and found the gaps created by the Black Screen.

‘The tigers wouldn’t have agreed to my plan if I didn’t have these eyes.’

They didn’t react well when I first proposed my plan.

As soon as I finished speaking, Hwang Jiho said,

— Jo Euishin, Sung Gukeon died in the Replay. Are you saying you’re going to do it in his place?

Jeokho, also unpleased, added,

— I think placing someone good at reversal skills instead of Jo Euishin would be a good idea. There aren’t many people as good as my son, but some can use it at least. And don’t forget that I can use red fog to hide myself.

Eunho spoke after Jeokho.

— I think it would be difficult for me or the other Tiger Clan to accept that plan. None of us want to sacrifice you, hyung, or any other members of the clan. But the fact that Euishin hyung proposed this means you want us to understand, is that right?

Eunho would definitely oppose it.

Baekho-gun, who was sitting next to Eunho, also nodded once.

The tigers were likely to object outright if anything happened, so I carefully answered.

— The opponents know about the Tiger Clan. They’re wary of reversal skills. They’d expect Jeokho to use red fog. That’s why I want someone with a reversal skill and Jeokho to be beside the real Sung Gukeon sunbaenim.

If the Black Screen does something, they’d know that the Tiger Clan is involved and prepared.

That’s why we needed multiple layers of traps.

Even when I explained the need for two sets of plans, the tigers didn’t easily agree.

So instead, I explained why I had to go.

— The Black Screen will use Unsa’s power with the former head of the association this time. If we want to retrieve them, then I have to be the one to go. If we lose this opportunity, we don’t know when the next one will come.

Those two are in Black Screen territory, being used as energy sources and mediums for supernatural abilities.

It’s simple enough to stop Sung Gukeon’s assassination, but if we miss this opportunity, we would never know when the enemy would attack using those two’s powers again.

If that happens, it becomes very difficult not only to defend against the Black Screen but also to retrieve the two.

— The gods of the underworld gave me a power. I can save them both with that.

I explained the Glare of Life and Death and how to use it.

When the tigers heard about what the gods did, they complained, saying that I had unnecessarily taken on additional obligations again, but they understood my intention.

Still uncertain, Hwang Jiho said,

— I understand what you mean, Jo Euishin, but there’s still something that bothers me. To carry out your strategy, you would have to go through what Sung Gukeon went through in the Replay.

— I can escape as long as I make the same decisions I did in the past. I don’t think it would be difficult if I were aware that it was a psychological attack. 

Since Sung Gukeon explained the ability right after Replay, the tigers also know about the mental attack he suffered.

Fortunately, since there was limited time, Sung Gukeon’s explanation was simple and calm.

And since Sung Gukeon wasn’t affected by it, it was easy to persuade the tigers.

I was able to hide the fact that I practiced on the old simulator to prepare for the attack.

— I know what kind of ability it is based on the game. It’s going to be okay.

They can’t use abilities while the mental attack is ongoing.

However, if I dodge an attack before it hits, there will be no way to trace its power.

There’s a gap immediately after the psychic ability is destroyed, and that’s what I should aim for.

I succeeded in persuading the tigers who weren’t very happy that I’d be the victim of the attack.

Instead, Hwang Jiho gave one condition.

— Okay, Jo Euishin. But there are conditions.

— Which are?

— Adjust the plan you prepared for Jeon Muyeong.

Despite those conditions, most of the things went as I wanted.

Now that I have defeated the former head’s light skill as planned, I activated the Glare of Life and Death and have seen through its power.

The eye has delved into the source of power.

‘It’s just as I thought. There are three powers.’

The ones I was dealing with this time happened to straddle the line between life and death and those who are on the border between them.

A living subordinate of darkness.

The deceased former head of the association.

And the tied-up Unsa who can neither live nor die.

Kugugugugu!

As the cracked space was being destroyed, I saw the three forces intertwined.

It was clearly visible where the power of the dead leads and where the power of the living is connected.

‘I found the former head’s body.’

Since my power was granted by the gods of death, I found at once the power that belonged to the dead.

The problem was with Unsa, who was still alive despite being close to dead.

Even if it was visible, it wasn’t easy to track.

Jiiing…!

My ears rang from the excessive energy waves.

It felt like my eyes were vibrating too.

Then, I heard a voice through the crack.

[How impressive, Sung Gukeon.]

It was the first voice I heard, which seemed to look down on me as a weakling.

‘Is this the Black Screen subordinate who returned from the Demon World? Even though my appearance looks like Sung Gukeon, it would know that I’m not him if it looked into my spirit.’

It seems like the Black Screen underlings can’t see through it while using their powers through Unsa.

I expected my true identity to be revealed when the mental attack reached me.

‘But it can still use that much energy waves. I can’t let my guard down.’

As soon as I thought that, the Black Screen subordinate spoke.

[But human talent is useless against my power. I will crush you!]

Heavy air flew through the enlarging cracks.

Since the space that contained my mind has partially collapsed, the attacks from here on will also affect my physical body.

I don’t know who the subordinate is and what kind of attack it can make.

It was wiser to escape and avoid, but I couldn’t get out yet.

‘I can’t find Unsa. Just a little more!’

The Glare of Life and Death shed a light that extended through the cracks and tracked Unsa’s location.

Unsa’s energy was spread throughout a huge garden that seemed to be covered with dark clouds, making it difficult to pinpoint.

[Are you trying to look this way with those eyes? How bothersome!]

There was heavy pressure on my eyes as the voice contained energy waves.

The subordinate was aiming for my eyes.

Since most of my body was still affected by the former head’s psychic ability, it was difficult to determine its location.

Kugugugu…!

Dark clouds poured through the crack as if the subordinate still wanted to use Unsa’s power instead of his own.

I knew that my eyes were the target, but I couldn’t escape.

I can’t gather my strength either.

‘I told the tigers that I would find Unsa. This might be our last chance, so…’

I had to make a difficult choice.

It wasn’t between avoiding an attack or not.

Some players fight even if they can’t see, but it’s reckless to face such a powerful enemy without preparation.

I can’t sacrifice both of my eyes.

‘I have to choose which one to save.’

After making my choice, I withdrew my power from my right eye and closed it.

The moment my left eye captured the location of the furnace…

Kwaaaaa!

My left eye, swallowed by the dark clouds, turned red and my vision died.

* * *

Somewhere in Eungwang District, Sung Gukeon and the disguised Kim Shinrok faced a blue-masked Fomorian demon.

‘I understand, but I’m reluctant.’

The Fomorian demon persistently persuaded Sung Gukeon, but there were many ways to avoid the demon.

Since Eungwang District was under the Tiger Clan’s power, and the Black Forest was openly pursuing the Fomorians, there were limits to where Sung Gukeon could be tracked in Korea.

Although it was troublesome to see the Fomorians moving around on the Korean Peninsula, there was no need to deal with them.

However, Jo Euishin had a different suggestion.

— I hope you would agree to a deal with the Fomorian demons, Sung Gukeon sunbaenim.

It was a strange suggestion, but Sung Gukeon decided to listen to his junior.

— I want to take the Fomorian demons out of the equation and use that power.

Jeon Muyeong, who was beside him at that time, immediately opposed it.

— A member of our country’s National Assembly will destroy a sacred treasure of another culture as a deal with demons. If that is revealed, not only will it become an international dispute, but the Congressman’s approval rating will also suffer. I disagree.

Sung Gukeon agreed with Jeon Muyeong.

Other than political reasons, he was simply reluctant from a moral standpoint.

It seemed better to be hostile to the Fomorian demons.

Strangely enough, Jo Euishin seemed a little pleased to see the two’s opposition.

— Yes, I don’t intend to have my senior experience that kind of thing.

Then, Jo Euishin made another suggestion.

It was hard to believe, but it was more unlikely that Jo Euishin would lie.

Sung Gukeon believed Jo Euishin and decided to follow his word.

“Thank you for changing your mind. I was so worried because you never contacted me.”

The blue-masked demon spoke in a low tone, but his words contained a faint suspicion.

It’s only natural since Sung Gukeon had always avoided contact with the Fomorian demons, and now he’s suddenly revealed himself.

Sung Gukeon spoke naturally.

“I know you’ve seen it. There’s a group coming after me. Shouldn’t one’s life be sacrificed to carry out one’s will? I need to find a way too.”

“He who has the qualities of a king is humble. Looking at the current situation, I think I can protect you on my own.”

“Haha, do you think it would be a single assassination attempt?”

The more friendly and skillful Sung Gukeon spoke, the more suspicious the demon became.

The Fomorian was deeply impressed of Sung Gukeon’s communication skills.

A man who served as a member of the National Assembly twice in a country that was harsh towards players, and a man born with qualities of a king worthy of recognition by the Tuatha de Dannan’s stone was truly different.

“I changed my mind after seeing the remarkable feats that the Fomorian demons left in mythology, and their influence even in a land without much earth power. At this level, it would be worth risking my political life to destroy this stone.”

The demon listened to Sung Gukeon’s words as if he were possessed.

It was exhilarating to think about how much pain the Tuatha Dé Danann would suffer if the Lia Fáil was destroyed by a person like this.

“First, I hope the Fomorian demons will act as promised.”

Even before Sung Gukeon finished his next words, the demon was already nodding.