EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school - Chapter 852 - Boundary (5)

After confirming that Maeng Hyodon had landed safely, Joo Soohyuk used his Clairvoyance skill to check if Ham Geunhyung was around.

The force of the garden greatly strained his eyes, but he successfully discovered Ham Geunhyung running towards Maeng Hyodon.

‘It’s Professor Ham. It’ll be okay.’

The reason why Joo Soohyuk is in the garden is actually because he followed Ham Geunhyung.

He predicted that Jo Euishin would ask the professor’s help to protect Maeng Hyodon, and it was a great coincidence that Ham Geunhyung was the Student Council’s adviser.

Since he was a part of the council, Joo Soohyuk figured out Ham Geunhyung’s schedule.

When he learned that Ham Geunhyung was heading to Tanrae Middle School, he was able to prepare thoroughly for the fight too.

‘I’ve been keeping my distance from Professor Ham. It’s a shame though, I want to cooperate with him’

Still, there were benefits to acting separately. 

The one who’s controlling the garden took Maeng Hyodon away from Joo Soohyuk and the others, but they were unable to detect Ham Geunhyung’s presence.

“Professor Ham is going to Hyodon. They’ll meet soon.”

“Hyodon’s homeroom teacher? You’re talking about the Legendary Archer?”

“Yes. He’s here to help Hyodon.”

The mention of Ham Geunhyung made Maeng Hyodon’s teacher relieved.

The Legendary Archer’s fame extends even among ordinary people, not just players.

Tak Geosan asked,

“Did that kid call Geunhyung?”

“It seems so.”

Joo Soohyuk knew that he was talking about Jo Euishin.

Seeing that Maeng Hyodon’s two teachers regained their composure, Joo Soohyuk said,

“Hyodon will be fine. We should attack the garden as we go. If we tire out the garden, the burden would be lessened on Hyodon’s side.”

“You’re right. Let’s go.”

The four went beyond the cloud-filled garden.

Joo Soohyuk instructed Kim Chul to focus on protecting the middle school teacher while he fought alongside Tak Geosan.

The group’s morale gradually rose as Joo Soohyuk showed the way forward and overwhelmed the enemies around.

He seemed to be moving ahead with a cool head, but the truth was that he was cautiously analyzing every detail.

‘This one is weaker than the first floor master that we fought. It would make more sense if the garden’s owner sent a more powerful enemy to stop us.’

Since most enemies were incorporeal-type, Joo Soohuyk could defeat them by simply activating his light skill.

They dealt with multiple enemies so there wasn’t much time wasted.

It all seemed fortunate, but something bothered Joo Soohyuk.

He didn’t get the impression that the garden’s owner was trying their best to destroy them.

‘There’s no way they’ll just let us go. They must have some ulterior motive.’

Joo Soohyuk thought of two things.

First, they must be regathering strength to take them down at once.

Second, they’re putting their efforts elsewhere, not here.

‘Or maybe it’s both…’

Joo Soohyuk sensed that the garden was gradually changing its structure because he would check on Maeng Hyodon every time they defeated a group of enemies.

He saw that Maeng Hyodon and Ham Geunhyung already met and that they were moving towards each other.

The clouds were still thick, but the distorting structure of the garden made it difficult to see even with Clairvoyance activated.

Swoop.

Just as Joo Soohyuk was about to deactivate his skill, Tak Geosan signaled to him with his finger.

Tak Geosan shifted his eyes to a corner, prompting Joo Soohyuk to look.

In his expanded field of vision, someone suddenly appeared.

Before Joo Soohyuk could guess who it was, the person approached them first.

“Can you stop looking? It reminds me of that annoying rat, I don’t like it.”

The person was keenly aware of Clairvoyance and irritated.

It was a royal lineage.

They would’ve been very wary if it were an unfamiliar royal lineage, but it was someone that both Joo Soohyuk and Tak Geosan knew.

Joo Soohyuk recognized the person and immediately deactivated his skill, lightening the royal lineage’s mood a little.

“Head of the Horse Clan. It’s been a while.”

“Oh, you’re the players with that kid back then. Hi.”

The black-haired royal lineage was wearing a three-piece suit and seemed to remember Tak Geosan and Joo Soohyuk from Hongcheon.

“I was told that the humans here don’t need protecting. Guess it’s true.”

Of the three, Heukma was familiar with Joo Soohyuk and Tak Geosan and knew them as people close to Maeng Hyodon.

The other one she’s only met now, but he seemed to be an ordinary human with no special abilities, thus not a target of the enemies.

Heukma spoke again, the attitude she first showed almost non-existent now.

“Okay. Follow me.”

It would lessen the burden if they cooperated with a royal lineage, but Joo Soohyuk was unsure of her intentions.

‘Why is she here? I know she thanked Hyodon for something before. Is she trying to return the favor?’

Joo Soohyuk tried to guess why Heukma was there, but he had no clue where they were going or what for.

They weren’t headed toward Maeng Hyodon, at least that’s for sure.

Since he couldn’t think of an answer, Joo Soohyuk asked directly.

“Where are we going? We were on our way to find Hyodon.”

“The Legendary Archer is with him though? I was asked to do something else.”

Heukma spoke as if it was nothing.

It wasn’t that he didn’t care about Maeng Hyodon, but it was an expression of great trust on Ham Geunhyung’s skills.

‘They met in Hongcheon. I know Professor Ham solved a big case there.’

Joo Soohyuk knew little about Heukma, but he used what he knew to reach a plausible conclusion.

Meanwhile, it seemed like Tak Geosan had no intention of following Heukma.

Even though there was a powerful and trustworthy person beside Maeng Hyodon, the master wanted to personally confirm his student’s safety.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t have time to look elsewhere. How about we each go our separate ways?”

Tak Geosan spoke in a firm but polite tone.

Joo Soohyuk wanted to prioritize regrouping with Maeng Hyodon over running errands for Heukma too.

He was worried that Heukma would react sensitively again, but the royal lineage only quietly observed Tak Geosan.

‘Her eyes seemed to be checking something. Has she met Professor Tak Geosan before?’

Heukma looked much younger than Tak Geosan, but she was much older than the Taoist.

Perhaps they met in the distant past and only Heukma remembers.

After some time, Heukma spoke.

“Your connection with your student isn’t the only important thing. I don’t know about the others, but I know it would be good for you to come with me.”

Heukma’s business seemed to have some relation with Tak Geosan.

The professor seemed confused, but it didn’t seem like Heukma was lying.

“It won’t take long. Come and see.”

Heukma began to walk briskly.

They could’ve not come along, but Joo Soohyuk said,

“Our enemies would increase if we hurt her feelings. Since Hyodon’s safety is secured, how about we put off going to him for the time being?”

“Perhaps it would be better to separate with Hyodon for now, even if it would take longer.”

“She said it wouldn’t take long, so I think it would be okay.”

Heukma stopped at a point where the atmosphere was heavier and gloomier.

The clouds and fog created by the garden were particularly thick.

“With the power of death, it wouldn’t be difficult to take him out.”

Heukma raised one hand and the energy waves around wavered, a strong force gathering around her.

Hwiii…

A desolate sound of the wind flowed from around Heukma.

She had just said something about the power of death, and it seemed like she was summoning death to this place.

“I may have passed by it unknowingly or maybe even stepped on it, but why did they leave it here? Whoever planted this here has really bad taste.”

Heukma swung her hand once, transferring the power gathered on the back of her hand to her palm.

Joo Soohyuk and Tak Geosan prepared to cover themselves with energy waves while Kim Chul stood in front of the middle school teacher without saying a word.

Fwaaaat!

Heukma poured the power gathered in her palm, the force swallowing the fog covering the ground and dug into the solid ground.

It took several seconds to complete as the point where Heukma aimed for was particularly thick.

Soon, what Heukma was looking for appeared in the air.

It was a huge box. 

‘It looks like a box. Wait, no, it’s…’

The box was engraved with a very complex Jin.

Heukma frowned when she saw the energy waves flowing above it, stopping her own energy waves from reaching the box.

Then, the pipe connected to the box was destroyed and pulled up to the ground.

‘It looks like a coffin.’

Joo Soohyuk’s face firmed.

“Found it. It’s big as expected.”

Despite the great effort it took, Heukma seemed relaxed.

As Heukma straightened the slightly wrinkled sleeves of her jacket, Tak Geosan said,

“I don’t know just what you were asked to do. Is this it?”

“I was thinking of having someone else transport it for me. It’s too much trouble for me to carry it myself.”

Kwadeuk!

The tightly sealed box was easily opened by Heukma’s power.

There was a person lying inside.

Behind Kim Chul, the teacher’s loud gasp resonated.

The person inside the box looked like they were just asleep, but their skin was pale and the air enveloping them was stagnant.

‘…Congressman Sung Gukeon?’

The corpse looked very similar to Sung Gukeon so the first person that came to Joo Soohyuk’s mind was the lawmaker.

But if you look closely, their faces and physiques are a little different.

‘Who is this?’

Tak Geosan knew the answer.

“Sung hyung…”

Tak Geosan looked at the coffin with disbelief.