Chapter 259

Player Identity is a light skill that lets me adjust the level of a playable character’s ability based on what I achieved inside the game.

That same light skill overrides the laws known in this world and age.

Jeon Muyeong’s light skill ‘Time Without Shadows,’ works on the principle of erasing one’s presence, starting with their shadow.

There’s another person with a similar skill of hiding their presence, but Jeon Muyeong’s light skill is only available to him, and to me, in this world.

“Jeon Muyeong’s hiding skill is excellent, but it’s not enough to deceive my eyes. The thing he used in the end doesn’t feel like a normal skill. I’m certain that it was a light skill.”

Hwang Jiho’s eyes continued to sparkle.

I can’t say anything negative to this child-looking tiger.

“I know that you can use other people’s light skills. I’ve seen it in person before. I’ve guessed it.”

Hwang Jiho had already figured out the existence of my light skill before.

‘What light skills did Hwang Jiho see me use? On April Fool’s Day, I almost got caught using Cheon Dongha’s light skill, but he probably hasn’t seen that personally…’

Hwang Jiho didn’t see that event on his own, but he figured it out using something else.

He knows that I am ‘that word’ so he must’ve known that I’ve used ‘Summoning Hongryong’ and ‘Remote Ignition’ in the form of Yeom Junyeol.

During the youth retreat, he saw me use White Tiger’s light skill and perform a de-buffing.

In addition, on the day that Jang Namwook was in the Hwangmyeong Mansion, I summoned a weapon and used a light skill to purify Do Sihoo’s belongings.

Hwang Jiho already knows that I can use several people’s light skills and their abilities.

“Jo Euishin used a flight skill when he was with me. I don’t think he can use it normally.”

“A flying skill. So you used a flight skill instead of an item during April Fool’s Day?”

The Red Tiger spoke.

On April Fool’s Day, when I was moving with Red Tiger, I borrowed the skill of Yong Jegun.

His name wasn’t mentioned immediately, but Hwang Jiho was thinking of the people who have flight skills.

“Given that you can use White Tiger’s light skill, it’s no question that you’d be able to borrow the light skill of a human. There’s something else I want to point out.”

Hwang Jiho’s extensive introduction gave me time to guess what he would say next.

It’s not really worth pointing out anymore that I can use other people’s abilities.

Hwang Jiho saw Jeon Muyeong and I use the same skill for a short period of time.

He must’ve done some comparisons and come to a realization.

‘…He must be thinking a lot about my identity.’

I waited for Hwang Jiho to speak again, careful not to show any signs of agitation.

“The version of the light skill that you used was stronger than Jeon Muyeong’s.”

Why I was able to use a light skill that’s more powerful than the original user’s?

From a gamer’s point of view, the answer to that question was simple.

Unlike skills and comprehensive abilities, light skills do not have levels.

Instead, the skill duration and expression pattern of use change depending on the growth and condition of the player

I repeatedly farmed characters using free battles and pre-quest modes even after Jeon Muyeong died in the game’s main storyline.

The light skill I used to film Dokgo Miro’s performance was using Jeon Muyeong’s maximum stats and abilities

‘In the game, the already adult characters had less room to grow than the high school characters. Still, I have a stronger light skill of Jeon Muyeong than he personally has in this world at this time.’

In the PMH game menu, there’s a story mode and a free mode.

In the free mode, gamers can enjoy the game regardless of the main storyline.

Dead characters cannot be accessed anymore in the story mode, but they can be used again in the free mode.

“…”

I can’t explain the game mechanics like this to the tigers.

I decided to stay silent.

While I was keeping my mouth shut, the young Hwang JIho had two more waffles.

When he finished the last piece, he spoke again.

“Seeing that you’re not answering, it must be important information for you. I’ll just keep this in mind. I’ll remember that you have the ability to borrow a person’s light skill that’s more powerful than the original.”

I didn’t say anything but Hwang Jiho looked satisfied.

“I don’t think I have enough clues. Royal lineage, descendants, humans. You can use all of their light skills. The common denominator is Eungwang High. But the other factors like personality and age are all different.”

The young Hwang Jiho stopped eating and began to guess excitedly.

Since there are only a few examples that Hwang Jiho knows of, and there’s no way that he’d know about the existence of the PMH game, his reasoning won’t hit the exact truth.

However, Hwang Jiho was getting really close to it.

“…Jo Euishin is the benefactor of the Tiger Clan. Are we allowed to dig up his personal information like this if he doesn’t want to reveal it?”

The Red Tiger said so timidly.

As expected, the Red Tiger was a true nobleman compared to Hwang Jiho.

Hwang Jiho replied with a smile.

“Hahaha! I have Jo Euishin’s permission. He said something to me during the time he discovered the identity of my alter ego. He said ‘It’s no fun if I say it myself.’”

What did he just say?

Hwang Jiho imitated my tone of voice when he quoted what I said.

If he didn’t look like an elementary school student right now, the head of the Tiger Clan would’ve been in serious trouble.

If the high school student Hwang Jiho or the old man version of him imitated me, I would’ve cursed very loudly in front of them all.

Anyway, he took those words as me giving him permission?

‘That’s not what I meant…’

The Red Tiger looked at my face and released a deep sigh, as if he had read my mind.

“Please don’t forget that Jo Euishin is our benefactor, Yellow Tiger.”

“Hahaha! How could I ever forget that?”

The Red Tiger’s persuasion worked and we talked about a different topic other than my light skill.

As my body relaxed, Olmu showed me some aegyo as if comforting me for my hard work.

* * *

I took a walk with Olmu and White Tiger back to my dorm.

The weather was still warm even though it was already mid-September.

The sun was already setting, but I was still worried that the ground would be too hot for Olmu’s paws.

Fortunately, Olmu seems to be very happy as he ran wildly.

It seemed not so long ago when White Tiger would have to warn Olmu to be careful because he might fall, but now, this little angel can handle himself very well.

‘There something I want to ask White Tiger.’

Perhaps because of Hwang Jiho’s interrogation, the game has been on my mind a lot and there are things that I want to ask.

The White Tiger appears in the game almost from the very beginning, but it took a while for him to get to know Ahn Dain and Joo Soohyuk.

The White Tiger and the two title heroes would run into each other several times.

However, it took a long time for them to formally get to know one another.

‘The White Tiger usually works alone. So, whenever Red Tiger and Hwang Jiho would accompany Joo Soohyuk, they’d rarely meet.’

In the game, White Tiger and Joo Soohyuk meet for the first time during the summer vacation after the first semester of the first grade.

Among the quests carried out by Joo Soohyuk during the vacation, he encounters White Tiger in the process of purifying the remains left in a garden of royal lineage.

Joo Soohyuk recognizes White Tiger as part of the royal lineage, but White Tiger disappeared without saying anything to him.

He knows that White Tiger wasn’t a villain, but Joo Soohyuk was confused about White Tiger’s identity.

‘I can just leave it alone, but I think I want to confirm it.’

I thought I could just fix it easily if ever a misunderstanding arises.

It would surely be weird for me to mention White Tiger to Joo Soohyuk, so I’m going to do the opposite.

“Did you happen to run into a dual sword player in the boundaries of Eungwang District last month?”

The White Tiger, who was looking ahead as we walked, turned his head and looked down at me.

As usual, his indifferent eyes were devoid of warmth.

“No.”

Joo Soohyuk accomplished his quests exactly like he did in the game, but he didn’t run into White Tiger?

Maybe it’s because the White Tiger stays in the mansion more often with his friends than in the game?

If White Tiger and Joo Soohyuk don’t recognize each other, we might encounter some difficulties down the road.

I might have to step up and build the bridge between them myself.

White Tiger added something.

“There was no issue so I had no reason to go there.”

What does he mean?

It is true that Joo Soohyuk resolved everything on his own so there really wasn’t any problem.

‘He speaks in such a knowing tone… As if he knew that there was a problem but his help wasn’t needed.’

My thoughts were soon interrupted.

Woof woof!

Olmu barked brightly and ran in a different direction from the dormitory.

White Tiger followed Olmu’s lead.

Although Eungwang High was a big space, there’s no way that those two would be lost inside the campus

Thinking that it was strange, I decided to ask.

“Where are you going?”

“Didn’t you say there was something you wanted to test by a match?”

I’ve definitely said that before.

That was the day the typhoon hit Korea.

However, White Tiger suggested that we play chess that day instead of a battle, and I agreed.

“Let’s try it out today.”

As expected of my main playable character.

The little angel led the way toward the Silver Hall.

* * *

In the Silver Hall, at the central battle room.

White Tiger stood under the painted night sky.

Swoosh!

With the sound of a sword being drawn, the White Tiger’s light skill was activated and the White Fang appeared.

“Draw your weapon, Jo Euishin.”

I took out a weapon item card.

I would’ve drawn the Sangbosimgeumpa usually, but today was different.

What I had in my hand was the transparent item card, “The Fate of the Unknown.”

“Is that what you wanted to test?”

“Yes.”

With my short answer, the White Tiger lifted the White Fang.

Fwaa!

The White Fang disappeared, and the White Tiger was now barehanded.

He’s not taking out the Sangbosimgeumpa either.

Does he intend to fight me with his bare hands?

“I don’t know what’s going to happen either, so I think it’s better if you draw a weapon.”

I warned him, but White Tiger just looked at the item card and my hand.

“Test what you want to test.”

That means he had no intention of taking out a weapon.

Does he not feel any threat from this transparent item card?

‘If something happens, he would have to activate his light skill.’

After a few moments, I used my energy wave to actualize the card.

Fwaaaa…!