Chapter 700: Mask (4)

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Residential area, at the Jiikhoe Hall.

Numerous students were gathered at the all-night Christmas Party.

Even though there was a party last night as well, more people were present.

Students who went to bed early in preparation for the Christmas Day event also stayed up all night, and the teachers also joined the party.

Among them are Class 3-0 who were in the middle of their rampage about searching for the universe’s energy.

They planned to do an overnight search at first, but thanks to Sung Siwan’s persuasion, they agreed to a ceasefire during the party.

“Are you still going to search for it tomorrow, Professor?”

“Of course. My weak and cute students fought hard while I was away, so I’m going to give them a reward.”

Ham Geunhyung asked with a complicated expression, and Im Yeonhwa replied with pride.

Woo Kihwan, who was keeping an eye on Im Yeonhwa in fear of her changing her mind, spoke as well.

“We’ve beaten up several royal lineages! We’re not weak and cute!”

“Well, royal lineage is royal lineage. They were quite weak though, and you outnumber them by a lot. If I were the opponent, the fog would’ve disappeared in one blow and all of you would’ve been subdued at once.”

“Geuhk!”

If Uma remained or if Apis’ incarnation didn’t go after Jo Euishin, the students would’ve been defeated.

Im Yeonhwa once cleared up the Gye Idam’s mist, and so her words were persuasive.

Woo Kihwan, the described weak and cute student, trembled with humiliation.

The Jiikhoe watched anxiously, afraid that Class 3-0 might go out of control again.

Fortunately, Class 2-0 was playing well with Jegal who was dressed up, while Class 1-0 was disappointed at Jo Euishin’s absence but nonetheless enjoyed Christmas.

Ahn Dain, who was looking at Class 1-0’s dynamics, was relieved.

‘I was going to help Jiikhoe if something came up, but I don’t think there would be any.’

It was the worst Christmas for her as her parents persistently contacted her, but as time went by, only good things happened.

The date with Joo Soohyuk wasn’t good at first, but everything worked out well after Jo Euishin invited them to the newspaper department’s exhibition.

Their conversation was endless as they looked back on the past year through photos.

As a bonus, she also received a present from Moon Saeron.

— There are a lot of pictures of you, so I’ll give you this original copy as a gift!

Ahn Dain and Joo Soohyuk were photographed in the hundreds of pictures.

More than anything, the visual proof that they were in the same space warmed Ahn Dain’s heart.

Before parting ways, the two exchanged Christmas presents.

Joo Soohyuk handed over a bookmark of pressure-pressed camelia flowers and daffodils that he made himself, and Ahn Dain handed over an old edition of the book that Joo Soohyuk wanted to read.

‘I’m glad Soohyuk liked the gift. He gave me a nice present too… It felt like we were on a Christmas date.’

The truth is, the whole Eungwang High thought it was a date, with the exception of the two who only thought of it as a friendly walk.

The two ended their date, not holding hands once, but it was of great significance that they spent time together on a special day.

The good things for Ahn Dain didn’t stop there.

‘It’s a little late, but Professor Kim Shinrok is here too. I heard he might not be able to come because he’s busy, but I’m glad he’s here.’

Kim Shinrok came to the Jiikhoe Hall right after leaving the mansion.

As soon as he appeared, students flocked to say Christmas greetings as if they were waiting for him.

Around Kim Shinrok were sophomores and seniors and the freshman class that he’s in charge of.

Although Kim Shinrok didn’t perform as splendidly as the manager-level teachers, he was popular with students because of his modesty.

He greeted the students with a gentle face and then excused himself when he got a message from his device.

Meanwhile, Ahn Dain headed toward the coffee dispenser to fill her empty cup.

“Dain-ah, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“…”

Kim Shinrok, who she thought already left, approached and talked to her.

She was flustered as she didn’t feel a single sign of his presence.

‘Professor is a descendant of the Tiger Clan and Bear Clan. He must’ve been hiding his strength so far.’

Kim Shinrok was exquisitely hiding himself behind one of the pillars of the hall.

Ahn Dain judged that they were to talk about something that others shouldn’t hear.

“Yes, where should we go?”

“Let’s go to the Silver hall. There’s an air shuttle waiting at the back door.”

Kim Shinrok looked rather urgent and confused.

It was strange that he suddenly called a student to the Chairman’s office at night, but Ahn Dain decided to follow without a doubt.

Ahn Dain was worried about what might have happened to Kim Shinrok.

‘The school must know that Professor Kim is a descendant. Did he get in trouble because I found out the secret?’

After getting on the air shuttle heading for the Silver Hall, Kim Shinrok, who had been quiet all throughout, spoke.

“Dain-ah, I know I’m the one who called you out this late, but even if I’m your teacher, shouldn’t you ask why?”

“I didn’t decide without a hitch. If it were a teacher who I don’t trust as much as you, Professor, I wouldn’t have done the same.”

“I-I see…”

Kim Shinrok was flustered at Ahn Dain’s faithful words.

Yong Jegun would’ve looked ecstatic if he witnessed it, but unfortunately, the dragon was absent,

Ahn Dain was happy to see Kim Shinrok, who’s always made it a point to separate himself from students, like this.

She smiled, and Kim Shinrok began to say something like an excuse.

“We have to go to the Silver Hall but… This is the first time I’ve heard of this… They said they’re waiting for me too…”

“They? There are other people at the Silver Hall aside from the Chairman?”

“The Chairman will be there too but…”

While Kim Shinrok was stumbling over his words, the air shuttle arrived at the Silver Hall.

Hwang Myeongho’s masked secretary greeted them, in their hands was a shopping bag with the logo of Neuru and it looked as if the clothes were procured in a rush.

The secretary immediately led them to the door carved with a tiger — the Chairman’s room.

After the secretary stepped back, Kim Shinrok spoke.

“…I don’t know if I should be here.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I would be reassured if you are there, Professor Kim Shinrok.”

Kim Shinrok came all the way here and tried to retreat, but Ahn Dain dissuaded him.

After much consideration, Kim Shinrok decided to accept his student’s request.

Kim Shinrok knocked and they soon heard a voice from inside.

“Come in.”

He thought Hwang Myeongho or another adult would answer, but the voice sounded young.

It seemed to belong to a student that Ahn Dain also knew.

‘It sounds like Jiho.’

Recalling that Hwang Jiho was a relative of the chairman, Ahn Dain opened the door.

The moment she opened the door, she saw a man and woman dressed in neat suits.

They were standing in a position with a clear view of the door, greeting Ahn Dain.

“Ah…”

Ahn Dain exclaimed without realizing it.

Two people with eyes containing sadness, sorry, tenderness, and joy, looked very much like Ahn Dain.

The moment she saw their eyes, Ahn Dain felt the emotions that she’d suppressed in her heart for a very long time.

It wasn’t just because they looked like her.

She didn’t know why, but Ahn Dain felt like she had been waiting to see their faces.

“Are you.”

Ahn Dain paused in a hurry.

She managed to swallow a question that was pushed up without brakes.

Ahn Dain, who never lost her cool head even in battles, prevented the word “parents” from coming out.

She knew that her parents were indeed her biological parents because of the numerous paternity checks.

However, looking at the two people before her, all common sense left and the questions and longing she forcibly ignored began to soar.

If someone asked her “Why?” she wouldn’t have any answer aside from “Just because.”

Looking at the two’s faces, it was difficult for Ahn Dain to control her mind.

Drop, drop…

Just as Ahn Dain was looking at the two, tears began to pour out of the couple’s eyes.

Seeing their tears, she couldn’t take it any longer.

Her gut was telling her “Yes.”

Eventually, the words that she suppressed ignored her rational mind and leaked out.

“Mom, dad…?”

The moment she said it, Ahn Dain’s vision became blurred.

Her eyes welled with tears.

She couldn’t see, but the next moment, she was in the arms of her parents.

Ahn Dain felt a sense of relief that was hard to express at the friendly warmth she had never felt before.

After the relief, she couldn’t doubt it any longer.

“We should’ve protected you…”

“We’re sorry, I’m sorry… You must’ve been waiting all this time…”

Ahn Dain’s parents held her in their arms and kept making apologies.

The pure Ahn Dain began to soothe the two.

“I’ve been longing for you all this time. Can I se your face?”

Ahn Dain couldn’t understand either why she felt the longing, but it was true.

She looked at the two who slowly looked up.

She seemed to cry again, but she smiled to soothe the two whose eyes were swollen from crying.

It was only after the two stopped crying that Ahn Dain grasped the current situation.

Ahn Dain introduced Kim Shinrok who brought her to the hall.

“This is Professor Kim Shinrok. He’s the person I respect the most.”

The couple’s tears calmed down as they listened to Ahn Dain proudly introduce her homeroom teacher.

The longer Ahn Dain spoke, the slower Kim Shinrok’s head went down and his face hidden.

It was only after the long introduction of Kim Shinrok did Ahn Dain realized that Hwang Jiho and Jo Euishin were also in the room.

Hwangho, sitting at the head of the table, looked as if he were a man who lived thousands of years and Jo Euishin was watching the scene with a suspicious look.

Jo Euishin’s expression remained until the couple introduced him.

“He is the benefactor who found you and us.”

The suspiciousness suddenly disappeared from Jo Euishin’s face at the word benefactor.

Instead, he tried to change the topic with a subtle expression.

However, even Hwangho, in the form of Hwang Jiho, openly called him a benefactor, and Jo Euishin had no escape.

‘Yeah, I feel like Euishin saved me several times.’

He helped her and Joo Soohyuk in talking, and she’s indebted to Jo Euishin countless times.

Perhaps Jo Euishin has continued to help her even without her knowledge.

No, Ahn Dain firmly believed it.

“Thank you, Euishin-ah.”

“…Don’t mention it, I didn’t do anything.”

Despite the brief thank you from Ahn Dain, Jo Euishin looked like he received a great reward.

At his expression, Ahn Dain reaffirmed that Jo Euishin was her benefactor.

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