RE: Player again

309

[Chapter 099] [A Decision Without Reversal (2)]

Rice cakes you can't eat are just rice cakes in a picture after all.

Ha-yang and Soo-bin were exclaiming in admiration at each exhibited relic, but Eun-ha just had an indifferent face.

"Iron sword with gold and silver inlay? Boss, isn't that really cool?"

Academy students could enter the basement where relics belonging to the Inheon grade were stored for field trip purposes.

Eun-ha who had entered a storage room corresponding to the Chungmu grade in his previous life didn't feel much emotion, but other students seemed different.

Unlike the exhibition hall right above, mana could be seen with the naked eye without having to try to see it.

The mana permeating the Inheon storage room was that full of energy, and the exhibited relics were also emitting extraordinary energy.

The sword Eun-hyeok pointed to was also creating an atmosphere that naturally drew the eye.

"The four-edged sword is known to have been made in the Joseon Dynasty to cut evil spirits and ward off disasters. I had only heard stories, but it was stored here."

"It seems well-maintained too? It looks like it could be used as a device right away without any problems."

Min-ho and Eun-hyeok who handle swords.

When Eun-ha showed an indifferent reaction, Eun-hyeok conversed with Min-ho who was nearby.

The two who had just been exclaiming in admiration were now putting their heads together discussing the sword.

You'll end up breaking the sword if you try to face monsters with that?

Eun-ha quickly passed by several four-edged swords hanging on the wall.

The sword made since the Joseon Dynasty did contain mana befitting that much history.

However, swords made long ago may have tremendous power contained, but they didn't have a vessel that could fully exert that power.

The flow of time is unbeatable.

Rather than weakening that power, it was better to use relics as materials to make new weapons.

It was also the reason Players use firearms rather than bows, and modern swords rather than swords with long histories.

The Inheon grade is good material for making devices too, but...

Rendering meritorious service to the country was unexpectedly difficult.

It was extremely rare to receive even the Inheon grade without good reason.

But Eun-ha who achieved merit reaching Chungmu in his previous life had very high standards for viewing.

The artifact obtained from the academy dungeon recently was comparable to the Chungmu grade.

Moreover, artifacts easily found in Uijeongbu far surpassed the power of Inheon.

"Eun-ha. Are you not interested in things like that? Other kids are all... Ah...!"

That's when it happened.

Eun-ha nimbly raised his arm sensing movement approaching him from behind.

At that very moment, Choi Ga-in who was running to hug his arm lost her balance and almost fell forward.

Choi Ga-in who barely prevented herself from falling glared at him.

"What, why."

"...No. It would've been nice if you caught me..."

Most who received her gaze lowered their eyes.

Or bowed their heads.

But Eun-ha asked curtly.

Choi Ga-in didn't like his behavior, but had no choice but to swallow her complaints.

Just muttering as if deliberately for him to hear.

Of course, Eun-ha pretended not to hear.

Knowing Choi Ga-in wouldn't act tyrannically towards him as long as she wanted something from him.

"Hey, you know... I heard that you've been getting a lot of engagement proposals lately?"

"...See."

"Huh? What?" "Nothing. But why?" "Isn't that annoying?"

Han Seo-hyeon's protection disappeared from this year.

As a result, people trying to somehow form connections inside and outside the academy had been making some proposals to him or his family.

Because of that, Eun-ha had been very irritated lately.

Especially things like political marriages.

"I could solve that for you." "How could you?"

Eun-ha urged Choi Ga-in who was following him closely to speak.

Choi Ga-in's eyes sparkled.

Her intentions were obvious.

"You can get engaged to me. Or become my exclusive. Then I can block it all for you."

Sure enough, as expected.

Eun-ha thought Choi Ga-in was amazing for openly courting him while students were passing by.

But that was that.

Even if her behavior was bold, there was no reason he had to accept it.

"Yeah, I'll decline." "...No, why!?"

"I don't have thoughts of meeting anyone yet."

"This isn't meeting, it's engagement. I won't bother you."

"That or this is the same thing."

In his previous life, On Taeyang took Choi Ga-in as his first wife and gained the power of Galaxy Group.

Eun-ha himself was also able to form connections with Galaxy Group by referencing On Taeyang.

If he could recruit Galaxy Group, which maintained 1st place domestically until he who was died, he could easily change the future.

Also, he might be able to control Choi Ga-in's personality.

However, symbiosis with Galaxy also meant empowering Galaxy.

How was it in his previous life?

Though Sirius Group barely kept up with Galaxy Group, Galaxy Group was still dominant.

Han Seo-yeon, the 3rd generation chairman of Sirius Group, was obsessed with bringing down YH, while Choi Jung-hoon, the 3rd generation chairman of Galaxy Group, devoted his efforts to making Korea Galaxy's empire.

"I'll think about it later. And I prefer getting to know each other slowly."

"That means you want to get to know me slowly, right? I knew you also..."

"So if Galaxy Group proposes engagement to my father, I'll be very disappointed. Got it?"

"...Huh...?"

"Then I should just get engaged to someone else. I like getting to know very slowly, but if Galaxy Group says they don't like it..."

"Th-There's absolutely no way that will happen! I promise, I absolutely won't bother you Eun-ha!" "Really? Then I'll be watching."

What he desired was just one thing.

For Ha Baek-ryeon to spread her will without receiving any checks.

Extremely, a future where Ha Baek-ryeon's dictatorship is realized.

In such a world, Galaxy Group's power shouldn't be dominant.

Even if all groups combined could check Ha Baek-ryeon, he didn't want to leave the possibility of one group overwhelming Ha Baek-ryeon's influence.

A dictatorship by Ha Baek-ryeon is welcome.

But he would never welcome a dictatorship by anyone other than her.

Remove seeds that can be removed, and if seeds can't be removed, hinder their growth.

"But can I tell this story to other kids?"

"Spread it widely if possible. I was getting a bit annoyed because some kids keep clinging to me." "Those despicable girls! Okay, good! I'll block all the foxes approaching you from now on!"

He coincidentally obtained a scapegoat.

He raised the corners of his mouth watching Choi Ga-in walk away with light steps.

He had no intention of getting engaged to Choi Ga-in.

His engagement to her meant, in other words, that he would go under Galaxy Group.

It was physiologically horrifying too...

But he would do it if necessary.

However, it was better to keep her alive until her usefulness dropped than to get engaged to her.

Because Choi Ga-in was a harm that made Galaxy Group suffer.

If left alone, she would continue to tarnish the group, if left alone, she would continue to act tyrannically.

She was the perfect weapon for lowering Galaxy Group's influence.

If he could use Choi Ga-in to check Galaxy Group, there would be no greater benefit.

"Eun-ha..."

"Huh, why?"

He dropped the annoying bean paste.

Eun-ha who returned to his friends turned his head to Ha-yang looking at him with anxious eyes.

"Why did you call?"

"...You don't need to go that far. I may not be as good as Seo-hyeon unni, but I can do somewhat well too."

"I know."

"But why...?"

Ha-yang seemed to have heard the conversation he just had with Choi Ga-in too.

Ha-yang with a gloomy face opened her mouth hesitantly.

Eun-ha nodded calmly.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Ha-yang's skills at all.

Nevertheless, the reason for putting bean paste at the front was just one─

"─Why do you want to get cursed at? She said she'll get cursed at instead. You just have to watch." "...Don't stretch my face. Everyone's watching."

"Who cares if people see."

"I'm a direct descendant too, you know?"

"Yeah, sorry."

Eun-ha pulled Ha-yang's cheeks while playing around.

Ha-yang who pulled away his hands rubbed her swollen cheeks.

Soon she looked up at him.

Their eyes met.

"...More than half of what's bothering you now is because of engagement, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Then if you get engaged to someone else, that problem won't come up anymore." "Right, it would."

A world destroyed once where second wives openly exist.

But even though times have changed, there was still a strong perception that wives other than the first wife were concubines.

People from politics and business circles with strong pride wouldn't push their daughters onto someone who has a fiancée.

But as he resolved last time, Eun-ha wanted to decide carefully about his political marriage.

He wouldn't hesitate if necessary, but he didn't want to use it if possible.

Because he didn't know how the future would change.

Above all, whoever becomes his spouse would surely become unhappy.

"...Then..."

Ha-yang grabbed his collar.

Jung Ha-yang opening and closing her mouth trying to say something.

He quietly looked down at her.

"...I can also─"

"It's okay."

─I can do it too.

Eun-ha stretched her cheeks with both hands this time before she could say those words.

Her soft cheeks stretched just like rice cakes.

"You don't need to worry too much, Ha-yang."

"But..."

"I'm really grateful you're worried about me, but it's unnecessary meddling. Do you think I'll be swayed by those guys?"

"That's not it..."

"If that's not it, what is it? Is there another reason?"

"......"

Ha-yang might actually be a living being made of rice cakes.

Eun-ha expressed curiosity while touching her who stretched with every pull.

Ha-yang had a blank expression.

"...It's strange. Even Eun-ae's cheeks don't stretch like this..."

"I'm not joking right now."

"Sorry, sorry."

Jung Ha-yang who sharply pulled away Eun-ha's hands while furrowing her brows.

Eun-ha backed away from his seat while joking around.

Just then, students started moving to the next location.

He mixed in among them and moved away from her.

He found Cha Eun-woo in the procession far away.

He exchanged glances with Eun-woo sending worried looks while ignoring Choi Ga-in waving her hand.

She who probably heard exaggerated news from Choi Ga-in was sending worried looks.

But what she's worried about will never happen.

Eun-ha sent the intention not to worry just with his facial expression.

Whether Cha Eun-woo understood or not was unknown.

It didn't matter anyway.

☆

"Among those of you who looked around the museum, some may be curious how amazing artifacts made by processing relics as raw materials are. So we decided to specially show you who visited from the academy."

After the tour of the Inheon storage room ended, the curator guided the students to a space furthest inside the storage room.

A space with no furniture visible.

Just rectangular grooves carved into the floor at regular intervals.

"This is a space where those who received the Inheon Medal can test the power of cultural properties they will take out. Besides this, spaces for testing cultural properties are equipped on each floor."

People who received medals from the Fairy could test relics within a set number of times.

Of course, if the relic broke while using its power, they automatically had to take that relic.

The curator who finished that explanation soon showed devices brought by another employee.

Two swords.

Words were engraved in gold on the blade surface.

"These are devices made for testing, processed using the four-edged sword as raw material. Only those who can enter this Inheon storage room can experience test production devices."

""""......"""""

The Inheon storage room they couldn't have entered if not academy students.

Moreover, it was very difficult to receive even the Inheon Medal.

The students who knew that fact well swallowed their saliva, blinded by the devices.

"Of course, not all of you can use them. Even if devices made from the four-edged sword are failures, even nameless swords clearly have that much value. I'm thinking of letting just a few people experience them here. Who wants to try?"

""""Me!!!!""""

The curator who had been explaining smoothly like flowing water suddenly changed the topic.

Nevertheless, students who reacted quickly raised their hands.

"Noona, me! Please look over here! I'm here!"

There were so many competitors.

Jin Parang raised his hand and jumped up and down while students were making a commotion.

It wasn't just Jin Parang.

"Me! I'll try once!"

Eun-hyeok squeezed through students and came forward.

"...Me."

Min-ho buried among students quietly spoke up.

But only those who usually followed him understood what he was saying.

In the end, they had to raise their hands saying "Min-ho says he wants to do it!" on his behalf.

"All of you be quiet! We'll pick ourselves, so just stand still with your hands raised!"

Eventually the instructors had to direct traffic.

The instructors asked the curator how many people to pick, then decided to pick at least two from each class.

And Eun-ha raised his hand seizing the quiet gap.

"Huh? You too, Eun-ha?"

"Yes, I want to try too." "It's unexpected for you to join in on this, Eun-ha... Kid, so you had romance too. Okay, fine. You go from our class."

Eun-ha's homeroom teacher smiled slightly.

You're a kid after all.

He who rubbed the bridge of his nose with his finger made that face and raised his hand for Eun-ha.

Fortunately, there was no backlash among classmates about Eun-ha going.

The problem was that students from other classes complained it was unfair to blindly pick Noh Eun-ha.

They knew Eun-ha's skills very well too.

But it's not fair.

Also, Eun-ha with such skills might be able to come to the Inheon storage room after becoming a Player, so should we give him a chance?

All sorts of reasons popped up.

That's how bad the evaluation of him was.

I didn't know last year...

It's definitely grown.

In fact, the reason Eun-ha applied was to confirm this.

How much dissatisfaction they harbored to now openly express complaints, when until last year they couldn't even properly speak to him.

Signs started appearing as Han Seo-hyeon left for Japan.

And the signs became more active as he crushed those bullying Yoo Do-joon in front of students.

Among other things too.

If it was intentional, it was intentional.

I didn't know there would be this many though.

If you're upset, get stronger yourselves.

Eun-ha ignored their complaints and entered the center holding a sword.

As the curator waved his hand, barriers rose from the grooves carved in the floor.

A cubic protection magic.

The male student who entered holding the other sword looked up at the protection magic separating spaces as if it was amazing.

Then he looked at Eun-ha.

"Eun-ha, you know who I am, right?"

A tone as if he would have heard his name somewhere.

What was felt from the opponent was confidence, admiration and jealousy, a desire to be acknowledged.

"Let's get along well from now on. I'm thinking of aspiring to be a hunter, so we'll

"Who are you?" "......"

However, Eun-ha had no intention of acknowledging the male student.

Because all he had was confidence.

Because he was blindly jealous without being able to see himself objectively.

Because his skills seemed inadequate compared to his desire to be acknowledged.

"Forget it, just pick up the sword."

"...Ha..."

The opponent sighed while moving his shoulders, as if his pride was badly hurt.

The eyes of the opponent who took a stance burned.

Intense hostility moved and in an instant the opponent's sword fell towards Eun-ha.

Not bad?

Eun-ha blocked the sword at first.

It was stronger than expected.

But that was all.

He could gauge his skills just from exchanging a few blows.

His posture wasn't as good as Mok Min-ho.

He wasn't as strong as Choi Eun-hyeok.

He wasn't as fast as Jin Parang.

"What!? Is this all you've got?"

Nevertheless, the opponent looked down on Eun-ha who was just defending, intoxicated by his own power.

Students who didn't like him also criticized Eun-ha from outside the barrier.

"Good! That's how you should do it!"

"Noh Eun-ha was nothing special after all!"

"Just crush him! He's got nothing!"

"Me! I want to try next! Eun-ha, you have to face me next!?"

The reason Eun-ha spent time on a male student whose name he didn't even know was to examine closely if there was any talent he hadn't discovered.

It was also to remember those who harbored hostility towards him.

"Yeah! Swing it there!"

"Aw, what a waste! Why does he keep just swinging. Swordsmanship isn't all about swinging!"

He decided to eventually kill those he judged might have room for rehabilitation among those who would throw the future into chaos.

"Hey, you can't even do that!? Sheesh, I could do better than that!"

"Finish it quickly!"

He vowed to definitely kill the harmful ones who would certainly ruin the future.

""""......"""""

He thought he should keep watching those who quietly sent hostility towards him.

"...Kuk...!"

The assessment was over.

Eun-ha who withdrew his gaze struck away the incoming sword.

"What! Are you tired already!?"

"Hey! What if you fall there!" "Ugh, that idiot... How frustrating!"

Those without eyes wouldn't know.

That the opponent didn't suddenly drop the sword, didn't suddenly fall on his behind.

But those with good eyes knew from the beginning.

The instructors and curator of course.

"Yeah! Noh Eun-ha! So refreshing!"

Jin Parang shouted triumphantly.

"See? Did you think you could beat our boss so easily?"

Choi Eun-hyeok made a fuss as if it was his own doing.

"Is that all? Why don't you try more?" "...Shit, this is really...!"

Mok Min-ho was quietly looking at him.

"...S-Stop... Please stop now..."

"How pathetic."

Eun-ha looked over those who were sending unchanged gazes even though he had changed his stance.

They were all people he had been watching closely or his friends.

"......"

And among them was Hoshimiya Kaede.

Only then could Eun-ha find Hoshimiya Kaede.