Chapter 537: What can’t be changed (11)

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“...”

Yong Jegun stared at Kim Shinrok for a long time.

He seemed to be trying to grasp whether he was real or not.

He didn’t take his eyes off Kim Shinrok, and he barely moved his hand to sip the Longjing tea.

After finally having a sip, Yong Jegun spoke.

“I’m not dreaming.”

Did he have a dream similar to this in Replay?

Yong Jegun smiled brightly.

His cyan eyes were usually wide open, but while he looked at Kim Shinrok, his eyes were bent in a half-moon shape.

At first glance, it could be mistaken for his unique ecstatic smile, but there was no leer in it.

‘I thought he would attack Hwang Jiho like Jeokho did. Or just react violently in general.’

Except for the fact that he used his power to call the magic pearl when he saw Baekho-gun, Yong Jegun seemed relatively calm.

Based on Jeokho’s report, Yong Jegun wished for Kim Shinrok’s revival throughout the year.

Is it because he saw Kim Shinrok, the subject of his wish, right when he woke up?

Yong Jegun seemed to have quickly regained stability.

‘He has time to look around now.’

By the time he emptied the cup of Longjing yea, he was able to take his eyes off Kim Shinrok and grasp the situation.

The people in the room were Kim Shinrok, Jeokho, Baekho-gun, Hwang Jiho, and me.

Yong Jegun checked our faces one by one.

He seemed glad when he saw Jeokho, he was flustered when he saw Baekho-gun.

Soon, he murmured an “Oh.” and then appeared to have understood something.

His expression disappeared when he saw Hwang Jiho, but his usual sly face returned.

‘I guess he doesn’t have very good feelings towards Hwang Jiho.’

And Yong Jegun looked at me last.

He looked at me for a long second, lost in thought.

...Does he not remember me?

Everyone here except me was a familiar face to him from the age of myth, and it wouldn’t be strange for him to not remember me since I didn’t appear in his dream.

But after hearing what followed, it didn’t seem like it.

“I wanted to call you by that name after a long time. Is it okay?”

“What name?”

“The first name that you said to me. I wanted to let my benefactor know your name. I also want to tell him the origin of my name.”

Yong Jegun said something out of the blue to Kim Shinrok.

He wants to tell me Kim Shinrok’s first name?

It’s a relief that Yong Jegun recognizes this world, and me, Jo Euishin.

But I couldn’t understand his train of thought.

At that time, Jeokho, who was watching silently, talked to Kim Shinrok.

“Son, the benefactor doesn’t know the name that I gave you yet. Why don’t you take this opportunity?”

“Jeokho-nim...”

The name must be given by Jeokho, so is it a name that he used from the age of myth?

I don’t know why Yong Jegun wants to tell me that, but it’s obviously a very meaningful name.

Kim Shinrok hesitated for a while.

“...Do as you want.”

“Thanks, Jeho-ah.”

Jeho?

Is that Kim Shinrok’s first name?

It’s very similar to Eunho’s descendant, Eun Jaeho’s name.

That was my first impression, but as I pondered on the name Jeho, I got something on my mind.

‘Hang on, it overlaps with Yong Jegun’s name... does it have something to do with that?’

As I pondered, Yong Jegun’s following words solved my question.

“The first name that Shinrok used was Jeho. Je means red silk, Ho means tiger. It suits Jeho’s hair, doesn’t it?”

“He said something like that when I told him I want to come to his dorm to thank him...”

“...”

Those words made it difficult for me to say anything else.

Baekho-gun looked like his usual silent self, but the other tigers were looking at me with a similar expression.

As if he didn’t hear what I just said, Yong Jegun addressed me as his benefactor.

“I want to fulfill a wish of the benefactor.”

I felt choked up.

A wish?

Yong Jegun, the Cintamani, volunteers to grant my wish?

I don’t know about a minuscule wish, but If I say something big, Yong Jegun’s soul and body would be shaven.

Did he forget that I was the one who put him through that nightmare?

I don’t know how someone as smart as Yong Jegun can’t think of that.

It was clear that Replay had a huge impact on his mind.

While I was rendered speechless, Yong Jegun continued.

“You already fulfilled mine, Euishin-ah. So I’ll grant your wish.”

I almost got angry at Yong Jegun’s sudden offer, but he spoke so kindly.

Is he infinitely glad that his friend is alive?

Yong Jegun waited for me to say a wish, and the tigers watched without stopping him.

Shouldn’t Kim Shinrok, his friend, interject at least?

However, Kim Shinrok hung his head low, looking at his cup of tea as he feigned ignorance.

In the end, I had no choice but to refuse.

“...It’s alright.”

“I’ll keep bothering you though, Euishin-ah. Is that fine with you?”

The words chilled my heart.

He’s my playable character, but being bothered by Yong Jegun must be incredibly annoying.

Fortunately, Kim Shinrok stopped him.

“Don’t bother the Tiger Clan’s benefactor.”

“Hahaha, I’m kidding.”

It didn’t sound like a joke at all.

I decided to take care of it quickly.

“Then I will make a wish. Please explain what you saw in the nightmare.”

“That’s invalid. I was gonna tell you even if you didn’t ask, Euishin-ah.”

“Then can you explain why you called the Cintamani just now?”

“I was going to explain that too, so that doesn’t count.”

Yong Jegun wasn’t satisfied unless it was a good wish.

Now that it’s come to this, I should write one down as soon as I can.

“Tell me what happened in the nightmare first.”

“What you saw was a world without Jo Euishin. It’s called Replay.”

“I see.”

Yong Jegun understood Hwang Jiho’s words.

Looking at his reaction, I think he expected it.

Yong Jegun looked at Baekho-gun.

“I’ll answer Euishin’s second question first. On the day I died in the Replay, Baekho-ssi was outside of Eungwang High’s boundary. The day of the Christmas Event.”

I knew that.

Baekho-gun attempted to destroy the boundary that day.

I lured Yong Jegun to the place where Baekho-gun was.

“So the moment I saw Baekho-ssi, I thought I could survive and head out of Eungwang High. I was flustered because I didn’t intend to go out, so I hurriedly called the Cintamani. I was sure my wish wouldn’t come true if I left Eungwang High.”

What does Yong Jegun not wanting to go out have to do with calling the Cintamani?

Only Jeokho lamented as if he understood right away.

Yong Jegun made a shackling remark.

“If I think about it carefully, I can’t have survived. My main body, the Cintamani, was shattered and fell into the hands of the Dragon King’s shamans.”

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