Chapter 561: Test result (11)

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Hwangmyeong Mansion, at Eunho’s annex.

I entered the front door and Eunho, in the appearance of Cheon Eunha, was waiting.

“Welcome. You suffered much in your final exams.”

I didn’t really do much, the same goes for the old man beside me.

Hwang Jiho succeeded in securing 40 points in all the subjects without difficulty.

‘I’m struggling with something else.’

Eunho smiled as if he read my mind.

“You helped your classmates, Euishin hyung. Aside from that, you’re preparing for the festival and Christmas, and some other things you did without feeling like you need to tell us.”

I wonder why Eunho, who only stays in the mansion, knew so much.

Eunho’s words continued.

“The results haven’t been announced yet, but you’re definitely after Ahn Dain and Joo Soohyuk, right? You haven’t been first place yet, Euishin hyung.”

“That’s what I saw in the middle of the class. Although there’s still double-checking, raising objections, and correcting grades, the top ranking isn’t likely to change.”

Hwang Jiho said some unnecessary stuff.

That old man doesn’t seem interested in his grades seeing that he’s sticking to 40 points, but why does he care so much about other people’s grades?

“I see. He’s behind the two again this time... But perhaps he’s doing it on purpose?”

“Professor Gong Cheonghwon’s General Enemy Class was difficult. It’s hard to perfect the test since the scope is wide.”

I simply answered based on facts.

Professor Gong Cheonghwon’s class boasts a vast range of scope and wicked difficulty.

The final exam was extremely difficult as it included what we learned during the midterm and even basic pre-class level.

Students who were tricked by Gong Cheonghwon’s gentle appearance applied in the class and fled one after another after finding out how difficult the class was, leaving only the strongmen behind.

‘There’s a lot to learn, but it’s hard to get a high score.’

Leaving class usually means that a student has to study on their own through books, but Gong Cheonghwon provides specially recorded videos.

I wanted to continue taking his classes, if possible.

“There would’ve been three top-scorers among the freshmen if Jo Euishin got a perfect score in that class. What a shame.”

“Euishin hyung doesn’t look disappointed at all though.”

How can I take first place when there are geniuses Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain in our batch?

I could rise to their level, but I didn’t want to.

The top-scorer title suited the two.

“He looks satisfied with that position.”

“His grades aren’t so bad right now, but it’s a bit unfamiliar to see him not being on top.”

“Oh, was Jo Euishin always the top scorer in that world?”

Eunho and Hwang Jiho started talking about unnecessary things.

Didn’t we come here to talk to Yong Jegun and Jeokho today?

Both tigers lost themselves in talking about the past.

‘I guess Yong Jegun’s not here yet.’

Only Baekho-gun and Jeokho were in the room.

Baekho-gun nodded at me quietly, greeting me welcome.

Seeing Baekho-gun while the two tigers talked their hearts out gave peace to my mind.

“Welcome, it’s been a while.”

“I’m glad you came back safely.”

It hasn’t been that long, but it must’ve felt like forever since it’s been a long while since Jeokho left Korea.

Hwang Jiho greeted Jeokho warmly.

Perhaps because Kim Shinrok wasn’t around, Jeokho reacted more bluntly than usual.

“Is Yong Jegun not here yet? Did he go see Cheongryong?”

“It’s been a while since he left Korea. The dragons are on great terms so talking to each other through their waterscape isn’t enough, especially for Cheongryong. He’ll be here soon.”

Yong Jegun must’ve stopped by the Red Lion team building.

Yeom Junyeol also expressed disappointment that Yong Jegun doesn’t come with him to school the past few days.

...A black pearl?

A black pearl in my hands, created by Hwangryong, is most likely SSR-rank and above.

My head suddenly hurt.

I wondered if it was too late to refuse.

“The Dragon Clan’s debt to Euishin hyung cannot be compared to a pearl. Think of it as a souvenir.”

Eunho drove the point before I could refuse.

“Of course. That’s what I said, it’s a souvenir. If Euishin wants, I’d pull a pillar from the Dragon Palace. It’s just a pillar so I’m sure Hwangryong will do something about it before the palace collapses.”

I don’t really need a pillar from the Dragon Palace.

I decided to draw a line.

“No need for that.”

“Really? What a shame. Then instead of a pillar, accept the black pearl.”

Before I realized what was happening, the black pearl given by Hwangryong was mine.

Hwang Jiho quickly changed the subject before I could contest again.

“Then let’s hear about what happened at the Dragon Palace. Report first, Jeoho.”

“Alright.”

Reports were given about what transpired at the palace.

I couldn’t cut off Jeokho’s words for this.

In the end, I drank tea without saying anything until Jeokho and Yong Jegun finished their report.

Eunho smiled and put the tea in the middle, and I felt like I was beaten by the tigers and the dragon.

‘It’s more important to hear what happened at the palace.’

Thinking so, I decided to concentrate on their reports.

There was a lot of information that I couldn’t miss, like the failed candidates that Yong Jegun and Jeokho met at the palace, the absent Dragon King, and others.

The two’s reports contained many pieces of information not available in PMH.

“I have drawn the structure of the Dragon Palace as I remember it.”

Jeokho opened his device and floated a map of the Dragon Palace.

It was a complex structure, looking like a three-dimensional maze.

While admiring the size of the palace, Yong Jegun added something.

“Hwangryong can manipulate the palace’s structure, so there’s a possibility that this would change. Since Jeokho-ssi, an outsider, visited, he’ll surely reconstruct it.”

“Is it possible to increase the number of rooms or the length of corridors?”

“If it’s just Hwangryong’s power alone, then no. If the size of the palace is going to be changed, it needs the Dragon King’s power.”

“Then we have to think of this map as kind of a jigsaw puzzle.”

The map is a puzzle whose pieces can be reassembled anytime.

As I was memorizing the structure, Jeokho spoke.

“Why didn’t you tell me that, Yong Jegun?”

“Which one?”

“What Hwangryong said about your eyes.”

Jeokho had been in a low mood since he returned.

I thought it was because he hasn’t seen his son in a long while, but looking at him now, I guess Yong Jegun is the reason.

When Jeokho was about to speak, Yong JEgun looked out the door of the room and tried to stop Jeokho.

“Wait, Jeokho-ssi...”

I sensed the presence as well.

Someone was approaching the living room.

Despite Yong Jegun’s dissuasion, Jeokho continued.

“Hwangryong said that if Yong Jegun performs a few more heroic acts and miracles as the Cintamani, he won’t be able to hide his deity. Soon, Yong Jegun might become a higher being.

Slide...

The automatic door opened while Jeokho was speaking.

The door fully opened, yet Kim Shinrok stood still.

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