Chapter 591: First Christmas (2)
In terms of the number of people currently on campus, it will be less than Christmas Eve in PMH.
‘There were people who had to come to school to participate because of the tribute in PMH.’
There was no reason to do that now, so Eungwang High students moved as they originally scheduled.
There were quite a few students who spent their Christmas with their families, while some did outside volunteer work.
‘A lot of the teachers are gone too.’
Some teachers were also absent in PMH.
Choi Pyeondeuk.
Ham Geunhyung and Im Yeonhwa.
In PMH, they went on an overseas business trip on Christmas Eve.
‘I thought it was just Choi Pyeondeuk’s trick, but it was a business trip that was difficult to get out of.’
The overseas business trip was related to the Korea-China-Japan youth exchange exhibition.
An international player professor forum will be held, and officials from the three countries will meet.
Looking at the activities left by Choi Pyeondeuk in PMH, it seems that he played a big role to thwart those professors.
Still, Eungwang High had to send reputable teachers on that business trip.
In the end, I had no choice but to accept the loss of manpower.
‘If all the department-level teachers were in school…’
There was nothing I could do but be disappointed.
In any case, compared to the small number of participants, the event was incomparably livelier than in PMH.
Carols were ringing everywhere, and children were dressed in Santa costumes.
I was standing out as I wore the school uniform and duffel coat.
Fortunately, there was someone else who was dressed unusually beside me.
“Hey.”
While heading to Class 1-0’s classroom, I encountered Yoo Sanghoon.
The brief greeting made me doubt my ears.
He could’ve at least greeted Merry Christmas.
I replied with one word as well and we continued chatting.
According to him, Class One will edit and screen videos of their preparation process for the treasure-hunting event and the showdown they had with Yong Jegun.
‘Maybe people think that they can’t fight against Yong Jegun again.’
If Class 1-1 prepares for a rematch, Yong Jegun would be very happy to comply.
They can’t do that on Christmas though.
I grasped the dynamics of Class One from Yoo Sanghoon’s concise explanation.
However, while we were talking about Christmas, Yoo Sanghoon came up with a sudden jab.
“You were suspicious throughout the festival. What are you up to?”
“What?”
I was busy preparing for Christmas after the festival.
I came to school regularly, but there were many things I did on campus.
Although I feigned ignorance, Yoo Sanghoon’s wit sensed many things.
“I saw you coming out of the principal’s office a few days ago. And then you stopped by the Student Council room. You asked Yoo Sanghee-ssi a favor.”
Why does he know and remember all that?
I thought he wasn’t paying attention because he only waved his hand carelessly as he passed by, but he must’ve found my actions suspicious.
No, maybe I was just a little shrewd.
I’ve been asked by my class to continue being suspicious, but I should be less suspicious when I’m on important missions.
I decided to ask.
“How did you know all that?”
“So I’m right then? You asked Yoo Sanghee-ssi a favor.”
Yoo Sanghoon’s words made me feel puzzled.
He’s talking like Yong Jegun!
Since their class extensively studied the professor, he must’ve gotten Yong Jegun’s conversation techniques.
One of the three pieces of information I pretended to know was fake.
I think I’m too relaxed against Yoo Sanghoon.
“I guess you don’t wanna talk about it. Got it.”
I don’t know what he knew, but I decided to stop him before he does anything rash.
“If anything happens, don’t act alone, check the announcements, and follow the instructions of the heads of the autonomous organizations or the teachers and—”
“You’re saying the same things as Yoo Sanghee-ssi. We’ll see.”
While we headed to our respective classrooms, I asked Yoo Sanghoon to be careful again.
However, he gave me a half-hearted answer.
I deeply understood Yoo Sanghee’s feelings when nagging at Yoo Sanghoon.
“Welcome, Euishin-ah! Merry Christmas Eve!”
“You’re here, VP.”
I was welcomed by my classmates wearing reindeer horn headbands as soon as I entered our classroom.
When Min Geurin and I made eye contact, she pulled out a headband from a paper bag and held it out to me.
“I made this one yesterday. Here, it’s yours.”
This is Min Geurin’s own work?
Looking closely at the reindeer horns, it was knot woven with dyed mulberry threads.
Knowing Min Geurin’s personality, she would’ve dyed the threads on her own in colors that encapsulated the Christmas atmosphere.
‘I guess she was guilty that she couldn’t help our class much because she was busy during the festival.’
That’s why Min Geurin prepared such a nice gift.
Inside the paper bag were headbands of various sizes which seem to be for the kids who didn’t come to school.
I was greatly impressed by Min Geurin’s heart and skill and I immediately wore the headband.
“Thanks, I’ll wear it well. Wasn’t it hard making all these on your own?”
“I didn’t make it on my own. Wooram helped me. I suggested using steel wires inside the headband to give shape, but it turned out alright.”
Min Geurin said modestly.
She and Mok Wooram worked on the headbands.
It was hard to imagine the Min Geurin from the beginning of the semester who runs away as soon as she sees a person.
‘I don’t think she needs those AR glasses anymore.’
Maybe Min Geurin already turned off the functions of her AR glasses.
Perhaps she’s only wearing it out of habit.
Anyway, it’s her choice whether to take them off or not, so I decided not to point it out.
“By the way, where’s Mok Wooram?”
“Wooram went to help the string club. I guess it’s taking a lot of time to set up the stage because there are a lot of people missing today.”
I couldn’t see Kwon Lena either, so I guess she’s also busy.
If it’s to help the string club, then the violin craftsman Mok Wooram is the right guy.
‘That means Kwon Lena and Mok Wooram are in the central area.’
Min Geurin, Maeng Hyodon, Saeum of April, and I are in the Class 1-0 classroom.
There were four of us.
Since the number of people is small, we agreed to come early to prepare better.
However, there was almost nothing for us to do since our talented class president prepared everything for the screening.
“Professor Ham Geunhyung has a part though… Can’t he come today?”
“I wanted to take photos wearing reindeer headbands as a class, but what a shame. Let’s take a picture when Wooram and Lena come!”
While we were waiting for Mok Wooram and Kwon Lena, Min Geurin’s device got a call.
Seeing the caller’s name on her device, Min Geurin got excited.
“Oh, it’s a call from Daesok.”
“That’s great. Do a video call so he can see you wearing the reindeer headband!”
“O-okay…”
Min Geurin walked out into the hallway, feeling embarrassed to do a video call in front of our classmates.
Before the automatic door opened, I talked to Min Geurin.
“It’s cold out so don’t go too far.”
Min Geurin nodded.
Min Geurin stopped near the door, fixed her hoodie and the reindeer headband, and went out into the hallway.
Maeng Hyodon said something when Min Geurin left.
“That guy says he’s busy but he’s calling.”
“I guess he wants to keep in touch with Min Geurin that he makes time even if he’s busy. Today’s Christmas Eve after all!”
“Yeah…”
My nerves were all wept outside while Maeng Hyodon and Saeum of April spoke to each other.
I was distracted by Eungwang High’s boundary to be exact.
The place where the First Christmas scenario began was at Eungwang High’s boundary.
And the time the incident broke out was right after the entrance of visitors began.
“People should be coming in by now. Do we need to get ready?”
“They won’t be coming right away. They need to have their passes checked and go through the boundary.”
“Oh, the boundary…”
Maeng Hyodon was convinced by Saeum of April’s words.
On the day Maeng Hyodon escaped from the fight club and went to school for the first time, he personally confirmed the boundary’s power.
Eungwang HIgh let student Maeng Hyodon enter, but not the enemies that were chasing him.
‘The boundary is a powerful shield, but it’s also a powerful prison.’
I watched as the time displayed on the hologram clocks in our classroom changed.
It was time for outsiders to enter EUngwang High.
***
Research Institute under the Player Association’s Satellite Management Team.
The researchers were working on Christmas Eve, but no one complained.
Primarily because the player satellite’s analysis of observations was more done, and second because student guest researcher Song Daesok went to work without complaints.
Song Daesok was a freshman student who should be enjoying his time off on Christmas Eve, and he even had a close friend that he could be spending time with.
Nevertheless, he took the initiative and devoted himself to his research.
Looking at Song Daesok’s dedication, the adults couldn’t dare express dissatisfaction.
Still, they decided to slightly help the tactless Song Daesok.
“Let’s take a short break!”
“It’s Christmas Eve so go ahead and call your families!”
“I’ll call my best friend first!”
After deliberately making Song Daesok overhear their conversation, the researchers pretended to call their families and friends.
However, even with the obvious insinuation, Song Daesok was oblivious.
Song Daesok’s friend, Min Geurin, wouldn’t contact him first in consideration of his busy schedule, but the tactless guy seemed to have no intention of reaching out first.
Unable to withstand it anymore, the researchers asked openly.
“It’s Christmas Eve, Daesok-ah. Did you call your friends?”
“Uh, no. Not yet. Well then, I’ll…”
After that, Song Daesok opened his device and called Min Geurin.
Min Geurin responded by video call.
[Merry Christmas Eve, Daesok-ah.]
Song Daesok’s jaw dropped after seeing Min Geurin on his screen.
She was wearing a horn-shaped headband instead of her jacket’s hood.
‘It looks good on her…!’
While Song Daesok missed the timing to say those praises, Min Geurin spoke again.
[You also have yours here, Daesok-ah. When should I give it?]
“Uh… If I finish early today, I’ll go home in the evening.”
[Okay, then I’ll give it to you today.]
Song Daesok vowed to stop by his house and pack the Christmas present that he prepared before going to see Min Geurin.
Song Daesok continued the call, unable to take his eyes off Min Geurin’s headband.
Then, something else caught his eye.
‘What’s that?’
Behind Min Geurin, a group dressed in doll clothes was seen moving.
He was about to tell Min Geurin to be careful not to bump into them when…
Drop.
Suddenly, the screen went off and the call ended unnaturally.
‘Is it a device error?’
Song Daesok called again, but the device says that the contact is unreachable.
Song Daesok felt something was wrong.
Beep, beep! Beep! Beep beep beep beep!
Alarms went off all over the satellite lab.
A red-colored hologram came up with the ear-stinging alarm.
The researchers checked the hologram and exclaimed.
“It’s that one. The signal for freeze-type otherworlds!”
Song Daesok, who saw the red dots covering Eungwang District, hurriedly manipulated the panel.
He tried to check Eungwang High, where Min Geurin was, right away.
However, the same result came out no matter how many times he manipulated the screen.
‘I can’t see Eungwang High!’
A huge cloud covering Eungwang High was blocking the player satellite’s view.