EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school

(T/N: Divine theory based on topography (basically feng shui) that narrates five dragons fighting for the cintamani.)

The night when Yong Jegun’s bait caused a stir.

Kim Shinrok and Jo Euishin came to the Yellow Cloud Lake in the Yellow Dragon Palace.

Jo Euishin was staring still at the lake's surface beyond the fog and clouds.

‘Jo Euishin-gun must be thinking about the plan again.’

The Dragon Clan, including Hwangryong and Yong Jegun, accepted Jo Euishin’s proposal.

Things are going well, but Jo Euishin didn’t let his guard down.

Jo Euishin explored the Dragon Palace with Yoon Yeorang, and even when he wasn’t exploring, he would look back at the Dragon Palace and be lost in thought.

Kim Shinrok had this conversation with Jo Euishin;

— There’s no way the test will end safely. I’m sure they prepared a contingency plan for the dragons.

— What do you think they’ll do, Jo Euishin-gun?

— I don’t know for sure. From what I know before, they didn’t have to be so extreme.

What I know before.

In the scenario Jo Euishin knew, the test that took place in the absence of the dragons except for Hwangryong ends as the shamans intended.

The shamans win without having to play big games.

Therefore, Jo Euishin says that the information he knows is small.

— But I can guess what they’re aiming for.

Jo Euishin said so and looked sorry.

If Hwangho were here, he would’ve said “Jo Euishin, stop thinking about useless things and sit down and drink your tea.”

Unfortunately, Hwangho wasn’t there, nor was Jeokho, to convey this.

While Kim Shinrok was trying to find a gap to talk to Jo Euishin, Hwangryong appeared quietly through the clouds.

“Ah, I see the guests are here.”

“Hello.”

Kim Shinrok felt like Hwangryong was intentionally hiding his presence.

The lake was filled with Hwangryong’s clouds, and Jo Euishin, who was somewhat farther away, didn’t feel or hear Hwangryong.

The dragon spoke in a low voice.

“That child seems lost in thought. I don’t want to disturb him.”

Kim Shinrok understood Hwangryong’s heart and decided to stifle his presence as well.

Kim Shinrok moved his eyes to look at Hwangryong and asked in a small voice.

“Did you return alone?”

“I was with Cheongryong just now. Were you worried about me? You really are a good child. I understand why Yong Jegun boasts about you.”

Perhaps because of Yong Jegun, the Dragon Clan treats Kim Shinrok well.

Kim Shinrok quickly changed the topic.

“Thank you. I’m sorry that the Dragon Palace has become a dangerous place.”

“Don’t apologize. It’s been dangerous all this time, I just didn’t know.”

Hwangryong began to ask about life on the ground in a gentle manner.

Kim Shinrok answered sincerely, but he had many things on his mind.

‘That damned dragon said that his blindfold was given by Hwangryong-nim not long ago. I would’ve known if I had been more thoughtful…’

Kim Shinrok thought that Yong Jegun had long prepared a blindfold for himself to wear once his divinity rose.

But from Hwangryong’s story, it seemed to be recent.

Still, it hasn’t changed that Yong Jegun has been building his divinity for a long time.

While they were talking, Kim Shinrok had been unconsciously staring at Hwangryong’s blindfold.

“Yong Jegun talks to you often, but he doesn’t seem to have shared important conversations.”

“What?”

“I know just from looking at you. I also remember your expression whenever Yong Jegun talked about ascension.”

Kim Shinrok hurriedly turned away his eyes and straightened his expression, but it was already late.

Hwangryong was blindfolded but had a wide vision.

He smiled softly at the sight.

“I am now more accustomed to calling that kid Yong Jegun instead of Cintamani. So may I call you Jeho?”

“…You may call me however you wish.”

“Okay, Jeho-yah.”

Kim Shinrok questioned how Hwangryong knew his name, but he belatedly realized it.

That brazen dragon must’ve been talking about his name everywhere.

Kim Shinrok got choked up upon remembering Yong Jegun’s grinning face, but he tried to compose himself because he was in front of Hwangryong.

“White Dragon, Red Dragon, Black Dragon, and the others who ascended… I felt something while watching them. They had different reasons for ascending and did so at different times, but they had only one thing in common.”

Hwangryong spoke kindly as if he was trying to soothe Kim Shinrok.

“They hide their feelings right before ascension.”

Kim Shinrok didn’t understand why Hwangryong was saying this to him.

After a little thought, he guessed Hwangryong’s intention.

“Do you think that dragon is hiding something?”

“That’s right.”

Hwangryong nodded as if he had been waiting for Kim Shinrok to realize it.

It sounded like Yong Jegun was hiding his feelings, but from Kim Shinrok’s point of view, Yong Jegun was not tactless to say everything he couldn’t say.

That hasn’t changed in the Dragon Palace either.

‘But it’s definitely not me who knows that dragon well.’

As soon as Kim Shinrok tried to conclude with a dark thought, Jo Euishin noticed the two and came their way.

Jo Euishin found Hwangryong and greeted him politely.

“Hello. I’m sorry for only greeting you now. Just in time, I wanted to talk with you about something.”

“You must have another suggestion. Go ahead.”

While listening to Jo Euishin’s suggestion, Kim Shinrok’s head somewhat cleared up.

He was able to pull himself together as he felt stupid for being swayed by Yong Jegun while Jo Euishin was diligently focused on an important task.

‘Whatever that dragon is hiding doesn’t change what I have to do.’

Kim Shinrok listened to Jo Euishin’s voice with a clear head.

***

Morning at Yellow Cloud Lake, Hwangryong’s clouds clearly illuminated the Dragon Palace.

All those who stayed in the Dragon Palace gathered to observe the first test.

The Dragon King Shamans and the Dragon Palace Shamans exchanged greetings quietly as if there had been no disturbance yesterday.

And at the heart of it was Yoohwang.

She seemed to remain in control.

‘As expected, we can’t bring down Yoohwang easily like this.’

Everyone except the candidates sat on a cloud chair prepared by Unryong.

After confirming that everyone was seated, Hwangryong, who floated on clouds on the lake's surface, spoke to the candidates.

“Everyone came on time. Did you all have a good rest?”

“Yes!”

“Your liveliness is nice.”

The other candidates seemed nervous, but Yoon Yeorang answered brightly in an excited voice.

She might be nervous and worried too, but Yoon Yeorang enjoyed the test even in PMH.

After exchanging greetings, Hwangryong presented the first order of business.

“As previously notified, the first subject of the test is song.”

One of the subjects of the shamans’ test was singing.

“Do you remember the Dragon King’s shamans singing on the first day? Singing is one of the mediums that connects the shamans with the Dragon King.”

The shamans sang a song when I first visited the Red Lion building too.

When their song began, my destiny skill was triggered and I met the Dragon King.

‘That means that the songs of the shamans are connected to the Dragon King.’

Hwangryong continued speaking.

“You will be tested if you can drift away the clouds and fog of the Yellow Cloud Lake. Ask now if you have any questions.”

“What song should we sing?”

“Sing whatever you wish. I will give you the score, so you can choose which one you like.”

The song to sing wasn’t assigned.

It seems like the person who will sing it is more important than what song they will sing.

Yoon Yeorang looked torn as if she had multiple songs in mind.

“Hwangryong-nim, I like the songs that you provided, but there are many songs that I love that I saved on my device!”

Compared to Yoon Yeorang, the other two candidates had ordinary concerns.

“I don’t know what song to sing…”

“I’m so nervous I think I’ll make a mistake. Can I play the accompaniment through my device?”

“Hmm, do you have it?”

“Ah, I have a few songs! I’ll send them to you if you need them.

The candidates exchanged words with each other during the given time for preparation.

They never had such a conversation in PMH.

‘They’ve gotten closer because they’ve spent a long time staying here.’

Yoon Yeorang shared with the other candidates the accompaniment version of the songs that she had, but it didn’t help much.

Yoon Yeorang seemed to be a Playlist fan, but it was difficult to sing Yeo Raehoon’s hip-hop songs and Dokgo Miro’s dance songs compared to the ones provided.

‘There are many famous songs, but it would be hard to sing them here.’

Yeo Rahoon’s rap has a lot of words and a fast tempo.

Dokgo Miro’s songs have a lot of high notes which makes it impressive that she can sing them perfectly while dancing.

After much thought, the candidates gave up trying to choose songs from Playlist.

Hwangryong, who was watching this and chatting with the people from Dragon Clan, said a word when he heard about the candidates talking about accompaniment.

“Accompaniment, huh… It might be better to have it in person. Do our guests know how to play instruments?”

Hwangryong’s question was directed to the Tiger guests.

Jeokho was the first to answer.

“My son is a teacher and he can handle instruments used in music classes.”

Kim Shinrok isn’t a music teacher, but he must know his instruments.

Jeokho’s son had a face that seemed to say “How does Jeokho-nim know that?”

“Yong Jegun, you’re a teacher too. Can you play as well?”

“I haven’t taught music before. Should I start practicing now?”

“No need.”

Despite offering, Yong Jegun didn’t seem to want to play instruments.

Hwangryong then asked me.

“And you?”

The attention suddenly turned to me.

I don’t know if it’s just my feelings, but their eyes seemed to convey pity.

I answered bluntly.

“I can handle simple percussion instruments with practice.”

“Yeah, Euishin practiced playing the triangle a lot.”

“…I see.”

Yong Jegun stepped in as soon as I finished speaking, and Hwangryong nodded as if he understood something.

“Do you like playing?”

“I like to listen.”

I like hearing the class bell of Eungwang High.

I always listen to songs played by my playable characters.

But I don’t really enjoy playing myself.

If it’s necessary, I can practice doing it, but I wouldn’t do so voluntarily.

“If you will sing songs from the scores that I presented, I’ll play the accompaniment myself.”

Hwangryong offered to the candidates.

They now have a choice between singing a song they know without accompaniment or a song they’ve never heard before but with Hwangryong.

Yoon Yeorang chose a song that she knew, while the other two chose to be accompanied by Hwangryong.

“Alright. I will now decide the order. Write down your name and hand it to Unryong.”

When the preparation time was over, Unryong walked toward the candidates with a box.

Three pieces of paper were put in, and Hwangryong will be drawing the lot.

Hwangryong’s chosen paper popped up in the air.

“The first candidate to sing has been decided. Come forward.”

Yoon Yeorang saw the name written on the paper and approached the surface of the lake with cheerful steps.

She was the first to perform.

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