EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school-Chapter 1098: At the end of a long fight (8)

Before Jo Yi-shin received the blessing from Jinmyeong, there were moments when he became irritated by his attitude.

However, after the blessing etched Baek Ho-gun's presence into Jo Yi-shin’s mind, allowing him to understand Baek Ho-gun’s inner thoughts, Jo Yi-shin no longer felt angered by his behavior.

The reason was that, apart from Baek Ho-gun himself, Jo Yi-shin was the one who understood him the most.

Jo Yi-shin, having read Baek Ho-gun's thoughts, expressed irritation.

[So what if I know.]

Despite the irritation in his words, Jo Yi-shin still cared deeply for Baek Ho-gun.

After going through the nightmare’s interference and meeting Jo Yi-shin, Baek Ho-gun, who had been injured time and time again, thought about him each time, and even when he was dying, he agonized over whether the death of someone with a blessing would affect Baek Ho-gun.

Furthermore, Jo Yi-shin didn’t just worry about him; he also respected Baek Ho-gun.

Even when he found out that the existence of the blessing had been hidden, he did not cancel the compliments he had sent to Baek Ho-gun up until then.

Now, he noticed Baek Ho-gun’s mental exhaustion after sharing the communication process and was worried about him.

[Stop thinking about that. Is it really that important right now?]

It was important.

When Jo Yi-shin firmly thought about it, his feelings became complicated, and Baek Ho-gun unconsciously smiled.

[You’re laughing again.]

“Baek Ho-gun, why are you laughing like that again?”

The fact that both the real world’s Hwang Ho and Jo Yi-shin in the dream said the same words made Baek Ho-gun laugh even more.

The dream version of Jo Yi-shin, who had shared memories with Baek Ho-gun, had always been favorable toward Hwang Ho, but the real Jo Yi-shin had not been.

Recently, there had been a significant improvement, as Jo Yi-shin no longer inwardly called Hwang Ho an old man.

Having read Baek Ho-gun’s thoughts and thinking that he was having unnecessary thoughts again, Jo Yi-shin expressed dissatisfaction.

“If I keep seeing that face, I might unconsciously strike out. I’ll apologize in advance.”

“If you’re going to strike out, focus on landing a deadly blow. Any normal attack won’t work on Brother Baek Ho-gun.”

Some members of the Hojo family pretended not to hear the other words and expressed their intent to attack while laughing, but Baek Ho-gun wasn’t concerned.

Half of it came from Jo Yi-shin’s focus on reading Baek Ho-gun’s thoughts, and the other half stemmed from the arrogance of thinking that he could dodge any attack.

Jo Yi-shin, although clicking his tongue at Baek Ho-gun's arrogance, did not deny it and changed the subject.

[As expected, knowing each other’s secrets hasn’t made much of a difference. The awakening of the Black Tiger hasn’t occurred yet. But there will be changes on the side of the Wung tribe. How does it feel to have learned of another close friend’s existence?]

Baek Ho-gun was prepared as he had already read Jo Yi-shin’s thoughts and reasoning.

Now, he was preparing for the awakening of his close friend and intended to assist.

The problem, however, was with the other friends.

‘They will be confused. But now that they know the variable of Yeong-in, I can’t delay or pretend not to know. Jo Yi-shin probably feels the same.’

Therefore, Jo Yi-shin, after only resting for a day, recklessly initiated the communication, and now, he was carefully planning his next move.

In the situation where Jo Yi-shin was unable to move due to sleep, Baek Ho-gun was the only one who could act.

In the past, due to the existence of the blessing or the measures against nightmares, Baek Ho-gun would have remained still, waiting by Jo Yi-shin’s side while he slept. But now, with the secret revealed, there was no need for that.

For now, the nightmare countermeasures would be entrusted to the other Hojo family members and divine beasts, while Baek Ho-gun planned to move Jo Yi-shin as a chess piece.

[We were lucky this time, but we can’t expect the same luck next time. That’s why I’m thinking of rushing.]

I understand.

Baek Ho-gun readily agreed.

Jo Yi-shin made several requests from him.

Some of them were easy to understand in terms of intention, but some were not. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

There were actions Jo Yi-shin took that Baek Ho-gun couldn’t understand unless he knew the intention behind them.

‘While I’m acting as Jo Yi-shin said, the faces of the other close friends will be quite interesting to watch.’

However, revealing the reasons would not be easy.

His friends were sharp, and if they deduced the identity of the Black Tiger before preparations were complete, the situation Jo Yi-shin feared would occur.

In particular, the Hojo family, starting with Eun Ho, was likely to notice first.

Jo Yi-shin shared Baek Ho-gun’s concerns.

[Focus on leading them away from your actions. Especially to Eun Ho, tell him to revisit the unease he felt from the myth of the Golden Tiger. Before preparations are done, make sure the tigers don’t catch on.]

Baek Ho-gun silently agreed.

After Jo Yi-shin had said all he needed to, he hesitated.

Though he already knew what was coming next after reading his thoughts, Baek Ho-gun decided to wait and hear it directly.

[Move according to my plan, but don’t overdo it. Understood?]

Baek Ho-gun nearly laughed out loud upon hearing those words.

Though he didn’t actually do so, the Hojo family noticed that Baek Ho-gun had almost laughed.

Crack!

The shockwave of the attack from the Red Tiger didn’t even graze Baek Ho-gun’s clothes before shattering completely.

Baek Ho-gun skillfully extinguished the red lightning's momentum with Ineungpa to avoid setting the annex on fire, then nonchalantly returned to his seat.

The Hojo family members were even more infuriated after witnessing this.

“Stop laughing when dodging an attack from Red Tiger. Test my patience any further, and let’s focus on Jo Yi-shin’s condition or talk about something else.”

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

“If Brother Baek Ho-gun has forgotten how to speak, I can teach you from the beginning.”

“Baek Ho-gun was like this originally? Has he become this strange since I’ve been away?”

Despite what his friends said, Baek Ho-gun didn’t feel any particular emotion.

He only thought, ‘My friends are really worried about Jo Yi-shin. Not as much as I do, but still.’

Jo Yi-shin found it absurd, but didn’t deny Baek Ho-gun’s thoughts.

[Don’t waste your energy on useless things. When the Black Tiger awakens, you need to be in peak condition.]

Before Baek Ho-gun returned his focus to reality, he gazed at Jo Yi-shin one last time.

The dream version of Jo Yi-shin reflected his unconsciousness, and as such, was affected by reality.

Jo Yi-shin’s body changed according to his growth, and even his clothes altered.

Baek Ho-gun looked at the shirt Jo Yi-shin was wearing.

‘It’s the uniform shirt of Eungwang High.’

When Jo Yi-shin first arrived in this world, the dream version of him was in the same state as when he was dying in the previous world.

But now, the dream version of Jo Yi-shin was gradually becoming more like a high school student at Eungwang High, a nameless rising star.

Jo Yi-shin was adapting to this dimension, planning his moves for this world.

Baek Ho-gun, wanting to meet Jo Yi-shin’s expectations, spoke up.

“Jo Yi-shin doesn’t want his condition to interfere with what you all need to do. If you understand why he acted the way he did, why don’t you fulfill your roles?”

“Interfere? Are you really thinking about something like that?”

Hwang Ho spoke roughly, but Baek Ho-gun retorted.

“Don’t you know Jo Yi-shin is feeling guilty about what happened last night? Yet you, Hwang Ho, are focusing so much here that you’re getting a headache.”

Before anyone could counter, Baek Ho-gun continued.

“Red Tiger, instead of investigating Yeong-in, you’re here. Blue Tiger, you’re not yet in your full form. Also, haven’t you been away for a long time? Don’t you have a lot of things to do?”

Neither Red Tiger, who had been trying to ambush, nor Blue Tiger, who was making a dissatisfied face, could argue back.

Baek Ho-gun briefly glanced at Gong Cheong-hwan, who was watching the situation with a gentle expression, and then looked at San Ryeong, who was waiting for Jo Yi-shin’s story. He then turned his head toward Eun Ho.

“Eun Ho, have you finished checking the timeline of the Golden Tiger myth? You haven’t completely reflected on the contradictions you felt, have you?”

The atmosphere noticeably calmed down with Baek Ho-gun’s words.

Jo Yi-shin, reading the situation from beyond the dream, was observing rather than restricting Baek Ho-gun’s actions.

“Jo Yi-shin is watching this situation through me. I don’t intend to hold you {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} back. Don’t you want to let Jo Yi-shin rest and be at ease?”

Of course, Jo Yi-shin would use this time not to rest but to review the past, watch the situation, and devise new strategies.

Baek Ho-gun, instead of speaking the truth, spoke convincingly to move the Hojo family.

“If you trust Jo Yi-shin’s plans, you should act instead of guarding aimlessly.”

Even after Baek Ho-gun finished speaking, no Hojo family member moved.

Instead, his friends were using sharp eyes to try and uncover Baek Ho-gun’s true intentions.

After organizing his thoughts, Eun Ho opened his mouth.

“So, is that the plan Yi-shin hyung has?”

Eun Ho looked towards Jo Yi-shin’s room, then spoke.

“If he just wanted to prepare us to serve Black Tiger, he would have told us not to worry about him and rest. But Yi-shin hyung didn’t do that.”

Eun Ho’s gaze shifted to Baek Ho-gun.

When Jo Yi-shin was injured, Eun Ho had lost his expression, but now, he had a gentle smile on his face.

“It seems Yi-shin hyung didn’t tell you to rest either, Baek Ho-gun hyung. Moreover, instead of staying by the side of sleeping Yi-shin hyung, you’ve come here to relay something to us.”

“Did we bother you with our questions about Jo Yi-shin?”

“Would Baek Ho-gun be concerned with something like that?”

Red Tiger, who had been suppressing his anger, was immediately convinced by Eun Ho’s retort.

Baek Ho-gun didn’t care whether the Hojo family went mad over the communication’s contents or the Black Tiger’s identity.

Baek Ho-gun had a haughty personality and did not do anything unless it was something he truly needed, something he could accept, or something he wanted to do.

Baek Ho-gun nodded inwardly, acknowledging that his younger brother understood him well.

“Did Yi-shin hyung ask you to do anything other than relay a message?”

“Yes.”

“Is it something we can help with?”

When Eun Ho, having grasped Baek Ho-gun and Jo Yi-shin’s intentions, asked, Baek Ho-gun answered readily.

“I’ll do it alone. If I need help, I’ll say so.”

“What are you planning to do?”

Baek Ho-gun paused for a moment.

After briefly considering whether it was something he could share with the Hojo family, he spoke.

“I’ll meet Yong Je-gun.”

“What?”

“...Baek Ho-gun?”

The unexpected words made Hwang Ho ask, and the sudden mention of the Dragon in the Yu-Hui world startled Kim Shin-rok.

Blue Tiger, who had gotten involved with Yong Je-gun due to a wish, narrowed his eyes.

“You’re not planning to ask for a wish from that dragon, are you?”

“I’m not planning to ask for a wish. I just need to confirm something.”

Baek Ho-gun checked the device clock mounted on the wall and stood up.

“Jo Yi-shin has scheduled a message with Yong Je-gun. I’ll go now.”

“You’re just going to say what you need to and leave?”

“I’ll go with you!”

When Jo Yi-shin’s words were heard, the Hojo family couldn’t stop Baek Ho-gun, who was already leaving, and were left dumbfounded. Kim Shin-rok spoke.

Kim Shin-rok had completed his first round of interrogation with Kozuka Yashiro and the Demon Tribe’s advisor and had submitted his report.

Having finished his tasks, he said he would help the Hojo family with their matters, and Baek Ho-gun was ready to nod in approval.

However, he hesitated for a moment before responding.

“Jo Yi-shin is reacting as expected. He said he’d leave it up to me whether to take you along or not.”

“What?”

Baek Ho-gun’s hesitation wasn’t long.

“Got it. Let’s go together.”

The reservation message Jo Yi-shin had sent to Yong Je-gun read:

[There’s something I need to discuss regarding the Weeping Tiger. Can we meet at the Stalemate Office?]