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The two painters looked at each other for a moment and nodded.

It was Painter Hong Kyungbok who spoke first.

“Geurin must be thinking the same thing as me.”

“…Yes, I remember what you told me a long time ago, master.”

Over her glasses, Min Geurin looked at the map floating in the air.

Hwang Jiho overlapped a map with the painting, making it look as if Imoogi’s Exorcism covered the entire Korean Peninsula.

‘The painting itself looks majestic, fit to by my playable character’s first work, but it looks a little sinister considering what’s hidden in that painting.’

The painting depicts Imoogi heading to the sky, piercing through winds and clouds.

As it got closer to the sky, Imoogi’s scales transition to fancy colors, and a map was hidden in those scales.

Appearing as meaningless points and lines, they actually point to the frozen-type otherworlds on the map of the Korean Peninsula.

‘I can’t believe that kind of thing is hidden in the painting of one of the greatest painters in Korea. I don’t know if it’s too bold or if it’s careful…’

If I had to say it, it seems to be both.

Thanks to the generous choice of the former association head, this valuable clue was sold overseas as a loot.

On the other hand, the security features of the painting itself were extremely well-established.

Even though I knew that there was some sort of clue in the painting, I wasn’t able to figure it out on my own.

It could be said that the stubbornness of the former head protected painter Hong Kyungbok and Min Geurin.

‘If the Black Screen knew, this painting, painter Hong Kyungbok, or Min Geurin wouldn’t be safe. I’m sure they don’t know about this yet.’

Without a strong insight, they wouldn’t be able to find the hidden lines and dots on the scales.

Even if they do find them, it’s impossible to figure out if they don’t know about Korea’s terrestrial lines.

And even if they do guess that it’s some sort of a map, they won’t be able o figure out coordinates just from the lines alone.

‘But there seems to be one more thing hidden in this.’

As if he wanted Min Geurin to explain, Hong Kyungbok quietly sipped the tea served by Hwang Myeongho’s secretary.

Min Geurin understood her master’s intent, though she hesitated for a bit before beginning to speak.

“When the master painted this, he said that some of he scales were painted with special colors. I heard it was a request from the person who asked for this painting to be made.”

I couldn’t tell the difference from the outside.

Min Geurin briefly explained the request made by the former head of the association.

The former head’s requests must’ve been very strict as Min Geurin mentioned that he even fought with Hong Kyungbok once.

If the scales deviate even a little bit from their designated point, the painting would be destroyed and new materials would be handed over for painter Hong Kyungbok to re-paint it again.

“…Sung hyung has been picky since a long time ago.”

Painter Hong Kyungbok recalled with a bitter face.

Though considering Sung Gukeon and Sung Siwan’s characters, both are successors of the previous head of the association, I can’t see any sign of them being picky,

In fact, the opinion of the person who lived at the same time as the former head is different.

Meanwhile, Hwang Jiho, who is in Hwang Myeongho’s appearance, looked lost in thought for a while.

He asked Min Geurin.

“Seeing that the scales are mentioned, I guess there are some that I haven’t figured out yet.”

“…Yes.”

A scale that the glare skill of the mythical tiger did not grasp!

It would’ve been a disaster if we didn’t consult the two painters.

Did the colors fade away?

No, I don’t think that would’ve happened if it had been made according to Sung’s orders since painter Hong Kyungbok mentioned that the guy was picky.

Min Geurin explained it further.

“Critics have various interpretations of Imoogi’s Exorcism. Some think that exorcism means Imoogi’s death, while others think that it simply means that the dragon is headed to heaven.”

“I think I’ve seen an article related to that.”

Reporters and writers have always asked the two painters about the meaning of the work.

The two only give vague answers every time.

Hwang Jiho must’ve known about it while investigating the painting.

“In general, the word Exorcism could mean Return too so it’s usually the former, but there were some people who disagreed after seeing the painting.”

Hwang Jiho raised his finger and pointed to one of the scales.

It was the only scale painted black among the ones that received light from heaven and shone in various colors.

Not only was the scale painted black, but it was inverted, unlike the other scales.

Yeokrin (Inverted Scales)

It was a weakness of dragons.

“Because of that inverted scale, people argue that this Imoogi is in the process of becoming a dragon.”

There were people who believed that since the inverted scale was black, Imoogi was eventually facing death.

Min Geurin nodded at Hwang Jiho’s words.

“Yes, this inverted scale was also placed as a request. But the map doesn’t include that inverted scale.”

The inverted scale was put at the request of the former head of the association, but why doesn’t it fit in the map?

No, above all else, I was most worried about the place that this inverted scale is potentially pointing at.

Even if its position is not in one of the points highlighted on the map, we can immediately decipher the pace that it was pointing.

“…It’s referring to Eungwang High.”

And among the 500,000 pyeong area of Eungwang High, the inverted scale was approximately pointing at the Central Area.

The former head of the association, Imoogi’s Exorcism, and Eungwang High’s Central Area.

Considering those three, there was one place that immediately came to mind.

‘The secret passageway where the secret association gathers is in the central area. Don’t tell me it’s pointing to that!’

Among the lores of Eungwang High, there’s a story about a secret association created by the student council and other student leaders.

That organization was real, and there was also a secret place hidden between the Student Association Hall and the Student Council Hall.

It so happens that that secret place was in the school’s central area.

‘I think I can find out something if I talk to Hwang Jiho and dig up the secret behind that passage.’

I struggled to keep my mouth shit.

After asking some follow-up questions to the two painters, Hwang Jiho fell silent to think.

‘…I don’t want to say my guess right away.’

Based on Sung Siwan’s investigation, there were three conditions to be considered a member of the secret organization.

First, they must belong either to the Student Association or the Student Council.

Second, they must be recommended by already established members of the secret organization.

Third, they must not be a royal lineage or a descendant.

Among those three, the last qualification was the most worrisome.

‘I wonder why royal lineage and descendants aren’t allowed to join.’

It’s not that I don’t trust Hwang Jiho.

However, since it’s a secret that the former head of the association tried desperately to hide, it can’t be meaningless.

Even Sung Gukeon, who told me about the story of the secret organization once, is wary of the royal lineage.

Until I know the reason and the secrets behind all these, I have reservations about telling Hwang Jiho, who is a royal lineage, my thoughts.

“This scale is pointing to the central area. An inverted scale pointing there. Hmm…”

Hwang Jiho immediately looked into it.

He seems to be racking his mind of anything noticeable that the former head did in relation to the central area.

That was a time when Hwang Jiho’s negligence was at its peak, so he doesn’t seem to remember much.

‘Though Hwang Jiho’s investigation probably won’t be meaningless.’

I decided to put off talking to Hwang Jiho about the secret organization for the time being.

Of course, considering the gravity of our work, I couldn’t drag this on for long.

‘It would be best to figure out the reasons as soon as possible. But even if I can’t figure it out, I’ll have to talk to Hwang Jiho about it someday.’

Imoogi covered the entire Korean Peninsula.

Whether Imoogi will become a dragon or will simply return to heaven in the face of death could be solved by this inverted scale.

I’ll have to talk to Sung Siwan again.

Gye Idam took over Jiikhoe, but Sung Siwan must still be busy since the CSAT is just around the corner.

‘Or should I talk to Gye Idam? But I’m sure she’s busy too and we haven’t really talked much before.’

We left the Silver Hall soon enough.

On the way back to our classroom, Min Geurin said something.

“I guess their tones are similar since they’re family.”

“…Similar?”

“Yeah, Jiho and the chairman.”

It’s not that they’re family, it’s that Hwang Jiho is the chairman.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t correct her on that.

Though Hwang Jiho doesn’t seem to have any intention of hiding his identity these days.

“Maybe it’s why I could talk comfortably with him for some reason. It’s my first time talking to the chairman too.”

Min Geurin seemed satisfied that she was able to hold a long conversation with a stranger.

Remembering how she explained the painting and answered Hwang Jiho’s questions coherently, I was pleased.

Min Geurin looked satisfied too, so I decided to move on.

***

Bang Yoonseob briefly left the school during lunchtime to buy bread.

He stopped by MITRON to get a paper bag of bread that Jo Euishin had paid for in advance.

The patissier knows his face now and he gave him the paper bag right away.

In the past, the patissier usually checks his name first, but now that the was forced to be a regular customer, even the part-time workers recognize Bang Yoonseob.

“Ah, you couldn’t buy this last time because the seasonal cookies were sold out. We have some left in stock today.”

Bang Yoonseob’semotions fell because of the patissier’s innocuous words.

As Bang Yoonseob regularly goes in and out of MITRON, he learned very well about the seasonal menu.

He bought cookies a few times to give to the girl that he was studying with.

There was one time he was unable to buy it, and the patissier must’ve remembered.

But even if he bought some now, he wouldn’t have anyone to give it to.

“I’m not buying.”

Bang Yoonseob said it like so and left MITRON.

It was quite rude, but the patissier just smiled and waved goodbye.

It made it seem like Bang Yoonseob was the only unhappy person in the world, and he felt even angrier after that.

As soon as he took a puff of his cigarette, he became more furious when he remembered the ghost-like Mok Wooram and Maeng Hyodon who pops out of nowhere to catch him.

‘…At least it’s not that bastard Joo Soohyuk who catches me.’

Recalling Joo Soohyuk’s name made Bang Yoonseob feel choked up.

Because the female student naturally came to mind shortly after that too.

Bang Yoonseob frowned as he headed to the Class Zero classroom where the paper bag of bread is supposed to be delivered.

Today’s recipient was a female student from Class Zero.

Just as he passed through the school gate, a ringtone sounded from Bang Yoonseob’s device.

It was from a device code he hasn’t seen before.

“Hello?”

[Oh, hey, it’s me. Long time no see!]

Bang Yoonseob thought that it was a familiar voice, but he was wary that it was a phishing call.

The person on the line sounded like an adult.

And there wasn’t anyone who would contact him and say “long time no see.”

Bang Yoonseob had no intention of becoming like Mok Wooram The Pushover so he immediately got angry.

“Get lost!”

Bang Yoonseob hung up right away.

He went back to walking to the Class Zero classroom when…

He saw the female student talking to Joo Soohyuk.

Bang Yoonseob pretended not to see them as he turned around in an even more terrible mood.

He felt something dark inside him, but he tried to hide it.

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