ReLife Player

[When the Fox Rain Stops (5)].

Eunha didn’t come to class.

After being questioned by Im Dohon about what happened in the backyard of the library, he was forced to spend the rest of the day in the counseling office.

After school, he was grabbed by his mom and taken home.

«Let’s go to our captain’s house!»

The classroom was deserted.

Not only was Eunha not in class, but several kids had been sent to the health center.

Eunhyuk was sick to death of being around kids who hadn’t spoken all day.

Seona was slumped over her desk, and when he tried to talk to her, she just shook her head.

She didn’t look up until the end of class.

Hayang is like that too….

What’s wrong with her?

To make matters worse, Hayang hasn’t had any energy since fifth period.

Eunhyuk and Minji ended up having to take care of the depressed duo.

«Jin-seona and you guys shouldn’t go home, but wait in the staff room.»

«What? In the school office?»

«Yes. It’s nothing, don’t worry.»

And so it was.

Im Dohon called Eunhyuk and his friends as they were leaving the classroom.

When Minji asked suspiciously, Im Dohon didn’t answer the question and supervised the kids cleaning the classroom.

«…What is it?»

«What’s going on?»

Minji and Eunhyuk scratched their heads.

Seona was staring at the floor, and Hayang was unable to hide her dark face.

Looking back at them, Minji and Eunhyuk looked at each other and shook their heads.

They had to take care of them so that they could return home safely.

Unable to help themselves, Minji and Eunhyuk headed to the school office, making sure the two were following them.

«Yes, Ma’am, I didn’t do that….»

«We didn’t get anything like that.»

«Don’t worry too much. Nothing’s happened so far, so it’s okay….»

The ringing continued.

In the staff room, teachers were taking calls, barely paying attention to the kids coming in.

The children had to wait for Im Dohon in the bustling, noisy staff room.

«I’m sorry I’m late. I’ll walk you home.»

«What do you mean, didn’t you have something you wanted to tell us?»

«…It’s getting late, so let’s get in the car and talk.»

Minji scrutinized Im Dohon, who was avoiding her gaze.

Something was fishy.

The teacher’s suggestion to wait in the staff room until after school was unsettling, and now, after waiting, suggesting to talk in the car was incredibly awkward.

Nevertheless, Minji grabbed the kids and followed him out.

Im Dohon didn’t say much as they drove down to the parking lot.

Minji frowned as he talked about school and the future.

«Huh? Teacher, isn’t it closer to go out the front door? It would be a waste to go around the back door….»

«If you want a car to pass, the back door is convenient.»

Eunhyuk questioned when he saw that the car leaving the parking lot went around the back gate instead of going to the front gate.

Im Dohon stepped on the accelerator like it was no big deal.

«…Damn, when did they arrive here?»

When they saw the back gate, Im Dohon grumbled, not taking his eyes off the people gathered there.

After a while, he still didn’t drive the car to the back door.

Eunhyuk in the passenger seat and the children in the back seat silently watched him.

«Ha….»

Im Dohon sighed, taking his eyes off the road.

«Jin seona, keep your head down until I say it’s okay.»

«What?»

«You guys keep your heads down too.»

«Teacher, what does that mean?»

The kids looked puzzled.

Something doesn’t feel right.

Minji glared at the people gathered at the back door.

«Keep your head down,» Im Dohon said, and released his foot from the brake.

The vehicle passed through the back door.

«…What is this?»

«»…….»»

«Sir, what is this?»

The children who had been following him looked up as the car rattled once.

The people standing at the back gate were parents.

People lined up along the road, holding placards, closely observed the car whose interior wasn’t visible.

[Our school is good without an Ain child]

[We can’t put our child in a classroom with a monster!]

[Ain is a monster, monsters are not human, they need to be exterminated].

[Provide a safe environment for our children to learn!]

[Don’t forget about <end-of-the-century-destruction>!]

They only raised the signs high enough for the people leaving to see the slogans.

As the car descended, pieces of paper criticizing Ain were scattered around.

«You don’t need to worry about this. It’s a school matter.»

«A school matter? But an Ain in this school…»

There’s only Seona.

Minji shuddered as she said the words.

She turned around in the backseat.

She was sure.

Her mother was standing there.

«…Sir, please stop the car. I’m getting out.»

«What?»

«Ditch me and go ahead!»

As soon as Im Dohon stopped the car, Minji opened the door and ran out.

The kids in the car widened their eyes.

Minji ran toward the woman holding a placard up the hill.

«»Ah….»

«Why is mom here!!!»

Hayang and Eunhyuk let out small gasps almost simultaneously.

It was Minji’s mother.

Even from that distance, they could hear Minji screaming at the top of her lungs.

«Don’t look back.»

Im Dohon drove away, talking at the children who were at a loss for words.

The car soon pulled away from the school.

«…Teacher Im Dohon please take me to my grandfather.»

«…Okay.»

Hayang, who had been silent, poked her head into the front seat.

Seeing the signal change, Im Dohon turned the steering wheel.

It didn’t take long to arrive at the four-story townhouse.

«Next up is Seona….»

Im Dohon dropped off Hayang and was about to turn the car around.

His smartphone vibrated.

«…Yes, I understand, I’ll be there right now.»

After hanging up, Im Dohon swept his bangs out of his face.

He glared at the steering wheel and slammed his fist down in anger.

A crack sounded.

Hayang, who was going up to the fourth floor, was startled.

So did Seona and Eunhyuk in the car.

«I’m sorry.»

«…No.»

«I have an urgent matter to attend to, and I have to return to school. I’m sorry, do you think you can walk home together?»

«I’m fine! I’ll walk Seona home!»

«Please.»

Im Dohon patted Eunhyuk’s head as he spoke, and led them out of the car.

He picked up the phone again and turned the car on with a different expression.

The car disappeared down the one-way street.

«Goodbye, Hayang! Let’s go too.»

«…I can go by myself. Your house and mine are in opposite directions.»

«I don’t want to. I’ll go with you.»

Seona apologized and refused.

But Eunhyeok was stubborn.

With a snap of his head, he turned away, not even listening to what she was saying.

«…I want to go alone.»

«I’m not sending you alone.»

«…….»

Seona glared at Eunhyuk.

Eunhyuk must have seen it too.

It’s not just children anymore.

Their parents are also trying to deny her existence.

And yet, her friends refused to abandon her.

It would be easier if you didn’t play with me.

There were so many things she wanted to say to him, to the children.

But she couldn’t say it.

Her feelings were too complex and vast for words.

«Come with me.»

«…Sure.»

She was grateful and sorry.

She was so grateful that tears came to her eyes.

She couldn’t look up because she was sorry.

«Hey, why are you crying again?»

«…I don’t know.»

Her eyes were puffy from crying so much today.

Seona rubbed the corners of her eyes heavily.

Eunhyuk patiently waited for her until she stopped crying.

«Pizza is here-!!»

At that moment, a blue delivery box on the back of a motorcycle parked in the parking lot.

When the delivery guy shouted loudly, sounds of movement could be heard from inside.

«It took you long enough. How much is it?»

«You ordered the Double Fondue Shrimp Best Set, so it’s 31,830 won.»

«…Ah, here.»

Swallowing the saliva that threatened to drip from his mouth as soon as he heard the amount, Jung Geum-joon fumbled in his pocket.

He handed over the money, counting each coin.

«Ah, my money… Even though I won’t be able to finish it all, why did I order this if I’m almost out of money… Dammit…»

Jung Geum-joon, who received the pizza, grumbled.

As he was about to close the door, he noticed two people standing in the middle of the townhouse parking lot.

«Well, well. This is a good time. Someone’s ordering a pizza because they’re craving a slice, and someone’s over there filming a romance scene….»

Jung Geum-joon laughed with glee.

Then he realized his predicament and started swearing again.

«Hey, Choi kid! If you’re going to film a romance, do it in front of someone else’s house, not in front of my house!»

«What? Hyung, what are you talking about?»

Eunhyuk didn’t understand his shout as he was about to enter the house.

Regardless, Jung Geum-joon was yelling something unintelligible.

«And why are you crying again, little Jin? No, it must be Choi’s fault.»

Jung Geum-joon chewed on Choi Eun-hyuk, saying it was a k-drama even if he didn’t see it.

«It’s a good time. Some people are worrying about money, while others are filming romance….

You guys are making me feel bad, and I can’t stand to look at you, so come over to my house and eat pizza. It’s expensive, so I’m using my conscience!»

Just when he thought it was too much to eat alone.

Jung Geum-joon decided to interrupt their romance and invite them inside, secretly wondering why Seona was crying.

☆

Grandpa will help me!

Hayang ran up the stairs to the fourth floor.

What was happening now was beyond her or her friends’ power.

Not even Eunha.

«You didn’t do anything wrong.»

Eunha said.

Still, she didn’t want to see Seona cry anymore.

She wanted to protect her, to stop the attacks that were coming in and out of the school.

But the opponent was the Dangun Group.

She didn’t know how to deal with the current situation.

All she knew was one thing.

A group’s power had to be countered with the group’s power.

She had her own power.

Even though she didn’t know how to handle that power.

It’s okay! Grandpa will… Grandpa will tell me!

Even if I don’t know how to use this power, it doesn’t matter.

Grandpa will teach me.

If I tell Grandpa, he’ll be able to resist the Dangun Group.

«What are they doing! Why are they causing such trouble just to catch a child!?»

When she was about to enter the study, she heard voices.

Hayang held her breath.

She opened the door without making a sound.

Through the crack in the door, Grandpa was there, angry with a face she had never seen before.

[─Min Jun-sik, are you doing this? Have you said everything you wanted to say?]

Grandfather’s voice on the phone reached outside.

Hayang tensed up.

She straightened her mana and listened carefully to the voices coming from the study.

[My Jin-woo said so. He said he was embarrassed by your granddaughter last year.].

«Don’t you know your grandson committed the mistake?»

«[I know. I know, but that’s not important. What’s important is that my grandson was humiliated in front of everyone. Min Jun-sik, don’t you know me?]»

«… .»

«[If someone touches my pride, I won’t forgive them no matter who they are. It’s the same for my grandson. He won’t forgive anyone who insults him in front of everyone.]»

«So? Are you planning to intervene in the children’s fight even if you have to use the group’s power?»

«[Intervene… that word sounds a bit much. I won’t do anything this time. I just lent my strength to my grandson because he asked for it.

It seems my grandson, who used to only cause accidents, has finally woken up and is learning how to use the group’s power. How cute would Jin-woo look in the position of being my grandson?

He’s doing what I asked him to do. What’s the problem.]»

«… Ridiculous. Hong Jun-il, are you teaching how to wield power in that manner?

Are you trying to catch a chicken with a sword used to catch cows? Are you planning to raise a tyrant?»

«[…Hey, Min Joon-sik. Even if we have a casual relationship, it would be better for you to refrain from belittling me and my grandson. Do you want to see a children’s fight turn into a group fight?]»

«If that’s what you’re saying, what your grandson is doing is insulting my granddaughter. Do you think I would stand still and watch my granddaughter being belittled?»

«[Choose your words carefully. When did Jin-woo harm your granddaughter? Originally, he should have attacked your granddaughter, but graciously, my grandson is attacking not your granddaughter but the little Ain.

He’s protecting his own pride while preserving your dignity, haha!]»

«That child is the one I sponsor. And you think you’re preserving my dignity? While trying to socially bury an innocent child?»

«[Your granddaughter and the Ain little one. If we compare the two, it’s preserving your dignity that we did. Why? Aren’t you losing your dignity because of just one little Ain?]»

«I told you before… Don’t underestimate people. Hong Jun-il, do you see people as appendages to move the group?»

[Heh. Do I have to listen to you yell at me for touching a little kid?

Hey, Min Junsik. What’s wrong with you? Is that why you’re trying to fight me now? Just because of a little kid?

Get a grip, man. We’re entrepreneurs, and you’re willing to take a huge loss to save this kid? Is she even worth it to you?]

«…….»

[You’re not doing this because potions are selling well these days, are you? If you are, you might want to reconsider.

The reason Alice’s potions are selling so well is because it has a group of players backing it.

You don’t want to shut down a business that’s doing well because of one little kid, do you?»].

«…….»

[I know how you feel about this, Min jun-sik, so please understand, and when this is over, I’ll make sure you get a bunch of promotions so you don’t feel bad!]

«…….»

[You only need to hand over one child, don’t get involved in their fights].

Alice Group’s status was increasing day by day.

Thanks to the new potion.

And the Dangun Group, which was deeply rooted in the player industry, was helping to promote the new potion.

As the chairman of Alice Group, Grandpa had to keep this flow going.

He couldn’t afford to break up with the Dangun Group.

«… I can’t say it.»

Grandpa was immobilized.

Hayang covered her face with her hands as she listened to the Dangun Group chairman hang up the phone.

She closed the door to make sure no sound came out.

She sat down alone in the empty hallway.

The darkness that filled the corridor felt like helpless powerlessness.

☆

«My parents are sleeping….»

Eunha closed the door to find his parents lying soundly asleep in bed.

«Oppa, where are you going?»

Eunae, who came out into the hallway, rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked.

For a moment, Eunha was startled, but he quickly hid his expression and brought his index finger to his lips.

«Shhh─.»

«Shhu─.»

Yawning, Eunae followed Eunha.

Eunha took Eunae to her room.

«It’s late, right? Go to bed. You have kindergarten tomorrow.»

«What about my oppa?»

«He’s going to bed too.»

«Really?»

«Yeah, really.»

Eunae glared at him.

Eunha shamelessly lied and put his younger sister on the bed.

«Oppa.»

«Yes?»

«Good night.»

«…Good night.»

After covering his sister with the blanket, Eunha returned to his room and opened the window.

He couldn’t afford to make any noise when opening the front door.

He had to escape through the window.

«…It feels like I’m stealing.»

It wasn’t entirely incorrect.

Eunha muttered the words he had said to himself, chuckling softly.

He manifested his mana and jumped off the windowsill, landing on the ground as quietly as possible. At the same time, he infused mana into the cloak draped over his shoulders.

Avernier’s Cloak.

He melted into the pitch-black darkness.