After the family’s anniversary passed, things got busy again.

I had to review the moves prepared against the mastermind’s scenario and catch up on the day of class I missed.

But first, I decided to send thanks to those who had visited the memorial hall or sent condolence wreaths.

For those I could meet at school, I spoke to them directly; for others, I sent messages via device.

“...”

“Do you have something to say?”

Usually energetic and talkative juniors hesitated.

Was there a problem with the return gifts?

They had been very happy when they saw the walnut tarts and cookies I had just given them.

So it wasn’t the menu.

I thought of other reasons but had no clue.

It was too early to worry about the next exams or careers.

They had safely passed the midterms, and it wasn’t yet time to worry about finals.

Also, since none could bring up the topic, it didn’t seem to be a personal concern.

One junior hesitated before saying,

“There is something, but it’s kind of awkward to say it directly.”

“Oh, then should I say it? Jo Yi-shin oppa’s invitation...”

“Hey, don’t! That’s not something you force someone to accept!”

Yoon Yeorang tried to say something cheerfully, but another junior stopped her.

Chaseokwon, who was already eating a walnut cookie, seemed to agree with Yoon Yeorang and said, “If you need someone to speak instead, say so. I’ll do it!”

Anyway, the juniors seemed to decide not to speak, so I backed off.

Similar situations happened a few more times at school, but conversations stopped as the other party clammed up or Tigers suddenly appeared and interrupted.

‘Is something going on among juniors? No, some classmates and seniors also started to say similar things but stopped. Is it an issue among Eungwang High students?’

But considering that the 3rd-year Class 0 representatives like Geum Chanwangchan’s group had caused trouble with similar talk before being taken away by Jegal Jaegul, probably not.

Then maybe it’s something inside the Eungwang High group?

My guess was wrong.

Even those not from Eungwang High said similar things.

[Ok Toyun] Why aren’t you giving it?

What are they asking for?

I wondered if I should buy some Tangjong red bean bread, which has a texture similar to rice cakes from MITRON.

[Ok Toyun] If Eun-in doesn’t give the invitation, then I’ll just invite.

[Ok Toyun] I’m upset, but since you worked hard yesterday, I can overlook it. But overlooking doesn’t mean I’m not upset. Got it? Got it!

A message came as if whispering nagging in my ear, and the word “invitation” caught my eye.

Now that I think of it, juniors also mentioned invitations.

I wondered if Ok Toyun was showing the same symptoms, but luckily it was resolved quickly.

[Ok Toyun] Eun-in, don’t mind Toyun’s words. We’re negotiating with the Ho clan.

Thanks to Ok Toyun, I had ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) a clue.

Sudden mention of an invitation.

At this time.

People connected to me.

It’s better if I give it directly.

Something the Ho clan and Tu clan would negotiate about.

With enough clues, I came to a conclusion.

‘It’s been found out that I will appear at the Black Wind Forest’s Martial Arts Gathering. Since everyone likes watching fights, they want to come watch.’

This Sunday is October 31, Halloween, and the day the Black Wind Forest’s Martial Arts Gathering will be held.

Whether intended or not, many people will be wearing diverse costumes that day, so the warriors gathered won’t look too out of place.

The Black Wind Forest is a popular team, so once news spread that they were holding the gathering, requests for attendance, coverage, and viewing flooded in—but the number of Hero Invitations was limited.

Only swordsmen who made their name in the martial world or newcomers or hidden masters recommended by sects or families could appear on the martial stage.

In modern terms, only players famous enough to have a nickname and skilled in sword-related abilities, or those recommended by pro player teams, could participate.

The spectator selection process was less strict, but without connections to the martial world, it was hard to get an invitation.

‘It’s impossible to invite everyone who came to the memorial hall. There are too many. At best, only our class will be invited.’

The Martial Arts Gathering is also a place to showcase the sword style inherited by Huijigi and to prove the continued strength of one’s sect or family.

The newcomer representing the Black Wind Forest was Jin Jeongmuk, personally taught by the forest’s sword saint, so besides me, two from our class would participate.

So the Black Wind Forest would probably permit invitations to our classmates but not more.

However, if the Ho clan stepped in, things would be different.

‘The Ho clan shares information with the demon clan and has allied with the Black Wind Forest. Through the Ho clan, we could get invitations.’

In that sense, Ok Toyun’s decision to negotiate with the Ho clan was wise.

However, this would make inviting all juniors difficult.

Though it wouldn’t be obvious, inviting these seemingly unrelated people through the Ho clan would be suspicious if done to gather juniors en masse like an Eungwang High group viewing.

I felt sorry for the juniors but decided to end it by showing them recorded videos later.

“I think Baekho knows without asking. Yi-shin, you’re off base, right?”

“Look at Baekho’s face. He’s already smiling and enjoying himself. Probably.”

While lost in thought during break, I heard Cheongho and Hwang Ji-ho talking.

I had something to ask the Tigers, so it was good they looked free.

I said to Hwang Ji-ho, the Ho clan representative,

“Can I leave the invitation matter to you?”

If it’s someone from the Jin clan who can directly get invitations, he’d get them himself, or else be flexible.

It felt like passing responsibility to the Tigers, but the Black Wind Forest would likely provide more invitations to the Ho clan than me, so this seemed efficient.

Besides, the Black Wind Forest would also secure a list of players and Jin clan members connected to me or the Ho clan.

After I said this, the classroom grew quiet as if I’d made a huge announcement.

Not only the Tigers, but also students scattered around the classroom eating snacks or dozing off lifted their heads to look at me and Hwang Ji-ho.

“Jo Yi-shin...!”

Hwang Ji-ho called my name with shining eyes filled with emotion.

His handsome eyes brightened with a wide smile, but it felt a little off.

Seeing Hwang Ji-ho so happy left me speechless.

Seeing him smile without a shadow made me think a little of Hwang Yu-ho.

“Well said! Leave everything to me. From now on, tell anyone asking about invitations to come to me.”

As Hwang Ji-ho said this loudly, the classroom buzzed.

At that moment, Kim Yuri was talking with a student council member from another class, so the classroom door was open.

Because of that, kids walking by the hallway all looked this way.

For students not interested in the Martial Arts Gathering, it was no big deal, but whispers spread like huge news and soon my device started receiving messages about invitations.

‘Rumors really spread fast in our school. Were they all looking forward to the Martial Arts Gathering?’

Most messages asked if I had really left the invitation matter to Hwang Ji-ho.

Since it wasn’t really secret, I said yes.

‘Come to think of it, it’s good for deceiving the mastermind. It would look like my external activities are restricted by the Ho clan.’

I was still using the false rumor that my actions were limited by the Hwangmyeong Group.

This invitation matter seemed a good smokescreen.

Maybe Hwang Ji-ho thought the same, because since I left the invitation matter to him, he smiled and busily sent his clones everywhere.

“Are many people asking for invitations?”

“Even before you asked, they overflowed. Some impudently ignored what I prepared and even said they’d invite you instead.”

Invite me instead?

I was already confirmed to participate in the Martial Arts Gathering.

Ah, maybe because it’s October 31, they wanted to hold a separate Halloween party and invite me.

“I have plans that day. Even if invited, I can’t go.”

“Hahaha! Sure. I’ll tell them exactly what you said.”

Hwang Ji-ho laughed.

But unlike Hwang Ji-ho, a few kids looked like the world had collapsed.

For example, Guseulbi and Ong Gildong.

The attention-seeking duo never missed events where they could wear flashy, eye-catching costumes, so it wouldn’t be strange if they planned a separate Halloween party.

“I was preparing an amazing party and wanted to invite my partner...”

“I already thought about how to decorate the hideout that day...”

“Hahaha! Too bad. Jo Yi-shin chose me. But I’ll invite you too, so don’t feel too left out. If you have ideas, tell me.”

Guseulbi and Ong Gildong looked disappointed but not ready to give up, showing various designs and explaining something to Hwang Ji-ho.

They lowered their voices, seeming to want to keep it secret from me.

Probably adjusting costumes or cheering tools for the Martial Arts Gathering.

Hwang Ji-ho sometimes shook his head, sometimes nodded.

He seemed to be suggesting compromises for their extreme ideas.

This happened several times, and Hwang Ji-ho got very busy but showed no complaints.

“This feels great. With this, everyone will know who’s Yi-shin’s benefactor.”

That’s not quite right.

On the surface, it would still look like I can’t invite a single person to the Martial Arts Gathering without the Ho clan’s permission.

Thinking that Hwang Ji-ho was babbling while overexcited, I decided to ignore it.

But maybe his excitement rubbed off, because Cheongho also seemed a bit excited.

“Same thought here. Let me know if you need help.”

“Then won’t the Sleep Sheep hear your voice and get scared? These rude fools tried to invite Jo Yi-shin to Jeju Island.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll handle it.”

Remembering how the Sleep Sheep feared Cheongho’s fists and kicks more than Hwang Ji-ho made me feel a bit sorry.

No matter what, I couldn’t go to Jeju Island, and since I decided to leave it to the Tigers, I wouldn’t interfere much.

Meanwhile, while other Tigers busily moved about, the White Tiger was free.

So free that he chuckled every time he looked at me.

“Baekho, if you’re going to laugh, go outside.”

“No.”

No matter what Cheongho said, White Tiger didn’t leave.

As the days passed and the weekend approached, Hwang Ji-ho seemed to have finished tidying up, and inquiries about invitations stopped.

Instead, part of the Martial Arts Gathering participant list was revealed, greatly raising public anticipation.

‘The protagonist can’t miss an event like this.’

So the heirs of the Joo Oh group, famous for their sword skills, were invited.

The twin swords belonged to the Ju family, the single sword to the Oh family.

The Ju family’s representative was, of course, the reverse-light-winged Joo Soo-hyuk.

Also invited was the Iron-Blood Twin Swords, Joo Soo-hyuk’s teacher and Gwak Kyung-gu’s father.

I had expected Oh Hye-ji to appear, but my guess was wrong.

The Oh family’s representative was a self-proclaimed prospective first-year at Eungwang High, someone who took the GED and was preparing for entrance exams.