The sun was setting, darkness creeping in, and everyone was heading their separate ways.

Around me were only the Tigers.

If the demons were observing anything, it would be the Ho Clan.

Who among the Ho Clan visited Jeolheuk Poongnim, who they came with, what conversations they had.

Though they hadn’t seen the important internal situations firsthand, gathering that much information unnoticed by Jeolheuk Poongnim was a significant gain.

“Jo Yi-shin, why are you standing still? Let’s go.”

As I adjusted my clothes to hide the inside of my sleeve, Hwang Ji-ho spoke.

Objectively, his tone was very gentle and friendly.

Not just to me, but to the others in our class too, quite different from how he spoke to other Jin clans or Jeolheuk Poongnim officials today.

Any outsider knowing about the Ho Clan would assume Hwang Ji-ho and I were close.

Thanks to the gift from Sodol, I had an advantage, but I couldn’t give away information here.

“Cut it out.”

A colder, lower voice came unexpectedly.

Cheong Ho, about to get into the limousine, sharply turned his head and narrowed his eyes, suspecting Hwang Ji-ho’s words were aimed at him.

But I couldn’t stop here.

Whether the demons were watching or not, the eye pattern glowing inside my sleeve grew clearer and larger.

I steeled myself.

“Don’t pretend to be close. There’s no one else here now, so why bother disguising yourself like that?”

Hwang Ji-ho and Cheong Ho froze briefly at my words.

It was like they’d been hit hard by someone, their faces showing shock and disbelief as if they’d just met an unimaginable being like the Black Tiger or an angel.

Though shocked and stunned, I couldn’t stop now.

If my act slipped, it wouldn’t just reveal that I had means to detect the demons’ gaze and resist, but also that I had a cooperative relationship with the Ho Clan.

I sent a signal to White Tiger, who must be fully aware of the situation.

Focus on me.

“You’re arrogant. Have you forgotten your position?”

White Tiger looked at me with cold eyes.

I’ve seen that icy gaze many times; now he was suppressing laughter.

That meant no one had noticed that I had cast the true name’s protection as a blessing.

Of course, hiding one’s expression and feelings well was excellent discipline for a chess player and a warrior.

And it was very effective when deceiving enemies, as now.

“I know well. Because of the rules Jeolheuk Poongnim set, Andain couldn’t participate, so they sent me instead—to show off the Ho Clan’s influence.”

“Ridiculous. The Ho Clan’s influence doesn’t change without a single human.”

“If that’s really true, there’d be no need for the mythic Ho Clan to attend a human-hosted tournament en masse, nor to run the school. There’d be no reason to use me for schemes.”

Hwang Ji-ho and Cheong Ho seemed to catch on to why I was causing this fuss.

Cheong Ho silently covered his mouth as if to pretend to be lost in thought, lacking confidence to join this farce, while Hwang Ji-ho forced his twitching lips to calm down.

White Tiger curled his eyes amusedly at my frustrated tone, though his voice remained sharp and cold.

“You talk too much. Want to be tied up and dragged away again?”

I sensed mischief behind those cold eyes.

During the Korea-China-Japan exchange, when we faked things with Renjoin Karen to hide from the demons’ gaze, I was really tied up and dragged away.

Thinking about how I laughed so hard my shoulders shook still annoys me.

Regardless of the truth, White Tiger acted as if he could call Baekah at any moment to tear apart the precious robe and tie me up like a criminal.

If I truly were a human used by the Ho Clan to raise Andain’s reputation, I might /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ have cowered in fear and collapsed on the spot.

But pretending to be such a fearful human was boring.

I had to show some backbone to confuse them more.

Perhaps they’d try to trick me, so I’d better seem willing to oppose the Ho Clan but also show a humble side before their strength.

“...Oh, today I beat two scions of the Joooh Group! I was sent out to show off the Ho Clan’s influence, so if anything happens to me, it’ll be suspicious. They’re watching me closely.”

Cheong Ho pressed his forehead, showing no courage in such weak words.

Closing his eyes, it seemed he was turning away so as not to laugh at my naïve face.

In contrast, Hwang Ji-ho stared intently as if memorizing this expression.

The Tigers fell silent for a moment at my acting, and I urged myself inwardly.

Hurry up and say your lines as I planned.

“There are plenty of doubles like you. Do you really think you could’ve achieved what you have without the Ho Clan’s help? Without my teaching, Cheong Ho’s advice, and the weapons Hwang Ho procured, you wouldn’t even be standing here today.”

“Ugh...!”

I pretended to be speechless and ashamed, biting my lip.

White Tiger went beyond what I had planned and spoke irritatingly.

Now it showed I was trained by White Tiger and that both my outfit and sword were Ho Clan’s provision.

Also, it was easier to lure the enemy into underestimating me if my skill was disparaged, so I let him say those things.

“Done talking?”

“...”

Feigning frustration, I bowed my head, but White Tiger forcefully grabbed my shoulder to drag me off.

Since I had revealed the demons’ gaze, I planned to end the act with being forcibly taken.

Before his big hand touched my shoulder, Hwang Ji-ho stepped in front of me.

“I’m in a good mood today and don’t want to ruin the ending. You’re wearing fine clothes for once, so let’s treat this properly. Take it easy.”

Hwang Ji-ho’s intervention was unexpected but welcome.

Among the mythic Ho Clan, White Tiger was the hardliner, Hwang Ji-ho the moderate, and Cheong Ho the bystander.

With their roles balanced, this farce felt more real.

White Tiger, playing the villain, spat his lines fittingly.

“Be grateful for my close friend’s mercy.”

He withdrew his hand but still seemed wary, faintly radiating hostility.

Hwang Ji-ho must have sensed that, yet he said nothing and walked ahead, tossing a casual remark.

“I spared you here, but your attitude today is unacceptable. There will be much to discuss at the mansion.”

“...Please let me return to the dorm.”

“I said there’s much to discuss.”

With my meaningless protest ended, I got into the Ho Clan’s vehicle.

As the door closed and a barrier activated on the windows, the eye on my sleeve vanished.

When I nodded, Hwang Ji-ho and Cheong Ho burst into laughter simultaneously.

They laughed so hard it seemed they might cry; White Tiger also chuckled heartily, though less wildly.

After a long laugh, the Tigers regained their composure enough to speak intelligibly.

“Jo Yi-shin! We knew you were a great actor, but this was over the top!”

“You pulled a similar stunt before to trick the demons’ gaze, right? How did Baekho hold back laughter then?”

“Your training’s insufficient. Keep practicing.”

“Wow, even when funny, you can still annoy people.”

The Tigers eagerly chatted about the farce.

They sometimes asked me questions but laughed heartily no matter what I said.

After a few repetitions, I lost the will to answer.

“Anyway, new settings have been added. It’s good that the alliance between Joooh and Hwangmyeong is hidden. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Uishin, I can’t actively join the acting, but I’ll practice holding back my laughter.”

Finally, when the situation calmed, Hwang Ji-ho and Cheong Ho spoke.

They expected moments like this to happen again.

With demons watching everywhere, it was understandable, but seeing them laugh like this made me doubt they’d want to repeat it.

‘Still, thinking ahead, what happened today isn’t bad at all.’

We fooled the demons for the demon realm scenario, and hid the relationship between Hwangmyeong and Joooh for the four great groups’ intrigue.

If I had done this alone, it wouldn’t have been important information, but three mythic Ho Clan members did it.

I doubted those arrogant Ho Clan members would obediently perform whatever humans ordered before the demons.

Though the setting where Andain uses me to boost her fame was hard to swallow, I forced myself to endure thinking about what was to come.

Meanwhile, the Tigers kept rehashing my lines and laughing, making me uneasy, but once we arrived at the Tiger mansion, I felt better.

“Trick or treat!”

“Give me a rice cake, and I won’t eat you!”

Bam!

Descendants of Eunho, the Black Tiger, and the genius angel were waiting for us.

Today, considering the martial artist concept, everyone wore colorful martial outfits symbolizing their colors.

Especially the angel, who looked brave and clever wearing a tiny replica sword on her back.

But foolishly, I hadn’t prepared rice cakes to share with these geniuses, so I was at risk of being ‘eaten.’

Instead, I took out pumpkin-flavored snacks from my inventory and apologized.

“Sorry, can I give rice cakes next time?”

“I’m fine without rice cakes!”

“Me too!”

The Black Tiger, wearing the same colored clothes as me, popped the marshmallow I gave him into his mouth immediately, and everyone happily ate the snacks I offered.

Though his pronunciation was slurred, his kind heart was clear.

Hwang Ji-ho said bitterly,

“...They like these more than the rice cakes we prepared.”

“Right? But I’d feel the same. Don’t be upset.”

In Hwang Ji-ho’s hand was a box individually wrapped with pumpkin sirutteok made by Dal Rabbit Rice Cake.

Cheong Ho chose one with the most pumpkin and honey inside to eat.

Afterward, we had the Halloween party they said they prepared.

We came to hear about the information exchange with Jeolheuk Poongnim but somehow forgot our purpose.

However, seeing the kids staying up late with me despite being sleepy, I couldn’t find the moment to speak.

Midnight came.

And at midnight, as the date changed, the interior of the Ho Clan mansion was dyed black.

Thinking it was a blackout, I looked around, and slowly yellow, white, blue, red, and silver lights came on one by one.

Following the lights with my eyes, I saw a phrase:

‘Happy birthday’

Only then did I realize today was my birthday.