Seodol didn’t simply hand over that gift without resistance.

“If you planned to wear hanbok today, I would have made you a separate one. Why didn’t you tell me in advance? Maybe it’s because Hwangho picked it out, but it actually suits you well. Still, if you leave it to me, I’m confident I could make something even better. Hmm, the more I look at it, the better it gets.”

The gaze inspecting me and the clothes I was wearing like a judge’s critique gave me goosebumps.

It wasn’t just looking — he kept his distance, circled around me once, checking the front, side, and back views. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Every time he muttered politely, as if inspired by something, the creepiness grew.

When Seodol’s muttering got louder, Mujigi lowered his voice and said solemnly,

“Humans are vulnerable to plagues. I’ll restrain that rat and buy us some time. Run.”

His fierce aura, as sharp as when he aimed for Jecheon Daeseong’s side, carried a desperate determination.

No matter what his true form was, right now he looked like a girl not much older than Eun Jae-ho or Heukho, so there was no way I would leave him behind.

And whatever Seodol was up to, there was no way I would leave without receiving the gift.

Before I could say anything, the white tiger who had been standing silently behind me suddenly stepped forward.

“Hurry up and hand over that gift.”

“Baekho, good timing! Let’s attack together.”

Mujigi still looked full of fighting spirit.

Seodol stopped observing me and looked at the two ominous Jin clan members.

Maybe he judged he had no chance against them, especially with the Jin clan gathered nearby, and stopped evaluating the clothes.

“You’re all too impatient. Do you even know what gift I’m trying to give? Depending on the need, it might have to be adjusted to suit Jo Yi-shin.”

“If adjustments are necessary, Ungnyeo can do that anytime.”

When Ungnyeo’s name was mentioned, even Seodol couldn’t argue.

No matter what mysterious gift Seodol had prepared, it was obvious Ungnyeo wouldn’t take long to understand its structure or principle.

Even if Ungnyeo couldn’t create the exact same gift, she could definitely tweak it enough to maintain its function.

Coincidentally, Ungnyeo was proudly escorted by Jeokho, showing off her son, and Yong Jegun, who was watching up close, quickly noticed and looked over here.

Yong Jegun frowned at Seodol but soon grew interested and focused on this place.

“Because of you, the Dragon of the Game Realm is paying attention. What are you going to do?”

“What are you talking about?”

Seodol got annoyed, maybe because of the hatred between clans.

Since both had excellent abilities to sense even the gaze of demons, they greatly avoided each other.

Seodol grumbled and pulled out an item card, showing it to me.

“It’s a cufflink. The design got boring, but I made it to be universally usable. It’ll also suit the Eungwang High school uniform jacket.”

“Universally usable? Then why did you say something nonsense earlier about adjustments?”

“That was just an excuse to observe Jo Yi-shin! Wait, Mujigi. I was too distracted by Jo Yi-shin to look properly, but your material is pretty decent too...”

“Jecheon Daeseong is watching us.”

At the white tiger’s warning, Seodol closed his mouth.

Jecheon Daeseong had an eye patch but turned his head this way.

Seodol clicked his tongue loud enough to hear and said to me,

“Jo Yi-shin, my research is progressing. I’ll be expecting the day I become ambassador.”

“Yes, thank you. I appreciate the gift.”

“You’re polite. Few thank me.”

“There aren’t many people who’d do that to you. Only someone as kind and polite as that one would.”

Mujigi and Seodol bickered, but it seemed unimportant, so I only half-listened.

Seodol seemed bored dealing with Mujigi and kept making noise until he left, saying he’d check the condition of the new clothes given to Kwon Je-in and Hong Gyubin.

Later, I checked the gift Mujigi gave me — it was aqua shoes, totally unsuitable for the season.

Because Mujigi was a water yokai, he explained enthusiastically that shoes with anti-slip patterns and good ventilation, suitable for playing together even underwater, were best.

Moreover, he added that they were specially designed to withstand supernatural powers.

Only after promising to wear them next time we played together did Mujigi finally feel satisfied and step back.

“Among these, there’s a gift I made.”

“Not interested.”

“You must already know in your dreams.”

The white tiger, who kept following me, said something.

Meanwhile, I kept walking around the event hall, searching for someone.

Soon, I found Yoo Sang-hoon sitting sullenly, staring at a device screen in a corner.

Next to him were Yoo Sang-hee and Do Won-woo, but even when they offered a bowl with birthday rice cakes, he barely noticed.

Because of that, Jang Nam-wook, sitting in front of Yoo Sang-hoon, had to accept the bowl instead.

“Sorry for the late greeting. Thanks for coming.”

“Oh, it’s Yi-shin!”

Dosihoo was the first to react.

He was also watching the device screen like Yoo Sang-hoon, but responded quickly.

Then, he sighed with an ‘Oh!’ and it seemed he died due to losing focus while playing a game.

“You’re here? I’ll quit after this round.”

Yoo Sang-hoon spoke without taking his eyes off the screen.

Meanwhile, I greeted Do Won-woo and Yoo Sang-hee.

“Thank you for coming. I didn’t expect Senior Do Won-woo to come as well.”

“I don’t regret coming. You’re practically my benefactor.”

Do Won-woo spoke with a complicated expression, and Yoo Sang-hee looked on with a gentle smile.

They looked like a nice couple, but remembering Do Won-woo’s ugly and hostile drunken behavior before, I was worried about what was really going on.

He treated me like a rival aiming for Yoo Sang-hee, so why did his attitude change?

I feared maybe rumors about Andain and me had caused him to reconsider, but I forced myself to shake off the scary thought.

‘Do Won-woo seems to want to become family with Yoo Sang-hee, so since I’m considered Yoo Sang-hoon’s benefactor, I might become Do Won-woo’s benefactor too...’

But if I had such noble thoughts, he wouldn’t have acted so badly last year.

Do Won-woo would only change his attitude if Yoo Sang-hee or he himself were benefactors.

That left only one guess.

‘He must have firmly realized I was involved in the lab incident.’

It had to be that way.

Today, Mujigi and Jecheon Daeseong treated me well all day.

Mujigi even accompanied me personally, showing me the gift and spending time.

Many people didn’t know how Mujigi disappeared and reappeared, but Do Won-woo knew well.

The only reason Mujigi, who had been sealed until recently, suddenly got friendly with humans was one.

Even if they only suspected it before, now there was clear proof — Mujigi himself.

“...You also saved Sihoo. Thank you. Sorry for my rude behavior before.”

Do Won-woo bowed politely, and those nearby turned in shock.

Yoo Sang-hoon nearly dropped the device controller in surprise, and Dosihoo exclaimed “Huh!” and just let go.

Until now, Do Won-woo’s words sounded like forced apologies or thanks, but now he spoke sincerely.

So I replied honestly.

“It’s okay. I was a bit surprised, but seeing this unexpected side of you wasn’t bad.”

Compared to the perfect and righteous student council president I saw at Plum High, this was much uglier, but I liked Do Won-woo’s happy and expressive side.

Though “I was surprised” would be better phrased as “I thought you were pretty ugly,” I softened the words.

Maybe he understood, because Do Won-woo smiled a little.

Yoo Sang-hoon didn’t like what I said and scowled in protest.

“Unexpected? Do Won-woo has been ugly since elementary school.”

“Sang-hoon, you should call him ‘Won-woo hyung’.”

“You can call him brother-in-law or something.”

“Crazy, he’s still ugly now.”

Even if they got married, Do Won-woo probably wouldn’t get called brother-in-law by Yoo Sang-hoon.

As Do Won-woo and Yoo Sang-hee moved away, surprised, Jang Nam-wook suddenly got very talkative.

“Yi-shin, this kind of event with lots of food and people to greet is nice, but compared to our usual weekend gatherings after exams, we have less time to hang out. Sang-hoon seems too lazy even to greet people and was playing PlayerZ with Sihoo. He said the school birthday party was better. So, is there any free time in your weekend schedule? If your time’s okay, maybe we could...”

“Too long.”

Yoo Sang-hoon cut off the long speech as he put away his device and ate rice cakes.

Even I thought it was long.

After thinking, Jang Nam-wook shortened his speech to one line.

“Let’s pick a day to hang out again.”

“Sure.”

When I agreed readily, everyone brightened.

Thanks to that, introducing my friends to the other Jin clan members lurking nearby became much easier.

Even if Dosihoo, who had already been tangled up and targeted before, was one thing, pulling Jang Nam-wook and Yoo Sang-hoon in felt a bit strange.

But I was already noticed by the demons, and it was ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) well known that those two had overcome crises with me as the 13th branch.

Getting on good terms with those decent opponents was a necessary step.

“It’s almost midnight, so let’s end here. Thanks for coming.”

Hwang Ji-ho’s announcement ended the birthday party.

The Jin clan members who came seemed disappointed but satisfied with the party.

Still, it was a weekday, and many had school or work tomorrow, so pushing it wasn’t possible.

Besides, I had already received enough celebration to feel satisfied.

“I need to check if there are any dangerous items among the birthday gifts. Jo Yi-shin, let’s head to the mansion.”

Upon hearing this, some Jin clan members jeered.

For example, Okto-yeon protested that her gift shouldn’t be treated as dangerous, but no one actively stopped the remarks.

Having actually seen dangerous Jin clan members like Seodol and Yong Jegun arrive, no one dared to stop them.

Anyway, I decided to go to the mansion together.

“Jo Yi-shin, rest well today. From tomorrow, things will get tough for you.”

“Yeah. Don’t think about anything and just rest.”

After Hwang Ji-ho, Cheongho said the same, and the white tiger silently nodded.

I felt uneasy wondering why they were acting like that, but for now, I decided to sleep next to Olmu, who looked like a cool and genius warrior.

And the next day.

I learned why the tigers had said such things.

Photos of me and Joo Soo-hyuk were all over the Eun Gwang High school bulletin board and player community — everywhere.