"To some extent, you predicted it, but you couldn’t pinpoint the exact timing. So that’s why you’re planning to stay throughout the entire winter break."

The hologram Ong Gildong projected contained the entire process he went through to reach that conclusion. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

There were some plausible elements like weather forecasts and observations from player satellites, but also inexplicable things — the movements of migratory birds, changes in local government policies, tourism statistics, scenes from local specialty product introduction programs, and so on.

Apparently, all of that looked different to Ong Gildong, but most of the classmates seemed to think the attention-seeker just spoke in his usual incomprehensible way.

However, a few among those who didn’t know the details of the matter showed interest in what the attention-seeker said.

One of them was Jin Jeongmuk, who had declared that he was going to Gangwon Province as well.

“Jin Jeongmuk must have some information from Jeolheukpoongrim. He seemed troubled recently. I wonder if he has resolved it.”

Jin Jeongmuk actively showed interest, even asking Ong Gildong questions.

He had previously revealed that he had confronted the issue of the Demon King Balor together with the attention-seekers, cooperating with Jeolheukpoongrim and to ensure Jin Jeongmuk’s attendance at school.

Since the attention-seekers, who had experience facing demons, were heading to Gangwon at this time, Jin Jeongmuk seemed concerned and kept asking questions.

Also, although he didn’t speak directly, Song Daeseok couldn’t take his eyes off the hologram.

Among the data Ong Gildong referred to was observational data released by a player satellite, which seemed to catch Song Daeseok’s attention.

“This... this can even be connected to this...”

Song Daeseok muttered as he looked at the thread extending from the satellite icon in the hologram.

Perhaps because he had a deep understanding of what the satellite observed, he immediately grasped the correlations even with things that didn’t seem related.

He turned on his device and took notes, learning Ong Gildong’s thought process.

Perhaps this will broaden Song Daeseok’s perspective.

“If Song Daeseok considers Ong Gildong’s ideas valid, he’ll pay close attention to Gangwon Province.”

Since Hongcheon, Song Daeseok’s hometown, is located there, he seemed likely to watch it more carefully.

Though everyone was excitedly discussing winter break plans, such enjoyable times could not last long.

After all, we were gathered here in the middle of the night to study.

Everyone resumed their painful exam preparations.

“When will we prepare for the practical exam?”

“There’s no need to study separately for the practical.”

“What? I saw last year’s unexpected scenarios. It’s not easy, though.”

“......”

Most of our class belonged to the martial arts faction and had recently directly conquered an otherworldly realm in Hongcheon, so few worried about the practical exam.

But there were exceptions.

Sawol Seyum openly showed anxiety, and Kwon Rena, who had never taken the practical exam while carrying a supernatural violin, blinked several times instead of speaking up.

“Still, from what I saw during the previous otherworldly conquest, the practical exam will be passed without difficulty. The problem is the written exam.”

And aside from passing or failing, our class had another big problem.

That was the White Tiger.

“I’ll take the exam at my own skill level, so don’t worry.”

“What are you suddenly talking about... Never mind. Don’t explain and just clear the dishes, Baekho.”

That was reassuring indeed.

That guy annoyed me because it was obvious he would get the same scores as me without a shred of conscience.

Considering his behavior, it was easy to imagine he’d get the same practical exam scores as me.

I wish he’d at least get 40 points like Hwang Ji-ho.

“I don’t want that.”

“You mean you don’t want to clear them up?”

Those words, casually uttered without context, made the back of my neck stiffen.

Looks like I’ll have to prepare for a joint runner-up spot in this final exam, too.

The second-semester final exams held in winter do not overlap for the third-year students and the first and second years, according to the academic schedule.

The third years, who took the finals earlier, had their grades and rankings finalized.

So while the juniors were buried in exams, the third years prepared for college admission, studying abroad, employment, and so on based on their early results.

In a way, the third years were going through a more desperate and difficult time than their juniors, but among them were admirable and perfect seniors practicing selfless love.

The third years belonging to student councils distributed snacks and answered questions about exam study, serving as role models.

At the forefront was, of course, Yeom Jun-yeol.

“Uishin, preparing for exams must be tough, huh? Take this.”

“Thank you.”

Yeom Jun-yeol smiled as he handed me snacks prepared by the student council.

Seeing the contents, my heart filled with mixed feelings of emotion and pride.

It was Supernova Chocolate.

Now that I think about it, the student council had specially requested this during the exam period, and they asked for my cooperation.

All I had to do was lend my alias and signature for the snacks distributed on campus, so I agreed without much thought.

I thought they’d just distribute about a hundred and be done with it, but the student council seemed to have prepared enough chocolate to give to every Eun Gwang High student.

Not only the first and second years but also third years and staff received the chocolate.

Especially Yong Jegun showed me the packaging with my signature and said, “I’ll eat well, Uishin,” then slowly ate it right in front of me.

“...Even though this has my alias on it, what’s the point of me receiving it?”

I tried hard to distract myself to erase the embarrassing scene from earlier at school.

The answer came quickly.

Even though my alias was on it, it mattered greatly because Yeom Jun-yeol was the one giving it.

“I hope you get the grades you want.”

Yeom Jun-yeol’s words, coming after barely missing the top spot and getting his desired results in the last exam, touched me deeply.

Thanks to that, I regained the will to strive toward my goals again.

My desired grade, of course, was the sole runner-up spot!

The runner-up spot itself isn’t difficult, but being sole runner-up was the problem.

Because of the White Tiger, who was blatantly aiming for a joint runner-up, it wouldn’t be easy.

“If that grade comes out because it reads my mind, then maybe if I clear my head and mix false information in, I can avoid joint runner-up?”

I gained one more goal for this exam.

My first goal was to ensure that our classmates all passed safely without failing.

The second goal was to be the sole runner-up.

I had to avoid the terrible situation of accidentally becoming top runner-up with Andain and Joo Suhyuk’s names mixed in, and also fend off the White Tiger.

I didn’t want to share the runner-up spot, but I hated the idea of falling to third place because of that guy even more, so I had to be careful.

I made thorough plans and worked hard to practice mind control to achieve them.

The White Tiger often poured cold water on me.

“Jo Yi-shin, I’m well aware of the fact that you’re making such plans. You’re doing it knowingly, right?”

“What plans? What plans did Uishin make?”

When Cheongho asked, the White Tiger spilled everything.

Hearing about aiming for sole runner-up, both Cheongho and Hwang Ji-ho were incredulous.

They looked at me as if pitying a pathetic person.

“Jo Yi-shin, to be using your energy on such things with a big event coming... wouldn’t it be better to just give up?”

“Do you think Uishin would give up just because we say so?”

“No, he won’t. I’ll ask the descendants to prepare pictures of divine beasts.”

“I’ll buy snacks. Something with oranges.”

To the ear, it sounded like Hwang Ji-ho and Cheongho were supporting me, but in reality, it was a little different.

It looked like they were already preparing to console me, predicting I was going to fail.

“No, if I hit the weak spot of my protection, the result might be different. It’s too early to give up!”

I did my best to use my brain, strengthen my mind, and study in order to avoid joint runner-up.

I deliberately made my thoughts complicated and twisted, trying to interfere with the White Tiger’s thinking, but since the target showed no outward signs, I didn’t know if it worked.

Finally, the finals ended and the results were announced.

[Second-Year Second Semester Final Exam Final Rankings Announcement]

[Joint 1st: 2-1 Andain, 2-1 Joo Suhyuk]

[Joint 2nd: 2-0 Baekho, 2-0 Jo Yi-shin]

The result was the same as the midterms...

Rankings below joint 2nd were shuffled, but the top was identical...

There were still processes for error checks and appeals, but the same result was expected.

Perhaps understanding my pain, messages of consolation piled up on my device right after the results were announced.

Especially from the tigers, several unseen photos of angels arrived.

It was nice to see new, beautiful photos of angels, but I hated the fact that even the White Tiger would see these precious photos because of the protection.

“But didn’t you want to spread the angelic nature of the divine beasts widely? To be happy that even one more person sees it?”

That was true, but hearing that from that guy made me dislike it.

Still, the sight of an angel rolling on a rug wearing a scarf with fur balls was very lovely and angelic, so my heart gradually softened.

Also, I was relieved because all the classmates safely finished their finals.

However, Maeng Hyo-don’s grades were really borderline, so I was a bit worried if he could handle math at a level of a third-year exam student next year.

After finals ended, Eun Gwang High started preparing for charity events and shifted into festival preparation mode, but I couldn’t.

“Mr. Ham Geun-hyung isn’t here today either.”

It was time for the homeroom session, but Mr. Ham Geun-hyung was absent because he went to Hongcheon.

Instead, Yong Jegun came in, smiling as he announced some notices.

Since Yong Jegun knew what the absence meant, he seemed excited.

In contrast, the students’ worries grew.

“I heard there was a forest fire. I wonder if the teacher is okay...”

“A forest fire? I heard there was a sudden heavy rain recently and evacuation orders were issued.”

Otherworldly incidents were occurring more frequently in Gangwon Province, along with abnormal weather phenomena.

Disasters followed, and more otherworldly occurrences happened.

The ground suddenly split in two, soil erosion took place, wild beasts migrated en masse over mountain ranges leaving Gangwon — all these strange phenomena continued.

There was no human casualty yet, but signs increasingly hinted that something was happening in Gangwon.

“I’ll ask directly. I know a lot has changed, but is it better that everyone knows? Who dies in that game during this period?”

On the first weekend after the exam results were announced, at the Tiger residence.

At the meeting, Hwang Ji-ho asked.

Normally, at this time, incidents like the Red Lions and Dragon Clan rising for Yeom Jun-yeol’s revenge should happen, but now it was peaceful.

So the information I held might be meaningless, but I needed to confirm it.

Because Yeom Jun-yeol, Cheondongha, and Ma Jinseung, who were major casualties during the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) Jeju Island trip, played significant roles in the past incident, there was a possibility they’d appear again this time.

So I decided to speak without hiding anything.

“Senior Gwak Kyung-gu and senior Heo Chae-a.”

I named the seniors who had failed to graduate from Plmago.