Chapter Text
The day began like any other. It was the pre-midterm season, which meant everyone was already tense and irritable. Of course, nothing was ever truly normal in Class 0, and that was proven the moment their teacher, Ham Geunhyung, entered the room with an expression far harsher than usual.
Even on a good day, his face alone is an unfortunate weapon. Today, however, he looked like someone who had swallowed a handful of lemons. From his seat, Jo Euishin tilted his head slightly while half-listening to Maeng Hyodon grumble beside him about his ongoing and brutal struggle with math.
After the class finished their morning greetings, Professor Ham Geunhyung briefly glanced at Jo Euishin before looking down at the notebook in his hand with a sigh. Euishin didn’t think much of it, but the Tigers nearby narrowed their eyes in suspicion.
Finally, their teacher opened his mouth.
“…We will have a transfer student joining us this year.”
Hm?
Jo Euishin wondered if he had misheard. A transfer student? That had never happened before. What confused him even more was why several classmates turned to look at him, only to look even more surprised when they saw the same bewilderment on his face.
Do they really expect him to know everything?
“…A transfer student?” Hwang Jiho’s eyes narrowed. He clearly hadn’t heard anything about it either. Through his clone, he immediately began checking the class records.
Professor Ham sighed again. “Apparently, it was an agreement made three years ago. The… chairman… approved it as well.”
What?
Jo Euishin immediately shot Hwang Jiho a glare. Jiho’s eyes darted away at once, guilt and shock plain on his face. Others who knew the tiger’s identity soon followed Euishin’s lead and glared at him too.
So this was the result of Hwang Jiho’s negligence. That explained their teacher’s reluctance to bring it up. Still, even in PMH, there had never been any mention of a transfer student in Class 3-0. It probably wouldn’t cause too much trouble… right?
Their teacher, who looked as though he had aged thirty years in a few seconds, finally turned toward the door.
“You may come in.”
Then the door opened.
The moment Jo Euishin saw the newcomer, he instantly recognized the aura of the Jin Clan. The student was tall—roughly the same height as the White Tiger—and equally broad-shouldered. His hair was a vivid golden blond, and his eyes were a sharp, striking red.
Jo Euishin had no trouble admitting the man, well, mythical being, was handsome. In fact, he might have been one of the most attractive individuals Jo Euishin had ever seen, though he had no idea who the man actually was.
Unbeknownst to his not-so-private musings, the White Tiger instantly furrowed his brow the moment he both saw the guy and heard Jo Euishin’s thoughts. But Jo Euishin didn’t realize, as he was too busy ranking the man’s looks among the people he had seen before.
Hmm… maybe second only to Joo Soohyuk?
His thoughts were interrupted when the newcomer spoke. His voice was deep, steady, and filled with unmistakable authority. Euishin instantly recognized that this person must be among the highest-ranked members of his clan.
Though, looking at that mane of blonde hair, he already had a guess.
“Sa-Hyeon is the name I bear. It is a pleasure.”
As expected. Definitely from the Lion Clan. Did they not even bother hiding their identities anymore? Did they think the Mythical Age had returned? Even the way he speaks reflects that era.
Hwang Jiho, on the other hand, looked like he had plenty to say, judging by the murderous glare he suddenly directed at Sa-Hyeon.
Their teacher had a hand pressed to his temple, as if a vein were throbbing. Jo Euishin sympathized. Still, their teacher was kind enough to let it go. “...You can sit next to—”
“My designated place is no problem,” the Lion, Sa-Hyeon spoke.
There was no disguising his noble lineage. Even the way he spoke, though a bit outdated, demanded respect. A lion through and through.
But why was he here?
“I have been informed that Class 3-0’s Vice President is remarkably capable.” Sa-Hyeon continued confidently, his sharp red gaze landing directly on Jo Euishin. “In that case, I will sit beside him.”
“Absolutely not,” Hwang Jiho snapped immediately, breaking the silence he had maintained for the last two minutes.
“Yeah, no. Back row for you.”
“This new guy’s got nerve, huh?”
“Just so you know, our partner stays our partner! Go sit in the back!”
“Though your presence commands respect, I will not abandon my place beside Young Hero Jo.”
The protests erupted instantly. Amid the chaos, Jo Euishin appreciated how easily his classmates had accepted the newcomer—so much so that they were enthusiastically offering him the back seats. They were clearly excited to welcome another unusual classmate.
“I don’t think that’s the reason,” the White Tiger with no sense of privacy muttered, raising an eyebrow while watching the lion closely.
“…He definitely belongs in the jungle,” Cheongho added, clearly bristling at the presence of another predator. The master of Taehokwon looked almost eager to start a fight.
“Of course he does. He reeks of blood and dirt,” Hwang Jiho said coldly, crossing his arms.
Jo Euishin could hardly believe what he was hearing.
Were these immature Tigers seriously ganging up to say the new student both smelled bad and looked bad?
Sa-Hyeon didn’t even glance at them. If anything, his composure was impressive. Rather than reacting defensively, he reminded Euishin of the White Tiger when he tilted his chin slightly upward—like someone looking down on lesser creatures.
“That is not how I look, Jo Euishin.”
That was exactly how he looked.
Meanwhile, as the students grumbled and the Tigers growled, their teacher remained standing at the front with a hand on his head. Finally gathering his patience, Ham Geunhyung spoke.
“...Sit in the back.”
“Hmph.” Sa-Hyeon gave a short sound of displeasure. For a moment, Euishin thought something unpleasant might happen when the lion cast a look of obvious disdain at the chair behind Hwang Jiho.
Jiho noticed it too, tightening his grip on his chair like it was a treasured possession. Since he was number sixteen on the attendance list, the final seat naturally ended up behind him—but he clearly disliked the idea.
Nevertheless, Sa-Hyeon walked over.
Then he lifted the chair with one hand.
Everyone stared—some appalled, some annoyed—scratch that, mostly annoyed, as the lion casually picked up the wooden chair as though it weighed nothing and dragged it across the room, placing it directly behind Jo Euishin.
The silence that followed felt heavy.
Before sitting down, Sa-Hyeon spoke again. His deep voice sounded even more imposing now that he stood beside Euishin. He waited until Euishin looked at him, forcing him into intense eye contact with an equally intense lion.
“Now that I see you before me, I am truly pleased. I look forward to the time we will spend together.”
Then he sat down.
A faint smirk appeared on his handsome face, and his red eyes seemed to gleam even in the morning light.
He really was handsome. A worthy rival to Joo Soohyuk in terms of looks—
“Ahem.”
Jo Euishin snapped back to reality at the sound of a cough. Only then did he notice that everyone was staring at him—more precisely, at his eyes. Even Ham Geunhyung looked stunned.
For once, even the White Tiger was staring at him with disbelief, as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
What was the problem this time?
“Why the hell is the Vice President being so welcoming to that new guy?” Maeng Hyodon grumbled as he leaned against the wall.
It was lunchtime, and their Vice President had ended up being tasked with giving the transfer student a tour of the building. Maeng Hyodon clicked his tongue in irritation. The newcomer’s intentions were painfully obvious.
Despite Hwang Jiho’s fierce objections—both spoken and otherwise—Jo Euishin had made the final call. And because of that, they were now stuck watching their Vice President get pulled around campus by someone clearly trying to find an opportunity to get him alone.
Judging from the way the passing juniors didn’t bother hiding their hostile stares as they walked past, it felt like a full-blown uprising might break out sooner or later. Additionally, the Tigers had no intention of backing down either.
“…There’s no way Euishin-ie actually likes that guy, right?” Sawol Seeum’s uneasy whisper carried through the classroom.
“Haha, of course not! Euishin probably just wants to be friendly.” Kim Yuri said with a reassuring smile, living up to her role as Honorary Class President while trying to calm the other fourteen class presidents. As the apprentice of the Tiger Clan’s Chief Shaman, she had recognized immediately that Sa-Hyeon belonged to the Jin Clan.
Maeng Hyodon glanced out the window. Outside, he spotted their Vice President speaking to the transfer student—who didn’t even seem to be paying attention. Instead of looking where Euishin was pointing, the man was too busy watching Euishin himself from the corner of his eye.
“Friends, huh? Yeah, right.”
The killing intent radiating from the other three Tigers—even from this distance—made it clear he wasn’t the only one thinking otherwise.
“Is this where you usually have lunch?” Sa-Hyeon asked, glancing briefly at the bench beneath the tree before turning his attention back to Jo Euishin.
“Yeah. How can you tell?” Jo Euishin asked, looking up at him.
To his surprise, Sa-Hyeon was actually quite easy to talk to. The arrogant way he had introduced himself earlier had raised a few red flags, but the longer they spoke, the more he seemed… fairly reasonable.
In PMH, the Lion Clan had always kept to themselves, much like the Tiger Clan had in their earlier years. They weren’t particularly prominent on the Korean Peninsula, but they flourished in the Western and Middle Eastern regions—places where forests and water were plentiful.
“I can smell your scent,” Sa-Hyeon said casually.
If he was being honest, this lion was even more shameless than the nonsense the Tigers usually spouted. After three years in this world, Jo Euishin had grown far too accustomed to things like this.
So he simply nodded.
“I see.”
From the scoff behind them, however, it was clear that some people weren’t fond of the lion’s boldness. Still, Jo Euishin had already warned them, and for now they were managing to restrain themselves.
“This lion’s jaws are just as shameless as Baekho’s loose mouth. Should we rip him apart?”
“I’m ready. Just say the word.”
Threats of violence had been murmured behind them the entire time. Even though Sa-Hyeon’s identity had practically been revealed the moment he stepped into the classroom, he seemed completely unfazed. Jo Euishin already had a strong guess about who he really was, aside from the obvious, but since nothing dangerous seemed to be happening, he let the man continue pretending to be an ordinary student.
Though with that build and appearance, “ordinary” wasn’t exactly convincing.
It was more the manly—
“Jo Euishin.”
His thoughts were rudely cut off again.
When he turned around, he was met with the White Tiger’s sharply shining eyes, clearly demanding his attention.
“What?” Jo Euishin asked bluntly.
With all the constant interruptions, their tour was dragging on far longer than it should have. If the Tigers stopped calling him over every five minutes, they would have finished twenty minutes ago.
“I’m manlier.”
…What did he just say?
Jo Euishin barely managed to stop himself from copying a piece of the Red Tiger’s vocabulary. Was the White Tiger seriously competing with Sa-Hyeon over who looked more masculine?
“Hmph.” The lion gave a scoff of his own, folding his arms across his chest. “It seems you are capable of attracting admiration from both humans and mythical beings alike.”
As expected of a Jin Clan member. Even if he didn’t know the exact situation, he clearly had some idea about Jo Euishin’s connection with the Tigers.
Jo Euishin sighed, “...You’re not going to hide it anymore?”
At that, Sa-Hyeon chuckled softly, his voice lowering. “I have never hidden it. I take pride in my lineage, and I see no reason to dull it by altering my appearance.”
Was that meant as a jab at the Tigers who disguised themselves? Even when they hid their hair color, it didn’t truly mask their presence. Anyone paying close attention could still recognize Hwang Jiho as the head of the Tiger Clan—and once that realization hit, the rest followed easily.
“Hah.” Hwang Jiho let out a dark laugh. “You walked straight into our territory and still had the nerve to demand my benefactor’s time?”
Jo Euishin quickly looked around, worried that one of his kind juniors might wander into this increasingly tense confrontation between lion and tigers.
“You may all leave,” Sa-Hyeon said without even glancing back at the three Tigers. “I only require Jo Euishin.”
“For what?” Jo Euishin asked quickly, before any of the Tigers could release their spiritual pressure and accidentally obliterate the poor bench where he usually ate lunch.
Sa-Hyeon remained silent for a moment.
Then he performed a courteous gesture—placing a hand over his chest while giving a slight bow as he met Jo Euishin’s gaze. His red eyes gleamed as he looked down at him, glowing like the colors of a sunset. With that golden hair, there was really no better way to describe him than—
“May I have your number?”
[Eungwang High General Bulletin Board]
- Title: Did anyone see the new transfer student? Why is he ridiculously attractive?!
- Title: Anonymous Supernova got asked out again. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
- Title: Candid shots of the new Class 3-0 transfer student with Anonymous Supernova!
- Title: He’s not trying to steal our Supernova, right? ㅠㅠ
- Title: HOT: A New Rival for the Supernova’s Heart?!
- Title: Wait, what?! Is he trying to break Set-gat-sal?!
Amid all the chaos and speculation, one post in particular caught everyone’s attention.
[Title: Anonymous Supernova looked at the new student the same way he looks at Wings of Backlight!]
Scrolling further down revealed what normally would have been dismissed as yet another rumor. The headline itself was simple enough—but anyone who actually opened the post would find several photos that left Jo Euishin with absolutely no way to deny it.
[We’ve all seen the way Anonymous Supernova looks at Wings of Backlight, right? At this point, it’s basically common knowledge. He gets that soft, dazed, slightly shy expression in his eyes that’s—at the very least—ridiculously adorable to witness. Totally unbiased opinion, of course.]
The writer went on to pile on even more descriptions of Jo Euishin’s eyes and expressions—phrases that would definitely make Euishin himself cringe, though any devoted fan would probably agree wholeheartedly.
[BUT! Recently there was news about a new transfer student joining Class 3-0! That alone would have been big news, but what he did on his very first day was… ask. Anonymous. Supernova. for. his. NUMBER!]
[I’m not the type to judge purely by looks, but the new student (his name is Sa-Hyeon, by the way) is seriously good-looking. I mean it—probably one of the most attractive students in the whole school. Anyway, like I said, he asked for the number… and guess what? Anonymous Supernova actually gave it to him. I swear I’m not making this up for clicks.]
Attached to the post was a photo showing Jo Euishin looking up with a soft expression, while Sa-Hyeon’s red eyes were fixed solely on him. Not only did the image capture what should have been a private moment, it also unintentionally supported the story’s claims. Just how the author managed to obtain such accurate information was anyone’s guess.
[I don’t know exactly what the new student said to Anonymous Supernova, but whatever it was, it made him give the cutest expression I’ve ever seen.]
[It looks similar, doesn’t it? That’s the same expression he gives Joo Soohyuk, though less... intense! Honestly… I wish he’d look at me like that one day, too. I’m sure that’s the wish of every sophomore in Eungwang High right now.]
That sudden and strangely specific conclusion earned the poster plenty of irritated replies from the freshmen. Still, despite the complaints, the post gathered far more likes than dislikes, with most readers agreeing about the expression Jo Euishin had been making.
[Our Anonymous Supernova… He’s grown up. Sob.]
[↑ He’s your senior. Show some respect.]
[↑ Ugh, give it a rest.]
[Wait, did that transfer student just walk in and steal Euishin-sunbae???]
[↑ And it looks like he pulled it off too…]
[↑ What??? No way. Unless Euishin-sunbae confirms it himself, that guy doesn’t exist to me.]
[The new student kinda gives off the same vibe as the Red Dragon…]
[↑ Nobody’s as handsome as the Red Dragon!!!]
[↑ Do you think he’s a Descendant?]
[↑ Hmm, maybe? You're from an elite team, shouldn't you know.]
[↑ I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s the head of some clan or something.]
[↑ So you’re saying he’s trying to take Euishin-sunbae for the benefit of his clan.]
[↑ I absolutely DID NOT say that.]
[↑ Wild theory… but not impossible.]
[↑ …This means ******** war ******]
In the mansion.
“That insolent beast. That lion actually dares to prowl around my territory and try to mark my benefactor?” Hwangho—currently appearing as Hwang Yu-ho—growled as he scrolled through the forum on the holographic display of his device. The threat might have sounded less intimidating coming from a child’s body, but the murderous aura behind it was very real.
He was barely holding himself back. The only reason he hadn’t gone out to deal with the problem personally was that Jo Euishin had asked—very politely—that the matter be left to him.
“…Hwangho-nim, could you explain this?” Eunho asked with a soft smile.
A chill ran down Hwangho’s spine immediately. It was obvious Eunho wasn’t referring to the news itself—Eunho would have known about it long before anyone else.
What he meant was how Hwangho had allowed something like this to happen three years ago.
There was no excuse for it. With his mood already sour, the only option left was to push forward, “…I admit my past decisions are something this body now deeply regrets.”
Eunho’s smile softened even further. “I see.”
Hwang Yu-ho froze just as he was about to reach for another snack. Slowly pulling his hand back, he instead clasped his fingers together, trying to maintain a dignified posture despite the cold sweat creeping down his neck.
“I will correct this situation, of course. I shall personally ensure that the lion is removed from our benefactor’s side.”
Eunho hummed thoughtfully, closing his eyes while taking a sip of his now lukewarm tea, “Euishin-hyung has attracted the attention of someone who is clearly near the top ranks of the Lion Clan. And more importantly—Euishin-hyung himself seems interested as well, whether he realizes it or not.”
He opened his eyes again, a cold gleam flashing across the silver.
“If he dares try to take Euishin-hyung away…”
The tension inside the mansion became suffocating. Across from him, Eunho’s gentle smile released enough spiritual pressure to make the nearby teacups tremble.
Yet while the Tigers were quietly preparing for war, the object of their concern sat peacefully in his dorm room, lost in thought. Across from him, the White Tiger remained unusually silent, resting his chin on one hand while staring at Jo Euishin as if he could see straight through his soul.
Despite what the White Tiger might think, Jo Euishin thought of Sa-Hyeon. Ignoring the occasional scoff from the tiger, Euishin replayed the day’s events in his mind. From the moment Sa-Hyeon opened his mouth, he had somehow managed to earn the hostility of almost everyone around him. Euishin wasn’t entirely sure which remark had set things off, but that didn’t change the fact that the lion was a completely new variable in their current situation.
Many issues had already been resolved now that they were in their third year, but the danger surrounding them had never truly disappeared. Euishin had already stepped far beyond the future he once knew from PMH. Too many events had changed for the original scenarios to remain reliable.
They couldn’t relax yet.
Fortunately, the pieces on Euishin’s board were only getting stronger.
And honestly… someone from the Lion Clan would be a valuable addition.
Even though Euishin didn’t know much about them personally, the Lion Clan in the original PMH had always acted as a chaotic neutral power that mostly stayed outside the country. If a high-ranking lion had appeared here now—and judging by appearances, a very powerful one at that—it likely meant the butterfly effect from Euishin’s arrival had begun shifting even the global balance of power.
‘His stats are ridiculous’, Euishin thought, recalling the first time he had checked the White Tiger’s status and comparing it with Sa-Hyeon’s. ‘Fitting for a lion, I suppose. His strength is practically maxed out.’
“I am far stronger.”
Jo Euishin closed his eyes and continued his thoughts, ‘If I can recruit him… or at least gain his cooperation, our survival rate would increase dramatically.’
“Our survival is already guaranteed even without the mutt.”
It felt like having a full deck of maxed-out characters in a game and suddenly doing a single gacha pull—only to receive an ultra-rare, limited-edition UR unit. Unexpected, yes, but definitely welcome.
‘Whatever it takes, I would need his cooperation.’
With that final thought, Jo Euishin opened his eyes—
Only to widen them immediately when he found the White Tiger’s face suddenly inches from his own.
“What?” Jo Euishin muttered, leaning back against the sofa in annoyance. The White Tiger’s eyes narrowed at the attempt to pull away.
“You like that mutt?” the tiger asked, his deep voice rumbling low. One hand rested on the back of the couch, effectively trapping Euishin in place.
Jo Euishin frowned in confusion. Wasn’t the tiger reading his mind anyway? Of course, he liked an unexpected ally who could greatly improve their chances in the coming battles.
“Hm.” The White Tiger continued staring at him.
Seriously, what is this tiger trying to prove?
“From now on, I will accompany you wherever you go,” the White Tiger said at last, leaning back again and folding his arms while looking down at him. “Don’t leave this place alone.”
‘You already know where I am and what I’m doing at all times anyway. What difference does it make?’
“The difference is that I’ll be there.”
‘…Whatever. Just don’t interfere.’
“I’ll do as I please.”
“Good morning, Jo Euishin. Did you rest well? Baekho, did you guard our benefactor properly?”
“I won’t let any mutt come sniffing around what belongs to me.”
“Ours.”
Ignoring the idle bickering behind him, Jo Euishin reviewed the plans he had in mind. Judging from the messages he’d received the night before, Sa-Hyeon seemed quite determined to spend time with him. The request had been polite—almost overly gentlemanly—so Euishin had no reason to refuse.
[Sa-Hyeon]: It has come to my attention that you provide your aid to those in trouble regarding the midterms. As I am new, I would also like to earn the same privilege. Would you honor my request?
The way the Lion phrased things hinted strongly at his age. Jo Euishin wouldn’t have been surprised if the man had lived for five thousand years as well. The only real consequence would be the class average age increasing yet again. With the Tiger Clan members, their dragon vice-teacher, and now this ancient-sounding lion, Class 3-0—supposedly a room full of teenagers—was beginning to resemble a retirement gathering for mythical beings.
Ping.
He heard his device notify him but didn’t bother checking yet. They hadn’t even reached the classroom, but the Tigers had already staged an ambush the moment he left the dorm with the White Tiger.
“Jo Euishin.”
A shadow fell over him, and Euishin looked up from his thoughts. Had Hwang Jiho gotten taller again? He had to be in the high one-eighty range by now. More importantly, the tiger looked unusually irritated.
“Did that yellow mutt text you?” Jiho hissed, eyes narrowing. “Is he bothering you? Annoying you? Just say the word, and this body will remove him immediately.”
“No,” Jo Euishin answered instantly, before even a moment of silence could be misinterpreted as agreement. “Speaking with him is an efficient use of my time.”
A collective groan echoed from the Tigers in the hallway.
To Jo Euishin, calling something an “efficient use of time” was simply stating a fact. To the Tigers, however, it sounded like the highest praise anyone could possibly receive from him.
By the time they arrived at Class 3-0, the atmosphere inside already felt tense.
Sa-Hyeon was seated in the chair he had forcibly dragged behind Euishin’s desk on the first day. Unlike before, he wasn’t wearing the school uniform properly—the blazer hung over his shoulders like a royal cloak, and the top buttons of his shirt were open just enough to give any disciplinary committee a headache.
“You’re late, Jo Euishin,” Sa-Hyeon said, his voice low and pleasant, seemingly unfazed by the three Tigers standing behind the Vice President. “I was beginning to wonder if three large cats had finally cornered you.”
Judging by the growls behind him, the Tigers definitely didn’t appreciate being called cats.
“We were walking at a normal pace,” Euishin replied as he sat down and pulled out his device. “About your message, I have one free hour during the self-study period.”
Sa-Hyeon leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. The movement brought him close enough that Euishin caught the scent of sun-warmed grass mixed with something metallic, like freshly sharpened steel.
“Only an hour? Then I should consider myself fortunate that the Anonymous Supernova is willing to spare me even that,” the lion said with a faint smirk, red eyes glinting. “I promise it won’t be wasted.”
Jo Euishin nodded. He liked this lion more than he had expected. A gentleman who didn’t push for more than what was offered. Perhaps reaching an agreement with him wouldn’t be too difficult after all.
“He’s making my damn skin crawl,” Maeng Hyodon muttered from a few desks away, slamming a math book onto his table.
“Don’t worry,” Hwang Jiho murmured darkly. “The mutt won’t last long.” Cheongho nodded in agreement.
Ping.
Before Euishin could hear any more murderous whispers about their new classmate, his device chimed again. Since class hadn’t started yet, he finally checked it. To his surprise—and delight—the message was from his senior and disciple!
[Yeom Junyeol]: Euishin-ah, how have you been? I hope I’m not interrupting your study time before the midterms. Jegon-hyung mentioned there’s a new transfer student from the Lion Clan?
Yong Jegun truly had the loosest tongue when it came to gossip. He’d barely shown himself yesterday, yet somehow he still knew everything. There was no reason to lie. Jo Euishin had promised his senior that he wouldn’t hide things anymore.
[Me]: Yes, I intend to ask for his cooperation since it seems he wants something from me as well.
Not even thirty seconds passed before he got a reply. Wasn’t Yeom Junyeol supposed to be busy?
[Yeom Junyeol]: Please make sure you’re not alone when meeting him, Euishin-ah. We don’t know how trustworthy the Lion Clan is. If you want, I can accompany you.
A small smile formed on Euishin’s face without him realizing it. His senior was so considerate—even while likely busy himself.
He replied happily.
[Me]: Don’t worry. I don’t want to add more to your schedule.
[Yeom Junyeol]: You can come visit whenever… About that, I’ll also be having my exams soon, so I would really love to have your support when you have time…
After replying an affirmation, he got another message from Yeom Junyeol as a disciple.
[Yeom Junyeol]: Master, if you’re free, I’d also like to show you how much my technique has improved. Please let me know when it would be convenient for you.
Yeom Junyeol’s abilities improved?! He would love to see that! Jo Euishin immediately replied with a date and time.
Completely absorbed in the thought of seeing his disciple’s progress, he failed to notice the quiet chuckle from behind him.
“Your expression just changed completely.”
Jo Euishin paused mid-typing.
Slowly, he turned his head.
Sa-Hyeon had leaned forward again, one arm casually resting across the back of Euishin’s chair. His red eyes were fixed squarely on him, and he clearly wasn’t trying to hide that he had been watching.
“You look happy,” the lion continued. “Did someone important message you?”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly. Various hostile presences from different points of the classroom sharpened.
From his seat, Hwang Jiho spoke in a smooth, icy tone.
“Mutt. Have you never heard of privacy?”
Internally, Jo Euishin agreed.
Externally, however, his expression suggested otherwise. After all, Hwang Jiho—who abused his authority as chairman to monitor Euishin’s location constantly—had absolutely no right to lecture anyone about privacy.
Sa-Hyeon didn’t bother looking back.
“I’m only making an observation,” he said calmly. “Besides…”
His expression softened slightly.
“I was looking at Jo Euishin’s face, not his device.”
At those words, the atmosphere somehow grew even heavier.
“Guy’s got guts and balls,” Maeng Hyodon murmured from where his head was buried in a math book. It looked more like he was resting his head while listening to the nonsense than actually studying. At one point, he spied the attention seekers whispering amongst themselves while casting Sa-Hyeon very negative looks, shouldn't In-Seon Oh be stopping them?
Sensing an ominous premonition, Jo Euishin spoke before anything could escalate. “I was just messaging an alumnus. It’s nothing important.”
If Yeom Junyeol were here, he would be very heartbroken if he heard that, but Jo Euishin didn’t know that, and right now, any method to get these old men to stop fighting is considered a good method.
Fortunately, before anyone could continue the argument, their teacher entered the room. Seeing that there was no empty seat available, Ham Geunhyung’s grim expression brightened slightly.
But when he noticed the extra chair—and mentally calculated the additional centuries it added to the class’s average age—his face quickly turned complicated again.
“I said no.”
“I’m afraid I cannot yield this time, Jo Euishin. Didn’t you see how that mutt was looking at you? I’m afraid the moment I look away, you’ll end up being carried off to another country again.”
Jo Euishin stared at Hwang Jiho with lifeless eyes. ‘This old man is so dramatic.’
Wasn’t the tiger being a bit overly cautious? Besides, having the lion’s attention fixed on him was actually beneficial. It would make it easier for Jo Euishin to set up the moves he was planning. Just as that thought crossed his mind, a sharp scoff sounded behind him.
Hwang Jiho glanced toward Baekho and frowned. “Even if you say nothing, Baekho, I already know what our benefactor is thinking. Regardless, I’m still coming with you.”
Ugh.
“It’s supposed to be a private study session. How is it going to be private if you’re there?”
“I will be there as well,” the White Tiger added calmly.
“Might as well,” Hwang Jiho said with a nod, folding his arms.
“...”
Jo Euishin momentarily glanced upward at the clear blue sky.
Was he dealing with five-thousand-year-old tigers… or a pair of children with separation anxiety?
Lunch had been meant to be peaceful today. The weather was perfect, he’d received a tangerine-flavored cookie decorated with a Red Dragon design from his beloved senior delivered by Yong Jegun, his juniors were as thoughtful and well-behaved as always, and even the so-called king of the jungle was cooperating with him.
“That goes beyond simple cooperation.”
Closing his eyes against the White Tiger’s nonsense, Jo Euishin sighed and gave up, “...You’re the one explaining why the two of you are there.”
“Hmph.” Hwang Jiho grinned, his expression instantly brightening. “With pleasure.”
Two hours later, during the self-study period, Jo Euishin would deeply regret making that decision.
Honestly, the fault lay with him for not thinking things through. He already knew that the Tigers treated him carefully, and by their third year together, that protectiveness had only grown stronger.
So really… he should have anticipated what would happen next.