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Chapter 501: Late autumn picnic
Chapter 501: Late autumn picnic
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Star of Dawn, the words that Ahn Dain heard through a prophecy.
Hyunmoo’s words relating me to dawn.
Putting those two together makes it seem like the Star of Dawn is referring to me.
‘Does Hwang Jiho think it’s me?’
It’s plausible, but I couldn’t believe it.
I’m merely a gamer who played PMH, how could it be me?
Ahn Dain mentioned that the time she met the prophet was when her abilities awakened.
That should be about ten years ago.
It’s strange that my existence would be mentioned during that time.
“I kept pondering your identity and that game you mention.”
It seems like Hwang Jiho is still trying to figure out who I am.
He already knows a lot considering that Eunho came to this world and confirmed the existence of the game PMH.
What more is Hwang Jiho trying to dig?
“This is my hypothesis. That PMH game is an elaborate simulation program based on this world and built as a passageway to get here.”
It’s plausible that PMH was a simulation program.
PMH is an RPG game, but it fosters characters that can be controlled through options throughout the story.
In addition, the ‘replay’ option in the game that lets the user try a level several times makes it characteristic of a simulation program.
Judging from the fact that I, Eunho, and Gye Idam came to this world when we finished PMH, it could be seen as sort of a passageway.
“The game may be a simulation of the future of this world without the star of dawn.”
Hwang Jiho’s hypothesis was quite interesting.
It somehow caught my mind, but Hwang Jiho seemed adamant about his point.
“If my hypothesis and the prophecy that Ahn Dain heard were true, it means that someone predicted that a person would come to this world through a simulation program.”
Prophecy is done in various ways in this world.
Reading the energy of the heavens through tianji, looking at the movement of stars, dreams, and many others.
People with predictive powers can be counted on both hands, and it wasn’t long before a prophet appeared in PMH.
I recalled those prophets who appeared in PMH.
The first one to come to mind was Merlin, Goo Seulbi’s master and a descendant of a succubus.
Merlin knew that Goo Seulbi would die, and Goo Seulbi did.
All of Merlin’s predictions came true.
‘But Merlin never mentioned anything about a star of dawn. So did the other prophets.’
He had far fewer appearances than Merlin, but Hyunmoo also had predictive powers.
He never talked about a star of dawn either.
Then who gave Ahn Dain that prophecy?
‘If Hwang Jiho’s guess is right, then a prophet much stronger than Merlin and Hyunmoo gave Ahn Dain the prophecy.’
So how much did the prophet reveal to Ahn Dain?
Considering Ahn Dain’s activities in PMH, it doesn’t seem like she knew much about what would happen in the future.
If she did, she never would’ve sat on the sidelines and watched the death of Cotton Wool and her best friend Kim Yuri.
‘If I were the prophet, I’d tell Ahn Dain directly the threats that face the future of our world.’
Even if useful information was given to her, it’s questionable whether she would share it.
Despite that, the existence of the prophet still caught my mind.
‘Should I ask Ahn Dain about it?’
I should talk to her about when once I get the chance.
I was lost in thought when I saw Hwang Jiho pouring me another cup.
“The information is limited so it’s merely a hypothesis. Shall we have another cup before the others arrive?”
A lot of things were on my mind, but as Hwang Jiho said, I decided to drink tea first.
Halfway through the cup, our classmates started arriving, starting with the dormitory students.
“Oh, Euishin and Jiho are early.”
“As expected, Euishin-ie is so diligent.”
“I stopped by MITRON on the way… Let’s have it with some tea.”
Thirty minutes before the start of the attendance check, everyone was already in.
Except for the two attention-seekers.
“They didn’t come… What a shame.”
“Maybe they’ll come on picnic day. Those two seem to like the attention.”
Today, we have to settle on what to put in our class t-shirt.
The shirts have already been completed, but the phrase to put on it hasn’t been decided yet.
“We’ll decide by drawing lots, but one person will write several for Professor Ham and Professor Yong.”
Kim Yuri briefly explained the process of determining the phrase before turning on a random lottery application.
Before starting the drawing of lots, Mok Wooram asked something.
“I’ve been thinking about it, but I still don’t know what to write down.”
“Hmm… Just write what you think about our class or anything that you want to say.”
“I’ll show you what we used last spring picnic!”
A photo during the spring picnic was projected on the electronic blackboard.
I noticed the phrases written on the shirts.
‘Go to school on time.’
‘Stonehead Maeng Hyodon.’
‘Suspicious Vice President Jo Euishin.’
‘Violinist Lena.’
‘Always thankful to the talented President Kim Yuri!’
‘Hani Honey Hani.’
‘Stop laughing, Hwang Jiho.’
‘Worried about your flying skills.’
Some phrases fitted really well, like Hwang Jiho’s.
“Hmm, so I can write what I usually want to say!”
“Yeah, that makes it easier.”
Mok Wooram and Song Daesok looked carefully at the phrases, nodding in approval.
Something didn’t seem right, but we decided to draw the lots first.
“Next is Jo Euishin!”
We wouldn’t know whose shirts we’ll write on until the name gets chosen.
I looked at it with excitement, but it quickly disappeared when I saw the name.
[Hwang Jiho]
Why, of all people, did that old man get chosen…
To get Hwang Jiho instead of my amazing and sincere classmates…
I had a lot of compliments at hand for my classmates, but I can’t use them in the end.
‘Should I just write stop laughing? No that sounds unoriginal.’
I thought about just writing ‘Hahahaha!’ with no thought, or ‘old man’ since that’s what usually comes to mind when I see him.
After a long thought, I wrote something and submitted it through the device.
After submitting it, I heard Maeng Hyodon and Song Daesok groan.
“Sigh, why did I get two?”
“Me too.”
Since Professor Ham Geunhyung and Yong Jegun weren’t here, two kids had to write for them instead.
But to have the two of them do it…
I wasn’t doubting my playable characters, but I was a little worried since they’re both overly straightforward.
“Alright, let’s reveal the professors’ first!”
[Hani -> Professor Ham Geunhyung: Three More People Attending]
Everyone agreed with it.
Although it’s a bit ambiguous to include the two attention-seekers in the count, I know Professor Ham Geunhyung would be happy with more kids attending school.
The next was Yong Jegun’s.
[Dokgo Miro -> Professor Yong Jegun: Ecstatic]
“I always imagine that word as a subtitle when Professor Yong Jegun smiles.”
“Ah, that’s right!”
“Then let’s use a photo of Professor Yong Jegun and add a subtitle to it.”
After the professors, we decided on the phrases in alphabetical order.
First was Kim Yuri’s, to be written by Song Daesok.
[Song Daesok -> Kim Yuri: Water summoner]
“Daesok-ah…”
“Hahaha! That is true.”
Min Geurin gave Song Daesok a disapproving look, but Kim Yuri just laughed it off.
I was worried that Song Daseok would use stronger words, but it turned out all right.
Next was Dokgo Miro’s
[Maeng Hyodon -> Dokgo Miro: One Hand Hitter]
“Your balance looked good when you wielded the morning star with one hand.”
I thought he’d put something related to being an idol, but it seems like the last battle between Dokgo Miro and Hani created a deeper impression on Maeng Hyodon.
The other kids seemed worried about Dokgo Miro’s reaction, but the King of Back Alleys seemed okay with it.
“Not bad. It’s easy dealing with multiple people with one hand.”
“Eh?”
Saeum of April tilted his head at Dokgo Miro’s words, but the next name and phrase were announced right away.
[Lee Lena -> Maeng Hyodon: Student of the Ascetic]
“Professor Tak Geosan when I think about Hyodon so…”
“…It’s not wrong.”
Maeng Hyodon looked at the phrase with a disturbed expression.
Last time it was “stone head”, now it’s “student”
Next was Mok Wooram’s
[Hwang Jiho -> Mok Wooram: Master of Spiral Wall Climbing]
“Ahp, did you see me climbing the wall last time?”
“Hahahaha!”
Why the heck did that old man write that…
The other kids seemed pretty surprised by it.
“…You go on wall-climbing, Wooram-ah?”
“Yes, I practice occasionally just in case.”
The kids told him to be careful not to fall off, and then we moved on.
Next was Min Geurin, written by Mok Wooram.
[Mok Wooram -> Min Geurin: Song Daesok – 25 cm]
“I’ve always thought that when I see you two stand together.”
“Huh? It’s a 25 cm difference? That’s bigger than I thought.”
It’s not very good, but Mok Wooram at least wrote something normal.
Song Daesok didn’t say anything either.
Next was Saeum of April’s.
[Min Geurin -> Chicken?]
“What? What chicken?!”
“You have a marker of a chicken in your AR glasses, and sometimes when you use a flight skill it reminds me of a chicken…”
“Of all birds, a chicken…”
Saeum of April has the order from the Chicken Clan which enables him to use a flight skill, and it seems like Min Geurin noticed it.
The phrase was a little…
But in any case, Min Geurin’s wit stood out.
Next was Song Daesok.
[Maeng Hyodon -> Song TB.]
“What’s TB?”
“Tactless bastard.”
“Hey!”
It’s overly honest, but it’s not wrong.
Seeing Min Geurin these days makes me want to say something to him too.
I thought Min Geurin would think it’s too much, but she seems to agree with it.
“It fits Daesok-ie.”
“…”
In the end, Song Daesok became Song TB.
Next was Kwon Lena’s.
[Saeum of April -> Lee Lena: Platinum Violinist.]
“Professor Kwon Jein’s alias is Blue Violinist. Lena’s energy waves are platinum so I thought that would fit her…”
“I really like it! Thank you!”
That was the most heartwarming one by far.
Next was mine.
It was our talented class president who wrote it.
[Kim Yuri -> Jo Euishin: Keep being suspicious!>?<]
I didn’t know what to feel about the word ‘suspicious’ but I decided to humbly accept the phrase that my playable character put.
I should work hard to continue being suspicious from now on.
‘Now only Hani and Hwang Jiho are left…’
Song Daesok said he has two names, but only one has come up so far.
It seems like his other person is Hani.
Hani looked at the electronic board with slightly anticipating eyes.
[Song Daesok -> Hani: Be Careful of Diabetes]
“Hahahahaha!”
“Daesok-ah!”
“Oh, so that’s why he’s Song TB.”
Hwang Jiho’s loud laughter and Min Geurin’s disappointment turned the class into a mess.
Hani stared at the board, shocked at the word ‘diabetes’
Song Daesok tried to explain, but it only made matters worse.
“The incidence of diabetes among young people is high these days so…”
“Ah, I’ll announce the next one!”
Kim Yuri took care of the situation, hurriedly switching to announce Hwang Jiho’s phrase.
…Though I don’t think what I wrote would change the mood.
Before I could say anything, it was already presented on the electronic board.
[Jo Euishin -> Hwang Jiho: —.—]
An emoticon that Hwang Jiho used exactly once appeared on the board.
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