Myung-ho Hwang’s mansion.
A window opened without a sound.
In the absence of the owner of the mansion, Golden Tiger, Red Tiger had deactivated the barrier.
Red Tiger jumped lightly out of the window.
He succeeded in landing without sound by casting the Red smoke, but felt his body ache.
‘I’m not 100% recovered yet, but I can activate my skill and move around. I won’t be able to fight fully in battle, but I can assist Golden Tiger.’
Golden Tiger did not allow Red Tiger to participate in the operation.
Red Tiger pretended to follow the words of Golden Tiger, but he was thinking of joining them when he had the chance.
‘Sangboshimgeumpa’s Prongs…… It was even difficult for me to endure, and I’m used to pain. It’s better for me to act as a shield if necessary.’
He didn’t want his friend, Golden Tiger, or his rescuer, Ui-shin Cho, to feel that pain.
The moon rabbit, though, he didn’t really care.
Arf!
Heading towards the maze garden, Shinsu(sacred animal) appeared in front of Red Tiger.
She was still cute like a dog, but her holly spiritual powers were gaining strength.
If Shinsu blocked his way, things could get tricky.
Red Tiger politely asked Shinsu.
“Shinsu, may you pretend you didn’t see me?”
Bark bark!
Shinsu barked resolutely.
Red Tiger could not read Shinsu’s intentions as well as White Tiger, but he could tell she was against him.
Shinsu didn’t want Red Tiger to go out, too, since he was injured.
Still, Red Tiger decided to convince Shinsu.
“If I go, it would be of great help to Golden Tiger and Ui-shin Cho.”
Shinsu and Golden Tiger’s relationship was subtle, but she liked Ui-shin very well.
If Red Tiger says it would be helpful to Ui-shin, Shinsu will understand.
……Whimper.
As expected, Shinsu began to hesitate.
While Shinsu hesitated, Red Tiger took a step forward.
But this time, White Tiger stopped him.
“…….”
White Tiger stood without words.
He didn’t seem to want to let Red Tiger go easily.
“Please let me go, White Tiger. Don’t you worry about Golden Tiger and Ui-shin Cho too?”
“You will be nothing but a burden. You are hurt.”
“If I use my skills, I won’t be a burden. Even if I can’t be a big help, I can-“
Red Tiger trailed off his words.
White Tiger spoke coldly.
“They kept worrying about you. If you go in this condition, it will become a burden on their mind.”
Red Tiger was slightly persuaded, but he still wanted to go, for their sake.
“I’m going. Are you going to stop me with your power?”
“…….”
“I can’t match your powers, but you can’t go outside Eun-kwang-gu.
White Tiger, the guardian of the sacred area, received a strong penalty if he went outside of Eun-kwang-gu.
If he goes out, his stats will be reduced significantly and will be difficult to catch Red Tiger.
‘He can’t follow me outside Eun-kwang-gu.’
Swish-!
Red Tiger began to collect his psychic wave strength, bearing the pain.
Just before he cast the Red smoke skill, White Tiger said a word.
“If you go, I will call that child.”
“Who are you talking about.”
He asked back, but he knew that was his son.
Red Tiger stopped activating his skill and became stiff.
“The child that resembles you.”
Red Tiger completely lost his will to fight.
If he founds out where Red Tiger had gone, the troublemaker was likely to take the risk and come to the place.
He could not call his son to the dangerous spot where the Bear clan might come.
“White Tiger, don’t you want to go?”
White Tiger did not answer the question, but gave a completely different answer.
“Come, Red Tiger. Let us play chess.”
White Tiger and chess.
It was an unexpected combination, so Red Tiger was surprised a little.
Bark bark!
Shinsu ran in circles around Red Tiger, as if beckoning to hurry up, and followed White Tiger.
White Tiger and Shinsu were already heading towards the front door of the mansion.
Red Tiger stalled, but eventually followed behind them.
* * *
Joint on-board party held by Juo Group and TC Group.
The cruise ship ‘Cymopoleia’ was owned by TC group.
And the destination the boat was headed right now, Juo island, was owned by Juo group.
‘The Juo group bid for an uninhabited island to build a resort and use it as a VIP-only accommodation.’
In the world I lived before, Korea had many islands.
Within its territory, there were 3,358 islands.
Among them, 482 had people living in them.
There were 2,876 uninhabited islands.
Of those uninhabited islands, 1,270 were private land, and such uninhabited islands were sellable.
‘Almost no one bought them, though.’
Development restrictions were enforced or something, so it was unpopular.
Some were designated as a specially protected island by the Ministry of Environment.
Others were registered as an ‘absolute conserve’ or ‘semi-conserve’ island for its use.
In my former world, even if you buy an island, it was hard to build even a single house, and no profit can be expected, so selling and buying was not active.
But this world where the Other-world conflict took place, was different.
‘There’s a limit to the budget of the government and the Players’ association. Even in areas with little or no population, Other-worlds appear, and they needed to borrow the power of capital to get enough players.’
The government has established laws on the conservation and management of uninhabited islands, with the Ministry of Marine Fisheries, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Other-world.
As a result, several conditions were added to allow the development of uninhabited islands.
Typical conditions were to hire a team of professional players who reside for more than 10 hours a day and to actively respond to any other incidents in the region.
When the island regulations were lifted and the development of the uninhabited island became possible, some companies and chaebols went to bid for the uninhabited islands.
The Juo island was a result of that also.
“So, is this ship going to Juo Island Resort on the south coast?”
Hyo-don, who was listening to Suhyuk’s explanation, asked.
“In summary, yes. We’re going to sail very slowly so we don’t get in the way of gala dinners and evening cocktail parties, so we’ll arrive in the morning.”
“Huh. It doesn’t feel like sailing at all.”
Hyo-don looked around the suite.
They said it was a ‘cabin,’ but there was a living room, dining room, and bedroom.
It had fluffy fine fiber rugs and a electric recliner sofa.
The walls were equipped with ultra-high-definition screens, a private safe, and a private bell to call the individual butler assigned to us.
If the front wasn’t a glass window and you didn’t see the sea, you would feel like you were in a hotel rather than sailing on a ship.
‘Ocean view suite for students like us. Juo and TC really are taking care of us.’
Maybe we got this because we were friends of Suhyuk and a player who contributed at the baseball stadium incident.
“Me, vice prez, and that nagging military academy dude, Nam-wook Jang is supposed to use this room. Which room are you in?”
“Well…… My family came with me, so I was assigned to that room, but I’m not going there. I finished the greeting them before I got on the boat, so I’m hanging with you guys.”
Suhyuk Joo, Won-woo Do, and Si-hoo Do must have been assigned a room with their families.
‘Suhyuk doesn’t intend to go there? He must’ve greeted them before throwing the tux away.’
He was one clever title hero.
As we were talking about the party schedule, I heard a bell.
Ding Dong -!
I ran the intercom app linked to the device, and the hologram showed the face of the military academy’s summa cum laude, Si-hoo Do, magna cum laude Nam-wook Jang, and Won-woo Do, the student Council president of Eun-kwang High.
[We’re here, open the door!]
Through the screen, Si-hoo’s bright voice was heard.
I pressed the ‘enter’ button and the door opened.
“Why it’s been so long! Long time no see!”
“Hi Ui-shin, Suhyuk, Hyo-don. I’m glad to see you guys here. Wait, Hyo-don, your tie is a bit crooked, why don’t you look in the mirror and do it again.”
Three people in tuxedos appeared.
Si-hoo and Nam-wook said hello like normal, but Won-woo didn’t move from the door.
As my playable character out of the three and being the eldest, he looked the best in a Tux, but had the ugliest eyes.
“…… Hello.”
Following the greeting, Si-hoo and Nam-wook also congratulated me on winning the chess tournament.
Won-woo hesitated with that ugly face and said congratulations.
He’s probably upset that Sang-hee yoo came to cheer for me, and that I’ve won.
“…… Congratulations.”
His eyes were filled with ugly emotions, but he did congratulated me, so I decided to move on generously.
“Won-woo hyung, have you finished your greetings? I heard you were coming late because of student council work.”
“Yeah, I need to go right away. But Si-hoo……”
“I wanted to take a group photo, so I brought him. It’s not everyday we meet with outfits on.”
Albeit busy, Won-woo came here for Si-hoo.
“Say kimchi!”
We took the photo with the window looking over the sea behind us.
Si-hoo and Suhyuk were natural, but Nam-wook and Hyo-don were stiff as a log.
It wasn’t bad, but we had to retake it three more times because Won-woo Do was sending an ugly glance towards me.
“Won-woo hyung…….”
“I’m leaving now.”
He ignored Si-hoo looking at him with pity and left.
When Won-woo disappeared, the boat horn blared, announcing its departure.
“We’re taking off!”
Nam-wook and Hyo-don rose from their seats and ran to the window.
“This window doesn’t open.”
“Oh, you can control it with a device. Wait a minute.”
Nam-wook activated the hologram and the suite room control app popped up.
Soon the landscape moved slowly beyond the window, and the two shouted and enjoyed the sea breeze.
Both must have been really looking forward to the sail.
* * *
“I’ll give you guys a tour. I came here a few times, so I remember.”
Under Suhyuk’s guide, the five of us started looking around the ship.
Top floor lounge with the best views.
Ocean View bar and restaurant, cafe on a deck with real grass.
Outdoor pool and tanning area, spa.
Entertainment rooms and art galleries, libraries, cinemas.
In addition, depending on the location, there were lounges and cafes installed in various places so that you can enjoy different views.
Nam-wook and Hyo-don expressed their amazement, checking the cruise ship map several times.
Meanwhile, there was one of us who could not enjoy sailing.
“I think I’m going to die…….”
Si-hoo had a green face.
Seasickness.
Players have excellent physical abilities, so they rarely experience motion sickness, but sometimes there are exceptions to this.
Just like players were generally intelligent, but Hyo-don Maeng was not.
“There’s a medical facility on board, let’s go get motion sickness pills!”
“No, those pills make you direction-disoriented and the stickers make your pupils dilated. If I use electric skills in that state, it harms the eyes. Motion sickness meds are deadly.”
Si-hoo shook his head at Nam-wook, who was worried about him.
Seasickness itself looked fatal enough to Si-hoo right now, though.
“You were looking forward to this so much that I thought you had overcome seasickness.”
“Hahaha, I was looking forward to hanging with you guys.”
Si-hoo could still smile at Suhyuk’s words.
Which meant, he was okay for now.
Then, Si-hoo lifted his head up like he had realized something.
“Saturday is puking day!”
Is he saying that as a… pun?
When no one laughed, Si-hoo looked a bit down.
In the awkward atmosphere, I opened my exclusive menu and used the “Open map of the area” function.
The minimap was mostly filled up now.
‘I think we’ve done enough looking around.’
I looked back at the kids.
“We have some time until the gala dinner starts, so let’s take a break. Wanna go to our room?”
“Sure.”
“……Yeah.”
Suhyuk and Nam-wook supported the Si-hoo on both sides.
Si-hoo made few more attempts at puns, which failed, and became downhearted every time.
He still had some energy left, it seemed.
Then I noticed something strange.
‘Why doesn’t Si-hoo go greet his family elders, when Won-woo went? He came late too.’
Perhaps because of seasickness.
* * *
After resting until the Gala dinner time, we moved to the central main dining hall.
The dining hall was huge with 3 floors, and at the entrance, there were Cymopoleia’s main crew and captain.
“Let’s go.”
We check our outfits once more and headed towards the entrance.
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