Ex Rank Supporting Role’s Replay in a Prestigious School

I briefly relayed the facts that couldn’t be gleaned from our earlier conversation.

As I had anticipated even before the replay, Gwak Kyung-gu had no groundbreaking information.

There were details he could fill in from his duties as student council president, but Cheon Dong-ha’s intel was far more extensive.

Still, since Cheon Dong-ha’s information dated from before the school trip he survived, anything that happened afterward offered some degree of help.

“The Black Forest Sword Saint is quite skilled in tactics, isn’t he?”

Before heading to the Demon Realm, I’d described the Extermination Squad’s formation from Gwak Kyung-gu’s perspective, and Eun-ho voiced his admiration.

The “Sinful Alliance”—the Demon God of Wrath and the Demon God of Death of the Seven Deadly Sins united—wasn’t carelessly aiming for demonification.

The morale of the Korean players was crushed, the government was blinded by the prospect of land concessions, the Association was in shambles, and public indifference prevailed.

Despite their overwhelming strength, the Sinful Alliance carried out their plans without mercy.

“The leader of the Sinful Alliance is Superbia of Pride. Pride and complacency aren’t the same, but they showed no complacency at all.”

Of all the Seven Deadly Sins, Pride is regarded as the first and worst.

One might think that having Pride at the helm could be exploited for victory, but though they brimmed with pride and conviction, they were never careless.

In such circumstances, the Demon Sect Extermination Squad, centered on the Black Forest Sword Saint, squeezed every ounce of life and wisdom out of themselves to hold them back.

“But I also see formations that presume sacrifice. If we model our own formation on this, things would go more smoothly—but I’m sure Brother Joe Ui-sin wouldn’t want that?”

Eun-ho smiled as he spoke.

Of course I wouldn’t.

Though sacrificing lives might be the most efficient way to stop demonification—which would bring an even greater death—it wasn’t yet time. I wanted another approach.

Just as I was about to reply, Jeok-ho interjected.

“Eun-ho, if you don’t want unnecessary sacrifices, why use that baiting tone?”

“Play ignorant, Jeok-ho. Saying things like this makes it easier to stop Brother Joe Ui-sin if he tries a move that burdens me heavily. If he plans such a tactic, it’s a warning that he’ll sacrifice someone else...”

“Eun-ho’s watching!”

When Heuk-ho prodded the two tigers, they fell silent.

Once their mouths closed, Eun-ho—who’d been looking at them with a gentle smile—turned his head back to me.

“Brother Ui-sin, sorry for interrupting. Please continue.”

As if nothing had happened, I resumed reporting on the replay.

I summarized what Gwak Kyung-gu saw in the Demon Realm, focusing on what hadn’t been mentioned above.

I noticed the White Tiger’s gaze occasionally fixed on me.

I wondered why—perhaps they feared I’d omitted something important. Even if the altered flow of time made observation difficult, I couldn’t have missed anything in the Demon Realm. Was it needless worry?

“That’s not it.”

The White Tiger, silent a moment, suddenly answered unasked.

“Did you forget what happened on the school trip? They’re checking to see if you might have left out parts on purpose, like in your experiments back then.”

The tigers nodded at me as if confirming what they’d promised.

Though I’d scolded the White Tiger recently, in moments like this we matched perfectly.

In any case, I’d relayed every major event and detail, yet the tigers’ expressions remained grim.

Heuk-ho clearly didn’t grasp much of the discussion, but seeing his friends’ moods, he felt somber too.

“The power of the tiger clan won’t reach here. Few possess effective items or skills.”

“I heard Brother Joe Ui-sin invested effort in obtaining a Demon Realm guide. There must be a good reason.”

“But can we trust this guide that the raven introduced?”

Cheong-ho asked.

It was true Joe Ui-sin had sought a guide, but there was always a chance Siderentium might betray us or be coerced into abandoning me. I couldn’t confirm otherwise.

I intended to keep silent, but the White Tiger voiced my thoughts, and the mood sank again.

“Brother Ui-sin, even considering those possibilities, you still plan to go to the Demon Realm. I know you have something to rely on.”

“Rely on?”

“Yes. As you heard from Hwang-ho, Heo Chae-ah retains the ability to find a path even in the Demon Realm. And she’s your playable character.”

Eun-ho continued in his ever-gentle tone, his smile warming yet somehow chilling deep down.

“You can use a playable character’s power, right? Considering the Demon Realm’s nature, you’d need to keep Andain’s power active, but you can use two abilities simultaneously.”

“Wait—didn’t Heo Chae-ah exhaust her power guiding us last time?”

“I heard her body collapsed, even its maintenance ability vanished.”

“Ui-sin? You don’t intend to use her power in the Demon Realm?”

The tigers stared sharply.

It was only natural.

Even in Pilot Magical Academy, the Demon Realm guide sincerely intended to lead the hero party to the end.

But the Demon Realm’s malice outweighed even their goodwill.

Though the guide that Siderentium introduced—Isisi—had a lower chance of betrayal, no one knew what would unfold there.

In other words, I intended to serve as insurance for the guide.

“I checked Chae-ah’s schedule through Dong-ha. She’s likely to depart soon—to scout ahead when the Demon Realm scenario unfolds. But if urgent matters arise, she can return anytime. We can even send Hwang-myeong’s private jet if needed.”

Eun-ho’s words sent a chill through me.

I saw the vivid image of Chae-ah’s body collapsing.

She was now far more stable, healthier, and stronger than at Pilot Magical Academy—but still not as durable as me.

Using the “Thread to the Exit” myself would be less of a burden than her doing so.

When I voiced that, the tigers only let out heavy sighs.

“Brother Ui-sin, if you overdo it, I’ll send Chae-ah to the Demon Realm. Once demonification begins, she’ll know she’s needed and won’t hesitate to jump in. She already trusted a butterfly’s words; she’ll trust Dong-ha’s sister easily.”

I recalled her mentioning the butterfly.

Though baseless and dubious, Chae-ah leapt into the Demon Realm regardless.

Specialized in pathfinding, she must have known how horrific the spaces between the cracks looked, yet she still plunged in.

Even without Eun-ho’s persuasion, seeing allies dive in upon seeing the gate—just like at Pilot Magical Academy—she would decide the same.

I replied with my intention.

“...I can do it alone.”

“You never know. If you overstrain yourself and can’t guide the way, shouldn’t Chae-ah be on standby?”

His words left me speechless.

I was determined to complete the guidance no matter what, but that wasn’t a guarantee.

When Heuk-ho gaped and muttered, “His body might break...?” I saw Cheong-ho soothing him with a pat.

Hwang Ji-ho seemed to consider jumping in, but eventually decided to observe.

Jeok-ho openly praised, “Eun-ho speaks frankly,” and the White Tiger nodded.

Eun-ho continued in his warm tone.

“Remember: if Brother Ui-sin overdoes it, I’ll act.”

Beneath the Silver Hall.

Even after Joe Ui-sin left with his roommate White Tiger, the tiger kin remained.

Joe Ui-sin seemed eager to continue the meeting, but Hwang-ho halted it.

Joe Ui-sin’s fatigue, from nearly two years without sleep alongside Gwak Kyung-gu, had built up immensely.

On top of that, Eun-ho’s pressure meant he needed rest.

White Tiger shared those thoughts and, though the others didn’t need to know, escorted him out.

“You’re all here. Dong-ha could rest a bit longer.”

“Thanks for caring, but I can’t rest hearing what happened afterward.”

After they left, more people arrived.

Cheon Dong-ha, returned from organizing his thoughts alone.

Yong Je-geon, back after seeing Yeom Jun-yeol home.

Kim Sin-rok, came after watching over Gwak Kyung-gu.

These were those familiar with the tiger kin, but tonight the Silver Hall had more guests.

Gong Cheong-hwan, dropped by from the orphanage.

Ham Geun-hyung, summoned after his Hongcheon trip.

Je­gal Jae-geol, who joined after evading the third-year Class 0 students.

And Lim Yeon-hwa, planning her disciples’ winter training even while participating in an Association project.

“Wow, all the Class 0 homeroom teachers are here? I’m the only assistant, though.”

“I’m not the Class 0 homeroom teacher anymore.”

“Even after graduation, Teacher Gi-hwan will always be Class 0 homeroom head for the research department.”

“My dear students do love me a lot!”

Lim Yeon-hwa—about to roll them in the snow—scanned every face here.

Gong Cheong-hwan smiled under her gaze and said,

“Our presence here means we passed the Ministry of Defense lab test. We used rough methods and nearly failed, so I’d thought we might be rejected.”

“The Ministry of Defense lab....”

Ham Geun-hyung, hearing that three fellow teachers had stormed in to rescue Kwon Rena’s family by brute force, looked uneasy at Lim Yeon-hwa, Gong Cheong-hwan, and Je­gal Jae-geol.

He recalled dispatching them under the pretext of evaluating their strength, resolve, adaptability, and improvisation, which made him conflicted.

“Soon someone will arrive at the Lake of Eternity. The control of Lee Yeoreum’s ability took time, so they’re delayed. The envoy from Jeolheukpoongrim asked to survey this area before entering Silver Hall underground, and I permitted it.”

At Hwang-ho’s words, Yong Je-geon continued.

“By the way, I’m the representative of the Red Lion. That means three of the four major pro-player teams in our country are involved. How about Hydrangea Fragrance?”

Most wondered if anyone here could claim to represent Hydrangea Fragrance.

Je­gal Jae-geol slowly turned toward Eun-ho, who now bore the form of Cheon Eun-ha.

Thanks to events in Jeju Island, Je­gal Jae-geol noticed Eun-ho was monitoring Hydrangea Fragrance via named water numbers.

“There are still parts of Hydrangea Fragrance we need to verify. Though there are trustworthy members. Please tell us, Hwang-ho.”

With Eun-ho’s invitation, Hwang-ho took the floor just as the door opened and the envoys from the Lake of Eternity and Jeolheukpoongrim arrived.

Seeing them, Hwang-ho stood and spoke.

“Joe Ui-sin’s choices include those gathered here in Silver Hall. Let’s begin the meeting now.”

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