Ex Rank Supporting Role’s Replay in a Prestigious School

The preparations for opening proceeded smoothly.

Since the reservation volume had increased compared to the last festival and—thanks to Song Daeseok’s idea—we also had to install the photocard vending machine, I thought it would take longer; but because everyone had experience, the work actually went faster.

“Entry the same way as last time?”

“Yeah, there’s still a line forming.”

“They say that since there’ll be more people this time, anyone caught running won’t just be sent back to the start—they’ll be kicked out on the spot.”

The charity event atmosphere had become wildly overheated.

It couldn’t be helped—it was the Christmas season.

After the last festival’s stellar reputation, when this time of year comes, everyone looks forward to it.

To their Santa costumes!

“Guys, the changing room’s empty now! If you haven’t changed yet, go do it.”

I turned my head and narrowed my eyes against the dazzling sight.

No wonder, since Kim Yuri was already wearing her Santa costume.

Considering they’d be moving around busily in the warm indoors, Ong Gildong had designed a lightweight cape decorated with beads shaped like snowflakes instead of a red fur coat—and it was the perfect choice.

Kim Yuri was the perfect Santa.

I remembered the users back in Plumago who had eagerly awaited her first Christmas scenario, not knowing how disastrous it would turn out, and how they had looked forward to Kim Yuri’s appearance in her Santa outfit.

‘If those people had played Plumago all the way through, they might have gotten to see this scene here, too.’

As of now, besides me, only two people had completed Plumago.

One was Eunho.

He said he liked the 호족 character in Plumago, but he hadn’t shown much interest in the other characters. Maybe because he tends to exaggerate, he once said, “I only saw the ending so I could follow 의신 hyung. If he hadn’t been there, I—sorry for saying it so bluntly—wouldn’t have touched that game.”

‘Eunho might be a bit happy to see the descendants in Santa outfits, but he wouldn’t care that much what the other playable characters were wearing.’

The other was Gye Idam.

His sole motivation was Andain.

He’d started and finished Plumago because of Andain. If Andain had dropped out early, Gye Idam would’ve quit Plumago long ago. Though he sometimes got so frustrated he’d leave malicious comments on Plumago-related posts or articles.

‘Andain survived until almost the very end.’

Out of the many playable characters, the ones left for the final showdown were Joo Suhyuk, Andain, and White Tiger. First Joo Suhyuk fell, then Andain, and finally...just thinking about it made my chest tighten, so I stopped.

Instead, I continued my previous thought.

Gye Idam and Seong Siwan had visited the Butler Café at the last festival, and photos remained of him grinning beside her. Outwardly he looked fine, and perhaps because Seong Siwan was there, people said, “He looks more relaxed—like he’s dropped a heavy burden, like the student council president,” or “He seems different from when he presents in class or works alone.” But to my eyes, he was simply mesmerized by Andain in butler attire.

“Jo Eui-sin, that goes for you too......”

“White Tiger, go change your clothes already.”

White Tiger seemed about to make a fuss, but Hwang Ji-ho stepped in to cut him off.

I decided to ignore it and went to change into my Santa costume.

In Plumago, charity events had vanished after the First Christmas. Some students still privately mourned that day, but no official memorial events were held by the school or student council. The following year, the Demon Realm scenario overlapped, and the school was taken over by those under the influence of the hidden powers. They didn’t want to honor the sacrificed players, so they mocked and laughed at any memorial acts. As a result, the remaining Plumago users, myself included, could no longer look forward to Christmas. A Christmas outfit—such a luxury thought wasn’t even possible.

“Wow, Eui-sin’s Santa outfit has black snowflakes.”

“I paid special attention to that! Our partner is planning to visit the special exhibition commemorating the Black Eye today, after all.”

“Louis, change mine to black too!”

“Hmm, I request gold for mine.”

Everyone made comments on my outfit, but I was busy admiring the others’ Santa costumes. In the very early days—before the First Christmas scenario—Plumago users had eagerly anticipated this sight, and now it was right before my eyes. Seeing everyone in Santa outfits filled me with emotion.

“What about Teacher Ham Geun-hyeong and Mr. Yong?”

“I heard Teacher Ham Geun-hyeong will help with visitor entry, and Mr. Yong will go check out the other classes. Mr. Yong will be here before opening.”

“Oh, so the front gate should be fine. But I’m a little worried about the other classes......”

Any audience member causing trouble today would be removed—but only if caught, of course. There might be those thinking, like the 0th-class alumni, “If we don’t get caught, why not?” Such people were crazy and highly skilled, so the faculty got involved. At least in Teacher Ham Geun-hyeong’s designated area, there shouldn’t be any incidents. Unlike the gentle-looking Gong Cheong-hwan or Jagal Jae-geol, or the mischievous Im Yeon-hwa, Teacher Ham Geun-hyeong had a terrifying, fierce face—even strangers would be scared.

‘The problem is where Yong Jegun went.’

Instead of watching our class in Santa costumes early on, the only place Yong Jegun could be wandering was Class 2-1’s butler café, run by Kim Sinrok. Because students had complained to the student council, “Please bring it back,” they’d held the butler café again, saying it would enhance the Christmas atmosphere. With top butlers like Kim Sinrok, Joo Suhyuk, and Andain on duty, I could only imagine how much fun Yong Jegun was having.

“You’ll see for yourself soon enough.”

“White Tiger, once you’re fully changed, move these over to the counter.”

As White Tiger muttered again, Cheong-ho offered a basket filled with Supernova Chocolates. After all, he was once a noble in the Mythic Realm, but now he was just a big high-school student without any special title—hence roles like this.

Once the final touches were done, the charity event began with the traditional carols reinterpreted by the Gugak Club on traditional instruments.

“All right, let’s go take a look first!”

“Me too?”

“Yeah. In the early opening, external visitors waiting in line outside will come here, but those from Eungwang High get more chances to see you, so we should yield.”

Before I could even ask what they meant by yielding, in a daze we set off. Along with the three Tigers from our class, we headed straight to Class 2-1’s butler café. I was about to voice my complaint, but since it’d just started—there was no line and plenty of seats—and the butlers in their festive attire evoked a strong Christmas vibe, I shut up.

“But this was agreed on, right?”

“Of course. Since we came at staggered times, Kim Sinrok asked us to come all at once. We seized this opportunity. Soon Eunho’s descendants will arrive, and Jeokho and Ungnyeo, hiding in the shadows, will come too. We won’t sit at the same table, though.”

It was agreed, but I hadn’t expected it to be on this scale.

Apparently aware of this, Yong Jegun, dressed in his Santa suit, floated above the chandelier, looking down. I guess he planned to watch the Tigers as an observer rather than a guest. Once they’d all left, I bet he’d brazenly return as Kim Sinrok’s guest.

“Hmm, this is better than last time. I proposed replacing all the cutlery with silver, switching the practical napkins to linen, and using cotton satin for decorative ones—and they accepted.”

“Not bad. After all, it’s a café that hires my pupil as a butler; it should be at least this refined.”

Hwang-ho and Cheong-ho spoke behind a soundproof barrier, but if Kim Sinrok heard, her face would’ve burned red. Meanwhile, she seemed to steel herself, took a deep breath, and approached us through the café interior adorned with ornaments and small bells. She closed her eyes tightly, opened them, and delivered today’s planned line.

“......Miss, Young Master. Merry Christmas.”

Wow—she actually said it! I wanted to applaud in admiration, but the Tigers’ expressions were peculiar. It wasn’t that they disliked Kim Sinrok, but her line seemed to displease them. Did they not like “Merry Christmas”? Was it because it celebrated the birth of a god other than the Heavenly One? Even so, Buddhists light Christmas trees, and Catholics send congratulations on Buddha’s birthday, respecting each other’s values. Eungwang High had been commemorating Christmas with charity events for quite some time—yet perhaps they just didn’t like hearing a descendant say those words?

‘Oh, right—last year, right before going to the Netherworld, I left a scheduled message saying “Merry Christmas.”’

If I’d known they disliked Christmas, I would’ve used a different message.

As I rationalized this, White Tiger conveyed my thoughts directly to the other Tigers. Hwang Ji-ho pressed his forehead, Cheong-ho sighed, and Kim Sinrok stared blankly at me.

“Jo Eui-sin, it’s not that we hate Christmas.”

“I didn’t see that message myself, but Eunho explained it well, so I know. That was just off.”

“......Eui-sin, did you really think that?”

After that, for some reason, even Kim Sinrok joined in scolding me—until Jeokho and Ungnyeo entered in matching red-light coats, at which point she fell silent. Kim Sinrok seemed more awkward using “Young Master” and “Miss” with Jeokho and Ungnyeo than with us. Soon the other butlers also arrived.

“We thought Young Master would be happier if we all came together.”

“Merry Christmas.”

Thanks to the sparse crowd, butlers Joo Suhyuk and Andain found our table together! Their outfits were arranged to fit the Christmas atmosphere. Although not Santa suits, they’d fought over those last year, so this time they were content with butler attire.

‘It tastes better because it’s a meal prepared by perfect butlers. Objectively speaking, the food quality has improved.’

Perhaps Hwang Ji-ho had suggested improvements to the cooking as well, because the food was noticeably better. The cranberry turkey sandwich, panettone, and eggnog latte, all prepared for Christmas, were delicious.

“To increase turnover and guarantee taste, I personally proposed almost no-cook menus. Amateur students have limits to their cooking skills, after all. How is it?”

“Not bad, it’s delicious.”

Cheong-ho finished the gingerbread cake and cookies, nodding several times. As the butlers saw us off and we stepped outside, we saw a long line at our class’s tea house and hurried over. The moment we entered, we heard cheers almost like screams—sounds as if they’d been waiting for me.

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