Ex Rank Supporting Role's Replay in a Prestigious School

Support Ex-Rank

“…”

Yong Jegun stared at Kim Shinrok for a long time.

He seemed to be trying to grasp whether he was real or not.

He didn’t take his eyes off Kim Shinrok, and he barely moved his hand to sip the Longjing tea.

After finally having a sip, Yong Jegun spoke.

“I’m not dreaming.”

Did he have a dream similar to this in Replay?

Yong Jegun smiled brightly.

His cyan eyes were usually wide open, but while he looked at Kim Shinrok, his eyes were bent in a half-moon shape.

At first glance, it could be mistaken for his unique ecstatic smile, but there was no leer in it.

‘I thought he would attack Hwang Jiho like Jeokho did. Or just react violently in general.’

Except for the fact that he used his power to call the magic pearl when he saw Baekho-gun, Yong Jegun seemed relatively calm.

Based on Jeokho’s report, Yong Jegun wished for Kim Shinrok’s revival throughout the year.

Is it because he saw Kim Shinrok, the subject of his wish, right when he woke up?

Yong Jegun seemed to have quickly regained stability.

‘He has time to look around now.’

By the time he emptied the cup of Longjing yea, he was able to take his eyes off Kim Shinrok and grasp the situation.

The people in the room were Kim Shinrok, Jeokho, Baekho-gun, Hwang Jiho, and me.

Yong Jegun checked our faces one by one.

He seemed glad when he saw Jeokho, he was flustered when he saw Baekho-gun.

Soon, he murmured an “Oh.” and then appeared to have understood something.

His expression disappeared when he saw Hwang Jiho, but his usual sly face returned.

‘I guess he doesn’t have very good feelings towards Hwang Jiho.’

And Yong Jegun looked at me last.

He looked at me for a long second, lost in thought.

…Does he not remember me?

Everyone here except me was a familiar face to him from the age of myth, and it wouldn’t be strange for him to not remember me since I didn’t appear in his dream.

But after hearing what followed, it didn’t seem like it.

“I wanted to call you by that name after a long time. Is it okay?”

“What name?”

“The first name that you said to me. I wanted to let my benefactor know your name. I also want to tell him the origin of my name.”

Yong Jegun said something out of the blue to Kim Shinrok.

He wants to tell me Kim Shinrok’s first name?

It’s a relief that Yong Jegun recognizes this world, and me, Jo Euishin.

But I couldn’t understand his train of thought.

At that time, Jeokho, who was watching silently, talked to Kim Shinrok.

“Son, the benefactor doesn’t know the name that I gave you yet. Why don’t you take this opportunity?”

“Jeokho-nim…”

The name must be given by Jeokho, so is it a name that he used from the age of myth?

I don’t know why Yong Jegun wants to tell me that, but it’s obviously a very meaningful name.

Kim Shinrok hesitated for a while.

“…Do as you want.”

“Thanks, Jeho-ah.”

Jeho?

Is that Kim Shinrok’s first name?

It’s very similar to Eunho’s descendant, Eun Jaeho’s name.

That was my first impression, but as I pondered on the name Jeho, I got something on my mind.

‘Hang on, it overlaps with Yong Jegun’s name… does it have something to do with that?’

As I pondered, Yong Jegun’s following words solved my question.

“The first name that Shinrok used was Jeho. Je means red silk, Ho means tiger. It suits Jeho’s hair, doesn’t it?”

“Let go.”

Yong Jegun said as he picked up a few strands of Kim Shinrok’s hair, and the latter quickly knocked out his hand.

Yong Jegun withdrew right away.

Kim Shinrok was in his true appearance, his red hair showing bright.

His name really did suit him.

“My name was taken from the Je in Jeho’s name. Jeho added the syllable Gun. On the first day we met, he saw me flying down from the sky and gave me that word that means sky.”

So that’s the story behind Yong Jegun’s name!

I can’t believe I just found out the origin of my playable character’s name.

There were quite a few characters in PMH that didn’t include Chinese characters in the character name, and Yong Jegun was one of them.

I never knew about this.

Indeed, the failed game which didn’t mention Kim Shinrok’s existence at all, couldn’t have delivered such a piece of important information.

I was happy to know that about my playable character, but I suddenly remembered something.

‘Come to think of it, Yong Jegun seems to like his name very much.’

The day we all went to the broadcasting station.

Yeon Garam from Class 2-0 approached Yong Jegun and handed him an application to change his name.

On that day, Yeon Garam said this;

— Don’t you think the pronunciation of Professor Jegal’s “Jegal” and Professor Yong’s “Jegun” sound too similar? If you say them quickly, you wouldn’t notice the difference at all. There are people of royal lineage who change their name often, so why don’t you try it, professor?

Yong Jegun refused and said;

— I like this name so I have no plans on changing it.

Even if he didn’t have an attachment to his name, it would be natural to reject the senior’s ridiculous appeal anyway.

But now that I heard the backstory, it seems like Yong Jegun really values his name.

More so that it’s given to him by a friend.

‘…But is it okay for Jeokho to hear this?’

I subconsciously looked at Jeokho while Yong Jegun bragged about his name.

Wouldn’t it feel odd if the name he gave to his precious son was suddenly related to the dragon?

But when I saw him, Jeokho looked rather pleased as Yong Jegun bragged his name.

“I’m glad my son and his friend seem to be on good terms.”

“…Jeokho, did you forget what you said when you heard Yong Jegun was named after Jeho?”

Hwang Jiho seemed to be suspicious of Jeokho’s attitude.

“Didn’t you get angry that Jeho’s name was used by that dragon? I remember it clearly.”

“…What?”

“Hahahaha! Can’t you believe it? Jeokho declared that he would challenge Yong Jegun to a duel to get him to change his name.”

Kim Shinrok didn’t seem to believe Hwang Jiho’s words, but Baekho-gun, who was watching from behind, nodded once.

Hwang JIho didn’t seem to be exaggerating or lying.

Jeokho also hammered the nail.

“It’s true. Jeho is the name that I gave that child. For the Dragon King’s debauchee— I mean, beloved dragon to use my son’s name… I didn’t take it well. But isn’t it nice to see the depth of the two’s friendship?”

What Hwang Jiho said was true, but Jeokho seemed to have changed his mind.

Seeing how he had a drink with Yong Jegun after Replay, Jeokho seemed to have been greatly affected by the nightmare.

After bragging about his name, Yong Jegun talked o me.

“Do you understand what it means to me that you saved Jeho, Euishin-ah?”

I’m not a stranger to the dragon’s unpredictable words, but what he said must’ve meant something.

“Jeho’s benefactor is my benefactor. Thank you, Jo Euishin.”

Was he bragging about his name to say this?

I can’t say that I rescued Kim Shinrok.

I thought Kim Shinrok was dead that day, so I don’t think I deserve the gratitude.

I treated Kim Shinrok, the fallen teacher on the day of the entrance exam, s dead without even realizing that he was such a big influence on my playable character.

I tried to set the record straight.

“I didn’t think Professor Kim Shinrok was alive that day. I wanted his body to remain intact so I just moved him away. Everyone would’ve done that, even if it wasn’t me.”

I gave an objective fact, but somehow the response wasn’t good.

The tigers and Yong Jegun only looked at me with warm faces, and they didn’t seem to understand what I meant at all.

“I knew Jo Euishin would say that.”

“Me too.”

“He said something like that when I told him I want to come to his dorm to thank him…”

“…”

Those words made it difficult for me to say anything else.

Baekho-gun looked like his usual silent self, but the other tigers were looking at me with a similar expression.

As if he didn’t hear what I just said, Yong Jegun addressed me as his benefactor.

“I want to fulfill a wish of the benefactor.”

I felt choked up.

A wish?

Yong Jegun, the Cintamani, volunteers to grant my wish?

I don’t know about a minuscule wish, but If I say something big, Yong Jegun’s soul and body would be shaven.

Did he forget that I was the one who put him through that nightmare?

I don’t know how someone as smart as Yong Jegun can’t think of that.

It was clear that Replay had a huge impact on his mind.

While I was rendered speechless, Yong Jegun continued.

“You already fulfilled mine, Euishin-ah. So I’ll grant your wish.”

I almost got angry at Yong Jegun’s sudden offer, but he spoke so kindly.

Is he infinitely glad that his friend is alive?

Yong Jegun waited for me to say a wish, and the tigers watched without stopping him.

Shouldn’t Kim Shinrok, his friend, interject at least?

However, Kim Shinrok hung his head low, looking at his cup of tea as he feigned ignorance.

In the end, I had no choice but to refuse.

“…It’s alright.”

“I’ll keep bothering you though, Euishin-ah. Is that fine with you?”

The words chilled my heart.

He’s my playable character, but being bothered by Yong Jegun must be incredibly annoying.

Fortunately, Kim Shinrok stopped him.

“Don’t bother the Tiger Clan’s benefactor.”

“Hahaha, I’m kidding.”

It didn’t sound like a joke at all.

I decided to take care of it quickly.

“Then I will make a wish. Please explain what you saw in the nightmare.”

“That’s invalid. I was gonna tell you even if you didn’t ask, Euishin-ah.”

“Then can you explain why you called the Cintamani just now?”

“I was going to explain that too, so that doesn’t count.”

Yong Jegun wasn’t satisfied unless it was a good wish.

Now that it’s come to this, I should write one down as soon as I can.

“Tell me what happened in the nightmare first.”

“What you saw was a world without Jo Euishin. It’s called Replay.”

“I see.”

Yong Jegun understood Hwang Jiho’s words.

Looking at his reaction, I think he expected it.

Yong Jegun looked at Baekho-gun.

“I’ll answer Euishin’s second question first. On the day I died in the Replay, Baekho-ssi was outside of Eungwang High’s boundary. The day of the Christmas Event.”

I knew that.

Baekho-gun attempted to destroy the boundary that day.

I lured Yong Jegun to the place where Baekho-gun was.

“So the moment I saw Baekho-ssi, I thought I could survive and head out of Eungwang High. I was flustered because I didn’t intend to go out, so I hurriedly called the Cintamani. I was sure my wish wouldn’t come true if I left Eungwang High.”

What does Yong Jegun not wanting to go out have to do with calling the Cintamani?

Only Jeokho lamented as if he understood right away.

Yong Jegun made a shackling remark.

“If I think about it carefully, I can’t have survived. My main body, the Cintamani, was shattered and fell into the hands of the Dragon King’s shamans.”

Support Ex-Rank