The Songpa River, which has been reduced to a mere stream due to a change in the Han River flow caused by the Great Flood in 1925.
Seokchon Lake was an artificial lake built by burying the Songpa River.
Seokchon Lake was divided into Dongho(east lake) and Seoho(west lake) by Jamsil Lake Bridge in Songpa street.
Dongho was close to Bangi-dong’s food alley, and Seoho had a theme park on an artificial island made by a famous company, so there were endless visitors.
Seokchon Lake has been a place of relaxation and amusement loved by the people of Seoul for decades.
‘Though in this game, it became deserted due to a tragedy that happened years ago……’
A few years from now.
An underwater Other-world appeared in Seokchon Lake, near the artificial island theme park.
It was a labyrinth that was graded as class SR-.
It was easy enough for pro-player teams ranked at the mid-bottom ranks to clear alone.
‘…… But lack of safety awareness became the problem.’
The theme park was operated by Namgung Group’s Namgung Mulsan Resort.
Shortly after the Other-world appearance, they closed all attractions on the outside artificial island, evacuated guests on the outside, and closed the passageway to the interior theme park.
However, the company did not stop operating the interior theme park.
‘A top-ranked team came in, but they should have evacuated all the guests out of the theme park just in case.’
That day, the ‘just in case’ happened.
The top-ranked team who were attacking the underwater labyrinth was wiped out, and Enemies came charging into the interior theme park.
Some players who were in the park as guests defended the place, but they were scattered around the theme park, so it was impossible to protect all the citizens.
When back-up teams came from the Player’s Association, it was only after hundreds of lovers and family members died.
And the theme park, which turned into hell, was broadcast live all over the world by a popular streamer who was on a monorail at that time, and it traumatized numerous people.
‘The streamer was seriously injured and fainted, so he couldn’t stop the broadcast, and it was too late when the operator of that internet broadcasting service stopped the broadcast after receiving a report.’
The incident led to the death of the president of Namgung Mulsan, the owner of the theme park, and dozens of those responsible for carrying out the operation that day were prosecuted.
The head of the Namgung group bowed his head to announce the apology to the people and built a memorial tower at Seokchon Lake.
On top of that, they decided on free admission to the theme park for a month.
But the guests who left did not return.
‘There was a description that the few guests who came only came for a test of courage.’
Why did the top team just get wiped out of the SR-class labyrinth?
The back-up teams and the Association easily defeated that underwater Other-world.
As a result of analyzing the attack process, it turned out that there was no problem with the difficulty level observed by the player SAT-K, and it was concluded that the top-ranking team let down their guard.
‘The real cause was to be revealed in the quests that Suhyuk Joo and Dain An solved in the next few months.’
The quest was to take place at the second semester of grade 1.
The first graders go to the Olympic park for their first single Other-world domination during the beginning of the fall semester.
They provide emergency assistance to a series of nearby Other-world appearances, where the Seokchon Lake quest begins.
‘This incident reveals the full extent of Seokchon Lake’s tragedy and draws Demon’s attention to Suhyuk, who has become the biggest contributor of the Other-world Dominance.’
Biryung Na’s designation of Seokchon Lake and Dongho would be related to that quest.
‘I knew one of the causes of the problem was in Seokchon Lake, but I couldn’t go there……’
The visitors of Seokchon Lake and the Theme park had reduced, but Jamsil Station was in the middle of the city, so it still had a huge floating population- thus, a big chance of drawing attention if I went there.
In the second semester, I was planning to join the protagonists and settle the case, but if Original clans and the EverLake team cooperate to take care of it in advance, it will be much simpler.
‘I need to prepare for the change of plans.’
The message of Biryung Na.
Seokchon Lake.
The help of the Original clans.
EverLake.
The process of clearing the Other-world in the game.
I put my thoughts together with the information I had and sent a message to Jiho Hwang.
[Me] I’m going too. There’s something I want you to do before I go tomorrow.
[Jiho Hwang] What?
[Me] Sign the document that will go to the trustee of the school. It’ll have my name on it.
[Jiho Hwang] OK. That’s all?
‘OK’? Does he even know what documents I’m going to send to him?
I thought the first request would be easy anyway.
The problem is the second.
[Me] The Map of the Moon Palace is a skill used by the head of the Rabbit clan, right? Bring her to Seokchon Lake tomorrow.
[Jiho Hwang] Don’t wanna.
As soon as I sent the message, a sharp refusal came back.
If I knew this would happen, I should’ve gotten To-yeon Ok’s device code.
‘…… Next time I meet To-yeon Ok, I need to get her code.’
As I gave up and was about to end the chat with Jiho, another message came.
[Jiho Hwang] If you do me a favor, I might be able to call her.
So, he’s planning to make a deal.
I didn’t really need To-yeon Ok, so I decided to curve again.
[Me] NO blessings.
[Jiho Hwang] ㅡ.ㅡ not that.
I’ve never seen Jiho use emoticons……!
[Jiho Hwang] Sleepover at my house this weekend. The Descendants of Silver Tiger and Shinsu are complaining that they want to play with you.
Every time I went back to the dorm, the descendants and my Olmu got disappointed.
I didn’t know they missed me like that……!
There was no need to think deeply.
I immediately texted a reply.
[Me] ok.
[Jiho Hwang] All right. I’ll tell them you’re coming.
I got plans this weekend.
Then, I’ll have everything ready for the perfect weekend.
[Me] Mr. Kyubin Hong, are you busy?
The message I sent next was to Kyubin Hong, head of the Press Team 1 of the public relations department, Player’s Association.
[Gyubin Hong] No! not busy. I worked overtime today too, but it was done sooner than expected. I’m home now.
Seeing as he was talking about overtime, he must have worked until nighttime again.
‘But still, he left work earlier than before. It seems that the incidents caused by Pyun-deuk Choi’s followers are slowly being resolved.’
If so, Gyubin will be able to put his mind to something else.
[Me] I want to ask you a favor.
Gyubin, who was always sending messages quickly, replied one tempo slowly.
[Gyubin Hong] Ui-shin, do I have to go back to work today?
He’s very perspective.
Maybe he had divination skills.
Although it was a tad bit off.
[Me] No.
[Gyubin Hong] Thank God^^; I finally don’t have to work overtime starting tomorrow. I’ll be able to sleep more than 6 hours. So happy! So what did you text me to ask for? Should I treat you to lunch? Have any items you need?
Gyubin was desperately trying to get away from work.
He seems to have noticed that I’m trying to get him to work.
I felt sorry for him, but this had to be done.
[Me] Not today, but you might need to work overtime again starting tomorrow.
[Gyubin Hong] Oh……
[Gyubin Hong] OK……T.T
His attempt to escape work has ended.
Gyubin’s despair was conveyed in the text, but I pretended not to know and closed the chat window after saying everything I needed to say.
* * *
The next morning.
The students were excited about the preparation for the upcoming teacher’s day.
Grade 1 class 0 was the same.
“We’re going to finish preparing for Teacher’s Day within the budget allocated to our class. They say it’s not a problem if you buy carnations and eat and do stuff within the budget!”
At the suggestion of class president Yuri Kim, all seven students in Grade 0 came to the school early today.
Everyone went to school early and attended a preparatory meeting for Teacher’s Day like good students.
“Let’s split into a team to buy flowers, and a team to buy food!”
We split teams according to Yuri’s ladder lottery (An informal method of decision-making in Asia, based on a series of interlinked descending lines that are followed from the top, where a choice is made, to the bottom, where an outcome is revealed) app.
Flower team, Yuri Kim, Lenna Lee, Hyo-don Maeng.
Food team, me, Jiho Hwang, Han-yi, Se-eum Sawol.
“Eh, I don’t know flowers.”
“It’s okay. We can pick them together!”
“Hey, I’d like to go to Yangjae-dong Flower Market at dawn and choose in person…… Do you guys want to go?”
“Yeah. Let’s go to the flower market of Gangnam Express Bus Terminal, too!”
Hyo-don seemed to be in a complicated state of mind but nodded in response to Yuri and Lenna.
“The handmade bakery in front of the western gate is taking reservations for cakes! How about a cake with carnation flowers?”
“If we have enough money, I’d also like to buy limited desserts from air hotels like ‘Snow and Air’ or ‘Icaros.’”
Se-eum, who abandoned even moon rabbit rice cake and ate only western food.
Han-yi with a sweet tooth.
Our team’s plan was set up by these two people.
“How many servings do you want to prepare? 8, including our teacher’s?”
“……yeah, I don’t think anyone else is going to come. Let’s just get 8 servings?”
I nodded my head the whole time, but this time, I cut in.
“No. Someone might come. Let’s prepare at least 9 servings.”
I said, thinking of Green Min, who may come to school that day.
Hwang Ji-ho, who had kept his mouth shut, seemed to have twinkled his eyes, but I ignored it.
“Yeah. Even if there is any food remaining, we can share that, so let’s buy 9 servings.”
“All right. Then I’ll apply for a reservation with the app!”
By the time we had nearly finished our plan, the class bell rang.
Today’s class bell was Aria “Nessundorma” from the opera “Turandot” composed by Jacomo Puccini.
The song was recorded as a collaboration between the vocal and choral clubs and the orchestra.
Khalaf, convinced of victory, sang the culmination of the aria in the garden of the Moonlight Palace, and Turandot’s men on the verge of death, sung by the female choir, flew out.
Listening to an aria in powerful tenor, we sat in our seats before Geun-hyung Ham came.
* * *
After morning attendance.
The sparsely populated entrance to Class 0 of the first-grade building.
I went after my teacher, Geun-hyung Ham, and handed him a sheet of paper.
“Mr. Ham. Can you file this document to the school trustee right away please?”
What I asked for was a pre-prepared application for first graders in their first semester to enter the Other-world clearing job.
The school rules forbade first years in their first semesters to participate in those stuff, but if your homeroom teacher and the school trustee sign the form, it became an exception and was allowed.
Usually, the board of trustees doesn’t allow it easily, but if I send it to Myung-ho Hwang, it will pass right away.
“…… Okay.”
Geun-hyung Ham looked at the papers and looked surprised for a moment, but nodded quickly.
I don’t think he was going to ask any questions, again.
Rather, he made an unexpected suggestion.
“Can I go, too?”
It will make the game easier if he comes, but it will make it very complicated.
I felt sorry, but decided to refuse.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah……”
Geun-hyung Ham took the documents without further questions.
When I looked at him, he muttered something like he was talking to himself.
“Fifteen years ago, a student like you brought another first-grade student along and gave me the same paper.”
A guy similar to me.
15 years ago.
I think it’s the person that he mentioned before the rescue of Hyo-don Maeng.
‘The president of the student council who made the Ji-ik council 15 years ago.’
According to Geun-hyung, the president of the student council presented this document to him to go with a first-year student to clear an Other-world, 15 years ago.
“I didn’t allow it then. I told him to take me if he needed to go, but he didn’t. As a result, the kids were injured.”
What the hell did that old student council president do?
I wanted to hear more about it, but he seemed to have no intention of telling more about it.
“Don’t get hurt.”
Leaving these words, Geun-hyung Ham turned around.
I saw him take a fountain pen and sign the paper.
* * *
After school.
The sunset time in mid-May is about 7: 30.
It was after dusk, so it was dark and lonely.
I arrived just in front of the coordinates of the message sent by Biryung Na, the Dongho of Seokchon Lake.
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