EX rank supporting role's replay in a prestigious school

Chapter 904

After finishing breakfast at the Gicheonghwa Dormitory’s cafeteria, Han-i, instead of heading to the study cafe with Kwon Lena, made her way to the Taeho Kwon small group room.

She had gone to help the first-year students who had joined the Taeho Kwon group this year with their studies.

The first-year students had gotten along well, and no one had forced them, but during the exam period, they had formed a study party, and everyone had joined it.

When Han-i and the other second and third-year students found out about this, they decided to visit the Taeho Kwon small group room whenever they had time to help the first-years with their studies.

Since Han-i was planning to have a study session with the second-year Class 0 students today, she thought of stopping by briefly in the morning to help them with their studies.

‘It’s a good thing they moved to a larger room last year. Now, the juniors don’t have to struggle to secure a space for their meetings. If this many people join next year, the group will be upgraded to a full club...’

Taeho Kwon small group room.

Han-i sat down around a spacious table with the first-year students and recalled what had happened last year.

Yeonggwang High School had two types of extracurricular activities: official clubs and small groups.

For small groups, as long as they followed the basic application process, they were quickly accepted and could be formed or disbanded with relative freedom. However, due to the smaller number of members and lack of tangible achievements, they received less support.

Because of that, small groups had many shortcomings, but starting from last year, things gradually improved, and by the second semester, they were being treated almost like official clubs.

Since all small groups received better treatment, the Taeho Kwon small group also benefited from it.

‘It wasn’t the general club council’s decision, it was the school’s directive.’

Small groups were good in the sense that they were flexible, but they could also be seen as lacking substance.

In Yeonggwang High School, where there were plenty of clubs achieving excellent results, there was little need to invest more in small groups.

However, there were some small groups like Taeho Kwon or the Chess small group, which had clear goals and serious students participating, but those were in the minority.

Many small groups were created on a whim by friends, using the small group funds to play around and then disbanding near graduation.

Recently, a group of PlayerZ users created a small group called ‘EungwangZ,’ with a name that showed no effort, and bought merchandise with their support funds to display and even set up VR equipment.

One of the board members of the general club council suggested cutting back on small group funding due to such actions, but it didn’t work at all.

Chairman Hwang Myungho roughly said something like, "I’m giving students the opportunity to create memories with my money, so what’s the problem?" and the board members quietly shut up, and this news spread, significantly boosting the chairman’s reputation among students.@@@@

‘Since it was initiated by the Hwang Foundation, Jiho might be involved too? Jiho is a relative of the chairman.’

Though they were technically related, Han-i didn’t know that.

Even though she was only a second-year student, Han-i had a feeling that Jiho was no ordinary person.

If she had to choose the second most suspicious person in Class 0, after Jo Eui-shin, she wouldn’t hesitate to pick that oddball.

Hwang Ji-ho was absurdly strong, had maintained a 40-point average in all subjects since entering, and often did things that made no sense.

As Han-i had vaguely guessed, Hwang Ho had been involved in a series of events.

Since they were in the same class and practicing Taeho Kwon, Han-i was paying attention to the situation, and once she figured out Jiho’s true nature, Hwang Ho didn’t hesitate to act.

Cheongho’s disciples had secretly caused a commotion in front of Hwang Ho, asking if they were thinking of placing Cheongho in such a place, and Hwang Ho, empathizing with them, had built a few more buildings to offer as small group rooms.

Only Taeho Kwon small groups received special treatment, and to prevent Gong Cheong-hwon’s position from becoming awkward, he made a spectacular show of spending money.

While Han-i was lost in thought, she sensed a familiar presence.

“...!”

“A myth of the river’s origin is recorded in this document. Were you reading this?”

The oddball from the same class was standing nearby.

Hwang Ho didn’t speak until Han-i turned to look at him.

Because Han-i had a keen sense of awareness and understood speech well, many people forgot that she was hearing-impaired and often made the mistake of speaking from behind her, but there were a few people who never made such a mistake, one of whom was Hwang Ho.

Hwang Ho always turned his head to a position where Han-i could read his lip movements before speaking.

“How did you get here?”

“Did you forget that I was permitted by the instructor? I came in by myself.”

Even the first-year students, who had been interested in the myth of the river’s origin, sighed in disappointment after listening to him.

Han-i, too, felt a little regretful.

“Hahaha! Don’t worry. If you want to hear more, I’ll tell you anytime.”

With a short smile, Hwang Ho led the way out of the Taeho Kwon small group room.

As they headed toward the study cafe, Hwang Ho spoke.

“I’m so glad to see my friend taking an interest in the myth of the river’s origin.”

Because of that friend comment, Han-i missed the opportunity to thank him for explaining.

Seeing Han-i’s frown, Hwang Ho smiled again, as if something delighted him.

Han-i, now suspicious that he was intentionally blocking her attempt to thank him, but realizing they had already arrived at the meeting place, just let it go.

Han-i and Hwang Ji-ho arrived just in time for their appointment.

Han-i seemed deep in thought, while Hwang Ji-ho seemed overjoyed.

Although Hwang Ji-ho had been acting this way since hearing my suspicions about Han-i, I felt uneasy hearing that they arrived together.

‘Did the old tiger really say something unnecessary? I don’t think he crossed the line, but he seems too happy, so it makes me suspicious.’

I wasn’t the only one who was suspicious.

Dokgo Miro asked, voicing my concerns.

“Han-i, did he say anything weird again?”

“Hahaha! How could I say such things to a friend... well, maybe I did.”

“Seems like he did.”

Just from watching the conversations between the tigers, it was clear.

Hwang Ji-ho and Jeokho often spoke nonsense to each other, laughing as they tested each other’s reactions.

“Today, I didn’t say anything unusual. I just told them what I know about the myth of the river’s origin.”

Clunk.

As I was sitting next to Min Green, who was busy exchanging notes with Song Daeseok, I heard a loud sound.

Song Daeseok had let his chin slip and his hand had slid off the desk.

Min Green, worried, asked.

“...Did you hurt yourself?”

“Aah, hey, guys! If you apply in advance, you can bring outside food into the study room. Write down the snacks you want!”

When Kim Yoori mentioned snacks, everyone seemed more interested in that than in Hwang Ji-ho’s nonsense.

For someone who knew everything, it was an awkward situation.

Hwang Ji-ho’s true identity, his friend, and the myth of the river’s origin.

When thinking about all this, it became clear that Han-i was no ordinary person.

‘Those two must know about Jiho’s identity, so they probably understand what he meant by ‘friend.’ Maeng Hyo-don roughly knows too, but...’

Maeng Hyo-don was too absorbed in his math problems to care about Jiho’s words.

It wasn’t until Kim Yoori handed over the snack list that he finally looked up and responded.

Ignoring the efforts of Song Daeseok and Kim Yoori, Hwang Ji-ho casually spoke up.

“I have something to tell you about the myth of the river’s origin.”

I had intended to ignore his nonsense and focus on the snack list, but Hwang Ji-ho brought up something I couldn’t ignore.

“I heard your close junior is making something related to it. I’d like you to check it out.”

It seemed Eunho was making something related to the myth of the river’s origin.