Medical Center, Player-Only Wing.

Hwangho, appearing to be in his thirties, was checking charts.

Because Hwangho had swept all his hair back, his neat forehead and delicate eyes were fully visible, making his expressions easy to read.

After confirming there were no abnormalities in his classmates Mok U-ram and Kwon Rena, and fellow newspaper club member Moon Sae-ron, a gentle curve formed at the corners of Hwangho’s mouth.

‘At this rate, there’s no need to keep coming to the hospital for this case. The kids are fine, but the problem is Lee Yeoreum.’

With his pure intellect combined with the Gwanglim ability used by the Water Shadow Knight, and forcibly activating the long-dormant psychic circuits, his body could hardly survive.

Though treatment had repaired burst blood vessels and damaged internal organs, the issue was with the psychic energy side.

“...Jiho, how is unnie? Can we take her out now?”

Kwon Rena asked anxiously.

By now, even when in this form, she simply called him Hwang Jiho.

Usually, when in this form, unless you were a close friend, a fearless Jin clan member, or Jo Yi-shin himself, no one dared approach casually. That Rena did so pleased him greatly.

Thanks to that, Hwangho’s expression, which had dimmed while looking over Lee Yeoreum’s charts, brightened somewhat.

“Right now, Lee Yeoreum can’t control her psychic energy at all. To put it simply, it’s like she’s forgotten how to breathe, repeatedly either holding her breath or hyperventilating.”

Players naturally learn psychic energy use from childhood, gradually mastering its control.

It’s similar to how a child learns to breathe instinctively without being taught.

Special techniques to manipulate psychic energy at an advanced Player level require specific training—like learning controlled breathing—but normally, players refine their psychic energy without issues.

However, Lee Yeoreum wasn’t able to do that at all.

As Hwangho spoke more, moisture welled up in Rena’s large eyes, and if Jo Yi-shin were nearby, he would glare with an expression saying, ‘Why are you making our classmate cry with your words?’

“No need to worry too much. Just as there are various ways to help those who can’t breathe properly, there are many methods to assist players who can’t handle psychic energy.”

“Really? Is there something I can do?”

“Of course. But there’s someone more qualified than you.”

“Then I’ll do it!”

Mok U-ram, who had been awkwardly watching Rena’s determined gaze, also jumped in.

Judging by their skills and Rena’s will to protect her, Mok U-ram was also a promising talent, but Hwangho had no intention of burdening # Nоvеlight # the kids with handling this incident.

He shook his head and said,

“Right now, Lee Yeoreum needs a trustworthy and powerful watcher. She must find surveillance tiresome by now, but it’s necessary for her safety. And also for her younger sister Rena.”

Rena flinched slightly, perhaps still unused to being called by that name.

Hwangho coldly compared the abilities of Rena and Lee Yeoreum.

Lee Yeoreum had more psychic energy overall and her abilities were far more dangerous.

If Rena could freely wield psychic instruments, the story might be different, but she still needed training.

‘They say the darkness Lee Yeoreum controls avoided Rena. But Yeoreum herself said she never felt any sense of controlling that darkness.’

In other words, it was uncertain whether Yeoreum’s power was truly harmless to Rena or if it was just luck.

Fortunately, strong protectors were nearby to dispel all these worries.

At just the right moment, those who would watch over Lee Yeoreum arrived.

“As long as Jared and I are here, Rena and Yeoreum are safe.”

“We’ve finished the discharge procedures! You waited long, right?”

The association worried about a player like Lee Yeoreum being discharged unable to control her psychic powers, but when the Eternal Lake side offered to take charge directly, they immediately agreed.

There was no need to mention Kwon Jae-in’s strength, and Jared Lee was family by blood and wielded a similar darkness power as Yeoreum.

They were far stronger than most association staff, so there was no reason to oppose.

In the worst case, if Yeoreum went berserk, Jared Lee could use Psychic Swallowing to stop the spread of darkness.

Yeoreum’s darkness had additional effects like mental attacks, but Jared Lee was a veteran, a step ahead.

“If it comes to it, you’ll have to perform Psychic Swallowing. Can you do it?”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Hwang. Since there aren’t many players who handle darkness, I haven’t tried Psychic Swallowing myself, but I heard the gist and it doesn’t seem difficult.”

It was a statement befitting a genius player once renowned worldwide.

Two students unaware of what Psychic Swallowing meant simply relaxed, but if Yeom Jun-yeol, who had struggled mastering it, were present, he might feel a bit hurt.

At that moment, Lee Yeoreum, changed out of her patient gown into civilian clothes, slowly walked over.

Upon seeing her, Kwon Rena ran up like she was sprinting.

“Unnie!”

“Rena...”

Just before Rena could hug Lee Yeoreum, she hesitated.

A faint glow of psychic energy like bamboo scent and leaves gently flowed around Yeoreum.

While Rena hesitated, Kwon Jae-in and Jared Lee stood before her, and Hwangho gave instructions.

“Jukho, try releasing the barrier. Let’s see if Kwon Jae-in and Jared Lee can control her.”

“Yes, Mr. Hwangho.”

As a precaution, the head shaman of the Ho clan, Jukho, was assigned to stay close to Lee Yeoreum.

Given Yeoreum’s condition and the fact that a hidden enemy was targeting her, a strong ally had to be nearby to prevent an attack until reinforcements arrived.

Jukho wore his usual robe dyed bamboo leaf green.

Though the outfit didn’t fit the hospital environment at all, a fresh aura around him prevented discomfort or awkwardness.

When Jukho retrieved the bamboo leaves wrapped around Yeoreum’s wrist, darkness slowly seeped out from her.

Kugugu...

As soon as the darkness rose, Jared Lee swallowed it in an instant and calmed Yeoreum.

Neither Rena saw Jared Lee’s subtle movement gripping Yeoreum’s wrist nor Kwon Jae-in’s fingertip summoning water droplets in a circular pattern around them.

Though Hwangho had diplomatically said there was someone more qualified, it was clear to Rena that she herself was insufficient.

But it was alright.

Until now, Lee Yeoreum had been Rena’s only family, but that was no longer true, and that family was here.

Seeing the psychic energy around Yeoreum stabilize, Hwangho praised Jukho.

“Good work, Jukho.”

“No, my disciple was worried about her too. Even if you hadn’t ordered it, I would have volunteered.”

Jukho responded brightly, then withdrew the bamboo leaves he had prepared as a backup in case they failed.

He greeted Kwon Rena and Mok U-ram, asking them to take good care of Kim Yuri.

Rena blinked rapidly, thinking about how much the Ho clan was involved with half the class.

“Let’s go! Our new family is waiting for us!”

“Family...”

Lee Yeoreum, who looked like she had difficulty speaking, repeated the word ‘family’ softly.

During her hospitalization, after finishing her testimony with words of thanks and apology, she had become taciturn.

But now, it seemed she was about to say something before stopping.

Seeing that, Kwon Rena, as if recalling something, stopped Jared Lee who was about to take Yeoreum away immediately.

“Wait! Jiho, is there a room nearby with a big mirror? Also, we need a chair.”

“Oh, right. Do we have those tools?”

“I brought them!”

Hwangho seemed to understand Rena’s intention and guided them to an empty single hospital room.

Rena seated Lee Yeoreum in the chair and ran her hand through the messily cut hair.

Im Yeonhwa had done her best at the time, but the hair chopped abruptly in a hurry couldn’t remain neat.

The uneven lengths of the slanted cut were ragged at the ends.

Rena pulled out a comb and thinning scissors from her bag.

“Since this is the first time introducing family, I guess she’d want to look neat, right, unnie?”

“...Yeah!”

Understanding Rena’s intent to tidy her hair, Kwon Jae-in covered his mouth, moved by his niece’s heart, and Jared Lee cried, admitting his own thoughtlessness.

“Oh my, I wasn’t considerate enough! Sorry, Yeoreum. I’ll hire the best hair stylist even now!”

“You’re clueless, Jared Lee. Let her cut it herself. Don’t worry about skill. Rena once trimmed this body’s hair too.”

Hwangho began to recount memories of Rena trimming the hair of their classmates.

It was a trivial story about cutting off the messy bangs of Song Dae-seok as he was trying to take a proof photo, with Hwangho watching alongside.

Though a small tale, considering how proud and appearance-obsessed Hwangho was, allowing a non-expert classmate to use scissors on him would shock those familiar with the Ho clan leader.

Recalling that day, Rena moved the scissors.

This year’s Chuseok falls on Tuesday, September 21.

It would be a fairly long holiday from weekend through early week.

From the start of the holiday, I was at the Tiger Mansion.

During transit, I received reports on this incident from Hwang Jiho.

Information such as confirming Namgung Gyu-yeon’s return via Hong Gyubin, and news that Lee Yeoreum was discharged with people from Eternal Lake via a clone.

“Jo Yi-shin, I ordered several Chuseok outfits suited for you. Everyone is looking forward, so pick whichever you want, but I advise you save the jade belt outfit for Chuseok day.”

Hearing that many holiday outfits suited to me had been made, I wondered if this was really right.

Was it okay to stay at the Tiger Mansion the entire long holiday?

Before I could ask that, Hwang Jiho spoke excitedly.

“There were many reckless fools planning to snatch away the Ho clan’s benefactor, but thanks to prior promises with the divine beast, things went smoothly.”

Thinking about that promise made me happy and excited, but also angry.

Because the white tiger irresponsibly left the angel alone and barged into my dorm room, I had no choice but to make that promise.

But should that be called a promise?

A brief doubt arose, but seeing the angel’s expectant face made me forget about it.

Woof woof!

Olmu, who had been waiting at the entrance to greet me, was gentle and angelic today as well.

An angel as small and sensitive as Olmu might find bathing difficult, but she waited so patiently.

I hope to wash away the anxiety and worry piled up while the white tiger was away.

“Jo Yi-shin, there’s no way the divine beast thinks so complicated and clever.”

Crack.

When the white tiger answered my thoughts arbitrarily, a crack appeared at the angel’s feet.

Startled at the marble floor cracking, I picked Olmu up before she got hurt.

The angel seemed surprised too and quietly wagged her tail in my arms.

After carefully checking for injuries, I complained to the mansion’s owner.

“How do you manage this mansion?”

“The marble is specially processed to resist psychic energy, so it shouldn’t break from ordinary impacts. Has the divine beast gained super strength in that form?”

“The flooring must be weak.”

“...Alright, I’ll be more careful. Since it’s dangerous nearby, come inside first.”

I held Olmu and headed safely inside.

Thanks to that, I completely missed the chance and timing to return to my dorm.