EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school-Chapter 1047: Tiger Trap (1)

Kozuka Yashiro immediately entered a defensive stance.

From between his lush hair, fox ears poked out, and the power of his enhanced senses spread, as his eyes flickered with psychic energy.

Someone was hunting Jo Yi-shin.

‘I can’t feel the aura of Jinmyeong. But there’s a tiger-like scent, and the hunting style follows the Hojo clan's methods. Plus, this hunter is quite skilled. He’s not a direct member of the Hojo or their descendants, but he's likely someone working under them.’

Kozuka Yashiro quickly analyzed the situation, his mind working fast.

He had called Jo Yi-shin under the assumption that he would join the national team today, but the Hojo clan’s persistence exceeded Kozuka Yashiro’s expectations.

Had this happened during their first encounter, Kozuka Yashiro would have abandoned Jo Yi-shin without hesitation.

However, seeing the late-night chase now, a different thought crossed his mind.

‘Even though they didn’t send the Hojo directly, they’ve sent a capable hunter to obsessively track Jo Yi-shin to the edge of Eungwang District. And Jo Yi-shin must have the ability to shake off such a chase and still make it here.’

Jo Yi-shin had chosen to protect Kozuka Yashiro instead of surrendering to the Hojo.

If Jo Yi-shin had acted recklessly and drawn the Hojo's wrath, Kozuka Yashiro could have manipulated the situation, using the handlers to calm things down, but that was not the case.

Value, skill, loyalty, principles.

After considering all of Jo Yi-shin’s qualities, the scales of Kozuka Yashiro’s mind quickly tilted.

‘It seems more useful to take him with me and risk the danger than abandon him.’

With a rustle, Kozuka Yashiro’s coat flared, and the surrounding darkness grew even deeper.

The already faint lights flickered and dimmed, and Jo Yi-shin’s running figure became harder to see.

The fox's illusion hid Jo Yi-shin from the hunter.

And a smoky illusion of Jo Yi-shin quickly dispersed in all directions.

From afar, it seemed as though Jo Yi-shin had split into multiple figures, and the hunter became flustered, moving in a frenzy to track all the illusions, soon causing his presence to fade.

Jo Yi-shin, still standing at the core of the illusion, seemed startled, perhaps realizing that Kozuka Yashiro had helped him, and with a guilty expression, he spoke.

“It’s dangerous. I don’t know when they’ll return. Run away.”

“A hunter like that? We can shake him off.”

“But if they know you helped me...”

Jo Yi-shin said with a troubled expression.

Acting like this after owing just this much was already quite significant. If Kozuka Yashiro showed more favor, it would become even easier to manipulate Jo Yi-shin’s vulnerabilities.

The scent Kozuka Yashiro used didn’t leave much of a trace, but it was difficult to use unless the target’s heart was already cracked. So, it was best to capture their weaknesses.

Kozuka Yashiro gently added, trying to provoke Jo Yi-shin's guilt.

“It’s alright. Jo Yi-shin took the initiative. No matter how dangerous it gets, we should respond.”

Despite the warm expression, Kozuka Yashiro spoke inwardly, already planning how to use Jo Yi-shin.

“We just passed the boundary of Eungwang District, so the hunter working under the Hojo will likely weaken a bit now. Then we can....”

“Wait, doesn’t this feel odd?”

The manipulator, who had remained silent until now, suddenly interrupted.

The manipulator didn’t trust Jo Yi-shin yet.

With a sharp, fractured voice, the manipulator spoke.

“It’s strange that a high school student managed to escape from a hunter sent by the Hojo.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate students. Even a hunter at that level could be shaken off by our lady, and Hirano-kun could handle him too.”

Kozuka Yashiro dismissed the manipulator’s words, speaking lightly.

Jo Yi-shin, caught between them, wore a difficult expression.

Jo Yi-shin was too thin, and his psychic powers weren’t in good condition. He couldn’t counter the manipulator properly and hesitated.

Especially when the manipulator spoke with a metallic voice, Jo Yi-shin would stiffen, looking as though it reminded him of something he deeply disliked.

Perhaps, on an instinctive level, Jo Yi-shin feared the one who had ruined his reputation.

‘The manipulator had been muttering about how difficult it was to spread rumors about Jo Yi-shin. It’s not easy to manipulate the public opinion of someone with a lot of fans, what a drama queen.’

Kozuka Yashiro, who hadn’t worked as dirty and meticulously on rumors as the manipulator, had dealt with people who had tried to damage the reputation of Renjoin Karen several times and quietly scoffed.

However, the manipulator did have a legitimate reason ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ to suspect Jo Yi-shin.

“A hunter like that is attached, and he successfully shook him off—does it make sense that you didn’t know about it? And why was it that you insisted on meeting in Eungwang District when you could have known? Something is off. Let’s just leave him and see if the hunter catches him or not.”

Though Kozuka Yashiro didn’t agree with the idea of abandoning Jo Yi-shin right now, the manipulator’s reasoning wasn’t entirely wrong.

However, following the manipulator’s suggestion was foolish.

If Jo Yi-shin turned out to be innocent, Kozuka Yashiro would lose a very useful card.

Pretending to mediate, Kozuka Yashiro decided to probe the manipulator’s suspicions carefully.

Kozuka Yashiro, noticing Jo Yi-shin’s tense expression, said.

“I trust Jo Yi-shin, but it seems you’re having a hard time trusting him. Did you really not know a hunter was following you? If you knew, why insist on meeting in Eungwang District?”

Jo Yi-shin hesitated before finally speaking.

“...I knew.”

“There! See? Let’s just leave him and let the hunter take care of him.”

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“But I thought it was safer to meet in Eungwang District! There are teachers... and friends who can help...”

Jo Yi-shin struggled to speak.

Bringing up teachers and friends seemed to be particularly difficult for him.

Kozuka Yashiro, knowing that Jo Yi-shin had no family and few places to turn to, couldn’t help but laugh inwardly at the fact that the only people Jo Yi-shin could rely on were teachers and high school friends.

Kozuka Yashiro mocked Jo Yi-shin for his misfortune while planning to exploit it.

‘He’s so naive. No matter how good the teachers are at Eungwang High, it’s run by the Hwangmyung Foundation. Do you think they’ll prioritize students’ safety over their own interests?’

Most teachers at Eungwang High would choose students’ safety if they had to pick between that and their own position, but Kozuka Yashiro couldn’t agree with that.

Thinking over Jo Yi-shin’s words, Kozuka Yashiro suddenly noticed something.

It wasn’t strange for teachers to be that way, but it was odd that Jo Yi-shin brought up his friends.

“Teachers and friends won’t be able to help you. No matter what Jo Yi-shin goes through, who would dare to fight the Hojo? Especially a high school friend, right?”

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

“Just how amazing is this friend? Do you even have such a friend?”

Kozuka Yashiro and the manipulator exchanged suspicious glances, and Jo Yi-shin seemed flustered.

Kozuka Yashiro scrutinized Jo Yi-shin carefully.

He didn’t seem to be caught in a lie, but it looked like he was hesitating about how much to reveal about that friend.

The manipulator, in the meantime, began to bombard Jo Yi-shin with harsh words, almost as if posting slander in real time.

Jo Yi-shin’s expression grew darker.

As Kozuka Yashiro’s words dwindled, it became more difficult for Jo Yi-shin to stand his ground.

After hesitating, Jo Yi-shin spoke in a faint voice.

“Dokgo Miro decided to help me. He found out about my situation through this exchange event, and he can’t stand injustice... He and I both have good abilities, and he... he has quite a few fans...”

Jo Yi-shin spoke in a voice full of shame.

There was a clear embarrassment in his tone.

Though Jo Yi-shin maintained his usual natural attitude, there was sincerity in his embarrassment, causing the last doubts to melt away.

When Dokgo Miro’s name was mentioned, the manipulator fell silent, and Kozuka Yashiro had a brilliant idea.

‘Dokgo Miro has become more famous recently. Jo Yi-shin has quite a few fans. If Jo Yi-shin and Dokgo Miro denounce Ahn Da-in and the Hojo behind him, and if the lady helps them, it’ll make for a fantastic public image.’

By dealing with Ahn Da-in, while promoting Renjoin Karen, and leaving a debt with Dokgo Miro and Jo Yi-shin, Kozuka Yashiro could manipulate their vulnerabilities without directly owing them anything.

Dokgo Miro was a good player, but his goal was to become an idol, so he wouldn’t be a threat to Renjoin Karen.

In fact, what if Dokgo Miro succeeded as an idol in Korea, and Renjoin Karen became his benefactor and friend?

Dokgo Miro’s fans would naturally take a liking to Renjoin Karen, and the lady’s current fans would feel even prouder.

‘If I can even use Dokgo Miro, I absolutely have to take Jo Yi-shin with me.’

Though there was still an option to abandon Jo Yi-shin and retreat, Kozuka Yashiro’s inclination was shifting toward taking him.

Before the third round started, they could gather reporters, hold a press conference with Jo Yi-shin and Dokgo Miro, and have Renjoin Karen rescue them and denounce the Hojo. That would create a great public image.

No matter how much the Hojo ignored public opinion, they couldn’t suddenly eliminate Jo Yi-shin or the Japanese players.

At that moment, Jo Yi-shin spoke urgently.

“The hunter will be here soon. Please go ahead.”

Jo Yi-shin showed a hologram.

The hologram displayed a message from Dokgo Miro.

[Dokgo Miro] The number of hunters has increased.

“I received a message from Dokgo Miro. They’ve called for reinforcements because they couldn’t catch me.”

Kozuka Yashiro looked toward the manipulator.

The manipulator nodded after checking something on his device.

The device code displayed in the sender’s name was clearly from Dokgo Miro.

Indeed, Dokgo Miro was helping Jo Yi-shin with the Hojo matter.

Kozuka Yashiro grabbed Jo Yi-shin, who was trying to leave, as if to serve as bait.

“Jo Yi-shin, come with me.”

“But the hotel where the Japanese team is staying has already been revealed...”

“I didn’t come here unprepared. I can’t do delicate work just at the hotel.”

Kozuka Yashiro looked at the manipulator.

The manipulator immediately understood Kozuka Yashiro’s intentions.

Kozuka Yashiro planned to hide Jo Yi-shin at the manipulator’s hideout.

“Tomorrow will be busy. We need to lay the groundwork for public opinion. It’s better to go and work on it now.”

“...Damn, I can’t help it.”

The manipulator grumbled but agreed, and Kozuka Yashiro smiled in satisfaction.

Kozuka Yashiro felt like everything was going according to plan, but he had overlooked many things.

Jo Yi-shin hadn’t directly said he was at odds with anyone, nor had he stated that he would ally with the fox or the manipulator.

Even if the conversation they had was fully revealed, everything Jo Yi-shin had said was safe.

And Jo Yi-shin was continuously giving instructions through the tiger, who was reading his thoughts in real-time.