The festival ended, and a new week began.

For a while, we had to deal with the aftermath of the festival.

“Daeseok, there’s been a request to install the photo card vending machine permanently!”

“Why are you telling me that?”

“Because you made it, Daeseok.”

Even after the tea house closed for business, there was still a long line in front of the photo card vending machine.

It seemed that people lined °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° up not because they really needed photo cards, but because they had heard rumors and wanted to enjoy the festival atmosphere.

Because of that, fans who came late and heard about it protested, but no matter what, permanent sales were difficult.

“It was only allowed as a festival limited-time offer. I can’t just sell my photo cards recklessly either. I have to talk to the agency.”

“Isn’t it more meaningful to sell these kinds of souvenirs during the festival? Tell them to come to the next festival.”

Dokgo Miro and Han’s words made sense, but fans wouldn’t accept it easily.

In the end, a reasonable agreement was reached: multiple vending machines would be set up at the charity event on Christmas, with separate photos taken for the charity event, and data from the festival sales would also be included.

Only after the announcement did the atmosphere calm down—but there was another problem elsewhere.

“Uishin, complaints keep coming into the student council to sell the Supernova Chocolate!”

Kim Yuri, working as the next student vice president, said this while gazing off into the distance.

If only a few complaints had come, she wouldn’t have even mentioned it, but it seemed there were truly many.

“We heard about that too! Our partner’s popularity seems to be soaring.”

“Aren’t there complaints asking for an Aurora cotton candy reprint? Our magic show went well!”

The exhibitionists’ magic show had received good reviews, but unfortunately, the cotton candy had not.

Overly flashy, many-colored foods are usually avoided like poisonous mushrooms.

I even considered trying to sell something that flashy next time.

Kim Yuri watched my reaction for a moment, then smiled as if waiting for the right moment.

By then, almost all the classmates had arrived at school.

“So, here’s the thing—final exams are coming soon, so we’re planning an event to distribute Supernova Chocolate timed with the exams. How about it?”

“Ugh.”

“Final... exams...”

Kim Yuri brought back to reality the kids who were still soaking in the festival’s afterglow and had completely forgotten about final exams.

Moreover, this final exam covers a much wider range than last year.

As upperclassmen, they had learned a lot more than during their first year, and the academic schedule was adjusted to bring the festival earlier, so the midterm exams’ scope was relatively reduced.

The items not included in the midterm naturally accumulated into the final exam.

“This is bad... I’ve been so busy, I completely forgot...”

Kwon Rena’s gaze grew distant.

Considering everything that happened in the second semester, she was justified in saying that.

She had learned about her relationship with Kwon Je-in, was tormented by the Namgung Group this summer, was taken by the Water Shadow’s knight, awakened as a player with strong and rare abilities, and had been in danger herself.

Recently, she had been busy practicing on the gifted violin given by Mok Wooram, so it would have been strange if she had prepared diligently for the finals in this situation.

“Rena, don’t worry. My gifted violin will surely respond to any practical exam and your performance.”

“Yeah... but the written test... can’t be done with a violin...”

“I’ll teach you everything. Since you’ll be busy, I already finished studying all subjects in advance!”

Mok Wooram had been quiet lately, but it seemed he was helping Kwon Rena study for the finals. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Not all classes overlapped, but that was remarkable devotion.

Of course, if I had the time, I would have done the same for my classmates.

Clack.

Meanwhile, Maeng Hyo-don, a failing candidate in our class, slowly opened his math textbook, checked the exam scope, and tightly closed his eyes.

It felt like watching someone struggling to roll a stone up a hill, only to realize the summit was very far and groan in pain.

‘Still, since he’s been a test-taker before and has tutoring experience, I can cover his math.’

Almost no one in our class hopes to enter college.

At this point, the only person seriously considering college was Song Daeseok.

He was working as a researcher in the satellite management team, planning to get a bachelor’s degree and enter a graduate school related to satellites.

In other words, he was preparing for the college entrance exam.

Of course, Song Daeseok had mastered math concepts like linear algebra, calculus, and geometry needed for satellite design, orbital mechanics, and data analysis, so high school math posed no difficulty for him.

‘He’s not good at teaching and has gone beyond high school math level, so teaching Maeng Hyo-don will be hard. He probably doesn’t even know which parts are difficult or which he doesn’t understand.’

He could probably give advice on problem-solving like before, but explaining simply would be hard.

Honestly, considering Song Daeseok’s communication skills when I first met him, even occasionally helping with problems was a huge improvement.

“I can help with math too. If it’s not a difficult problem, just simple ones.”

“Partner, are you thinking of going to college?”

“I’m considering it as an option.”

In Seon-oh spoke with an expression between knowing and not knowing.

Soon they’d be third years, so discussions about the future were common.

So it seemed like she was preparing for one of the safer choices.

No particular reason, but somehow I didn’t think In Seon-oh would aim for college.

‘Anyway, it’ll get hectic soon, so it’d be good if someone else helps Maeng Hyo-don besides me.’

Han didn’t seem to have studied math separately, and leaving Maeng Hyo-don to White Tiger or Hwang Ji-ho might crack a stone.

While everyone was somewhat worried about finals, there was someone who had already finished all preparation.

“I’ve studied ahead. I think it’ll get busy toward the end of the year.”

“Did you finish studying Chinese characters too?”

“I’m confident I’ll score at least 40 points.”

Can this be called prepared?

Does he really think passing with 40 points is enough?

If Jin Jeongmuk had such a thought, I glanced firmly at the root cause behind it.

Hwang Ji-ho was leisurely watching the classmates as if finals had nothing to do with him.

‘...Well, the tigers have more important things to focus on than finals. Jin Jeongmuk must have prepared ahead with that in mind.’

I almost felt a little resentful, but thinking about what was to come, I could see it in a positive light.

On the festival day, I recalled the report I’d heard from Jeokho.

That day, after the afterparty, I stayed late at school and talked with the tigers.

―Gye Myeongrim showed interest in many things. She asked Sawol Seyum a lot about the Jeolheukpoongrim martial artists.

―Did you see it yourself or hear it from Cheongho’s disciple?

―Both.

Jeokho was assigned to watch Gye Myeongrim, the leader of the Gye clan, but he wasn’t always stuck to her because he often went to watch Kim Sinrok acting as a butler with Ungnyeo.

Even without Jeokho’s level of stealth in Eun Gwang High, there was enough room for the tiger clans to hide and act disguised, so Cheongho’s disciples disguised as school staff monitored them.

It seemed the Gye clan showed quite a bit of interest in Jeolheukpoongrim as well.

‘Honestly, just by appearance, it’s no wonder they would be interested.’

By chance, Sawol Seyum’s class included a member of Jeolheukpoongrim, so it was a fitting topic.

Jeokho then told one by one what he observed.

Sawol Seyum was well-informed about school news and had a wide range of interests, so she fulfilled her role as festival guide thoroughly.

From what I heard, she seemed to have properly enjoyed booths I couldn’t check.

―From the movements, they looked like ordinary festival guests. No suspicious signs?

―Not that I saw. So if you find anything suspicious after hearing my report, it’s better to point it out separately.

Jeokho seemed to think the Gye clan was not very suspicious.

―At the Stalemate, when Jo Yi-shin gave a presentation, the Gye clan was there too. They came late and sat far away, but Sawol Seyum was so enthusiastic about talking about Jo Yi-shin that they showed interest.

―That’s inevitable. Sawol Seyum reveres Jo Yi-shin so much that she can even activate the precious Gwangrim with his words.

Hwang Ji-ho said that with exaggerated emphasis, as if for my ears.

It wasn’t wrong, but saying it like that was very much like Hwang Ji-ho.

―Sawol Seyum even escorted Gye Myeongrim outside Eun Gwang High. That’s when this reacted.

Jeokho said that while handing me a pair of cufflinks I’d lent him.

They were received from Seodol and contained power to detect the ‘Third Eye’ used by demons.

As expected, the demons were watching this festival from outside.

And the Gye clan was among their observation targets.

―My Jeongin says this button smells like a rat and hates it. Soon she’ll make a smell-free version.

Ungnyeo also hated Seodol.

It was strange that someone liked him.

Then Jeokho smiled faintly while boasting about Ungnyeo.

The tigers who usually showed signs of boredom when Jeokho bragged about Ungnyeo welcomed that remark warmly.

―Good. I’m tired of the rat smell too.

―Can it be replicated? It looked quite complicated.

―No problem. My wife even replicated the Crow Demon King’s pure silver coin. So a crude button made by rats is no problem. We plan to modify it with Eunho’s cooperation to make it easier to carry and see.

With Ungnyeo joining and cooperation with Eunho possible, the range of moves we could make greatly increased.

If we had to persuade Seodol to mass-produce these cufflinks, it would have been a very troublesome process, but with those two, the problem was immediately solved.

But the eye problem wasn’t fully resolved yet.

‘Detecting isn’t enough. More is needed.’

Seodol appeared at the festival this time, but didn’t stay long.

If he didn’t finish his research before the demon world scenario started, it would be the end, so the deadline was announced in advance.

‘When the finals end, the research must be finished so my capital can be decided.’

I’d checked the Gye clan’s movements and the state of Hongcheon, so now only two things remained.

One was Seodol’s research.

The other was the Siderlentium, the guide to the demon world of the Zuul.

The demon world guide was already obtained through a deal, but what form it took and how well it could guide the way was unknown.

Before going to the demon world, I had to meet the guide at least once to check.

But before that, a big event awaited.

‘Looks like I’ll sit alone today.’

December, before the finals for first and second years.

The first meeting led by the next representatives, the fourth-quarter student representative meeting, would be held.

And Kim Yuri, the next student vice president, would sit in the student council seat, so I was to attend the meeting alone.

For the first time, I headed alone to the meeting room.