EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school-Chapter 1056: Tiger Trap (10)

There was a long staircase leading down to the ground beyond the stone door.

Although the interior was dark, it was strange that Huang Ho couldn’t see the end with his eyes, just because it was pitch black.

The underground continued to a physically deep place, and it was certain that a strict barrier had been set up when considering it from a supernatural perspective.

‘Being unable to see clearly in this situation is problematic. I’ll have to use my inner eye.’

Pah!

When the inner eye activated, Huang Ho’s vision widened and brightened.

As golden light flickered in Huang Ho’s eyes, the two knights flinched and became wary, but they didn’t stop him.

The knights had just been caught in a fraud, using Qing Ho’s fake body, so they weren’t in a position to stop Huang Ho just because he used a bit of ability.

All they could do was guide him.

Thud, thud.

The sound of footsteps on the stairs echoed heavily, and every time the knight of the yellow rose walking ahead gestured, the lights in the stone cave turned on.

Although there was lighting, the space still felt dark to Huang Ho.

The ground above, with the faint moonlight, seemed brighter in comparison.

Kkiiing...

By the time they had descended to about the first underground floor, the stone door leading back to the surface closed.

Since there were no traces of the knights manipulating it, it seemed to have closed automatically rather than intentionally.

The exit leading back to the surface had closed.

Perhaps it was just a feeling, but the air felt suddenly heavier.

‘Is it really just my imagination?’

Huang Ho heightened his senses and surveyed his surroundings.

There was barely any earth energy, and he couldn’t feel the blessing of the Heavenly Gods either.

Huang Ho knew that the three knights’ oath could drain and manipulate the earth energy to such an extent.

So, it wasn’t strange that there was no earth energy left where they had stayed, but still, it felt uneasy.

‘The deeper I go, the more out of place it feels. It seems it’s not just the depletion of earth energy and veins...’

The more he moved away from the surface, the clearer the source of this unease became.

Normally, the further down one went, the stronger the earth energy and veins would become. Huang Ho’s mansion had a special facility in the basement that utilized earth energy.

This was true for any land, but this place was different.

Even while Huang Ho was pondering, they continued moving.

“When I came here before, the structure has changed. Did you adjust it?”

“This underground facility changes its structure depending on the power applied. Didn’t the knight of the water shadow explain it?”

“...I didn’t hear such a thing.”

“It seems you didn’t think it was necessary to explain. You don’t like visiting my rose garden.”

The yellow rose knight and the earth-shaking knight were conversing.

Being accustomed to handling multiple avatars, Huang Ho was skilled in thinking in parallel.

Thus, even while contemplating the land here, he was simultaneously processing the conversation between the two knights and the meaning behind it.

Huang Ho decided to ask something to gain ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) more insight.

“By the way, there’s something that’s been bothering me. You dare to handle earth energy, and I heard the one behind it is the knight of the water shadow.”

“......”

The knights simultaneously stopped talking.

It was highly confidential information, but given their actions, it wasn’t strange that Huang Ho knew about it.

They waited, tense, for Huang Ho’s next words.

“However, logically, isn’t earth energy more closely related to the earth-shaking knight than the water shadow knight?”

“I can handle the power of the earth. But that’s all.”

“That’s all?”

“If I were to use an analogy, it’s like having the power to manipulate electricity but not being skilled in using electronic devices.”

The earth-shaking knight’s response was flawless, and his attitude was as natural as flowing water.

In fact, that only fueled Huang Ho’s suspicion.

‘It’s almost as if he prepared this answer in advance. Did he anticipate that I would ask this question someday?’

If it had been thoroughly prepared, it would have been difficult to catch him off guard before his thoughts were fully formed.

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

At times like this, to get the response he wanted from the opponent, it would be best to quickly come up with a strategy like Jo Yi-shin or use Kim Shin-rok’s torture techniques. However, neither of those options was available now.

Huang Ho, trying to hide his thoughts, asked a trivial question, listening to the response as he continued forward.

After a long descent, they reached a dead-end.

The door at the lowest floor was made of much sturdier material than the stone door that led to the surface.

‘Is it a special metal? The power of the Grand Cross set seems to be embedded in it. It’s firmly sealed.’

Beyond this door lies Qing Ho’s body.

Though he had long awaited the reunion with his dear friend, a part of Huang Ho’s heart was stained with unease and impatience.

He still hadn’t figured out the mysterious power that had infiltrated this land or the true meaning behind the tricks used by the knight of the water shadow on the other knights.

In this situation, Huang Ho stood alone in a place where the blessing of the Heavenly Gods did not reach.

Huang Ho mentally prepared himself.

‘No matter what happens, I will return with my friend.’

Even if the one who schemed would use some trick to prevent Qing Ho’s body from being released, Huang Ho was ready to confront it head-on.

The unease Huang Ho felt now was a variable that even Jo Yi-shin couldn’t have predicted.

If Huang Ho failed here or failed to retrieve Qing Ho’s body, he knew well how much he would blame himself.

For the sake of his benefactor, Huang Ho wanted to overcome this crisis with his own power.

As Huang Ho silently waited for the door to open, the yellow rose knight spoke.

“You said you would continue the transaction. Before entering, let’s confirm the price.”

“Do you doubt me?”

“It’s just a simple verification process. If I had doubted you, I wouldn’t have brought you this far.”

The yellow rose knight bit his lip, thinking, "I just want to rid myself of this disgusting disease as soon as possible!"

Huang Ho could have dismissed the process and just ordered them to open the door, but he decided to show what the knight wanted to see.

Huang Ho took out a bottle wrapped in a golden barrier from his jacket pocket.

Inside the bottle, Huang Ho could see a gray liquid.

“Aah...!”

The yellow rose knight stared at the bottle with bloodshot eyes.

What Huang Ho had prepared in exchange for Qing Ho’s body was the serum personally refined by Seodol.

To receive that from Seodol, Huang Ho had gone through a troublesome and tedious process.

Huang Ho felt irritated as Seodol’s ominous respectful tone echoed in his ears.

He didn’t try to hide his annoyance as he spoke.

“If I don’t personally undo the barrier, the bottle will break. Remember that.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The yellow rose knight, his voice bubbling with excitement, reached out towards the door and unleashed his ability.

The door, made of special metal, was covered in yellow roses.

To be precise, it wasn’t roses, but crystals of supernatural energy shaped like roses.

The door, now recognizing the yellow rose knight’s presence, slowly opened with a heavy sound.

Kugugugu...!

The hall visible beyond the door was lavishly decorated, as if preparing for a knight's swearing-in ceremony.

A long path covered with a carpet, and flags with the team marks of the three knights’ oaths were displayed along the walls.

In the distance, there was a platform with a round table and three chairs, each one shaped with the symbol of the Grand Cross.

While there were many things in the wide hall that could catch one’s eye, only one thing held Huang Ho’s attention.

On the opposite side of the round table, there was a tank inscribed with intricate spell formations.

The bottom of the tank was covered in dirt, and inside it was a sinisterly glowing liquid filled by the knight of the water shadow himself, along with a coffin.

‘Qing Ho is inside that.’

The golden light in Huang Ho’s eyes flared brighter.

As his emotions reacted, the supernatural energy inside him shone brightly, and his senses became more acute.

At that moment, Huang Ho realized.

‘There is another power, not earth energy, present on this land.’

It wasn’t until Huang Ho stood at the center of this power that he truly understood.

The three knights’ oaths didn’t just drain the earth energy and destroy the veins—they replaced it with something else, and because of that power, the blessing of the Heavenly Gods didn’t reach this land.

And that mysterious power stirred as it sensed Huang Ho’s presence.

Pahhh!

Huang Ho released all the power within him.

“What the hell is going on...!”

“You don’t know what this power is, do you?”

Huang Ho recalled the conversation he had with Seodol when he received the serum.

Seodol, having spread the plague in the three knights’ oaths, seemed to have grown tired of playing with them, as he knew little about their condition.

When Huang Ho mentioned the progression of the plague, Seodol said this:

—Huang Ho, do you know that plague is called a punishment from the gods?

—Are you implying that you’re a god? How arrogant. If Maitreya heard that, he would lock you in a storage chest.

—Haha, Huang Ho, you’ve become a joker! I started the plague, but it wasn’t me who issued the punishment.

Seodol laughed brightly.

—The plague in the three knights’ oaths spread far more quickly and deeply than I expected. They did something to provoke a higher being, which is why the disease became so severe. I don’t care whether they live or die, but I wonder what kind of crime they committed.

Huang Ho thought their crime was dealing with earth energy, and Jo Yi-shin or Eun Ho would likely agree.

However, their crime seemed to run even deeper.

Kwaaaa!

The sinister power surrounding the hall surged, and spears rained down from the ceiling.

Huang Ho tried to block the rain with his golden barrier, but the barrier was easily pierced, as if it were tofu.

There weren’t many powers that could break Huang Ho’s barrier so easily.

Those spears had to be weapons with legendary tales of hunting tigers.

Huang Ho withdrew his barrier and quickly dodged the spears.

Pahbahk!

The spot where Huang Ho had been standing was instantly covered in spears.

Each weapon carried enough weight that just being near them made his hands tingle.

Huang Ho moved quickly away from the weapons, but other traps awaited him.

Ssss...

From behind a brightly colored curtain that surrounded the hall, someone emerged.

There were more than ten of them.

Huang Ho hadn’t felt any presence, but soon the reason became clear.

They were all wearing the same type of jewelry, and it was filled with the sinister energy Huang Ho had sensed.

That energy was deceiving Huang Ho’s senses.

“Do you know where you are? The bodies buried in the rose garden will increase.”

“How did you infiltrate... Could it be...?”

The two Grand Cross knights of the three knights’ oaths were preparing for battle, unsure of what was happening.

Huang Ho was considering that everything could be an act, but at least the yellow rose knight wouldn’t have caused this trouble without obtaining the serum.

The figures that appeared from behind the curtain spoke as they looked at Huang Ho and the two Grand Cross knights.

“It has gone as the master intended.”

The person who spoke wore a robe that covered their face and figure, and their voice sounded like the wind, making it impossible to guess their age or gender.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

Huang Ho couldn’t discern their identity, nor could he understand the nature of the surrounding power.

Huang Ho stood in the middle of the trap, as the dark forces had intended.