<h4>Chapter 659: A World Without Stars</h4>


    Hwangmyeong mansion, in the living room of the main house.


    A huge tree was decorated, its peak reaching the high ceiling of the mansion.


    Perhaps because the tree was too big, there were still patches of the tree that remained undecorated.


    The empty parts were being filled in by Eun Iho, Eun Seoho, and Eun Jaeho, who sat on thedder.


    The Tiger n asked the descendants to wait inside the mansion because something big would happen outside, but they decided to leave them a tree to decorate in case they got bored.


    The children felt sorry for not being able to participate in Eunwgang High’s Christmas event, but they quickly became absorbed in decorating the tree.


    “Wouldn’t it be better to put a little light around here once more?”


    “I want to put more decorative bells though…”


    Eun Jaeho was holding a box full of various colored items.


    Eun Iho saw it and spoke brightly.


    “Then let’s put the symbolic colors of the tiger-nims who are out today. That’s okay right, Hwangho-nim?”


    Eun Iho asked Hwangho’s alter ego who was sitting on the sofa in the living room, but no answer came back.


    Hwangho’s alter ego was in the form of Hwang Myeongho in his 60’s.


    It was unlikely that the Hwangmyeong Mansion would be targeted, but Hwangho deployed one of his alter egos just in case.


    Hwangho’s main body was dealing with Uma, so his alter ego’s reactions were slow.


    After a few beats, Hwang Myeongho looked at Eun Iho and nodded.


    When the children saw it, they lowered their voices and whispered to each other.


    “Hwangho-nim’s old self is responding very slowly.”


    “He’s been sitting still since morning. Maybe he’s having a difficult time outside.”


    “Euishin hyung must be busy too, right? I wanted to put thest star with Euishin hyung.”


    Eunho’s descendants were disappointed to see the top of the tree missing itsst piece — the star.


    Tree toppers are usually yellow or red, but what they prepared was ck.


    The ck star had gold, red, blue, white, and silver pearls.


    The material was luxurious in its borate form, and the colors of the tigers were evenly distributed, making it to the liking of the descendants.


    “The topper made to order came out so pretty though. What a shame.”


    “I wonder where they ordered it from.”


    “Hwangho-nim didn’t say.”


    “Really? Let’s order again next time.”


    The creator of the ck star was Eunho.


    When Hwangho said that the Christmas tree would be decorated with a ck star, Eunho immediately started work despite his busy schedule.


    His descendants were not aware that it was his craft, but the children were very satisfied with the product.


    The children, who were talking while looking at the topper in the box, suddenly looked at the clock and changed the topic of conversation.


    “It’s past lunchtime. Let’s cook!”


    “Yeah, Hwangho-nim looks busy so we should prep it.”


    “Should we ask Sanryeong for help too? Oh?”


    The children looked around, but they didn’t see Sanryeong anywhere.


    The tree was big so they thought he was hiding in between, but they really couldn’t find him.


    “Where’s Sanryeong?”


    “He was helping us decorate the tree earlier…”


    “Is he hiding as a joke?”


    “Sanryeong-ah, where are you?”


    Eunho’s descendants called for Sanryeong, but there was no answer.


    They were flustered because Baekho or Shinsoo weren’t there to catch him.


    Since then, they searched the entire main house for Sanryeong, but to no avail.


    Eunho’s descendants eventually returned to the front of the tree without getting what they were searching for.


    And the tree in the middle of the living room still had no star.


    * * *


    About three hours after Eungwang High’s boundary malfunctioned.


    The attack on the otherworlds that spawned at each entrance of the school was almostpleted.


    When the gaps of the otherworlds seemed to disappear, those holding the defensive lines cheered.


    All the members of the attack team were yers elite enough to handle energy poison, but they couldn’t help but worry.


    Everyone was relieved to think that the otherworlds, which are believed to be the source of the energy poison, would finally disappear and that the members of the attack team would return.


    There was more good news.


    A yer who was contacting outside using a carrier pigeon item shouted loudly.


    “Satelite information reception is back!”


    “Wait, I’ll check my device too. Hey,munication signal’s back to normal!”


    Finally, proper satellite information reception andmunication are possible again.


    As the unknownmunication failure was resolved, messages began to pour on the devices worn by the yers.


    The top of the flood of messages was a warning message from the yer satellite.


    The backlog of warning messages was quickly updated with thetest information.


    Thetest one was the message announcing thepletion of the otherworld attack.


    — The otherworld in the area has been cleared.


    The attack team returned from the gap of the disappearing otherworld along with the message.


    There were quite a few injured people, perhaps because they had to attack the otherworld while dealing with energy poison and the side effects of the antidote.


    Recovery items had to be used to treat gut damage, so the number of injuries has increased more than expected as blunt trauma was left untreated.


    Still, everyone returned alive.


    Additional messages came in when the attack team returned.


    — yer SAT-K has sessfully essed recording devices in the area.


    — yer SAT-K will analyze the process.


    — Top contributor: Iron Arm


    — Top contributor: Red King


    — Top contributor: Cheongryong


    Everyone nodded in agreement when they saw the team masters’ aliases and the name of the Dragon n’s head as the top contributor.


    The next team was the Lake of Eternity, so everyone expected to see the Blue Violinist’s name.


    However…


    — Top contributor: Dark Blue Curtain


    Dark Blue Curtain — Jared Lee’s alias.


    Many people were surprised that the top contributor wasn’t Kwon Jein, but Jared Lee was also an excellent yer so they were easily convinced.


    Energy poison disappeared when all the otherworlds around Eungwang High were dealt with.


    The boundary was yet to be normalized, but the disposition is looking to be very positive.


    Now that themunication signal is back, more support will be avable if otherworlds ur in other areas.


    yers in charge of the defense line spoke to the returning attack team in a bright voice.


    “Wee back. We will be transporting the injured!”


    “Good work. We’ll take it from here.”


    However, there were no yers from the attack team who wanted to leave.


    Even the injured tried to hold their spot, saying that their damage was only minor.


    Attackers remained here, saying simr things as they looked at the still isted Eungwang High.


    “I’m not leaving until we confirm the safety of the students.”


    “But we don’t know when the boundary will be normalized…”


    “…”


    The returning yers couldn’t be sure, but they thought the problem would soon be solved.


    They believed.


    The n of the benefactor who gathered them here, Jo Euishin, will work.


    * * *


    Near the west gate, at the bamboo forest.


    Kim Yuri was anxiously waiting for everything to end.


    As if to appease Kim Yuri’s long wait, a notification sound went off on her device.


    There were no messages from the kids inside and outside the school just yet.


    However, themunication between those outside the school and the satellite was smooth again.


    “Wait, let me contact some people for a second!”


    Kim Yuri first reassured her parents that she was okay.


    The friendly Kim Yuri had a lot of people worrying about her.


    Her inbox was full of messages from rtives, previous ssmates, and friends she got from outside activities.


    While Kim Yuri tried to reply to everyone, the group message room ‘ ? ss 1-0 ^▽^ ?’ caught her attention.


    There aren’t many members in that group, but they must’ve been worried too.


    ‘Neon and Seulbi heard the news too. There was amunication failure in Korea so the news must’ve reached abroad quickly.’


    The yer General Headquarters confirmed that the Korean yer Satelite was malfunctioning.


    The general HQ selected yers to be dispatched to Korea, making headlines in international news.


    The two saw it and decided to go to Korea.


    Ong Gildong and Goo Seulbi’sst message was them saying that they boarded a ne heading to Korea.


    Although the two wouldn’t arrive in time, they would hopefully spend Christmas together.


    Kim Yuri read the following message, thinking that she must invite the two if they can organize a Christmas party.


    The next message was from Dokgo Miro, who was in the charity event at Eungwang Light Nursery.


    [Miro ★○▽○ ?] Professor Gong Cheonghwon suddenly left so I looked into it.


    [Miro ★○▽○ ?] Something must’ve happened at school.


    [Miro ★○▽○ ?] I’ming too.


    The short message from Dokgo Miro somehow contained great power.


    Without realizing it, Kim Yuri had a mental image of Dokgo Miro wielding the Morning Star with one hand and bursting into Eungwang High.


    But Dokgo Miro’s attempt seemed to fail.


    The reason was Hani’s message.


    [Hani ●▽ < ?] The volunteers blocked me. I can’t go.


    Kim Yuri felt relieved when she saw the message.


    There are yer teams and Dragon n around the gates of the school, so those two will be prevented from doing anything reckless if ever they dide.


    Kim Yuri was relieved that Dokgo Miro and Hani would be staying safe in the nursery.


    “Okay, let’s go! Ah, no I’ve changed my mind.”


    When Kim Yuri finished writing messages, she saw the head of the Dog n get up from her seat with a hood over her head.


    The head of the Dog n seemed eager.


    I didn’t have a chance to warm up because of that couple. Well, I’m not here to fight though. Anyway, the time has finallye for me to show my strength.”


    Wasn’t the head of the Dog n called to fight in the bamboo forest?


    Kim Yuri’s prediction seemed to be inurate.


    ording to the head of the Dog n, those who dealt with the attackers of the bamboo forest were Jukho and the tiger couple so she had no chance to step up.


    “Uhm, may I ask where you’re going?”


    “I’m gonna fix the boundary.”


    “…!”


    Kim Yuri looked bright at her words.


    ‘I can finally see the kids in the school!’


    Kim Yuri was excited, but she wasn’t sure whether she shoulde with or not.


    So she asked Jukho first.


    “May Ie too? I’m worried about my ssmates and friends. I have a gift to give to Euishin too.”


    Kim Yuri said so as she held the gift from the tiger couple in her hand.


    Proud of his student’s big heart and worried about the unidentified item in her hand, Jukho quickly gave Kim Yuri permission.


    “Of course. But I will being with you.”


    “Yes, thank you!”


    Other than Kim Yuri and Jukho, the head of the Dog n had anotherpanion.


    It was the Dog n’s Shinsoo who looked like a tiger.


    Grrr….


    “Yes, yes, the Tiger n’s shinsoo will be there. Don’t worry, I’ll let you meet soon. Help me if you want to see him sooner.”


    Whimper…


    The dog-tiger calmed down when the head of the Dog n soothed him.


    And just like that, two royal lineages, a human, and a shinsoo headed to the boundary between the bamboo forest and Mt. Cheonik.


    When they arrived, they saw the boundary’s poor condition.


    It had a murky glow, and even if they were qualified to enter, they couldn’t pass.


    “It’s been a while since the otherworlds were cleared. The energy poison must’ve subsided, right?”


    “I think so.”


    “Good.”


    After hearing Jukho’s answer, the head of the Dog n put her hand on the opaque boundary.


    Then, a lethargic energy wave rose around her.


    Fwaaaa…


    Kim Yuri was standing behind and couldn’t see clearly, but she saw the head of the Dog n’s silhouette change under her long clothes.


    In ordance with the contract of the 12-point alliance, she had to be in her true form to be able to manipte the boundary.


    When a dog’s ears and tail were fully sprouted, the head of the Dog n shouted.


    “I’m restarting the boundary!”


    Kwong!


    Following her, the Dog n’s shinsoo responded.


    The animal released its tiger appearance and turned into a dog.


    Kim Yuri was stunned, and soon a light came out of Eungwang High’s boundary.


    It was an arrangement that the head of the Dog n put up in advance to quickly restart the school’s boundary.


    Shwooo…


    The connection disappeared through light and reappeared.


    awread.


    The boundary was restarted, and someone Kim Yuri was familiar with started to be visible.


    Beyond the opaque boundary was someone she was d to see.


    A child from ss Zero, Hwangho in the form of Hwang Jiho.


    However, his face was shaded and his expression was unrecognizable. <strong></strong>