Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Broadcast and the Manager
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Hyeon A-rin was dead.
There was no need to stick around and confirm it.
'This is why poison is so terrifying.'
If it had just been a simple stab from a knife, she might have begged for her life while sobbing.
'But with poison, there's nothing you can do.'
The poison I used spread silently from the inside, paralyzing her entire body and silencing even her screams.
So Hyeon A-rin must have stared blankly at the feet of people passing by indifferently before meeting her empty end.
On top of that, it was poison bought in Utopia for hunting.
No purchase traces had surfaced yet, making it impossible to pinpoint the culprit.
I slipped out through the emergency exit and left the Taesan building.
"What's going on in the world? A fire in the Taesan building?"
"Right? Could it be the Serial Arsonist?"
"Then is he around here?"
"Ugh! It's scary. The world's changing, and all these crazies are popping up."
I followed the gazes of the onlookers gawking at the flames still rising from the fifth-floor windows.
The result of Hwayeom 2's noble sacrifice.
This left one skeleton slot empty.
'It's a shame to lose Hyeon A-rin's trait... but it was a mixed bag anyway.'
I quietly slipped away from the scene.
'Still no news on Jeong Sia, though.'
On the way, I checked my phone, but there were still no articles about her.
And for some reason, it seemed like something urgent had come up.
'Did she suddenly lose interest in me?'
There had been no contact at all.
Now that she had acquired a legendary trait, had she changed her mind?
I needed to check.
I immediately called Jeong Sia.
The signal rang, but she didn't pick up.
'Did I misjudge her?'
Just as doubts about Jeong Sia's judgment began to creep in,
"Han!"
Jeong Sia's bright voice came through the phone.
"Sis. Busy?"
"What kind of question is that out of the blue?"
Jeong Sia sounded puzzled, asking what I meant.
"No, just... you've been out of touch."
"You're the one who hasn't been in touch. I was waiting because you said you'd contact me when you were going hunting together."
Did I say that?
At least I confirmed she hadn't lost interest in me.
"I've been too caught up in hunting. So what have you been up to lately?"
I needed to maintain a connection with Jeong Sia without crossing any lines.
"I was actually going to call you today."
"Something up?"
"Yeah. I'm going on a broadcast this afternoon."
Was this finally her reveal to the world?
"Because you're a legendary healer?"
"Right. I told someone I know, and they said I have to go on TV to announce it."
That made sense.
"There are only about five known legendary healers in the world so far, right?"
Jeong Sia was one of only six in the world.
"Yeah. They said I'm the sixth."
Revealing her existence would be good for her, but it would also elevate Korea's status.
"Then you'll be getting calls from everywhere soon."
"I'm a bit overwhelmed by it."
Jeong Sia replied in a voice that sounded drained.
"Why? You can make money, get famous. Isn't that great?"
"You know what I mean, right?"
"What?"
"Great power comes with a great price. I have a feeling there'll be a lot more things to worry about from now on."
She was right.
Once people knew of her power, they wouldn't leave her alone.
Especially [Resurrection].
That skill's power defied common sense.
Would Jeong Sia really reveal [Resurrection] to the world?
'Thinking about it, if it were that kind of skill, even if I hadn't been interested in her, I would've heard about it.'
She probably wouldn't reveal it.
"I believe you'll handle it well, Sis."
Either way, things had to play out naturally.
That way, the ones who killed Jeong Sia would reveal themselves.
"Thanks. I was a little nervous, but I feel calmer now."
Jeong Sia replied brightly.
"What time's the broadcast this afternoon?"
Time to wrap up the conversation.
Before influencing things further.
"JBC at 2 PM. It's where I used to work."
"Got it. I'll watch. Talk later, Sis."
As I went to hang up, Jeong Sia spoke urgently.
"Wait! What are you so busy with? When are we going hunting together?"
I could go tomorrow if I wanted, but she needed time now.
Time for flies to swarm around her.
"I've got something going on lately. Might take a while."
"What are you doing?"
Hmm, extorting a chaebol heir for items, auctioning them, catching the Serial Arsonist to turn him into a skeleton, setting fires, blackmail, murder...
'Can't exactly say that.'
"I'll tell you when we meet."
"Jeez! Playing mysterious, huh? Fine. I'll wait, so call me."
"Yeah. Soon. And if anything dangerous happens or seems like it might, contact me right away."
"You can't reach me in Utopia. How?"
From the moment Jeong Sia was revealed to the world, it would be time to focus on her.
"I'm not going into Utopia for a while."
I planned to fill the empty skeleton slot with the Orc Shaman and stay on Earth for now.
There were plenty of backup skeleton candidates, but nothing on Earth was as useful as flame-based abilities.
"Really? Nothing tough going on, right?"
Jeong Sia sounded worried since I'd been going to Utopia diligently and now suddenly wasn't.
"Yeah. Good stuff. Don't worry."
"Okay. Got it."
"I'll call again, Sis."
With that, I ended the call with Jeong Sia.
This felt like the right distance—close but not too close.
'Gotta turn that Orc Shaman into a skeleton and get back quick.'
Thinking of my post-regression dutiful son, the Orc Shaman, and our upcoming meeting made me almost fond of him.
After meeting the Orc Shaman and handling a few things in Utopia, I returned home.
"Time for some ramen."
With nothing but ramen in the house, I boiled some up simply and sat at the table.
"It's time."
2 PM.
I turned on the JBC broadcast on my phone. The headline was plastered in huge letters.
[Exclusive Reveal]
[Korea's 6th Legendary Healer Emerges]
The screen switched to the host on stage and Jeong Sia.
I paused with my chopsticks midway to my mouth. An unexpected person was sitting next to Jeong Sia.
"Why is that woman there?"
It was Hyeon A-rin's aunt from the diner.
"Hello, Jeong Sia."
The broadcast began with the host's greeting.
Jeong Sia smiled faintly and returned the greeting.
She looked more relaxed than expected.
"You've acquired a legendary healing trait, is that true?"
The host cut straight to the point.
"Yes. I obtained the legendary trait [Pure White Saintess]."
"Can you reveal your skills as well?"
She seemed to have coordinated it beforehand, as Jeong Sia was unfazed.
Would my memory prove correct?
"I have three skills: Great Heal, Group Heal, and Heal Mastery."
As expected, she omitted [Resurrection].
"Could you explain them in detail?"
Jeong Sia looked at the host and began describing her skills.
Meanwhile, I glanced at the woman sitting beside her again.
Why was Hyeon A-rin's aunt there?
"As expected of a legendary trait—impressive skills. And isn't the person next to you Park Jeong-hwa, our JBC writer?"
After the skill explanation, the host finally introduced Hyeon A-rin's aunt.
Who would've thought she was a JBC writer?
"Yes. My big sis helped me a lot when I was working at JBC."
I hadn't expected them to be connected like this.
"I heard. Jeong Sia worked as a writer at JBC too. But why are you here together?"
The host kept emphasizing JBC, highlighting their deep ties.
Probably hoping for some crumbs.
Either way, I was curious too.
Why had a broadcasting writer chosen to sit next to Jeong Sia and show her face?
"She's here as my manager."
Manager?
Were they that close?
"Manager? So from now on, all matters related to Jeong Sia go through Park Jeong-hwa?"
"Yes. I'm not familiar with this stuff, so I decided to get her help."
The host smiled faintly for some inexplicable reason at Jeong Sia's words.
"Perfect. JBC promises to support Jeong Sia in every way."
"Thank you."
The host continued.
"Finally, any plans for the future? Any group you're leaning toward?"
"As long as I can help many people, that's enough. With this power, I can heal the wounded."
A very Jeong Sia-like answer.
"Does that mean you won't join even if they offer a lot of money if they don't help people?"
The host asked directly. Jeong Sia turned from the host to face the camera straight on, as if waiting for it.
"Yes. I want to work for the world."
Her initial natural ease vanished, replaced by a stiff expression and shaky eyes.
'That awkwardness—who put her up to it?'
It was like she was wearing ill-fitting clothes.
"Hahaha! Impressive. I'll support you personally too."
After the host's closing remarks, Jeong Sia's interview ended.
I took a bite of ramen and recalled Park Jeong-hwa's phone call at the diner.
'She definitely said there'd be one more person besides Hyeon A-rin who needed the drug.'
And called it a tremendous treasure.
'Guess I need to check it out.'
The call connected.
"Yeah, Han!"
Jeong Sia's bright voice amid surrounding noise.
"Sis. Watched the broadcast. You looked great. Spoke well without seeming nervous."
"Really? Am I broadcast material?"
With light praise, I probed casually.
"Maybe? But why the sudden change at the end? Your face stiffened up awkwardly."
"Oh? Making eye contact with the camera?"
"Jeong-hwa Sis said I need to act a bit to stick in people's minds. Was it that awkward?"
Park Jeong-hwa.
She was already trying to mold Jeong Sia to her taste.
"Oh, that makes sense. By the way, Sis, you didn't mention [Resurrection] on the broadcast. Am I the only one who knows?"
"That?"
Her tone showed awareness of people around, calling it "that."
"No. Jeong-hwa Sis knows too."
Confirmation was easy.
Park Jeong-hwa's "tremendous treasure" was definitely Jeong Sia. Her value rivaled Hyeon A-rin's.
"I was debating whether to reveal it. But after hearing her, hiding it seemed better."
"What did she say?"
"Hold on, Han. Let me go to the waiting room."
After a pause with door sounds, she continued.
"Everyone has that one person they want to save. So it's a power anyone would covet. Enough to bring massive chaos to the world."
"True. Everyone might swarm you begging. Some with bad intentions."
"Right. She's been worried for me. I couldn't tell her you know about [Resurrection]. If she asks first, I'd have to say something."
I could see the scenario.
Resurrection Church, was it?
They were hiding Jeong Sia's [Resurrection] from the world to use it themselves.
I didn't know their purpose yet.
And probably,
'Jeong Sia will reject their offer.'
The Resurrection Church was likely involved in her death.
If she'd accepted, their goal would've succeeded, and their name would've lingered in my memories, good or bad.
I called out to Jeong Sia.
"Don't you need another solid manager? Things are gonna get busy and dangerous."
She was someone to watch now.
With the outline of her death in view,
'I haven't decided if I'll save you or turn you into a skeleton.'
I planned to stick close for a clear judgment.
"Manager?"
Jeong Sia sounded surprised.
"Yeah. I was a manager once. Good at driving too."
The club manager I'd owed a favor to at 21, but close enough.
"Really? Asking Jeong-hwa Sis to drive too feels off. Oh? Sis? Hold on, Han."
Jeong Sia's voice suddenly distanced. Park Jeong-hwa had entered the waiting room.
'Covering the phone with her hand?'
They were talking, but too quietly to hear.
"Han..."
Jeong Sia called my name weakly.
"Sorry, but manager won't work."
"Why suddenly?"
"Jeong-hwa Sis says we don't need another one."
This again?
Was she blocking me?
"You said you'd like me as manager, Sis."
Even so, Jeong Sia deciding so easily was unexpected.
"Hold on, Han. Let me talk to Sis."
Door sounds again, and she spoke from outside.
"Don't misunderstand, Han."
"Okay. Tell me, Sis."
What would she say?
"I like you as a little brother, but Jeong-hwa Sis is someone I respect. She was the only one kind to me when I was a new hire at the station. She's great at her job."
"And?"
"So, sorry, but I think I should listen to her. I can't hurt her."
That was the reason?
"Honestly, I've known her longer, and I respect her more than you. I hope you understand."
In short, she was closer to Park Jeong-hwa, so she'd follow her.
She didn't fool people, and her frank coldness didn't disappoint or hurt me.
Instead, satisfaction welled up inside.
I now understood the priorities within her kindness. Her priorities were clearly defined.
'The most precious person always comes first, huh?'
In other words, if I became Jeong Sia's most precious person, she'd follow me unconditionally.
"Sis. Then pass this message to that sis."
From now on,
to keep Jeong Sia from causing issues with her ideals in the war against the Demon Realm.
"What if we—who both know your secret [Resurrection]—team up as managers?"
And I'd decided to save her from her fated death.
No one could rank higher than the person who saved her life.
Her strengths included legendary heals and never lying, but the greatest value was undeniably the resurrection skill [Resurrection].
Even if one-time, a resurrection without spatial or temporal limits was worth more than a spare life. Give that up?
'Ridiculous.'
Simply turning her into a skeleton would help immediately, but with limited slots and uncertainty if a skeleton could use [Resurrection] on me—even with free will, summons typically vanish when the master dies.
"Tell her that? She didn't say on purpose?"
Jeong Sia questioned, surprised I'd tell Park Jeong-hwa I knew about [Resurrection].
"Yeah. She seems wary of me because of your power. If we already share the secret, maybe she'll understand?"
Just knowing the [Resurrection] the Resurrection Church wanted hidden made me their target.
"Hmm... Okay. I'll say it. Having both of you around is good for me."
Park Jeong-hwa had no choice but to accept. She'd need me close to kill or sway me.
The response came quick. Jeong Sia's voice bright again.
"Han! Sis says if we share the secret, you're trustworthy, so you can join as co-manager!"
'Transparent. Co-manager my ass. She's plotting how to probe me.'
"So where to, Sis? Home?"
"No. Come to the station."
"JBC? Why?"
Why stay at the station still?
"Sis just said there's another broadcast at 4."
Park Jeong-hwa was already treating Jeong Sia like a puppet.
"What broadcast?"
"One showing my skills live."
"She suggested that?"
Look at these two.
The Resurrection Church wasn't after just [Resurrection].
They were inflating Jeong Sia's value this much.
'They want to make her the face of the Resurrection Church. To expand their influence.'
Planning to fully convert her.
'That's why they're preparing the drug too.'
By any means.
"Got it. On my way."
I hung up, cleared the ramen, left the house, and grabbed a taxi.
Destination: Yeouido.
My gaze kept drifting to the empty slot where Hwayeom 2 had been.
What kind of guy was the cult leader, I wondered?
The world had too many skeleton candidates.