Promotional Ambassador (2)
In the open hall of Samcheok City Hall, the Brave Citizen Award ceremony was underway.
"Smile for the cameras!"
"Strike a pose, please!"
I flashed an awkward smile at the barrage of cameras. I held Aqua and Terra in my arms, while Aqua shared the plaque inscribed with "Brave Citizen Award" alongside the Samcheok police chief. Mandu stood proudly on my shoulder, wings spread wide.
'The investigation into that awakener pervert we caught two months ago just wrapped up.'
This award was for capturing that awakener pervert alongside the Samcheok Beach Youth Patrol. I'd heard the guy had been thrown in prison with the tip of his tongue sliced off—the trigger for his ability—under the Special Law on Punishing Unregistered Awakeners.
Once the photo session ended, the interviews began. Reporters, who'd been fidgeting impatiently, unleashed a flood of questions.
"Kang Hyunwoo! Is it true you visited the Spirit Realm?!"
"The photos you posted on the fan club cafe are blowing up! Are they really from the Spirit Realm?!"
"Who's the new spirit? Is it the new Earth Spirit King too?!"
I let the questions pour in for a moment before a city hall staffer conducting the ceremony calmed the reporters.
"Due to time constraints, we'll take only five questions."
Hands shot up instantly. I scanned the reporters' faces and picked the ones I recognized.
'Park Hansu wrote a great article last time. Lee Jeonghan and Jeong Eunyoung too.'
I'd anticipated a media frenzy today, so I'd memorized the faces of reporters who'd covered us positively beforehand.
I pointed to Park Hansu first.
"Daily Hunter, Park Hansu! Is the rumor about your Spirit Realm trip true?"
I exchanged glances with Aqua, Terra, and Mandu, then smiled and answered.
"Yes. It was a wonderful experience."
Flashes erupted, and reporters scrambled to type on their laptops. I pointed to the next one.
"Dongang Daily, Lee Jeonghan! Is that gnome in your arms the next Earth Spirit King, like Aqua?"
I looked down at Terra and asked, "Want to answer that yourself?"
[Myself?]
Terra gazed up at me with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"These people make a living spreading our stories across the human world."
[Oh...?]
"They're news reporters. What you say here will reach people all over the world. Even the earth spirits."
[Ooh...]
Terra scanned the reporters with wonder, then spoke.
[I am Terra.]
Another wave of flashes. Unlike Aqua, Terra wasn't fazed by the cameras.
[I am the successor to the Earth Spirit King. Someday, I will become the Earth Spirit King.]
Very few spirit users knew successors even existed for the Spirit Kings. This was huge news.
"Successor? Do Spirit Kings have heirs?"
"Does that mean the Wind Spirit King has one too?"
As expected, more questions stormed in.
"Everyone, please calm down!"
The staffer intervened again. I gave the mic to a composed reporter who'd stayed out of the frenzy.
"I understand you were the first to set foot in the Spirit Realm! Does that mean it'll be open from now on?"
Perfect—the exact question I wanted.
I cleared my throat.
"A few spirit users visited the Spirit Realm this time for a meeting about Aqua's ascension as the new Water Spirit King."
I skipped any mention of Pompeii or the salamanders. No sense alerting whoever snuck those comic book artifacts into the Spirit Realm.
"Thanks to this, the Spirit Kings are positively considering opening the Spirit Realm—especially to spirit users. Spirit users and spirits worldwide, please be patient just a bit longer."
After one more on my multi-attribute ability, I pointed to Jeong Eunyoung last.
'She always writes such warm, feel-good articles about Aqua.'
She was even an Aqua fan club member, as far as I knew.
"Jeong Eunyoung here. I'd like to ask Aqua a question."
I nodded, giving permission. Jeong smiled gently at Aqua.
"Weren't you scared when you caught that pervert?"
Spot-on choice. Exactly the kind of question I loved.
Aqua, dazed amid the focused cameras, blinked wide-eyed at the direct address. She stiffened and looked up at me.
I gently rocked her to soothe her.
"Go on, answer. You're the Spirit King."
[Mm!]
Aqua turned to the reporter and declared boldly, despite her tense face.
[Not scary at all! I believed in myself and my spirit user!]
No stumbles, no mix-ups—a perfect response. The Phoenix Resort photoshoot and interview must've helped her grow.
"What do you think of criminals, Aqua?"
[Bad humans! Those who do bad things must be punished!]
Jeong nodded contentedly. So did I.
After our interviews, we stepped off the stage. I wasn't the only one receiving the award with Aqua. Next up were the Aqua fan club president and vice-president sisters, who looked solemn as they accepted theirs. We'd teamed up to catch that pervert.
'They're the real brave ones.'
I was an awakener with Aqua, but they were total civilians. It made me proud that such courageous people led Aqua's fan club.
* * *
After brief interviews, we returned to the lounge with the president and vice-president sisters.
"Wow... I never dreamed we'd get an award like this!"
The younger sister, the vice-president, said.
[You deserve that award! No, even more!]
The sisters beamed brighter at Aqua's words than the award itself.
"Aqua, can we take a photo?"
"The fan club went nuts when we said we were meeting you!"
[Of course!]
I snapped a pic of the three with the sisters' phone.
"O-oh, wow..."
"Aah..."
They stroked Aqua nonstop as she hugged them for the shot.
[Hee hee hee!]
Aqua seemed to love the back rubs.
"Missed this texture!"
"Aqua! We missed you!"
The sisters hugged her tight, sniffling.
"What's being president mean if I can't see you?!"
"Vice-president? I'm in Seoul!"
"Should we move?"
"With what money?"
Heart-wrenching. I gave a wry smile.
"Don't worry. We'll be at the Academy after school starts."
"Oh, right!"
"You're an Academy student!"
They perked up instantly, laughing about seeing us often now.
"Those two—are they new spirits?"
The president eyed Terra and Mandu sparklingly.
"Yeah. Terra and Mandu."
"Whoa! They look just like Aqua!"
"Salamanders have wings!"
"Multi-attributes? That's incredible!"
"Haha, thanks."
The sisters reached out.
"Can we hold them?"
"Come to big sis?"
[Sisit!]
Mandu flapped over eagerly. Terra glanced up at me, then offered her hand to the sisters.
"Whoa... so smooth and soft!"
"Firm but fluffy!"
They petted and hugged gently. Mandu [sisit] laughed, tongue flicking. Terra's lips even curved up slightly. Hugs weren't just for water spirits—they ranked high for all.
"Ah!"
The older sister clapped as if remembering something and rummaged in her bag.
"We have something for Aqua and Hyunwoo!"
She pulled out a large wrapped box.
"It's tribute!"
[Tribute?]
"Fan club members chipped in!"
[Ooh! A gift!]
Fan clubs called celebrity gifts "tribute." This was Aqua's first from fans.
"Membership exploded after the Spirit Realm news! Over 100,000 now!"
"Domestic fans only this time due to logistics."
"Expect something massive next!"
100,000. Insane.
'Well, Aqua's a global star, not just Korean.'
Membership had climbed steadily post-ascension, then skyrocketed vertically from my Spirit Realm photos.
'Fan club pics are members-only.'
The only site worldwide with real Spirit Realm shots. Plenty joined for research.
'Every spirit studies prof globally, probably.'
Meanwhile, Aqua took the box—nearly as big as her torso.
[Hee hee hee!]
Her face lit up. Thrilled it was from fans.
She waddled back to me, box making her sway. Wanted to open it together, clearly.
I chuckled, scooped her up, and sat her on my lap. She rubbed her cheek against it lovingly.
"Can we film?"
The president pulled out her camera.
"Unboxing video for the fan club!"
NerTube trend: filming new product openings and reactions.
"Aqua, okay?"
[Of course! It's for the fans who gave it!]
Aqua agreed readily. President started recording.
Aqua waved with a [hee]. Camera jitters gone amid gift excitement.
[Thank you for the gift!]
I bowed slightly too.
[Now, let's open it!]
Aqua set the box on the table and climbed atop it. Terra joined curiously. Mandu toddled after.
I glanced at the sisters.
"Aah... all three in one frame!"
"Too cute, seriously!"
No worries there.
[Mm, mm!]
Aqua nodded approvingly at her gift and touched the wrapping.
No ripping—she treated even the paper as precious, picking at the tape.
[...Eh?]
Her watery fingers couldn't grip the stuck tape. Too soft.
She pouted up at me pleadingly.
"I'll help."
I peeled half with my nail.
[Thanks!]
Aqua carefully did the rest.
Rustle rustle—
The gift revealed itself.
[Ooooh!]
Aqua hoisted the box triumphantly.
[Oh.]
[Sisit?]
Terra and Mandu gawked too, mouths agape.