Chapter 33
Chapter 33
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Idol (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cha Jiye sat in the waiting room, her face blank and lost.
‘I'm screwed.’
Once her ability vanished and she snapped back to her normal self, she finally grasped just how badly she'd screwed up.
The aggressive tone that mocked the reporters' questions.
Using her ability at a press conference meant to clear up controversy, dominating the entire room.
And capping off that solemn event with shameless album promotion—like pure madness.
She gasped!
Cha Jiye, are you insane? How could you pull that kind of stunt in public? Her hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.
In her mind, the worst-case scenarios played out.
Real-time trends: #ChaJiyeControversy at #1. Fans watching the live broadcast flood the agency with complaints, leading to her contract termination. And since she used her ability at the conference, the association severs her exclusive contract too...
The door burst open!
"Eek!"
Cha Jiye jumped in fright as her manager sister rushed in.
"Jiye!"
Her expression was intense. As the manager approached, Cha Jiye braced for the worst. She was about to drop to her knees when an excited voice rang out.
"That was freaking legendary!!!"
"...?"
Her brain short-circuited. The manager charged at her wide-eyed confusion, enveloping her in a suffocating hug.
Once the embrace broke, Cha Jiye finally saw her manager's face—eyes sparkling with pure joy.
"Wow... seriously... Jiye, what are you? No, who the hell are you?!"
"S-Sis?"
"During rehearsal, you were so nervous I thought you'd freeze up, burst into tears without saying a word, or collapse on stage—my heart was gonna explode! But wow..."
The manager grabbed Cha Jiye's shoulders, shaking her as admiration poured out.
"You're cut from a different cloth than us. You're a superstar. No, we should worship you. You're the GOAT!"
Cha Jiye's mouth flapped open like a fish. She couldn't process it. She deserved a scolding, but this was praise—almost reverence.
Cautiously, with a trembling voice, she asked,
"H-How's... the reaction?"
The manager shoved her phone screen right in Cha Jiye's face, as if she'd been waiting.
"See for yourself. It's chaos."
[#1 Cha Jiye]
[#2 Cha Jiye Press Conference]
[#3 Cha Jiye Savage]
Internet communities and portal sites were flooded with Cha Jiye trends. Article comments and posts updated views by the second, all echoing the same vibe.
Cha Jiye's eyes flew across the screen. 99.6% likes—overwhelming acclaim.
Of course, not everyone was thrilled.
But those minority views sank into the depths, buried under replies and downvote swarms.
The public was clearly obsessed with her.
The cool, chic, confident image of idol Cha Jiye wasn't just a stage gimmick.
She wasn't some basement warrior cosplaying Lü Bu—she was the real Lü Bu. Unfazed before hundreds of reporters, she delivered the Cha Jiye her fans knew, unfiltered.
Cha Jiye had perfectly met the public's expectations.
"Haha..."
Of course, her real personality was far from that persona. She'd acted it out to seem perfect for fans, but she was actually quite timid.
That minor misunderstanding aside, the press conference had been flawless.
She could finally relax.
Slumped over, listening to her manager's chatter, Cha Jiye suddenly shot to her feet.
The real hero of the day came to mind. Without him, she'd have crumbled. She had to thank him.
Excusing herself from her manager, she slipped out of the waiting room.
The conference hall, now empty of reporters, held only her staff. The man she sought was chatting with one of them.
"Jiwon unnie?"
Her association liaison, Kang Jiwon, was talking with the counselor.
"You two know each other?"
Kang Jiwon looked a bit flustered, so Cha Jiye tilted her head. The counselor answered.
"We work at the association, so we run into each other."
"Ah, right!"
It was obvious in hindsight. Feeling upbeat, Cha Jiye nodded vigorously. With only staff left, no need to hide her true self.
Then, glancing at Kang Jiwon, a thought struck her, freezing her expression. Trembling, she asked,
"Unnie... will I get disciplined for using my ability on my own...?"
Infusing mana into her voice to calm the reporters. She'd blacked out, treating it like a stage. No victims, but it could still be an issue.
Kang Jiwon shook her head gently.
"Your dedication isn't something we take lightly. We won't discipline you over something trivial. Just avoid 'impromptu actions' like this in the future."
She glanced meaningfully at the counselor, who looked away innocently. Oblivious, Cha Jiye just sighed in relief.
"Phew... good."
The counselor spoke up.
"You seemed really tense during the conference, so I used my ability a bit. Was it too much?"
Cha Jiye's eyes widened, then she shook her head fiercely.
"No! Absolutely not! Thanks to you, I nailed the conference. It wasn't over the top at all."
The counselor smiled faintly, relieved.
"It's all thanks to you, counselor. Really... thank you so much."
Cha Jiye bowed repeatedly. Without him, the internet would be the opposite right now.
He smiled shyly.
"This was my first counseling session too, so I was worried it'd go wrong. Glad it worked out."
Counseling over. That stung oddly in her chest. Everything resolved, she should be happy—but ending the conversation felt wrong. Hesitating, she spoke.
"I-I want to repay you somehow."
"As I said, it's free for exclusive association hunters. Thanks, but no need."
She was stumped. Polite rejection, nothing more to say. Yet her feet wouldn't move. She wanted to speak, but words failed. Why was she like this? Why cling to a finished session?
As her words trailed, Kang Jiwon and the counselor resumed business talk.
Staring blankly, it hit her. Why she felt this way.
‘I've been relying on him.’
An unfamiliar emotion for her, hard to recognize.
Idols must be perfect. 'Idol Cha Jiye' was born from that obsession.
Idols are untouchable stars in fans' eyes—ideals made flesh. Can't be ordinary. Must be flawless superhumans.
But real Cha Jiye was just human.
Impulsive enough to call a press conference on a whim, hurt by a single hate comment and sleepless over it, prone to irreversible mistakes—a utterly ordinary, fragile person.
Sometimes the pain was unbearable.
Days she wanted to bawl like a child.
Moments she wanted to quit and run.
If only she could confide in someone—but she couldn't.
Manager, staff, fellow hunters, even family.
Her troubles, big or small, tied to them. As idol Cha Jiye, hunter Cha Jiye, daughter/sister Cha Jiye.
So she couldn't share. The pain was hers alone. Dumping it on them irresponsibly? No way.
A lonely path, no one to lean on, walking solo.
Desperate, grasping at straws, she found that place. There, she cried openly for the first time. Shared her deepest self. And it was resolved.
A space for plain 'Cha Jiye'—not idol or A-rank hunter. Just client and counselor. No conflicts.
So she could rely. Lean. A sanctuary to rest in tough times, a release valve for rage.
Only because he was the 'counselor.'
Cha Jiye's lips quivered, then blurted,
"Exclusive association hunters... get free counseling, right?"
The counselor turned from Kang Jiwon.
"Yes? Oh, right."
He looked puzzled at the random question, but Cha Jiye brightened.
"So I can come for sessions anytime?"
"In principle, yes."
"Perfect."
She boldly held out her smartphone.
"Booking one. Your number?"
He chuckled, took the phone, added his number and name, handed it back. She read the new contact.
Looking up.
Cha Jiye smiled at the counselor—no, Han Yujin. Not her idol perfect smile, but a natural one born from feeling.
"See you at the next session, sir."
*
As busy Cha Jiye left, Kang Jiwon spoke.
"Surprisingly suits you. That fake ID might not be needed soon."
Han Yujin glared lightly at her teasing, then sighed.
He couldn't quit even if he hated it. Had to stick out the contract. Thought no clients meant no studying... now back to square one.
Sighing, a question from earlier surfaced—one awkward with Cha Jiye around.
"Using ability on hundreds, and it blows over easy."
Not one or two—hundreds, live broadcast. No cover-up possible. Expected at least nominal discipline, but they went easy on her.
Kang Jiwon nodded casually.
"Few exclusive hunters as diligent as Cha Jiye. Fine with just unavoidable calls, but she answers every single one—makes us the awkward ones."
Her tone held clear fondness.
Cha Jiye, never short on cash, wasn't hunting for money.
Image management? Minimal raids suffice. She did more.
So her hunting was pure sense of justice.
Volunteering for unrewarding work.
"She's too good for her own good."
The admiring mutter drew a chuckle from Kang Jiwon. What was funny? She apologized lightly—said his outsider comment amused her.
Probing, she gazed softly.
"You're no different, Han Yujin. That last mission."
The outburst over mass deaths. She meant then.
"Pushing for Kim Sangjin too. You two might be similar."
Han Yujin couldn't respond.
Kang Jiwon eyed him, then frowned at her ringing phone. Urgent business—she left.
Alone now.
He mulled her words' ripples.
Unlike her, he didn't see himself as good. Nor evil. Just average.
Extracting info from comatose Kim Sangjin: couldn't experiment on desperate guy, so pushed—but bare minimum goodwill.
Demon Worshippers involved? He wanted out.
Won't harm others for gain, won't sacrifice for them. Average Joe.
So her words shook him.
He'd believed rage at the horror spurred him. But was it?
Angry enough over strangers' deaths to risk himself? Was he that just?
Unlike him. Uncharacteristic.
What fueled that anger then?
He pondered. No answer.
*
Next day, turning on his phone froze his hand at the top news.