Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Black Flame Man's Showcase
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89.
R Team's Department Office.
Thud thud thud-!
Choi Kang-in's frantic footsteps stretched toward a single destination.
Straight toward one place.
Without hesitation.
The beads of sweat trickling down his cheeks seemed to scream just how urgent his situation was.
Halt-!
His steps came to a stop in front of a firmly shut door that entered his view.
Bang-!
Without a moment's hesitation, he flung the door open and rushed inside, shouting desperately at the person in the room.
“Executive Director! Right now on the internet….”
“I know.”
“…Pardon?”
Only a woman's icy reply filled the room.
In her hand was a smartphone, her eyes glued to a ghost story internet broadcast currently airing.
A ghost story broadcast.
R-Team Lee Jui Executive Director.
She knew, of course. Everyone in the Agency probably knew that countless ghost story internet broadcasts infested the web.
But in the midst of monitoring the movements of the high-priority target [LIVE_404_NOT_FOUND] for his permanent deletion….
An figure who should never appear on 404's broadcast.
Had shown his face on screen.
The one recently classified as an S-rank ghost story.
The emergence of the ‘Black Flame Man.’
The ghost story who had knocked out Executive Director Seo Eun-bom in an instant and boldly left a warning message for us.
He had now appeared on a ghost story internet broadcast.
Even spouting the shocking claim of selling ghost stories, no less.
He had revealed himself before us once more.
‘…What in the world… are you… thinking… Black Flame Man.’
And at that moment.
From this day forward, the ghost story known as the ‘Black Flame Man’ was indelibly stamped into the minds of every single Agency employee.
An impression that would never fade.
Etched into everyone's memory.
*****
Crackle-
Sparks danced between my palms.
Twitch-
The projector slammed into the dirt floor and the skinny guy's body convulsed faintly.
I shook out my hand casually and stared at the camera filming me. Then I turned my gaze to the broadcast's host, who must have been watching the whole thing.
Grin-
With a bright smile.
“Did that take well?”
【…Brother, you're strong.】
404's small voice crawled into my ear.
But.
This was enough.
This was the reaction I wanted.
The same sensation must have hit everyone else watching this broadcast right now.
They all might have wanted ‘UFC.’ No, 404 definitely wanted that too.
But.
What I wanted was ‘WWE.’
This place was a set built solely for me.
Nothing more than a grand showcase staged to frame me as the ultimate powerhouse.
A production possible only here.
All I had to do was deliver it without restraint.
To etch the image of me currently broadcasting across the screen into countless minds.
As the star of this showcase, I would act accordingly.
Thud-! Thud-! Thud-!
?
Along with tremors shaking the ground, a hulking, grotesque muscle mass barreled into view, charging straight at me.
【Muscle! Muscle! Muscle!!】
The moment I saw it charging like an enraged bull….
I didn't move.
Motionless, I simply faced the situation head-on.
Let me say it again.
This place was made for me.
So.
‘What good is a protagonist exiting the stage this early?’
Halt!
The muscle mass's furious charge toward me screeched to a stop.
?
Even the muscle guy seemed puzzled as to why he couldn't advance.
Grip-
“…Good job.”
Our firstborn.
With my smile full of amusement.
Our firstborn Bear Doll had latched onto the brute's right ankle, right at the ankle joint.
Tilt head?
【Muscle?】
The muscle mass stared down at the Bear Doll—tiny compared to its bulk—with baffled eyes.
Flash-!
!!
Soon, the firstborn Bear Doll began hoisting the massive muscle mass up.
Whoosh-!
Whoosh-!
Whoosh-!
Using its own body as the axis, it spun the muscle mass with centrifugal force at full power.
【Mus!……cle!】
A roar like the air itself tearing apart echoed across the space.
The muscle mass spun faster and faster until it blurred into afterimages.
Clack-!
The moment the Bear Doll released its stuffed grip on the muscle mass….
The object, deprived of its pivot, rocketed toward the colosseum wall at unimaginable speed.
Screeeeech-!
With a massive crash.
It smashed into the wall.
Stuck there, mangled beyond recognition.
【…….】
404, watching the scene through countless cameras, looked utterly dumbfounded.
And I, taking it all in….
‘……Muscle mush.’
Staring at the ghost story turned red paint-like pulp.
I was reminded anew that our Bear Doll wielded power on par with an A-rank ghost story.
‘…Oops.’
I'd forgotten for a second.
Distracted by the Bear Doll's performance outshining my own.
I nearly missed my line.
“Viewers!”
I slowly faced the array of cameras capturing me in crisp, composed poses.
My voice rang out steady and clear.
“Did you enjoy my show? Was it thrilling? Or… did it bore you?”
I put force into my words.
And if the one here wasn't me, but Noise—that guy.
If it had been him, in this situation….
‘Would he have said something like this?’
“If you're left wanting more, don't worry. For you all. For our customers' enriched lives! For a peaceful world!!”
Whoosh-
I raised both arms high, delivering my final line without hesitation.
“I won't disappoint you. Because I'm an excellent employee :)”
A subtle smile played on my lips.
Of course.
On the broadcast screen, only the flicker of black flames would be visible.
But I flashed an even brighter smile.
This one was for no one else.
It was for the host of this broadcast.
Glance.
404's stiff lips finally relaxed.
【…Time for ads!】
ㄴ. Oh.
ㄴ. Ad timing for real?
ㄴ. What? Already over?
ㄴ. Kinda lame.
ㄴ. …….
With 404's line, the screen truly cut to other footage.
…….
The cameras shut off.
Everything in the space powered down.
Here remained only.
The quiet silence of two figures enveloping the area.
Rustle-
404 stepped from outside the colosseum onto the dirt floor, slowly walking toward me.
Clap clap clap clap clap-!
A slow tempo of applause drummed into my ears.
【That was incredible! I never imagined you'd take out our ‘Muscle Guy’ and ‘Static Guy’ so easily.】
Muscle Guy.
Static Guy.
The names 404 used for those two ghost stories. His voice still held that casual tone from before.
Clap clap clap-
…….
The applause slowed further, and I knew why.
‘…He's pissed.’
I knew the reason for his irritation too. And he started pointing it out.
【Brother's strength was perfectly captured on my feed. It'll be burned into the minds of everyone watching my broadcast.】
【You might even have fans now.】
Clap-!
“…….”
With the final clap echoing through the space,
I kept my mouth shut.
No other reason.
Just a gut feeling that it wasn't the time to speak.
【But Brother… this is a broadcast. A broadcast has a basic tempo, you know.】
【Pacing, actor's performance, tension control, staged scenes… every single element demands attention.】
404's voice rose in intensity.
【…I expected you to get the broadcast vibe.】
Yeah, that tempo.
Unlike 404.
What I wanted to show was overwhelming domination of the ghost story.
And it succeeded.
But 404 would call this the problem.
This wasn't just short-form content.
This was his internet broadcast.
Practically a mini variety show.
In a place like that, the main content wrapped up way too fast.
In one instant—truly one moment—the main dish vanished. Without savoring the flavor.
It ended in a flash.
Swoosh-
The round, gleaming yellow eyes that sparkled moments ago narrowed.
【Just a self-indulgent attention whore after all.】
【Brother… get out of my set now.】
His mood soured completely.
But I couldn't let my guard down yet.
“It was an honor to appear on a celebrity's broadcast.”
【…….】
404, who had been quick with replies before, gave no response to my words.
No reply came, but….
‘Gotta mind the bare minimum courtesy.’
I didn't want my head exploding here.
I spoke in a low voice.
“I'll keep supporting your broadcasts from now on.”
【…….】
No reply this time either. But that nuance—like he'd washed his hands of me.
Good enough.
This was enough.
Now I had an excuse to escape this ghost story. All that was left was to collect those two ghost stories I just handled into the quill pen.
Done.
Sealing those two into the quill pen would wrap up my work for today.
The moment I turned to walk toward the first ghost story I'd taken down—the projector one.
【Where do you think you're going?】
“…Pardon?”
404 suddenly called me back.
【No matter how much it deviated from my broadcast's intent, I'm a broadcaster who keeps her promises.】
【Follow me. I'll give you the chance to grab the prop you want.】
“…….”
‘Everything I need is right here, though?’
I couldn't bring myself to say it.
My head was too precious for that.