Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: It Really Was a Lie
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"Beep! Beep! Beeeeeeep!"
"Hoo..."
"Haa..."
The whistle's shrill blast echoed through the arena.
With that signal announcing the end of the match, the players who had given their all until the very last moment collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.
The celebrities had been sprinting nonstop for about an hour.
Even though most of them were toned from dancing or workouts, it was inevitable that they'd be utterly drained once the game wrapped up.
All except for one.
"Great job, everyone."
"Mm... th-thanks..."
"Thank you."
She handed out water bottles to those sitting with composed faces.
Chae Soo-jeong.
Though she was a bit sweaty, she showed almost no signs of fatigue as she bustled about energetically. Watching her, Yeo Hyo-min couldn't help but marvel inwardly once again.
'She ran around like a maniac, and she still has energy left? They say you can't judge a book by its cover. I never imagined her stamina would even beat mine...'
The final score of the match was a resounding 6:1 victory for the Wyverns.
It was a perfect win, even after Ha Yu-ra had to leave due to injury at halftime.
And the star of that victory was undeniably Chae Soo-jeong over there.
Out of the six goals, she scored two herself, and two more were assists from her.
The remaining two came from exploiting gaps created when the Eagles focused on marking her, so in truth, all six goals were directly or indirectly thanks to Chae Soo-jeong.
This fact was like holy water to Yeo Hyo-min, who was already thirsting for fresh talent.
'Where there's a will, there's a way... I never dreamed such an incredible gem would join us! I have to snag her!'
Chae Soo-jeong possessed game-breaking balanced skills.
If she could recruit her to their side, not only could they shake off their current slump, but they might even aim for the championship.
For Yeo Hyo-min, who had regretted settling for second place last year, this was an opportunity she couldn't let slip.
Hyo-min first quenched her parched throat from the match, then stood up to approach Chae Soo-jeong.
But then.
"By the way, I don't see Ha Yu-ra or Seon-hwa. Do you know where they went?"
"Oh, those two? They headed that way earlier. I heard there's some filming at the gym right next door, so they went to check it out."
"Filming?"
Chae Soo-jeong voiced mild curiosity at the idol singer's words during their chat.
Seeing this, Yeo Hyo-min seized the perfect opening to chime in.
"To be precise, it's drama filming. Actor Lee Sung-min is the lead. I think the title is Run of Fate... or something like that?"
Yeo Hyo-min smoothly bridged the conversation with what she knew.
She figured riding this momentum for a formal recruitment pitch wouldn't be a bad idea and was about to continue.
That's when.
"...What... did you just say?"
"Huh?"
In the next instant,
Chae Soo-jeong's expression suddenly hardened icily.
The smile on her face vanished in a flash,
and her vibrant complexion turned eerily pale.
It was like a warm spring flipping in an instant to the bitter cold of winter.
At her bewilderingly abrupt change, Yeo Hyo-min sensed something ominous and spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
"W-well... I mean... A-actor Lee Sung-min... is here filming... The drama's called Run of Fate or whatever..."
"...No..."
"Ah... w-wait...!"
The moment she heard those words, Chae Soo-jeong bolted out of the arena.
Though Hyo-min wasn't sure what was going on, the gravely serious air about her made her feel puzzled and confused. Still, she dragged her weary legs and chased after her.
But.
-Ring ring ring!!!!
"Fire!!!"
"The gym's on fire!!"
"! Wh-what?"
The chaotic clamor hit them the moment they stepped out of the futsal arena.
At the same time, Yeo Hyo-min's bewildered eyes caught sight of a scene.
Black smoke billowing from the gym.
And... Chae Soo-jeong charging straight inside without a hint of hesitation...
*
"Wh-what the hell is this..."
"Don't go that way! Why's someone heading the opposite direction from the exit?!"
"Over there! Please go that way!"
"Hey! Move your asses faster up front! Wanna die?!"
Fire alarms blared from all directions,
along with sudden billowing white smoke.
In response, the actors and crew inside the arena hurriedly evacuated.
They were too frantic to save expensive equipment or props—just getting their own bodies out was priority one.
The atmosphere was utter pandemonium from the abrupt crisis, and with dozens tangled up at once, the chaos only intensified.
On top of that, creeping dread of death and mounting mental pressure.
In the thick fog of disorder and noise,
they didn't realize.
That a few people who should have been in the evacuation line were missing.
*
The arena interior, fogged up like a misty haze from the smoke,
now felt eerily empty after everyone fled in a flash.
However,
in what seemed like a deserted space, a few remained.
"M-Mr.... Are... are you okay?"
"Kuh..."
Chae Seon-hwa wore a face full of bewilderment.
In front of her lay the man she'd just been talking to, collapsed on the floor.
Lee Sung-min.
Like everyone else, he'd realized something was wrong and tried to stand.
But right after, all strength drained from his body, and he crumpled to the ground.
'What... is this... I already felt off earlier, but...'
The world spun in a dizzying haze,
and his limbs wouldn't budge—not even a finger.
He'd chalked it up to heat fatigue moments ago, but this was too abnormal to blame on tiredness.
Amid thick doubt and even greater confusion, Lee Sung-min spoke to Seon-hwa, who was stomping anxiously beside him, unsure what to do.
"L-look, kid. You get out of here first, at least."
"B-but..."
"Hurry! Don't dawdle!"
"Uuugh..."
At Lee Sung-min's sharp command, Seon-hwa teared up but started to move her feet.
In this chaos, a little kid like her needed someone to look after her,
but Sung-min couldn't help thinking it was better for her to go than stay by his immobilized side.
That's when...
"Hey, what are you doing there?"
"! Y-you...!"
"Unnie!"
A figure pushed through the smoke and filming gear toward them.
A woman clutching what looked like a hastily grabbed fire extinguisher in one hand.
Ha Yu-ra.
Who would've thought he'd feel such relief at seeing her? With a much brighter expression, Lee Sung-min said to her,
"G-good timing. Hurry and get this kid out of here with you!"
"Obviously, but what's wrong with you, sunbae? Are you hurt?"
"I... don't know. Suddenly my body won't move..."
"What do you mean, what..."
There was no reason for jokes in a situation like this.
So if Sung-min was saying it, his body really wasn't responding—and that shouldn't happen under normal circumstances.
Unless someone had slipped him something beforehand...
'No way... That woman from earlier...'
A certain person popped back into her mind.
The suspicious figure who'd been glancing back and forth between her watch and Sung-min's face from a distance moments ago.
Suspecting she might be involved, Yu-ra crouched low.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
"What, you want me to just leave you like this? Don't talk nonsense—try to walk somehow! Seon-hwa, support this side."
"Okay, unnie!"
"Uh... huh?"
At Yu-ra's words, Seon-hwa hoisted up the opposite shoulder Yu-ra was supporting.
Shocked that this tiny kid had surprising—no, absurd—strength, Sung-min forced power into his shaky legs with their help.
Though agonizingly slow, the three managed to shuffle forward.
That's when...
"Wait."
"Yeah?"
"Wh-why, Seon-hwa?"
In the next moment, Seon-hwa abruptly halted.
Her voice carried an uncharacteristic chill, leaving the other two bewildered and forced to stop as well.
Then.
-Scraaaape... scraaaape...
"...?!"
"...What's that?"
A sound reached their ears.
Like metal scraping the floor...
An indescribably eerie noise that grew louder, filling their faces with growing wariness... and fear.
"!"
"Huh?"
Next, a figure emerged from the smoke.
Gripping a long iron pipe in one hand,
fresh bloodstains smeared across her face.
Sung-min recognized her instantly,
but in this moment, that realization only planted heavy dread in his heart.
"S-Sung-min-ssi. Where are you rushing off to? A-and... with two women in tow..."
"Y-you..."
"It... really was a lie... 'No time,' 'this or that'... all excuses... Heh... heheh... heheheh..."
Her trembling voice spilled out, her face twisted in vivid madness.
Gazing at her,
Sung-min uttered her name in a stiff, rigid tone.
"...Ji-su... ssi..."
His manager, whose replacement was confirmed,
and the one whose confession he'd rejected.
Kim Ji-su.
With a grotesquely warped smile,
she slowly advanced toward Sung-min.
Gripping the bloodied iron pipe tightly in her hand.