Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: My Little Sister is an Anti-Fan
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The day after the department store shopping spree incident.
The Korean internet was on the verge of its servers exploding.
[Exclusive] Heavenly Demon Baek Seorin, department store date with Han Jaewoo... "I will protect you with my own strength."
[Analysis] Who is the Heavenly Demon's lover, Han Jaewoo? His overwhelming physique and fashion sense.
[Photo] When he wears it, it becomes luxury. A perfect breakdown of Han Jaewoo's 'Northern Grand Duke Look'.
The world was awash in pink.
The merciless killer Heavenly Demon, devoid of blood or tears, had fallen in love.
With a man who looked like a tragic master straight out of a wuxia novel.
The public was ecstatic, reporters spun tales like novelists, and fan clubs sprang up overnight.
And at the center of that frenzy stood the man himself, Han Jaewoo.
Right now, he was sprawled on the worn-out sofa in the living room of their shabby apartment in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, cackling to himself.
"Kekeke... The public sure has an eye for talent."
He scrolled through his smartphone, a satisfied smile on his face.
The comment sections were spotless.
No hate comments in sight—just pure praise. 'Bro's a total stud,' 'Take care of Heavenly Demon sis,' 'Did he just save the nation?' and so on.
'Perfect. Public opinion is locked down tight.'
Whistling a cheerful tune, he scratched his belly.
Dressed in a stretched-out tank top and square boxer briefs.
With bird's nest hair and eye boogers still uncleared.
He looked nothing like the noble aristocrat on his screen—an utterly unemployed slob.
That's when a chill pierced his back.
"...Oppa."
It was his little sister, Han Yujin.
She alternated glares between her smartphone screen and her brother lounging on the sofa, her face twisted in disgust.
Contempt.
Her eyes held the deep loathing only siblings could share.
"If you have any conscience, let go of Heavenly Demon unnie. This is a crime. A straight-up crime."
"What is?"
"If that unnie knew your real self, she'd faint. Northern Grand Duke? More like a kangaroo scratching its ass in boxers at home."
The fact-bomb hit him right in the bones.
Han Yujin shook her head in disbelief.
"Picture this. That charismatic Heavenly Demon unnie sees you chugging leftover chicken broth. Ugh, just imagining it gives me chills. She'd draw her sword and slice you in half on the spot."
Han Jaewoo flinched.
She had a point—it was risky.
The moment his mysterious image shattered, his head would roll.
But he armored himself in shamelessness.
He sat up on the sofa, straightened his posture.
Then, gazing at his sister with soulful eyes, he spoke in the Northern Grand Duke's dignified tone.
"...What you see is not all there is, Yujin."
His voice dropped low.
"She loves not my shell, but the abyss within."
"Bullshit."
Han Yujin shot back and hurled the remote at him.
"Talking about abysses and crap. She's just dazzled by your face. Oppa, this is fraud marriage. Cut it off before she sues for alimony."
"...Ahem."
He had no comeback.
Truth was, he lay awake every night dreading when it'd all come out.
And the real injustice? Everyone thought they were dating, but he'd never even held Baek Seorin's hand (except during the kidnapping).
Though when they parted, she'd said solemnly, "Call me anytime you need me. I'll rush to the ends of the earth."
'Crazy. How am I supposed to call her?'
That overwhelming presence—she'd probably smash through the building if he phoned.
He hadn't dared contact her, just trembling at the 'Heavenly Demon-nim' name in his contacts.
No relationship at all, yet the whole world blessed them. The irony.
Just then, Mother emerged from the kitchen and yelled, pointing at a corner of the living room.
"Aigoo, what are we supposed to do with all this? The house is cramped enough already!"
Where she pointed was a mountain of luxury shopping bags and boxes.
The clothes Baek Seorin had looted from the department store yesterday.
So much it wouldn't fit in his room and had overflowed into the living room.
"Do clothes put food on the table? Where do we even put this? No room to step!"
Mother kicked at the clothing pile.
Han Jaewoo panicked and rushed over to block her.
"Mom! Do you know how much one of those costs? Don't kick them with your feet!"
"Expensive my ass! The rice bin's empty right now! Sell these rags and buy some rice, or get out there and earn money!"
Mother's backhand smacked home.
Smack!
"Ow, fine! I'll go! Just going out, okay?!"
In the end, Han Jaewoo was shoved out the door like trash.
In this house, Grand Duke or not, he was just baggage.
"Treating noble generosity like trash..."
Muttering, he grabbed some clothes.
The top-grade black long coat Baek Seorin had forced on him yesterday.
But he layered something underneath.
A tattered black garment.
The [Mithril Frock Coat comparable to S-Rank].
Torn and ragged, but its defense option still held.
He wore the mithril frock coat over his shirt, then the luxury long coat over that.
'Gonna sweat buckets.'
Not even summer, but sweat trickled down his back.
The fit bulged like a bear's bulk.
No choice, though.
Life mattered more than style to him.
'Can't go out without this. Too paranoid.'
The desperate survival instinct of a commoner.
Waddling awkwardly, he left the house.
Destination: Hunter Association Bank.
His sole goal: Open a much-anticipated overdraft account using his official Hunter license as collateral.
He needed debt just to cover chicken debt and sister's allowance.
By the time he bused to the Association, lunch hour had passed.
The lobby bustled as always, but thankfully, no Heavenly Demon today.
'Good. Quick loan, then bounce.'
He raised his collar and headed to the bank counter.
But his path wasn't smooth.
"Excuse me a moment."
Massive men in black suits blocked Han Jaewoo.
Sunglasses, earpieces—textbook bodyguards.
Han Jaewoo instinctively shrank back.
'What? Loan sharks? I haven't borrowed yet?'
As he stepped back, one man bowed politely.
"Are you Hunter Han Jaewoo?"
"...Who're you?"
He feigned calm, donning the Northern Grand Duke mask.
"We're from the 'Guardian' Guild."
Guardian.
One of Korea's Big Three guilds, the elite group boasting they upheld Hunters' justice.
Led by the Returnees' leader, the 'Hero'.
Han Jaewoo's eyebrow twitched.
Here it comes.
He'd heard his stock had skyrocketed post-scandal, but he hadn't expected the Big Three to move directly.
"Our Guild Master has ordered us to escort you respectfully."
"Guild Master... the Hero?"
"Yes. Could you spare some time?"
The scout offered a business card emblazoned with the guild logo.
Han Jaewoo's heart pounded.
Guardian enlistment.
High salary, solid benefits, social prestige.
It was no different from the big corp job offer he'd dreamed of during job hunting days.
'Jackpot! Life set! Sign me up!'
His inner self tap-danced.
But he couldn't leap rashly.
Hero Cha Haewon.
She was tricky in a whole different way from the Heavenly Demon.
Rigid, righteous personality.
What if she demanded an 'integrity test' or 'skill verification' for enlistment?
His B-rank swordsmanship and petty nature would be exposed in seconds.
The Heavenly Demon had delusion going for her; a sharp-eyed Hero might see through him.
'Too risky. Gotta dodge for now.'
Han Jaewoo ignored the card, staring down the scout with cold eyes.
"The Hero, huh..."
He smirked derisively.
"That rigid fellow's invitation doesn't appeal much."
The scouts' faces hardened.
Calling Korea's hero 'that rigid fellow' and refusing? Arrogance piercing the heavens.
"Mr. Han Jaewoo. This is a formal invitation. Refusing puts us in a bind."
"Out of my way. I have bank business."
Han Jaewoo tried to pass.
That's when it happened.
Screeech—
A hefty black sedan pulled up at the Association's main entrance.
Plate number 1.
The Guardian Guild Master's personal ride.
"Huh?"
The scouts panicked and cleared a path.
The rear door opened, and blinding light poured out.
Literal physical light.
A holy aura illuminated the surroundings.
Click-clack, click-clack.
A woman in crisp uniform stepped out.
A stunning beauty with radiant golden hair tied back in a ponytail, like sacred flame.
Her blue eyes brimmed with spotless justice and kindness.
Korea's Rank 3.
The symbol of salvation, returned after defeating the Demon King in another world.
Hero Cha Haewon.
At her appearance, everyone in the lobby bowed instinctively.
The overwhelming saintess aura.
She strode straight toward Han Jaewoo.
His eyes stung like they might go blind.
Where the Heavenly Demon exuded crimson killing intent, the Hero radiated golden holy power.
Too dazzling for a petty commoner with dark thoughts.
'Aaaah! Blinding! Make it stop!'
He wanted sunglasses.
But Cha Haewon approached right to his nose and bowed politely.
"Forgive my rudeness, Mr. Han Jaewoo."
Even her voice was crystalline.
She looked up and smiled brightly.
It felt like flowers bloomed around her.
"My subordinates were impertinent. I should have come myself as courtesy demands, but I was in a rush."
"...Hero."
"Call me Cha Haewon."
She extended a gloved white hand.
A handshake offer.
"I've been dying to meet the man who changed Baek Seorin... the Heavenly Demon."
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and awe.
The man who'd made the bloodless Heavenly Demon fall in love, softening her blade.
The Hero wanted to see that miracle-worker with her own eyes.
Han Jaewoo swallowed dryly at the proffered hand.
Shake it? Or nah?
Would holy energy incinerate him on contact?
"...Changed her, you say."
Feigning nonchalance, he crossed his arms instead of taking her hand.
Rejection.
But Cha Haewon didn't seem offended—instead, her eyes lit up with more interest.
"As expected. Aloof, just like the rumors."
'No... I just couldn't reach out 'cause I'm scared.'
"But I'm not one to back down easily. Letting talent like yours roam free is humanity's loss."
Cha Haewon stepped closer.
Holy light enveloped him.
The pressure hit critical mass.
Suddenly entangled with the Heavenly Demon and now the Hero.
Reporters lurking in the lobby corner caught wind and swarmed like mad.
[Breaking] Hero Cha Haewon publicly scouts Han Jaewoo? "Needed for humanity."
[Live] Hero extends hand to Heavenly Demon's lover... Prelude to a love triangle?
Flashes popped, murmurs swelled like waves.
Han Jaewoo sweated rivers under his double-layered coat, thinking desperately.
'Please... just let me get that overdraft account...'
'Why's earning chicken money this hard?!'
His cries drowned in the flash flood.