Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 078
Chapter Title: I Need You (2)
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I had no idea why grown adults, who’d lived long enough, bothered with such pointless power plays. Woo Do-gyeom was a full ten years older than Kwon Seong-hyeon, too. But they both came off as acting the same way.
“Kwon Seong-hyeon-ssi.”
“Yes, Yeonwoo-ssi.”
“Did you really cut off all contact?”
“...That’s.”
The sharp edge in his demeanor softened in an instant.
“He’s a dangerous person, Yeonwoo-ssi. You shouldn’t get close to him.”
“Kwon Seong-hyeon-ssi. I appreciate you looking out for me, but who I meet is my decision.”
“But.”
“I get that you’re concerned, but I’m not a child, and this overprotectiveness is a bit much.”
Kwon Seong-hyeon’s expression turned a little odd when he said “child,” but whatever.
“Even if I gave Yeonwoo-ssi the world, it wouldn’t be enough.”
This was starting to feel almost like a fervent cult follower. Recalling how he’d once called him “angel,” blind faith fit perfectly.
Well.
He had saved his life, and with how eccentric the guy was... it couldn’t be helped.
Sigh.
“You don’t need to do anything for me.”
“But still...”
“Just having you around is a huge help to me.”
That much was true. Wasn’t Kwon Seong-hyeon an excellent lifespan vending machine?
*In situations like this, you need to soothe them.*
With blind devotees, telling them they’re “wrong” often didn’t register properly.
*I thought he was just mild-mannered.*
Unexpected. But if he were purely that docile, he wouldn’t have reached the top.
Discovering this new side was intriguing, but secondary. Right now, soothing him was key.
The best approach was to gently coax with soft words.
“And I don’t like judging people based on preconceptions. You know what I mean, right, Kwon Seong-hyeon-ssi?”
Prejudice. An utterly loathsome word that could never be absent from Yeonwoo’s life.
“You know how horrific it is to be judged solely on someone else’s words, don’t you? I hope you won’t make that kind of unfair call. I wouldn’t care if it were anyone else. But this is you, Kwon Seong-hyeon-ssi.”
This applied to Kwon Seong-hyeon as an entertainer, too. Idols suffered endless rumors and scandals. One false rumor could brand you and ruin your image—this industry was full of such cases.
And if someone got hurt that way, it piled up as mouth karma.
“...I’m sorry.”
“You were wrong, right?”
“Yes.”
Kwon Seong-hyeon, who’d hesitated, apologized and let his shoulders slump.
It was probably an illusion seeing droopy ears and a fluffy tail.
“You can’t do that anymore.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“I really appreciate you thinking of me, but you don’t need to go that far. If I need something, I’ll ask.”
“You mean that?”
“Of course.”
Why would he lie? Kwon Seong-hyeon was already a fine lifespan vending machine—no, stat repository, no, just a good person.
He didn’t want someone like that racking up unnecessary mouth karma because of him.
And.
Someone was watching the scene with keen interest.
“Even Chairman Woo couldn’t break his stubbornness, yet the youngest young master made him apologize...”
Woo Do-gyeom muttered meaningfully, stroking his chin.
“He really catches my eye.”
***
[Yeonwoooooooo!]
The tension had eased somewhat—not quite resolved, not quite reconciled, just awkward.
That delicate atmosphere shattered when a small, plump sparrow burst in, panting and flapping wildly.
[You said we’re going together, so how could you leave me behind and go up?! Why wasn’t the elevator working?! I thought I was gonna die flying up the stairs!]
The Child Spirit flapped in and flopped messily onto Yeonwoo’s shoulder.
Yeonwoo caught the small, chubby body as it slid down with his palm and thought.
*Why not just leave your body behind?*
Why fly all the way to the top of this high-rise?
[Aigoo, I’m dying. Huff huff... Kang Yeonwoo! You have no idea how shocked I was! You did something you never did in life, and I thought something terrible happened—nearly choked on my breath!]
Piiiiiik!
The sparrow, catching its breath, cried out.
*Your choking was probably for a different reason.*
Yeonwoo thought so but didn’t say it.
[But you look surprisingly fine? I freaked out thinking you were half-dead!]
“Is that sparrow someone you know?”
[Whoa! What’s this now?! Why’s a curse clump talking to me?!]
Pibibibibibik!
The startled Child Spirit flapped back in a hurry.
[Yeonwoo! You haven’t gotten tangled up with that curse clump, have you?! Messing with something like that is a real headache!]
“Oh...”
Like the saying about a dog at school reciting poetry after three years. Ghosts had spiritual power, so it made sense.
“Why are you reacting like that...? No way... right?]
Ifs caught people—no, ghosts.
[Kang Yeonwoo, are you crazy?! Don’t you remember what Yeonhwa-ssi said?!]
“Take a good look. He’s not the target.”
“What? What do you mean? That thick curse aura couldn’t belong to anyone but the target... oh... it doesn’t...?]
Pipik?
The sparrow clearly had expressions. Otherwise, that blank face wouldn’t make sense.
“Fascinating. It’s like they’re having a conversation.”
Woo Do-gyeom muttered again, intrigued.
Hearing that, Kwon Seong-hyeon let out a chuckle.
“First time seeing a talking bird? Well, you probably investigated hard, but of course you wouldn’t know about the animals around Yeonwoo-ssi.”
*But I know. And very well!*
Woo Do-gyeom’s brow twitched at the boast dripping with smugness.
“You can learn those things gradually, no? The fun is in digging into every detail from past to present to future.”
“The past?”
“Ah. You wouldn’t know, young master. You hate ‘dirty methods,’ after all.”
Now Woo Do-gyeom’s lips curved into a smile.
“The past is the foundation of a person. Investigating it is a crucial step in truly knowing someone.”
“But it’s not exactly honorable, is it?”
“Regardless of the method, the desire to know someone is the same, isn’t it? Different starting lines mean a little leeway for shortcuts.”
“It won’t make a difference.”
“We’ll see.”
They exchanged leisurely smiles.
But lurking behind was anything but goodwill.
[No, what’s with that guy?! Why’s he picking on our actor?! I was gonna go easy because of the curses, but looks like I need to educate him personally!]
The tiny plump sparrow waddled over and perched on Woo Do-gyeom’s head.
Then.
“Hm?”
Peck peck peck peck!
It started madly pecking at his crown.
Of course, it didn’t last long.
“Lively bird.”
Woo Do-gyeom casually reached up and grabbed the Child Spirit.
The Child Spirit struggled to escape his grip, but
[Whoa! What’s this guy?! How’s he not budging at all?!]
It was no use.
*...So that’s why those sinister auras just swirl around him without effect.*
Now Yeonwoo understood why the man, wrapped in curse threads thick enough to look like the target, was perfectly fine.
*Children with divine energy, parents with earth spirit lineage...*
Coincidentally, Woo Do-gyeom had a constitution trivial ghosts couldn’t approach.
You know those people? At a haunted spot for courage training, everyone sees ghosts and illusions, but one person sees nothing and stays fine. Or sleeps soundly while others suffer sleep paralysis. Just by being there a bit.
Otherwise, he couldn’t have subdued even a strong spirit like the Child Spirit.
“You can’t grip it that tight.”
It was enduring because it was a Child Spirit—otherwise, body and soul would’ve separated already.
“Ah, right. I’ve never had a bird this close. But.”
“Yes?”
“If I let this bird go, what will you do for me?”
“Yes...?”
“There has to be a price for releasing it, right?”
“You’re pettier than I thought.”
“I have no choice when I feel like I need to grab it by the leg right now.”
[Yeonwooooo! What is this guy?! Get me out!]
Sigh... Yeonwoo sighed and rubbed his temple.
“Let it go.”
“You’ll help me?”
“I was planning to anyway.”
Kwon Seong-hyeon cut in at the weary reply.
“Yeonwoo-ssi! You don’t have to! Dongja-ssi just needs to break that guy’s wrist!”
Woo Do-gyeom tilted his head at the urgent tone.
“Oh? Want to try?”
“Everyone, calm down.”
In the end, Yeonwoo stepped in to mediate again.
“Woo Do-gyeom-ssi, let the bird go quick, and Kwon Seong-hyeon-ssi, just calm down first.”
“But Yeonwoo-ssi, he’s an extremely dangerous man. The safest is not to get involved.”
“Dangerous? If you knew how much I could do, you wouldn’t say that.”
“...Anyway, both of you quiet down. Hands first.”
Thankfully, Woo Do-gyeom obediently opened his palm.
[Yeonwooooo! Ughhh! Why does a guy like that exist?! Wrapped in curse threads and still fine... what is he... scary...!]
The moment it was free, the Child Spirit darted into Yeonwoo’s hood, trembling.
Yeonwoo had never seen someone with earth spirit lineage before.
“I let it go, so you’ll help me now?”
“More precisely, I’ll help Woo Do-gyeom-ssi’s children.”
“My children...?”
Kwon Seong-hyeon, who’d been sharply out of character, finally reverted to his usual self.
“Children?”
“So innocent, young master.”
“Not using illegal methods doesn’t make this rude? Guess you can’t hide your nature.”
These two.
Were they natural enemies? They seemed acquainted, but definitely not in a good way.
Yeonwoo sighed deeply and explained.
“Woo Do-gyeom-ssi’s kids are in trouble. That’s why I’m helping.”
He’d decided the moment he learned the curse threads led not to Woo Do-gyeom, but his children.
Ignorance would be one thing.
But they were kids—reminding him of his past self. That changed everything.
If.
If he hadn’t been born to Lady Kang.
If Lady Kang weren’t an exceptional shaman destined for full deity status, but ordinary.
*Probably, I wouldn’t be alive and breathing here.*
So he had to help.
It was like saving his past self.
One thing nagged, though.
*Weirdly, Lady Kang vibes from Woo Do-gyeom? Even blurred at 10% opacity... why see her in a young dad?*
Anyway.
“You sure... it’s okay, Yeonwoo-ssi?”
“Kwon Seong-hyeon-ssi. Think back to that time. When I came looking for you.”
“Ah... When I first met angel—no, Yeonwoo-ssi.”
“...”
Why bring up that nickname here?
“Angel?”
“Why? Curious? Guess your background check report didn’t cover that.”
“Regrettably.”
“Some truths you learn only through honest relationships, not investigations. You wouldn’t know since you’ve never tried.”
“...”
Yeah, better keep these two apart.
Yeonwoo concluded and replied.
“Anyway, it’s a similar situation.”
“Ah...”
The kids needed help.
Not just anyone’s—Yeonwoo’s help.