A Helpful Turn of Events
"It helped in the end."
"-What manner of contact is this?"
As Asin polished her sword, she asked the question. Noel replied while typing out a meeting time on his phone.
"Mr. Shin Jang-yul messaged me. He said he found an interior design company. I can't keep going around without a proper shop—no, a shrine, right? Of course, this isn't terrible, but still."
"-It is because of your own excellence that work comes to you. It is only right to have a shrine. But did you not say you would open a bakery on the first floor?"
"Right. I don't know how long the construction will take, but I'll have to spend some time running around buying things now. I've earned all the money needed for the interior work, anyway."
"-Did Yeong-hyeon not leave you any money?"
"That's an emergency fund. You never know what might happen to a person. It's a business, so I have to keep in mind that it could fail."
Asin walked over at his words and stared intently at Noel.
As expected, she couldn't see it.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"-I have felt this for some time, but unlike others, the flow of your fate is difficult to read."
"Huh? But the Mountain God and Lady Hwaran read my future, didn't they?"
"-It was likely but a fleeting moment. I, too, can read such things."
"Really...? Then why didn't you say anything? Should I buy a lottery ticket?"
Noel's eyes sparkled, prompting Asin to let out a hearty laugh.
"-Since Hwaran has already resolved it, what need was there to speak of it? Besides, if everything is revealed, you would instead become bound by fate. I merely wish for you to remain free of such shackles."
"You said fate is always changing, right?"
"-Indeed. It pleases me greatly to see you forging ahead according to your own will."
Asin spoke with gentle warmth.
She wished for him to live exactly as he pleased, without being swept away by others or bound by anything.
Even if she was a fake god, she kept praying for Noel.
"-And regrettably, you possess no luck when it comes to the lottery."
"Wait, why...? I've been buying them on my phone this whole time."
Noel looked utterly devastated.
A sudden fortune.
Who wouldn't dream of such a windfall?
And yet, to have no luck.
"-It seems you have already expended a massive amount of fortune—enough to win the lottery multiple times over. Tell me, did you perhaps escape the jaws of death?"
Noel was deeply startled by her casual remark.
Even his fingertips felt like they might tremble.
How did she know?
...Ah. So this is how people feel when they visit a shaman!
Noel finally understood.
It felt as though his innermost secrets were being laid bare.
"So I used up all my luck?"
"-It is not quite like that. Fortune does not simply vanish. It is merely that instead of the grand fortune of winning a lottery, something else has taken its place. Would it be easier to understand if I said it is as though a sacrifice was offered to secure an even greater destiny?"
"...That's a bit of a shame."
"-Do not lament. Fortune, too, does not remain stagnant. The saying that luck finds those who seize opportunity is indeed true."
"So if I keep scratching lottery tickets, I'll eventually win third place or something?"
"-Precisely."
As Asin smiled, Noel felt a strange sensation.
The realization that effort could at least bring about change felt unfamiliar, yet comforting.
It was a feeling he could never have experienced in his original world, where things remained a gutter no matter how hard one tried.
"-In any case, rest for today. You have wandered about far too much. I worry it may harm your health."
"I plan to. I'm going to take things easy until the shrine and the bakery are set up."
"-Since the business registration has been completed through Shin Hyeon, that is one less concern."
"Of course. He said any undeclared income can just be reported later. I'm still thinking about the interior design, but once I buy the furniture and items to fill the first and second floors, and hire people to run the bakery, I'm all set."
Noel looked at Asin, asking if it wasn't simple.
"-To be frank, I do not know if it is simple. Will that not also take time?"
"True. But I'm actually finding the process quite fun right now."
Noel burst into laughter as he watched Kkamang-i, who was still deeply engrossed in making biscuits on the sofa.
"I'll make one quick call, then play some games."
"-Are you calling that man named Kim Jeong-in?"
"How did you know? Did you read that too?"
"-How could I? I simply felt that, being who you are, you would bestow a gift upon him."
"You think too highly of me, Asin."
"-I merely trust my own eyes."
Noel felt a bit embarrassed by Asin's warm smile.
Perhaps because she was a divine spirit, looking at her felt like looking into a mirror.
It was incredibly difficult to lie to her.
"-Make your call."
Asin leaned back against the sofa and resumed polishing her sword.
After watching her for a moment, Noel dialed Jeong-in's number.
"Hello."
Jeong-in's voice was incredibly tense.
Was he scared?
"I'm not calling because there's a problem, so you don't have to be so tense."
"Ah... Yes."
Jeong-in sounded extremely cautious.
"Thirty million won should have been deposited back into your account from that shaman. Go ahead and check."
"Are you listening?"
When there was no response, Noel prompted him.
Jeong-in let out a dazed, trembling breath.
"Yes."
Noel briefly pulled the phone away from his ear and yawned.
Having traveled so much today, fatigue was washing over him.
Once I set up the shrine, I should make it reservation-only.
Moving around on a strict, regular schedule didn't suit him at all.
Hearing the sound of quiet sobbing from the other end, Noel waited patiently.
It was only natural for him to cry.
Did it feel like winning the lottery?
If I pocketed that thirty million won too, I wouldn't be human anymore.
Noel smacked his lips, feeling a lingering trace of regret.
"Yes. I'm listening."
It was a simple question.
He probably couldn't understand.
Noel understood that feeling well.
If someone did this for him, he would be incredibly suspicious too.
"Don't die."
"It might be hard, but don't give up on your life. You're allowed to live happily now, aren't you?"
"You don't need a qualification to be happy. If it feels too burdensome, just think of it as a gift from Santa for a fresh start."
Jeong-in let out a soft, tearful laugh at Noel's words.
"They say everyone meets a savior at least once in their life, right? Today was just that day for you. Or you can just think of it as scratching a lottery ticket and winning. Whichever it is, don't overthink it."
The sound of sniffing came through the receiver.
"Yes. That's enough. Just live well so I don't regret what I did today. I mean it."
"I'll text you when I set up my shrine, so send me a bouquet of flowers or something. I think I'd like that. Well, I'll hang up now."
Noel finished what he wanted to say and hung up.
Then he tossed his phone onto the sofa.
Was I meddling too much?
Noel rubbed the bridge of his nose idly.
But surely, one could meet a savior in life.
Just as he told Jeong-in, today he had simply played that role.
He would surely meet many other good people in his life.
Time for games.
Noel sat on the sofa, grabbed the laser pointer resting beside it, and shouted.
"Kkamang-i. Switch on!"
"-On!"
The moment it saw the red dot, Kkamang-i scrambled over and pressed the power button on the console.
Hearing the boot-up sound, Noel's face lit up with excitement.
"-But Noel."
Kkamang-i stepped away from the console and looked up at him.
"What?"
"-When you play this, you keep hitting the little desk and shouting. Can't Asin just do it instead?"
"W-what are you talking about?"
Noel froze, game controller in hand, looking flustered.
"-You died twenty-four times last time, did you not?"
Asin said with a light chuckle.
He had been so angry that his face had turned completely red.
It seemed he possessed absolutely no talent for gaming.
Dodge, slash, dodge, slash.
It was a simple enough concept.
"-And then Noel gave the controller to Asin, and she beat it right away."
"Asin is just... ridiculously good at it."
Asin had looked at him with such pity that he had merely explained the controls to her, only for her to defeat the boss on her very first try.
And he had died twenty-four times.
"-So Noel is bad at it?"
"You little bean! My arm is injured! Go back to making biscuits!"
As Noel yelled, Kkamang-i trotted over with light steps and curled up beside him.
It seemed to be anticipating something.
Noel bit his lower lip slightly.
Just you wait. I'm going to beat you in one go today.
Noel took a deep breath, visualizing the next boss in his head. Asin glanced at him, picked up her tablet, and sat down beside him.
It was time to watch the new movie that had just dropped on the streaming service.
Run Until You Die.
That was the title.
"My father has really aged. To be backstabbed by his own partner like this."
Shin Jang-yul let out a dry chuckle.
Setting aside all other evidence, the most important thing was who his father had joined hands with.
They had agreed to meet in secret, but that person had vanished.
It wasn't the work of his father, who held the leash. After all, his father was the one who had introduced them in the first place.
Ha.
Jang-yul let out a short breath.
"I don't know why everyone is so eager to devour me. They'd surely live in luxury off my money."
Jang-yul suddenly craved a cigarette, a habit he had quit.
Why was a harmonious family such an illusion?
His mother was foolish and simple-minded, yet he loved her dearly.
He wanted her to know that a knife was being driven into her son's back, yet at the same time, he wished she would remain blissfully ignorant.
And yet, he wondered if she truly didn't know.
...Am I the foolish one?
Jang-yul looked up at the sky for a moment.
"Yes. That is how it should be."
"What is it?"
"Just a moment. Let us discuss that later."
Seeing Noel emerge from the hospital, Jang-yul's face lit up with a bright, welcoming smile.
Was this man not his savior?
If not for him, he would surely be dead by now, and everything he had built would have been torn apart by the wolves lusting after his wealth.
"Have you been waiting long?"
Noel hurried over the moment he spotted Jang-yul.
"Not at all. Your cast looks much lighter."
His full cast had been replaced with a lighter, standard one.
"You noticed right away?"
When Noel asked in surprise, Jang-yul answered as if it were only natural.
"The wound on your head has improved as well. I am glad to see you are healing well."
"If it were summer, it would have killed me. It gets so itchy."
"Indeed. The humidity of summer only adds to the discomfort. Please, get in."
Jang-yul opened the door for Noel.
"But is it really alright for you to drive me around yourself every time?"
"It is my pleasure."
At Jang-yul's words, Noel climbed into the car, acting as if he had no choice.
Huh...?
Strangely, a heavy, unpleasant sensation washed over him.
Was he the only one feeling it?
Noel's eyes darted around quickly.
Jang-yul sat in the driver's seat and asked as he buckled his seatbelt.
"By any chance, has anyone approached you, Master?"
"No, why?"
"If such a thing occurs, please let me know immediately."
Hearing those words, Noel looked at Asin.
It wasn't just a simple unpleasant feeling.
It was growing stronger by the second.
"-Get out."
Right? There's definitely something, isn't there?
Noel unbuckled his seatbelt.
Jang-yul looked at him in surprise.
"Master? Did I frighten you and make you uncomfortable?"
"No. I don't scare easily."
Though he had been a bit terrified yesterday when the divine spirit Hwaran had grown massive in her anger.
Who knew she could get that big?
"I am glad to hear that. Then why did you undo your seatbelt? Is something uncomfortable?"
"It's not that. I don't think we should start the car right now."
"Pardon...?"
"-I hear water!"
Kkamang-i said.
"-Indeed. Something is leaking."
Asin agreed.
Noel immediately relayed their words.
"Something is leaking."
At those words, Jang-yul unbuckled his seatbelt at once.
His expression contorted.
"They are practically cornered now. I am worried they might try something against you, President."
...I should have checked.
He had been careless because the car had been serviced just yesterday.
This was a matter of life and death.
They tracked my route.
He needed to find out where his movements had been leaked, but verification came first.
When he stepped outside to check, there was indeed fluid, resembling oil, leaking from the vehicle, just as Master Noel had said.
Ha.
Jang-yul wiped his face.
These kinds of tricks happened from time to time, but why did it have to be today?
Why?
Jang-yul's eyes turned cold and murderous.
He wanted to kill them.
...I must endure. This is merely their final, desperate struggle before they fall.
The veins bulging on Jang-yul's neck slowly subsided.
"Master. Could you... wait for just a moment?"
While Jang-yul inspected the car, Noel stepped out and approached him.
"You certainly have a lot of people targeting you, Mr. Shin."
"I suppose it is due to the nature of my business."
After replying, Jang-yul looked at Noel with deep gratitude.
"You have saved my life once again, Master."
If they had driven off just now, it would have been a disaster.
Even knowing his abilities, Noel's spiritual foresight was truly miraculous.
"I just got a really bad feeling."
It wasn't Jang-yul's time to die yet anyway. He would have survived even without Noel.
"Please wait just a moment. I have sent a message, so my secretary will bring another car."
"But Mr. Shin."
"Yes?"
"You don't seem very surprised."
Perhaps hit where it hurt, Jang-yul rubbed his earlobe with a slightly awkward expression.
"No, I am surprised. And angry. Were you very startled, Master?"
"No, nothing happened to me."
Noel smiled casually.
Suddenly, he recalled the movie Asin had been watching yesterday.
Run Until You Die.
He didn't know the exact plot, but it was a movie about cars.
She wasn't subtly prophesying yesterday, was she?
Noel glanced at Asin out of the corner of his eye.
"Ah, by the way, Master."
"Yes?"
"Do you have a specific direction in mind for the interior design? Since you saved my life again today, I will cover all the interior construction costs."
Jang-yul naturally seized the opportunity to help Noel.
He had been pondering how to pay for the construction without making it awkward, and this situation had ended up helping him after all.
Those bastards actually came in handy for once.
Thinking of it that way, his boiling anger instantly cooled.
Jang-yul looked at Noel with a bright, beaming smile.