Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Grinding Teeth Over YouQuiz
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Looks like I'm grinding my teeth over YouQuiz.
Just one day after the filming, the next day's YouQuiz episode featuring Yong-un, Sena, and Jun-su aired.
It was the result of Yong-un's appearance.
The station director and PD, eager not to delay even by a single day, had aligned their intentions to make it happen.
And another day passed...
As expected.
Just as the PD and director had predicted, Yong-un's YouQuiz appearance was a historic hit.
His sudden appearance without any ads or promotions created even more buzz than if there had been hype.
Though unannounced, its impact was already scorching the internet in real time.
The news articles seemed endless, and the comment counts had maxed out.
But those comments and articles were strange.
This was YouQuiz, an appearance at Sena's request.
So why was Park Jae-gu PD getting all the praise instead of Sena?
"It seemed off, so I showed you... Glad I did."
Jin-cheol frowned as he took back the tablet PC.
He knew Yong-un had no interest in the internet or TV, so he'd gone out of his way to visit Yong-un's family home to show him.
If Jin-cheol hadn't, Yong-un might never have known.
"You're really not acquainted with PD Park Jae-gu, right?"
Jin-cheol tilted his head.
"No. I appeared at my sister's request."
"That's the problem then. Did you watch the broadcast?"
Yong-un shook his head.
Then Jin-cheol pulled up the controversial scene from yesterday's YouQuiz on the tablet.
As YouQuiz began, PD Park Jae-gu appeared.
No mention of Yong-un.
But as PD Park Jae-gu finished speaking, soft BGM faded in along with subtitles.
Anyone watching would get the strong impression that PD Park Jae-gu had secured Yong-un.
"Outrageous."
Now he understood why those articles and comments existed.
And Yong-un realized what Sena had meant by her concern.
'Sister was right. Editing matters more than filming.'
As he watched the rest of YouQuiz, Yong-un's expression grew darker.
His answers, questions, small gestures, and reactions from the shoot had all been twisted.
"Not a word of it remains."
Originally, Yong-un had smiled every time Sena finished speaking.
He'd laughed at her funny lines, shown surprise at old stories about them.
And throughout the shoot, he'd faced toward Sena.
But...
The edited version showed Yong-un completely differently.
Right after Nure Jae-seok and Jun-su spoke, Yong-un's surprised expression appeared.
As if he were amazed and delighted by Jun-su's words.
"If even the Lord rates him highly... Shall we bring him in?"
The editing was so vicious it even fooled Jin-cheol, who was watching alongside.
Yong-un scowled.
"The Lord...?"
Realizing Yong-un's mood darkening, Jin-cheol clammed up.
The awkward atmosphere lingered until YouQuiz ended.
After watching the full episode, Yong-un clenched his fist and stood.
"Sister might not even have appeared."
The image of Sena smiling brightly at the end, unaware of what the edit had done, burned in Yong-un's mind.
Sena had barely five minutes of screen time.
All his actions toward her had been redirected to Jun-su, a total stranger.
"The worst."
Then he pictured Sena after filming, excitedly anticipating busy days at the omakase restaurant.
Her bright smile fading into disappointment and hurt.
Yong-un pulled out his phone from his pocket and fiddled with it idly.
Thinking she hadn't called to avoid worrying him despite this made Yong-un feel even worse.
"L-Lord...?"
How long had it been since he'd been this angry?
Whoosh.
Crimson Demonic Energy surged from Yong-un's body, wrecking the surroundings.
Jin-cheol backed away in shock as the tablet PC crumbled to dust.
"Did you see it?"
"What do you mean, my lord?"
"Sena. That's my sister. I went on for her sake."
"......"
Jin-cheol, sharp as he was, pieced it all together from one sentence.
Armani Mall, Sena, Yong-un's sister.
"What shall I do?"
Jin-cheol dropped to one knee, sharing the fury.
"Find out. Killing's too easy. Something worse than death..."
Yong-un's order rang out.
Jin-cheol bowed his head and turned to leave.
"I'll find it, my lord."
As he headed out, Jin-cheol muttered softly.
"PD Park Jae-gu, you touched what you shouldn't have. Poor guy, messing with the Lord's precious family. Tsk tsk."
The Heavenly Demon Cult was rife with schemes and plots.
Yong-un had always resolved them with his keen instincts.
So why hadn't his instincts stirred this time?
'No, maybe they did warn me.'
The director and PD following Iron Army Guild members.
When he'd seen that group, his instincts might have activated.
He just hadn't noticed.
'I was complacent.'
Was life in the modern world too comfortable?
Had he grown too accustomed to its leniency, unlike the Cult?
No, that wasn't it.
It wasn't his instincts or adaptation to reality.
The issue was Yong-un himself, arrogantly thinking he knew the modern world inside out after living in it.
"My fault."
His instincts had warned him clearly.
Yet he'd ignored them.
His overconfidence—"What could go wrong?"—had caused this.
Yong-un sank back into the sofa, staring at the pile of dust where the table had been.
"Then I must change."
He stood, scowling.
Placing a hand on the sofa, he unleashed Crimson Demonic Energy.
Crunch.
The sofa disintegrated into powder, scattering around.
Then Yong-un pulled out his phone and dialed.
[Hello?]
To Sena, who sounded drained and listless.
"Where are you?"
Subordinates entered the House of Specter Soul Annihilation and the Demonic Dragon Corps' residence, vacant for three days due to Yong-un.
For those who only trained in Ghost Slaughter Soul Extinction or Demonic Dragon Incarnation or cleared Gates, everyday life like ordinary people felt awkward.
But after that time, their bonds grew even tighter.
And that wasn't all.
Hobbies began sprouting in their lives.
"Hey, Myung-su."
Sword Tiger, leader of the Demonic Dragon Corps, visited the House of Specter Soul Annihilation.
"You called?"
Myung-su appeared from empty air.
Though he emerged like a ghost, Sword Tiger, now used to it, chuckled and threw an arm around him.
"How's it feel being back?"
"Great."
"Cleared all the Gates?"
"Feels refreshing."
Listening to the ghost souls' chatter inside, it was clear they'd fully vented stress from Gates after so long.
The Demonic Dragon Corps felt the same.
"I felt so refreshed, I never want to go back to daily life."
"Yet here you are, so you must have found something you liked?"
Sword Tiger punched Myung-su's chest playfully amid his grin.
"You enjoyed it too. Myeongdong Player?"
"It was fun. Gangnam Player."
"Let's go. Soon I'll install that machine at the Demonic Dragon Corps' place. Then we play there, not out."
"Sounds good. Hahaha."
Warmth seeped into lives once cold as war machines.
Myung-su and Sword Tiger headed out for fun.
Hobbies weren't just for the leaders.
Inside the House of Specter Soul Annihilation they passed laughing, another hobby was in full swing.
"Oh my, aren't you just too pretty?"
The Dancer dolled up the Poison Witch like dressing a doll.
"Sis!"
The Poison Witch sneaked peeks in the mirror, pretending reluctance.
"Wow...."
And Kim Gu of the Seven Ghost Souls filmed her beauty on his phone.
"The skirt feels shorter, sis...."
The Poison Witch blushed, tugging it down repeatedly.
The Dancer, who usually doted on her, was different today.
Smack.
"Ow!"
She slapped the Poison Witch's hand pulling the skirt.
Then hiked it back up.
"Don't touch. Today's our stage."
"Sigh...."
"Didn't you hear the Lord? Ad shoot today. Hohoho."
Ad shoot? What?
The Dancer's enhanced makeup skills and the Poison Witch, unable to refuse, looked more beautiful than ever.
"How's this?"
Makeup and outfit done, the Dancer eyed Kim Gu, lost in a daze.
He immediately gave double thumbs up.
"Seriously... Like she could outshine any celebrity."
"Good. All set. Let's go?"
With final approval from Kim Gu, the Dancer summoned her energy.
The Poison Witch's hands fell limply, skirt-tugging urge forgotten.
"Be back soon~"
Their dolled-up forms melted into shadows.
"Can't keep this to myself... That'd be a sin."
After they vanished, Kim Gu, watching the video, clutched his phone preciously like other ghost souls embracing new hobbies, and entered his room.
Armani Shopping Mall headquarters near Yeoksam Station.
The Poison Witch and Dancer appeared before it.
Soon after, Yong-un arrived at the entrance.
"Lord."
"Lord!"
The Poison Witch shyly turned away; the Dancer gleefully hooked her arm in his.
Seeing them so different from usual, Yong-un smiled awkwardly.
"Just as One Ghost Soul said, dolled up, you're stunning."
"Th-thank you."
"Dolled up? So normally not?"
The Poison Witch bowed; the Dancer lifted her chin higher.
"So you think I'm ugly usually?"
When had it started?
The Dancer bold with Yong-un, while he grew weak against her.
"Ahem, let's head in."
"Dodging!? Wait till I meet your sister-in-law!"
At "sister-in-law," Poison Witch and Yong-un's eyes widened.
But then—
"Yong-un, since when've you been hiding such a pretty little sister?"
Sena appeared before the open doors.
"N-No, it's not..."
"Huh? You flustered? Makes me more suspicious~"
Sena grinned, eyeing the Dancer straight.
The bold Dancer faltered at meeting the Lord—nay, Yong-un's real sister.
She bowed hastily.
"H-Hello. Nice to meet you. I'm the Dancer..."
"Oh! Can't keep guests waiting like this. Especially not our mall's benefactor-to-be family."
"Sister?"
"Come in already. What're you doing?"
In the blocking vibe, Yong-un couldn't protest and followed Sena inside wordlessly.
'Tiring.'
Strong women drained his energy.
But Yong-un soon smiled, trailing Sena into Armani Shopping Mall.
'Didn't I vow to make you untouchable?'
Myung-un was already the hunter world's sacred cow.
Now, time to do the same for Sena, who'd helped much but not directly.
An overwhelming untouchable one no one could touch.
'You moved me.'
Yong-un clenched his fist lightly and strode boldly toward Armani Shopping Mall, step by step.