The Rising Storm

First, she moved like a total female lead while wearing a skirt—1st wave of awe. Then, she cleared 'that song' in Rhythm Saver—2nd wave of awe. Pure white panties—3rd wave of awe. And finally, exposing the celebrity hunters—4th wave of awe. This all happened in just two hours?

Internet chatter about celebrity hunters was at a fever pitch. I was in the Central Guild Leader's office, kicking Park Jungsoo in the shin.

Thwack-

"Gah! Kick lightly, you lunatic! You almost broke my leg!"

I silently slapped the back of Park Jungsoo's head.

Smack-

"Ugh."

"You brat, you could've just asked if you wanted to know, why didn't you say anything?"

"Geez, sorry." Park Jungsoo rubbed the back of his head and shrugged. "I was suspicious of your phone, you see."

"My phone?"

"Yeah, Cheon Myeong-seok seemed very interested in you."

"So?"

"He could've tracked your calls."

"...Like peeking at a carrier pigeon?"

At my words, Park Jungsoo wiped his face and nodded. "Yeah, think of it that way."

"Tsk. Should I throw my phone away then?"

"Well, keep it. You actually utilized it this time."

"..."

As I stared blankly at my phone, Park Jungsoo nodded. "Yeah. Just grow up to be a good girl, Lone Demon Queen."

I kicked his shin again at that. Crack- As he slumped down with the sound of joints popping, Park Jungsoo ground his teeth. "You bastard! Kicking someone with stats over four digits is murder!"

"Yours are over that too! Let's call it even!"

"You don't even have a hint of remorse, you psychopath."

I looked at Park Jungsoo, who was still rubbing his shin as he slumped into his chair. "What were you going to do if I didn't expose the celebrity hunters?"

"Heh, you? The Lone Demon King who hates them to the bone?"

"..."

I scratched my head and said, "Fine, let's say that's true. But I'm used to the Seoul Guild's retaliation. What about Central?"

"Whoa, you're actually worried about the guild. That's a first."

"..."

I frowned at that. It wasn't wrong. I must have gotten a bit lax from hanging out with the kids lately. "Don't worry. The Seoul Guild has been acting too arrogant since the Lone Demon King disappeared."

"You have many allies?"

"Exactly. So I'm planning to take the lead in dungeon clearing from the Seoul Guild this time."

"You were just complaining last time that the Seoul Guild has many connections to politicians and holds too much power."

Park Jungsoo grinned at my words. "A politician's power comes from the public, and the public moves by public opinion."

"?"

What about the public? Park Jungsoo, watching my expression, nodded. "It's fine, you don't need to know. Just keep in mind that you're going to be a star."

"A star?"

I scrunched up my face. "You want me to be a pretty face? You know I hate that."

"It's not being a pretty face. Keep doing what you want. We'll blow the trumpet for you."

I thought about it for a moment. "...Are you planning to flip the board using me?"

"Exactly. I told you, you're not stupid, just uneducated."

"You're going to change the standard for celebrity hunters by pushing me forward?"

Why do I have to do such annoying work? Do I have to play the clown outside the Tower too? I've always been comfortable alone. Perhaps reading my expression, Park Jungsoo spoke.

"Have you ever thought that you're different from others?"

"Me? Different?"

I have arms and legs just like everyone else. I'm just a piece of meat that's a bit tougher and always exposed to the risk of death. That's all, is that so different?

"You're thinking about how we're both just living or dying again, aren't you?"

"Hmm..."

"Do you think it's normal for someone to calculate how to slice someone up the moment they see them?"

"..."

As I averted my gaze, Park Jungsoo continued. "How do you act when you get a status ailment in the Tower?"

"I get blessed or look for a status-clearing potion."

"Exactly. The status-clearing potion for the ailment you've caught is broadcasting."

"..."

I stared at him silently at his serious gaze. Is he worried about the Baleful Star?

"Otherwise, one day you'll be blinded by that strange star, you idiot."

"Light has no direction. Is that what you want to say?"

"Yeah, I'm saying it because I don't want to see my friend become a monster."

How cute.

"Hmph."

"Hmph? Did you just say hmph? Wow, geez. Hey, say it one more time. You've gotten a lot cuter lately? I told you, you really do need that clearing potion."

"..."

Heat rose to my face and I moved my foot again, but this time, Park Jungsoo hurriedly dodged.

"Anyway, think about it seriously. I've never seen you smile like that before."

"..."

"Ah, we're thinking of doing a female hunter variety show at Central..."

"I'm not doing it, you bastard!"

Smack- The phone I threw hit Park Jungsoo's head and flew off.

"Ow, you bastard, you threw your phone... wait, this is my phone!"

Smoke rose from the half-bent phone. "Oh, oh, the battery, the battery is exploding!"

I left the guild leader's office and headed toward the Paradise Guild.

"It'll be good to meet people through broadcasting."

If that was enough to calm the Baleful Star...

"..."

Inside the quiet elevator, I stared blankly at the ceiling. The chats I saw during the broadcast came to mind.

Hmm... suddenly my body felt itchy. Well, is there any reason it wouldn't calm down?

"Affection..."

Affection was always difficult for me. Just like something that doesn't return even if you crave it with your life. It was also hard to understand receiving it without any price. If you asked if I hated it, it was definitely not. If you asked if I enjoyed it while broadcasting, yes, I enjoyed it. Receiving affection is naturally good. Since they like me, there's no need to refuse. I just want to enjoy the moment of being loved.

However.

"Don't make me laugh."

There is an invisible string attached to goodwill. I just won't be fooled. There's no way there's such a thing as affection given for free. Whatever plans you guys are making, I won't fall for it.

*

Cha Haneul threw her phone, trembling. "What the hell is this bitch? She said she was D-rank! Why is she so arrogant?"

The phone that hit the waiting room wall fell to the floor. Cha Haneul's manager picked it up, placed it on the vanity, and said, "D-rank is certain. I checked all the government records. She has D-rank stats and only has weird skills. I confirmed it."

"But she's picking a fight with me? Is she crazy?"

The manager took off his glasses, wiped them with a cloth, and said, "She's probably doing it because she'll get famous if she bites you."

Indeed, thanks to that, Everlight and Cha Haneul had been the #1 hot topic for the entire week. The problem was that it was all mockery and notoriety.

"I'm really going to kill her."

I didn't like her because she looked too young anyway. Cha Haneul bit her lip and said, "Our guild still can't handle one bitch like this, what are you doing?"

"As you know, the Central Guild is behind her."

"Ha. You hooked up with that bastard Park Jungsoo?"

"..."

"You didn't even say anything when I contacted you. Yeah~ so young girls are your taste?"

Just as Cha Haneul was grinding her teeth, the manager said, looking flustered, "She started an internet broadcast?"

"What? After making such a mess? What is she thinking..."

Cha Haneul's eyes turned cold. "Ah. So she's going to try internet broadcasting since she got famous?"

Was this the goal? She acted so aloof as if she knew nothing about this kind of thing. And in the end, it's internet broadcasting?

"I know this type well."

People who pretend to be righteous, acting aloof saying they are different from others. But in reality, they are people who crave affection more than anyone else. People who are drunk on money and attention, and only cause trouble. If she was just this kind of bitch, there are plenty of ways to deal with her.

"Hmph, she was a lower-class person than I thought."

Cha Haneul picked up her phone with a sneer.