Chapter 70

Chapter 70

“Hah!”

Having just met the specialist she intended to introduce to Choi Junho, Lee Sehee felt as though she had been through a war.

Was this really the right call?

But the more they talked, the more it seemed like the correct choice.

Though it had been one shocking thing after another, without end.

She had known the minds behind Shinseong Group were impressive, but today she felt she had caught a glimpse of a new side to them.

Knock, knock!

“Yes.”

Lee Sehee had been sprawled lazily in her chair, but before she could even catch her breath, she rose at the sound of the knock. Baek Gunseo was stepping inside.

“Uncle.”

“No need to get up. You look exhausted.”

“Still, I should mind my manners.”

“That’s my niece for you.”

Lee Sehee rose from her seat and brewed Baek Gunseo’s favorite pu-erh tea. A short while later, she handed him the cup and poured a second one for herself. If she had felt weighed down moments before, now she felt a little better.

“I met someone rather unusual earlier.”

“An image specialist. I’m going to introduce her to Junho.”

“Ah, so you’re trying to manage his public image. Well, it is late in coming.”

That was also why Awakened chose guilds. Through external image specialists, guilds intensively managed the public perception of their top Hunters, but the government side was lacking in this regard.

“We should have done it sooner, but finding the right specialist wasn’t easy.”

“Personnel is everything, so that’s how it goes. Anyway, you’re helping Choi Junho quite a lot, aren’t you?”

“There’s plenty to gain from getting close to him. The Big Bang Series is also a product of getting close to Junho.”

The Big Bang Series’ sales were called the greatest success in Shinseong Group’s history.

So much so that even if you combined every achievement Lee Sehee had made so far, it was said they didn’t match the Big Bang Series alone.

And that was despite Lee Sehee having no rival among the next-generation owner candidates thanks to several major successes.

Already, within the Group, the prevailing assessment was that Lee Sehee was better than the eldest son, Lee Sechan.

The Big Bang Series, built on overwhelming technology and performance, had seized 95% of the South Korean market—even after selling the technology license. The remaining 5% had only been ceded because there wasn’t enough Big Bang Series supply to go around.

Add to that the flood of overseas orders, and Shinseong Group was evaluated as being a different company before and after the Big Bang Series.

With the Awakened gallery also deemed a success, Lee Sehee’s standing within Shinseong Group had risen to the point of surpassing the vice chairman.

“The Group’s profits from that are enormous, so giving you a director’s seat is more than deserved. Well done. That said, the currents surrounding Choi Junho these days are unusual, so you’ll need to move quickly.”

“I feel it too. Junho’s methods may have been heavy-handed, but I think the backlash reaching this level is an artificial current.”

“You see it that way too?”

“Yes. It’s unnatural. He’s clearly done similar things before.”

“But this time, Choi Junho’s actions were revealed on a live broadcast. The victims could be said to be people of high social standing. This incident made even them feel threatened.”

“I think the same. And I also believe there are forces trying to drive a wedge between Junho and the government.”

“So you see the League.”

“The League’s ideology spreads like a poisonous mushroom, and the League is targeting Junho. Their interests align.”

When hunting for the culprit, you must first identify who stands to gain the most.

If Choi Junho disappears, the League gains the most.

In that sense, Choi Junho was the easiest prey.

He wasn’t difficult to set up, either.

His unsparing forcefulness, his unrefined way with words, and his indiscriminate disregard for who he targets made it easy to breed resentment.

Baek Gunseo, mulling it over, conceded the point.

“It does feel precarious. It seems like just a slight misalignment and he could become a villain. So resolving that anxiety will be important.”

“I’ll help make sure it doesn’t come to that.”

But it wouldn’t be easy. Public opinion could flip at any moment, like the palm of a hand, so it wouldn’t be easy.

Watching Lee Sehee’s determined expression, Baek Gunseo tossed out a remark.

“There is one surefire method.”

“What is it?”

“A very easy method.”

“That’s why I’m asking. Please tell me.”

“Should I even say this?”

Baek Gunseo, grinning and making Lee Sehee’s patience wear thin, tossed out a single line.

“Marriage.”

“…What?”

“Marriage.”

“……”

Lee Sehee felt her head go blank.

“In our country, when you get married, people tend to treat you as an adult. The reason the public is anxious is because they think Choi Junho, being alone, could turn at any moment if things go wrong. But if he marries, the story changes. It can be an expression of his will to build a family and put down roots in society. To put it more bluntly, you could say it puts shackles on him.”

“Th-that’s certainly…”

It was something she had never considered.

“And it would be even better if the partner were you, Sehee.”

“……”

“Think it over. It wouldn’t be a bad thing for you, for Choi Junho, or for the Group.”

She couldn’t understand what this uncle was saying.

Feeling heat rise to her face, Lee Sehee shouted.

“I have no thoughts of marriage! How old do you think I am?”

“I’m just saying think about it. Just think.”

“I don’t have any!”

“But thoughts change at any time. Give it some thought. If you drag your feet, another woman might snatch him up. I’ll be going now.”

Baek Gunseo, never once dropping his smile, rose from his seat and left the room.

“What is Uncle even talking about—ah, hot!”

Lee Sehee, who had absentmindedly taken a sip of tea, set the cup down with a start. As she pulled out a tissue to wipe up the spilled tea, she caught sight of herself in a mirror and hurriedly turned away.

Whether it was because she’d heard something unexpected or because the tea was hot, her face was thoroughly flushed.

* * *

When I got home, Yunhee was waiting with the side dishes laid out and the meal prepared. I glanced over the table—nothing she’d made herself. She knows her own cursed cooking skills well. Thank goodness.

“Our hero’s home early?”

“What’s with this ‘hero’ business?”

“You quelled the Busan mess, so you’re a hero. Could it have been handled that smoothly without you, oppa? Amazing, oh my. Want me to pat your backside?”

“Did you find something you want?”

“No, can’t I just be nice to my oppa? I just wanted to be nice to you. So just accept it comfortably.”

Something’s off.

I felt puzzled, but Yunhee said she’d prepared the meal and even poured me water.

Unable to figure out her angle, I just watched quietly, and she came clean.

“No, I was wondering if you got hurt seeing weird stuff on TV. Are you really okay?”

Has something else come out that I don’t know about?

Feeling uneasy, I turned on the TV with the remote, and on the news channel they were showing footage of me killing the Busan City Council members.

Watching them turn into scattered corpse fragments caught in the blade storm, I thought it was cleaner than the Arc Mine. Nuri’s blade storm, combined with Slash, extended its range, which was quite nice.

These days, I wondered if I should get a gift like cleaning to achieve total elimination. Then I could handle villains without ever being found out.

If a body is found, it’s murder; if it vanishes entirely, it’s a disappearance.

[As the transcendent’s cruel forcefulness thus stirs anxiety among citizens, criticism follows that there are no adequate means to restrain him…]

After the reporter’s segment ended, an announcer invited a veteran Hunter for a panel discussion, and they began hurling all sorts of criticism—that I was muddying the Hunter world, that my methods were crueler than a villain’s.

As I watched the news, I turned my gaze sideways to see Yunhee fidgeting restlessly.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Are you really okay?”

“What kind of reaction am I supposed to have?”

“Huh?”

For a moment, I wondered if I’d done something wrong. Was that why she’d been acting like that? It’s just accurate information being conveyed, isn’t it?

Yunhee’s expression was one of sheer disbelief.

“You really were just fine with it?”

“Yeah. It’s the truth, so. And I don’t particularly want to be understood, either.”

“…In a different sense, you’re amazing. Really.”

If I’m amazing, then I’m amazing—why click your tongue?

Then her expression turned worried again.

“But don’t become a villain, seriously.”

“Would I?”

“I’m saying this because I’m worried, you jerk.”

“I have no intention of becoming one, so you don’t need to worry.”

Unless the world treats me as a villain, there’s no chance of me becoming one.

In my past life, I’d done plenty of villain work. Hurting my family’s hearts was enough of that. My parents are enjoying their hobbies comfortably, and Yunhee is fully spreading her talent.

Above all, my current life was quite satisfying.

Yunhee, having demanded confirmation from me several times, seemed satisfied and relaxed, acting cocky.

“I guess this is about as good as it gets.”

“That’s a fast pivot.”

“Be grateful I even worried about you. I only checked because there was such a fuss around you. It’s hard pretending to be nice.”

…Of course.

Yunhee, having wiped the worried look off her face, told me that all sorts of things were being said—white villain this, dark hero that.

White villain, dark hero. Not bad as far as how they sound. But if it’s a white villain, does that mean a good villain? There’s no such thing as a good villain.

The next topic shifted to the move. We’d decided to move a while ago and had been preparing.

I was thinking of moving into the same apartment complex as my parents. Yunhee was going to handle the interior design herself.

Just as all the discussions were wrapping up, I got a message from Lee Sehee.

[You remember the specialist I mentioned last time? We decided to set up a meeting—please let me know a time that works for you.]

I sent a reply right away.

* * *

Honestly, I hadn’t expected much from leaving things to a specialist.

I’d have been grateful just to maintain the status quo.

Given the kind of people who die by my hand, it was only natural that public opinion would worsen over time.

Since Lee Sehee called this person a specialist, I assumed it would be a man or woman in their forties, someone with the gravitas of years.

But the moment I entered the room, what I saw was a woman who didn’t even look 160 centimeters tall, her eyes sparkling with an almost overwhelming intensity.

Early thirties, maybe? Her face was small and her skin pale, and with glasses on top of that, she looked even younger than she was.

This person is the specialist?

“Hello! I’m Jin Sejeong, a visual art director! Transcendent Choi Junho, you’re even more handsome in person. How does your skin have such a glow? Is there something special you apply? Usually actors and idols lose their halo up close, but you’re completely different, Transcendent Choi Junho!”

“……”

“Ah! We have a lot to discuss, and I got a bit carried away, didn’t I? Come, come, sit comfortably—it’s not my office, but still.”

“…Yes.”

I sat down at Jin Sejeong’s direction. Then, glancing at the steaming teacup, I blankly watched Jin Sejeong chatter without pause.

I felt like I’d been possessed by something.

Anyway, they said this was a specialist to manage my image, but a visual art director? Idols? Why did someone from that field suddenly show up?

I looked at Lee Sehee to resolve my confusion, but she avoided my gaze by lowering her head.

Something is going strangely.

“Let me introduce her again. This is Jin Sejeong, a visual art director.”

“I’m Choi Junho. You’re helping me out—thank you.”

“No, this is something I wanted to do. If anything, I’m grateful you hired me!”

At least I could tell Jin Sejeong had no ill intent.

But is this person really going to be helpful to me?

Lee Sehee, why aren’t you answering and avoiding my eyes?

…Well, she’s a specialist, so I should hear her out.

“The public opinion surrounding me right now isn’t very good.”

“Yes, it’s exactly half and half. And the negative side is gradually gaining strength.”

“That said, I have no intention of showing mercy in my methods.”

“Consistency is important. I think that’s what makes you charming, Transcendent Choi Junho.”

“I want to steer public opinion in a favorable direction from this state. Is there no way?”

Truthfully, I hadn’t had much hope as I said it. I was asking them to improve the results without conceding a single thing.

What would the specialist say?

At my words, Jin Sejeong organized her thoughts for a moment, then spoke.

“First, not everyone can like you, Transcendent Choi Junho. You agree with that, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s simple. The first thing to do is draw the people who are enthusiastic about you into the realm of fans. Then, using them as a core, we use a method to increase the numbers further.”

“How do you mean?”

“Fortunately, the people forming negative public opinion about you are only at the level of ‘concern.’ These people can also turn to your side depending on the issue. And the element I believe will turn them around is the story about you, Transcendent Choi Junho. In other words, your lore.”

“Lore?”

It was a word I was hearing for the first time in my life.

“It’s commonly used for idols—an element that makes fans immerse themselves. I intend to persuade the support group and the concerned people through your lore, drawing them into the support group.”

“Please explain in detail.”

“Among the negative opinions, there are many who initially supported your actions, Transcendent Choi Junho. These are people who worry that you’ll keep crossing the line and go somewhere irreversible, so they think you should exercise restraint. They stand on the opposing side, but fundamentally, affection is the bedrock.”

She said lore was a device to make such people understand and support me.

“The public doesn’t know much about you, Transcendent Choi Junho. So we provide information so they can understand. A little creative license can go into it. For instance, people who think negatively sometimes can’t understand the hostility you show toward villains, right? Actually, that’s the most common case. Because you’ve never been wronged by a villain.”

Since I can’t talk about when I was the Blood Lord, that’s only natural.

I nodded in agreement.

“But what if they understood?”

“If they understood?”

Jin Sejeong grinned.

“Every single one of them will become your supporter, Transcendent Choi Junho. For instance, in the lore, Transcendent Choi Junho one day recalls his past life. In that past life, Transcendent Choi Junho was a villain who dyed the world in blood. Seeing the people who died because of him, and the crimes committed by the villains around him, Transcendent Choi Junho makes a vow. ‘To atone for my sins as a villain in my past life, I will eliminate villains.’ That way, wouldn’t people be able to understand your hostility, Transcendent Choi Junho?”

…That gift doesn’t let her peek into past lives or anything, does it?

A chill ran down my spine for a moment.

But people would actually believe something like this?

“I don’t think they will.”

“Whether it’s plausible doesn’t matter. It’s a lore that exists purely for people to understand you, Transcendent Choi Junho. Think of it as providing something to believe in for the people who want to believe. That alone is enough for them to support your actions, Transcendent Choi Junho.”

You’re telling me that earns support?

What a strange world, I thought.

This isn’t a scam, is it?

Lee Sehee was quietly watching, so I decided to trust it.

“Here, we’ll add your daily life, Transcendent Choi Junho.”

“Will that help?”

“Of course! Enormously!”

Jin Sejeong raised her voice in excitement.

“In places like the United States, young transcendents try to communicate with the public. They’ve succeeded in building a very friendly image that way. Even little kids train from a young age saying they want to become Hunters.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen that in Korea.”

“Right. The reason no one’s tried that in Korea is that transcendents are fundamentally mystique-oriented, and also because they’re older. But you’re the world’s youngest transcendent, Transcendent Choi Junho! So you can draw interest from Hunter aspirants and the general public alike. Not just Korea—everywhere abroad too! And people will send you their affection because they want to be like you, Transcendent Choi Junho. Those numbers will become your strength.”

My daily life isn’t much different from anyone else’s, though.

Ah, wait—my daily life is killing villains, so you want me to make that public? That seems like it’d only stir up more controversy.

For now, I summarized what Jin Sejeong had said.

“We clear up misunderstandings about me and provide a starting point for people to understand. Then we use the daily life the public is curious about to grow the support base. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s right. And don’t worry about the lore part. Every idol who’s gone through my hands has been praised for their lore.”

She went on to mention specific idols, but sorry—I wasn’t interested.

I figured I could ask Yunhee to confirm it later.

“This much alone will firmly secure half of those reacting to public opinion as supporters. But that’s not enough, is it? We’ll pull in a new support base and bring in a solid core of supporters.”

“Is that possible?”

“Yes! As it happens, you have incredibly excellent conditions, Transcendent Choi Junho. Could you stand up for a moment?”

I obediently rose from my seat. Jin Sejeong stood as well and circled around me, examining me with sharp eyes, nodding over and over.

“This might be a little rude, but it’s something I absolutely need to confirm—may I ask a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“You’re the strongest among Hunters, so your body is well-trained, correct, Transcendent Choi Junho?”

“Naturally.”

It’s in the best possible form for killing someone.

But hearing that, Jin Sejeong smiled with satisfaction.

“First of all, your proportions are flawless, and you carry clothes very well. Your looks don’t fall short of any actor or idol, either. On top of that, that dangerous edge only you possess becomes a charm point. I know exactly what direction to take this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your charm. I intend to bring out your dangerous appeal, Transcendent Choi Junho, and use styling to make fans fall for you.”

“Styling?”

“Yes. By linking your charm with the lore, we build a female fandom. A dark hero with a dangerous allure! His own private anguish and backstory that no one else knows. Wow! Even I feel like I’d fall for it. That way, fans who’ve fallen for your charm will work hard to spread the positive side of you. And fortunately! You have extremely, extremely excellent visuals and proportions, Transcendent Choi Junho.”

“……”

I’d never been told I was ugly anywhere, but Jin Sejeong’s attitude was quite overwhelming.

“Let’s bring it out. I looked at your official schedule, and you have an event to attend tomorrow. So I’d like to do your styling today. We’ll tidy up your eyebrows, change your hairstyle. Ah! Dyeing is fine with you, right? Well, there’s not enough time for that anyway, so we can think about it after tomorrow’s event.”

“This seems like it’ll take a long time……”

“It’ll be quick?”

If it’s quick, should I give it a try?

But the next thing she said changed my mind immediately.

“If we move briskly, we’ll be done by the end of today.”

It’s lunchtime right now, though?

“Then, since you’ve agreed—shall we get moving?”

If I let those hands grab me, I’ll be helpless to resist. I turned my head toward Lee Sehee to ask for help, but what I saw was her wearing an ominous smile.

“May I watch too?”

“Of course!”

Lee Sehee, you too……

* * *

Lee Doyeon was a first-generation member of Superpower, the fanclub of the nine-member male idol group Super One, and a home master and named fan of Super One.

Known as an idol expert and a visual-analysis specialist, she had come to attend today’s Shinseong Department Store event to see Super One.

“When are my boys coming.”

Lee Doyeon had checked Super One’s schedule and waited since dawn to win the very front spot, and she smiled thinking of the Super One she’d soon see.

The feeling when an idol you’d been chasing since their rookie days—after getting sucked into the fandom—rose to the very top was impossible to put into words.

“In this harsh era, my boys are all we’ve got.”

In an age of apocalypse where villains ran wild inside and out, Super One was Lee Doyeon’s only refuge.

“I wish they’d hurry up.”

Super One were top-tier idols now, so sometimes their routes tangled and they were late to events. When that happened, everyone had no choice but to wait, and in this cold winter weather that was a nightmare.

Lee Doyeon watched the VIPs appearing one by one as she waited for Super One to arrive on time.

There were invited actors, and girl groups too. Each time, cheers erupted, but when influential social figures appeared, the response was lukewarm.

Lee Doyeon smiled inwardly.

“My boys will shine the brightest.”

There were male actors too, but they couldn’t compare to Super One either.

As expected, my boys are the best!

That was when it happened. A murmur rose and soon turned into cheers.

Kyaaaaaaah!

Oppa!

What’s this? Is it Super One?

At the screams bursting out from all sides, Lee Doyeon turned her head to see if Super One had arrived, and caught sight of a man walking the red carpet.

He was alone, not nine. Yet that single presence filled the entire red carpet.

“……”

Lee Doyeon was a hardcore Super One fan. Since it wasn’t Super One, she should have looked away to check her camera—but… she couldn’t.

Between the neatly pompadour-styled hair and that handsome face, there was an indefinable, dangerous aura.

What is this? Why does he look dangerous when he’s handsome? His body’s good too. But what is that danger? I want to know. Who is he?

Lee Doyeon couldn’t take her eyes off the black suit wrapping that firmly trained body.

Suits could be this sexy? It was a line that skinny male idols couldn’t imitate.

Suddenly, the beast concept Super One had pulled off felt like nothing more than a puppy doing tricks. Only today did she learn what a truly dangerous beast was.

Without taking her eyes off him, Lee Doyeon searched for who he was.

“Transcendent, Choi Junho.”

He looks like that, and he risks his life against those dangerous monsters and villains for South Korea?

His devotion to his country, his ruthlessness toward villains—it all felt unbelievably cool.

Even though he could have chosen an easy path, he burns himself for evil’s sake. It was admirable, and it was cool.

Super One entered afterward, but they didn’t register in her eyes.

Her gaze was fixed only on Choi Junho. In that short time, she’d already finished researching him, and she dealt with the ones leaving malicious comments on his articles.

“…I’m a fan, oppa.”

That day, Super One lost a favorite, and Choi Junho gained a hardcore fan.

That phenomenon was happening simultaneously, all across the country.