After the long affair.
Liam and I took a quick look around the Burning Association Korean Branch.
Of course, since I had no idea about the structure here, we had a guide with us.
“This is the Rest Area for Members,”
the guide, Zhang Yao, pointed inside with his hand.
With massage chairs, coffee machines, tables for chatting, and more, this place was overall quite luxurious, much like a member’s residence.
What impressed me the most was the breathtaking view visible right in front of us.
A large rectangular window revealed lush greenery in a prime location. Perhaps because the spot was so good, the air was fresh and the atmosphere was delightful.
While I examined the inside of the rest area, I nodded, and Liam let out an exclamation of interest.
It wasn’t surprising, as the concentration of mana here was quite dense.
“There are places like this in this world too?”
“It must be because of less environmental pollution.”
“Good for us.”
Liam smiled contentedly as he reached into the air. Soon, three swords were grasped in his hand.
Though he had no scabbard, the multi-colored shining blades were splendid and beautiful. These were the ones Hao-ran had used.
“I’ll tweak these a bit. I think they’ll work better if I engrave mana circuits.”
“Is that so?”
As someone who had never handled weapons, I couldn’t grasp that field at all. I figured he’d manage it well on his own.
I wanted to watch him work, but I was too tired. I just wanted to get home and rest.
“Well then, I’ll go ahead.”
“Sure. See you later.”
I left Liam behind and exited the rest area with Zhang Yao.
Rubbing my sore back from the long relationship, I spoke to Zhang Yao.
“Shall we go together then?”
“Let’s do that.”
Zhang Yao responded immediately, his serious gaze shining.
“If you’re the Pope’s brother, I must meet you.”
He was already referring to the “Pope.” At this rate, one might think he had been a member for months.
That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, so I showed a warm and kind “Pope smile.”
“Well then, let’s go.”
It was finally time to return home.
*
Seo-yoon was gazing at her computer screen.
“Thank goodness…”
Recently, the ‘Pope Wizard Controversy’ that had stirred up Korea had not shaken Eluke’s position or reputation.
In the end, it had turned out that way, but it was precarious at first. The targeted video from the Burning Association Korean Branch was quite clever and specific.
Public opinion hadn’t fully swung towards “the Pope is a fraud,” but only two days ago, such opinions were not uncommon.
But now, it was different.
What had been a 50/50 opinion now considered Eluke to have been framed as the prevailing theory.
This was something that could be confirmed by merely looking at the news articles on the portal site.
[“If you trust me, you can reach an ideal world” Cult leader who abused and assaulted believers]
[China tightens control over returnees… “No more unrest will be tolerated”]
[Who is Hao-ran… An immortal who reigned over the nightmare of Chengdu]
[Burning Association Korean Branch leader “We had to fall into the nightmare of burning” (Interview)]
Currently, the news was flooded with stories about the Burning Association.
Numerous articles covered the atrocities of Hao-ran and his fanatics, and some media outlets even interviewed returnees who had been affiliated with the Burning Association.
Reporters were piranhas, viciously tearing into the mad immortal’s cult as if possessed.
Among them were people who had previously criticized Eluke after only watching targeted videos on iTube.
Seo-yoon made a separate list of those reporters. She had no intention of inviting them if a press conference was held later.
“Bad people.”
How could these so-called reporters write such articles without even checking the facts?
Indignant, she decided to hand the list over to Liam. Of course, she had screenshots of all the haters who criticized Eluke.
There were so many that she hadn’t done it alone but had mobilized her one and only subordinate in the Order.
Wee-ying.
Just then, her smartphone buzzed. It was a message from her subordinate, who had been working hard lately.
[Kim Yi-jeong: Manager, I’ve sent the collection of haters via email.]
Kim Yi-jeong.
The external affairs officer she had hired through an interview had quite a lot on his plate lately. An incident requiring ‘external affairs’ had arisen.
His tasks included making a statement to the media, collecting evidence of the framing, and establishing future measures, among others.
It was an overwhelming workload for an ordinary newcomer to handle.
Honestly, she had wanted to understand if he “dropped the ball,” but Kim Yi-jeong had carried out all tasks without showing any dissatisfaction.
Moreover, he wasn’t doing them haphazardly; he perfectly handled all the duties assigned to him.
It was almost suspicious how well he did his job.
“Why is he so capable?”
The thought crossed her mind for the first time.
It was Kim Yi-jeong who had calmly handled her brother-in-law during the previous ‘Liam’s Rampage in America’ incident.
He was also the one who had brought in an excellent editor to create the Order’s promotional video in just ten minutes.
No matter how sharp one was, this was too overly competent, right? She couldn’t help but have such doubts.
“…Have I gone too far?”
Seo-yoon took a moment to cool her racing doubts.
Then she suddenly thought of a certain dragon to consult. That dragon was in the bedroom watching iTube while the kids were all asleep.
“Hekatrith.”
“Why do you call me, brother of the Pope?”
Deeply engrossed in a video featuring a large Welsh corgi family, Hekatrith responded without looking up.
Her swaying tail, focused and cute, made Seo-yoon smile bashfully as she asked again.
“Could I possibly hear your thoughts, Hekatrith?”
“Thoughts? I have no reason not to share. What are you so curious about?”
“Could being overly competent in work be a problem?”
“Oh?”
Now that her interest had been piqued, Hekatrith finally tore her eyes away from the smartphone screen.
“That’s a rather philosophical question.”
“Eh? No, I just asked because I was curious.”
“You may not have intended it, but your words just now harbor all sorts of implications. The truth is often discovered through such coincidences.”
When she played with the kids, Hekatrith seemed like a dragon with a lower mental age. But now, it was clear she had lived for a long time.
But she didn’t appear particularly impressive—just a bother.
“Stop with the strange talk and just answer me.”
“Oh ho, you’re hasty. This is why humans are the problem. You all suffer from the obsession that every second must be meaningful. Brother of the Pope, you must learn the beauty of patience…”
“If you don’t say it quickly, I won’t give you snacks from today.”
“Eek! Anything but that!”
Only after making such a pathetically small threat did the Guardian Dragon finally spit out comprehensible words.
“When you say someone does work too well, it means that Kim whatever is remarkably exceptional in human terms?”
“Seems like it.”
“That’s certainly not something to overlook. It means they’re an extraordinary being.”
Hekatrith frowned for a moment before continuing.
“Or they might just be a genius. Most would typically think that way, wouldn’t they?”
“…Is that so?”
“It is so. In this country, there’s only one returnee, the Pope, right? What on earth are you so worried about?”
“So….”
As Seo-yoon tried to explain why she felt suspicious, she tilted her head.
‘Why did I feel that way?’
Strangely enough, all her doubts about Kim Yi-jeong melted away at once. Along with that came the realization that she had suspected someone who had done no wrong.
Had she indeed been overthinking?
Contemplating for a moment, it seemed her worries had been unnecessary.
“I guess I was just overly sensitive.”
Eluke had suffered an unjust incident, making her overly reactive. That had to be the case.
“I apologize for taking your time. Please continue watching iTube.”
Before her words even finished, Hekatrith had already begun watching the video again. Waving her tail whimsically.
Seo-yoon took in that adorable sight for a moment before returning her gaze to her computer screen.
This time, she entered the popular post section of the internet broadcasting community ‘Our Net’ to check out trending topics.
[The Burning Association was insane (86)]
[Look at the Korean Branch’s mood shift (97)]
[If you believed in the Pope, you’ve really got to give him props lol (127)]
[Let’s archive the ones who tried to water it down (71)]
Most of the trending posts were related to the heated discussions brought about by the targeted videos from the Burning Association Korean Branch.
However, the situation had now turned where the “Pope’s supporters” won and spent time mocking the losers.
It was only natural, so she didn’t feel particularly pleased about it.
Seo-yoon scanned the trending posts impassively before soon spotting some eye-catching ones.
[Heading to deal with Hao-ran: iTube broadcaster.jpg (117)]
[All the remnants of the Burning Association are being arrested lol (122)]
[Looks like China decided to just bury the fact that the cult leader is dead? (92)]
[Isn’t this the Pope’s companion? (310)]
Posts discussing Hao-ran. Among them was one that had an unusual 300 comments.
Curious, she checked it out, and it definitely seemed like something people would be interested in.
[(Screenshot of the iTube livestream broadcast)]
~Doesn’t this iTube broadcaster look like a companion of the Pope appearing in the Solar Scepter?
Recently, the iTube broadcaster ‘Wise Erin TV’ had become a hot topic for conducting a livestream under the pretense of dealing with Hao-ran.
Seo-yoon didn’t know if the person was a companion of Eluke, but she did recognize the broadcaster from the stream.
So, with some uncertainty, she looked at the comments where many people were agreeing with the original poster.
-SodaRuler: ?? The name is the same, right?
-jaykay: The guy who appeared with her also seemed like a companion.
-Aljardar: So did the companions return together?
-Narlore: I was watching from the start, and I think they’re companions. They didn’t seem to have any intention to hide it in the first place.
After skimming through the comments, it seemed most people agreed that the Erin from ‘Wise Erin TV’ was indeed Eluke’s companion.
Then someone posted a screenshot of the ‘Boss NPC Erin’ from the Solar Scepter, confirming everyone’s assumption that they were all companions.
“……”
Seo-yoon didn’t feel the need to refute the comments. They all seemed to be true.
But for some reason, she felt an odd sense of discomfort. Perhaps because of a peculiar thought that had crossed her mind while watching ‘Wise Erin TV.’
‘…What if they’re the same person instead of her companion?’
Was it possible that this Erin and Eluke were actually the same individual?
It wasn’t just an absurd thought; the wise gestures and speech of the Erin in the video resembled her acting as the ‘Pink Ice Princess’ Eluke.
Moreover, if her companions had come over, she would have mentioned it to Seo-yoon at least once, but Eluke never brought it up.
Her worries and the reasonable doubts based on them piled up.
After a moment’s speculation, Seo-yoon suddenly chuckled and stood up from her seat.
It was about time to prepare lunch.
“Hekatrith, would you help me with cooking? My sister said she’d be coming over soon.”
“Oh, is that so? I’d be glad to help.”
With that, Seo-yoon headed to the kitchen with the Guardian Dragon.
Wee-ying.
Just then, her abandoned smartphone buzzed again.
[Kim Yi-jeong: Should we start getting serious? lol]
While the owner of the phone was away and unable to check, the momentarily floating KakaoTalk message was soon deleted.
[Kim Yi-jeong: [Deleted message]]
[Kim Yi-jeong: Oh, I sent that by mistake.]
Just like that, his message was buried forever.
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