novelraw Chapter 125 : Between Celebrity and Hunter (1)
Chapter 125 : Between Celebrity and Hunter (1)
Between Celebrity and Hunter (1)
"Here! Over here!!"
No sooner had we arrived at the airport in Korea than someone loudly called out to us.
Turning my gaze in the direction of the voice, I saw Shin Ah-yeon, Lee Soo-ah, and also Sung-hwan and Director Song waving at us.
"It seems everyone must have been worried about you, manager Park."
PD Jung Jun-su said this with a laugh at the sight of them waving and shouting, but I felt pretty embarrassed.
Because it wasn't just the Unique team waiting for us at the airport.
A large contingent of Korean reporters, eager for news about the recent incident in America, had also gathered and were waiting.
"PD Jung Jun-su! Was casting Alencia Walker in the U. S. shoot a coincidence?"
"What will happen to Alencia Walker now?"
"Manager Park Jung-woo, just a word, please!!"
It was utter chaos.
From reporters bombarding PD Jung with questions about the variety show—
To those thrusting mics at Alencia—
And a barrage of questions directed at me, to the point where I could barely get my senses.
"Wow, this is what it must feel like to be a top star."
Alencia looked at the swarming reporters with a curious expression.
She should have felt annoyed by their rude behavior, but Alencia seemed completely unfazed.
"Doesn't this bother you?"
"Hm? Oh, I'm used to this sort of thing."
Come to think of it, as James Walker's daughter, Alencia was probably familiar with these sorts of reporters.
I could easily picture the crowds that must have gathered, desperate to get pictures of James Walker's daughter, Alencia.
'Guess reporters are the same everywhere after all.'
Not all reporters are like this, but those desperate for a scoop exist in every country.
"Jeez, seriously, I'll die if I have to go to America twice ever again."
After finally pushing through the crowd and boarding the pre-arranged bus, PD Jung shook his head as if truly exhausted. The other staff nodded in agreement.
"Wait, just a moment. Let us on, too!"
At that moment, as reporters tried desperately to push their way onto the bus, two women managed to slip past them and board.
It was Shin Ah-yeon and Lee Soo-ah.
"Geez, why are there so many people?"
As Shin Ah-yeon used magic to create a transparent barrier and push the reporters back, we were finally able to close the bus door.
'But, why did she get on so casually when she's not even part of the film crew?'
I shot Shin Ah-yeon a pointed look, and sensing my gaze, PD Jung quickly tapped my shoulder.
"It's fine. Thanks to her, we got to depart quickly, right?"
"Well, if you put it that way, PD Jung..."
It was true that Shin Ah-yeon and Lee Soo-ah had been waiting for us, so I couldn't really complain.
After finally catching their breath, Shin Ah-yeon and Lee Soo-ah scanned the bus, searching for me.
'But what happened to our company president? Why did only these two get on the bus?'
I was sure I'd seen Sung-hwan and Director Song with them at the airport, but it seemed they'd left them behind. Well, unless you were an Awakener, fighting your way through that crowd would be next to impossible.
"This way."
"...!"
Startled at my call, Shin Ah-yeon and Lee Soo-ah took rapid strides toward me.
"Honestly! Do you know how worried we were? You could have called just once!"
Shin Ah-yeon fired off in a rush, hands planted on her hips.
She looked so exhausted, I felt genuinely sorry for causing so much stress.
"I thought you wouldn't worry, since everything was on the news. I wasn't even the one fighting, anyway..."
"I know. But we were still worried. Do you know we almost got on a plane to America?"
"... Really?"
"Would I lie about this? Of course, we couldn't go because we didn't get permission."
I was taken aback—I never imagined they'd try to fly all the way to America.
According to Shin Ah-yeon, their original plan was to fly out to America as soon as trouble broke out.
She had already told the 'Living Together' production team, and the tickets were booked—they just had to go.
But, because of the incident in America, all flights there were canceled.
Even after requesting permission from the government, they were denied.
"Normally, they would've let us go, but being rejected made us anxious. How serious could it be, if they turned down even an S-rank Hunter's request?"
Though Shin Ah-yeon seemed to start off scolding me, her voice got more dejected as she went on.
Lee Soo-ah nodded repeatedly in agreement with Shin Ah-yeon's words.
"That's right. Still, we were relieved it all worked out. But next time, please at least let us know."
For Lee Soo-ah, who rarely nags, to say that meant they were really worried about me.
Faced with their worried gazes, all I could do was apologize.
"I'm truly sorry, to both you and Shin Ah-yeon. If you had called, I would have answered, but..."
"I did call. But I figured you'd be busy or it would bother you, so I only told Yeon-ji."
At her words, I glanced at Hwang Yeon-ji.
She averted her gaze through the bus window.
'She could have at least dropped me a hint.'
It was clearly a tiny payback for how hard I'd worked her lately.
"By the way, manager."
Lee Soo-ah, who had been quietly watching my face, shifted her gaze.
She was now looking at Alencia, who was observing us with open curiosity.
"Will Alencia be joining Unique from now on?"
"Yes, the contract was already prepared in advance. I plan to deliver it to Director Song later."
"Then... where will she live? I don't think there's any vacancy in the dorms."
With a fair number of new Hunters, Unique's dorms were already full. Honestly, even if there was space, I hadn't planned to send Alencia there.
Regardless of her being S-rank, I couldn't send someone unfamiliar with Korea to a dorm.
"Well, I'm thinking of finding accommodations close to my house for now; until then, I'd like to ask my parents if she could stay at our main house."
"... Main house? You mean, your parents' house?"
Lee Soo-ah's eyes widened in surprise at my unexpected answer.
Afraid she misunderstood, I hastened to explain.
"My parents own a small villa. Sometimes they have guests through Airbnb, so it won't be a problem."
Of course, I only intended it to be temporary—since the place wasn't that great and would require payment.
But for some reason, Lee Soo-ah looked contemplative, as if taking this issue very seriously.
"Uh, manager."
"Yes?"
"Rather than that, how about Ah-yeon's mansion?"
Now it was Shin Ah-yeon's turn to be wide-eyed with surprise.
It was clear this hadn't been discussed between them in advance.
"Unni, think about it."
Lee Soo-ah hurriedly whispered in Shin Ah-yeon's ear.
She spoke so softly, I couldn't make out a word.
"... ..."
After listening intently with an unusually serious expression, Shin Ah-yeon nodded.
"Okay! I have plenty of spare rooms anyway, so one more won't be a problem!"
"Huh? Really? I mean, that seems like a bit much..."
I thought it was best, but I felt bad leaving Lee Soo-ah in her care, and now asking her to look after Alencia too. But Shin Ah-yeon just smiled, completely unconcerned.
'Well, if she says it's fine, this really is the best solution.'
With both of them being S-rank, and with Shin Ah-yeon and Lee Soo-ah around, it would be the perfect environment for Alencia to develop her abilities.
Plus, being surrounded by peers would surely put Alencia at ease.
At 21, Lee Soo-ah was a year older than Alencia and would definitely take good care of her.
"Then, could I trouble you with this?"
"Of course!"
Responding confidently, Shin Ah-yeon nodded.
As expected of a seasoned industry veteran, Shin Ah-yeon was truly reliable in moments like this.
***
"We need to hear the full details of what happened in America."
Of course, Shin Ah-yeon hadn't agreed to look after Alencia just to help her out.
About 70% of it was for her own interests, and part of her judgment was that keeping Alencia close was safest.
"No matter how big Minerva is, it's still a train, right? Spending several weeks together in that kind of space—something must have happened."
As Alencia stared in awe at Shin Ah-yeon's mansion, Shin Ah-yeon and Lee Soo-ah whispered to each other in low voices.
It seemed they were worried about Alencia overhearing, but she didn't seem to notice at all.
"Hwang Yeon-ji said nothing special happened, but..."
"Still, the way she looks at Manager isn't the kind of friendliness you'd have for just anyone."
That was true.
During the whole bus ride, Alencia had been stealing glances at Jung-woo.
She definitely wasn't acting like someone with whom nothing had happened.
"Um..."
Just then, Alencia approached Shin Ah-yeon with an awkward expression.
She seemed to be checking what she should do next.
"First, come in. There are plenty of spare rooms, so just pick one you like."
As Shin Ah-yeon opened the door and spoke, Alencia nodded.
She had looked curious on the bus, but now seemed rather shy faced with Shin Ah-yeon.
Her eyes, with their subtly sharp look, made her seem feisty, but I wondered if that was a misconception.
'Maybe she's just uncomfortable with strangers.'
Thinking that, Shin Ah-yeon felt a sense of empathy toward her.
Shin Ah-yeon had improved thanks to her recent work in entertainment, but at her core, she was always someone who liked to stay in her room and laze about alone.
"Oh, shoes! Please take off your shoes before coming in."
"Ah, oh, yes, yes!"
As Alencia started to walk in, still wearing her shoes, Shin Ah-yeon hurriedly stopped her. This was yet another sign of their cultural differences.
"This room gets a lot of sunlight—why not use it?"
Unable to watch the awkwardness any longer, Lee Soo-ah stepped in and began helping Alencia unpack. She was curious about what had happened with Jung-woo in America, but she didn't want to make Alencia, a newcomer, feel ill at ease.
"So, what really happened with Jung-woo oppa in America?"
After helping Alencia unpack, Shin Ah-yeon brought up the subject naturally.
After unpacking, the three decided to settle their forms of address for each other.
They figured it would be awkward to keep talking formally and agreed to be as casual as possible.
"Well, it wasn't anything special..."
So, Shin Ah-yeon and Alencia spoke in plain form, while Lee Soo-ah insisted on using honorifics.
'They're both so interested in Manager.'
Alencia glanced between the two women and thought.
Both were exceptionally beautiful.
Shin Ah-yeon had especially made her jaw drop at first sight.
'I'd only seen her in photos before...'
She knew that Jung-woo was the manager of two S-rank Awakener.
Lee Soo-ah becoming an S-rank had been reported even in the U. S.
Back then, she'd simply accepted it, but being face-to-face now made her feel odd.
"So... Alencia's mother was a reincarnator, and you used the device she made to defeat the Titan?"
"Yeah, that's right. Do you know how much Manager, I mean Jung-woo, helped?"
As Shin Ah-yeon and Lee Soo-ah heard the story of what had happened in America between Alencia and Jung-woo, they exchanged glances.
'Why is her backstory so complicated?'
'How would I know?'
Thankfully, the three weeks aboard Minerva had passed without incident.
The problem was after that.
After the monster wave and the appearance of Titan, Alencia's reactions whenever she spoke about Jung-woo stood out.
"Hey, Alencia."
"Yeah?"
"What kind of person is Manager to you?"
Since it was getting awkward to keep it vague, Lee Soo-ah asked more directly.
"Um..."
Alencia's eyes widened at the question, then she pursed her lips, embarrassed.
"That... like the Polaris, maybe...?"
Normally, you might brush off such a question or answer evasively, but perhaps because she was a foreigner—or just her nature—Alencia answered honestly.
The Polaris.
When she heard that, Lee Soo-ah internally shivered.
She immediately understood what Alencia meant by that.
"What, seriously."
On the other hand, Shin Ah-yeon responded indifferently to Alencia's words.
"Is that, like, a new Chinese restaurant or something?"
Hearing this, Lee Soo-ah felt another kind of chill run down her spine.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Please never change Shin Ah-yeon-ssi.
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】