#128

Cheon said it was no big deal, just ‘solve a few urban legends and exorcise some ghosts,’ but even I, who’s bad at games, could tell this was dangerous. It probably starts with harmless ghosts and urban legends, but eventually, you’ll have to deal with stronger ghosts and scarier urban legends. After all, that’s how fantasy novels tend to develop.

Especially from my perspective, having already faced life-threatening situations in the game, I was worried sick about Cheon, who had to deal with ghosts and urban legends. It wasn’t something that could just be brushed off because it was a game or because Cheon was good at it.

How could that bastard do this to his own sister……!

No matter how much of a different world this was, Goo Cheon was still the only sibling of Goo Won. That fact would never change. But how could he give his sister such a dangerous game? I couldn’t make sense of the actions of the Goo Won in the game, and my insides were boiling with anger.

“That bastard, when I meet him, I’ll really kill him.”

I ground my teeth, my fury burning hot toward the savior in the game. At that, Cheon, looking uncomfortable, quietly got up from the bed and tried to escape.

Of course, I wasn’t just going to let that happen.

“Goo Cheon.”

I grabbed the back of Cheon’s neck, forcing her back onto the bed, and called her in a stern voice. She quickly knelt and took an attentive position. I turned my gaze away from Cheon’s pleading eyes, filled with a half-hearted desperation, and spoke.

It was the beginning of a long, long lecture.

***

Thanks to the black box, CCTV, and the montage created based on my testimony, the person who had tried to kill me and Secretary Jung Minjae was caught much sooner than expected. The police investigation revealed that the perpetrator had been hired by someone to deliberately cause a traffic accident. And, as it turned out, the person who had given the order was, unsurprisingly, Director Lee Gilseon.

He was eventually taken into custody, facing several charges, including the crime of instigating murder.

The news that a famous director had tried to murder a conglomerate’s chairman naturally caused a huge stir. Lee Gilseon’s name appeared daily in the news and newspapers. It quickly became public knowledge that I had been involved in a lawsuit against him.

Of course, Jung Hosu and Tartarus, who were directly connected to that lawsuit, also began to attract the public’s full attention.

“President, it’s almost time for Tartarus to go on stage.”

I snapped out of my thoughts when Secretary Sung Yoojun whispered in a quiet voice next to me.

“Ah……”

Blinking as I regained my focus, I could feel everyone around me pretending not to look, but clearly eyeing me. Annoyed by the unwanted attention, I clicked my tongue and furrowed my brow, then noticed Tartarus, walking toward me with Manager Ahn Siwon in the distance.

The kids were clearly nervous. I quickly relaxed my furrowed brow and smiled gently.

“Everyone.”

“President……”

“You’ll do great. Don’t be too nervous.”

Saying that, I patted the shoulder of Jung Hosu, the leader, and thankfully, the kids’ expressions started to soften a little. As I opened my mouth to say a few more words, I heard a hurried voice calling for Tartarus.

“Tartarus! Please get ready for recording!”

It was the FD who had come to the waiting room earlier to inform us about the recording time. Hearing this, Tartarus stiffened and began to move. I watched them walk toward the stage with what seemed like an almost creaking gait and chuckled softly.

I wasn’t worried, knowing that even if they looked nervous now, they’d perform well on stage.

“Wow, they really are making a comeback.”

I nodded in agreement with Manager Ahn Siwon, who had come to stand next to me.

Today was the day of Tartarus’s long-awaited comeback stage. I had come to the broadcasting station to witness this glorious moment firsthand.

“But I didn’t expect you to come all the way here. You’ve been so busy with that whole thing lately.”

In Manager Ahn Siwon’s voice, I could hear a hint of concern. I smiled faintly and replied.

“No matter how busy I am, I have to be here for my kids’ first stage.”

“Every time you say something like that, you really do sound like Tartarus’s dad, sir.”

At Ahn Siwon’s playful comment, I simply smiled pleasantly. It seemed that Ahn Siwon wasn’t expecting any particular reaction, as he soon fell silent and turned his gaze toward the stage where the music had begun to play.

Tartarus’s new song, ‘Find,’ was about the loneliness that wandered through the depths of winter, eventually finding a new spring. The lyrics, coupled with a melody that started off dry and heavy, gradually became refreshing and warm as the song progressed.

Actually, I had been a bit worried about the response to the new concept of ‘refreshing sexy,’ as the concept for every album from the previous agency had been consistent. However, thankfully, most of the feedback was positive, with fans appreciating the new look.

Of course, there were a few fans who thought the old concept was better, but that was something that always happened when an album’s concept changed, according to Secretary Sung Yoojun.

The track, which had been released a few days earlier, was already topping several charts, and the reactions to the newly shot music video with Director Do Seungwon were also heated.

So, cautiously speaking, it seemed like this album was a success.

Thinking that, I watched Tartarus, who was panting after finishing the performance, with a satisfied look.

Fortunately, it seemed there had been no mistakes, as Tartarus received the ‘OK’ sign right away and waved at the fans who had come to watch the stage with a bright smile. Nam Yisol, famous for being both charming and excellent at fan service, began speaking to the audience.

It seemed that they were planning to interact with the fans, taking advantage of the fact that the stage had been set up specifically for Tartarus’s comeback, and they didn’t have to move out of the way immediately. As I had expected, the other members also started speaking to the audience.

As I quietly watched them, I noticed Secretary Sung Yoojun checking his wristwatch. Catching my gaze, he shook his head slightly with a troubled expression.

“It’s about time for you to go, sir. The time……”

“Yes, I understand.”

I wanted to stay and watch them finish the performance, but with a slightly downcast expression, I said my goodbyes to Manager Ahn Siwon and slowly started walking toward the backstage exit.

As I walked toward the underground parking lot where I had parked my car, I heard a familiar voice from behind.

“President!”

“Yisol-ssi?”

I turned around, puzzled by Nam Yisol’s call, and saw him approaching quickly.

“What’s going on?”

I asked, wondering why he was here when just a moment ago he had been talking to the fans on stage. Nam Yisol smiled playfully.

“Since we’re busy from now on with the comeback, I thought I’d come to say hello and see you before I get too caught up in everything!”

With that, Nam Yisol gave me a look full of aegyo. It was so cute that I almost reached out to pat his head, but I hesitated and stopped my hand.

“Oh, right. My hair……”

When I tried to pat his head, Nam Yisol tilted his head down slightly, bringing it closer to me, only to realize that his hair was styled for the performance and gave me an awkward look.

If I touched it now, it would mess up his hair, right?

I paused for a moment, recalling this obvious fact, before changing direction with my hand and lightly patting Nam Yisol’s shoulder a couple of times instead.

“While it’s great that you’re working hard, you need to make sure you’re always taking care of your health, okay?”

At my concerned advice, Nam Yisol’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Of course! I’ll make sure to prioritize my health while working hard. I’ll also take good care of Hosu and the younger ones, so don’t worry!”

I smiled in satisfaction at Nam Yisol’s response. Then, glancing at my wristwatch to check for Secretary Sung Yoojun’s urging, I was about to say my goodbyes. However, I couldn’t leave just yet, as I noticed Nam Yisol’s eyes widening in surprise as he stared at something.

“Ah……”

Nam Yisol’s face, which had been showing a shocked expression, soon blossomed into a bright, cheerful smile.

“Dad!”

Dad? Could it be Nam Yisol’s father?

I quickly turned my gaze to follow Nam Yisol, who was rushing past me toward somewhere. In the distance, I spotted a middle-aged man entering the building from the underground parking lot.

He was slightly shorter and more slender than Nam Yisol, with a calm and quiet demeanor. His thin silver-rimmed glasses, well-tailored suit, and the briefcase he was holding gave him an intellectual vibe.

“……Yisol.”

Nam Yisol’s father softly called out to his son as he ran toward him. With just that gentle call, Nam Yisol beamed with an expression of pure happiness, as if he had the whole world.

They must be really close, huh? But something feels…… off.

I skillfully hid the unease I was feeling and quietly observed Nam Yisol and his father for a moment.

“What brings you here? Did you come because of something with the broadcasting station?”

“Yes. I was contacted to appear as a guest on a current affairs program.”

“Wow, really? What program is it?”

Nam Yisol seemed genuinely happy to meet his father, chattering excitedly next to him. His father, in turn, answered his questions with sincerity. On the surface, they looked like a playful son and a somewhat awkward, affectionately distant father, but there was something that kept bothering me.

Why does this feel…… off? I couldn’t figure it out, so I tilted my head in confusion. Then, suddenly, I caught sight of Nam Yisol’s father’s eyes.

The moment I saw those eyes, I finally understood why I had been feeling so uneasy.