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The Republic of Korea, no, the entire world was turned upside down.

Until now, the youngest Awakened One was Jeong Ha-yul at 15 years old.

But the emergence of an Awakened One who broke the record by a whopping 7 years was news that shook the world.

“Where on earth did this start?”

“We still haven’t figured it out.”

“Except for the kids who are slacking off, mobilize everyone else and catch them immediately.”

“…Yes.”

One of the agents summoned by the alchemist Park Seol-hwa made a sour face.

It seemed they weren’t thrilled about having to go to such lengths just because of some kid named Jeong Gyeoul.

“You… what’s with that face?”

“Huh? It’s nothing.”

“How long has it been since I stepped away from guild duties to focus on making potions and whatnot, and already it’s a mess? Do you want to gather at the training ground every morning like before?”

“….”

“You think I’m acting out of personal feelings, don’t you? But… Gyeoul is the youngest Awakened One at 9 years old. S-Class? Do you think it’ll stop there? At least S-Class. The Demon King, who was A-Class, is now called the world’s strongest after 6 years. Gyeoul, who is 7 years ahead of the Demon King, how many years do you think it’ll take for her to reach that level?”

“I’m sorry. I was short-sighted.”

“This is the only time. I don’t need idiots under me. Whether they’re heroes or agents.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Park Seol-hwa, who had pointed out the agent’s mistake, looked deeply concerned.

“Gyeoul needs to pull through this…”

She sighed, recalling the events that unfolded when Jeong Ha-yul’s Awakening was announced 6 years ago.

Could a 9-year-old kid handle the antics of the media that even made a 15-year-old kid panic?

“No, this time will be different. I’ll make sure of it.”

Park Seol-hwa picked up her smartphone.

She opened her contacts and typed in two letters: “국장” (Director).

She moved her finger and tapped one of the names on the screen.

The call didn’t last long.

As soon as it ended, she repeated the process of tapping new names several times.

***

The Association made an official announcement.

Right after the media dropped the bomb about Jeong Gyeoul, the Association dropped another bomb: Jeong Ha-yul.

As long as Jeong Gyeoul’s name is mentioned in the world.

The Demon King’s hero activities will be temporarily suspended.

Of course, people went crazy.

-…What does that mean? She’s quitting?

-Even if she’s S-Class, is that attitude acceptable?

-Jeong Ha-yul is only 21. She’s at her peak.

-Is Jeong Ha-yul the only S-Class? Why are they so obsessed with one person?

-Are they trying to create a Hero Republic? Trying to suppress the media.

-Come back, Demon Kingㅠㅠ

The situation started to take a turn for the worse.

People who had always been dissatisfied with the Demon King’s behavior took this opportunity to flood the internet with hate comments.

Villains who didn’t want Jeong Ha-yul to return also joined in.

A public opinion campaign reminiscent of the National Intelligence Service began.

Thanks to this, Jeong Ha-yul became the most hated person in the country, accused of abandoning her nation and its people.

Jeong Gyeoul was also receiving no small amount of curses.

***

“I’m currently in front of the school Jeong Gyeoul attends.”

“In front of Cheongdam Elementary School, Jeong Gyeoul’s alma mater, reporters are gathered in large numbers.”

“The youngest Awakened One, a second-grader, hasn’t even been attending school.”

Thanks to the urgent support from the Taebaek Guild, reporters couldn’t enter the school.

But the area in front of the school was packed to the brim.

The voices of reporters holding microphones overlapped dozens of times.

Even inside the school, they were doing their best to protect the children, but protecting them after school was nearly impossible.

Both the front and back gates were filled with reporters.

They weren’t just stationed at the school; they followed the children home.

Eventually, some reporters succeeded in getting interviews.

It was a child who was in the same grade as Jeong Gyeoul but had been in different classes in both first and second grade, so they hadn’t interacted much.

“Do you know second-grader Jeong Gyeoul?”

“…Yes.”

“What was her image like at school?”

“She’s really good at studying and incredibly strong. She was the top student in second grade.”

“Are you close with Jeong Gyeoul?”

“We’re super close! Gyeoul really cares about me!”

The 9-year-old child lied, and the result was disastrous.

Within a few hours, reporters began flocking to the home of a student named Kim Yu-young.

“Kim Yu-young! We heard you’re close with Jeong Gyeoul!”

“Do you know where Jeong Gyeoul is right now?”

“Please tell us!”

Kim Yu-young’s family couldn’t even dream of going to the convenience store or the mart.

They could barely commute and go to school with the help of Taebaek.

They covered the windows with curtains or newspapers and stayed in the dark room, unable to step outside.

This was happening everywhere.

“This is in front of the home of Choi Jeong-min, who is said to be Jeong Gyeoul’s closest friend.”

Reporters visited the homes of Lee Ha-yoon, Choi Jeong-min, and even Kim Su-chan.

“We’re at the hair salon Jeong Gyeoul used to frequent.”

“This is the malatang restaurant Jeong Gyeoul often visited.”

They disrupted businesses.

They couldn’t enter Infinite Cheongdam, the Demon King’s home with its ironclad security.

But everywhere else, the world seemed to belong to the reporters as they acted as they pleased.

***

The Demon King’s family gathered in the living room to watch the news.

“That’s a bit… why are they bothering my friends?”

“That’s what reporters are like. When I first Awakened, even my distant relatives were harassed.”

“At least the school side seems to be handling it well thanks to Ha-yun’s help, but what about the hair salon and the malatang restaurant owner?”

“Those places will only be like this for a short while. In fact, customers will probably flock there soon. It’s not all bad, so don’t worry too much.”

“…I’m sorry, everyone. It’s all because I Awakened.”

Seeing Jeong Gyeoul blaming herself for everything, the family looked at her with pity.

“Don’t blame yourself, Gyeoul. This isn’t your fault or ours. Awakening isn’t a crime. In times like these, you need to stay strong and endure.”

Jeong Ha-yul, who had suffered from depression and panic disorder due to reporters when she Awakened 6 years ago, couldn’t help but worry about Gyeoul’s weakened state.

“Should we go to England for a trip? Want to go see the bald grandfather?”

“Won’t it look like we’re running away?”

“Let them think what they want. We’ll just walk our own path.”

“Okay, since it’s come to this, I want to go to the Clock Tower and train again.”

“…I was thinking of a healing trip with Gyeoul, and suddenly you’re talking about training?”

“No, Gyeoul! You can’t just stay cooped up in the Clock Tower like last time… we should all go out and have fun together!”

***

For several days, negative public opinion about Jeong Ha-yul and Jeong Gyeoul continued…

But at some point, the direction of the articles changed 180 degrees.

-The impact of Jeong Ha-yul’s absence is beyond imagination.

-Villain crime rate surges by 13%.

-S-Class Hero Jeong Ha-yul, her return is necessary.

-Due to the incompetent government and Association, Korea has lost the world’s strongest hero.

-Where did all the voices criticizing Jeong Ha-yul go?

-The Association remains silent on the current situation.

The public opinion that had been criticizing her began to defend her.

Major broadcasters stopped reporting on Jeong Gyeoul.

Some internet news outlets continued to pour out stories about Jeong Gyeoul.

But for unknown reasons, they began to shut down one by one.

However, mid-tier media outlets still didn’t stop talking about Jeong Gyeoul.

Places like YTBC and JTN TVM.

Even Park Seol-hwa’s power couldn’t easily eliminate or block them.

In fact, they were harder to deal with than the major three broadcasters.

“Going to England?”

“Seeing how the Clock Tower side is getting restless, it seems to be true.”

“Prepare a private jet and contact Jeong Ha-yul. No, I’ll do it myself.”

“Yes.”

As the agent finished the report and left the guild leader’s office, Park Seol-hwa picked up her phone.

On the screen was not Jeong Ha-yul’s name, but Jeong Gyeoul’s.

The misunderstanding that Jeong Ha-yul was abusing the child had already been cleared up.

Seeing how Jeong Ha-yul handled this incident made them realize it was a misconception.

The day she went to apologize, she managed to get Jeong Gyeoul’s contact information.

“Ahem.”

Park Seol-hwa, seemingly nervous, cleared her throat and called Jeong Gyeoul.

“Hello?”

“Gyeoul, is that you?”

Her carefully prepared voice trembled.

“Alchemist?”

“Don’t call me that so formally, just call me unnie.”

“Okay. But what’s the matter?”

-What? Park Seol-hwa? Why is that crazy person calling all of a sudden?

-They can hear you. Go away.

Over the phone, Jeong Ha-yul’s voice could faintly be heard.

But the more she heard it, the more she focused on Jeong Gyeoul’s voice.

“You’re all going to England together, right?”

“…How did you know that?”

“I heard they’re sending a private jet for you? Decline that, unnie will arrange one for you to take.”

“…Huh? You’re arranging a private jet for us?”

-What? A private jet? Is she really spending money like that again?

-Ah, come on, Eun-chae unnie! Take Ha-yul unnie with you!

-Even if Kang-woo oppa and I cling to her, we can’t drag her along. Give up, Gyeoul.

Park Seol-hwa smiled faintly at the laughter of the Demon King’s family coming through the phone.

“Don’t decline, I’ve already arranged it. We’ll handle the security too.”

-Wait, let me have the phone, Gyeoul.

-No, you can’t just snatch it like that!

“Hey, money devil.”

“…Didn’t I tell you not to call me that?”

The corners of her mouth, which had risen thanks to Gyeoul, instantly fell back into place.

Her brow furrowed as a bonus.

“You spend money like crazy, what else should I call you if not a money devil?”

“Call me Alchemist Park Seol-hwa, the Hero. I don’t want to be called by nicknames or my name by you.”

“Yes, yes, Hero-nim. We don’t need security, we’ll fly right away. Just send us the location. And, I’ve already prepared it, so just take it this once. Don’t go spending money like crazy next time.”

“It’s not for you, it’s for Gyeoul. It’s not your place to interfere.”

“I’m Gyeoul’s guardian, aren’t I?”

“….”

“Don’t you overstep. You’re just some unnie who happens to know her.”

“….”

Every word from Jeong Ha-yul felt like a dagger flying straight into her heart.

“If I had gone to that shantytown…”

“I didn’t become Gyeoul’s guardian by going to the shantytown. It’s because Gyeoul chose me. The feeling of being chosen by Gyeoul. You, money devil, will never experience that in your life. Poor you. While Gyeoul and I go to England to heal, you go make a lot of money. Bye.”

“….”

Jeong Ha-yul delivered the final blow and hung up.

“…Kim Secretary!”

“Yes, yes!”

“I’m taking the private jet too, so adjust the headcount.”

“You can’t! The schedule is packed!”

“Postpone or cancel them. I’m going for a more important schedule.”

“Most of them are already delayed by over two months… you want to delay them further? Absolutely not. I know you’re just going to England to play around.”

“…Really, no?”

“If you disappear without a word again, I’m really going to quit.”

“….”

In the end, Park Seol-hwa couldn’t board the private jet.

“That bad woman, that wicked woman, that evil woman, that venomous woman. A viper of a woman. A nine-tailed fox of a woman. A tarantula of a woman!”

“Stop it and get off quickly. We’ve arrived.”

“I’m so mad! So annoyed!”

“Yes, me too. I’m mad because of the guild leader. Get off quickly. The directors are all here.”

“…They’re just here to get my potions, tell them to wait. Ugh! Jeong Ha-yul!!”

The media, which even the Association’s pressure couldn’t control.

Was resolved with a single bottle of a specially made potion by Alchemist Park Seol-hwa.

It was a potion that increased vitality.

 

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