Chapter 121
Chapter 121. Rank 3
Kim Si-hu opened the Sweet Fun Guild’s mailbox on his mobile phone.
Just a short while ago, aside from some pesky spam emails, the mailbox had been eerily quiet.
But now, it welcomed a flood of new messages that had poured in over the last few days.
[Request for an interview with Yoo Ji-han’s party…….]
[This is from YC Entertainment. We’d like to ask if you are interested in broadcasting activities…….]
[We are “Hero Sound” radio. We would like to invite Yoo Ji-han’s party as our next radio guest…….]
…….
…….
After refreshing the inbox a minute later, more unread emails had arrived.
Emails were pouring in so rapidly that it was exhausting to respond to each one.
The intentions of those sending the emails varied greatly.
But there was no doubt that this was the effect of the movie being released.
Kim Si-hu skimmed through an interview request from a media outlet and said, “The movie effect is incredible.”
“Right?”
This was attention that surpassed Yoo Ji-han’s expectations.
He remembered how, back when Kim Hyun-tae’s party was still unknown, over ten members of the Keroes promotional team had to work hard before they could gather such interest.
Yet, it seemed that the attention generated by a single hero movie was far greater than what they had managed back then through dedicated promotion.
‘This is no joke.’
Yoo Ji-han had to admit it sooner or later.
His party had become unexpectedly famous.
The impact of the movie they filmed as a trial was truly astounding.
“My parents said they really enjoyed the movie too.”
“Chirp chirp!”
Min Yu-ri’s parents watched it and left feedback for their daughter.
They thought it was quite entertaining.
Thanks to how well-made the movie was, it didn’t feel awkward for either heroes or regular folks.
“The proposals that have come through the guild email……. There are over seven requests for media interviews. It’s seriously too many.”
“Let’s create an SNS account under the guild name.”
Yoo Ji-han instructed Kim Si-hu to set up a hero-specific SNS account under the name Sweet Fun Guild.
It was a special service where only recognized heroes by the country could create accounts.
“I’ve made the account.”
“Write a simple greeting for the first post……. Then mention that there are so many great proposals coming in that it might take a while to respond.”
Currently, only Yoo Ji-han, Kim Si-hu, and Min Yu-ri were heroes under Sweet Fun.
They weren’t prepared with personnel to handle all the various proposals coming to the guild and manage schedules.
Responding to all the incoming proposals would also take quite a bit of time.
They couldn’t just spend all day glued to emails, so it was better to announce it ahead of time.
Min Yu-ri, who had been listening to Yoo Ji-han’s instructions, said, “You’re handling this quite adeptly.”
“I’ve seen a thing or two from around me.”
As Kim Hyun-tae’s party slowly gained fame, Keroes was bustling with activity.
They had become so busy that even Yoo Ji-han, who had been hiding his identity, ended up helping with guild chores at the request of Guild Master Park Joong-seob. He had learned a few things during that time.
Though it wasn’t directly related to hero activities, that experience was coming in handy now.
‘Indeed, experience matters.’
Yoo Ji-han was reminded once again of the importance of experience.
*
“Let’s have lunch!”
“What was the menu at the cafeteria today?”
“Curry!”
At noon. It was lunchtime for many companies.
Keroes Guild was no exception.
The management department employees of Keroes, who had been waiting for twelve o’clock, began to stand up one by one.
Meanwhile, the department head, Lee Hyun-jae, remained seated at his desk.
“Aren’t you going, Team Leader?”
“I’m passing on lunch today. I had too much for breakfast.”
“Then we’ll head out without you.”
“Enjoy your meal.”
His subordinate employees moved downstairs for lunch.
Once everyone had left, the office became eerily quiet.
Lee Hyun-jae leaned back in his chair and savored the tranquility.
Sometimes, a quiet office wasn’t so bad.
“I might as well watch that now.”
With the back of his chair reclined, Lee Hyun-jae reached out to fumble around his desk.
He soon got hold of his mobile phone.
While operating the phone’s screen, he selected a platform where he could watch hero movies.
Clicking on the popular chart there, he found the results he had been hoping for.
The hero movie that Yoo Ji-han’s party starred in!
It had boldly claimed the fifth spot on the real-time popularity rankings, standing proudly between movies featuring Rank 2 and Rank 3 parties.
“As expected, Ji-han is quite the impressive hero.”
He hadn’t expected popularity to rise in this manner.
Lee Hyun-jae had always regarded Yoo Ji-han as someone decent.
During his time at Keroes, Yoo Ji-han was one of the few heroes who always listened attentively to all kinds of news and information conveyed from the management department.
He never rejected requests for cooperation unless the situation was dire.
‘He wasn’t someone who would be banished so easily…….’
Lee Hyun-jae smiled bitterly.
Right after the movie featuring Yoo Ji-han’s party was released, those within Keroes who knew him began discussing him.
It was only natural for people to talk when a hero who had been expelled from the guild gained considerable attention outside.
Some lamented that he shouldn’t have left the guild.
But now it was far too late for regrets.
[Payment completed.]
Lee Hyun-jae immediately purchased the movie.
He’d heard that many people were illegally sharing movies and novels recently.
He found it pathetic when people sought that kind of stuff, saving their hobby money.
‘Let’s start.’
The HST Studio logo appeared on the screen before fading, and the movie began.
And about thirty minutes in.
From scenes of the party suppressing a protest to hunting a herd of bull ogres.
Lee Hyun-jae, wearing wireless earbuds, was fixated on the screen of his mobile phone.
“Phew……!”
His eyes didn’t even blink as he watched the movie.
He sighed when the ending credits began to roll.
“Was Ji-han originally this kind of hero?”
Yoo Ji-han, who had always quietly played the supporter role in Kim Hyun-tae’s party.
Though Lee Hyun-jae had seen footage of what Kim Hyun-tae’s party had filmed as a management member, this was his first time seeing him shine as a dealer.
But…….
“Way more impressive than I expected?”
He was using skills he hadn’t seen before and demonstrated smooth coordination with his teammates.
The Yoo Ji-han on the screen was a standout, far more remarkable than anyone else.
It made him wonder if this was the same person he had known before as a fellow party member.
In this movie, he was undoubtedly the one most deserving of the title of protagonist.
‘Even if what appeared in the video was a Rank 4 MA…….’
Anyone who was knowledgeable about heroes could surely tell.
The skills displayed by Yoo Ji-han in the film overshadowed those of a Rank 4 hero.
‘What happened to him?’
The presence of Yoo Ji-han had changed drastically from what it once was.
What in the world could have occurred to him after leaving the guild that led to such a transformation?
From a third-party perspective, it was beyond imagination.
Perhaps he had been stifled in Kim Hyun-tae’s party all along…….
“I should let Mi-a know too.”
Lee Hyun-jae forwarded the movie link to Lee Mi-a via message.
Since she had a close relationship with Yoo Ji-han, she would likely be quite pleased to see the movie.
But at the same time.
She was in the middle of a photo shoot with Kim Hyun-tae’s party and couldn’t check the message right away.
“Please cross your legs lightly……. Ah, that’s a good pose right now!”
Click! Click! Click!
The shoot was taking place against a vivid backdrop, illuminated by large lights.
Dressed in a pink jacket, Lee Mi-a awkwardly posed at the request of the photographer.
This was a photo shoot and interview for Kim Hyun-tae’s party suggested by a fashion magazine.
Despite being a hero in her seventh year since debut, she still found such situations unfamiliar.
“Next, we will proceed with a simultaneous shoot of Kim Hyun-tae and Lee Mi-a!”
Kim Hyun-tae, wearing a black leather jacket, approached Lee Mi-a.
The scene where the handsome man and woman stood together would’ve fit right into any fashion magazine.
“Let’s get a little closer and look affectionate!”
“Sure!”
Kim Hyun-tae, who had energetically replied, stretched out one arm and slipped it around Lee Mi-a’s opposite shoulder.
For a moment, Lee Mi-a frowned and tried to shift away, but—
Kim Hyun-tae wouldn’t let go, instead pulling her closer toward himself.
With a smile on his face, still looking at the camera, he said, “We’re working, so help me out a bit?”
“…….”
Kim Hyun-tae continued the shoot, maintaining his smile.
His demeanor was that of a professional model.
“Lee Mi-a’s expression seems too stiff! Let’s show a friendlier side…….”
After navigating through some ups and downs, the two-person photo shoot ended.
Kim Hyun-tae shot Lee Mi-a a glance, looking dissatisfied, before heading to the dressing room.
Clack! Clack!
Once inside the women’s dressing room, Lee Mi-a brushed off the shoulder that Kim Hyun-tae had touched with her hand, feeling uncomfortable.
She understood that this was all part of work, but it was unavoidable that she felt discontented.
The party’s mage, Lim Si-yeon, spoke to her.
“Hey, Mi-a. What’s with that expression?”
“Nothing.”
“I know you’re not really into these activities, but just think of it as work and relax.”
Unlike Lee Mi-a, Lim Si-yeon was enjoying this shoot.
She had the opportunity to try on luxury items and clothes from famous designers that weren’t even on the market yet.
If she wanted, she could be the very first to buy them, so anyone interested in fashion would love this experience.
“Gang-woo has only recently joined the party but seems to be enjoying it.”
Kim Gang-woo, who filled the void left by Yoo Ji-han.
Unlike Lee Mi-a, he was striking poses like a pro while taking photos, much like Kim Hyun-tae, who treated him like a brother.
“Watch how Gang-woo poses and take notes.”
“Not interested.”
Lee Mi-a had no desire to watch Kim Gang-woo’s photoshoot.
Lately, he had been trying to talk to her more and giving her unwanted stares.
Though he was a party member, he wasn’t someone she particularly wanted to grow close to.
‘This doesn’t seem like the right time to be doing this…’
Lee Mi-a thought that the current situation of Kim Hyun-tae’s party wasn’t great.
Since Yoo Ji-han had left, their hunting speed had noticeably slowed down, and Tanker Hwang Joon-ho had sustained one of the few injuries throughout his activities.
She couldn’t deny that one of the party’s key strengths—stability—had significantly diminished.
Participating in these external activities was something she wasn’t thrilled about.
“Here’s your mobile phone.”
“Ah, thank you.”
The Keroes staff member who had accompanied them in a manager role handed Lee Mi-a her phone.
After mindlessly fiddling with her phone for a while, she finally checked the new message that had arrived.
It was a message from Lee Hyun-jae in the management department.
‘Ah, this is…….’
Upon clicking the link included in the message, information about the movie starring Yoo Ji-han’s party appeared.
It was the bull ogre hunting method that Yoo Ji-han had proposed years ago while still in Kim Hyun-tae’s party.
Lee Mi-a remembered it well.
‘I’ll watch it later.’
Without a moment’s hesitation, she pressed the payment button.
The awkwardness from the shoot began to ease from her expression.
