Chapter 210
Chapter 210. Secret (2)
“Finally, it’s out.”
“What’s out?”
“Yoo Ji-han’s party interview!”
After Yoo Ji-han’s party completed the interview with reporter Lee Wan, it only took a day for the contents to be released to the public.
They hurried to finish the article, worried that information might leak out first.
“I heard it was quiet after the expedition, but now they’re finally showing their faces.”
“I’ll send you the article link.”
As soon as the article was released, it quickly became a headline news story and views skyrocketed.
Teenagers using their mobile phones during school breaks significantly contributed to the surge.
The perfect age group that was most interested in heroes.
They constantly shared the interview of Yoo Ji-han’s party on social media and with friends.
“What?! Yoo Ji-han was in Kim Hyun-tae’s party?”
“Seriously?”
“No way, stop joking.”
“It’s real! Look at this!”
Except for Rank 1 heroes, Kim Hyun-tae was always among the top 10 most notable heroes selected each month.
But to think that he had worked in the same party as Yoo Ji-han!
The revelations from the article surprised those who had been waiting for news.
“They said he was acting anonymously in the party. Here’s proof.”
“I don’t get it. Why would he do that?”
“There’s a reason listed below…”
A copy of Yoo Ji-han’s contract, which only revealed specific clauses.
Thanks to Lee Wan summarizing the details for easy understanding, anyone could grasp the situation.
“Wow… that’s pretty harsh.”
“Is this how hero contracts usually are?”
“No way! This is terrible!”
As a result of the contract’s disclosure, readers sympathized with Yoo Ji-han and felt pity for him.
Moreover, they expressed great disappointment towards Keroes.
“If this is true, Keroes went too far.”
“I like Kim Hyun-tae, and I’m in shock right now.”
“Wasn’t he the guild master, Park Joong-seob? He had a great image for a long time.”
“Right. He used to donate often and appeared on TV multiple times.”
Keroes, which usually had a good image due to its positive influence, now had its reputation tarnished thanks to the hero Yoo Ji-han.
The interview was certainly shocking to people.
But the shock from the interview didn’t stop there.
“…What is this?”
“Mage Kim Si-hu is a Half-Elf!”
“He’s not human?!”
“So the rumors were true.”
The interview included a photo of Kim Si-hu throwing off his hat and confessing his race.
The half-elf mage finally revealed his existence.
Though some felt resentment…
“He looks so cute!”
“I need to join the fan club right now!”
His naturally gray hair and pointed ears added a mysterious touch, and the special background of a guild established by a different race drew plenty of attention.
“Tch! Still, I don’t like other races…”
“That’s not something you should say.”
“What were you doing when Kim Si-hu was fighting hard? You were just holed up at home!”
Thanks to those who had viewed Kim Si-hu’s feats in the expedition as a movie first, most gave him flak for being of a different race.
And then…
“A video?”
Those who played the video attached to the article all had their eyes widen.
——Snap! Am I being filmed right now?
Chilla was speaking in the video.
With natural gestures, Korean pronunciation, and a high level of language comprehension.
This might overshadow everything that had been said before; it was a huge event.
“A monster is talking?!”
“No way.”
“It must be ventriloquism, right?”
Many shook their heads at the unrealistic news.
However, the seamlessness of the video caused anticipation to rise among people.
“What if all the interview content is a lie?”
“That could be possible.”
“But what if it’s all true?”
Three shocking pieces of information revealed in just one interview.
The people, thrown into confusion, busily discussed Yoo Ji-han’s party.
*
As the door of the Hero Academy headquarters swung open, Yoo Ji-han’s party stepped inside.
“This is the first time seeing them in person.”
“That’s the Half-Elf, right?”
“Should we try talking to them?”
Naturally, all eyes from the first floor were glued to them.
However, Yoo Ji-han didn’t pay any attention at all.
He had gotten used to such attention by now.
“I don’t know how celebs live, they must be exhausted.”
“Totally.”
Countless letters had arrived in the office mailbox.
There were so many that the lid of the mailbox couldn’t handle them and was slightly ajar.
Yoo Ji-han collected them all as he arrived at the office.
The inside of the office was dusty from not being cleaned for a while.
Kim Si-hu was polishing the commemorative plaque they received when the party was promoted to Rank 4, saying, “We have over 5,000 emails that arrived in a week.”
“Chirp chirp? Is 5,000 a lot?”
“Too much, actually.”
Since the expedition had ended, a flood of emails poured into the Sweet Fun Guild’s inbox.
As of this morning, the number of emails had surpassed 5,000.
“Take your time reading them when you can. We don’t have to rush.”
About half of the incoming emails were sent by citizens who watched the movie as words of encouragement.
The rest were from those wanting to build deeper relations, offering sponsorships or investments.
All of these offers were excessive for a newly formed guild, but there was no rush to decide hastily.
“Ji-han! How are we ranked?”
“We’re number one domestically.”
Yoo Ji-han accessed the hero movie site on his mobile.
The movies featuring Yoo Ji-han’s party’s expedition were two in total: <Ajesia> and <Ajesia 2>.
This time, following the first part, the sequel had just been released.
As soon as it premiered, it claimed the top spot in domestic popularity charts.
‘So far, the total movie revenue is 5.3 billion.’
A satisfied smile spread across Yoo Ji-han’s face.
The revenue recorded from the movies reached a whopping 5.3 billion won.
Even after deducting various fees, it was still an impressive amount.
To attract audience attention, the ticket price was set low at under 1,000 won.
It seems that intention paid off quite well.
‘The reward from the Hero Department won’t be nearly as much.’
Even if the government provided a reward for participating in the expedition, it couldn’t compare to the movie profits.
It was more than sufficient to call it a big success.
“What should I buy once the money comes in?”
“Chirp chirp! I want to eat meat!”
“What kind of meat?”
“Any kind that I can eat, right?”
“I’ll make you eat whatever you want.”
“Chirp, chirp chirp!! I want the captain!”
Flapping!
Chilla flailed its arms in joy at Yoo Ji-han’s promise to let it eat whatever it wanted.
At that moment, Min Yu-ri looked at Chilla with an expression of helplessness.
“Oho.”
Yoo Ji-han spotted Kim Hyun-tae’s movie on the popularity rankings.
It seemed they had finally released a movie based on their regional expedition.
‘…I don’t see Lee Mi-a anywhere.’
However, neither Lee Mi-a’s name appeared on the movie poster nor in the cast list.
Searching revealed that she didn’t appear in the film at all.
It looked like they had completely edited her out during the editing process.
Perhaps it was because she had left Kim Hyun-tae’s party.
‘Looks like she’s fallen out of favor with Guild Master Park Joong-seob.’
Even though she had participated in the expedition alongside them and struggled just as much.
Lee Mi-a was missing out on all the benefits.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, someone knocked on the office door.
Min Yu-ri, who was near the entrance, opened the door to find a man in a suit standing there.
“Is this Yoo Ji-han’s party?”
“Yes, it is.”
“I’m Park Yeol-tae from Keroes, the one who contacted you earlier.”
“…!”
He was an employee from Keroes.
As he entered the office without permission, Yoo Ji-han squinted and said, “I thought I mentioned I didn’t want to meet.”
After Lee Wan’s crafted interview of Yoo Ji-han’s party was released through the Hero Daily, Keroes had reached out to Yoo Ji-han directly.
They had come to protest the disclosure of the contract from Keroes’ period.
Despite having firmly rejected the request for a face-to-face meeting, they sent someone straight to the office.
“I’m not interested in talking, so please leave.”
“Yoo Ji-han! If I leave now, you will undoubtedly regret it.”
“Regret?”
“At Keroes, we feel disappointed about the contract detail revealed in the interview and the insulting edits of Kim Hyun-tae’s party reflected in your upcoming movie, and we will actively refute any various allegations for our honor, and if necessary, pursue legal action…”
Hearing the prepared speech of the employee, Yoo Ji-han wore a sardonic smile.
Who did he think he was threatening?
“Who is regretting? Me? Or you?”
“…”
“Stop with the pathetic threats and get lost.”
“Get, get lost?! You’re saying this to me…!”
The man, his face reddened with anger, pressed on.
To which Yoo Ji-han picked his ear with his pinky finger and said, “Chilla! Show the guest out!”
“Chirp! I don’t know who you are, but goodbye!”
“Ugh, waaaaaah!!”
“Don’t resist. Human!”
Chilla pushed the suited man out of the office.
He tried to resist with all his might, but he couldn’t compete with the immense strength of the giant chinchilla.
After the door shut firmly, Min Yu-ri looked at the departing man and said, “Is it okay to chase them away like that?”
“It’s their fault for coming in without notice.”
Yoo Ji-han shrugged.
It didn’t matter to him if Keroes protested strongly because…
Throughout the internet community, the party that participated in this expedition had gained the image of saving Korea from crisis.
The party that benefited the most from that was undoubtedly Yoo Ji-han’s Sweet Fun party.
‘Keroes cannot touch me recklessly.’
Given the public’s keen interest in the situation.
Any force standing against Yoo Ji-han would undoubtedly end up disliking many people.
It would be awkward for both sides to completely sever ties.
‘I’ve grown quite a bit.’
If Yoo Ji-han’s influence had been weak, he could have easily been hindered.
But now, he had become too substantial to be ignored even by Guild Master Park Joong-seob of Keroes.
*
“I—I was kicked out.”
“…”
“I’m sorry.”
Park Joong-seob listened in silence to the report from the employee who had visited the Sweet Fun’s office.
To think he would be forced out with nothing to show for it.
Once the highly anxious employee closed the door to the president’s office, Park Joong-seob clenched his fist tightly.
‘How could things flow like this…!’
An insult.
This was an insult.
He had never imagined that he would feel such emotions while forcibly expelling Yoo Ji-han.
‘How could that brats provoke this kind of feeling from me!’
Boom!
Park Joong-seob could no longer hold back and slammed his fist down on the desk.
The muscles in his jaw twitched repeatedly due to his clenched teeth.
