AECS 76

Chapter 76

Hwang Ji-woo (3)

“Wow, this is really Dream City. It’s amazing…”

“How much did it cost to build this? I heard the construction didn’t even take a year.”

“Still, it must have cost several hundred billion.”

“Nah, probably more. Even if it’s on the outskirts of Hanam, land this big must be insanely expensive.”

Baek Ah-jin’s friends walked around excitedly.

Luxury apartments.

Weird-looking bunkers.

A stream trickling through a garden full of art pieces.

“Wow.”

It was nothing but constant admiration.

Click, click!

A group of girls posed in the garden, taking photos.

And then…

‘Hmm?’

A man was watching them from a distance.

It was Baek Jin-woo.

‘Who are they?’

He didn’t know all of “Yubaek’s” policies or schedule, but he knew that ordinary people weren’t allowed in.

‘Looks like they aren’t staff either.’

If they were employees, they couldn’t be in the garden at this hour.

Thanks to Yoo Ji-a’s policy of hiring only a few elites but giving them the best treatment, there weren’t many employees.

Fewer people meant everyone was busy.

‘And no employee would wear clothes like that.’

• Master, do you feel it?

Hoon-gyo whispered beside him.

“Could the Flame Body be one of them?”

• Very likely. Should we go check?

“Yeah.”

Even though he didn’t know who it was.

It was a bit awkward, but with the sudden quest from Pok-ryong, he had no choice.

Baek Jin-woo walked toward the girls.

Then, he bowed his head.

“Hello.”

The girls froze mid-action and looked at Baek Jin-woo.

Then, they completely stiffened.

‘W-what.’

‘What is happening?’

‘Baek Jin-woo is really in front of me? Is this real?’

They trembled as if they were seeing a living god.

Baek Jin-woo!

Wasn’t he the hero everyone admired?

The shock slowly turned into joy.

“Kyaa!”

“Baek Jin-woo! He’s Ah-jin’s brother!”

“What are you doing here? Weren’t you at the training ground?”

The friends dropped everything and moved toward him, and Hwang Ji-woo stared stiffly at Baek Jin-woo.

‘Crazy.’

She cursed silently.

How could someone be this handsome?

Baek Jin-woo was already handsome, but now, with his physical abilities at the peak, he radiated a wild charm.

Broad shoulders, a chest that stood out, abs.

Even his clothes fit perfectly with his muscles, making him shine all over.

‘Aaah.’

Hiccup!

She should have said it.

That she was Ah-jin’s friend.

That she wanted to become a player and hoped he could teach her, even for ten minutes.

“……”

But Hwang Ji-woo couldn’t say a word.

She was too embarrassed.

‘Ah.’

Baek Jin-woo finally understood everything.

“You’re Ah-jin’s friends, right?”

“Yes!”

“Yes, oppa! Can you give us an autograph?”

“I want a photo too! A photo!”

Oh.

Baek Jin-woo immediately felt drained.

“Autograph… I’ve never done that before.”

“Just do it however you like!”

“Me too!”

They rushed at him like hungry hyenas.

Like girls meeting their favorite celebrity.

Baek Jin-woo calmed them down.

“Okay, okay. I’ll do everything, but follow my instructions for a moment. You’re too chaotic right now.”

Then.

Flare!

He summoned Pok-ryong beside him.

“Come one by one. I’ll take photos and sign for you.”

Anyway, he needed to check if one of them was the Flame Body.

If they were Ah-jin’s friends, even better.

He would pretend to take photos and check carefully.

“Yes!”

“Yes, oppa!”

Who could resist Baek Jin-woo!

Baek Ah-jin’s friends followed his instructions perfectly.

Click!

Baek Jin-woo posed for selfies with each of them while keeping an eye on the edges of his vision.

[Current period – 0 days, 00:00:00]

Still no movement.

If one of them were the Flame Body, they would have moved…

‘So, maybe it’s not them?’

[Train Pok-ryong (EX-Class) for 100 days beside the Flame Body!]

“Beside.”

He still didn’t know how physically close “beside” meant.

Could be within 1 meter, maybe even direct contact.

Click, click!

He took photos and signed for all seven of Ah-jin’s friends.

The signatures were sloppy, like squiggles.

“Ahh, this is so great.”

“Your autograph is amazing!”

Amazing…?

Even if it was sloppy, they loved it. Baek Jin-woo felt a little guilty.

He would make proper ones later.

Finally.

A girl wearing a mask stood stiffly a little away.

“You’re not taking one?”

Baek Jin-woo asked.

“Hwang Ji-woo?”

“Ji-woo, come on. You need one too.”

“Did she get a fever again or something?”

Her friends worriedly went over to her.

Baek Jin-woo followed.

If she didn’t take a photo, it would be fine…

But he needed to find the Flame Body, so he had no choice.

Then.

[Current period – 0 days, 00:00:01]

Click!

The stopwatch finally started.

“……!”

Baek Jin-woo’s eyes lit up.

‘Found you.’

Flame Body!

So it was you!

After sending Ah-jin’s friends away, he headed straight to the headquarters office.

He didn’t say much to Hwang Ji-woo.

Talking would have been weird.

‘You’re actually the Flame Body, a special condition. So you’ll live with Pok-ryong for 100 days.’

If he said that, she would probably follow.

At least he hoped she didn’t think he was crazy.

‘First.’

Let’s see what kind of person she is.

Baek Jin-woo called Yoo Ji-a and Baek Ah-jin to the office.

“Ah-jin, I met your friends today.”

“My friends? Wow! They actually went to the training ground? I told them not to go!”

Startled, Baek Ah-jin raised her phone to scold him.

“Not like that.”

He calmed her down first.

“I didn’t meet them at the training ground. I just approached them while they were playing in the park.”

“You went?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Not just Baek Ah-jin, even Yoo Ji-a looked curious.

“By the way, Ji-woo, are you close to her?”

“Ji-woo? Close! She was sick a lot, so we couldn’t hang out, but we were best friends in school. Why?”

Baek Ah-jin frowned.

Thinking about it, all the friends were attractive, but Ji-woo was especially pretty.

“Do you have a crush on her?”

“……?”

Yoo Ji-a’s expression also changed.

“No, no. It’s not that.”

Baek Jin-woo explained the sudden quest briefly.

To unlock Pok-ryong’s power, they needed the Flame Body, Hwang Ji-woo.

So she needed to come for 100 days.

“You’re her friend. I wanted to check first if she would agree, what she’s doing, and so on.”

If she were a stranger, he might ask directly or try to persuade her. But she was Ah-jin’s friend.

It was better to be considerate.

Even if Ji-woo agreed, legal matters and contracts would need Yoo Ji-a’s review.

“Hmm… I’m not sure what she’s doing as an adult. She didn’t talk much. Should I ask her?”

“Yes, please.”

“Okay.”

Thump!

“Haah.”

At home, Hwang Ji-woo removed her mask.

A huge sense of self-blame rose in her heart.

‘I couldn’t say anything after all.’

Stupid!

Fool!

It was an opportunity.

One that wouldn’t come again.

The group chat was still buzzing.

Friends who went on the visit were sharing photos, showing satisfaction, and making those who didn’t go jealous.

But Hwang Ji-woo wasn’t part of it.

‘Why couldn’t I speak?’

Looking back, she was just too kind.

She didn’t want to ruin the mood.

Ah-jin had asked her not to interfere with her brother.

And how could she shamelessly ask to be taught summoning?

“Sigh.”

She buried her head in the pillow.

Okay. Keep it simple.

Think of it as being rejected.

Even if she had asked, there was no guarantee Baek Jin-woo would agree.

Her parents called her to eat, but she had no energy to respond.

She said she wasn’t hungry and locked the door.

Then.

Ding!

A text arrived.

She usually had group chat alerts off, so it was personal.

‘For me?’

In Grade I, the only friends she had were from the group chat, so she rarely got separate messages.

‘Who is it?’

Hwang Ji-woo checked her phone and was shocked.

[Baek Ah-jin: Ji-woo.]

‘Ah-jin?’

They were close in middle school, but after being separated into different classes, they hadn’t contacted each other privately.

They only greeted at group meetings, which Ji-woo rarely attended.

She thought there was some distance, so what was this about?

[Hwang Ji-woo: Yes?]

[Baek Ah-jin: It was nice to see you today after a long time ㅎㅎ Can we talk on the phone for a moment?]

“……”

Hwang Ji-woo sat up.

Her heart pounded.

If she wanted to call directly, something must be happening.

Press!

She immediately pressed the call button.

In the end, Baek Ah-jin asked Ji-woo many things.

Occupation: Player.

Lives in Seodaemun-gu.

Guild: None yet.

Ji-woo answered honestly.

Then.

“- Would you like a high-paying part-time job?”

“- Part-time?”

What?

Ji-woo was suddenly disappointed.

So it was a headhunting call?

And not even a job, just part-time…

“- How much is the pay?”

Ji-woo didn’t have much money.

But if a friend on Yubaek’s board introduced it?

It could be a lot.

Since she needed money to buy a high-grade summon, she couldn’t refuse.

“- 10 billion won after tax for living together for 100 days.”

“- What?”

T-ten billion?

“- What exactly? Living together means we’ll go catch shrimp or something?”

No.

Even catching shrimp wouldn’t earn 10 billion.

And the tax is included.

Ji-woo’s eyes lit up.

Just 100 days of effort?

She could buy a B-rank summon!

“- But it’s tough. No breaks at all. You can’t leave for more than an hour. I’ll explain the details in person. How about tomorrow? I’ll come to your house.”

But.

It was scary too.

What kind of situation would make Baek Ah-jin act like this?

“- I can still refuse after hearing the explanation, right?”

“- Yes, yes! Don’t worry. It’s not dangerous.”

Right.

Still, she was a friend. There was no way they’d call her for something dangerous.

For now, she would just go see.