Chapter 72…
Evil Spirit?
Mansu clicked his tongue.
If that was true, it meant the spirit had been feeding on wandering souls, growing stronger.
This wasn’t something that could be driven away with just a shamanic ritual.
No—rituals only worked if the person themselves had the will to resist.
This was an evil spirit clinging to a person who was already like it. Neither would let go.
It was a case of a cruel man summoning a cruel spirit.
A kind-hearted person would never have something like this latch onto them in the first place.
“Let’s take a look first.”
—Yeah.
It seemed they had to dig deeper into this.
Bang!
“Should we?”
“……”
Mansu was left speechless when Suhan appeared right in front of him.
“What? Happy to see me?”
“Why’d you come all the way here just to call me on the phone!”
“I was curious. So what do we do? Do I need some kind of exorcism or something?”
“Ugh…”
Mansu let out a sigh at Suhan’s words, then carefully explained the thoughts he’d just had.
As he listened, Suhan frowned.
“Hey. At this point, shouldn’t the whole country step in? You’re just gonna leave this be?”
“This sort of thing isn’t direct harm—it’s more like a parasite. Or maybe… a codependent relationship.”
“Sigh. I thought my life was turning into some entertainment drama, but suddenly it feels like an exorcism thriller?”
“You’re the one who went chasing it!”
“Fine, then take it back.”
“Hmm… Well, you can’t just forcefully tear apart two beings clinging to each other like a married couple. It’s not that simple.”
Backed into a corner, Mansu quickly changed the subject.
“You’re dodging.”
“Anyway. Just being near it can crush an ordinary person’s energy, make them weak. Even if they’re treated cruelly, they won’t fight back. Mentally, they’re already enslaved.”
“Hmm, makes sense. Brother Yoochun said something similar—he was surprised that a place like this still hasn’t exploded into scandal.”
Mansu nodded and continued his explanation.
“It’s probably because of the evil spirit. Like being beaten into submission.”
What had started as an idea to help Yeonju’s soul find peace was now snowballing into something bigger.
That’s when an old, familiar voice suddenly spoke up.
[Ko Yeonjigo.]
“Old man, long time no see.”
It was Mansu’s guardian spirit.
[Everywhere you go, trouble follows, doesn’t it?]
“Whose fault do you think that is? Anyway, that black aura—I’ve never seen anything like it before! I used to only see ghosts!”
[…Ahem.]
They say there’s no grave without excuses. If excuses piled up on my grave, it’d be the size of a royal tomb.
“Old man, what do the reapers say? Why don’t they drag something like that away?”
[That’s not for me to say… it’s the jurisdiction of the afterlife ledger.]
Look at him backing out now, after always acting so high and mighty.
“What, are you some government clerk now? Saying it’s not your department?”
[Ahem.]
Running out of things to say, he just cleared his throat.
“Anyway, you’re coming with me.”
“Me?”
“No, not you—you stand out too much. I mean the old man.”
[Me? Me??]
“Yeah. Compared to you, he’ll be a lot more useful.”
After all, he’d been acting as a guardian spirit for a long time—he’d have more experience.
[Even if you have Heaven’s blessing, you’re not a shaman. How could I…]
“And yet you crawl into my body just fine whenever it’s time to eat. That’s different?”
[Th-that’s…]
“Look, it’s not easy. Shamans aren’t just mediums—they’re conduits. I’m here so deities can descend.”
[Exactly.]
I clicked my tongue.
“So basically, how are you different from a lingering ghost? Honestly, even Yeonju’s more useful than you.”
[How dare you compare me to some earthbound ghost!]
The spirit flared up—clearly offended.
But I wasn’t wrong.
“All right then. Mansu, you drive.”
“Huh?”
“As long as he’s nearby, that’s enough, right?”
[…That’s true.]
“Drive?”
“Yeah, just wait while I take care of business. Think of it as being my roadie.”
[That works.]
Bang, bang, bang.
Decision made!
“Hey.”
Kwon Suhyun felt himself shrink.
Before he could even shake off the thought of lying low for a while, his uncle—CEO Jang Sang-su—dragged him in.
“Y-yes.”
“I heard you beat someone up?”
At that single question, Suhyun squeezed his eyes shut.
Normally, it might’ve been brushed off, but he knew the timing was bad.
“Th-that’s…”
“I caught the guy, so you apologize.”
“Uncle…”
“What, you want me to do it for you?”
Suhyun grimaced.
It was humiliating, but he’d already shamed the company—he couldn’t protest further.
Besides, the spanking he’d gotten a few days ago still stung.
“Yes…”
“Don’t start what you can’t finish. Just making you a star is already more than enough from me, even if you are my sister’s kid.”
“…Yes.”
Cornered, Suhyun had no choice but to shut up.
“And Director Gu.”
At the call, Chief Manager Gu Bong-han bowed slightly.
“Yes.”
“You’re close with Siyeon, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Anything there?”
“She said she was a fan back when she was a trainee.”
“Huh?”
At the word trainee, CEO Jang tilted his head, then remembered.
“An idol trainee?”
“Yes.”
Of course he remembered.
That failed girl group he’d poured money into.
After that flop, he’d ignored the whole idol business.
“She was dirt poor, wasn’t she?”
“Yes, but—”
“Poor, and still chasing idols? What a mess.”
Clicking his tongue, CEO Jang muttered on.
“Damn. If that girl hadn’t collapsed back then, we could’ve been a full-fledged general entertainment company. What was her name again? The one who died…”
“Jo Yeonju.”
“Yeah, Jo Yeonju. Pathetic weakling. Tch.”
Then his eyes gleamed.
“So she was a fan, huh. Then let’s make her dream come true.”
“…That would look good, too.”
“I hear she’s a decent actress, right?”
“Yes. She even got her latest role through an audition she pursued herself.”
“Tch. Some people get spoon-fed and still complain…”
As the words stabbed toward him, Suhyun shrank into himself again like a pill bug.
“Call Miyeon.”
“Yes.”
While Gu made the call, CEO Jang leaned back in his chair, satisfied.
“Well, time to paint a picture again. If it goes well, we can even transfer that beggar kid. And if not, tying Miyeon to this could make her useful. Good deal, right? An ex-idol trainee actress and a former beggar turned fanboy.”
“Yes, Uncle. Sounds great!”
Suhyun tried to chime in with a smile, but CEO Jang gave him a cold look.
“Don’t grin at me. Makes me wanna slap you.”
“Y-yes…”
Once again, Suhyun lost out.
Chairman Yang Man-sik of Baeksan Group stiffened at his secretary Yoo Ji-gwang’s report.
“So scum like that still exist.”
“……”
He’d already heard from Suhan that these people had shown up at the filming site.
That meant they had good connections—though some of it was information deliberately leaked as a warning: Don’t mess with Suhan.
They’d seemed to understand. They sent food and snacks to the set, then apologized separately.
But when Yoo investigated further, more buried incidents surfaced.
Ugly ones—hidden accidents, rumors of maimings, even suspicious deaths.
Back in their early days, they’d pushed bit-part actors abroad, trading on their “actor” status to run women in foreign red-light districts.
“Will Suhan be all right?”
“Do you mean Suhan himself?”
“Yes.”
“…I’ll stick close to him.”
“You sure you can handle it?”
Chairman Yang asked with concern—feeling guilty about dragging this outside group business.
Secretary Yoo smiled gently.
“This is my work, too.”
“You know you’re my lifesaver, right?”
“Yes.”
Yang nodded in satisfaction.
“Ha… Making a new friend this late in life sure takes effort.”
Secretary Yoo’s smile deepened.
He knew Suhan was the reason the Chairman had seemed happier lately.
“Once this is over and filming wraps, I’m dragging that kid camping. Gonna put him to work.”
“Great idea, sir.”
“Right?”
“Yes.”
“Hahaha!”
The Chairman’s booming laughter filled the room.
When Ye Siyeon walked in, CEO Jang Sang-su greeted her with a grin.
“Wow! I thought you looked great on set, but you’ve gotten even prettier. Must be all that camera massage, huh?”
“No, sir.”
“Sit down.”
“Yes.”
She sat nervously on the sofa he indicated.
“I hear you’re close with that beggar?”
“Y-you mean Suhan?”
“Calling him by name, huh.”
“Oh, Suhan s-ssi.”
“Fine. No problem. You’re both adults, after all.”
Siyeon’s face stiffened—she realized she’d made a slip.
“So, what’s it like, meeting a fan?”
“He was more of Yeonju’s fan than mine.”
Siyeon quickly drew a line.
She was afraid.
“The dead girl?”
“…Yes.”
The thought of Yeonju brought a lump to her throat, but she answered softly.
“She’s dead. You’re alive.”
Siyeon felt goosebumps all over.
“He liked you too, didn’t he? That’s good enough.”
“…Not like that.”
“Then we’ll make it like that. Right?”
Her face went pale.
“W-what do you mean…”
“You’re at marrying age, aren’t you?”
“…Excuse me?”
“You should be dating, at least.”
She shut her eyes tight.
“Don’t tell me you don’t like the idea. I’ve treated you better than other girls, haven’t I?”
Her heart sank.
When the idol group debut collapsed, the other girls vanished.
Unlike her or Jo Yeonju, those girls had only been chosen for their looks.
Later, she’d heard rumors—spread by none other than Gu Bong-han—that they were drifting from bar to bar overseas.
It was a warning.
That could happen to her too.
Every time she sat here, her mouth sealed shut, as if she were a rabbit facing a lion.
The only reason she’d survived this long was the company’s neglect—occasionally giving her auditions, letting her eke out some happiness.
But now, she felt that happiness slipping away.
“Anyway, try harder. I’ll even set up a meeting with the beggar.”
“…Yes.”
“You’ll handle it well, right?”
Siyeon couldn’t answer—she only nodded, desperate to escape the room.
