Chapter 43: Pokyeom-gwi (1)
Around ten minutes later, the receptionist finally returned.
“The managing director says she’ll meet you.”
She pointed downstairs.
“She’s in the underground practice room right now. I’ll guide you.”
A famous celebrity like Aize had personally come here, yet instead of rushing out barefoot to greet her, the managing director demanded that we go to her.
That made me think the woman must be extremely proud and strong-willed.
Still, we were pretending to be here because Aize wanted modeling work.
We had no choice but to follow their rules.
Aize and I followed the receptionist downstairs.
A long hallway appeared.
Large windows lined its walls, allowing anyone in the hallway to see inside the practice rooms.
Despite being underground, the lighting was so bright you could probably spot a single ant.
Inside one practice room, five or six women in comfortable clothes were walking repeatedly along a marked line.
It looked like the model walking practice I had only seen on television.
We opened the door.
Loud music immediately filled my ears.
A woman stood at one side of the room with her arms crossed, watching the trainees.
“Director!”
The receptionist approached her.
“I brought Aize... and that man.”
Judging from her tone, she really disliked me.
The managing director was beautiful.
Of course, considering the industry, maybe that was natural.
But this woman was different.
Come to think of it, I had a lot of beautiful women around me.
There was Arang, whom I first met after being killed by the Asek-gwi and going to the Underworld.
Arang, one of the Three Great Chasa and the Woljik Chasa, had an intelligent yet cheerful beauty.
Then there was Jeonghu, captain of the Secret Chasa.
Apparently, she was considered the idol of King Yeomra’s kingdom because she possessed beauty, intelligence, and martial skill.
From what I had seen, that description was probably accurate.
Except for her personality.
The women working at Doremi Entertainment Bar were also extremely beautiful.
The two women I rescued from the Agwi were beautiful too.
There was Police Officer Kim Yeonhee from Jungbu Police Station’s Community Guidance Division, whom Detective Park secretly loved.
She had an innocent, clear beauty that almost purified your mind just from looking at her.
And Aize.
She had only recently reached adulthood, yet she was actually more than a thousand years old.
She was my Demonic Spear and the partner who had shared life and death with me a thousand years ago.
A girl with jewel-like beauty.
Bright, innocent, energetic.
Someone who constantly pulled my twisted heart into a better mood.
Thinking about it, there really were a ridiculous number of beautiful women around me.
That was probably my fault.
Obviously, I was simply so charming that women couldn’t resist me.
But the managing director felt different from all of them.
She was beautiful.
But there was something strangely wicked about her beauty.
There was a word for it.
Seductive.
A woman so beautiful that she confused a person’s reason and mind.
Historical women like Yang Guifei, Daji, and Diaochan were often described that way.
Women whose beauty supposedly helped destroy entire kingdoms.
Korea had Jang Noksu, the woman favored by King Yeonsangun.
She had supposedly risen from being a gisaeng to becoming the king’s concubine and helped drive Yeonsangun toward destruction.
If Jang Noksu were alive today, I imagined she might carry an atmosphere similar to this managing director.
“Ah!”
Aize pinched my side.
She was glaring at me.
Apparently, I had been staring at the managing director for too long.
“Husband. Be careful around that woman. Something strange is coming from her.”
Hwang Jinhee’s voice sounded in my head.
Huh? Miss Jinhee, we can talk directly now?
Aize answered silently.
Jinhee says it seems possible after your last level up. But apparently it only works when we’re close to you.
Nice. So it’s short-range communication.
I looked toward the managing director.
Miss Jinhee, what feels strange about her?
“She smells similar to me.”
Hwang Jinhee’s tone became serious.
“She is probably an expert at manipulating men.”
Really? Then I’ll be careful.
Aize immediately cut in.
Jinhee. Stop calling Inhwang ‘husband.’
“Unnie and I share one body and soul.”
Hwang Jinhee sounded amused.
“If he’s my husband, isn’t that almost the same as him being your husband?”
She teased her.
“Do you still want me to stop?”
Aize was silent.
...Do whatever you want.
It was the first time I had ever seen Aize lose a verbal battle against Hwang Jinhee.
Sharing one body and soul....
The phrase somehow sounded like a monster.
The managing director finally spoke.
“I am Sera Shin, managing director of Crisis Model Line.”
She handed us a business card.
“Just call me Sera.”
Terius Hyun.
Sera Shin.
Apparently, this company liked keeping Korean surnames while using foreign given names.
“Nice to meet you.”
I bowed slightly.
“My name is Kang Hyunwoo, and this is Aize.”
Since she greeted us properly, it was only polite to return it.
“I heard Aize intends to become a model.”
“Yes.”
I immediately continued our story.
“Life became difficult after she left her girl group, so she came here to try modeling.”
“I already heard the general situation.”
Sera studied Aize carefully.
“But modeling isn’t easy either.”
She smiled.
“Since you are Aize, however, we can at least perform a test before deciding.”
I looked toward Aize.
You okay?
Aize gave me a thumbs-up.
No problem.
“Then, Aize, stand on the runway line.”
Sera led her toward the center.
“Isn’t that Aize?”
“You’re right. Why is she here after quitting her girl group?”
“She must want to become a model.”
The trainees whispered among themselves.
Sera clapped.
“Walk from here to the end.”
Then she shouted toward one trainee.
“Put on something energetic.”
Fast, upbeat music began playing.
Jinhee, you handle this now. You’re confident, right?
“Hehehe. Unnie worries too much.”
Hwang Jinhee sounded amused.
“I watched those girls earlier. It doesn’t look difficult at all.”
Then switch possession.
Aize’s eyes briefly flashed silver.
Then the light disappeared.
Sera raised her hand.
“Walking, start!”
