Chapter 935

EP.935 Interlude – Reality and Tera

<At that moment, Jeju Airport.>

“Our company being on Jeju Island is really frustrating, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is.”

The blond man in sunglasses yawned as he got into the car.

The sport-haired man in the driver’s seat glanced at the man sitting in the backseat.

“How did it go?”

“It went great. The initial contract is done. Now we just have to wait for the work to be completed.”

The man, Ha Sun-tae, took off his sunglasses and wiped them with a cloth as he grumbled.

“Still, it’s regrettable I don’t understand why they made such a decision up there.”

“Wasn’t it Chairman’s instruction?”

“The Chairman has his own separate plans. We decided to select one person to become our model…”

Ha Sun-tae turned on his smart pad and checked the gallery.

There were countless photos of a silver-haired woman with piercing eyes making various expressions.

“Why was Seok Harang chosen?”

“Well, she was the one who came after Shin-ra, wasn’t she?”

“So will Yuna come next?”

Ha Sun-tae asked excitedly.

But his chauffeur, Lee Tak-hwan, remained silent with a tight-lipped expression.

“Probably not.”

“Why? What’s wrong with our Yuna!”

“It’s just that Yuna doesn’t quite fit this project, sir.”

“Keh…!”

Ha Sun-tae bit his lips.

“Most people know about Shin-ra well. And the next most famous would probably be Seok Harang. She has a significant fanbase too.”

“What about Yuna?!”

“Yuna is merely the main heroine pushed by the production company.”

“Keh…!”

Ha Sun-tae’s top pick.

Yuinah was nothing more than the heroine heavily promoted by the production company due to favoritism.

If the stories from the past or other realities had spread widely and garnered much attention, everyone would have been moved and convinced by Yuna’s arrival in reality.

Unfortunately, Yuna had already acquired an image of “all routes having been completed.”

Though she transitioned to reality using her personal traits, regrettably, she lacked the spark compared to the other two goddesses.

“Damn. Just wait until we move to Tera. That’s when Yuna’s Phoenix will begin.”

“You’re such a Yuna-mom.”

“Not entirely wrong. After all, Yuna was born indirectly from me.”

Ha Sun-tae adjusted his sunglasses.

“But how’s Tera? I hear some stories might start coming out soon.”

“No unusual issues so far. Phoenix’s avatar is in hibernation mode, and neither Gaia Kingdom nor other places show any anomalies. Besides…”

Lee Tak-hwan pointed at his watch.

“Not much time has passed in Tera yet.”

“That’s true.”

It had been less than a week since Phoenix announced taking a short break and Shin-ra put on the headgear again.

In just a week,

Nothing unusual has happened in Tera.

“But soon…”

Beeep!

An alarm rang.

Ha Sun-tae was startled by what appeared on his smartphone screen and answered the call.

“Yes, Chairman Jo.”

[Hey, you need to head back to Seoul.]

“Did I hear that wrong?”

[I think you should go meet them in Seoul.]

“…What?”

Kiieek.

Lee Tak-hwan pulled the car over to the shoulder.

Ha Sun-tae, now serious, raised his voice into the phone.

“What? You told me to start the operation here in Jeju!”

[We’ve taken on another job. All the budget allocated for the art team will be redirected to your side.]

“Really?”

Ha Sun-tae felt goosebumps.

“So exactly how much budget are we talking about?”

[As much as the other side gets. Don’t worry. The first impression was good, so this one will surely be great too.]

“But their side isn’t easy either. Are you sure it’s safe? If we mess up…”

[That’s why I’m telling you to go meet them! This model…]

A bald man sent a data file to Ha Sun-tae’s pad.

[This guy.]

“This ‘guy’ is actually a goddess, right?”

[The content is different.]

“Ah…”

Ha Sun-tae stroked his chin and nodded.

“Is Phoenix finally stepping in?”

[Yeah. I’ve already arranged the shooting. You just need to go sign the contract.]

“If that’s the case, why me instead of sending Takhwan…”

[What?]

Ha Sun-tae tried to protest timidly but knew it wouldn’t get through.

[Hey! The first project was a great success, so you need to think about connecting it to a bigger hit for the next project, not just avoid it because it’s troublesome. How do you think I secured this contract?!]

“But didn’t you already contact them and offer the job to two other teams because there was no response?”

[Just as I was about to give up, they contacted me, so now we’re doing a three-team collaboration.]

“What…”

Ha Sun-tae couldn’t help but let out a puff of air.

“Are you crazy?”

[That shows how serious we are about this project.]

“Isn’t it risky?”

[Even if it’s risky, what’s the worst that can happen? It’s not like the results will disappear.]

“…”

Ha Sun-tae scratched his head.

“With how much money have you earned to invest this much?”

[When have we ever started a project after earning big? We’re doing this because we want to.]

“For whose benefit?”

[Everyone’s.]

Upon hearing the chairman’s words, Ha Sun-tae closed his eyes tightly.

Then he cautiously asked,

“Soo… By any chance, is there a spot for Yuna among those 20 slots?”

[Nope! All Phoenix.]

“Even one?”

[Nope.]

“Then will there be a Yuna-con?”

[Yuna-con?]

Chairman Jo was silent for a while.

[Well, if we decide to produce a concert, we could make one.]

“Oh…!”

[But not now.]

“Ah…”

[Let’s focus on Seok Harang first. Luckily, Ms. Tteokbokki also agreed there’s no problem, and the artists are happy to collaborate. If you prepare the storyboard properly…]

“Do I have to prepare it again?”

[Of course. You need to prepare the Phoenix-con properly too. Make it as good as the first one. Got it?]

Click. Tu tu tu.

The call ended.

Ha Sun-tae stared at his pad and bowed his head silently.

“Hmph. He could have bought tteokbokki with that money.”

Ha Sun-tae smirked while looking at the transmitted data on his pad.

“I’ll hold my breath until the Yuna-con comes. Huff…!”

“Will take more than two months.”

Ha Sun-tae hung his head low.

* * *

<On a world's Earth. Neo Seoul Yeouido C Hotel.>

“Thinking about it, I’ve never heard about your preferences.”

“Huh? Mine?”

Hikari put down the cake she was nibbling on.

The sudden question from Yun Yuhwa was enough to fluster her, especially since the content wasn’t ordinary.

“Chairman, I’m still a minor.”

“Ah.”

Yun Yuhwa’s expression stiffened.

It was only natural since creating Xroid caused him to act too casually; Hikari was clearly still a child.

It was astonishing that a child could instigate a magical revolution lifting Yeouido high into Heaven, and even more shocking that no one on Earth could match Hikari.

Young but knowledgeable beyond her years.

Hikari finished the rest of the cake while pondering.

“Hmm…preferences.”

Hikari clapped her hands and raised one.

“As a minor in this world, I’m fine, right?”

“Who are you talking to right now?”

“To myself in the fourth dimension?”

Hikari’s statement made Yun Yuhwa smack his forehead.

“There’s no you in that world, Hikari.”

“Maybe. There’s a Karna-like woman clinging to Phoenix Sir, so there might be someone resembling me too.”

“That may be true…”

Yun Yuhwa couldn’t refute Hikari’s speculation.

Different worlds.

But the possibility of existence in another world…

It was akin to Phoenix loving Yun Yuhwa…!

“So what are your preferences?”

“Hmm…none in particular?”

Hikari tilted her head.

“I don’t particularly desire anything. I’m not someone who wanders around various communities becoming a hikikomori, and since coming from Japan, thanks to Phoenix Sir’s help, I’ve been able to conduct all the research I wanted. Why would I have complaints?”

“I’m asking about your preferences…”

“So…nothing special. Growing up rather ordinarily means there’s nothing extraordinary to mention. If there had been a special incident, perhaps I’d have developed peculiar interests.”

Hikari resumed eating her cake.

“From a multidimensional perspective, I’m unique enough to be called ‘unique.’ Other Himeji Hikaris might differ. For instance, falling for a female version of her brother with someone like Phoenix Sir…”

“…”

Yun Yuhwa openly frowned.

“That’s a bit…”

“Just an example.”

“Is that really your preference?”

“No way. If I must say, my preference…”

Hikari briefly lowered then raised her head.

“What kind of food do you like, Chairman?”

“Food? Suddenly?”

“Yes. You like coffee, but I haven’t seen you eat anything else.”

“Ah…things that go well with coffee?”

“Got it…”

Hikari sent a link toward Yun Yuhwa.

As soon as he opened it, his face turned red.

“No.”

“So if I must say, that could be my preference.”

Rustle, rustle.

“Mr. President, do you like hot springs?”

Hikari smiled brightly and nodded toward Yun Yuhwa.

“So how about we build an open-air private hot spring? One that can only be used by you and the man you love.”