193. Wind Dance (1)
<Demon Realm Conquest> Part 1.
If there was one difference from the last documentary, it was that this time Rachel would be appearing in it.
Because of that, things became a little more complicated.
Since they were using Rachel’s portrait rights, they were in a position where they would have to pay a certain appearance fee!
PBC was hesitant.
Who was Rachel, after all?
Before Baek Jinwoo appeared, hadn’t she been the undisputed world ranker number one in both name and reality?
There was even doubt over whether they would be able to get in contact with someone like her.
—We are delighted to respond positively to your request.
Red Rose’s position is that you may use as much of Rachel’s material as needed for the documentary production.
It was resolved with a single contact from Yoo Jia.
An official letter from Red Rose had arrived.
Red Rose received countless contacts and official documents from countries all over the world, but contact from Yoobaek or SKY inevitably had to be handled with even more special care.
They were blood allies, and from the start, their influence was immense.
Not even an hour had passed since they sent it, and a reply had already come.
Rachel also said that she finds it deeply meaningful to gladly take part in helping the one who saved her life.
She said that she had occasionally seen glimpses of the work through filming equipment inside the Tower, and that she is very much looking forward to the final result.
“Kya.”
Yoo Jia cried out in delight.
‘She’s cool.’
And she wasn’t even asking for money.
Well, it was true that he had saved her life.
After watching the footage, it really had been a dramatic rescue.
The more she watched, the more jealousy began to creep in.
Anyway.
At this point, there was really nothing standing in their way anymore.
Through this broadcast, she planned to advertise both 「Rune Eclat」 and 「Fada」 to the whole world.
And on top of that, with the new shopping complex opening this time as well?
“Perfect.”
Yoo Jia smiled brightly.
* * *
“Huaaah! Busy, busy.”
These days, Yoo Jia had no rest.
Even though she could only sleep four hours a day, the workload kept piling up.
Setting aside the PBC broadcast matter.
Very soon now.
They also had to open the large-scale open mall. They had even recently decided on its name.
「Yoobaek Premier Mall」
The first branch would open here, but later it would keep spreading across the world.
The meaning behind the name?
Well.
It simply carried the ambition of becoming the best and the first among all open malls combined.
Every luxury brand in the world had come in.
There were so many pouring in that people were making a fuss, so she even had to struggle to choose among them.
They had also built an observatory.
It was built large enough to include shopping, entertainment, theme zones, a large pavilion, and more.
And that wasn’t all.
They had left the entire second basement floor completely empty.
A large casino would go in there.
If you wanted to draw in floating populations from all over the world, there was nothing better than a casino!
Las Vegas in the United States!
Macau, the mecca of gambling!
Weren’t they all world-famous tourist destinations?
“For now.”
This wouldn’t do as it was.
Her grandfather had said it.
The bigger the business grew, the more important it was to make good use of people.
Yoo Jia called in her two secretaries.
They were Kim Byungjin and Hwang Taeseop, members from the early days.
“Mr. Byungjin?”
“Yes, CEO!”
Kim Byungjin had once been Yoo Jia’s superior back when he worked at Headquarters, but now he had become her subordinate employee down to his very bones.
“You must’ve felt a little disappointed all this time, right?”
“No, not at all. There’s no way I could be disappointed.”
When she was paying him that much money.
Kim Byungjin waved his hands frantically.
“Oh, come on. No matter how high the annual salary is, you still can’t get a share ratio.”
“What have I even done to deserve a ratio? I am absolutely, absolutely satisfied.”
“Really?”
Smirk.
Yoo Jia smiled.
“That’s a shame. I was going to give you a subsidiary CEO position. And some shares too.”
“...Excuse me?”
Kim Byungjin was momentarily speechless.
“A CEO position?”
“Yoobaek Premier Mall.”
The legal procedures had already been completed as an independent corporation.
As a subsidiary of Yoobaek, 90% of the shares belonged to Yoobaek.
“It’s a brand that’s going to expand globally from here on out. Doesn’t it seem worth leading? There’s no salary. Instead, you get 10%.”
In truth, she had thought about it a lot.
Giving Baek Ajin 「Rune Eclat」 and giving Kim Byungjin 「Yoobaek Premier Mall」?
‘Ajin could feel hurt.’
But ability had to be considered.
It was a bit cold, but while Baek Ajin had a talent for business, she lacked the ability to lead a corporation.
Something like Rune Eclat.
A company whose success was guaranteed by the overwhelming performance of its runes suited her.
On the other hand?
Kim Byungjin had ability.
Enough that she still kept him around even while paying him a high salary.
“I’m already overwhelmed just leading Yoobaek. The business is gradually going to expand into a group structure, so I need someone to help me. What do you think, want to take it? You should be playing in the big leagues now too, Mr. Byungjin.”
“Ah, ah......”
Kim Byungjin couldn’t continue speaking.
‘This is insane.’
He was deeply moved.
That opportunity, which had come as if casually, was a brand-new chance in the life of Kim Byungjin the man.
He could feel the tremendous burden settling onto his shoulders, but at the same time, his heart swelled with the pride that weight brought.
“F-first of all, thank you very much, CEO.”
Kim Byungjin’s voice trembled.
“I never dreamed you would give me an opportunity like this.”
“Oh, come on. If not you, then who would do it? But you have to manage it properly.”
“Of course!”
There were many schedules already lined up.
Tenant receptions, VIP showcases, opening-day briefings, events, and so on.
Now that Kim Byungjin was the CEO, they would have to hire new employees as well.
“The schedule is tight. For the time being, bring over Headquarters staff and use them while preparing gradually.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“And Mr. Taeseop?”
“Yes!”
Gulp.
Hwang Taeseop swallowed.
He had just witnessed his workplace superior become a first-generation chaebol heir.
And at such a young age, in her early thirties no less.
Then what about himself?
“Mr. Taeseop should get something too, right?”
“M-me too?”
“That’s right. I was thinking of entrusting you with a subsidiary too. What do you think?”
Hwang Taeseop’s lips began trembling as well.
Unlike Kim Byungjin, he was not an elite, but he was quick to act and had good sense.
A person like that suited the tourism business.
“We’re going to start the tourism business with the large casino to be installed on the second basement floor, and on the nearby land we already bought, we’ll build a five-star hotel and start the lodging business too.”
“......!”
“Of course, we’ll dig underground and connect the hotel and casino as well. The names are……”
They had not been decided yet.
Since it had come to this.
Yoo Jia decided on the spot.
“I’ll call the casino ‘Fortuna Yoobaek’, and the hotel ‘Le Grand Yoobaek’. Nice and simple.”
Fortuna meant the goddess of fortune.
And Le Grand, well.
It roughly meant top-tier facilities and class.
“The names really roll off the tongue.”
“You too get 10%, Mr. Taeseop. It’ll be run in subsidiary form.”
“Thank you for trusting me! I’ll do my very best!”
Hwang Taeseop bowed at a perfect right angle.
At times like this, you must not play hard to get.
The position was far too big to modestly refuse out of politeness. You had to accept it immediately and express your gratitude.
“Well then, now that you’re both subsidiary CEOs, there are no more excuses. You can’t rest either. Try dragging each of your companies all the way to the top. If your performance is good, I’ll give you one more each.”
“Yes, understood!”
That day.
The two CEOs thought once more.
That following Yoo Jia out of Headquarters had been the choice that changed their lives.
Up to now it had already been a huge jackpot, but from here on out, it would be a super jackpot!
‘Let’s do this.’
‘I’ll throw my life into it.’
‘A business run on Baek Jinwoo’s name value. Wouldn’t it be stranger for it to fail?’
And if it failed?
It would truly be a situation where they’d deserve every bit of scolding they got.
The eyes of the two CEOs filled with resolve.
* * *
Rear Training Ground.
—Haah!
Aso finally lost patience and threw down the wooden sword.
—This is ridiculous! It makes no sense!
—What is it that makes no sense?
—Wind Dance! You’re telling me to literally become the wind! How is a person supposed to become wind? I’m not even a spirit!
—.....There is nothing impossible. Isn’t that why I told you to undergo spiritual training? Do not try to move the body. Draw out the soul within.”
Aso felt like she was going completely insane.
Seriously.
Not move like the wind, but become the wind?
What kind of nonsense was that?!
‘And it’s not like he’s even going to show me himself!’
It was easy enough for him to say.
—Didn’t I tell you? It would not be an easy road. There is only one thing I can tell you. Disturb every sense rooted in your heart.
—.......
—Forget even the sense that you are human, no, even that you are a summon.
She had no idea what he was talking about.
But Aso tried her best to understand.
The sound of the wind around her, the feel of the ground, the smell of grass entering through her nose.
So he meant to erase all of that?
—You must get rid of distracting thoughts. Your consciousness must grow endlessly lighter, as though it were melting into the wind.
The truth was, HunGyo did not know either.
It was just that his skill, “Instructor”, was telling him these things instinctively.
—Do not think of yourself as human. You are the wind. Become actual wind and let yourself flow through this space.
Aso, her eyes shut, groaned in frustration.
No matter what kind of advice HunGyo gave her, none of it truly clicked.
Become the wind?
Was he telling her to just turn into air and scatter away?
Reverse Summoning?
Ha.
With nothing but thoughts like that coming to mind, she felt like she was going mad.
* * *
—Lord.
Inside the building at the rear training ground.
HunGyo came in.
“Hm?”
—It seems it will take more time after all. Aso looks like she cannot find her bearings... What’s even more maddening is that I do not understand what any of this means either.
“......That can happen.”
Baek Jinwoo had also tried training beside Aso.
But?
He had no idea what kind of crazy nonsense it was.
If the body actually became the wind in the first place...
Then wasn’t that no longer footwork?
Footwork was walking, not flying!
After listening to HunGyo’s report, he made a new suggestion.
“How about we unlock the latent abilities of the others first?”
—Do you mean Jaggeo or Dampir?
“Yeah.”
—Neither will work.
“Why?”
—Jaggeo is a golem. Only after traces of time are carved into his body will he be able to unlock his latent abilities.
In other words.
It would take a long time.
“And Dampir?”
—She is a vampire. She has to drink a large amount of blood, and that too is a matter that only time can solve. Dampir does not drink blood unless she feels thirst.
“Hoo.”
Really?
Then was Aso truly the only one left?
Lamba, HunGyo, Explosive Dragon, Gale Slayer, and Rund had all finished unlocking!
Magic Cat and Ruination Dragon were not here yet.
Aso really was the only one left.
“She has to become the wind... Ha.”
—Do you happen to know of any place nearby where the wind blows strongly?
“Hm?”
—I was asking because I thought it might help if she could feel the wind with her whole body.
“Oh.”
That was actually not a bad idea.
Like going to the top of a mountain, or flying around on a Wyvern.
Should they try training that way?
“Or maybe we should just take a trip?”
Places famous for their wind.
Jungfrau in Switzerland, Fair Isle in Scotland, Chicago the Windy City...
If she went to places like that and experienced all kinds of wind...
Maybe Aso would feel something too?
—That does not sound bad, my lord.
It felt a little like grasping at clouds, but how desperate did they have to be to resort to a method like this?
Yeah.
They just had to try everything they could.
Our Aso.
Let’s surpass Explosive Dragon for once.
Then this master of yours is going to feel extremely reassured!
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