The Price of Fame

‘I didn’t think I’d find out this way…’

When I had heard those words from Won Youngoh, I had brushed them off, but my stamina had really improved.
When I had checked just in case, the level of <Righteous Body>, which had increased dramatically, greeted me.

‘It’s gratifying to be told that it was a righteous act like this, but.’

Thanks to that, the fatigue that hadn’t subsided even after a day had also disappeared quite a bit.
But now, I was tired in a different sense.

“–!”

Even with all the windows closed, the noise from outside climbed the building and came in.

“Uh… lawyer, are you really okay?”
“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

The cause of all this noise, Kwon Saeha, was looking at me anxiously.
When Kwon Saeha had first appeared, I hadn’t thought much of it.
I was even grateful that the busy him had come to visit me in the hospital.
With his appearance, Libra, which had been crowded to the point where there was no room to stand and then had been fine for a while, began to be overflowing with people again.
To be precise, after a picture of Kwon Saeha, who had come to the office to meet me, had appeared, the people who had seen the picture had flocked to the office.

“Ah… I came to see you because I was so worried, but I’m worried that I’ve caused too much trouble. I’m sorry, lawyer.”
“No, Mr. Kwon Saeha. I should have been more careful, but I guess I was out of my mind. And it was noisy from the morning, so it’s really fine.”
“What? What do you mean by that?”

Chime!

Just then, Baek Soeun appeared, opening the door like a conquering general.

“Lawyer Cha, I’ve chased away all the remaining ones! They probably won’t come back today!”
“Ah. Thank you, Reporter Baek.”
“Oh, noona…?”

Baek Soeun was exuding the spirit of a general who had just annihilated the enemy.
Kwon Saeha, who had spotted Baek Soeun, hesitated from his seat and stood up, tilting his head.

‘Why is noona here…?’

Asking with his face like this.

“Oh? Saeha! No wonder I kept hearing your name downstairs.”

She pushed aside the general’s spirit, gently tidied her disheveled hair, and approached the table.

“It’s nothing, the lawyer just asked me to help him a little this morning.”
“Yes, the reporters were camped out from the morning… I also came up to the office thanks to you, Reporter Baek. But you two seem to be on comfortable terms now?”
“Ah, I told her to be comfortable with me. Right, noona?”
“Yeah, Saeha.”

‘She doesn’t look comfortable at all…’

In front of my eyes, Baek Soeun was becoming a pretzel.
She opened her mouth again with a shy face.

“I’ve told the reporters to schedule a formal appointment and come.”

‘…That’s a lie.’

[That’s a lie.]

‘I definitely saw the reporters who had come this morning being chased away…’

Baek Soeun had chased them away, almost threatening them with her tremendous voice.

‘Have you all thrown away your ethics and morals as reporters? Is it okay to chase after him like this, just calling him a righteous person, a hero!’
‘Lawyer Cha Yohan! Please just one interview!’
‘Lawyer Cha Yohan! Please just say one word! How did you come to be at the fire scene!’
‘Ah, really! Why are you bothering him when you’re calling him a righteous person! Go away! Get lost! Aren’t you leaving?!’

As I briefly recalled the Baek Soeun of the morning, I unknowingly nodded.

‘Still, I’ve benefited a lot from Reporter Baek.’

“Uh, Reporter Baek. I’m sorry to contact you from the morning, but are you by any chance busy right now?”
[No, I was on my way to work. Is something wrong again? I saw you were on the news yesterday.]
“I think it’s because of that. The reporters are at the office right now…”
[What? Don’t get out of the car! I’ll be right there!]

And the fact that she had come running at just one call from me.
Of course, it also included the ulterior motive of getting an exclusive interview with me.
But now, there was enough trust to overlook that much.

[I think she’ll be the president of a media company later on.]

‘It’s hard to find someone as suitable as Reporter Baek.’

It was a thought I could have now that I had some leeway.
In fact, yesterday’s incident had flowed in a direction I hadn’t expected at all.
It hadn’t just flowed, it had burned up.
The beginning was the news.
For me, saving a person was a really natural thing to do.
There was a person in front of me asking for help, and I had the ability to help.
But from the night it was revealed that it was me, the cases I had handled so far were re-examined all at once.

“Ah, lawyer. Congratulations. The number of subscribers has increased by another 100,000.”
“Wow, 100,000? Aren’t you going to get a ‘Golden Medal’ soon, lawyer?”

Like the back-and-forth between Kwon Saeha and Baek Soeun, the number of subscribers also exploded.
The mailbox, which had been quiet for a while, was also blowing up again.
I smiled awkwardly and waved my hand.

“It’s still a long way to go.”
“Come to think of it, you have a star quality, Lawyer Cha. How many times is this? In the old days, you would have been a person who would have topped the real-time search rankings for a good reason several times.”

As Baek Soeun said, my face was plastered all over SNS.
At first, the video also contained the images of Choi Suhyeok and Lee Ilwoo.
But the videos with Lee Ilwoo were all deleted right away.

‘At times like these, I’m reminded once again that Lee Ilwoo is not an ordinary person.’

Now, not only on video platforms but also on the news, new videos related to the Changil-dong fire were being reported.
From the scene of me and Choi Suhyeok running up the smoke-filled stairs to the rescue scene where we came out with Hyesung, it was all on the air.
But nowhere was Lee Ilwoo’s image to be found.

“But why did you put your phone face down?”
“Ah, I’m getting too many calls.”
“Everyone, please eat and talk.”

Jeong Donghyeok, who had gone to get snacks, put down a plate with neatly arranged snacks and sandwiches.

“Thank you.”
“Thank you. Oh, what call?”

Kwon Saeha asked back with wide eyes, holding a mug with both hands.
Jeong Donghyeok answered with a smile.

“Haha, the situation is a bit similar to last time. We’re getting calls from everywhere to cast you, lawyer.”
“Oh? If the office situation is like this, then Detective Choi must be busy too.”
“I actually contacted him earlier, and he said he’s getting an award.”
“Not a promotion?”
“Yes, he just got promoted recently.”

I nodded to Jeong Donghyeok to thank him for both the explanation and the coffee, and then picked up my cup.
Choi Suhyeok was scheduled to receive an award instead of a promotion, unfortunately, due to his recent special promotion.
Though Choi Suhyeok himself showed a look of discomfort instead of disappointment.

[I don’t know why they’re making such a big deal out of this… I’m so out of my mind.]
‘But it will be a help to your career, Chief Inspector Choi.’
[Thanks to you, I’m experiencing all sorts of things, Lawyer Cha.]
‘Congratulations, Chief Inspector Choi.’
[Ah, hang up.]

I remembered Choi Suhyeok’s last words and chuckled.

“The police chief came to see him in person before that. I guess this was a big deal.”
“You’re the only one who can say that so calmly, lawyer. That building was 15 stories high, and it was arson. That’s a clear terrorist attack to anyone.”

I nodded once at Baek Soeun.
And I rolled my eyes and held out a sandwich to Kwon Saeha, who was listening to our conversation.

“Saeha, did you have lunch? Try this. The owner of the cafe below made it herself, and it’s delicious.”
“Ah, thank you. What about you, noona?”
“I ate earlier. Hurry up and try it. It’s really delicious.”

This sandwich was also something that Ha Seonghui, who had heard the news at night, had brought early in the morning.

“Oh my! Is your arm okay, lawyer? I’m glad I made a lot. You have to eat well to get better quickly! Please make sure to eat it.”

Ha Seonghui had made eight sandwiches, telling us to eat two each.
It was a very hearty sandwich, enough to make you full with just one.
Even Won Youngoh and Lee Ilwoo, who had to leave in a hurry for a trial, had each taken a sandwich.
Well, thanks to that, I was able to treat a guest like this, so it was a good thing.
Though it seems like I’m the one being treated as a guest.

“Wow, it’s so delicious. Aren’t you eating, lawyer?”
“…I’m still full.”

I recalled my lunch an hour ago.

“…What is all this?”
“Lunch.”
“No, I know that, but…”

When we were busy, we would often call <Family Diner> and ask for a simple delivery.
Today, we couldn’t bring ourselves to call because of the complicated situation, but suddenly, Han Junyoung appeared, holding a steaming pot.
The owner and Han Junyoung had always made us even the side dishes that were not on the menu with great care, but…

“My mom boiled this since dawn to give to you, lawyer. It’s a native chicken, so it helps heal burns and injuries quickly.”

Han Junyoung continued to list things that I couldn’t refuse.

“…Then what about this?”
“Ah, that’s eel! My mom also bought it from the market since dawn, saying the lawyers need to replenish their energy.”
“I’m going to have a feast thanks to you, Lawyer Cha.”
“Thank you, Lawyer Cha.”
“…Don’t tease me, everyone, and eat a lot.”

And so, after eating a feast of nourishing food, I felt like I wouldn’t have to eat anything else until tomorrow.
I paid Han Junyoung, almost forcing the money on him, as he was trying his best not to take it.

“I’ll get scolded by my mom!”
“If you don’t take the money, I’ll be scolded for taking bribes.”
“…Then I’ll try to explain it well to my mom. Instead, I’ll come back in the evening, so just leave the pot and the dishes.”
“…You’re coming empty-handed in the evening, right?”

Han Junyoung disappeared without answering my question.

‘I have a bad feeling about this…’

It seemed like an even bigger feast was waiting for me in the evening.
To be honest, it was a happy worry. I was also looking forward to it that much.
Because no one could match the owner’s cooking skills.

“…So I was on a stakeout for a long time this time, and the information was quite good.”
“You really don’t spare yourself, Reporter Baek.”
“A reporter should naturally do that. As I’m covering a story, I often find that there are quite a few facts that are different from the truth.”
“You’re cool, noona.”

I saw Jeong Donghyeok and Baek Soeun, who were happily talking while drinking coffee, and Kwon Saeha, who was responding to their conversation with a sandwich in his hand.
It was as natural as an old friendship.
It was an excessively peaceful scene.
So much so that I could forget how noisy it was outside.

‘…I feel at times like these that things are different from before.’

At times like these, the past would suddenly rear its head.
Even when I was a judge, and even during my time at ‘Justice’, there were always a lot of people around.
Even if it wasn’t a direct threat to my life like the terrorism now, there were still threats.
But then and now were different.
At that time, no one was so worried about my well-being.
Neither my classmates from the training institute, nor the seniors and juniors with whom I had built a relationship, and especially not Hyeon Yeongje, who had started to become uncontrollably estranged from me, unlike the beginning.

‘I’m being sentimental again.’

At that moment, Kwon Saeha, whose eyes I met, smiled and chewed on his food, then pointed to the sandwich with his fingertip.

“Ah, it’s so delicious, but I’m so full that I can’t eat it all.”
“If you’re full, just leave it, Saeha. You’ll get indigestion if you force yourself.”
“But still. It’s so delicious that I think I’ll think of it when I go home. Saying I was disappointed that I left some.”

I thought it when I first met him, but Kwon Saeha’s expressions were always gentle.
We continued our conversation slowly so that Kwon Saeha could join in and asked about each other’s recent lives.
And we also responded to Baek Soeun’s interview.

“…Lastly, how did you feel when you found the children?”
“I was overwhelmed. And I thought it was a relief.”
“Weren’t you scared of the fire by any chance?”
“I didn’t have time to think about that. Ah, I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to save the children.”
“As expected, the mindset of a righteous person is different.”
“Are you teasing me now too, Reporter Baek?”
“Haha, it seems to be the trend?”

And so, the interview ended.
It was already around evening.
Kwon Saeha and Baek Soeun stood up from their seats for their next schedule.

“You two, please go home safely.”
“See you next time, lawyer.”
“Especially you, be careful on your way home, Saeha. I’m not worried about you, Reporter Baek.”
“Of course, I’m a bit tough, right? Please contact me again if you need anything. I’m always welcome to your call, lawyer.”
“You’re so honest, Reporter Baek, that I trust you.”
“Thank you for the compliment. And thank you for the exclusive interview.”
“Hurry up and go, hurry up.”

Chime.

It was just as I had sent the two of them off and approached the window with a worried heart.

Vibrate.

‘An unknown number.’

Nevertheless, I had a premonition that I should take it.

“Yes, this is Cha Yohan.”
[Lawyer Cha Yohan? This is Seok Juho, the director of the Bar Association. Since time is money for both of us, I’ll get straight to the point.]

Why is the Bar Association calling me?

[I’d like to see you. As soon as possible.]