Chapter 73: The Birth of a New Faction

– A Plan is Made

Han Chaerin was not used to being rejected. Let alone having someone swat her hand away.

It was an experience she couldn’t become more accustomed to.

“How cute.”

“What did you say?”

“I like the tough types. A sharp mind is also something I appreciate.”

That’s why she became more intrigued.

Just hearing her name was enough to make industry insiders fall head over heels for her.

The founder and CEO of Royal Club, the entertainment agency ranked 3rd in market capitalization.

After a series of incidents and controversies surrounding the 2nd generation awakened members who had been the backbone of the company, a generational change occurred,

and now the company had momentarily slowed down.

However, if an opportunity were to arise for a star to be noticed by the CEO of Royal Club, there would be no shortage of people eager to grab her hand.

In fact, she had a great figure, an outstanding personality, and unmatched wealth.

With her interest in Joo Ahyoung, she felt a sense of pressure.

“Hmm~ still, you’re lacking. You still seem too weak. I’m sorry I can’t pick you, but stop being jealous and step aside.”

“Who, who said I’m interested? Go, older sister. Don’t listen to that weird woman.”

“Are you sure about this? You’ll be hated by your sister, who’s been trying to stick around pretending to sleep. If you decide things on your own without asking, you’ll end up disliked~”

Joo Ahyoung, full of hostility and wary of Han Chaerin, clung to Hae Eung Eung’s arm.

“Older sister, right?”

Hae Eung Eung raised a hand and gently patted her head.

The warm touch. The soft feeling. The pleasant fragrance.

As Joo Ahyoung, hanging on her arm, relaxed and regained her composure, Hae Eung Eung took out her notebook.

[If it’s only a little, I can spare some time. As long as you don’t make us uncomfortable.]

Even with that invisible boundary being set, Han Chaerin remained undeterred. She sat at the bar, her dress barely covering her hips, crossing her legs.

Sitting beside her, she propped her chin on one hand, gazing at Hae Eung Eung with a smile.

Beyond the power and wealth of being the CEO of an entertainment company and owning a black card,

she possessed a dangerously enchanting charm that stirred something in people.

‘I’ve had women who I turned away because they didn’t interest me, but I’ve never let go of one after giving them my heart.’

Han Chaerin was confident.

She had learned, instinctively and through experience, exactly how to approach and at what distance to make the other person feel excitement.

Her seductive techniques were honed to the point where only a truly eccentric awakened person could resist them.

‘What about you? Doesn’t your heart flutter? Don’t you want to hear more about me?’

If you’re a good girl and listen, I can make you feel so much better.

Faced with such bold temptation, Hae Eung Eung, who had been frowning in discomfort, eventually reached out toward Han Chaerin.

“Oh?”

She had appeared to be shy, but was she actually quite the proactive type?

As Han Chaerin’s hand reached in without hesitation, it brushed against Hae Eung Eung’s face.

Teasingly, Han Chaerin offered her face, and Joo Ahyoung, holding tighter onto Hae Eung Eung’s arm, made a distressed face.

Covering her mouth with both hands, the bartender, Choi Joo Young, couldn’t hide her excitement as she watched.

With all three women’s attention on her, Hae Eung Eung adjusted her posture.

She straightened her tilted head, placed her hand that had been resting under her chin on her thigh, and bent forward to grab Han Chaerin’s calf, causing her to panic.

‘To make me face you properly, to put your hand on my leg, and then touch me like this… What is it that you’re planning?’

Swallowing nervously, Han Chaerin uncrossed her legs and straightened up.

Hae Eung Eung, still with a serious face, nodded and smiled, then continued.

[When sitting, keep your posture like it is now.]

“Eh?”

[The habit of propping your chin can make it asymmetrical and deepen wrinkles.]

Han Chaerin, at a loss for words, was treated to more of Hae Eung Eung’s polite advice.

[Crossing your legs puts strain on your pelvis and muscles, which can cause nerve compression, leading to pain in your legs and back. You should avoid doing that.]

Usually, people didn’t offer posture correction advice like this.

A chuckle escaped Han Chaerin as she found herself slightly amused by Hae Eung Eung’s unique personality, which also intrigued her.

“You’re so surprisingly diligent. I like you even more now than when I first saw you.”

Han Chaerin, who had instinctively tried to cross her legs again, hesitated, then compromised by stretching both legs forward in a calm manner. She spoke in a much friendlier voice.

“My kids watched your videos and recommended you. They want you to work as a group member. Now that I’ve seen you in person, I can understand. They have great taste.”

Hae Eung Eung tilted her head like an owl, urging her to continue, and turned her head back to its original position.

“These are my kids’ profiles. They’ve been appearing on TV recently. Have you seen them?”

Elogio Sherry Nina
Class: B-level Ice Awakener
Birthdate: March 11, 2026 (Age 25)
Nationality: South Korea (Father: Spain, Mother: Korea)
Height: 172 cm, Weight: 55 kg
Affiliation: Royal Club (3rd generation Awakened)

Isono Nanase
Class: B-level Vector Manipulation Awakener
Birthdate: December 5, 2025 (Age 26)
Nationality: South Korea (Father: Korea, Mother: Japan)
Height: 160 cm, Weight: 41 kg
Affiliation: Royal Club (3rd generation Awakened)

Hae Eung Eung was unfamiliar with these individuals, but Joo Ahyoung,

who had been hiding behind her and secretly observing Han Chaerin, immediately recognized the two people from the pictures.

They had recently gained fame, not only for their combat skills but also for their star quality.

These two were being closely watched as the next-generation star Awakened Ones.

“Unnie, those people have released albums and are also streaming their gate raids. They’re star Awakened Ones.”

[Is that so?]

“The popularity of star Awakened Ones is just as impressive as top-tier streamers. In a few years, these two will become incredibly famous.”

“Well, I appreciate the kind introduction, even though it wasn’t really to help them succeed.”

“Hmph. I didn’t say that I want them to succeed. I just told you because you were curious.”

[Are you asking me to work with these two?]

“Yes. Nina and Nanase have something in common with you: they are both exceptionally powerful mixed-blood beauties who are awakened, a very special shared trait.”

Such rare conditions would be difficult to meet.

Not to mention, these individuals had never been part of any guild or entertainment agency and remained a clean slate Vanilla,

which only made the desire to recruit them all the more tempting.

“Of course, I don’t think you can be bought with money alone, like an awakened person as strong as you. So we offer tailored services instead.”

As Han Chaerin’s gaze shifted toward Joo Ahyoung, who was hiding behind Hae Eung Eung, she flinched and screamed.

“Wha-what?!”

“Don’t need any of that help!”

“Helping your little sister avoid pressure from the association or guilds and having a smooth awakening life? How about that?”

“Well, even if you’re okay with it, I’m not sure about your older sister’s opinion.”

“Unnie, no! You don’t need to worry about me. I don’t have to make any forced contracts because of me.”

[Let me ask you just one thing.]

“Should I give you my measurements? I take better care of myself than the girls in our group, so I’m confident about that.”

[How did you know I’m strong?]

It was a rather serious question from her.

The fact that she was on par with B-level Awakened Ones in terms of power was something Hae Eung Eung herself had only learned the day before,

when she ambushed the veteran expert of the Myungho Guild, Shin Sunggwak.

For that fact to have reached the ears of a random entertainment agency CEO within just a day was no small matter.

“Didn’t I mention it? My kids love your streams.”

“Huh?”

“They said they watch your game videos with over ten thousand people. You even caught the Yokai General this time, right?”

Suddenly, a conversation about game streams burst out.

Han Chaerin, who had been attempting to appeal with a sexy concept, seemed to have forgotten her earlier approach.

Laughing in amusement, she said, “Our kid, who’s experienced Sensory Link,

was so stunned. They said they’ve never experienced a fight like this, even in the gates. We absolutely have to bring you along.”

When Hae Eung Eung realized that the topic wasn’t about the ambush of Shin Sunggwak,

but instead about the game discussion, she let out a sigh of relief, easing her tension.

‘That’s right, it’s just a game.’

Hae Eung Eung tried to imagine the scene: over ten thousand people gathered, watching a shadowy silhouette moving in Ghost Mode.

At this point, even she couldn’t ignore the fact.

‘People really love games, don’t they?’

It was impossible not to notice how much people enjoyed games, especially when they would watch something as simple as a vague silhouette.

[Please thank the fans on my behalf.]

“Why? They’d love it more if you went and told them in person. It’d be even better if you saw their faces every day.”

[What I want is to not be disturbed. That’s all.]

Han Chaerin pouted, showing a displeased expression.

It seemed her earlier strategy to tempt Hae Eung Eung with money and control the situation, using the success of her younger sister’s

Awakening as leverage, had been completely thwarted by Hae Eung Eung’s unexpected responses.

Now, Han Chaerin believed that her younger sister would succeed on her own.

“I thought you’d understand how dirty the Awakener industry is. Or maybe there’s another method I haven’t figured out yet?”

Hae Eung Eung saw this as a good opportunity. Once Joo Ahyoung sobered up, she was planning to discuss something important with her.

She had been the one who awakened her and introduced

her into the dangerous world of the Awakener industry, watching her like a child taking their first steps into a new world.

It made Hae Eung Eung feel a little uneasy.

‘I’ve made my plans.’

She confidently revealed her ambitions.

[I’m going to start a faction.]

“A faction? Wait, do you mean a guild?”

If the guilds and associations interfered with leveling up inside the gates, she would create a guild to protect her.

The lack of skills wasn’t an issue either. She could raise Joo Ahyoung in another

way, without relying on the usual Awakener leveling process.

Hae Eung Eung was ready to test her ideas.

‘If you can awaken with special energy, perhaps the reverse might work too.’

Once Joo Ahyoung obtained a pure internal energy, she might be able to gain access to the status window of a martial arts system.

If she did acquire internal energy, Hae Eung Eung had already decided what she would teach her next.

[I will teach Ahyoung my martial arts.]