The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 33

The surrounding background rippled like waves before shifting into an old two-story house.

The front door opened, revealing a living room.

A woman sat on the sofa, sniffling as she watched TV.

She appeared to be in her mid-50s, with a calm and gentle demeanor.

At first, she only whimpered, but soon, her sobs turned into deep, wrenching cries.

Standing behind the sofa, I looked at the TV screen—it showed a hospital room.

A person with a shaved head, wearing a hat, sat on a hospital bed, speaking.

It looked like a farewell video message from a terminally ill patient to their family.

Since I couldn’t see the face, I stepped closer to the TV.

“Damn it… What the hell….”

I could only sigh in disbelief.

Their pale skin and hollowed cheeks showed how emaciated they had become,but it was a face I could never forget.

“This one belongs on stage… But how the hell am I supposed to put someone like that on stage?”

This was the final missing member of Red Blossom’s complete lineup.

They were the last piece I needed.

But the person I saw on screen—Was dying.

The background wavered again, and reality returned.

Time was still frozen.

“You saw that too, right?”

[Of course. That’s the same girl you saw in your previous vision.]

“How am I supposed to interpret this? How can I put someone like that on stage?”

[Even if it doesn’t seem possible, people always end up in the places meant for them. That’s divine providence. Looking back, many things seem impossible, but in the end, they happen. That’s the power of your gift. You can do it.]

That was more of a riddle than encouragement.

And honestly, it wasn’t comforting at all.

Still, I had gained an important clue.

If she was still alive, I could heal her with the Gift of Healing.

I didn’t know when that video had been recorded, but I had to find her as soon as possible.

“But I don’t even know her name. How am I supposed to find her?”

That concern was resolved much sooner than I expected.

*****

I relayed the details from the meeting to the trainees.

“Since it’s a free-choice audition, Chie, pick the song you’re most confident in.”

“There are too many options… I don’t know what to choose.”

“The rest of you, help her out. I’ll also look for some recommendations. I’ll come straight down when I get to work tomorrow, so let’s talk more then.”

“Okay!”

After heading back to the office, I gave a brief report to the team leader and sat at my desk.

“I sent over the trainee list. It includes trainer comments, so it should be helpful,” said Senior Onyu.

Following his advice, I opened the attached file.

The list neatly categorized the trainees from Team 3 and Team 4.

I scrolled through their profile pictures and names one by one.

Halfway down the list, a familiar face appeared.

I was so overjoyed that I accidentally shouted,”I found her!!”

Three sets of eyes turned toward me.

The team leader gave me a bewildered look.

“What did you find?”

“Sorry, I got carried away.”

I quickly printed out the trainee’s profile and ran over to the team leader.

“Can I meet this trainee?”

Her name was Han Jeongwon, a Team 3 trainee.

*

After meeting with the Team 3 leader, my team leader returned with a troubled expression.

“It looks like there was a mistake. She’s not with us anymore—her contract was terminated six months ago.”

“That’s even better! We can just reach out and recruit her for our team.”

It didn’t matter what agency she belonged to.

I just needed to meet her as soon as possible and heal her.

But the team leader’s face darkened even more.

“That’s… not possible. She passed away two months after her contract ended. Pancreatic cancer.”

My mind went blank.

“She was let go because of the cancer.”

Her sudden weight loss and severe abdominal pain led her to a hospital, where doctors suspected pancreatic cancer and referred her to a larger hospital.

A detailed examination confirmed it—Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

“Stage 4 survival rate is only 1%. They tried to do something, but surgery wasn’t an option. The Team 3 leader and the director went to the funeral. Since she was just a trainee, the company couldn’t do much, so they only sent a wreath.”

Since it wasn’t an official employee’s funeral, even Manager Park hadn’t known about it.

*

I sat on the rooftop, staring blankly at the sky.

“Was what I saw really the future? She’s already dead.”

[It was the future. If it were the past, it wouldn’t be a prophecy.]

That was true.

[Instead of just looking up at the sky, think about it. Why do you think your Gift of Prophecy showed you that scene?]

The spirit was right—just sitting here lost in thought wouldn’t change anything.

If I saw that vision despite her being dead, there had to be a reason.

At the very least, it must have shown me a way to save her.

“Jeongwon recorded a video message at the hospital before she passed. But for some reason, it never properly reached her family.”

[Now you’re thinking. Keep going.]

“You know something, don’t you? Just tell me already. Don’t leave me hanging like this.”

[Spirits can only intervene in human affairs to a limited extent. Solving the mysteries your Gift reveals is your job. The gods chose you, and I know you’re capable. Good luck.]

So, in the end, it was all on me.

“The only thing I can interfere with is that video. Her family hasn’t seen it yet—if I find it and give it to them, maybe the future will change.”

The future where Red Blossom becomes a full group and succeeds only happened because of my interference.

If I could find this video, perhaps I could alter the outcome here too.

[She won’t come back from the dead, but there might be another way to resolve this.]

I made up my mind.

First, I needed to meet Jeongwon’s parents.

*

I found her family’s contact information on her trainee profile and called her mother.

“Hello?”

“Hello, ma’am. My name is Shin Juwon, and I work at Pine Entertainment.”

Even though she had been let go, Team 3’s leader and the company director had attended the funeral.

The company had even sent a wreath, so at the very least, they wouldn’t have bitter feelings toward us.

“Oh, you’re from Pine Entertainment?”

“Yes, ma’am. I… I wanted to say I’m very sorry about what happened to Jeongwon.”

“The company has nothing to apologize for. A high-ranking person came to pay respects, and you sent a wreath. We were grateful for that.”

That was a relief.

“I was wondering if I could visit you. There’s something important I need to tell you about Jeongwon.”

“About Jeongwon? What is it…?”

“It’s something I’d rather discuss in person. I promise I won’t be a burden. Please, would you be willing to meet me?”

After a brief hesitation, she gave me their address.

It seemed the company’s efforts during the funeral had helped.

*****

The address led me to the very same two-story house from my vision.

“This is it.”

I rang the doorbell and introduced myself.

The door opened.

“Come in.”

“Hello, ma’am. I’m Shin Juwon.”

I greeted her politely and handed her a box of drinks.

No mother would turn away a polite young man who even brought a gift.

“You didn’t have to bring anything.”

“It’s my first time visiting, and it wouldn’t be right to come empty-handed.”

With a warm smile, I started earning her favor.

*

“You have such a kind face, Manager.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

[She’s not just saying that. She’s faintly sensing your energy. People with faith tend to respond well to Gifts.]

A crucifix hung on the living room wall.

There was a high chance she would be receptive to my Gift.

“So, what did you want to talk about regarding Jeongwon?”

“Did Jeongwon happen to send a video message before she passed?”

“A video?”

“Yes. Like the farewell messages you sometimes see on TV.”

“No, she didn’t… Why do you ask?”

“That’s strange. I checked with the hospital, and they said Jeongwon recorded a final message for her family. But you never saw it?”

It was a video containing her daughter’s last words.

There was no way her mother wouldn’t be interested.

“T-There’s a video like that? I had no idea.”

“The hospital said they don’t know where it is. That’s why I came to ask.”

When I contacted the hospital, they told me Jeongwon’s belongings had already been collected by her family.

That meant the clue had to be somewhere in this house.

“Would it be possible for me to take a look at Jeongwon’s belongings? It might help me find the video.”

“Well…”

She looked hesitant.

It made sense—showing her late daughter’s possessions to someone she had just met today wouldn’t be easy.

“I’m sorry. That was too sudden of a request. I’ll search elsewhere first and reach out again later. Please don’t worry—I can verify my identity. Here’s my business card. You can call the company anytime to confirm.”

I handed her my card.

Just as I was about to stand up, I noticed a red mark on her right shoulder.

“Is that the Gift of Connection?”

[It is. It looks like a pain-related issue, but since it’s not showing the Gift of Healing, it probably won’t be fixed instantly. You’ll have to take it slow.]

“Ma’am, I think your right shoulder might be slightly misaligned.”

“Oh, this? It’s my frozen shoulder. It’s been bothering me. I get shots and physical therapy regularly, but it’s not improving much.”

“My mother had frozen shoulder too, but she got a lot better after I massaged her. I learned sports massage, so I’m pretty good at it. Would you like me to help?”

“I don’t want to trouble you…”

She didn’t outright refuse, perhaps drawn in by my Gift.

I activated my devoted son mode and insisted a few more times until she finally agreed.

“Let me know if it hurts.”

I massaged her shoulder the same way I did for the Red Blossom members.

She let out a relieved groan, saying it felt really good.

“You’re really good at this, Manager! It’s much better than physical therapy.”

Now, I had found a way to connect with Jeongwon’s mother.

I had to find that video—only then could I track down the fifth member.