The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 71

"It was a date. I wanted to eat something delicious with Juwon-ssi, buy him something nice, watch a movie together, and have fun."

"I’ve got something to brag about now. If I tell my friends later that I went on a date with Ayoung-ssi, they’d have to believe me."

"Later when?"

"Probably when I’m old enough to raise kids. Guys brag about stuff like that a lot when they’re drinking together. I think I’d win first place with this story. Haha."

"Why does it sound like you’re reminiscing? That’s a wife brag."

The drink I was sipping went down the wrong pipe, making me cough repeatedly.

Wife?

"So, were you planning to fix my eyes and then run away?"

"That was just good—"

Min Ayoung cut me off.

"I know it was good intentions. And you were going to say I was just drawn to the light of the benefactor, not Juwon-ssi, right? I heard everything from Soyeon unnie. That it might be a misunderstanding, so I should think carefully. Am I right?"

A benefactor pulls in those who are weary and burdened.

If I lighten their load, I become their savior.

It’s natural to feel grateful to a savior, but if it’s the opposite sex, that gratitude can be mistaken for affection.

I’d told Cha Soyeon about this, and it seems she relayed it to Min Ayoung too.

"And if it’s not that?"

"Huh?"

"What if my feelings—and Soyeon unnie’s—aren’t a misunderstanding? What if all three of us, including Yeoreum, love Juwon-ssi? What would you do then?"

"That’s…"

I couldn’t answer.

In a normal relationship, I’d probably choose the woman I’m most drawn to.

But realistically, there’s no way three women like this would ever like me in the first place.

She studied my expression, then seemed to ponder something.

"Unnie was right. You’d never give up a bond formed through the benefactor’s light, so you can’t say anything."

Huh?

When did I ever say that?

Regardless, Min Ayoung’s monologue (+delusion) continued.

"If Juwon-ssi won’t give up, then I can’t have him all to myself. How can I sever a bond tied by the gods? That’s why unnie chose that ridiculous method of dating three, even four people."

Somehow, this seems to be heading in an irreversible direction.

"The gods must have planned to attach multiple people to Juwon-ssi. Since I’ve decided to become his, if I don’t accept that, I can’t be with him."

"Uh, hey—"

"Unnie really is an opponent you can’t let your guard down around. That’s why she was so composed when I declared I’d join the fight."

"Hey—Ayoung-ssi."

"And that’s why that squinty-eyed Yeoreum didn’t even see me as a threat."

"Ayoung-ssi, can you…hear me?"

"In the end, the choice I have to make is…"

"……."

"Juwon-ssi!!"

"Yes, all four!"

"I can accept them all!"

Wh-what?

"So, Juwon-ssi can do whatever you want!!"

So, whatever what?!

It seems Min Ayoung has seriously misunderstood something.

"Ayoung acts smart, but she’s actually a mess."

Cha Soyeon sat on the deck, eating sausages grilled by Ryu Yeoreum.

The two were waiting for Shin Juwon to return to his rooftop room.

"The beer Juwon-ssi makes is really good. This one’s just okay."

"So that’s why you said that to Ayoung unnie?"

"Yeah. Honestly, whether bonds continue or break is up to Juwon-ssi, right? The gods never said anything about how to handle it. The idea that he can’t sever a bond with someone who’s seen the light is just my opinion."

"So?"

"I exaggerated a bit to emphasize the bond. Her possessiveness is insane—she’d never choose to share unless pushed. Especially if it’s someone she loves. So I borrowed the gods’ name. ‘If the gods will it’—that phrase isn’t just for crusaders."

Ryu Yeoreum was impressed by Cha Soyeon’s cunning.

"But why drag Ayoung unnie into it? Won’t it be hard for Manager-nim to handle three…?"

"Juwon-ssi’s heart or body?"

"B-both."

Ryu Yeoreum’s face turned red as she lowered her head.

"Ayoung’s a mess, but she’s stubborn as hell. And when she explodes, there’s no telling where she’ll go. You saw it at our place."

"Yeah."

Ryu Yeoreum recalled Min Ayoung and Cha Soyeon’s tongue battle.

"If someone like that barges in to claim Juwon-ssi, who knows what she’ll do? It’s her first time falling for a guy, so she’d go all out, no holds barred."

Ryu Yeoreum gulped.

"Rather than dealing with that loose cannon, it’s better to recruit her to our side. She’s self-centered, but she’ll be insanely devoted to Juwon-ssi. When she says she’ll become his slave, she absolutely means it."

Just then, footsteps echoed from the stairs.

It was Shin Juwon.

"You’re back?"

Cha Soyeon and Yeoreum.

Cha Soyeon often visits the rooftop because she likes the atmosphere, and today, Yeoreum tagged along.

"Here. Make me some beer."

She held out a beer glass filled with water.

When I dipped my finger in slightly, the beer rose with a fizz.

[Only for women, Master. Don’t use it carelessly elsewhere.]

It’s like a lubricant that deepens bonds, she’d said.

Cha Soyeon loves beer made this way.

"Kaaah~ So good. Hey, if I suck your finger, will beer come out?"

What kind of question is that?

"I don’t know, but why would you suck someone else’s finger?"

"Other things might come up too, but a finger’s no big deal…"

"Unnie!"

Yeoreum’s face turned red enough to explode.

"Too much teasing? Sorry."

She stuck out her tongue playfully.

She’s getting more mischievous by the day.

"Did you have fun on your date with Ayoung? Hamburger joint, department store, movie theater, amusement park—she packed the schedule tight, huh?"

"How did you know?"

Does she have some tracking benefactor?

[Don’t make up random benefactors.]

"I’m a Shin Juwon expert, aren’t I? If I don’t know, who would? What did Ayoung say during the date? Bet she tried to seduce you a lot."

Seems she knows where we went but not what we talked about.

Since Cha Soyeon and Yeoreum can see the benefactor’s light, hiding it is pointless.

I told them everything without holding back.

Thinking about it, there wasn’t anything worth hiding.

"At the end, she said she’d accept them all, but even I don’t get that part. If you’re curious, ask her yourself."

For some reason, Cha Soyeon smiled, looking satisfied.

"Okay, I’ll ask her myself if I’m curious."

I don’t get the meaning behind that smile.

"She took Juwon-ssi out to flaunt her money… That doesn’t sit well with me…"

Her smile vanished instantly.

"Why didn’t you take the watch?"

At the watch store, Min Ayoung insisted I pick one, but I refused.

The price—hundreds of thousands of won—was an issue, but more importantly, there was no reason for me to accept such a gift from Min Ayoung.

"It was expensive, and I didn’t see why I should take it, so I didn’t."

"Compared to fixing Ayoung’s eyes, that watch is pocket change. Juwon-ssi, you’ve more than earned it. You basically saved her life."

"That’s exactly why I shouldn’t take it. Fixing Ayoung-ssi’s eyes—that benefactor was given to me freely by the gods. To do good. If I received it for free, why should I charge others? That’s not fair."

The two stared at me silently.

Their eyes were full of trust, which was gratifying but also burdensome.

"Haah, how can anyone not fall for you like this?"

"Right. Manager-nim is really an angel. An angel."

Even if I flapped wings on my back, they’d be too heavy to fly. What kind of angel is that?

After changing into comfortable clothes, we properly started the drinking session.

"Make me more beer."

"I’ll have wine."

They held out their glasses.

I’m probably the only one who uses the benefactor’s power for such trivial things.

When Cha Soyeon opened her eyes, she saw Ryu Yeoreum sleeping peacefully beside her.

Lifting her head, she realized they were in Shin Juwon’s rooftop room.

After drinking happily at night, they’d used his arm as a pillow to stargaze before dozing off.

The blanket smelled like Shin Juwon, so she pressed her nose into it and savored the scent for a while.

Careful not to wake Ryu Yeoreum, she got up and stepped outside.

Shin Juwon was sleeping in a sleeping bag on the deck.

She sat beside him and gently stroked his cheek.

"How can someone be so selfless? You don’t want a house, a car, or even a watch—you refuse everything people want to give you."

Leaning down, she kissed his cheek.

She left the lips for later, since Ryu Yeoreum’s half-kiss was still there.

A clear, transparent light shimmered behind her.

If she kept looking, she’d lose control, so she stood up.

"I’ll give myself to you later, so don’t say no. I’ll make sure you have no choice but to accept."

Cha Soyeon went back inside to catch the rest of her sleep.

I had an ominous dream.

A well-built middle-aged man.

He was climbing the stairs with a dazed expression.

One step… two steps… three steps…

Sinister black smoke billowed from his entire body.

He opened the door at the top and stepped outside.

It was a desolate rooftop, swept by a cold wind.

The black smoke coalesced into something.

‘A snake…?’

But not just any snake.

Its head twisted grotesquely, morphing into a horned goat.

Gnarled horns and sharp fangs… a horrifying sight.

The smoke-formed snake coiled around the man’s body.

The goat-headed creature whispered something in his ear.

As if entranced, the man slowly climbed onto the rooftop railing.

Then, he threw himself over.

‘Gasp!’

The dim light of dawn filled my vision.

It was a chilling dream, leaving me covered in goosebumps.

[This… is a prophetic dream.]