The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 93

Despite being told to sit comfortably in the back, she insists on sitting in the passenger seat.

She hums cheerfully the entire way down the coastal road.

"What's got you so excited?"

"Because I'm going with you, Juwon-ssi. It feels like we're on a trip together, just the two of us."

She beams like a child on a school picnic.

"You must have enjoyed outdoor shoots a lot. It’s been two years, so I bet you’re looking forward to it?"

"Nope. I never enjoyed it back then. I either slept in the car or memorized scripts on the way. If I had nothing to do, eating snacks and watching the scenery was all I had."

She frowns as she recalls the past.

"But now…even though it's for work…I’m with someone I love, chatting away…not caring about others’ eyes…and you’re driving so steadily…Everything’s just perfect!"

She flails her arms and legs excitedly as she speaks.

She must genuinely be happy.

[If Yuna is the embodiment of desire, this child is pure joy. She absorbs all emotions of love into her own happiness. Her joy is directly proportional to how much she loves you, Master.]

‘Is that good?’

[You just have to keep loving her endlessly. She’s the type who can't bear it if the love stops. She’d be the one who struggles the hardest in a breakup—but you’re not planning to abandon her, right?]

‘Of course not.’

[Then there’s no issue. She’s the kind of girl who’d give you everything in return for your love.]

Perhaps it’s a good thing this isn’t a typical relationship.

It’s not like I’m some sacrifice offered to a god.

"Next time, I wish we could come just to relax. Visit the aquarium, eat delicious food, drink at a fancy place, and get loved by you in a soft bed…Hehe."

She giggles to herself, having already mapped out the itinerary.

Seeing her so genuinely delighted made me smile without realizing it.

The good mood was shattered by Team Leader Park Chan-hyuk’s phone call.

"On your way?"

"Yeah, about an hour left."

"You’re driving, so I’ll keep it short. The filming location got wrecked by a landslide. Check the situation when you arrive and call me back. I’ll send the details via message."

The call ended, and a flood of messages poured in.

I handed my phone to Min A-young and asked her to read the team leader’s messages aloud.

"The park management called—the cliff suddenly collapsed. The hillside meant for the set is half-buried in debris. They’re closing for about a month due to safety concerns. What do we do?"

She looks at me with worry.

So this was Yuna’s dream.

The five fairies with butterfly wings were Red Blossom.

"Director Lee Joo-young said they’d have to repair the set and reschedule staff, so timing will be tight. Does this mean we won’t make the comeback schedule?"

"Probably. No promo without the MV."

"Sigh, how did this happen?... This was practically my comeback project."

She looks utterly heartbroken.

"Don't lose hope yet. There might be a way."

Min A-young’s eyes widen with excitement.

"Do you have a blessing for landslides? You stopped the typhoon on the island, right?"

I told her about Yuna’s dream and my interpretation.

She knows my blessings reacted when I saved Yuna.

"That hippo from the dream—is it like the whale we saw on the island?"

"No idea. The interpretation wasn’t that specific. Maybe we’ll find something once we see the damage."

"Hmm, wonder what it could be..."

She tilts her head, looking adorable.

The park was tightly sealed with iron gates.

Every handle was chained and locked, with closure notices posted everywhere.

The management office was empty, just a lone notice on the door.

"Pretty lax security."

"Yeah. How do we get in?"

Come to think of it, Min A-young doesn’t know spirits can unlock doors.

‘Open it.’

[Just touch the lock.]

I stroked the lock as instructed, and it clicked open.

"Huh? It opened."

"One of the spirit miracles. I can open any door."

"I see. Hmm~ Can’t play the newlywed game, huh."

"Newlywed game?"

"You know, when a couple fights, one locks the door, and the husband shouts, ‘Honey, open the door!’ Then when it opens, he barges in and punishes her with his body... I kinda wanted to try it."

"That won’t happen. You and I won’t fight."

"Even if I get mad?"

"Unlikely, unless..."

"Hmm~ What if I ask for five times, but you only give me three? I’d get mad then."

No analogy is safe.

"I’ll fulfill whatever number you want, so don’t worry."

"Hehe, promised."

Her cheeks flush pink with a smile.

Normally, I’d never say such things, but today, I must have gotten swept up in the mood.

[The God does not restrict spouses.]

‘I know. The more time passes, the more grateful I feel.’

The filming site was a disaster.

The collapsed cliff had buried the hillside under debris.

The location, once neatly arranged, was now unrecognizable.

"No way we can film here."

"No kidding."

We both stared at the ruined hillside, baffled.

"Don’t you have a blessing to turn back time? Like in Marvel movies?"

The Eye of Agamotto would indeed be handy here.

"I don’t have that blessing, but let me ask about others."

I spoke to the spirit.

‘Tell me now—what was the hippo from Yuna’s dream? You waited until we got here, right?’

[Correct. You had to do everything you could before I could step in. The God said not to help those who don’t work.]

What a roundabout deity.

‘So, about the hippo?’

[Wait. It’ll come soon.]

‘Come?’

As soon as I spoke, the ground trembled.

With heavy thuds, something massive moved beyond the hillside.

It was like a boulder—or a hill itself—unbelievably enormous.

"Juwon-ssi, is that... the hippo...?"

It looks like a hippo, but its size rivals Leviathan’s.

A massive eye peers at Min A-young and me.

Unlike Leviathan, however, I sensed no hostility.

‘What... is that?’

[Behemoth. One of the Big Three—Leviathan of the sea, Behemoth of the land, and Ziz of the sky. The largest and fiercest land creature. Like Leviathan, the God tamed it as a pet. Call it Moss.]

Shortening the name turned the monstrous beast into something akin to a chunky cat.

"Its name is Moss. Like Levi, it’s the God’s pet."

"Wow, must be huge since the God raised it."

Fearless, she approaches and touches its leg.

Behemoth ignores the contact entirely.

‘How do I handle it?’

[It’s close to the earth. Place your hand on its skin and ask it to restore the landslide. Moss will handle the rest.]

I told Min A-young, still touching its leg:

"Ask it to restore the landslide. Once you do, run back here fast. It’s about to move."

She repeats my words and dashes toward me.

GROOOOAAR—

With a mighty roar, it opens its maw and unleashes a colossal gust.

Rocks and dirt are swept back toward the cliff in an instant.

Soon, the hillside is restored to its original state.

"It actually worked..."

"Wow! This guy’s amazing. He cleaned everything up!"

We marvel at the sight—until Behemoth turns its gaping mouth toward us.

The same gust that moved the debris now engulfs us.

"Waaaah!"

"Kyyaaak!"

In seconds, we’re flung into the sky.

At least I had the presence of mind to hold Min A-young tightly.

‘Do something!’

The wind carries us toward the sea.

Min A-young is unconscious in my arms.

From this height, hitting the water would be fatal.

[Someone wants to meet you. Go ahead.]

‘What are you—’

The sea parts, and Leviathan emerges.

It positions itself beneath us and opens its jaws wide.

‘Not again!!’

For the second time, we vanish into Leviathan’s mouth.

I open my eyes to an endless green hillside.

A towering tree stands atop a gently sloping hill.

A sight unseen anywhere else—the Garden of Eden.

‘Here again.’

The difference this time: Min A-young is straddling me.

"A-young-ssi. I need to get up, so could you move?"

But she doesn’t respond.

Her gaze is hungry as she stares down at me.

I try to push her off, but my body won’t budge.

‘Why can’t I move?’

Hands—no, something scaly—traces over my body.

Her slow advance is impossible to resist.

‘Damn it...’

Her soft lips press against mine.

She licks around my mouth, then slips in her tongue—far longer than any human’s.

She explores every corner of my mouth with sticky breath.

I try to push her tongue out, but my jaw is locked.

Helpless, I can only feel every sensation of her lips and tongue.

When she finally pulls away, a thread of saliva stretches between us before snapping.

As my body loosens, I immediately speak.

"What... are you?"