The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 95

Beyond the massive iron gate lies a beautiful garden.

Outside the gate stands a child with clear eyes.

'If I can make the flowers bloom up there...'

There’s a legend that says if you awaken the flower sleeping at the heart of the garden, your wish will come true.

The child’s younger sister has been bedridden for over a year due to illness.

Her birthday is just a few days away.

The child intends to ask the flower for a birthday gift for their sister.

That gift is her sister’s health.

The path to the garden is treacherous.

They must navigate a maze and walk a rough path strewn with sharp stones.

They must cross cliffs, pass through a forest where the wind lingers, and traverse the coastline.

No one has ever made it to the garden beyond.

'It's cold...'

'I'm hungry...'

'My legs hurt...'

Still lost in the maze, darkness begins to settle.

The child despaired, realizing why people give up halfway.

Then, a brightly glowing butterfly appeared before their eyes.

A radiant creature, scattering light with every flutter of its wings.

As if entranced, the child began to follow the butterfly.

After chasing it for a while, they suddenly found themselves out of the maze.

Catching their breath in relief, another butterfly of a different color flew toward them.

It danced with the first, guiding the way forward.

Following the two butterflies, the child crossed the perilous stone path.

Though their feet were scraped and knees bruised, they didn’t stop.

Beyond the stones, a cave appeared beneath the cliff.

At the cave’s entrance, they met a third butterfly.

Guided by the three, the child painstakingly climbed the steep cave stairs.

At the cliff’s edge, a fourth butterfly descended, showing the way down.

In the wind-lashed forest, their body nearly flew away, but the child pressed on.

At the shore where towering waves threatened to swallow everything, they met a fifth butterfly.

Miraculously, the waves parted only for the child surrounded by the five butterflies.

'Almost there...'

Exhausted from the journey, the child finally reached the heart of the garden with the butterflies.

'Fairy...'

A beautiful fairy, cradling a flower, lay asleep.

The child knelt before her, clasped their hands, and prayed—

For their sister, bedridden and weak, to be healed.

'Now, go back.'

The fairy, now awake, smiled brightly and embraced the child tightly.

A sudden gust of wind carried blossoms of every color, enveloping them both.

Dazed by the fantastical sight, the child blinked—and found themselves standing before their home.

"Oppa~!"

The door swung open, and their adorable sister rushed out, hugging them.

The sister, who had been bedridden all day, was now healthy.

Laughing, the two stepped inside.

Watching them, the five butterflies fluttered their wings and vanished beyond the sky.

｢Butterfly｣

"Cut!!"

Director Joo-young clenched his fist, shouting at the final scene.

A gesture of satisfaction with the perfect shot.

"Has A-young really been on hiatus for two years? How is her acting so natural?"

Min A-young, pleased with her performance, whispered beside me with a giggle.

"Maybe it’s love. Thinking of Ju-won makes the acting flow so easily, right?"

She grinned sweetly, tickling my heart.

Director Joo-young smirked at me knowingly.

They say actors' romances are always the first to be caught by the crew—truer words were never spoken.

I’d have to explain things later.

"Noona!"

"Unnie~!"

The two child actors, who played the protagonist and sister, clung to Min A-young.

The fairy dress, painstakingly crafted by the costume team, captivated the children.

Even I thought she looked like a fairy straight out of a fantasy—how much more so for them?

"Do you like it?"

She struck a pose in front of me before changing.

Silently, I gave her a thumbs-up.

"Hmm... I’ll add one more outfit for the bed."

"Why would I wear this in bed?"

"Wouldn’t Ju-won love me more if I set the mood like this? I’ve got a few more ideas, so look forward to it."

Blowing a kiss, she headed to the dressing room.

Her mischievousness had multiplied since we first met.

Min A-young left for Seoul first with the actors' team.

I stayed behind, waiting for Red Blossom’s remaining shoot, and grabbed drinks from the car.

As I closed the trunk, everything around me froze.

The Prophet’s Grace had activated.

'Long time no see.'

[Indeed. God must’ve grown tired of coming up with ideas.]

What a fickle deity.

First the Prophet’s Grace, then prophetic dreams, interpretations—what’s next?

The surroundings crumbled, shifting into a dark backdrop.

Trees along the road led inward to a neatly arranged entrance.

A small dock with a temporary building came into view.

At the end of the bridge connected to the dock stood a luxurious resort-like structure.

'The Sky Palace...'

It was the Jinseonggyo Sky Palace where we’d gone to save Sera.

More extravagant than the one in Gijang, this must be another location.

Likely one of the Sky Palaces in Bucheon or Namyangju.

Crossing the bridge, I entered the palace.

Dim lights illuminated the halls and doors—no one was there.

I climbed the stairs to the second floor.

The layout was identical to the one in Gijang.

'......'

At the end of the second-floor hallway stood a figure.

A veiled woman gazed in my direction.

Her voluptuous figure suited the cascading evening gown perfectly.

Playing with her fingertips, she smiled at me.

I didn’t need words to know.

That was Lilith.

'So she found a new body.'

Something lurked behind Lilith, but the darkness obscured it.

As the distance narrowed, I focused—and jolted in shock.

'Why is Kim Tae-sang...?'

Kim Tae-sang, emaciated and withered, hung from a hook-like wooden structure.

His lifeless eyes lacked focus, his tongue lolling out.

His condition was so gruesome, death wouldn’t have been surprising.

The surroundings crumbled again, reverting to the filming set.

Time resumed.

'What happened to Kim Tae-sang?'

SN Entertainment Executive Office —

"He wants to meet me?"

Kim Tae-sang’s mouth stretched ear to ear.

"Yes. When I mentioned my special connection to the cult leader, he told me to come. He asked for you alone, sir. I’ll escort you to the entrance."

Yong-ho, seated across from him, answered.

"No other conditions? No donations?"

"None. Just go and talk it over."

"Last time, that bastard was insatiable. Who knows how it’ll be now? Maybe a woman will take something else as payment. Keuk keuk."

"Once you taste him, your thoughts might change, sir."

The flattery matched Kim Tae-sang’s lewd grin.

Deokso Sky Palace —

Several robed men greeted Kim Tae-sang respectfully.

"The cult leader awaits you in the private chamber."

Guided by the priests, Kim Tae-sang ascended to the top floor.

The opulent room was adorned with antique decor and furniture fit for a historical drama.

Spotting the curtained bed, Kim Tae-sang swallowed hard.

'Did the cult leader read my mind?'

Soon, the cult leader revealed themselves.

A woman in a mesmerizing evening gown, reflecting the dim light.

Her pronounced curves swayed seductively in the shadows.

Though veiled, her enchanting eyes were hypnotic enough.

Kim Tae-sang gulped audibly.

"You said you were close to the former leader?"

A sultry voice vibrated through his ears like a thick wave.

"Yes, Leader. I contributed significant donations to the salvation project."

"Such devotion with precious materials for heaven’s use. On behalf of Truth and Life, I thank you."

"Don’t mention it. You must’ve worked hard to clean up the mess."

"All for Truth and Life. I’d sacrifice this body entirely. And for you, Executive."

"Me?"

"Didn’t you come today to deepen our bond?"

"Ah... Well, that’s..."

"I don’t like indecisive men."

"O-Of course! I’d love to strengthen our relationship, Leader!"

"Then you know how men and women deepen bonds, right?"

"Ah."

The leader removed her veil.

Kim Tae-sang’s jaw dropped at her face.

"I also don’t like slow men."

The words triggered him—he lunged at her savagely.

"Hah, hng... Zebul... Enough... now..."

Kim Tae-sang’s pitiful moans spilled out.

The leader sensually rolled her hips atop him.

"Such a weak man. Only five times, and you’re spent."

"Ngh... No... more..."

Trembling violently, Kim Tae-sang collapsed limply.

The leader draped herself over him languidly.

"What a waste. Such delicious malice, yet your body is this frail..."

[You overdid it, Lilith. For a human, lasting this long is impressive.]

Black smoke coiled up beside the bed.

Sinister eyes gleamed within the haze.

"Since when did you develop a peeping habit, Satan?"

[That’s why you should quit while you’re ahead. I got tired of waiting.]

"You told me to break his will with pleasure."

[If you’ve had your fun, come down. We need to enter before his breath gives out.]

As Lilith descended, the black smoke enveloped Kim Tae-sang’s body.

Finding an opening, it seeped inside.

His body twitched in agony, but the smoke paid no heed.

Soon, the smoke vanished entirely into him.

"How amusing. When will he wake up?"