A woman resembling Nayu stared at Baek Yoorin with an indifferent expression. Baek Yoorin avoided her gaze, her face scrunched up like a scolded child.


    Baek Yoorin muttered under her breath.


    “President-nim.”


    “I told you not to call me ‘President-nim.’ Cheonji is no longer the agency you work for.”


    I turned to look at the woman who resembled Nayu.


    This woman, who had suddenly appeared, was simr to Nayu but distinctly different.


    For one, her hair was pinned up with a binyeo, a traditional Korean hairpin, which was unusual.


    Unlike Nayu, whose default expressions were always cheerful and bright, this woman’s face was sharp and serious, as though she had endured every trial life had to offer. She looked like a battle-hardened version of Nayu.


    “I heard you used the Yin Transformation and had your rank sealed, but you seem perfectly fine.”“I finally learned how to undo it.”


    “You’ve already learned how to erase the Yin Transformation?”


    The woman resembling Nayu nced at the open door of the room.


    She smiled softly as if she had seen something amusing in the hallway.


    “So, you devoured all the sacrifices? Impressive. I believed Celestial Immortals’ envy and jealousy, the public’s narrow-minded hatred, and the assassins’ malice would help elevate your rank. It seems I was right. After all, truth knows no good or evil.”


    “W-what?”


    Baek Yoorin was visibly flustered by her words.


    But the woman paid no mind and continued speaking to herself.


    “What a pity. Nayu should have consumed sacrifices like you and realized the darker truths of the world. That’s what the Thousand Tribtions Pill was for. Ha, who on earth stole the sacrifices meant for that child?”


    The woman looked genuinely regretful.


    “There isn’t much time left, but I should be able to prepare sacrifices for her again. Yoorin, don’t you think so?”


    “Y-yes, I think so. So, could you please let me go…!”


    Baek Yoorin struggled in her grasp, but she couldn’t break free.


    Baek Yoorin is someone nearly as strong as me. And yet, she couldn’t escape those slender fingers?


    “And one more thing, Baek Yoorin. The world might be on the brink of destruction, and here you are, fooling around with men. Shameful.”


    “Well, it’s not exactly like that…”


    “As the head of Cheonji, I cannot overlook such disgraceful behavior. Come. First, we’ll stop the outburst of the Great Demon Gate, and then I’ll begin your disciplinary action.”


    What did she just say?


    That woman is the head of Cheonji?


    The woman who looks like Nayu?


    I was so thrown off by this sudden revtion that I couldn’t even think of what to say. Hopefully, she wouldn’t figure out that I’m Mara.


    Given what she mentioned earlier—Nayu, the Thousand Tribtions Pill—it’s clear she’s someone deeply connected to Nayu. But what exactly is their rtionship? ?


    “Discipline or whatever, just… just fix this stabbing pain in my stomach first! I mean, just one more kiss…!”


    “Quiet. Go and stop the Great Demon Gate.”


    With a flick, the head of Cheonji hurled Baek Yoorin into the air.


    Baek Yoorin disappeared without a trace.


    She must have been thrown into some invisible ghost gate or passage that I couldn’t see.


    With Baek Yoorin gone, the pink room felt eerily silent.


    The head of Cheonji smiled, a smile reminiscent of Nayu’s but tinged with sympathy.


    “A criminal like you must be losing your mind after being caught by such a terrifying tiger.”


    Is that so? Am I losing my mind?


    Of course not.


    I’m perfectly fine.


    At least, I haven’t been discovered as Mara.


    So, I tried to put on the most vacant expression I could manage.


    Baek Yoorin might not have noticed because she awakened her spiritual powers after the Day of Awakening. She doesn’t know much about my abilities or traits.


    But the head of Cheonji is a veteran spiritualist who has led Cheonji long before the Day of Awakening. If I act strange, she might figure out something’s off.


    Sure, I could pretend to be a skilled expert hiding my strength, but pulling such a stunt in front of the head of Cheonji is far too risky.


    She’s too much of a powerhouse to take lightly.


    If I slip up, it could lead to a martial arts nightmare, like a Ten Masters vs. a Heavenly Demon showdown.


    That’s the kind of fight I want no part of.


    As I stood there, too stunned to say anything, the head of Cheonji spoke.


    “I’m sorry. In the end, I couldn’t stop the end times.”


    She looked genuinely apologetic.


    “I’ll erase all your memories of today. This day isn’t like truth falling as gentle rain—it’s more like a waterfall crashing down. Forget it all and just live your life.”


    She ced a finger on my forehead.


    Then, as she turned and disappeared, she spoke her final words.


    “I’ll do my best to stop the end of the world.”


    With that, the head of Cheonji vanishedpletely. Watching her disappear, I muttered under my breath.


    “My head’s a mess.”


    I closed my eyes and tried to organize my thoughts.


    Why does the head of Cheonji look like Nayu?


    Why were Baek Yoorin’s hips so… plump and bouncy…


    No, that’s not the point. The head of Cheonji mentioned Nayu. Could Nayu also be part of Cheonji? And why were Baek Yoorin’s pants soaked with sweat?


    No!!!


    If Nayu is part of Cheonji, why does she live in a rundown officetel like Louisville? And why does Baek Yoorin have so many risqué doujinshi?


    Her room’s practically like that of a middle-school boy.


    Should I be relieved there weren’t any adult toys lying around?


    Rustle, rustle.


    Without realizing it, I started rummaging under Baek Yoorin’s bed.


    “No, no. This isn’t the issue right now.”


    The real issue was the rtionship between Nayu and Cheonji.


    Could someone as na?ve and innocent as Nayu really be involved with Cheonji? Then again, if someone as lecherous as Baek Yoorin could hold a key position in Cheonji, anything’s possible.


    …Nope, I can’t do this.


    Being here is making me think too much about Baek Yoorin because of all these questionable vibes.


    In the end, I packed my things and left this den of confusion as quickly as I could.


    <strong>****</strong>


    Later that evening, I sat Nayu down for an interview.


    “Nayu-ssi?”


    “Nayu-head-tilt.”


    “Do you know what kind of organization Cheonji is?”


    Nayu nodded.


    Of course, she would. Even I, who didn’t know much about spiritual powers, had heard of Cheonji.


    “Nayu-ssi, are you affiliated with Cheonji by any chance?”


    “Nayu-strong-denial!”


    “Strong denial usually means affirmation, you know?”


    “N-nayu-moderate-denial.”


    Honestly, I didn’t want to doubt Nayu.


    No, I didn’t even have the right to doubt her.


    Even if Nayu was part of Cheonji, what harm had that done to me? It’s not like I’m at odds with Cheonji.


    But Cheonji is the group that manages the Great Demon Gates.


    And all I want is ess to the Great Demon Gates.


    I nced at Nayu.


    She looked a bit embarrassed, her cheeks slightly flushed.


    “Hmm, you really do look alike… but Nayu is definitely prettier.”


    “Nayu-shocked-face! N-nayu-shocked-face-that’s-not-shocked-statement!”


    Saying that, Nayu covered her face with her hands.


    Hmm, I wanted to observe her a bit more, but that’ll have to wait.


    At that moment, the sound of a door opening echoed.


    A brash girl entered the room.


    I called her Jamsuni.


    “Ugh, the homeroom teacher was so damn long-winded.”


    “Oh, you’re here. You’re a bitte today.”


    “Yeah, seriously, if the closing session had gone five minutes longer, I’d have totally snapped.”


    “Nayu-strict-warning!”


    Nayu jumped up and shouted. Jamsuni smirked and replied.


    “Rx, dummy. Can’t you take a joke? Seriously, you guys can’t even recognize sarcasm?”


    “Nayuedy-genius-statement. Nayu-prepping-ultimate-joke-mode.”


    And so, listening to Nayu’s terrible, ice-cold jokes, another day passed.


    <strong>****</strong>


    Late Night. I Picked Up My Phone.


    Naturally, I ended up scrolling through NewTube.


    The moment I clicked on a video, an ad started ying. A man appeared and said:


    “Are you poor? Then you’re an idiot.”


    “What the hell?”


    Did the ad just insult me?


    No, it’s not like I’m broke or anything. It wasn’t that.


    I was so dumbfounded that I forgot to press the skip button for a moment.


    “In an era where making money is this easy, if you’re poor, it’s certain you’re eithercking intelligence or suffering from some mental illness. This method works even for physically ill people to make money easily.”


    Make money, huh?


    What a provocative statement.


    Maybe I should listen for a little longer.


    “This era is all about making money through your soul. Your body can stay idle while your soul alone moves to earn tens, hundreds, even thousands. But most people don’t know how to move their souls.”


    Souls? The moment he mentioned souls, my interest plummeted.


    “But with our Nesone Soul Network, members can learn how to earn money through their souls…”


    “Oh, screw this.”


    I skipped the ad.


    It’s not like I have the brainpower to understand all that soul nonsense.


    Muttering to myself with the same bitter resignation as the fox who couldn’t reach the sour grapes, I said:


    “Why doesn’t anyone crack down on these guys?”


    But of course, the cops who won’t even bother going after scammers wouldn’t touch something like this.


    “So, how exactly do they make money?”


    Annoyed, I closed the video and decided to search for information about Nesone Soul Network. It seemed people abbreviated it to Nesone.


    Nesone*.


    Sounds like “your loss” in Korean.


    Who came up with this name? It’s honestly kind of funny.


    Anyway, Nesone turned out to be a fairlyrgepany.


    Apparently, Nesone’s business involved using the souls of ordinary people who didn’t know how to use them themselves, turning those souls into profit.


    Members were supposedly paid for simply lying down, listening to music, or staring at artwork. The payment corresponded to the time spent using thepany’s products.


    Moreover, using stronger products would earn more money.


    “Can you really get paid just for that?”


    Hard to believe.


    Should I try it as a side hustle?


    Intrigued, I put my phone down to find out how to join Nesone.


    <strong>****</strong>


    Search Results:


    -“1100% Returns! Learn About the Emerging Eco-Friendly Company Nesone Soul Network”


    -“Still Don’t Know About Nesone? From Side Hustles to Full-Time Jobs”


    -“Anomaly Response Headquarters Expresses Regret Over Denied Investigation of Nesone Soul Network”


    -“The Ordinary Person’s Hope: Nesone. Membership Application Requirements?”


    -“Neriver Blog – My Visit to Nesone (With Map)”


    -“Oh, someone even wrote a review?”


    I clicked on the blog post at the bottom.


    <strong>– – – The End of The Chapter – – –</strong>


    [TL: The name “Nesone” sounds simr to the Korean phrase “? ??” (ne sonhae), which means “your loss”.


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