The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees – Chapter 36 – The Mage (2)

Author: CleiZz

Lee Man-deuk became an [HonoraryNike] just a few days after U Know was released—specifically, during Victory’s comeback stage on Show! Champion Music!

That was the moment everything changed. Until then, it had been an ordinary day like any other.

“Oppa, you’re home?”

“Did you bring chicken?”

“Here you go.”

After handing over the fried chicken he’d bought for his younger siblings, Lee Man-deuk headed toward the bathroom to wash up.

Or at least, that’s what he would have done—if his eyes hadn’t caught the music show playing on the TV.

Halfway through unbuttoning his white shirt, he froze, mesmerized by the six men performing on stage. At first, he simply thought, This song’s pretty good. But as it built toward the finale, something inside him began to stir.

Yes, we tried it, you know?

When Lee Nak-hwa sang the line with a smile, Lee Man-deuk held his breath.

Why am I like this?

Why are you like this?

Why are we like this?

As they sang together, his heart pounded in his chest. He thought it might be arrhythmia—but no, this was something else. Something he hadn’t felt since the first crush of childhood.

Yes, we tried it, you know?

When Muse’s voice rang out, it was like a clear bell striking inside his head. He had once sung in a church choir as a child, but even then, he had never heard such a pure, resonant voice.

Leave the past behind and move on

Turn your back on the future and move on

As the members sang in unison again, light seemed to fill his eyes.

Yes, I know it’s hard

But you know, right?

And when Sol sang his part with a smile, Muse slung an arm over his shoulder and delivered the song’s final line.

Yes, it’s what must be done.

That was when Lee Man-deuk knew. Victory wasn’t just a group—they were a force that had stolen not only his heart but his very soul. And in that instant, he experienced a fan-crash—falling hopelessly into fandom all at once. Thus, Lee Man-deuk became [HonoraryNike].

“Uh… oppa? You okay? What are you thinking about so hard?”

“So… you didn’t buy the ice cream, right?”

Their voices snapped him back to reality.

“Ice cream…”

His hands were empty. He’d set out to buy ice cream, but somehow, he’d come home instead.

‘How did I end up back here?’

Then the memory hit him, and he stiffened in shock.

“Oh, that’s right!”

He had returned home after unexpectedly running into Muse—completely overwhelmed—and in his panic, he had flung the man who tried to attack Muse straight into the Han River.

‘That bastard might try to go after Muse again!’

Shaken and panicked by the encounter, he blurted out,

“I’ll be back in a minute!”

And then—he vanished, teleporting right in front of his siblings.

“He disappeared.”

“Yep.”

They spoke casually, as if this were nothing new.

“If he keeps using magic so carelessly, someone’s going to notice.”

“Or maybe someone already has.”

“Then NASA will probably come to capture him.”

“Or some secret American agency.”

“You think Oppa would let himself get caught?”

“No way.”

While they chatted calmly, Lee Man-deuk reappeared near Banpo Bridge by the Han River.

The kidnapper he had thrown was still alive, thrashing in the water, trying to reach the shore.

“Shit…! What the hell just happened…!”

Coughing and sputtering, the man cursed hoarsely.

“Kim Sang-cheol, you son of a bitch. You said it’d be fine as long as we grabbed that guy—Kang Ye-seong or whatever!”

When he came to his senses, he realized he had been dumped into the Han River. Kim Sang-cheol must have set him up.

“Damn it!”

As soon as he got back, he’d beat the crap out of Kim Sang-cheol. He swore viciously, running a hand through his dripping hair.

“Hello.”

Lee Man-deuk greeted him politely.

“Waaah!”

“Whoa, you scared me!” Lee Man-deuk yelped, clutching his chest. “My heart almost jumped out!”

The thug who had tried to harm Kang Ye-seong was equally startled. Pale-faced, he pointed a trembling finger at Lee Man-deuk.

“Y-you! Who the hell are you?!”

“Me?”

Lee Man-deuk smiled as he introduced himself.

“I’m a fan of Muse—the one you dared to harm. Actually, not just Muse. I love all the members of Victory. I’m a Nike.”

“What… what kind of nonsense are you spouting?!”

“That’s why…”

Lee Man-deuk stepped closer, a sly grin tugging at his lips.

“…I’m deciding right now whether to let you live—or kill you here and now, so no one ever finds out.”

The man, seasoned from years in the underworld, knew immediately—this stranger wasn’t bluffing.

“So, what do you think I should do with you?”

Lee Man-deuk asked with a playful lilt in his voice. The man swallowed hard.

***

Name: Lee Man-deuk

Age: 28

“He’s a year older than us,” I said, handing Seo Do-hwan the file I had compiled. “Memorize it. We’ll be meeting him soon.”

“All this? You expect me to memorize all this?”

Seo Do-hwan looked at me in disbelief. It wasn’t even that much information—he was just exaggerating.

“Instead of whining, you’d better start memorizing.”

I had thrown the file together in a rush last night, right after what happened to Kang Ye-seong. I even took a leave of absence from WF Entertainment.

For the record, Kim Sang-cheol had already been handed over to the police. He would serve the maximum possible sentence, and once he was released, he’d live under constant surveillance.

‘If he’s lucky, it’ll stop at surveillance.’

With all the thugs who had invested in him, Kim Sang-cheol would no doubt have a target on his back.

He might even end up wishing he were dead.

‘Serves him right.’

Sure, someone who once owed him might try to help him—but I had a gut feeling that wasn’t going to happen this time.

“Wait, his name is Lee Man-deuk?”

“Hm?”

For someone who’d just been complaining, Seo Do-hwan was now poring over the file with keen interest.

“What kind of name is that? Lee Man-deuk? Seriously?”

He chuckled like it was the funniest thing in the world. Then he asked,

“What about the guy who tried to kidnap Kang Ye-seong? Did they catch him yet?”

“Not yet. But we’ll hear something soon.”

Since it was highly likely that Lee Man-deuk had been the one to save Kang Ye-seong, the kidnapper probably wasn’t going to be showing his face again.

If my hunch was right, Lee Man-deuk had already dealt with him. With a little luck, we’d get confirmation today.

“Wait. So… is the kidnapper connected to this Lee Man-deuk?”

The sharp question made me pause. Then I smiled.

“You could say that. I’m pretty sure he’s the one who rescued Kang Ye-seong.”

“Oh yeah? And what makes you so sure?”

“Man’s intuition.”

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

Seo Do-hwan snorted in disbelief.

“Anyway, what about Lee Yoo-seong’s house?”

“We’ll have to ask him.”

We’d recently gotten word that the repairs on the penthouse—now officially belonging to Lee Yoo-seong—had finally been completed.

“Do you think Lee Yoo-seong will want to move back in?”

“Who knows.”

It was his choice. And just then—speak of the devil—Lee Yoo-seong came back.

“I’m home!”

“Welcome,” Seo Do-hwan greeted him with a grin.

For the record, Kang Ye-seong’s family was under someone else’s protection. Kim Sang-cheol, who had threatened him, was already in police custody, and the would-be kidnapper would be caught soon. As for the investors who had lost money thanks to Kim Sang-cheol, they were being handled one by one. Things would quiet down soon.

Besides, no matter how clever Lee Yoo-seong was, there was no way I was letting him miss any more school.

“Hey, Lee Yoo-seong, did you hear the news?” Seo Do-hwan asked mischievously.

“What news?”

“Your house. The repairs are all done.”

“Oh…”

Lee Yoo-seong let out a dazed little sound, making Seo Do-hwan tilt his head.

“What kind of reaction is that? Aren’t you happy?”

“Huh? Oh, y-yeah. Of course I’m happy. Really.”

Lee Yoo-seong mumbled awkwardly, head ducked low. I knew he was glad, but also conflicted. He was probably thinking, Does this mean I have to move out of their house now?

Understanding, I reassured him.

“Yoo-seong, you can stay with us as long as you want.”

As for his penthouse, it could always be rented out for now.

At my words, his face lit up.

“Really?”

“Of course.”

His expression grew even brighter. It was obvious he was overjoyed. I smiled and asked,

“But you’ll still go take a look at your own house, right?”

“Yes!”

Lee Yoo-seong answered with a bright smile. Soon after, we got into Seo Do-hwan’s car and drove to his newly repaired penthouse.

“Wow!” The moment he stepped inside, his cheeks flushed with excitement. “It looks just like when I lived here with my mom and dad!”

“I asked them to restore it as closely as possible. Do you like it?”

“Yes!”

He nodded vigorously.

“Good. Then look around with Seo Do-hwan for a bit.”

Just then, my phone buzzed loudly. Leaving the two behind, I stepped aside to answer.

“Hello? Team Leader Hong?”

—Sorry to disturb your rest, CEO. The police station just called.

“The police?”

—Yes. Apparently, a man came in to turn himself in, claiming he tried to kidnap Muse.

As I thought. Suppressing a wry smile, I said, “Is that so? Send me the station’s address by message.”

—You’re going to go there yourself?

“Yes. And let Kang Ye-seong know as well. Thanks.”

—Understood, sir.

After hanging up, I returned to find Seo Do-hwan waiting alone.

“Where’s Yoo-seong?”

“He went to the bathroom. No matter how big the place is, it’s still where he grew up, so he found it easily. Though, of course, it’s a bit smaller than your place.”

He chuckled, and I handed him a card.

“Here. Take this.”

“What for?”

“Something came up. I need to stop by the office for a while.”

Of course, it wasn’t the office but the police station. He didn’t need to know that.

“Have dinner with Yoo-seong before heading back.”

Seo Do-hwan accepted the card and asked, “And you?”

“I’ll manage.”

“You’re not just going to grab some junk food, are you?”

“Of course not.”

I understood the importance of proper meals very well.

“If anything happens, call me right away. And don’t cause trouble.”