The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees Chapter 54 - Return of the Heavenly Demon: Ten Thousand Demons Bow (1)

 

“Isn’t it a bit too early for you to be discharged?”

 

“Don’t you think I’ve been hospitalized longer than necessary for my injuries?”

 

“Well…”

 

“Yoon-hoo, you really are something.”

 

My grandfather shook his head with a helpless smile, as if I were utterly incorrigible. Still, he seemed to be in good spirits. With a faint grin, he explained why he was leaving the hospital earlier than scheduled—and the reason was unexpected.

 

“The old fox from the High-End Group is coming to Korea sometime this week.”

 

That completely threw me off.

 

The High-End Group.

 

A multinational corporation often compared to AMA—but for entirely different reasons. If AMA sold luxury and pleasure, the High-End Group trafficked in rage and madness.

 

On the surface, they posed as a regular IT company. In truth, they were a military enterprise—always the first to rush into war-torn regions to sell weapons of every kind.

 

That was the High-End Group’s true nature. And the “old fox” Grandfather mentioned was its CEO.

 

“Why would he come to Korea…?”

 

“I have no idea. But knowing what that scoundrel got up to in his younger days… he might be here to reclaim seeds he scattered without even realizing it.”

 

Considering the kind of things that man had done in his youth, it wasn’t far-fetched. After all, there was an illegitimate child in Korea he didn’t even know about.

 

Still, something didn’t add up. The old fox had never visited Korea before that scandal came to light. His visits had always been after the existence of his illegitimate child was revealed—not before.

 

“Yoon-hoo?”

 

“Ah—yes, I’m listening.”

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“Of course.”

 

I offered a gentle smile. “I’ve just had a lot on my mind lately, so I wasn’t fully focused. I’m sorry, Grandpa.”

 

“No need to apologize. But are you sure you’re really alright?”

 

“Yes. I’m fine, truly. Please don’t worry.”

 

“If you say so, Yoon-hoo…”

 

Thankfully, he didn’t push further and accepted my excuse.

 

“By the way, how’s your friend doing?”

 

“Seo Do-hwan is doing well. Yoo-seong too.”

 

“That’s good to hear. But I heard another one of your friends was admitted today.”

 

So the news had reached him already. Since I arranged an absurdly luxurious private room for Lee Man-deuk—under my own name, no less—it was only natural that Grandfather would find out.

 

Even so, it rubbed me the wrong way. The reason Grandfather was hospitalized in the first place… was because of that damn mage, Lee Man-deuk.

 

‘And now Grandfather was worried about him? Unbelievable.’

 

I should’ve registered the room under someone else. But it was too late for regrets. I simply smiled and updated him.

 

“He’s alright. Fortunately, his injuries weren’t serious.”

 

“That’s truly a relief.”

 

Seeing Grandfather genuinely worried for Lee Man-deuk—and now relieved—made my stomach twist.

 

“Where did you meet this friend of yours?”

 

“Through business.”

 

Grandfather hummed softly.

 

T.U, WF Entertainment, Cheongmyeong High School—places I’d distanced myself from. He seemed to be sorting through which of my business ventures had led me to meet Lee Man-deuk. Eventually, he nodded with a smile.

 

“I’m glad you’ve made so many friends, Yoon-hoo.”

 

“…Yeah.”

 

Seo Do-hwan, Lee Yoo-seong, Lee Man-deuk. Though I wasn’t sure any of them truly saw me as a friend.

 

“It’s getting quite late. You should head home.”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“Ahem.”

 

Grandfather gave me a pointed look.

 

“If you don’t go now, I’ll call your friends to drag you home.”

 

With him putting it that way, I had no choice.

 

“Alright, I’ll get going.”

 

“Good. I’ll contact you when I’m discharged.”

 

“Please call before that.”

 

He simply smiled. Which meant he would probably notify me after he was already discharged. Well, the moment word got out, reporters would swarm the hospital, and to keep me out of the spotlight, this was unavoidable.

 

‘Sorry about that.’

 

Times like this made me wish my identity was already public.

 

‘Just a little longer.’

 

Soon enough—whether I wanted it or not—everyone would know I was the sole blood relative of AMA’s Chairman, Kwak Jin-tae.

 

That is… assuming events unfolded as they had in every previous round, despite the new variable known as Ji Geon-hyuk.

 

I left the hospital, got into the black sedan waiting for me, and gave the driver our destination.

 

“Home.”

 

“Yes, young master.”

 

It was already past midnight. Rain was still pouring. Come to think of it, this was around the time I first met Ji Geon-hyuk.

 

To be precise, it was on a night near the end of the rainy season. Back then, I had approached him with an umbrella and said:

 

“Hello, Mr. Ji Geon-hyuk. Would you like to find the place where you truly belong?”

 

Across 365 regressions, our first meeting had always been identical. But not anymore. Those countless repeated first encounters were now memories known only to me.

 

‘…Though maybe not. There’s always a chance.’

 

Still hoping I was wrong, I leaned my head against the window.

 

‘Come to think of it… I didn’t check if they got home safely.’

 

I hadn’t checked whether Seo Do-hwan and Lee Yoo-seong made it back safely after that nearly-demolished kitchen soup incident. I was about to call when—

 

Buzz!

 

My phone rang.

 

“Hello? Ji Ye-chan?”

 

Stage name: Sol. Same age as Kang Ye-seong, yet he rarely called me directly.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

—Ah, CEO! I’m so sorry for calling so late!

 

“It’s fine. Did something urgent happen?”

 

—Well…!

 

Ji Ye-chan hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

 

—It’s Ye-seong. He’s acting weird.

 

“Kang Ye-seong is?”

 

Weird? He seemed perfectly fine when we parted ways at the hospital.

 

***

 

While Kwak Yoon-hoo was left confused, his only family—Chairman Kwak Jin-tae—was deep in thought when his phone rang.

 

“Yes, Chief Choi. Did you find anything?”

 

—Yes, Chairman.

 

His long-time secretary, Choi Tae-yoon, reported:

 

—Mr. Lee Man-deuk is currently employed at a company unrelated to T.U, WF Entertainment, or Cheongmyeong High School—formerly Cheongha High School.

 

At that, Kwak Jin-tae shut his eyes tightly.

 

“Where did you say you met this friend of yours?”

 

“I met him through business.”

 

The fact that his only grandson had lied stung deeply.

 

‘Not just once, but several times.’

 

His precious grandson, whom he cherished more than anything, was keeping multiple secrets from him. Just from the existence of Seo Do-hwan and Lee Yoo-seong, that much was clear.

 

Perhaps sensing his silence, Choi Tae-yoon spoke again.

 

—If it’s my son, he would know what the young master is planning.

 

Choi Tae-yoon’s son was practically Kwak Yoon-hoo’s right hand. He worked discreetly behind the scenes for the family’s sole heir and would likely understand Yoon-hoo’s intentions better than anyone. But—

 

“Leave it.”

 

Kwak Jin-tae refused.

 

“Seo Do-hwan, Lee Yoo-seong…”

 

And—

 

“Lee Man-deuk as well.”

 

These sudden “friends” who had appeared around his grandson.

 

“As long as they don’t harm Yoon-hoo, that’s enough.”

 

For now, he decided he would simply watch from afar. His grandson had been unconscious for a week and had only just woken up. He didn’t know what the child was thinking, but…

 

‘If it’s Yoon-hoo, he must have a reason for all of this.’

 

Kwak Jin-tae chose to trust him.

 

***

 

“Ji Ye-chan, what do you mean something’s wrong with Kang Ye-seong?”

 

—As soon as he got back, he suddenly started meditating.

 

“Meditating?”

 

That alone wasn’t strange. In every regression, Kang Ye-seong had his own odd ways of stabilizing his condition—meditation was occasionally among them. But—

 

—It’s weird because he never meditates, and he suddenly started doing it. We tried all sorts of tri— I mean, methods to tease him out of it, but he’s not reacting at all.

 

Ji Ye-chan explained that no matter how much they called or poked him, Kang Ye-seong didn’t respond.

 

—Before he left earlier, Ye-seong said he was going to meet you, CEO. So I thought maybe you knew why he’s suddenly like this.

 

But I had no idea what was going on either. At that moment, Lee Nak-hwa cut into the call.

 

—It’s been over an hour since Ye-seong hyung started meditating!

 

—He needs to sleep soon. We have a music show tomorrow, and I’m getting worried, CEO hyung!

 

—It’s not tomorrow, it’s today.

 

—Why nitpick that of all things?!

 

Behind Cheong-ryang and Ha-neul’s bickering, I heard Shin Yoo-soo’s uneasy voice.

 

—Maybe we’re overthinking it, but… I don’t think this is normal meditation.

 

Before I could ask what he meant, Ji Ye-chan added:

 

—I know this sounds strange, but the longer Ye-seong meditates, the more it feels like the air around him… trembles? It’s just… wrong.

 

“Where is Kang Ye-seong right now?”

 

—In our room.

 

He shares a room with Ji Ye-chan

 

“And you, Ji Ye-chan?”

 

—I’m in the living room with the others.

 

It seemed whatever was happening around Kang Ye-seong was unsettling enough that the members were avoiding the room.

 

“Did you tell the managers?”

 

—Not yet. We were going to if you said you didn’t know either.

 

“Don’t tell them. I’m heading over now.”

 

—Huh? Oh—yes, CEO!

 

I was exhausted from being out all day, but I had no choice—I needed to check on him myself. Don’t they say people die after doing things they’ve never done before? As someone who had experienced that firsthand, I was genuinely worried.

 

“Until I arrive, don’t touch him.”

 

—Yes, CEO!

 

As soon as the call ended, I told the driver to turn back.

 

“To Victory’s dorm, please.”

 

But when I arrived, the dorm was completely empty.

 

“Ji Ye-chan?”

 

The one who called me was gone.

 

“Lee Nak-hwa? Shin Yoo-soo?”

 

Even the youngest members—

 

“Ha-neul? Cheong-ryang?”

 

The two who were always arguing were nowhere to be seen. Naturally, the one who should’ve been meditating—Kang Ye-seong—wasn’t there either.

 

Victory’s dorm was empty. Completely. There were no signs of a break-in or struggle—which meant all six members had left on their own.

 

But why? I told Ji Ye-chan I was coming. What happened?

 

To get clarity, I called Victory’s manager.

 

—Yes, CEO.

 

“Where is Victory right now?”

 

—Huh? The boys should be at the dorm…

 

Useless.

 

I hung up and called someone who would actually still be at the company. Asking another manager would only get me the same response.

 

—Yes, CEO! What’s going on at this hour?

 

“Chris, can you check if Victory is in the practice room?”

 

—Of course! One moment!

 

A brief pause, then:

 

—Yes! They’re in the practice room!

 

“Is Kang Ye-seong there too?”

 

—Yes!

 

“And nothing seems off?”

 

—Muse?

 

“Yes.”

 

—That’s… strange. Uh, well—

 

His voice faltered—and the call abruptly cut off.

 

“Hello? Chris? Chris!”

 

No matter how many times I tried calling back, he didn’t pick up. Something was definitely wrong. I rushed out of Victory’s dorm and got into the waiting black sedan.

 

“To WF Entertainment. As fast as you can.”

 

“Yes, Young Master.”

 

Vroooom—!

 

The driver stepped on the gas. The roads were nearly empty at this hour, and because of that, we arrived at WF Entertainment in no time.

 

“If I’m not back in thirty minutes, contact Seo Do-hwan.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Leaving the driver behind, I headed straight inside and ran toward the practice rooms. The lights were on—so Chris hadn’t lied. Victory was here.

 

But they weren’t fine.

 

Lee Nak-hwa and Shin Yoo-soo. 

 

Cheong-ryang and Ha-neul. 

 

Ji Ye-chan.

 

And even Chris, who had come to check on them because of my call.

 

They were all collapsed on the practice room floor, unconscious.

 

“…Kang Ye-seong.”

 

Only one person remained upright—sitting in the center of the room with perfect posture.

 

“Oh, CEO.”

 

Kang Ye-seong looked up at me and smiled faintly. And in that instant, I understood what Ji Ye-chan meant earlier—about the air around him trembling.

 

“What brings you here at this hour?”

 

With every word he spoke, my lungs tightened, as if the air itself were constricting around me.

 

His eyes—eyes that were always overflowing with ambition and a future he wished to reach—

 

“CEO?”

 

—were now filled with an unfathomable darkness.

 

As he tilted his head slightly and smiled again, I slowly slipped my hand into the pocket of my coat.