The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees – Chapter 67 – Fan Meeting (3)

Author: CleiZz

“Uh… I-I mean…”

“So you’ve already forgotten me.”

“No!” Kang Ye-seong shouted, panicked.

His voice was so loud that every head in the area turned toward them. Ji Ye-chan, standing beside him, blinked in surprise before flashing his usual easygoing grin.

“Our leader must be really flustered. Maybe because noona is as beautiful as a flower? Well, all our Victory Fairies are pretty like flowers. Anyway—you’re the one who said that funny line at the fan meeting, right?”

“Funny line?”

“You know—when the CEO asked what our company name meant! What was it again? Ten-Thousand Demon Mountain? You answered with such wit!”

“Wit…?”

Han Yeong-won smirked, her lips twisting sharply.

“How amusing, you trash.”

“Huh…?”

Trash.

To Han Yeong-won, everyone was equally “trash.” Even Ji Ye-chan, standing right beside Kang Ye-seong, was no exception. Ji Ye-chan froze in place, mouth hanging open at the unexpected insult.

“Um! Your name, please!”

“…Hm?”

“I—I need it to sign properly.”

With an awkward smile, Kang Ye-seong shifted her attention. Grinning slyly, she leaned in and whispered her name just loud enough for him to hear.

“Han Yeong-won.”

Kang Ye-seong’s hand trembled as he carefully wrote her name.

“I-Is there…anything special you’d like me to write…?”

“With the Heavenly Demon’s return, all demons shall kneel.”

Dear God, why are you testing me?

That was exactly what Kang Ye-seong’s expression said. But he was an idol.

“Yes… With the Heavenly Demon’s return, all demons shall kneel.”

He forced a smile as he wrote the line praising the Heavenly Demon—probably crying inside.

“Now that you’re done with your little task, trash, look into my eyes.”

That was when Han Yeong-won tried to use the Soul Dominion Art on him again.

“I’ll pass, thanks.”

He refused firmly—now aware that making eye contact meant losing his body.

“So you don’t care about the followers who rely on you?”

Han Yeong-won’s voice was soft, playful—yet threatening.

“Trash, with a single flick of my finger, I could kill everyone in this room.”

So—

“Look into my eyes while I’m still asking nicely.”

There wasn’t a hint of bluff in her tone. Realizing she meant every word, Kang Ye-seong bit down on his lip.

I quietly exhaled and stepped forward. I had to stop Han Yeong-won. No way was I letting her take over Kang Ye-seong’s body again. I opened my mouth to tell her to stop—

“Fine.”

Kang Ye-seong lifted his head. But what he saw… was a butt.

“?!!”

Kang Ye-seong was so startled he fell backwards.

Thud!

Reaching out to him as he toppled, I asked, “Are you okay?”

“C-CEO?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

I helped him up. He glanced around, dazed.

“Huh…?”

Everything was frozen.

The Nikes waiting in line, the Victory members signing autographs, the staff assisting them—every single one motionless.

“Since when…?” Kang Ye-seong stammered. I stayed silent and pointed toward the man who had just flashed his butt.

“Mr. Lee Man-deuk?”

Kang Ye-seong blurted out in shock, but the magician who had frozen time didn’t respond. He simply stood there, radiating murderous intent, eyes locked on the woman who had just threatened Ye-seong.

Han Yeong-won tilted her head and asked, “What’s a sapa bastard doing here?”

“For the same reason as you.”

“Ohhh.”

She pursed her lips, letting out an impressed hum.

“So I assumed you were a sapa, but you’re actually from the main sect?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Lee Man-deuk scowled and snapped,

“More importantly—you’re the one who messed with Muse, right?”

“Messed with?”

“You stole Muse’s body and caused all that chaos!”

Lee Man-deuk’s face contorted viciously.

“That was you, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, that was me.”

“I see.”

Flash!

Light gathered around Lee Man-deuk.

“Thank you for finally revealing the abs Muse worked so hard to hide…”

“And?”

“I don’t like it.”

Lee Man-deuk growled through clenched teeth.

“Daring to call Muse trash.”

He stepped down from the table, glaring at Han Yeong-won, his voice icy.

“And daring to seize Muse’s body and move it around as you pleased.”

Then he shouted—

“Making Muse collapse on stage—every second of it—I don’t like it!”

The light surrounding Lee Man-deuk exploded outward.

Kaboom!

In an instant, part of the building was blown apart. No one was hurt. Lee Man-deuk had already placed protective barriers around everyone except Han Yeong-won while time was frozen.

The Great Tower lord—the man who usually ignored everyone—had protected others. I’d assumed he would only protect Victory.

“CEO, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. And you, Kang Ye-seong?”

“I’m okay, but…”

Thud! Boom!!

Kang Ye-seong grew anxious, clearly worried about Lee Man-deuk and Han Yeong-won clashing.

“Shouldn’t we intervene?”

“Of course.”

I couldn’t let Lee Man-deuk kill Han Yeong-won, nor could I let Han Yeong-won kill Lee Man-deuk. If either one died, I’d have to start everything over from the beginning.

‘Absolutely not.’

I had no idea how the variables in this round would affect the next. And if Ji Geon-hyuk really retained memories from the previous round, he could reach returnees like Han Yeong-won far faster than I could.

I’d already contacted Lee Man-deuk once. Thankfully, the mad magician refused Ji Geon-hyuk’s offer—but what about the next round? Forcing myself to my feet, I prepared to step in.

“Wait, CEO!”

Kang Ye-seong grabbed my arm in a panic.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to stop those two.”

“You’ll get hurt!”

“I’ll be fine.”

As long as I didn’t lose my life, anything else was manageable. It would’ve been helpful if Seo Do-hwan or Lee Yoo-seong were here, but both were busy.

‘Besides, time is frozen.’

I couldn’t call them even if I wanted to.

“I’ll do it myself!”

“Huh?”

Startled by his sudden declaration, I turned to him. He spoke firmly, as if telling me to trust him.

“Mr. Lee Man-deuk and Ms. Han Yeong-won—they’re both Nike.”

His meaning was obvious: both were Victory fans, so he would step in. But—

“It’s dangerous.”

“It’s more dangerous if the CEO steps in.”

Saying that, Kang Ye-seong grabbed a microphone from somewhere. I wondered if it would even work—but he spoke into it regardless.

“Both of you, stop!”

The microphone worked perfectly. His powerful voice boomed through the room, momentarily halting the fight between the two crazed returnees.

Han Yeong-won stopped mid-movement, looking amused.

“You trash with the flowers… You can use sound techniques?”

“Sound techniques?”

“Your voice is pleasant and powerful enough to stop their fight. Well done.”

“Oh… I see.”

Buoyed by my words, confidence returned to Kang Ye-seong’s expression as he continued.

“Ms. Han Yeong-won, I don’t want you to take over my body. I never want to experience someone controlling me again.”

“Why?” she asked, genuinely curious. “My followers considered it an honor when my consciousness took over their bodies.”

“That’s because they were disciples of your Demonic Sect,” I said gently, offering her a smile. “Ms. Han Yeong-won, let’s not do this. Let’s talk peacefully.”

“Conversation? Peacefully?”

Han Yeong-won scoffed.

“I suppose we could… as long as that sapa bastard doesn’t come charging at me like an enraged bull.”

“Who are you calling an enraged bull?”

Lee Man-deuk growled.

“Mr. Lee Man-deuk,” I called, stepping in front of him as if to block him from lunging. “Kang Ye-seong told you not to fight. Do you still intend to attack Ms. Han Yeong-won?”

“Hah!” Lee Man-deuk snorted. “Muse only told me to stop—not to stop fighting.”

Meaning, he wasn’t planning to stand down.

“So, CEO Kwak, you should step aside.”

The light around Lee Man-deuk began to flare again. Even brighter bursts of light flickered into existence across the area, and I clicked my tongue. For a moment, I seriously considered knocking him out with a stun gun.

“Stop fighting!” Kang Ye-seong shouted.

Apparently, the mad magician’s voice had reached Kang Ye-seong’s ears. Lee Man-deuk looked at him in surprise, then twitched his lips and withdrew the light.

“Sapa bastard, you’re not charging at me?”

“Shut up. You only survived because of Muse.”

Lee Man-deuk snapped coldly at Han Yeong-won, then immediately turned to Kang Ye-seong.

“Muse, are you hurt anywhere? I put up a barrier so you wouldn’t be injured, but I’m not sure if it held. If something’s wrong, tell me. I’ll fix it.”

“I’m perfectly fine, thanks to you, Mr. Lee Man-deuk.”

“Thank goodness…!”

Lee Man-deuk let out a sincere sigh of relief and smiled at Kang Ye-seong. I smiled as well and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Mr. Lee Man-deuk, sorry, but the venue where the fansign was happening is… not fine at all.”

“Ah.”

His expression soured instantly.

“Can’t you just restore it?”

Snap!

The moment he snapped his fingers, the half-destroyed building—and everything else—began repairing itself. Soon, not a single trace of the fight remained; everything had returned to its original state.

“There. Happy?”

“Thanks.”

After thanking him, I turned back to Han Young-won.

“Then, Ms. Han Young-won—shall we talk somewhere else?”

“Hmm.”

She hesitated… then a slow grin spread across her face.

“Piece of shit. Talking with you had better be more pleasant than stealing that flower-holding trash’s body.”

“Of course.”

I offered her my hand.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure it’s worth your time.”

She stared at my outstretched hand and muttered,

“I thought you were just a filthy rich piece of shit… but you’re also a fearless bastard, huh?”