Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Super Hunter K (2)

The magic power fission phenomenon was a terrible curse for Soo-ah.

When she first became an Awakened, she was simply happy.

She even had high aptitude scores, and both her family and friends congratulated her.

That was until the magic power fission happened.

When was it? She guessed it was the first day she went to a D-rank dungeon.

Up until E-rank dungeons, there hadn't been any real crisis, so there was no need to go all out.

But D-rank dungeons were different.

For the first time, she was driven to a crisis, and she had to squeeze out all her strength, risking her life.

And as a result, Soo-ah experienced her own magic power burning her from within.

'Why did something like this have to happen to me?'

Magic power fission was a phenomenon where, when an Awakened used their magic power excessively, the oversaturated magic power leaked out from the magic power channels and generated flames composed of magic power. Those flames could burn even the person who owned that power, often leaving severe burns.

Soo-ah was one of the more severe cases.

Because her life had been at risk, the intensity was much higher.

It left large and small burn marks all over her body, and a significant portion of the left side of her face was badly burned.

Her legs, too, were damaged in the magical flames, leaving her with a slight disability.

"What kind of hunter are you going to be? You should just focus on treatment."

"Yeah, you don't have to live as a hunter, right? Besides, you're an Awakened, so just be grateful you got off with this much."

It didn't take long for the family who once supported her to turn their backs.

However, Soo-ah never wanted to give up being a hunter.

It was the first and only possibility she found for herself, who had never been good at anything.

In fact, apart from the magic power fission, Soo-ah was considered quite talented.

That was how she managed to reach C-rank despite carrying the risk of magic power fission.

But then, another problem arose.

After experiencing the magic power fission, she started to 'see things' differently, should she say?

There were times when she could see a path to lead the battle more advantageously.

When that happened, she would often lose control and break away from her party's role.

To fix this, she read countless theses on magic power fission and spent nearly all her earnings on treatment.

But who would have thought she'd find a clue in such an unexpected place?

"Participant number 136, please come in."

At the sound of her name, Soo-ah lifted her heavy body.

'Is this really it?'

The scene that Jung-woo had shown her not long ago was still vividly in her mind.

His arm that remained unscathed even in the midst of flames that could burn a person's body.

She wondered if it was just a simple misunderstanding, but as someone who had personally experienced magic power fission, there was no way she'd mistake it.

The phenomenon that occurred on Jung-woo's body at that time was indeed magic power fission.

He wasn't even an Awakened, which brought up various questions, but even so, Soo-ah couldn't manage to refuse Jung-woo's proposal.

"Participant number 136... Ah, you're a C-rank hunter, right? Is your name Lee Soo-ah?"

"Yes, yes..."

"Then before you show us your skills, please tell us the reason you decided to participate."

When the judge running the preliminary test said that, Soo-ah gave an awkward smile.

Her reason for participating.

'Yes, if you participate in Super Hunter K, I'll tell you. I'll answer everything you're curious about, Soo-ah-ssi.'

That was why, inevitably, she had no choice but to follow his words and participate in the Super Hunter K preliminaries.

Of course, she couldn't openly tell the judge such a thing.

'Ah, but of course, you do have to make it to the finals.'

He had never even considered the possibility that Soo-ah would fail the preliminaries.

She couldn't understand why he trusted her that much.

He had only observed her from afar during the dungeon exploration, and the only proper encounter they'd had was at the baseball field.

After that, occasionally, she would run into him at places she happened to visit.

"I thought that if I participated in Super Hunter K, I might be able to get a chance to change myself."

"Ah, I see."

The preliminary judge responded to Soo-ah's answer with a blank expression.

He probably thought it was just a boring, textbook answer.

However, Soo-ah's answer just now was nothing but her genuine feelings.

If Jung-woo's words were really true,

Then, this Super Hunter K could become the opportunity that would drastically change her.

"Well, then, let's see what you can do."

For some reason, Soo-ah had a strong feeling about it.

***

While Soo-ah was going through the Super Hunter K preliminaries, I was at the Super Hunter K meeting.

I wondered if it would be a group meeting, and if I might see people from other management agencies, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

"Ah, you're here."

Moreover, the one who came to greet me was none other than PD Jung Jun-su.

"Thank you for introducing our management agency on Super Hunter K this time."

"Oh, no, not at all. We benefited so much from the last Dungeon Exploration."

PD Jung wasn't someone directly involved with Super Hunter K.

But since he'd worked at HSN for a long time, he had considerable influence, and thanks to that, Unique also got the chance to participate in Super Hunter K.

"Sometimes there are negative articles, but the overall anticipation is at an all-time high. Our network's message board—when has it ever blown up like this...."

Seeing PD Jung's deeply moved expression, I happened to think of something to say.

"By the way, the journalist who wrote those critical articles—wasn't that Han Dong-hyuk from 'Today's Daily'?"

"Huh? Ah, yes. Why do you ask...."

"I looked up the journalist's other articles, and it seems like he's written a lot of good ones about JM Management."

"Excuse me?"

At those words, PD Jung frowned and started operating his smartphone nonstop.

He was probably checking the list of articles written by Han Dong-hyuk.

"Ah, this isn't good. I've been too busy to check on things like this lately."

"It's rare to see it this blatant, right?"

"Yeah, unless you're an idiot, you usually don't make it this obvious. Maybe JM assigned it to someone who doesn't have much experience with this... Come to think of it, didn't Chief Manager Yu follow you even into the dungeon...?"

PD Jung's expression as he said that was far from pleasant.

I figured JM probably wouldn't set foot in the Dungeon Exploration again.

"Anyway, I'm already looking forward to part 2 airing the day after tomorrow. Oh, and I edited Shin Ah-yeon-ssi's scene really well, so you can expect a lot."

"Thank you. Hunter Shin Ah-yeon-nim will also be delighted to hear that from you, PD Jung."

"Hahaha, hearing that makes me happy as well. If you don't mind, could you maybe participate in the next program I'll be handling?"

"So, you'll be producing something other than the Dungeon Exploration?"

When I asked, startled, PD Jung offered a slightly bitter smile.

"Ah... Actually, since the Dungeon Exploration's popularity has been declining, there was already talk of swapping out the PD. So the decision had been made beforehand, and I'll be taking on another variety show. Still, I'm glad I got to revive the Dungeon Exploration before leaving."

"What kind of new variety show is it? Judging by your words, it sounds hunter-related again?"

"Yes, yes, exactly. The concept isn't fully nailed down, so it's hard to say, but it's taking shape in a way that would work out great if Hunter Shin Ah-yeon-nim appeared. So I really hope you can participate."

"Hmm..."

Seeing me hesitate at his words, PD Jung quickly added,

"O-of course, we'll make sure the pay is appropriate. And I'll talk to the executive director, so whenever another hunter from Unique wants to appear on an HSN variety program, I'll support you."

"Well, since you put it that way... Given my relationship with you, PD Jung, I'll definitely consider it as a top priority."

"Thank you, manager Park."

Of course, it would only go as far as considering.

I knew PD Jung was capable, but still, I couldn't promise anything recklessly.

'There's the cable broadcast schedule too.'

GGN was also obsessed with trying to get Ah-yeon on another show somehow.

Especially after the Dungeon Exploration aired, there was talk even from World of Acrather—a game Ah-yeon played often.

I heard that fighting inside the dungeon dressed as an avatar of the mage from World of Acrather had a significant effect.

Word had it that World of Acrather's concurrent user numbers increased by more than 50 percent.

So, I couldn't rashly commit to another variety program appearance.

"Ahem, anyway, I've been holding you up too long. You have a meeting with Super Hunter K's PD as well."

"No, there are still ten minutes left."

"Whew, that's a relief then. Honestly, the Super Hunter K PD hasn't been very happy with today's meeting."

As he said that, he glanced at me.

But I could pretty much guess the reason without him needing to explain further.

"It's probably because Unique is a low-tier management agency. Plus, I got in like a parachuter thanks to your influence."

"... Yeah."

That much was to be expected.

Moreover, PD Jung Jun-su and Super Hunter K's PD Do Yung-sun entered HSN at the same time.

Since PD Jung made such a big splash with the Dungeon Exploration, PD Do was likely feeling quite anxious.

"So, when you meet with PD Do Yung-sun, please try your best to be accommodating."

"Sure, I don't mind doing that."

As a manager, bowing my head at the broadcast station was natural, and I had done it many times before, so it wasn't difficult.

Except—

"I'm actually amazing at reading other people's moods."

"...."

At my answer, PD Jung Jun-su gave me a strangely uneasy look.

As if he expected me to cause a huge problem.

***

'Unique Management, huh?'

PD Do Yung-sun grit his teeth.

A management agency that had nearly disappeared but was regaining its reputation thanks to Shin Ah-yeon recently.

Sure, its name value had risen, but it was still smaller than other mid- and lower-tier agencies.

Super Hunter K had once been a hunter audition program that rocked the whole country.

Grand Nova and the Big Three management agencies had supervised the judging, and hunters did their best to appeal to those agencies.

Especially, the ten final survivors could choose their preferred management and receive full support from HSN for hunter activities.

'But everything went downhill after Grand Nova stopped participating in Super Hunter K.'

An audition without the country's biggest management agency.

Of course, it was far less appealing to hunters.

That was why things had come to this.

Naturally, PD Do Yung-sun had fiercely opposed the new plot of increasing the number of participating management agencies and letting them compete in fostering talent.

Of course, even if they weren't huge agencies, some were famous or had their own charms.

The problem was with a few management agencies that had mixed in here and there.

'Especially Unique.'

That place had nothing except Shin Ah-yeon.

And Do Yung-sun knew very well it really hadn't been that long since Shin Ah-yeon joined Unique.

'If only it hadn't been for that damned Dungeon Exploration!'

To PD Do Yung-sun, PD Jung Jun-su was a rival as well as a colleague.

He had no ill feelings, but he certainly didn't want to lose.

'So the Dungeon Exploration stirred things up that much... And Manager Park Jung-woo, was it?'

According to PD Jung Jun-su, this Dungeon Exploration's massive success was thanks to something that manager said.

'As if that's possible.'

It must have just been luck.

What could a mere manager—one not even that experienced—possibly do?

And today, not even a department head but that very guy was coming to this meeting.

'I'll totally crush his spirit.'

With that mindset, he glared at the clueless Manager Park Jung-woo as he entered.

Aimed at trampling down that disagreeable punk, and if possible, getting Unique ejected from Super Hunter K altogether.

"Then let's make a bet, PD Do Yung-sun."

But he didn't expect this snot-nosed young manager to come at him like this.

"If the hunter managed by our Unique wins Super Hunter K, then, just as you said, you'll slot us into the three scheduled network programs. And of course, you'll get down on your knees and apologize to Hunter Shin Ah-yeon-nim."

What kind of manager issues such an outrageous bet?

"Of course, if I lose the bet, I'll leave this industry for good."

Seeing the fierce light burning in Jung-woo's eyes, PD Do Yung-sun couldn't help but gulp dryly.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
That escalated quickly.
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】