Chapter 109 – Palace Maid (2)
“You’ve got some nerve!”
“We’ll teach you a lesson!”
The taekwondo athletes knew they stood no chance one-on-one. But my words—“come at me all at once”—must have ignited some nonexistent courage.
Whoosh!
Pat-pat!
They charged bravely at me, even though I wasn’t wearing a dobok.
“Hap— guh?!”
“Hi-yah— urk?!”
But every one who rushed in ate a kick and collapsed.
One per hit!
Taekwondo has many techniques derived from large spinning kicks, making it poorly suited for group attacks.
Two in front and back, three at most.
And my movements are so fast and powerful that even seasoned brawlers with great reflexes can’t react.
“Number 2! Number 2, are you sleeping?!”
“You little—”
THUD!
The men’s world #2, who had been waiting in the back for an opening, flew through the air before he could finish his sentence.
Still just #2.
Unless you’re the #1 with nowhere left to climb, you’re just an ordinary human who lost to the unfathomable #1.
“S-stop…!”
The head coach tried to intervene, realizing total annihilation was imminent.
“How dare you!”
“Kill him!”
But the desperate screams of their fallen comrades pushed the rest forward. Underneath it all was the reasonable calculation that I’d eventually tire.
I mocked that hope by moving even faster.
SMACK! THWACK!
Using the spinning back kicks and roundhouse kicks I’d learned getting beaten by Coach Go Mu-shin, I spun like a top and indiscriminately crushed every nearby athlete.
“Urrrgh…”
“Ughhh…”
Soon the entire dojang was filled with downed bodies—except for a few the coach and instructors desperately held back.
‘#2, #5, #8… perfect!’
Every athlete scheduled for this year’s Olympics was taken care of. Fighting without protective gear meant a good chance of a few cracked ribs.
Thud.
“All by himself? Impossible!”
Finally grasping the gravity, the head coach collapsed in stunned despair.
“Looks like I’ll be the only one representing this year.”
“You bastard! What grudge do you have against us to do this…?!”
“You’re the one who broke the promise and removed me from the roster, Coach.”
“T-that… there were circumstances I can’t discuss…”
“Then it’s none of my business. If you don’t want to ruin this year’s Olympics, make the wise choice.”
Whoosh~
I turned away; nothing left to do in the dojang.
“As expected of you, hyung!”
“Cut the nonsense and let’s eat. My treat.”
“You’re buying?!”
“Don’t want it, then.”
“No! I was just shocked from joy.”
“What kind of logic is that? Anyway, I’m choosing the place.”
A hard lesson learned after boldly letting Sun-young pick and regretting it in five minutes.
“Sure!”
“There’s a great curry place by the back gate. The auntie’s generosity is directly proportional to the number of potato chunks in the curry.”
Next opponent: the women’s world #1 who beat me with cheap point-scoring tricks.
‘Go Yoon-kyung. Just wait.’
I will absolutely rub my foot smell all over her face.
***
“Young Master, are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine. Moon-soo hyung protected me.”
After parting with Kang Moon-soo following their meal, Choi Kang-hoon rejoined his bodyguards—who had been pretending to be an ordinary couple—and smiled brightly.
“We’ll depart now.”
Vrooom—
The black sedan carrying Kang-hoon in the back seat began cruising through the city.
“Just one question.”
“Ask anything.”
“If it were you, how many taekwondo athletes could you take on alone?”
“…Bare-handed, even with luck, two would be my limit.”
The bodyguard thought for a moment before answering honestly, without exaggeration.
“And if you were surrounded by multiple taekwondo athletes?”
“I’d be taken down instantly.”
“I see…”
“If I may share my personal opinion, Young Master—compared to Kang Moon-soo, every athlete looks pathetic.”
“Then this year’s Olympic sports betting is decided.”
“No dreams or hopes for the others.”
He said that, but the bodyguard planned to gather every penny he had the moment he got off work and bet it all on “Kang Moon-soo.”
One shot at life!
He sensed that opportunity had arrived.
“Should I borrow money from Dad? No, Dad will probably bet too. Ugh…”
“Young Master.”
“Yes.”
“How was Kang Moon-soo at the taekwondo dojang?”
At the question from the female bodyguard in the passenger seat, Kang-hoon explained easily.
“He moved like he was the only one on 2x speed. And he still had plenty of room to spare.”
“…Terrifying.”
“Moon-soo hyung is a shaman who catches ghosts, so of course. If he struggled against humans, ghosts wouldn’t even dare approach.”
“Ghosts…”
“That’s why shaman clans are starting to eye his talent. Any update on the investigation into Jeon Ji-eun?”
“She’s ordinary. But her family specializes in information, so there are no gaps for us to dig into.”
“Hmm…”
“If you permit it, Young Master, I can arrange a meeting with Miss Jeon Ji-eun.”
What’s the best move?
It’s unlikely, but if Kang Moon-soo fell for Jeon Ji-eun and became a live-in son-in-law for a shaman clan, the balance of power would collapse overnight.
‘Trouble.’
Kang Moon-soo has to remain unshakable, like the eye of a storm.
Elmolance Hospital, Chief Seo Hye-joo, Madam Park Han-hee, Dad, Family Head Mao Zhai…
Every time he treats a Ranuvel patient, new connections—big and small—form. If he gets tied to any one faction, he’ll be politically exploited and lose his original purpose.
The best solution?
As Kang-hoon pondered, a certain face flashed through his mind.
“What agency is Song Sun-young noona signed with for modeling?”
“I’ll look into it.”
“Buying the company outright would be nice, but others might view it badly… so maybe invest in noona and help her grow instead.”
“…Young Master, if you’re worried about checks, how about proposing a three-way joint CEO structure with Family Head Mao Zhai and Madam Park Han-hee to acquire the agency?”
“Oh! That’s perfect!”
“Shall I proceed?”
“Yes.”
A plausible strategy: give Song Sun-young “power” as a counter to women like Jeon Ji-eun who might seduce his hyung!
An impulsive plan that would horrify Kang Moon-soo if he knew.
“Young Master, what about the engagement the Chairman is strongly pushing?”
He’d framed it to Kang Moon-soo as studying abroad, but it was really an international political marriage disguised as overseas study.
“Curious?”
“Well… honestly, yes. The other party being who they are…”
“I decided to wait.”
“Huh?”
“Moon-soo hyung told me to wait until my aptitude comes out.”
“So he said that?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’ll wait.”
The moment I mentioned it was Kang Moon-soo’s words, both bodyguards simply agreed.
-Hyung’s word is law to Dad!
It wasn’t an empty boast. The more Choi Kang-min demonstrated astonishing business acumen with knowledge from the future in his dream, the higher his father’s evaluation of “Kang Moon-soo” as an individual climbed.
A real shaman!
He regarded him as more than just the benefactor who saved his eldest son’s life.
“I never cared much before, but thanks to hyung, I’m actually excited for my aptitude now.”
“Young Master, we’ve arrived at the company building. I’ll wake you. You pushed yourself meeting Kang Moon-soo today.”
“Then please do.”
Kang-hoon leaned his head back against the seat and comfortably closed his eyes.
***
Madam Park Han-hee, whose childhood dream was to become a track athlete, took a very different path from her husband, the “Emperor of Swimming.”
Investment in track and field!
She poured considerable money into the hopeless sport where only countries with many athletes of African descent truly competed.
In that situation,
“Wooooah!”
“T-this is…!”
I, having transcended racial limits, emerged as the savior who would revive the nation’s track and field.
‘I did run a lot.’
In the world of <Is This Heavenly Demon for Real?>, I ran tirelessly on my own two feet searching for Mao Zhai.
What if I’d ridden a horse?
The thought crossed my mind often, but martial artists preferred leisurely travel while enjoying the scenery—a refined elegance.
Anyway,
“Kang Moon-soo, I was worried after your long break, but you’re truly incredible.”
“Thank you, Madam Park Han-hee!”
Elderly and with limited mobility, Madam Park rarely went out.
Yet she personally came to the track stadium in a wheelchair to watch my records.
“I wish I’d been born in the same era as you.”
“H-ha, ha…”
“I’m glad you seem to be doing well. I look forward to you competing in the Olympics and achieving outstanding results.”
“Of course!”
My pension depends on it. I have no intention of half-assing it.
“Oh! Don’t reveal too much of your ability before the Olympics. We’re also trying to minimize rumors about you wiping out everyone at the taekwondo dojang.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“You’re not asking why.”
“Uh… isn’t it because of jealousy from other athletes?”
“Sports betting.”
“…”
Having worked long shifts at a convenience store, Madam Park’s single word hit me like a truck.
‘Sports betting! I’m an idiot!’
I’d seen too many losers causing scenes after blowing their money, so I’d never even considered it myself.
How do you know who’ll win?
But if I’m the one competing, that uncertain variable disappears—it becomes a 100% guaranteed winning ticket.
The only remaining issue is the payout odds.
The more people bet on my victory, the lower the payout drops.
“You seem to have realized it.”
“Yes…”
“Be careful.”
“I understand with tears of blood! Madam Park Han-hee! Thank you so much for telling me now!”
“Hehe! Good luck.”
“Yes! I’ll keep my mouth shut!”
I’m an idiot.
I want to kill the past me who bragged about my records! No, I hate the me from just yesterday who wiped out everyone at the taekwondo dojang out of ignorance.
‘The jackpot opportunity…!’
The highest odds come when you’re an unknown rookie. But even as a rookie, I kept doing eye-catching things nonstop!
I ruined my own chance.
“Kang Moon-soo.”
“Yes…”
“Don’t be too disappointed. Your marathon records are so unrealistic that people easily dismiss them as rumors. And malicious public opinion could coincidentally spike right before the Olympics.”
“Ah! I see.”
Coincidentally, malicious rumors could spread and affect the sports betting odds.
“Stay low until the Olympics. Completely skipping training and holing up at home could be one strategy.”
“Thank you for the advice!”
“Take care.”
“Safe travels home!”
I bowed ninety degrees to Madam Park Han-hee as her beautiful secretary wheeled her away.
Sports betting.
I have tons of bad experiences with gambling, but this time is different.
‘It’s an investment.’
The money piled up in my account from treating Ranuvel patients isn’t small.
If that turns into ten or twenty times more?
By the end of the Olympics, I could have enough wealth to quit being a shaman and live comfortably forever.
Thump-thump!
My heart raced just imagining it.
“…This isn’t the time for that.”
Didn’t Madam Park personally come to warn me? If I get suddenly sucked into a dream right before the Olympics, the betting will go up in smoke too!
I need a preventive measure against that nightmare scenario.
And that measure is?
Beep!
「Call: Mao Zhai」
Contacting Mao Zhai on my smartphone.
(What business does the young hero who shut down an entire taekwondo sect have with me?)
I could already hear my odds plummeting.
“Family Head, please help me.”
(Young Master Kang asking me for help? Let me hear the story first.)
“I want you to take me with you when you go watch the Olympics.”
(Hmm? My body still isn’t great, so I wasn’t planning to go in person.)
“Oh no…”
(Tell me why you want to go with me first.)
“Understood.”
Failure is not an option in this operation that my entire life depends on!