The Youngest Master wants to be exorcised! chapter 17

The D Team meeting had just ended in the conference room. Instead of leaving immediately, people were chatting.

“Jaehee, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

Kim Soojung, the sub-part leader of Special D Team, asked Lee Jaehee, who was drinking peach iced tea.

“Do you know why Team Leader Jung is glaring at me?”

“Hmm. I don’t know. Chan, why are you glaring at the part leader?”

When Hyunsoo asked directly, Minchan leaned back in his chair and laughed.

“Part leader, why are you framing me as the bad guy? When did I glare at you?”

“No, you’re glaring at me right now! Just because you’re smiling doesn’t make it any better.”

Soojung gulped down her warm Americano. Minchan was indeed glaring, as she pointed out, because Soojung had handed Hyunsoo peach iced tea.

Peach, even if it was just sugary syrup, made him uneasy. Hyunsoo himself didn’t mind, but whenever they saw things like this, it made their hearts sink.

The last time they got undercooked chicken that looked bloody, Yoon was so mad he went straight to the restaurant.

“By the way, did you guys see that article?”

A sub-part team member subtly changed the topic.

“What article?”

“It says actor Choi Sun-woo awakened as an Esper.”

“Oh, the one who was in that psychopath movie?”

The media was buzzing about the lead actor from last year’s hit movie, who had recently awakened as an Esper.

Awakenings could happen at any age.

Media outlets loved ranking things and often made pointless lists of the youngest and oldest awakened ones.

“How old is Choi Sunwoo?”

“Let me check. He’s 24. Wow, he’s at the peak of his career but now has to do mandatory service. It must be tough for him.”

“His career will definitely be interrupted. But once his service is over, he’ll be rolling in money. He’s an A-class Esper. Wow. Life is unfair. Good looks, money, and an A-class Esper.”

“Yeah. Unlike some people who have it all.”

The grumbling team members all looked in one direction.

“Hey, what’s with those jealous looks?”

Yoon joked with a bright smile, making everyone in the conference room laugh.

“Since we’re on the topic, there have been suggestions to increase media interviews for the main part. What do you think?”

Soojung continued.

“You all look great. The promotion department keeps asking for interviews. They beg for proper interviews instead of the occasional 10-second clips.”

“Why do they keep asking for interviews when Espers just need to catch monsters?”

Jiwon spoke without filtering his words, and Hyunsoo tried to translate.

“He’s saying that he’s shy and doesn’t know what to say during interviews, so he’d rather focus on his missions.”

“Yeah, I’m not good with words. Last time, I almost sued the trolls who left rude comments.”

Hyunsoo sighed and thought.

‘If only you’d learn to trust me and filter your words, this wouldn’t be an issue!’

Song Jiwon never spoke with malice. It was just his nature.

Though his personality wasn’t suited for social interactions, in the past, Park Hyunsoo’s relentless efforts had managed to portray him as a character who struggled to express his true feelings due to his shyness.

The team members who had worked with Jiwon for a long time understood his personality well, but the public reaction was different.

Here were some reactions to Jiwon’s 10-second interview:

(Comments 3.2K)

[Top Comments]

ㅇㅇ: Can you believe the way he talks? He told them to go away because he wasn’t feeling well lol look at the reporter’s face, I feel so embarrassed for them (Likes 2,559)

Gathering 1,000 Subscribers Without Videos: He was notorious in high school for being a player and a jerk lol (Likes 1,617)

Starlight Moonlight: Seriously, is this normal? I get that he just finished a mission and all, but being so blunt? His face is so pale too. Stop criticizing people who risk their lives to fight monsters, you basement dwellers. (Likes 909)

┕ You’re more pathetic, lady. Obviously an awakened fan.

┕┕Watch your words. Have you no manners?

Choi Changman: It’s sad that a young man with such great abilities lacks humility! (Likes 817)

┕ It’s “lacks” not “locks,” Grandpa, clean your dentures and go to bed.

The reaction to Jiwon’s other interviews was similar.

While the sub-part took a tough stance on spreading rumors, managing public opinion entirely was difficult.

Fortunately, Jiwon had an untouchable reputation as an S-class Esper with stunning looks, which earned him a loyal fanbase.

Initially, people were just grateful to be protected from the threat of monsters, but over time, gratitude turned into fan devotion.

This is how some people started idolizing Espers, especially Jiwon.

“We’re already busy, and adding promotional activities would be too much.

Honestly, we can’t even use our days off properly. Asking us to do more work is too harsh.”

When Hyunsoo muttered this, Soojung’s eyes lit up.

“Then how about replacing some of the missions with promotional activities?”

“You do know D Team is a strike team, right?”

D Team was created specifically for monster elimination.

‘What is the promotion D Team going while thinking of using already busy people for promotion?’

The publicity team, usually assigned to famous celebrities, was primarily responsible for raising awareness and improving the treatment of Awakened individuals, as well as promoting the Center.

It was baffling why they would use complete novices when they had skilled professionals available.

“They want to use well-known figures. People criticize, but everyone’s interested in the main stars! No matter what, our team is the top performer in all the Centers.”

“Since you’re part of our team, why don’t you go out and do it, Team Leader?”

Minchan responded with a smile. He still remembered Hyunsoo handing him the peach iced tea.

“No, why would I go? I’m just a sub.”

“The D team is divided into main and sub for convenience, but we’re one team, aren’t we? Do we carry out missions alone because we’re so great? We achieve everything through collaboration with you all. Right? So, if we’re going out, we should all go together.”

Typically, attack teams consist of a main part responsible for combat and a sub part for support.

However, most main parts treated sub parts as servants or secretaries.

Despite diligently performing their roles for excellent mission execution, the spotlight was mostly on the main part.

Many places failed to treat sub part members as equal team members with basic respect. But D team was different.

“One team, collaboration.”

At first glance, it seemed like an inspiring statement. But that’s not what Minchan meant.

“I’m not dying alone.”

It was what you might call a ‘dragging others down with me’ strategy. If they wanted the media appearances, they should come along too.

“No, I don’t have any demand. Not me. Ah! Right. Let’s send Assistant Shin.”

“What? Why are you dragging me into this all of a sudden? I don’t have any demand either. The public doesn’t want supply without demand, do they?”

When Assistant Shin Joun objected vehemently, Minchan murmured while sipping his drink.

“Since when did we care about the public’s opinion? We’re more worried about the monsters’ opinions.”

“Yeah, it’s fun to catch them off guard and wipe them out with one blow.”

Yoon, who had been quietly listening, added cheerfully.

“You’re talking about something brutal with a smile, brother.”

Hyunsoo said indifferently while sipping his peach iced tea.

“Well, I can’t say it while crying. Should I cry?”

When Yoon pretended to cry, Hyunsoo sighed deeply.

“Forget it. I won’t say anything.”

“Anyway, since Jiwon doesn’t want to do it either, let’s reconsider the media appearance.”

Minchan’s suggestion to reconsider was practically a dismissal. Soojung nodded with a regretful expression.

“Oh well. If we appeared, the publicity team would be happy and Jiwon’s public opinion might change.”

“We’re busy enough fighting monsters. Leave that kind of thing to the publicity team. Let’s just keep doing our jobs as the attack team.”

Yoon added with a light-hearted tone.

“I don’t like being on TV. It’s all fake.”

Jiwon grumbled with a pout. Seeing Soojung’s disappointment, Hyunsoo shook his head slightly.