Chapter 125: The Producer’s Grand Comeback

That was the opening sequence, where the hero sacrifices themselves and grapples with a tragic past. If only I had known, I would have watched the entire series, no matter how dull it seemed at times. Then, perhaps, I might have understood a little more clearly why Myeong-ah adored hero movies and yearned so deeply to become a hero themselves.

“Please lend it to me next time. I’d like to watch it.”

“Shall we watch it together?”

“That would be even better.”

Someday, they might be able to give it to Myeong-ah. However, neither of them spoke the hopeful words of watching a movie together next time. Since arriving at Airain, both had vaguely sensed the truth.

If Myeong-ah wasn’t even in Airain, the supposed sanctuary for Irregulars, then they were likely nowhere else in the world.

They had been left with a strange prophecy, led to believe they would meet a cherished person on Christmas, only to ultimately face this harsh reality. Instead of clinging to such a futile hope, Sa-yoon wished to reminisce about Myeong-ah by recalling their favorite things with Jung Hyun-woo.

“We should buy a cushion to hug, too. A really soft one.”

“Order one for me as well.”

Jung Hyun-woo finished tidying up the used medical equipment. He meticulously disinfected every corner with alcohol swabs and stored everything back in its place, when a knock echoed from behind him.

“Yes, come in—”

“Freshly baked apple pie delivery!”

Before he could finish his sentence, Kang Ah-jun pushed the door open and set a paper bag down on the table.

“Oh, thanks. This looks delicious.”

“Doesn’t it? I rushed to bring it before it got cold. Oh, right, Team Leader. I overheard something on my way here. Do you know someone named Producer Park Han-woo?”

“Producer Park Han-woo?”

Sa-yoon tilted his head, the name failing to conjure a face. Even before he joined Airain, his social circle was extremely small. Among his team members, he only interacted with Kim Chae-jun and Kang Ah-jun, and his sole connection outside was Jung Hyun-woo.

He was vaguely familiar with the director he’d met during a broadcast shoot, but not enough to remember their name. A producer, though? No matter how much he thought about it, nothing came to mind.

“You don’t know them? Ah, so they really are a swindler, then.”

Kang Ah-jun scratched his head as he spoke. This was a story he’d just heard from an Esper. Apparently, there was a crazy person wandering around the battlefield completely unarmed. When they caught him, he claimed to know Team Leader Sa-yoon.

They were hesitant to bring him into the village, but leaving him on the battlefield seemed like a death sentence. So, they had temporarily arrested him and were now deliberating on what to do. “Then I’ll just say you don’t know them.”

“Right. What a strange person.”

“It’s because you’re so famous, Team Leader. He was bragging about having shot a documentary, so he must be a delusional liar.”

The mention of a documentary made Sa-yoon pause. He realized there had indeed been one instance where he was involved with a broadcast producer. It was when that embarrassing documentary had been filmed.

“I’ll kick him out immediately. He seems like a fraud, so I’ll tell them not to bother whether he dies on the battlefield or not.”

“Wait a moment.”

“He might even be a spy, so it might be better to just— what?”

Kang Ah-jun, who had been muttering menacingly as if ready to punish the supposed swindler, stopped at Sa-yoon’s words.

“I… I might actually know him.”

While the probability of him being a fraud was high, if he genuinely was a broadcast producer, Sa-yoon couldn’t allow him to be branded a spy and dealt with. Sa-yoon stopped Kang Ah-jun, wondering if it could truly be the person whose face he barely remembered.

This was the moment Producer Park Han-woo, who had risked his life on the battlefield for a grand ambition, narrowly escaped death.

“This won’t do. This is why newbies are always… Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Park Han-woo clicked his tongue, his legs crossed arrogantly as he sat before a group of people. In front of him lay a stack of the awful flyers Kang Ah-jun had created. His face, wrapped in gauze and bandages, was contorted into a grimace as he scornfully scanned the flyers.

When the first Esper from Airain discovered Park Han-woo, they had subdued him roughly, resulting in his injuries. Yet, that Esper later grumbled behind his back, feeling more wronged than guilty.

How could they have known that the person they naturally assumed was either a swindler or a spy was actually a genuine producer? Furthermore, one who had gone independent from a broadcasting station and successfully launched a YouTube channel? It was beyond imagination.

“If the facts you’re speaking of are true, then you shouldn’t just be sitting idly by. To be distributing such shoddy flyers… It’s worse than child’s play.”

“Well, yes, the flyers are a mess, but that’s not what someone who just barged onto the battlefield shouting they know Jin Sa-yoon wants to hear…”

Kang Ah-jun protested in a small voice.

“Non-professionals should stay quiet. Instead of such rudimentary methods, we need to lay out a meticulous plan. And that, I am an expert in.”

Park Han-woo’s eyes gleamed. His voice conveyed a firm conviction, as if he were about to expose the truth of this corrupt world at any moment. Kang Tae-han, who had been silently observing his trustworthy and passionate demeanor, frowned.

“But, Producer. We appreciate your help, but why are you so proactive?”

“Naturally, as a journalist, if I know about this situation, I have no choice but to actively step forward! To think that everyone in the world has been living under such deception, and furthermore…”

Park Han-woo’s gaze shifted towards Sa-yoon. It was an intense look, like a predator sharply seizing its prey, so strong that Sa-yoon instinctively took a step back in surprise.

“If this matter is resolved well and truly clarified, it would be even better if Esper Jin Sa-yoon could help me, just a little, with my comeback.”

“So that’s your real objective.”

Kang Tae-han let out a hollow laugh at the mercenary reason. Sa-yoon nodded, seeing Park Han-woo look at him as if seeking permission.

“That’s not difficult. However, it will be a much harder path than you think. The truth we are about to reveal is not light. There’s also a possibility of failure. If that happens, everything you’ve built up until now will come to naught.”

“I’m prepared for that much.”

Park Han-woo answered clearly.

“While I do have my personal reasons, I also genuinely want to make this truth known to the world.”

With Sa-yoon’s permission, Park Han-woo’s voice softened considerably. Though less fervent than before, it carried a more genuine tone. Indeed, anyone would react this way upon discovering the truth. It suddenly struck him how absurdly unfair the world was, with people living in such deception.

Kang Ah-jun asked Park Han-woo, “So, Mr. Expert, shall we hear your plan? Let’s see how different it is from ours.”

The question was gruff, perhaps still harboring resentment over his flyers being criticized.

“I’ll use YouTube.”

“We’ve considered that method, but as criminals, our videos would be taken down as soon as we upload them. We have international bounties on our heads, after all.”

“That’s why I call you novices.”

Sa-yoon calmed Kang Ah-jun, who was about to snap back. Producer Park Han-woo, excited, began to rattle off his plan.

“You said Rain transforms into various forms when they become an adult, right? A talking white deer? Isn’t that the perfect subject to attract attention? I’ll create videos without revealing that it’s Rain. Then, once I’ve gathered subscribers, I’ll drop the bombshell.”

This idea had sprung to Park Han-woo’s mind the moment he heard the truth about Rain. His plan was to create short, mysterious videos featuring various animals that could communicate with humans, thereby attracting subscribers. Even if it raised suspicion about its authenticity, that would only be better. It would instantly capture the interest of people wondering if it was real or a composite.

“I’ll upload them everywhere—Outstagram, TakTalk, no platform will be spared. And you mentioned there are people of various nationalities in Airain, right? I’ll add subtitles for each country, so the whole world can watch.”

Park Han-woo’s voice rose with excitement. This was going to work. One million subscribers? That was nothing. If he brought Jin Sa-yoon into the picture at a crucial moment to reveal the truth of Airain, he was certain it would easily surpass five million, no, ten million, in virality.

“Heh heh… Heh heh heh…”

“Is Producer-nim alright? Are you really a producer?”

“Well, he was a real producer. In the past.”

Sa-yoon drew a clear distinction with Park Han-woo. Recalling his brief past memories, he seemed quite normal back then, but now his condition was far from good. It seemed the passage of time truly changed everyone equally.

“Let’s start filming immediately!”

Park Han-woo shouted, clutching the band-aid and bandage on his cheek. His attitude, brimming with a sense of mission like a war correspondent, made everyone nod as if entranced. They had no idea that in his mind, dreams of tens of millions of subscribers danced, expanding into fantasies of receiving a Pulitzer Prize.

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