Episode 10: The Golden Witch

-Tap tap tap!

“Jinwoo, start the car quick!”

“Huh? But you said there was no scoop.”

-Whack!

“Do you not check your phone? The whole country’s in an uproar over Yun Seongho’s death!”

At a broadcasting station, a senior reporter smacked a junior reporter with a file folder.

“Just start the damn car, we need to head straight to XX Funeral Home.”

Soon, the station’s old van departed for the funeral home where Chairman Yun Seongho’s service was being held.

“But…what exactly are we covering at a funeral?”

“Oh right, this is your first time? At a funeral home?”

“Yes.”

As the junior reporter drove toward the funeral home, the senior began explaining what kind of stories could be gathered there.

“At a hero’s funeral, we capture mourning. At a villain’s funeral, scorn and mockery. At a rich man’s funeral, we document family members tearing each other apart over inheritance.”

“……Still, fighting over money when someone’s died seems pretty low.”

The junior mumbled uncomfortably, but…

“Idiot, this is an era where people would sell their dead grandmother for cash. All that ‘I loved our family more~’ whining is just PR to gain advantage in the inheritance battle later.”

Unable to respond, they entered the funeral home.

“By the way…did the Yun family have any successors?”

“Dunno. Hero Seolhwa left home and lives separately. There’s one daughter currently enrolled at Raon Academy…ah, must be that girl.”

“Poor kid, having to deal with vultures at that age…huh?”

The reporters expecting a heated inheritance battle were surprised by the unusually subdued atmosphere. Instead of the expected chaos, most visitors ate the funeral meal in eerie silence before leaving – including the Kim family members who’d been gaining influence through Yun Seongho.

Assuming interviews with the grieving girl would be pointless, most reporters approached the Kim family instead.

“Se-ah seems too shocked by her uncle’s passing. Our Kim family will care for her until she recovers. We’ll gradually arrange her return to academy life.”

“Thank you for the interview.”

Watching Yun Se-ah struggle into the mourning room, the reporters exchanged glances.

“……Let’s go. This place is draining my energy.”

“…..”

“Sigh…never expected a funeral to feel like this.”

“Senior, what’ll happen to that girl now?”

The junior asked as they boarded the van.

“What else? She’ll either voluntarily surrender her inherited shares to the Kims or have them taken. Though once she graduates Raon Academy, everyone will want her anyway.”

“Corporate inheritance battles seem…intense.”

-Vrooom!

As they drove back, the senior added:

“If she were older, or if Hero Seolhwa were here, the Kims wouldn’t dare approach. Just bad timing.”

“How should we write the article?”

“Just have ChatGPT draft something. People just want dopamine hits anyway – we can always delete it if there’s backlash.”

“……Right.”

As the junior pitied the lonely girl…

“Se-ah, want to talk with your cousin…”

“Not interested.”

‘God, when will this bastard quit his bullshit.’

The “grieving” girl was actually chewing jerky while praying for the funeral to end.

…

…

…

Three painfully boring days passed.

I might’ve died of boredom if I hadn’t brought my laptop.

The Kim family didn’t immediately demand shares on day one. They pretended to care, saying I should live with them instead of the academy dorms.

By day two, they started asking if Yun Seongho left me anything special. Apparently they thought I was the only one who might have shares, since Kim Gyeoul went to Seolhwa.

Day three was ridiculous. The Kims’ third son threatened to ruin my life unless I surrendered all shares…so I kindly gave him the same ending as Yun Seongho.

News reported he drunkenly drove off a bridge. Not unnecessary murder – a necessary choice. He’d have become a villain anyway.

His death made the Kims realize I had powerful backers, so their harassment stopped. Not a bad decision.

With nothing left to gain, the Kims stopped attending.

They probably went after Seolhwa holding Kim Gyeoul hostage instead.

‘Well, she can handle it.’

The Kims own about 9-10% of Yuseong Group. Yun Seongho gave them that much to stop their demands. Did Kim Gyeoul think her gaslighting would prevent them from approaching even if she got shares?

They groveled to me because 40% could control Yuseong Group. Now they’ll harass Kim Gyeoul for her 30% instead.

Not my concern – they’re safely contained together.

Besides the drunk diver and his twin daughters taking next year’s entrance exam, no Kims have abilities.

‘Honestly, I don’t care about shares…’

I know how to make money. I could monopolize markets with unreleased potion patents or invest in future stocks.

But as someone who must prevent bad endings, Yuseong Group is valuable infrastructure.

It can sponsor the protagonist and provide my growth platform.

Why dig a mountain with one shovel when you can use excavators?

Developing potions is faster through Yuseong. Investments carry more weight at corporate level.

Yuseong Group is the world’s top potion manufacturer.

The Korean government keeps them here with carrots, not sticks – they could easily relocate abroad if pressured.

Keeping Yuseong is the right choice.

‘Though Yun Seongho was terrible at politics.’

Many S-Rank Hunters visited the funeral – mostly high-ranking guild members, some stopping by before gate raids.

Spiral Guild, Sun Guild, Chongun, Changhae Guild.

Most sent at least vice-leaders. Spiral’s leader Ryu Seongho himself came, which surprised me.

I leisurely observed future heroes who’d protect not just Korea but the world.

“……You didn’t need to come.”

“Figured as much. Grandfather made me.”

On day five, academy members arrived – Kang A-yul, her grandfather the Sword Saint, other S-Rank heroes, and faculty whose lives Yun’s potions had saved.

They left after paying respects. A-yul seemed to want to say something but didn’t.

Seolhwa and Kim Gyeoul kept their promise to stay away.

I had Yun Seongho cremated. The Kims wouldn’t maintain his grave, and I couldn’t be bothered.

As I packed to leave…

-Click

“What, am I too late?”

A woman entered.

‘…Thought she wasn’t coming.’

Knee-length golden hair, a black robe barely covering what might as well have been lingerie.

Raon Academy’s chairwoman and Korea’s S-Rank hero – “The Great Sage.”

“Uh…you’re the student council president, right?”

“Yes, Chairwoman Eve.”

The “Golden Witch” Eve Maitner had arrived.