Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Stage Device (1)

The way to attract attention to a demonic zone raid broadcast was exceedingly simple.

It meant creating situations so that people continuously talked about it.

In other words, I had to prevent their interest from fading.

If people in Korea, or even the entire world, lost interest in the demonic zone, the demons could do anything they wanted.

"Today we have Manager Park Jung-woo, who's been the talk of the town lately, as our guest."

First of all, for that purpose, it was necessary to appear on as many programs as possible, but that wasn't a problem.

There were so many people who wanted information from a 'returnee'.

"Did you end up in another world because you were caught up in a rift incident?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Wow, that's amazing! Could we hear about what that other world is like?"

"Of course."

If I simply promoted demonic zone raid broadcasts, viewers' interest would inevitably wane.

Not only the viewers, but the interest of the whole world would cool.

To keep that interest alive, as a 'returnee', I had to gradually reveal information about the other world.

"The other world was a place ruled by beings called demons. Ah! Of course, I can't be sure if they're the same demons as the ones we've talked about before..."

I made sure to restrain myself from bad-mouthing the demons who had revealed themselves, or from saying anything that might provoke animosity. Even if I restrained myself, the flames would grow on their own anyway.

It was like the ember Dune once spoke of.

No matter what I said, everyone who watched this would chew over my words, tear them apart, taste them, and follow up with their own interpretations.

So, even if I remained as neutral as possible, those flames couldn't help but grow.

"Oh, then the Saintess must be an embodiment of hope for humanity."

"Yes, that's right. That's why I made contact with Alencia in this world."

On some programs, I simply talked about the other world.

In others, I talked about the S-rankers I'd reached out to so far.

Shin Ah-yeon, Lee Soo-ah, and Alencia.

And finally, even Yeon-ji.

Each had an appropriate story and possessed different kinds of strength.

Of course, among them, Alencia and Yeon-ji received the most attention.

Alencia as the 'Saintess'.

Yeon-ji as the 'half-demon'.

"So that's why Yeon-ji's growth accelerated. And that horn too..."

"Yes, I'm sure the demon blood had an effect."

"Ah, as expected!"

And by spotlighting one side like this, there would be some who started focusing their attention there.

In the end, no matter how much I revealed myself to be a returnee, appearing on too many programs would only diminish the impact.

So, after a certain amount of appearances, I would step back.

After that, it was up to others.

'Of course, there's no way the opposition didn't know that.'

Jin Su-hyuk, and Damian.

Now it was time to see how they would act.

***

"You really are using the media to the fullest, Park Jung-woo."

This was a rather troublesome situation for Jin Su-hyuk.

It would be a problem to suppress it recklessly.

They had tried to keep it down by flooding it with counter-articles, but naturally, that hadn't worked at all.

The returnee possessed as much impact as the demons.

No, to those wanting the truth about the demons, the returnee was like an oasis.

The idea that ordinary people could also become Awakener had hidden that fact, but the demons were always under suspicion.

"I never imagined he'd use broadcasting like this under these circumstances."

Damian frowned as he watched the variety show airing on TV.

Park Jung-woo wasn't the one appearing on the broadcast.

It was Shin Ah-yeon, revealing secrets about circle magic and showing off various personal talents on the show.

Since the circle magic system was completely different from existing magic systems, and far more dazzling, it was easy to capture the viewers' attention.

Up to now, Shin Ah-yeon had exercised restraint so as not to reveal that circle magic was "magic from another world," but there was no longer any need to do so.

"What do the demons think about appearing on television broadcasts?"

Jin Su-hyuk gave a wry smile at Damian's question.

"How amusing. Those who can't even accept human culture could hardly pull that off."

It wasn't really said in mockery.

Both Jin Su-hyuk and Damian understood.

The demons couldn't copy Park Jung-woo's methods as they were.

So they'd have to play a completely different game.

'He's broadcasting demonic zone conquests around the world...'

He hadn't expected them to try such a method.

Pressure was being exerted from above, but even that wasn't enough.

"Things never go as smoothly as planned."

Jin Su-hyuk had publicized the demons' existence and pushed the world into chaos—not for any big reason.

It was simply so that everyone's attention would be focused there until all his plans were complete.

But now, Park Jung-woo was redirecting that attention back toward Jin Su-hyuk.

"In that case, there's no reason to stay quiet."

So far, the only big noise Jin Su-hyuk had made was just "some" terrorism.

But compared to what was to come, even terrorism was nothing.

'I've planted two people in the demonic zone raid team as a precaution, but that alone won't provide reassurance.'

That was only a last resort in case the demonic zone raid broadcast went as scheduled.

The best outcome was for the broadcast itself to fall apart.

"There are plenty of ways to block a mere broadcast if I really want to."

There was no need to pressure superiors or resort to terrorist removals as before.

It would all be over if the demonic zone simply became a place that 'couldn't be filmed'.

Or, create a situation where the public lost all interest in the broadcast.

"It was bound to happen eventually anyway."

It might be better to accelerate that schedule.

After all, once the broadcast started, the whole world would know.

***

'Soo-ah and Yeon-ji should focus on domestic activities, while Ah-yeon and Alencia target overseas.'

I scanned the scheduled broadcast lineups, deep in thought.

Soo-ah and Yeon-ji were more recognized domestically, so they had to max out appearances at home, talking about the demonic zone or the other world.

Ah-yeon and Alencia were also popular at home, but they had enough recognition and popularity abroad to draw overseas media attention too.

So it was necessary to rally overseas interest through them.

"I'm really too tired."

After I handed over the fully packed schedule, Shin Ah-yeon answered with an extremely fatigued expression.

Recently, Shin Ah-yeon hadn't even had time to rest at home, let alone play games.

She had to hop on planes every day and appear on overseas broadcasts.

"I wish I could fly around like Alencia."

It seemed she genuinely envied Alencia, sighing as she spoke.

Alencia could traverse overseas distances at the speed of lightning, as if visiting the house next door.

Shin Ah-yeon could do it with magic, too, but it would place a great burden on her and cause a massive commotion.

Unlike Alencia, who had personal power, Shin Ah-yeon wielded magic.

If the world learned that all mages could use magic to teleport, it would cause a major uproar.

"It seems to be going smoothly for now... If only things stay quiet until the broadcast..."

"As if that could happen."

If I were Jin Su-hyuk, what would I do in this situation?

At first, I would have tried to stop the broadcast, but now that it had become a trend, it was already too late.

So, I'd have to shatter that trend itself, and thinking that way opened up a multitude of methods.

Not just the demonic zone raid broadcast, but making it so that broadcasting itself became impossible.

"Jin Su-hyuk and the demons are hiding something in the demonic zone and are extremely wary of it being revealed to the world."

The plan to transform Earth into a demon realm.

Everything was a step in that plan.

Whatever the process, the very moment that "something" hidden in the demonic zone was revealed to the world, that would be as good as the final showdown.

"Then until that moment, we..."

"We just have to keep preparing."

Including the hunters selected through the audition, there were ten people—including myself—scheduled to appear on the demonic zone raid broadcast.

All of them were S-rank-level talents.

"As planned, I'll transmit knowledge of the other world to them. If I do, they may become even stronger."

Especially strong assets would be people like Odin, the Magic Tower master, or Kian Rogers.

"And then—"

I recalled the two demons' agents whom I had randomly selected.

All of these details would be conveyed to the demons.

"When they think all eyes are on us, it's highly likely something will happen."

"Yep, which is why you called me, right?"

"That's right."

I gazed at Shin Ah-yeon for a moment.

There were countless ways Jin Su-hyuk and Damian might act.

It was impossible to predict them all, so the only thing I could do was unify all preventive measures into a single system.

The key to that was Shin Ah-yeon's power.

Her magic, and the miracle of Estella.

"... Is there any burden when you use that?"

"Not particularly. I can hardly even use it right anyway."

She said that, then blew on her palm.

A sheet as white as paper appeared and vanished above her palm.

"I made a new Conceptualization Technique. If this matches my expectations... it'll be a sufficient countermeasure."

Magic was like a miracle.

And miracles were also like magic.

"If only I had a chance to try it in advance, that'd be nice. There are still some unstable parts."

In a way, they were branches of the same power.

I was certain.

What Shin Ah-yeon had completed after fully accepting Estella's power—

If she could master that Conceptualization Technique completely,

Then she could even surpass Estella.

Such a thought crossed my mind.

"Just in time..."

I looked out the window.

It was a clear day.

But to my eyes, it didn't look that way.

I could feel thick demonic energy gradually filling Seoul.

This was an omen.

An omen I had been able to see since this morning.

"There's something just right to use as a test."

There were countless ways to block the demonic zone raid broadcast.

The one Jin Su-hyuk chose was, unexpectedly, the most primitive and convenient method.

***

"Huh, what is that?"

"There's something like a dot in the sky?"

People walking down the street noticed something and buzzed with curiosity.

But not many recognized it as danger.

That's how things always were.

Even if there was a terrorist attack in a distant country, or a horrific murder, unless it happened to you, it didn't make much impact personally.

Hunter broadcasts could function as broadcasts for that very reason.

There was danger, but because it wasn't something you personally experienced, you could enjoy it as entertainment.

But if it turned into a documentary, it was a different story.

If you yourself were thrown into danger, you could no longer enjoy it.

Simple confusion.

And if a crisis above and beyond that was unleashed on the world, people would lose interest in demonic zone conquests.

That was Jin Su-hyuk's plan.

"The massive gate incident that happened in Jeju Island..."

What if he scaled that up to all of Korea?

"A lot of people would die."

"Anyone who dies here wouldn't survive anyway when the world changes."

A man with gloomy features muttered, as if talking to someone, while shaking the bell in his hand.

Each time, he could feel the demonic energy roiling over central Seoul.

He who was once human could feel nothing but sadness for what was about to begin.

How many people would die?

The peaceful daily routine would collapse, perhaps to be replaced by mere survival.

Relaxing at home could become impossible.

"Truly, it's so sad."

Yet, in stark contrast to his words, the man was smiling.

Not the smile of sorrow, but of joy.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Lunatic.

【(⩌_⩌ )】