Descent of the Demon Master
Chapter 1151. Advancing (1)

Chapter 1151. Advancing (1)

Han Eun-Sol dazedly stared at the building before his eyes. Before he knew it, he was already swallowing his saliva in nervousness.

The glasses covering the building's facade glistened sharply under the sunlight.

‘Wow. I feel so insignificant here.'

Of course, he had no plans to act like a country bumpkin in this place. Wasn’t he already a ‘well-established’ talent manager? Which gave him access to many famous places in South Korea?

Being a manager of a famous celebrity was a good job that opened doors to all sorts of fancy places. But it also led to these managers suffering from the I'm-a-celebrity disease and eventually facing complete personal ruination.

Considering that, Han Eun-Sol, as Choi Yeon-Ha’s manager, should not be cowered by a mere building.

Yet he couldn’t help but swallow his saliva nervously again.

Even several large talent agencies could only afford to move their HQs to already-existing ancient buildings after working their butts off for a long time.

An average Joe in the street might be under the impression that talent agencies had it pretty good after getting involved in the glamorous lives of various celebrities. But in reality, the only ones doing pretty good were the presidents of said talent agencies.

What about investments, you ask? Of course the agencies would ‘invest.’

However, most of the agency’s managers worked outside the office due to the unique quirk of their job. In that case, which presidents would be mad enough to spend money on nice office buildings? They'd spend a bit on the interior decoration, but that would mostly be it.

‘Right. Don’t get scared, Eun-Sol!’

Han Eun-Sol clenched his fists, then bravely stepped forward.

After all, this was just a building, nothing more. It wasn’t as if dragons or tigers lived there. What was there for him to get scared of...

‘...Oh. Mister Jin-Ho is in there.’

Han Eun-Sol hurriedly shook his head, then entered the building through the revolving door. His office was supposed to be on the ninth floor, wasn't it? So, the elevator should be...

Before he could take another step, though...

“What’s this?” A man behind the front information desk got up and stared weirdly at Han Eun-Sol. “We don't allow solicitors in here.”

“...”

Han Eun-Sol was about to say something, only to have second thoughts and clamped his mouth shut.

‘What the hell? Did they hire an American policeman or something?’

This man was undoubtedly wearing a security guard’s uniform, but he cut a distinctively disparate figure from a ‘usual’ security guard in Han Eun-Sol’s imagination.

Look at his broad shoulders! Look at all the pectoral muscles threatening to rip out of his shirt! It was as if Han Eun-Sol was looking at a muscle-bound cop from some forgotten 80s action movie!

Since Han Eun-Sol had been half-expecting a friendly Korean security guard, this encounter left quite a bit of culture shock.

The security guard gruffly grunted. “I said, no solicitors here, man. Please leave.”

“N-no, hang on a minute. I’m not a solicitor, but...” Han Eun-Sol stammered as sweat trickled down his face.

“You’re still here?”

“N-no, listen... I work here. Y-yes, my department is, uh...”

“You work here?” The security guard scowled deeply, then walked around the desk in large strides. With his approach, the genre of this movie quickly morphed from action to horror. Or maybe to a thriller!

“What the hell, man. You think I've got time for your jokes? I've already memorized the faces of every employee here, so how dare you try to pull a fast one on me? Are you going to leave while I'm still being civil? Or do you want me to throw you out?”

“...”

“Sure, I respect your determination to make a living like this, but...! Kid, this ain't the right place for that. So, walk out of here in your own steam while I'm still being civil, okay? I can be very scary if I want,” said the security guard.

“I-I’m serious. I do work here.”

“What the hell, this punk?”

“I’m not lying! Today is my first day at MK Entertainment!”

“Enterta... What?” The security guard’s eyes opened super-wide. He then scanned Han Eun-Sol from top to bottom as hints of panic spread on his face. And then, he began stammering instead! “E-excuse me, if, uh, if you don’t mind telling me what you, uh, do in MK Entertainment...?”

“Oh, that...” Han Eun-Sol scratched the back of his head. “Nominally I’m the head of the department...”

“H-h-head of the department?!” The security guard gasped in horror, all color visibly draining out of his complexion. “P-please hold!”

After saying that, the security guard rushed back to the information desk and began rummaging through something. And then, rushed back to Han Eun-Sol’s position.

“S-sir, may I ask what your name is...?”

“It’s Han Eun-Sol.”

“Heeeiiik?!”

Han Eun-Sol genuinely tensed up at the sight of the burly security guard freaking out and hiccuping nearly uncontrollably in shock.

‘What the... Is there a reason for this dude to get so frightened like this?’

The security guard urgently bowed deeply. “M-my sincerest apologies, sir! I was being a stupid arse... I’ll rectify this situation immediately!”

Han Jin-Seong was taken aback by how animated the security guard was. “H-hold on! That’s not necessary.”

“Sir! Allow me to guide you to the elevators!” The security guard, now full of admirable military-like discipline, politely led the way to the elevators.

Han Eun-Sol, genuinely puzzled by this over-the-top politeness, could only awkwardly follow the security guard. But he had no idea that the security guard's brain was busy replaying certain memories from a recent past, which involved an intense speech from his superior.

“I don't give a damn what you dumbasses do to each other, but remember that this isn't the Martial Assembly. Anyone who dares to cause a scene, I'll personally bury you in a shallow grave. And I'm gonna re-emphasize this just in case.

“Make sure you don't act the same way toward the company's other departments as you'd do with your peers. Especially the entertainment division. Anyone causing trouble with them... I will personally tear your head off!”

The man who said that really was capable of making his threats come true. After all, it was none other than Lee Hyeon-Su!

Cold sweat continued to trickle down the security guard's forehead. The head of a department was a superior far higher up the food chain than he was. And he stupidly insulted and threatened a superior with violence!

If Lee Hyeon-Su got wind of what happened here, he might attempt to skin the security guard alive!

The security guard cautiously piped up. “E-excuse me, sir?”

Han Eun-Sol blinked his eyes. “Y-yes?”

“I’m really, really sorry. Please forgive me.”

“P-please stop doing this. You’re actually making me uncomfortable now.”

“A-ah, I’m sorry. But, uh, if it’s possible, please don’t let Chief Lee hear about... You know.”

“Chief Lee? I don’t know who that is.”

“Please, I beg you!” The security bowed deeply while pressing the elevator button.

Han Eun-Sol carefully entered the elevator, still completely clueless as to what happened here. He pressed the button for the ninth floor, and after watching the elevator door close, leaned against the wall while dazedly recalling what just happened.

‘What the hell was that all about?’

He couldn't make heads or tails of this situation.

***

Choi Yeon-Ha grumbled in irritation. “Why are you so late, Eun-Sol?”

“...Noonim, please.”

Han Eun-Sol was greeted by Choi Yeon-Ha’s annoyed face and her nagging as soon as entering the office.

However, this was a daily occurrence in their lives, anyway. So much so that Choi Yeon-Ha's slightly scowling expression had become her de facto face ingrained in Han Eun-Sol's memories these days!

Actually, that was a bit wrong. Taking their history into consideration, Choi Yeon-Ha’s current expression should be seen as pretty great!

“I mean, I have lots of things to deal with, noona. First of all, our former agency was up in arms. And I had a ton of our stuff to move from our old office. And then, I also had to oversee the handover process of various things, too.”

Han Eun-Sol groaned nonstop while explaining the situation.

"How could you be so cruel to a dude who was too busy to even attend the launch of the company?”

Choi Yeon-Ha was still not moved, however. “Are you trying to complain to me about your workload?”

“...That wasn’t my intention.”

“Or is this your way of voicing your displeasure at missing out on the president’s position?”

“I’m telling you, that’s not it!”

President?! Hell no! Cold sweat instantly broke out on Han Eun-Sol’s forehead.

While launching MK Entertainment, Choi Yeon-Ha tried to install Han Eun-Sol as the agency’s president. Her reason was pretty straightforward—a talent like herself couldn’t become one.

She was the real boss of this agency, though, so her taking up the president's post shouldn't have been a big issue. However, a still-active talent also serving as the president of her own agency did present several problems.

First of all, once people in the industry got the impression that Choi Yeon-Ha was a businesswoman first and an actor second, she’d receive fewer and fewer offers. Also...

“People will think I’ve gotten too old!”

...That simple, straightforward logic stopped her from being the president, too. However, Han Eun-Sol agreed with her on that point, at least!

Besides, Choi Yeon-Ha was still active, which meant she’d not be present in the agency’s offices more often than not. She might even have to travel overseas in the future for an extended period for an acting gig, too.

A president leaving her post so often would obviously create a bit of a problem in the company's operation.

All these points were understandable and logical. But the problem with this situation was that the substitute considered for the role was Han Eun-Sol!

‘Which is complete nonsense, really.’

Han Eun-Sol, who wasn't even thirty yet, serving as a talent agency's president? That would definitely not result in a good outcome. After all, people judged others through the lens of their ‘common sense.’

If Han Eun-Sol, who outwardly didn't have the requisite experience and financial muscle and was also too young for the job title, became this talent agency's boss, people in the industry would automatically start underestimating and belittling MK Entertainment.

On top of that, those people would also treat Han Eun-Sol as a puppet boss.

Choi Yeon-Ha tutted slightly. “It’s not too late to change your mind, okay? Just say the word, and the job’s yours.”

“Nope, noona. I’m really not interested.”

“Really?”

“Noona, I’ve told you this before, haven’t I? Me becoming the president is not a good thing for both the agency and for me personally.”

“But what about all the work experience you’ll now miss out on?”

“An experience of ruining an agency isn't work experience but a dark history you'd rather forget. Besides, I still enjoy being on the field, noona. Finally, let's be frank here, okay?” Han Eun-Sol groaned deeply. “Except for me, who'd want to be your manager?”

Choi Yeon-Ha cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean? You think you can’t be my manager and be the president at the same time?”

“What would people think about an agency where the president is personally chaperoning a director around to various filming locations?”

“Mm...? Yeah, I guess you have a point there. But you can also solve that problem by finding a new manager for me.”

“I’m sorry?”

“A new manager for...”

“I’m sorry?”

“...You want me to hit you?”

Han Eun-Sol chuckled wryly. A new manager for Choi Yeon-Ha, was it...? If that was possible, he wouldn’t even be hesitating like this, though!

The goal he set for himself after risking his entire career to transfer to MK was... nurturing a new manager for Choi Yeon-Ha in the next five years!

In a certain sense, his goal could be even harder to achieve than growing MK Entertainment into South Korea's number-one talent agency.

Choi Yeon-Ha primly tutted. “Whatever. Don’t regret it later, okay?”

“No, I won’t, noona. Being here is already taxing enough as is,” said Han Eun-Sol while quickly wiping away beads of sweat on his forehead.

Simply recalling the treatment he received on the first floor was enough to give him the shivers.

The thing about being a manager of a celebrity was that one must know... how to grovel and constantly kiss ass to survive.

Some managers of big-name celebrities often would act all high and mighty as if they were also celebs, but as Choi Yeon-Ha's manager? Han Eun-Sol wouldn't even dare dream of doing that.

Getting caught while acting that way would ensure a pointy high heel stabbing directly into his forehead, after all!

Besides, acting all rude and entitled toward Choi Yeon-Ha’s fans as her manager? What a preposterous notion that was.

Choi Yeon-Ha was the type to treasure her fans very deeply. Her dedication to her fans was even more impressive than most idols, too. Which was ironic, since she wasn't like idols who lived and died by how their fans perceived them and could more or less maintain her popularity with her looks and acting chops alone.

One of the secrets to her long-running success was that she never, ever belittled or looked down on her fans even though it could have been so tempting to treat them like money-spitting machines for her use.

Of course, her near-obsessive self-management was

the other secret to her success. In any case...

The role of managers was to get belittled by industry executives, let directors bite their heads off, receive the irate fans' abuse, and even get kicked around by the celebrities in their charge!

Only by branding the word ‘Patience’ into their very soul could the managers somehow keep going without losing their sanity.

So, for Han Eun-Sol to suddenly receive a treatment befitting an executive!

The only folks lower in status than him were newer managers freshly joining the party and some neighborhood strays trotting by, so what he experienced downstairs was like being hit in the face by a violent tidal wave that turned his life upside down.

“Noona, do I really have to be the head of the department, too?”

“What’s wrong?”

“You know, it’s, uh... I’m kinda scared?”

Choi Yeon-Ha chuckled while glancing at Han Eun-sol. “What’s so scary about it?”

“The only employees in this place are you and me, right? But one of us is a director, and the other is the head of the department! You know how ridiculous that sounds, don’t you?”

“But we will eventually hire more people, won't we? And we'll have new talents to manage soon, anyway.”

“Well, yes. That's all true. But I always figured we'd be hiring some small office space in the middle of nowhere at the start of this business, noona. I had no idea we'd kick things off on such a grand scale!”

“Really? Eun-Sol, you really do have a problem with your confidence, don’t you?” Choi Yeon-Ha tutted loudly.

Most managers with as much work experience as Han Eun-Sol would usually become bolder, more assertive, but this guy was still goofy and bumbling like a rookie manager!

‘But that's what's nice about him, isn't it?'

A person holding on to their initial resolutions was a good thing. Although there was a difference between holding on through sheer determination and holding on because you still hadn't matured beyond the level of a greenhorn...

'As long as the outcome is the same, who cares!'

Knock, knock!

That was when the duo heard someone knock on the office’s entrance.

“Come in,” said Choi Yeon-Ha.

The door was pushed wide open, and a familiar figure briskly walked inside while waving her hand.