LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 19 - Yoo Ji-ah (3)
Chapter 19: Yoo Ji-ah (3)
Early morning.
-Is that all you’ve got? Move more, more, more. Push yourself to the limits. Only then can you grow.
The vacant lot was filled with the sweat of the summoned creatures.
-Huff, huff.
-Phew, phew…!
The sounds of Lamba’s panting and the groans of the Explosive Dragon.
Baek Jin-woo had no idea what Hun-gyo was training them for, but he trusted that they were doing well on their own, so he also started his workout.
-Master, training like that won’t allow your muscles to grow efficiently. Like this. Yes, you need to hold that posture.
The funny thing was…
Even Baek Jin-woo couldn’t stop Hun-gyo, the training maniac.
Upper body, lower body, core muscles, and even cardiovascular strength.
Hun-gyo taught him ways to grow all these areas equally, and Baek Jin-woo listened carefully, absorbing the knowledge.
Hun-gyo was undoubtedly a summoned creature born to be the ultimate teacher.
‘At this rate, won’t I unlock some hidden potential later?’
Well…
As long as he could improve, that was all that mattered.
While Baek Jin-woo was immersed in his workout—
-Everyone, quiet.
Hun-gyo silenced them all.
He then approached Baek Jin-woo and bowed his head.
-Master, someone is approaching.
“Okay.”
Baek Jin-woo stood up and wiped his sweat with the towel he brought.
It was obvious who would be coming.
Yoo Ji-ah.
He was out here today solely because of her.
‘By the way.’
Hun-gyo, this guy…
He had a sharp sense, didn’t he?
As much as he forced others into training, Hun-gyo led by example.
His level increased quickly, and his stat growth was significant as well.
Truly, he lived up to his EX-class status.
At Hun-gyo’s words, Lamba and the Explosive Dragon covered their mouths with their hands, sealing them shut.
No talking in front of outsiders.
That was Baek Jin-woo’s absolute command as their Player.
Before long—
“Huff, huff.”
Yoo Ji-ah climbed up the path, wiping sweat from her forehead.
“I felt it last time too, but this place is quite high up.”
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes, you’ve been working out since morning, I see? Oh, and your summoned creatures are here too.”
Looking at the summoned creatures sprawled across the vacant lot, Yoo Ji-ah’s eyes sparkled.
“So, they’re part of your team? I’ve seen Mini Kong and the Golden Fairy a few times, but the others are new to me.”
Lamba, Hun-gyo, and the Explosive Dragon.
There was no way Yoo Ji-ah could know them.
They were unique summoned creatures, one of a kind in the world.
And one of them was even a rare humanoid summoned creature!
“Haha, yes. I’ll explain more later, but these are my main ones.”
“I see. Well, first, I’ll give you your gift. That’s the reason I came all the way here.”
Whirrr!
As Yoo Ji-ah extended her hand, a light emerged from her palm.
[Player ‘Yoo Ji-ah’ is proposing a trade.]
[Please review the offer carefully.]
In the real-life version of 「Battle of Summoners」, trades between players were supported.
To prevent fraud or betrayal, the status window governed the trade, and if either party failed to deliver the agreed compensation, a curse would be invoked.
The curse was powerful enough to result in death, so extreme caution was necessary.
[Yoo Ji-ah: Combat Sheriff (C-rank), Priest of Radiance (C-rank), Striped Komodo (B-rank), Wind Falcon (B-rank), Titanium Golem (B-rank), Horned Fairy (C-rank), Frost Cat (C-rank), Sky Dolphin (C-rank), Sky Wyvern (B-rank), Lava Drake (C-rank), Lava Drake (C-rank), Lava Drake (C-rank)]
[Baek Jin-woo: No compensation.]
The trade lists from both sides appeared.
[Do you accept Player ‘Yoo Ji-ah’s trade proposal?]
[Y/N]
There was no reason not to accept.
‘She really managed to gather all of this.’
As Baek Jin-woo nodded, the summoned creatures were added to his inventory.
Now, all of these were officially his!
From today, he’d have more members to train rigorously alongside Hun-gyo.
“Thank you. This is truly a valuable gift. I mean it.”
“Hehe, it’s nothing. After all, we’ve agreed to become family now.”
Yoo Ji-ah smiled gently and licked her lips.
“Shall we get to the real conversation now?”
* * *
Yoo Ji-ah conveyed the information swiftly and clearly.
The name of the management company was “YooBaek.”
It was a combination of Yoo Ji-ah and Baek Jin-woo’s surnames.
The ownership of the company was 70% Baek Jin-woo’s, with 25% belonging to Yoo Ji-ah.
And the remaining 5%?
That was for Park Chang-seok.
As a reward for helping establish the company within the Player Headquarters and ensuring its growth.
‘He played a big part in discovering Baek Jin-woo.’
Of course, as a congressman, Park Chang-seok was required to disclose his assets to the public, but Yoo Ji-ah had a way around that.
‘We’ll bind it through a contract.’
A player-to-player trade contract, which was known to be the most reliable method.
The condition was that if Park Chang-seok ever resigned from his congressman position, he would receive 5% of the company’s shares, a proposal he readily agreed to.
“In any case, the largest shareholder of the company is you, Mr. Baek Jin-woo. I will serve as the company’s CEO, and Congressman Park Chang-seok will act as an advisor. We’re planning to hire Kim Byung-jin and Hwang Tae-seop under very favorable conditions as well.”
“Kim Byung-jin and Hwang Tae-seop… aren’t they from the headquarters?”
“They both resigned this morning. Offering triple their current salary was too much to resist.”
Triple—three times their current pay.
Her grandfather used to say:
“You don’t skimp on money when hiring good talent.”
Park Chang-seok had also dissolved the much-criticized
Letting an incompetent headquarters manage someone like Baek Jin-woo was akin to betraying the nation.
“But, uh…”
Baek Jin-woo cautiously asked.
“Are you sure it’s okay to give me 70%?”
He liked it, of course.
But it felt like too much.
Wasn’t it a bit overwhelming?
“I may be providing the funds, but the core of YooBaek is you, Mr. Baek Jin-woo. Once you become famous, other companies, corporations, or even nations will try to reach out. But I’m certain—none of them would ever offer you more than 50% ownership.”
It was only natural.
The moment ownership exceeds 50%, the voting rights become negligible, making it essentially Baek Jin-woo’s company.
Who in their right mind would set up a company and then hand it over immediately?
“So why are you…?”
“It’s my way of betting.”
“Betting…”
“Yes. I’ll firmly secure 25% of the company’s earnings. Besides, as long as I work diligently and reasonably, you, the majority shareholder, won’t reject any decisions, right? I’m confident I can maximize the value of that 25%.”
Moreover, since it was essentially a one-man company, voting rights didn’t matter much.
If Baek Jin-woo, the sole decision-maker, didn’t agree with something, any resolution would fall apart anyway!
‘In the end, relationships are what matter most.’
By slightly lowering her personal stake and strengthening their relationship, Yoo Ji-ah aimed to solidify their bond.
With a strong relationship, neither of them would be swayed by conditions or other temptations.
That was Yoo Ji-ah’s strategy.
“I’m just grateful.”
Baek Jin-woo meticulously reviewed the contract.
Even though he was an ordinary person, he had climbed to the pinnacle of a game before.
He could easily spot any problematic clauses.
‘This couldn’t be more perfect.’
In fact, it seemed almost too favorable for Baek Jin-woo.
“Do I just need to stamp my seal here?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll be in your care, CEO Yoo.”
“Of course.”
Just as the establishment of YooBaek Management was about to be finalized—
Woosh!
Hun-gyo, who had been silently watching his master’s conversation, suddenly dashed off.
Toward the nearby bushes.
“What… what’s happening?”
“Hm, I’m not sure either.”
Both Baek Jin-woo and Yoo Ji-ah were startled.
Then—
“Kyaaah!”
A woman’s scream echoed.
Rustle, rustle!
Emerging from the bushes, Hun-gyo held two figures by the ankles, one in each hand.
In his left hand was a Shadow Elf (C-rank).
In his right was Baek Ah-jin.
Hun-gyo’s silent expression seemed to say that he had caught those eavesdropping on his master’s conversation.
Of course, Baek Ah-jin’s body was wrapped in a protective barrier, so there would be no physical harm.
“Wait.”
Baek Jin-woo’s face contorted in disbelief.
“What are you doing here?”
“And who is this…?”
“Oh, she’s my sister.”
This girl…
Could it be she had been eavesdropping on their conversation all this time?
* * *
Baek Ah-jin was stunned.
So stunned that her heart continued to race uncontrollably.
It was already shocking that Yoo Ji-ah had appeared in a place like this.
‘Oh my god.’
But what was even more unbelievable was that she was on her way to meet her brother.
How could that even be possible?
What kind of connection could the number one conglomerate in Korea have with her family?
She couldn’t help but observe from a distance, hiding nearby.
The Shadow Elf was a summoned creature specialized in stealth.
She thought it would be easy to fool both players.
‘But.’
She couldn’t hear their conversation clearly.
One thing was certain, though.
The atmosphere between them was very good.
‘What is this?’
This wasn’t the feeling one got from secretly watching a sibling on a date.
This was horror.
A sense of complete detachment, as if the Baek Jin-woo she knew belonged to a different world entirely!
And that sense of detachment only grew stronger.
One of Baek Jin-woo’s summoned creatures was charging straight toward her with incredible speed.
‘Can he detect my stealth?’
This was a C-rank creature.
Even many B-rank creatures struggled to detect a fully hidden Shadow Elf.
But clearly—
That armored summoned creature was running straight for her, eyes locked on.
‘I have to escape.’
Baek Ah-jin signaled the Shadow Elf.
But—
Hun-gyo’s speed was beyond imagination.
Like a toad snapping up a fly, he closed the distance in an instant, grabbing the elf by its ankle and lifting it.
Swoosh!
The Shadow Elf tried to respond quickly as well, but—
Thunk, thunk!
With a light flick, the elf’s body went rigid.
Hun-gyo had struck its pressure points, perfectly subduing it.
‘No way.’
Baek Ah-jin had never seen a summoned creature like this before.
She enjoyed watching the Player League regularly, but this kind of combat ability was…
And soon after—
“Kyaaah!”
Hun-gyo subdued Baek Ah-jin as well.
‘Oh, crap.’
Baek Ah-jin despaired.
She had planned to observe from a safe distance and slip away.
But now everything had gone completely wrong.
* * *
“So.”
Baek Jin-woo muttered in disbelief.
“You recognized Yoo Ji-ah and, being a fan, decided to follow her?”
“No! It wasn’t like that! I just got curious and followed her.”
“That’s the same thing as following her.”
“…”
“And when you followed her, you saw me and got even more curious, so you hid and spied?”
“Yeah! That’s exactly it!”
In the end, Baek Ah-jin admitted it.
“But what about you, oppa? It seems like you have more explaining to do than I do.”
Sigh.
Baek Jin-woo sighed internally.
This was getting troublesome.
What kind of twist of fate was this?
He had planned to tell her eventually, but now she’d found out much sooner than expected.
“How do you know Yoo Ji-ah… and what is that ridiculous summoned creature? It completely subdued my Shadow Elf in less than five seconds! How is that possible? Especially for someone who hasn’t even been out of a coma for two months! It doesn’t make any sense!”
“Slow down, slow down.”
Baek Jin-woo, looking troubled, glanced at Yoo Ji-ah.
“I’m sorry. I forgot that my sister knew about this place.”
“Hehe, it’s fine. Since she’s Mr. Baek Jin-woo’s sister, I would have introduced myself to her eventually. This works out well.”
Huh?
Ah…
She must have read the part in the contract.
Apparently, as Baek Jin-woo’s exclusive manager, Yoo Ji-ah was supposed to cover his family as well.
“R-really?”
It was Baek Ah-jin who was the most surprised.
“Y-Yoo Ji-ah… wants to introduce herself to me?”
Baek Jin-woo had never seen his sister look so enchanted.
It was only natural.
Yoo Ji-ah was at the highest tier of people she admired.
“For now.”
Baek Jin-woo decided to wrap things up.
“I’ll stamp my seal right now.”
Thud!
He stamped the seal where needed, and the two of them each took a copy of the contract.
“We’ll talk more details later. For now, I think I need to spend some time with my sister.”
“Yes, I understand. I’ll give you a call.”
“Sure.”
Baek Ah-jin couldn’t understand what had just happened.
Not at all.