Chapter 9: Former warrior Liam (2)

Seoyoon smirked, peering into her monitor.

“This is chaos.”

The internet was ablaze. Communities and media outlets were buzzing about one person. News outlets raved about the “first Korean returnee,” while online forums fixated on the “Pope’s” stream. Eluke’s broadcast had a far greater impact than anticipated, driven by a perfect storm of factors.

“Is this happening?”

I’d expected it to spark interest. Striking beauty, a returnee, and a Pope—three attention-grabbing traits. But I never imagined the first stream would cause such a frenzy. Not just Seoyoon, but even I, Eluke, was stunned. The Goddess’s direct intervention was beyond my calculations, and my brother-in-law, the former Hero, had amplified the chaos.

“Everyone thinks it’s Liam’s doing,” Seoyoon said, stifling a chuckle as she logged onto her favorite community.

[OurNet – Internet Broadcasting Bulletin Board]

A major hub for discussing Tribe streamers, it was buzzing. Clicking “Popular Posts,” she saw comment counts dwarfing yesterday’s numbers.

[Pope’s Whereabouts So Far.txt (386)]

[Angel with a 10,000 Won Reaction LOL (254)]

[The Pope’s Daughters Are Really Cute (220)]

[Have You Seen a Stuffed Havant in the Sky? (361)]

Every post had unprecedented engagement, triple the usual volume. Interest had exploded—remote blessings, an angel’s appearance, and glowing sky letters fueled the hype.

Of course, the internet being what it is, some criticized me harshly.

[Honestly, it seemed too indulgent (14)]

But naysayers were a tiny minority, their posts often drowned out or deleted after backlash.

“I’m glad the response was good,” I thought. I’d worried my unconventional approach might backfire, but so far, it hadn’t. People were captivated by the wild journey of Korea’s first returnee.

Across all streaming communities, “Pope” posts flooded in: clips, screenshots, speculation, memes. Everyone tracked the new streamer in every way possible. Yet, one sentiment unified them.

“But isn’t the Pope too hot?”

└ Really lol

└ Her speech is elegant, but her actions are like Lu Bu’s.

└ Is her speech not just a persona?

I was unintentionally becoming a “hot woman,” thanks to the Goddess and Liam taking the spotlight. Seoyoon couldn’t help but laugh.

“Manager Lee! Laughing again? We need this done today!” her boss snapped.

“Sorry…” Seoyoon closed the community tab and refocused on work.

But her mind wandered.

“If Oppa makes bank… should I quit and manage her?”

If I were an ordinary streamer, she wouldn’t consider it. Earnings taper off eventually. But the “Pope” was no ordinary streamer—a returnee who communed with a Goddess and bestowed blessings. I’d likely grow into a corporate-level streamer, maybe even a celebrity beyond that. Managing me could offer Seoyoon more stability than her current job.

“I’ll think about it.”

She wouldn’t beg for the role—that felt too clingy. Money wasn’t why we lived together. She just wanted to witness Siwoo’s transformed life: his brighter expression, healthier body, and gentle smile with the kids.

As Clytia Eluke, I’d finally found happiness, and watching that warmed Seoyoon’s heart.

She was also grateful to Liam. From what I’d shared, he’d been a rock through countless trials in the other world. He stepped up when it mattered, which must be why I fell for him.

“Didn’t you say you fell for the Hero during your saint days?” Seoyoon mused, smiling at the thought of our early romance, though I hadn’t shared the full story yet.

“Manager Lee! Slacking again?” her boss barked.

“Sorry…”

Seoyoon got scolded again.

“How can they treat the sky like a notepad? Are returnees allowed to go this wild?” an angry news anchor ranted.

I sipped green tea, unimpressed. Seoyoon had ordered it via some “rocket delivery,” but it tasted like water. Not the tea’s fault—my palate was just spoiled from the premium blends of the other world. This world surely had fine teas, but I couldn’t afford them yet. I had to save, except for the kids’ snacks.

“Tasty?” I asked the twins.

They nodded eagerly, munching potato chips. The crunch was satisfying to hear. It reminded me of honey-coated chips that were all the rage before I was transported. Were those still popular?

“‘havant’ is a viewer who donated a million won to a returnee’s stream, and in return, they wrote in the sky. Is this even reasonable?” the anchor fumed.

I watched the twins devour their snacks while Liam, the culprit behind the anchor’s outrage, calmly stroked Rohan in his arms.

How could he be so nonchalant after turning Korea upside down?

“Liam, what now?” I asked, tapping his shoulder.

“What do you mean?” he replied, meeting my gaze.

“Seoyoon says the whole country’s talking about me.”

“Of course. I made sure the sky message was visible nationwide. First time I’ve flexed like that in a while.”

This infuriatingly competent ex-Hero had used three powers—magic, aura, and spirit arts—each at a transcendent level, capable of slaying a demon king. And he’d squandered them on an ostentatious donation reaction. Only Liam could pull off such extravagant waste.

“Disappointed? Or is the reaction underwhelming?” he asked.

“Neither.”

“Then what?”

He stared, clueless, then leaned in. “How about that kiss we didn’t finish last time?”

“Focus,” I said, pushing his face away firmly.

Looking into his blue eyes, I continued, “This kind of spectacle-driven attention is fleeting. One misstep or slip of the tongue, and they’ll tear me apart.”

This world had changed drastically since my return, for better or worse. The internet, especially, had grown vicious—a jungle where mistakes were bloodily pounced upon.

“Even now, some are bashing me, like that anchor.”

Liam’s brow furrowed, his eyes turning serious. Finally, he was listening.

“With this level of fame secured, we need to build honorable attention to establish our church here.”

Streaming was for money, but my ultimate goal was expanding the church’s influence.

There’d be obstacles, but I wouldn’t give up. The Goddess’s will was to bring happiness to more people.

“Liam, as a former Hero, find a way to help those in need.”

“…”

Liam didn’t respond immediately, lost in thought. Then, he muttered, “You dare insult my wife?”

“Liam?”

Something felt off. Before I could stop him, he stood, handed me Rohan, and strode to the veranda, flinging open the window.

“Wait!”

“Liam, what are you doing?”

I rushed after him, but he’d already launched into the sky.

“…”

I stood frozen, watching him shrink to a dot in the distance, moving at impossible speed.

“Mom, where’s Dad going?” Erina asked, trailing me.

I had no answer. All I could do was pray.

“Great Sun, please let this be a fixable mess. I beg you.”

My prayer was only half-answered.

“Wow, it’s Dad!” Ivaila exclaimed.

“Why’s he there?”

After a moment, I saw where Liam had gone.

“Excuse me. I’m Liam Erams, husband of the returnee you’re all obsessed with,” he declared on a live news broadcast.

“Listen up! I could circle this country in a second if I wanted. Know what that means? Anyone who badmouths my wife is done for!”

Sipping my green tea, I listened to Liam’s booming voice.

‘He’s tamer than I expected.’

That was surprisingly restrained for him.

The twins clapped, oblivious to the chaos Liam was stirring. Seoyoon rushed in, phone in hand, eyes wide. “Oppa, he’s on live TV! Threatening the nation!”

I sighed. “He’s defending my honor, apparently.”

She groaned, scrolling through X. “It’s trending. ‘Hero Husband Goes Wild.’ You’re both viral now.”

I glanced at the TV, where the anchor stammered, clearly rattled by Liam’s sudden appearance. The chat on my last stream’s clips was exploding—half in awe, half in hysterics.

– Pope’s husband is a menace lol

– He’s gonna hunt haters? I’m in

– This family is unreal

“Liam’s banned from the next stream,” I muttered, rubbing my temples.

Seoyoon laughed. “Good luck enforcing that.”

I needed a plan. The church’s mission couldn’t rely on Liam’s theatrics or the Goddess’s whims. Tomorrow’s stream had to shift focus—show the world what the Sun’s teachings meant: hope, kindness, and aid for those in need.

“Seoyoon, draft a schedule. Tomorrow, we’ll do a charity stream. Blessings for donations, all proceeds to local shelters.”

Her eyes lit up. “That’s perfect! It’ll ground the hype in something meaningful.”

As the twins munched their chips and Rohan babbled, I felt the weight of my role. The Goddess had given me a platform, and Liam, for all his chaos, had amplified it. Now, it was my turn to steer this fame toward something lasting.

*