Chapter 22: Make a plan.

After my lengthy speech about sweet snacks ended.
I finally regained my composure and was about to continue speaking about Hwang Gilsu.

“Our Angel, could you please take a look at this for a moment too?”

Suddenly, Park Kyutae handed me something like a thin, rectangular book.
It was an unexpected action that hadn’t been mentioned at all beforehand.
Because of that, I tilted my head, full of questions, wondering what it could be.

‘…Huh?’

It was instantly clear that what he handed me was the photo I had taken wearing a hanbok….
In other words, it was the photo book from my short trip.

This was because the cover showed my image, smiling brightly with my index finger touching my cheek.
My hair was half-tied up using a hairpin.

‘Aaahhh…!’

I let out a long scream inwardly as if I had seen something I shouldn’t have.
Pain, shame, and regret swirled through my entire body the moment I saw the cover.

I hadn’t realized it when I was taking the pictures because I was so tired and used to it.
But now, with a calm mind and some time passed, looking at it objectively, the embarrassment was beyond words.

To the extent that I truly couldn’t even look at it properly with my eyes open.

Because of that, I ended up covering my eyes with both hands.
I even bowed my head low and began to calm my flushed face.

[ OMG, that photo book from back then is out! Where are they selling it!? ]
[ Wow, so cute…! How many copies will there be? It feels like it’ll be sold out by the time I get off work…. ]
[ Please let me buy it! Please! If I buy it, I’ll keep it as a family heirloom! ]
[ Surely it’s not a lottery!? If it is, I’m really going to cry!!! ]

As expected, explosive reactions continued in the chat window.
For reference, the reason I, who had my eyes covered, knew about this was….

“Sales will begin tomorrow at various bookstores. Plenty of copies are expected to be prepared.”

It was because Lee Hyejin was kindly answering each of them.

Thanks to that, I, who had my head bowed low, fell into a great shock.
I had truly intended to do the broadcast with good intentions today, but I hadn’t expected to be completely used like this.

I had truly never imagined that such a terrifying plan was in motion.
It felt like I had instantly become a promotional mascot, and I felt immensely disappointed.

‘Is that not it…? Since it’s my photo book… is it a good thing if it sells a lot, for now…?’

With a gloomy feeling, I tried to think positively about the current situation.
Just then, Park Kyutae spoke from beside me.

“Our Angel, if you don’t mind, could you please take a look at the contents as well?”
“…….”

Huh? Excuse me, Kyutae-nim…. Does this look okay to you right now…?
I can’t even lift my face right now because of the shame…?

Profound disappointment.
Because of that, I slammed my head down onto the desk with a ‘thud’ and slumped over.

No…! I really can’t look at this…!
This was an incredibly firm expression of my will.

There were many twists and turns, and it took a lot longer than I expected.
However, ultimately, I finished saying everything I wanted to through the broadcast.

To summarize the content.
I reiterated my desire for Hwang Gilsu’s forgiveness, which I had spoken about earlier.
And I asked people to refrain from speaking ill of the CS team.

For reference, I certainly didn’t do this broadcast thinking I could change the judgment of the law with a single word.
It was just that everyone was treating him as a heinous criminal.
Therefore, the intention was that when he finished serving his sentence, people wouldn’t continue to treat him as a bad person.

“Wow, Our Angel! Hwang Gilsu, that person, has been released now.”

However, my intention and the result were very different.
Somehow, with a single word, I had changed the judgment of the law.

“Oh, t-that’s good then….”

Because of that, I nodded slightly at Lee Hyejin’s words, feeling bewildered.

‘Well… maybe it’s good that it’s good…?’

Since it wasn’t a matter that should have gone to prison in the first place, he must have been released.
Anyway, I thought it was fortunate that it was resolved well.

[ What do you think about the mistake you committed this time? ]
[ Ah, I truly think I committed a heinous sin myself. I have been deeply reflecting on it ever since that day…. ]

This time, the voices of a reporter and Hwang Gilsu began to flow alternately from the TV.
It seemed like they were having some kind of interview.

‘No, excuse me…. I mean, it wasn’t that big of a mistake to begin with…?’
Because of that, as I was somewhat flustered by the content again, the interview continued.

[ You have become the first person in South Korea to commit a sin against Our Angel and even receive forgiveness. How do you feel about it? ]
[ My feelings… well. I don’t think words can fully express them. However, I can promise you this much. ]

Hwang Gilsu’s voice, which had been speaking, briefly cut off.
The reporter then pressed him.

[ What is that? ]
[ With infinite gratitude to Our Angel who forgave me. I plan to live the rest of my life for Our Angel. ]

…Huh?
No, wait a moment…. Why are you doing that arbitrarily…?

[ What specifically do you plan to do? ]
[ First, I plan to start by spreading Our Angel’s benevolence and cuteness throughout the entire country. ]

Huh? No, I-I don’t want that…! What on earth are you doing?!
W-will you go to prison again if you do that!?

Horrified by the bizarre interview, I frantically ran towards the TV.
I saw Lee Hyejin looking at me in confusion, but I didn’t have time to worry about that now.

[ Yes, that’s a very good plan. Do you have a specific method in mind? ]
[ First, I’m thinking of creating a faith group just for Our Angel. ]

What…! What on earth is a good plan?!
You, reporter, aren’t in your right mind either!

[ Indeed, in countries where Our Angel awakened a long time ago, faith groups dedicated to their own Angels have already been established. That’s good. ]
[ Yes, that’s right. I also plan to slowly create customized doctrines for Our Angel. For those who are interested, if you watch this broadcast and contact me… ]

No, what on earth is that….
T-that’s just a cult, isn’t it…?

I watched the screen blankly, horrified at the scene where not a single person objected.
Then, Lee Hyejin’s sincere admiration was heard from beside me.

“Wow, that’s good. That person truly came to their senses.”

…Everyone’s crazy.

In the end, I decided to give up thinking.

Hwang Gilsu, the most famous person in South Korea for a brief moment.
His fame, which I thought would be a flash in the pan, continued to flow along a new current.

This was because, with the attention of the entire nation focused on him, he declared that he had rehabilitated himself and would establish the South Korean Angelic Faith, dedicating his life to it.

Even though that devotion was not at all what I had wished for.

Anyway, for that reason, he boasted a spectacular feat by ranking first in real-time search trends.
And then, people who viewed him unfavorably began to appear.

They were most other religious figures.

“Hmm, Our Angel, who do you like?”
“…Well.”

I tilted my head, looking at the documents Lee Hyejin showed me.

How on earth would I know?
Who among these people would be suitable for the Angelic Faith, that is.

“…Can’t we just pick anyone?”
“Huh? Absolutely not! Definitely not! Every single action of these people affects Our Angel!”
“…….”

The documents Lee Hyejin was showing me now were the candidates for the South Korean Angelic Faith.
Complaints had surged due to that broadcast, and this was a list of candidates sent by the higher-ups, asking me to choose directly.

These were documents meticulously detailing their careers and activities so far, such as which church they served as a pastor in, or which countries they had done volunteer work in.
Well, anyway, they were documents filled with such information.

Something about it being illegal to create a faith without my permission, or something like that….

However, there was no way I, who had no connection to such religious matters, would feel anything by looking at this.
Because of that, as I blankly shuffled through the papers, Lee Hyejin asked from beside me.

“Is there no one you like?”
“…They’re all people I’m seeing for the first time. There’s no like or dislike….”
“Hmm, indeed, it’s hard to tell from just this paper.”
“…Tell what?”
“Well, how sincerely they believe in Our Angel, of course! That should be the highest priority for someone to lead the Angelic Faith.”
“…….”

Lee Hyejin’s consistent remarks.
I was genuinely impressed by them.

Then, a thought suddenly came to me.

Couldn’t this person just do it?
Honestly, no matter how much I thought about it, I didn’t think there was anyone more suitable.

So, as I stared intently at Lee Hyejin, she seemed to notice something and suddenly began to speak urgently.

“By the way, I feel a sense of purpose in life when I’m with Our Angel. I feel alive. If I can’t do this job… oh… I will surely slowly wither and die.”
“…Ah, I understand.”

At her increasingly tearful expression, I hastily replied.
Then, as I slowly looked through the candidate list again, a good idea suddenly came to mind, and I asked.

“Hyejin-nim, so I just need to choose someone who knows a lot about me, right?”
“Not necessarily, but I think that would be the best option for now, wouldn’t it?”
“Then, how about we hold a quiz show?”

It was a TV program I had coincidentally seen before.
That’s what came to my mind, and fortunately, Lee Hyejin’s reaction was very positive.

“A quiz show…? Oh! That sounds fun! We can also objectively find out who knows a lot!”

And so, somewhat unexpectedly, a quiz show to determine the leader of the Angelic Faith was held in South Korea.