[So what’s going on with that old man that he’s looking for you?]
“I’m not sure. He mentioned something about a patient.”
[A patient? Why would a patient need you?]
“No idea. Apparently, it’s someone who just won’t wake up, no matter what. They’ve tried every hospital, but nothing worked, so now they’re grasping at straws—like holding a shamanic ritual.”
[Ah, I see.]
At the word shamanic ritual, the child spirit nodded knowingly.
[So that’s why he wants you. Once they’ve had a taste of Yeonwoo, other shamans would feel like fakes, right? Still, it’s surprising you said yes. You used to reject that stuff outright, didn’t you?]
“I quit doing that after I was little… but it’s different now. And if that old man’s right, I might snag some lifespan in the process.”
He needed to avoid repeating another “wrong path,” but doing nothing wasn’t an option. Of all the requests so far, only Han Su-han’s had avoided a penalty, so Yeonwoo resolved to grant the favor.
A high-end sedan glided along the road and soon reached its destination.
“A hospital?”
It was the same hospital Yeonwoo had stayed in just days earlier. Following a security guard to the VVIP suite:
“Yeonwoo! You’re here! I’ve been waiting!”
As soon as the door opened, Han Su-han welcomed Yeonwoo warmly.
“Come in, come in. I bragged like crazy that I was bringing in a real miracle-worker. He got so excited, I had to stop him from running out to meet you—if he shows his face more than necessary, it could cause problems. Now, come on!”
Yeonwoo felt a growing unease. Just who is he asking me to help?
The moment he stepped into the hospital room, a wave of pressure far exceeding his earlier nervousness engulfed him.
“…That’s the person who needs me?”
He saw a strangely familiar face—one that no Korean could fail to recognize. Even if you didn’t know his name, you’d know his face.
Why the hell is Kwon Sunghyun here?!
One of Korea’s most famous entertainers, Kwon Sunghyun, lay in bed, his complexion pale.
[Yeonwoo.]
“What?”
[Is this for real?]
“Phew…”
[Holy crap! It’s Kwon Sunghyun in person! I can’t believe I’m seeing him with my own eyes!]
“You’re aware you’re a ghost, right?”
[So what! If you had any taste, you’d freak out like me! Are you made of stone?!]
“…”
From the moment Yeonwoo recognized who was lying there, the child spirit flapped around the hospital room in excitement. It never dreamed that Kwon Sunghyun would be here. Yeonwoo felt the same.
If I’d known, I’d have refused right away.
Even with his sickly pallor, a distinct glow radiated from Kwon Sunghyun’s face. He had an aura that made it impossible to look away.
Is this what they call star power?
And what, exactly, was Yeonwoo supposed to do for such a legendary celebrity…?
But the surprises weren’t over.
[Wait, is that Kwon Heera? The famous actress? What’s she doing here…? No way…?]
While the child spirit mumbled in shock, a middle-aged woman spoke.
“Honey, is that him? Chairman Han, this must be the person, yes?”
So that was the reality.
“Yeonwoo, don’t get the wrong idea, but… these two might seem like they have a big age gap, but not as big as you think. Ahem. Let’s just say this lady’s an old friend of mine—over 30 years. She runs a little company, called M Group…”
M Group. Not quite on the level of S, L, or H Groups, but still a well-known conglomerate dabbling in food distribution, logistics, and even operating its own TV channel.
“Huh? You’re not very surprised.”
“Well… not really.”
I’ve seen plenty of chaebol visitors in my mom’s shrine.
He was more surprised by Kwon Heera’s presence, but apparently that wasn’t even the big shock.
“Oh, and that old man over there is also the father of the kid lying in that bed.”
“So… you’re telling me Kwon Sunghyun is their child, meaning he’s some sort of chaebol heir?”
“He’s that old coot’s late-born son. They don’t look much alike because he resembles his mother.”
Yeonwoo could only marvel.
He really does have it all, huh?
He wasn’t the only one.
[Wow. So that’s why Kwon Sunghyun guarded his private life so fiercely—he’s a hidden chaebol kid! I knew there was something about his vibe…!]
Still, one question remained: why did they need Yeonwoo?
“Pardon me, but why exactly do you need my help?”
They surely weren’t calling him in just to brag about secret parentage.
“Sunghyun won’t wake up.”
It had already been months.
“They say everything is normal. We tried every hospital, every famed specialist. No one could find a thing. He’s not sick or injured—just… unconscious.”
Her voice was thick with sadness.
“They say it’s just lack of consciousness, but that doesn’t even make sense. How can someone be perfectly healthy yet never wake up? This isn’t normal.”
How terrible for a parent, watching a child lie comatose without reason.
“So we went to shamans next. Maybe it’s foolish, but we were desperate—inviting them over, doing rituals, making offerings… We even went to temples, invited a priest…”
Still, no change. Kwon Sunghyun never woke.
“Chairman Han, who knows our situation, recommended you. Please help my son. I can’t bear losing him like this.”
Kwon Heera bowed her head. Yeonwoo could almost touch the desperation in the air.
Family… huh.
Call it his weakness if you like—he couldn’t resist, especially with someone his mother’s age begging like that. The moment Kwon Heera pleaded, Yeonwoo’s heart softened.
All three people in the room stared at him, holding their breath. After a long internal struggle, Yeonwoo finally spoke:
“Sigh… I guess I have no choice. All right.”
He agreed.
Hopefully this isn’t another wrong path.
At least they hadn’t made an explicit deal for lifespan. Closing his eyes, Yeonwoo examined Kwon Sunghyun’s body, frowning as he did.
“Hmm… this is odd.”
He couldn’t see the spirit that should be attached to it.
Typically, comatose people can be grouped into two categories. One is those preparing to die.
“You’re sure there’s nothing physically wrong?”
“Positive. We even flew in top experts from abroad—everyone said his condition was normal. No one found a single issue. Modern medicine says he’s in excellent shape.”
“I see.”
The second category is those whose soul is separated from the body for some reason—a bad accident, for instance, can make the soul think it’s dead, or it might be forced out and wander.
So Kwon Sunghyun’s in the second category… but why can’t I see him?
If his soul were a “living spirit,” there’d be a thread connecting it to his body. Plus, Yeonwoo sensed a subtle familiarity from the start.
“Ma’am, has Sunghyun ever said or done anything peculiar? Like talking to himself as though he saw things nobody else could?”
“Something peculiar, you say? Hmm… Sunghyun’s been special since he was young—he was more mature than kids his age. If that counts as ‘different,’ maybe.…”
“I mean, specifically, like talking to thin air the way I do sometimes.”
“Like you do? Oh, goodness, no. Sunghyun’s very normal in that respect. But if I had to pick one unusual trait… he’s extremely lucky. Every project he’s picked turned into a mega-hit.”
He’d get free treats with his popsicle, or the one day he overslept, the teacher who usually patrolled the school gate wasn’t there. Little strokes of luck, and big ones in his career.
Even if everyone insisted a movie script wouldn’t sell, if Sunghyun liked it, it would blow up. Conversely, a script everyone praised as a sure thing got ruined by its director’s scandal before release, flopping completely.
“Whenever Sunghyun was uneasy about something, it always tanked. Whenever he was on board, it was a smash hit. Though this coma means his luck isn’t perfect, I guess. Does that help?”
“Yes, it helps a lot.”
Yeonwoo felt certain now.
So you have a sixth sense, Kwon Sunghyun?
He suspected it was the same intuition that gave him that uncanny luck. No wonder my mom kept pushing me to be a shaman or an entertainer. They say the two paths share a strangely similar fate.
[We should start by finding the thread, yeah?]
“Agreed.”
He’d discovered why it was invisible. Once you know the cause, the next step is to fix it.
After drawing a talisman, the faint line gradually became visible.
There it is.
A small smile formed on Yeonwoo’s lips as his gaze landed on a thin shimmer of light.
“Child spirit,” Yeonwoo muttered.
They’d spent half a day trying to track down Kwon Sunghyun, and Yeonwoo’s tone was grim.
“Didn’t you say he was basically a homebody?”
[He’s not a hermit—he just doesn’t like going out much!]
“Sure, so how do you explain this?”
[…He suddenly felt adventurous…?]
They’d spent hours circling Seoul following the trace. Yeonwoo’s glare grew even fiercer, and the child spirit frantically pointed.
[Y-Yeonwoo! Look over there! The thread’s getting thicker, right?]
Indeed, it was thicker than before, which meant Kwon Sunghyun was close.
So he’s in that building…
Yeonwoo looked up at a skyscraper looming into the clouds. The thread led inside.
On the top floor was an observation deck, quiet on a weekday afternoon. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view, but Yeonwoo didn’t bother looking around. He headed straight toward one spot.
Finally. The runaway.
A man stood with clear eyes, hand pressed to the window as he gazed out. Even seeing only his profile, one could sense his exceptional aura. Under normal circumstances, he’d be mobbed by admirers—but here, he went unnoticed because no one else could see him.
Standing in a daze, he looked like he was in a commercial. Yeonwoo, however, was far from impressed—after half a day’s wild goose chase, he felt nothing but relief at having found him.
I don’t care if he’s Korea’s top star or a literal demigod. Let’s just grab him and go.
He marched straight toward Kwon Sunghyun, who remained oblivious, still looking out the window. Yeonwoo prepared to stop at a safe distance, ready to pounce if he ran again.
But just as Yeonwoo was about to halt—
“…!”
Their eyes met. At some point, Kwon Sunghyun had turned his head, peering straight at Yeonwoo. Before Yeonwoo could speak, those surprisingly vibrant lips—still rosy despite being a “living spirit”—moved first.
And the words that emerged from that perfectly shaped mouth were so shocking that Yeonwoo froze on the spot:
[Angel?]
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