Chapter 434

Chapter 434
## Chapter 434

Harley’s Modern Diary (1)

Contrary to the stressful situation he had mentally prepared for, the debut appointment at the television studio concluded without any major setbacks.

In all honesty, it was quite predictable.

The digital realm was one thing, where complete hidden identity and personal protection were guaranteed, but it was far more challenging to openly display hostility when standing face-to-face with someone in the real world.

‘Particularly when confronting an individual capable of doing you physical harm at a moment’s notice.’

The public was thoroughly conditioned to brutality, living in a society where even a devastating insurgent strike that reduced the metropolis to ruins couldn’t stop local businesses from resuming operations the very next morning.

The vampires might be attempting to walk a more pacifist line lately, but they remained apex predators by nature.

Nobody wished to needlessly provoke them and court a severe beating, potentially triggering a localized disaster. It was only logical for the opposite party to exercise self-restraint on their own accord.

“Naturally, every once in a while, some idiot completely forgets to be afraid.”

“Guh…!”

Down within the subterranean parking structure of the television studio.

Harley scratched the rear of his skull with a single hand while staring down at the fellow writhing in his grasp, whose face was completely enveloped by his fist.

The individual desperately clawed at his forearms and thrashed his legs wildly, yet Harley remained entirely immovable.

He merely applied a fraction more pressure through his fingertips to force the troublemaker to settle down.

“Hmm, I figured a situation like this might present itself.”

A handful of days had elapsed since Licorice commenced their official public engagements.

There hadn’t been any notable disruptions during that span.

They had simply been traveling back and forth between different television networks and putting themselves out there, precisely fulfilling the intent of the pop idol initiative.

‘To foster a sense of comfort, you must begin by normalizing each other’s presence.’

Given that the musical act was already the primary topic of conversation across the country, securing television bookings was never a concern.

If anything, filtering through the deluge of invitations to weed out hidden ill intent was the real chore.

What would happen if they collaborated with a producer harboring malicious designs, only to suffer the consequences of manipulative, hostile editing?

While they could vet the showrunners and their immediate networks to a certain extent…

There was simply no method to proactively intercept every low-level production assistant aiming to cause disruption like this.

“Good grief, even with that in mind, who would have guessed you’d attempt to rig an explosive device underneath the vehicle.”

Furthermore, it wasn’t a standard device—it was a bespoke enchanted explosive outfitted with concealment runes and amplified destructive charms.

Harley scrutinized the perpetrator, who had now gone completely limp and unconscious, with an inquisitive expression.

No matter how closely he inspected him, the fellow was definitely not an Awakened.

He was merely a commonplace crew member tasked with handling miscellaneous chores around the facility.

He lacked the profile of someone capable of obtaining otherworldly relics of this caliber on his own.

‘It appears we require a profound conversation.’

Ultimately, verbal communication was the most effective instrument for dismantling misconceptions and settling disputes amicably.

Granted, there would be strict constraints on the amount of data he could extract through such means.

This individual clearly didn’t possess a wealth of insight; he functioned merely as a disposable pawn in someone else’s game.

‘Well, it cannot be helped. We will simply have to unravel the thread one knot at a time.’

Cluelessness was one thing, but now that a genuine threat had manifested, he couldn’t afford to remain passive.

It confirmed that a party possessing the means to acquire such dangerous ordinance was operating in the shadows, aiming directly for them.

‘Perhaps the Reverse Heaven Society is beginning to probe our defenses.’

Harley carelessly pitched the restrained saboteur into the rear of the automobile and shifted his stride back toward the studio floor where the pop group was recording.

‘I absolutely must expand my information-gathering apparatus. It might be wise to assemble a specialized unit comprised entirely of supernatural talents like Andrew Weaver who excel in intelligence gathering. I wonder if any suitable candidates will simply tumble from the heavens?’

The Blood Alliance might hold absolute dominion over the nighttime realm of Korea, but that was merely a figurative phrase denoting their status as the premier clandestine syndicate.

This remained a democratic state, after all, a sovereign power wielding a highly functional administrative apparatus.

‘I need to extract more labor from Andrew. Besides, he would likely relish the opportunity to cooperate with fellow specialists in his domain. First and foremost, we must swell our ranks… ‘

Harley’s boots ground to a sudden halt mid-step as he mapped out his upcoming strategies.

Simultaneously, his heightened perceptions locked onto a precise coordinates.

His brow pinched tightly together beneath his dark lenses.

“What, already?”

A breathy, dry laugh escaped his teeth.

What kind of chaos had broken out during the brief window he had stepped away?

Popping his knuckles in sequence, he advanced forward with purposeful strides.

It appeared he would be forced to sweep away some garbage before the day was through.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

A profound frost enveloped the soundstage of the variety program.

Yet neither the network crew nor the supervising PD managing the location dared to voice a single syllable; they could only squirm uncomfortably and fixate on the epicenter of the dispute.

“Tch, it makes sense that monsters would behave like monsters. Who in their right mind would dare challenge them face-to-face?”

“It is utterly preposterous. These fiends who have likely butchered countless people in their lifetimes are parading around the network facilities without a care in the world.”

“Kyahaha! Doesn’t that simply indicate they possess some incredibly powerful patrons? Good grief, we might be the ones who end up barred from working in this business.”

“Hmph, if it comes to that, we can always relocate overseas. I have zero interest in remaining in a land governed by vampires.”

“Ah, I suppose I ought to earnestly evaluate migrating to another country as well.”

They lacked any alternative.

The collective of five men and women who had forced their way inside and completely paralyzed the studio floor possessed immense power and societal sway.

‘Legendary figures you scarcely ever catch sight of in person, all gathered in one spot!’

Had their arrival been motivated by a constructive purpose, the showrunner might have even attempted to pitch a special appearance.

However, the production crew, the PD included, could do nothing but suppress their breathing and observe in total silence, trying their best to blend into the background.

It wasn’t merely a matter of their celebrity status; there were far more concrete, terrifying reasons at play.

“Oh? What exactly are you planning to do, stare me down? Why don’t the two of us settle this right now?”

The woman leading the intrusion repeatedly jabbed her index finger against the forehead of Licorice’s director, Yun Seol, her features twisted in a fierce grimace.

Even with the absolute certainty that she was confronting vampires, she exhibited not a shred of trepidation.

“………”

Yun Seol along with the remaining members of Licorice merely pressed their lips together into a rigid line.

It wasn’t a matter of consciously restraining their supernatural abilities to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

They were acutely aware of the reality.

Even if they chose to retaliate with everything they possessed in this space, they stood no chance of besting the woman leading the confrontation on her own.

‘The legendary Sword Fairy, Cheon Seolhyang… ‘

Cheon Seolhyang, who originally made her mark as a Guardian eradicating malevolent entities during the dawning days of the Cataclysm, walked away from that life following a catastrophic incident, subsequently pivoting to theatrical performance and ascending to the absolute pinnacle of stardom.

A Returner who had achieved the rank of Sword Master—the absolute zenith of mortal capability—towered vastly above Yun Seol, who had only managed to reach level 6 courtesy of the Supreme Master’s benediction.

Returners had penetrated every single tier of human civilization, the theatrical arts included.

Licorice had only captured the public’s imagination because they were vampires classified as unholy entities breaking into the mainstream market.

Supernatural talents who were already firmly entrenched across the globe within this profession were by no means rare.

Among that cohort, Cheon Seolhyang stood as a foundational titan with over a decade of dominance in the field.

Striking aesthetics, masterful dramatic range, and breathtaking martial sequences that required absolutely no digital enhancement or safety harnesses.

Coupled with her historical exploits as a former Guardian, she had been elevated to the status of Korea’s premier leading lady—and now, this absolute titan was projecting unmitigated aggression.

‘And that is not the end of it. Every individual standing beside her possesses greater might than Sister Yun Seol… We are completely powerless against them.’

Nahee, positioning herself defensively at the rear of the group, bit down hard on her lower lip.

Even as their eldest sister positioned herself at the vanguard to endure the brunt of the degradation, the absolute lack of agency stoked the embers of her fury.

‘I anticipated this. I knew with absolute certainty we would encounter this variety of degradation… ‘

Regardless of how triumphantly their premier track performed, it wasn’t going to instantaneously rewrite the collective psyche regarding vampire kind.

That reality was precisely why this entire endeavor had been conceptualized—to accomplish what seemed utterly unachievable.

They had thoroughly conditioned themselves to face this flavor of antagonism.

“You are contaminating the very atmosphere, so why don’t you simply remove yourselves from this profession entirely? It would be far more preferable if you just ceased to exist…”

“………”

Visions of Jin Sوران, who had looked after her with the affection of a biological sister since their tenure in the Moderate Crew, flickered across her consciousness.

Alongside the aspirations of the ‘celebrity realm’ that they had gently cultivated through their late-night conversations.

‘Even so, I…!’

Up until this precise moment, she had simply accepted her fate.

An idol performer who doubled as a child of the night? It was laughable.

She had managed to survive solely through her sire’s ultimate martyrdom, yet here she was harboring ambitions far beyond her station—she had repeatedly castigated herself for her hubris.

“I find myself thoroughly underwhelmed by your conduct as well, PD. Are you truly that desperate for television metrics? To the point of introducing unholy fiends onto your stage.”

“Th-that was not my decision…”

“Hmm, it seems I shall have to conduct a meeting with the station president… No, the network director.”

“Heup! Miss Cheon!”

Her choice to step forward as the initial volunteer for this endeavor, operating as Heterosis’s administrative assistant, had been driven by profound earnestness.

Recollections of Jin Sوران’s unadulterated delight during the conceptualization phase and the collective trials the troupe had endured together rushed to the forefront.

‘How did we manage to journey all this way only to capitulate the moment we encounter an obstacle like this?’

Historical experiences converged seamlessly with the present reality.

And in that precise microsecond, something shattered cleanly within her mind.

“Hoo.”

It was for that very reason.

Nahee advanced to the front after letting out a prolonged, heavy exhalation, projecting defiant words into the space.

“…Old lady. We have an active production to execute at this moment, so could you please conclude your posturing and exit the premises?”

The surrounding climate dropped to absolute freezing in a fraction of a second.

The aggressive agitators, the background production crew who were merely spectating, even her fellow comrades in Licorice—every single person snapped their widened eyes directly toward her position.

“Old… You insolent…!”

Cheon Seolhyang’s eyelids twitched with uncontrollable rage.

She successfully preserved her youthful visage by virtue of her cultivation tier, yet she was rapidly approaching her fourth decade of life.

Utterances originating from a youth who possessed the appearance of a secondary school student struck that specific vulnerability with devastating precision.

“N-Nahee! Regardless of the situation, she is a veteran figure…”

“Oh, that’s right. My mistake, my deepest apologies. But in all seriousness? Can you honestly not perceive the bottleneck you are creating? The entire production has ground to a halt solely because of you veterans. Possess grievances? Return to voice them once our work is finalized. Are you even aware of the financial strain you are imposing right now? Is this considered a special entitlement reserved for senior performers?”

Her delivery was unrefined, yet to any objective observer, her logic was entirely bulletproof.

Experienced industry professionals like themselves understood perfectly well how staging an aggressive confrontation like this could severely damage their public standing.

Nevertheless, they executed the maneuver regardless, calculating that the resulting fallout was an acceptable price to pay to realize their objectives.

They possessed the necessary societal leverage to smooth over the ripples to a degree.

However, irrespective of that fact…

“What an unmitigated brat.”

Nahee’s windpipe felt as though it were being compressed by an invisible vice the moment Cheon Seolhyang spoke in a dead, freezing tone.

Too late—her rational mind reasserted control, but the damage was already done.

A terrifying, murderous glare weighed heavily upon her paralyzed anatomy.

The expanding, tempestuous pressure, resembling a localized winter storm, completely muted the entire environment.

“Oho, the juvenile has successfully provoked the apex predator.”

“Sister~ Restrain yourself a bit. We cannot afford to terminate her existence, correct? Dealing with the aftermath would be an absolute nightmare.”

“Sigh, this is developing into an incredibly tedious situation.”

The contemporary world had shifted dramatically from the pre-Cataclysm era.

The Ability Management Bureau alongside the Guardians labored tirelessly to preserve civil stability, yet profound systemic evolutions were utterly unavoidable.

One such evolution pertained to altercations occurring between Awakened individuals.

The terrestrial sphere no longer played host to invasive monsters or sovereign demon lords to execute.

Prohibiting the manifestation of supernatural power entirely was an impossible standard to enforce.

“Placing your confidence in that grand phantom entity, are we? It appears you require a thorough demonstration regarding the hazards of empty arrogance.”

Individual combat efficacy was paramount.

Directing that power maliciously against ordinary citizens would instantly earn you the designation of a Villain, but settling personal vendettas through mutual combat wasn’t aggressively regulated by the authorities.

Provided that no fatalities or catastrophic, permanent harm manifested.

‘Being a creature of the night, her fundamental cellular reconstruction should easily patch up whatever follows.’

Cheon Seolhyang nonchalantly formed her hand into a rigid blade configuration and initiated a casual slicing motion.

By her personal metrics, at least.

“Hold on—!”

“Nahee!”

A violent, localized gale erupted into the room.

As the members of Licorice formed a protective perimeter around the immobilized Nahee and yanked her toward the rear, the three most capable combatants—Yun Seol included—channeled their crimson energy reserves to erect a defensive barrier at the vanguard.

‘It is not her absolute maximum power! But we must withstand at least a singular strike…!’

An offensive output that eclipsed level 7 by the metrics of the vampire hierarchy.

Even a successful defensive maneuver would leave their physical vessels severely compromised.

And if the television recording session was completely ruined… such defeatist notions rippled through her consciousness when—

“Good grief, fully grown adults terrorizing a juvenile simply for articulating reality—what kind of ridiculous farce is this?”

The familiar, completely unbothered vocalization of a man drifted smoothly into her ears.

Kwaduduk—

At what precise instant had he materialized? A massive, expansive back now stood like a fortress wall directly in front of their position.

Something was being violently compressed within the closed fist of the man who had extended his arm straight out into the vacant space.

““Manager!”“

In response to the collective exclamation, the towering figure sporting slicked-back hair and dark sunglasses cast a brief glance over his shoulder.

Appraising their physical condition, he gave a relaxed nod.

“Everyone appears to be structurally sound. Simply adjust your styling, and the recording session should proceed without issue.”

“…Manager, have you completely lost your mind?”

A member of the group blurted out the words in utter bewilderment.

As if executing a television broadcast was a realistic possibility under these conditions.

“Kahaha! Well, that is a fair assessment. But we have no alternative option—our itinerary includes a subsequent appointment. We cannot afford to squander any more minutes.”

“No, the production is very clearly terminated…”

Disregarding the verbal pushback, Harley pivoted his entire frame toward the front.

Directing his attention toward the five individuals who were radiating pure hostility.

‘Are these characters connected to the fellow with the explosive device?’

His gaze analyzed their profiles in a fraction of a second.

The Returner media personalities were all battle-tested veterans of the old guard.

A demographic cohort that had experienced the unmitigated savagery of the ancestral ‘demon’ vampires in the flesh.

They possessed an abundance of psychological justification fueled by their personal interpretations of righteousness.

‘Particularly that female specimen… ‘

His focus locked squarely onto the principal actress.

Hesperon relayed the relevant background data to his consciousness in a flash.

‘Cheon Seolhyang, possessing sufficient combat efficacy to be shortlisted as the impending regional director for the Guardians, backed by an immaculate public profile… ‘

However, over a decade in the past, she had blundered directly into a calculated ambush orchestrated by the Blood Alliance, resulting in the total annihilation of her operational unit, leaving her as the sole survivor before she abruptly transitioned into commercial acting.

A highly problematic adversary whether evaluated by raw martial capability or institutional alliances.

Harley, however, did not sweat the small stuff.

“…Who exactly are you? You do not bear the signature of a vampire.”

“It matters little. Our schedule is demanding—let us conclude this matter with haste. We can engage in individualized discussions concurrently with the recording session.”

Shedding his formal suit jacket with a shrug of his shoulders, he turned up the sleeves of his button-down garment and systematically cracked his neck joints.

His flawless, predatory fangs caught the illumination of the studio arrays, exposed in a radiant, confident grin.