Martial Arts Returnee’s Game Broadcast

Chapter 73

1.

Han Chae-rin wasn’t accustomed to rejection—let alone someone slapping her hand away.
It was an experience entirely foreign to her.

“Cute.”
“What did you just say?”
“I like fiery types. Smart ones like you are even more appealing.”

Her curiosity deepened.

She was the founder and CEO of Royal Club, a talent agency ranked third by market value in the industry. A name that made insiders swoon just hearing it.

Although the company had hit a rough patch following successive scandals and incidents involving its second-generation Awakeners, Han Chae-rin’s allure as a power figure hadn’t diminished.

She possessed beauty, charm, and wealth—qualities that would make most people eager to accept her attention. The industry was rife with stars who would willingly grasp the hand she extended.

Faced with such an overwhelming presence, Joo Ah-young couldn’t help but feel intimidated.

“Hm~ but you’re lacking. You still seem too weak. Sorry I can’t recruit you, but how about you stop being so jealous and step aside?”
“Wh-what? Who said I was interested? Let’s go, Unni. Don’t listen to weird women like her.”

“Are you sure about that? If you act without considering what your Unni wants, she might end up disliking you. She might hate it if you keep making decisions for her without asking.”

On edge and full of suspicion, Joo Ah-young bristled at Han Chae-rin, who, unfazed, treated her hostility like the playful growls of a pet. Joo Ah-young, unable to hide her unease, clung tightly to Ha Eun-eung’s arm.

“Unni, it’s not true, right?”

Ha Eun-eung reached out and gently stroked her head. The warmth, soft touch, and calming scent eased Joo Ah-young’s nerves, her tense face melting into a relaxed expression.

Then, Ha Eun-eung pulled out her notebook and wrote:

[I can spare a little time, as long as you don’t make us uncomfortable.]

Even with this clear boundary, Han Chae-rin, undeterred, casually took a seat at the bar. Her daring outfit barely covered her, but she carried herself with confidence, crossing her legs and resting her chin in her hand as she smiled.

Han Chae-rin exuded an intoxicating charm, one that went beyond her position as the CEO of a major talent agency or the owner of a black card.

“I’ve ignored women who didn’t catch my interest, but I’ve never failed with one I’ve set my sights on.”

She was confident. Years of instinct and experience had honed her ability to gauge the right approach and distance to draw people in. It was rare to find someone who could resist her allure—unless they were an exceptionally eccentric Awakener.

“How about you? Doesn’t your heart flutter? Don’t you want to hear more from me?”

If you play nice, I could make you feel even better.

Faced with such bold temptation, Ha Eun-eung furrowed her brow slightly, seemingly uncomfortable, before reaching out toward Han Chae-rin.

“Oh?”

So, she’s shy but assertive when it counts?

The unexpected move startled Han Chae-rin. As Ha Eun-eung’s hand reached her face, she mischievously leaned into it, as if to see what she would do next.

But before anything could escalate, Joo Ah-young clung tighter to Ha Eun-eung’s arm, her eyes welling up with frustration.

Choi Joo-young, the bartender, watched the scene with both hands over her mouth, unable to hide her excitement.

Ha Eun-eung, now the center of attention, calmly corrected Han Chae-rin’s posture. She tilted the CEO’s chin straight, removed the hand propping it up, and placed it firmly on her thigh. Then, she reached down to adjust Han Chae-rin’s crossed legs, uncrossing them completely.

“She’s fixing my posture? Touching my legs? What is she planning?”

Han Chae-rin swallowed hard.

Ha Eun-eung, serious and focused, studied her for a moment before nodding with a slight softening of her expression.

[When sitting, maintain this posture.]
“Huh?”
[Resting your chin in your hand makes your jaw asymmetrical and deepens wrinkles.]

The unexpected advice left Han Chae-rin speechless.

Ha Eun-eung continued, her words kind yet firm:

[Crossing your legs tilts your pelvis, strains your muscles, and can cause nerve compression. It’s better not to do it.]

For a moment, Han Chae-rin chuckled in disbelief. “Is she really correcting my posture here?” But instead of annoyance, she found herself intrigued by Ha Eun-eung’s unique demeanor.

“You’re delightfully earnest. I like you even more than I did at first glance.”

Though she instinctively moved to cross her legs again, she stopped midway, opting to stretch them out in front of her with a small sigh.

With a warmer tone, Han Chae-rin spoke again:

“My team watched your video and recommended you. They said you’d make a great addition to the group. Now that I’ve met you, I can see how sharp their instincts are.”

Ha Eun-eung tilted her head like an owl, then returned it to its original position, silently signaling Han Chae-rin to continue.

“These are the profiles of my girls. They’ve been appearing on TV lately. Have you seen them before?”

Elogio Sherry Nina

• Elemental-Type B-Class Ice Awakener
• Born: March 11, 2026 (25 years old)
• Nationality: South Korea (Father: Spanish, Mother: Korean)
• Height/Weight: 172cm / 55kg
• Affiliation: Royal Club (3rd Generation Awakener)

Isono Nanase

• Specialization-Type B-Class Vector Manipulation Awakener
• Born: December 5, 2025 (26 years old)
• Nationality: South Korea (Father: Korean, Mother: Japanese)
• Height/Weight: 160cm / 41kg
• Affiliation: Royal Club (3rd Generation Awakener)

Though Ha Eun-eung didn’t recognize the names, Joo Ah-young, who was hiding behind her and peeking at Han Chae-rin, immediately realized who they were.

They were rising stars in both combat and popularity, gaining attention as next-generation celebrity Awakeners.

“Unni, they’re the ones who release albums and post Gate-clear broadcasts. They’re star Awakeners.”

[Is that so.]

“Star Awakeners are just as popular as top-tier streamers. Give it a few more years, and they’ll be incredibly famous.”
“Thanks for the nice introduction. How sweet of you to say~”
“Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t complimenting you. I only said that because Unni seemed curious.”

[Are you suggesting I join them in their activities?]
“Exactly. Nina and Nanase share something in common with you, Silent Sword Master: They’re stunning mixed-race Awakeners with exceptional combat skills.”

Finding a candidate who met such specific conditions wasn’t easy. And the fact that this person—Ha Eun-eung—had no prior affiliations with any guild or talent agency, essentially a blank slate, made her even more desirable.

A "Vanilla," as they called it, was akin to a unicorn—pristine and elusive, making recruitment all the more tempting.

“Of course, I don’t believe I can recruit a powerful Awakener like you with just money. That’s why we offer tailored services.”

Han Chae-rin’s gaze shifted to Joo Ah-young, who flinched and let out a small squeal.

“What-what is it?”
“I could ensure that your gloomy little sister doesn’t have to deal with the pressure of guilds or associations, helping her live a smooth life as an Awakener.”
“I don’t need that kind of help!”
“You might not, but who knows how your Unni feels about it.”
“Unni, right? You don’t have to sign any contracts because of me! It’s fine, really.”

[Let me ask you one thing.]

“Do you want my measurements? I manage myself even more rigorously than my girls, so I’m confident in that area.”

[How did you know I was strong?]

To her, it was a critical question.

Even she had only discovered her ability to match B-Class Awakeners after ambushing Shin Seong-gwak, an elder master of the Myeongho Guild, the day before.

How could this random talent agency CEO know about it after only a day?

“I told you, didn’t I? My girls love your broadcasts.”
“?”
“They mentioned watching your gameplay videos with thousands of others. Didn’t you just take down the Demon General recently?”

The sudden mention of game broadcasts took Ha Eun-eung by surprise.

Han Chae-rin, now brimming with excitement, completely dropped her sultry persona and spoke with giddy enthusiasm.

“One of my girls, who has even experienced sensory link battles, said this about you: ‘I’ve never seen combat like this, not even in a Gate. We have to recruit her.’”

Hearing that it was related to the game and not her real-life ambush eased Ha Eun-eung’s tension.

“A game, huh.”

She imagined it—a shadowy silhouette moving in ghost mode, watched by tens of thousands of people.

Even she had to admit it now:

“People must really like games.”

For them to watch such a crude silhouette with such enthusiasm, it seemed gaming held incredible allure.

[Please pass on my thanks to your fan on my behalf.]
“Why not deliver the thanks yourself? They’d love it if you showed up in person. And if you stayed with them daily, it’d be even better.”

[What I want is to be left alone. That’s all.]

Han Chae-rin pouted, her lips forming a slight sulk.

Her careful calculations—using seduction to sway her target and dangling Joo Ah-young’s potential success as a condition for signing a contract—were completely dismantled by Ha Eun-eung’s aloofness and peculiar logic.

It left Han Chae-rin feeling as if her own resolve had been shaken instead.

“The Awakener industry is filthy. I thought you’d understand that. Or is there something you know that I don’t?”

Ha Eun-eung saw this as a good opportunity. She had already planned to talk to Joo Ah-young once she sobered up.

The fledgling Awakener was like a child taking their first steps into a cutthroat world, and Ha Eun-eung’s anxiety about her well-being was evident.

“I’ve made a plan.”

She confidently shared her idea.

[I’m going to create a martial sect.]
“A martial sect? Wait, you’re planning to form a guild?”

If guilds or associations interfered with their ability to level up in Gates, why not form a guild herself to protect them?

Her lack of experience didn’t seem like an issue. If she could find an alternative method to help Joo Ah-young grow, the traditional path of Awakener leveling wouldn’t matter.

Ha Eun-eung intended to experiment.

“If corruption can create Awakeners, perhaps the opposite is also true.”

If Joo Ah-young could gain pure internal energy, perhaps she could unlock the status screen from the Martial Arts Chronicle.

If she could achieve that, Ha Eun-eung already knew the next step.

[I’ll teach Ah-young my martial arts.]