Chapter 22
Chapter 22
[Gil Min-seo, SS+]
Is it even possible to get a grade like that?
Honestly, Hee-ju's SS was already an absurd grade.
'There are so many hidden monsters in this world.'
Did Novel lead me here just to show me this?
[Nope. I just wanted to eat tteokbokki.]
You're a God AI, and you didn't predict this?
[Hehe. Even an AI can't help it when distracted by tteokbokki.]
"Team Leader-nim. Aren't you going out? Are you just going to stand there blankly waiting inside?"
"Huh? Ah. Um. Should we wait inside?"
Waiting inside is definitely a bit awkward.
It could be a nuisance to the people eating inside, though.
Still, I wanted to see what kind of person Gil Min-seo was.
Regardless of her grade.
Truly, as a manager.
As a professional working in the management industry, I was so curious about what kind of person Gil Min-seo was that I couldn't bring myself to leave.
But then.
"Ah! It's fine to wait inside. Come to think of it, the weather hasn't fully warmed up yet. I must have been too stingy. Hehe! It wouldn't be a bad idea to take your time looking at the menu and pick what you want to order in advance! Since you're choosing, let's think hard and create the best combination!"
She's glowing.
"Here you go! Mini gimbap, tteokbokki, and ramen are served. And my lovely smile too! I love you. Enjoy your meal!"
Sometimes, you hear that saying, don't you?
You were born to do this.
I used to think that was bullshit. Just bullshit people spew to give the person confidence or to justify something.
But looking at Gil Min-seo, those words...
...come up to my throat.
That kid is an idol.
A kid who exists to be a celebrity.
"Did you enjoy your meal? Please come again! Ah, you didn't have a hard time waiting so long, did you? Alright, another customer coming in. I'll clear the table right away!"
"Her energy is no joke. That kid."
"Yeah."
Hee-ju and Da-young also nod as they watch Gil Min-seo.
"Seriously. She really seems like an amazing person."
Eun Hee-ju muttered something meaningful, but...
...there wasn't a single word wrong with it.
To exaggerate a little, if someone exhausted from frequent overtime and the world, on the verge of dying from overwork, were to encounter Gil Min-seo, they might jump up even while dying, smile along with her, and clench their fists.
Because she was so overflowing with energy.
Should I say she's someone who makes even the people around her happy and energized?
And that was the top-tier virtue an idol should possess.
'That grade doesn't come out for no reason.'
A kid born to be an idol.
Gil Min-seo.
I'm casting her, no matter what.
By any means necessary.
[Well. Hmm. She is an interesting kid. But before that! Let's eat the tteokbokki first. Master. I'm telling you, this place is a real tteokbokki hotspot.]
"...Have you two decided what to order?"
"Well. Since we're here, we have to eat the tteokbokki, right?"
"Me too."
"Hmm. Then I'll..."
[Menu]
Ramen - 3,500 won
Nice Gimbap - 2,500 won
Dumplings - 3,000 won
Tteokbokki (1 serving) - 4,000 won
Mom's Hand Stir-fried Pork - 5,500 won
What a surprise.
There's stir-fried pork on the menu.
"I'll have the stir-fried pork..."
[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!]
[Kyaaaaaaaa!!!!!]
[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!]
"...Me too. I'll just have the tteokbokki."
[Yes!]
Fuck.
The stir-fried pork would be fucking delicious. If the tteokbokki is good, the stir-fried pork must be good too.
'I'll definitely come back alone later to eat that stir-fried pork.'
I vowed to myself, and then Gil Min-seo approached.
"Have you decided on your order? Everything is delicious, so you won't regret it! And if it was tasty, please come back again. Otherwise, I'll be sulky?"
A smile forms on my face automatically.
Have I become an old man too?
"Three servings of tteokbokki and two rolls of gimbap, please."
"Yup! If you need anything else, please call me anytime."
"Oh, right. Wait a second."
"Yes?"
Gil Min-seo, who was about to dash off just as energetically as she had arrived, screeched to a halt.
I looked at Gil Min-seo and said,
"I don't have a business card yet, but actually, I'm a team leader working in celebrity management. Would you be interested in becoming an idol?"
It was a very textbook question.
"Uh."
No.
Honestly, I naturally expected that a kid like her would just accept it.
That's how well-suited she was to being an idol.
However.
"I'm sorry. I'll decline."
"..."
She could decline, sure.
But I hadn't expected to be rejected. Maybe it would be different for someone else, but Gil Min-seo was such a waste to miss out on that I was even more flustered.
So, I guess you could say I was a bit rude.
"Hey. Could you think about it one more time?"
Trying to sound desperate might have created a situation that made Gil Min-seo uncomfortable.
"Ah."
Tae-aeng-.
Gil Min-seo suddenly staggered, and while trying to grab the edge of the table, she ended up knocking over the utensil holder that was on top.
"Min-seo!"
People who looked like her parents popped out of the kitchen in a split second.
"Are you okay, Min-seo?"
The two parents, not paying the slightest bit of attention to us, fussed over Min-seo as they supported her.
"Ah. I'm fine. Mom, Dad! Go back in quickly. What are you doing in front of the customers?"
"But."
"Hehe! I'll work just 30 more minutes and then I'll go in too."
"Alright. Just 30 minutes."
The parents, who had spoken firmly, bowed to us belatedly.
"Um, I'm sorry. I'll clean this up right away."
"No. It's fine."
Feeling like she might have gotten sick because of me, I shook my head and picked up the utensils that had fallen to the floor to hand them over.
'Was she surprised because of that?'
Or is she actually sick?
"Alright! The food is coming out one after another. My mom's cooking skills are the best in the world!"
But despite saying she was sick, Gil Min-seo's expression was bright and energetic.
It was definitely not the appearance of a sick person.
'Hmm. I can't give up.'
As I was thinking that, Gil Min-seo approached energetically with tteokbokki and gimbap in both arms, smiling at me again.
"I'm sorry about earlier. Instead, I've put even more of my love into this. Everyone, please enjoy! Oh. And."
Gil Min-seo spoke quietly to me alone.
"Could you give me your phone number?"
"Ah. Of course."
Thinking that Gil Min-seo might have changed her mind, I quickly gave her my phone number.
Gil Min-seo, having received the phone number, gave a slightly bitter smile.
Soon, she returned to her original energetic self, worked for about 25 minutes, and then disappeared.
And the tteokbokki at this shop...
[It's delicious!!!]
[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Master, eat more!!! I love the taste sharing!!!]
Novel asked to pack 5 more servings, so it looks like I'll be eating only tteokbokki for the next week.
Fuck.
When am I going to eat the stir-fried pork?
I was patting my stomach full of tteokbokki to digest it when I received a phone call.
An unknown number.
I answered just in case.
-Ah! Hello. This is Gil Min-seo! Aren't you the person who came to our shop today and gave me your phone number?
Even on the phone, she's overflowing with energy.
"Yes. That's right. I'm Kim Hyun-woo. I'm a team leader at N&P. I really want you to debut as a celebrity, Gil Min-seo-ssi."
-Ah. I'm sorry.
A rejection without a moment's hesitation again.
Since she took my number, I thought she might have some intention.
That wasn't it.
-I thought it would be rude if I didn't tell you the reason. It's a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but I'm not in good health.
"..."
I was speechless for a moment.
Is that the tension of someone who isn't in good health? To be honest, I even doubted if she was just making an excuse.
But it wasn't.
-It's hard to tell you the exact diagnosis. My heart is in very bad shape, hehe. I was told I have at most 2 years left. I really love idols. I love dancing and singing energetically! Of course, I can't do it myself.
A confession that could absolutely not be a lie.
From the start, Gil Min-seo didn't look like someone who would lie.
Then.
Was someone who had been given a terminal diagnosis working with such a bright demeanor?
'No wonder her parents were being so absurdly overprotective.'
Given those circumstances, it was a natural reaction.
"Uh. This is..."
It's the first time I've been so speechless, like a mute.
I was really flustered.
Rather, it was Gil Min-seo who comforted me in this situation.
-Ha! It's okay! Actually, I'm the one who feels bad for having to decline such a good offer. Idols are great, but I like it now too!
What am I supposed to say in a situation like this?
I hope you get healthy.
Are you crazy?
If that were possible, her parents would have probably sold their own kidneys to pay for the surgery.
[Well. There is something you can say.]
[Something that's impossible for others, but only possible for you, Master.]
What is it?
[That if she signs a contract with me, she can graduate from her terminal life, and since she'll be healthy, she can become a superstar idol.]
Are you crazy?
[It's not a lie.]
[You have the Blessing of Sex, Master. You know it's the power of God. In front of God, even incurable diseases are useless.]
[Furthermore, I'm willing to provide a special service.]
[Why! Because I enjoyed that tteokbokki so much. If you want, I can give it to you. It's a replica, but it's an Elixir, a panacea.]
'Can't it be cured instantly with that Elixir?'
[Nah. With a replica, at most about a week? That's it. After that, you have no choice but to keep having sex with that kid, Master.]
Then, will she be completely cured as a result?
[If the Blessing of Sex gets stronger and stronger, it's possible.]
[Because recovery is included in that effect.]
The problem is how to explain this.
If you have sex with me, it's totally possible!
I can't just say that, can I?
-Um. Then I'll hang up now. Please come visit again next time. Then I'll welcome you with a happy smile. Even if I can't be everyone's idol, I can be the Team Leader's idol!
"Wait a minute."
-Yes! I'll wait a moment!
There was no time to choose my lines.
"Others can't do it, but I have a way. A way for you to be healthy and active as an idol."
I couldn't say she'd be completely cured yet.
That makes no sense.
If it reached her parents' ears, things could get complicated. No, the medical world might even take an interest in me.
-Hmm. Honestly, it's hard to believe. Still. I do want to try believing it. Even if I collapse in the middle. I'd rather keep challenging myself than just stay still and go.
"Then."
-But I don't think it'll work out.
"What? Why?"
She seemed like she would.
Why not this time?
-If that's the case, there was someone who offered me before you, Team Leader-nim. If I were to do it, I think I should talk to that person first.
No, what is this now.
"Who is that?"
I asked just in case.
-Ah! Come to think of it, I think he was from the same company as you, Team Leader-nim. Team Leader Park Ju-yong from N&P.
Why is that name popping up here?
[If that's the case, you don't need to worry.]
[Tell her you'll go meet Park Ju-yong. Ah. Don't forget to press the record button on your way there.]
I did as Novel said.
-Hmm! I don't know how it will turn out, but. I'll wait. Hehe. I hope the conversation goes well. I'll be steeling my resolve too. Hup! I'll hold my breath until you call, Team Leader-nim!
"Keep breathing."
-Yup!
Before I even hung up the phone, I was already setting out to find Park Ju-yong.
[2nd floor of the company building. He's in the practice room.]
No need to worry about it.
Because I have Novel.