Chapter 23
Chapter 23
I wondered why this guy was in the practice room.
"Are you kids playing games with me right now?! Is debut a joke to you? How many trainees do you think there are in the world at your level? If you're going to do it like that, just quit right now."
Taming, huh.
No.
A Team Leader can yell at kids who are about to debut.
They can point out mistakes.
That's true.
If only Park Ju-yong were actually making proper points.
"There are kids who spend 5, 6 long years just preparing, only to leave society without ever debuting. What do you think they'll do when they leave here? They can't do anything. Even if they work part-time, they just stand there blankly asking, 'What should I do?' If you don't put your lives on the line here right now, what are you going to do? Huh? Tell me."
"Nothing. I don't think I can do anything......."
That was just a process of gaslighting them by crushing their spirits.
The Oasis kids were working hard enough.
Their mindset was excellent.
And I think they're decent kids, character-wise.
But he's doing this just in case they have other thoughts.
He's taming them in advance so he can control them more easily.
'Ha. That's something only a real piece of shit would do.'
It doesn't just happen in the entertainment industry.
It's a tactic frequently used by vicious bosses like Park Ju-yong, who can't stand it unless they're lording over others and leading things their own way.
The reason that's truly malicious is.
It slowly turns the person being subjected to it into a fool.
It makes them unable to do anything but what they're told.
Furthermore, it even destroys their self-esteem.
'He's ruined so many people like that.'
What will they do when they leave?
He's crushed their spirits so thoroughly.
What would change if they left?
Just thinking about Gil Min-seo ending up in the hands of a bastard like that makes me dizzy, and then furious.
'He probably ruined that great talent, the woman who could bring happiness to the whole world, too.'
Tsk, I clicked my tongue and approached with a smile plastered on my face.
"Why put your lives on the line? Just do your best."
"Who the hell are you? Can't you tell when to butt in and when not to?"
"Sorry. I'm not very good at distinguishing those things."
Ah. Ouch.
Pajik, I thought sparks were flying.
Park Ju-yong was glaring at me like he really wanted to kill me.
"Kids. Don't cry, go over there and rest. The Team Leader here and I need to have a little chat. Ugh."
I couldn't breathe for a second while I was talking.
It wasn't of my own volition.
Park Ju-yong had slammed his palm into my chest with all his might.
Right in the solar plexus, too.
If it had been a fist, it might have been a real disaster.
I looked at him, startled.
But before that, Park Ju-yong was growling while poking my chest with his index finger.
"Hey. You fucking little shit. Just because you've got the title of Team Leader in front of your name, you think you can act out now?"
"......."
"Do you really think you and I are the same kind of Team Leader? You little shit. Huh? Tell me."
"That's not it. Ugh."
"If you know it's not, then! If you know! Not once, but every time we run into each other, you pull this arrogant crap? Just manage the kids you brought in properly. Bring in some idiots who can't dance or sing and play house, why don't you."
He's a real geezer, this fucking asshole.
Honestly, I'm so pissed off I want to just throw a punch.
He's not even worth a single punch.
But this world isn't an era where you can solve everything with violence.
Because real revenge isn't like that.
"Do you think I get angry because I want to? I get angry because I want things to go well!"
He was so loud.
People passing by in the hallway all stopped and glanced over here.
So Park Ju-yong's voice got even louder.
This bastard.
He really cares about the eyes of others, doesn't he.
"Do you think this industry is a joke? This is why you're a failure. You should be desperate. You should be trying even harder, but you've got nothing but flowers in your head. I guarantee it. The kids you're preparing are all going to fail. Do you know what that means? You've ruined their lives, you little shit!!"
Now this guy is even dragging Hee-ju and Da-young into this to make me look like an idiot.
Anyway, his way of pissing people off is the best in the industry.
This fucking asshole.
"Then, let's see when that time comes?"
I thought he might back down or at least apologize if I pushed him this far.
Tell him to go eat a dick.
I can't throw a punch right now. But I didn't have even the slightest intention of apologizing, either.
I'd rather shove my face into the poop of a passing firefly than bow my head to a bastard like this.
"I'd rather succeed happily by cheering each other on, instead of gaslighting people and crushing their spirits like you do, Team Leader."
"......What?"
As if to show that there's a new level beyond extreme rage.
Veins were popping out on Park Ju-yong's face.
Wow.
At this point, it wouldn't be strange if his skin suddenly ripped open and he transformed into a demon. I've seen protagonists transform into demons in fighting games.
He'd be perfect for casting in something like that, right?
Ah, his face is too fucked up, so maybe that's not possible.
"Well. It's true that you've had several successes, Team Leader. But you've also ruined just as many, haven't you? Compared to that, I don't have any data yet. So, let's talk again after at least one piece of data comes out. To see who's right."
"I've never seen such a crazy bastard."
I've never seen a bastard like you either.
They say picking your boss is a matter of luck.
And they say there are many crazy people in the world. But you're the one who shows me something beyond that.
Park Ju-yong.
"Forget it. We have something to talk about separately, so let's move, shall we? If it comes to it, I'll even let you punch me once."
There are too many eyes here.
That would be a shame.
Because I really want to hear Park Ju-yong's raw, honest thoughts while I'm recording.
I thought about it on the way here.
Why Novel said that recording him would solve everything.
But when I thought about what kind of bastard Park Ju-yong is, the answer came immediately.
'There's no way a bastard like this gave up on casting Gil Min-seo out of concern for her health.'
Then what is it?
"What is it? It better not be something trivial. I'll really punch you in the face."
This fucking asshole.
He's actually moving locations because he wants to hit me that badly.
Fine.
If I can get Gil Min-seo into my hands by taking one punch, it's a bargain.
"Do you happen to know Gil Min-seo? The moment I saw her, I thought, 'This kid has to be an idol.' So I'm thinking of casting her."
"Ha. You crazy bastard. Do you even know what she is?"
"She has a bit of a heart problem, but she seems to want to do it herself. Isn't that fine?"
Park Ju-yong burst into a hollow laugh.
A laugh that said he was truly dumbfounded.
"I've never heard such bullshit. Hey! You've really lost your mind, haven't you? That heart-crippled bitch is just a ticking time bomb, a ticking time bomb!"
His word choice is insane, this fucking asshole?
"Heart-crippled? Isn't that a bit too harsh—"
"You son of a bitch. Don't talk back, just listen. I'll say it again. She's just a ticking time bomb wrapped in the prettiest packaging in the world. If that goes off, she might be fine, but everyone around her dies. The tower everyone worked so hard to build collapses in one shot. You get it?"
I wondered if that was something a human being should say.
Park Ju-yong didn't even stop there.
"She's a funny bitch too. Acting all nice, but in the end, she doesn't think about anyone else. She just wants to live once before she dies, just as she pleases."
"Hey! Park Ju-yong!"
Kung-!
For a moment, all sorts of thoughts crossed my mind.
I don't regret doing it, but.
Oh no, that word also crossed my mind.
The only saving grace was that I quickly changed direction while trying to grab his collar and just punched the wall instead.
"Should've grabbed me by the collar."
"......Team Leader. Still, they're much younger kids than us. Well. It's funny for me to say this, considering how 'good' I am. But honestly, you crossed the line just now."
"I'm just speaking hypothetically, you little shit. Hypothetically."
Since Park Ju-yong wasn't a complete idiot, he seemed to let my action slide to some extent.
'Should I have just punched him instead?'
I muttered to myself, and Park Ju-yong said as he walked past me.
"Anyway. If you bring her to our company, you're the same kind of bastard. If you want to die, die alone. You're already going around causing trouble everywhere, and if you bring that kid, who isn't even healthy, everyone's going to die. You're the one who shouldn't be shortening her lifespan. Just keep selling tteokbokki like you are now. Got it? That's not a suggestion, it's a warning."
He slammed into my shoulder with all his might as he walked past, a move he clearly hadn't done just once or twice.
Fuck, is he a gangster or what?
"Ha. Fuck. He really is a devil."
I loved the movie I Saw the Devil.
Turns out the biggest psycho was right next to me, worse than the guy in the movie.
"Ugh. Reality is even worse than the movies."
[But do you want to know what's even scarier?]
"What?"
[There are an awful lot of people like Park Ju-yong in this world.]
"Novel."
[Yes?]
"Bring me a diaper."
[.......]
"Ah. And a bandage too. It hurts like hell. My bone isn't broken, is it?"
[Don't be such a baby. Or, would you like to drink the Elixir replica for Min-seo yourself, Master?]
Are you crazy?
"Ha. Shit. I'm craving a cigarette."
The cigarette I had finally quit.
I feel like I'm going to go crazy from my mouth itching every time I face Park Ju-yong.
"Tsk. Forget it."
What cigarette.
Now that I'm including Gil Min-seo, there will be three people under me sticking together.
More than that, I'm wondering if it's okay to let her hear this.
[Recording complete.]
[File name 005NP.mp4]
It's too perfect of evidence.
It contains such insane lines that I'm even worried about whether I should let anyone else hear it.
"I've lived a long time, but this is the first time I've seen a bastard say that kind of shit to a kid who's been sentenced to a terminal life."
I think I burst into a hollow laugh about 50 times.
I wasn't exactly a good person either.
I know that.
If I were a truly good person, would I even think about banging the kids I'm raising as idols?
Still, compared to Park Ju-yong, I thought I might be an angel.
That guy is definitely a devil.
"Well. Hmm. Let's let her hear it. Even if Min-seo is shocked, her favorability towards me might increase just as much."
[You're certainly not a good person either, Master. Usually, people would just give up and say, 'I can't let her hear this,' you know.]
"Yeah. I'm a bad person."
Because no matter what.
My heart beats a little faster at the thought of banging a girl who's suffering from heart disease.
I really am a wicked person.
I immediately contacted Gil Min-seo.
-Huuuuuuup!!
"I told you to breathe."
-Hehehe. I was so excited I couldn't help it. Are you done talking?
"Yeah. It's over. Can I see you now?"
-Totally possible. I'll even climb out the window to get out, so don't worry too much. There's a walking path in front of our tteokbokki shop. Let's meet there.
How is it that just talking to her makes me smile automatically?
It feels more like seeing an impossibly cute younger sister than a girlfriend.
"Novel."
[Yes, Master.]
"An angel and a devil are fighting inside me."
[What about?]
"They're divided into the 'let's bang this adorable kid' faction and the 'we must protect such an adorable kid' faction."
[Oh my. So who won?]
"The angels turned around in the end. Decided to 'bang' her because she's adorable."
[Aren't they both devils from the start?]
Maybe so.
When I arrived at the walking path, I could see people running here and there wearing the headphones that are popular these days.
In the distance, a woman who looked great in a white tracksuit was running toward me with a bright smile.
Is her speed about one-tenth of other people's?
Even so, she shines brighter than anyone else.
[Gil Min-seo, SS+]
"Ah! Hello. Team Leader! I'll give you a 90-degree bow first! I'm Gil Min-seo!"
"Likewise. I'm Team Leader Kim Hyun-woo."
When I let her hear the recording of the conversation I had with Park Ju-yong.
The first thing Gil Min-seo said was this.
"That's a relief."