Chapter 140: 4th Competition: Emergency Strategy Meeting (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 140: 4th Competition: Emergency Strategy Meeting (1)
I’m f*cked.
I was the one who insisted we stay on Idol Dynasty Annals, and now it looks like we won't even be able to perform because of me. I have no idea what was going through my head.
‘An injury requiring eight weeks of treatment and a cumulative fatigue level of 95%... Does that mean I really almost died?’
Suddenly, the messages from the System that had been annoying me until recently flashed through my mind.
+
[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ Assistant Manager Kim, why are you doing things you weren't told to do? Are you bored? Should I give you more work?
[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ Assistant Manager Kim, you sure like making things difficult. Why do you keep doing exactly what I told you not to do?
[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ Assistant Manager Kim, standing out isn't everything in society.
+
Back then, I definitely thought...
‘Who’s going to die just because Spark leaves Awangsil? Is the flow of the universe going to change?’
...But I really did almost die. The countdown was a warning for me to be careful.
Looking at it this way, the System actually had a somewhat favorable side toward me. At the very least, it didn't completely abandon me when a crisis was approaching. It even prepared follow-up measures like the 4 Major Insurances.
Furthermore, inferring from the System messages that just popped up, it seemed the penalties imposed during Awangsil were intended to prevent this incident.
Only then did all the puzzle pieces seem to click into place.
The abnormally slashed budget, the negative reactions that were excessive even considering "evil editing," and the recent personality controversy that even led to demands for my withdrawal.
Though it never stated it directly, the System had been constantly trying to induce me to quit through penalties and countdowns.
Does that mean I shouldn't do anything the System doesn't order?
Not necessarily, considering there were no tasks or restrictions when I appeared on Challenge.Living. It meant that not everything was strictly divided into "things I can do" and "things I can't."
‘And... if I only do the assigned tasks, when am I ever going to reach 1st place?’
I didn't even know how many KPIs were left, so I couldn't afford to hesitate.
The only certain thing was that it was better for my well-being not to do what the System explicitly told me not to do. Finding the loopholes was my new assignment.
Why did it have to go to such lengths to turn me into an idol?
My head was a mess. My thoughts were so tangled I felt like they might explode.
‘Fck.’*
I hate dwelling on problems that have no answer. I simply closed my eyes.
If only I could flip a switch and turn off my brain just like that.
Unorganized thoughts floated around my head like grease on cold beef bone soup.
Whatever. For now, I should just be grateful I’m not dead.
I’d have plenty of time to think later, but the Awangsil finals were right around the corner. This was an opportunity that wouldn't come again if I missed it now.
‘Wasn't there something more at the bottom when the Worker's Compensation Insurance explanation popped up?’
I had been in such a state of panic when the explanation first appeared that I only read the words that jumped out at me, but looking back, it felt like there was more written below.
I pulled up the Worker's Compensation Insurance explanation once more.
+
[SYSTEM] ‘Party B’ is notified of ‘4 Major Insurances - Worker's Compensation Insurance.’
.
.
.
▷ During the application period of ‘Worker's Compensation Insurance,’ ‘Party B’ may choose one of the following: ① Relief from pain caused by occupational hazards, or ② Rapid recovery from injuries sustained through occupational hazards (varies depending on the severity of the injury).
▷ Insurance benefits can be changed once.
+
The System had clearly stated that the injuries I sustained would take two weeks to heal.
If it was two weeks for a split-open head, it should take even less time now that the surgery was finished.
‘Since the finals have been postponed anyway, I can just show up and call it a miraculous recovery.’
While I was at it, I turned off the Labor Support Service, hoping to promote some muscle growth during recovery.
Muscles didn't seem to build well when that was turned on. I intended to lower my fatigue level completely and be reborn with a brand-new body.
As I stared at the part about being able to change the benefit, a new message appeared.
+
[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ You think you can double-dip on benefits? Just because the outside looks flashy doesn't mean everything is fine, so pay attention to your internal substance too. Good luck!
+
Exactly three seconds later.
I felt the same headache I had experienced just a few hours ago returning.
‘Fck, my body is in this shtty state, no wonder those bastards are worried, fck, fcking...!’
Nothing but curses filled my head. This was the first time I’d felt like this since the CBR training in the military.
The next day, Jeong Seong-bin came to the hospital room with Choi Je-ho.
I greeted them with a thoroughly haggard appearance.
“What’s with your face?”
This punk is picking a fight with my face. I guess he thinks he’s so handsome.
“Are you in a lot of pain, Hyung? Your complexion looks terrible.”
Look at Jeong Seong-bin. Even when saying the same thing, he’s so mild and kind.
“I’m okay. Thanks for coming, both of you.”
I wasn't okay at all, but if I got caught, they’d surely surround me and nag my ears off. I put on the performance of a lifetime.
“The reason I wanted to talk today was...”
“Sorry for cutting you off, Hyung. But there’s something I need to say.”
Jeong Seong-bin interrupted me, which was rare for him. When I told him to go ahead, he hesitated for a moment before speaking firmly.
“Hyung, we’ll handle the final competition ourselves.”
It was a statement I hadn't expected at all. To think these guys were taking the initiative to take a step forward as a five-member Spark!
I thought I had to somehow prove I was fully recovered and get on stage to prevent Spark from dropping out of Awangsil.
But these guys were being so thoughtful, telling me they’d handle the stage themselves and that I should just rest.
I almost shed tears of joy, but I held them back. I was already on the verge of tears because my head hurt so much. If I let my guard down, both my tear ducts and my wounds would burst.
“Will you be okay with that?”
“Are you in any position to worry about that? If we tell you to rest, just rest.”
Even Choi Je-ho kindly stopped me.
What a monumental occasion. I shall mark today as my second birthday.
“Thanks for being so considerate. I’m sure you’ll do even better on your own.”
“...What?”
Their planning might have been crappy in the past, but the Spark members were always incredibly good at playing their parts. Now that I’d spoon-fed them the items, they’d do just fine on their own.
‘Is this going to be the first time they show a stage as a five-member Spark?’
If they did well on this stage, the aftermath of my eventual departure would be lessened.
When that time came, people would react with things like, ‘I saw them last time, they’re fine without Kim I-wol.’
“It’s an important stage, so you have to do well. Maybe it’s for the best. If you need help with anything else, let me know.”
Instead of wasting a ton of time trying to memorize that damn choreography, a clumsy person like me might be much better off working on a laptop here.
The kids wouldn't have to worry about my level of dancing, either. And if they cut the budget for my costume and props, they’d have more money to spend on themselves.
I was about to ask Jeong Seong-bin if he could bring me a spare laptop, but his expression was unusual.
“What do you mean, ‘it’s for the best,’ Hyung?”
“The quality will be higher if it’s just you guys. It was a good thing I had you and Ju-woo sit out during the position battle last time. Or maybe if we give Gi-yeon a few more parts...”
“Wait a second. I don't understand why you’re thinking like that right now. Why do you think it would be better if you weren't there?”
“I told you last time. Do I have to say it twice?”
At that, Jeong Seong-bin’s expression hardened.
“Anyway, if there’s a spare laptop, could you bring it? And my diary. I think I left it by my pillow.”
“...No. Just get some proper rest while you’re hospitalized.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll think of a way for you to participate, even if it’s just for a little bit. Hyung, just focus on getting better quickly before the final competition.”
I didn't know why he suddenly changed his stance, but Jeong Seong-bin was firm. It was obvious that his mood had plummeted.
“They said he needs eight weeks. He can’t be discharged before then.”
Choi Je-ho chimed into the conversation. But Jeong Seong-bin didn't budge.
“There will be a way for six of us to stand on that stage. So let’s act like that talk about you being left out never happened.”
With those final words, Jeong Seong-bin bowed and left the room. I gestured for Choi Je-ho to follow him quickly.
‘System, can’t you give me a video of a five-member Spark stage or something?’
If I showed him that just once, Jeong Seong-bin wouldn't say things like that.
But the System was merciless.
+
[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ Say something that makes sense. Assistant Manager Kim, you really do have a tendency to try and use cheap tricks, don't you?
+
The dizziness I had been trying so hard to suppress in front of the kids came rushing back.
I’m in this much pain, yet there’s no paid leave, and Jeong Seong-bin is scolding me. How sorrowful. Truly sorrowful.
“You want to put I-wol Hyung’s part in the latter half?”
Lee Cheong-hyeon was aghast at Jeong Seong-bin’s announcement. Park Ju-woo and Kang Gi-yeon’s expressions weren't much different.
“What’s wrong? Did the talk with Hyung not go well...?”
“It’s not that.”
Jeong Seong-bin could only give that answer to Park Ju-woo’s question.
The members had only managed to see Kim I-wol after waiting for a long time in front of the operating room. But no one could open their mouth upon seeing him.
His face was covered in blood to the point of being unrecognizable, his lips were scabbed over from being bitten raw, and his hands were covered in IV needles.
Even the word "weapon" carried such a powerful connotation that everyone thought of death while standing before Kim I-wol.
Park Ju-woo, who had been holding it in well, cried incessantly until he heard that Kim I-wol was recovering stably. Lee Cheong-hyeon, who had been alternating between crying and stopping, burst into sobs as soon as Kim I-wol opened his eyes.
Returning to the dorm after Kim I-wol had fortunately passed the critical point, each of the members was lost in thought.
And the next day, Jeong Seong-bin called the members together.
‘The manager told us yesterday. If it’s too hard, we can drop out of Awangsil.’
‘Yeah...’
‘I want to know what you guys think. I’d like everyone to speak freely.’
Jeong Seong-bin had a direction he wanted. He had spent all night worrying about how to persuade the members if they offered the opposite opinion.
But that worry turned out to be meaningless.
‘This is the program I-wol Hyung worked so hard to persuade us to join. He’s not the type of person who likes giving up halfway. I think we should see it through to the end.’
Because everyone agreed with Kang Gi-yeon’s words. It was unanimous.
‘They say it’s an eight-week recovery, but Hyung will probably need treatment even after he’s discharged. The five of us will have to handle the stage; are you guys okay with that too?’
Jeong Seong-bin confirmed once more. The members, who had agonized just as much as Jeong Seong-bin the previous night, agreed to that as well.
So, they had intended to do their best to lighten his burden and let him focus solely on recovery without worrying.
‘It’s an important stage, so you have to do well. Maybe it’s for the best.’
Why did those words make him so... angry?
In that moment, Jeong Seong-bin saw an overlap between the current Kim I-wol and the Kim I-wol who had been caught practicing alone late at night.
‘It’s because I’m so much more lacking compared to you guys.’
Jeong Seong-bin remembered those words clearly.
Words so absurd that anyone in UA would call them preposterous.
It was also unsettling how he had said he was grateful that they thought of him that much during the argument with Kang Gi-yeon.
Wasn't that only natural? They were members of the same group, they lived and suffered together, and he was the brother they relied on more than anyone.
“About I-wol Hyung.”
Jeong Seong-bin voiced the thought he had been agonizing over alone for a long time.
“Don’t you think his self-esteem is strangely low?”