Chapter 160: A Minor Mistake
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 160: A Minor Mistake
When I was handling every aspect of our content from A to Z, unexpected issues rarely cropped up.
I proactively cut anything that had a high chance of the members making a mistake and avoided themes similar to content that hadn't been well-received in the past. Since I’d already made sure everyone kept their mouths shut and corrected their attitudes beforehand, there was never a reason to feel nervous about a live broadcast.
Conversely, filming content designed by someone else felt like riding a rollercoaster in pitch-black darkness. My mouth went bone-dry because I never knew what was going to pop out next.
‘That’s why I told you to show me the draft in advance!’
Resentment boiled within me. Are you watching, UA? This is the result of neglecting an office worker under the guise of "welfare."
Because you all overprotected me, I am now incredibly anxious.
The only silver lining was that the overall content was lighthearted. It seemed designed for the fans, who were likely exhausted from the string of recent incidents.
Time flew by as we chatted about topics like Spark’s favorite Idol Dynasty Annals stages, the Pororo cutlery set incident, and showing off the handmade slogans from My.Singer's.Genre.
“The Sparklers are asking if we’re going to watch the soccer match today?”
Kang Gi-yeon read the chat. Indeed, the chat window was being flooded with talk about soccer. Idol lives are incredible. I can’t keep up with the flow.
“Of course we have to! On that note, Seong-bin Hyung, let us slide on the bedtime rule just for today.”
“Then there’s no point in having rules, Cheong-hyeon.”
“So you’re saying you’re not going to watch it, Hyung? It’s the Korea-Japan match!”
“Exceptions can be made for issues of national importance.”
And you guys are incredible, too. You transition between topics so naturally.
Compared to the past, when you’d freeze like stone statues the moment anyone said anything, this is monumental progress. Though I’m not sure why you’re choosing this specific moment to watch an old match instead of a live one.
“What about you, Hyungs?”
Lee Cheong-hyeon turned around and asked. The surprising thing was that even Choi Je-ho said okay.
Did these guys always like soccer this much? Enough to watch a match as a group?
I used to tune in for a few big games myself, but this was the first time I’d seen the Spark brats act like this.
‘Well, the Korea-Japan match around this time was legendary.’
Beyond the national sentiment that we had to win against Japan even if we lost every other game, the scene where our country—then considered the underdog—pulled off a dramatic comeback victory had sent endorphins rushing through my body even when I was exhausted after work.
Lost in nostalgia, I was yanked back to reality by Lee Cheong-hyeon grabbing me by the metaphorical hair.
“I-wol Hyung, you’re watching too, right? Let’s all gather in the living room today. We need to pool our spirits together.”
“I’ve already seen it, but… sure, let’s do it.”
They weren’t going to let me work anyway, and I’d slept so much I wasn’t even tired.
A masterpiece never gets old no matter how many times you watch it, so seeing it once or twice more wouldn’t be boring.
I answered readily, but the reaction I got was very strange.
“You’ve already seen it?”
Lee Cheong-hyeon asked back with a subtle expression.
“Yeah.”
“The Asian Games Korea-Japan match?”
“Are you sure you aren’t confusing it with a different game?”
Even Kang Gi-yeon joined in, nitpicking my words.
From the corner, I heard Park Ju-woo whisper in a tiny voice, “Hyung, your head…”
A silence fell over us as if someone had doused the room in cold water.
‘Was I talking about a different game than them?’
At this rate, the atmosphere of the live stream was about to be ruined, so I hurriedly tried to verify.
“Aren’t you talking about the 20XX Korea-Japan match?”
“We are.”
“We won 3 to 2, and it was all over the news. Did you guys not watch the original broadcast back then? Maybe you missed it because it was so late at night.”
Having said that much, I stole a glance at the chat.
I was hoping not to see comments like "The vibe just died" or "Kim I-wol, focus," but the chat was heating up with something else entirely.
≫ ?
≫ ?
≫ I-wol, what are you confusing it with? lololol
≫ ??
≫ Did the Korea-Japan match already happen without us?
The Spark members and I stared at each other in silence.
In that instant, reality hit me like a ton of bricks.
“Wait, right now is…”
The unfinished sentence slipped out of my mouth involuntarily.
Park Ju-woo, who managed to catch it, whispered in a voice thick with emotion.
“It’s the year 20XX, Hyung.”
I’m screwed.
I was so focused on managing the flow of conversation that I completely forgot to muzzle myself. Damn it, I’m just a modern human who can’t even multitask.
Of all times, this was a period when South Korea’s soccer offense was being criticized as weak.
Since no one could easily say, “Of course Korea will win!” my bold statement ended up drawing massive aggro.
≫ ????
≫ If they actually win 3-2 after this, that would be insane
≫ Is my idol a regressor idol???
≫ A human fortune-telling octopus
≫ Ah, our country is gonna win. I-wol said we win.
In the rapidly scrolling chat, the words "Is my idol a regressor idol?" seemed to stand out as clearly as if they were written in 44-point font.
*
[SYSTEM] A ‘Violation of Confidentiality Agreement’ has been notified to ‘Party B.’
▷ All matters that could influence areas outside of Spark’s successful activities, as well as direct information related to the future, are considered strictly confidential.
▷ ‘Party B’ has the responsibility to maintain confidentiality regarding the aforementioned matters…
.
.
.
*
Stop repeating the same explanation you gave before! I didn’t do it on purpose!
In the first place, who on earth remembers exactly what happened in which year for their entire life? I even rolled back nine years! It’s natural to get confused!
Just as I was agonizing over how to fix this, I locked eyes with Jeong Seong-bin, who was sitting at my feet. His pupils were shaking.
However, he remained calm.
“That’s it, right? The Seodongyo technique.”
Though he was acting a bit like a broken robot, Jeong Seong-bin did his best to pretend to be nonchalant.
“The what…?”
“It’s when you talk about something that hasn't happened yet as if it already has. People say they use it a lot in hopes that saying it repeatedly will make it come true.”
I nodded frantically, agreeing with Jeong Seong-bin. What a precious kid. The effort I put into talking nonsense about seeing the future beforehand was finally paying off here.
“Right. I just really want our country to win, you know?”
“What? If that’s the case, say it’s like 8 to 2!”
Then Lee Cheong-hyeon took the lead in spreading rumors, claiming South Korea would win 19 to 1.
Just as the chat was naturally being smoothed over by the Seodongyo explanation, the System made a grand entrance.
*
[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ The whole field trip is ruined because of Assistant Manager Kim.
*
No way.
You’re not going to make South Korea lose because of me, are you?
You don’t actually think I’ll be able to survive as a K-idol in this country if that happens, do you?
I could practically see the System mocking me through the text. My mind went blank.
In the end, as a penalty, I suffered a massive nosebleed after the live stream while watching our country’s miraculous equalizer and comeback victory.
I barely avoided another trip to the hospital by pleading with Jeong Seong-bin—who wanted me to get an MRI—to believe me when I said, “This is… like a spiritual sickness.”
That night, the phrase "Keep your mouth shut" was added to my diary fifty times.
Starting with Jeong Seong-bin’s appearance on My.Singer's.Genre, the Spark members took turns filming their assigned variety programs.
Choi Je-ho, who had been consistently doing nothing but mukbangs since the Idol Dynasty Annals Baekjung Festival…
『Wow, Je-ho, you really eat well.』
『Do you maintain your weight even while eating like this?』
『I don’t usually eat like this. My members and my trainer manage my diet.』
…went on a famous restaurant tour program and demolished four servings of shabu-shabu by himself, expertly finished off the kalguksu noodles, and even scraped up the scorched rice from the fried rice, showing off a truly blessed appetite.
As if that wasn't enough, the sight of him standing in front of an ice cream tub alongside a line of children made the panelists burst into laughter.
『Je-ho, you look so charismatic, but you act just like my eldest son.』
『Is that so?』
『Yeah. Honestly, tell us. You still have room for more, right?』
『…Yes.』
The people around him seemed to enjoy the sight so much that they kept ordering more things for him.
So he just let loose because there was no one there to nag him, huh? No wonder he was climbing the Stairmaster like his life depended on it after he got back from filming.
Still, Choi Je-ho was cute compared to the rest.
I never expected our house’s quiet little cat to go and smash the whole kitchen stove.
On a program that tested how much patience a human could exercise under extreme conditions, Kang Gi-yeon had to endure all sorts of hardships.
Eating spicy jjamppong, a challenge every MeTuber has tried at least once, was just the warm-up.
Drinking Goshim-cha to "cleanse the palate" was waiting for Kang Gi-yeon.
『Ugh… No, shouldn't you give us something humans can actually eat?』
『They say it’s good for your body. Just bear with it and drink.』
『You can only say that because you aren't the one drinking it, Noona!』
While the panelists were noisily chatting all around him, Kang Gi-yeon only furrowed his brow slightly and downed the whole thing in one clean shot, leaving no room for argument.
『…May I have some hangwa now?』
『Eat it, eat it quickly!』
『Alright, Gi-yeon is the only one who succeeded in the Goshim-cha mission!』
Afterward, Kang Gi-yeon successfully became the 21st King of Patience by enduring acupressure mat jump rope and a wet sauna.
Because I was told not to do anything, I didn't even look into the program beforehand. I had no idea it would be such an atrocious show. I shouldn't have sent the youngest.
“The next schedule is filming self-produced content, right?”
“Yes. It’s a group schedule for a change.”
Jeong Seong-bin checked his notebook. Despite seeing us every day at the dorm, Park Ju-woo’s face lit up with a broad smile at the mention of a group schedule.
“Has anyone heard what we’re doing today? No one told me anything.”
Everyone shook their heads at my question.
“We haven't heard anything either.”
“Are you sure you guys aren't all in on it except for me?”
“Really. That’s why the schedule isn't even written in our shared calendar.”
When I checked, the schedule slot on the calendar was indeed empty, just as Lee Cheong-hyeon said.
“If it’s this mysterious, it’s definitely Challenge.Life.”
“Does anyone know what Challenge.Life has been doing lately?”
“They did a wild ginseng digger special. I checked.”
At my words, Kang Gi-yeon wiped his face with his hands. He seemed quite despondent over the still-brutal difficulty level.
However, there was some good news.
“I don’t think it’s our turn for Challenge.Life this time. I saw a spoiler that actress Mae-hee is doing it!”
“Thank god…!”
“Then it must be self-produced content today. So what’s the item?”
“Whatever it is, as long as it isn't Challenge.Life, I’m good.”
We each sucked down a red ginseng stick with grim determination before leaving the dorm.
However, after a thirty-minute drive, the place we arrived at was neither a steep mountain nor a cafe in a bustling district.
“Hello, nice to meet you!”
A woman full of professional spirit greeted us with a bright smile and a high-pitched tone.
And behind her, a rainbow-colored sign came into view.
‘Flora Daycare Center.’
That’s right.
Our workplace for today was a daycare center, overflowing with dreams and hope.