Chapter 27: Workplace Harassment (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 27: Workplace Harassment (1)
“Huh?”
“Like you caused some crazy accident and need help cleaning it up, or some scary school senior is shaking you down for money and you’re dreaming of revenge.”
“It’s definitely nothing like that!”
At my examples, Jeong Seong-bin shook his head violently, looking horrified.
That was a relief. I couldn't be in the same boat as someone harboring such terrifying thoughts.
With a much lighter heart, I waited for Jeong Seong-bin to speak first.
Before meeting him, I had warned Choi Je-ho to stay quiet until Seong-bin opened his mouth, so he was currently maintaining a silent state.
Since I’d muzzled that lethal tongue of his, my mind was much more at ease.
“There’s something I wanted to tell you both before you heard it from someone else and got the wrong idea.”
Jeong Seong-bin started tentatively, despite his solemn opening.
“Um, so, we’re going to be debuting in the same group. But the Representative... he asked me if I would be interested in being the leader.”
So, things were progressing according to the original flow.
In a situation where volatility was as high as Department Head Nam’s mood swings, this was welcome news.
I waited for him to continue with a satisfied heart, but Jeong Seong-bin just kept his head down in silence.
Wait. Is that it?
Knowing Jeong Seong-bin’s personality, I didn't think he’d call his older teammates just to ask them to congratulate him on becoming the leader.
Looking to my side, Choi Je-ho had ‘Is that all you have to say?’ practically written across his face.
You Spark punks, you’d better be grateful to me. If I hadn't shut Choi Je-ho’s mouth in advance, this meeting to serve your boss of the next seven years would have turned into a total disaster.
But if that really was the extent of his business, the reason Jeong Seong-bin had called us was obvious.
He probably felt guilty about taking the leader position when there were older members in the team.
Back at Hanpyeong Industry, there were a few people who found it difficult to deal with subordinates older than themselves. It was common for an age gap that was manageable when they were peers to suddenly feel heavy after a promotion.
Still... does he really not realize there’s no one else but him to be the leader?
I thought of the dazzling lineup of Spark.
Starting with Choi Je-ho, the world’s greatest trash-talker who caused friction every time he opened his mouth.
Then there was Park Ju-woo, whose fans literally recorded the dates whenever he spoke more than five sentences in their self-produced content.
The perpetually sunny and oblivious Lee Cheong-hyeon.
And finally, Kang Gi-yeon, the clear-eyed lunatic whose eyes were always gleaming with intensity.
There wasn't a single one among them capable of standing before the public and saying, “Hello, we are Spark! Please look forward to us!”
It was like having a company with five employees where everyone only did field work, leaving no one to actually sign off on the paperwork.
In short, the combination was a mess. That is, if Jeong Seong-bin wasn't there.
“I also thought you were the most suitable person to be our leader.”
I stated my opinion honestly. However, Jeong Seong-bin’s expression remained dark.
“With you guys here, me being the leader just feels... wrong.”
“Were you always someone so obsessed with seniority?”
It was half-joke, half-serious.
To begin with, it had been bothering me that Jeong Seong-bin was the only one among the trainees using extreme honorifics. I figured that as long as I could reach an agreement with Choi Je-ho, I should introduce a casual speech system to the group as soon as possible.
As he finished speaking, Jeong Seong-bin’s shoulders trembled slightly. He must have been agonizing over this a lot on his own.
“If you’re feeling pressured because you have to represent members who lack social skills, that’s one thing. But if you’re worried because of age, there’s absolutely no need for that.”
“I never thought the members lacked social skills...!”
Jeong Seong-bin waved his hands in denial.
What a nice kid. Because I definitely thought so.
“Then is the reason you’re hesitating really just because of age?”
“I think there’s a reason why the oldest member is the leader in most teams. Compared to you guys, I lack leadership qualities and...”
I was surprised. I didn't know that Jeong Seong-bin, who was famous in the idol scene for being a leader with top-tier character, could be this faint-hearted.
From what I remembered of the anecdotes about his school days shared among the fandom, there were many stories about him being social and getting along well with everyone.
It seemed that a long period of trainee life inevitably eroded one's self-esteem.
That’s a bit disheartening.
Unlike me, whose self-esteem had been weathered away while being battered at Hanpyeong Industry, these kids were just youngsters who hadn't even turned twenty yet.
It seemed this team needed self-esteem recovery more than a debut. Except for Choi Je-ho.
However, regardless of protecting his self-esteem, it would be a problem for me if Jeong Seong-bin didn't become the leader.
Even setting aside my own nature as a low-level employee who didn't want to stand out.
Based on my years of monitoring experience, the Spark punks wouldn't even be able to open their mouths anywhere without Jeong Seong-bin.
For the sake of the fans who would desperately scrape together every second of their bias’s screen time, Spark needed Jeong Seong-bin.
In times like this, the most effective method is to make the person state the reason why it has to be them.
“Setting everything else aside, Seong-bin.”
“Yes.”
“Do you really think there’s anyone else in our team capable of being the leader?”
Jeong Seong-bin faltered at my words.
I knew.
If he was a kid who overthought things as much as he did, he must have imagined at least twenty times what would happen if someone other than himself became the leader.
“I don’t think it would be a very good thing if Choi Je-ho, who picks genuine fights even with the youngest, or I, who can’t tell a left turn from a right turn when told verbally, became the leader.”
“Why are you dragging me into this when I was staying quiet?”
“Are you denying what I just said?”
“...Just keep talking.”
Even ignoring their personalities, there were plenty of reasons why Jeong Seong-bin had to be the leader.
He was the one who led the practices, and he was the one who took care of the trainees in the smallest ways.
That wasn't something that could be explained simply by calling it his nature.
Willingly taking on trouble for the sake of others isn't something that happens automatically just because someone is given a title.
After kindly explaining the ‘What happens if the younger ones become leader_Despair Version.zip,’ I added:
“So, you don't have to feel sorry for us, and you don't have to worry about whether we’ll feel uncomfortable because a younger member is the leader.”
“Hyung...”
“The other guys are your friends or younger than you, so it’ll be fine. But if Choi Je-ho doesn't listen to you later, tell me. I’ll have a massive fight with him for you.”
“Why do you assume only I won’t listen? You might be the one driving Jeong Seong-bin crazy.”
“I’m the type to prostrate myself before those in power, so that will never happen.”
Only then did Jeong Seong-bin’s expression soften, perhaps mistaking my words for a joke.
Good grief. I was being serious.
Even though he’d picked a fight with everything I said, Choi Je-ho also expressed his opinion indirectly.
“There’s no one else to be leader besides Jeong Seong-bin anyway.”
Sometimes, a single word from someone who seems unlikely to say it carries more weight than a hundred words from anyone else.
Having passed Choi Je-ho’s hurdle, Jeong Seong-bin finally broke into a relieved smile.
It’s a relief if he doesn't have a burden regarding the position itself, but...
I thought we’d crossed the major hurdle when we talked about the grades. I had been naive.
It was a problem if Jeong Seong-bin’s self-esteem didn't continue to rise even after overcoming the issue with the rankings. This was especially true seeing the case of Kang Gi-yeon, who was already struggling after losing his confidence.
Watching Jeong Seong-bin’s back as he led the way to the practice room, I fervently hoped that this wasn't a side effect of me pushing up the debut schedule, and that nothing else would happen from now on.
However, my prayer was utterly shattered exactly three days later.
And I mean smashed into tiny pieces.
The incident occurred while I was getting my phone back from the manager and picking up a Non-disclosure Agreement at the same time.
+
[SYSTEM] A ‘New Task’ has been assigned.
▷ Take a photo that includes the Non-disclosure Agreement.
▷ Reward: Experience Points (5)
+
I was wondering if this task was of a completely different nature than the ones I’d received so far.
Did they pull some trickery with the documents?
So far, the system had never given me a task that was detrimental to idol activities; they were always beneficial.
At first, I wondered if there were toxic clauses in the Non-disclosure Agreement. But there was no way I would have missed a few poison pills.
The fact that it’s a ‘photo including the agreement’ rather than the agreement itself is particularly suspicious.
Looking at the task description alone, it felt like the agreement was just being used as an excuse.
In fact, even when I took a photo with the agreement right in the center, the notification that the task was complete didn't appear.
What do you want me to do?
I tried placing the agreement in the left corner, then in the air to the right, taking about twenty photos.
Finally, when only the edge of the agreement was visible and the breakroom door behind it took up about three-quarters of the screen—
+
[SYSTEM] ‘Task’ completed.
▷ Reward: Experience Points (5)
▷ Cumulative Experience: 60
▷ Cumulative Points: 0
+
The completion notice appeared with a brilliant light.
I took the photo like crap, and it’s complete?
I checked the last photo I took in the gallery.
The focus was completely off, so much so that you couldn't even read the words ‘Non-disclosure Agreement.’
The focus was so strangely placed that the man and Jeong Seong-bin behind the glass door of the breakroom were actually visible quite clearly.
...Huh?
I looked away from the phone screen and stared at the breakroom in front of me.
Jeong Seong-bin was indeed standing inside the breakroom. His face was tight with obvious tension.
The person sitting across from him was also a familiar face.
It was Jang Jun-hu, the owner of the song I’d sung during the guide recording experience not long ago.
Were they close enough to meet privately?
Even as I questioned it, my brain already knew the answer.
As long as one person was sitting leisurely and laughing while making the other person stand, I had to throw out the assumption that they were close.
As if to confirm my suspicion, Jang Jun-hu threw something toward Jeong Seong-bin.
Is this crazy bastard...?
I immediately knocked on the breakroom door and walked in. Their eyes snapped toward me.
“Seong-bin, were you here?”
At my sudden appearance, both of their faces stiffened.
I looked straight at Jang Jun-hu and greeted him like an inexperienced rookie who hadn't realized a great senior was present.
“Oh, Senior Jang Jun-hu was here too! Hello!”
“...Uh, yeah. A face I haven't seen before?”
“I’m Kim I-wol, a new trainee, Senior!”
The vocal projection from back when I was getting disciplined by Department Head Nam came out for the first time in a long while.
Glancing at the floor, I saw a water bottle with a bit of water in it rolling around.
Fuck, what if the kid had been hit?
My fists clenched involuntarily. I barely suppressed my primal rage and spoke.
“The manager is looking for Seong-bin. If you’re in the middle of a conversation, should I wait outside? I’ll let the manager know in advance.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Thank you!”
I gave a bright 90-degree bow like a clueless idiot and pulled Jeong Seong-bin’s arm.
I hoped I was overreacting, but if Jang Jun-hu was giving Jeong Seong-bin a hard time, my first priority was to get Seong-bin out of here.
“Wait.”
Just as we were about to leave the breakroom, Jang Jun-hu called us to a halt.
Jang Jun-hu’s gaze landed on the phone in my hand.
“Trainees aren't allowed to carry phones, are they?”
Jang Jun-hu asked, sitting crookedly.
I maintained the most pleasant smile possible as I answered.
“I have special circumstances, so I’m using it with the manager’s permission.”
At that, Jang Jun-hu beckoned toward me with his hand.
“Bring it here.”
At his words, the atmosphere froze instantly.
My grip on the phone tightened.