Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Faust
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“But hey, Dowon.”
Kang Minje suddenly clenched his fist tight.
“I just came up with lyrics and a title for our song.”
“The third track?”
Kang Minje nodded vigorously.
“Faust.”
The story of a blockhead tempted by the devil?
“The lyrics are flooding in too. Yeah! That irresistible emotion and the thrill of doing something bad! Man, how long has it been since I felt this?”
Kang Minje’s hands trembled slightly like he was on drugs.
What the hell’s wrong with this guy?
“Yeah. Faust! Faust it is. Paper, paper!”
I handed him the paper and pen from the table. Kang Minje scribbled down the lyrics like a junkie suffering withdrawal.
What’s really going on with him?
‘I’ve done some acting myself, so I know a bit about art.’
Is everyone in this field like that?
Kang Minje scribbled out the lyrics like a madman. I glanced down, but his handwriting was so bad I couldn’t make it out. Fine. Create away.
I quietly got up and slipped out.
As I closed the door, the living room of Kang Minje’s place came into view. I pulled my smartphone from my pocket and switched it to cheat mode.
I was a little curious. I tapped the screen quietly.
[cheat mode 1/3]
[Kang Minje’s Faust Emotion]
[120%]
[cheat mode 2/3]
Huh.
I hadn’t noticed at first, but up close, I could tell.
‘So 100% wasn’t the cap, huh?’
And just from the title alone, the probability shot up.
Is Faust that perfect a fit?
I pocketed my phone and crossed my arms.
“Should I be thanking the Vita seniors for this?”
Unbelievable. Gives me chills.
‘They’re practically serving themselves up on a platter.’
If I play this right, I’m in for a feast.
I chuckled and shook my head. Thinking about eating well already made my stomach rumble.
***
50 million won wasn’t easy money. Sure, for a chaebol heir, 10 million might be less than dog kibble, but this was cash that could kill or save a life.
‘Handled right, it could cover a housing deposit. You only learn that from experience.’
No monthly rent meant life got that much better.
I brushed the recorder in my pocket. Bundles of bills peeked out from the beverage crate.
“For now, here’s 10 million.”
Ah, senior.
“The price is different, though?”
“They said 40 million later.”
Oh dear.
“Who did?”
“Uh, Leader hyung.”
Did you just spill the beans? I didn’t even act like I knew.
“Ah, so Vita’s Leader hyung said it himself?”
“Argh, I wasn’t supposed to say who!”
Oh man, that’s why working with idiots is such a pain.
‘We’ve got one on our side too.’
That punk Ki Jaeyoon is way too loose-lipped.
I rested my chin on my hand and smirked.
“No deal.”
“W-Why not!”
“I clearly said 50 million. At least bring 30. If I push Kang Minje too hard and he writes some weird song, it screws me over too.”
Not that it would happen.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“W-Wait! I’ll pay!”
“No 30 million by tomorrow, and we’ll pretend this never happened.”
Hurry up already. Kang Minje isn’t great at acting.
‘Before regression, the guy was god-tier at solo acting, but now he’s weirdly sloppy.’
He wasn’t great on variety shows either.
I stood up. Vita’s Jiki kept covering his mouth.
‘Honestly, I won’t get the full 50 anyway.’
Didn’t matter. I turned to leave.
***
“What’s with the drinks?”
Lee Seungjun eyed the beverage crate. I shrugged and shoved it into my backpack.
“Yeah, what about them?”
I slid the cash crate under the bed. Lee Seungjun tilted his head.
“They fell from the sky. Said it was for a good deed.”
“Win a prize or something?”
I shook my head.
“That Hwi Mart giveaway? We got tissues from that.”
“Then what’s that?”
“Got it somehow. Anyway, lemme ask you something.”
“Sure.”
I looked at his face and said,
“Do celebs make a lot of money?”
Lee Seungjun’s eyes blinked.
“Obviously?”
“Idols too?”
“Probably?”
“How much?”
Lee Seungjun lay back on the bed as he answered.
“You know the girl group iAngel?”
“Our company? Yeah, their pics are up at the entrance.”
“Last year’s settlement was 700 million.”
Damn, that’s a haul.
“What about their debut year?”
“Don’t remember exactly, but around 100 million?”
“Got it.”
I started on some ab workouts.
“Why ask?”
“Hmm, gotta know the market rates.”
Shit. Should’ve asked for over 100 million.
“Never again.”
Lesson learned the hard way.
“Lee Seungjun, know the surest way to make money?”
“Nope. The high-earning stuff?”
“Nah. Cut your expenses.”
Reducing spending is the most reliable. But this was small potatoes.
“Above all, don’t get scammed. Manage your own bank account. No gambling, no shady investments—handle it yourself. Don’t give money to anyone. Not even family. The world’s full of con artists wearing family masks.”
Like with Yoo Hajin, or that time they fleeced me as the eldest grandson.
“Gotcha.”
“You could end up in debt over shit you didn’t spend on. Remember that. Don’t sign carelessly, don’t hand over accounts. Cards too. Ignore emotions or whatever. Suckers get used and tossed.”
Sharing experience is the best.
“Of course, you can help out. If they’re struggling, sure. But don’t expect payback. Better to just give small amounts. Can’t take that back.”
Lee Seungjun nodded.
I kept talking while doing ab workouts. Muscles were burning nicely.
A month of hard work, and the lines were already forming. But this wasn’t for show. It was for vocals.
‘Recording tomorrow.’
Kang Minje’s gonna be intense.
I said to the still-lost-in-thought bear,
“Lee Seungjun, no vocal training for you?”
“I’m a rapper.”
“Practice rap anyway. No expert, but Kang Minje’s no joke in the booth.”
If he’s that picky just watching, imagine him as producer.
Lee Seungjun nodded, plugged in earphones, and started rap practice.
‘Listens well, this guy.’
I kept up abs while switching my phone to cheat mode.
‘Wonder if this works.’
[Cha Dowon Vocal Ability]
[B. Change?]
[To A]
[Impossible in current physical state.]
Ah, this again.
‘How ripped do I gotta get for you to budge?’
I shook my head and practiced vocalization. Dance I don’t know, but vocals meant Kang Minje’s promised hell.
‘I’m the one who needs prep.’
Gotta gear up before hell, but I just couldn’t get the feel.
***
Vita’s Jiki stared at the door like he’d drill through it. He paced the hall, wiping sweaty hands anxiously.
The person he waited for finally emerged. As soon as Executive Director Joo appeared, Jiki tailed him like his life depended on it.
“Ex-Executive Director?”
Joo rubbed his eyes and glanced at Jiki.
“What.”
“Um, sir.”
“Don’t ask stupid shit. Stay out of trouble. You know the DUI’s not cleared? Keep it quiet.”
“Th-That was my mistake.”
“Why’re you here? I’m busy.”
“Um, what do you think of the new group’s song?”
Joo sighed deeply.
“Why ask that?”
“I’m curious. It’s Kang Minje.”
“Oh, special interest ’cause it’s my favorite Kang Minje?”
Why’s this woman so sharp? Vita’s Jiki couldn’t meet her eyes.
“He’s floundering unlike himself.”
Jiki hid his rising smirk.
“Seems stressed. Oh, and kinda friction with Dowon too.”
“With Kang Minje’s personality? Duh.”
“You talk like your personality’s great? Jiki! Worry about yourself!”
Stung, but he got what he wanted.
‘Cocky bastard, but he’s delivering.’
Kang Minje probably had no clue. One of his members poached to sabotage him. Jiki planned to rub it in his face.
‘Even Kang Minje’d be shocked, right?’
Money was irrelevant for that.
Vita’s Jiki bolted off. Watching, Executive Director Joo shook her head.
“Minje’s still Minje. Idiot.”
Why ask pointless crap? Pathetic.
‘Hope those kids don’t cause more drama.’
One more screw-up, and even she couldn’t keep Vita afloat. Five years since debut. Renewal loomed.
‘Keep ’em if possible, but...’
Couldn’t shake the feeling Zenith—with Minje—would blow up.
‘Business is business.’
She managed company rice bowls. Profit pulled naturally.
***
[Cha Dowon Vocal Ability]
[B. Change?]
[To A]
[Impossible in current physical state.]
I glared quietly at my phone. When the hell would this actually work?
‘Training the body’s not enough?’
I recalled when cheats had worked before.
‘Needed something fresh.’
I sighed deeply.
‘But no time.’
I looked around. Members huddled outside the booth, all dirt-faced.
‘Lee Seungjun’s solo due to personal stuff.’
Everyone but the bear in the practice room.
“Again! Open your throat more on the end note.”
Orders endless. Seemingly nice Zenith leader Yoo Hajin sweated buckets mid-take.
‘As expected.’
I replayed my part via earphones. Then Ki Jaeyoon tapped my arm.
I pulled out an earbud.
“What?”
“Minje hyung’s too much, right?”
I blinked. Yeah, intense. But is this guy dumb?
“Say that where he can hear? He’ll catch it even now?”
Ki Jaeyoon’s face changed instantly.
‘World’s full of morons.’
Kang Minje obsessed over that stuff.
“Y-Yeah! Ahahaha.”
I propped my chin, eyeing Ki Jaeyoon.
‘Come to think, only Kang Minje and this guy were original Zenith.’
Lee Seungjun, me, Hajin hyung—none pre-regression.
‘This one didn’t bail on Zenith, at least.’
Were they close originally?
I recalled quietly. Around twenty. Handing Kang Minje a drink.
-Hyung close with members?
Kang Minje shook his head right away.
-Nah. Group life ain’t for me. They only approach if there’s gain.
No reply then, just moved on.
‘But people move on self-interest, right?’
Duh. What relationships aren’t? Even parents-kids trade somewhat.
Lost in thought, Ki Jaeyoon spoke.
“What’re you thinking?”
Why’s he curious about that?
“About you.”
Ki Jaeyoon flinched, startled.
“Not good stuff, so don’t worry.”
“What? Oh, got it. Hey!”
What a headache.
“Your first recording?”
I nodded.
“It’ll wreck you. Not easy. You’ll cry today?”
Hm, cry? Nah.
“You cried your first time?”
Ki Jaeyoon’s face flushed red.
Oh, for real.
“Hey!”
“Don’t yell, you’ll ruin the take.”
Ki Jaeyoon glanced around, whispering.
“Who told you?”
“It’s recorded.”