Newbies Are Always Welcome
“Newbies are always welcome.”
“Why should we...”
That was weird. Kim Manho, the contract pro who'd gotten me to sign on the spot after one explanation. Why was a guy like that asking us for help?
I shot him a look of pure confusion, and Kim Manho gave an awkward smile with a fake cough.
“Haha... I know it's a big ask. But the reason I'm coming to you two is...”
He fiddled with the remote, and a new video popped up on the screen. A pink-haired woman was wrestling with a tent. Huh...? That spot looked familiar...
I scrutinized the footage. The scenery rang a bell—it was a famous auto campground near Gyeonggi.
“She's tried camping before. But...”
The video fast-forwarded. There was a crumpled-up tent plopped down all by its lonesome, and her squatting in front of it, boiling ramen. It was pathetically sad.
“Ah...”
A sigh escaped me automatically.
“She failed...”
“Exactly. But check the end—she's burning with determination to try again. The vibe was solid overall.”
Just like Kim Manho said... In the video, she was slurping ramen with a bright smile, saying, It's still tasty eating outside! Next time, I'll nail it! Positive mindset: pass.
“...Fine, whatever, one more camping buddy for me. But what about Nana? No connection there.”
“Take a look at this.”
The screen switched. A table overflowing with dozens of dishes: chicken, pizza, tteokbokki, jokbal... Way too much for one person. But the woman in the video was demolishing them one by one with a blissful grin. Not quite Im Nana's superhuman levels, but for a regular woman—no, even compared to most guys—it was impressive.
“Looks delicious...”
Im Nana swallowed hard beside me. I could see her eyes shifting to fondness in real time.
“Mukbang. She's utilizing it perfectly as content.”
Kim Manho added the explanation. Ah. Now I got it.
“So you're banking on the synergy we'd create with her?”
“Spot on!”
Kim Manho snapped his fingers.
“She's tempting talent on her own, but the synergy with you two? That's what I'm after.”
“Oh...”
“Ultimately, I want you three collaborating freely, just like you two do now.”
Kim Manho's eyes gleamed with ambition.
“That's why you're asking us...”
“Yes... I know it's shameless, but as fellow creators, maybe she'd open up.”
I pondered for a moment. What the hell. No harm in it. We'd gotten tons of help from the MCN so far, and I felt a real sense of belonging. Plus, a “comprehensive content” YouTuber... That was the holy grail. Specializing in one niche gets you expert fame, but it naturally caps you at a dedicated fanbase. Im Nana and I would hit a ceiling eventually. Sure, we could top our fields, but prepping for that now wasn't a bad idea. Time for a fresh breeze.
“Sounds like a team! Or a group?”
Im Nana's eyes sparkled as she chimed in.
“A group?”
“Oh! Exactly. That's the endgame vision.”
Kim Manho nodded. Huh? Forming a team? A YouTuber team?
“Borrowing from other industries... like generations? First gen, second gen... Bundle one gen into a team. Mutual support, pushing and pulling each other.”
Ah, got it. So we'd be Next's first gen? If that's the company's vision, might as well roll with it. Not that I was thrilled about being a senior, but it'd help me too.
Glancing sideways, Im Nana seemed hooked on the mukbang angle. Hard to find another woman who could chow down with her. I was intrigued too. That failed camping vid from earlier—fleeting glimpse, but my eyes didn't lie. The crumpled tent she'd pitched? Logo was super familiar. A Snow Peak tent, overflowing with roots. Pass just on that.
“Got it. We'll give it a shot.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. But don't blame us if it flops.”
“Haha! Just trying is enough—thank you.”
Kim Manho let out a relieved sigh. Im Nana and I stood up. Our steps felt light heading to the next room.
“I'll sign!”
“...?”
“......?”
Im Nana and I stared at each other. What did she just say?
“You're... signing the contract?”
“Yes! I'm in!”
Yuria clenched her fist and shouted. Whew. Straight shooter personality.
Wait, how'd it go down like this? No clue. ...Seriously, no idea. We just walked into the next room... and what? Laid out the facts. The care during contracts, revenue splits, our growth trajectory. Boom, instant OK. She must've come ready to sign.
Then why'd Kim Manho struggle so much? Said she'd rejected him multiple times.
Puzzled, we brought Yuria back to Kim Manho's room.
“We'll sign.”
Kim Manho nearly dropped his jaw at Yuria's bold declaration. He fumbled his pen, staring blankly.
“...Pardon?”
“Contract, please.”
“...It's been less than ten minutes?”
Kim Manho gawked at Im Nana and me in disbelief. What magic did we pull? I shrugged: Beats us.
Yuria stamped without hesitation. Bam! Deal sealed. Anticlimactic as hell. Kim Manho looked thrilled yet deflated.
“Heh... Man... When I tried persuading her, she wouldn't even look... Guess creators click differently.”
He gave a wry smile. Then—
“...Sorry.”
Yuria suddenly bowed her head in apology. What? Second thoughts?
Kim Manho tensed. “No, why? Unhappy with a clause...?”
“Not that...”
Yuria fidgeted before speaking.
“Truth is... I've wanted to sign since meeting you first time. Great terms, and you two are creators I already subscribe to...”
“Huh? Then why...”
“Mom...”
“Your mom?”
Yuria blushed. “Mom heard about what happened at my old agency... Said next contract, bounce 'em three times no matter what...”
“......”
Silence blanketed the meeting room.
“If you agree too easy, they peg you as a sucker... Play hard to get. So I rejected. Sorry.”
...Just a dutiful daughter following mom's advice.
Kim Manho's face twisted indescribably. What to say? Absurd? Nah, more like... empty. Like an enlightened monk.
All that effort and time he'd poured in—what for? It happens... But it'd sting. Still, mom's negotiation tactic worked perfectly. Got him to sweeten the deal and beg harder. Mom wisdom unbeatable.
“Pfft...”
I burst out laughing despite myself. Im Nana covered her mouth, giggling. Kim Manho sighed deeply, rubbing his dry face.
“Haa... Your mom was right. I lose.”
The boss conceded defeat.
“Anyway, welcome aboard. Family now.”
“Please take care of me, seniors! Name's Yuria!”
Yuria popped up for a crisp bow. Yuria—like Ria's Wonderland? Pretty name. But...
“Se, seniors...”
Im Nana recoiled, waving her hands. “Ugh... Seniors? Too stiff! Call us casual!”
Makes sense—she was a max-affinity retriever herself. “Senior” felt distant.
I nodded. “Yeah, keep it chill. No seniors here.”
“Ah, got it! Unnie!”
“Un, unnie...! Never heard that from Areumie before...”
...Was that what she wanted? Unnie? I'd just missed the timing...
Hmm. Worth a try? I poked Im Nana's arm.
“Hm? What?”
“Nana-unnie.”
“...Gasp.”
Im Nana's face was priceless. Like she'd heard blasphemy. That shocking?
“Unnie. What's wrong.”
“...You're not Areum! Who are you?! Give me back Areum!”
Im Nana grabbed my shoulders and shook hard.
“S-stop...! I'm dy-dying...! You asked for it!”
“No way two faces like this exist! Get out of Areum's body, you demon!”
“Gaaah!”
“Ahahaha!”
Yuria laughed innocently. The mood softened. Though my head was spinning.
Told her it was a joke; Im Nana finally calmed. Whew, two more pranks and I'd be dead?
Anyway... New member joins. Next's first gen forms. Felt like fun times ahead.
So, next move? Obvious. Newbie alert. One with root-deep Snow Peak tent and camping interest. A camper can't pass this up.
“Yuria.”
“Yes?”
“You... like camping?”
What a question? Gotta lure her out camping.