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"An interview?"
Eunseo's face went blank with confusion.
Of course, I was more than satisfied with her editing skills. But a contract wasn't something you signed on talent alone. I hadn't exactly shown up declaring, Alright, sign right here—we're the same pirate crew now, ready to recruit her the second we met.
Whether this person was someone I could keep trading projects with was something I'd have to weigh carefully over time. And given what had just happened, she clearly had some kind of story of her own.
"Eunseo."
"Yes, Angel-nim."
"...Don't call me Angel-nim."
"B-but you are an angel..."
What was this, a drama? Calling someone an angel right to their face.
Eunseo hadn't managed a proper look at me this whole time. The moment our eyes met, she'd duck her head. Then she'd sneak another glance up, and if our eyes met again, down went her head once more. Anyone watching would think I was some celebrity she was fangirling over.
"Alright, let's sit first. Open the window a bit."
"Yes!"
Eunseo moved fast, cracking the window open and shoving the mattress into place. Was she being considerate because it was bare floor? She seemed like a good kid—so why had she done what she did earlier...
Eunseo's room was so cramped that with three people sitting around, more than half the space was filled. The Director took a folding chair since there wasn't enough mattress left, while I sat cross-legged on the mattress itself. Eunseo perched at the edge with her knees drawn neatly together.
The Director surveyed the room with careful eyes.
"Miss Eunseo."
"Yes."
"You're living here alone right now?"
"That's right."
"Since when?"
Eunseo folded her fingers one by one.
"...About this many?"
"Two months?"
"Probably."
Probably?
"You don't remember exactly?"
"I don't really keep track of dates."
"You could just check your phone or a calendar."
"I don't have either..."
"Ah."
That could happen.
"Then check on the computer. It should show on your laptop."
"...Where?"
"...? Bottom right."
"What's on the bottom right?"
I pointed at the laptop she was holding.
"You made videos with this, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"But you don't know how to check the date?"
"No. I never needed to..."
Good grief... After asking her permission, I powered on the laptop. The desktop held nothing but a few folders and what looked like editing software.
"Click this."
"Oh. A clock and calendar came up."
"Yeah. That's how you check."
The Director leaned in and whispered low enough that Eunseo couldn't hear.
"...This conversation is going to take longer than expected."
Just as she'd predicted.
We kept talking about this and that, and Eunseo turned out to be a rather unusual kid. We were clearly living in the same era, yet there were so many things everyone else would know that she simply didn't.
"So how did you learn video editing?"
"I just did it."
"Just did it?"
"Before I came here, I'd made videos over there. So I just copied what I knew."
"...What kind of videos?"
"Editing the Grand Master's sermons, or stitching together footage from events..."
Eunseo pulled up a cult promotional video she'd made on her laptop.
Three million views!?
Ah—this was that one. A bizarre cult promotional video that had gone viral purely because the production quality was unexpectedly good. And Eunseo had made it. No wonder her sense was so unique. So that was why.
Eunseo was nearly completely in the dark about the outside world. But when it came to video editing, she answered with complete fluency. It would have been better if she'd started voluntarily—but from what she said, she'd been forced to learn it and simply gotten used to it. That was a shame.
"Do you know YouTube?"
"Yes, I know it."
"Do you have a bank account?"
"I'm not sure. Some strange adults mentioned something similar, but I don't really remember."
"Um... do you have an ID by any chance?"
"Of course."
Eunseo pulled a small pouch-like thing from the shelf above her desk. It seemed to be a little bundle where she kept her important things.
"Here."
"Ah..."
The ID she handed over read Saeoreumgyo Membership Certificate. It did have her name, year of birth, and such written on it... but a normal ID doesn't say "Long live Saeoreum-nim" on it.
"Do you have anything else?"
"Mom and Dad said the outside world's trash and gave me something similar... but they said this one was useless, so I should just keep it."
What she handed over next, calling it trash, was a proper resident registration card.
"Eunseo. From now on, when we say ID, this is the ID."
"But this doesn't even have the Grand Master's authentication mark..."
"Instead, someone even more important authenticates it. It authenticates that you are you."
"Someone more important than the Grand Master? So there's someone like Saeoreum-nim in the outside world too?"
"Ah, um... yeah, let's go with that."
I pressed my fingers to my brow. This wasn't simply a matter of hiring her as an editor or not.
"Miss Eunseo."
The Director's voice softened a little.
"Before coming here, you lived continuously at that... Saeoreumgyo?"
"Yes."
"Since when?"
"I don't remember much from when I was very little, but my parents told me I was raised there from birth."
"What about schooling?"
"I only learned what the Grand Master permitted."
"Have you never attended school?"
"Ah, after I came outside I went to a few places. Some strange adults forced me to go..."
"Wait—"
"...It was hard being around the satans, so I stopped going."
The Director and I didn't ask any further, seeing how distressed she looked.
Piecing together what Eunseo and her parents had said, I finally had a sense of the situation. Eunseo was a hardcore cult member born and raised in a pseudo-religious group.
It was truly fortunate she'd gotten out even now—but after living that way for seventeen years, even if someone suddenly said Surprise, that place was a cult, it would take time for her to properly accept it. If anything, the fact that she was managing this well was impressive.
However!
When I lightly clapped my hands together, the sharp sound made Eunseo's small shoulders jump.
"Alright, Eunseo. I fully understand your circumstances."
"Yes!"
"But having unfortunate circumstances and you doing something wrong are two separate things."
"..."
Eunseo ducked her head down again.
"It's not that I don't understand why you did it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You were taught that people outside are dangerous, so you figured I was one of them too."
"...Yes."
"So from your perspective, was I a bad person?"
"A-Angel-nim is..."
"Jinyoung."
"...Jinyoung-nim. Was a little... strange."
"In what way?"
"The way you talk like you're always right... Fighting with people on stream and saying you'll report them."
"That's because those people were in the wrong."
"Th-they said there are satans who talk like that, claiming they're always right."
"That can be a reason for why you deceived me, but it doesn't make what you did not wrong."
"...Yes."
"And thinking it's okay to mess with someone just because you don't like them is even worse."
"...Yes."
"Deciding on your own that someone you don't understand is a bad person and then harassing them is reeeally bad."
"Hic... Yes..."
Did I push too hard? Her voice was starting to get thick. Understand this. This is all a cane for your own good, Eunseo. If you live like that in this rough world, you're going to have a very hard life.
"Promise me you won't do it again."
"...Yes."
Eunseo didn't grasp the intent of my outstretched pinky and, flustered, wrapped both hands around my pinky finger. Well—as long as the meaning got across, okay.
I looked at the Director, who shrugged with her arms crossed. She was probably thinking something like You should scold her more sharply inside.
"Anyway! So I can't hire you right away."
"Ah..."
The emotion of my entire world is crumbling was written plain across Eunseo's face.
"Instead, I'll set a trial period."
"...A trial?"
"Yeah. I like your skills."
That was sincere. The quality of what she'd produced with just one laptop was considerable. I was curious how far she could go if given proper equipment and environment.
"But I don't only care about skills. You have to keep promises, you can't lie, and you have to stay in proper contact. If there's something you don't know, don't decide on your own—ask."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
"For now, let's try a few editing jobs using publicly available broadcast footage."
A formal contract after that. There was also the minor issue, so I needed to look into Eunseo's situation a bit more. Those "strange adults" who'd helped her? Probably public agencies or protection organizations. There'd be things I could only learn by talking with them as well.
"I'll watch how you do during that time and decide."
"...If I pass?"
"What do you mean, if? I'll hire you."
Eunseo's eyes went wide.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"I can work with Angel-nim?"
"...Suddenly I don't want to hire you."
"Why!?"
I was looking for a business partner to work with, not recruiting a fanatic.
Eunseo hesitated for a moment, then carefully asked.
"I... I have a question."
"What is it?"
"...Are satans actually not bad?"
"Hm?"
"Jinyoung-nim is a satan, right?"
"Who said that?"
"The doctrine said so."
"By that doctrine's standards, isn't everyone outside a satan?"
"That's right."
For a cult, the scale of their doctrine was insane. Demonizing the entire population?
I thought for a moment. Eunseo must be pretty confused too.
"I can't decide for you whether satans exist or not. Because then you'd just memorize that standard too. But the standard you know is too extreme."
"Extreme...?"
"Not everyone outside is good. And not everyone inside Saeoreumgyo is a bad person either. Do you understand?"
Eunseo blinked.
If you could divide people into single words like that, it would be so convenient. Good people, bad people. Angels, satans. It's because that's hard that people like me are needed.
"What matters is what that person did. Whether they were kind to you, whether they listened when you said no, whether they respected you. And the same goes for how you treat others."
Eunseo thought for a moment before speaking again.
"Sister Soyeong and Grandma Geumrye told me never to come back. That outside was nothing but satans... But the outside is so different from everything I knew."
I let out a small laugh.
"So from now on, check things out one by one."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Nobody's going to stop you, so meet people and figure out what you like and what you don't."
"Th-there's too much. I don't even know how..."
"Hey now, what have you been hearing this whole time? If you don't know, ask."
"Ask who?"
I pointed at myself with my finger, then pointed at the Director too. The Director burst out laughing.
"Us, for starters?"
Eunseo was silent for a while. Then she stood up from the mattress and bowed deeply at the waist.
"I'm sorry. I decided on my own that you were a bad person."
Her voice trembled.
"So I deliberately edited things weirdly, messed with you... and sent a fake address. I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
Eunseo raised her head.
"I will definitely become the editor Angel-nim wants."
"It's Jinyoung."
"...I will definitely become the editor Jinyoung Angel-nim wants..."
This kid needs the cult washed out of her first. Still—I liked the attitude.
I patted Eunseo on the head.
"...!"
Huh? Why are this kid's ears turning so red?
"A-Angel-nim's blessing...! Hehe!"
...I really need to wash that out of her fast.
To talk privately with the Director, I sent Eunseo on an errand to the convenience store. Fortunately, she said she'd been to one before.
"You did well delaying the contract. She's a kid with a lot of history."
"Yes. But the trial is sincere. Even for the trial, I'll pay her proper compensation."
"Alright. Given your circumstances, Jinyoung-ssi, you'll need to be careful that overly sensitive materials don't end up with Eunseo."
I'd received so much help from the Director. For the first time in a long while, I'd strongly felt the human warmth that went beyond just business.
"...Director."
"Yes?"
"I'm actually not Cha Jinyoung."
"...Excuse me?"
The Director's eyes went wide. Ah—that phrasing left room for misunderstanding.
"I meant I have a separate real name."
"Ahh... Well, most people don't think Cha Jinyoung is a real name anyway."
Telling someone other than my parents my real name was a first since becoming Cha Harin. That's how carefully I'd been guarding it. Even so, I couldn't hide it forever. I'd keep meeting the Director going forward, after all. If not someone like her, who would I tell?
"It's Cha Harin. My real name."
The Director was quiet for a moment, then answered with a smiling face.
"Thank you. But are you sure? You've been hiding it so carefully..."
"It's fine. It's just the name. And I trust you're not the type to go around telling people."
"Hmm..."
The corners of the Director's eyes curved up.
"Then stop calling me Director."
"...What?"
"In private settings, call me unnie. I'll speak casually too. Harin-ssi, you're not over thirty, right?"
"Uh, that's true, but still...!"
"Wow, you tell me your real name and then draw a line?"
"What does one have to do with the other..."
"Come on, you said you'd make a request for a gift, right? Do it. Unnie."
I'm going crazy... Ah, this is the first time I've called anyone unnie. Never mind the embarrassment—my mouth just wouldn't open.
"Come on. Okhee unnie."
"O-Ok..."
Uwaaah. Whatever.
"hee... unnie..."
"Good job. I don't drop formal speech with just anyone. And the name Okhee is so old-fashioned that most people just call me by my title."
"Huh...? It's a pretty name."
"What..."
If I said something like it suited her warm, motherly image, I'd probably get smacked like a real close friend, right?
"Uh... That's the first time I've heard that. If Harin says so, well..."
Just then, the iron door opened.
"I'm back, Angel-nim."
"...Eunseo, you call me unnie too."
I'd tell her my name when I formally hired her, but I needed to get her to stop with that angel title already.
We said our goodbyes as we left Eunseo's house. I'd taught her how to chat on MyCode, so she could contact us anytime now.
The problem was Eunseo's living situation... Her parents had gone back, but the fact that they'd said they'd return bothered me.
I wanted to take her somewhere else if I could... but I didn't have that kind of capacity yet. The place I was living was too small for two people. And no matter how much it was Eunseo, bringing someone into my home was a stretch.
I'd gotten a contact number for one of the adults who'd helped her, so I planned to inform them of Eunseo's situation and request assistance. The fact that a kid was living alone eating nothing but cup ramen remained unchanged.
At an age when she should be eating well and growing, Eunseo was living under the worst conditions. She'd apparently been under a lot of stress at Saeoreumgyo too—Eunseo was more frail than other kids her age.
"I'll look into it."
Crazy god-tier Okhee unnie.
"Honestly speaking, you're more important to me, Harin... but if I just ignore Eunseo, you'd be disappointed in me, right? I'm worried about her too, so I'll connect with the protection organization side and look for solutions."
"Really... thank you."
I want to bury myself in those vast arms!
"Then one more time."
"W-what?"
"You've been sneakily answering while dropping just the subject this whole time? Unnie."
"...Thank you, Okhee u-unnie."
"Mm."
Haa... Social life is hard.
Finally, I returned to my sweet home. My exhausted body collapsed onto the bed. I'd gained a bit of courage about going out... but separate from that, I was so tired. More than streaming! Too many things happened. I'm so tired...
Just then, a notification sound rang from my phone. A new email?
It came through.
I sprang up from my spot like a spring. At last. I'd made it this far.
"Hehe."
The special thing about good news. Even if you know it's coming, experiencing it yourself is still joy. I was tired. Dead tired. But I couldn't hold this in.
I turned on my computer and set up the stream.
Click.
I pulled the mic closer.
"Hello, everyone. Livepia Partner Streamer, VTuber Cha Jinyoung here."
I leaned back in my chair and looked at the screen. I'd gained a reliable backer in Okhee unnie, and picked up a promising editor (provisional) too. Suddenly realizing it—damn, I've grown a lot.
And before I knew it, the football World Cup season was approaching.