This Is How a Religion Is Born
This is how a religion is born.
Regardless of the company soldiers staring at Ha Yerin from outside the screen as if entranced, the Ha Yerin inside the screen was under a full-scale assault from Han Siwoo.
The root of the problem was that her training period had been a mere month.
Han Siwoo: Among the trainees standing behind me right now, there isn't a single person who hasn't trained for at least a year. Some of them have been practicing for over a decade.
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): ……Yes.
Han Siwoo: And yet you came on after only a month of practice… Were you that confident in your skills, or…
Han Siwoo: Or did being an idol just look that easy to you?
"What the fuck is that bastard saying right now—!!"
The instant those words left his mouth, the company soldiers' rage toward Han Siwoo hit its peak.
"Fuck, so she trained a little short, big deal — look at him picking every last bone, that piece of shit—!"
"Hey, fuck. Did that Han Siwoo bastard even go to the military? …Exempt? That fucking asshole. His dick's gotta be tiny as hell, that son of a bitch."
The company soldiers wanted to keep watching Ha Yerin for as long as possible. So every time Han Siwoo backed her into a corner, it sat wrong with them.
Fortunately, though….
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): Over this past month, running myself into the ground and taking every hit head-on, I learned just how hard the job of an idol really is. Of course… I'm not confident in my skills as they stand right now. I still have to work harder and grow more.
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): Even with only a month of practice, I was already at my limit. Everyone else here has endured this grueling training for years at the very least. I would never look down on an idol industry filled with people like that.
There was nothing to pick apart in Ha Yerin's answer.
She had appealed perfectly — respect for the idol trainees, and an honest admission of her own shortcomings.
And then….
Han Siwoo: Then why do you want to become an idol?
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): …Because of my parents.
Han Siwoo: ……Excuse me?
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): Because of my parents… I have to become an idol…. I have to….
"…Aigoo, oh no."
"Just what kind of story does she have…."
When Ha Yerin brought up her parents, it stirred sympathy and sighs all at once.
A girl that beautiful… speaking about her parents in such a desperate voice, with those eyes — it clutched at their chests until it hurt.
Then came the additional edited footage.
It was from Ha Yerin's pre-interview.
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): Our family has a bit of debt, you see…. So….
"Holy shit… she did this to pay off her parents' debt?"
"A filial daughter. A real filial daughter. Pretty face and a heart of gold…."
"That's right. Since the tofu shop's filial daughter, this might be the prettiest one yet."
She had already been soaking up every scrap of goodwill and attention from the company soldiers on looks alone — and now pity was piled on top of it.
They truly became of one heart, cheering for Ha Yerin.
Even if she turned out tone-deaf, rhythm-deaf, and danced like a disaster, they were ready to keep loving her anyway.
She'd only been training as an idol for a month, after all — so there wasn't much expectation for the stage to begin with.
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): Well then… I'll show you my stage now.
And then Ha Yerin's stage began….
Yeah, it won't be that easy — this world I've been granted~
"Huh…?"
"This is…!"
The familiar song started playing, and the company soldiers stirred all over again.
"Holy shit, isn't this Digimon? I was obsessed with this when I was a kid!"
"Right? Think she watched Digimon too?"
For men in their twenties and thirties, Digimon was a memory you couldn't peel off. The company soldiers sang along as they watched Ha Yerin's stage.
She sang better than expected, too — easy on the ears.
Strictly speaking, Seo Yujin's vocal skill on the previous stage had been superior, but that had already been completely forgotten.
oh my love~~
And just like that, the stage ended.
"Holy shit, she killed it."
"Damn~ she said she only practiced a month! And she can sing too?"
Even though lights-out was almost upon them, they whooped and hollered, chattering noisily about Ha Yerin's stage.
They weren't the only ones who liked it — the judges lined up with praise one after another.
Han Siwoo: Great tone, solid vocal production. Sense of rhythm is decent too. That was a really enjoyable stage.
Lee Huisu (Vocal Trainer): It feels like discovering a raw gemstone — still unpolished… rough, but beautiful?
But… of course someone had to come along and ruin the warm atmosphere all over again….
Han Siwoo: …However. Trainee Ha Yerin — that wasn't an idol song, was it?
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): ……No.
Han Siwoo: There were some movements here and there, but you couldn't really call that dancing. Correct?
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): …That's correct.
Han Siwoo: For idols these days, dancing is just as important as singing. No — these days, you could even say dancing is more important.
"Ah… seriously, why is he like this."
Han Siwoo, as expected.
Still, this time none of the company soldiers could freely curse him out.
Because it was true — Ha Yerin's stage had had no dancing.
"Ah… so what if there's no dancing, big deal?"
"Eh… but she's an idol, so she should have dancing, right?"
"True, if you don't dance you're not really an idol."
"Come on, this is her first stage — she can do it next time."
Even the company soldiers in front of the TV split down the middle, arguing back and forth over whether a dance-less Ha Yerin stage was acceptable or not.
And then, right at that moment.
Han Siwoo: Do you have a dance track prepared separately…?
"…Oh, what's this."
"Is he giving her another shot?"
As a grand, urgent BGM swelled, Han Siwoo requested one more stage.
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): ……I have something prepared. I'll do it.
Ha Yerin said she would do it.
"……Hope she'll be okay."
The company soldiers watched the broadcast with eyes half expectation, half worry.
"……."
"……."
In that taut atmosphere, Ha Yerin spoke first.
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): Ah, before the stage — would it be all right if I changed my outfit a little?
Han Siwoo: Go ahead.
Neither the judges nor the company soldiers watching TV thought much of it.
But then….
"…Uh, whoa."
"Huk."
"Whoa… what, what is that…."
"Fuck, move, you bastard. I can't see!!"
"S-sorry…!"
Ha Yerin suddenly peeling off her jacket right there on the spot made everyone jump and gasp. One junior even got smacked in the back of the head for reflexively leaning closer to the TV.
Han Siwoo: Y-Yerin—!! Wh-what are you doing right now!
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): …Yes?
Han Siwoo: N-not here — you need to change offstage.
Han Siwoo was just as flustered — he wore a rare look of urgency as he spoke.
Ha Yerin tilted her head at him.
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): I'm wearing pants under the skirt.
Han Siwoo: Ah.
[Peek.]
[Only then does Producer Han Siwoo lower his hand.]
[Looks like he was really embarrassed ^^.]
Just as the subtitle said, Han Siwoo's face had gone red as a beet — thoroughly embarrassed.
Seeing a rare crack in the perfectionist Han Siwoo, the company soldiers cackled with delight.
"Ah, heh. Look at that bastard's face going red."
"Even Han Siwoo's just a guy in the end."
"Fuck, is he falling for my future wife for no reason?"
"Why the hell is she your wife. You wanna die?"
Ha Yerin probably hadn't intended it, but the little incident dissolved the tension in the air.
And then….
"…Whoa, but damn, she really is insanely pretty."
"…Seeing her in person would probably end you."
The outfit change had layered on a sultry edge, and Ha Yerin overwhelmed the room with her looks alone.
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): Then I'll begin the stage.
And so Ha Yerin's second stage began….
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
"Huh? This song?"
"Isn't that the one?"
Another song they knew. Especially once a dance track famous for its sexy performance came on, the company soldiers buzzed with excitement, chattering away.
And then….
"Holy shit, I'm hyped."
"No kidding. This is totally… …!"
Thud.
The moment Ha Yerin sank down in place for the opening move, every single person sucked in a breath and shut their mouths.
Beneath the short shorts, her long white legs stood out in sharp relief.
Of course… it wasn't that much exposure… but just her sitting down and stretching out her legs was more than enough to deliver a devastating blow to the company soldiers' chests.
The song continued.
Spend this night with me.
Take my hand in yours.
A husky voice — the complete opposite of when she'd sung the Digimon Adventure song earlier.
It felt as if she were truly whispering right beside your ear.
But what stood out above all else was still the dancing.
Ssslip—.
Nothing flashy or high-energy about the moves.
Slow… dreamlike.
But….
Ssslick—.
…Delicate. And… mysterious.
"……Ah."
Senior Sergeant Yu Changseon, in particular, was utterly absorbed — savoring every single one of Ha Yerin's movements.
And then.
Fwoosh.
……Huh?
At some point his vision went black, and when he came to, he was no longer in the military barracks.
A dark… cramped… studio apartment that was his.
Sergeant Yu Changseon was lying on his own bed in civilian clothes, not the familiar military fatigues.
Ssslick—, step.
And a figure approaching him.
Ssslip—, ssslip.
She was on all fours on the floor, arms stretched forward, hips raised.
It's Ha Yerin….
The girl who had been inside the TV just moments ago was crawling toward him on his studio apartment bed.
On all fours, like a cat….
Ssslick—.
Looking up at him with jewel-like wide eyes….
"Hhk…."
That alone made Sergeant Yu Changseon feel like his breath would stop — but it wasn't over.
"Not enough."
"…Y-yes?"
"Not enough time."
"I want to be with you."
Ssslip—.
"Haa…."
Ha Yerin's hand touched his ankle.
Her hand climbed higher and higher, and her body settled on top of his.
"Haa… haa…."
Her touch reached his chest, and her breath was right in front of him.
A thrilling, ecstatic sensation — as if he'd been electrocuted.
"Twenty-four hours is too…."
"Not enough."
Her face drew closer and closer.
It felt like… turning into water and being sucked down a drain.
And yet he didn't hate it at all.
Sergeant Yu Changseon threw himself into that ecstatic sensation instead.
The moment she took everything from him… he simply watched, in awe… and in gratitude.
And then.
Ha Yerin (Hyeongje Entertainment): Haa… that's all.
Only when Ha Yerin finished the stage could he finally come back to his senses.
"……."
"……."
"……I'm gonna hit the bathroom real quick."
Aside from one junior who suddenly left for the bathroom, every company soldier in front of the TV wore a vacant expression.
In that moment, Sergeant Yu Changseon felt the same headache as the first time he'd ever smoked a cigarette… and a deep regret over how short the stage had been.
A little more… he wanted to watch her a little longer.
He wanted to witness that dazzling figure of hers just a little more…!
And then a method for seeing more of her surfaced in his mind.
"…Hey. July, August, September."
"……."
"You fucking bastards, you not answering? July, August, September."
"C-Corporal Moon Yuchan!"
"…Corporal Heo Man!"
"C-Corporal……!"
When Senior Sergeant Yu Changseon raised his voice and called them out, the July, August, and September enlistment line of the security company all raised their hands in unison.
Sergeant Yu Changseon ordered them with a dead-serious face.
"The second you get your phones tomorrow, every last junior under me votes for her. If she fails to debut and gets eliminated before I discharge, you're all dead. Got it?"
"Yes? Ah, yes! Understood!"
It was the most reasonable order Senior Sergeant Yu Changseon had ever handed down as the unit's top dog.
The company soldiers already felt the same way he did, so they answered with glad hearts.
Because every one of them wanted to see more of her stage. Because every one of them wanted Ha Yerin to appear on TV not as a trainee, but as a full-fledged idol.
In that moment, even though they weren't at war, they felt themselves become perfectly of one mind and body as fellow soldiers.
This was the first stirring of the Ha Yerin fandom that would one day blanket the skies of the Republic of Korea.