Chapter 69
Chapter 69
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Idol, Stalker, Management (8)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Well, alright. I'll consider helping. She looks like a gem worth investing in... and it is a request from an old acquaintance, after all.”
“Are you sure? To be honest, I feel a little bad about it.”
“I'm the CEO, what's anyone going to do about it? It's not like I'm in the idol business for the money anyway. Whatever I do, it's my call.”
Rurika replied to Raven, her face looking a little drained from all the laughter.
It seemed she’d seen that Aisha wasn't just a pretty face, but had some real talent within.
With this, the toughest hurdle had been effortlessly cleared.
Rurika's agency was one she had established herself to deal with troublesome matters.
An agency whose CEO was a famous Fixer was not something anyone could mess with, no matter how bold they were.
If someone tried to crush them with authority, as they usually did, and faced physical retaliation, they would have no recourse.
And while it was a small agency, considering Rurika's popularity, it didn't fall short in any other respect.
In other words, from Aisha's perspective, this was a golden opportunity.
To think she'd lucked into such a fortunate position just by hiring Raven. It just goes to show you can never predict what life has in store.
“But there's a condition.”
“A condition?”
Rurika raised a finger, indicating she had one condition.
As Raven looked at her, wondering what she was about to say, she answered as if it were nothing.
“I'm planning to shoot a music video for my new song. The timing is perfect. Let me use your people.”
Using that pink-haired girl in particular should be fun.
The group blinked, somewhat taken aback by Rurika's sudden proposal.
A music video? Did she mean the video that plays with a song?
Alice, in particular, tilted her head, looking puzzled as if to ask if that was really all.
But I, knowing the truth, silently pitied Alice for catching Rurika's eye.
A path of hardship had just opened up before her.
*
Rurika's proposal was a deal we had no reason to refuse.
Wasn't it a bit much for us to receive so much in exchange for shooting a few-minutes-long video?
That was the natural thought that came to mind.
But the next day, after arriving at the film set early in the morning for Rurika's music video shoot...
We came face to face with the truth behind this seemingly unfair trade.
“This is...”
“Is this real?”
“Of course, it's real. What, you've never been on top of a fighter jet before?”
“Of course not!”
Alice, her ears covered with thick earmuffs, jumped up and shouted.
The reason was simple. Before her was an aircraft that was, by all accounts, a fighter jet.
A fighter jet in a music video? And it wasn't a replica, but the real thing?
A shiver of anxiety already running down her spine, Alice looked at Raven with a woeful expression.
But he, as if he had known this would happen, simply stroked his chin and replied to her.
“Didn't you look up her music videos when you went home yesterday? She had a tank and an aircraft carrier in her last one. A fighter jet is pretty tame by comparison.”
“I... I just assumed that was all CGI! How was I supposed to think it was real?”
Rurika's music videos were known for being outrageously over-the-top, completely defying common sense.
One featured her singing atop a charging tank, another showed her riding a motorcycle across the deck of a massive aircraft carrier.
They were so extreme that they went beyond unconventional, making one wonder if she might get seriously hurt.
David cleared his throat lightly, as if this was his area of expertise, and began to explain.
“Ahem. Rurika is particularly famous for her power-packed performances, which no other idol can replicate. Toppling a tank with sheer force, leaping from a moving bus, jumping off a skyscraper... The bold contrast of her cute appearance with such surreal feats has captivated a great many fans.”
“Oh, you know your stuff. There are some who refuse to believe it's real and call it all special effects, but I don't really lie about this kind of thing. The fans love seeing something this raw and authentic. Of course... since we're at a civilian airport, this is just a shell of a fighter jet with all the weaponry stripped out.”
Rurika shrugged as she spoke.
She might be different in other areas, but for someone like her who had no reason to fake such brutish displays of power, the various controversies about manipulation were simply laughable.
But her nonchalance only made Alice, who had suddenly been cast as the video's star, clutch her head in despair.
Things had seemed to be going too smoothly. To think she'd get caught up in something so ridiculous!
She felt like pounding the ground in frustration at being forced to climb onto a fighter jet out of the blue.
However, regardless of Alice's reaction, Rurika, holding a rolled-up script in one hand, tapped her on the shoulder and said.
“You've seen the script, right? This one will have a bit of a story, so I needed another actor besides myself. Alice, I'm counting on you to give it your all.”
“Ugh... this is unbelievable...”
“And you men over there, don't miss your cues. It's dangerous, so Yuria and Aisha will just be making brief appearances.”
“Understood.”
“Right, right.”
“...!”
*Whoosh!*
After our conversation at the windy airport...
We all scattered to change our clothes.
And after we returned, dressed according to our roles in the script, everyone's eyes naturally fell on Alice, who stood hesitantly with her shoulders hunched.
“U-uh... is this... right? This is basically a swimsuit, isn't it?”
Even though she usually wore a sexy kimono with a high slit that revealed her thighs, Alice's new outfit was downright shocking.
Her top was a string bikini paired with a sheer jacket, and her bottoms were denim hot pants so short they threatened to reveal more than intended.
It was an outfit better suited for the beach than the city.
“It's pretty.”
“Looks good.”
“Of course it looks g-good to *you*! Hmph!”
Perhaps it was because of her devastatingly curvy figure.
Even Raven, who usually didn't see her as a woman at all, couldn't help but nod in admiration.
Still, she must be freezing. It's not even summer.
I looked at Alice with pity, thinking how glad I was not to be in her shoes.
Of course, if I were to wear something like that, it would probably look more alarming than alluring.
You couldn't pay me enough to stand in front of a camera in an outfit like that... Alice is tough.
“The lead looks great. And the other two... oh, my. How cute.”
*Thump.* Satisfied with Alice's look, Rurika's gaze, which had been casually scanning the others, stopped squarely on me.
It was the look of a child who'd just spotted a fascinating toy in a shop they'd been about to pass by without a second glance.
Hmm... I could understand her reaction.
Though I was still wearing my mask, my outfit wasn't my usual maid uniform.
My outfit was a black, frilly dress... a so-called Gothic Lolita style.
Simply put, it was like my usual white-frilled maid outfit had turned to the dark side.
Black from head to toe, with a large ribbon at the waist. A red rose in my hair added a final touch.
The red fox mask I wore didn't clash with the aesthetic; in fact, it blended in perfectly.
*Ahem*, I suppose it looks decent enough.
“Hmm. A black Gothic Lolita dress, shimmering silver hair, soft shoulders, and delicate legs... Oh, what to do. I'm so curious about the face behind that mask. I have a sudden urge to rip it right off. But I suppose that wouldn't be right, would it?”
“...!”
But what I hadn't expected was for Rurika to suddenly lean in so close I could feel her breath, her eyes glinting ominously as she spoke.
When she ran her fingertips across my shoulder, tickling me, I froze on the spot like a rabbit cornered by a snake.
“That's enough. You're scaring her. If you want to tease someone, go bother Alice.”
“Aww, but her reaction is so cute. Hey, Yuria, was it? If you're ever interested in becoming an idol, just let your big sis know, alright?”
“What's the age gap between you two? Have some shame, telling her to call you... Oof!”
Watching Rurika kick Raven in the ribs for coming to my rescue, I finally snapped out of my daze.
My goodness, she's terrifying! I thought she was going to eat me alive!
With that thought, I scurried behind Raven, who had come to my aid.
Tell her if I'm interested in becoming an idol? Yeah, right. Never in a million years. Why would I ever do that?
“Alright... shall we get started? Let's shoot what we can here first. Alice, get on top of the fighter jet.”
“Ah... ughhh...”
Perhaps because that incident had drained some of her energy...
The rest of the music video shoot proceeded smoothly without any major trouble.
The plot was simple. The protagonist, Alice, dreams of freedom, comes to Nighthaven, has a chaotic time adjusting, and finally finds freedom by climbing onto a flying fighter jet.
Huh? What's the story about, you ask? Well... it's not like music videos are known for their profound plots.
It was probably just an excuse to show off the fighter jet she'd bought. It would certainly be a feast for the eyes, though.
“Ah! That scene was fantastic! The most important things in a music video are the actors, the direction, and the song! At this rate, we'll nail all three.”
“Ah, i-is that so... That's a relief...”
“Let's do two more takes! I'll be right there with you this time, so it'll be fine!”
“W-what?! Two more times...? I don't wanna get on the fighter jet anymore!”
Alice, who had been roped into being the video's star, continued filming not inside the jet, but on its wing in this weather...
It was a necessary sacrifice for Aisha's sake.
*Hang in there, Alice. This will all pay off in the end.*
Thankfully, we were able to wrap up filming before the day was over.
In exchange for helping with the music video, Aisha was able to officially join Rurika's agency.
It was the first real chance for Aisha, who had never even been allowed on a level playing field.
With things more or less settled, Aisha blushed and said with genuine gratitude.
“Really, truly... thank you. I honestly wasn't expecting all this. I'll never, ever forget your help.”
“Hey, we're getting paid for this, no need for thanks. If you're that grateful, just give the agency a shout-out when you make it big.”
“Jin... you're so materialistic.”
“Just being honest.”
Aisha chuckled at Raven and Alice's exchange, then gave each of us a light hug, her gratitude sincere.
“*Sob*, I'm so... relieved...”
“Haha, why is this guy crying?”
“Ahaha... It just shows how genuinely worried he was.”
“...!”
Meanwhile, David was shedding tears of emotion...
In any case, it was good that the problem was resolved smoothly.
As Aisha hugged me tightly, I secretly offered a small prayer that everything would go well for her from now on.
Sad endings are no good. Happy endings were always the best.
“Well then, I'll be going now! Bye! See you next time!”
With that, Aisha departed, her face radiant.
She looked as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders—a stark contrast to the girl I'd first met a few days ago.
And with that, another case closed. Maybe we should go out for a celebratory dinner tonight?
I followed Raven as he suggested we use our fee to get some barbecue, and a quiet thought crossed my mind.
Once my part-time job ends, I won't be able to see this anymore.
I wouldn't be sad to leave, but I had a feeling I might miss all this commotion.