Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Safely Through the First Fan Sign Event (1)
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I entered the bathroom and closed the door behind me. Then I leaned against the wall and let out a sigh. A quest window hovered right in front of my eyes.
[Sub Quest]
- Will you accept ‘Debut Showcase Safely!’?
- YES / NO
The sound of water dripping from under the sink echoed through the room.
I ran a hand through my hair as I thought.
‘Why do things keep going wrong?’
Music video shoot, debut showcase, music show stage, and now the fansign. I was sick and tired of the nonstop problems cropping up one after another.
‘Is there seriously not a single day that passes quietly?’
Whether it knew how I felt or not, the members’ boisterous voices drifted in from outside the door.
With anxiety gnawing at me, I hit the accept button.
[Sub Quest]
- A lighting accident will occur during the fansign. Ensure no one gets injured.
- Reward: ???
“Whew….”
I sighed without realizing it as I read the quest window.
‘A lighting accident at the fansign, huh.’
I’d expected it wouldn’t be easy, but a lighting accident? It felt utterly hopeless.
On top of that, it didn’t even specify the extent of the injuries, which made me even more uneasy.
‘Lighting accidents are pretty dangerous, aren’t they?’
If glass shards pierced someone’s body or fragments flew everywhere, it could turn into a massive incident.
Last time, with the sub quest [Boy Rolling Down Stairs], I’d cleared it by keeping the members away from the stairs altogether. But I couldn’t do that here.
It was our first fansign. An incredibly important schedule we’d promised our fans.
So I couldn’t just say, “There might be a lighting accident, so we’re not going!”
I slammed my fist against the wall.
‘What am I supposed to do about a lighting accident…?’
At this point, I couldn’t even tell if I was living as an idol or playing some brutally scripted game.
Either way, I had to stop it. Make sure no one got hurt.
‘I have to stop it….’
My mind went blank.
I had no idea how the lighting accident would happen in the fansign venue or who might get hurt.
The quest just said, ‘Ensure no one gets injured.’
Which meant the victim might not even be a member—it could be a fan….
‘That absolutely cannot happen.’
Fans coming to see us couldn’t leave injured. No way.
If I’d gotten the quest earlier, I could’ve brainstormed a bunch of countermeasures.
But handing me this insanely harsh quest right before the fansign? It felt downright cruel.
I reached for the door to leave when my vision suddenly spun, and my body swayed off-balance.
“Why’s it so hard to breathe?”
That’s when it happened.
Knock knock—
“Jeong Eun-ho! Why are you in the bathroom so long? Constipated or something?”
Along with the knock came Baek Si-woo’s voice.
Baek Si-woo started beatboxing noisily outside the door.
“Boom chicka boom!”
“Cut it out.”
“Boom chicka boom chicka.”
“Stop it.”
“I’m doing high-class beatboxing so you won’t be embarrassed if it makes noise.”
I opened the door and stepped out. Baek Si-woo flinched and took a step back. Then he scanned me up and down.
“Whoa. Did you come out without washing your hands?”
I stared at him silently.
The moment he saw my serious expression, Baek Si-woo flinched again and backed away.
“Your face is super pale. Want some laxatives from the first-aid kit?”
“It’s not that.”
I brushed past Baek Si-woo, who was jumping to his own conclusions, and headed back to the room.
As I opened the door and went in, Eun Hae-sol, who’d been lying on the bed, opened his eyes.
“Something bad happen?”
“Nope.”
Thud—
I sat on the bed and clutched my head.
How could I resolve this? The fansign was tomorrow….
‘The place for tomorrow’s fansign is STX Hall, right?’
I turned on my smartphone and searched for STX Hall. Then I checked the photos on the official website.
In the venue photos, I could see countless lights over the stage and audience seats.
My mind raced.
‘Think. Figure out how to stop it….’
Next, I read about the venue facilities.
[Facility Guide]
STX Hall’s second floor has a small performance hall, large performance hall, waiting rooms, and other facilities.
‘We’re supposed to use the small performance hall.’
I switched tabs and checked the reservation schedule.
‘This week’s event schedule only has our fansign. That’s all the info I’ve got for now….’
No matter how I looked, I couldn’t find a clue on how to prevent the lighting accident.
Insane anxiety washed over me.
Time ticked away relentlessly with no preparations made for tomorrow’s accident, and the pressure crushing my chest grew heavier.
That’s when it hit me.
‘Wait. Why didn’t I think of that?’
A breakthrough to stop the lighting accident flashed in my mind.
I immediately turned on my smartphone and texted Heo Seung-tae.
[Jeong Eun-ho]
Can we talk for a sec?
I stared at the screen anxiously. Then a reply came from Heo Seung-tae.
[Heo Seung-tae]
Yeah
* * *
Fansign day.
The moment we got out of the van, the building labeled STX Hall came into view.
As we walked from the parking lot toward the building, Baek Si-woo started chattering excitedly.
“I’m definitely journaling about this today. First fansign— I’m so pumped!”
“You’re hyped, Baek Si-woo.”
“How could I not be? Why’s your face like that when we’re going to a fansign? Loosen up, dude.”
Everyone walked with excited expressions, while I looked like I was on the verge of death. It felt like the chicken breast salad I’d eaten for breakfast was stuck in my throat.
‘A lighting accident happens today. I have to stop it.’
Could I pull it off?
My breath came in short gasps. Glancing sideways, I saw Eun Hae-sol chugging a drink like he didn’t have a care in the world.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Must be nice. Ignorance really is bliss.
We entered the building.
Following the manager’s guidance, we took the stairs to the second-floor waiting room.
The moment I opened the waiting room door, a self-cam camera popped up.
“It’s the day of your first fansign—how’re you feeling?”
If I said my mind was a mess, troubled, and confused because of the sub quest I’d gotten the night before the fansign….
My idol career would be over.
I smiled like someone who’d slept like a baby the night before.
“I’m so happy and excited to meet the fans. I can’t wait.”
The self-cam moved on to film the other members.
I sat in a chair and closed my eyes, but then I sensed someone approaching from the front.
I opened my eyes to see Eun Hae-sol standing there with a bright smile.
Hiding my surprise, I said.
“What’s with that smile.”
“Fansign’s soon. Just keeping a smile on my face.”
“Yeah. Keep at it.”
Eun Hae-sol sat next to me.
‘This guy—plenty of other seats, why next to me?’
I shot him a wary look, then noticed the self-cam turning toward us.
The moment I saw the camera, I plastered on a smile and patted Eun Hae-sol’s shoulder.
“Hae-sol looks in great condition today? Your smile’s blooming.”
“You too, hyung.”
We both grinned ear-to-ear for the camera.
Running out of things to say, I changed the subject.
“Right. You taking good care of Sophia? You neglect her so much I’ve been checking on her. When’d you last give her water?”
“Like three days ago?”
Then a notification chimed, and I turned my head. I picked up my smartphone from the table and checked the message.
[Heo Seung-tae]
Say when you’re ready.
I sent a quick reply and set the phone back down.
Glancing at the clock, I saw about an hour left until the fansign.
‘Not much time.’
I jittered my leg anxiously, waiting only for the fansign to start.
‘Will the plan I prepared work?’
No way to know, but let’s think positive. If this doesn’t work, it’s do-or-die for real.
If I can’t stop the lighting accident, either a fan or a member gets hurt. If it comes to that, I’ll roll down the stairs myself to cancel the fansign.
Time passed, and the fansign start time approached.
“Time to head out!”
At the staff’s words, I stood up. My heart pounded wildly.
Step step—
I walked with the members.
In the distance, I could see the small performance hall where we’d hold the fansign.
“Fans must be waiting, right?”
“Whoa, I’m so nervous.”
“Yu-bin, you ready?”
“Yeah! I’m smoothly lifting the corners of my mouth!”
While the members chattered, I glanced at them and stopped walking. I pulled out my smartphone and sent a text.
[Jeong Eun-ho]
In 10 seconds, please.
“Jeong Eun-ho! What’re you doing? Hurry up.”
At the manager’s call, I hastily pocketed my phone and started walking.
“Coming right now.”
I counted down silently as I walked.
‘Ten seconds to plan execution.’
I exhaled and took each step. With every step, the door in my view grew closer.
‘10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4….’
I reached the door, and the manager grabbed the handle.
‘3.’
The handle turned, and through the widening gap, the fans came into view.
‘2’
“Waaaaah!”
The door opened fully to cheers, and I spotted the lights shining over the fans’ heads one by one.
‘1.’
At that instant, the lights went out.
“Huh?”
“What’s that?”
In the darkness, the fans’ confused voices buzzed.
The members were pretty shocked too.
“What happened?”
“We need to see the fans, right? Lights can’t go out like this!”
The manager tsked in annoyance, pulling out his smartphone from his pocket.
“I’ll call someone in charge. Go back to the waiting room for now.”
Song Yu-bin asked with a startled look.
“Fans’ll be okay, right? They don’t have to stay in the dark forever?”
“They’ll handle it—just go!”
At the manager’s bark, the members had no choice but to turn around and head back to the waiting room.
Everyone’s faces showed they couldn’t hide their confusion at the sudden situation right before the fansign.
“Why’d the lights go out all of a sudden?”
“Yeah, what’s going on?”
“Maybe someone messed with something?”
Amid the members murmuring in bewilderment, I alone let out a sigh of relief.
“Whew….”
It worked.
* * *
The night before the fansign.
‘This is it.’
The breakthrough to stop the lighting accident hit me. I turned on my smartphone and texted Heo Seung-tae.
[Jeong Eun-ho]
Can we talk for a sec?
I stared at the screen anxiously. Then a reply came.
[Heo Seung-tae]
Yeah
Good, he saw it. I was ready to go to his place if he didn’t reply….
I hurriedly texted Heo Seung-tae.
[Jeong Eun-ho]
We’re doing a fansign at STX Hall this time?
[Heo Seung-tae]
Not going. No soup for you
[Jeong Eun-ho]
Anyway, listen.
No time to beat around the bush in this urgent situation.
[Jeong Eun-ho]
We’re doing the fansign in the small performance hall, but I want to move it to the large one.
The easiest way to stop a lighting accident was to change the venue entirely.
If we held the fansign in the large performance hall instead of the small one, no lighting accident.
[Heo Seung-tae]
So what? Why tell me?
As expected, his reply treated me like a weirdo.
[Jeong Eun-ho]
I want you to help make that happen.
Heo Seung-tae sent a question mark emoji.
[Heo Seung-tae]
How lol
[Jeong Eun-ho]
You can do it. Like back in school. Remember?
[Heo Seung-tae]
What’d I do in school?
This guy—did he seriously forget everything?
[Jeong Eun-ho]
Second year of middle school, the principal kept us after school for some bullshit reason, so you hacked the school power to shut off. Everyone went home early.
It was a big deal to me, but he forgot?
Heo Seung-tae was something else.
[Heo Seung-tae]
Oh yeah lol But why bring that up?
[Jeong Eun-ho]
Can you hack the small performance hall’s power like that?
Silence fell in the chat for a bit, then Heo Seung-tae called me.
I quickly declined and texted.
[Jeong Eun-ho]
Sorry. Members are all at the dorm—can’t take calls.
Soon, a reply from Heo Seung-tae dripping with disbelief.
[Heo Seung-tae]
Why would I lololol
[Heo Seung-tae]
Wtf dude! Last time you had me send some tracking app, now cut the power?
[Heo Seung-tae]
What the hell are you up to? Idol life that rough?
Damn.
Without Heo Seung-tae’s help, back to square one. I’d expected resistance, but it was stronger than thought.
[Heo Seung-tae]
Give me a reason that makes sense.
How to explain this.
If I said I got a quest to prevent a future lighting accident, what face would Heo Seung-tae make?
After agonizing, I texted.
[Jeong Eun-ho]
Had a dream. Dreamt the lights fell during fansign in the small hall and people got badly hurt. I think it might be a precognitive dream.
Saying I see quest windows would get me labeled insane, so something closer to reality was better.
Quest or precog dream—either way, it’d sound unreal to him….
[Jeong Eun-ho]
Help me this once. I couldn’t sleep from anxiety, finally decided to text you.
Heo Seung-tae seemed to mull it over.
[Heo Seung-tae]
Fine. But if we get caught, we’re both screwed lol?
[Jeong Eun-ho]
You won’t get caught.
Heo Seung-tae didn’t argue.
‘No way he’d get caught. I’ve seen his skills since we were kids.’
[Heo Seung-tae]
Buy me food for life lololol Got it?
* * *
In the waiting room.
While waiting for the manager, I sat in a chair checking SNS.
- Current status of Manwol’s Boys fansign with lights out.jpg
└ Wtf is this?
└ Staff says it looks like hacking
└ Hacking lolol What hacker cuts power at a fansign for no reason? Delusional much lol
Then the manager came in, opening the door.
“What happened?”
He’d just finished a call and gave off an annoyed vibe.
“They say the power’s completely out for some reason. So we’re moving the fansign to the large performance hall. What a pain.”
Yes!
Hearing that, I sighed in relief and leaned back against the chair.
Now we could do the fansign safely with no one hurt.
Then a staff member outside the door shouted.
“Fans are all seated—head out now.”
“Let’s go.”
I stood with the members and headed out the door.
The long-awaited fansign was finally starting.