Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Missing Member
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The members' makeup session began, and as I waited, the salon's director approached me.
“Oh my, if it isn't the spunky manager.”
Her words finally made me understand the friendly looks the staff had been giving me.
“Hello, Director.”
“Haha, 'Director' makes me sound like a kindergarten principal. You should sit down for a moment, Manager. I'll touch up your hair.”
“No, it's alright.”
The director wagged her index finger from side to side.
I never thought I'd see this scene in real life.
“You don't refuse a kind offer.”
“…Then I'll gratefully accept.”
The director started shaping my hair with just a bit of wax and spray, working her magic.
“It was Jun, wasn't it?”
“Yes. Min-jun.”
“How can someone be so handsome and have such a cool mindset too? The salon staff were absolutely swooning.”
"Pardon?”
I had a feeling, but I feigned ignorance to be sure.
”You know, when you saved the Answer members last time. The rookie who can't stand injustice, even from a senior artist.“
“…Any decent man would have done the same.”
“Oh my! And modest, too.”
A pleased look appeared on the director's face.
In less than a minute, my hairstyle came to life as if I'd gotten an As-perm. No wonder people specifically ask for the director.
“His visuals are popping. Cha-ssaem?”
The director called over a passing staff member.
“Doesn't he look like the center of a boy group?”
“Yes, Daepyo-nim! He really does!”
With me standing right there, a few people began a critique that wasn't quite a critique. In my first life, I would have been embarrassed, but now, I've decided to take all of this in stride.
“Thank you, everyone. Please take good care of our Answer members as well.”
I thanked the director and returned to the members.
“Oh?”
“Manager, you look even more handsome.”
Yi-na said with a bright face. Even Seol-ah's eyes widened slightly, so it seemed anyone could tell the style turned out well.
“I'll go get some lunch boxes. What do you want to eat?”
Seeing Seul-bi's face light up, I suddenly remembered something I'd forgotten.
“Before that, Director Lee Sun had a message she insisted I deliver.”
“What is it?”
“'Just because Manager Min looks nice, don't think you can sneak food. Get caught, and you're done for. InBody next week.' That's what she said.”
Even I was surprised at how I delivered the line with a nuance and intonation similar to the director's.
“Pfft!”
“Woah.”
“That's exactly like her.”
Even the makeup artist, who seemed to know Seol-ah and Director Lee Sun, burst out laughing.
My talents seemed to be unknowingly linked to the system. I was just amazed by these abilities I never knew I had in my first life.
At the 5 AM convenience store, freshly delivered salads were waiting.
For Seol-ah and Yi-na, chicken breast salads with oriental dressing. For Seul-bi, a Caesar salad with bacon and cheese sauce.
I picked up a kimbap for myself, then put it back down and grabbed the same salad as Seul-bi. Now that I'm working as their manager, I should be considerate enough not to make them feel deprived, even over something as small as food.
Because I'm serious about this.
I returned to the salon.
“Excuse me, is there a sink somewhere other than the restroom?”
“…What for?”
“I want to wash the salads.”
I was guided to a space in the back of the break room.
Although they were pre-washed and ready to eat, you couldn't say they were completely free of residual pesticides or foreign matter.
It was so common that despite emphasizing they were pre-washed, there was always a tiny disclaimer that read, 'Please wash salad under running water before eating,' to guard against consumer complaints.
I could have eaten toast by myself in the break room, but I had a specific reason for waiting until one of the members was done so we could eat the salads together.
A new project was about to begin, and if I was going to put them through 'harsh' training, I needed to build a strong bond with them.
I'll share in your joys and sorrows. However... I'll just add a little more chicken breast to mine. I have to maintain my muscle mass, after all.
Seul-bi tilted her head, looking at the moist vegetables.
“I washed them.”
“You did?”
“I didn't wash them in the restroom, so don't worry. I used the kitchenette.”
“Hehe. Thank you for the food.”
Such a pretty girl with a strange laugh.
* * *
The members, now in full makeup, got into the van.
The van filled with the pleasant scent of cosmetics.
“Let's finish eating before we go pick up the outfits. It'll be a disaster if you spill anything on them.”
“Manager Oppa, aren't you adapting a little too well?”
“Right? He even washed the salads.”
Yi-na and Seul-bi seemed to be in high spirits. I just gave them a grin and stepped on the gas.
A short while later, I arrived at the contracted select shop and got out of the van. Popular groups have stylists who bring their outfits, but Answer wasn't in a position for that, so we had to pick them up ourselves.
“Answer, this way please.”
The members moved toward the prepared outfits. But their eyes were fixed on a clothing rack being wheeled by two stylists. It was filled with stylish outfits meant for another group.
“Seol-ah has a fuller bust and hips than she looks. I'll just have to snip three stitches.”
A few threads stitched into the outfit were snipped.
“I'm back from Dongdaemun!”
“Good work.”
I turned my head at the sound of a familiar voice. It was a girl in a white t-shirt and jeans, struggling with several huge plastic bags.
The girl's eyes met mine, and she hurried over. A faint light emanated from her.
“Hello, Manager Min-jun.”
“You're Chae-ron, right?”
“Yes!”
It was Chae-ron, the one who was essentially kicked out of JD. This must have been the select shop Director Lee Sun introduced her to.
“Chae-ron!”
“Seol-ah unni!”
The members gathered around with surprised faces.
“You're working here?”
The members' eyes welled with tears. They must have been close during their trainee days. Chae-ron smiled and nodded.
“Don't look at me like that. I'm happy now.”
“Ah, sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I was just so happy to see you.”
Seol-ah dabbed at her tears with a tissue from the table.
“But how did you end up working here?”
“Manager Min-jun recommended me to Director Lee Sun.”
“Huh?”
The members stared at me with wide eyes. It must have seemed strange to them that a rookie like me was so deeply involved in company affairs.
“I told you, didn't I? That I'm close with the director. Telling you not to be afraid of Team Leader Park wasn't just a bluff.”
Acting smug isn't my style, but... it felt natural right now.
“Thank you again, Manager. I think I've found my calling thanks to you.”
Chae-ron bowed her head again. The way the members looked at me changed subtly.
“I'm glad to hear that. Is it tough?”
“It's tiring, but it's fun. I get to check out new clothes in Apgujeong, and sometimes I buy fabric from Dongdaemun to make things myself.”
Despite her exhaustion, a light of hope shone on Chae-ron's face.
After parting ways with Chae-ron, the mood in the van was utterly somber.
“Seeing Chae-ron unni there... it breaks my heart.”
Yi-na said with a conflicted expression, and Seol-ah, after a small sigh, spoke up.
“…That's why you have to do your best, as if this is your last chance.”
Seul-bi's eyes twitched for a moment.
“Seol-ah unni, it's always 'do your best, do your best!' Does doing your best guarantee anything? Chae-ron worked incredibly hard too!”
Seol-ah shot a glare at Seul-bi.
The atmosphere is getting weird for no reason. I need to fix this, fast.
“Calm down. Chae-ron said she's happy, so why are we getting worked up?”
“……”
“Should I make a prediction?”
I checked the rearview mirror and saw the members' gazes focused on me.
“I'd bet CEO Gyeon Sang-jin's wrist that Chae-ron becomes a famous stylist one day.”
“Pffft!”
“Ah! Oppa is seriously crazy! I thought he was going to bet his own wrist!”
“Insane. Why did he bring up CEO Gyeon?”
I was dumbfounded by the sudden burst of laughter.
I was being serious, though...
The mood shifted more than I intended, and I let out a small laugh myself.
“Alright, I'm going to focus on driving now, so you artists should get some sleep. We have a long way to go.”
“Okay!”
*Swish.*
Along with Seul-bi's cheerful reply, the curtain divided the space. But then.
*Yawn.*
I'm sleepy. Gotta stay awake.
Good thing I have something useful for times like this.
[Best Driver Mode has been activated.]
My mind suddenly cleared, and the system's vision reset. The route ahead was marked with a pink arrow, and I leisurely stepped on the accelerator.
* * *
“Woah!”
The cheers of the Gangwon-do residents flooded into the gymnasium.
“Answer's music file, please.”
“Here you go.”
I handed over the USB containing the AR track.
Normally, we'd email the organizers a DRM (Digital Rights Management) locked audio file, but sometimes you have to deliver it in person on-site.
“Why isn't Mi-ji here yet?”
“…She said it'll take about 30 minutes for her to get here.”
It seemed Seol-ah had already called her.
“This is the only time we have to rehearse.”
The cheers from the large outdoor stadium pierced through the gymnasium walls, sounding vivid and close. It was the kind of sound that made you feel needlessly rushed. The performance here would begin soon, during the break after the meal.
“What should we do? She's not going to just... not show up, is she?”
Yi-na looked anxious. I suddenly recalled that their choreography had a lot of two-person dance parts. Seol-ah's positioning without a partner would be awkward.
-Answer, please come up. Only Answer's rehearsal is left.
“Let's go up. She'll probably get here later. For now, let's just freestyle it.”
Seol-ah reassured the members. The rehearsal began, and the choreography with only three members was definitely awkward. It wasn't 'Seol-ah and the kids,' after all.
What should I do if Mi-ji doesn't make it on time?
I was lost in thought.
* * *
Bad feelings always come true.
I started to lose contact with both of them.
"What the? Why aren't they picking up!"
Time passed, but Team Leader Park and Mi-ji still weren't answering. In the end, I called the chief manager, Siljang Ji.
-Why are you telling me this now?
“When I spoke to them earlier, they said they'd arrive in 30 minutes.”
-This is driving me crazy. Whether you have to beg the governor or grab the event coordinator by the pants, just handle it.
“…Understood.”
So they were going to backstab me like this after all. We spent a lot of money and went through so much trouble to come all this way, and now we were in danger of not even earning a dime.
No, it was more than just money; it was a critical issue that could ruin our reputation.
Time ticked by, and the gymnasium began to fill up, the noise growing louder.
“How about we push our performance to a later slot?”
Seol-ah suggested after much thought, but it was impossible.
“We can't do that. We won't make it before the Consolation Train rehearsal.”
“Ah… right.”
Frustrated sighs erupted from me and the members.
“Hey, look at me.”
A slow manner of speaking, strangely reminiscent of a North Korean accent. The man, in his forties and dressed in a respectable suit, was one of the event organizers.
“The contract was for four members. Why do I only see three?”
Is that a Gangwon-do accent?
“We were told she was on her way.”
“Good grief. …Do you think our tax money is a joke?”
His slow muttering made me break out in a cold sweat, as if it were my fault. No, given the nature of my job, this was my responsibility.
“It's about to start, so what are you going to do? The governor himself made a special trip to be here today.”
The official's reprimanding words made it hard to breathe.
*Ding.*
[Sudden Quest Occurred: 'Member Desertion'.]
Save Answer from the predicament caused by a member bailing on the performance.
[Objective]
Persuade the audience and ensure Answer's performance concludes successfully.
The roar of the crowd must exceed 100 dB.
[Reward]
1. Stat points equal to the peak decibel level of the cheers minus 100 dB.
2. A significant increase in the members' affection. Affection and Trust stats will be unlocked.
[Failure Penalty]
-20 pt
The first sudden quest I'd ever received. The reward seemed to offer a lot of stats, but the risk of failure was too great.
The points I had painstakingly saved up until now barely amounted to 20. Points I'd been saving, suppressing my desires, in preparation for full-scale producing.
“This is crazy...”
“What? Were you talking to me?”
The official's eyes widened as he asked.
“No, sir! I was just muttering something about the member I'm going to scold.”
“Whatever. I'm already sick and tired of hearing people complain about wasting taxpayer money, so either convince the governor or perform for just the deposit without the final payment. Do whatever you want.”
The official turned his back in anger.
100 decibels…? How loud was 100 decibels again? The sound of a passing train was 110 dB... It was a number that was absolutely impossible to achieve without a massive response from the crowd.
Time passed, and the performance eventually began, but there was still no word from Mi-ji or Team Leader Park.
-And now, let's welcome the group opening our show, the four-member beauty girl group, Answer! Please give them a big round of applause!
*Clap, clap, clap.*
The perfunctory applause of the audience could be heard.
“Answer, you're up.”
“What do we do!”
“This is driving me crazy!”
The members looked distressed as the stage staff called their name. There was no other way but to face this head-on.
“Don't be scared, just go up. I'll take Mi-ji's position.”
“What?”
At my words, the members' eyes widened in shock.