Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Performance
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“Seol-ah, you'll sing all of Mi-ji's vocal parts. Can you do that?”
“I can, but…”
There was a doubling file with the members' live vocals recorded over the AR backing track, but we couldn't just use a file we hadn't even rehearsed with.
“Wait a minute. Did I hear you right?”
Seol-ah asked, her expression bordering on displeasure.
“I think you heard me correctly.”
“So… you're saying you, the manager, are going to dance Mi-ji's part?”
“Let's get up there, quickly.”
The staff member hurrying them was clearly annoyed, and the crowd was starting to get restless.
“Whoa… what is even happening right now.”
“Hurry. We don't have a choice.”
At my urging, the members, who had been imagining a disastrous performance, reluctantly went on stage.
The audience came into view, their average age high, ranging from their thirties to their seventies. If the audience is older, we have to cater to their tastes.
I recalled a civic event I attended as a child. Then I took the microphone from the MC and gave a deep bow to the man who appeared to be the governor.
“First, I'd like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the people of Gangwon Province and Governor Kim Chan-yeom for having us. We wish all of your families peace and prosperity.”
‘Bow, deep.’
As I prostrated myself on the stage, I whispered, and the members of Answer hesitantly followed suit, bowing low to the floor.
“Wh-what is this?”
Seul-bi said, bewildered, as she bowed. For some reason, Seol-ah, who was also on the floor, was shaking with laughter.
“These young folks have such good manners.”
*Laughter.*
A loud shout from someone in the crowd was followed by boisterous laughter. The first step, setting the mood, was a success.
“Should we bow again?”
“Geez. For real? Did someone die or something?”
“Shin Yi-na! You want to get in trouble?”
Even after finishing their bows, Seul-bi and Yi-na were bickering.
“My name is Min-jun, and I am the manager of the group Answer. Our group has four members, but one of them, who was supposed to be here, has been unreachable for the past hour. We fear she may have been in an accident.”
I glanced toward the governor. His face was expressionless. I was nervous, but I'd already drawn the sword, so I had to see it through.
“However, failing to uphold our contract is clearly our fault, even if it was due to an act of God, and we are prepared for any reprimand. If the people of this province and the Governor would allow it, I, the manager, would like to perform with the group in place of the missing member. Governor, may I have your permission?”
My lips felt parched after the long explanation. The governor, still expressionless, rose from his seat, and a staff member rushed over to hand him a microphone.
-My respected citizens. Aren't these young people wonderful and polite, unlike so many these days?
“Yeees!”
The response from the vast crowd echoed through the venue.
*Phew, it worked.*
“Sniffle. I'm getting weirdly emotional.”
“I know. This is different from those military base tours.”
Seul-bi agreed with Yi-na, who was getting choked up.
-In that case, shall we watch the performance of these wonderful young people together?
“Yeees!”
At the second thunderous response, even Seol-ah and Seul-bi, who had been keeping their lips sealed, felt their eyes moisten. I could feel the sorrow of the members, who had been starved for attention.
This wasn't the age demographic the group had targeted, but the overwhelming response filled not just the members but also my own heart with surging energy.
I steadied my breathing, which was on the verge of hyperventilation, and took the mic again.
“Thank you for your permission. A contract is a contract, so you don't have to pay us for the event. Please consider this a performance dedicated to the people of this province and the Governor, and we hope you enjoy it.”
“Wooo! Pay them!”
“Yeah, pay them!”
*Laughter.*
“Oppa, you're amazing.”
“You're so good with words.”
The MC, taking the mic back from me, gave a thumbs-up and nodded.
Seul-bi and Yi-na, and Seol-ah and I, stood back-to-back in pairs, tilting our heads back to strike the opening pose.
Seol-ah brushed her hair, which had touched my neck, back toward herself. A strong fragrance tickled my nose.
It could have been a tense moment, but perhaps because I was feeding off the audience's energy, my heart was filled with courage.
“Can you... really do this?”
Seol-ah's voice, murmured from point-blank range, trembled slightly.
“A manager should at least know his artist's songs and dances.”
“You've danced this before?”
“You might have to learn some moves from me later, Seol-ah.”
Seol-ah, taking my earnest words as a joke, let out a small laugh, her tension seeming to ease a bit.
♪♬- ♪♬-
Soon, the moombahton-infused house intro began to play.
*Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!*
It was a song you wouldn't expect to be accompanied by clapping, but the audience's applause grew louder and louder, and our heartbeats quickened along with it. For some reason, I was more nervous than if I'd been standing in front of a teenage crowd.
And then, the choreography began.
The sultry performance included moves that looked like I was kissing Seol-ah and doing a risqué cross-wave with Seul-bi and Yi-na. Each time, the audience's cheerful laughter and applause became a huge source of encouragement for us.
The choreography involved a lot of physical contact, but no strange thoughts entered my mind.
Many in the audience came to the front of the stage and started doing random dances that didn't fit the song at all, and the sight allowed us on stage to genuinely enjoy ourselves as well.
The delighted audience and all of us became one, enjoying the performance as we moved toward the killing part.
♪♬
Want to come with me to my place with a great view?
Want to eat some spicy ramen with me, blowing on it to cool it down?
♪♬
Every time I, the sole man on stage, stood in the center, the audience's response grew even louder, and I completely melted into the performance.
* * *
“Woooah!”
“That was great!”
*Laughter!*
When I came to my senses, we were receiving cheers so loud it was hard to believe they came from an audience with such a high average age.
The members and I all took deep breaths to calm our emotionally and physically overwhelmed selves. It was unbelievable that we had pulled off such an absurd performance.
The audience was predominantly made up of older women. Perhaps the fact that I, a man, was performing with them made it even more enjoyable.
*Ting*
[‘Save Answer’ Quest Complete.]
You moved the hearts of many and led a successful performance.
[Achievement]
108db
[Reward]
108pt – 100pt = 8pt
[The favorability and trust of the Answer members toward you have greatly increased.]
[Favorability and Trust stats have been activated.]
[Seol-ah]
Favorability 60/99
Trust 63/99
[Seul-bi]
Favorability 70/99
Trust 76/99
[Yi-na]
Favorability 73/99
Trust 80/99
[Yi-na's Trust has exceeded 80.]
[Yi-na now has a level of trust in you that surpasses a best friend.]
*Trust that surpasses a best friend?*
-Let's have another big round of applause for Answer and their manager for that incredible performance.
We left the stage amidst the cheers.
* * *
*What did I just do…*
It was only after we got backstage that my face started to burn.
“Wow! That was great. Really unique.”
A performance staff member gave a thumbs-up. Of course it was unique. At what kind of event does a manager join a girl group on stage?
We headed to the parking lot for our next schedule. The members of Answer, who would normally be chatty, walked in silence for a while, at a loss for words.
“…This oppa is really…”
“That was insane.”
The members finally started talking. The way they looked at me was completely different from before the performance.
“Yi-na. I told you not to use so much slang, didn't I? It's bad for your image.”
“What's wrong with saying that? All the old guys use that word.”
“…Do you even know what that word literally means?”
“It means it was awesome, what other meaning is there?”
Seol-ah whispered an explanation in Yi-na's ear.
“…So what? So it means you pissed yourself. Big deal.”
“Whatever, Confucian Girl unni.”
Yi-na pouted while Seul-bi shook her head. It was easy to see Seol-ah's usual role as the group's nag.
“But oppa, when did you practice our dance?”
“Yeah, yeah! When I made eye contact with you earlier, I got major goosebumps!”
Seul-bi and Yi-na, still high from the performance, stared at me with wonder.
*Stop staring. It's embarrassing.*
“Excuse me, just a moment!”
The event organizer, the same one who had demanded we take responsibility before the show, came running over with a heavy plastic bag. His face, once full of complaints, was now filled with satisfaction.
“Please wait a moment. The governor is on his way.”
“What?”
“You must not have eaten yet. Please have this while you wait. It won't take long.”
The plastic bag he handed over was full of delicious-looking two-tiered bento boxes that looked like they'd be the most expensive item at a specialty lunch shop.
“No, that's alright. Our members are on a diet.”
Seol-ah, quickly reading my expression, spoke to the official on my behalf.
“The Daepyo-nim said we shouldn't refuse gifts...”
Seul-bi and Yi-na stared at the lunch boxes with longing eyes. My heart softened at the members' pitiful expressions.
It didn't seem right to refuse the organizer's goodwill... and it would boost morale.
I tried to come up with an excuse.
“In that case, we'll accept them gratefully.”
“Haha, it's nothing to be so thankful for…”
At my acceptance, the members' faces filled with anticipation.
“…But the fried food has carbs, so only eat a little bit of the rice.”
“Yay! You're the best!”
“This is crazy, for real.”
Seol-ah grabbed Yi-na by the waist as she tried to hug me in her excitement.
“Our Manager-oppa, god! There's chicken, fried shrimp, and spicy pork bulgogi!”
“…Seul-bi. We're still at the venue.”
Seol-ah chided Seul-bi, but then joined Yi-na in examining the lunch boxes. *Sigh. She should practice what she preaches.*
“Hnngh! The savory, fishy smell of fried salmon, the spicy, sweet, smoky scent of the stir-fried pork.”
Just like Seul-bi, who had a high aptitude for being a food critic, her description was spot on. It was making me hungry too.
Seul-bi gazed at the lunch boxes with dewy eyes, as if looking at a loved one. Seeing the members so happy made me happy too.
A moment later, the governor approached slowly, guided by his aide. I gathered the members to greet him.
“Thanks to you, Governor, we were able to finish our performance safely. Thank you.”
“Thank youuu!”
The Answer members and I bowed our heads deeply to express our gratitude. A good image could lead to high-paying schedules, after all.
“No need to thank me. On the contrary, thanks to all of you, the atmosphere of the Provincial Sports Festival has become much more lively. Manager Yoon, please wire their performance fee immediately.”
“Yes, sir, Governor!”
Unlike his Gangwon dialect before the show, the governor's speech was now so clear and articulate, like he was reading from a textbook, that it felt almost unnatural.
“And this isn't much, but it's a token of my gratitude. I had to have it prepared on short notice, so I apologize for making you wait.”
The governor took an envelope from his aide and held it out to me.
-A Sum of Money-
*Geum-il… is that the character for 'bong'?*
“We're just grateful we didn't get reprimanded, but to receive something like this…”
“Aaaah, Governor-niiim! Thank you so, so much!”
As Seul-bi gushed with delight, the governor's face lit up. So Seul-bi had this kind of charm.
“Hahaha. It's refreshing to see you're not like most people these days. This money isn't for the company, so I hope you'll use it just amongst yourselves.”
“We'll keep that in mind, Governor.”
“Today was truly enjoyable. I hope to see you again.”
The governor shook hands with me and the members before returning to the venue.
“How much is it?”
Yi-na asked, sticking close to my side.
One fifty-thousand-won bill, two, three…
“…One million won.”
[Sudden Quest ‘One-Time Part-Time Job’ Complete.]
“Awesome!”
The members' faces bloomed at the sight of the unexpected windfall. For them, who had never once been paid since their debut, this money must have felt like an oasis in the desert.