Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: A New Member
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I arrived home. My first day as a road manager was incredibly tiring, thanks to two unexpected stage performances.
[Warning.]
My third eye turned red.
What's happening?
[Answer's leader, Seol-ah, is experiencing extreme depression and anxiety due to a member's departure.]
I sighed at the warning about Seol-ah's condition. The immature younger members were probably just happy about receiving two cash bonuses in one day, but...
I could picture Seol-ah lying awake all night, worried about the bleak future. I was exhausted, but I couldn't just go to sleep.
I turned on my laptop.
It was to create a track by combining chords. I wanted to make a song that, like Seol-ah's current feelings, started with a sad reality but ended with a happy ending.
I channeled Seol-ah's emotions as I picked out the chords. The extreme fatigue seemed to heighten my dreamlike sensibilities.
The hopelessness and loneliness of not being able to see what lies ahead. I immersed myself in the image of Seol-ah struggling to hold on to a thread of hope even in such a situation.
♪♬
6 A minor
4 E major
1 C major
5 G major
♪♬
It was a chord progression that created an emotional atmosphere of sadness and loneliness.
It was basically a four-bar chord progression, but to express a wavering heart, I split each bar into two beats, creating eight bars.
“Done.”
A 6.3-second track was complete.
I wiped away a tear and smiled in satisfaction. This six-second track could be just one part of an intro, or it could form the basis of the entire story from beginning to end.
I had to create a song to submit to JD Enter's new project within the next few weeks.
No, I had to hurry even more because I needed to let the Director hear it first and secretly use the studio. I wasn't in a position like CEO Park Jae-yong, who could use it whenever he wanted.
I saved the track and uploaded a copy to my personal cloud. It was a precious track that I couldn't afford to lose.
I closed the laptop and took a shower. I had to recruit a new member quickly to get the group back on track.
* * *
The company parking lot.
After agonizing over Mi-ji's departure, I had chosen Ro-si as the replacement member. The anticipation for the newly reborn Answer made yesterday's worries seem foolish.
I looked at my phone with a smile as I got on the elevator. The one million won that CEO Gyeon Sang-jin had tossed at me sarcastically during the music show rehearsal. Seeing it grow steadily in my investment account was incredibly satisfying.
Because the music I learned from my enemy and the small sum he threw at me in scorn would eventually tighten the noose around his neck.
I planned to live as frugally as possible and invest whenever I had extra cash. I'd never been interested in investing, but I remembered a few investment opportunities that had become social phenomena.
It was a shame I hadn't paid more attention to investing. I could have grown my money much faster.
Still, if I keep moving forward one step at a time, I'll eventually achieve my revenge and success.
*Click. Whirr.*
-Clock-in 07:23
The time was stamped on my paper card.
I'd clocked in an hour early. Would I get paid extra? Not that it mattered, since I'd be making a lot of money soon, but I was curious.
When their assigned artist doesn't have an early schedule, road managers come to the office first. While a road manager is essentially a security guard and driver, it's not like there's nothing to do at the company.
I had to write up a detailed report of my corporate card usage and summarize any incidents from the schedule in chronological order.
I was sitting at the desk of the uncontactable Team Leader Park, writing my report. I had a feeling this desk would become mine.
*Clack, clack.*
The sound of the Director's footsteps.
Even if people wore similar shoes and had a similar weight, each person's footsteps sounded distinctly different.
“Good morning, Director.”
“Yes. You're in early.”
Director Lee Sun never came to work in casual attire. She always wore stylish clothes and high heels, maintaining a polished posture that showed no weakness.
Though in her thirties and retired from being in a girl group, she didn't pale in comparison to the active idols. In fact, she possessed a unique charm you couldn't find in idols in their twenties.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“Thanks. With some syrup. Stress is making me crave sugar.”
*Whirr.*
A faint, high-pitched sound, like the Director's computer booting up, could be heard.
“So, how was your first day on the road?”
“It was fine.”
“I heard you were running all over the place.”
The Director tossed out old-fashioned words like that without hesitation. But it sounded so natural that it didn't feel out of place.
“...Watching the three of them rehearse, I just couldn't bear to see it.”
I filled a cup with ice from the small ice maker and brewed the coffee. The sweet aroma of coffee mixed with the sight of the sighing Director, stirring an indescribable emotion in me.
“Looks like you were right, Min-jun.”
“About what?”
“About seeing Team Leader Park and Mi-ji at SJ Enter.”
“We should recruit a new member. They need four people to pull off the choreography.”
The Director let out a deep sigh.
“...How, in a week? I've already canceled all of next month's schedules.”
“What?”
There's a theory in the entertainment industry that seems like a superstition, but when you look at the results, it holds some credibility.
A group that has one incident tends to have them endlessly. It meant that Answer, having already had several incidents, could be quietly heading for disbandment.
If things continued like this, my plans could go up in smoke. I had to steer things in the direction I wanted, and fast.
“There are almost no trainees right now with as much talent as Answer. Creating a new group is impossible.”
The Director looked at me with a frustrated expression.
“...On what grounds?”
“...”
I fell silent for a moment, sensing the subtle irritation in the Director's expression.
“Your idea was good, and it was good that you found out about Team Leader Park in advance. You also did well handling the schedule that was about to be canceled with your quick thinking. But.”
For someone who's been here less than ten days, isn't that quite a lot?
“...Now that I say it out loud, you did do everything well.”
The Director's words, as if she'd read my mind, almost made me let out a dry laugh despite the serious situation.
“Still, there are things you're supposed to do, and things I'm supposed to do. Don't cross the line.”
“I'm sorry. It was just a waste to see such talent go unrecognized. I thought she'd be a good fit for Answer.”
The immense potential of Ro-si, who was being scolded alongside another trainee, made her a perfect candidate for Answer. The problem was just her misguided training.
“You can see that already?”
A slight sneer formed on the Director's face.
“Yes. People who are meant to make it always stand out.”
“And who might that be?”
“Ro-si.”
“What?”
The Director gave a faint smile and began to speak.
“Her visuals are good, but they overlap with Yi-na, the center. Her dancing is decent, but not as good as Seul-bi, the rapper. Her vocals have been stagnant for years. With just her visuals, her position is ambiguous.”
I couldn't exactly tell her the system showed me.
“I heard Ro-si murmuring a rap in the practice room, and she was really good. I think rapping might suit her better than dancing.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It seems like her self-esteem has just been crushed by pointless vocal training that's getting her nowhere.”
“...How did you know Ro-si received intensive vocal training?”
The more you talk, the more likely you are to make a mistake.
“...You said her vocals were stagnant, so I just assumed she must have received intensive vocal training.”
The Director's small smile seemed to say, 'You're incredibly sharp.'
* * *
I headed down to the practice room to find Ro-si.
The truth was, Ro-si only had the talent of a great rapper; she couldn't actually rap exceptionally well right now. If this went wrong, the little trust I'd earned from the Director could crumble.
I planned on allocating stats to Ro-si for the first time. I had a strong feeling she was one of my people.
“Ro-si!”
I called out to Ro-si in the practice room. She approached with a surprised look on her face.
“Hello, Manager-nim.”
Her gentle tone seemed at odds with her clear pronunciation. It was a rare, beautiful diction.
“Hi. Why are you only practicing vocals and not rap?”
“Huh?”
At my blunt question, Ro-si blinked her large eyes a few times before speaking.
“The head producer said I have a good tone and would succeed as a vocalist.”
I knew it. CEO Park Jae-yong was the type to impose his own tastes. There's nothing more frustrating than watching an ally make mistakes without any ill intent.
[Stats]
Name: Oh Ro-si (19)
Status: Helplessness
Vocal: 64/75
Dance: 57/68
Rap: 58/91
Charm: 55/92
[Career Aptitude]
Girl Group: 62/85
Rapper: 61/92
Variety Idol: 59/96
She had immense talent in rap, but right now, her skill was nothing special. A major investment was needed. To be comparable to Seul-bi, who had a rap skill of 75, she needed to reach at least 70.
‘Twelve points...’
Ro-si, you'd better repay me for this.
[Invest +12 in Ro-si's Rap stat?]
[Yes]
[Conditions must be met to increase the stat.]
[Condition]
SJ Enter's rapper. Practice Trilogy's 'Mind your own business'.
Your practice count: 0/24
Ro-si's practice count: 0/120
Time limit: 32:59:59
On failure: 50% of allocated points will be lost.
It doesn't just go up?
And why do I have to do it too?
For a system, it seemed to be trying to add a minimum level of plausibility, pretending to be realistic.
“You know I'm Answer's manager, right?”
“Ah... yes.”
It seemed like she didn't know, but...
“We're going to pick a new member tomorrow evening. If you don't get picked this time, Ro-si, you'll be cut.”
“!”
Ro-si showed a complicated expression.
“Answer has a project coming up that's going to be a huge hit. And if you do as I say, Ro-si, you can debut and enjoy it with us. Want to give it a try? This is your last chance.”
“...I'll do it. What should I do?”
Ro-si agreed quickly, her expression determined.
“You know Trilogy's 'Mind your own business,' right?”
“...Yes.”
“From now on, practice only that song.”
“Ah... is that the audition song?”
Judging by the way things were going, it seemed likely.
“Yes. Sing along to it more than 120 times by 4 PM tomorrow.”
“What? 120 times?”
“Yes. You have to practice it from beginning to end more than 120 times.”
Of course it would sound strange. I didn't just tell her to practice hard; I gave her a specific number of repetitions.
“Start right now.”
“Yes... Thank you, Manager-nim. But...”
The stat allocation has already started. Don't you dare say you can't do it now.
“...Is there a reason you're telling me all this?”
Ro-si's question, lacking in confidence, made me chuckle.
Of course there's a reason.
You're going to be a member of our team.
“I can see your talent, Ro-si.”
“...My talent?”
“You'll look back on today and remember this. I guarantee it. More than 120 times, okay?”
Ro-si still looked puzzled. If I were in her shoes, I wouldn't understand either, of course.
“...I'll do my best.”
“Have some confidence. I have a good eye for people.”
Leaving Ro-si behind, I headed for the parking lot. I had to return Answer's outfits and pick up the members. Just because they didn't have a schedule didn't mean they could slack off.
I felt someone scurrying behind me. I turned around to see Lee Yoo-ah.
“Seonbae-nim!”
I was still more used to the wary Lee Yoo-ah.
“You look much brighter.”
“It's all thanks to you, Seonbae-nim.”
“Don't call me that. You and I are on different paths now, Yoo-ah.”
“Once a Seonbae-nim, always a Seonbae-nim.”
Her old self, who had been mired in helplessness like Ro-si just now, was completely gone.
“I have some really great news.”
It seemed Yoo-ah had also heard about the mashup project with Answer. I already knew, but I asked out of politeness.
“What is it?”
“Um... it's a secret for now!”
After her favorability and trust towards me shot up during the last audition, she was now full of friendliness.
I suppressed an inward laugh at Yoo-ah's silly prank and put on a clueless expression.
“...?”
“They said it's still confidential.”
“I see. I hope it goes well for you.”
When I readily accepted her answer, Yoo-ah looked flustered, as if she'd been hoping I'd press her for details.
I'm the one who proposed that project, Yoo-ah.
“...But if you're still curious...”
“I believe you'll succeed one way or another, Yoo-ah. Fighting!”
“...Yes. Fighting.”
I left Yoo-ah's disappointed face behind and hurried on my way. I wished her well, but I wasn't idle enough to get chummy with anyone. I needed to maintain a proper distance.
The moment I got into the car.
[Sixth Sense Activated.]
Suddenly, a red light like a warning signal flashed from between my eyebrows, and a blurry image appeared.
Team Leader Park and Mi-ji in the third-floor office. I instinctively knew it was happening in real-time.
The two of them seemed to be making excuses for what happened yesterday.
After causing such a huge incident, they have the nerve to come back? I'll have to humiliate them so badly they can never show their faces here again.