Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: A Vulture's Gambit
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A meeting was held regarding Answer and Ro-si.
With the company's two highest authorities gathered, it was practically a general meeting.
The atmosphere was leaning toward adding Ro-si to Answer rather than disbanding the group.
It was a huge relief.
“So, should we have the Answer members train Ro-si? They’re a team now, after all.”
“…If I may overstep, could I say something?”
“Go ahead. You may be their road manager, Min-jun, but you’re effectively their handler.”
I could feel a significant change in the way the Daepyo-nim treated me.
“She may be a rookie, but what about considering the feelings of both the original members and the new addition?”
“?”
The Daepyo-nim and Isa-nim looked at me as if I’d said something completely out of left field.
“It’s only been a short time, but from working with Answer, I’ve noticed their self-esteem is quite low, and more importantly…”
“More importantly?”
“Seul-bi is the group’s rapper. If Ro-si joins in the same position…”
“It could create unnecessary conflict?”
The Daepyo-nim caught on quickly.
“Yes. There will be fewer complaints if we bring Ro-si up to a level where she’s at least not inferior to Seul-bi before she joins.”
“…”
The Daepyo-nim’s expression soured.
Having learned to read the room over many years, I could guess what he was thinking.
“Of course, if the company gives an order, we have to follow it. It’s not like Answer is in any position to make demands right now. But I believe that if they feel they’re being treated with consideration, they’ll show a much better side of themselves in their future activities.”
Perhaps because I had pinpointed his dissatisfaction so accurately, the Daepyo-nim’s expression softened considerably.
“…So, you’re saying we should give Seul-bi enough lessons before bringing her in?”
“I believe Ro-si should at least master Answer’s songs and choreography perfectly before being revealed. For now, she can fill the empty spot, and then from the next song, she can transition to the rapper position.”
The Daepyo-nim stroked his chin.
“Hearing you say it, that does make sense. So, should Ro-si study on her own?”
“Since I’m the one who brought it up, I’ll try teaching her myself.”
“You, Min-jun?”
As the Daepyo-nim gave me a look of disbelief, the Isa-nim chimed in.
“Min-jun was the one who saved that event from being a disaster. He’s a manager now, but he was in the final debut lineup for Fire Emblem, so he’s got the skills.”
“Right, right. That’s true. Go ahead, then.”
“Yes. And I have one more suggestion.”
“What is it?”
“I heard all of Answer’s schedules were canceled. How about giving them a short break?”
“…For doing what?”
I wasn’t a member of Answer, but his words stung.
I could understand the producer’s perspective to some extent, but it wasn’t as if the members hadn’t worked hard just because they hadn’t made it big.
“Their morale is at rock bottom right now. And I won’t be able to act as their road manager while I’m teaching Ro-si.”
“…Well, I suppose we can do that much. Isa Lee, you coordinate it.”
“Thank you. Answer will definitely succeed.”
“They’d better.”
I bowed and left the studio.
Ro-si’s face, peeking around the corner, was beaming. It seemed she had been waiting for me. Her cute demeanor made me chuckle.
“Manager-nim, thank you so, so much!”
“It’s all thanks to your talent, Ro-si.”
Ro-si smiled, looking utterly delighted.
“I had a really strange experience.”
“What was it?”
“You told me to make up for the practice I missed, right?”
“Yes.”
“The moment I finished it.”
I was curious about that moment, too.
“Suddenly my body went cold, and I felt dizzy. Then my throat, mouth, and head started burning up in that order.”
Did her oral structure and speech center get modified to make her a better rapper?
Later, once Answer is complete, if I invest all my remaining points into my own body, can I achieve a complete transformation?
“Why would that happen?”
“I know, right? But after that, I started feeling something strange. It was like my stuffy throat had been completely cleared. And just now, when I was rapping, I was so surprised at how well it came out.”
“Had a vocal breakthrough, did you?”
“Right! This is a breakthrough, isn’t it?”
Ro-si was filled with the kind of joy a gamer feels after getting the best item in a game.
“It’s all thanks to you, Manager-nim. Thank you so much!”
“If you’re thankful, then practice hard. You need to be perfect with the songs and choreography before you become an official member.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Follow me. I’ll pick out the parts you’ll be in charge of.”
I went to the office with Ro-si.
* * *
I returned home after work.
I had the urge to cook a proper meal, but I needed to save time. Even now, the designated three years were ticking away.
To save even the time it would take to do dishes, I ate a microwavable cup of rice and turned on my laptop.
I already had hit songs from the future, but they didn't fit this project. I also needed to create a song that would mesh well with the one Lee Yoo-ah had made.
I had to produce a song that would not only win the blind test but also make Daepyo Park Jae-yong admit defeat. Depending on how I won, I could provoke his jealousy instead of earning his acknowledgment of my talent.
The Daepyo-nim was slowly starting to recognize me, but given his subtly petty nature, he was more than capable of that.
“What could work…”
I drew upon my knowledge of the future, recalling the songs Daepyo Park Jae-yong had produced.
His attempts to follow trends were evident, but aside from the frequently used sexy concept, a retro sensibility remained.
To create a song that would perfectly suit his taste and the members, I needed that retro vibe that he would genuinely love.
Coo coo coo coo.
The sound of a pigeon startled me awake.
I was tired from lack of sleep due to focusing on songwriting, but I felt good. Today was the day I could deliver good news to the members.
I went to work.
The office was already cleaned early in the morning. A sense of unease washed over me.
Why should trainees have to clean the office?
Why do they have to try so hard to get on the good side of the people in power?
Having been a trainee for a long time, I knew all too well. Kids with poor character tended to be the ones who avoided cleaning.
There are those who endure injustice knowing it’s wrong, and those who unconditionally refuse it.
But maybe we were demanding too much obedience from these kids. There were plenty of other ways to gauge their character besides cleaning.
I didn’t have the power to change these bad customs yet, but someday… someday, I would.
“Manager-nim!”
Ro-si came running down the stairs, her face bright.
She seemed like a completely different person from the girl who had stood next to Chae Seol-ah, her light all but extinguished.
“Hello!”
“Hey. What’s up?”
“This is for you!”
Ro-si held out a small shopping bag, about the size of a coffee tray.
“What is it?”
“I’m just so grateful…”
“…I’ll just accept the thought.”
It felt nice, but it also felt like a bribe, which made me uncomfortable.
“No! Please take it!”
Whoa, why is she getting angry?
“I went through so much trouble to buy this yesterday!”
How much trouble could it have been that she’s getting mad at me to accept it?
“…Thank you. But I’m not comfortable with these kinds of things.”
“It’s not expensive. I was originally going to buy you a wallet, but I didn’t have enough money, so I bought something else.”
Hearing that made it even harder for me to accept.
“I had a vocal breakthrough thanks to you, Manager-nim. I really wanted to give you a gift to show my gratitude.”
“……”
“Min-jun, just take it.”
The Isa-nim spoke as he came out of the planning office.
“Hello, Isa-nim!”
“Yes. Her plea was so heartfelt I could hear it all the way in my office.”
“……”
“Ro-si isn’t giving you this to curry favor. When someone gives a gift from the heart, it’s best for both parties if you accept it graciously.”
“Yes. The Isa-nim is right. I would really appreciate it if you took it.”
Ro-si said, having regained her composure. Refusing any further seemed like it would just stress them both out.
“Alright, I’ll accept it gratefully.”
I took the shopping bag, but Ro-si didn’t leave, waiting for something.
“You’re not very quick on the uptake sometimes. Open the gift.”
I unwrapped the paper and opened the lid of a luxurious case. Inside was a business card holder from a high-end brand.
I don’t even have business cards…
“…Thank you so much. It’s elegant and beautiful.”
“A cardholder, huh? Come to think of it, we haven’t made business cards for you yet, Min-jun. I’ll put in the order today.”
At the Isa-nim’s words, a fleeting, bitter smile crossed Ro-si’s face. Was it because her gift almost became the most useless present in the world? In any case, thanks to Ro-si, I’d now be able to hand out a business card wherever I went.
Once in the office, the Isa-nim and I discussed various matters concerning Answer.
“A week’s vacation. That should be enough, right?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for? It’s Answer who should be happy.”
“…But the members…”
The words, ‘An advance on their earnings wouldn’t be possible, would it?’ wouldn’t come out. Still, it would be a shame for them to go back to their hometowns empty-handed.
From listening to the members’ conversations, I knew they were broke.
It was common for unpopular celebrities to go into debt with their agencies after debuting, taking out loans under the guise of living expenses. That debt often became the catalyst that lured them into the shadows.
“The members what?”
“It’s nothing.”
“…I have a schedule today, too, so I’m heading out.”
“Okay. Have a safe trip.”
The Isa-nim left with a team-leader-level manager. As I watched him go, I silently pulled the diamond ring from my pocket.
My mother’s memento.
In any case, if I can’t achieve my goal in three years, my life is over anyway.
I’ll just think of it as giving the members a good luck charm. I wanted to boost their spirits as much as possible.
I went to a shop that specialized in buying precious metals.
“That’ll be 923,000 won.”
“What? That’s all?”
I had expected to get at least 2 million won for it.
“Diamonds are expensive when you buy them, but cheap when you sell. I’m already giving you a good price. What do you want to do?”
What I was selling was just an item in a game, and the money from selling it would be meaningfully used to boost the members’ morale.
“I’ll sell it.”
I had planned to give them 500,000 won each. But I couldn’t withdraw the money that was accumulating in my bank account. Still, it was better than nothing.
You girls won’t find another manager like me.
Even though I had sold my mother’s precious ring, the thought of the members’ happy faces made me hum a tune.
I arrived at the dorm.
Ding-dong.
“……”
Ding-dong.
Knock, knock, knock.
“It’s Min-jun.”
“……”
There was no response from inside. I called Seol-ah, but the phone just rang and she didn’t pick up.
“…What’s going on?”
This time, I called Seul-bi.
She didn’t answer either. A sense of anxiety began to creep in.
Yi-na didn’t answer her phone either.
“What the hell is going on?”
I called the Isa-nim to ask for the passcode.
-What’s wrong? Are the kids not there?
“Yes, I can’t hear anything.”
-The passcode is Answer’s single release date.
“…I don’t know their single’s release date.”
I entered the numbers the Isa-nim told me and went inside.
-Are they gone?
“…Yes, they’re not here. I’ll look into it a bit more and report back.”
-Alright. Let me know as soon as you can.
Gulp.
I felt a needless tension.
“I’m here! Is anyone home?”
Imaginations of some ominous situation in the rooms mingled with the worry that I might be misunderstood for being here.
“I’m coming in, okay?”
Taking a deep breath, I opened a bedroom door.
The smell of cosmetics wafting from the empty room was a relief.
I opened every door. The messy state of the rooms, as if they had left in a hurry, was reassuring in a way, but I quickly grew angry. From the company’s perspective of managing its artists, this was a clear act of defiance.
“Where did they go without a word?”
Did they all go out for tteokbokki or something?
I started calling the members again. None of them answered, and as I was typing a text, a call came in.
“Hello?”
-Oppa, it’s Yi-na.
“Where is everyone right now?”
-Ah… you’re at the dorm. We’re with Team Leader Park.
“What? Why Team Leader Park?!”
Rage boiled up inside me.
-We’re at a cafe near the dorm. I’ll send you the location.
Thanks to the trust and favor I had built with Yi-na, I was able to intervene before a bigger problem could arise.
Tiring.
[Spontaneous Quest Generated: ‘Group Disbandment Crisis’.]
Eliminate the obstacle and persuade the members to prevent the group from disbanding.
Reward: 3 Stat Pts
Failure: Game Over
The members I saw at Lee Yoo-ah’s funeral in my first life.
I was certain that the reason Answer had transferred to SJ Enter was because of a scheme by Team Leader Park, just like today. Regardless of my own success, that place would be a living hell for the members.
If necessary, I wouldn't hesitate to use violence.