Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Star Maker
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After shamelessly performing a sensual dance for about a minute without any music, I stared at Ro-si with a deadpan expression.
“Whoa.”
*Clap, clap, clap.*
Applause erupted from among the trainees. Their eyes shone with admiration, having understood my intention.
“Singers are actors too. If you get shy just because people are watching, how can you call it a performance?”
“Ah… no, you can’t.”
Ro-si, looking like her heart had just dropped, swallowed hard and spoke.
“Then do it.”
At my firm words, a tense Ro-si turned around and slapped her own cheeks with both hands.
*Smack!*
The slap was so forceful that her long hair fluttered. But there was no need to be so harsh on her pretty face.
“You three aspiring artists, could you watch from over here?”
“…Yes.”
I split the male trainees into two groups and placed them diagonally to my sides, facing the front.
♪♬
A beat started flowing from the practice room's speakers, connected via Bluetooth.
“Think of us all as the audience.”
With a slight nod, Ro-si began to dance.
♪♬
Today is the third day I'm meeting you
Will we meet again tomorrow, our little something
Please understand my impatient heart, you fool
♪♬
She was awkward at first, but I could see her trying to be more shameless each time our eyes met.
Kids who are very shy usually can't dream of being idols. Stage fright or camera anxiety are fears that can overpower talent and ambition.
So why had someone like Ro-si struggled for years to achieve her goal? Despite her skill, her shortcomings were starting to show.
“Is the audience only in front of you?”
“What?”
“The cameras and the audience are on your sides, too.”
I said, pointing to the male trainees on both sides.
“Ah.”
“When you're positioned behind the other members, try changing your gaze and dance again.”
“Yes, sir!”
Ro-si's voice was sharp with discipline. The eyes of the male trainees watching my instruction also grew more serious.
“Wasn’t he a new roadie?”
“Yeah. Was he a dance instructor?”
“Hey, man. Quiet down. He can hear you.”
I casually ignored their whispers.
I focused only on Ro-si. The song repeated five times as I taught her the key points of the choreography and corrected her mistakes.
Soon, it seemed Ro-si understood the key points. All that was left was repetitive practice and mastery.
Just then, I got a call from the Isa-nim.
“Aspiring artists, thank you for watching.”
“Thank you for your hard work!”
Ro-si and the male trainees bowed respectfully, a stark contrast to before.
Many people join entertainment agencies with fantasies about being a celebrity manager. But faced with the shocking reality, most quit within a week, or three months at best.
Because of that, when you first start as a roadie, you're often treated as if you're invisible, not just in the office but by the trainees as well.
‘He's just going to quit anyway.’
Until now, I had also been treated that way here, albeit subtly.
But seeing the trainees' 90-degree bows, I felt that I was starting to be acknowledged. I had taken a step forward as a producer and a star maker.
*Ting.*
A sound, louder and clearer than usual, echoed in my head.
[Hidden Achievement Unlocked: ‘A Perfect First Lesson’]
Everyone in the same space was impressed by your lesson. A reward is given to you for leading your first lesson to a perfect success.
Reward: Trait ‘Star Maker (A)’
When instructing others, you receive inspiration that surpasses your abilities. It synergizes with the ‘Charisma’ trait, leading to better results.
I instinctively felt I'd gained an amazing trait. I wanted to try it out as soon as possible.
“Ro-si, go back and focus on practicing the points I taught you.”
“Yes, sir!”
Ro-si, full of discipline, answered as if I were a real teacher.
I, who had once put my life on the line to learn while dreaming of becoming an idol, felt an indescribable emotion from having taught someone else.
* * *
Back in her own practice room, Ro-si's face flushed once again as she practiced the choreography.
It happened every time she remembered being scolded by Min-jun. The thought of that scene made her feel resentful, yet her heart would pound strangely.
“Unni, why do you keep getting all flustered? Did something happen in the other practice room?”
A trainee who had just started middle school teased Ro-si.
“I’m not flustered, okay? My face is just flushing.”
“Aren’t flustered and flushing the same thing?”
“You’re just a kid. Are you going to keep teasing your unni?”
“Whoa, way to break my heart. I'm a middle schooler now, you know?”
With Chaeron gone, Ro-si was now the oldest in the practice room, and the younger girls gathered around her.
“So, who was that new manager from earlier?”
“I thought he was a trainee until just now.”
“He's so handsome, I thought the company was starting him out as an actor, too.”
The girls chattered among themselves, not really caring if anyone answered.
“He's Answer's manager.”
At Ro-si's words, the girls grew noisy.
“What? Isn't Team Leader Park in charge of the Answer unnis?”
“I guess it's true he quit.”
“Ah, good. The way that old guy looked at us was so creepy. It was disgusting.”
The girls who had been asking Ro-si questions were now busy badmouthing Team Leader Park.
“A handsome manager… I'm so jealous.”
“Maybe that oppa is laying the groundwork for his own debut?”
“What groundwork?”
“You know, that kind of thing. 'He used to be a manager, but his star quality was discovered and he was scouted.' That kind of media play.”
“Ahh, that's totally possible.”
Ro-si, her head already a complicated mess, covered her ears as her dongsaengs' chatter intruded.
* * *
I gave a detailed report to the Isa-nim, who had returned after her schedule, about what had happened between Team Leader Park and the members.
“…What a scumbag.”
The way the Isa-nim clenched her teeth made it look like she was mouthing a vulgar curse at Team Leader Park.
So the Isa-nim knows how to swear.
“Also, during the vacation period, Seol-ah said she wants to visit her home. Seul-bi and Yi-na decided to go with her.”
The Isa-nim let out a small sigh and nodded.
“Since all three have the same plan, just take them to Seol-ah's house and come back. It's safer that way.”
“Should I?”
“Yeah. I'll count it as a day's work, so you don't have to come in.”
“Thank you.”
I'd been working on music, pressed for time every day, and now I'd gained at least a few hours of leeway.
“Nothing to be so thankful for. I think her mother runs a business at Hwagae Market. It's probably in Gurye, right?”
“…You mean the Hwagae Market that straddles Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces?”
“You know that song? Yeah, that's the one.”
The Isa-nim chuckled, finding it amusing that I knew such an old song. I probably knew more than she did.
A wonderful scene of a tranquil countryside view blended with the lively atmosphere of the market seemed to paint itself before my eyes.
“Package delivery for Lee Sun-ssi?”
“That's me!”
Seeing the Isa-nim raise her hand high like a young student, I felt the corners of my mouth lift.
It seems safer for packages to come through security. This is a system that needs to be changed.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Yes! I'm sorry to ask, but could I get your autograph? I'm a huge fan!”
The young delivery man said with an excited expression.
“Of course. Thank you for remembering me.”
The Isa-nim smiled and uncapped a permanent marker.
“Hahaha! You'd have to be a spy not to remember you! You're a true legend!”
After getting an autograph on his blue vest, he looked like he was on cloud nine.
“You're even prettier in person. A total knockout… well, maybe that's not the right word. You're a real-life goddess!”
“Thank you. Would you like to take a picture together?”
The Isa-nim, in a good mood, stood up. When she smiled, she looked even more beautiful.
“It would be an honor!”
“Min-jun-ssi, could you take a picture?”
I captured the delivery man's goofy grin and the Isa-nim's radiance together in his camera. The delivery man thanked us and disappeared with a spring in his step. The other employees watching also had pleased expressions.
The Isa-nim examined the shipping label on the box. A quick glance told me it was a security camera. At that moment, the Isa-nim took a 50,000 won bill from her wallet and held it out to me.
“Install it today and then head home.”
“Okay. But what's this 50,000 won for?”
“I'll expense it as an installation fee, so take it.”
“You don't have to give me this.”
“Take it. Didn't you say the installation fee was originally 100,000 won? It's a win-win for the company and for you, Min-jun-ssi.”
What a sensible Isa-nim.
“Then I'll gratefully accept and head out for the day. Should I clock out?”
“…No, I'll log it in the system.”
“Okay, I'll be leaving then.”
I said goodbye to the Isa-nim and a few other employees and left the office. The more I see the Isa-nim, the more charming she is. A single 50,000 won bill had greatly improved my mood.
As I walked out of the office, a faint light emanated from a corner in the hallway.
Is Ro-si waiting again?
A mischievous urge took over. I quieted my footsteps and approached the corner where the light was spreading.
“Aack!”
A black-haired girl who had been peeking around the corner jumped in surprise.
It was Lee Yoo-ah, who had dyed her hair black.
“…It's been a while, Yoo-ah-ssi.”
“Hah. Hello.”
Lee Yoo-ah fanned her face with her hand.
“Why were you so surprised?”
“Because you suddenly appeared, Seonbae-nim…”
“Is everything going well?”
“Yes!”
She seemed very happy with my perfunctory question.
I was very glad that Lee Yoo-ah, who had been destined for a bad ending, was now walking a path to success because of me.
“I've been learning how to make tracks from the Chief Producer lately. I have something decent, would you like to hear it?”
“Didn't you already have a song you worked on?”
“He said it didn't fit the current concept and suggested we work on something new. He said we should put that one on the official album.”
The Chief Producer was probably teaching her in a way that would mesh well with the song he was making.
That's cheating.
“Is it already finished?”
“No. I think I still need to add a few more sessions. But the top line and the basic track are done, so I think it's listenable.”
Suddenly, I felt that trying to distance myself from Lee Yoo-ah unconditionally had been wrong. We were in a position where we had to create a project together.
Moreover, I was even more curious since this was a chance for my newly acquired 'Star Maker' trait to manifest.
“You want me to listen in the studio?”
“Yes. The Chief Producer is out for a schedule.”
I understood why it had been hard to see Lee Yoo-ah in the practice rooms.
I entered the studio with Lee Yoo-ah. Thankfully, the stuffy air I felt when the Chief Producer was around was gone.
That air was so damn uncomfortable.
Lee Yoo-ah woke the computer from sleep mode. It seemed like she had intended to bring me here from the start.
Lee Yoo-ah didn't do anything else, just kept touching her hair.
“You dyed your hair black?”
“Yes!”
Yoo-ah spun her chair around to face me, as if waiting for my next words.
“It suits you. And these days, black hair stands out more.”
“The Chief Producer said the same thing. He said it gives off the vibe of a true artist dedicated solely to their music.”
Seeing Lee Yoo-ah's bright smile made me feel good.
The mouse cursor moved to the first of five tracks. Lee Yoo-ah, with a confident expression, pressed the play button.
♪♬
The music began to play. It was folk rock with a bluesy feel, the kind of pop sensibility you'd find in the US or the UK.
‘This is good.’
It was still unfinished, so the transitions were a bit awkward, but the lyrical melody, which seemed to imagine beautiful memories, made Lee Yoo-ah's un-sung vocals shimmer in my ears.
Lee Yoo-ah, getting into the mood, started humming the clearly unfinished lyrics. When her vocals—pretty but not light, with a deep resonance—were added, the result felt even better.
Yes, this is what you should have been doing.
A new notification window popped up between my eyebrows.
[‘Star Maker’ Mode Activated for the First Time]
[Setting Up]
Am I finally getting to experience my new trait?
It felt like the excitement of equipping the best item gained from countless hours of farming in a game and heading into battle for the first time.
[Setup Complete]
A third eye that appeared between my eyebrows glowed with a faint iridescent light, signaling Star Maker mode.
Every part of my brain seemed to activate, and I began to gain new insights into everyday things as good inspiration started to flow.
‘This song…’
It shouldn't just be a clumsy imitation of pop. It has to be made into *real* pop.