Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Ally
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Even long after the restaurant closed, Answer continued to chat and enjoy their chicken and beer.
“Want to hear my part?”
Lee Yoo-ah's song, complete with a live session recording, played through the restaurant's speakers.
Watching the Answer members close their eyes, completely absorbed in the music, Lee Yoo-ah and her mother wore pleased expressions.
♪♬
On a day when snowflakes softly fall
A heart-fluttering night beneath the moonlight
In my mother's drawer
A faded cassette tape
The heart of a girl who wants to grow up
A heart in a notebook, filled with love
Let my body float on the pretty melody
Let myself drift on a shade of pink
♪♬
Yoo-ah's pop-infused song was planned to have two versions: a Korean one for the mash-up project, and an English one for her solo album.
The combination of Lee Yoo-ah's sweet vocals and the session's melody felt incredibly healing.
After the verse, just as I had advised, a small change occurred in the bridge, the beat breaking down gently to make it perfect for a rap.
♪♬
Mom, I'm sorry
I was going crazy
Because I miss my mom
This is the only way to feel my mom
Aren't you proud of me?
I grew up well, right?
You're relieved now, right?
♪♬
Lee Yoo-ah's pronunciation was native-level, as if a pop singer with a killer voice was whispering right beside you.
She might have had a natural talent for it, but it was clear she had also practiced for a very long time.
“…Wow! This is amazing. Did you really write this song, Unni?”
In contrast to Yi-na's excitement, the other members were wiping away tears with sad expressions.
The members who understood English better than Yi-na had caught on to the rap, which sounded like a conversation with her late mother.
“Min-jun… Oppa and Ro-si helped a lot.”
“Huh? Our Ro-si Unni?”
“Yeah. Min-jun Oppa helped structure the English rap part, and Ro-si helped with the lyrics and pronunciation.”
“We're together almost every day. When did you two meet up?”
Yi-na's question suddenly reminded me of the time Ro-si was happily chatting on the phone in a British accent.
So that 'Unni' wasn't a name.
It seemed Ro-si had been on that call to help with Yoo-ah's English speaking. That would explain why Ro-si had been enunciating so clearly and slowly.
A pleasant thought came to me, along with a small idea.
“Speaking of which, how about Ro-si performs that rap part during the mash-up stage?”
“Wow! I love that! It creates a connection!”
Lee Yoo-ah was thrilled.
Even as Ro-si wiped her tears, I could feel her glancing nervously at Seul-bi. Though it seemed Seul-bi wasn't particularly bothered by positions anymore.
“Just imagining it is sick. But why is everyone crying?”
Wiping away a large tear, Seol-ah patted Yi-na's head.
They seemed awkward at first, but thanks to the Isa-nim's earlier request and my own efforts, they had quickly grown close. With Yoo-ah around, Ro-si's expression seemed much lighter, which made me feel even more content.
The gathering finally ended at one in the morning.
I dropped the members off at their dorm and headed to the office. I had to contact Reporter Shin, who was surely waiting.
I emailed Answer's profile and portfolio. It included everything newsworthy since I'd joined, starting with the military base performance.
-It's too late to call, so I'm sending this by email. Let's schedule an interview for sometime next week. Please write a great article about our girls, Answer.
I made sure to give a strong hint that Answer's article should come before my interview.
* * *
*Bzzzt.*
The sound of the alarm jolted me awake.
“…Five in the morning?”
What had woken me after barely three hours of sleep wasn't my alarm, but a text message.
-I'm sorry to bother you so early. This is Choi Yoo-jun's older sister. I was wondering if there are any trainees still practicing at this hour? The security team wouldn't tell me, and I don't know the company's phone number, so I'm contacting you, Manager Min-jun.
It was a text from his sister, sent from Choi Yoo-jun's number.
I had a gut feeling about this.
I called the number immediately.
-Hello?
“Hello, Yoo-jun's sister.”
-Oh my, I'm so sorry to call this early.
It was the voice of a woman in her twenties, but it was hoarse, with a slight metallic rasp.
“It's no problem. Is something wrong with Yoo-jun?”
-No, it's just that lately... *cough, cough!* Ahem, ahem. I'm sorry.
Were her lungs or bronchial tubes weak? I felt sorry for her as she kept coughing.
“Are you outside by any chance?”
-Ah... yes. I'm in front of JD Enter.
“What? Why are you there in this cold?”
-I was hoping to ask someone coming in or out about Yoo-jun.
That kid. If he was going to do something, he should have at least done it without his sister knowing.
“Ah!”
-What is it?
It just occurred to me that Choi Yoo-jun's sister could be a crucial asset in taking down Gyeon Sang-jin.
“If you're near the security office, could you put them on the... Ah, no, never mind. I'll head over there, so please wait just a moment.”
-Oh, you don't have to go to all that trouble...
“I'll see you shortly.”
I quickly looked up the security team's number.
-Security.
“Hello, this is Assistant Manager Min-jun, in charge of Answer.”
-Oh? You got promoted. Yes.
“The person waiting right now is a trainee's older sister. Could you let her in first? I'm on my way. It's cold out.”
-Ah... that's a bit difficult. I'll guide her to the security office for now.
I washed up quickly and got in my car.
When I arrived at the company parking lot and went up to the first floor, a beautiful woman in her mid-to-late twenties with a pink bob and a white baker boy cap walked out of the security office.
Dressed in brown boots and an H-line miniskirt, she had the flashy aura of an active idol.
And here I was thinking she was some frail, beautiful girl because of the cough... Anyway, does she have a cold?
But she looked familiar. Seeing the doubt in her eyes as she looked at me, I guessed she was thinking the same thing.
Was it because she resembled Choi Yoo-jun?
“*Cough!* Ahem! I'm sorry, it's a pleasure to meet you.”
“Ah, yes. Hello. Please, come this way.”
I led the woman, who didn't seem to fit her cough, to my office.
Choi Yoo-jun's sister scanned the company's interior with a bitter expression.
I paused for a moment in front of the time clock.
I might as well clock in now anyway.
*Click. Beep.*
I pointed to a small table in the corner of the break room.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“No, I'm fine.”
“Then I'll get you some citron tea.”
“Thank you, I'll enjoy it.”
Offering coffee, which dries out the throat, to someone with a cough... I need to be more considerate.
“By the way, is Yoo-jun still practicing? He's been pulling all-nighters a lot lately, saying he has dance and vocal assignments.”
This wasn't something I could or should lie about.
“First, your tea.”
“Thank you.”
She drank it immediately, as if she'd been craving something warm.
“Is that what Yoo-jun told you?”
“…Yes.”
“Yoo-jun was kicked out for fighting with another trainee.”
“What? No… *cough, cough!*”
The unexpected news seemed to make her choke, and she coughed violently.
“Ahem, ahem! I'm sorry. It's not contagious, so don't worry. But more importantly, was Yoo-jun really kicked out?”
Choi Yoo-jun's sister listened intently, her face a mask of devastation. I explained the situation as best I could, sugarcoating the Isa-nim's words.
“…It was Yoo-jun's only dream.”
“To be honest, it is true that debuting through the normal route would be difficult for him at this point.”
“But Yoo-jun is good at dancing, singing, and his visuals are great, isn't he?”
‘Stats.’
Perhaps because I didn't know much about her, a status window full of question marks appeared.
[Name: Choi ?? (Age: ??)]
Vocal: 67/71
Dance: 71/75
Musicality: 88/92
Trait: ???
[Career Aptitude]
Sound Engineer: 88/93
A&R: 77/84
She was an unexpected talent.
Her stats were almost identical to Choi Yoo-jun's, but her career aptitude had developed in a different direction.
Could she be an active engineer? It would be difficult to develop that much talent otherwise.
“…Isn't that right, Manager-nim?”
“Ah, yes. That's right. Yoo-jun was certainly outstanding. If he'd been on the right team, he could have definitely succeeded. But as you well know, this industry isn't all glitz and glamour. Just like you, his sister.”
Yoo-jun's sister flinched as if her deepest secret had been exposed.
“Wh-what are you talking about?”
Her pupils shook erratically, as if she were suddenly suffering from PTSD. I hadn't even said much, but her reaction was severe.
“I heard from Yoo-jun. That you're someone who debuted before.”
“…*Hoo, hooo.* *Cough.*”
What on earth happened to her to make her so tense? I felt like I shouldn't push her.
“I know Yoo-jun has musical talent. His musicality is excellent, too. I'm certain that even if he doesn't become an idol, he can succeed as a producer, like a composer or an A&R.”
“Thank you for thinking so highly of him. But where is Yoo-jun now?”
“I recently suggested he try the A&R track…”
“And?”
“He said he wants to, but he hates seeing you struggle, so he wants to resolve that issue first.”
“Hah… and how am I supposed to do that?”
Why is she asking me?
“Everyone has their own personal circumstances, so I couldn't press him for details.”
“Right. I feel like I've been a huge bother today. I'm very sorry, and thank you.”
Choi Yoo-jun's sister started to get up from her seat. I had to stop her somehow. If not now, I might lose the chance to get closer to her forever.
If she happened to be an active sound engineer, she would have at least some connections, which could make her a crucial person in achieving my goals.
“Do you know Fire Emblem?”
She, who had just lifted herself from the chair to leave, slowly sat back down.
“Wouldn't it be weirder not to know them… *cough*?”
Is it because they're from SJ Enter? Her words had a subtle edge.
“I was their main vocalist right up until their debut.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes. I dedicated my entire life to it, only to be pushed out by a parachute hire at the last second. So I know a thing or two about scumbags and trash.”
The enemy of my enemy is my strongest ally.
[The target's affinity and trust in you have increased.]
Feeling a sense of shared suffering, Choi Yoo-jun's sister and I instantly formed a bond.
And our conversation continued until the Isa-nim arrived at work.
* * *
The day Lee Yoo-ah's recording schedule wrapped up, Answer's began.
In the meantime, all the Answer members had been working hard to get assigned more parts.
They worked so hard that every member except Seol-ah saw their vocal level increase by +1.
Ro-si 64+1/75
Seul-bi 45+1/65
Yi-na 60+1/76
[Achievement Unlocked: 'Self-Study']
Commending the Answer members for raising their stats through pure practice without system intervention.
Reward: Trait Activation (A)
Description: Allows you to activate one trait.
Unlike Seul-bi, whose 'Foodie' trait was activated, the unactivated traits of the other members didn't seem to have much of an effect.
I scanned the Answer members, each staring at their sheet music with a serious expression.
Whose trait should I activate first?
*Bzzzt.*
The phone rang. It was Choi Yoo-jun.
I set aside my happy dilemma for a moment.
“Hey, Yoo-jun.”
I greeted him warmly, as if we'd just seen each other yesterday, so he wouldn't feel awkward.
If I want to succeed, it's only natural that I take care of my people.
-Hello?
-Ah! Give me the phone! What are you doing!
I heard Choi Yoo-jun's voice over some woman's.
-Will you hold still?
-Stop it! This is so embarrassing!
“...”
What is this situation?
-This is more embarrassing, you idiot! Stay still.
-What the hell!
“...”
They should've sorted this out before calling.