Chapter 90: 22nd Floor: Serenia
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 90: 22nd Floor: Serenia
"This isn't something weird, is it?"
I asked the viewers as I searched for information about Aurora Entertainment's group, Serenia.
- It's 100% weird, but what can you do about it?
- Seriously, just do it, Do-hee.
- But if it was going to be like this, you should've just gone to a major agency!
- A major agency probably wouldn't make their girl group do something like that.
- You never know.
- Can't say for sure yet.
- Just meet them. You never know.
- What does it say online?
The search results didn't turn up anything special.
It was a fairly old agency, but this seemed to be the first time they had officially launched a girl group, and their performance wasn't very good.
Their first album was a moderate hit.
Their second album felt like it was somewhere between a moderate hit and a flop.
Most importantly, it had been three months since their second album was released, and they'd had almost no activities. I didn't know why, but their only activity seemed to be a few appearances on MyuTube.
They were following the typical path of a girl group whose activities had been cut off, slowly fading into obscurity.
"Hmm... Their songs are pretty good and their visuals are great. Why did they flop?"
- I know, right?
- That blonde bitch is hot as fuck.
- They dance well, and the song is well-produced, but they couldn't get popular? That's 100% proof the agency is shit.
- Seriously, the song is good enough that it would do well even if it came out now.
- They flopped when there was no reason to? Hmm...
- You don't know yet. Just check it out.
- Seriously, if there's office politics, run away.
'Right. I'll have to meet them to find out.'
When I replied to Manager Kim Myung-hoon saying I would, a meeting was scheduled for the very next day. The location wasn't some shady motel, but an ordinary cafe near the agency.
"If I get rejected here too, well... I guess I'll have to skip a full six months."
Skipping isn't always the answer. Especially for training, the efficiency drops by a strange amount.
So I usually only use skip for times when I'm really still, like resting, eating, sleeping, or showering. Six months would mean I'd have to stay in the Tower for at least one or two months.
'If I get out too late, I feel like my fans will riot...'
I needed to clear this floor quickly and get out so I could provide elixirs to my guild members.
*
The next day.
I headed to the meeting spot wearing jeans and a short-sleeved t-shirt.
I was already used to the public's stares, so I ignored them and entered the cafe. He spotted me first and waved.
'What the, he looks perfectly normal.'
I heard he was the manager of a failed girl group, so I expected him to look like a shut-in or a greedy pig, but he didn't.
He was dressed neatly with tidy hair; I thought one of the agency's actors had come to meet me, not the manager.
"Miss Lee Do-hee? Hello. I'm Kim Myung-hoon, the manager in charge of Serenia at Aurora Entertainment."
There was a hint of formality in the way he greeted me.
'So, it's not for some shady purpose, then...'
"Yes, hello. I'm Lee Do-hee."
As I bowed my head, my large breasts blocked his view, and I felt him flinch and turn his head away.
'He's just a normal guy.'
He seemed to be trying to change the subject, rambling on with ordinary conversation and asking questions similar to the ones from my auditions.
I answered his questions comfortably and honestly.
When it came to my training period, I told him the truth: it was about three weeks at the time of the auditions, and now it had been about a month.
'Turns out the training period wasn't the important part anyway...'
But Manager Kim's reaction to this was different.
"What? A month, not six months? And you filmed the video after only a week of practice?"
"Yes... well, a view... no, an acquaintance of mine said I wouldn't get picked if my training period was too short..."
"Isn't it usually the opposite? If you're good despite a short training period, it means you have talent. Who on earth is this acquaintance?"
'Huh, now that I think about it, he's right. This isn't some specialized profession; a longer training period isn't a good thing. Damn you, viewers!'
The truth is, I had nodded along to that advice myself, but I've already erased that part of me from my mind.
"This makes the negotiations easier than I thought."
"Huh? Negotiations?"
"Ah, for the details, would it be alright if we moved to the company office? There's something we need to discuss that shouldn't be overheard."
"Uh... did I pass?"
"Almost. As far as I'm concerned, you've passed."
"...?"
His words were a bit vague, but I followed him to the company building anyway.
A five-story agency building.
I felt this last time too, but the facilities were quite good for their level of fame. I could feel the stinging glares of the people around us, but I followed him inside.
We entered a small meeting room where we could be alone.
"Phew... May I get straight to the point?"
"What is this all about?"
His expression turned serious as he looked at me.
"Miss Lee Do-hee, I'm thinking of recruiting you as the fifth member of Serenia."
"What...? You want me to join an existing girl group?"
This was completely unexpected.
A failed girl group would normally be quickly abandoned to raise a new one, but Manager Kim was dreaming of Serenia's revival.
'But wouldn't I be a net negative if I joined? What's his angle?'
"There must be a reason. Why do you want to recruit me? Why me, when I'm lacking enough to be rejected by every other agency?"
"Phew... If I explain Serenia's current situation, you'll understand what I want."
The girl group Serenia, who appeared like a comet.
They were a girl group that Aurora Entertainment, which had previously specialized in actors and comedians, had ambitiously prepared for ten years!
Their first album was only a moderate hit, but it was a success in its own right.
For an agency that wasn't a major player and had no connection to the idol industry, a moderate hit was not a bad start.
And as a fancam of Serenia's leader, Sua, went viral, their fanbase continued to grow, and they were on a steady upward trend.
However, a problem erupted on a music program.
The PD of 'Music Start,' the most popular music show, tried to sexually harass Sua.
Although Sua's quick reaction prevented it from actually happening, the attempt was real.
The furious manager protested, but the PD shamelessly retorted, "Bring me proof if you have any," turning the tables on him. From that day on, they were banned from appearing on that broadcast station's music programs.
And he supposedly left the manager with these words:
[If you want her back on the show, bring her over. Let's have a drink together and smooth things over, how about it?]
But all the members of Serenia, except for Sua, are minors.
There was no way the manager, who had raised them for five to eight years since they were young, would allow such a shameless act. He said it was even more impossible because Sua is his niece.
Even if they weren't minors, who knows what would happen while drinking with that bastard?
"Then can't you just appear on other shows, besides that one station?"
"Phew... We can't appear on any of them for similar reasons... I found out later that those broadcast station bastards can't do anything to the major agencies, but they bully mid-sized ones like us relentlessly."
"And the members don't know about this?"
"Those girls are practically my daughters. How could I... I couldn't bring myself to tell them. I'm ashamed."
"So what exactly do you need me to do?"
"Honestly, I don't know for sure... There are rumors about providing sexual favors, and others say just drinking with them and matching the mood is enough... The entertainment industry is full of horror stories, but since I've never seen or heard anything firsthand, I don't know the specifics."
"You really don't know?"
'Why do I feel like I know exactly what it is... Is this guy naive, or am I just corrupt?'
"...I'm ashamed. Please, help us. In return, I will do everything in my power to support you in becoming the best idol."
"......"
I think I understood why he sought me out.
He didn't want to offer up his daughter-like idols to those dirty old men, but he couldn't find another way through connections or his own abilities.
So he must have tried to recruit me, someone who looked desperate and a bit sexually promiscuous.
'I did write my application very desperately.'
In the past, I would have punched him in the face for spouting such bullshit. But now, for some reason, I didn't feel much of anything. In fact, it felt like an opportunity.
'This is a virtual world anyway, so I don't need to feel guilty, right?'
They needed someone like me to handle the dirty work, and I wanted to join a talented girl group.
It felt like our interests were perfectly aligned.
"In that case, I have my own conditions."
"Name them. I'll agree to anything."
"I came here because I want to be an idol. Your idols are noble and innocent, so they wouldn't do such things, but I... honestly don't really care."
I looked him straight in the eye and said,
"In return, you must take responsibility and make the Serenia I'm a part of the best idol group."
That's right. I'm Lee Do-hee.
A woman who will do anything to clear the Trial.
If time passes like this, even with skipping, I'll get older and my chances of getting into a major agency will plummet.
In that case, I might as well help raise a proper girl group.
'Besides, this group... they're talented and have great visuals. They were a group that strangely couldn't succeed.'
"Of course... Even without you, our agency will make Serenia the best."
We shook hands, sealing our secret pact.
*
He left, saying he needed to have a meeting with the company executives, leaving me alone in the meeting room.
- Shocking! Lee Do-hee accused of providing sexual favors!!
- So when's it happening?
- Look at this bitch going wild just because it's a virtual world lololol
- When's my next fap material coming out?
- Do-hee, be honest. You're thinking this is a sweet deal, aren't you?
"W-what are you talking about?! I'm definitely not happy about the thought of getting a free ride into a good group by being the entertainment! And how do you know if it'll be sexual favors or not when I haven't even done anything yet?"
- Look at her confessing with her own mouth.
- Busted.
- It's easy and nice, isn't it?
- Sigh... If you lack skill, you have to make up for it with your body.
- She's cheesing the Trial with her pussy.
- Seriously, isn't it a sweet deal to get in by offering up your pussy instead of struggling for a year?
- If she got in by selling Lee Do-hee's worn-out pussy, it's definitely cheesing.
"W-who said it's worn-out! I'm still clean, you know?!"
My pussy isn't dirty! Most women's get a little messy and darken after a lot of use, but mine is still a clean pink, tightly closed like a virgin's, as if it's never been used.
'If there's a pussy this clean, I dare them to show me!'
If I could, I'd pull down my pants right now and show off my clean pussy.
- Hah... I want to see this bitch provide sexual favors already.
- To all the broadcast station PDs, please fuck this bitch like an animal.
- But for real, what if it just ends with drinking?
- Turns out the PD just wanted a drinking buddy lol
- What do you mean just drink, he'll be eating the woman too.
"But honestly, rather than just drinking and listening to them brag..."
Click!
Just then, the meeting room door opened and the manager walked in.
Following behind him, several people entered, including the members. The agency's CEO, the road manager, the producer, the stylist... a crowd of people filed into the small meeting room.
'What the, why did everyone suddenly show up?'
The first person I saw was a familiar face from the video.
"Hah... Manager. Is this really the right move?”
The leader, Im Sua, with her blonde hair and a healthy, well-proportioned body. She glared at me coldly.
Next was a woman with short brown hair, peeking out from behind Sua.
"Huh, why does she have her knees tucked into her shirt? Wait...? Her legs are down there??? Eh...? Eeeeeeeh????"
With her cute, cat-like face, she stared at my breasts on the table, her eyes wide with shock.
Not just the other members, but everyone else was staring at me with fascination, like I was a monkey at the zoo.
"That's... the new member?"
"Has the manager finally lost his mind?"
"My god, what did she stuff in there..."
"That's not padding, it's real."
"Real... Wow, whoa... oh..."
'Th-this might be a little embarrassing...?'
I tried to cover my chest with my hands due to the sudden attention, but it only made them look lewder as they were squashed by my arms and spread out to the sides.
"W-woooooow..."
"I approve..."
"Crazy..."
"Ahem... Alright, that's enough. Everyone, please calm down and take a seat. I'll explain everything slowly."
The manager went to the front of the room and explained my necessity to the members and key personnel.
The buzz and automatic promotional effect that would come from my body and face.
The male fandom, a blue ocean in the idol market.
And he persuaded them by mentioning the right to appear on public music broadcasts and various terrestrial programs.
He didn't tell the members that I was the 'entertainment' member.
I wouldn't have minded if he told them, but it seems he either considered it shameful or didn't want to expose the girls to the dark world of adults, so he only informed the CEO and a few producers with decision-making authority.
And of course, the key figures who had been tipped off beforehand all agreed, and the motion to accept me as a new member passed easily.
"W-wait a minute. Does it make sense to decide things like this?"
The leader, Sua, protested, but everyone was already filing out quickly as if their business was done.
"Sua, this decision is all for Serenia's sake. You might not understand now, but you will when you're older..."
"What are you talking about, Manager? Anyone can see she's not the one. And how will we be able to appear on broadcasts if she joins? Who's backing her?"
"No, it's not what you think..."
'She thinks I got in through connections...'
Things were a little rocky from the start, but it didn't matter. What's important is our group's success.
I absolutely must make Serenia succeed.
*
A month passed.
For that month, I practiced like my life depended on it.
Not only Korea's best vocal coach, but also the best dance trainer gave me constant one-on-one private lessons.
I was still very inexperienced, but I'd improved to the point where I didn't stick out for being unable to follow the choreography.
'To think I'd be able to dance like an idol...'
I moved out of my gosiwon and started living in the dorm with the members. At first, they ostracized me a little, but they gradually opened up after seeing how sincerely I was working.
Everyone except the leader had a good personality.
The energetic Han So-mi with short brown hair.
She was the main dancer and the mood-maker.
"Unni, you were serious? With this level of skill, you're not that lacking."
The kind Lee Rain, who looked a bit haughty with her long, wavy beige hair.
She was the main vocalist and in charge of the high notes in our group.
"I didn't think you'd work this hard... To be honest, I also suspected you got in through connections. I'm sorry, Unni."
And the affectionate Yoo Hye-ri with her straight black hair.
She was a talented member who could rap, compose, and write lyrics.
"Hehehe, Unni~~~! Mmm~ mwah!!"
Poof!
She was already completely addicted to my chest-cushions and hugged me every day.
Finally, there was the blonde leader, Sua, who glared at me with slight disapproval as I hugged Hye-ri.
"Hmph..."
But she no longer blatantly ignored me or cursed at me to get out like she did when I first joined.
'The first day at the dorm was absolutely brutal.'
I never want to get into a catfight with a woman again...
My official debut was in one month.
Since the second album flopped, we decided to prepare properly and make a comeback with a third album. It was called the third album, but it was really just our third song with a music video. We were only preparing one song.
'Recording starts tomorrow.'
A month after joining, I was finally starting to work on a real song.
Hard work doesn't betray you.
It seemed my talent wasn't complete garbage after all. I became decent enough at dancing, and I learned to sing alluringly, making use of my vocal tone.
After wearing the special compression sports bra the company provided, my breasts were reduced to just a 'very large' size, so they didn't stick out as much during group choreography.
Although my butt and hips were still a little... no, a lot big, but there was nothing I could do about that, so I decided to just leave them be.
And so, my days were packed with album preparations—recording, music video shoots, group choreography practice, and individual supplementary lessons—to the point that 24 hours wasn't enough.
My relationship with the members improved, and I felt a sense of pride in my own growth.
Then, about a week before the album's initial release, the manager came to see me.