Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: An Outsider Suited for Being a Lackey
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ *** -Yoo So-mi’s Perspective
Today is Wednesday. Which means there are only three days left until Seoul Character World.
Until last week, I thought everything was going smoothly.
And why not? I’d personally handled the event registration, booth assignments, pre-registration and approval for all sales items, production of the artwork for the merchandise, and even coordinating schedules with the character goods manufacturers.
Ji-su unnie was supposed to take care of the remaining details.
But at the start of this week, I got a call from the Seoul Character World organizers.
No confirmation email after booth positions were finalized. No booth intro blurb for the event flyers or booklets, so they’d gone ahead without it...
That’s when I realized Ji-su unnie’s tasks had actually been a total mess.
I called her about it, but instead of owning up, she snapped at me.
Why hadn’t I checked myself before blaming her? Sure, she’d messed up, but I hadn’t verified anything, so it was my fault too.
I felt incredibly wronged, but with things so hectic, I didn’t want to fight with a friend. So I decided to fix it myself.
I called the organizers and apologized.
The on-site booklets had already been ordered and printed, so nothing to be done there. But they said the website booth intro page could still be updated, so I barely managed to squeeze in our blurb.
But the problems kept piling up.
We’d planned to rent display racks from another club for showing off merchandise and decorations to draw in customers, but Ji-su unnie—who was handling that—was now completely unreachable.
And the ordered products were supposed to arrive at the venue by the day before the event, but they’d been returned because Ji-su unnie put the wrong address.
With only three days left, reshipping risked them not arriving in time, so the production company recommended picking them up in person.
I had to sort this out before the staff clocked out, so even while working at the sandwich shop, I was glued to my phone.
The most urgent issue right now was retrieving those booth products.
But the boxes were too big and heavy for me alone, so I figured I’d ask my parents—who could drive.
-Hmm... Sorry, sweetie, but Dad’s on a business trip this week and needs the car. Might be tough.
-How about explaining it to the school and leaving early during lunch one day? Don’t worry about taxi fare.
I appreciated the taxi offer, but I still had no way to haul those heavy boxes.
I was thinking maybe I could ask the taxi driver uncle for help when Yi-an—who’d been watching me closely—spoke up.
"So-mi, you’ve been swamped with event prep lately, huh? But if you’re on calls too much during work, the boss might not like it. Keep an eye out for him. If there’s anything I can help with, just say the word. Midterms are over, so I’m free now."
Yi-an had offered before to help with the event anytime I needed. He was great at studying and so kind—way too good a friend for someone like me.
Deep down, I wanted to dump everything on him.
But that felt shameless, weighing on my mind.
I’d only invited him to the event hoping to enjoy it together on the day itself, not burden him.
I was scared I’d end up shoving all the work onto him without thinking. If I did, he might see me as that "bitch who uses friends however she wants" and cut me off.
As I hesitated, Yi-an grabbed my shoulders firmly with both hands.
"If something’s tough, you have to talk to me! Like if that ‘Ji-su unnie’ keeps forcing one-on-one meetups, or pushing weird stuff on you to buy, or dragging you to shady seminars!! Anything else not going right, I’ll help. You can’t assume handling it alone always works out! Got it?"
His warm, large hands gripped my shoulders tight, not letting go.
My heart pounded so loud I could barely hear what he was saying.
I had to respond quick, but I fretted over whether my face looked weird, if I was blushing...
My little sister once said friends stick close like this, hug it out, totally normal—I hadn’t bought it then, but now I got it.
Half-dazed, I mumbled some response, and when I snapped out of it, Yi-an had promised to skip school with me Friday and go pick up the booth goods together.
"Yi-an... you’re not suffering too much because of me, right?"
"Nah! We’re friends, aren’t we?"
"Yeah! Thanks!"
Screw it now. If he ever wants to end the friendship later, it’ll be my fault, so I’ll go to his house, kneel, and beg forgiveness.
"By the way... your booth promo account only lists stickers and two kinds of translucent files. Why’s the luggage so heavy?"
We also had character blankets—bulky and surprisingly heavy, couldn’t carry alone.
When I explained, Yi-an sighed.
"Ha, that Kim Ji-su bitch even screwed up the promo account..."
I usually think you shouldn’t badmouth friends behind their backs.
But hearing Yi-an curse Ji-su unnie felt good.
Anyway, thanks to Yi-an, the booth merchandise issue was solved.
Too bad the display rack problem was still unsolved.
Should’ve asked him sooner.
Next time I have worries, first person I consult is Yi-an.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ *** -Han Si-a’s Perspective
There are various motives for one person tormenting another.
Cases where survival stakes force it despite guilt.
Cases driven by personal beliefs, deeming the target deserving of pain.
And finally, simply enjoying the sight of others’ suffering.
But these don’t always divide as cleanly as a knife cut.
Kim Ji-su’s reasons for tormenting So-mi are probably tangled complexly in her mind—hard for an outsider like me to guess.
In my case, if I had to pinpoint... tormenting those who get under my skin is enjoyable, providing more motivation than other reasons.
Normally, I follow my parents’ teachings and avoid becoming a target in the first place.
But I firmly believe the best solution to bullying is more bullying.
.
.
.
Two days before the Seoul Character World event So-mi’s joining. I’m making maximum use of the info Jeong Yi-an dug up on that ‘Kim Ji-su’.
Her face, name and birthday, residence, high school, family details, even that she’s a third-time repeater now.
If this fell into the hands of someone malicious toward Kim Ji-su, her safety would be seriously jeopardized.
If it were just my personal issue... I might’ve used it a bit wickedly.
The reason I don’t is simple respect for So-mi’s right to revenge as the victim.
That a mere high schooler like Jeong Yi-an could gather such sensitive info just from SNS stalking... truly, wasting time on SNS offers zero life benefits.
Still, the one-way info access intrigues me personally.
Yi-an’s intel isn’t just personal details.
SNS captures show everyone she interacted with.
Authors she commented on, screenshots; accounts where she stole So-mi’s art claiming it as hers, with comments— all captured.
Not even hiring a PI, yet investigating this thoroughly...
Jeong Yi-an has talent as a lawyer’s lackey at a firm.
So for the past few days, I’ve been contacting each artist one by one, revealing Kim Ji-su’s true colors.
No phone answer? Email. Ignore email? SNS DM.
Thus severing all the fake ties she built exploiting So-mi.
Contacting one by one was tedious, but not hard.
People prefer believing a pretty, polite, high-achieving high schooler over a fat, ugly repeater.
But when I contacted the Seoul Character World office, their response was lukewarm.
They had no intention of meddling in participant disputes; go to police if serious.
Seems event staff—whose livelihood is management—need stronger incentives than a sincere plea from a pretty polite student.
So I reported the situation to Dad.
"Hmm... Is this friend a boy by chance?"
"No? It’s Yoo So-mi, a girl from another class."
"As I always say, when forming ties, what matters is making them thirst for you—not granting them your heart. Remember that."
"Don’t worry, Dad. She’s the cute part-timer at my usual sandwich shop. Her face has been so down lately, just looking out for her."
"Got it. I’ll handle the event ops team, so don’t worry and focus on studies. Your mom and I need to talk—call me when you leave."
The next day, the organizers called.
Last time, their voice was bored and annoyed; now, exceedingly polite.
Turns out ‘Kim Ji-su’ was stripped of participation rights and added to the event day entry ban list.
As expected, proper motivation is key.