Chapter 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Change (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Late afternoon, Queens' office.
[Seoul Mayor Lee Sang-heum promises unwavering support to Team Seoul City Hall...]
[Citizen hero of the Central Square disaster was a member of Team Seoul City Hall.]
['Queens' alumnus producer selected as model citizen...]
"He's really blowing up."
"What is?"
"Do Producer. Got picked as a model citizen and received an award from the mayor."
"No way? For real?"
The two employees sipping coffee from the vending machine in the break room were scrolling through articles about Do Ji-hyeok and Team Seoul City Hall on their phones.
"Wow... this guy can do no wrong."
Do Ji-hyeok, having reeled in Lee Sang-heum, had immediately mobilized his reporter contacts to flood the media with prepared articles.
Being heartwarming stories, they spread quickly, eventually reaching the ears of the Queens staff.
"But isn't this team brand new? Did he really leave to take it over?"
"...You don't know?"
"Huh? Know what?"
The male employee holding his phone glanced out the break room window, checking for prying eyes.
Early dismissal was the rule after gate raids, so no one else would come in, but he lowered his voice conspiratorially anyway.
"Rumor has it the producer was axed from above."
"...Seriously?"
The female employee's voice dropped to match.
The male employee turned his back to the window just in case and wagged a finger at her sternly.
"Don't breathe a word of this anywhere, got it?"
"Of course not!"
"...You know how all our sponsors changed recently?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Upper management wanted to stick with them originally, but the producer kept refusing."
"No way?"
"And the Queens girls barely did any TV stuff before, right?"
"Yeah, true. But suddenly they're doing Home Alone next week... Oh."
"The producer had turned down all those clown shows for the girls, but the new guy's making them do it right away."
"Oh my god..."
"Anyway, word is they got rid of the producer for not listening—sowed some discord and cut him loose."
The male employee shuddered and sprinkled syrup into his coffee.
The female employee, looking grave, spoke cautiously.
"But... if the Queens girls find out, won't they totally flip?"
It wouldn't just be flipping out.
This was a massive betrayal that could shatter ten years of friendship in an instant. It wouldn't end with mere outrage.
"Obviously, they'd straight-up mur—"
At that moment.
The male employee's face twisted in panic.
He looked like he'd seen a ghost, pale as a sheet.
"...?"
Sensing something off, the female employee glanced up at him.
"Finished with the coffee?"
A voice called from behind.
"!"
Startled, the female employee whipped around to see who it was.
"Uh, uh..."
Her face drained of color upon recognizing her.
A woman with parted, curly silver long hair and a lovely appearance.
It was Im A-rin.
*Gulp—*
Overwhelmed by an inexplicable pressure, the female employee swallowed hard and forced her mouth open.
"D-Didn't you go home...?"
"The leader called me."
"Oh, oh! Right, yeah...! H-Haha..."
"Mind if I get some coffee?"
"S-Sure!"
The female employee hurriedly dragged the frozen male employee aside to make room.
"Thanks."
Im A-rin flashed a sweet eye smile and a thank you, then operated the coffee machine.
"......"
The two employees watched her tensely, thinking:
She must have overheard everything, no matter when she arrived.
In a place where even the rustle of a plastic bag echoed loudly, there was no way she hadn't.
But...
*Beep— Beep—*
Im A-rin silently fiddled with the coffee machine.
*Drip drip drip... Beep—*
A beep signaled completion, followed by the rich aroma of fresh coffee filling the air.
"Mmm... Smells great."
Im A-rin savored the espresso's scent with a satisfied smile.
"Well, take care."
She gave the frozen pair another lovely eye smile and left the break room.
The same time.
After the award ceremony and subsequent training wrapped up,
"Five thousand times...? Really...?"
"Ah..."
Jeong Su-in and Kim Na-rae, receiving feedback, reacted with visible shock.
The training I'd announced seemed more burdensome than expected.
'This is trouble if they're already like this.'
With the first week done, I figured they'd adapted and proposed adding a new routine.
Five thousand thrusting attacks for Jeong Su-in, a thousand summon-and-attack reps for Kim Na-rae.
Optimized based on their current levels, limits, and efficiency.
"Can't do it?"
"N-No, we can!"
Though they insisted they could, they exchanged worried glances that said otherwise.
Frankly, it was still too lenient by my standards.
I wanted to boost their skills as fast as possible.
Bang Han-na was a solid pillar, sure, but her shield skills lacked offense.
If these two couldn't pull their weight, her defenses were meaningless.
I'd pared it down as much as possible to avoid scaring them off entirely, but if even this was too much, it was a problem.
"I didn't want to compare, but I have to say this. Do you know how the Queens girls trained before debuting?"
"...?"
They perked up at the mention of Queens.
I crossed my arms casually and explained calmly.
About Im A-rin repeating fifty spells a hundred times daily, and Hong Yu-ra swinging through twenty-one sword forms five hundred times each.
"F-Fifty kinds...?"
"Twenty-one... five hun... ten thousand times!?"
Stunned, I gave them a choice.
"I designed those routines too, of course. You know the results best. If it's too much, I'll cut the volume. But... your growth will slow accordingly."
Then.
"Producer!"
Han Gyu-ri's voice called from afar, sounding ready to head out.
Dinner time.
"...This starts next week anyway, so try it and think it over. Sorry for killing the mood right before drinks."
"N-No, it's fine!"
Jeong Su-in and Kim Na-rae insisted it was okay, but their energy had plummeted.
'That should tighten them up without slacking.'
I skipped further words and joined the others. We celebrated our first team dinner at a nearby barbecue spot.
"To Team Seoul City Hall!"
"To Team Seoul City Hall!"
Team members downed their glasses heartily at Kim Jun-hyeong's toast.
I quietly set mine down and wet my lips with pre-poured soda.
"Huh? Do Ji-hyeok, why aren't you drinking?"
Kim Jun-hyeong across from me gave a sly nudge, his lips curled mischievously—he was clearly plotting to tease.
"Yeah? Doesn't the producer drink?"
"Does he normally...?"
All eyes turned to me. Kim Jun-hyeong waved it off like nonsense.
"Nah, he drinks."
"Right!"
With Bang Han-na here, no lying possible.
I ignored the playful stares and offered a plausible excuse.
"I drove."
Then...
"Call a designated driver!"
Kim Jun-hyeong started acting up, refusing to let me off easy.
"...Who's paying for that? You?"
"Your precious team stayed late on a Friday to celebrate you, and you're skimping? Wow, Do Ji-hyeok, no heart at all."
"Brings up money and dodges..."
"Guys! Skip that jerk—celebrate Han-na instead! Congrats, Han-na!"
"Wooo!"
The team rode the joke, hyping it up. Caught in the rising vibe, I chuckled unwittingly and quietly picked up my chopsticks.
The dinner mellowed into a cozy gathering.
Meant to be casual, it was just bonding chat—no one got blackout drunk.
Except one.
"Pro... ducer...! Why won't you drink...!"
She'd plopped next to me and was clinging, her flushed face and glassy eyes screaming wasted.
"...Han-na, you're smashed. Stop. No more. Put it down, there..."
"Jus' one more...!"
Little drinking experience, maybe? She'd way overshot her limit.
"Please drink some water..."
"I like booze though...?"
"This is booze."
"Huh, really?"
She blinked wide-eyed like she'd truly been clueless and took the water.
"Phew... It is booze!"
The team burst out laughing at Bang Han-na.
"...?"
She peered around puzzled, water glass in hand.
Thus ended our first dinner amid Bang Han-na's drunken antics.
"Get home safeee!!"
Bang Han-na bowed deeply to the team heading the other way; they waved back laughing.
"See you next week!"
"Have a good weekend...!"
"Get Han-na home safe, and hang in there, Producer."
"Drive careful. Han-na's precious cargo."
The others went opposite; only Bang Han-na and I headed the same way.
I waved goodbye, then dragged the endlessly bowing Bang Han-na to the car.
"Seatbelt on tight?"
"Mmm... Yeah, but... it's tight on my chest..."
She squirmed, whining about the belt digging between her breasts.
'...Damn, that's something else.'
I inwardly marveled at the audacious valley stealing my gaze and quietly started the engine.
Soon, we arrived at Bang Han-na's place.
"Ah, my home...!"
"Here?"
Her one-room was in my neighborhood's new build area—clean and modern-looking.
"Han-na, home sweet home. Go on in."
I figured dropping her at the door was fine and tried sending her alone.
"Huh...? Not coming in...?"
"Gotta get home."
"Drink water first...!"
"I'll drink on the way..."
"Gonna make you drink water!"
She stuck to the seat like glue, throwing a tantrum.
"Sigh... Fine, coming. Just one glass of water, then out. Deal?"
"Yesss... Heehee..."
In the end, I followed her inside.
'...Total girl's room.'
Bang Han-na's place was decorated like any young woman's—cute and reflective of her personality.
"Phew..."
I drank the water she handed me, laid her down, and moved to leave.
But.
"Han-na, water down. Heading out... Huh?"
Bang Han-na, who'd been at the bed's edge, had vanished.
'Where'd she go?'
I turned to look for her.
And locked eyes with Bang Han-na right behind me.
"...Han-na?"
Her eyes sharpened in that instant...
Grab—!
She pounced.