Demonic Talent
While sipping a green tea Frappuccino and handling some miscellaneous tasks at the café where I had once experienced regression, I suddenly found myself facing Seok Hyeonwu, the section chief from Jin Kang Group, who was bowing his head as if he were about to drop to his knees.
“I beg you, Team Leader Seon! Please hire me at Two Bear!”
“No, why would you want to leave Jin Kang when you were doing so well there?”
How many places offered better treatment than a major corporation’s planning department? This guy…
“…I want to help Miss Jin Yeoreum. But now that she’s started her trainee life, that’s become difficult. My duties have completely shifted from secretarial work to planning and finance. At this rate, I won’t be able to assist her anymore.”
Of course. Since she was holed up in the dorm living as a trainee, they couldn’t assign her a personal secretary anymore, so Seok Hyeonwu’s role had naturally changed. I asked with a hint of concern.
“Does that count as a demotion?”
“If anything, it’s closer to a promotion. I’ve been given the title of deputy director this time.”
“…Congratulations.”
…I worried for nothing. In the conservative Jin Kang Group, handing a deputy director title to someone still in his early thirties was an exceptional treatment. He must have had the ability, but it seemed the company highly valued how he had long supported Jin Yeoreum. Considering that unusually rapid promotion speed, it was fair to say his future was shining brightly.
“That’s great. The new duties won’t be easy, but Deputy Chief Seok… no, Deputy Director Seok, I believe you’ll handle them well. Then I’ll be on my way—”
“Team Leader Seon! I’ve realized something. What matters to me isn’t a slightly higher salary or better treatment!”
“Then what does matter to you?”
What else could be more important when choosing a job?
“Protecting Miss Jin Yeoreum.”
“…Wouldn’t the security team handle that? Our company doesn’t skimp on safety.”
After receiving that kind of investment, if we cut corners on safety, Jin Baek-ho really might stuff us into oil drums. Two Bear wasn’t the kind of company that would lose something bigger just to save a few pennies.
“I’m not talking about that kind of safety. This is in the realm of emotions.”
“Emotions?”
Seok Hyeonwu looked at me with earnest eyes and said,
“I’m anxious. About the future that delicate child will have to face. It clearly won’t be easy. Becoming an idol means she’ll have to confront the public opinion she’s been avoiding until now.”
In a straightforward yet steadfast manner, he revealed his true feelings.
“I believe I should be by her side during those most difficult moments. My strength may be insignificant, but even that small strength, if it’s beside her, I think she’ll be able to endure better.”
His heart resembled a father’s, just as he had once said. Seok Hyeonwu was truly a good person. To the point of seeming a little frustrating to watch from the side.
…But I liked people like him.
“I understand what you’re saying, Deputy Director Seok. Personally, I find that sentiment admirable. I also think it would be nice to work with you.”
This was my personal preference. I liked people who didn’t seem like they would betray others, like Seok Hyeonwu. But there was one thing he had overlooked.
“But why are you asking me for a job referral? You seem to be overlooking something—I’ve only been at Two Bear for less than two months. With everything I’ve been through, even I sometimes forget, but I’m still a newbie, Deputy Director Seok.”
“If you really want employment, please go through the regular channels instead. You have more than enough qualifications for that, don’t you?”
As far as I knew, his credentials were on an entirely different level compared to mine, a high school graduate who had been unemployed. Plus, he had years of experience in Jin Kang’s planning department, so if he wanted, he could probably switch to almost any company. It was hard to understand why someone like him was begging me.
Deputy Director Seok. I’ve been so busy lately that I’m a bit on edge. Please understand.
“I wanted to do that too, but Two Bear Entertainment isn’t recruiting at all.”
“…?”
Wait, even now we’re short-staffed and I’m doing the work of three people by myself, and they’re not hiring? Has our president lost her mind…?
…Come to think of it, it wasn’t her mind that was gone, but her sense of smell. Lee Hyerin had also been connected through distant connections. Song Yohan was someone I had brought in myself. None of them had gone through normal hiring processes. Realizing that a company already suffering from staff shortages had no choice but to rely on personal referrals made me suddenly feel overwhelmed.
“I beg you! Please hire me at Two Bear!”
Seok Hyeonwu bowed again. He wasn’t someone asking me for a favor—he was a savior who could share the workload of my shattered schedule. Someone close to an elite in terms of ability. There was no one better.
I grabbed his shoulders and said,
“I’ve heard your sincerity, Deputy Director Seok. As a fellow man, I can’t ignore that kind of heart!”
“…Team Leader Seon! Then?”
“However, I’d like to see a bit of your resolve.”
“Resolve?”
I didn’t think he was that kind of person, but I needed some confirmation that he wouldn’t run away.
“Your salary will be considerably lower than what you’re receiving now. If you want to protect Yeoreum from the closest position, you’ll have to take on the role of road manager.”
“That doesn’t matter at all. I don’t have anywhere to spend money anyway.”
“Your schedule might be much harsher than your current one. Once activities start, it’s best to erase the word ‘work-life balance’ from your mind.”
“Yeoreum will have to handle that kind of schedule too, so of course I should as well. That’s what I want.”
Wow, I really like this guy.
“I understand your resolve. In that case, I’ll do my best to help you join Two Bear.”
Seok Hyeonwu bowed his head deeply with a moved expression.
“Thank you! Team Leader Seon!”
Thank me? I should be the one thanking you. Come quickly, my slave.
***
“How’s the scent?”
Considering Seok Hyeonwu’s usual disposition, I thought he would naturally pass the scent hound Cheon A-ram’s test, but I felt a bit uneasy. Having lived through this timeline, I had realized that my eye for people was somewhat off. Maybe she would detect a stench from Seok Hyeonwu.
While I was feeling slightly tense, Cheon A-ram looked impressed and said,
“Wow, Team Leader Seon, where did you find this guy?”
“Does he have a stench?”
“No? He doesn’t have any scent at all. He’s on the same level as Suyeon.”
Cheon A-ram kept exclaiming in admiration.
“In my entire life, I’ve only seen fewer than ten people this clean. He’s an impressive friend.”
It seemed he had completely passed Cheon A-ram’s scent test as well. I was very satisfied.
“He worked at Jin Kang for eight years and even made it to deputy director? Why would someone like that want to be a road manager? Honestly, it’s not exactly a well-paying job, is it?”
“He seems to think of Yeoreum like a daughter. So even if it means giving up his position and treatment, he wants to do work where he can stay close to her and protect her.”
“Hmm… His mindset is really good too.”
Cheon A-ram nodded and said,
“I won’t treat him as just a regular road manager. I’ll give him good treatment. It’ll still be less than his previous job, but he won’t feel too disappointed. …This person seems worth developing for the long term. I think he’ll be good to keep around.”
“The best choice, President Cheon!”
As I was about to happily deliver the news to Seok Hyeonwu, Cheon A-ram stopped me.
“Wait, Team Leader Seon. I have something to say.”
“Yes, please speak freely.”
“Didn’t we decide to send Gyeoul to Girl 100 last time? The PD in charge of that contacted me and said he wants to meet. Could you handle this?”
“If you’re asking me to, of course I will, but are you sure it’s okay?”
Since it was a connection through Cheon A-ram’s network, I thought she should be the one handling it.
“Yeah, it’s fine. I already told them I’d delegate schedule-related matters to Team Leader Seon, remember? The timing just came a little sooner than expected. As long as you stick to the policy we decided in the meeting, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“Don’t worry. Not overthinking things is what I do best.”
“…I’m starting to regret this already.”
***
“I’m Seon Taeyang, working as a team leader at Two Bear Entertainment.”
When I greeted her while handing over my business card, the woman said,
“I’m Kim Seonye. Just call me PD Kim.”
“Yes, it’s an honor to meet you, PD Kim Seonye.”
“Well, it would be an honor for your side. After all, I came in person instead of sending an AD.”
“…”
When I simply smiled at Kim Seonye’s somewhat rude response, she snorted as if amused and got to the point.
“I don’t have time, so let’s get straight to it. …Even though I made time, I don’t have high expectations for your company. You’re just a new agency that hasn’t even debuted anyone yet, right? Your level is obvious. If I hadn’t received that call from someone I know asking me to listen, I wouldn’t have even glanced at a company like yours. What could I possibly expect from you?”
It was an objective judgment from her perspective. Of course, if you looked inside, our company was filled with three unprecedented geniuses.
“Still, I should consider the sincerity of the person who contacted me, so I’ll be straightforward. What we want here isn’t a trainee with ability or talent.”
“Then what kind of trainee are you looking for?”
“We need supporting characters to make the ones who are supposed to rise shine. If you’re planning to send someone who might steal the spotlight even a little, I’ll look for another agency.”
Kim Seonye spoke while looking at her smartphone with a bored expression.
“You understand what I’m saying, right?”
Of course I did. She was saying the ones who would rise were already decided, so just send someone who knows their place and supports them quietly.
I had a video that would make her love me to death.
I put on a friendly smile and said,
“Yes, I think I understand. You want someone who knows their place and supports appropriately?”
“For someone working at a new agency, you catch on quickly.”
“Haha, that’s how you survive. As it happens, I have a suitable trainee. How about this friend?”
I showed her the demonic winter—Han Gyeoul with her bad habits—that I had once shown to Cheon Jonghun. The version from the time when she was being gaslit by Yeji.
After watching the video for a moment, Kim Seonye sneered and said,
“Pfft, it’s funny at least. With this level, I could probably give her about three minutes of variety show time. It’s exactly the cheapness I was expecting. It’ll have a decent effect on the ratings.”
“Thank you. I’ll show you even more than you expect.”
“No need to thank me. I’m not expecting much anyway.”
No, this was definitely something to be thankful for. She had just personally planted the seed that would flip the entire broadcast upside down.
I’ll show you Gyeoul’s demonic talent that will devour the eleven pre-selected members.
***
And so time passed, and the first recording day of Girl 100 arrived.