Episode 39 - The Incident (1)
Sometime in the past, while looking back through my memories, I came across a scene of the Demon King torturing a woman. Her hair was red—whether from its natural color or soaked in blood, I couldn't tell.
"Ughhh... heuk... urk..."
Every time the red-bobbed woman vomited up her guts, small metal shards clattered to the floor. Even with her insides mangled beyond recognition, a faint smile lingered on her lips.
Not liking that, the Demon King shoved a funnel into her mouth and crammed in another handful of metal shards.
"Guhk... kughhh..."
Blood backed up, filling the funnel. The Demon King roughly shook it, forcing the regurgitated blood and shards back down. The woman rolled her eyes back and convulsed in a seizure. The Demon King watched impassively, as if it were nothing.
She soon regained consciousness and started taunting the Demon King again. The Demon King, who usually cared a great deal about her public image, had arrested her on charges of rebellion—but that wasn't the real reason. Her true crime was theft: trying to steal something from the Demon King.
While the Demon King was away, she'd seduced her husband and spent the night with him, only to get caught red-handed. Despite enduring all sorts of horrific torture that left her body covered in gruesome scars, her lower abdomen remained pristine, without a single mark.
The Demon King wiped the blood from her hands and clicked her tongue in annoyance. The woman sneered at her.
"Th-that... ch-child... y-you won't... t-touch..."
Her mouth was a wreck, her words mangled, but the Demon King understood perfectly. She pulled a red-hot knife from the brazier and plunged it into the woman's belly.
Ching!
A clear ring echoed from her abdomen as the blade bounced off. The woman laughed grotesquely at the Demon King, who trembled with rage.
How much time passed with the brutal torture repeating? Eventually, the Demon King stepped away, and suddenly, the Hero appeared.
The woman, who had scoffed through the Demon King's torments, began trembling at the sight of the Hero. She screamed like a madwoman, the one thing she hadn't done before.
"H-hik... n-no... th-that th-thing..."
She begged through her garbled speech, but the Hero didn't catch on as quickly as the Demon King had. Without reacting to her at all, the Hero approached and drew her sword.
At the sight of the blade in the Hero's hand, the bobbed woman shrieked hysterically—then collapsed silently to the floor.
The Hero sheathed her sword, crouched down, and rummaged through the woman's body. Moments later, she stood abruptly, dusted off her hands, and said,
"...It's not here."
With her business done, the Hero left the woman sprawled on the ground and vanished.
This record was of my death at the Hero's hand.
*
Hyeon Ha-yeon had returned, and time flew by in an instant. With recording sessions starting and days packed full, both my body and mind were exhausted—I could barely even meet the goddess comfortably anymore.
We were in the final stages of recording Pure Love, and since everyone had worked so hard, the results exceeded expectations, building real buzz. Once we wrapped recording safely, we could push full throttle into the album release.
But if life went according to plan, there'd be no unhappy people in the world.
From the morning, Chief Manager Choi had stormed the office, kicking up a huge fuss.
She cornered me with her sharp, irritated tone.
"Cho-in, what the hell is going on?"
"...I really don't know."
Things had been going so smoothly, but who could've predicted this disaster...
Checking her phone as a call came in, Chief Manager Choi flew into a rage and hurled it away. The screen cracked with a sharp crack, but she didn't care and yelled,
"Agh! That bitch for real!?"
She kicked the innocent floor, then screamed at me.
"Cho-in!! Any contact!?"
"...She says she can't move and told us to come ourselves."
Hearing that, Chief Manager Choi bellowed at the top of her lungs before catching her breath.
"Anyway! We're putting out an article saying no retirement, so tell her that!"
"...Got it."
The office staff, silenced by her outburst, sprang into orderly action.
A few hours earlier, news of Lee Ji-yeon's retirement had flooded the portal sites. No reason given. The sudden announcement turned the office into chaos. Phones rang off the hook, only to ring again immediately as people frantically verified the retirement rumor, then contacted the press to push counter-articles denying it.
To top it off, a member of the recording team came looking for me.
"Team leader, you need to come quick."
"...What's wrong."
"Ha-yeon's crying her eyes out again."
I handed off the situation to Chief Manager Choi and rushed to the recording studio.
The team greeted me warmly, as if they'd been waiting. But the scene inside left me dumbfounded.
[Even now... kheung... I love... kup... you...]
Hyeon Ha-yeon's voice leaked from the speakers, a total mess. Looking toward the window, she was singing while tears streamed down her face.
I was floored. Hiding my shock, I asked the person in charge,
"...Why's she singing like that?"
"How should I know."
The song cut off soon after, leaving only faint sobs. Hyeon Ha-yeon had given up singing and was just weeping.
"...I'll calm her down."
I entered the booth, and she spotted me, lunging into my arms.
"Kheup... O-oppa... huing..."
Her sudden embrace flustered me. Glancing at the team watching from the window, I pulled her out.
We went into an empty practice room nearby and sat her down. Still bawling pitifully, I reached for my handkerchief to wipe her tears—then remembered Baek Ga-eun still had it.
I dabbed at her eyes with my sleeve instead.
"...Ha-yeon, what's wrong? What happened?"
She started hiccupping, struggling to speak.
"O-oppa... hik... s-sorry... hik... sorry..."
I held her as she sobbed again, stroking her back. After a while, she pulled away and poked at my neck.
Her odd behavior puzzled me.
"...Ha-yeon, what's up?"
Her eyes were puffy and red from crying. Staring at me with unfocused eyes, she said slowly,
"Huek... Oppa, Ji-yeon unnie's retiring... I heard..."
I had no idea how Lee Ji-yeon's retirement rumor tied to Hyeon Ha-yeon's breakdown, but I had to answer anyway.
"...It's fake news. Why would someone active like her retire?"
Her hiccups stopped, but doubt lingered in her soulless tone.
"...I haven't seen Ji-yeon unnie at all... since she got back from her trip..."
"...She wanted some rest, so we cleared her schedule."
"...I see..."
Her flat response made me think her curiosity was sated. But as I opened my mouth to ask why she'd cried so hard, her axe-like glare startled me.
"...Oppa, the necklace... why aren't you wearing it?"
Her interrogating stare felt familiar somehow. She meant the lock necklace we'd shared once.
But Lee Ji-yeon had taken it long ago—I had no idea where it was. Whenever Hyeon Ha-yeon asked, I'd lied about keeping it at home and promised to wear it next time.
"...I don't usually wear necklaces, so I forgot. I'll wear it next time."
Another lie slipped out.
She stared into my eyes silently, making me swallow hard in tension.
Finally, she relaxed her gaze, looked away, and murmured,
"...Oppa, sorry for suspecting you."
"...No, it's my fault for the neckl—"
She cut me off—unusual for her.
"I thought something happened between you and Ji-yeon unnie... that made her retire."
"...That's why the tears came..."
She hesitated, then continued.
"...I thought you were lying to me..."
Her words jolted me, but I tried not to show it. Unable to meet her eyes, I gave her a light hug.
"...Why would I lie to you, Ha-yeon... Nothing happened, so don't worry."
My heart raced from the nerves, but I played it cool and soothed her.
After patting her back until she fully calmed, I took her back to the recording studio.
The person in charge eyed us worriedly and asked Hyeon Ha-yeon,
"Can you sing now?"
"...Yes, I'm okay now. Sorry for the fuss..."
She bowed to the team, who joked that it was fine now and thanks to her, they got a break.
Seeing me by the window in the booth, she flashed a small smile and cleared her throat.
As I watched, someone sidled up.
"...So, why'd she do it this time?"
I couldn't mention Lee Ji-yeon, so I spun a vague excuse. Grateful they let it slide, I thanked them inwardly.
"...Hey, is Lee Ji-yeon really retiring?"
The team was curious too. Before I could answer,
"Nah, it's fake news, I heard."
"Huh, really?"
"...Yeah, fake news."
I explained it probably stemmed from her break, and they nodded.
Confirming Hyeon Ha-yeon's condition improving, I headed back to the office. The crisis seemed averted—phones still rang, but the mood was lighter.
Chief Manager Choi slumped on the sofa, sipping coffee. She asked if Hyeon Ha-yeon was okay; I gave a suitable reply.
I collapsed into my desk chair, rubbing my temples. The sudden events had drained me completely. Retirement fiasco in the morning, then Hyeon Ha-yeon's meltdown—my mental strength was shot.
As I sorted my thoughts, a pale hand appeared with a vitamin drink.
Turning, I saw Baek Ga-eun.
...When did she get here?
"You look tired. Have one of these first."
She'd given them to others too and opened the bottle for me.
"...Thanks."
I chugged it. Cool and tangy, it snapped me awake.
"Kkuu... Thanks, I feel alive again."
She giggled and asked,
"Feeling better?"
"...Honestly, it's tough."
The truth slipped out unbidden. But with Baek Ga-eun, it felt okay to be honest.
She patted my shoulder sympathetically, saying I'd worked hard.
She pulled a script from her bag.
"Oh, that..."
"Ta-da, got the script."
Handing it over, she said,
"Remember that audition I applied for? They sent it."
I skimmed it.
"...The date's..."
"Next week."
I handed it back with a grin.
"...Your first audition."
Her first since joining. For idols fully planned by the company, sure—but actors had to forge their own paths unless the company pushed them. Managing schedules and condition was all we could do.
We'd planned photoshoots and her MV cameo with Hyeon Ha-yeon, but she stubbornly wanted to succeed on her own. All I could do was scout audition info.
Seeing her acting improve daily, I believed she'd make it.
"...Congrats. Hope you nail it."
She'd gone for a supporting role in a melodrama. With her looks, lead was possible—but a famous actress was already cast, so we adjusted.
As we chatted, the office entrance grew noisy.
"Kim Cho-in! Where's that bastard!!"
It was Lee Ji-yeon. Uncharacteristically furious, she stormed in looking for me. She'd been holed up at home all day—no outings. No clue why she showed now.
Chief Manager Choi, mid-sip on the sofa, jumped up.
"What? You ignore calls, and now you show!?"
Lee Ji-yeon glanced at her, then rampaged on.
I stood and approached.
"...Ji-yeon, what's..."
Fuming, she charged. My vision flashed white, nose exploding in pain.
"Ugh..."
Eyes opening, I saw her fist up close. More punches rained; I blocked my face and crumpled.
"Y-you... fucking bastard..."
Staff rushed to restrain her trembling fists.
"Let go! Let me at that fucker... LET GOOO!"
Baek Ga-eun pressed tissue to my nose.
"O-oppa, you okay?"
Blood. I took the tissue.
"...Thanks."
Spotting my nose plugged, Lee Ji-yeon screamed,
"Oppa? Oppa? This fucker... Let go!! LET ME GO!!"
Staff sweated, holding her back—but she shook them off and lunged.
Pinning me down, she grabbed my collar and shook.
"Kim Cho-in, you fucking bastard... Tell me... You tied it, right? Huh? Speak!!"
My head whipped; I couldn't respond properly.
"Ugh... What're you..."
Staff tried pulling her again.
"Let go! Hey, Kim Cho-in, be honest!"
She slapped away their hands, voice low.
"I went to the hospital."
The office froze.
"Not pregnant..."
Shocked, Chief Manager Choi grabbed her.
"What? Pregnant? Ji-yeon, you went to the hospital? Wait..."
She trailed off, eyes on me. Everyone alternated stares between us.
Lee Ji-yeon fought tears.
"...You cum inside like that... How could it not be pregnant?"
Everyone gaped at me in shock. Heavy gazes crushed down.
"Kim Cho-in, you fucker, say something... You sterile?"
Tears streamed down her cheeks. The air suffocated me.
I wanted to speak, but words failed.
No one stopped her as she lunged, collar in hand, shaking me.
"Don't just shut up, say something, you fucking bastard!!!"
Even as she sobbed, slapped my cheek, and spewed curses, no one intervened. My mind went blank.