I'm Just a Regular Person (4)
I'm Just a Regular Person (4)
At that moment, Jane had a gut feeling.
'This is going to blow up...!'
Of course, in this world, it was difficult to gain popularity solely through external factors like appearance or body type.
Whether through cyberware or bioware, implant surgery allowed you to easily acquire physical traits you weren't born with.
Even a dwarf of naturally short stature could reach a towering two meters through acquired factors (implants).
It wasn't exactly common, but occasionally a female celebrity born with two breasts would add two more.
Beyond that, it was also common for people to change their gender due to gender-fluid tendencies.
And there were people with peculiar tastes who liked elven women with massive weapons between their legs.
It was a world where anyone could change into the appearance they wanted if they set their mind to it.
So you couldn't gauge someone's popularity or success just by looking at their appearance.
But despite that, Jane, whose eye for detail had sharpened over a long career in the entertainment industry, was certain.
A unique background as both a mercenary and a mage.
The dark circles, which could have been a weakness, instead accentuated that background element and transformed into a decadent beauty.
And even though he apparently had never received appearance implant surgery, according to what Andrea had told her,
his distinct, well-defined features and decent looks, as if 'crafted by character creation,' left a deep impression in the memory.
Looking at him now, even his listless expression felt like part of his charm.
'100% success!'
The raw material before Jane's eyes was, literally,
no different from a 'first-prize lottery ticket' you could recognize without even scratching it.
So Jane, without a shred of hesitation, suggested to Lee Si-woon that he become a celebrity.
"Absolutely not."
It took less than a second for the suggestion to be rejected.
At that, Jane deflated.
19. A Real Civilian, Honestly (4)
I sat down on a chair in the makeup room and looked into the mirror.
"......."
Why am I here, doing this?
I wondered silently.
"Please stay still."
"Okay—."
"You don't even have to answer."
"—Yep."
Like the Azure Dragon on the left and the White Tiger on the right,
the makeup team staff occupying either side of me restrained my squirming.
Since my reply had been cut off mid-sentence, I lapsed back into silence.
It was even hard to swallow.
Resigned to my fate, I endured the punishment being inflicted on me.
I secretly shifted my eyes to the side.
Andrea, who was sitting right next to me, was also receiving broadcast makeup just like me.
"It'll smudge if you move."
"Ah, I'm sorr—."
"...As I said earlier, you can just listen quietly."
"......."
How did things end up like this?
I had rejected Jane's absurd suggestion that I try being a celebrity.
And after I'd turned her down multiple times, she resorted to a pressure that wasn't quite pressure—insisting I at least let them apply broadcast makeup—until I finally entrusted my body to the makeup staff.
I even suggested I could just wear a mask and go out, but they brushed it aside as if they hadn't heard.
I hadn't even had the chance to flee.
Perhaps because they had planned to do Andrea's broadcast makeup from the start, several makeup team staff were already waiting outside the makeup room.
I sighed inwardly.
I turned my gaze back to the mirror.
"......."
Still, broadcast makeup is pretty impressive.
Without changing my overall impression much, my visible features became more distinct.
Well, look at that—pretty damn handsome.
Normally, broadcast makeup aims to cover things like dark circles.
So why were they applying a darker shade of foundation to make the dark circles look even deeper?
I wondered about that.
Really, life throws all sorts of experiences at you.
I silently vowed to absolutely refuse if another broadcast request came next time.
A little while later.
Perhaps because this makeup session was unscheduled,
the hologram timer showed about ten minutes remaining.
Andrea, who had finished her makeup and at some point had even changed clothes, approached me.
"We need to get going soon."
"Yeah."
After the broadcast makeup, Andrea was literally shining.
She was pretty in everyday life too, of course.
But now she looked a bit more like a 'celebrity', I'd say.
Anyway, that's how it was.
As we left the makeup room, Jane trailed behind us, still saying things like, 'Really, don't you want to try being a celebrity—.'
I coldly brushed her off and followed Andrea to the filming set.
It didn't take that long to get from the makeup room to the set.
The set was already bustling with preparations.
On the stage, several lights and cameras were on, and in the center stood a table with props, surrounded by several sofas.
It looked exactly like what I'd seen on broadcasts.
On the stage was 'Rex Nova', a famous celebrity and businessman,
and he appeared to be checking his broadcast routine, muttering to himself quietly without others noticing.
A staff member hurriedly greeted us as we appeared on the set.
"You've finally arrived! I thought you weren't coming. Then right this way, please!"
We followed the rushing staff member to the back of the stage.
Time was so tight I didn't even have a chance to greet anyone.
But then, this is a broadcast shoot.
I guess we really did arrive too late.
The staff member briefly explained the broadcast procedures to us, especially to me.
First, the opening segment would run.
Right after, Andrea would appear, and a bit later, I was supposed to come on after her.
He said there were a few other guests, but nothing we needed to worry much about.
A cybernetic staff member with a face device that had four huge lenses approached us.
"First, let's get your mics attached..., good. Later on, you can just head on stage when we signal you."
Now that the broadcast filming was actually imminent,
my nerves oddly relaxed instead.
There was no running away now that things had come this far anyway.
This must be how a fish on the chopping board feels.
I waited for the broadcast to start.
Since I was basically a tag-along who only appeared because of Andrea, I figured I wouldn't get many questions directed at me.
"Have you ever watched this show?"
"I have, yeah."
I nodded at Andrea's question.
"A few times."
I briefly cast my mind back.
'Rex Nova's Show LiEve'..., was it?
She had said we'd be on a broadcast, but
honestly, I hadn't realized it would be this program.
As the name suggested, 'LiEve' meant it was a live broadcast—
and at the same time, it was famous for dealing with sensitive topics.
In fact, precisely because it was live, it left plenty of room for controversy, making it a very popular program.
They say it's a tragedy up close
and a comedy from afar.
I never imagined I'd end up on that controversial program.
"Oh, it's starting."
From the back of the stage, making sure we weren't caught on camera, I watched Rex Nova begin the broadcast.
"Hello!"
In a stylish suit, he struck an exaggerated gesture.
"Are you all enjoying your time in Neon City!"
The opening started with the same remarks, no different from what I'd seen on the broadcasts.
I hadn't noticed when I was just lounging at home watching,
but the lines felt a bit old-fashioned.
"I'm the host of this program, 'Rex Nova'! Well, what kind of incidents and accidents have happened in Neon City today?"
The way he chattered on so effortlessly alone made me realize there was a reason he was a famous celebrity.
I swallowed dryly, waiting for the staff's signal to go on.
"The first controversial figure to appear is..., this person!"
From the hologram emitter placed on the table, large text emerged.
『Andrea Rose』
Along with a bright light, Andrea's name appeared in a flashy font.
"Miss Andrea, you can go out first!"
The staff member waved their hand, calling Andrea.
Just as I always saw her,
Andrea stepped onto the stage with a confident stride.
"Yes, nice to meet you!"
Andrea sat on the sofa placed at the very front.
Scratching his head, Rex Nova addressed Andrea with ostentatious gestures.
"Wow, I never imagined I'd get to meet Miss Andrea on our program. As you know, this program only invites people with controversies...."
"Hahaha!"
There was actually no studio audience present, but the sound of an audience laughing came from somewhere.
It was a sound effect to liven up the atmosphere for Rex Nova's self-deprecating remark.
"The recent gossip Miss Andrea got entangled in was..., oh. It was a 'dating rumor'. Honestly, even we who invited you didn't expect you'd come out so confidently to explain."
"Well, it's no big deal."
"Indeed it isn't. Come to think of it, I meet different girlfriends depending on the day of the week too—."
As it was a talk show, the main desk host, Rex Nova, led the topics and kept the conversation going.
How nice would it be if I could just stand here and keep watching?
But that happiness was short-lived.
I had only spaced out for a moment, and new text emerged from the hologram emitter.
"—so anyway, moving on! Let's meet the rumored man!"
Ugh, why is the pacing so fast?
『The Rumored Man』
The text that appeared wasn't my name.
But no matter what anyone said, it was obvious that 'The Rumored Man' was a phrase referring to me.
The staff member gestured at me.
"You can go out now!"
Quietly steadying my voice, I walked onto the stage.
Okay, calm down.
First, a light greeting, then sitting on the sofa—that was the program's set procedure.
The fun part of this program was watching the several guests who appeared then chat with each other.
"...Hello."
My voice was amplified through the mic.
"According to the rumors, he's supposedly got several beautiful women under his thumb all by himself, but his demeanor doesn't seem—."
Rex Nova, who had been speaking, stopped his remark.
It was after he had confirmed my face as I sat on the sofa.
"Oh ho, suddenly I'm getting the feeling the rumors might be true. If you don't mind my asking, are you in the entertainment industry?"
"...I'm a regular civilian."
"Aha."
At my answer, Rex Nova let out a short exclamation and examined my face once more.
He wasn't even running the talk show.
He observed my face as if he were scanning it.
.......
No, why is he staring at me like this?
Did this guy have a sexual identity controversy or something?
I suddenly felt anxious.
But then Rex Nova's next words left me speechless.
"I think I saw you with a very high-ranking person from Monolith— ah."
Maybe it was a remark that slipped out unintentionally,
or perhaps a memory he'd forgotten suddenly resurfaced.
Rex Nova's words stopped mid-sentence.
He secretly signaled the staff, out of sight of the cameras.
The staff member, receiving that signal, shouted.
"We'll go to commercial break for now!"
The camera's red light disappeared.
With his complexion noticeably darkening, Rex Nova lowered his voice and carefully asked me.
"...Is my memory correct, perhaps? I believe you're the corporate executive who appeared with the Chairman-nim at that party back then. What brings you here...?"
"......."
No.
I'm a real civilian, honestly.
My head spun as I wondered how the hell I was supposed to explain this.