An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth
The KBC Gayo Festival, held every late December. One of Korea's premier music broadcast extravaganzas, it was a stage for idols to wrap up the year's activities and connect with fans and the public. Especially for those invited, it was a point of immense pride—only groups with stellar results that year even got the nod. Naturally, fans treated it as a big deal too. In jest, they said only tier-1 or tier-2 groups made the cut.
And this year, BOZ had sent a whopping four acts: Foxy, Shine Candy, Blaze, and even me. Eighty, focused on overseas promotions, sat it out.
Shine Candy's waiting room. I'd dropped by early to kill time alone, but only Yunji was there. Everyone else must've hit the bathroom? Anyway, as I sat waiting for the girls, Yunji spoke up.
"...It feels like a dream, not reality."
"Huh?"
"I never imagined I'd make it here."
"Yeah?"
I tilted my head at Choi Yunji's words. Shine Candy had snagged an invite to this year's KBC Gayo Festival—not because of any cozy ties between KBC and BOZ, but thanks to their massive breakout hit starting with Blush, earning them the nickname "Reverse Run Stone."
And their mini-album Sweet Candy is killing it too.
Now fully immersed in the industry, I habitually checked music charts twice a day. Shine Candy's Sweet Candy had topped charts right out the gate with its title track and still had all five songs in the top 40.
"You girls deserve to be here."
Their active period this year was short, but they'd left such a huge impact on fans that the nickname stuck. No broadcaster would snub a group like that.
Yunji blinked at my reassurance, flashing a sweet smile. As the group's visual, even a simple grin lit up the room.
"It's all thanks to you, oppa."
"......"
"Back when I was working part-time at that café last summer, I thought I'd quit training after this year."
"Why?"
Overwhelmed with emotion? She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.
"My parents were dead set against it. 'It's already a bust—why keep wasting your life?'"
"Hmm......"
The classic path for failed idols: give up the dream, settle into ordinary life.
"It's fine now. Dad even bought five copies of our mini-album this time. Aiming for fan sign tickets or what?"
"Don't they have cuts for that?"
I wasn't deep into it, but I'd heard online chatter. Stuff like how many albums you needed to buy for a group's fan sign, or environmental issues from discarded fandom albums.
In the game, it'd been glossed over with a single system message. Here, I'd received albums but never bought any, so details escaped me.
"Oh, fan sign cuts?"
"Yeah. How many for Shine Candy?"
"Dunno? Manager unnie might know..."
Trailing off, it seemed the members weren't clued in. Anyway, chatting about fans had chased away her earlier gloom.
As we talked, Yunji, who'd been staring at me, glanced around slyly and sidled closer.
"Want a kiss?"
"This is a broadcast station?"
Noise from outside, plus over a hundred cameras everywhere. Lustful as I was, I lacked the guts for steamy stuff here. Our company bathroom? Maybe.
But Yunji didn't back down.
"It's fine. No cameras here."
She burrowed into my arms, smiling shyly.
"You're truly my life's benefactor, oppa."
"You girls earned it."
"Without your songs, Shine Candy would've been done for. So...!"
She pushed me into a chair, then dropped to her knees in front.
"I'll do whatever you say, just like Nayun. You know how I feel, right?"
"Hey, hey... you're crazy?"
"Yeah. Crazy for you?"
"......"
She stuck out her tongue playfully, then yanked down my pants like she'd rehearsed. Her outfit wrinkled—no biggie, apparently. In this reversed world with scarce men, the girls charged like dump trucks. Hesitate in front of a guy, and he'd get snatched up. No room for shyness.
"And after you took my virginity, you barely hug me anymore."
"Been busy."
"Busy enough to brag to Nayun a ton?"
"...My bad."
Whenever I felt off, I'd drag her to the bathroom for a few pumps. Guess she bragged. Mouthy girl. Or teasing on purpose?
Meanwhile, she nuzzled my cock, sniffing deeply. Her eyes were already glazed—too late to stop.
Better finish quick.
I shoved into her lips as she parted them.
"Mmph, mm...!"
Surprised by my sudden aggression, she gave a weird look, then flicked her tongue and started sucking eagerly. Lewd slurps filled the waiting room.
Moments later, she swallowed with a gulp and stood, face unsatisfied but sensible enough not to hike up her skirt here.
"Haa..."
"Must taste weird. You swallowed it all?"
"Yeah. Your cum's delicious, oppa."
Bull. Only seen that in porn.
"Wanna do it right here..."
"Hold off? Don't wanna grace page-one headlines."
"Fiiine, I get it. Visit our dorm more. Jiyeon unnie bullies me every time."
"Soon."
No clue when, but she nodded vigorously, pleased.
We chatted idly waiting for the others, but the bathroom crew never returned despite the time.
"...Why aren't they back? Trouble?"
"I'll check."
At Yunji's worried words, I stood too. Time to head out anyway.
"Hello! We're Hellos from ANT...!"
"Hi, Han Jimin-ssi. I'm..."
"One, two, three! Make 'em fall at first sight! First Love!"
"Han Jimin-ssi! Han Jimin-ssi!"
Walking the halls hunting Nayun and Jiyeon, greetings poured in from all sides. Singers, idols, managers angling for connections. Producing Shine Candy and Ria had boosted "producer Han Jimin"'s clout. BOZ exclusive or not, they figured a favor like a track was possible—obvious schmoozing.
Some faces I'd seen on prior shows.
"Hello! Girls Minute here!"
Newbie girl group from this year? Five bowed ninety degrees my way. We'd exchanged nods during overlapping schedules. Around 21 and 20, like Shine Candy.
Technically, I'm their junior...
Male. Composer and producer. The titles muddied my spot—too pro for a rookie.
"...Hi."
The leader-looking one smiled shyly, handing me an album.
"O-our mini-album."
Sleeveless soccer uniform photoshoot, all signed.
"Thanks. I'll listen."
"Yes! Yep!"
Grateful nod, promise of later. Scanning the bustling hall amid stage outfits, I figured spotting theirs would be easy.
Where the hell are they?
Not a glimpse. Rounding a dead-end hall, I turned back. Maybe they hit another waiting room? Peeking into open doors—
Found 'em.
Familiar outfits over shoulders. Nayun. Problem: she and Jiyeon were surrounded by guys outside a waiting room.
Far enough, but the nameplate was clear.
Solaris?
Heard of 'em. Popular boy group for intense performances.
Curious, I approached, eyeing the scene. No context, so I asked nearby gawkers. Girls Minute crew from earlier.
"Hey..."
"Ah, hi! Meet again?"
Leader blinked, thrilled. Cut straight to it before she fan-girled.
"Yeah. What's going on there?"
"Uh..."
Leader looked awkward. Sharp-eyed member beside her spat it out.
"Making trophies."
"Hey."
"What? It's true. You got hit too, unnie."
Voice edged with grudge against Solaris.
"...Trophies?"
"Y'know, hit on popular girls, bang 'em once, brag to the boys like you scored a prize."
"What?"
Same idol world, but zero filter. Newbies, right? Zero brakes.
If true, no sitting idle. Touching my woman?
Blind rage hit. Pushing through to Nayun, their words filtered in.
"Not asking for a date—just your number?"
"Uh, company policy..."
"C'mon, don't play. Who buys that? We both know agency BS."
"Well..."
"You like Blaze, right? Friend of mine—I'll check if you're for real."
Arrogant prick all over Nayun as Girls Minute said, nearly arm-in-arm. Her face screamed discomfort.
Sigh, gotta scold her later.
Just shove 'em off. Reversed world, senior group—couldn't, apparently.
Lesson later. Fix this now.
"Kim Nayun."
"Producer-ssi!"
My voice lit her face; she waved joyfully. Jiyeon sighed relief.
Solaris dudes? Shit-eating grimaces soured.
"What're you doing here?"
"Uh, well..."
"Stage prep, now?"
"S-sorry!"
Fake anger worked; she grabbed Jiyeon and scurried back.
Watching, I turned. Trophy fail-boy glared.
His fierce stare? Laughable from a 170cm shrimp.
Next time? Nightmare if they touched Nayun or Ria without me. Rage boiled to murder.
But their looks said no gentlemanly chat. Scanning, spotted a staffer with a half-broken long metal prop. Heading to toss it, now spectating eagerly.
"Ditching that?"
"Ah, yes."
"Lemme see?"
Aluminum alloy. Solid grip. Slight squeeze—no give.
Check IP.
Current: 4700. No prime skills, but consumables ok.
Temporary Strength Skill Enhancement Scroll
Strength boosted to A-rank for 5 minutes. Cost: 1000 IP.
Confidence surged—like I could pulverize anything.
Let's try.
Grip felt destructible now. Brandishing it at glaring Solaris punks.
Rare male standoff in this world? Nayun and Jiyeon gone, but others watched.
"Solaris? Whatever."
"Watch your mouth. I'm older—senior."
"Wanna be treated like one? Should've smiled and backed off."
Age? I'm over thirty, asshole.
"Anyway..."
Squeezed. Buff ticked—forearms tensed. Gripped ends, cranked.
Creak!
Crack!
A-rank strength!
Metal groaned louder, bent, snapped in half.
"Wh-what...?"
Instigator idol recoiled. Others too—all stunned stares.
Bathing in shock, I chucked the mangled prop at Solaris.
"If they hate it, know boundaries. Touch our agency's girls again, I'll fold your spines like that. Got it?"
Chill warning blanched the Nayun-harasser; he nodded frantically.
Sighed, dusted metal flecks. Hope it sank in—message delivered.
Oh, not done. Eye for eye.
They'd "trophied" girls, some sincere. They started; my turn.
Revenge on Those Who Touched My Things!
Gotta recoup that raw 1000 IP burn.