Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Fans, and Me
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Here I am. There I am. Way over there, me too.
From sleek uniforms to cute skirts.
I filled every wall and pillar, dressed in countless outfits.
Of course, the photos all featured Molrang and Molrang Mall merch too. But...
‘...My eyes are drawn right to me!’
It was inevitable that all eyes would focus on the model.
Sure, I’d dreamed of becoming an influencer someday, and racking up likes on SNS felt great.
‘But this isn’t what I had in mind.’
My knees instinctively squeezed together like a schoolgirl’s. My tongue pressed between my front teeth.
What if I bit down hard? Could I escape this place?
“You look great in them, right? Oh, and that’s something new we installed.”
Sky pointed to the upper part of the inner wall. A super-thin display was mounted there.
Some kind of electronic billboard.
It was huge, so the image quality was insane. You could probably see pores up close.
On the display, videos played showing the Molrang Mall merch production process and behind-the-scenes shots from the model photoshoot.
When did they even film that?
“W-We didn’t need to go that far...”
“You think? It’s cute and fun, though. They say stuff like this makes customers feel more connected.”
Sure, that made sense. But I was the one dying of embarrassment.
“And haven’t you done this before? You must’ve modeled a few times at dawn shoots or whatever.”
“...Huh? No, that was my very first time shooting...”
“Really? You were so good, I figured you had experience.”
“......”
“Anyway. If you like that display, I was thinking of putting one on the White Night Castle outer wall too.”
“M-Me?”
I was totally against that.
I pictured it briefly. White Night Castle was one of the five great skyscrapers, visible from anywhere in Seoul.
But my face playing on its outer wall?
That would take some serious mental prep.
“Huh? It’s fine to use you, right? I just meant for regular White Night promo stuff. You know, like those fancy 3D billboards everywhere?”
“Oh, aha! Yeah, that sounds cool.”
That’s what she meant. I’d overthought it for nothing.
I’d definitely seen similar billboards on Mitube.
If even I remembered them—someone who forgets videos instantly—then the impact must be real.
“But if you’re okay with it, we’d need to mount the display vertically. That way it captures you fully.”
“No no no! Horizontal all the way. You’re planning to put it on the wide low-level section, right? That’d be better! Bigger screens are always more eye-catching.”
“Hmm? Yeah, we’ll see how it does here first.”
Sky smiled contentedly at the display.
Please, please reconsider the vertical option.
Ziiing!
All the tents rolled up, and customers started pouring in.
They limited it to 20 at a time, I’d heard.
The first group probably all wanted Molrangtex.
With only 15 units total, five of them wouldn’t get any.
“Whoa, it’s the model!”
“She’s real! So cute~”
But what was this? Eight out of twenty headed my way. They recognized me.
With me plastered everywhere, how could they not?
Of course, they couldn’t reach me. Sky blocked the path.
“Hold on a sec.”
“Huh...? Aren’t you the White Night Guild Master...? Could we just get a quick photo? We’re huge fans of her.”
“Buy your stuff first, then head out the side door. There’s a fan meet area set up. Wait there.”
......First I’d heard of it.
Was that the special event they’d mentioned before I came?
While the customers rushed to the displays, I asked Sky.
“We’re doing a fan meet too...?”
“I prepped it just in case. But if you don’t want to, no need.”
“What about those people?”
“We’ll say it’s canceled, apologize, and comp them 100,000 points or so.”
Reasonable plan.
But hearing that made me even less inclined to back out.
I glanced at my three subordinates, hoping for backup.
“......”
They gestured for me to go for it.
Don’t worry about us, we’ll wait even if it’s late, just push through—that subtle nudge.
I really had no allies here.
The store was called Molrang Mall, and I was the owner...
What was this feeling? Like a closer pitching in the bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded in an away game.
Pressure pouring from the packed stands of the opposing fans.
“Dawn, what do you think?”
Sky asked. No pressure in her tone—just leaving it fully up to me.
I took a deep breath. In... out...
“I’ll do it. Gotta, right?”
I didn’t know baseball inside out, but I knew closers needed ice in their veins.
So, fan meet it was. All for Molrang Mall.
A great model could create massive buzz.
“Cool. Just handle about a hundred. Stop early if it’s too much.”
Sky guided me outside to the side door. Sure enough, a fan meet setup waited.
Pens and paper for autographs. A photo area. Even stacks of small photocards on the table.
......When did she make those? Her prep game was unreal.
Scraaape!
Clutching my pounding heart, I sat in the chair. Sky stood beside me—probably for security.
Murmurs rose around us.
People alternated between the wall photos and me, showing interest.
Fans and non-fans alike gathered slowly.
Of course, Sky’s “buy first” rule drew regrets from all. But some joined the growing line.
“She’s really here!”
Soon, the first buyers approached. Two women, around Sky’s age.
Their shopping bags bulged with goodies.
Molrangtex to Molrang Mall merch. They’d maxed personal limits.
Roughly 20 million won each.
VIPs. Top-tier service required.
“H-Hi!”
I greeted them, forcing my lips into a smile.
Like my morning mirror practice—aiming for natural. Tougher than expected.
Luckily, they seemed thrilled. They grabbed fave photocards and shoved paper at me.
Pop!
“...What’s your name?”
“Kang Han-na. Han-na. Big and bold? Gonna frame it.”
......That much?
Fine, I’d do it.
Squeeze.
I pressed the glitter marker’s tip to the white paper. But hesitated on the signature.
‘...What now?’
My usual fancy script was out.
It’d advertise me as the Molrangtori creator. And their Molrangtex already had my sig.
So, new sig time. Chunky, cute letters: Han Saewol.
“Dawn! Do you have SNS? Wanna follow.”
“Hehe... Not yet.”
“Yeah, if I were your parents, I’d ban it too. Too many creeps out there.”
Scribble scribble!
Quick small talk, sigs done. Now, photos.
With an S-rank hunter snapping them, no less.
“Dawn, just standing’s boring. Let’s make that your default pose.”
Sky pointed to the rear display. Perfect timing—my debut finger-heart shot.
“......”
Of all picks. But complaining now was pointless.
I stood between them, awkward finger-heart up.
Click!
“Thanks! Love you, Dawn!”
Thus ended my glorious first fan meet.
“......Ah.”
Ninety-eight more to go.
**
“Fwaaaah...”
White Night Castle rooftop.
I leaned on the railing, basking in the drooping sunlight.
No danger. The railing towered over me.
“Fwaaah...”
Fan meet: success. Handled 105 exactly, fled when I couldn’t do more.
About five hours?
Not grueling work, but mentally draining.
Ever hear that story?
Guy spends a fortune and waits forever for an idol fan meet. Hears “For real?” three times and leaves depressed.
Felt just like that.
Molrang Mall customers averaged over 400,000 won spent.
They tried hard, but mostly women—extra tough.
Anyway.
I was wiped. Not a smoker, but craving one bad.
Home, straight to a hot soak.
Buy an onsen? Build an open-air bath in the yard...
“......Huh?”
Right then, white flakes drifted from the sky.
Snow. Snow.
Early winter, and already snowing?
Fall was too short. Korea’s weather okay like this?
Lost in trivial thoughts, admiring the flurry.
......Isn’t this a bit much?