Chapter 89. Chae-hyun, Become a Clown for the Foundation
Chapter 89. Chae-hyun, Become a Clown for the Foundation
"We plan to select Ms. Lee Chae-hyun as our foundation's advertising model."
"Wha—!??"
"Oh my, was that a little hard to understand?"
She really had a gift for twisting things around. Lee Chae-hyun's expression flickered a few times, as if checking whether she had heard correctly, then she shot to her feet.
"So... I have to film a video in front of other people and it'll be used as an ad...!?"
"Yes, of course. We'll hire professionals and make you look very pretty, Ms. Chae-hyun."
She stood still, perhaps imagining something, and her body trembled violently.
"D-Director... Please! I'll do anything but that...!"
"Oh my, didn't I say I'd cosplay and dance if you beat that Chinese hunter back then?"
"..."
Oh my god, Laila even remembered that? Looking at Laila now, she seemed determined to make it happen no matter what.
"Hehe... The cosplay and dance are fine, so just film one ad."
"C-Chairman... Please!"
When her pleading didn't work on Laila, she turned to me and begged.
"I-I'm just the money guy who provides funds..."
I averted my gaze. I already knew Laila's personality too well—once she set her mind on something, it had to be done.
"N-No..."
She collapsed to her knees on the spot as if she had lost her entire country. She looked utterly out of her mind.
'Actually, I thought it'll be pretty fun too.'
---
We returned home and turned on the stream as usual.
[ World's Strongest Hero : Special Notice ]
[This bastard always says it's special, dammit]
[This notice is a whole movie lololol]
[But everything he does really is special]
"Everyone, you know I've been really busy lately, right? Unlike you unemployed folks."
[?]
[What?]
[What's he on about now?]
Actually, filming the foundation ad required the viewers' help. There had been a suggestion to include short photos of their actual volunteer testimonials. When I told them that, the viewers acted like they didn't mind at all.
"Of course, if we actually use them, we'll give a small token of appreciation."
[But who's in it?]
[If it's an ad, isn't a celebrity coming?]
[Are they using actors or something?]
I had a lot to say about that too. Because one of the people who had been watching my stream the longest was participating.
"Someone who'll surprise you all enormously will appear in the ad."
[What? Is another S‑rank joining?]
[Reina? Longwei? Max?]
[Probably Emir?]
[Kyah, boss's connections are insane lol]
"First, Laila will appear."
She fit the foundation's image perfectly. The image of a "Saintess" was already that of someone who helps those in need.
[Who is it really?]
[Is the president coming or something?]
[The president? Fuck lololol]
[ Overflowing Holy-Power Pouch has donated 50,000 Watts! ]
- So who is it, dammit
Come to think of it, among the malicious viewers, there was also "Overflowing Holy-Power Pouch."
'You wait too... I'll get you soon.'
I didn't give the curious viewers any answer. I just opened the manager's profile and clicked private message.
[What?]
[The manager's in the ad lolol?]
[As if, dammit]
"Hey, you know who it is, right? You're the manager and our foundation staff member."
[ Saintess's Foot Wiper : ... ]
[Don't play favorites because she's the manager!!!]
[Tell us too!!]
[Woo woo!!]
"Answer."
[ Saintess's Foot Wiper : I know... ]
At the manager's reply, the chat window exploded. A few people sensed something off about her reaction.
[Why's she become so docile?]
[Did someone dig up some dirt on her? lol]
[ Overflowing Holy-Power Pouch has donated 50,000 Watts! ]
- You dumbass lololol, why has that bitch become such a pushover?
[ Saintess's Foot Wiper : ...You're next. ]
"After we finish filming all the ads, I'll watch them with you viewers before releasing them."
I built up the viewers' anticipation, skillfully leading them on as I spoke.
"You'll be really surprised. Because someone you never expected at all will appear."
It would probably go beyond mere surprise. A seriously malicious viewer turns out to be a beautiful girl?
'This isn't some novel...'
---
Inside the studio with the lighting set up, Lee Chae-hyun sat in a chair receiving makeup. Her eyes were slightly downcast, but her hands were fidgeting awkwardly on her lap.
"Do I really... have to do this?"
Laila, who was sitting next to her and quietly watching, smiled.
"Wow, you're so pretty. I want to film quickly~"
"Ugh..."
Laila, holding a small cup of coffee, had been sitting next to Lee Chae-hyun for a while now. She seemed to be unexpectedly looking after Lee Chae-hyun, but...
'Was she doing that in case she tries to run away...?'
It felt an awful lot like surveillance.
"D-Director... Do I really have to...? I... really can't stand in front of people..."
A small voice, a trembling tone. Her fingertips moved restlessly on her lap.
"When it's just us, you can call me Big Sis."
"D-Direc..."
"Big Sis."
"Big Sis..."
"That's right. Good job."
Laila nodded slightly. Laila's training technique really was effective. She had turned such a malicious person into a docile little lamb.
"Ms. Chae-hyun, your parents were very pleased, weren't they?"
"..."
Laila had not only obtained Lee Chae-hyun's consent (?) but also consent from her parents. Actually, her parents were very happy to hear that she'd be filming an ad for our foundation.
"Ms. Chae-hyun, over here..."
After her makeup was finished, Lee Chae-hyun moved to change clothes. And from inside, I could hear Laila and Lee Chae-hyun's conversation.
"Really... I have to wear this...?"
"It looks great on you. I've never worn clothes like this before..."
"Big Sis... did you choose that outfit yourself...?"
"Hmm? What's that?"
Naturally, my attention was drawn there.
'What kind of clothes were they talking about...?'
They came out of the dressing room. The clothes they wore were neither flashy nor revealing. They were neat, tidy "school uniforms."
'...Good thoughts, good thoughts, good thoughts.'
And so, filming began.
The camera didn't use the typical "sad music" or a dark filter. Instead, soft lighting like warm sunlight filled the space.
'Looking at foundation ads these days, they're all...'
They featured pitiful children, the elderly, the marginalized. I really hated that. For some reason, it gave me an unpleasant feeling that they were commercializing them.
'No wonder they call it poverty porn.'
The first scene of the ad showed children smiling brightly. Then a girl in a wheelchair playing the piano, and an elderly man running his business with a neatly trimmed beard. None of them were scenes of receiving help, but rather living their "new lives" after receiving help.
"The one step you took becomes a new day for someone."
Lee Chae-hyun, though trembling, diligently read the line written in the script.
"Pfft..."
I involuntarily burst out laughing. At that, the filming crew glanced at me. Of course, Lee Chae-hyun glared at me as if her eyes were on fire.
"Ah, I'm sorry... I just coughed..."
The girls in school uniforms walked down the long hallway, showing the scenery beyond the window. There, the images of people who had overcome difficult lives and stood up again continued to be shown.
And the next scene. The camera moved beyond the window and the background changed. This time, the veterans our foundation had actually supported stood in a neat line, dressed up.
"Yeah, this is it."
They wore shiny military merit medals all over their chests over their suits. Their silver hair shone, and despite their bent backs, their posture was straight. Some had prosthetic legs, some leaned on canes, but every face was proud without shame.
"Wow, the elders are wonderful...!"
The camera director said. They saluted and stared into the camera. The screen transitioned, and then showed the girls again.
They filmed the two holding hands and disappearing beyond the hallway.
"We do not forget our heroes. And from now on, we will continue to build new paths together with someone."
'Ugh...'
I pinched my thigh and bit my lip tightly. Because I felt like I'd burst out laughing without meaning to.
And so, the filming concluded with Lee Chae-hyun's narration.
After the filming that lasted several hours, Lee Chae-hyun collapsed to the floor on the spot.
"Good work... *cough*..."
"F-For real...!!!"
"Y-You were really... cool, pfft... you were..."
Then we moved on to extra filming for my personal stream: personal interviews with the ad participants. They were all ordinary people.
"Laila, how's everyone?"
"Ms. Lee Chae-hyun has finished her interview, only the elders are left."
"Really?"
Since it was footage for an internet broadcast, high quality wasn't necessary. We approached the director who was doing the rough subtitling work.
"Ah, Chairman."
"Yes, is the subtitling going well?"
"Haha, I earn my living doing this, so with this level of subtitling, it'll be quick."
I quietly looked at the screen where the subtitling was being done. On it, the name and age of the interviewee were written. And uniquely, next to Lee Chae-hyun's name, it said, "Saintess's Foot Wiper," our stream manager.
"The viewers are going to love this..."
"What? Chairman, what did you just say?"
"It's nothing."
Ms. Chae-hyun. Be a clown for the foundation.