Chapter 205
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 205
It was only natural that the members of The Dawn were the first targets.
Since the quest was given by the system window, I figured the person had to be someone related to the main scenario or our goal of becoming first-tier idols.
So, I decided to test the waters by tossing out some light expressions of affection, starting my sentences with things like, “Our dear XX is…” The results were as follows.
“Are you insane?”
“Ah, yes. Why?”
“Why, why, why are you being like this, seriously?!”
“Yep, I’m Ho-yun-hyung’s Yi-chae~.”
And with that, The Dawn was a bust.
It seemed the designated “close person” was an outsider. My next attempt was with Im Hyeon-su, the first person to clutch the back of her neck in fury because of me, and also the first sucker I’d reeled in.
[Me: Composer-nim]
[Me: Do you know how much I cherish you?]
The “read” receipt appeared instantly, but her reply didn’t come for several hours.
[Im Hyeon-su: Fuck, do you need another song?]
Ting!
[The recipient is not the player’s designated ‘close person’.]
‘Guess not.’
I ignored Im Hyeon-su’s message and searched for a new target.
Next up was Sucker #2, Ju Woo-seong.
[Me: Sunbae]
But no reply came.
In the meantime, I sent a “what are you up to” text to Min Ji-heon, who I wasn’t exactly close with but had some history with. All I got back was some cringey trolling like, ‘Aww ㅠㅠ I miss you too.’
And then,
[Me: yo]
[Damn Little Brother: yo?]
I sent one to my brother, just in case.
[The recipient is not the player’s designated ‘close person’.]
‘Thank god, fuck.’
[Me: ㅗ]
[Damn Little Brother: There he goes again]
I may be armed with shamelessness, but the mere thought of expressing affection to a blood relative sent shivers down my spine. I mean, I’d do it if I had to, but still.
So who the hell could it be?
As I mulled it over, the worst-case scenario came to mind.
‘Don’t tell me…’
It couldn’t be Kim Hee-yeong, could it?
I really didn’t want to get involved with her if I could help it.
But surely the system window wasn’t that devoid of professional courtesy.
“Shit, what do I do if it’s really her?”
I paced around my room, phone in hand, creating and discarding various hypotheses, when my phone buzzed.
[Ju Woo-seong: ;;; what the hell you crazy bastard]
[Ju Woo-seong: this is so fucking creepy]
Ting!
[The player has made contact with the designated ‘close person’.]
“Ah, what the.”
It’s Ju Woo-seong?
A grin spread across my face.
‘If it’s Ju Woo-seong, won’t this quest be over in five seconds?’
When I first saw the quest, I thought it was clearly designed to screw me over, but I never imagined it would be this easy.
I called him, and he picked up before the second ring.
[…What is it? What’s going on?]
His tone was thick with suspicion and vigilance.
“My truly respected sunbae-nim.”
[I’m hanging up.]
“Wait.”
I was trying to think of something nice to say, but I didn’t have a single clue what Ju Woo-seong had been up to lately. I just wasn’t interested.
“…Woo-seong-ssi, what have you been doing these days?”
[……Is this for a broadcast?]
“No, so don’t worry.”
[If it’s not, why would you be calling me? Or do you need something?]
“Why? Are we not even close enough for that?”
[Hell no, you bastard.]
Was that enough of a build-up?
To be honest, I was already getting tired of this and wanted to get it over with quickly.
“Hyung, I cheri…”
I’d chosen a simple word to start with, but the word “cherish” wouldn’t leave my mouth easily.
Frankly, while he could act childish and petty, he was surprisingly better at taking care of himself than I was. Objectively, there was no reason or room for me to be cherishing him.
[Huh? What?]
Tossing out empty words was never hard for me, but something about this felt off.
“I fucking ch-cherish you.”
In the end, I stuttered, which was unlike me.
A long silence followed, so much so that I checked my phone screen to see if the call had dropped, but the timer was still running.
Just as I was about to ask what he was doing, Ju Woo-seong’s soft voice posed a question.
[……Did you make a bet?]
Ting!
[The target does not acknowledge it.]
[This does not count as an expression of affection.]
[Expressions of Affection: 0/5]
What? Why?
I stared at the system window with suspicion.
This was Ju Woo-seong, the guy who would puff up his chest and act all high and mighty with just a little praise. What on earth had changed?
[Sigh, Seo Ho-yun, you really never change.]
“……”
[I’m busy. Hanging up.]
Clutching the phone he’d just hung up on, I paced around the dorm for a long time.
The other members had all gone to the practice room, and I had stayed behind, promising to follow them shortly.
Calls and texts kept pouring in from the people I’d poked, but Ju Woo-seong was silent.
Suppressing my irritation, I got dressed and pulled a cap down low over my head.
“Fine, so that’s how you want to play it.”
There was no way Ju Woo-seong was busy right now.
Aside from a few members with solo activities, Black Call’s official schedule had come to a halt. It meant they were on a break.
Just in case, I searched for Ju Woo-seong’s schedule online and even casually pumped Kim Seong-hyeon, his avid fan, for information before immediately hailing a taxi to Ju Woo-seong’s house.
I greeted the familiar security guard, took the elevator, and arrived at his door. I then punched in the passcode I’d learned from my previous visits and boldly barged inside.
“Your favorite junior is here~!”
I shouted as I stepped onto the marble floor and into the living room. There, I saw Ju Woo-seong, who had been lying on the sofa, shoot his head up with startled eyes.
“Agh! Fuck!”
“What do you mean you’re busy, sunbae-nim? You’re watching a movie.”
Just as I thought. This bastard was completely free.
Recognizing me, Ju Woo-seong’s cat, Nyang-nyang-i, rubbed its face against my leg and purred.
“Hey, Nyang-nyang-i.”
“You scared the shit out of me! Why are you here? How did you get in?”
I offered a kind smile to Ju Woo-seong, who was glaring at me with narrowed eyes.
“I came to offer my gratitude to the sunbae-nim who has helped me both physically and financially.”
“Wow, even lies have to be somewhat believable.”
“Now, now, let’s just.”
Ju Woo-seong was always clueless when I needed him to be and sharp as a tack when I didn’t.
He shuddered, clearly displeased by my words.
“I haven’t seen you around at all lately, so I thought I’d drop by.”
Since it had come to this, I decided to just get the quest over with as quickly and cheaply as possible.
I plopped down onto the single-seater sofa and said, “I was also a little curious why you’re so hard to get ahold of—”
“Here he goes again, revving up his engine.”
‘Cherish’ had already failed. ‘Respect’? What else was there? I would know if I’d ever said these things before.
I chose my next line with care.
“Um, so, our—”
I started, but Ju Woo-seong made a face of open disgust.
Still, I pressed on.
“—what would I have done without you, Ju Woo-seong-ssi?”
“……”
“……”
“……”
A long silence hung in the air around us.
After a moment, Ju Woo-seong, who had been digging in his ear with his pinky, tilted his head slightly.
“……Are you sick somewhere?”
But after confirming my complexion was perfectly healthy and full of life, albeit a bit insolent and annoyed, he made a finger-twirling gesture next to his head.
“Or has your brain… finally snapped? If not that, is this a broadcast? A hidden camera?”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“Hmm, so I guess your brain really has snapped.”
The corner of my mouth twitched.
“Ha, do you know how much I respect y—”
“What are you talking about?”
“…Do you know how much I respect y—”
“I don’t.”
My renewed attempt was spectacularly shot down.
“You won’t even let me finish? Are my words a joke to you?”
“What’s with you, seriously? Did you eat something bad?”
“Ah, whatever! Can’t you just shut up and listen for a second?! I’m just saying I hope you don’t end up in the headlines as the couple in a New Year’s Day dating scandal!!”
“You crazy bastard, you might as well just curse me!”
[LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO]
[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Wow, this is hilarious, lol grabs popcorn LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]
‘I’m going to lose my mind!’
I thought I could handle this faster than the time Ju Woo-seong told me it took for Black Call’s Tokyo Dome tickets to sell out.
“Hah, seriously.”
The image he had of me was acting as a formidable defensive barrier.
“You don’t believe me? Do you really think I’d come all the way here just to tell such a pointless lie?”
“You barge in here and start spouting nonsense, of course I don’t believe you. Put yourself in my shoes, you bastard. If I did this to you, would you believe me?”
“Fuck, of course I would!”
“……Whaat?”
Ju Woo-seong blinked, looking slightly taken aback.
To be honest, even I wasn’t sure if I’d believe him with 100% pure sincerity.
But this sucker had helped me out every time during Shining Star and had even looked out for the other The Dawn members from time to time. I was more than willing to believe him at least once, no matter what bullshit he spouted. Whether it was a lie or not.
“Of course I’d believe you! After everything you’ve done for me, Ju Woo-seong-ssi!”
[Expression of affection has been counted.]
[Expressions of Affection: 1/5]
At the same time, a ting sounded and the system window popped up. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The words I’d spat out in a fit of anger had been counted as an expression of affection.
But there was no time to be surprised. This was an opportunity.
“Got it?”
I looked Ju Woo-seong in the eye and said earnestly, “I respect you and I’m grateful to you, too.”
“……”
Ting!
[The target does not trust the player’s words.]
[He is thinking, ‘This bastard, of course he’s like this, sigh.’]
[Expression of affection failed. The count will be reset.]
[Expressions of Affection: 0/5]
Rage shot to the top of my head, but seeing Nyang-nyang-i circling my feet, I just ripped off my cap and slammed it on the floor.
“Forget it, just forget it!”
This felt even more hopeless and difficult than the aegyo quest.
Ju Woo-seong stared at me like I was a madman and muttered to himself, “……That bastard’s really lost it.”
At this rate, I’d be lucky to even get two expressions of affection, let alone complete the quest.
* * *
“You again?”
It was already the third day.
Excluding time for my schedule, practice, and sleep, I had stuck to Ju Woo-seong’s house as much as possible.
He must have just given the cat a bath, because he was walking out of the bathroom holding Nyang-nyang-i, who was wrapped snugly in a towel.
“Ho-yun, I’m getting tired of this.”
“You wanna die?”
Ju Woo-seong just chuckled and put Nyang-nyang-i in the pet drying room.
The guy really did adapt quickly.
At first, he’d acted like he had indigestion no matter what I said, or he’d shy away, telling me to stop. Now, before I could even open my mouth, he’d preemptively shoot me down with, “Not buying,” “Don’t want it,” or “No,” avoiding me with the practiced ease of someone dealing with a street proselytizer.
‘Damn it.’
I didn’t give a damn about Ju Woo-seong, but I absolutely couldn’t spare any more time after today.
As I was wondering what to do, Ju Woo-seong picked up his phone and asked nonchalantly, “Hey, you crazy bastard. Want to eat? I’m ordering.”
“What are you ordering?”
“How about jjajangmyeon?”
“Not really a fan.”
I replied indifferently, then quickly changed my tune.
“I really hate it, but I respect you enough to unify our menu with jjajangmyeon, sunbae-nim.”
“You’re getting creative with your bullshit.”
[The target does not acknowledge it.]
[This does not count as an expression of affection.]
Tsk. I clicked my tongue, but the image of Seong Ji-won’s face, tears streaming down as he got hit by a car, flashed in my mind, and I steeled my resolve.
“Seo Ho-yun, sometimes you’re funnier than a drama.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
That’s my life right now.
More spectacular than a drama, that’s for sure.
I was lying on the sofa in Ju Woo-seong’s place, watching him brush the cat, when a text came from Seong Ji-won.
[Seong Ji-won: Ho-yun, where are you?]
[Seong Ji-won: Are you busy by any chance?]
[Me: why]
[Seong Ji-won: Ah it’s nothing.. it’s fine if you’re busy]
[Me: k talk later]
It sounded like he wanted to talk about something, but the quest was more urgent right now.
I decided to deal with Seong Ji-won later and looked up from my phone. Just then, Nyang-nyang-i, apparently annoyed by Ju Woo-seong’s grooming, scratched him and ran off.
As I was thinking, serves you right, Ju Woo-seong winced, rubbing the long scratch on his forearm. He then asked, “Do you live here or something? And how did you know my passcode in the first place?”
“You’re only curious about that now?”
“So how’d you get in?”
“I peeked from behind you once, and it was obviously your birthday. Who wouldn’t know that?”
September 21st. It was information you could find just by searching his name on a portal site. It was also part of his profile, which I had memorized long ago.
Why not just hang a ‘Welcome, Everyone’ sign on the door?
In that moment,
Ting!
[Expressions of Affection: 1/5]
I flinched at the system window that popped up.
‘…Why did it go up?’
Even Ju Woo-seong was looking at me with a strange expression.
“What, what’s this all of a sudden? You knew my birthday?”
“…You’d have to be an idiot not to.”
Ting!
[Expressions of Affection: 2/5]
“……Shit, I’m so touched.”
What’s with this guy?
Of course I remembered.
Preliminary research was the first step to fleecing someone, so I knew everything from his debut date and stage name to each album concept, song title, and lyrics.
It wasn’t because of any special interest; it was just that after seeing it a few times, it got imprinted in my memory.
But Ju Woo-seong, as if he’d forgotten all about our time on the variety show, was muttering to himself, deeply moved.
“Well, I’ll be damned, you little punk… I guess there’s no one like your sunbae, huh?”
No, when did I ever say that?
But hearing Ju Woo-seong’s nonsense, I had a realization.
‘This bastard must be the type who’s a sucker for the natural approach!’
He pursues natural encounters.
In other words, he was weak to someone approaching him in a way that didn’t feel artificial.
Ju Woo-seong, who had been indifferent to my parade of compliments, scratched his head and glanced at me.
“I’m the only one tolerant enough to put up with you when you suddenly show up and act like a lunatic, right?”
“…Well, yeah.”
I knew that while he had firm boundaries, he was uniquely lenient with me.
Ting!
[Expressions of Affection: 3/5]
Didn’t I just answer him?
Once the floodgates opened, the count started going up for even the most trivial things.
“You’re the only person who’s ever treated me like this, Ju Woo-seong-ssi.”
“Wow, you bastard. You should film another drama. You’d be perfect for a third-generation chaebol role.”
[Expressions of Affection: 4/5]
“You’ve really mastered the art. I thought I was watching a drama already. It was the same on that variety show you did with Kang Yeon-hu.”
“That was for a show.”
I said honestly.
“You think I’d waste my breath talking like this to just anyone in private? It’s too much of a hassle.”
“……!”
I’m only doing it because you’re the quest target.
Oblivious to my inner thoughts, Ju Woo-seong covered his mouth with both hands and stumbled backward.
“Wow, seriously. You, you…!”
[Expressions of Affection: 5/5]
[Quest Complete!]
‘……This bastard has weird taste.’
Is it because he doesn’t have many friends?
No, that’s the same for me.
I couldn’t particularly empathize with what he found appealing, but as long as the result was good, that was all that mattered.
“Well, it’s true. I basically raised Seo Ho-yun.”
Don’t make me laugh.
He had pretended not to care, but now he was crowing about how I must have been grateful to him deep down, and how this was the reward of raising a junior. He was in high spirits, sweeping his hair back and laughing heartily. I left Ju Woo-seong to get hissed at by Nyang-nyang-i for being too loud and got up from my seat.
“Where are you going?”
“My business here is done.”
“……Huh??”
“I’m leaving.”
Ju Woo-seong stared at me with a dumbfounded expression.
I was about to open the door when, feeling a sudden surge of mischief, I smirked, patting Nyang-nyang-i who had come to see me off.
“You must have it tough, too.”
“Hey! Hey! What do you mean, tough! Nyang-nyang-i, I’m the one who feeds you, raises you, and bathes you! Why are you rubbing up against him?!”
I ignored Ju Woo-seong’s indignant cries, closed the door without a word, and left.
In any case, I had successfully completed the quest and obtained the item I wanted.
[‘Pandora’s Box’
Is someone’s secret always a disaster?
An item that allows you to view one account of a designated person.
※Previously deleted posts can all be restored and viewed.
※Only one account can be viewed.]
Now, it was time to show them my grudge.