Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Utterly Embarrassing
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So embarrassing.
That was my take on it.
I was well aware that I'd danced with impressive precision, no wasted movements.
But knowing this moment would be etched into the world's memory forever... how should I put it? It was just mortifying.
It was something I'd been pushed into doing, but afterward, I felt this weird regret creeping in.
Of course, contrary to my personal feelings, the reaction was explosive.
Which made sense. They were currently the most recognized group worldwide, and I was someone drawing global attention.
It was a combo that was bound to pull aggro, so the blowup was inevitable.
And on top of that...
Yoo Han-gyeol, that bastard, had meticulously choreographed the entire Ark Angels formation including me and Han Tae-hoon ahead of time, complete with paths and moves.
That devious prick.
How badly did she want to immortalize us to go this far?
Before she mutated into an angel, she wasn't the type to mess with us like this.
She'd just been this smoothly charming girl, but after mutating and dealing with all sorts of stress, it felt like she was venting it out on me and Han Tae-hoon.
She'd gotten vicious, plain and simple.
Not that I hated it or anything. How vicious could she really get?
Vicious was the wrong word; she'd just picked up a bit more of a playful streak.
But that playfulness had a massive scale, and Han Tae-hoon, who'd gone on stage with Ark Angels first, had seen his fame skyrocket.
His SNS followers were exploding like crazy, apparently.
And once word got out that he was a rising actor in Korea, offers for roles started flooding in from everywhere.
He was already proven talented and getting love calls from directors, but now his global recognition had blown up too...
His phone wouldn't stop ringing during that brief moment, so he'd turned it off completely.
He'd already picked the role he wanted anyway.
Man, the scale of that Ark Angels stage was no joke.
I'd never seen a stage so extravagantly dazzling in my life.
Even the Olympic opening ceremony probably wasn't this flashy.
And the performance time was insanely long. Since they were all superhuman mutants, stamina wasn't an issue at all.
Everyone who came to this show had hit the jackpot, in every sense.
...Everyone except me, that is.
I glanced subtly at Yuno, the one whose eyes I'd met earlier.
She stared back at me with a look like she'd seen a ghost.
This was exactly why it was embarrassing.
Anyone who knew me seeing me like this? They'd die laughing.
I shouldn't check the communities today.
No need to see how people were roasting me.
Might as well turn off my smartphone too.
...Though something told me I might show up on the news.
* * *
[Director joins Ark Angels' live performance in real time]
lololol I never thought I'd actually witness this
And yeah, Director's no slouch at dancing either
She was seriously good
The funny part is they choreographed around a spot for Director just like with Han Tae-hwa's show last time
And Director even had wings so she joined the aerial acrobatics
Solo dragon wings stealing all the attention lmao
-Saw it live?
-Yep, had business in Greece so I swung by and Ark Angels tour dates lined up so I snagged tickets
-So jealous;;
-Gonna snap tons of pics lol
And Seo-ah, who saw Seo-hyun dancing on the news, put on a dumbfounded expression.
"...What the hell is that idiot doing up there?"
The way she was dancing like possessed—it was so far removed from her usual self.
That woman? Dancing?
Back when they were kids and adults pushed her to show off at talent shows or whatever, she'd grit her teeth and never once sang or danced?
Seo-ah unconsciously summoned a hand from Thousand-Armed Kannon to pinch her own cheek.
"Ow!"
Of course, it wasn't a dream; it was reality.
Seo-ah whipped out her smartphone at lightning speed and sent the clip of Seo-hyun dancing to the family chat.
[Mom: What's this now?]
[Seo-ah: Sis became an idol in Greece?]
[Mom: Oh my. I should show your dad.]
[Seo-ah: Do it.]
This rare footage was worth preserving forever.
'When she gets home, I'm teasing her endlessly.'
Seo-ah thought that, a wicked smile curling her lips.
* * *
Seo-hyun dancing on stage with Ark Angels even made headlines.
[Mutant Management Bureau Director debuts as idol?]
Just like entertainment reporters do, clickbait articles poured out one after another, eye-catching from the jump.
But unlike the usual fishing expeditions from those reporters, these had a kernel of truth mixed in.
Seo-hyun had danced, after all.
And above all... in that video, Seo-hyun synced perfectly, like the seventh member of Ark Angels.
Even Ark Angels fans were calling for her recruitment.
After wrapping up in Greece, Seo-hyun was met with absurd articles and family messages.
Looking at them, she thought: I'll pay Han-gyeol back double for this someday.
She'd have to brainstorm how, but whatever it was, she'd remember this and get revenge later.
Han Tae-hoon, meanwhile, looked pretty pleased regardless.
As an actor, growing ticket power was nothing but good news for her.
Anyway, back in Korea, Seo-hyun got a call from Nia.
"Oh, Nia. What's up?"
-Good work out there, Seo-hyun. It was a headache, but you sorted it easily.
"Nah, come on. It was all thanks to you. Made it a breeze."
-By the way, you went toe-to-toe with a god's incarnation this time. How'd it feel?
"Well... Earth's gods are all in decline right now, so even clashing with one, I never felt like I'd lose. If it was their prime, maybe, but now? Not that tough. I crushed it so easily it was almost anticlimactic."
-Got it. Valuable intel, thanks. I might swing by Korea soon; let's meet then.
"Sure."
Nia’s words left Seo-hyun puzzled. Swing by Korea? Why?
* * *
When I got home, Seo-ah was looking at me with a weird smirk.
"...Why the face?"
"You saw this, right?"
And what she shoved in my face was, predictably,
The sensational articles entertainment reporters had churned out.
"When did you become an idol?"
"You nuts? It was you blowing up Mom's phone the second you landed. You sent it to her."
"Heh heh."
"This is killin' me."
I lightly bonked her head.
"Ow!"
"Nothing else going on?"
"Aside from you dancing, not really."
"Hey."
"Kidding, kidding. So when'd you learn that?"
"Just practiced a couple hours on the spot and it clicked?"
"...You? That? In a couple hours?"
"Once I see something, I never forget it anymore. It just happened naturally."
"You even sang, and that's not nothing."
"That too..."
"For real, debut already. I was gonna tease you nonstop, but you could legit pull it off."
"You too now? On the way back today, Ark Angels fans at the airport were begging me to debut as the seventh member. Thought I was losing it."
"They see the potential too. Potential to conquer the world as an idol...!"
"Spouting nonsense again. Won't happen."
"You never know with life."
"If I ever sing in front of people, it'll be without revealing who I am."
"Ooh, then why not go anonymous on stream? No cam, voice changer—easy peasy."
"Why the sudden internet broadcasting talk?"
"Cuz you said it before. That switching genders means going fundie streamer or whatever."
"That was a joke."
"Watching Team Leader Yeon-hwa's streams looks fun. Might be worth a shot later?"
"Yeah, fair. Seems enjoyable. Especially chatting with people who don't know it's me."
"Ooh, internet debut incoming?"
"Nah, you're the one who called it nonsense last time I brought it up, and now this? Weird, dude."
Seriously, just recently she'd eyed me like I was crazy, and now this? Hard to adjust.
"Nah, that was then, this is now. People's minds change, right?"
"Oh yeah, Yeon-hwa sis invited us to the beach this time... wanna go?"
"Huh? What about work?"
"Ha-rin's tagging along for rift duty, so we're covered if anything pops."
"Oh, Team Leader Ha-rin too? Then yeah. Gotta cop a feel of those cheeks."
"That's insubordination."
"Insubordination my ass. She gave permission. Said I'm allowed."
"Spill. You bribed her?"
"Custom outfit in exchange. Been learning from the boss, and it's paying off. With all these hands, my work speed's insane—skills leveling up fast. Oh, want me to whip you up a swimsuit while I'm at it?"
"Swimsuit my foot. You keep forgetting I used to be a guy? Like I'd wear that."
"You're a girl now; who cares? If it looks good, it looks good. Says the one rocking cute undies."
"...That's different. Anyway, no swimsuit."
Seo-ah's face filled with dissatisfaction.
That one was definitely gonna show up with a swimsuit on beach day.
And that prediction came true.