episode_0095

Of course, the most noticeable thing about Yu Seol’s condition was severe self-loathing.

Until now, this was a competition… , It was a rumor that pushed me to think that I was strange for pretending to be nice.

But ironically, Yu Seol, who was defending himself like that, had a condition called self-hatred.

At the moment when I was taken aback by Yu Seol’s unexpected abnormality… .

“… … Ah.”

Yoo Seol, who had been making a foolish expression when she saw Seo Yu-jin, hardened her expression again as if she had finally come to her senses… .

“… Get out of the way.”

She pushed me aside, who was blocking her path.

“… … .”

And then he paused for a moment in front of Seo Yu-jin… .

Sigh.

He lowered his head and left without making eye contact with her.

I thought about following that rumor and catching it again, but I didn’t.

Cracking.

The sight of her running away… , because it looked so fragile.

While I was blankly looking at Yu Seol’s back… , Seo Yu-jin muttered as she looked at her back.

“… I see. Seol’s sister… , deliberately… .”

“… Eugene.”

My priority right now was definitely Seo Yu-jin, not Yoo Seol.

I approached Seo Yu-jin and wrapped her arms around her. Seo Yujin’s shoulders were shaking slightly.

“Why… , I guess that was it. Maybe I didn’t like it that much… .”

“It’s all because of that sister’s greed to increase her vote count. It’s not your fault.”

“… … .”

[Status abnormality: Mild depression, mild anxiety disorder, extreme separation anxiety.]

I continued to check Seo Yu-jin’s condition.

Contrary to expectations, there was no change in her condition from before.

‘what? Is it broken… ?’

I couldn’t help but be a little embarrassed by this.

Naturally, it was thought that Seo Yu-jin’s condition would worsen.

But Seo Yu-jin is different from my expectations… .

“Sister.”

“… Huh?”

“Shall we keep this a secret between us for now? If this fact gets out, Yoo Seol will be in a lot of trouble.”

He quickly returned to a calm expression and spoke in favor of Yu Seol.

“That’s okay… ?”

I was the one who was embarrassed when Seo Yu-jin told me to keep what happened now a secret.

From Seo Yu-jin’s point of view, it must be clear that she hates Yu Seol, who sent her to the abyss… , isn’t keeping this a secret is essentially the same thing as saying you will forgive?

I tilted my head and asked, and Seo Yu-jin calmly nodded.

“I don’t want to make noise for no reason.”

“… Ah.”

“Anyway, sister, let’s go back quickly. The production crew sent me to bring you and Seol.”

“Ah… , really?”

chin.

Seo Yu-jin held my hand and led me back to the set.

“Yes, let’s go back soon.”

“… Yes.”

All this time, I just thought Seo Yu-jin was young.

I’m not good at controlling my emotions… , Because he couldn’t hide his facial expressions and he always did things the way he wanted.

But now, the way he holds my hand and leads me from front is somehow… .

‘It’s unfamiliar… .’

… I felt like she was more like a sister than me.

I think Seo Yujin looks so mature… , I followed her back to the set with an unfamiliar feeling.

“Sorry, PD. Suddenly I was so surprised that I made a mistake… .”

“Oh, no… , Seol Yang. We don’t even discuss issues that may be sensitive… .”

Yu Seol, who left the bathroom earlier, returned to the set before us.

She was wearing a mask again, probably worried about the cameras, and was bowing her head to PD Shin.

PD Shin also bowed his head in response to Yoo Seol’s apology, looking as if he still didn’t understand the situation.

Looking at his expression, it didn’t seem like he would make a big deal out of this.

If another controversy arises this week and something goes wrong, it will be a problem for the production team as well.

I sat down with Seo Yu-jin feeling a little relieved.

“Sister, are you tired? I want to quickly go in and sleep.”

Seo Yu-jin must have been sincere when she said that she would keep the matter a secret, but she pretended not to know anything.

So, I just nodded along with what she said.

“… Yes, I want to rest quickly.”

It wasn’t a lie that I wanted to rest quickly.

Why did the production crew do something like this the day before the contest to make me feel uneasy…? .

Fortunately, the production team, considering the chaotic atmosphere, allowed us to rest sooner than expected… .

A few hours later.

“From now on, we will begin the 3rd team contest stage-!!”

… The day of the third team competition has dawned again.

**

“Waaa-!!”

The audience’s cheers can be heard outside, and images of other teams performing on stage are shown on the waiting room monitor.

Our team’s stage order was second to last… , We had already completed all preparations and filmed our reactions while watching the other teams’ performances in the waiting room.

of course… .

“Phew… .”

“Haaa… .”

Perhaps because we were approaching an important stage, we were all filled with suffocating tension.

This was the same for me too.

“… Haha.”

Even though this is already my third time on stage, the tension that dominates my body doesn’t seem to go away.

My heart is pounding several times faster than usual and cold sweat is flowing down my back.

But even at that moment… .

“… … .”

He was constantly observing Seo Yu-jin.

[Status abnormality: Mild depression, mild anxiety disorder, extreme separation anxiety.]

Still, there was no change in Seo Yu-jin’s condition. Even when we slept together in my room yesterday, Seo Yu-jin didn’t show any special signs.

Even now… .

“Phew… .”

Seo Yu-jin, who appears to be under mind control right before the stage… , It really seemed like nothing happened yesterday.

but… .

‘That can’t be possible…’ .’

From my perspective, this couldn’t have been okay.

I was criticized so much by the public for canceling the last contest… , It was all his teammate stabbing him in the back?

If it were me, my teeth would all chatter from the feeling of betrayal.

Although it is said that she has changed these days, Seo Yu-jin is still a 17-year-old and has difficulty controlling her emotions.

I was more concerned about Seo Yu-jin acting as if nothing was wrong.

Therefore… , I thought about it for a while… .

“… Eugene.”

“Yes, sister.”

“Outside for a moment… , let’s talk with me.”

I got up and called Seo Yu-jin outside.

When I tried to leave the waiting room with Seo Yu-jin, it was Park Yoo-jung who was embarrassed.

“… yes? Sister, the performance is about to start, so where are you suddenly going with Eugene?”

“I have something to say outside for a moment. I’ll be back soon, so don’t worry.”

“… Tsk, what kind of secret are you talking about? . Then, please come quickly.”

“Okay. Let’s go, Eugene.”

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

Seo Yu-jin tilted her head at my sudden call, but silently followed me.

So, Seo Yu-jin and I moved to the back of the set where no one goes.

And then… .

“Sister, what do you want to talk about?”

“That… , Eugene, eat this.”

“… Yes?”

… He took the chocolate out of his pocket and handed it to Seo Yujin.

Naaah, it was the high-quality chocolate that Kang Hyeong-man gave me at the beginning of this parking lot.

As soon as Seo Yu-jin received it, her eyes widened and she asked me.

“Sister… , This… .”

“… There used to be a lot, but I forgot about it and there was only one left… . It’s a secret from other kids.”

I couldn’t shake Seo Yujin’s mentality any further because I said something unnecessary right before the stage.

So what I chose was to hand the remaining chocolate to Seo Yu-jin.

Because eating chocolate has a mood-boosting effect.

It may be meaningless, but… , I hoped that Seo Yu-jin would feel better in this way.

And Seo Yu-jin… .

“Fuha.”

He looked at the chocolate handed to me, smiled a little, and said to me.

“Sister. Because of what happened yesterday?”

“… Huh?”

“You’ve been feeling restless just looking at me since yesterday. Aren’t you afraid that I might have been hurt by what happened yesterday?”

“That… .”

It seems like he’s become a lot sharper these days… .

When I hesitated and couldn’t answer, Seo Yu-jin smiled and answered again.

“But sister. I’m really fine.”

“… Really?”

“Yes, it’s okay now… , … It’s not that nothing’s wrong, but it’s worth enduring… , I don’t hate Seol unnie.”

“… Why?”

If I were in Seo Yu-jin’s position, I wouldn’t have been able to say that I didn’t hate Yoo Seol, even if it was a lie.

When I asked this question carefully, Seo Yu-jin answered with a serious expression on her face.

“… Because she would have wanted to become an idol as much as I wanted to become an idol.”

“… … .”

“If you are in a very desperate situation… , you might be able to make that choice… , Think about it. It is true that I was rude back then.”

“… … .”

“So it’s not Seol’s fault… , I think it’s my own karma from the past, so… , It’s nothing.”

Is this an illusion?

I thought that Seo Yu-jin’s eyes were full of wisdom.

When I first met him and compared him to Seo Yu-jin, the change was truly astounding.

So, without realizing it, I placed my hand on Seo Yu-jin’s head… .

“… Eugene, you are all grown up now.”

… I muttered like that.

Then Seo Yu-jin held my hand, pressed it against her cheek, and said,

“… Thanks to you, sister.”

“… … .”

Then he placed the chocolate I gave him back in my hand and continued.

“… But sister, I haven’t eaten chocolate in the last three years.”

“… uh? Does that make sense? You haven’t eaten chocolate in 3 years?”

“Chocolate is too high in sugar and calories.”

“Ah… .”

surely… , chocolate is not suitable for idol trainees who need to take care of their bodies.

I asked in confusion.

“So you’re giving it back? You don’t want to eat it?”

“No, that’s not it… . Please feed me.”

“… Huh?”

“I want to eat what my sister feeds me.”

The expression on Seo Yu-jin’s face when she says that… , It was desirable yet innocent like a child.

At this, I smiled and opened the chocolate wrapper and held it to Seo Yujin’s mouth.

Seo Yujin grabbed my wrist and put the chocolate from my hand into her mouth.

And then… .

Mulkyung.

“… !”

Her soft tongue licked the sugar powder off my fingers.

While I paused for a moment, feeling a strange feeling from that soft sensation, Seo Yu-jin savored the chocolate and spoke.

“… It’s sweet.”

“… … .”

“… It’s so sweet, sister.”

Seo Yu-jin’s expression changed every moment as she ate chocolate, as if it were true that she had eaten chocolate for the first time in three years.

It was like… , It almost looked like he was drunk on something.

So Seo Yu-jin swallows all the chocolate… , she said, fiddling with my hand.

“Oh my… , The company told me never to eat chocolate… . I can’t not eat what my sister gives me… .”

“… Sorry.”

“No, sister. instead… , please take responsibility.”

“… What?”

“Even on this stage… , also in the next contest… , even after debut… , even after the group created by Naaa was disbanded… .”

As Seo Yu-jin said that, her eyes were filled with joy, as if she had imagined such a future.

“Please take responsibility for me until the end. me too… , I will never leave you.”

It was then.

[All conditions have been met!]

[From now on, you can make Seo Yu-jin your vassal!]

[Would you like to make Seo Yu-jin one of your descendants? (Y/N)]

“… !”

Suddenly, a status window notification for the first time in my life appeared… .

‘Yes… .’

I unconsciously shouted yes to myself without even reading the content properly.

and… .

[New characteristics of Seo Yu-jin have been added!]

“… … !”

A new status window notification rang again. I couldn’t help but be taken aback by this.

Locked characteristics are not unlocked… , New characteristics that didn’t exist before were added.

Because this has never happened before.

So, feeling a little dazed, I opened Seo Yu-jin’s status window and… .

[Characteristic: No one under the eye – Currently locked.]

[Characteristic: Left Protection Law – You have received His grace and become His person. You have decided to give Him your all. Your abilities, your body, your emotions… , everything. On the day when the devil’s heaven is established, you will enjoy all the glory at his feet!]

[Characteristic effect: My Sky, My Master: When you are with a Heavenly Demon trait holder, all stats slightly increase! You get additional effects when the Heavenly Demon uses skills! Your obsession with the Heavenly Demon will increase significantly!]

“… … E?”

… I was dumbfounded by her new traits.