Chapter 186

Chapter 186

Raise Three Idols Well And They’ll Launch a Confession Attack.

Episode 186: Chapter 20 – Manager (END)

Cheon Aram, having made a massive decision so lightly, turned her head and looked around at all the staff. Then she asked playfully,

“Anyone against it?”

“…”

No one spoke up.

“No objections, huh. Alright. Everyone, let’s get back to work.”

At those words, the staff got up to leave the conference room.

Unable to meet the eyes of my colleagues, who would now lose sleep because of my sudden whim, I lowered my gaze.

Since this wasn’t something I could smooth over with a simple apology, I could only bow my head.

As they passed me on their way out, my colleagues each patted my shoulder and said something.

“Great job, Team Leader Seon. Makes all my time as a trainer worth it—though I was in dance, haha.”

“Wow, that arrangement made my heart feel magnificent. For a song like this, running errands is worth it.”

“The girls’ voices really hit me. I like this version better.”

“…We’ll have to revise the composition intent in the interview, right? Since the intention changed?”

“Narae, seriously, why the attitude? Don’t mind her. She’s just embarrassed she teared up earlier.”

“Uh… can I try mastering this version? I swear, no more plagiarism. You don’t even have to credit me. I just want to try.”

“Team Leader Seon…”

And then Oh James, stopping in front of me, said awkwardly,

“The song was good.”

“…”

And just like that, they all left—to get their work done.

Cheon Aram stood next to me, who was blankly watching them go, and said lightly,

“They’re really good people, aren’t they?”

I smiled the same way she did and answered,

“More than I deserve.”

As soon as Girl Revolution’s comeback album arrived, Cheon Jonghoon played the title track, ‘I’ll be by your side,’ and rested his chin in his hand, lost in thought.

After a long time of contemplation, he replayed the song.

Even after listening to it twice, he played it again, and again, and again—five times in a row.

Afterward, he tapped the desk with his finger and spoke in a self-mocking tone.

“Not an artist, not a system, huh. To have that kind of talent and yet fall into a supporting role. How pitiful. Truly pitiful.”

Shaking his head, seeming both regretful and hollow, Cheon Jonghoon played ‘I’ll be by your side’ once more.

And after the song finished, he said,

“Still… I’ll admit it. This time, you won.”

And at the corners of his mouth, a definite smile appeared.

After N-Spirit successfully killed time during the music show break with clumsy impressions and fanservice aegyo, the female idol MC, Hyoa, said to them,

“Alright then, shall we capture this memory with our N-Spirit members?”

“Yes, that sounds great!”

“After all, what’s left behind is photos.”

After some quick banter, N-Spirit formed a photo lineup half a beat late, and as Hyoa raised and lowered the camera, their leader, Sinity, admired,

“Wow, it came out so—”

“I haven’t taken it yet.”

“…Ah, okay.”

“Wow, this time it really turned out great. MC Hyoa’s photo skills are really—”

“I’m backlit. Let’s take it again.”

“…No…”

“Live around the world with our global music show! The final stage, starting now!”

Seeing the PD frantically waving, I quickly cut their weird exchange and moved the show forward.

At my handling, the male idol MC, Shin Chanwoo, gave me a thumbs up and said,

“Wow, Team Leader Seon Taeyang, your timing was perfect. Hyoa tends to fixate on weird stuff—this could’ve gone off the rails. How are you this good? You sure you’re not an MC?”

“I’m definitely a manager.”

“Come on, don’t lie. You’re giving off total pro MC vibes here.”

“…”

Despite vowing to live proudly as a manager, I found myself dragged onto a broadcast again, playing an unnecessary role.

And this time, it was a full-blown regular music broadcast MC gig—something I’d never even experienced before.

I seriously questioned why I had to fill a spot usually rotated among idol members or solo vocalists, and honestly, I didn’t want to do it…

…but the variety writer Ina Bi from ‘First-Person Intervenor’ practically begged me to sacrifice myself just for the sake of the broadcast visual, so I couldn’t refuse.

Still, there was one thing I liked.

“Yuri, can I stand on the right side today?”

“Unnie, we have a set standing order, you know.”

“I’m worried people won’t see Team Leader Seon standing in the MC spot.”

“Gyeoul, don’t worry, he’ll definitely be seen.”

“…Then why is Gaeul unnie quietly sliding to the right?”

“…Just worried he won’t be visible?”

“…”

I couldn’t hear every word they whispered from a bit of a distance, but getting to see the Girl Revolution kids from beside them, not behind, felt pretty nice.

Although knowing some other weird stuff was a problem.

“Heyyy, Team Leader Seooon! We’re over here!”

“He’s pretending not to see us?”

“…Ahh, was the friendship we built during Girls in Road only this shallow?”

“No way. When we come back for filming, let’s steal all the hand warmers he hid in the sleeping bags.”

“Wow, that’s our Zhuge Liang of Girls in Road, Song Hyejin!”

“Team Leader Seon! Are you watching? If you don’t react, we’re seriously confiscating all your hand warmers in this weather!”

Listening to their uproar, male idol MC Shin Chanwoo barely held back laughter and joked,

“Haha, looks like you’re about to lose all your hand warmers. How are you going to survive the cold during filming, Team Leader Seon?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t be the only one freezing.”

“…Huh?”

“Their next shoot is Marine Corps boot camp training.”

Let’s all freeze together, you brats.

Hearing my remark, Shin Chanwoo (honorably discharged after full Marine service) looked thrilled and wished the juniors good luck.

While joking around and waiting for the vote results, the outcome came in, and the sheet with the results was handed to Shin Chanwoo.

I felt a strange tension along with curiosity about what was written on that paper.

We, along with the other performers—and of course, Girl Revolution and Alcest, the top two nominees—went up onto the stage.

And my eyes met theirs.

Remembering when I barged in and threatened them, the Alcest members—except for Yoon Jeong—avoided my gaze.

The Girl Revolution kids, aware it was a broadcast, kept their eyes on the camera, but unconsciously kept sneaking glances at me.

At that moment, Shin Chanwoo spoke to me.

“Team Leader Seon, do you want to do the announcement?”

“Director Jang told you to do it, didn’t he?”

“Haha, don’t worry. Director Jang Jiseok is my dad.”

“…Seriously?”

“Yeah, really. Don’t we look alike?”

Now that he said it, they really did look alike.

His dad’s a music broadcast PD, and he’s an idol?

You’re definitely not going to fail, huh.

“So go ahead. I’ll handle the aftermath.”

I accepted his offer and took the cue sheet he handed over.

SS is an agency so powerful that fans sometimes become fans of new groups just because they belong to SS.

And Alcest, a group deliberately created by Cheon Jonghoon—the heir of SS—would go on to reign as a legendary first-tier girl group among all others.

Now, with the addition of Yoon Jeong, Alcest had become a five-member group and was releasing albums of even more overwhelming quality.

Naturally, they were succeeding faster and more effectively at drawing in fans, and were currently at the top among girl groups.

It was practically a given that the name written as number one on this cue sheet would be Alcest.

After all, our Girl Revolution had their share of scandals and incidents.

Even though we’d overcome the antis caused by those incidents and rebuilt our fandom, we weren’t yet strong enough to knock Alcest from the top.

Even though I firmly believed that one day Girl Revolution would win first place, realistically speaking, that day wasn’t likely to be today.

Making up my mind not to show any disappointment in front of the girls, I checked the cue sheet.

“…”

While I read the cue sheet, MCs Shin Chanwoo and Hyoa continued their script, looking at the screen.

“Alright, the three nominated groups are on screen right now. Which one will win?”

“The winner is?”

All eyes turned toward me.

Under those stares, with the clearest, most refreshing smile of my life, I announced the name.

“‘I’ll be by your side’ by Girl Revolution!”

Pop!

Confetti exploded.

Applause and cheers engulfed the stage.

The cameras captured the four girls, and the sight of my stars shining brighter than ever was broadcast to the world.

…Ah, I’m really glad I became a manager.

I was certain—no matter what choices or life I could have had, there could be no moment happier than this.

In a place where the blooming lights and shimmering confetti filled the ceiling,

In the moment where I faced the four girls I had met like a miracle, a star was etched into the sky.