Chapter 33

Chapter 33

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

Episode 33: Give Me A Hug For A Second.

[Reward – The Senses of the Sword Saint]

I wasn’t seeing things.

The Hanja characters next to the word “Sword Saint” were the same ones I’d seen in fantasy novels.

Sword Saint, right? Swordmaster.

In most novels, they wield sword energy and wear plate armor—masters of the sword.

[Borrowing the senses of the greatest swordsman in human history.]

Reading the description, it didn’t seem to grant supernatural abilities.

However, it didn’t seem lacking either. The title “greatest in human history” set high expectations.

I was extremely curious about what kind of senses such a superhuman would have.

As I was seriously considering whether I should just close my eyes and punch Gaeul’s father, Gaeul spoke.

“Then I won’t sign the contract.”

It was a firm declaration.

Gaeul’s father, who had been glaring at Gahyeon, looked flustered and said,

“Gaeul, I think you’re misunderstanding something. I’m not trying to stop Gahyeon from pursuing art.”

He seemed so submissive, almost groveling, to his child.

“…Don’t you think some parts of the support are unnecessary? It seems like too much is allocated to education and living expenses. If I get the money, I can use it more efficiently.”

Ignoring her father’s words, Gaeul looked at me and said,

“Team Leader Seon, please cancel the contract.”

Her eyes were full of sadness and desperation.

From that look, I could tell what she wanted.

“If that’s what Miss Gaeul wants, then we have no choice. We’ll proceed after further consideration.”

I matched her expectation.

Gaeul’s father, flustered by the sudden change, lowered his head and said,

“If that’s what Gaeul wants, then there’s no choice… Please proceed with the contract under these conditions.”

Fearing I might leave, he quickly opened the contract and began signing.

I was flustered and stopped him.

“Are you sure you don’t want to review the contract further?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

“You can have a lawyer review it. There’s no need to rush.”

“Haha, I’ve seen a lot of contracts in my life. I can judge this much.”

Gaeul’s father, scratching his head, took out a seal from the living room shelf and looked at Gaeul, speaking submissively.

“Oh… and please deposit the contract fee into this account.”

The old smartphone he handed over had the account number displayed.

I took a picture of the number and asked him to send it to me via message.

Gaeul’s father, delighted, quickly finished stamping and signing all the necessary parts of the contract.

The sight was quite unsettling.

[Quest Completed! You have obtained a Memory Fragment as a reward.]

Seeing the quest completion window, it seemed that Gaeul would join TwoBear after all.

“Well, then, I will take my leave. Thank you for your hospitality.”

“Thank you, Team Leader Seon!”

Gaeul’s father stood up and bowed to me at a 90-degree angle as I prepared to leave.

It was quite overwhelming treatment for someone like me, who looked about 20 years younger.

I quickly packed my things and left to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere.

“Team Leader Seon, I’ll see you off!”

Gaeul hurriedly slipped on her white sneakers and followed me out.

Gaeul, who had energetically followed me, carefully stayed a step behind me.

I thought, whatever I said to her now might feel like cheap sympathy.

So I didn’t say anything.

Even though she had followed me out, Gaeul remained silent, feeling uncomfortable speaking.

We walked down the hill in silence.

It was only when we reached the car that Gaeul spoke to me.

“Team Leader Seon.”

“Hmm?”

“You told me this morning at the agency that the part-time jobs I did were also adult work.”

“Yes, I did.”

“Then why don’t I have the rights of an adult even though I do adult work?”

Gaeul looked very tired as she said that.

Gaeul had become an adult for her brother’s sake. She quit school and worked part-time jobs every day, dedicating her life.

Yet, when it came time for her to have rights, she was always at the mercy of adults.

Just like my sister, who raised me in place of our parents.

“Why do I have to take on responsibilities but not have any rights?”

“….”

If I answered her question simply and positively, she would accept it, thinking that things would get better over time.

And nothing would change.

But if I spoke the words that came to mind, it would change our relationship, and it would take a lot of my time and money.

The scales in my mind wavered.

In the midst of this intense cost-benefit analysis, I decided to see this moment as an opportunity to win the favor of a future top star with S-tier talent.

I just wanted to think of it that way.

Even if it meant overextending myself a bit.

“Miss Gaeul, may I speak comfortably from now on?”

“…Yes, of course.”

I immediately spoke casually and asked,

“You asked why you have to take on responsibilities as an adult but don’t have any rights, right?”

Gaeul just nodded silently.

“That’s because you’re still a child.”

It was a very old-fashioned statement.

Gaeul looked at me with a blank expression, as if she hadn’t heard me correctly.

Then, through my expression, she realized that she hadn’t misheard.

Eventually, Gaeul, facing the reality of my words, raised her voice, letting out her pent-up emotions.

“…But you said I was doing adult work too. So why do I have to be pushed around?”

“Yes, you have to be.”

Gaeul’s face began to show clear signs of anger.

Seeing her face, I spoke more seriously than ever.

“You need to be actively supported and protected so that you can pursue your dreams. If you’re wasting time, you should be forced to study, and sometimes you need to hear life advice.”

So that she wouldn’t have regrets in the future.

“You should be made to eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients and receive lectures when you’re going down the wrong path.”

So that she would be healthy in the future.

“So that you can become a better person. So that you can become a happier person. Gaeul, you have to be guided by adults.”

That was the right of a child and the duty of an adult.

“Because you’re still a child.”

Gaeul, listening to my words, had a strange expression, unsure whether to cry or laugh.

Gradually, all those emotions gathered into one.

And she expressed them all to me without restraint.

“That’s an overly idealistic story.”

She shouted, as if releasing all her pent-up anger.

“To me, adults aren’t like that. They are people who always make me give up on something! They are selfish people who only think of themselves!”

“Just getting older doesn’t make everyone an adult.”

“Then, where is that kind of adult?!”

I bowed my head and looked into Gaeul’s eyes, saying,

“That’s why I’ll be the adult for you.”

“…What?”

“So that you won’t be sacrificed to duty. So that you won’t be crushed by responsibility. So that you can look at your dreams like a child.”

Just like my sister did for me.

“I’ll make it happen.”

“…”

Clear tears were flowing from Gaeul’s eyes as she looked at me.

A long silence followed.

At the end of that silence, Gaeul finally spoke.

“…How?”

When she asked that, I was at a loss for words. I hadn’t shown her anything yet.

I awkwardly said,

“Can I prove that step by step from now on?”

I took out the tissues I had prepared for Gyeoul and wiped her tears.

Gaeul, despite her tears, looked into my eyes and said,

“Then, can you grant me one request first?”

“Anything I can do.”

She hesitated for a moment, then carefully said, while watching my reaction,

“…Just for a moment… just hug me for a moment.”

Instead of answering, I hugged Gaeul tightly.

Gaeul buried her head in my chest and carefully hugged me back.

As if she didn’t want to let go, with all her strength.

In the training room’s farthest corner, Han Gyeoul, practicing alone with the lights dimmed, became alert at the sudden appearance of a new face.

Through the small window of the practice room, Gyeoul watched the mysterious figure.

The impression of the mysterious figure with slightly brown, flowing hair and a puppy-like face could be summarized in one word.

‘Beautiful…’

Even though she wore simple clothes like loose jeans and a plain T-shirt, she seemed to sparkle.

Gyeoul thought, ‘So that’s the kind of person who becomes an idol,’ and felt a sense of defeat.

‘Taeyang ssam must prefer such pretty kids…’

Gyeoul’s thoughts turned more and more negative.

To her, there was a vast gap between herself, who had made it this far relying on Taeyang’s warmth, and that pretty girl.

Gyeoul withdrew her gaze from the window and squatted in the practice room.

Then, she imagined herself being pushed aside by the trainees Taeyang had selected, becoming a burden.

If Taeyang could draw talent from her weak, dark, and pathetic self, he would easily help such a pretty girl shine even brighter.

Naturally, Gyeoul would be left behind in that situation.

She believed that even if that happened, Taeyang wouldn’t abandon her.

But she doubted whether she could bear the guilt of burdening Taeyang like that.

Even so, she wanted to stay by his side, relying on his kindness.

Gyeoul felt terribly ugly for thinking that way.

She buried her head between her knees, sinking into a dark room of self-reproach and self-hatred.

At that moment, someone spoke to her.

“…Are you a trainee at TwoBear?”

It was the pretty girl she had just seen.

“…Yes. I’m Han Gyeoul, a trainee at TwoBear.”

Gyeoul, unable to meet the bright light of the girl’s eyes, spoke while trembling.

Seeing Gyeoul, the pretty girl, Gaeul, smiled brightly and said,

“Wow! Nice to meet you! I’m Yoo Gaeul, and I’ll be training here from now on!”

Intimidated by Gaeul’s bright energy, Gyeoul awkwardly responded like a robot reading a textbook.

“…Hi, nice to meet you.”

“I’m so happy to meet you! Oh, I’ve already said that. How old are you? Are you older, younger, or the same age? I’m 17 years old. I would’ve been in my second year of high school, but I dropped out, so I can’t really call myself a sophomore! How old are you, sunbae?”

Gaeul’s enthusiastic friendliness, like a Golden Retriever wagging its tail at a pet café, overwhelmed Gyeoul.

“Oh… I’m 16…”

“Oh, you’re 16! So you’re younger! So cute! Don’t worry, I don’t plan to act like an annoying older person just because I’m older. I’ll think of you as a senior and look up to you! Even though I’m lacking, I hope you can teach me many things! Of course, I won’t just ask questions and be a burden. I’ll learn everything, even if I have to stay up all night, to become a member you can be proud of!”

Gaeul’s extreme extroversion and friendliness overwhelmed the naturally shy and introverted Gyeoul, who could only nod like a solar-powered toy.

‘She seems like a good person.’

Gyeoul was relieved by that.

“But that black Adidas tracksuit looks so cute on you! The oversized fit makes it look like you’re wearing your dad’s clothes? Not that it doesn’t suit you! You look like a flying squirrel; it’s so cute! Do you usually like oversized clothes?”

Gyeoul gathered her courage.

‘It mustn’t have been easy for her to approach someone like me. I have to muster up the courage, so she doesn’t feel awkward! I need to change, so I’m not an embarrassment to Taeyang ssam.’

Gyeoul mustered up the courage to explain her clothes.

“It’s not that I particularly like oversized clothes. It’s just that these are Taeyang ssam’s… I mean, Team Leader Seon’s clothes…”

“…What?”

Gyeoul, who had been rambling, was startled by the changed tone and looked up.

When she looked up, Gaeul’s friendliness had vanished as if it were a lie.

“…What did you just say?”

Gaeul still had a smile on her lips, but somehow, that smile felt threatening.

Gyeoul screamed internally.

‘Taeyang ssam, save me!’