Chapter 59: Settlement in Korea

“What? What did you say?”

A few days after the live broadcast incident.

UFO Entertainment President’s Office.

Kobayashi’s face turned pale as he received the phone call.

“W-Wait a minute! Postponing the contract renewal, what does that mean…. Hello? Hello?!”

Beep beep-

“Damn it….!!”

As the call disconnected, Kobayashi slammed the phone down hard.

‘Those ungrateful bastards…!’

His clenched fists trembled.

After Cornelia’s surprise live broadcast.

The repercussions that hit his company were enormous.

[The True Face of a Rookie Entertainment Agency—]

[Exposing Unfair Treatment Towards Affiliated Artists?]

[UFO Entertainment Suspected of Tax Evasion….]

Not only were all sorts of rumors circulating on the internet.

Now, several artists were successively postponing their contract renewals.

Furthermore, there were even signs that the stock price was wavering.

“Hooo….”

Kobayashi sighed, leaning back into his chair as if collapsing.

He craved alcohol like crazy.

“….For now, I’ll try to calm things down somehow.”

Hikari, who had been quietly observing, opened her mouth.

Although the status window was generally flawed, there were surprisingly useful items within it.

If she used the shop’s functions well, she might be able to quell the members’ exposé.

‘This is actually for the better.’

Those who unilaterally declared they would postpone their contract renewals.

Though not to Ren’s extent, most were sufficiently veteran.

And above all, they were adults who knew how society worked.

When Ren was being pushed out, everyone was busy minding their own safety, staying silent.

Now, trying to back out was nothing short of disgraceful.

This would be an opportunity to completely oust such people and restore public sentiment.

Until this point, Hikari’s plan seemed perfect.

[Target’s favorability is too low]

[Target’s favorability is too low]

[Target’s favorability is…..]

.

.

.

[Target’s favorability is too low]

….Because the favorability towards Hikari was too low.

That is, until the status window went haywire.

Damn it.

Hikari quietly cursed inwardly.

For a moment, she had forgotten that this world was a dating sim game.

Yes, the status window is actually floating before my eyes.

It wouldn’t be strange for there to be favorability scores like this.

The problem was that it wasn’t working properly.

She tried to give gifts to raise favorability because it was lacking, but she didn’t even have enough favorability for them to accept the gifts.

There was no problem with the products themselves.

In fact, when Sakura was given a necklace, her favorability rose by 2 levels.

That level was comparable to her own group members, but Cornelia was different.

She knew inwardly that they harbored resentment towards her.

So she planned to make other people her fans first, then gradually clear them.

But to think they’d backstab her already.

‘This system is f*cked up.’

Hikari sighed.

In a situation like this, the originally established plan needed major revisions.

I’m supposed to be the protagonist.

What is all this because of that damned woman?

Hikari bit her lip hard—

Come to think of it, everything might have started with Ren.

Not only was she on good terms with the original members from the beginning.

Her attitude towards Hikari was also completely different from the original story’s setting.

Perhaps things went wrong from there.

She had barely managed to turn things around with great effort, but now the positions were reversed.

[The Unfortunate Next Millennium Idol, Ren…]

Hikari’s eyes, scanning people’s reactions, landed on one article.

Hikari unconsciously clenched her cell phone tightly.

‘Ha, Millennium Idol…?’

It wasn’t an official evaluation, as the media outlet was known for its exaggeration.

Nevertheless, those words were enough to provoke Hikari’s temper.

Millennium Idol.

A term originating from a single photograph of a past Japanese idol.

It had now solidified into a title meaning someone with overwhelming talent, the kind that might appear once in a thousand years.

‘That woman is a Millennium Idol…?’

Don’t make me laugh.

That title was originally supposed to be hers.

Through this new song release, she would officially make her name known and gain fame.

That was common content in any route, and because of it, the conflict with the villain would officially begin.

Since Ren was already ousted, she would be able to obtain honor more easily.

….That’s what she had expected.

But now, that opportunity had been completely shattered.

“This, f*cking b*tch…!”

In the current situation, the status window was completely useless.

And trying to release a rebuttal article was difficult, as the company had already accumulated too many misdeeds.

“Aaaargh—! Sh*t—!!”

Thwack-!

Ultimately, Hikari, unable to contain her anger, threw her cell phone against the wall.

Crack-

As if foreshadowing future events.

The cell phone screen began to crack slightly from the edges.

---

Screech screech

A black-tailed gull cutting through the cloudless blue sky.

Swoosh-

A refreshing sea breeze that naturally calms a troubled heart greeted me.

“………”

I quietly looked at the ticket in my hand.

Before boarding the ship.

A freshly issued, warm ticket.

[New Camellia]

[Hakata (Fukuoka) -> Busan]

This ship I boarded.

Was currently heading towards Busan Port, far in the distance.

‘I didn’t plan on leaving this quickly, though….’

Of course, I had my reasons.

Let me say it again, the flow of time in this world was different from my previous life.

2025, the year of the Blue Snake.

The famous virtual planning company from my past life was a fledgling enterprise born just yesterday.

And the guest from the continent was just about to board a plane and begin a world tour.

『These days, it’s hard to secure concert venues due to the epidemic. Which means, more time to spend with him.』

Among them, Corona, in particular, even had such mentions in the epilogue, acting as an important device for story progression.

Considering the sporadic related articles appearing in overseas news, it was clear it would soon spread worldwide.

“I wanted to see the kids’ faces once before leaving….”

The things to come will surely be incredibly tough.

My heart ached with the desire to give our kids, who would be struggling in Japan without me, a tight hug.

‘…..No, get a grip.’

To bring my wandering mind back, I lightly slapped my cheek.

Such actions are counterproductive in a situation like this.

The moment a scene of me meeting those kids is captured by reporters.

It’s a given what would happen.

‘Ren instigated it.’, ‘They just conspired among themselves to take down the company?’

Wouldn’t that be all they say?

Then, my honor restoration automatically goes down the drain, and it only benefits the other side.

‘Some might think this is excessive worrying…..’

You might wonder why I’m worrying so much, but what can I do?

There are actual cases like that.

Befitting the one who made dinosaurs extinct overnight.

The script laid out by the Earth’s writer always surpassed our imaginations.

Ultimately, I decided to convey my farewells through Sion.

After giving Kotoha a long, tight hug instead of the members.

I quickly headed for Korea.

‘To continue streaming in the future, Korea will be more advantageous than Japan.’

My main viewer base is also Korean.

And in the long run, it’s better to have an MCN.

Above all.

No matter how much public opinion had reversed, Japan was not safe for me.

What if someone like that stalker tracked me down to Sion’s house and followed me?

Rather than living with such worries, it’s better to eliminate the source of the problem altogether.

Of course, I’ll have to periodically send proof of life to Japan.

I slowly leaned back against the seat.

No matter what, it’s a foreign country, so it’ll take some time.

Should I take a nap beforehand?

---

How much time had passed since I started spending time inside the ship?

[Ah ah, attention passengers. Our New Camellia is scheduled to arrive at Busan Port in approximately 10 minutes.]

Perhaps because the sea conditions were good.

The ship arrived at Busan Port faster than I expected.

Looking out the window, land came into view.

“…….”

Korea.

At the sight of that land after a long time.

A corner of my heart welled up.

It felt different from a simple concert tour in Korea.

Although relations weren’t great due to various issues, Korea and Japan are, after all, neighboring countries right next to each other.

It wasn’t a particularly long distance.

So traveling by ship like this was fine.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you. You’ve worked hard.”

“No, rather, you have a lot of luggage.”

“….Yes, I plan to stay in this country for a long time.”

I received my luggage from the crew member who had guided this ship alongside the captain.

There were a total of 3 suitcases placed on the floor.

The contents inside were simple.

A computer and monitor.

Basic necessities including clothes were the main items.

After all, ships have more lenient luggage regulations compared to airplanes.

So it was convenient to bring all sorts of things, including the computer.

“……..”

Clutching my trembling chest, I disembarked from the ship and took my first step onto Korean soil.

Moving a little further inland from the sea, a sign written in both Korean and Japanese greeted me.

“Let’s see.”

My admiration was brief.

Ren soon began to ponder her schedule.

‘First, I need to find a real estate agent.’

Since I need to stream in the future, even a small studio apartment would do; I need a room.

….Come to think of it, I think I forgot something.

Hmm, what was it?

It seemed to be related to streaming, so I quietly took out my phone to check.

Upon entering Live Stream.

[Cheongha-ya, when are you coming..]

[You said you’d do a half-cam…]

[Did you quit streaming?]

[Where did you go where did you go where did you go where did you go where did you go where did you go where did you go where did you go where did you go where did you g…]

A week ago.

The last announcement I posted.

There, I found the comment section exploding.

‘Ah, right.’

I met that stalker that day and couldn’t post a single announcement.

Ren quietly closed her cell phone.