episode_0109

#109

After finishing their schedule, the black van that was supposed to return to the dormitory was instead heading somewhere else.

The navigation displayed the hotel sent by Park Dong-chul as the destination, diligently guiding the way.

Normally, the van would’ve been lively after work, but today it was quiet.

“……….”

The kids in the back were all silently fiddling with their phones, not speaking a word.

Maybe because they already knew where they were going and what they were about to do.

I wanted to break the awkward atmosphere, but I knew all too well that this wasn’t the time for that.

These kids… were now heading off to sell their bodies to men referred to as “sponsors.”

Everyone here knew it.

“……….”

While I gripped the steering wheel in silence, Ha-rin kept glancing at me from the passenger seat.

Was she waiting for the right moment to speak?

Normally, another manager or a stylist would be sitting there, with Ha-rin staying with the kids. But now, no other staff were assigned to us.

Ha-rin must’ve taken the passenger seat because, as the leader, she had to fill that role.

Or maybe she just wanted to be next to me.

Either way, Ha-rin’s demeanor had been different from before.

“Manager.”

After hesitating for a while, she finally called out to me in a low voice.

I glanced in the rearview mirror—the girls were either asleep or had their earphones in. I guess that’s why she chose now to talk.

“Yeah.”

“This… is what PD-nim mentioned last week, right?”

Ha-rin had overheard the conversation about sponsorship too.

To be precise, while under Park Dong-chul’s desk… with his cock in her mouth.

“…Yeah. You’re right.”

“Back then… I didn’t really understand why you accepted it, but… now that I think about it, I think it was the right choice.”

“…You think so?”

“Yeah. Besides the money… we can also get support from higher-ups connected to broadcasting. There are a lot of benefits.”

She wasn’t wrong.

Objectively, Ha-rin’s reasoning made sense.

A huge sum like 100 million won in a single night.

Gaining favor with decision-makers tied to *Queen of Idols*.

Plenty of groups disappeared without even getting a chance like this.

But to achieve that…

Ha-rin and our group would have to…

Submit their bodies to strange, middle-aged men they’d never met before.

Ha-rin knew that too.

“…Does it not… bother you?”

“Huh?”

“Are you… okay with this?”

Even as I asked, I realized how pointless the question was.

Because I was the one who dragged Ha-rin and the others into this.

And yet…

Despite everything, I still wanted to hear her say she hated it.

“I don’t mind.”

“…Eh?”

“I’ve already done it a few times… and I know exactly how much we can gain from it.”

The moment she said she’d *already done it a few times*, my chest ached.

“And most importantly… I can make you happy, right, Manager?”

Ha-rin looked at me, smiling sweetly.

But her eyes still carried that same hollow emptiness they had when she was with Park Dong-chul.

“Did you watch the tablet?”

“…No. I didn’t have time.”

God, I wanted to see it—right here, right now, if I could.

“You should be excited. I made sure to capture everything perfectly… just for you.”

“Ugh…!”

Just imagining it was enough to make my pants painfully tight.

Noticing, Ha-rin casually slid a hand over my lap.

I wanted to see.

I wanted to see how Ha-rin and Eun-chae had been used by Park Dong-chul.

I wanted to hear what they’d whispered to him while fucking some middle-aged man.

I was going crazy just thinking about it.

“…You’re already hard.”

“Ngh… Ha-rin, wait…!”

“You’ll have to hold it in, okay? Just like… later, when we perform.”

“Ugh… I… know.”

I had planned to leave while the girls were used by the sponsors, but that was no longer an option.

Because the sponsors needed someone to assist them.

And in this situation, the only one who could take that role was me.

“After this is over… even if it’s tomorrow. Manager… do you want to watch the tablet together?”

“…Together?”

“Yeah. Like with director commentary…? I’ll narrate everything for you. What I was feeling… what I was thinking… How much I… enjoyed it.”

Aah…

Ha-rin and I could watch the footage together—the scenes of her and Eun-chae getting fucked by Park Dong-chul.

The mere thought made me want to explode.

I couldn’t resist the temptation.

So, feeling Ha-rin’s fingers pressing down on my pants, I answered.

“Let’s do it… Ha-rin…”

Before I knew it, the car had entered the hotel’s underground parking lot.

*

**Location**: △△ Hotel. Penthouse suite.

Given they were wealthy men, they’d reportedly rented out an entire floor outright.

No matter the cost, they had to ensure no outsiders caught wind of this.

I boarded the private elevator with all the members of , heading straight for the suite.

The elevator ascended rapidly toward the top floor.

“Girls… You all understand how important tonight is, right?”

““Yes.””

Several voices answered in unison.

“I’m sorry for putting you through this… but let’s make sure survives.”

“Yes.”

“Got it.”

“Um… Manager-nim.”

Amid the replies, someone called for me—Eun-chae.

“Hm?”

“Tonight… those VIPs… How many did you say were coming?”

Timidly, uncharacteristically hesitant—she asked.

Why would the number even matter?

Glancing around, the other girls were also focused on my answer.

“…Six.”

“Six…?! Whoa…”

“……”

At my response, the girls all reacted with visible surprise—and at the same time, their faces flushed red.

Huh? Why that reaction?

“…Why?”

“O-Oh! N-No reason! Just… wondered…”

Eun-chae waved her hands, avoiding my gaze. Her face was still burning.

I didn’t understand their reaction, but I couldn’t press them on it.

“We’re here.”

With a ding, the elevator doors slid open.

A tense moment.

*Rattle.*

One by one, the girls stepped out.

Watching them, I couldn’t help but compare it to them stepping onto a stage.

Except today’s stage was a secret penthouse suite.

The audience?

Six sponsors.

This was ’s performance of tribute.

With that in mind, I followed them—heart pounding—toward the suite.

*

“Oh~! Finally here.”

“Wow… As expected of idols. Every one of them is beautiful.”

“Come on in. Over here.”

As we entered, we were greeted by a spacious living area full of couches arranged like a conference setup.

The men sitting there stood up and waved when they saw us.

Their attire?

Just underwear.

Ignoring their appearance, the girls waved back like they were greeting fans and approached the couches.

I followed closely behind.

The youngest-looking man—a bespectacled gentleman—approached me first.

“Nice to meet you. You must be ’s manager, Jeon Ho-gu, right? PD Park mentioned you.”

I recognized him.

All the recent hit songs had gone through him before release.

A famous composer who worked under a pseudonym.

“Ah, yes. That’s me.”

He suddenly extended a hand, and I shook it instinctively.

Even though he was the youngest here, he was still in his mid-30s. Everyone else hovered around 40s to 50s.

Figures, given most were executives or directors.

“Did you come straight from the broadcast? You’re still wearing the stage outfits.”

“Yes. Apologies. The distance was too far to arrange proper attire—”

“Nah, it’s perfect! Good job, Manager!”

A random ajusshi nearby gave me a thumbs-up.

Potbelly, underwear-clad, incongruously holding a vape.

“Haha… Don’t worry too much. The VIPs here aren’t bad people. They’ve just had a few drinks to loosen up… Play nice, and they’ll treat you well.”

Glancing at the table between the couches, I spotted premium brand liquors—each bottle alone worth a fortune—discarded like cheap soju.

“Ah, now that you’re here—time for introductions! Come on over.”

“Ah—got it.”

The composer shuffled aside like a subordinate. Given his rank here, it made sense.

Following his directions, the girls and I carefully moved forward.

Despite their earlier confidence, faced with multiple half-naked older men, they instinctively hunched slightly, hands clasped politely.

I was about to formally offer them up.

“Girls. Line up… and greet them properly.”

At my command, the girls lined up neatly, just like on stage.

The gazes of the men—seated on the couches in a ㄷ-shaped arrangement—fixed onto them.

Bright lights contrasted with the stench of alcohol and cigarettes.

The snickering VIPs leering at us.

was about to perform its tribute.

“Two, three! We are the brightest in the world!”

But in truth… we stood in the darkest place possible.