Episode 60
I precariously slid down the stairs and stood in front of her.
“…Huff… Hah.”
I took a deep breath to calm myself as much as possible and spoke to her.
“…Haah. How could you just leave without saying anything? So heartless.”
“How did Team Leader Seon get here?”
Then she looked at Seok Hyun-woo as if realizing something and spoke.
“Manager Seok, I told you not to say anything to Team Leader Seon.”
Seok Hyun-woo knelt down, trying to apologize.
“I’m truly sorry, Miss!”
“No, Manager Seok, if you get caught like that, it’ll be a real problem. I understand your feelings, but please hold back!”
I desperately tried to stop him.
“That….”
Jin Yeoreum looked down coldly at Seok Hyun-woo and spoke.
“Manager Seok. Please get up. I will accept your apology.”
Seok Hyun-woo bowed his head and backed away, as if he had nothing to say.
Though he was being too passive, it was rather unfortunate since it was all because of me.
“So why are you here? Did you come to blame me for my rudeness? Or to criticize the irresponsibility of leaving the orphanage behind?”
“I’m not leaving the orphanage behind. Ms. Yeoreum, you promised to provide sufficient support for the orphanage in Jinkang instead of going on this study abroad trip, didn’t you?”
“…How do you know that?”
It was written in the letter you sent three years later.
“Please don’t bring that person to mind; that wasn’t what Manager Seok was talking about.”
“….”
Jin Yeoreum, glancing back at Seok Hyun-woo, flinched and shook her head.
“Well, that’s not really an important topic anyway. The support for the orphanage was merely something I didn’t stop when you said you would give it. It’s not a subject worthy of a big discussion.”
Jin Yeoreum slightly lifted the wide-brimmed straw hat that obscured her view and locked eyes with me.
“So what exactly did you come all the way here to say? I’m busy, and it’s hard for me to find time, so I hope you can just get to the point quickly.”
I stated my business right away.
“Ms. Yeoreum, let’s become idols together.”
“….”
After a long silence, Jin Yeoreum finally spoke.
“Weren’t you supposed to leave a message in the letter? I have no intention of becoming an idol.”
She said it decisively, as if she had no lingering thoughts about it.
However, her eyes could not hide the fact that she was proving she had low potential in acting as they trembled slightly.
“Being an idol is a means to improve your image. And using that means requires more time, resources, and risk than you might think. I’ve calculated it arithmetically, and I believe studying abroad is the better choice.”
“It’s a means for improvement. And using that means requires more time, resources, and risks than you’d think. I’ve done the math, and I believe studying abroad is a better option,” said Yeoreum.
“I understand. I think going abroad is a good choice in your life, Ms. Yeoreum. But isn’t that conclusion rather disconnected from the image-enhancement goal that Jin Yeoreum established while doing volunteer work?”
“…Are you saying that I’m running away?”
I shrugged and replied.
“If you think that way, then it could be perceived as such. It’s true that studying abroad won’t affect your image improvement, right?”
I still remembered Seok Hyun-woo talking about a hundred years.
“Didn’t you declare that you’d try to improve the image damage you caused to Jinkang and your family by your own efforts? Honestly, I was quite moved—did I overly evaluate your determination, Ms. Yeoreum?”
Yeoreum looked like it pained her to say that, her sad eyes reflecting her feelings.
“Yes, you did overestimate me. Even if it were volunteering rather than being an idol, if the offer to study abroad came, I’d have given up volunteering at any time. I was that weak of a person.”
“No, Ms. Jin Yeoreum wouldn’t do that.”
Before the gate burst open in the previous timeline, Jin Yeoreum silently protected the orphanage. That period lasted about three years. During that time, didn’t offers to study abroad or better opportunities come along?
Of course not.
Jin Yeoreum ignored all that and protected the place from a young age.
The result wasn’t great, but that heart can’t be lightly evaluated.
“…How do you know that, Team Leader Seon?”
“Because the Yeoreum I saw was that kind of person. She always pretended to make rational choices while claiming it’s the best option, but in reality, she dedicated herself to the children, devoted herself to her family, and was considerate toward me, Gaeul, and Gyeoul, whom she barely knew.”
I saw her say she wouldn’t expect anything, yet she couldn’t hide the smile on her face when Gaeul and Gyeoul came. She was that kind of person.
“No, I’m not that kind of person. All those were just image management. I know that every action of mine is tied to the name Jinkang.”
“You can’t just act like that with only that. Only someone extremely caring, the type people call a pushover, can do that.”
“Then how can you be so sure, Team Leader Seon?”
“Because I’m that kind of person too.”
“…What?”
Everything that led to this mess and the decision to recruit Jin Yeoreum, clearly a thorny path, was all because of that damn affection.
The decision to recruit you was entirely because of that damn Jeong.
I didn’t want to see that weak, gullible kid who looks like me regretting anything.
“Let’s be idols together, Ms. Yeoreum. Gyeoul and Gaeul want to be with you too.”
“….”
“Of course, I do as well.”
Yeoreum’s eyes wavered again.
Stumbling over her words, she seemed to gather her resolve and looked straight at me, speaking in a cold tone.
“Do you know that’s a bit cruel? I have to go through a lot in the process, you know?”
As Jin Yeoreum said, there were indeed things she had to endure.
There would definitely be backlash. Like a massive wave that one person couldn’t possibly handle.
“When people realize I’m debuting, they’re going to slam me. They’ll dig up old material and turn me into a laughingstock. I can’t handle that.”
It was strange to have the confidence to endure that.
No one in the world could face that backlash and withstand it.
“Right. There will be fierce opposition.”
“Is it even possible to make those people turn around and like me? I think it’s impossible. No matter what I do, there will always be people who hate me.”
That was the dilemma she had always carried.
“Then why did you decide to volunteer for charity, Jin Yeoreum? If what you say is true, isn’t it impossible to improve your image through charity work?”
“There will be people who change their image of me. Still, some will continue to hate me…”
Knowing that was enough.
“Just like you said, not everyone in the world can come to like you, Jin Yeoreum. Even if your innocence is revealed later and it’s proven you were just a victim, there will definitely be people who will still hate you.”
“Then, it’s all meaningless…”
“But it’s possible for at least half the people, not everyone.”
What we needed to aim for was that half.
“If half the world hates you, I’ll make the other half crazy about your charm. Those flaws or controversies, I’ll turn them into fans and shields who’ll voluntarily protect you from the attacks.”
I’m confident I can do it.
With a status screen and the power of reincarnation backing me, shouldn’t I be able to handle this level of difficulty?
So, I will. I absolutely will.
“I’ll make you the top star that both your anti-fans and fans will go wild for.”
Tears were streaming down Jin Yeoreum’s face now.
With those tears, it seemed like the dam holding back her emotions burst, revealing her swirling feelings.
She exploded with emotions like they burst forth from her.
“You’re not the only one who has to deal with this!”
She pretended to be unaware but finally let out the consideration she had kept inside.
“It doesn’t really matter if I get hurt. But if I become an idol, it’ll be a hassle for everyone. Winter, Gaeul, even Team Leader Seon would have it so much easier without me! I’m the one making it difficult for all of you!”
Even in the letter she left three years later, she continued to worry about us.
She overly fretted that staying in touch with her might become a hurdle to our success.
She stubbornly insisted on letters as the only means of contact.
That was the reason why she suddenly decided to study abroad, and it was the reason I resolved to recruit her.
That gallant girl deserves some reward.
“I’ve been honest about all my feelings until now, right? So could you just tell me one thing sincerely?”
I need to hear that truth she’ll only express three years later, right now.
“Do you want to be an idol?”
Jin Yeoreum wiped away the tears streaming down her face and replied.
“Is that really what you need to hear? That’s not important at all in this discussion.”
“No, that’s the most important thing.”
“…It’s just a trivial feeling.”
“It’s everything in its essence.”
“…”
Tears flowed down her freshly wiped cheeks once more.
“I want to do it too! With Winter, Gaeul, and Team Leader Seon.”
The names of family, of Jinkang, the orphanage, and of me, Gaeul, and Winter.
Everything was about consideration, yet this child couldn’t even live her own life, finally revealed her true heart.
That was enough.
“Then face it. Move forward. If you do, I’ll give you half of the world.”
This is a declaration.
Even if it raises the instability of our success by pushing to recruit Jin Yeoreum, we will definitely succeed.
By any means necessary.
She looked at the hand I offered, dumbfounded, and said.
“You’re really, really a strange person, Team Leader Seon.”
Then she took my hand.
Even if it’s weak, clumsy, or uncertain, because we dream the same dream.
The liars met each other, turning and weaving in circles.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
