Chapter 92

Episode 92

Oh Yoori spoke with eyes shining red and an excited breath.

“Isn’t it just amazing? Do you understand how I felt when I first realized Team Leader Seon’s accomplishments? It was like my whole body was tingling…”

I tried to calm down the overly enthusiastic Oh Yoori, whose face was turning a bright shade of red.

“Okay, I got it. Just calm down for a moment. We still have things to discuss.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Taking a deep breath, she returned to her previous state of tension but now with a hint of caution as she continued.

“I may have drifted off a bit, but that’s why I brought up Team Leader Seon.”

She spread her fingers and began to fold them one by one.

“Proposing anything carries risks, so there are fewer opportunities to try and fewer people to know about it. I had to find at least one collaborator. Since I was stuck in the Girl 100’s accommodation, I needed someone I could contact. So, I chose the best card considering all those factors.”

“So, you’re saying you chose based solely on ability?”

Oh Yoori, looking a bit shy, adjusted her clothes and replied.

“Actually, it wasn’t just about ability. It felt like Team Leader Seon’s motivation for making that deal wasn’t for his success, but rather for the trainees. No, for Older Sister Gyeoul.”

Huh? How do you know my thoughts?

“I understand your evaluation of my abilities, but how did you figure out my motivations? I haven’t exactly been kind or friendly towards you.”

“You can’t possibly miss it. Look at Older Sister Gyeoul’s attitude.”

With a slightly relaxed expression, she asked plainly.

“Do you know what Older Sister Gyeoul talks about when she chats with me?”

“Well, I’m not sure? She probably talks about Girl 100, the judges, or maybe dance and songs?”

“Those topics do come up, but only occasionally. There’s one main topic she talks about.”

What is it? Is it about a scantily clad female character she likes?

“What is it?”

“Older Sister Gyeoul always talks about Team Leader Seon.”

It was an indescribable feeling.

“She says things like, ‘This tastes similar to the mala tang we had at Teacher Taeyang’s house,’ or ‘I wonder which pajamas Teacher Taeyang likes more, the cat ones or the penguin ones.’ ‘Today, Teacher Taeyang called me and stayed on the phone for 52 minutes, even though he was so busy.’ You know, stuff like that.”

“….”

“When she shares those stories, she always has a bright smile on her face. It’s like just saying his name brings her joy. And I believed that someone who could treat another person that way genuinely cares for them. That’s why.”
“I lost. That’s why.”

It was an overwhelming feeling. So much so that I thought I could never repay that sentiment fully.

So I threw out a slightly mischievous question.

“What if it was just simple deception?”

“That can’t possibly be deception, right?”

Oh Yoori said this as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“If that trust that Older Sister Gyeoul shows is all from Team Leader Seon’s deception, then I’d rather be fooled. After all, we live in a world full of people who don’t even show that level of deception.”

Had no one shown that little child even that kind of deception?

…It seemed like it would have been quite a difficult life.

“Let me clarify. The reason I targeted Team Leader Seon, and not anyone else, was because I overestimated their ability and heart. I thought that if I were to find a collaborator, I’d have to pull in someone like Team Leader Seon. I couldn’t do it alone.”

She finally showed a middle schooler’s bright smile and asked,

“Does that answer your question, Team Leader Seon?”

“…It did.”

As I continued to ponder while looking at her, perhaps feeling the pressure of my gaze, Oh Yoori carefully avoided eye contact and said,

“…Then, without shame, I’d like to ask you to think of me as pitiful and to kindly punish me lightly. Like telling Flower Entertainment instead of PD Kim Seon-ye about the recordings. …I’m really doomed.”

Then she slouched her neck like a condemned prisoner waiting for execution.

“…”

I originally intended to reveal the vote manipulation scandal of Girl 100 at the end of the broadcast.

That was why I had negotiated with Kim Seon-ye and gathered the recordings.

Since it aligned with my original motive, there was no reason not to collaborate with Oh Yoori.

She seemed a bit naive on the surface, but her judgment and reasoning skills looked decent, so she would be useful. After all, she was the one who had penetrated the depths of Girl 100.

Moreover, if the allegations against Ban Seong-cheol were true, I had personal intentions to act as well.

However, I hesitated to collaborate with her.

The reason was that Oh Yoori’s words lacked credibility.

There were contradictions in what she said.

For instance, the claim that Ban Seong-cheol was still soliciting favors from Oh Yoori stood out.

It wasn’t because I thought that guy had a moral conscience that would protect a minor. This was simply a matter of risk.

Oh Yoori was currently a product that Flower or Ban Seong-cheol tried to spotlight. Considering the performance she showed during the filming of Girl 100, she already had that level of talent.
I was just hanging out.

There’s no reason to take on excessive risks with that kind of product. Especially since she’s a middle school student, she’d probably refuse the treatment right off the bat. …Unless you’re a pretty crazy dude.

If what’s needed is entertainment-industry experience, then just having a single trainee on standby would suffice. You know, the one who’s gotten too old for debuting.

This gap in thought made her hesitate to accept my proposal.

Maybe Oh Yoori could be framing Ban Seong-cheol.

Just then, a quest window popped up before my eyes.

[Ban Seong-cheol claimed to be doing it for the kids, but behind the scenes, he pressured them for favors. Let’s expose his crimes and bring judgment on this long-standing traitor.]

[Reward – Deep-rooted Transaction History]

The system shoved a quest at me as if to say I should stop hesitating.

With a strong affirmation that Ban Seong-cheol had committed a crime, it dangled a powerful first-tier reward for gathering evidence.

…There’s no reason to hesitate now.

I spoke confidently to her.

“Let’s do it. Bring down Girl 100.”

Oh Yoori, who had been waiting with her head down, looked up at me with surprise.

“Really?”

“Yes, really. In fact, I already knew there were issues within Girl 100. Besides, I doubt your goal is anything bad for me or Gyeoul. Let’s go for it.”

“Wow… Thank you so much! I thought it was all over, really, thank you, thank you!”

As she smiled brightly and expressed her gratitude, she suddenly paused, as if struck by a thought, and looked at me.

“Um, then…”

She fidgeted with her clothing and blushed as she asked.

“Are you looking for money as your reward? Or… me?”

“I don’t need either, so please stop saying that nonsense.”

“…I’m sorry.”

After getting the mood back on track and discussing our rough plan moving forward, just as I was about to leave the waiting room, Oh Yoori clutched my arm.

“…Um, Team Leader Seon.”

“Yes, Oh Yoori. Do you have something else to say?”

Oh Yoori pulled down the hood of her squirrel pajama set, revealing her pink hair and red eyes. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of light as she spoke.

“Do you remember me?”

…That was a confusing question.

“I’m not quite sure what context you’re asking in. Could you explain a bit?”

“…No, I’m sorry for bringing up something strange.”

She forced a weak smile and said.

“It was nothing important.”
“Ah, I left my tie behind.”

After finishing my discussion with her, I realized I had just walked out without putting on my tie, so I returned to the Waiting Room where I had talked with Oh Yoori.

In the corner of the deserted Hallway, I found a shivering figure crouched beside a fire hydrant.

“Hah, hah,”

It was Oh Yoori.

Smack!

Shivering, Oh Yoori slapped her cheek hard and muttered to herself as if making a vow.

“…Just because I met that person again doesn’t mean I can be weak. Don’t even think about having hopes. It’s got to be you, Oh Yoori. If you don’t do it, Unbyeol unni’s future is gonna end right here. There’s no one to help.”

She appeared fragile yet desperate.

I happened to witness her and remained silent, not wanting to disturb her.

Everyone has their own circumstances.

For Oh Yoori, those circumstances seemed deeper and darker than I imagined.

I unfolded Oh Yoori’s status window that I had just checked moments ago.

[Name – Oh Yoori (Female)]

[Appearance – A- Potential A+]

[Vocal – C+ Potential B]

[Dance – B Potential B+]

[Rap – B- Potential A+]

[Acting – A- Potential S]

[Variety – F+ Potential D+]

[She is highly suitable as the main rapper. Active recruitment is recommended.]

Even after a second look, her potential was astounding.

With an acting talent rated S… wouldn’t it be better for her to just become an actress?

Unlike her abilities in dance, song, and rap, her talent for acting would shine even in daily life. That talent couldn’t possibly hide in front of me.

Tears, trembling, tension, and fear could all turn into skills showcasing her talent.

Even if I had gained some insight about acting in the previous chapter, I wasn’t confident that I could distinguish all of it. After all, her acting talent was an impressive S rank.

Perhaps the attitude Oh Yoori displayed during that earlier threat was partially or entirely an act.

And those little mutterings while slapping her cheek might be her only real feelings. Or maybe I was overly obsessed with acting, making wild assumptions, while everything about her was sincere.

Regardless, considering the urgent cooperation I would need with her in the future, uncovering the truth would benefit me.

Yet, I carefully slipped away without pretending to have heard Oh Yoori’s mutterings.

“….”

I just didn’t want to reveal anything.

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