Chapter 4: Damn Idol

Moreover, Han Si-on's appearance was outstanding even to Seo Seung-hyun, who often saw celebrities.

Humans, after all, are creatures that rely on visual impressions, so a good appearance makes a good first impression.

‘Judging by her age and attitude, she seems to be a junior staff member.’

Her business card only had the word STAFF, without any position.

“Ms. Han Si-on. May I ask how old you are?”

“I am twenty years old by Korean age.”

“Twenty years old? And yet you represent HR to come here?”

“Oh, this isn't an official company interview. It was a request from a manager interested in K-pop.”

“Oh... Is that so?”

“Yes. And I wasn't originally supposed to come. It was due to my personal desire, and the manager allowed me to come.”

Seo Seung-hyun didn't know, but Han Si-on was aware that the lies she was telling would eventually be exposed.

Thus, excessive lies could lead to feelings of being toyed with.

Even if all the facts were revealed, it should end as a somewhat absurd but pleasant incident.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I can speak to the manager again.”

“No, no. It's fine. In fact, it's easier and better for me to talk.”

As Han Si-on intended, Team Leader Seo Seung-hyun nodded with a slightly more relaxed expression.

“You mentioned wanting an interview with the A&R team, right?”

“Yes. The production environment of K-pop is quite unique.”

After that, Seo Seung-hyun and Han Si-on began a series of Q&A sessions related to Korean entertainment agencies.

At first, Team Leader Seo Seung-hyun was doing most of the explaining.

However, as time passed, their conversation became more equal.

‘This kid seems to have done proper work.’

As the head of BVB Entertainment's A&R team, Seo Seung-hyun could tell from a few words of conversation.

Whether this person had worked inside the music industry or around it.

To Seo Seung-hyun, Han Si-on seemed to have worked inside the industry.

Her casual remarks about the American show business industry were incredibly detailed.

The anecdotes about famous singers she shared were also very interesting.

When he asked about the American production methods, the stories that poured out were things only an insider would know.

“Ms. Han Si-on, you're just a staff member, right? Not a recording specialist?”

“The manager has been very supportive of me. I've had many generous opportunities.”

As the interview was coming to an end, the words Han Si-on had been waiting for came from Seo Seung-hyun.

“Ms. Han Si-on, you said you came to Korea?”

“Yes, I'm already here. I won't be going back to the U.S.”

“From what I can see, you seem to want to work in the music industry. Are you not interested in A&R?”

“I am interested, but... to be honest, I want to try being a performer once.”

Seo Seung-hyun had also suspected this.

While her musical skills were unknown, her appearance was satisfactory.

“Then, would you like a spot as a BVB trainee?”

“No, that's not necessary. I should earn it with my own abilities.”

“Connections are also a form of ability. My good impression of you is also a form of ability.”

“In that case, can I send you some of the songs I've written? If the BVB team leader contacts me after listening to them, it would be proof of my ability.”

“Sure, you can send them to the email on my business card.”

“Thank you.”

Han Si-on nodded with a pleasant smile, but in fact, she had no intention of sending any songs.

Once a relationship is set, it's hard to change.

If BVB had taken her hand, even if she achieved great success, BVB would think:

It's because of their generosity that she succeeded.

Therefore, she needed to make BVB send a love call.

She needed to make Seo Seung-hyun eager to find her.

That's what she was thinking.

* * *

She declined Team Leader Seo Seung-hyun's offer to show her around BVB Entertainment and left the building.

She felt quite good.

The first step towards debuting at BVB Entertainment was quite well set.

Of course, some might raise an eyebrow at what she did today.

All she did was visit the company under false pretenses and get to know the A&R team leader.

But soon, Seo Seung-hyun would do things for her.

He would think he was doing things for himself.

With that thought, she came out of the building entrance when suddenly a group of people blocked her path.

“Excuse me.”

There were about five or six girls.

Or rather, they were high school girls?

They weren't wearing school uniforms, but they all looked like minors.

“Are the NOP members at the company today?”

“I'm not sure. I don't know.”

“You're a trainee, right?”

“I'm not a trainee.”

The conversation seemed to be over, but suddenly the high school girls' eyes narrowed.

“Are you a new idol group?”

The tone was aggressive and filled with anger.

“...?”

It had been over a hundred years since she last actively worked in Korea.

This might sound like a lie, but it's true.

So, she is more familiar with the U.S.

Sometimes, her feelings and common sense differ from those of Koreans.

However, she can follow Korean conversations well enough...

How could such a question even come up?

She said she wasn't a trainee, and suddenly they asked if a new group was coming out?

Moreover, why would she show any discomfort if a new group did come out?

She could ignore them and walk away, but understanding what fans think is the most important factor for her.

Fans buy albums.

For that reason alone, they are her saviors.

Anyway, how should she answer?

It seems they don't like the idea of a new male idol group coming out, for some reason?

If she slightly provokes them, will they tell her why?

“They could come out, couldn't they?”

She just slightly provoked them.

But the fans' reaction was...

“Ah! Damn!”

“I knew it!”

“Representative, you bastard! Your launching sickness is back!”

“Concept! What concept? Don't tell me it's overlapping?”

What did I do wrong...?

* * *

She bought snacks for the high school girls who were chased away for causing a disturbance in front of the company and asked them about the industry.

It turned out they had mistaken her for a member of a new boy group from BVB Entertainment.

Even though she looked like a trainee, when she said she wasn't, they immediately suspected her.

“Really not?”

“I'm visiting BVB for the first time today.”

Interestingly, when she conveyed that she wasn't a trainee, they suddenly became well-behaved.

“It's not easy to show your true nature in front of a muggle...”

“The more handsome the rookie, the more...”

I don't understand what they mean.

I'm almost native in English, Spanish, and German, but I can't understand Korean.

Maybe I've lived in the U.S. too long.

Anyway, the high school girls' stories were quite shocking to me.

The reason they were angry was simple.

Idol group fandoms dislike when the company launches a new group.

In this small land, where everyone is fighting for a share of the pie, why would they want more competition?

Moreover, if it's from the same company, it would take away the company's resources.

“Moreover, now is the time to push NOP with all our might! They haven't even accumulated seniority!”

“...”

“Why do you look like that?”

“Is that really the reason?”

“Yes, it is.”

I understand what they mean.

Logically, I get it.

Korea doesn't have a huge domestic market like the U.S.

But what I don't understand is...

“Why do consumers care that much?”

This is it.

In the U.S., fans do protest against promotions.

I don't know much about idol culture, but in some aspects, that community might be even more intense.

However, those protests are against things that have already happened, not things that might happen.

Isn't this something that outside directors should do, monitoring the company's management with their arms crossed?

Just in case, I asked if NOP fans were particularly extreme.

“No, we are relatively mild.”

“...Really?”

“Really, objectively.”

Oh my.

What kind of world have I jumped into?

“Thank you. I enjoyed the conversation.”

After paying for the snacks, I left and organized my thoughts.

I was momentarily dazed, but this is very important information.

In a throwaway cycle, the most important things are speed and boldness.

Otherwise, I might regress without realizing it when my patience runs out.

So, the original plan to debut at BVB became uncertain.

Even if the NOP fandom doesn't like it, I can still debut, but there's a possibility that their protests could delay the process.

Of course, I won't make a decision based on just a few fans' words, but I need to investigate further...

‘It’s probably true.’

In any field, there are rules that outsiders don't know.

Just like when I first tried to be a band player, the legendary band manager Charlie Angus told me:

“Even though the times have changed, the identity of a band player is a porn star.”

“Why would you wear tight pants and strap on a guitar in a triangular shape? The metaphor is obvious, isn't it?”

“A handsome nerd band? A multinational band with an Asian vocalist?”

“You might gain popularity, sell albums, go on a national tour, and attract many groupies.”

“But you can't stand at the top and look down on everyone.”

Of course, his words weren't 100% true.

In my past life, I led a band with an Asian vocalist to the top.

But it wasn't 100% false either.

If I hadn't kept his advice in mind, GOTM wouldn't have reached the top.

As soon as I got home, I checked the NOP fandom's opinion.

Sure enough, the fans I met today were right.

They weren't particularly extreme.

Most of the fandoms had strong resistance to the launch of a new group.

I checked other groups as well, and it was the same.

Except for groups with a long history.

‘Could Prime Time be the group right after NOP?’

I'm not sure, but Prime Time's debut is roughly 4-5 years away.

In 2021 or 2022.

If I'm unlucky, I might have to be a trainee for 4 years.

Of course, if that happens, I won't be able to hold out and will regress.

I need to debut at a different company, not BVB.

This is always the problem when challenging a new field.

Before finding the optimal route, it feels like heading into uncharted territory.

“...I'll just go to sleep.”

As my mind became complicated and my mood dropped, I quickly went to bed.

For a regressed person trapped in a cycle, depression and disappointment are poison.

Especially when I think about my damn ‘regression rule’.

Maybe because I forced myself to sleep...

That night, I had a dream.

Oh.