Chapter 2

* * *

**Idol Guide for the Ending, Chapter 2**

“Yunjae?”

This voice sounds familiar.

“Yunjae, wake up.”

...But it’s a voice I shouldn’t be hearing right now.

“Doyunjae!”

I opened my eyes wide and sat up.

The second-story bed, so close I could touch it, and the low ceiling.

The musty smell and the worn-out wallpaper.

This was a place I couldn’t forget even if I tried.

Four years ago, the dormitory of a small agency where I joined through street casting.

A place run by a scumbag CEO who exploited young trainees in an agency that was barely worthy of the name.

And in front of me was...

“Ah, you scared me. Yunjae, we’re late. We need to hurry.”

“...Choi Hyun?”

“What’s wrong? Yunjae, why are you sweating so much?”

I was taken aback by seeing him after so long.

The honest face looking at me with concern was definitely Choi Hyun.

A neat face and a model attitude.

A gentle nature that never got angry, no matter how much abuse he received—Choi Hyun was a trainee who lived up to his nickname as the class president.

Choi Hyun was the only trainee in this company worth looking at.

We weren’t close, but we were roommates and had a somewhat close relationship. However, after he left the company on bad terms, we lost contact.

So, could it be...

“...What’s the date today?”

“Huh? December 7th.”

I immediately punched the pillow I was holding.

Choi Hyun flinched and took a step back.

“Why, why are you doing that? Is something wrong?”

Four years ago, December 7th.

This time, the damn scenario brought me not just outside the award ceremony but back four years.

They’re really getting creative with this.

I had resolved to see the ending I wanted, but I didn’t expect this.

At that moment,

“...Are you crazy?”

“Yunjae, why are you like this? Are you hurt?”

“No, just give me a moment. I’ll get ready soon.”

I pushed Choi Hyun out of the room and locked the door.

I looked at the window in front of me.

A new scenario, huh?

It looks like they’re trying to break my spirit from the very beginning, so I can’t defy them again.

Just like they did to the old me.

Numerous notifications appeared, and they were all too familiar.

My heart sank.

It was the content I had naively admired a few years ago.

“Hell no.”

Do you think I’ll just let you do whatever you want?

I pulled the blanket back over me and lay down again.

But the window glowed blue like a light inside the blanket and reappeared.

This bastard?

I felt a surge of anger and sat up abruptly.

I took a deep breath to calm my boiling heart.

Living as a Liker, I’ve faced all sorts of dog-like situations and have become a master at controlling my mind.

Right, Doyunjae.

Think calmly, calmly.

No matter how bad the situation, I need to input my wish to do anything.

The first thing that came to mind was what I wanted right now.

“I’ll live my life my way.”

I tried to calm my boiling heart and said it as calmly as possible.

“I’ll see the ending I want.”

In this wretched scenario, I spent four years like decades, spinning around like a doll at the whim of others.

I’m sick of being pushed around.

Let’s see who wins, me or you.

...It’s not a dream after all.

Feeling a bit frustrated, I gritted my teeth.

Having repeated this scenario over 20 times due to the damn scenario, I remembered the first quest clearly.

– Officially terminate the trainee contract.

Reward: 1 coin, Scenario Guide activation

“I knew it.”

Of course,

Apart from the strange term “Scenario Guide,” everything is as expected.

Indeed, you must doubt everything to avoid being a fool.

Even if the content is slightly different, the scenario’s goal remains the same.

As the saying goes, “The end is another beginning.” Completing this mission will make me officially join Ground Enter and debut as a Liker.

There are several ways to officially terminate the contract, but...

The method the scenario wants is to record a call where the CEO offers to sponsor trainees and then use it to join Ground Enter as a parachuted trainee.

In other words,

From this point on, I have to do all sorts of despicable and dirty things to survive in the entertainment industry.

“...”

I let out a long sigh, and my complicated heart calmed down.

I took out my phone.

It’s the only weapon I have now, given that I have nothing.

But this time, I won’t be so easily swayed.

If I really went back in time,

I won’t just let the scenario have its way.

* * *

“...Everyone, thank you for your hard work.”

In the cramped meeting room, the CEO trembled and wiped away his tears.

The trainees standing beside him tried to hide their sniffles and nodded their heads.

I bowed my head to hide my boiling anger and listened silently.

“I wanted to stay with you until the end, but money really makes people miserable...”

He only had us train for show and never intended to debut us.

He was only raising us to be sponsors.

“...Everyone, go to the management team and wrap up your affairs.”

Minors and young adults.

Perfect victims for fraud.

The scenario is bad enough, but a CEO who uses people’s dreams to commit fraud is even worse.

If I made a mistake in the past, it was believing this CEO and thinking I could genuinely become an idol.

“Yunjae, Hyun, can we talk a bit more?”

After sending off the trainees with sniffles, the CEO awkwardly held onto me and Choi Hyun.

This is the event that marks the start of the scenario.

“I couldn’t debut you because of my shortcomings... but I received a casting offer after watching your practice videos.”

“Casting?!”

Choi Hyun looked at the CEO in surprise.

Now that I’ve been in the industry for a while, I can clearly see how naive Choi Hyun is.

How could anyone know about trainees who haven’t even been shown to the public and offer them a casting?

“It’s true. Even though I couldn’t take full responsibility, I think it’s right to support you when a new opportunity comes. We’ve been together for a long time, and it wouldn’t be right to make you pay a penalty.”

The CEO clutched his chest, pretending to be heartbroken.

Choi Hyun, moved by his words, clasped his hands together.

He didn’t notice that it’s strange to make trainees pay a penalty when it’s not their fault.

“This person is from LT Entertainment and is doing separate management...”

What a load of crap.

I looked at Choi Hyun’s relieved face and then at the CEO.

Originally, after this conversation, we were supposed to go to the emergency stairs, record the CEO’s call offering to sponsor us, and use it to demand a spot as a Ground Enter trainee.

I remember the best clear condition clearly because the executive who offered the trainee spot was very annoyed and told the CEO not to suggest more sponsors.

“CEO.”

But if this moment comes again, what I want to do is...

“Be honest.”

Not to tolerate this crap and get a chance by finding a weak point.

“I know you’re going to sponsor us.”

“Huh?”

To expose this dirty bastard openly.

The CEO’s eyes started to shake wildly.

His eyes were so honest, as if they were saying, “How do you know?”

“After being with us for three years, I’ve learned to read the signs.”

“What?!”

“Yunjae, why are you... to the CEO...”

“CEO, are the other trainees who left doing well?”

The CEO’s jaw dropped so wide it almost touched his collarbone.

I only found out later.

What happened to the people who left this place.

Maybe, after the trainee contract ended, unlike me who survived by finding a weak point, Choi Hyun accepted this offer.

Desperation narrows a person’s vision.

Choi Hyun isn’t precious, but now that I know, I can’t let him do that again.

“The contract was strange from the start. If Party A or Party B terminates the contract, Party A can claim all or part of the training costs paid by Party A from Party B... This is called an unfair contract. There are often group lawsuits over this now.”

I took out my phone and showed it to the CEO.

It was an article from just half a year ago about trainees winning a group lawsuit against a large entertainment company for an unfair contract.

“It’s hard to win a lawsuit over just a contract.”

“I really just wanted to show you a good path.”

“The problem is that the only two good paths are paying a penalty or being sponsored.”

“...?!”

The CEO’s mouth clamped shut like a clam.

There were many more things I wanted to say.

About how he illegally attaches sponsors or that he’s a regular at a certain establishment.

But that was beyond what I could handle.

How many trainees nodded in fear just because he was a CEO?

This was the catchphrase of a member who debuted through sponsorship.

“Hey, who’s clean in this industry? Look at me, I’m the main rapper of Liker because I fit the taste of a high-up.”

Thinking about that time made me feel dirty again, so I frowned.

“What will happen if you do such obvious bad things? Your connections will be shocked if they find out.”

This was the first time in ten years that I vented my frustration after living according to the scenario.

It felt good.

Yes, this is what I wanted to say.

Without holding back. Without swallowing my words, and truly doing what I wanted.

“Hey, Doyunjae!”

“I can hear you clearly, CEO.”

I said it calmly, slightly covering my ears.

The CEO’s face turned red and blue, unable to believe my calm demeanor.

“Doyunjae, you were this kind of kid?”

I answered brightly.

“Yes.”

Of course, I could think of dozens of ways to ruin the CEO immediately.

But I didn’t want to become the same scum as him just to get revenge.

I just hoped this scum wouldn’t touch the remaining trainees.

“Let’s part ways amicably, CEO. Without a penalty.”

“...”

Looking at the CEO’s trembling fists, I bowed slightly.

He was a typical bully, and the moment he lost his momentum, he cowered.

He would be caught for various crimes in a few years, so this was the best I could do without causing trouble for myself.

Choi Hyun, who was trembling and couldn’t even breathe, grabbed my sleeve.

“Yunjae, let’s go.”

Choi Hyun, with a tense face, motioned for me to leave.

Sighing, I followed him out.

Ah, it will reset again, I guess.

But my heart feels relieved.

If I could stop the CEO’s evil deeds, it’s fine.

Even if I go back, I have no intention of following the scenario’s petty rules like before.

Ding!

As we stepped out the front door.

“...Huh?”

I didn’t act petty.

I didn’t hold back.

I ignored the best clear condition.

But the scenario was still completed.