Chapter 64

64

"…Do you still have something to talk about?"

"No, um… I was just passing by, and I was a little curious."

About what?

However, contrary to his words, Min Jihun yawned widely and rubbed his eyes, looking uninterested.

I was about to ask what he was curious about when a cold feeling crept over me again.

'No!'

I decided not to ask.

I turned my head sharply and tried to move away. After all, if the dialogue box doesn't even pop up, he's definitely not much help with the plot.

"Yes, then I'll be on my way."

"Are you not going to act in Seo Hoyun's role?"

"……?"

But Min Jihun asked me as if nothing had happened.

"Didn't the director ask you if you wanted to act?"

"How do you know that?"

"Oh, I suggested it. I thought it would be good to have Seo Hoyun act."

"…You did?"

I hadn't expected this turn of events.

With a dubious look on my face, Min Jihun scanned me from head to toe.

"Actually, the drama 'Please Give Me a Soda' that we filmed last time is coming out. It's called 'Please Give Me a Camera'… The writer really liked Seo Hoyun after watching the 'Shining Star' program. He said you'd fit the next character's image very well…."

Suddenly, the back of my neck tingled. I had a feeling the director was suddenly pushing for this because of you!

You were the one who put the idea in the director's head?!

"Yoo Ji-a also said Seo Hoyun would be good."

Min Jihun continued as if he didn't notice my annoyance.

"What did you say?"

"I said no."

"Really? That's a shame…"

'A shame?'

By this point, I was starting to find it strange and asked dubiously.

"…Do I have some amazing talent that you're suddenly asking about?"

"Huh?"

If not, why would you approach me like this?

Actually, it was a sarcastic remark, but Min Jihun seemed to take it seriously and smiled broadly.

"Ahaha, I don't know!"

"……?"

What…?

Ignoring my confusion, Min Jihun hummed and chattered on.

"I don't really know much about faces and such. Some of the other staff members recognized you right away… I guess that's real divine inspiration, huh?"

What is this guy, really…?

"Anyway, I'll let the writer know you can't do it."

Min Jihun, who had unexpectedly accepted the refusal, took a call from his manager and replied with a blank expression.

After hanging up, he waved at me.

"Take care! Stay healthy!"

"……??"

The atmosphere suddenly felt like a holiday.

He was acting as if he was saying goodbye to someone he'd never see again, which left me speechless. Just as I was about to say something, Min Jihun turned and walked away slowly.

'What is this guy, really?'

I called up the system window.

"Hey, show me Min Jihun's stats…."

But there was no response.

"…Hey?"

After Min Jihun had walked away for quite some time, the system window finally appeared.

[Yes?]

"I called you just now."

[I didn't hear you~.]

The system window pretended not to hear and disappeared. I raised an eyebrow at this.

'This is new?'

The system window….

Now it was even lying blatantly.

***

"Bro, come here!"

After finishing all the music show schedules, I thought I might finally have some relatively free time, but suddenly Kang I-chae burst into flames.

"What is it?"

"We're going to be on 'Victory Is Mine.' We need to quickly decide on the events we want to participate in."

Oh, right.

This program, held every late May, was always popular. Despite the fact that idols often got injured during it, it continued to be held every year, clearly showing its popularity.

"What events are there?"

"Running, archery, wrestling, rhythmic gymnastics, and e-sports!"

"E-sports?"

I was familiar with the others, but e-sports was new to me. Kang I-chae excitedly shook a game controller.

"E-sports has different events too! I have to win this one for my pride."

"What do you get for winning?"

"…Honor? Glory?"

"Beef is the prize!"

Jeong Da-joon seemed to be burning with enthusiasm for the prize.

"Are you this enthusiastic just to eat beef?"

"What are you talking about, this is our 'pride.'"

"Don't just throw your pride around."

"A man's pride is cheap."

Kang I-chae insisted he had to be number one, spouting more nonsense.

"We can form teams with other groups, but I need to check everyone's skills first. Jeong Da-joon… I have a rough idea of your skills."

"Ah, bro! I can do well, really?"

"What?"

Seong Ji-won, who had been drying a towel, showed interest and approached, and Kim Sung-hyun, who hadn't had much to do for a while, also joined the conversation.

"E-sports?"

"Bro, are you good at games?"

I was the only one uninterested among them. Lying on the sofa, I replied indifferently.

"I don't do e-sports. I'll do something else."

"Ah, bro~! Just try it once. We're five, so the number of players is perfect. I'll let you choose your favorite role!!"

It doesn't matter if I choose or not… I really don't play games.

"I have a feeling. This calmness! Judgment! Mental strength! Bro, you'll be good at games!"

"……."

Kang I-chae's eyes were boiling like Seong Ji-won's, who always shouted about practice. It was surprising to see this usually indifferent guy so enthusiastic….

'This is annoying…'

"Really annoying…."

"Why don't you even try to hide your true feelings anymore?"

Kang I-chae looked at me with a full of complaints and shook his head, trying to persuade me.

"Bro, bro, bro, just once!"

I tried to ignore Kang I-chae's whining with my headphones, but suddenly the system window appeared.

Ding!

['Victory Is Mine' is the flower of a multi-entertainer!

Win first place in three 'Victory Is Mine' events.

(First place by a group member also counts.)

Success: 3,000 points Failure: You'll have to do even more embarrassing things.]

"What else could be more embarrassing here…."

[kek]

Why is it laughing all of a sudden? I looked at it with a slightly uneasy eye, and the system window appeared.

[There are many dialogue boxes.]

'What?'

[A bold move by a rookie idol in front of the camera… anyone would say

"Really a legendary black history"

… (More)]

"……."

I clenched my teeth at the list of dialogue boxes the system window laid out and suddenly stood up.

"Hey, let's go to the PC room."

"Wow! Really?"

Kang I-chae, unaware of my hidden intentions, was delighted.

I didn't want to show such a reaction… Do these guys understand how I feel?

"Da-joon, sometimes my life is hard…."

"What are you talking about?"

I habitually patted Jeong Da-joon's head. He looked at me blankly but didn't avoid it.

***

One hour after entering the PC room.

"Am I dead?"

"…Yeah."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"…No, bro, you… maybe this role doesn't suit you. How about trying support?"

At first, Kang I-chae was gentle.

"Bro, why did you use flash there?"

"Can't I use it?"

Two hours after entering the PC room, I clenched my teeth occasionally.

"Why is your mana full right now?!"

"Shouldn't I save it?"

"How can you think so creatively?"

Three hours after entering the PC room.

"…Bro."

Seeing me die to the enemy tower, Kang I-chae quietly put down his headphones.

"Bro, I learned an important lesson this time."

"What is it?"

"Don't have preconceived notions about people…."

"Are you insulting me?"

"Your understanding is quick."

You thought I'd be good at games but were disappointed….

I glared at Kang I-chae and sighed. I understood what he meant, but my hands didn't follow. There were many times when I messed up and just said 'Ah.' Of course, each time, Kang I-chae gradually lost his words.

"Bro, go sit next to Sung-hyun and eat some ramen."

"……."

In the end, Kang I-chae completely lost interest in me. This kind of cold treatment was so rare that I felt a bit annoyed.

"Hey, you said you were good…."

Kang I-chae quietly placed his hand on the monitor.

"Bro, do you want to see this once?"

"……What is it?"

"By asking what it is, you're already doomed. Go."

I got up from the chair dubiously. Well, fine. It's better if Kang I-chae does well.

'If they win, it's good for me too.'

Giving up easily, I started to wander around and watch the others. Kim Sung-hyun, who had been eliminated long ago, also asked me after hearing the harsh criticism.

"Seo Ho-yun, do you want to eat ramen?"

"Don't order for Kang I-chae."

"Isn't that obvious?"

Even though I and Kim Sung-hyun were bad-mouthing Kang I-chae, it didn't affect him at all. He ate his ramen while I observed him closely.

"Jeong Da-joon?"

Next was Jeong Da-joon.

"Da-joon is good."

"Nice!"

Jeong Da-joon shouted and clenched his fist.

"Ji-won bro."

The only one left was Seong Ji-won. I thought he would be about the same level as me and would be eliminated, so I waved at him.

"Seong Ji-won, come and eat ramen. I'll order it."

"Wait, bro. Don't interfere with Ji-won."

"Huh?"

But Kang I-chae couldn't take his eyes off Seong Ji-won's monitor.

"Bro, how long have you been playing this game?"

"Um… not that long."

"Wow, what…?"

Jeong Da-joon and Kang I-chae murmured beside me. Seong Ji-won dived into the enemy tower and hit three skills in a row, followed by a perfect ignite, killing the enemy. A chat message flew in.

[You f*cking a**hole]

Seong Ji-won, who somehow understood the insult, said cheerfully.

"Wow, they're cursing me."

"Mute them!"

"What's mute?"

Following Kang I-chae's instructions, Seong Ji-won happily entered the mute command for the enemy team. Suddenly, he frowned slightly and quickly moved his mouse. At that moment, he dodged a grab from the jungle and killed the enemy team.

['Let's Practice' is going wild!]

['Let's Practice' double kill!]

"Wow!"

"Amazing…."

[Oh;;;]

[You f*cking a**hole, you deserve to practice]

Praise even came from the same team. Here was a rare species in Korea who received good comments while playing games.

Kang I-chae glanced at Seong Ji-won.

"Bro, about the curse…."

"Huh?"

"…Don't care?"

"Ahaha, I eat curses all the time, so it's nothing."

Idols!

"Sense and mental strength…?"

Kang I-chae, who was always serious about games, looked at the gem with a moved expression. Seong Ji-won then successfully finished a team fight.

['Let's Practice' double kill!]

['Let's Practice' triple kill!]

['Let's Practice' is unstoppable!]

[Victory]

As the tower broke and the main screen returned, a medal was pinned. It was the MVP award from the people who played with him.

"Wow! I guess I was pretty good."

"……."

"……."

"…No?"

Kang I-chae and Jeong Da-joon were silent. Then they nodded simultaneously. Jeong Da-joon grabbed Seong Ji-won's right shoulder, and Kang I-chae grabbed his left.

"Bro, what do you want to do?"

"Huh?"

"Choose any lane. I'll push it for you. I can support, and you can be the ADC."

Kang I-chae was almost as serious as an Olympic athlete preparing to compete. Seong Ji-won, still confused about the situation, was nudged by Jeong Da-joon and Kang I-chae.

"I saw Sung-hyun bro, and he's a no-go."

"Yeah, same here. Ho-yun bro is even worse. He's just doomed."

"Why am I doomed?"

My protest was like a punch that bounced off a shield, having no effect on them.

"Let's do this. We'll take Ji-won bro, one from Nightmare, and one more from Refine. Then we'll have a good team of five."

"What about the people we're bringing in?"

"Not bad. With that, we can win. If we train hard with Ji-won bro for the remaining period, we can do it."

Kang I-chae clenched his fist with enthusiasm.

"We'll win this match."

Kang I-chae and Jeong Da-joon, with Seong Ji-won in the middle, sang 'I thought about winning with you~.' It was a cheap pride, but the atmosphere was as if they were risking their lives.

While they were creating a narrative, I was peacefully eating ramen and rice with Kim Sung-hyun.

"What about us?"

"Let's try archery."

"Then I'll do track and field."

If they win, I can just take the prize.

It was incredibly peaceful.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1) A setting to hide the opponent's chat.