translation by mourningmoor
Bromance? That’s hilarious.
I’ve been trying not to create this kind of image even with my own members, and now you’re joking with me?
Wait, come to think of it, they’ve been editing the 3rd round waiting room sketch footage a bit oddly. Is this what they were aiming for?
“PD-nim.”
I tried not to look serious, but I couldn’t help it as I called out to PD Ki.
“Don’t you think this is unfair? I’m also a contestant. I’m in a position where I need to create a stage as a producer. I shouldn’t be helping someone else’s singer.”
“I know. I know, Ichan-ssi.”
PD Ki raised both hands to calm me down, then continued with a troubled expression.
“I’m asking you because you have the ability to handle it.”
After subtly flattering me, PD Ki smoothly shifted gears and whispered softly.
His crooked smile made me feel slightly annoyed.
“And if Season 2 succeeds, it’s not just me who benefits, right? You benefit too. No, you’ll benefit the most. If the show succeeds, you’ll become the star who gains the most.”
Ha, look at this.
Even if his mouth is crooked, his words are straight.
“The most benefit? I don’t think so. Looking at the ratings, my stages are the ones hitting the highest peaks.”
From the current trends, Season 2 is definitely more successful than Season 1.
The difference from Season 1 is the participation of idols with star power, and among them, the one causing the biggest buzz is none other than me.
Even the show’s promotions are being handled by the Filaments themselves.
“You’re being too much, PD-nim.”
I let out a small laugh and spoke with a pale face, telling the truth.
“Are you trying to gaslight me just because I’m a rookie?”
“Ga, ga, gaslight? No. Absolutely not.”
PD Ki, hit right in the weak spot, panicked and shook his head.
Instead of staying quiet, he rolled his eyes and spoke again.
“You’ve been managing your image well throughout the show. Hanul-ssi said in an interview that he really wants to give you a song, that he’s a fan, and all sorts of things.”
I already knew that. I had briefly peeked into Seo Hanul’s mind earlier, and it was filled with all sorts of chatter.
“But if you reject him here, rumors will spread among the fans too. They’ll say, ‘I thought he was friendly, but I guess not.’”
I let out a deep sigh and smiled bitterly, furrowing my brows.
“It really feels like you’re gaslighting me… right?”
“No, no.”
Here, I felt a bit conflicted.
PD Ki came as a representative, but this matter ultimately concerns the entire TVH entertainment division.
Since they all gathered under the director to discuss it, they’re probably waiting for the results.
If I say no here? Nothing good will come of it.
The answer is already set to yes.
So, I should get something out of it.
“I’ll trust you since you say it’s not.”
PD Ki Yoongu and writer Jeong Haeseong are close friends.
PD Ki Yoo-gu’s main programs include <Survival, Music Genius> and a few other music-related shows.
I know he’s a PD with considerable influence within TVH, so I’ll throw this out as insurance.
“I really respect you, PD-nim.”
I wouldn’t respect a writer who gaslights, but it’s insurance for now.
“I’m really glad to be working on this program with you.”
I smoothly threw out insincere words like bait, and PD Ki’s expression brightened.
“If I die from overwork, just know it’s because of you, PD-nim.”
At that, PD Ki’s eyes widened, and he opened his mouth in a daze.
“So, you’ll do it?”
“Yes. I’ll do it because you asked, PD-nim.”
I didn’t forget to add one more thing.
“Even though you gaslighted me and hurt my feelings.”
“No, no. I would never gaslight you, Ichan-ssi.”
PD Ki, moved to tears, grabbed my hand tightly.
“I’ll do my best. Thank you. Okay?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just grateful that you think highly of me.”
I’ll take the cool, friendly, and broad-minded image with me.
“No, Ichan-ssi. Thank you so much. I’ll definitely repay this debt later.”
I’ve also earned a favor from PD Ki.
Since I’m doing it anyway, let’s consider this a good deal.
“Sure. If it makes you feel better, please repay the debt.”
* * *
Because I became Seo Hanul’s singer, a broadcast VJ followed me around all day. That means my screen time has increased.
It’s not a bad thing. It’s just annoying.
And to make things even more annoying, Seo Hanul started coming to Blade Entertainment to work with me for this week.
The reason was that he wanted to minimize the time he took from me by being with me, but that wasn’t the real reason. It was to get the bromance scenes the broadcast guys wanted.
They even set up a separate interview room in the company.
“What can we do? You’re here, Hanul is here, and Jaewon, your chosen singer, is also here. We have to cooperate to this extent.”
PD Pyo said with a proud face.
Even though he says this, it feels like we’re becoming more and more pro-TVH, or rather, pro-H-NET.
No, actually, it’s not that PD Pyo is becoming pro-H-NET. It’s that H-NET keeps sending love calls to Blade Entertainment.
Especially after the incident with H-NET’s chairman, Lim Jingyu, it’s become more like this.
Lim Jingyu, who had been in and out of consciousness, recently regained his senses and apparently told company officials about PD Pyo and me.
Then, through the new chairman, he said he wanted to have a meal with us once his treatment was over.
“PD Pyo has really grown.”
The fact that the new H-NET chairman personally called to congratulate him shows how much he’s grown, even as the head of a small agency.
Feeling proud, I leaned back in my chair in the studio and stretched.
I’ve been pulling all-nighters in the studio for two days now.
2 AM.
At this late hour, my phone rang.
It’s obvious who’s calling. There’s only one person.
Without even checking the caller ID, I answered curtly.
“What.”
* * *
What?
A grumpy voice filled the other end of the line.
I laughed at his unchanging demeanor.
“So rude.”
As Noah sneered in a hoarse voice, a cold energy crossed through the phone.
―Do I have any reason to be polite to you?
“Why not? We’re business partners, after all.”
―…….
His silence suggested that he had just remembered that I had formed an alliance with the Archmage.
An alliance.
Yes. I formally allied with the Archmage.
It was a result of the aftermath of the LA fire incident.
In this world, aside from the dazzlingly beautiful Archmage, there exists someone who can freely wield magic.
He is presumed to wield a fairly high level of magic and is sinister enough to engrave magic circles on people’s bodies.
So far, magic circles have been found in three places.
The seal in the painting at the Troifle party room, the scalp of a man named Go Dajin, and the ring of H-NET’s president, Lim Jingyu.
T.N.: Yes, the name was originally Park Jungrae (박정래) I don’t know why it suddenly got changed into Lim Jingyu (임진규), maybe the author forgot the CEO’s name so they created a completely new one?
Go Dajin and Lim Jingyu had something in common: the divine ability of ‘mental detection’ didn’t work on them.
But when Lim Jingyu’s ring was destroyed, his mind became readable. This led to the assumption that the magic circle repels ‘mental detection.’
The Archmage, having met several people in this world on whom ‘mental detection’ didn’t work, speculated that these magic circles might be more widespread than we thought.
That’s why the Archmage proposed an alliance to Noah.
[We need to dig deeper. So, cooperate.]
It was an unfriendly alliance proposal.
[You said you’re working on an album in LA, right? Keep an eye on Lim Jingyu for me.]
[What do you want to know?]
[For now… his relationship with the SS group?]
So, while staying in LA, I visited Lim Jingyu a few times.
After the ring with the magic circle was destroyed, the Archmage briefly peeked into Lim Jingyu’s mind, but there were still a few things to confirm.
I wasn’t thrilled about doing this, but I had no choice after the Archmage’s request.
[Do it as a celebration of our partnership.]
That arrogant mouth said ‘partnership’ and even ‘do it for me.’
[Funny. The Demon King and the Archmage as business partners.]
[You and I can’t formally create a guild, so let’s just call it a quasi-guild under the guise of senior and junior.]
A quasi-guild.
Well, an alliance is an alliance.
At least it means the Archmage and the Demon King don’t have to play tug-of-war with their lives on the line, which isn’t bad.
Of course, I know this alliance won’t last long.
Given our origins, the alliance is only temporary. Someday, we’ll become enemies again.
But still.
Answering the phone like this, when will he ever become obedient?
“You’re the one who gave me the task, and if you keep answering the phone like this, I might just go on strike.”
I deliberately spoke sarcastically, and the other end of the line fell silent for a moment.
―It’s 2 AM here. Don’t you know it’s rude to call at this hour?
Whether he’s a quick learner or just adapting fast.
The only thing he’s saying is about the etiquette of this world.
The arrogant and insensitive Archmage has spent over a year with rabbit-like kids, and it seems his brain has softened. Still, he can’t fully become part of this world.
“The great Archmage of Armania has become one with this world. Even learning manners.”
I teased him sarcastically, and the Archmage, with a cold snort, quickly got to the point.
―What’s the matter? Did you find out anything about Lim Jingyu? Is his memory readable now?
“No. Lim Jingyu’s memories are still blurry.”
On the day of the fire incident, the Archmage immediately tried to access Lim Jingyu’s memories.
The access restriction was lifted, but his memories were foggy and hard to read.
―Don’t tell me it’s inaccessible again?