<Episode 4>
After everyone left, I remained alone in the office.
Stretching, I slowly loosened my stiff body.
There was still work left to do today.
“The app. I should carefully check the game app first.”
I took out my phone and logged into “Raise an Idol.”
It was one of the things I always did whenever I regressed.
‘It’s the fastest and easiest way to check the current situation.’
Before that, just in case, I entered the trainee tab and tried using [Force Expulsion] on the lowest-ranked character.
If this were still a game, a message like [Do you want to expel this trainee forcibly?] should have appeared, but nothing showed up.
Once again, all the buttons that should have been light blue were now pale gray, as if they had been disabled.
‘Forget concerts… this was an essential system even for schedules.’
More than anything, it had the advantage of letting me check the content and decide based on the stat bonuses applied to schedules.
Sometimes the bonus values were quite significant, so it had been very helpful back when it was just a game.
‘Of course, now I have to rely on my instincts and the experience I’ve gained from regression.’
Since I hadn’t figured out how to use the system even after nine regressions, there was no point in dwelling on it now.
I quickly gave up and entered the [Broadcast Station] tab.
I needed to check the current state of Spade Joker and the company.
All the schedules currently available for Spade Joker were neatly organized at a glance.
[Spade Joker’s current status: Their songs sound somewhat familiar, but people don’t know the group name or the individual members’ names.]
There was also an evaluation of their public recognition.
‘Looks like they phrased it nicely so it wouldn’t hurt to read that they’re a failed group that can’t even compete in the second tier.’
[Rival Agency: JM Entertainment.]
JM Entertainment.
Just seeing their name made my stomach churn.
They weren’t rivals… they were enemies.
They constantly dragged Spade Joker into issues and spread ridiculous rumors, making my life miserable.
‘If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have had to regress nine times. Honestly, at least four of those regressions were because of them.’
[Company Name: JM Entertainment.
Years of Operation: 10 years 2 months.
Number of Groups: 2
(Boy group – Afen. Girl group – Cherish)
While skimming through Afen’s details, a line caught my eye.
They had maintained a 2:8 settlement ratio with the company for ten years.
“Just looking at that ratio tells you how trash they are. And there aren’t even any special clauses. Afen practically built that company as a top-tier group, and this is how they’re treated.”
As soon as I said it out loud, I realized I wasn’t exactly in a position to talk.
Sure, it had been a game, but I had maintained an even worse 1:9 ratio for four years.
“Ahem.”
I quickly took a sip of coffee.
As I rolled my stiff neck from looking at my phone, my gaze naturally shifted toward the window.
When I was with Spade Joker earlier, there had still been daylight… but now, darkness had completely fallen outside.
It was hard to even tell the time.
I turned my head and looked at the clock on the desk.
[10:58]
No wonder my body felt so tired.
“I’ll think about the rest tomorrow.”
There was a lot to do tomorrow as well.
Since there were too many issues to finish in one day, there was no need to overdo it.
For now, it would be best to wash up and get some proper sleep.
I left the office, got into my car in the parking lot, and headed home.
‘Let’s just wash up and sleep. I’m exhausted.’
After a quick shower, I set an alarm for 8 a.m. to make it to work by 9, then lay down on the bed.
Perhaps because it had been such a busy day, I fell asleep immediately without tossing and turning.
***
Riiiiing.
I frowned and woke up to the blaring alarm.
Beep beep beep beep.
It was practically like a siren.
I quickly turned it off, washed my face, and brushed my teeth.
Then I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
Sun-tanned, slightly dark skin.
Sharp, upturned eyes.
A tall, solid build.
I could barely remember what I had looked like before being possessed.
“I do remember people saying I looked kind, though.”
I left the bathroom and opened the closet.
“Right… I should’ve bought clothes yesterday.”
Inside was an overwhelming parade of flashy outfits.
Leopard-print suits, bright orange set suits.
Hawaiian shirts and white pants as well.
I couldn’t help lowering my head at the sight of a wardrobe filled with clothes that were only suitable as game items and impossible to wear in real life.
‘If wearing these actually gave me buffs like in the game, I’d endure the embarrassment.’
At first, I thought wearing them might grant buffs like in the game.
But there were no effects whatsoever.
It just made me look like a CEO with bizarre taste in flashy clothes.
“This is seriously insane…”
My head throbbed.
There was nothing I could do but blame myself for not thinking of this due to sudden fatigue.
‘I’ll definitely make time to go shopping today.’
After digging through the closet, I finally found a white T-shirt and beige slacks.
Since there were no other options, I immediately took them out.
After changing, I stood in front of the full-length mirror.
With neat clothes and hair, my sharp impression seemed somewhat softened.
“Good. Let’s get to work.”
After fixing my outfit one last time, I left the house.
On the way to the company, traffic was just as bad as in reality.
“I should’ve just taken the subway.”
Thinking I might as well listen to some music, I connected my phone to the car.
As soon as I played the first song on the playlist, the traffic light changed.
[When I was young, my dream was to be a rising star]
The moment I heard the opening line, I was left speechless.
[Appearing with grand ambition
Everyone looks at me in awe
Boom
Higher
Up, up, up]
Spade Joker’s [MY DREAM].
A song I had made.
More precisely, I had made it before being possessed in the game.
‘This feels… oddly solemn.’
I let out an awkward laugh.
Before I knew it, I ended up listening to all of Spade Joker’s songs on my way to work.
I had tried to change the playlist, but I arrived without hitting a single red light.
‘This is more painful than I expected.’
Getting out of the car and heading toward the elevator, I rubbed my ears.
For some reason, they felt hot.
“Sir? Your outfit today… Is it different from usual? You always dressed flashy.”
An employee waiting for the elevator spoke to me, her eyelashes trembling as if she had witnessed something shocking.
‘What’s so special about dressing neatly?’
“I’ll be dressing like this from now on.”
The elevator arrived, and the doors opened.
I stepped inside and pressed the button for the 9th floor.
The office that John Raid Lombardi’s parents had gotten to support their son’s challenge.
Of course, not the whole building, just the 9th floor.
The basement practice room and other facilities were all rented monthly, steadily eating into capital.
‘If I just follow what I did in the previous loops, we’ll leave this place soon enough and open a proper office. Just need to endure a little.’
“You’re not getting in?”
The employee was still standing outside the elevator.
“Huh? Oh– yes.”
They hurriedly stepped in.
[First floor.]
The elevator stopped again on the first floor.
The employees standing outside hesitated for a moment upon seeing my neat outfit before stepping in.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Good morning.”
After exchanging brief greetings, the elevator fell silent.
The employees kept glancing between my clothes and face, exchanging looks among themselves.
Han Suseok was the only one in the company who could speak to me comfortably.
[9th floor. Doors opening.]
“Sir, please go ahead.”
“Alright.”
After receiving several greetings, I finally reached the CEO’s office.
To get there, I had to pass through the main office area, which was quite inconvenient.
‘I really want to move soon.’
As I entered the office, I saw Han Suseok tidying up my desk.
“You came in early.”
At my greeting, he turned his head quickly.
“Ah, sir. You’re early today.”
He greeted me naturally, showing no interest in my changed appearance.
“Yeah. There’s a lot to take care of. By the way, did you look into a new dorm for Spade Joker?”
I asked casually as I sat down.
“Yes. I narrowed down a few options by budget. Please take a look.”
He handed me a tablet.
Since I already knew which place I would choose, I flipped through the pages quickly.
‘Found it.’
“Let’s go with this one.”
I pointed to the place and handed the tablet back.
“Are you sure about this one?”
He asked again.
It was the most expensive option among those he had found.
“Yeah. Let’s go with that. The security isn’t perfect, but it has three rooms and two bathrooms, and it’s clean. Once they succeed, we can move them somewhere better. For now, this is fine.”
“Understood!”
Han Suseok’s voice was filled with excitement.
“And Han Suseok.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s prepare for Spade Joker’s comeback.”
“…What did you just say?”
“I said, let’s prepare for their comeback.”
“Sir, you told them just yesterday that you’d give them a rest period.”
A crease formed deeply between his brows.
It seemed like anger, but his expression was so much like a country puppy that it wasn’t intimidating at all.
“This is practically a contract violation.”
“Han Suseok, I’m not saying we’ll make them come back immediately. There’s a lot to prepare for a proper comeback. While they rest, we work.”
The tension in his brow slowly eased.
“I understand why you’d misunderstand, considering what I’ve done before. But let me say it again, giving them a break and preparing for a comeback are different. Just because the idols are resting doesn’t mean we can rest too.”
I met his gaze directly to prove my sincerity.
“…I’m sorry, sir.”
He bowed his head apologetically.
Seeing that, a sense of guilt stirred inside me.
‘Even though I do plan to bring them back as soon as possible.’
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