Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 115

‘They were really fighting? They were actually locked in a power struggle, bickering and hitting each other behind the scenes?’

 

It was absurd and ridiculous. I had already known that The World was a complete mess of an organization, but knowing that in theory and witnessing it unfold right in front of me were two entirely different things. Instead of functioning as one united team, they were too busy baring their fangs at each other.

 

‘Now I see why the company is such a disaster.’

 

Of course, I also learned something new.

 

‘Wait, so the Planning team was the one that pushed for Lee Unha to be the leader?’

 

Lee Unha had achieved the highest scores on the Idol Classism and generated a lot of buzz, but it had still been a rather puzzling decision for him to become the leader. After all, in an idol group, the leader was usually either the oldest member who could embrace and earn the trust of everyone, or someone trusted by the CEO and the company’s senior executives.

 

When the group was first formed, I had assumed someone mature like Joo Wooyoung or experienced like Kim Haejun would be the leader. Seeing Lee Unha chosen, I had figured there had to be some story behind it…

 

‘So Planning was the one pushing for it? How? Did they have a showdown with the CEO?’

 

“What gives the Planning team the right?!”

 

‘If that’s true….’

 

“Who the hell do they think they are!!! Do they think this company is a playground for kids to play house?!!!”

 

From Director Oh’s perspective, I could understand why he was offended. The leader wasn’t chosen by the CEO, nor was it decided through a meeting of high-ranking executives. The planning department had recommended Lee Unha as the leader, and the CEO had simply accepted it…

 

‘No wonder he’s so worked up.’

 

No executive would ever want to see their influence within the company diminish. Perhaps that was why he was so focused on managing <Fantasia> ‘properly’. He wanted to show that he had power at The World, that he had influence, and that he was doing a good job.

 

‘Am I… right?’

 

I could be wrong, but right now, it seemed like the most likely hypothesis. Seeing the man, his face beet-red, shouting about the Planning Headquarters in a fit of rage, it was clear he didn’t approve of the Planning team’s moves.

 

“Huh?! You think this company’s yours to do whatever you want with?!”

 

“…….”

 

“Do I have to tell the CEO myself?!”

 

“…….”

 

“Bring the Director of Planning here!!! I’ll settle this personally!!!”

 

He no longer cared about Lee Unha’s rebellion. Officially, he claimed he was going to confront the Head of the Planning Division to remove Lee Unha as leader, but it felt more like he had simply found an excuse to pick a fight.

 

“You’ve barely grown out of diapers, and you’ve already got the nerve to talk back! Just how the hell have you been managing these kids?! How did things end up like this?! Team Leader Jung!”

 

‘I never talked back, and why are you taking your anger out on Team Leader Jung?’

 

“I’m going to fire this arrogant brat from the leader position today!!! Tell the Planning Headquarters that!!!!”

 

‘Wait, but do you even have the authority to fire me?’

 

Judging by the cold sweat dripping from Team Leader Jung’s face, it didn’t look like Director Oh actually had that kind of authority.

 

“What are you doing?! Get out right now!!”

 

‘You were the one who told me to come.’

 

Did he call me here just to vent? Feeling like communication was impossible, I was about to consider whether I should just butt heads with him openly when the door swung open, and a man who looked to be in his mid-to-late 30s walked in.

 

Dressed in a sharp suit with his hair slicked back, he had the style of a young executive you’d see in a K-drama. He had a somewhat cold impression, but he looked competent.

 

Before I could even wonder who this person barging into the Management Director’s office was, I heard it from Director Oh’s mouth.

 

“Director Gu?”

 

‘So that’s the Head of the Planning Division?’

 

Looking more closely, he was actually quite handsome. For a moment, I almost mistook him for an actor, but there was no way this pathetic company, which couldn’t even establish a proper organizational structure, could afford to recruit actors.

 

“The office is too loud, Director Oh.”

 

“Oh? Is that so? Good timing, Director Gu. I’m going to tell the CEO directly today to fire Lee Unha as leader. Just so you know….”

 

“Sigh… Director Oh. Didn’t I tell you clearly?”

 

“Director Gu. Do you even know what happened here?! This arrogant trainee!! With the showcase just around the corner, he instigated his teammates to go on a practice strike!! Are we seriously supposed to let this slide?! We need to straighten him out right here and now! If we don’t, it’ll just happen again in the future! This kid—”

 

“Director Oh. I think it would be better if you refrained from referring to our company’s artist as ‘this kid’ or ‘this brat’.”

 

“What?!”

 

The older man was angry again. But he couldn’t seem to pour out his rage this time.

 

‘Is the Planning team powerful at The World?’

 

“…….”

 

‘Or is Director Gu personally the one with all the influence?’

 

Despite being significantly younger, I could feel that Director Oh couldn’t treat Director Gu carelessly. Yes, he definitely had a presence. There was an aura about him that overwhelmed people.

 

“Don’t you know what’s happening?! You heard everything! Director Gu!! And you’re just going to let this slide?! If this keeps up and he ends up ruining the other kids, are you going to take responsibility for it, Director Gu?! Huh?! If he’s already acting like this now, what do you think he’ll be like later?!”

 

“Did you listen to his side? Why he’s doing this?”

 

“What?!”

 

“I asked if you listened to the story… of why Trainee Lee Unha is acting this way.”

 

Watching them throw around titles like Director Gu and Director Oh while bickering like owners of a tiny neighborhood shop was honestly a little ridiculous, but…

 

‘He’s hitting the core of the issue.’

 

Could it be that the Head of the Planning Division… more normal than I thought? The thought crossed my mind. I had assumed he was a lunatic for passing a project like this.

 

Surprisingly, he seemed sane.

 

‘No, there’s no way he’s sane. He’s definitely a lunatic. What sane person would make an idol concept about Paladins and Dark Mages?’

 

But right now, I had no choice but to see him as a potential lifeline. Because I understood that this situation was fundamentally different from what had happened during Idol Classism.

 

Sure, I had barged in because I’d reached my breaking point, but a trainee couldn’t fight a company head-on by themselves. The same would still be true even after debut. Whether I liked it or not, there would come a time when I’d need allies. No, an ally was indispensable. Whether the company was well-organized or completely dysfunctional, whether it had its act together or not, an agency was absolutely essential for idols like us.

 

To put it bluntly… without them, we were nothing. There were cases where idols with inflated egos mistakenly thought they made it on their own, but eventually, even they were forced to realize it—just how symbiotic the relationship between idol and agency was, and how much the company had done for them.

 

‘Director Gu… hmm…’

 

“…….”

 

‘Should I work with him?’

 

“…….”

 

‘He looks a little unhinged… but wouldn’t it be better to get him on my side?’

 

It was better than having no backing at all. More than that, he felt like someone I could actually talk to. I couldn’t explain why, but I was strangely certain we’d work well together.

 

“Trainee Lee Unha.”

 

“Yes, Director Gu.”

 

“Could you tell me why you refused to practice?”

 

Just the fact that he was willing to hear out a kid’s side of the story was enough to earn my approval. Glancing at Director Gu’s face… His expression clearly said that I could speak without holding anything back.

 

I was going to confront them anyway, but his face gave me even more confidence to speak up. If anything, it felt like not speaking my mind here would be the bigger mistake. Even though I came here specifically to say my piece, I took a deep breath before quietly opening my mouth.

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

“Because I’m exhausted.”

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“See! Director Gu, does that sound reasonable to you?!”

 

“I saw that both I and the other members were pushed to our limits—physically and mentally—so I decided we needed a rest. Of course, I know the showcase is coming up. I know it’s not the time to be doing this. Nevertheless, I thought we absolutely needed a moment to catch our breath. We’ve been running without a break ever since Idol Classism ended.”

 

“…….”

 

“And while we’re on the subject, to be honest, the mental strain is the bigger part. Everyone is anxious. About everything. The entire process of carrying out our schedules feels unbelievably inefficient, and the level of control over us is so excessive that it’s hard to understand.”

 

“Mmm….”

 

“It’s stressful that the members have to find out information about <Fantasia> through SNS or the official website ourselves. My apologies to you, Director Gu, but our concept and lore aren’t exactly typical. I’m not saying the members need to know everything about <Fantasia>’s future lore. But….”

 

“…….”

 

“At the very least, we—or rather, I—want to be able to understand. Why this concept came to be, what the company’s vision was when bringing this concept in, and how and how far things are progressing.”

 

“Well…”

 

“To be honest….”

 

“Yes. Speak honestly, Trainee Lee Unha.”

 

“It is true that there is an intent to protest partially included in my actions today.”

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

Did that land the way I wanted?

 

“See! Director Gu!! Is it normal for a trainee who’s about to debut to be saying things like that?! Huh?!”

 

Seeing Director Oh fly into a rage, it seemed I’d hit exactly where it hurt. I slowly turned my head back to focus on Director Gu. The corners of his mouth had curled into a faint smile, as though he found the whole situation interesting.

 

It was an expression I felt like I had seen somewhere before.