Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 153

It hadn’t been long since the debut, but it felt as though the most serious situation since the launch of <Fantasia> had arrived.

 

‘Is this… really okay? Am I the only one taking this so seriously?’

 

Even as those thoughts ran through my head, Director Oh kept enthusiastically talking.

 

“The moment the news of your acting activities broke, scripts started pouring in from everywhere! And these were chosen after filtering and filtering again. Our Actor Lee has a pile of scripts this high in the office. We threw out all the supporting roles right away, and even after looking only at lead roles, this is what we’re left with. Got it?”

 

‘At this rate, shouldn’t this ahjussi have gone into actor management from the start? He looks even more excited than he does during Fantasia’s promotions. Am I imagining things?’

 

“And that’s not all! There are scripts from famous directors anyone would recognize. Big-budget productions scheduled for OTT release too. See that script? Halo! Personally, that’s the one I’m rooting for. The production budget is enormous! And take a good look at this actor too. What was it again… a fusion historical drama? Something about a young slave boy becoming… well, anyway, it’s a great story.”

 

‘Great story, my ass… I bet you haven’t even read it.’

 

“[Halo] also has a solid cast! They’re saying that ‘Actor Jung,’ whom you met at the Ten-Million Actor Diner, has been cast as well…”

 

‘Having someone I know there is reassuring, but….’

 

“Ah, and take a look at this script too! Huh?!”

 

‘I mean, seriously, can we stop with this….’

 

“Even though it’d be your first project… one production company even offered an unusually high appearance fee.”oject… there was a production company offering an exceptionally high appearance fee.”

 

‘Oh?’

 

“The amount they’re offering is—”

 

‘Now… that does have my attention. How much are they paying?’

 

Of course, this wasn’t the time or place for that conversation. Director Oh seemed to realize that as well, as his voice suddenly grew quiet. He realized, albeit late, that this wasn’t something to be discussed where everyone could hear.

 

“Ahem… ahem… let’s talk about that later…. The appearance fee or whatever isn’t what’s important. Right? What matters is that you’re doing a project.”

 

‘What is this ahjussi talking about? Whether I act or not, the appearance fee is absolutely important.’

 

I felt like a snob, but money mattered. There was nothing wrong with increasing my value or raising my profile. It just wasn’t more important than other things. I couldn’t let myself be blinded by money, abandon Fantasia, and end up returning to the other world.

 

For now….

 

‘If I’m forced to do it, I have to exclude lead roles.’

 

The filming schedule was the problem. Spending that much time filming while simultaneously working on the album was unrealistic to begin with.

 

‘A supporting role would be best. If that doesn’t work out, even a cameo would be fine.’

 

I didn’t want to create unnecessary controversy either. I didn’t know how the current market evaluated Lee Unha, but if I took a lead role for my first project and received a much higher fee than others, it would likely spark a backlash.

 

No, to be perfectly honest, the best option was to not do a project at all and focus on album production.

 

<< Emergency Quest >>

[You, with a 1% contribution to the Demon King’s defeat. Assist the Hero Joo Wooyoung, who had a 99% contribution, and produce <Fantasia>’s next full-length album together.]

<<Penalty for Quest Refusal or Failure: Return to the Other World>>

 

Even this quest said so. Of course, I knew it was a problematic quest in many ways. The ‘Assist’ Joo Wooyoung part was one, and the ‘Together’ part was another. Especially the keyword ‘Next’.

 

The quest didn’t properly specify when ‘Next’ was. This quest board said nothing about whether it meant after the first mini-album or after the first full album. Since the premise was flawed from the start, it was reasonable to assume this quest didn’t apply to the current album work.

 

‘How am I supposed to help Joo Wooyoung when he isn’t even participating in the producing?’

 

If this quest had been given by some transcendent being rather than Joo Wooyoung, I would have dragged Kim Haejun down immediately and formed a team centered around Joo Wooyoung to start producing… but the Joo Wooyoung I knew wasn’t that narrow-minded. He recognized that his current stats weren’t enough to help the team in that way.

 

Perhaps this quest was one meant for after Joo Wooyoung gained more experience—specifically, the next… or the one after that—when a full-length album centered on him and containing his story was being produced.

 

To summarize once again….

 

Yes, the quest I received previously was unrelated to this full album. However, it was important nonetheless.

 

‘To be blunt, if Kim Haejun messes up this full album and the self-producing fails… would we even get a next chance?’

 

The opportunity for Joo Wooyoung to produce might never come. I could guarantee that for our entire career, we’d have to be machines doing whatever the company ordered. In that process, I’d try desperately to change his mind and persuade him, but I might drop back into the other world before I even got the chance.

 

‘The more I think about it, the more taking an acting job feels like a terrible idea. Should I just confront them? Tell them I don’t want to act? Ask the company why they’re making me do this?’

 

Little by little, I felt a conclusion taking shape.—specifically, a direction for Lee Unha’s actions.

 

***

 

That was the reason Lee Unha, after finishing the music show, had set Kim Haejun aside and gathered with Director Gu and Director Oh to face each other. Naturally, the atmosphere wasn’t particularly pleasant.

 

I was used to Director Oh since I saw him all day, but Director Gu still made me somewhat uncomfortable. Initially, Director Gu looked normal and Director Oh looked abnormal, but now Director Oh felt more approachable. It was probably because, unlike Director Oh who at least showed some human warmth, Director Gu always maintained that uniquely cold expression of his.

 

The same was true now. Unlike Director Oh, who was trying somehow to lighten the heavy atmosphere, Director Gu looked as though he wanted to strip away all emotion and deal with the current issue through pure logic alone. When our interests aligned, he was an incredibly reliable figure, but when they clashed, he was anything but welcome.

 

We had decided to be on the same boat, but I definitely didn’t welcome this side of him. Today, his voice sounded even more chilling than usual.

 

“I’ve already heard the story from Director Oh, Mr. Unha.”

 

“Ah. Yes.”

 

“I understand the company’s position has already been conveyed to you. Is there… something more you wish to say?”

 

Seeing the atmosphere look too rigid, Director Oh tried to banter and act as a shield, but….

 

“No, I mean, our Artist Lee Unha is just saying—”

 

“You mean that he wishes to focus on producing the album? Director Oh, do you share that opinion as well?”

 

Naturally, even that attempt was easily shut down.

 

“A-Ah, no, strictly speaking, I don’t. But our Artist Lee Unha is determined. I brought him here thinking we should at least hear him out. Ahem… ahem….”

 

“I’ll ask you a question, Mr. Unha.”

 

“Pardon? Yes….”

 

“Let’s assume you participate directly in the album production. In what way do you believe you can contribute to <The World> and <Fantasia>?”

 

“That is—”

 

“You already know that Mr. Haejun will be in charge of the overall production. Together with the planning team, he’ll establish the album’s overall structure and story, while our veteran in-house producers—or outside producers we’ve brought in—will work to assist him.”

 

‘He’s really making it hard for me to argue.’

 

“<The World> intends to create <Fantasia>’s full-length album in consultation with experts in each field, from the concept down to the makeup. Under those circumstances, I’d like to ask how you believe you could positively influence Fantasia’s full-length album.”

 

‘F*ck, maybe I shouldn’t have come.’

 

The pressure hit me so hard that the thought hit me automatically. But I couldn’t just nod and leave. I recognized I was being outmatched in logic and eloquence, and the tide was turning against me, but staying silent would just make me look stupid.

 

“I don’t think producing is strictly limited to the realm of composing and writing lyrics.”

 

“Yes. I agree.”

 

“And it’s the same in practice. The reason I’m asking to postpone the acting and participate actively in this album is because it’s <Fantasia>’s first full-length album. I am the leader of <Fantasia>. And….”

 

“Yes.”

 

“No matter how many experts are attached to it, I can guarantee that no one knows our members better than I do. Of course, I know how arrogant that sounds. I haven’t achieved anything yet, and suddenly asking to participate in the album must look ridiculous to you.”

 

“No. You seem to have a misunderstanding.”

 

“But I’m not saying this just for the title of an ‘idol who produces.'”

 

“I know. Or rather, I fully understand your intent, Mr. Unha. I’m telling you this just in case, but <The World> never ignores you. <The World> considers your abilities and the ideas from your head to be very important. Even if we assume an album is made under your leadership, excluding composing and writing, I am certain a good work could be produced, but….”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Unfortunately, the company must sometimes prioritize its own interests over an artist’s individual ambition. Regrettably, it seems the current situation is one of those times.”

 

“What on earth… does that mean…?”

 

“<The World> has judged that raising your individual recognition through a project will bring more positive benefits to <Fantasia> than your proactive participation in album production.”

 

“So—”

 

“We cannot guarantee the success or failure of an album produced by you, Mr. Unha, but—”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Your acting will work on the world stage.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Your music—or your artistic sensibilities—don’t resonate with the world. But your acting does.”

 

“?”

“?”

 

‘What kind of crazy talk is this person spouting?’

 

Director Gu… are you on drugs or something?

 

‘Director Oh? Did you have a drink with this guy before I came?’

 

I was so flustered that I nearly laughed… but Director Gu’s face was too serious for that.

 

“I’m not saying this to inflate your ego, nor is it meant to comfort you for being excluded from this album project.”

 

“…….”

 

“Mr. Unha… you will be at the vanguard of <Fantasia>’s expansion into the world—specifically, the global conquest.”

 

What the hell is this guy even talking about?

 

‘This bastard… was he really a madman? Shouldn’t we drag this lunatic down from the director position immediately?’

 

I was bewildered. I expected a messy debate or an argument….

 

But Director Gu was standing there, spouting some impossible nonsense. Even Director Oh was looking at him like he was a freak. It was the expression of someone with fake madness coming face-to-face with genuine madness.

 

” <Fantasia> will go global.”

 

He was definitely a madman.