Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 19

Fragments of what I’d said came back to me here and there, but I couldn’t remember the exact words.

 

Due to the pressure and agitation, a bad habit had surfaced without me realizing it. I knew I shouldn’t let myself be consumed by memories or habits from the other world like Joo Wooyoung, but the current situation felt so similar to back then that I must have lost my mind for a moment.

 

The pressure of not wanting to disappoint my Master. A situation that wasn’t going as planned. An environment with no way to relieve stress. Uncooperative slaves acting however they pleased, oblivious to the fact that I was trying to save them. And the Emergency Quest that felt like it was slowly tightening around my neck.

 

Countless thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant, but this wasn’t the time to analyze my own mental state. The most important thing now was figuring out how to clean up the bomb that had already exploded.

 

‘What do I do? How am I supposed to fix this?’

 

Looking at the Hopeless Trio bawling their eyes out made me more anxious. I was worried about breaking my established character, but more than that, I began to worry if No. 45—who never lets go of his phone—had recorded the whole thing.

 

Even while wiping his tears, he still had that phone clutched in his hand. My anxiety began to spike.

 

‘He didn’t record it, did he? He couldn’t have.’

 

“Sob. Ugh.”

 

“I’m going to debut too… wahhh…”

 

‘Would it look weird if I put the mask back on now?’

 

But doing something was better than doing nothing. Feeling the awkwardness of the atmosphere, I forced my own eyes to redden a bit.

 

“You can debut.”

 

“?”

 

“If you work hard, you can definitely do it, hyungs.”

 

“……”

 

“I know you can. It won’t be easy, and there will be difficulties, but…”

 

“……”

 

“Stop the bullsh*t, you bastard. Sob. Ugh.”

 

‘That didn’t work.’

 

“Don’t pretend to comfort us now. F*ck. Ugh.”

 

‘Never mind. I’ll just go with the shameless approach.’

 

“Ahem… ahem… No, I’m serious. B-but, hyungs, you didn’t record a video or anything, did you? Can I see your phone for a second?”

 

I quickly snatched the phone from No. 45’s hand.

 

“Huh?”

 

Before he could even react, I checked it. Fortunately, I saw nothing but his own selfies. There were no cameras installed in the dorm yet, and voices weren’t being recorded. They could testify that this happened in front of the cameras later, but I could just deny it. If they had any sense, they wouldn’t deliberately bring up something like this on camera. I also doubted the broadcast station would even air something like this.

 

“Good, no video. But hyungs, you know you shouldn’t talk about this to the cameras, right? It’s like spitting on your own face. It won’t do you any good… plus, these kinds of stories are supposed to stay between us, right? Hyung, let me check your phone too. Sorry. I’ll check it quickly and give it back.”

 

“Sigh… You’re really something.”

 

“I’m not usually like this. I guess I was just under too much stress. And I felt like if I didn’t do this, you guys wouldn’t move. I don’t even remember exactly what I said. If it sounded too harsh, I’m sorry.”

 

“What?”

 

“Anyway, I really did mean it when I said I wanted to stay on good terms with all of you. We don’t know who’s going to debut, but it’d be nice if we all stayed connected, right? Maybe someday we can help each other out. So it’s better if we leave each other with good memories.”

 

“…This doesn’t feel like a very good memory.”

 

“Come on. Something this small will just become a funny memory once enough time passes. Even after debuting, you’ll definitely end up in situations like this. They say members of the same group argue and raise their voices at each other all the time. It’s just that it’s not all made public. Anyway, I’m glad you guys understand.”

 

None of them had actually said they understood, but I had to stay shameless. Sure enough, the three of them seemed to have stopped crying out of sheer bewilderment. No. 98, in particular, looked like he couldn’t handle the hollow feeling washing over him. He looked as though he was questioning whether any of what had just happened had even been real.

 

“My wording was a bit rough, wasn’t it? I’m sorry…. B-but, it seems to stick in your ears better when I put it that way. We don’t have any hard feelings, right? Hyungs.”

 

“Huh? Uh…”

 

I activated the Succubus Eyes and continued speaking.

 

“Let’s just have a group hug before we head to practice and clear the air. Hyungs.”

 

I started with the closest one, No. 98.

 

“Hyung, I found your slightly ‘rebellious’ look to be quite charming. You have to be careful when appealing to the public, but I liked how intense your gaze was. Oh, and try to cut back on the cursing. You really shone in the pre-release video. Your dance was powerful; I really enjoyed watching it….”

 

Then No. 78.

 

“Hyung, you’re a good singer. You know that, right? That’s why Wooyoung hyung picked you first. You’re good at dancing, too. Don’t overthink things—just practice hard so we can all debut together.”

 

Finally, No. 45.

 

“Hyung, you look really good in photos and on screen. I think you know that, which is why you work so hard taking pictures…. I’m looking forward to your activity on social media later. That’s work in itself, isn’t it? Plenty of people are too lazy to do it.”

 

It admittedly felt like trying to roast beans over a lightning strike, but I felt I had no choice but to wrap it up before the Hopeless Trio regained their senses. Still, since I made eye contact with the Succubus Eyes, praised them, and gave them a reconciliation hug, things should be somewhat settled. Kids this age could be emotional, but they also tended to let things go just as quickly.

 

They surely wouldn’t hold a grudge against me. They couldn’t. 

 

I immediately switched back to my Vitamin tone and spoke loudly.

 

“Alright then, shall we head to practice?”

 

“……”

 

“……”

 

I saw their faces looking back at me expressionlessly. I was a bit anxious, but….

 

“Fine. Dammit. Let’s go practice. It feels stupid to argue about who was right or wrong at this point.”

 

I saw No. 98 wiping his tears and speaking. I was dumbfounded to see him even urging No. 78 and 45 to follow along.

 

“I’m going to practice. What about you guys?”

 

“We have to go, obviously.”

 

“It’s best to go right now, right?”

 

“The sooner the better.”

 

“Then let’s go.”

 

‘Now we’re talking.’

 

Perhaps they felt there wasn’t a second to waste; this time, they seemed more rushed than I was. Even No. 45, who usually spent all his time fussing over his hair and appearance, headed straight for the practice room.

 

No. 98, who had been the most agitated, now looked like he had actual venom in his eyes. His already fierce gaze looked even sharper, which was a bit intimidating.

 

“Lee Unha. You practiced with Joo Wooyoung this morning, right?”

 

“Yes. That’s right. I was with Wooyoung hyung.”

 

“Was there anything unusual? I mean… while we weren’t there, did the two of you… talk about something? Were there any changes?”

 

“There were.”

 

“What? You didn’t change the choreo, did you?”

 

“No. I already told Wooyoung hyung we can’t change the choreo anymore. We don’t have enough time; we have to go with the mindset of mastering this at any cost.”

 

“Right, phew… that’s a relief.”

 

Did they think I might have changed the choreo because of them this morning? While that might have been part of it, seeing No. 98’s eyes burning with intensity made me think his competitive streak had been triggered.

 

‘I should probably push this a little further.’

 

“However….”

 

“However?”

 

“There will be a change for Wooyoung hyung.”

 

“Wh—what is it? Is Joo Wooyoung taking more parts?”

 

“No. It’s not that. Wooyoung hyung isn’t that kind of person. But I did make a small suggestion.”

 

“A suggestion?”

 

“Yes. I told Wooyoung hyung not to dance.”

 

“?”

 

“?”

 

“?”

 

“What kind of bullsh*t is that?”

 

“I know. Even I had no idea what I was saying. But somehow, it just felt like that was the right move. It’s not like I had some brilliant strategy or anything, but I just had this feeling that Wooyoung hyung shouldn’t dance here.”

 

No. 45 stepped forward and leaned in. 

 

“Why?”

 

“I’m not saying this to hurt your pride, hyungs. But since you probably know it already… I’ll just say it.”

 

“Go on.”

 

“I could only see Wooyoung hyung.”

 

“Uh….”

 

“I checked the video we took yesterday, and I’m telling you, I could only see Wooyoung hyung. It didn’t matter who was a better dancer or a better singer; the eye just stayed on him.”

 

“Ah.”

 

“I’ve never seen anything like it. We put him in the center and he took a lot of parts, but more than that… it was almost nonsensical how he devoured everything. What can we do?”

 

“Right….”

 

“It was a first for me too… We’d be lucky if we could even serve as background support, but at this rate, we wouldn’t even manage that. I honestly thought the performance was going to fall apart, so I just blurted it out without thinking.”

 

The hallway went quiet. They must have all felt it too.

 

“It would completely break the balance of the overall stage. That’s why I thought we should change the method. Fortunately, Wooyoung hyung said he’d hear me out. Anyway, we’ll have to fine-tune it and find a compromise through meetings, but… I think Wooyoung hyung needs some adjustments….”

 

“……”

 

“So.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“If we still get devoured even after the adjustments….”

 

“……”

 

“We should seriously consider giving up on this industry. That applies to me, not just you hyungs.”

 

I wondered if there would be a negative reaction, but fortunately, they seemed to understand what I was getting at. Seeing them steel their resolve made me feel oddly proud. 

 

“Just watch. I’m going to tear up the stage and crush him.”

 

“We’re on the same team. You shouldn’t say that.”

 

“Let’s work hard.”

 

“Of course we have to.”

 

The walk to the practice room leading my legion of slaves felt oddly like heading toward the mad dark mage back in the laboratory.

 

‘Oh….’

 

And in that moment, a small idea flashed through my mind. I didn’t know how the members would take it… or how Joo Wooyoung would react… but once we arrived at the practice room, I had no choice but to voice it immediately.

 

Specifically, right where the cameras, mics, and Joo Wooyoung were.

 

“Wooyoung hyung.”

 

“Eh?”

 

“How about becoming a dark mage?”

 

“What?”

 

“Like a warlock from a fantasy novel or a game—you control us with your hand gestures.”

 

I felt their gazes lock onto me, wondering what on earth I was talking about.