Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols Chapter 470 - Cool Time (3)

As Part 2 began, the background shifted to a clean, shared kitchen. Spark, dressed in navy blue aprons, greeted Won Chaehee from behind a table stacked with a mountain of pumpkins.

 

『Seongbin: Finally, the materials to make Jack-o’-lanterns are ready!』

『Kiyeon: There really is no such thing as an easy task in this world.』

 

‘Wouldn’t it have been much easier if you just went to a supermarket…?’

 

Of course, that would have been less shocking and less fun. Spark always presented only the most bizarre sides of themselves to Sparklers. At this point, nothing her idols did could surprise her anymore.

 

Using small saws to pop the lids off the pumpkins, the members of Spark began diligently scooping out the insides of the massive gourds.

 

『Cheonghyeon: There’s so much to scoop out.』

『Kiyeon: Joowoo hyung is basically an excavator.』

『Joowoo: I might have to switch careers…』

『Jeho: To where? A construction site?』

 

Their chatter was just as noisy as the arm muscles of the members hard at work. Won Chaehee was confused about whether to focus her eyes on the visuals or her ears on the talk.

 

『Seongbin: Seongjun is really good at things like this.』

『Joowoo: No, Seongbin, you’re also…』

『Kiyeon: Hyung, why can’t you finish the sentence?』

『Cheonghyeon: Even Joowoo hyung can’t bring himself to tell a white lie.』

 

In the end, Park Joowoo couldn’t say a word after seeing Jeong Seongbin’s sketch. Everyone was shocked to find out that what Jeong Seongbin was drawing was a perfectly ordinary pumpkin face.

 

In the corner of the screen, visual references appeared showing melon and grape art supposedly made by Jeong Seongjun. Unlike his brother’s overflowing artistic spirit, the skill itself was genuinely impressive.

 

『Iwol: Jeho, how did I tell you to separate the seeds and the pulp again?』

『Jeho: Seeds on the left, pulp on the right.』

『Iwol: Then what’s up with your plate?』

『Jeho: Ah.』

 

Choi Jeho ended up spending all the time he’d saved with his overflowing strength on resorting the mixed-up pumpkin contents. He still had energy left over afterward, so he even helped hollow out Jeong Seongbin’s pumpkin too.

 

『Kiyeon: Does anyone here like hobakgoji sirutteok? I used to eat it a lot when I was a kid.』

『Cheonghyeon: You put pumpkin in sirutteok?』

『Kiyeon: You slice the pumpkin, dry it, and then steam it with the rice cake.』

『Iwol: It’s often given out as business opening treats or thank-you gifts.』

『Seongbin: Hyung, do you have a startup networking club or something nearby?』

 

As various pumpkin dishes were mentioned, Won Chaehee started feeling hungry. She searched for hobakgoji sirutteok on a portal site. Bright yellow pumpkin was layered between the tiers of the red bean rice cake.

 

‘Add to cart…’

 

Things like this had to be bookmarked before she forgot. Otherwise, after finishing the self-produced content, she’d end up drifting through the sea of forgetfulness going, ‘Ah…… what was I thinking about earlier again?’

 

After picking out a set of frozen rice cakes that were listed as a popular item, Won Chaehee focused back on the content.

 

Spark, hardened by rigorous exercise, succeeded in hollowing out all the pumpkins without a single person complaining of exhaustion.

 

As they entered the detail stage requiring delicate craftsmanship, the audio…

 

『Cheonghyeon: Why did I think making fireworks-style lighting would bring me wealth and glory?』

『Iwol: Cheonghyeon, was your love for the team weak enough to collapse over just this much hardship?』

『Cheonghyeon: You’re really annoying.』

 

『Jeho: ….』

『Kiyeon: (The maknae looks anxiously at the suddenly silent hyung.)』

『Jeho: I accidentally poked a hole all the way through, what do I do?』

『Kiyeon: What do you mean, what do you do? The light will just shine through brightly. By the way, hyung, didn’t you also punch a hole through your desk mat last time?』

『Jeho: (Tries to plug the pumpkin piece back in)』

『Iwol: Do you think that’ll magically stick back together?!』

 

…didn’t decrease at all. Both the hollowed pumpkins and the banter were overflowing. It was a miracle the smell of pumpkin didn’t waft through the screen. Won Chaehee wanted to nickname Spark the ‘Masters of Multitasking’ for their non-stop talking.

 

After many twists and turns, six large Jack-o’-lanterns were completed. However, the playback bar was only just past the halfway mark.

 

An icon for ‘Spark’s Cooking Class’ appeared in the top left corner, and with a bright sparkle effect, the pumpkin pulp Choi Jeho had painstakingly separated was piled up on the table.

 

『Iwol: We will now have a short session to make gluten-free pumpkin muffins and cookies.』

『Joowoo: Can we make pumpkin porridge too…?』

『Iwol: …And we’ll also be making pumpkin porridge!』

 

The recipe came from a cookbook Jeong Seongbin had apparently brought from home. An explanation followed that it was a historic book that had been on the bookshelf since before Jeong Seongbin was even born.

 

『Seongbin: Ever since becoming an idol, my baking skills have improved.』

『Iwol: The more skills you have, the better.』

『Seongbin: True. They say skill is national power, after all.』

 

『Joowoo: Hyung, your pumpkin looks like it’s in a bad mood…』

『Jeho: Why?』

『Cheonghyeon: Didn’t you give it too much hardship while extracting it?』

 

『Iwol: Joowoo, your knife skills have improved.』

『Joowoo: I can slice anything now…』

『Kiyeon: …? That’s a bit scary.』

 

Regardless, the muffins were whipped up effortlessly by Spark’s hands. Really well.

In fact, they were made so well that a mountain of freshly baked muffins formed an endless parade. In the back, yellow cookies waited their turn to enter the oven.

 

Following the inserts of the golden-brown muffins and cookies, an addictive packaging video followed. When the cursive ‘ASMR’ appeared, the sound of rustling tickled her ears. Six pairs of hands quickly packed the treats at 2x speed.

 

The reason Spark—who always claimed they only ate desserts once they’d practically forgotten the taste of sugar because of weight management—had become so passionate about baking was soon revealed. The screen gradually blurred, and a small caption explained that the baked treats had been sent to nearby welfare centers and children’s playrooms.

 

Even after the subtitles vanished, the focus remained blurred. The colorful lumps merged into one and turned into a bright orange hue.

 

A bubbling sound came from the speakers. Beyond the slowly sharpening focus, something like… magma was boiling.

 

『Part 3: Opening the Party』

 

『Joowoo: It’s all done…』

 

What simmered inside the pitch-black pot was pumpkin porridge. A hand with pale skin and black fingernails held a ladle and scooped the porridge into a hollowed-out mini sweet pumpkin.

 

『Iwol: Ghosts, let’s have some snacks.』

『Cheonghyeon: Yes~!』

 

Won Chaehee blinked her eyes in disbelief. Any Sparkler would have had the same reaction upon seeing Kim Iwol, dressed in a gat and a black durumagi, handing a sweet pumpkin bowl to Lee Cheonghyeon, who was wearing fennec fox ears.

 

Beside them, Park Joowoo was covered in a tattered white cloth with a hood. His face was paler than usual, and his nails were blue. Jeong Seongbin, carrying a silver tray to move the sweet pumpkin bowls, wore a sparkling navy wizard’s hat and a cloak embroidered with golden stars.

 

Jeong Seongbin and Lee Cheonghyeon moved with the pumpkin porridge. As the camera slowly panned to follow them…

 

『Kiyeon: Isn’t it hot? Give it here.』

『Jeho: Is there anything else we need to bring?』

 

…Choi Jeho appeared in a suit with silver hair and a long black cape, alongside Kang Kiyeon, whose whole body was mottled as if hit by green paint bombs.

 

Apparently, even cosplay came with experience points; there was a reason companies looked for experienced workers. Won Chaehee marveled at the high-quality costumes and makeup that looked so natural it transcended the feeling of being out of place.

 

『Seongbin: Should we explain our characters before we eat for the Sparklers who might be confused?』

 

The kind leader even soothed Won Chaehee’s startled heart. Thanks to that, Won Chaehee was able to appreciate Spark’s new sides with a slightly calmer mind.

 

『Iwol: As you can see, I am a Grim Reaper. The dark circles are painted on! I’m not usually like this.』

『Jeho: I am a vampire.』

 

Choi Jeho lifted one corner of his lip with his index finger. The camera zoomed in on his sharp fangs.

 

『Seongbin: I’ve become a dark mage. I even have a staff!』

 

Jeong Seongbin fumbled behind his chair to pull something out. It was a large plastic rod with a red eye drawn on it. The quality was so high that if you didn’t know it had been made by dismantling a broken dorm vacuum cleaner, you’d think it was professionally manufactured.

 

『Joowoo: I am a little ghost. Since there were opinions that a regular ghost might be too scary to see in dreams… I tried to make it as approachable as possible.』

 

She was curious about how realistic the initial draft was, yet at the same time, she didn’t want to know. Won Chaehee was relieved that Park Joowoo had made a wise choice. No matter how much of a rag Park Joowoo wore, his pale skin made him look chilling.

 

When Lee Cheonghyeon revealed he was a desert nine-tailed fox spirit, Won Chaehee thought at least the older members had given the maknaes cute concepts. But Kang Kiyeon’s surprisingly deep lore reminded him just how intense Spark could be.

 

『Kiyeon: I am a zombie. Luckily, I was resurrected, so I’m living an eternal life.』

 

The green liquid turned out to be the blood of other zombies. Only then did the arduous journey for survival become apparent in Kang Kiyeon’s disheveled appearance.

 

The ghosts and monsters gathered together and ate pumpkin porridge in harmony. Even during the feast, they didn’t stop staying in character.

 

『Cheonghyeon: Jeho hyung, didn’t you say you were a tiger back during the foundation myth? How did you become a vampire?』

『Iwol: Around the time Korea reached 100 million dollars in exports, he got exported overseas and was influenced by foreign culture, so his species changed.』

『Cheonghyeon: Even if your traits changed, I guess you still can’t eat garlic.』

 

『Kiyeon: It’s an honor to have a meal with a hyung I thought I’d never meet in my life…』

『Iwol: Your name never showed up in the registry.』

『Kiyeon: I would have been on it. It’s just that I secretly erase my name with correction tape every time.』

『Seongbin: You’ve become a master at it now…』

 

『Jeho: Jeong Seongbin really looks like a mage when he’s stirring the porridge like that.』

『Joowoo: What do you mean he looks like a mage? Seongbin is a real mage.』

『Jeho: Ah, that’s right.』

 

Despite having completely bewildered the Sparklers, Spark had a fun snack time, laughing and chatting among themselves. They turned off the kitchen lights and took sentimental Polaroid photos in front of the glowing Jack-o’-lanterns.

 

『Don’t forget us and wait, and we’ll visit again next year!』

 

The video ended with the playful handwriting. With a warmed heart, Won Chaehee opened Photoplat faster than anyone else.