Chapter 19: …transformation

“Only two days left now. Have you decided yet?”

“Hmm……”

Kim Kanghyun let out a low hum for a while at the manager’s question.

It was the same when he first created Belus, but for him, the time for choosing always came with pain.

Kim Kanghyun was fundamentally greedy for talent.

So he always paid attention everywhere to discover talent, observing uncut gems that weren’t shining yet but had promising futures, keeping them in his jewel box.

This was a desire different in quality from ordinary greed.

His desire lay in nurturing the potential of talent, drawing out their capabilities to make them shine.

Like tending his own garden, he enjoyed watching the process, waiting for the moment the raw stones he discovered transformed into jewels.

You could say he was playing VTuber Football Manager.

However, precisely because Kim Kanghyun liked collecting even slightly promising raw stones, the moment of choice always came with heavy deliberation.

‘It’s ridiculous for me to say such weak things while sitting in the CEO’s chair, but…’

He was afraid.

‘What if there was talent I failed to discover?’

‘If that child shines elsewhere, could I truly not feel bitter about missing a jewel that should have shone in my care?’

And not just those missed, what if the children he decided to embrace caused trouble?

What if the jewels he held tightly, not those that slipped through his fingers because he couldn’t hold them all, lost their own light?

It’s regrettable this way, and regrettable that way too.

Belying his self-confidence in his eye for talent, Kim Kanghyun continued his lengthy deliberation.

The manager, as if this was a usual occurrence, skillfully ignored him and began tackling her backlog of work.

The sight of the CEO stroking his chin and staring intensely at the ground was not particularly unfamiliar to her.

‘I’m glad I’m not the CEO.’

Making decisions was a headache for her.

She simply liked watching the Belus members happily streaming.

“…Actually, there isn’t much to deliberate about, though.”

Kim Kanghyun, who had been deep in thought, finally spoke.

Fortunately, the top 6 he had in mind had all shown satisfactory performance and potential during the training camp, while the 2 left as candidates were still lacking.

Since the training camp’s nature was strongly geared towards filtering out stones, as long as no particular disqualifying reasons appeared, it was just a matter of confirming the debut lineup as is.

‘And yet, I can’t shake off this uneasy feeling.’

Kim Kanghyun thought back.

Back to his overconfident past self before debuting the 1st generation.

Despite such certainty, one member ended up leaving, and didn’t Belus, the jewel itself, almost get buried underground without ever shining?

“If there’s nothing to deliberate about, just pick them~”

The manager shrugged, acting as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“I know what you’re worried about, CEO, but Belus succeeded in the end, didn’t it? Don’t worry too much. I’ll try my best to make sure we don’t falter from the start this time either.”

“……Thank you.”

Although she looked like a cute and lively college student unbefitting her age, she was a person with a strong will and firm resolve.

Furthermore, it was she, the manager, not CEO Kim Kanghyun, who had actually saved the ship that almost sank before its debut.

That’s why he trusted her completely.

‘Right. Deliberating like this now won’t change the fact that I have to make a choice eventually.’

Once decided, act quickly.

That was the motto of Kim Kanghyun, the monster streamer who had survived the longest, over 10 years, in the past internet broadcasting scene.

“Tell those two to pack their things today. And please tell the remaining kids that the rules are loosened starting today. It’s important for them to bond now.”

A ‘family-like company’ carried many risks, but for a virtual group that needed to build its own niche and show chemistry, there probably wasn’t a better merit.

In fact, those who praised Belus’s success story, which started from practically nothing, all mentioned the family-like bond.

While other groups crumbled from within due to bullying, ostracism, or internal rivalries leading to poor chemistry and member graduations,
Belus not only avoided controversy but even created quite moving stories, showcasing their friendship with not a single graduate.

The fact that Belus fans, unlike fandoms of some other groups, blended well without internal exclusion was also thanks to the established trend of pursuing a family-like, cohesive fandom, following the members’ example.

‘Things like singing, dancing, and broadcasting skills can be continuously practiced until debut.’

Even if they fail to get the hang of it after debuting, the solid path paved by the 1st generation will buy them time.

But if they fail to get along and start excluding each other, the meaning of a group disappears.

The ship might have a slightly uneasy start because it’s not large enough, but starting the voyage with holes already in the ship is something he, the CEO, would not stand by and watch.

“Shall I go deliver the message right away then?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be back~”

The manager left just like that, and around sunset, the office door burst open with a clatter.

“Hmm…? What’s going on?”

The ones who entered were the aforementioned top 6.

Wondering why they, not the eliminated ones, were here at this hour, he looked at the manager who followed them in, but she just smiled and kept silent.

As his curiosity grew while watching them, Sumire, whom the manager had mentioned as the leader type among them, stepped forward and bowed her head.

“CEO. I apologize for the sudden intrusion, but do you happen to have six sleeping bags? Ah! Seven, including one for the manager…!”

“Yes…?”

Just as the question “Why are they looking for sleeping bags when they have perfectly fine beds?” arose, the words she threw out next spread a wide smile across Kim Kanghyun’s face.

“We heard we can use our real names now, so we were planning to lay out sleeping bags in the hall and talk until dawn. We’re going to be… family from now on, right? So we want to get closer… Is that okay?”

She looked at the CEO with cautious eyes, but from Kim Kanghyun’s perspective, it couldn’t be better.

‘Looks like my choice wasn’t wrong.’

Without him having to ask first, they already knew what the group needed most and were putting it into practice.

“Hahaha. Excellent. You’ll need drinks too, right? It’s on me today, so enjoy yourselves.”

“Kyaaaaaaah! Thank you! What are you guys doing? Say thank you!”

“Thank you!”

“CEO is the best!”

“Awesome- Handsome-“

“Mao… you need to put some soul into it.”

“Hahaha!”

He didn’t hold back the sudden burst of laughter and let it out heartily, reminiscing about the past.

‘CEO! We’re booking lodging with your card and drinking all night, is that okay?’

‘Just don’t cause any trouble…’

‘Eeh? You don’t trust us? The manager is coming with us too?’

‘Well then…’

‘Kyaaaaaaah! CEO is the best!’

Although it was still early, he could finally let go of some of his burden.

The jewels gathered under the name Belus, though different generations, seemed quite similar.

Finally, the end of the training camp, which felt long if you thought it long and short if you thought it short, is coming into view.

Yesterday, no, today, we drank alcohol during a pajama party until the sun came up, and everyone woke up in their sleeping bags reeking of booze.

And Ari, who insisted she couldn’t intrude on a gathering meant for the six of us to get closer and went up alone to sleep, came down around the time the sun was descending from its zenith, saw us, gave a wry smile, and cooked ramen for us.

“Seo Woo… ahem, Kotori. Are you okay?”

Sumire, no, Lee Nayeon, with whom we could finally share names, patted my back even though she didn’t look too great herself.

My condition right now is indeed that bad.

I barely ate any of Ari’s special ramen before spending time holed up in the bathroom.

…I really didn’t expect to pass out after drinking less than half a bottle.

Since it was my first time drinking in Wooseo Woo’s body, I was careful and drank slowly, thank goodness. If I had chugged from the start, I would have been out alone before even talking… sigh.

“W-Water…”

“Here.”

I’m dizzy.

My stomach is churning too…

The nauseating smell of soju alcohol fills my mouth, and my throat feels like it’s burning; I feel like I’m dying.

Through blurred vision from the tears that naturally formed due to nausea, I unknowingly leaned on Sumire and reached out my hand. Yoo Sea, looking perfectly fine, handed me a water bottle.

Yoo Sea is Hoshino’s real name, and just as I expected, she was indeed a former idol trainee.

The reason she’s so fine is that yesterday, claiming self-management, she only took a few sips of beer before just drinking plain water.

She’s really something else.

But I feel like we got a bit closer yesterday, and maybe thanks to that, she doesn’t throw those pitiful looks anymore, which is something at least.

“Thanks…”

“You shouldn’t drink. Just stick to soft drinks from now on.”

“…Okay.”

She speaks curtly and turns her head away, but I suspect that’s her way of showing concern.

I can read her expressions a little now.

That tsundere girl.

“They said we’re just signing contracts and going home today, want to sleep a bit more?”

“It’s okay. I feel a bit better after drinking water…”

“We agreed to speak informally now. Did you forget…?”

“Uh, uh-huh…”

Watching me struggle to swallow the water, Nayeon Mamang sent me a worried look.

During the two-week training camp, at least to me, she has been nothing short of Maria descended upon the modern world.

She broke the ice on the awkward first day, always took care of me during the camp, and even when I was flustered about my period, she woke up at dawn without a single complaint and helped me wash up…

Furthermore, she was the one who turned the rather gloomy atmosphere after the eliminated trainees left yesterday into a pajama party declaration.

Miyuki, who was particularly close to the two eliminated trainees, was very sad, but Nayeon Mamang carefully supported her so she wouldn’t break down mentally.

Truly, overwhelming acceptance.

If we debut, she’ll undoubtedly become the leader without question.

Embracing us warmly with her sacred Mamang power…

“Eheheh.”

“…Kotori. Still drunk?”

“Ah.”

I quickly wiped the drool dripping from my mouth.

‘Snap out of it, I only have Haruka…!’

“Kotori-chan is thinking weird things again. Your expression is creepy.”

“Ri… Mao, are you okay?”

“Hai!”

Uehara Rika. That’s the real name of the gyaru girl Mao from Japan.

The surname sounds incredibly familiar, but when she first revealed her real name, everyone except Hoshino spat out their drinks.

‘What kind of life has Hoshino lived?’

‘Are women different?’

But then again, everyone except Hoshino seemed to recognize it…

Anyway, she was the most popular person at yesterday’s drinking party.

Everyone said they were dying of curiosity about why she, who revealed she was a pretty successful indie VTuber in Japan, the home of VTubers, suddenly graduated and applied to Belus.

Honestly, no matter how successful Belus is, it’s incomparable to the scene in Japan.

Contrary to our thoughts that there was no reason for her, already a somewhat successful VTuber, to come here, it seemed she had her own circumstances.

I thought it wasn’t too late even now, but if she says so, then so be it.

…There are probably hidden details she didn’t mention.

Anyway, Rika is also a really peculiar one.

What kind of crazy woman finds success in Japan and transfers to Korea?

Well, applying a soccer analogy, it might be like a mid-to-lower table ace playing somewhat well in the Premier League suddenly moving to the K-League…… huh?

“Kotori! The manager is calling for you!”

“Me?”

Azusa woke me from my momentary lapse into thought.

She seemed to have already finished packing her bags to go home, had gone somewhere, and then burst through the door, running towards me.

The rich perfume scent of an adult woman hit my nose.

Feeling my cheeks flush, I leaned back and replied.

‘Is it just my imagination, or has she been sticking strangely close since that day…?’

“Ung! She said the contract matters might take a while, so she wants to do yours first now.”

“Contract matters…?”

I tilted my head.

I didn’t know why she specifically singled me out, saying it would take a while, but I nodded anyway and headed towards Kim Kanghyun’s office.

Ari should probably be there with him around this time too.

Knock-knock-

“It’s Kotori. I’m coming in.”

“Yes~ Come in!”

Just as expected, Ari’s voice came from inside the door.

I took a small, deep breath.

‘She said she called about the contract…’

‘Since it’s a contract with a potentially wicked boss, I need to be sharp and stay tense.’

‘Who knows if he slipped in some malicious clause?’

If I mess up, I might end up like some unknown idol, unable to sleep and constantly dragged around to events… maybe not that bad, but anyway, I might end up signing a s*ave contract.

“Are you sober now? I heard you had a hard time.”

“Y-Yes, sir! I’m okay now…!”

Perhaps having heard from Ari, Kim Kanghyun burst into laughter as soon as he saw my face and offered something resembling concern.

To have my weakness for alcohol exposed before even signing the contract, I want to crawl into a hole.

I felt like clutching my slightly dizzy head from the hangover and hitting it repeatedly.

“Haha, you’re too tense. It’s not such a heavy occasion, so take a deep breath.”

“Yeess…”

Seeing my expression stiffen, Kim Kanghyun mistook it for nervousness and gave a warm smile.

…Looking at me like I’m a young daughter who just learned to brush her teeth by herself makes me even more embarrassed.

However, his next words instantly blew away all my shame.

“By any chance, have you ever thought about becoming a mother?”

“Eh…?”

‘What?’

‘Is he asking if I’ve ever thought about becoming a mother?’

‘Does that mean he’s asking if I’ve ever thought about getting pregnant…?’

I blankly lowered my head and looked down at my body.

Small limbs, a small torso, and breasts with almost no curve.

…Although my face is cute enough to occasionally startle even myself in the mirror, it still falls slightly short of the charm a mature woman can exude.

‘Even if I had a child, would Wooseo Woo’s body even be able to breastfeed properly?’

‘The baby might starve to death.’

“……”

No matter how much of an adult I am inside, the kind of person who feels sexual desire for such a frail body is probably…… hmm hmm.

I shifted my gaze and stared intently at Kim Kanghyun.

‘No wonder his gaze towards me felt so lecherous.’

‘To think my wife Haruka’s boss was this kind of human scum.’

“…Pervert.”

It felt like the world was collapsing.