Chapter 67

Proof That You’ve Become a Fan

The video thumbnail with an exaggerated index finger thrust toward the viewer was the most impactful thing Gowon had seen recently.

Out of countless videos, it catches your eye first.Gowon’s algorithm had long since been completely conquered, so his recommendations contained nothing but Young Ace.

Fortunately, Young Ace had left behind countless videos over their long career, so he had plenty to watch every day.

He had already watched nearly everything that featured Baek Hanje in the thumbnail.

You become conscious of the relationships between your favorite and the other members.As the youngest member, Baek Hanje was generally doted on by the older members. Unlike Yusang, however, the moment anyone showed signs of treating him like a child, he recoiled in disgust and rejected it outright.

His reaction varied depending on the member, but there was one member around whom Baek Hanje was particularly prone to acting spoiled and showing weakness.

Young Ace’s center, Cha Yensu.

After Baek Hanje and Kwon Taeyoung, Cha Yensu was the Young Ace member whose name Gowon had committed most firmly to memory.

Even in photographs, you can see how handsome his features are in three dimensions.That was only natural, since Gowon had felt that way even before becoming a fan.

Baek Hanje was genuinely handsome.

Distinct eyes with thin double eyelids, a straight, prominent nose between them, and a sharp jawline.

His default impression was cold and fierce, but when he smiled, a faint warmth entered his face.

He was the kind of handsome man who could be called the very definition of a bad boy.

Your heart races when you watch a fancam.His heart rose and fell even when he was not watching one.

He had to admit it.

Gowon had become a Spade whose favorite member was Baek Hanje.

This was the first time in his life he had ever liked a celebrity, so it had taken him far too long to realize it.

Then again, when he looked back on his circumstances, it was only natural that he would develop feelings of admiration as a fan toward Hanje.

Still, he had never experienced his heart pounding this violently before, and at times it was almost troublesome. Did One and Only truly feel this way about him?

He had thought all he needed to do was work hard, but it occurred to him that he still had a long way to go before he could understand his fans’ feelings. The same went for first-place promises.

“Oh, Gowon. Taeyoung says he wants to see you for a moment after your schedule if you have time. That’s all right, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I should go.”

Division Head Kwon Taeyoung was not someone who summoned people without good reason. That was why Gowon answered without hesitation.

A little later, despite the late hour on a weekend, he found Kwon Taeyoung in his office.

“Come in. Congratulations on first place.”

“Thank you.”

Gowon bowed, then straightened. Perhaps because it was the weekend, Kwon Taeyoung had his hair down and was dressed casually as he gestured toward a seat.

“Let’s sit down and talk.”

“Yes.”

A moment later, Gowon sat across from him.

Young Ace’s leader....

In Young Ace’s songs, he mainly handled the weighty low-register parts, and within the group, his role had been that of the pillar supporting everyone else.

Gowon was filled with admiration for him. But the feeling was somewhat different from what he felt when thinking about Baek Hanje.

Even after becoming a Spade, his feelings toward his favorite member seemed to take a different form.

“You must be tired, so I’ll say only what’s necessary and let you go.”

“Oh... no. I’m fine.”

Kwon Taeyoung smiled lightly, then leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees.

“Congratulations.”

He had already congratulated him on first place.

“Your profit settlements will start next month.”

“...!”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Even considering that a solo artist’s break-even point was lower than a group’s, it was a remarkably fast settlement. The consecutive success of his debut album and <DEEP>, along with the substantial secondary income they had generated, had played a major role.

At last, his profit settlements were beginning.

Ah....

Once, he had chosen the path of a celebrity for this very moment. But lately, he had enjoyed performing so much that he had briefly—no, completely—forgotten about money.

Was it because merely standing onstage made him happy enough that he needed no other reward?

Of course, I’m glad I’ll be able to pay off the debt....

Even after paying off all the debt that had once been his goal, he wanted to keep performing for as long as possible.

Feeling both dazed and delighted, Gowon left the division head’s office.

“You’re here.”

Then, while habitually lingering near the studio, he ran into Baek Hanje.

The instant Gowon saw his face, his heart began pounding again as though it were being squeezed.

Your heart races when you watch a fancam.Since I’m seeing him vividly with my own eyes, I suppose my symptoms are a little worse?

“Hanje, they said my profit settlements are starting.”

“Wow, you’re finally escaping the egg. Congratulations on becoming a chick.”

Clap, clap, clap. After three thoroughly insincere claps, Hanje returned his attention to his work without caring whether Gowon remained behind him.

Gowon knew how many things his fans did for him, from subway advertisements to support projects.

To Baek Hanje, the possessions of someone who had only just begun receiving settlements would probably seem insignificant, but Gowon wanted to do something for him as a fan too.

More than anything, he desperately wanted to see Baek Hanje onstage. Was this yearning not the ultimate expression of a fan’s feelings?

Suddenly, Baek Hanje turned around, lowered his headset, and raised an eyebrow.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“...You’ve got the face of someone thinking about something pointless....”

“I’m not.”

Gowon obediently shook his head and looked down at his phone again.

The biggest reason Baek Hanje could not perform onstage—or rather, the reason Young Ace could not make a comeback—was the absence of one member.

Young Ace’s member Yunjin, who was said to be in Africa doing volunteer work.

Like Gowon, he had a single-syllable given name and used it unchanged as his stage name.

He had started as a lead vocalist early in their career, then taken over as main vocalist after Baek Hanje stepped down from the position. His remarkable singing ability had also shone on the regular entertainment program where he appeared alone.

Once he returns to Korea, Young Ace will release a new album too....

Following one piece of information after another, Gowon eventually reached his social-media account.

But the account was private.

“.......”

Gowon sent a follow request for the time being.

Hm?

He had done it without expecting anything, but Yunjin accepted immediately. He even followed Gowon back.

Gowon was added to Yunjin’s follower list, which contained barely more than ten people.

Following the social-media etiquette he had learned at the company, Gowon began composing a direct message.

Hello, Yunjin. It is an honor to greet you like this. My name is Gowon, and I am a rookie singer who debuted under K-Dom. Thank you for accepting my follow request....

But before he could finish the polite message, Yunjin sent him one first.

The message was simple.

Yooonjiiin

(Photo)

A photograph of an elephant standing in the savanna.

...?

Gowon had no idea what it meant, but he finished writing his greeting and sent it anyway. It was a meticulously respectful message befitting a rookie.

Yooonjiiin

^^*

(Photo)

The reply was a front-facing photograph of an elephant.

Gowon truly could not understand why Yunjin was sending him such things....

It’s an elephant.

How fascinating.

Gowon exercised the full extent of his social skills and responded enthusiastically.

But no further reply came.

Gowon fell into confusion far deeper than when he had written his first Boggle post.

Baek Hanje, who had been watching him, narrowed his eyes as well.

Gowon

Current Status: Hello, ■■. Elephant?

...This bastard isn’t actually about to cause trouble, is he?

Put up a warning window quickly if he’s planning to. He usually causes trouble around this age because he’s so full of himself.

Fortunately, the quest window remained silent.

***

<A Senior Paving the Road to Glory> Part 3

No. 1 on the HOT 200 chart (Achieved)

Top 10 on the TOP 200 chart (Achieved)

<A Senior Paving the Road to Glory> Part 3

Cleared

“Oh.”

Perhaps the fandom had organized a streaming push to celebrate the triple crown, because <DEEP> had shot up the digital charts, completing the quest.

The screen then began to pause as though the next quest were about to appear.

During the previous stage, I had realized that completing the main objective meant I did not necessarily have to clear every secondary quest, but that did not apply this time.

The main objective was “Win Rookie of the Year.”

The result would not be determined until the year-end awards season.

Even if Gowon was currently the likely winner, it meant we would have to defend his position if some major rookie debuted in the fall.

That’s right.

It answers well while loading, at least.

Q3-2. The Most Filial Child Must Show His Face Often.

Now that you have achieved strong digital performance and Recognition, it is time to become firmly imprinted on the public and solidify your presence.

Create a YouTube video with at least NNNN views.

Easy: 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 views

Medium: 3,000,000 to 9,999,999 views

Hard: 10,000,000 views or more

Success: Rewards vary according to difficulty.

Failure: Forced termination of the Quest Scenario

Time Limit - 1439h 59m 50s (D-60)

“One million, three million, ten million....”

The Hard tier is practically impossible. Still, one million in two months should be manageable if he appears on a well-known YouTube channel and produces even one moderately viral moment....

But considering Gowon’s speaking skills, it also seemed as though it might be rather difficult.

The notifications continued.

Q3-2. The Most Filial Child Must Show His Face Often.

Rewards:

Easy - Recognition increases by 1♥

Medium - Easy reward + secure two advertisements for Gowon

Hard - Medium reward + trigger a full-group Young Ace comeback

“...What?”

That last one.... What the hell was the Hard-tier reward?

For a moment, I stared blankly at the quest window.

“...Fuck....”

The only words I could see were “full-group Young Ace comeback.” Before I knew it, my eyelids were trembling as I stared at the screen.

One reason I had hesitated over a Young Ace comeback was the fear that we might destroy the reputation we had built until now.

But the situation would be different if I received the quest window’s help again. It warned me of crises facing the group in advance and showed me a reliable path toward success.

“A comeback....”

A stage reflecting lights of every color, dancing in the searing heat, cheers filling every direction, the thrill.

Merely remembering that pleasure made me helplessly lose myself in it.

Yet at that very moment, ironically, all the strength suddenly left me.

I had dreamed of that fantasy so often that I woke from it quickly too.

The absurdly extraordinary offer only made it more suspicious.

“Flower Path, didn’t I already receive more than enough help escaping from being in a failed group, and wasn’t I helping Gowon in repayment for that?”

And now it wanted to give me another benefit?

Beyond my suspicion, sheer stubbornness rose within me.

Young Ace was no longer an unstable group. We had simply put down roots so deep that it was difficult to move.

Would using an outside force to manipulate that truly lead us in a beneficial direction?

The radiant stage appeared in my mind once more. So did the faces of the members who had shared every hardship and joy with me.

The conclusion came quickly.

“Young Ace doesn’t need that kind of fucking help.”

If anything, this out-of-nowhere interference would only get in our way.