Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols - Chapter 104
Only Noblemtl
| Episode 104. 50 Minutes Self-Introduction (3)
“Huh?”
The MC’s surprise was conveyed even in a short sentence.
“Mr. Lee, do you like potato chips?”
The MC asked a question while looking at the torn bag of potato chips lying on the table.
“Yes, it’s a snack I eat often.”
Actually, I ate Kim the most.
There’s no particular reason, I just don’t want to bother buying or preparing side dishes separately.
But I gave up on just showing a single bowl of Kim on the air because it seemed insincere and I was worried that something unfortunate might happen.
Instead, I brought potato chips, the next most popular 2+1 regular. I never thought you would be surprised by potato chips.
Well, the person who appeared recently ate a canapé topped with truffle, so the gap might feel big.
“Oh, Mr. Lee Wol, do you drink often?”
“Just a little. Today is my first drink since I started living in the dorms!”
“Really? So you haven’t had a single sip of alcohol since you were a trainee?”
“Yes, most of the members are minors. I think it would be best for them not to drink if possible.”
“Mr. Lee Wol is a good person. Let’s just relax and not worry about our younger siblings today. What do you think?”
“Okay. Oh, and there’s something else I wanted to tell you about… … .”
“Really? It wasn’t just potato chips, was it?”
As I started to speak, the next dish came out. The MC’s face also brightened.
Since it’s a shoot, wouldn’t it look bad if there were just potato chips? And it’s a program that films drinking parties.
Thanks to that, I was able to find the best side dish to suit my taste by having a ‘Favorite Food World Cup’ that wasn’t even in my fortune.
That’s right, convenience store fish cake and small cup ramen.
“… … Mr. Lee Wol’s taste is almost similar to our uncles’?”
“Ahaha, really? I thought this was delicious!”
After delivering the drunken manager Nam to his home, I ate the fish cake alone at a convenience store while drinking another bottle of soju.
And the day I got crushed by Manager Nam, I ate a cup of ramen alone with a pack of soju.
I couldn’t eat it often because I thought of Manager Nam every time I ate it, but it was so delicious that I forgot all the sadness of that day.
The MC, who was watching me smile for no reason while reminiscing, put his hand on my shoulder and said.
“I also know that fish cake soup and ramen are delicious. But, ha… … . This won’t do. Mr. Lee Wol, next time, as your senior, I’ll buy you some really delicious food.”
“Really?”
I appreciate it, but why all of a sudden?
It’s embarrassing. No matter how simple it is, this is expensive. The fish cake is a PB product.
It won’t be a price issue. Some cast members brought roasted ginkgo nuts and spicy peppers, saying they were nostalgic foods.
I thought it was just empty words that are often said on broadcasts, but then I understood.
“Really! Let’s start with the salty stuff! Salty stuff!”
“yes yes!”
Following the MC’s lead, we filled our glasses and poured soju together. The atmosphere was incredibly warm.
Until the system came out.
* * *
My goals for today were twofold.
First, I will approach the drinking talk with a more honest attitude than usual, as viewers expect.
Second, I will not lose my self-control despite this.
“No, Mr. Lee Wol.”
“Yes, senior.”
“Why do you drink so well?”
But it all went to waste. It was because of that damn system.
+
[SYSTEM] Work instructions from ‘Manager’ have arrived.
▶ Manager Kim, come here and have a drink! Don’t make my arm hurt!
[SYSTEM] ‘Short-term task’ has been assigned.
▷ Drink more than five bottles of soju
▷ Reward: 1 self-PR point
▷ If not achieved: Increased probability of occurrence of ‘Attitude Controversy’ event
+
An attitude controversy event.
That kind of event will happen sooner or later even without drinking alcohol. I mean, by punching the air.
Is there anything more valuable than being able to drink well as an idol? Haven’t you been helping me work hard as an idol?
I was confused as to whether it would be more controversial to eat until you are drunk and then look ugly.
But there was no time to hesitate, because the cameras kept rolling.
Drinking five bottles itself isn’t that difficult.
Even though I worked overtime at Hanpyeong Industries and went to a company dinner late, I drank all the alcohol that Manager Nam gave me. I would probably be even more sane now that I’m in my 20s.
The problem was that since I was drinking with the MC, I couldn’t tell how much I had drunk by myself.
If it was a system, if it was just one drop out of five bottles, it would be considered unqualified and a failure, so this part had to be strictly observed.
Can’t do the math?
Then isn’t there only one answer?
You have to drink it overwhelmingly. So that you can win the game.
After that, I drank the alcohol in my glass without stopping.
He didn’t shout, “Senior, my glass is empty!”
Instead, he would deliberately place his glass at the edge of the table so that the empty glass would be captured on camera, or he would down the glass as soon as he received it.
Then, the production staff who saw my empty glass would mention that my glass was empty, or the MC would immediately fill my glass.
“Are you okay? Are you drinking too much?”
“It’s still okay!”
It’s a situation where I have to say that it’s okay even if it’s not okay, but it really is okay. At this moment, I’m grateful for my drinking capacity.
When I glanced at the production crew, they all muttered, “Look at Mr. Lee Wol’s face, it doesn’t seem to have changed at all… ”
The result of drinking like an animal.
+
[SYSTEM] ‘Short-term task’ has been completed.
▷ Reward: 1 self-PR point
+
I was able to regain some of my PR points that I had unknowingly let go.
Thank you, my liver.
* * *
It wasn’t long before I got used to group practice. To be exact, I was still in the adaptation stage.
So, if one person leaves and the number of people decreases, we should feel at least somewhat better.
“Brother Jeho, look straight ahead!”
Choi Je-ho was unable to focus on practice. He even received feedback from the leader, Jeong Seong-bin.
What broke his concentration?
Choi Je-ho cast his gaze toward the large empty space.
This was where Kim Yi-wol, a member who was away due to an outside schedule, should have been standing.
Even during a short break, Choi Je-ho would glance at the place where Kim I-wol usually stood and drank water.
I know that it’s an unacceptable behavior, but I can’t help but feel nervous.
Because of ‘that’ schedule that made Kim Il-wol absent.
‘I got an offer to appear on a YouTube show called ‘People Who Drink Alcohol’. Have you heard of both?’
A while ago, the manager called in Choi Je-ho and Kim Yi-wol and explained their plan to appear on a solo entertainment show.
I’ve never heard of it, but honestly, I wasn’t interested either. I was really sick of alcohol.
Drinking to the point where you can’t even take care of yourself is disgusting. That was the biggest reason he hated his father.
Whenever he thinks of his father, he can’t control his emotions. Choi Je-ho felt ashamed of himself for being like that. At the same time, he didn’t want to show that side of himself.
So, if possible, he tried to avoid being associated with anything that reminded him of his father.
But you can’t live doing only what you want.
Choi Je-ho already had a history of ruining a plan once.
Even though he didn’t think it was his responsibility, no one would feel better seeing others deal with it.
One of the many reasons I dislike my father was that I could see that he didn’t want to take responsibility.
You shouldn’t live like that. That’s what you’ve decided to do.
Choi Je-ho made up his mind. And at the very moment he was about to apply for filming.
‘Can I go out? As long as Choi Je-ho says it’s okay.’
Kim Yi-wol, who was sitting next to me, said with a smile.
Some may say, “Who wouldn’t want Kim Il-wol’s personal activities?”
But that’s something that can only be said when that person doesn’t know Kim Iwol.
Kim Yi-wol was extremely reluctant to step forward. He did not turn down tasks that were assigned to him, but when a good opportunity arose, he did not hesitate to pass them on to others.
It was noticeable even to Choi Je-ho, who had grown up hearing, “Why aren’t you interested in your surroundings?”
Kim Il-wol volunteered. On purpose.
“As long as Choi Je-ho is okay with it,” he said, as if asking for understanding of his actions.
It was an obvious consideration.
Looking back, Kim Iwol has always been like that.
When a problem arose, he would come to me, solve the situation on his own without asking why, and then calmly go back to doing his own thing. With his characteristic blank expression.
A few days later, Choi Je-ho stopped Kim Yi-wol, who was putting on his shoes to go to the shop.
‘hey.’
‘why?’
Lifeless black eyes turned towards Choi Je-ho.
A guy with that kind of face acts like a different person in front of others or cameras.
So is Kim Yi-wol a human being who is essentially different from himself, or is he a human being who is essentially the same but behaves differently?
I don’t want to think deeply about it. It’s not like I’m suited to such feelings.
Instead, Choi Je-ho asked Kim I-wol.
‘Do you need anything?’
I should have said, “What are you going to do?” Those words always come out without going through my head.
But I think this guy would have understood it.
Kim Yi-wol turned his head and said, adjusting his shoelaces.
‘Just make sure the kids don’t do anything stupid.’
Kim Iwol left the practice room with a goodbye message.
He was a guy who listened to what his younger siblings said, but when they talked to him, there were many times when he didn’t even listen to their answers.
I don’t know if it’s giving up or trust.
Choi Je-ho didn’t hate that.
* * *
Spark’s members were generally quiet.
Although there were some noisy moments at times, everyone was considerate and took care of themselves well.
So, Choi Je-ho believed that he would be able to grant Kim Yi-wol’s minor requests.
“Hey, hyung.”
It was rare for Jeong Seong-bin to come to my room… … .
“Excuse me, but could you please search this for me just once?!”
… …until it showed a screen on my phone saying that adult verification was required.