You Promised Me, Mr. Lee San-ha - Chapter 100



Only Noblemtl

Episode 100 False Idols (3)

“Even if you’re an uncommon male fan, there’s a limit to how much you can tolerate! I won’t let you in front of my brothers’ dorm!”

… … I think there has been some kind of strange misunderstanding?

I blinked a few times.

The black-gloved high school girl still looks up at me with a threatening expression.

‘A man’s fan? Me?’

Namdeok refers to male otaku who enjoy idol culture.

Naturally, most male fans are fans of female idols.

Since male fans of male idols are a very small minority, they are in a considerate position within the fandom.

‘I think there’s some misunderstanding… … but it turned out well.’

I nodded slowly and said.

“Oh, I see. I have only recently become a fan, so I have been rude. I ask for your generous understanding.”

“Huh. Still, I guess you learned this from somewhere.”

“You are too kind.”

I wonder if he’s happy about his new junior, Namdeok.

They started spilling out TMI while helping me clean up the trash.

“What kind of cat is that, sir? He even ripped open the envelopes of people who had nothing to do with it. If we do this, the residents will report us and our position will be weakened.”

“Usually when the manager comes to wake up the guys, he takes out the trash, right? Otherwise, he doesn’t touch it.”

“Don’t even dream about toothbrushes, wooden chopsticks, or straws. Those are for the executives.”

I’m not sure what I’m hearing right now.

This feeling of getting to know in detail something you didn’t really want to know.

I really can’t understand why people live like this.

No matter how much you say, ‘It’s OK if you’re happy,’ this isn’t it.

Of course, I can’t say that honestly.

“… … I see. So then I have no chance to touch trash at all?”

The red scarf answered my question.

“Since there are items that have priorities, the executives will inspect them first. Then, they will be placed back here, and then you can take what’s left.”

Attachment… … It seems that secondary sorting takes place after the trash is collected.

I don’t think even recycling centers sort things this thoroughly.

But that’s not the point.

‘You’re censoring it?’

The existence of a sasaeng fan is basically the same as that of a fanatic.

A fanatic who discovers the leader’s weakness will try to cover it up even at the risk of his life.

So, it is clear that there won’t be much difference just because they are sasaeng fans.

‘… … By now, the vials and syringes must have been hidden somewhere or disposed of separately.’

It was a moment where everything went dark, but I couldn’t give up because of that.

“Where are the executives?”

I asked in as mild a tone as possible.

The red scarf looks at me with eyes that are slightly wary.

“Why is that?”

“Oh, I was just curious. The trash bags are pretty bulky, so I was wondering how you guys move them.”

“Sasaeng fans all pool their money and gather in the officetel across the street. Ten at a time. These days, they can’t openly make noise and block the street like they used to. The police come right away when residents report it.”

“Then you won’t follow me?”

“I’ll follow you. That’s why I’m hiding. Usually, I just quietly follow the regular schedule and get in the car and chase after you. The executive sisters are working adults, so they have cars.”

Systematicity and madness that leaves you speechless.

I can no longer even guess where the limits of this twisted affection lie.

‘Is this the cosmic horror I’ve only heard of?’

I asked, holding back my creeps.

“Anyway. Since I’ve started a private life, shouldn’t I show my face to the executives? Like treat them to a meal… .”

Then the female students started murmuring among themselves.

“As expected, working people are different. They have some manners.”

“Do working people treat you to a meal when you first meet them?”

“Then, since we are also sasaeng fan seniors, will you buy us food too? Do we not have to share the 1+1 triangle kimbap today?”

I think I know what you usually eat.

Somehow the kids seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

But the black gloves still remained on guard.

“… … Sir, are you really a private life?”

It’s a strange thing that the person who misunderstands first is the one who doubts last.

I took out my camera and showed him the evidence.

It was a picture taken earlier on the officetel stairs that showed only the silhouette.

The expression on Black Gloves’ face as he looks at the photo rots.

“What is this? What are you trying to photograph without a cannon lens? What are you implying?”

“I just bought the camera, so I’ll buy a lens soon.”

“The photos are all recent ones?”

“Because I started private activities today.”

I answered right away without a moment’s hesitation.

It wasn’t a difficult question to the point of needing much thought in the first place.

But the black gloves’ doubts didn’t end there.

“Let me ask you a few more questions.”

“until when…….”

“It’s simple. Just answer this.”

From what he said, it seemed like this was really the final test.

The black glove spread its index finger and held it out towards me.

“How tall is Dohyun oppa? How much does Geonwoo oppa weigh? What is Seojin jjing’s blood type? Where is Minjae oppa’s hometown?”

It’s a question that would have made other people dizzy.

……but.

“183, 80, RH+ O, Pyeongsan Shin clan.”

That doesn’t apply to me, that’s what I’m saying.

I had a feeling I’d get caught like this by private investigators, so I studied in advance.

* * *

After successfully passing the test, I rode the elevator with a group of sasaeng fans.

The smell of the tteokbokki I bought for the lobby fills the elevator.

I remembered something my mother once told me.

‘There is no woman who dislikes tteokbokki. If there were, she would be a foreigner or an alien.’

Moreover, the price is within the range that can be purchased with reporting expenses.

What could be a more perfect lobby item than this?

We stand in front of the door holding a set of tteokbokki that is enough for about 10 people.

The black glove rang the bell and spoke.

“I brought tribute. I also brought new recruits.”

After a while the front door was unlocked.

Beep be …

As soon as I open the door, a musty smell hits my nose.

A foul odor similar to that coming from the apartment complex’s recycling center.

I thought there couldn’t be anything more disgusting here… …but I saw something else horrible.

‘I must have seen it wrong. I must have seen it wrong.’

Colorful hair in a clear glass bottle.

Members were classified and labeled according to their dye tones.

The glass jar next to it contains fingernails.

At this point, it’s beyond creepy.

If there really were a witch’s house specializing in biological experiments, it would probably be this place.

‘Is it a studio-type officetel with a reasonable floor space? If so, there would be limited space to hide the medicine bottles… … .’

Quickly scan your surroundings.

A messy dining table, a trash can full of triangle kimbap wrappers and cup ramen containers, a display case with collection glass bottles, blankets strewn about on the floor, a small chest of drawers, a communal dressing table… … .

It was so dark that I could barely make out the silhouette.

‘The only thing that has any chance is a chest of drawers.’

As I was wondering how to open it, someone appeared out of the darkness.

She was wearing a blanket with characters from the KakaoTalk Friends characters on it like a robe.

The sasaeng fans who came with me knelt on one knee in front of her.

“All hail true beasts!”

The person covering his face with a character blanket raised one hand and answered.

“Hail, true beast.”

These guys aren’t a fan club, they seem to be a religious group.

Or maybe it’s an evil organization that threatens the future of humanity.

Soon, a person covered with a character blanket slowly approaches me.

Slurp-

She took off her hood and looked straight into my eyes and said:

“It’s spherical.”

“… … .”

I couldn’t say anything.

What can you say to someone who threw an egg at you on your way to work just a few hours ago?

The gazes of others in the room are fixed on him.

Their eyes are sharp, like the kitchen knives, nippers, and long-nose pliers strewn across the sink.

The character blanket slowly opens its mouth.

“This man… … .”

The speech is slow and drawn out, as if he is about to hand down a death sentence.

Hair and fingernails were visible here and there.

I felt like my body was going to be torn to pieces and sealed like that.

yet.

The character blanket continued to speak.

“… … That old man who couldn’t take a single picture of his brothers when they were working at TBC. Has he been able to settle down a bit more these days?”

“yes?”

“That’s right. You’re just pretending not to know.”

I don’t know why, but she was wrapping her arms around me.

“Ah, yes. Thanks to that… … .”

The character blanket spoke to other sasaeng fans.

“I’m going out for a moment to talk to the new employee, so you guys eat first.”

* * *

The officetel rooftop that I followed without saying a word.

The character blanket looked into the distance and asked with a blank expression.

“Is this all you call a truth investigation? Tracking down sasaeng fans?”

“For now, I’m doing my best.”

A long sigh is heard mixed with the winter wind.

Finally she turned around and continued speaking.

“… … Why did you do that? Because you’re going to get sued? You didn’t even write the article. Then, even if TLT goes under, you can just go somewhere else, right?”

It can’t be explained simply.

The lawsuit couldn’t be explained solely by financial reasons.

“Student, what is your dream?”

“Huh? What the heck is that―”

“I was a journalist. Now my job is a journalist. So, am I a person who has achieved my dream?”

“… … What does that have to do with the question?”

“If you want to know why, this is my reason.”

The character blanket’s pupils shake.

It was as if a difficult math problem had been laid out before my eyes.

I added a word of explanation to her who was still silent.

“My dream is to become a real reporter. To become a reporter who is not ashamed of anything, anytime, and to anyone. To do that, the most important thing is to not turn away from the truth.”

“… … .”

“I think that should be the attitude of a person who treats something truly precious.”

“… … .”

The character blanket continued its long silence.

The winter wind seeps through the gaps in my clothes.

Finally, the character blanket opened its mouth.

“… … Don’t ever set foot near here again. Then I won’t be able to protect you.”

Then, he takes the elevator and goes down first.

There I was able to gain one income.

‘This makes it more likely that Tru Beast’s drug use is true.’

The executive-level private student is desperately trying to hide it.

Of course, this alone cannot be a sure thing.

Still, it was enough to serve as a driving force to continue digging into the case.

‘I need concrete evidence… … .’

I thought and thought again.

Right then.

Break it!

A notification popped up on my phone’s locked screen.

[Bae Eun Ji: Sorry for the late reply! ㅠㅠ It’s hard to look at your phone during the training camp! Are you curious about ATP Entertainment? From what I’ve heard… ]

It looks like something got caught in the fish trap that was set out.