In fact, Cheon Dohee was already somewhat close to the truth.
“… I’m worried someone might suddenly try to scout you for debut.”
She said this to Magia because she had heard a story.
[Iona: I think our operations team leader made some kind of offer to Jia.]
[Iona: I didn’t think you’d believe me just by words, so I recorded my conversation with Jia.]
[Iona: I’m still just suspicious, so please listen and judge.]
[Iona: (Voice Recording 202412290001)]
[Iona: I think competing with each other is natural, but I don’t want us to get into arguments because of things like this…]
Magia said no, but it seemed like some kind of offer had definitely been made.
After all, Magia was skilled at attacking her opponent and slipping away when she was slightly cornered.
The fact that she poked at Iona’s weakness to invalidate the conversation itself was clear.
Before arriving at the lobby and meeting Magia, she contacted Kang Jiho and asked, and she was able to hear this answer.
[Yeon Sungmuk, right? I was wondering what he was up to these days, and he’s at Lapiz.]
“Do you know him?”
[Yes. When he was with Birdies, he was a well-known casting manager. I heard he was really good at sweet-talking girls, so his performance was really good.
But he caused an accident once, and it felt like he was demoted to Lapiz. I think he became the operations team leader because he kept making mistakes outside, so they kept him in an office job.]
Maybe that accident wasn’t like what’s happening now?
Not tampering, but a recruitment that could be ethically problematic.
If secrecy is maintained, it can remain a successful case of aggressive recruitment, but the moment it’s discovered, the group’s image falls into the abyss along with it.
However, the strategy itself was very cunning.
How many people would think, ‘I should record this and use it as evidence’ after hearing a sudden debut offer?
Even if you go to the CEO and argue, the chances of the fight getting dirty are high unless there is solid evidence that the two of you had a conversation about debut.
Kang Jiho speculated that it was a demotion, but if it turns out that the CEO is also in on it, it’s obvious that it will be a dogfight.
It’s forbidden to go public if things don’t go well. It’s hard to avoid the backlash of beating up Lapiz by dragging in public opinion when you could have handled it quietly.
Around that point, Dohee had a thought.
Maybe Jia cut it off on her own to prevent things from getting bigger.
She was a little disappointed that Jia hadn’t told her, even though she said she would discuss everything.
Perhaps, given her personality, she would prefer Lapiz to burn alone rather than Parallel and Lapiz being swept up at the same time?
‘… I’ll have to wait until Yeon Sungmuk contacts her again.’
Even if the CEOs of both companies try to resolve it quietly, solid evidence that Yeon Sungmuk offered Magia a debut is needed.
It seemed like it was time to wait.
If Magia’s thoughts are the same as Dohee’s, she probably won’t stop Yeon Sungmuk from contacting her again.
Then you can get solid evidence.
Maybe Jia will get the evidence on her own.
Cheon Dohee believes that Magia will never leave Parallel.
However, Dohee is still worried about her mentioning leaving the company before.
[Me: Iona]
[Me: If you hear any additional news, can you let me know right away?]
She subtly took out insurance.
[Iona: Yes!]
The communication channel with Lapiz was also opened thanks to Magia.
We can’t let them steal key personnel.
* * *
“Um. I suddenly started speaking informally because I was happy to see you. Is it okay if I speak comfortably?”
Loopko suddenly stopped and said this while heading to the table where the Makgeolli Crew was after parting with the CEO.
The reason why Loopko started speaking informally wasn’t because he had a bad habit, but simply because I looked like a kid to anyone.
Even I mutter to myself, ‘How is this 24?’ every time I look in the mirror while getting ready for work.
How much more would other people think?
Besides, the CEO sincerely dolled me up, didn’t he?
It would be abnormal if I looked 24.
Well, regardless of that, Loopko is a year older than me.
I didn’t really care whether he spoke informally or not.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Hey, you should speak comfortably too. It’ll only make me uncomfortable.”
“I’m just naturally polite… Besides, I’m not even friends with Loopko, so it’s a bit much for me to start speaking informally.”
“Have you already forgotten the strong friendship we have as debtor and creditor?”
“Was that friendship?”
“Ha, I even got a credit delinquent title to show off our friendship.”
“… In the end, it was to borrow money you weren’t going to pay back.”
“You little thing, you’re perceptive.”
For reference, there’s no need to keep this one in check like Mugun.
He’s the type of character who attracts a lot of haters himself. He knows that if a nasty turret like me sticks to him, it’ll be a headache, so he takes care of himself.
In fact, no matter how much the CEO swears at him, he’s been respectfully calling her “noona” for two years.
However, as much as he’s polite to his superiors, he’s strict about the hierarchy.
“So, how old are you?”
It seemed like he was going to ask my age right away.
“Twenty-four.”
“Hey. Even if you’re lying…”
“I’m twenty-four. Should I show you my ID?”
Loopko shook his head briefly.
“Whoa, whoa, calm down. Why are you getting so serious?”
“It’s because you don’t believe me.”
“I was just joking. I was surprised because you look like your avatar. At first, I thought some kid got lost.”
After that, we passed several tables without saying a word, and then Loopko stopped in the middle of the aisle between the tables and said.
“Um. Anyway, now that we’re speaking informally, let me ask you for a favor.”
“What is it?”
“I need to make a good impression on Brother Gaemang right now. Can you give me some support?”
I tilted my head for a moment.
Team Leader Yeon Sungmuk from earlier too.
Why is everyone like this?
What am I?
“What support can I give…?”
I asked, bewildered, and Loopko was bewildered in return, as if he didn’t understand the intention of my question.
“The Makgeolli brothers are all really curious about you. Isn’t that because they’re interested?”
Originally, I was going to ask the CEO to meet Gaemang and the Makgeolli Crew.
I had already tilted my head once when I heard that Gaemang was suddenly looking for me as soon as I arrived.
As I exchanged these words with Loopko on the way to Gaemang, I was just dumbfounded.
“Why would Gaemang be interested in an ordinary employee?”
“It’s possible. You were a super evil demon king, weren’t you? Did you forget? Gaemang’s embarrassing history was also on the 4th floor of the Demon King’s Castle, wasn’t it?”
Hearing those words made my heart sink.
Was the interest being shown to me not positive?
Well, what could someone like Gaemang propose to an ordinary employee like me?
“… Was it?”
“Wow, look at this. Anyway, the perpetrators can’t remember. Just wait.”
Loopko fiddled with his phone, and soon showed me a clip of Gaemang.
Only then did I remember.
Gaemang’s video was also in the preset for general streamers.
It was the day I used the axolotl avatar, saying “Virtual YouTubers are popular these days?” and trying out being a Virtual YouTuber.
“Ah. This.”
“How can you not know when you displayed it?”
“Well, I was too out of it at the time…”
While playing the Demon King RP, I was practically in a trance trying to do my best in the role, so maybe Gaemang was furious about it.
It would be troublesome if he was really angry.
Maybe he thought about it when the CEO contacted him.
What? Magia is coming too?
You’re in big trouble.
I’ll bombard you with nagging when you come.
Suddenly, I felt a chill down my spine.
A situation where a 3 million YouTuber is scolding me…
“I think I’m going to get scolded a lot if I go.”