Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols

“Huh?” 

The MC’s confusion was conveyed even in that single sound.

 

“Mr. Iwol, do you like potato chips?”

 

The MC asked while looking at the torn bag of potato chips lying on the table.

 

“Yes, they’re my go-to snack when I drink.”

 

The truth was, I mostly ate seaweed.

 

There was no particular reason, I just didn’t want to bother buying or preparing specific snacks.

 

However, bringing only a canister of seaweed to the show seemed a bit too lazy. Plus, there was the risk of it sticking to my teeth on camera, so I decided against it.

 

Instead, I went with potato chips, my second most frequent choice and a staple of convenience store 2+1 deals. I hadn’t expected him to be so surprised with the potato chips though.

 

Then again, considering a previous guest brought truffle-topped canapés, the difference must have felt pretty stark.

 

“Oh, Mr. Iwol, do you drink often?”

 

“Not really. Today is my first drink since I started living in the dorm!”

 

“Really? Then you haven’t had a single sip of alcohol since you were a trainee?”

 

“Yes, because most of the members are minors. I figured it’d be better not to.”

 

“Mr. Iwol is kind. Let’s just have fun today and not worry about your dongsaeng. What do you think?”

 

“Sounds great. Oh, and I did mention another snack…”

 

“Right? Potato chips couldn’t be the only one.”

 

As I brought it up, the next snack was served. The MC’s expression brightened.

 

After all, even though it was just filming, having only potato chips felt a bit underwhelming. Especially on a show focused on showcasing drinks and snacks.

 

Thanks to that, I ended up going through a ‘Favorite Food World Cup’ to find something else that matched my tastes.

 

The winners? Convenience store fish cake skewers and a small-sized cup of instant ramen.

 

“…Mr Iwol, you have the same taste as an ahjussi.”

 

“Ahaha, is that so? I just think these are delicious!”

 

The fish cake skewers I ate alone at the convenience store with another bottle of soju after sending off the drunken Manager Nam to his house.

 

And instant ramen, which I had paired with a pack of soju on the day Manager Nam scolded me relentlessly.

 

I didn’t eat them often because they reminded me of Manager Nam, but whenever I did, they were delicious enough to wipe away all the day’s frustrations.

 

Seeing me smile nostalgically, the MC placed a hand on my shoulder and said.

 

“I know that fish cake skewers and ramen are delicious. But… I can’t leave this alone. Mr. Iwol, I’ll buy you some really delicious snacks next time as your senior.”

 

“Really?”

 

I’m grateful, but why the sudden offer?

 

I was a bit flustered. Sure, my snacks were humble, but they weren’t exactly cheap. The fish cake was a premium brand product.

 

It probably wasn’t about the price. Some guests had brought nostalgic foods like grilled ginkgo nuts or spicy peppers.

 

I assumed it was just a polite comment made for the show and decided to let it slide. That made sense.

 

“Really! Let’s start with a toast! Cheers!”

 

“Yes, yes!”

 

Following the MC’s lead, we filled our glasses and poured soju. The atmosphere was very warm.

 

Up until the system appeared.

 

* * *

 

I had two goals for today.

 

One, to appear more honest than usual, as viewers would expect from drinking talk.

 

Two, to not lose self-control despite all that.

 

“But, seriously, Mr. Iwol.”

 

“Yes, sunbaenim.”

 

“Why are you such a good drinker?”

 

But it was all ruined. Because of that damn system.

 

+

 

[SYSTEM] Work instructions from ‘Superior’ have arrived.

 

▶ Assistant Manager Kim, come here and have a drink! Don’t make me strain my arm!

 

[SYSTEM] ‘Short-term task’ has been assigned.

 

▷ Finish at least five bottles of soju

 

▷ Reward: +1 to self-PR score.

 

▷ Failure: Increased probability of ‘Attitude Controversy’ event occurrence

 

+

 

Attitude Controversy event.

 

That kind of event would happen sooner or later, even without drinking. Like when I eventually started throwing punches at thin air.

 

More importantly, since when is drinking well considered a virtue for an idol? Haven’t you been helping me to succeed as an idol all this time?

 

Isn’t getting wasted and making a spectacle of myself more likely to cause controversy? My mind was in turmoil.

 

But there was no time to hesitate. The cameras were still rolling.

 

Drinking five bottles wasn’t that hard.

 

Back in the Hanpyeong Industry, even after grueling overtime, I managed to drink everything Manager Nam handed me at company dinners. Now, in my twenties, I’d probably hold up even better.

 

The problem was that since it was just the MC and me drinking, it was hard to gauge how much I’d actually consumed.

 

And knowing the system, even being a single drop short of five bottles would result in failure. So, I had to be meticulous about this.

 

Can’t measure properly?

 

Then there’s only one answer.

 

I have to drink an overwhelming amount. So that I win.

 

From then on, I drank without letting my glass stay empty for even a moment.

 

I didn’t embarrass myself by yelling, ‘Sunbaenim, my glass is empty!’.

 

Instead, I intentionally placed my glass at the end of the table so that it would be captured on camera, or I would drink it in one shot as soon as I 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? Aren’t you drinking too much?”

 

“I’m fine for now!”

 

Even if I wasn’t fine, this was a situation where I’d have to say I was. But honestly, I was fine for now. I silently thanked my drinking capacity.

 

When I glanced at the production staff, they all muttered, ‘Look at Mr. Iwol’s complexion, it hasn’t changed at all…’

 

As a result of downing alcohol like a beast:

 

+

 

[SYSTEM] ‘Short-term task’ completed.

 

▷ Reward: +1 to self-PR score.

 

+

 

I regained part of the self-PR score I had unwittingly lost before.

 

Thank you, my liver.

 

* * *

 

Group practice was still a relatively new experience for him. To be precise, he was still in the adjustment phase.

 

So if one person was missing and the number of people was reduced, he should feel better.

 

“Jeho hyung, look straight ahead!”

 

But Choi Jeho couldn’t focus. Even leader Jeong Seongbin had to step in and give him feedback.

 

What was distracting him so much?

 

Choi Jeho cast his gaze toward the large empty spot.

 

It was the spot where Kim Iiwol, a member who was absent due to an external schedule, should have been standing.

 

Even during the short breaks, Choi Jeho kept sneaking glances at the spot where Kim Iwol usually stood to drink water.

 

He was aware that this behavior was unlike him. However, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.

 

It was because of that schedule—the one that made Kim Iwol absent.

 

‘There’s a MiTube show called Drinkers that’s invited both of you to appear. Have you heard of it?’

 

A while ago, the manager called Choi Jeho and Kim Iwol and explained the plan to appear on a solo entertainment show.

 

Choi Jeho had never heard of it, but honestly, he wasn’t interested. He got sick of alcohol.

 

The sight of people drinking to the point they couldn’t take care of themselves was disgusting to see. That was also the biggest reason he hated his father.

 

Just thinking about his father stirred uncontrollable emotions. Choi Jeho hated that side of himself. At the same time, he didn’t want to show it.

 

So, he did his best to avoid anything that reminded him of his father.

 

But life didn’t let you do only the things you wanted.

 

Choi Jeho already had a history of scraping a project once.

 

He didn’t see it as his fault, but watching others clean up the aftermath didn’t make him feel better about it.

 

One of the many reasons he hated his father was the way the man shirked responsibility—it was written all over his face.

 

A person shouldn’t live like that. That was what he had resolved to himself.

 

Choi Jeho made up his mind. And just as he was about to volunteer for the filming.

 

‘Can I go? If Choi Jeho is fine with it.’

 

Sitting next to him, Kim Iwol said with a smile.

 

Some might dismiss Kim Iwol’s gesture, saying, ‘Who wouldn’t want a chance at solo activities?’.

 

But anyone who truly knew Kim Iwol would never say that.

 

Kim Iwol was extremely reluctant to stand in the spotlight. He didn’t turn down work when asked, but he didn’t hesitate to pass it on to someone else when a good opportunity arose.

 

Even someone like Choi Jeho—who had grown up hearing, ‘Why are you so indifferent to those around you?’—could tell.

 

Kim Iwol had volunteered. On purpose.

 

‘If Choi Jeho is fine with it,’ he had said, as if seeking permission for his actions.

 

It was an unmistakable act of consideration.

 

Looking back, Kim Iwol had always been like that.

 

When problems arose, he would step in without asking for reasons, resolve the situation on his own, and then quietly return to his work. With his characteristic expressionless face.

 

A few days later, as Kim Iwol was tying his shoes to leave for the shoot, Choi Jeho called out to him.

 

‘Hey.’

 

‘What is it?’

 

The lifeless black eyes turned toward Choi Jeho.

 

The same guy who wore that expression acted like a completely different person in front of others or the camera.

 

Then, was Kim Iwol essentially a different person from him, or was he a person who was essentially the same but behaved differently?

 

He didn’t want to think deeply about it. That kind of introspection didn’t suit him.

 

Instead, Choi Jeho asked Kim Iwol.

 

‘Do you need anything?’

 

He should’ve phrased it as ‘Is there anything I can do?’ But his words never came out quite right.

 

Still, this guy probably understood well enough.

 

Turning his head, Kim Iwol retied his shoelaces and replied,

 

‘Just make sure the kids don’t do anything stupid.’

 

With a quick farewell, Kim Iwol left the practice room.

 

Unlike how he listened carefully to the younger members, Kim Iwol rarely bothered to respond in conversations with Choi Jeho.

 

Whether it was indifference or trust, Choi Jeho couldn’t tell.

 

But he didn’t dislike it.

 

* * *

 

The members of Spark were generally well-behaved.

 

Though they were noisy sometimes, everyone was sensible and capable of managing themselves.

 

That was why Choi Jeho believed he could easily handle a small favor like the one Kim Iwol had asked.

 

“Um, hyung.”

 

Until Jeong Seongbin came to his room for the first time in a while…

 

“I am sorry, but could you help me look this up real quick?!”

 

…and showed his phone screen, revealing that adult verification was required.