Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 1.

Everyone dreams of standing at the pinnacle.

“Thank you for your patience. The recipient of this year’s Grand Prize is,”

But there is only one pinnacle.

“An artist beloved not by a generation, but by an entire era—shining brilliantly once again this year—”

And the moment I stood at that pinnacle—

“Baek Nok-ha!”

I felt no joy whatsoever.

***

“Unnie! Congratulations on the Grand Prize, really!”
“Nok-ha, you worked so hard! Thank you for mentioning us Greenies!”

On the way out from the Awards Ceremony Venue, fans were waiting for me in the Parking Lot.
Grateful people. Waiting for me like this despite the cold weather.
I greeted the fans from inside the car and sent them a final word of thanks.

“Thank you, my Greenies. I’ll come back soon to say hello.”

Under normal circumstances, I would have greeted them longer and expressed more gratitude, but today my mind was elsewhere.
In fact, I could barely remember how I’d even gotten this far.
The moment I rolled up all the car windows, my manager unnie turned to look at me.

“You did well, Nok-ha. Really. Your heart must have been in turmoil, but you didn’t show it at all—you did so well. Your acceptance speech was perfect too, trembling just the right amount. The reactions are all pouring in now, everyone’s moved.”

My manager, who had watched over me for ten years, tried to comfort me.
But in this moment, I couldn’t hear any of her congratulations or consolation.
The Grand Prize trophy sat carefully on the seat beside me, yet I couldn’t even see it now.

“Sister, I’m really grateful, but… let’s just get to the Hospital first, okay? Hurry.”
“Oh, yes. Of course. I’ll drive as fast as I can.”
“Thank you.”

The reason was simple.

“How is Mother doing… is she alright?”

A single phone call had arrived just before I received the Grand Prize.

‘Nok-ha, don’t be too shocked, but listen. Your mother… there was a fire at the house…’

The message was straightforward.
Yet it was anything but simple.
A fire had broken out at Mother’s house, and she, who had been alone watching my award ceremony at home, had been caught in that blaze. The fire had been extinguished by now, but Mother’s condition was critical.
The fire was suppressed now, but Mother was in critical condition.
Yet I couldn’t rush to the Hospital immediately.
In just five minutes, I would receive the Grand Prize.
My third Grand Prize.
Three consecutive years of Grand Prizes.
It was an incredible title just to hear.
Not only had I been waiting for this award, but everyone who had supported me had been waiting for this moment.
Just thirty minutes. Just receive the award, deliver my acceptance speech, and come down. The agency representative’s persuasion to go straight to the Hospital after that was something I couldn’t refuse.

‘Nok-ha, I’ll head to the Hospital first. I’ll keep you updated on your mother’s condition right away, so you just stay here for a moment, okay? Just receive the award and come right out.’

It wasn’t for the representative.
It wasn’t for myself either.
It was for the fans behind me in the audience, holding up signs with my slogan.
The moment I stepped down from the stage with the Grand Prize, I rushed outside frantically.
Because I hadn’t stayed until the end, harsh comments were already flashing through my mind, but I didn’t care about such things.

“For now, the representative said she’d push a press release about why you left early. Since your mother is in critical condition—”
“Sister. I’m fine. Really. Let’s just… hurry and go.”
“Oh, right, of course.”

My manager sister looked forward again, somewhat embarrassed.
Honestly, right now nothing else mattered except Mother.
Then,

Our spring will come again—

A bell chimed, and my heart plummeted.
The song that had carried me to this award.
A song I’d cherished so dearly, yet now it sounded terrifyingly hollow.

‘Idiot CEO Seo’

The caller was… Seo Chang-un, my agency’s representative.
The person at the hospital in my place.
With trembling hands, I answered the call,

—I’m sorry, Nok-ha… I’m truly sorry….

I had to hear news I never wanted to hear.
What I was thinking in that moment, I couldn’t say.

“Unnie.”
“Huh? What did the CEO say?”
“Pull over.”
“What? We’re in the middle of the road. Let me drive a bit further and find a spot.”
“Just… just pull over anywhere right now. I think I’m going to be sick.”

As nausea kept rising, I desperately asked her to stop the car.
My manager, flustered, pulled over to the side as quickly as she could.
The moment the car stopped, I opened the door and retched helplessly.
With two days of packed schedules, I’d barely eaten anything—only stomach acid came up.
Overwhelmed by emptiness and despair, I simply crouched on the ground and laughed hollowly.
What is this?
Why is God toying with me?
Today was supposed to be my finest moment, so why has it become my worst?
I’d run so hard, so desperately for this day. And I didn’t run alone—so many of my people, my fans, ran alongside me.
Why would you turn that into this nightmare?
In that moment, rage and injustice swirled together,

—Feeling wronged?

A truly… strange entity appeared.

“…What are you?”

I rarely spoke in casual speech. After my debut, I obsessively used formal language with everyone—terrified of making a single mistake.
But this thing in front of me…

-What I am doesn’t matter. What matters is what you want right now.

It was definitely not human.
It was something like a tiny Cotton Ball Entity. Black. Floating gently through the air.

“…Am I seeing things because I’m in shock?”

I instinctively looked for my manager. If I was truly hallucinating, it meant I’d lost my mind.

“Unnie, unnie?”

But the response that would normally come within a second never arrived.
I barely managed to stand and peered inside the car.
Something was wrong.
My manager wasn’t there.
That wasn’t all.
There wasn’t a single car on the road, not a single person on the street.

“…Am I really seeing things?”
-You’re not.

The Cotton Ball Entity drifted over to my side and fluttered softly.

“You startled me!”
-We don’t have time. Let’s get straight to the point.
“What exactly are you…?”
-You want to bring your mother back to life, don’t you?
“…!”

At the Cotton Ball Entity’s words—words that pierced straight through my chest—I froze, unable to speak.

-I’ll turn that moment of absolute despair into your finest hour.

Cotton Ball Entity had no face, and thus no expression to speak of.
Yet I could sense it all the same.
This cotton mass was smiling.

“…How?”
-Simple. I’ll erase the fire as if it never happened. You’ll receive the award, and your mother will stay safe at home, watching you enjoy your success.

Cotton Ball Entity fluttered back and forth before my eyes.

-And there we have it! You can savor the award without a single shadow of doubt, yes?
“….”

It was undeniably a perfect proposal.
I was certain of it—I must be dreaming, conjuring this fantasy from the depths of my desperate longing.
I let out a hollow laugh. If it was a dream, I might as well play along.
When I woke up anyway… it would be back to hell.

“So, what do you get out of this?”
-Ah, that part isn’t so simple.

Cotton Ball Entity’s fibers drooped limply.

-But I’m certain you can manage it.
“…Me?”

What on earth could that mean?
I regarded Cotton Ball Entity with suspicious eyes.
Was this dream trying to swindle me?

-Baek Nok-ha. A singer-songwriter and idol in her tenth year since debut. From rookie awards at the start of her career to excellence awards, grand prizes, popularity awards, and the grand award itself—she swept them all. She’s won the singular annual grand award twice. Universally recognized as the finest female soloist. Recognition, fanbase, preference, image—all at the pinnacle. Truly, “born to be an idol,” “born to be a top star” suits you perfectly. Of course, you’re less naturally gifted and more of a hard worker, but still.

…Sudden praise?
I’d heard such things often enough before, but hearing it from this cotton mass felt embarrassing.

-And then, finally today! Winning the grand award three years in a row! Fulfilling everyone’s wishes. Ah, how magnificent. Reaching the peak as an idol!

That’s how it was supposed to be.
I laughed bitterly.

“But here’s the thing—there’s one pitiful soul who dreams of becoming like you.”
“Becoming like me?”

I murmured absently.

“That’s right. Someone who wants to reach the peak just as you have. Help that soul, and I’ll help you in return.”

Cotton Ball Entity regained its vitality, fluttering about with renewed energy.
But I was bewildered.

“How am I supposed to help? I may be an idol, but I’m no god. I have no idea how to aid a soul.”
“That’s precisely why I’m here.”

Cotton Ball Entity bristled its form.

“Don’t worry about the method. Just decide whether you’ll accept my proposal.”

I couldn’t answer easily.
Even if this were merely a dream, I sensed that Cotton Ball Entity was evading something crucial.

“If you promise to help that soul, I’ll help you. I’ll make the fire that befell your mother disappear completely.”

But it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.
Bring my mother back to life? How could I possibly decline?

“…I accept.”

My mother, who lived her entire life for me alone.

“An excellent choice!”

Cotton Ball Entity emitted an eerie laugh, then swelled to an enormous size in an instant.

“Oh, and Baek Nok-ha.”
“…What?”

I stared blankly at Cotton Ball Entity as it expanded monstrously, when it addressed me.

-If you could take just one thing from your body into the next life, what would it be?
“…?”
-Come on, answer me.
“…My voice…?”
-An excellent choice, as expected!

Cotton Ball Entity laughed in that grotesque way once more.
Then it suddenly opened its enormous mouth and swallowed me whole.
I had no chance to escape—I was engulfed in darkness.

***

“Damn it.”

I had undoubtedly been swindled.

“What in the world happened to these overworked vocal cords?”

I sat blankly in the Practice Room, muttering to myself.

“And what’s with this pathetic body without a shred of muscle?”

The Practice Room had an entire wall covered in mirrors.
But this was certainly not our agency’s practice space.
This was the Practice Room of Colors, one of the nation’s largest entertainment agencies.
And I had become a trainee at Colors—

“And what the hell is all this impossible nonsense?”

I had become Yun Chung.
Destined to become a member of StillBlue, a girl group that would debut in one year and disband two years later.

Ding!

Congratulations! You have become Yun Chung.
From now on, you must save StillBlue, the doomed girl group!

Damn it.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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