Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 225

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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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Episode 14.

“Sigh.”

The morning after the Fireworks Festival viewing had ended.
While the members were still deep in slumber, I quietly changed into my workout clothes and came to the Practice Room, stretching my body and taking deep breaths.

[Proving that Kim Geum is not weak
Condition: Make Kim Geum return with courage despite losing her hearing
Reward: Recovery of half her hearing]
[Success!]
[Your reward has been granted!]

I couldn’t believe it when that success notification popped up in the middle of the Fireworks Festival.
Wait, I didn’t do anything—suddenly? Here?
The moment I turned my head to look at Kim Geum in response to that confusion, I couldn’t help but laugh.
That’s right.
Even if I hadn’t done anything, it was fine.
Because I wasn’t the only one beside Kim Geum.

‘…I thought this mission would be difficult, but the members handled it beautifully in ways I never expected.’

My heart swelled with pride watching the members grow more capable and independent without my guidance, yet at the same time, a bittersweet feeling stirred within me.
Was this what a mother bird felt? Proud of raising them, yet somehow wistful watching the fledglings leave the nest….
No, what am I even thinking? The members are all independent beings.
I shouldn’t dwell on such nonsensical thoughts.
I crossed my legs and settled into a proper meditation posture, taking a deep breath.
Then.

-You’ve got it easy.
“!”

An unwelcome voice echoed through the room.

“…You came early?”
-Well, you complete your missions so quickly.

At Cotton Ball Entity’s blunt and irritated voice, I smiled in victory.
Though to be fair, it wasn’t me who did it—it was the members.

“You came here to restore the other half of her hearing, didn’t you?”
-….

Cotton Ball Entity clearly disliked this situation, floating silently without opening its mouth as usual.

“Just give me the mission and leave.”

It was telling me to stop wasting time and just do what I came for.

-You’re really not my type.
“I’m not a fan of you either. Works out perfectly.”
-Next mission will be extremely difficult.
“!”

[Proving Kim Geum is Not Weak Ⅱ
Condition 1: Even if Kim Geum’s hearing hasn’t fully recovered, the next album must succeed.
Condition 2: Success is defined as ‘Billboard Chart Career High’
Reward: Recovery of the remaining half of her hearing]

The Billboard Chart…!
My expression darkened.

-What? Is the mission too difficult?
“….”
-It’s a hurdle you’ll have to cross eventually before performing at Coachella anyway. Cheer up.

Cotton Ball Entity began giggling with delight once it saw my expression turn gloomy.

-You can’t call yourself a top idol without charting on the Billboard once. Right?
“I’m not sure about that.”

I answered with an expressionless face.

“Success doesn’t have to come from overseas. You can’t deny that StillBlue has already proven itself through domestic fandom and popularity alone, can you?”
-I don’t know. I’m not sure.

Cotton Ball Entity let out a giggle, amused.
How infuriating.

“Which Billboard chart career high exactly are you after?”

Billboard charts aren’t actually singular. There are countless charts, but among them, people typically recognize two as the main ones.
Billboard 200, and Billboard Hot 100.
Billboard 200 represents the overall influence of an album within the United States. It’s a comprehensive chart combining domestic album sales and streaming metrics.
Billboard Hot 100, on the other hand, represents the influence of a single track. It’s the main chart that synthesizes streaming numbers, radio airplay exposure, and download sales for a single song.
To put it simply, Billboard 200 is the ‘album’ chart.
Billboard Hot 100 is the ‘single’ chart.
These two could be understood as representing those distinctions.
Billboard 200 demonstrates fandom power, while Hot 100 demonstrates mainstream appeal—so sweeping both charts means capturing both dedicated fanbase and public popularity simultaneously.
…It’s not even easy domestically, let alone sweeping both charts in the United States where artists from around the entire world converge?
It was simply the dream of every artist.
A truly, impossibly difficult dream.

-Well, I’m generous, so I won’t demand both.
“….”
-If either one breaks into the chart, I’ll acknowledge it as a career high.

Until now, StillBlue had never charted on Billboard’s main charts. They’d entered the Billboard Global charts every time, though.
In other words, StillBlue’s fanbase was concentrated in South Korea, or perhaps more broadly, in Asia.
…But to break into the American market with just one album….

‘This is absolutely absurd.’

But that didn’t mean I could back away from this.
Because what was at stake was Kim Geum’s remaining hearing.

“Can’t you lower the bar a bit?”
-No. You already got a pass from me once before.
“….”

That was true. It was thanks to Cotton Ball Entity that StillBlue and my mother could exist in the same world simultaneously.
But this was just too….

-Don’t overthink it. You have one incredible privilege, after all.
“….”
-You already know what it is, don’t you? I don’t even need to tell you.

I didn’t answer Cotton Ball Entity’s words.
Yes, I knew.
StillBlue had one massive advantage over other idol groups right now.
It was the distribution network.
The US Billboard Hot 100 or Billboard 200 wasn’t something you could chart just because your song was decent and popular.
You had to secure music distribution channels within the United States—streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and other domestic music sites—and establish a radio broadcast network for local marketing.
And for album charts, album distribution had to run smoothly as well.
In other words, unless a company was already completely established in America, it was extremely difficult to align all three of these elements perfectly.
But Colors was a major entertainment company with a far more solid and extensive history of overseas expansion than other agencies.
Thanks to that, we had our own subsidiary in America, strong partnerships with major American agencies, and incredibly smooth distribution channels.

‘BurnAsh sweeping the Billboard charts enough to land a Coachella headliner spot wasn’t unrelated to that advantage.’

Because senior artists had already paved the way, junior artists like us benefited from that legacy.

‘Colors’ distribution network really is more advantageous than other agencies. But….’

That was only possible if the agency was actually doing its job properly.

‘If Nam Director keeps sabotaging us like this, it’ll be difficult.’

America.
Colors.
Nam Director.
Hong President.
Los Angeles.

‘…I know what I need to do.’

I closed my eyes.
My members were doing so well for me—I needed to step up too.

***

“Chung-chung!”

After a considerable amount of time had passed, I returned to the Dormitory.

“Why are you just now arriving!”

Kim Geum rushed toward me with an incredibly radiant face and bounced into my arms.
I naturally caught her and laughed warmly.

“Seems like something good happened?”
“Yes!”

Kim Geum spoke while exhaling excitedly through her nose.

“Actually, starting last night, I felt like my hearing might be coming back? I had this feeling, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up for nothing, so I just waited quietly. Then today at noon, I went to the Hospital and had my hearing tested again and saw the doctor. And then!”

True to her role as StillBlue’s main rapper, Kim Geum continued at a very rapid pace.

“My hearing has recovered! Suddenly, just like that!”
“Oh. That’s great.”

Though I’d already known this fact, I bounced up and down alongside Kim Geum.

“The doctor said this is a miracle. And at the same time, very hopeful.”
“Really?”
“Yes! Once recovery happens even once, it means there’s a possibility for further recovery in the future!”

Kim Geum, now so full of hope and conviction unlike before,
became a source of motivation for me once again.

‘…She’s so happy about this.’

There was no way I could fail to achieve 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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