The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol - Chapter 100

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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 100
Though I’d made my living as a paparazzi, I had my own philosophy.
It was what I called the “only bad guys deserve it” principle.
It’s true I targeted high-value subjects, but within that, I meticulously selected only society’s trash before pressing the shutter.
‘I had some conscience, at least.’
Many people had fallen into ruin because of my photographs, but when you heard their reasons, they were all people anyone would understand deserved it.
It meant I wasn’t some reckless bastard who indiscriminately destroyed people’s lives.
Which meant, in turn, that Yu Hae-in, whom my camera had captured, was also trash.
“…What?”
I shook my head at Yu Hae-in, who stared at me as if bewildered.
“Taking those photographs was certainly unethical. Since I made a living from it, I should apologize to you, the victim.”
“…”
“I’m truly sorry about that part. But Senior.”
I narrowed my eyes as I continued.
“Drug use is a crime.”
“…Ha.”
“The nature of the crime is different. Some sins can be separated and sorted, while others cannot be separated at all.”
“Haha, hahaha!”
Yu Hae-in burst into a hollow laugh as if flabbergasted.
“To be honest, I don’t tend to feel much guilt of conscience toward criminals.”
“I kind of expected it, but you really are insane.”
“Thank you for the compliment. But Senior, even if the world found out I was a paparazzi in my past life, wouldn’t people just think you’re the strange one?”
“What?”
“You’d be lucky if you didn’t end up in a psychiatric hospital. Who would believe a story about a past life with no evidence?”
I took another step closer to the bewildered Yu Hae-in.
“I understand you’re angry about the past, but why did you use drugs in the first place?”
“…”
“Stop acting like a punk and quit the drugs. Live your own life now.”
“…Wow.”
“Even your idol activities now—it’s because you love the stage, isn’t it?”
Yu Hae-in’s face flushed red and blue with anger.
He glared at me with a peculiar expression, then his bitter laughter echoed grotesquely through the empty waiting room.
Yu Hae-in laughed for a long while, clutching his stomach, then fixed me with a chilling gaze.
“How amusing. Cha Si-woo, you really are obsessed with playing the righteous apostle to the very end, aren’t you?”
Yu Hae-in grabbed my neck and slammed me roughly against the wall.
“…Ugh!”
Crash!
With a dull sound, the box containing desserts fell to the floor from the impact.
“Drug use, yeah, well, you might not know much about it. Do you remember? Those celebrities who got arrested in a chain, like sausages linked together?”
Yu Hae-in, with one corner of his mouth raised, displayed a maniacal smile.
“I orchestrated all of it. I was never a drug dealer—I was the conductor.”
“…What did you just say?”
“How dense. Why do you think I was with those drug dealers on the day the photo was taken?”
Yu Hae-in’s pupils gleamed with light as they met mine directly, but within them swirled not emotion—only a twisted exhilaration.
“I’d set up the scene to distribute gifts to the ones controlling the distribution networks and to clean up everyone blocking my path in one fell swoop.”
My heart sank in that instant.
‘Yu Hae-in wasn’t just a drug dealer—he was someone who constructed the entire scheme?’
“I really despise anyone who gets in my way.”
Yu Hae-in’s lips curved into a bitter smile as he leaned close to my ear.
“But because you triggered that flash, the trap I’d so carefully constructed became a noose around my own neck. All the operatives saw your photo and got spooked, scattering like roaches. I ended up rotting away for three years, branded as a mere drug dealer.”
I’d thought him a viper, but he was far more venomous than that.
“Cha Si-woo. Those bad guys you thought you sent to rock bottom that day? They were actually prey waiting to die in the palm of my hand. You didn’t implement justice—you were just a harmful pest that destroyed my hunting ground.”
Yu Hae-in tapped my chest lightly.
“Waste separation? Ha, that’s not even funny. Do you think you’re clean?”
“…”
“That gloomy nature of yours—digging into other people’s affairs—you’re still hiding it perfectly well behind the idol mask in this life too.”
He stomped his shoe on a dessert box that had fallen to the floor.
Crack!
The plastic container tore sharply, and a sickly-sweet fragrance spread through the air.
“Tell me. Who’s the garbage material that can’t even be separated properly?”
“Isn’t Senior even more garbage than that?”
“…What?”
Yu Hae-in’s eyes held the deepest fury accumulated across both his past and present lives.
This was genuine anger welling up from his very core.
“Now I’ll give you a choice. Will you keep clinging to that shallow conscience and wait for the day you collapse beneath my feet?”
Yu Hae-in released his grip on my neck, his expression shifting to the gentle smile of a benevolent senior.
“Or will you put that despicable camera skill of yours to use for me instead? This time, become a hunting dog—not targeting bad guys indiscriminately, but only those I tell you to.”
Yu Hae-in’s chilling voice echoed through the waiting room.
“That’s your karmic retribution as a paparazzo.”
‘Karmic retribution…?’
No, this wasn’t retribution at all.
In my past life, I had my principles and was never a coward.
But he was different.
‘By now, he’s probably driven countless people to ruin in ways far more sinister than I ever did.’
“I’m sorry, Senior, but I don’t like either option. What do you suggest?”
“Ha…!”
“Should I look forward to the pleasure of falling?”
‘This is ridiculous.’
I seized Yu Hae-in’s neck firmly in return and stared directly into his eyes.
“I have no intention of changing my standards. Who do you think you are to manipulate me?”
“Ugh…!”
I flashed my professional smile at Yu Hae-in, whose face had turned crimson.
‘That’s what you get for grabbing someone by the neck without permission.’
“I’ll make sure to ruin that filthy game you’ve rigged, just like I did before. Look forward to it.”
The moment I released my grip on his throat, Yu Hae-in collapsed to the floor as if all his strength had drained away.
“Cough! Hack, cough!”
He had brought this upon himself.
I stared down at him coldly as he gasped for breath and delivered my final warning.
“You know, even hunting dogs have their limits. If you don’t want to get bitten, don’t provoke them.”
I shot Yu Hae-in one last glare before leaving the Waiting Room.
‘So there’s another person who regressed besides me.’
And of all people, it had to be Yu Hae-in—someone from the same industry with a bitter history between us.
An unexpected variable that sent a headache crashing down on me.
‘I need to prepare for what’s coming.’
From the end of the Corridor leading to the Filming Location, I could hear the laughter of the Group Members.
To protect those newcomers who had just become my family, I had to become the most ruthless hunter in this lifetime.
☆☆☆
“Show Music’s third week of September—the first-place nominee is…!”
All the performances on TX’s Music Broadcast Show Music had concluded.
All the performers had taken the Stage for the rankings announcement.
Since we were first-place nominees, I stood at the very front center of the Stage rather than in the Back Seating Area, my gaze fixed on the camera.
The hands of the Group Members standing beside me were visibly trembling.
Until we’d stepped onto the Stage, those guys had been confidently shouting about winning first place in the Waiting Room, but now that the moment was upon us, they were clearly nervous.
‘We absolutely have to take first.’
With the massive Quest of the Rookie Award still ahead, momentum in the early stages was crucial.
That’s why we had to secure as many first-place wins as possible across all Music Broadcasts.
“A clash of monster rookies, indeed. Fault, who claimed first place last week, and Lucy Star Boys, who are knocking on the door of the top spot just one week after their debut.”
“Wooooow!”
The camera relentlessly zoomed in on us.
Even as rookies, being first-place nominees meant every gesture and movement became subject to scrutiny, as heavy as the weight of a crown.
Because of that, I needed to be even more careful with my conduct.
I composed my expression further and listened intently to the MC’s words.
“We’d like to hear brief comments from both teams nominated for first place!”
The leader of Fault Team, who grabbed the microphone first, delivered a pointed remark.
“We’re delighted to be nominated for first place again following last week. We’ll do our best to maintain our position at the top this time as well.”
It was a comment tinged with clear intent to win and subtle provocation.
“Yes. We heard Fault Team’s comments well. Now, Lucy Star Boys, would you like to share your thoughts on being nominated for first place?”
The microphone was passed to us.
Kim Sun-yu, our leader, accepted it with a gentle smile.
“It’s an honor to stand in such an undeserved position just one week after our debut. We’re already happy to be nominated alongside such wonderful seniors, but we hope for good results for the fans who made this moment possible.”
“I can really feel the fresh sincerity unique to a rookie group!”
“Thank you.”
“Now that we’ve heard from both teams, shall we check the score of the team that takes first place?”
The MC’s cue brought a tension-filled beat that filled the Studio.
The scoreboard for both teams rose side by side on the large Screen.
[Fault VS Lucy Star Boys]
My heart pounded as though it might burst.
My lips had gone dry, but I forced the most composed smile I could manage toward the camera in front of me.
‘We have to lead in the broadcast score. I’ve ground my soul down for a week to make that happen.’
The first week after debut had been a grueling test of human endurance.
I’d catch brief naps in the car and eat onigiri or sandwiches while getting my makeup done.
I’d endured a brutal schedule spanning unit activities, variety shows, and radio—all for the sole purpose of filling in this scoreboard.
The one saving grace was that for unit broadcasts, they’d at least guaranteed minimal rest by excluding the underage members.
“So which team will claim the glory of first place?”
As the MC spoke, the scoreboard began spinning with a loud mechanical whir.
“First, let’s check the album and digital sales scores!”
The numbers shot up dramatically.
“Lucy Star Boys has an overwhelming lead in album and digital sales scores!” “…!”
“The record-breaking 500,000 copies sold on debut week is fully reflected in the score!”
“Wooooow!”
“No way, really 500,000 copies?”
Screams of astonishment erupted from all corners.
A rookie group achieving 500,000 copies in first-week sales was a new record.
“Next is the pre-voting score, which shows the firepower of the fans!”
The scoreboard climbed steadily, then stopped dead.
“The pre-voting is… unbelievable, it’s a tie!”
My eyes widened involuntarily in that moment.
Pre-voting is the measure of fandom firepower.
The fact that Fault, who was six months into their debut, had equal firepower to us essentially meant we’d already won by decision.
I could see the Fault Team members standing beside me stiffen slightly.
‘Our fans are truly the best.’
A warmth swelled fiercely in my chest.
They were fans I could only be grateful for.
Now only the final variable remained.
“All that’s left is the broadcast score. Let’s reveal it right now!”
A grand BGM flowed to heighten the tension as the numbers on the Screen counted down rapidly.
Ding—!
The moment the score stopped, the MC gripped the microphone and shouted.
“The final announcement. This week’s Show Music number one is…!”

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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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