The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 64

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

64

“…Is there anything else you need?”
“No, well… I was just about to leave, but I got a little curious.”

About what.
Yet despite his words, Min Ji-heon yawned widely and rubbed his eyes as if he wasn’t particularly interested.
I was about to ask what he was curious about when that familiar chill crept back into my chest.

‘No!’

Don’t ask.
I quickly turned my head and tried to move forward. If the System Window wasn’t even coming to mind, he was definitely someone who wouldn’t be much help to the scenario progression anyway.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”
“Aren’t you going to act, Seo Ho-yoon?”
“…?”

But Min Ji-heon asked me a question just as I was trying to slip past without incident.

“The CEO must have asked you. Whether you wanted to act.”
“How did you know that?”
“Ah, I mentioned it. I suggested trying Seo Ho-yoon out in acting.”
“…You did, Senior Min Ji-heon?”

I hadn’t anticipated this development either.
Standing there with a bewildered expression, Min Ji-heon looked me up and down.

“Actually, the series we filmed last time, ‘Cider Please,’ is coming out. It’s called ‘Please Camera’…. The writer apparently watched the ‘Shining Star’ program and took quite a liking to you. They said you’d fit the next character image really well….”

Suddenly the back of my head tingled. So the CEO had been pressing me about this—it was you all along!
You were the one who put the idea in the CEO’s head?!

“Yoo Ji-a also said she thought you’d be fine for it.”

Min Ji-heon continued speaking nonchalantly, whether he noticed my displeasure or not.

“So what did you answer?”
“I said no.”
“Really? That seems like such a waste, doesn’t it?”

‘A waste?’

At this point, something felt off, so I asked with a lukewarm tone.

“…Do I have some incredible talent or something? Enough for Min Ji-heon to suddenly ask about it?”
“Huh?”

Otherwise, why would he approach me like this?
I’d meant it as sarcasm—basically telling him to back off—but Min Ji-heon took it at face value and burst out laughing.

“Ahahaha, how would I know!”
“…?”

What the hell…?
Indifferent to my confusion, Min Ji-heon hummed cheerfully and rambled on.

“I can’t really tell just by looking at someone’s face, you know? But I heard there are other staff members who can spot it right away…. Now that’s what I’d call a real gift from the heavens, right?”

What the hell is this guy really…?

“Anyway, I’ll let the writer know you declined.”

Contrary to what you’d expect from someone who’d just needled the CEO, Min Ji-heon accepted the rejection calmly. Soon he took a call from the Manager, and with a vacant expression, he murmured “yeah” and trailed off.
He hung up shortly after and waved at me.

“Take care~! Stay healthy while I’m gone!”
“…??”

The atmosphere suddenly felt like a holiday farewell.
He acted as though he were saying goodbye to someone he’d never see again, and just as I opened my mouth in bewilderment, Min Ji-heon turned around and walked away slowly.

‘What the hell is that guy really…?’

I summoned the System Window.

“Hey, Min Ji-heon’s stats, let me see….”

But there was no response.

“…Hey?”

It wasn’t until long after Min Ji-heon had disappeared that the System Window finally appeared.

[Yes?]

“I called you earlier.”

[Didn’t hear it~.]

The System Window pretended not to have heard and vanished with a cheeky attitude. I raised an eyebrow at that.

‘This is new.’

The System Window was….
Now it was openly telling blatant lies.

***

“Brother, come here!”

After finishing all the music broadcast schedules, I thought we’d finally have some relatively free time, but suddenly Kang Yi-chae burst with energy.

“What is it?”
“We’re appearing on ‘Victory is Mine’, right? We need to speed up practice, so write down what events you want to do right away.”

Right, that’s true.
This program, held every late May, had always been incredibly popular. Seeing how idols got injured and caused chaos every year yet it continued to be held annually made the popularity unmistakably clear.

“What events are there?”
“Running, archery, wrestling, rhythmic gymnastics, and e-sports!”
“E-sports?”

Everything else felt familiar, but e-sports was something I’d never even heard of before. Kang Yi-chae shook the controller excitedly.

“E-sports has different categories within it! I’m putting my pride on the line—I have to take first place.”
“What do you get if you win first?”
“…Honor? Glory?”
“They’re giving out Korean beef!”

Jung Da-jun looked like he was burning with desire for the prize.

“So you’re working this hard just to eat Korean beef right now?”
“What are you talking about? This is about our ‘pride.'”
“Don’t stake your pride on just anything.”
“A man’s pride is naturally cheap.”

Kang Yi-chae spouted more nonsense, insisting that he absolutely had to come in first.

“I could team up with another group, but first I need to check out how skilled you guys are. Jung Da-jun… well, I already know his level roughly.”
“Ah~, hyung! I’m telling you I can do well!”
“At what?”

Sung Ji-won approached while shaking out his towel and showed interest, and Kim Sung-hyun, who had nothing to do for a while now, gradually drifted over and joined the conversation.

“E-sports?”
“Do you guys play games?”

Among them, I alone remained indifferent. I flopped onto the sofa without enthusiasm and responded flatly.

“I don’t do e-sports. I’d rather do something else.”
“Ah, hyung~! Just try it once, give it a shot. We have exactly five people so the player count works out perfectly, right? I’ll let you choose your favorite role!!”

Whether you choose or not… I’m telling you, I really don’t play games.

“I’m getting a vibe from this. This coldness! This judgment! This mental fortitude! I’m telling you, Ho-yoon hyung would be good at games!”
“….”

Kang Yi-chae’s eyes burned with the same fervor that Sung Ji-won usually showed when shouting about practice—like a practice fanatic. It was surprising to see someone so indifferent to everything get this fired up….

‘What a hassle….’

“This is seriously annoying….”
“You’re not even bothering to hide your true feelings anymore?”

Kang Yi-chae looked at me with dissatisfied eyes, shaking his head before trying to coax me.

“Hyung, hyung, hyung just once!”

I tried to block out Kang Yi-chae’s whining with my earphones and ignore him, but suddenly the System Window appeared for the first time in a while.

Ding!

[‘Victory is Mine’ is truly the flower of multi-entertainers!
Claim 1st place in ‘Victory is Mine’ three times.
(1st place achieved by group members also counts.)
Success: 3,000 points
Failure: You’ll end up doing even more embarrassing things.]

“What more could possibly be embarrassing at this point….”

haha

Why was it suddenly laughing? Looking at it with a slightly uneasy expression, the System Window appeared again.

[There are plenty of dialogue scenes.]

‘What?’

[Rookie idol’s bold actions in front of the camera… By anyone’s standards, a “true legendary dark history”… (See more)]
“….”

Gritting my teeth as I looked at the list of dialogue scenes the System Window laid out, I shot up abruptly.

“Hey, let’s go to the PC Bang.”
“Huh! Really?”

Kang Yi-chae, unaware of my hidden intentions, was delighted.
I didn’t want to show him that side of me… Do these guys even understand how I feel….

“Da-jun, sometimes being your older brother is so tough….”
“What are you talking about?”

I reached over and ruffled Jung Da-jun’s hair out of habit. He gave me an exasperated look but didn’t pull away.

***

An hour had passed since we entered the PC Bang.

“Am I dead?”
“…Yeah.”
“Did I mess up?”
“…No, hyung, I think… this role just doesn’t suit you. Want to try support instead?”

At first, Kang Yi-chae was gentle about it.

“Hyung, why did you use flash there?”
“I’m not supposed to?”

Two hours in, he was clenching his teeth sporadically.

“Why is your mana completely full right now?!”
“Isn’t it good to save it?”
“How do you even come up with such creative ideas?”

Three hours had passed since we entered the PC Bang.

“…Ho-yoon hyung.”

Watching me die to the enemy tower, Kang Yi-chae quietly set down his headphones.

“Hyung. I’ve learned an important lesson this time.”
“What is it?”
“Never hold preconceived notions about people….”
“Are you insulting me?”
“You really do catch on quick.”

I thought I’d be good at games, but I wasn’t—that’s what the disappointment was about.
I glared at Kang Yi-chae and sighed. I understood what he meant, but my hands just wouldn’t cooperate. There were countless moments where I’d mess up and think “oh” right after. Of course, each time that happened, Kang Yi-chae gradually lost more words to say.

“Brother, go eat some ramen next to Hyun-sung over there.”
“….”

In the end, Kang Yi-chae completely lost interest in me. It had been so long since I’d been treated this coldly that I felt a petulant irritation rising.

“Hey, what makes you think you’re so good….”

Kang Yi-chae quietly placed his hand on the monitor.

“Brother, want to look at this first before you say anything?”
“…What is this?”
“The fact that you’re asking what this is means you’re already done for. Go.”

I reluctantly stood up from my chair. Fine, whatever. It’s actually good if Kang Yi-chae does well.

‘If these guys get first place, well, that’s good for me too.’

Having given up so easily, I wandered around the periphery and started observing the others. Kim Sung-hyun, who had already been eliminated long ago, must have heard some harsh criticism earlier because he clicked his tongue and asked me.

“Seo Ho-yoon. Want to order some ramen?”
“Don’t order any for Kang Yi-chae.”
“Obviously not.”

Kim Sung-hyun and I badmouthed Kang Yi-chae, but it went in one ear and out the other. From behind, I slurped my ramen and began observing in earnest.

“What about Jung Da-jun?”

Next came Jung Da-jun.

“Da-jun’s fine.”
“Yes!”

Jung Da-jun shouted “Nice!” and clenched his fist.

“Sung Ji-won.”

Only Sung Ji-won remained. Assuming he’d be around my skill level anyway, I figured he’d be eliminated without even needing to watch, so I waved at him.

“Sung Ji-won, get over here and eat some ramen. It’s getting cold.”
“Wait, guys. Don’t interrupt Ji-won hyung.”
“Huh?”

But Kang Yi-chae couldn’t tear his eyes away from Sung Ji-won’s monitor.

“Hyung, how long did you say you’ve been playing this game?”
“Hmm… not that long, actually.”
“Wow, what…?”

Jung Da-jun and Kang Yi-chae stirred with excitement beside him. The moment Sung Ji-won dove into the enemy tower, landed three consecutive skills with ghostly precision, and executed a perfect ignite combo to eliminate his opponent, the chat exploded.

[What absolute garbage]

Somehow, Sung Ji-won recognized it as a curse and spoke with innocent brightness.

“Wow, they’re cursing at me.”
“Mute them.”
1)
.”
“What’s mute?”

Just as Sung Ji-won was about to innocently input the mute command as Kang Yi-chae instructed, his eyes suddenly narrowed slightly. He swiftly pivoted his mouse and dodged the grab coming from the jungle, eliminating the enemy team in the process.

[‘PracticeHarder’ is going absolutely wild!]
[‘PracticeHarder’ Double Kill!]

“Insane!”
“Unreal…”

[Whoa;;;]
[No wonder they tell you to practice]

Even his own team erupted in praise. Here stood a rare specimen—someone actually receiving compliments while gaming in South Korea.
Kang Yi-chae glanced sideways at Sung Ji-won.

“Brother, about that swear word earlier….”
“Huh?”
“…Does it bother you?”
“Haha, I curse like that every day anyway. No big deal.”

That’s what it means to be an idol!

“Both the wit and the mental fortitude…?”

Kang Yi-chae, who was always serious about games, gazed at Sung Ji-won with an expression of admiration. Following that, Sung Ji-won safely completed a team fight.

[‘Let’s practice, guys’ Double Kill!]
[‘Let’s practice, guys’ Triple Kill!]
[‘Let’s practice, guys’ is unstoppable!]

[VICTORY]

As the tower crumbled and the main screen returned, medals cascaded down. It was the MVP award from the people who had played with him.

“Wow! I guess I did pretty well.”
“….”
“….”
“…Or not?”

Kang Yi-chae and Jung Da-jun fell silent. Then, simultaneously, they nodded. Jung Da-jun grabbed Sung Ji-won’s right shoulder while Kang Yi-chae grabbed his left.

“Brother, what role do you want to play?”
“Huh?”
“Pick any lane. I’ll push it for you. I can support and you can ADC, or whatever.”

Kang Yi-chae was deadly serious, like an athlete preparing for the Olympics. Sung Ji-won still hadn’t grasped the situation and looked bewildered, while Jung Da-jun and Kang Yi-chae whispered to each other.

“I saw Hyun-sung’s brother play, and we have to give up on him.”
“Yeah. Same here. Ho-yoon’s brother is even worse than Hyun-sung’s. It’s hopeless.”
“Why am I hopeless?”

I protested my innocence, but my words bounced off them as if they were wearing protective armor.

“Here’s what we’ll do. Let’s bring Sung Ji-won, grab one from Nightmare, and one more from Refined. Five people should work out fine.”
“How were the people you’re bringing?”
“Not bad. With that lineup, we can win. We just need to train hard with Sung Ji-won for the remaining time.”

Kang Yi-chae clenched his fist with determination.

“We’re winning this match.”

Kang Yi-chae and Jung Da-jun, with Sung Ji-won between them, belted out the lyrics to “We Dreamed of Victory With You.” For something born from cheap pride, the atmosphere felt genuinely stakes-driven.
While they were crafting their narrative, I was peacefully eating ramen with Kim Sung-hyun, rice mixed into the broth and all.

“What are we doing?”
“Archery, I guess.”
“Then I’ll just do track and field.”

As long as those first-place guys carried the weight, I just had to reap the rewards.
It was perfectly peaceful.
1) A setting that hides the other person’s chat.

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