By Zephyria 
But there was no way out.
In the face of the ‘You can do it, right?’ eye attack, there was only one answer I could give.
“…Okay. I’ll do it. I just have to do it, right?”
And then true hell began.
‘Ten hours a day, my ass…’
I collapsed onto the practice room floor, sprawled out, panting for breath.
“Is it even possible to be stuck in the practice room for over twelve hours a day…?”
This is torture.
Fortunately, Yeon Yu-jin’s body was still holding up, but… it was still tough.
There was a silver lining, though.
What you learn with your body is hard to forget, they say. The dance skills engraved in Yeon Yu-jin’s body hadn’t died, so I was able to keep up with the choreographer’s instructions.
The choreographer was pleased, saying it was a good sign.
“You’re doing well, Yujin. I thought you’d be struggling with the basics, but you’re doing much better than I expected.”
“Then could you reduce the amount of practice a bit…?”
“That’s not going to happen. I received a generous salary from the President’s investment, so I have to do my part.”
“…….”
“Get up. You need to practice harder than the other members to improve to a similar level.”
“Yessir…”
This place is obsessed with capitalism and practice.
Even with a tearful face, I followed along with everything I was told. I didn’t want to be told I couldn’t do it.
The President liked that I was burning with ambition. The members would occasionally slip me chocolates or candies.
Yesterday, Seo Yun-chae threw a box of fancy, gold-wrapped chocolates at me.
“Take it.”
“What’s this?”
I took it since he was giving it to me.
“Isn’t this an expensive brand? Why are you giving it to me?”
“I’m giving it to you because you’re working hard. Ho-yeon Hyung said your personality has become even more sensitive because you’re also managing your diet.”
Right. That damn diet!
Ra Ho-yeon was right.
The comeback was only about two months away, but the President ordered us to stay away from fattening, harmful foods, saying we had to start managing ourselves now.
Flour, sugar, liquid fructose, fried foods, and many other things were forbidden.
Ra Ho-yeon’s words about considering the pizza I ate due to Guiding energy depletion as my last supper had become a reality.
Our meals mainly consisted of healthy, tasteless salads focused on protein.
A feast of chicken breast, boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, and weeds continued.
The President said it was the perfect comeback diet, designed by an idol-specialized fitness trainer, and told us to eat well.
‘Even the military fed me better than this…’
I was sweating as much as in my past life from dance practice and working out to build my body, but my stomach was becoming more pathetic.
As the ratio of carbohydrates and fats in my diet drastically decreased, it was only natural that my temper became more sensitive.
“When did Ra Ho-yeon tell him all those trivial details?”
As I grumbled and pushed the chocolate box aside, Seo Yun-chae brought it back to me.
“It means you should eat something before you explode.”
As if I were some kind of beast trapped in a cage.
“I’m not eating it because it hurts my pride.”
“…I know you’re going to eat it all anyway, though?”
“I’m not?”
“You can’t even take your hands off the chocolate box, you’re hugging it, what are you talking about.”
“This is to not ignore the sincerity of the gift….”
“Just be honest. It’s because you’re craving sugar.”
“…Damn it.”
Once you taste sweetness, it’s hard to quit.
Fruits were included in the meals given to us every time, but my tongue couldn’t be satisfied with that.
I couldn’t pretend not to notice that the members kept trying to give me snacks, having noticed that.
Seo Yun-chae said annoyingly.
“Eat it secretly. I have so much of this stuff rotting away in my house’s warehouse that I can get you more if you ask.”
“…Why are you putting yourself through this hardship when your family has so much money?”
I couldn’t resist the temptation of sugar and threw a chocolate into my mouth as I asked.
Seo Yun-chae’s diet was no different from mine. Dry chicken breast and weed diet.
Seo Yun-chae gave a smooth smile at my question.
“It’s no fun if you solve everything with money. Happiness is earned at the end of hardship. Isn’t it about making life richer by experiencing this kind of hardship?”
“Don’t try to change the subject with bullshit.”
“I’m serious.”
“You always try to act playful and immature, but you’re sincere about singing. You could just say you like this job, why do you answer so twistedly? So complicated.”
“…….”
Seo Yun-chae had a blank expression at my answer. Like someone who had been hit right on the mark.
I felt like he was going to start unloading some annoying stories if I stayed any longer, so I quickly grabbed the chocolate box and ran away.
“I’m leaving. Thanks for the chocolate!”
And that chocolate was all gone yesterday….
I was depressed.
I was just breathing and sprawled out on the floor like a barnacle stuck to a reef when something cold touched my face.
“Ah, cold!”
It was an ion drink, as if it had just been taken out of the refrigerator.
“Drink it. You look thirsty.”
The person holding the ion drink was Ra Ho-yeon.
The devilish main dancer who, along with the choreographer, was working me to death.
If even one movement was wrong, he wouldn’t let it go until it was right, but he always took care of me like a ghost when I was having a hard time like this.
‘That’s why I can’t get annoyed.’
Tsk.
“…Thanks, I’ll drink it.”
I opened the ion drink and gulped it down. It was cool and refreshing.
“It’s hard, isn’t it?”
“Wouldn’t it be?”
I had to sing as well as practice the choreography.
Singing itself wasn’t a problem, but it was difficult to pay attention to the concept and mood of the song for the comeback.
The professional producer the President brought in listened to my singing and said that I was good at creating a mournful atmosphere, but I couldn’t bring out the bouncy, cheerful feeling.
I also admitted that I became as stiff as a wooden block when singing songs that were supposed to be bubbly and lovely.
“Your tone isn’t bad, but the problem is that you keep getting stiff.”
“The song?”
“Yeah. In cute songs.”
“It’s not like you’re cute.”
What do you want me to do about it?
I glared at Ra Ho-yeon, and he raised both hands in surrender.
“I was just trying to joke around.”
“Don’t.”
“Yes, sir.”
I was just practicing to death as if I were imprisoned, so my life became bleak and harsh. Like chicken breast.
‘I wonder what Jae-ha is doing.’
I couldn’t find the time to go see Jae-ha because I was thrown into practice hell, so I sent him a text message in advance.
[Jae-ha: It can’t be helped if you’re busy. Contact me when you have time.]
There was no reply after that.
It was probably because Jae-ha was busy looking for X, but I was a little disappointed that there was no contact at all.
‘He can’t not use his ability in the process of finding X.’
He had been stubbornly refusing to receive Guiding from other Guides until now. I couldn’t help but worry since he wasn’t showing his face at all.
This guy, could it be that he doesn’t want to bother me because I said I wouldn’t be able to see him for a while, so he’s not showing his face at all?
‘I can give him Guiding if it’s an urgent case.’
Even if it wasn’t an urgent case, I would welcome Jae-ha anytime, so my disappointment grew even bigger.
“I want to go outside.”
Ra Ho-yeon replied firmly to my muttering.
“That’s going to be difficult. The President told you not to move around alone anymore. There are also fans loitering around the company or the dorm.”
Ra Ho-yeon was right. As my recognition increased a little, people started hanging around the company or the dorm, day and night.
Sometimes, when I stared out the window, our eyes would meet. Every time that happened, those people showed an enthusiastic reaction.
When I asked who those people were and why they were so happy when our eyes met, the members lowered the blinds on the window.
They said those were sasaengs, so avoid them. They said they weren’t fans, so be careful.
It had become easier to deal with sasaengs than before, but they said it was still dangerous because there were people who stubbornly stuck around.
I, who was stronger than most adult men, didn’t find that warning scary.
“I can knock them over if they do anything weird.”
“You can’t do that. If you do, they’ll hold a grudge and start a fight, claiming they’re going to expose the reality of Yeon Yu-jin on the internet.”
“You’re saying the answer is to avoid them?”
“That’s right.”
What a pain.
Is it because of those sasaengs that Jae-ha can’t come to see me?
‘That’s probably not it, but…’
I was afraid that something might have happened since I hadn’t heard from him.
‘He’ll be safe, right, Jae-ha?’
As I was fretting because I couldn’t know the situation outside, Ra Ho-yeon looked at his phone and said.
“Get up. Break time is over.”
“…Already? It’s over?”
As I tried to sneak away, Ra Ho-yeon grabbed the back of my neck.
“Where are you going? You have to practice. Today, we have to fix the way your arms and legs get tangled up while turning.”
Help me, someone. A practice bug is trying to kill someone.
While being dragged away, I saw a bright electronic display board revealed between the buildings outside.
[We bring you news. The funeral without a body of Esper Jin Eu-tteum, who was presumed to have died at the Dungeon Gate on X day, was held. The bereaved family is still questioning the absence of Esper Jin Eu-tteum’s body and hopes that the closed Dungeon will be searched again.]
The death of an Esper without a body.
Me, whose body was stolen after death.
‘No way…’
It must be a coincidence, right?