By Zephyria 
“What?” What nonsense are you spouting.”
I glared at Shin Tae-beom, who, while flustered, handed me a tissue.
“No, you… look in the mirror. You’re really crying, you know?”
Instead of looking in the mirror as Shin Tae-beom suggested, I touched my eyes and felt moisture.
“…Huh?”
Why am I crying?
What’s so important about a little praise…
Even as I thought that, the silent tears didn’t stop.
“Aish, what’s wrong with this?”
I panicked and hurriedly wiped away the tears with the tissue, only to find the people around me looking at me with incredibly pitiful eyes.
President gently patted my shoulder.
“There, there. Our precious one. You must have been really starved for praise.”
“…I’m not.”
“No need to be shy. If you maintain that singing ability, you’ll be hearing it plenty from now on.”
“No, I’m really okay.”
Even in the midst of all this, the tears wouldn’t stop, which was driving me crazy.
‘This is insane.’
Tears that didn’t even flow when I was dying with holes in my body, why are they coming out now?
Even I couldn’t understand it.
After I managed to wipe away all the tears, the people at the agency were once again worried about the official request for a re-examination of my Esper abilities.
“But what if Yujin receives a much higher grade than before?”
“He just expressed his intention to participate in activities with us…”
“It’ll be hard to find another D-Class Guide like Yujin.”
The dark clouds returned to the faces of those who had been buzzing with excitement over my singing ability.
They were such easy people to read.
‘Hmm…’
Since my real grade as a Guide is SSS, if I obediently comply with the re-examination of my Esper abilities, I should be able to receive my original grade without any problems.
Then it would be easier to access information about the culprit by being affiliated with the government or a private guild.
‘But…’
For some reason, I didn’t want to leave this place.
Was that why?
Before I knew it, I blurted out in front of the gloomy agency people.
“…Wouldn’t it be fine if the test results are the same as before?”
President gave me a blank look at my words.
“Huh?”
“Right?”
“Well, yes, but.”
“Then it’s settled.”
No matter how many times they test me, there’s no way ‘Yeon Yu-jin’s Ability Measurement grade will increase.
The naive me who had just awakened couldn’t hide his grade, but for me, who has the memories of a seasoned Guide from the front lines, faking the test results was a piece of cake.
“Let’s practice singing more in preparation for the
The next day.
The Secrety members and I headed to Ktbc, a cable broadcasting station, for the
I was dragged along by President and the members, who insisted that we had to go to the salon early in the morning to get prettied up, and before I knew it, the transformation was complete while I was dozing off.
Throughout the makeup session, the staff praised me for having clear skin that made the makeup look good, but I kept replying with only ‘Yes, yes’ because I was sleepy.
‘So this is a broadcasting station.’
I was repeatedly warned by President and Manager Hyung not to show that I had no memory, but I couldn’t stop glancing around the broadcasting station.
Numerous staff members and people presumed to be current celebrities scheduled to appear on broadcasts were passing by before my eyes.
No matter how much of a hot topic Secrety was, we were still considered unknown idols, so not many people showed interest in us.
Ra Ho-yeon, the leader, warned me as I looked around with curiosity.
“Stop looking around like a meerkat. I told you not to act like it’s your first time at a broadcasting station.”
“…Okay, I got it.”
It wasn’t that I was afraid of Ra Ho-yeon. I was more worried about Manager Hyung, who would be troubled because of me.
I followed obediently and was able to enter the studio room and waiting room where
‘So I’m singing here today.’
Behind the clean stage, staff members were checking to see if the dreamy video was coming out well. Bright lights, stylish outfits prepared for the stage.
Everything felt unreal.
It felt like looking at a soap bubble that would burst with a little force.
Holding the script I had received in advance, we took our seats.
The program host, MC Seol Yu-rang, also arrived soon.
Manager Hyung told me that he was a popular ballad singer with many years of experience and a veteran in this industry. He used to be a successful main vocalist of a popular idol group in his heyday, but he gained great popularity after going solo after the group disbanded.
I was grateful to Manager Hyung for explaining everything to me, as it was my first broadcast since losing my memory.
I had already searched and learned the general information about Seol Yu-rang, but I nodded as if I was hearing it for the first time.
While I was lost in thought, the MC, with a gentle smile that looked like it was painted on, greeted us.
“Hello, Secrety. Please take care of me today.”
“Thank you for inviting us. We are the ones who should be saying please take care of us today, Seonbae.”
Ra Ho-yeon, the leader, politely greeted on behalf of the entire team. It was a perfect 90-degree folder bow.
‘This is similar to the military.’
I braced myself, thinking that I shouldn’t show a sloppy appearance.
Cha Si-yoon, the youngest, noticed that I was nervous and whispered softly in my ear.
“Make yourself comfortable, Hyung. The leader Hyung will be in charge of most of the proceedings. You’ll probably just have to say a word or two. And sing the song our group was requested to sing.”
“…I know.”
I know, since I’ve heard it a million times since yesterday.
‘Why this kindness?’
I was puzzled. Wasn’t Cha Si-yoon the type to completely ignore ‘Yeon Yu-jin’?
When I stared intently into Cha Si-yoon’s golden eyes, he averted his gaze.
“Okay, then.”
…What is it.
The on-air indicator light turned red, and the broadcast began in earnest.
“Welcome to the music university
As the cheerful MC’s greeting flowed out, we, who were waiting behind the stage, also greeted together. Looking straight at the camera that was watching us.
…Of course, with an idol-style greeting.
“Two, three! Save your Security! Hello, we are Secrety!”
…My hands and feet are curling up.
This is the standard idol greeting, but it was a little embarrassing to say it out loud.
‘It’s something from my past life, but I’m thirty years old…’
It was a greeting method I had learned until my ears were sore, but I couldn’t get used to it no matter how hard I tried. I had to take a movement that looked like shooting twin pistols with both hands, following the leader Ra Ho-yeon’s lead. And even wink.
It was awkward, but thanks to practicing several times, the movements flowed out naturally.
Potato, who was sitting on my head, slapped my hair.
[ Focus! Even if it’s a recorded broadcast, there are people who came to see the stage! ]
‘I know.’
When I focused with a fire in my eyes, I heard the clear voice of the MC.
It was time for a brief chat about recent events before going on stage.
“You’re being praised as heroes who subdued the recent Dungeon Break. I’m sure you’ve been asked this question to death on other broadcasts, but what were your thoughts when you resolved the Dungeon Break?”
If you’re tired of it, stop asking.
I’m hearing the question for the first time since I’ve been in the hospital and just got discharged, but that wouldn’t be the case for the other members.
Seo Yun-chae, who has a bad temper, had a slight twitch in the corner of his mouth, but fortunately, he didn’t lose his smile.
Ra Ho-yeon, the leader, answered calmly. According to the pre-arranged script.
“I think we were lucky. I’m also grateful that we were able to resolve it even though we’re not Hunters who specialize in closing Dungeons. As Ability Users, it was something we had to do, but we’re happy that the citizens are looking at us favorably.”
The fluent comments were perfect without any flaws. If it weren’t for the words he added at the end.
“It would have been impossible without Yujin, the only Guide in the team.”
‘Huh?’
While I was bewildered, Cha Si-yoon quietly helped Ra Ho-yeon.
“That’s right. If Yujin Hyung hadn’t responded so quickly at that time, we might have become victims of that Gate explosion.”
Why are they doing this?
This wasn’t in the script.
I was embarrassed that they suddenly turned the praise to me.
The MC was intrigued and asked the members more questions.
“Hoo, but according to what’s widely known to the public, I heard that Espers are the ones who can fight directly in battle? Even looking at the reports in the news, aren’t the four members who fought directly the ones excluding Guide Yeon Yu-jin?”
Ra Ho-yeon calmly replied.
“Of course, but the members, including myself, are not professional Hunters who have undergone formal training, so we needed a commander.”
Shin Tae-beom added another word.
“It was thanks to Yujin, the Guide, who did a great job as the commander. I think it was an achievement we were able to achieve thanks to him raising our energy with Guiding and instructing us on what to do.”
When did these guys become so good at talking?