I Became An Idol To Pay Off My Debt

Outside the screen, the unit members were watching Ha Ye-rin as if enchanted, but inside the screen, Ha Ye-rin was being bombarded by Han Si-woo.

The fact that her training period was only a month was the root of the problem.

[Ha Ye-rin’s training period is only a month….]

[Han Si-woo: Among the trainees standing behind me, there is not a single one who hasn’t trained for at least a year. Some have trained for over ten years.]

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): …Yes.]

[Han Si-woo: So, having trained for just a month and appearing now… were you confident in your skills, or…?]

A suffocating silence.

[Han Si-woo: Did you think being an idol was that easy?]

“What the heck is that jerk saying-!!”

As soon as those words ended, the unit members’ rage towards Han Si-woo reached its peak.

“Damn it, a trainee might have trained for a short time, but why so much criticism, you bastard-!”

“Hey, did that jerk Han Si-woo just come back from the military? …Exempted? That son of a bitch probably has a small penis!”

The unit members wanted to see Ha Ye-rin for a long time. So they didn’t like how Han Si-woo kept cornering her.

Fortunately…

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): In the last month, by diving in and experiencing it myself, I learned just how hard the job of an idol is. Of course…, I’m not confident in my skills right now. I still need to work harder and grow.]

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): Even though I’ve only trained for a month, I found it quite tough. Everyone else here has endured this grueling training for at least several years. I don’t take the idol industry lightly at all.]

There were no issues to nitpick in Ha Ye-rin’s response.

She appealed well for respect towards the idol trainees and acknowledged her own shortcomings.

And then….

[Han Si-woo: Then why do you want to be an idol?]

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): …Because of my parents.]

[Han Si-woo: ……What?]

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): Because of my parents…, I must become an idol…. Absolutely….]

“…Oh dear.”

“What on earth could the story be….”

When Ha Ye-rin mentioned her parents, it stirred sympathy and sighs among the audience.

Such a beautiful girl… speaking about her parents with a heartfelt voice and gaze was enough to make one’s heart ache.

This was followed by additional edited footage.

It was Ha Ye-rin’s pre-interview content.

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): My family has some debt…. So….]

“Wow, is she trying to pay off her parents’ debts?”

“What a filial daughter, not only is she pretty but she is so dutiful….”

“Truly, since the tofu shop filial daughter, she seems to be the most beautiful filial daughter we’ve seen.”

Not only was she already receiving all kinds of affections and attention from the unit members due to her looks, but now pitying glances were added.

They all genuinely united in supporting Ha Ye-rin.

Even if Ha Ye-rin turned out to be tone-deaf and clumsy, they thought they would still like her.

After all, she had only trained for a month, so they had no expectations regarding her performance on stage.

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): Then…, I will show you the stage now.]

But when Ha Ye-rin’s performance began….

-Yeah, it won’t be that easy, in this world that I have permission to enter~

“Um…?”

“This is…!”

As a familiar song played, the unit members became restless again.

“Wow, isn’t this from GDmon? I used to love it when I was young!”

“Right? Could she have watched GDmon too?”

For men in their 20s and 30s, GDmon was an inseparable memory. The unit members sang along while watching Ha Ye-rin’s performance.

To their surprise, she was singing really well, providing an enjoyable experience.

In fact, if only judging vocal skills, Seo Yoo-jin, who performed before, was better, but that was long forgotten.

-Oh my love~~

After finishing her performance…

“Wow, she killed it.”

“Wow~ She said she just trained for a month! And she sings well?”

Even though it was almost time to end the night light hours, they were cheering loudly, chattering about Ha Ye-rin’s performance.

It wasn’t just the unit members who enjoyed the performance; the judges also showered her with compliments.

[Han Si-woo: Good tone and good vocalization. The sense of timing is quite good too. It was a very enjoyable performance.]

[Lee Hee-soo (Vocal Trainer): It’s still raw…, but it feels like discovering a rough yet beautiful gem.]

However, there was one person who ruined this warm atmosphere….

[Han Si-woo: …But, Miss Ha Ye-rin, this isn’t an idol song, is it?]

[A tense expression.]

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): …Yes.]

[Han Si-woo: There were a few movements, but they are hard to consider dance. Is that correct?]

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): …That’s correct.]

[Han Si-woo: Nowadays, for idols, dance is just as important as singing. In fact, perhaps dance is even more crucial now.]

“Ah, why is he doing that.”

As expected, it was Han Si-woo.

Yet this time, none of the unit members could comfortably curse him out.
Ha Ye-rin’s lack of dance in her performance was indeed a fact.

“Oh, what’s the big deal about not having dance?”

“Still, she’s an idol; she should have some dance, right?”

“True, if she doesn’t dance, she’s not an idol.”

“Besides, it’s just her first performance, she can do it next time.”

The TV-watching unit members began to split into two sides, debating whether they could acknowledge Ha Ye-rin’s dance-free performance.

Just then…
[Han Si-woo: Do you have a dance song prepared?]

“…Oh, what?”

“Are we getting another chance?”

As a majestic and urgent background music flowed, Han Si-woo requested to see one more performance.

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): ……I have something prepared. I will do it.]

With that, Ha Ye-rin was ready.

“……I hope it goes well.”

The unit members watched the broadcast with mixed feelings of hope and worry.

“……”

“……”

In that tense atmosphere, Ha Ye-rin spoke first.

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): Ah, may I change my outfit a bit before the performance?]

[Han Si-woo: Please do.]

The judges and even the TV-watching unit members didn’t think much of it.

But suddenly….

“…Oh, whoa.”

“Gasp.”

“Wow, what, what is this….”

“Damn it, step aside, you bastard! I can’t see!!”

“I-I’m sorry…!”

Everyone was startled and gasped when Ha Ye-rin suddenly removed her jacket right there. Some even bumped their heads after reflexively leaning closer to the TV.

[Han Si-woo: Yes, Ye-rin-!! Wh-What are you doing right now!]

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): …What?]

[Han Si-woo: You should change outside of the stage, not here.]

Han Si-woo, too, seemed to be panicking for once, showing a rare anxious expression.

Ha Ye-rin tilted her head at him.

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): I’m wearing pants under my skirt, so it’s okay.]

[Han Si-woo: Ah.]

[Peek.]

[Then Han Si-woo finally lowered his hands.]

[You must have been very embarrassed^^.]

Just like the subtitle suggested, Han Si-woo’s face turned red like a ripe tomato.

Seeing such a rare sight from the perfectionist Han Si-woo made the unit members burst out laughing.

“Oh, look at that jerk’s face turning red.”

“Han Si-woo is a man after all.”

“Is he falling for my future wife over nothing?”

“Why is she your wife?! You wanna die?”

Though unwittingly, Ha Ye-rin lightened the tense atmosphere with this happening.

And then….

“…Wow, but she really is extraordinarily pretty.”

“…Seeing her in person must be absolutely stunning.”

With her outfit change adding to the alluring atmosphere, Ha Ye-rin overwhelmed the audience with just her appearance.

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): Now, I will begin the performance.]

And so Ha Ye-rin’s second stage began….

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

“Uh? This song?”

“Isn’t that…?”

Once again, a familiar song played, especially a dance track with prominent sexy performance elements, making the unit members excitedly chatter.

And….

“Wow, this is going to be great.”

“Right? This is totally…, …!”

Thud.

As Ha Ye-rin squatted down for the introductory move, everyone held their breath and closed their mouths.

Her white and long legs peeked out from under her short pants.

Of course, it wasn’t overly revealing, but just her sitting down and stretching her legs was enough to create a tremendous shock in the hearts of the unit members.

The song continued.

-Spend this night with me.
-Hold my hand.

Her husky voice was completely the opposite of when she sang the GDmon Adventure song.

It felt as if she was really whispering right beside them.

But above all, the dance stood out.

Saarrrk-.

They were not particularly flashy or exciting moves.

They were slow… dreamlike.

But….

Saarrk-.

…delicate. And… mysterious.

“……Ah.”

Private Yoo Chang-seon was particularly indulged, savoring each of Ha Ye-rin’s movements.

Then it happened.

Paah!

‘……Huh?’

At one moment, his vision went dark, and when he returned to his senses, he found himself not in the military dormitory.

He was back in his narrow, dimly lit room.

Private Yoo Chang-seon was lying on his bed in casual clothes, rather than his familiar military uniform.

Swish-, step.

And as he was doing that, an figure approached him.

Slither-, slither.

She stretched out her arms and raised her butt while lying on the floor.

‘It’s Ha Ye-rin….’

The girl who had just been on TV was now crawling toward him on his bed.

Like a cat….

Swish-.

Looking up at him with gem-like big eyes….

“Gasp….”

Just that alone made Private Yoo Chang-seon feel his breath stop, but that wasn’t the end of it.

-It’s not enough.

“…Y-Yes?”

-Not enough, time.
-I want to be with you.

Slither-.

“Haah….”

Ha Ye-rin’s hand touched his ankle.

Her hand slowly moved upwards as her body climbed over his.

“Haah…, haah….”

Her touch brushed against his chest, and he could feel her breath right in front of him.

It was an electrifying and exhilarating sensation, as if he had just been electrocuted.

-24 hours is too….
-Not enough.

Her face drew closer.

It felt like… he was being pulled into the drain like water.

Yet he didn’t hate it at all.

Private Yoo Chang-seon rather threw himself into this blissful sensation.

He watched in awe and gratitude as she took everything from him.

Then it happened.

[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): Hah…, that’s all for now.]

When Ha Ye-rin finished her performance, he finally regained his senses.

“……”

“……”

“……I’ll be right back, I need to go to the restroom.”

Except for one junior who suddenly said he was going to the bathroom, all the unit members in front of the TV had blank expressions on their faces.

At that moment, Private Yoo Chang-seon felt a headache like the first time he smoked a cigarette, along with a feeling of regret for the short stage time.

He wanted to see her a little longer…, to witness her dazzling figure a bit more…!

Then an idea popped into his head on how he could see her more.

“…Hey, 7, 8, 9.”

“……”

“Hey, you bastards, aren’t you gonna respond? 7, 8, 9.”

“Corporal Moon Yoo-chan!”

“…Corporal Heo Man!”

“Corporal……!”

Private Yoo Chang-seon raised his voice, and the unit’s line of enlistees called 7, 8, 9 all raised their hands simultaneously.

Private Yoo Chang-seon glared at them and commanded.

“Tomorrow, as soon as we get our phones, everyone below me votes for her. If she doesn’t debut before I get discharged, you all are dead, you got it?”

“Y-Yes? Ah, yes! Understood!”

This was the most reasonable order that Private Yoo Chang-seon had ever given.

Since the unit members already shared the same thoughts as him, they happily replied.

Everyone wanted to see more of her performance. They all desired Ha Ye-rin to appear on TV as a proper idol, not just as a trainee.

In that moment, they felt perfectly united as comrades, even though it wasn’t during wartime.

This was the first moment when the Ha Ye-rin fandom, which would someday cover the skies of South Korea, began to stir.

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