I became the leader of a damned girl group

Episode 1
Everyone dreams of standing at the top.

“Thank you for waiting. The recipient of this year’s grand prize is—”

But there can only be one at the top.

“An artist beloved not just by a generation but by an era, who has once again shined this year—”

And the moment I stood at that peak—

“Baek Nokka!”

—I felt no happiness at all.

“Unnie! Congratulations on winning the grand prize!”

“Nokka-ya, you really worked hard! Thank you for mentioning our Greenies!”

On the way out after the awards ceremony, fans were waiting for me at the parking lot.

They were precious people. Waiting like this even in the cold.

I greeted them from inside the car and sent them one last message of thanks.

“Thank you, my Greenies. I’ll come back soon to say hello properly.”

Normally, I would have spent more time, given longer greetings, and expressed my gratitude more, but… today, I just couldn’t.

Honestly, I could barely even remember how I made it this far.

As soon as the car window was fully rolled up, my manager unnie turned to me.

“You did great, Nokka. Really. I know you must have been a wreck inside… but you didn’t show it at all. Your acceptance speech was perfect too… you were just the right amount of nervous. Everyone’s reacting so warmly.”

My manager, who had been with me for ten years, tried to comfort me.

But right now, none of the congratulations or words of comfort reached me.

Even the grand prize trophy, placed carefully in the seat next to me, was invisible to me.

“Unnie, I really appreciate it… but first, let’s go to the hospital. Fast.”

“Ah, yes. Of course. I’ll drive as fast as I can.”

“Thanks.”

The reason was—

“How’s Mom…? How is she?”

—because of a phone call I got right before the award was announced.

‘Nokka-ya, please don’t panic. Listen carefully. Your mother… there was a fire at home…’

The explanation was simple.

But the situation was anything but.

There had been a fire at my mother’s house, and she had been caught in it while waiting alone to watch my award moment.

The fire was now extinguished, but my mother was in critical condition.

And yet, I couldn’t go to the hospital right away.

In exactly five minutes, the grand prize would be awarded to me.

My third grand prize.

Three years in a row.

A title so incredible just hearing it gave me goosebumps.

Not just me—everyone who supported me had been waiting for this moment.

The agency CEO convinced me, saying, “Just 30 minutes. Just accept the award, give your speech, and come down. Then we’ll rush to the hospital.”

I couldn’t refuse.

‘Nokka-ya, I’ll be at the hospital first. I’ll keep you updated on your mother’s condition. Please… just accept the award and come right away.’

It wasn’t for the CEO.

It wasn’t even for myself.

It was for the fans, holding up banners with my name in the audience.

The moment I received the award, I rushed outside without looking back.

I already imagined the hateful comments about me leaving early, but I couldn’t care less.

“CEO said they’ll release an article explaining why you left mid-ceremony. That your mother is critically ill—”

“Unnie. I’m fine. Really. Let’s just… hurry up.”

“Y-yeah, right.”

The manager awkwardly turned back to face forward.

Honestly, I couldn’t see anything except Mom right now.

Then—

Our Spring Will Return Again—

The ringtone made my heart sink.

My song that had earned me the grand prize.

A song I had cherished so much, but now it only sounded terrifying.

‘Idiot Seo CEO’

The caller was… Seo Chang-woon, the CEO of my agency.

The one who had gone to the hospital for me.

With trembling hands, I answered the phone.

—I’m sorry, Nokka-ya… I’m really sorry…

I had to hear the words I never wanted to hear.

I don’t know what I was thinking in that moment.

“Unnie.”

“Yeah? What did the CEO say?”

“Please… pull over.”

“Huh? We’re in the middle of the road. Let me just—”

“Anywhere. Just pull over. I’m going to throw up.”

Feeling the nausea rise uncontrollably, I begged her to stop.

The manager, flustered, quickly pulled over to the side.

The moment the car stopped, I threw the door open and vomited.

Having barely eaten in the past two days due to my schedule, only some stomach acid came out.

I collapsed onto the ground, laughing hollowly.

What is this?

Why is God playing such a cruel joke on me?

Today was supposed to be the best day of my life. Why was it turning into the worst?

I had run so hard for this day—not alone, but together with so many people, my fans.

Why ruin it all like this?

In the midst of anger and injustice swirling together—

—Are you upset?

A truly strange being appeared.

“…What the hell are you?”

I almost never used informal speech. Ever since my debut, I had forced myself to speak formally to everyone, terrified of making a mistake.

But this thing in front of me…

—It doesn’t matter what I am. What matters is what you want right now.

It clearly wasn’t human.

A tiny black fluffball, floating in the air.

“…Am I hallucinating from the shock?”

I instinctively looked for my manager.

If I was hallucinating, it meant I wasn’t sane.

“Unnie? Unnie?”

But no answer came, even after one second, which was unlike her.

I managed to stand up and peeked into the car.

Something was wrong.

The manager was gone.

Not just her—the entire street was empty. Not a single car, not a single person.

“…Am I really hallucinating?”

—You’re not.

The fluffball floated right up beside me.

“Jesus Christ!”

—We don’t have much time, so let’s get to the point.

“What are you?!”

—You want to bring your mother back, right?

“…!”

I was struck speechless by the fluffball’s words.

—I can turn this worst moment back into your best moment.

Even though it had no face, I could feel it.

The thing was smiling.

“…How?”

—Simple. I’ll erase the fire. You’ll get your grand prize, and your mother will stay safe at home, proudly watching you.

The fluffball spun around in front of me.

—And then ta-da! You’ll get to fully enjoy your victory!

“…”

It was the perfect offer.

It made me think, “Am I dreaming?” — so desperately that it had to be a dream.

I chuckled. If it was a dream, might as well play along.

When I woke up, hell would still be waiting anyway.

“So… what’s your price?”

—Ah, that’s not so simple.

The fluffball sagged.

—But you’ll definitely be able to do it.

“…Me?”

What the hell did that mean?

I eyed it suspiciously.

Was this dream trying to scam me?

—Baek Nokka. Ten-year idol and singer-songwriter. From rookie awards to excellence awards, popularity awards, grand prizes. You’ve swept them all. Two-time winner of the once-a-year grand prize. Recognized best female solo artist. Popularity, fandom, favorability, image—all at the top. The definition of “born-to-be idol, born-to-be top star.” Although honestly, you’re more of a hard worker than naturally gifted.

…Where was this sudden praise coming from?

It was things I’d heard before, but hearing it from this thing embarrassed me.

—And today, finally! You were about to fulfill everyone’s wishes by winning three grand prizes in a row! How cool is that? Reaching the top as an idol!

Yeah.

I smiled bitterly.

—But there’s an unfortunate soul who desperately wants to be like you.

“Someone… wants to be like me?”

I muttered unconsciously.

—Yeah. Someone who dreams of standing at the top like you. Help that soul, and I’ll help you.

The fluffball buzzed around energetically again.

But I was suspicious.

“How am I supposed to help? I may be an idol, but I’m not a god. I have no idea how to help a soul.”

—That’s why I’m here.

The fluffball puffed up its fur.

—Don’t worry about the method. Just decide whether you’ll accept my proposal.

I couldn’t answer easily.

Even if it was a dream, I could feel it dodging my question.

—If you promise to help that soul, I’ll erase the fire from existence. Your mother will be safe.

But it wasn’t an offer I could refuse.

If I could bring Mom back… how could I say no?

“…I’ll accept.”

A lifetime sacrificed only for me—how could I not?

—Excellent choice!

The fluffball let out a weird laugh and grew massive.

—Oh, right, Baek Nokka.

“…What?”

I was staring blankly at the ridiculously growing fluffball when it spoke again.

—If you could bring just one thing with you to your next life, what would it be?

“…?”

—Quick, answer.

“…My voice?”

—Truly an excellent choice!

The fluffball laughed again—this time even creepier.

And then suddenly, it opened a huge mouth and swallowed me whole.

Without a chance to escape, darkness engulfed me.

“Damn it.”

I had definitely been scammed.

“What the hell happened to my vocal cords?!”

I sat blankly in the middle of a practice room.

“What the hell is with this muscle-less body too?”

The entire wall of the practice room was a mirror.

But this wasn’t my agency’s studio.

It belonged to one of Korea’s major entertainment companies, “Colors.”

And I was now a trainee at Colors—

“And what the hell… is all this?”

I had become “Yoon Cheong.”

A trainee fated to debut in one year and disband two years later as part of the girl group “Steel Blue.”

Ding!

Congratulations! You are now “Yoon Cheong.”

From now on, you must save the doomed girl group “Steel Blue”!

Damn it.