[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 242

“Please, have a seat. Since we don’t get many customers, this is the only chair we have.”

“Thank you.”

As the idol group awkwardly plopped down on the cheap plastic chairs, the floor creaked and groaned under their weight.

“So, have you received any songs yet?”

“Well, we’re a debut group, but our turn keeps getting pushed back.”

Sounds like they haven’t gotten any.

Or more accurately, they probably *couldn’t* get any.

Why did Uncle send them here?

No need to overthink it.

He probably had his reasons, but they’re not that deep.

“Should we just whip up a song real quick before we go?”

“Huh? Is that even possible?”

“It’s just playing around with music. Even if we got a song, it’s not like we can perform it in the market. It’s our *debut* song, after all.”

“But the equipment…”

As the leader, Achim, pointed out, the equipment is pretty lacking. Compared to the agency’s gear, it’s almost embarrassing to call it equipment.

Still, since we’ve been doing broadcasts, we’ve managed to gather some decent gear.

“We’ve got a microphone and an audio interface here. I also asked a friend to lend us a cheap MIDI keyboard.”

The only thing missing is a DAW, the audio editing software. But there are plenty of free versions, and we can always pay for a professional one if needed, so no big deal.

“Do you know how to use MIDI?”

“Nope. But I’ll figure it out.”

The leader’s eyes widened in shock at the answer.

[⚔️LOLOLOLOLOL]

[⚔️Get used to it LOL]

“What’s wrong? Not used to working with cheap stuff after always seeing the fancy gear?”

“Huh? Oh, no! That’s not what I meant at all.”

[⚔️The Bangjang used a 3,000 won mic for their first broadcast LOL]

[⚔️Thinking about it now, it’s so ridiculous LOLOL]

“Huh? 3,000 won?”

The idol group, sitting on the cheap chairs, looked utterly shocked.

“I bought it to raid in games. Chatting was too hard back then.”

“Oh! Do you like games?”

“I’m a game streamer.”

“Oh! I’m… what’s it called?”

The leader trailed off and exchanged glances with the members next to them.

Seeing this, the members shrugged.

“Female streamer?”

“Oh! Right! Female streamer.”

“Honestly, I don’t really know what other streamers do. I’ve just been doing what I want since the beginning.”

[⚔️LOL With that face, you could’ve made bank on other platforms as a female streamer]

[⚔️Nah! We’ve got our CEO!]

[Cha-ching!]

[Red Parade has sponsored 10,000,000 won]

[Stop staring at our Bangjang (°꒫°ꐦ)]

“Wow…”

“Thanks, Red.”

This isn’t scripted, and I have no idea what’s going on.

[⚔️Sing! Sing! Sing! Sing!]

[⚔️If you don’t sing now, it’s dereliction of duty]

“Why do my kids love singing so much?”

[⚔️Don’t let your voice go to waste, sing!!]

[Cha-ching!]

[Ariel Land has sponsored 5,000 won]

[God, I’m so done with this]

[⚔️Kick that guy’s ass!!]

[⚔️That one’s kinda scary though]

[⚔️Where does that guy even live lol]

[⚔️Take down that heretic!!]

Even though there’s a customer here, it’s turning into a mess as usual.

Looking at the four people sitting next to me, I can’t help but wonder what’s going on with their expressions.

“Alright, stop fighting. What should I sing?”

[⚔️Sing Hetairos!]

[⚔️Lol, Hetairos is the ultimate banger]

The chat scrolls up quickly.

“You’ve heard that one a lot already. Sing it again?”

“What’s Hetairos?”

“It’s a song my friend told me about.”

[⚔️Sing it! Sing it! Sing it!]

[⚔️Stop slacking and sing it already]

“Alright, I’ll sing it.”

It’s a song without accompaniment.

A song filled with the hope and emotion that this meeting feels dazzlingly joyful.

A dreamy song that naturally brings a smile to your face.

Even though there are four more people than usual, it’s not particularly different.

As always, my audience is my viewers.

“To my precious friend.”

『Ah──♬』

***

“Man-wook hyung, the task Noona asked for is almost done.”

“The sun’s strong. What about the tent?”

As Kim Man-wook spins his finger in the air, his subordinate nods.

“We’ve got permission from the local government and checked everything to make sure there are no issues. We also told the merchants to prepare more than usual since there’ll be a lot of customers.”

“Clean work. Good job.”

“Yes, hyung.”

Leaning against the lobby entrance leading to the VIP room, Kim Man-wook listens to his subordinate’s report and pats his shoulder.

*Click.*

Kim Man-wook takes out a cigarette, and a hand from the side lights it with a lighter.

“Phew─”

“What are you planning to do this time?”

“What else? Probably something fun. It’s not the first time, so get used to it.”

“Hehe. It’s gonna be packed, so our sales will probably double.”

*Crash!*

The sound of a glass bottle breaking suddenly interrupts their conversation, and the two turn their heads toward the room at the end of the long hallway.

“Are they still at it? It’s almost noon.”

“Sigh─ He’s a VIP, but what can we do?”

Kim Man-wook lifts his head weakly, cigarette smoke flowing from his mouth.

“Can’t we just mix something in his drink and knock him out?”

“Arthur. If you mess around with powder again…”

Suddenly, the image of an uninvited guest who showed up one day flashes in Kim Man-wook’s mind.

A pink-haired figure swinging a real sword like a toy, eyes glazed over, butchering people…

Girl.

Just thinking about her makes my back all sweaty.

*Thud!*

As Kim Man-wook, leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette, raises his hand, concrete dust mixed with paint falls down.

Seems like I put too much strength into it without realizing.

Hearing the noise, his subordinate sticks his neck out and stares at the broken wall.

“What the heck is this? It hasn’t even been that long since it was built. Should we call the contractor and give them hell, boss?”

‘The liquor she gave me…’

Kim Man-wook, cigarette still in his mouth, shakes his head while dusting off his palm.

One night, she called him and handed him a drink, saying she appreciated him always listening to her troubles.

Ever since he drank that, even the thick leather of a sandbag that seemed like it would last forever started tearing apart easily.

A person who lives each day chasing joy, more than they do, living day by day chasing pleasure.

“Ugh, you punk. You just brought back some bad memories.”

“Same here, boss…”

When emotions run high, they get angry; when they’re happy, they smile brightly.

That person, who would actively embrace anyone within their circle, was more human than anyone else.

Yet, even someone like that sometimes seemed to lack something.

‘A few unknown emotions, completely extracted…’

*Crash!*

While Kim Man-wook is lost in thought, the sound of glass breaking echoes from the end of the lobby again.

“Boss, should I go check it out?”

“Phew— Nah. What are you gonna do? You’ve got work to do, go handle it.”

“Yes, boss. I’ll head out then.”

Watching his subordinate walk away, Kim Man-wook stubs out his cigarette in the ashtray on the lobby counter.

“Hmm.”

*Thud, thud.*

As he walks toward the end of the lobby, the noise coming from the VIP room grows louder.

*Creak.*

“Hey, you idiot! You! Little! Brat!”

*Crash!*

As soon as he opens the door, a liquor bottle flies in, shattering and spilling a mix of alcohol and blood down Kim Man-wook’s head.

“You damn old man! Haha!”

The VIP who threw the bottle points at the dripping blood and laughs hysterically.

His tongue is so twisted he can’t even speak properly.

“Sigh. Sir, our club’s closing time was hours ago. You need to leave.”

Kim Man-wook wipes the blood dripping down his forehead and calms the VIP with icy eyes.

The guy is the only son of a CEO from one of the top steel companies in the country.

He’s even marked in Kim Man-wook’s database. Not just some random troublemaker—someone too troublesome to even touch.

“Who the hell! Do you think! I am—!”

The VIP, shouting syllable by syllable, picks up another liquor bottle scattered on the table.

“Get out!”

“Sir.”

“I am! Someone!!”

The VIP screams, raising the bottle above his head to throw it again.

Kim Man-wook decides to take one more hit to calm him down. If he dodges, this guy will only cause more chaos.

He’s gonna hit it.

Eventually, the liquor bottle leaves his hand.

Thud!

Kim Man-wook, who had been raising his hand to avoid being blinded, hears a strange sound and lowers his hand again. Then, he sees a delicate hand holding the liquor bottle in his eyes.

“Who are you?”

“Uh, sis.”

A pink-haired girl, who only comes up to his chest, struggles to raise her hand.

“You’re bleeding. Why is my baby hurt?”

“I, uh, fell while working…”

Kim Man-wook realizes belatedly that it was a ridiculous excuse.

He just didn’t want to worry the girl below him.

A girl dressed beautifully in a hanbok struggles, standing on tiptoe.

As he lowers his head to match her, he finally feels something warm stroking his head.

Then, the pain stops instantly.

“Thank you.”

“Yeah.”

As the sweet voice ends and he raises his head, Kim Man-wook feels goosebumps all over his body.

The once sweet air suddenly shifts, as if it had never been that way.

‘That thing I sometimes felt…’

“Are you okay?”

“…Yes.”

Kim Man-wook feels his body trembling.

He feels like he should immediately pull out the handgun the girl playfully handed him.

It’s not too late even now.

He has a strong premonition that if he doesn’t put a bullet in that drunkard’s head, only terrible regret awaits.

If there’s a hell, he’ll be questioned there.

Why didn’t you put a bullet in my head that day?

“Why is my baby hurt…”