1.
One day.
"You've been making fewer videos recently," said my girlfriend.
"Huh?"
"Videos of Kim Yul. You used to turn one in at least once a week, no matter how late it was. Are you doing it late because you're working on a masterpiece? There's quite a bunch of kids waiting for the next episode for our meeting. The reaction for the last scene with cutting his nails was good."
My girlfriend's expression was flat. I listened to her words and frowned for a moment.
'Videos. Right. I used to film every time we bullied Kim Yul with a camcorder.'
But.
Why did I do that?
『I'll wait. Kim Yul. Director.』
Why did I…?
[Currently, your immersion rate is 100%.]
...
Ah. That's right. I remembered.
It was this.
'I filmed it so the kids have something to see.'
The children of the local community leaders gathered at Shinseo Middle and High School.[1] The school was prestigious. The children of these highbrow and prestigious families had to behave properly, which meant there was a lot of stress on them.
Some of the kids relieved stress by taking part in the bullying, but that was dangerous. Most kids didn't want to take that risk. It was for the latter that I provided the [Kim Yul Videos].
It was pretty serious.
[Producer-nim, I want a concept where you cut his nails with scissors!] -J
[Please make him grow his hair and tie it with a yellow rubber band.] -7
[The last video only focused on hitting him a bunch. It wasn't that good…] -11
This school had a student council suggestion box. It was a box that students used when they wanted to send a note or letter directly to the student council, but I got my girlfriend to use it for a slightly different purpose.
A [Kim Yul request box], so to speak.
Even the teachers didn't touch the student council suggestion box. No one gave it a second look. It didn't matter if someone got caught putting a note in the box. Since my girlfriend had been on the student council since her first year, she could check the [request box] regularly.
It wasn't some revolutionary idea, but…
'I think I might be a little smart.'
It was a huge hit.
The precious sons and daughters of important houses were fascinated by the ability to participate in the bullying at no risk. The request box even guaranteed anonymity. They signed their requests with the initials of playing cards, such as A, K, Q, and J.
[Please slap his cheek and nothing else for 20 minutes.] -Q
Q was my girlfriend's initial.
[His scruffy clothes are nice, but I want to see him wearing other clothes too!] -7
7 was the president of the broadcasting club.
[Producer-nim. I greatly enjoyed the last video. It was a brilliant idea to make Kim Yul speak politely. From my point of view, Kim Yul is popular because of his strong pride. So, unlike other patrons who enjoy physical humiliation, I am certain that a mental approach would be ideal. Producer-nim, The body should always be a symbol for the mental…] -2
This nutjob who wrote a long review each time was a kid who played in the middle school band. He was insane. Since he was in the second grade of middle school, he used the number 2.
Of course, even as a crazy middle school kid, his family owned a powerful regional corporation. This meant he was a valuable patron.
Only such guests populated the so-called [Trump Card Group].
Secret fulfillment of their sadism. Vicarious satisfaction.
I maintained my current status by providing entertainment to my clients. Since I started filming my works, more and more 'friends' began taking care of me before I realized it. Yup, that was how I met my girlfriend.
There was no way I'd be able to date a rich girl otherwise, right?
It wasn't as if my mom or dad won any awards since I was in middle school. I couldn't pretend to be a singer like my big bro with his pretty face.
For me to climb the pyramid, I had to provide a tribute to those of high rank.
"Sorry."
I apologized for my tribute being late. I also questioned why I hadn't been shooting Kim Yul videos these days. There hadn't been any reason to stop. But immediately, I thought of a plausible reason. I was good at being quick-witted.
"You're a candidate to be the student council president. I'm trying to hold back for the election."
"What? You were thinking of me?"
"I want to be careful. People might talk…"
"So our producer does have a cute side."
Her eyes slanted upwards, and she stroked my head.
"I like smart puppies."
She was clearly treating me like a dog, but I didn't care. Rather, I played into it.
"Woof. Woof! Bark bark!"
"Pfft."
Finally, my girlfriend laughed. I was the only person in this school who could make my girlfriend smile. I bent my legs like a dog and jumped around.
"Did you know that you're a really fun guy, Hwang Eunseo?"
A fun guy. That one word proved my worth.
A fun guy to be with. A guy who always made you laugh. A popular guy among the popular kids who could control the mood.
After all, dating based on someone's face like my older brother had its limits. Real relationships depend on how well you can flap your lips…
『I was waiting, Gongja.』
...
I furrowed my brows.
What was that?
[Currently, your immersion rate is 100%.]
My mind went blank again for a moment.
Was I imagining it? I seemed to lose track of my thoughts more often recently.
"Anyway," I said, swallowing my spit. "I'm going to take a break from filming for a while. I can't just push on and cause trouble. If any of our friends complain, please tell them that I'm worried Kim Yul will stop coming to school if we keep bullying him, so I'm adjusting the pace…"
It was then.
-The broadcasting club announces…
A voice came from the school's speakers. It was a familiar voice, the voice of the number 7 member of the Trump Card Group—the broadcasting club president. But did his voice have less energy than usual? Somehow, it made me uneasy.
-Hwang Eunseo, from Grade 2, Class 5. Grade 2, Class 5 Hwang Eunseo, please come to the broadcasting room immediately. Once again, Hwang Eunseo from Grade 2, Class 5, please come to the broadcasting room immediately… That is all.
Then, the speaker turned off.
My girlfriend looked at me.
"Did something happen?"
I made a face showing I didn't know either.
"I don't think I did anything to be called to the broadcasting room…? Maybe the teachers' room."
"Since it's the broadcasting club's president, he might just be calling you for personal reasons. Like asking why there haven't been new videos."
My girlfriend muttered that the guy was a little crazy.
"Go. I'll go home by myself."
"Okay. Thanks."
I thought over it a little, then pressed my lips to my girlfriend's cheek.
I flirted with her quite well today. I also played up the lie that I cared for my girlfriend. She would probably allow a kiss on the cheek. More than anything, I had to prove to my girlfriend and the people around her that we were a couple.
My girlfriend huffed like she could see the calculations in my head.
"Cute."
Hooray. The princess laughed again.
"I'm going. I'll text you what it's about later."
That was why.
I was much smarter than the other students.
As I walked down the hallway, I calculated my score for today. Did I make any mistakes with people? Did I say anything weirdly? Did I make everyone laugh a good amount, and did I laugh a proper amount as well?
The results are…
'Today has been a perfect day.'
Full points.
'As expected of me.'
I was talented. My talents weren't just bullying someone but also turning that bullying into a game. The upper-crust kids who'd learned this fun would continue to look for me even after college. They might even invite me to their league.
'Though, it doesn't matter if I don't get invited.'
They would remember pulling some pranks with me in school. My girlfriend would probably dump me once we entered college, but she would remember me as the ex who amused her. Hwang Eunseo would remain as a memory of their youth that would always make them smile. That alone was a huge boon.
Unlike the wishy-washy students, I had a roadmap for my life.
'First, I'll become a film director.'
I didn't have to be very successful. The point was to make a few independent films, build my career somewhat, and network. Then, it'd become what I was known for. No one hated a troubled young director.
'After that?'
I would connect rookie actors and actresses to the upper class.[2] I'd become a sort of party designer, satisfying the rich young masters and ladies like I was doing now. Since my older brother worked in entertainment, I could stretch there too.
'Good.'
A golden life.
I was different from the nerds who just studied without purpose and thought about their careers only after getting into college.
I was on a different level.
"I'm coming in."
Scrape—
I opened the door to the broadcasting room.
But as soon as I entered, I paused.
"S-stop."
"..."
Only the broadcasting club president was in the room. That wasn't weird. The fact that the room had soundproof walls and thick curtains? That wasn't weird either.
"Hwa-Hwang Eunseo."
But the broadcasting club president was holding a camcorder and filming me, and that was unusual.
"Close the door."
"..."
"Hurry. Close the door. If you don't, th-there will be big trouble."
The broadcasting club president was trembling like a cornered rat. I didn't know why he was like that, but nothing good can come from agitating someone in that state. I quietly closed the door.
"Draw the curtains."
I drew the curtains.
"N-now, look at me."
I looked.
"Grade 2, Class 5, Hwang Eunseo. Y-you threatened me… You forced me to bully Kim Yul from Grade 2, Class 5. Right? S-say that it's right."
"…Is this some kind of hidden camera show?"
"Shut up and say yes!"
The broadcasting club president was seriously trembling. An ominous premonition came over me. Normally, I would have joked about how I could shut up while saying yes, but I couldn't because I was surprised.
"I don't get it. Come on, let's talk this over."
"Y-you approached me first. I said I didn't want to… You coaxed me, saying that there's something interesting and that I should see it at least once. Right? That's what happened. So it's all your fault!"
This wasn't normal.
"What are you talking about? You came to me after hearing rumors about the videos at the meetings. You said to let you in the group since you could connect me to the middle school kids, so why are you now…"
"No! That isn't it!"
His face turned pale.
"It's your wrongdoing. It's your fault, Hwang Eunseo. You said we'd never be caught. You promised anonymity. That you'd take responsibility. B-but why is there a video with me in it?!"
"What? Seriously, what are you talking about…?"
"I only appeared once!"
Appearance.
Some guests at the meetings occasionally wanted to make a guest appearance in the videos. They wanted to enjoy the act in real time instead of on tape. If I remembered correctly, the broadcasting club president only did so once.
"Hold on. Are you doing this because you're scared the video will be leaked? Don't worry about it. I throw away the video after everyone sees it…"
"Don't lie!!"
The broadcasting club president's face crumpled angrily.
"Asshole. You crazy bastard. I-I shouldn't have believed a bastard like you. Say it now. Say that you tricked me into it! Otherwise, I'll tell everyone what you've done!"
"..."
"Say it! I have to record it and send it!"
He was nuts.
I felt that I shouldn't stay here any longer.
"Sorry, but I won't admit to something I didn't even do. It goes against my conscience. I definitely only showed you because you asked me. I threw away the video itself, but I have all the notes you put in the suggestion box. I don't know why you're doing this, but I'll talk to you later when you cool down."
I turned my back to him.
The broadcasting club president groaned.
"S-stand right there! Don't go. Don't go, Hwang Eunseo! I-if you go out, you're done for! Really! I'll end your life by telling everyone! Don't you understand?! Hey, Hwang Eunseo! Bastard! You're done for! Your life is over! Just watch, I'll tell my parents, and your life…!!"
Scrape.
The door closed, cutting off the broadcasting club president's voice. Absorbed by the soundproof wall and covered by the curtains, his shouts were incoherent vibrations. Nobody was around in the second floor corridor.
"Fuck. What the hell?"
I cursed.
"He wouldn't be shaking like that for no reason."
Maybe the video really was leaked. There was no guarantee that none of my customers made a copy to keep. Someone may have used it to blackmail the broadcasting club president.
"Dammit."
I heard that managing customers was more difficult than getting them. Those words were right. I took out my cell phone and dialed the 'customers' one by one.
Ring—
The connecting sound was long. After a while, it ended because the other person didn't pick up.
"What?"
I stopped myself from yelling and called up the next customer. I wanted to ask if they knew anything about the broadcasting club president making a fuss.
Ring—
That customer didn't answer the phone either. Well, school just ended. They might not have picked up because they were on their way home. I controlled myself and called the next customer.
Ring—
Still.
The next customer didn't answer my call either.
"..."
Next customer, too.
"..."
A total of 12 people other than my girlfriend.
None of the customers in the Trump Card Group answered my calls.
'What is this?'
I was overcome by an ominous feeling.
It was like a hand was gripping my neck.
'Just what is happening?'
I didn't think as I called up a classmate who wasn't one of the customers. If I was the producer, this friend was my secretary. He was in charge of delivering and collecting the videos to and from the customers for me.
Ring—
He didn't answer my phone either.
"..."
I realized then.
Someone was trying to hunt me.