Episode 105: Royal Rumble (3)
Nertube.
Even if not right this moment, the platform where you can most easily discover content matching your interests—no matter who you ask—is undeniably Nertube.
Once you’re logged in, the algorithm based on your viewing history recommends videos that perfectly fit your taste—that system alone is the single greatest contributor that made Nertube the world’s top video platform.
Click.
One refresh of the page, and the algorithm does its job, lining up videos it thinks I’ll want to watch.
Every single thumbnail radiates pure excitement.
‘Can’t be helped.’
Right now, is there any way Nertubers covering K-pop and idol content could possibly stay calm?
Ah-jeong’s comeback.
Whether it’s music, dramas, or movies—regardless of box office performance, her mere appearance alone generates buzz. If a Nertuber’s butt isn’t bouncing in their seat over the return of a superstar like that, they should question their qualifications as a creator.
That’s why almost every video filling my computer screen has Ah-jeong’s face plastered across the thumbnail in giant letters.
Of course, the actual content is a little different from the thumbnails.
That’s only natural—there’s barely any released information beyond “currently filming the music video.” What else is there to talk about?
Fortunately for them, there’s one more topic juicy enough to extend video length and keep monetization rolling.
The full-on clash between Polaris, E-GIS, and Orion serves as the perfect pre-festival appetizer ahead of Ah-jeong’s comeback celebration.
All three debuted within the last year, all five-member groups, and none under the so-called “big three” agencies—Sunshine, JWY, or Overwhelm—despite so many other common points.
‘Can anyone really hold back from comparing them?’
If you can resist, you’re not human—you’re a saint or a bodhisattva.
As proof that my prediction wasn’t wrong, the view counts on these videos are steadily climbing.
Not just the core fandoms—Northern Cross (Polaris), Minerva (E-GIS), Artemis (Orion, tentative name)—but even fandoms of unrelated groups watching the fight from across the river like it’s free entertainment.
At least on the idol boards, there’s no way this colosseum could ever be boring.
‘Even I’m getting this much dopamine.’
This level of dopamine rush is probably the first I’ve felt since regressing.
Of course, I do feel a little sorry.
If the Orion kids knew I was just enjoying this situation as pure fun, they’d be… slightly—no, very—disappointed.
But it can’t be helped.
‘It’s fun—what can I do?’
From the perspective of someone who remembers exactly what those three groups looked like in the previous timeline, there’s no way to stop the dopamine from surging.
First, Orion.
‘In the original timeline, they wouldn’t have even qualified to be here.’
If we judge by their original name Oberon, they’d still be trainees right now—nowhere near entering a matchup like this.
Tae-oh would naturally be busy preparing for the college entrance exam around this time.
‘A complete turnaround? A remarkable transformation?’
I’m not sure which phrase fits best, but in terms of self-evaluation, it’s a clear fact that the current version is overwhelmingly superior to the previous one.
Unless Tae-oh had used his head and gone into his major field, the moment he still ended up in the entertainment industry, that statement is solid.
‘And then E-GIS.’
Among the three, E-GIS is the group that changed the least—but even their change isn’t small.
Unlike the previous timeline where they were cursed by bad timing and could never shake the “second place” label, right now they’re undeniably the number-one contender for the 2025 rookie award title.
‘Of course, Orion’s appearance shifted the structure a bit.’
But just the fact that their rival changed from the unreachable, otherworldly Polaris to Orion—someone they could actually compete with—is already a huge win for E-GIS, isn’t it?
Finally, Polaris.
Of course, in the previous timeline, they had absurdly good luck in some areas.
‘But for their evaluation to drop this far just because one member is missing… it’s a bit much.’
If the kids lacked skill, or if they didn’t put in effort—fine.
But having watched them closer than anyone, I know very well that isn’t the case.
So maybe I’m allowed to laugh a little.
The massive gap in status—something only a regressor could know—perfectly shows just how much I contributed to the group called Polaris.
‘Well… even setting that aside.’
Thinking about it, yeah.
Even if they don’t stand out here.
‘So what?’
It doesn’t matter.
They’re not the kind of kids who can’t continue as singers just because things go wrong.
They’re not the type to give up on their dream after one slip.
With someone solid standing behind them ready to drop in a new coin before the countdown ends, Orion can take flight again anytime.
‘In that sense, they’re clearly different from Polaris and E-GIS.’
Polaris—already derailed once and now needing to prove their worth again.
E-GIS—with the limitations of a brand-new agency, they don’t have many next chances.
Desperation can be the greatest fuel for igniting skill,
But sometimes the smoke rising from those flames makes you lose sight of the original goal.
‘Like I did.’
Of course, that’s something I can only say now because I’ve regressed.
That’s also why it’s the kind of thing I can’t openly say in front of the Orion members or MyWay staff—because of the fraud or mood issues.
Still, I can’t shake the feeling that I want the Orion kids to start with at least a little of that leeway.
That way, they at least won’t have the regrets I did.
‘What if they crash and burn?’
I’m standing behind them—so that’s the one thing they don’t need to worry about.
Cheetahs always smile.
I’ve always been ahead of trends, not just following them. Do you really think I’d fall so far behind that I couldn’t catch up?
‘If anything, right now—when we’re forced to fight purely on weight class and luck without external interference—is the perfect moment for them to learn that…’
The moment that thought crossed my mind, goosebumps rose across my body.
‘Wait.’
Why did I only think of “that” just now?
I immediately pulled out my phone and searched for a number.
The call connected quickly.
“Yes. Yujin-ssi. What’s up?”
To Seo Yoon-je’s relaxed voice on the other end,
“I have something urgent to tell you.”
I skipped the greetings and jumped straight to the point.
Seo Yoon-je answered with silence, waiting for me to continue.
But,
“It’s not something for you, CEO.”
Unfortunately, this wasn’t something to tell Seo Yoon-je.
“It’s for CEO Jo of Jooyul Entertainment. Could you arrange a meeting?”
I had to warn Jooyul—and E-GIS.
Because I know.
‘I know exactly how far that lunatic Lee Hee-kyung is willing to go.’
***
“Hmm…”
On the way to the appointed meeting place with CEO Jo Dae-hwan.
Seo Yoon-je—who was personally driving—let out a quiet sigh.
“So what you’re saying, Yujin-ssi… is that you’re not sure if CEO Lee Hee-kyung might do something to Jooyul?”
“Yes.”
“I understand why you don’t like Lee Hee-kyung. What she did to you was definitely out of order. But…”
Seo Yoon-je paused slightly.
I could understand why he hesitated.
‘Because this industry is like that.’
If the only goal was becoming an idol, breaking up with Zia would’ve been the obvious choice.
There are definitely people in this industry besides Lee Hee-kyung who would accept that as natural.
If Jo Dae-hwan didn’t take it seriously, this would go beyond meddling or slander—it would be outright defamation.
Seo Yoon-je’s thoughts were probably leaning in that direction.
‘But I can’t exactly explain it to him either.’
If he believed the full story I know about the Kevin Lee scandal, things would be easier.
If he “believed.”
The problem was that Kevin Lee ultimately received a prison sentence.
‘Even if he’d been acquitted due to insufficient evidence, it’s not an easy story to tell…’
And his brother’s sentence wasn’t even probation—it was just a slightly reduced term from the prosecutor’s request. I couldn’t say it.
If I did, even Seo Yoon-je would start looking at me a little strangely.
But this is certainty.
In the previous timeline, the two victims(?) who had been so bold in front of reporters—listing out every detail of what happened—never once appeared until the verdict was read.
Because of that, I could be certain of the shadow looming over Jooyul.
‘Not once, but twice.’
First Pleiades, now this.
If it’s Lee Hee-kyung—the one who turned a plagiarist into a rapist—she definitely won’t stay quiet.
‘She can’t touch the main culprits—us.’
Not me, not Hylliy, not Orion.
Since she has no choice but to tuck her tail in the face of Seo Yoon-je’s influence, the relatively weaker Jooyul Entertainment and E-GIS are the ones in danger.
“Hmm. From what I’ve seen, CEO Jo doesn’t seem like the type to do something like that.”
As the traffic light flashed red and the car came to a stop, Seo Yoon-je’s voice slipped into the silence that had settled during the drive.
I also expected that Jo Dae-hwan wasn’t that kind of person, just as Seo Yoon-je said.
Even setting aside the character of E-GIS and their manager, if he were anything like Lee Hee-kyung, he wouldn’t have bothered informing MyWay about E-GIS’s comeback plans in the first place.
Of course, whether he believes me or not is another matter entirely.
No—in fact, the odds are higher that he won’t.
Lee Hee-kyung is the CEO of a company, while I’m just a single producer.
‘Well then, that’s as far as it goes.’
Honestly, just asking Seo Yoon-je to set up this meeting already felt burdensome.
After all, he’s someone who gives me unconditional support. Making him owe someone else a favor because of me…
Creating this meeting with Jo Dae-hwan was purely out of personal rapport and loyalty toward E-GIS.
“I hope it really is just me overthinking. If it turns out to be nothing, the only loss is me looking like a fool, right?”
Well, that probably won’t happen.
He seemed to pick up on the nuance that whether to believe me or not was Jo Dae-hwan’s decision.
“No way—our MyWay’s second-generation chief producer can’t look like a fool!”
“Ah, come on. What are you saying? I still have a long way to go.”
Seo Yoon-je threw out the silly joke, and I played along with some light banter.
In the meantime, the car slowed down, leaving the main road and turning into a small alley.
As the meeting place drew closer, silence settled over the car again.
But that silence didn’t last long.
“Um, CEO.”
“Yeah. Go ahead.”
“If the situation I’m worried about actually happens…”
“If?”
“Yes—if.”
“Hm. Okay, if it happens, then what?”
It was obvious he already knew what I was going to say, yet his utterly calm tone made me choke up for a second.
“Would you… be able to help Jooyul?”
I wasn’t sure if it was even okay to ask for something like this.
In the end, everything comes down to money.
No matter how freely Seo Yoon-je spends on artists, it’s still ultimately someone else’s money—not mine.
‘I’ve never regretted anything this much before.’
I’d never once regretted not remembering stocks or things like that properly.
Money, fame—none of that mattered compared to living day-to-day with Zia.
Of course, even regretting it now won’t suddenly turn me into a tycoon in this life either, but still.
And yet,
“Pfft. Yujin-ssi, do you like E-GIS that much?”
The reply came wrapped in laughter.
I stared at him blankly, and he continued with that faint smile still on his lips.
“When I think about why you’re going this far, the answer seems pretty obvious. Never mind—you don’t have to say it. Hmm. Good. That kind of ambition is exactly what qualifies you as MyWay’s second-generation chief producer. I’ll do as you asked.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Didn’t I tell you last time? Do whatever you want. If that’s what you want, then I’ll help. There’s just one condition.”
A condition?
When I tilted my head slightly, Seo Yoon-je’s smile grew wider.
“Jooyul has to be the one to ask for help first. Otherwise, we don’t really have any justification to step in, do we?”
That wasn’t really a condition.
Packaging something so obvious as a “condition” was probably just his way of easing my burden.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for what? Alright, let’s go.”
I bowed my head in genuine gratitude. Seo Yoon-je patted my shoulder a couple times and stepped out of the car.
Following him, I stepped onto the ground and thought:
‘The guilt ends here.’
Even if it turns into “2-GIS” or “Kongji-GIS” again in this life, I won’t feel any guilt this time.