"Super Strong Dragon, let's talk."
Back home, the first thing I did was call out the dragon that had been keeping itself hidden. Before long, a blue, stubby body appeared before my eyes.
It's convenient, sure, but how on earth does this system work?
"Talk about what. Make it quick. I'm busy."
"Hah?"
But the reply was so absurd that a sigh burst out on its own.
No, busy with what, exactly? I know it was glued to my side all day! And was it just quietly sticking around? It picked a fight with every single thing I said!
Ahh— maybe it was busy picking fights.
"You. Why do you peek inside my head?"
Swallowing everything I wanted to say, I got straight to the point. Otherwise, I felt like I'd get even more nagging about wasting its time when it was busy.
"That just means I'm an amazing being."
"......."
That's not what I asked, though.
It was so shameless I couldn't even sigh anymore.
Enough that, even though I'm a living person now and know full well this situation isn't a dream but reality, I somehow couldn't argue back.
Just then, the dragon, which had been eyeing me sideways, spoke again.
"What kind of dog-crap nonsense is this? You're thinking that right now, aren't you?"
"Honestly, yeah. But think about it. How would you feel if it were done to you?"
It was my decisive blow. Thrown in the hope that it would understand how bad it feels just to have someone see inside your head.
"Not really? Well, I won't show up when you really need private time, so don't worry."
Of course, my blow didn't land on Super Strong Dragon. Maybe it's the super strong part, but it really only brings on irritation. But what it said next was a little tempting.
And so was the question of what it meant by private time, the sly way it said it.
"......For example?"
"Weeell— lots of things?"
Then why is it looking me up and down? The mocking look in its eyes is unbearably unpleasant, too. On top of that, it crossed its arms with those short little arms. Unbelievable!
"Anyway, I'd like you to understand that I'm busy too."
It stressed being busy once again, so this time it didn't seem so bad to humor it and ask.
Looking over the blue dragon's stubby arms, forced into a fold and about to slip apart any second, I asked.
"What are you busy with? Don't tell me there's someone else you're watching besides me?"
"Could you drop the tone like you're grilling a cheating husband? It's making me queasy."
"......."
But the moment I heard the answer, I was the one who felt queasy. Why is every single thing it says like that?
I'd say it's a problem, too, that the author who wrote the best-selling novel before I came back picks only such unpleasant metaphors. Before we even talk about writing skill, we should be discussing its character.
The dragon, which had been frowning, only gave a proper answer once I sank into thought and didn't respond.
"Sheesh— and you bought that, too. Actually, I was bluffing. I said I'm an amazing being, but I don't know everything either."
"Seriously?"
It had never deceived me, but I didn't want to get stabbed in the back later, either, so my eyes narrowed on their own.
Realizing it was being doubted, Super Strong Dragon soon flapped its blue wings and rose up a little.
"Yeah. The things I said hit the mark only because your thoughts were within the range I could predict. So you can just blame yourself for getting caught by it."
Now that I think about it, I am on the simple side. Even Jun-hyeok hyung told me to be careful in front of the instructors and team leaders, because anyone can tell what I'm thinking just by looking at my face.
The problem here was that the dragon, picking only the right things to say, was just too infuriating.
"Then what about someone besides me?"
"There isn't one. If I'd known summoning one person would be this much of a hassle, I wouldn't have tried it with you either."
A grumble came back at my repeated question. But only then could I finally relax.
"That's a relief to hear."
Honestly, it wasn't just relief. I was truly satisfied that I was the only one Super Strong Dragon was looking after.
Hitting the top with an idol novel, to the point that the novel was becoming a drama, meant it really knew this industry well, so it would be a real help in my idol life ahead.
But if there were someone else, that help would be split in half, wouldn't it?
"You're thinking something nasty again, aren't you?"
"Again? That's rude."
Just thinking about succeeding made me happy, so the corners of my mouth must have tugged up. At its sarcastic tone, I pressed my mouth flat with my hand and started on what I'd originally meant to say.
"Anyway, I'd like you to refrain from suddenly popping out from now on."
"Fine by me."
"And......."
The dragon accepted my proposal very lightly. But my goal didn't end there.
If I'm going to milk it, I should milk it properly.
"No."
"I haven't said anything yet."
But getting blocked before I could even get to the point made an aggrieved voice pop out. I don't know for sure, but my face muscles must have twitched out of control again this time too.
"I don't have to hear it; it's obvious. If you're going to talk nonsense, just go to sleep. I'm busy, so I'll be off."
Nonsense? I haven't even said it yet, and it's hurting my feelings!
But in this relationship, anyone can see I'm clearly the underdog. Besides, the one in need always has to grovel more.
I'd bowed my head countless times as a trainee, so putting on a voice pitiful enough to make passersby turn around was easy.
"There's no harm in just listening. I'm just curious."
"Curious about what?"
I knew it!
The dragon, which had started flapping its palm-sized wings to vanish, sighed heavily and sat back down on the edge of the bed. It still made no effort to hide its irritated face, as if something displeased it.
Hm? But how do I know what a dragon's irritated face looks like?
"What? You blurted it out and now you've got nothing to say?"
"No! No way."
Spacing out in front of a dragon that digs in sharply at the slightest opening? After desperately wishing for a chance like this, had I lost my mind already, Lee Jae-min?
I shook my head quickly to get a grip and asked again, my eyes clearer than ever.
"You said you'd give me a penalty since I kept not believing you."
"Oh— you remember that?"
Its reaction is annoying, but let's let it slide for now.
"What exactly is this penalty?"
If it was going to seriously get in the way of what I had to do, I'd have to overcome it somehow, so it wouldn't hurt to know. But unfortunately, I'd been expecting way too much from that stubby blue dragon.
"I haven't thought about it?"
"What?"
I had never imagined such an answer. I was proud of myself just for barely holding back a curse.
Every emotion was surely all over my face, but Super Strong Dragon went on with what it had to say as if it was no big deal.
"Exactly what it sounds like. Back then, I just said whatever came out, so I didn't really have anything in mind. But words once spoken should be kept. Now— what variable would be good to throw in? Let's talk about this part again later."
And then it vanished with a ridiculous poof! Not even a cliché 'Well then, see ya!' or any kind of goodbye.
I'd dug my own grave. Why on earth had I asked about that? Regret washed over me, too late.
It hadn't been long since I met that damn dragon, but with that personality, if it vanished like that, it was obvious it wouldn't come out for a while even if I called.
"Hah— let's just sleep for now."
Then the only thing I could do right now was rest. I'd accomplished way more than I'd thought, so I felt I could fall asleep the moment I closed my eyes.
Right. Surely it won't send me back to how things were just because I asked about that. All I have to do is fall asleep waiting for a brand-new tomorrow.
I really thought that was all I had to do.
***
"Right. Starting today, Jun-hyeok and Jae-min are excluded from the regular lessons."
At Team Leader Seol's announcement, the eyes of every gathered trainee turned to me. Nobody said a word, but the silence that dragged on made me almost wish someone would say anything at all.
"......."
"......."
When I heard there was an unscheduled trainee assembly, I'd figured something would be announced today. But announcing it this suddenly was a bit much, wasn't it?
And why were all the gathered trainees looking only at me and not at hyung?
"Um, Team Leader Seol."
Just then, someone spoke up, as if they had noticed my confusion. Glad, I turned my head to find a trainee of about my seniority raising a hand.
Now that I think about it, that trainee never got to debut at AP either, I think.
While I turned my head slightly away, worried I was making a weird face again, Team Leader Seol looked at that trainee and nodded. Meaning: if you have something to say, say it.
Then that trainee spoke calmly.
"May I ask why the two of them are being pulled out of the basic lessons?"
"Ah. I didn't explain enough, did I."
Only then did Team Leader Seol give her belated explanation. Thanks to that, I could figure out what was going on too.
"Some of you may have heard the rumors, but an idol survival program called 'Star Recycle' has been scheduled to air on MTV starting in April. From AP, Jeong Jun-hyeok and Lee Jae-min have been chosen to go. So starting today, the two of them will be taking separate lessons."
"Eh?"
"Why's Lee Jae-min going on that?"
Of course, like a dam that can't be held back once it bursts, whispers broke out here and there. And most of those whispers were aimed at me.
"Isn't he only in his second year?"
Right. I'd expected this much of a reaction. Although, to be exact, I'd hit exactly 3 years as of today, not 2.
"He can't even dance, so where's he getting the nerve? It'd be a relief if he doesn't embarrass AP."
But the longer I listened, the more it kind of escalated?
Finally, the last one openly talked about embarrassing AP, and I couldn't take it anymore.
"Ha?"
But the moment I turned my head to check the owner of that voice, the sound of air leaking out escaped my mouth.
Because the one talking about embarrassing AP was none other than Kim Min-seok.
Yeah. That Kim Min-seok. The goddamn bastard who debuted with a song I made and tried to use me to the very end.
On top of that, at this point in time, a newbie who joined AP less than a month ago is saying that to me? What do you, right now, even know about me?
"......."
Even without a mirror, I could feel my face muscles quivering with rage. And once it boiled up, the rage wouldn't calm down easily.
The most infuriating part was that it was Kim Min-seok, of all people, who'd said that.
"Quiet, quiet! Anyway, it's a decision made in a hurry since the first shoot is coming up soon, so I hope you'll all understand. Now, give it your all today too. Dismissed!"
Just as I felt I couldn't stand it without firing back a word, Team Leader Seol clapped her hands again and shut the trainees up. Thanks to that, I realized Team Leader Seol was still there, and my mouth shut too, which was a relief.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you!"
Judging that the trainees would have a lot to say among themselves, Team Leader Seol quickly left the large practice room, and everyone bowed toward her retreating back and shouted.
And my real hardship was only starting now.