“Oh, you showed them! Lee Danbi’s carry is crazy. The best! The best!”
“It’s so boring.”
I was sitting on the floor with Woo Kangwon, who couldn’t participate in the match, when I noticed Lee Danbi in black Boeing sunglasses, stretching his arms and head as he walked out. Beside him, Do Yuda was following closely, massaging Lee Danbi’s shoulders and fluffy hair like some sort of boxing coach.
‘Seeing them come out joking around, it seems like everything went well.’
They had just finished the e-sports match.
I thought they were going to be gone for a while, but it seemed to be over sooner than I expected. As the kids swaggered towards me with their shoulders practically touching the ceiling, I asked out of courtesy.
“…Did you do well?”
“It’s not exciting at all. It’s not even a ranked match….”
“Danbi got 16 kills all by himself. I was just a meat shield and human backpack next to him. Ultimate dead weight, legendary.”
“It was fine, I’m used to playing solo.”
They were jumping around, still so excited about the game, talking about something I couldn’t understand. I mean, I couldn’t even follow what was happening even after watching the game broadcast on the screen, so how could I understand what they were saying?
“You killed 16 people?”
“Yes.”
“Good job.”
I ruffled their hair and praised them, figuring that if they killed a bunch of people, they must have done a good job. Then, Do Yuda and Lee Danbi exchanged glances and giggled before pulling out a gold medal with a star shape engraved on it from their hoodie pocket and draping it around my neck.
“Tada!”
“Hehe, I felt a bit defeated because the other members put it on first, but it’s okay now.”
Zen was the first to win a medal in judo and put it around my neck, followed by Lee Hwayoung for his gold medal in equestrian, so I was already wearing two, but now two more were added.
“…….”
As I ended up wearing four medals around my neck, it felt similar to when I received multiple flower leis in Hawaii. For a moment, I wondered if this looked okay, and after stuttering a bit like a broken machine, I looked down at the medals around my neck and said.
“…Since you guys won them, you should be the ones wearing them. Why do you keep bringing them to me every time you get one?”
“It makes me feel a little competitive. It’s also inconvenient to carry them around.”
Okay, since I don’t participate in games that involve much physical activity, I’ll carry it for you.
Even as I muttered that to myself, I didn’t feel bad about it, so I smiled a little. Suddenly, I heard a burst of laughter from the audience stands.
“…What?”
As I tilted my head in wonder, Woo Kangwon, who was smiling happily next to me, pointed at the screen. As I tilted my head in wonder, Woo Kangwon, who was smiling happily next to me, pointed at the screen. When I followed his gaze, I saw a close-up of myself as a medal rack, holding on to the weight of the members’ achievements, being projected on the screen.
“…Ah.”
[“Wow, Seungbeom-ssi, it looks like you’re really loved by your members? You have four gold medals around your neck.”]
[“Yes, indeed, he’s the leader of the group currently in first place in the medal standings. If you want to check the number of medals Pantheion has, just take a shot of Seungbeom-ssi, haha!”]
[“He’s quite the greedy one. How can a player who hasn’t even participated in a single match already has four medals?”]
The announcer’s words coming through the speakers caused my ears to instantly turn bright red, which could be seen on the screen. I wasn’t particularly embarrassed, but unlike my own body, Han Seungbeom’s skin was so white that even a slight fluster would immediately show in color. Probably.
I ducked my head slightly to hide it, and the members’ hands appeared all around me. They covered my ears, gently stroked my hair, and made a flower-like gesture under my chin, gently brushing my cheek. In order, they were Lee Danbi’s, Woo Kangwon’s, and Do Yuda’s hands.
“…Don’t.”
After confirming my ridiculous appearance on the screen, I pursed my lips and pushed their hands away. Now, it felt like not just my ears, but my whole face was burning with embarrassment.
“KYAAAAAAA!”
Then, for reasons I couldn’t understand, the fans started screaming and cheering loudly. Watching that, I awkwardly touched my ear and, thinking that it was fine as long as the fans were happy, silently waved my hand at the camera. Soon after, the screen switched back to the player in the middle of the game.
“Come to think of it, how about Kiryang-hyung? Is the running race over?”
Do Yuda, who had been glancing around the stadium since earlier, asked me. In response, I waved to Baek Kiryang, who was walking toward us with a purple stamp on the back of his hand, like he’d just finished a race at an elementary school sports day.
“Here he comes.”
Startled, Baek Kiryang trembled and quickly approached us without a sound.
When I looked closer, the rank stamped on the back of his hand was, as expected, last place.
Lee Danbi, making a slightly regretful expression as he saw that, spoke to Baek Kiryang, “Hyung, you weren’t originally that slow. I remember you running really well when it was just us.”
“Yeah … but since I’m so nervous, my stomach hurts…….”
At that answer, I could imagine Baek Kiryang running with a pale face, clutching his upper abdomen. I couldn’t help but laugh a little, and then offered my own kind of consolation, “What can be done if your spirit is so weak?”
While we were having that casual conversation, a staff member approached us and informed us that we needed to move for the next games.
“Are you guys playing soccer after this?”
“Yes, it was changed to indoor futsal because of the rain. Hyung, you’re doing archery, right? It’s finally your first appearance.”
I frowned at Do Yuda’s words, then thought for a moment.
‘Damn it, I only gave them permission to participate because it was soccer.’
I was worried about the members getting injured.
Futsal, where you chase the ball on a hard surface instead of grass, had a high risk of injury. Besides, most idols participating in the Idol Sports Championships usually wore sneakers or soccer shoes, not specifically indoor futsal shoes. The production team, too, had likely made many oversights due to the sudden change in events.
‘Am I worrying too much?’
I placed my hand on my forehead and let out a deep sigh. I was well aware that I was quite sensitive when it came to the members’ safety.
“My leg hurts. Are you still going to leave me?”
Especially if it was an injury to muscles or bones.
The thought that I might be burdening the members with my worries crossed my mind. But wasn’t safety something that you could never be too careful about, no matter how much attention you gave it? Thinking that way, I began to speak to the members, giving them a series of precautions.
“Make sure to do another proper warm-up before the game starts. Your bodies must have stiffened from the previous game.”
“Of course! Our leader is so sensitive about those kinds of things that it’s become a complete habit to us. Don’t worry.”
“And you don’t have to win, so don’t go all out. Don’t get into any physical confrontations. Just show a decent amount of effort, that’s enough.”
“Hmm, I don’t think that’s possible? There’s a senior on our team with a strong competitive spirit, and if we even take a little break, he keeps giving us the side-eye, saying, ‘
The seniors are working this hard, why are the juniors already tired?
…… He laughs it off like he’s joking when he hears that we’re being pushed too hard, but honestly, if he says it twenty times, it’s no longer a joke.”
‘What’s up with that bastard? F*ck.’
“No. Listen to me.”
When I spoke firmly with a stern face, Lee Danbi, who had been watching me silently, spoke with a worried tone.
“…If we slack off, there might be bad rumors later because of the fancams. These days, if celebrities do anything slightly wrong, people curse them like they’re ready to kill them.”
Lee Danbi wasn’t wrong.
In a world where people wrote all kinds of stories and curse just based on a single expression, I couldn’t guarantee what kind of things we would hear if we didn’t give our best in a team competition like this.
“Don’t worry too much. We’ll be as careful as we can.”
“Is something wrong, hyung? You’re acting a little strange today….”
I knew it didn’t make sense to force the kids to take that risk.
But…….
“Archery participants, please come quickly!”
“…Still, no matter the situation, your safety comes first. Understand? Make sure you don’t get hurt and come back safely.”
Unable to ignore the staff’s urging, I finally said those words and, with that, parted ways with them and moved to the area where the archery competition was taking place.
***
“Wow…….”
“…Isn’t he crazy?”
“Is he a human?”
As I drew the bowstring and stared at the target, gasps of admiration erupted not only from the Muses’ section but also from other fandoms, causing a commotion in the stadium. It was because Han Seungbeom’s face on the screen.
The game had already been going on for quite a while, yet they didn’t seem to get tired of it. They had been like this since the beginning. Even the idols sitting in the waiting area were whispering to each other, admiring Han Seungbeom’s face.
“…He’s really handsome.”
Yes, my child is really handsome.
I dismissed the murmurs of the people behind me and, with a straight posture, calmly released the final arrow.
The arrow flew quickly and landed in the yellow circle.
[“Ten! A perfect finish! Pantheion’s Han Seungbeom, gold medal!”]
[“Wow, with that beauty and the way he shoots arrows so well, he really looks like an elf.”]
I bowed to the audience in time with the announcer’s commentary.
“…What should we do? Did he get seriously hurt?”
“His ankle is completely…….”
But something was off about the atmosphere.
The fans usually cheered when the result was announced, but instead, the murmurs were getting louder and louder.
“Who is it?”
“I don’t know. Everyone’s saying something different.”
In an instant, the mood turned somber, and the sound of confusion in the stands grew into a swarm of insects.
‘Don’t tell me.’
Had something happened?
As I rushed to assess the situation, feeling the anxiety that hadn’t gone away from earlier multiply, a tearing scream erupted from the stands where the Muses were sitting.
“Seungbeom-ah, what should we do…….”
“Please…….”
It was the opposite of everything I had heard so far—a sound mixed with sobs. Turning my head to follow their gaze, I saw the participants gathered in a circle, covering their mouths, watching something.
“…….”
My heart felt like it was sinking to the ground.
As if possessed by something, I moved my legs and rushed to the spot.
“…Seungbeom-ssi? Seungbeom-ssi!”
I didn’t even think about asking for the production team’s understanding.
I just started running as fast as I could, driven by my anxiety.
It didn’t feel real.
Even though it was only a short distance, my legs felt heavy, as if weights were put on them.
“Haah, ha … huff.”
With a dizzying sensation and my vision blurring, I kept running and eventually reached the front of where all eyes in the stadium were focused. Then, like pushing through a wave, I split the crowd and made my way to the center.
Then, at the very center, I saw familiar faces.
“…Staff, where’s the staff?”
“The medical staff is not properly equipped, so treatment isn’t possible here. We need to move him to the hospital immediately.”
“It’s okay, the ambulance will be here soon. Just hang in there for a little longer, okay?”
“Where’s Manager-hyung? Hurry!”
They were my members.
“…What happened?”
As I ran forward and asked while gasping for breath, the panicked members all looked up at me. Suddenly, through the gap, I saw a scattering of black hair and pale skin lying on the floor.
“…Seungbeom-ah.”
“Leada!”
I quickly reached out with my hand, as if to protect something, and pushed the surrounding members to step back so I could see what they were gathered around. Then, in front of me was…….
“Ah, ugh, … ahh!”
It was Do Yuda, curled up on the floor, shivering clutching his twisted ankle.
“Call manager-hyung!”
“Call an ambulance! He can’t get up!”
“…….”
I felt like all the blood had been drained from my body.
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Translator’s Corner:
Day 8? When will this go away, I’m already bored with the pain………
Well, you guys all called it. Tbh, I kinda wanted MC to be the one to get hurt so he would be in that position … but knowing our MC, he would probably not learning anything, so perhaps this is better … the genre is … reliving trauma … but why is his life so hard ajkakchcklc Pantheion should’ve been his happy momments…..
I went around to visit service centers today since my phone went RIP since yesterday (no, why they all SO FAR? living in village is hard because everything is 30-minutes distance), and they all saying they couldn’t just replace the port after checking it … they need to change the overall machine structure or whatever that is, and other than I can’t afford reparation that expensive, the datas …. yeah, I’m not going to do it. I guess it’s just about time, since it’s been 5 years since I bought it, and I bought it second-hand too … thank you for fighting bravely all this time ….. I would like to fight for you, but tbh, this all felt like my whole previous laptop tragedy all over again, I’m traumatized enough
I made a wishlist in Buy My a Coffee if anyone interested buymeacoffee.com/cabinfour/w/44053
But no worry though. I guess I will just re-learning life without phone. After 2 days with my phone died, I came to realization that … I’m friendless asdfhjkll after graduating, everyone is busy with their own life, so I don’t have anyone or anything to contact ….. I’ll just suffer with social media withdrawal for a while I guess, but maybe that’s a good thing. (I’ve been sleeping a lot to fill my time, but the problem with getting into habit of nap is … I don’t want to wake up, so I ended up sleeping too much. That’s why the update is late yesterday and today too)
It makes me wonder why when bad things happening to me, they always came in droves … like, can’t they just come one by one … with gaps … what is this …. it reminds me someone on SSS Cafe even commented I probably have translating jinx because a lot of ??? things always happening to me when I’m seriously translating something … is it because I talked too much TMI, so God feels the need to keep it interesting …. remind me again never to say anything about update schedule, it will 100% become a jinx. And with my current luck, I’m 100% convinced they’re going to say I suddenly have a cancer, so I’m also not going to see the doctor. Let’s just sleep……
Oh, and you guys should prepare your heart for this ARC. It will be going on for quite some chapters.
ARGH BUT NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT I’M SO MAD WE’RE SUPPOSED TO CELEBRATE PANTHEION GETTING 5 MEDALS, WHY AUTHOR-NIM WHY T_T