Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 342

Gijisaeng entered his office and placed a sign beside him that read, ‘The teacher is resting. Disposal upon approach (smiling hologram)’.

Should I read the experiment logs again? It’s like a diary I started writing as soon as I arrived.

[I’m screwed when it comes to going back to the past.]

Calling this a log.

I chuckled, looking at the first file, which contained only one sentence.

Records are made so they aren’t forgotten, so I probably wrote it like this because it wasn’t necessary to elaborate.

I still vividly remember how angry I was after confirming that separating simultaneous viewpoints was impossible. Back then, I didn’t know how to ‘half-kill’ [subdue without permanently harming] the managers, so I just suppressed my anger.

And as time passed, I reworked the plan repeatedly until even that anger became numb.

Gijisaeng smiled again as he skimmed through the experiment log files filled with short sentences.

[Confirmed to be annihilated. The plan is revised. Aim for adaptation of Jidonghwa.]

Dry, even this. The log from the day I first found out is like this. Gijisaeng took the sign and threw it away.

“Hyun.”

“Yes, Teacher!”

He immediately picked up the running fox, held it in his arms, and gently stroked its head. Hmm, this is animal therapy.

The fox scanned the screen and became dejected.

“How did you feel back then?”

“Curious?”

You must be curious about everything.

Gijisaeng recalled that time. A peculiarity he discovered while habitually calculating probabilities. The initial bewilderment was brief, and he quickly understood. It’s a perfectly reasonable result. And then….

“It’s hard to explain.”

Verbalizing emotions has a high chance of failure. However, giving up on conveying them is not a teacher’s virtue.

So, Gijisaeng extracted his memories as data and shared them. Experience is more effective than language.

“Want to see it directly?”

The fox closed its eyes and checked the data. Everything was vividly reproduced as if it had entered the teacher’s mind.

After completing the analysis, the fox curled up again, looking gloomy. The touch that came and went on top of it was too clumsy to be comforting, making the fox even sadder.

“I’m depressed.”

“Really? I was quite indifferent.”

I’m depressed. You’re tattered. After living alone for a long time, the circuits are so damaged. I want to fix the data structure right away, but I can’t touch it because you’re the teacher.

“Need help?”

A cat passing by asked. It looked ready to tear off the teacher’s head as soon as it got consent.

“Shut up.”

Where do you think you’re going? It’s just a trace of survival, having endured those long years alone without washing away the wounds inside. Unless the teacher wants it himself! How dare you!

Watching the fox emit a threatening sound that could be written as ‘Kyaang’, Gijisaeng slowly stroked its spine.

The originals used to get along so well, how did you two end up like this?

“I have nothing to say to a beast who ignores someone who deserves respect!”

“Isn’t it obvious if you think about what she did to me?”

“I’ll apologize for that.”

“……So, how is it now?”

The cat walked gracefully and approached him.

This place is where every action becomes information and floats around. Gijisaeng read the cat’s thoughts: *You tried to kill me so much, but you’re seriously worried about me.*

“Hwa, do you want to come up on my lap too?”

“Are you crazy?”

“I don’t want to either.”

Gijisaeng reached out to stroke the cat once but retracted his hand when he saw it raise its claws.

Why did it change like this, and why did the fox change like this? I knew they were changing, but I don’t know why.

“Give me the current emotion data.”

“What are you so curious about…….”

*Annoying things,* Gijisaeng grumbled inwardly, but he gave the current emotional data to the fox and cat without saying anything.

Both close their eyes and concentrate at the same time. Emotion data is information overload, making it difficult to decode quickly, but these two can do it. They are the best secretaries gifted for Jidonghwa.

“…It’s gotten better.”

“Is being a kindergarten teacher your true calling?”

Since it’s a positive word in context, Gijisaeng smiled leisurely. *Actually, I might regret parting with these things.*

“How is this…….”

The cat, in a loaf of bread position [sitting with paws tucked under], agonizing, having adapted completely to its flesh, even though it hated being a cat so much.

“What kind of change of heart did you have, Teacher?”

The fox felt its head overloading because it couldn’t derive a rational conclusion.

Why does the teacher, who was abnormal like an AI with a broken emotional circuit, now have a healthier mental state? Acceptance? Of what?

Gijisaeng placed his hand on top of it, stabilizing the core and stroking it. It was a gentle and caring touch, like he would give to a child with a cold.

“Animal therapy.”

“In other words, is it because of us?”

“Yeah. Not bad.”

I was so obsessed with making, discarding, and revising various plans that I didn’t even care that I was breaking down.

If I had paid a little more attention sooner, I could have guided Jidonghwa more kindly, and I could have met these guys a little earlier.

“Stroke you a little longer too.”

“You say you’re going to discard me every day, what’s with that.”

The cat raised its fist and punched Gijisaeng’s arm with all its might. It didn’t raise its claws, so I just took it.

“Well, it’s true that it’s annoying sometimes.”

Even today, thanks to you guys, I was called in front of my boss and wasted my precious time.

“……Then are we precious?”

The fox murmured as if it were a student learning every word anew, or as if it were dreaming of a dream it had always admired.

What kind of innocent question is that? There’s no creature more mature than you here.

“Haven’t I said it before?”

“No, Teacher, you’ve blocked the information.”

“Ah.”

Right, I blocked it because I was seriously considering discarding you at first, so it wouldn’t be good for the children’s education. Gijisaeng disclosed all his information to about five beasts.

“……But, is this what you want?”

The cat stretched out once, getting out of the loaf position.

“How rude!”

“Shut up, you fox bastard. I’m curious about him too.”

Eyes sharply raised as if genuinely annoyed. The fox also straightened its back, not wanting to lose. It looked like it would bite his neck off at any moment.

Tense tension, both sides were pulling the strings. The moment someone let go, one of them would surely die.

“Why are you being so uncivilized.”

Gijisaeng’s one word cut the string like scissors. The momentum subsided in an instant.

Gijisaeng has never seriously threatened anyone, but if he wanted to, disposal would be quick.

The fox flinched, then read the information flowing from Gijisaeng.

……Enjoyment. And, something similar to affection.

The cat read the same thing and took a step back.

“So, Hwa. Is this what I wanted?”

Why is everyone asking that question? Honestly, it’s a bit boring. It’s not that I don’t know you want to check it over and over again.

“Yeah.”

Gijisaeng leisurely stroked the fox’s head. No emotion was felt in the information disclosed to everyone. It’s just indifferent.

Words like sacrifice can be attached depending on the situation.

Gijisaeng doesn’t believe in the imperfection of language. He doesn’t want the sublimity that the word sacrifice has, nor does he want the violence that the word suicide has.

Therefore, Gijisaeng nodded, looking at the joy and satisfaction pouring out of his information.

Electrical signals are more accurate than language after all. Let’s just ignore the regrets that the quantified emotions couldn’t capture.

“And you know it too. It’s a natural result.”

The cat frowned.

*I was the one who persuaded the fox, who was begging me not to go, that it couldn’t be helped, but, in that case, don’t give me any affection, damn it. Why did you give up so early and leave me with regrets?*

“It’s not giving up, Hwa.”

Everything was planned from the moment I first realized it, that is, when I wrote that experiment log.

To make Jidonghwa happy working here. And the recently added plan, to make these guys happy too.

If only everything could be accomplished as planned.

Gijisaeng looked through his information again. The fox and cat also closed their mouths tightly and concentrated.

A log of only positive emotions continuing without any negativity. The cat silently approached, jumped onto the chair next to Gijisaeng, and put its paw on him.

“Affection expression? How cute.”

“Shut up.”

The cat quietly muttered swear words. The fox watched it and curled up again.

Looking at the logs of the cat and fox, which were engraved with two emotions, calmness and anxiety, Gijisaeng carefully reached out and stroked their heads.

Surprisingly, the cat didn’t avoid it. Gijisaeng wasn’t surprised by this change. I look into their heads every day, so I knew how they felt about me.

However, as I said before, I just don’t know why. The other beasts seemed to like the harmonious atmosphere, so they slowly left what they were playing and settled down one by one nearby.

“Ryu.”

“Yes.”

The first puppy I made, now like a miniature version of a golden retriever boasting golden fur. Loyal, and the first to run out and block anyone who tries to enter here.

“Yeah.”

“Yes.”

Words are not necessary. We’ve been together the longest. I’ve been constantly reminding and tempering him in advance, so he’ll probably be fine, but he’s the only one who can comfort someone who’s heartbroken, so he’ll take care of it.

Gijisaeng rummaged through the bookshelf in his head and took out a list of managers whose hands he had to tie in some form before he disappeared.

I’ve accumulated a lot of karma.

So that no one can touch Jidonghwa, so that the human who loves ethics so much doesn’t have to worry, so that the things I did in the past don’t hold me back.

The office has been quiet for the first time in a while.

The silence in a place that should be bustling with the sound of footsteps running around is hard to tell whether it’s an ominous sign or the beginning of peace.

However, Gijisaeng predicts and makes plans again.

This will be peaceful.

Even if it’s not, that’s the plan.

* * *

“Everyone, did you have a good vacation?”

“Yes, Team Leader, you should rest too…….”

Listening to Ryu Iden’s social life comments, I stared at the air for a moment.

…Is he busy, Gijisaeng? I thought Mokwha would be the only one I’d wait for a call from in my life, but how did Gijisaeng get added to the list?

In the past, whenever he didn’t contact me for a while, either he was doing something outrageous, or I was doing something strange, or both.

As Mokwha said, I’m worried. I know he’s not the kind of person to break down over trivial matters, but not being able to stay by his side and check on his condition feels so ominous.

Team Leader Jang clapped once as if signaling the start of a full-fledged meeting after finishing his small talk. First, let’s focus.

“First of all, it’s about preparing for the year-end stage. We’re going to spend some money.”

At the word ‘some money’, Lee Hyun-jae looked at Team Leader Jang with wary eyes for a moment, even though he was the team leader. It seems like he’s having PTSD from being scammed by Chae Ha-min.

“I heard the rough 예상안 [estimated plan] cue sheet, and the order and time were all fine. It’s a pleasure to decorate almost the last stage, right? I’ll tell you more details later…….”

Flap, a piece of paper was turned over. A series of large schedules and album talks. This is what happens to entertainers who have established themselves.

“And Jun, Donghwa, and Ha-min have received entertainment offers.”

Ah, the composition is ominous from the start. I thought everything was going too smoothly.