Solo Swordmaster – Chapter 102

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Two men interrupted Yoo Na-kyung and Limon’s conversation.

Producer Kim Seungjun smiled insincerely, subtly continuing the conversation.

“Speaking of which, Eugene, what do you think about appearing on a broadcast while working as a waitress? You know, as a side job or part-time work.”

“Partner, I made a mistake. Thinking about it, a waitress only needs to be good at serving.”

“It’s good that you realized it now.”

Limon clicked his tongue, watching Eugene display a genuinely remorseful attitude.

Meanwhile, Kim Seungjun’s face fell.

The change in his expression was so drastic that it was questionable whether he was the same man who had been smiling, albeit insincerely, just a moment ago.

“Please reconsider.”

“Producer, aren’t persistent men unpopular?”

“It doesn’t matter! The program is about to crash and burn, so what does it matter if I’m a forever-alone?”

“Well, if you’re going to talk so cheerfully, why don’t you wipe your tears? It makes my heart ache just looking at you.”

[Who are you kidding…?]

Limon and Na-kyung shook their heads as they watched Producer Kim Seungjun, who didn’t give up on persuading them, even as he choked back tears.

When they first refused the offer at the restaurant, they thought that would be the end of it.

However, that was a misjudgment based on their ignorance of Kim Seungjun. Having endured at the small cable broadcasting station KTB until every other PD had fled, Kim Seungjun was a tenacious man, his persistence and grit maxed out.

“Kim PD, there’s something I’m really curious about.”

“The Music Challenge assignment? That’s a secret. But if you appear on the show, I can give you a hint…”

“Not that. If you want to cast us so badly, why did you introduce her to a waitress job?”

If he wanted to cast Eugene as a singer, wouldn’t it be much better if she were unemployed?

Limon tilted his head slightly.

Kim Seungjun offered him a forced smile.

“Hahaha, well, of course, it was a gesture of goodwill. People should help each other, you know. If I show this kind of kindness, wouldn’t Eugene change her mind?”

“Oh, you know how the world works.”

Limon nodded once.

Erasing the look of admiration from his face, he rested his chin on his clasped hands and abruptly asked,

“So, what’s the real reason?”

“If it doesn’t work out, I’ll film here under the pretext of random casting!”

One might call it truly audacious.

Na-kyung gaped at Kim Seungjun, who boldly revealed his scheme with a clenched fist, while Limon was momentarily speechless.

“……You’re really persistent, aren’t you?”

“Anyone would become like this after working their way up to become a PD in a broadcasting station with average viewership ratings on par with the national anthem!”

“I’m suddenly wondering why you work at such a soul-crushing company?”

“KTB isn’t all bad. It has its advantages!”

“Like?”

“The high turnover rate means quick promotions. Thanks to that, even a rookie PD like me can be in charge of such a key project.”

“……Well, that is an advantage.”

Limon stared with pity at Kim Seungjun, who spoke with 100% seriousness about a military joke usually reserved for times when commanders were dropping like flies on the battlefield, and in these peaceful times, no less. But Kim Seungjun was unfazed.

He simply continued his persistent persuasion.

“Mr. Lee, with that in mind, would you reconsider?”

“Even after reconsidering, it’s the same.”

“Please think about it a little more! The fate of a cable broadcasting station depends on your appearance!”

“I honestly think that soul-crushing place, KTV or KTB or whatever it is, would be better off disappearing.”

“Please, do something about it!”

Kim Seungjun clung to Limon as if he were about to grab his pants leg. Just as Eugene furrowed her brow at the sight, a tray came whirling.

Clang!

“Hey, you! What do you think you’re doing to our valuable customers? Get out if you keep disrupting business like this.”

“Senior! Get out, between us? Who introduced you to a fantastic part-timer like Eugene?!”

“Be grateful I’m not cracking your skull open for that favor, you punk.”

The gruff-faced, middle-aged man who had approached and smacked the back of Kim Seungjun’s head wore an embarrassed expression.

“I’m sorry about this. Seungjun, this guy, has always been the type to go all out when he’s fixated on something.”

The manager of this cafe.

Kim Seungjun’s senior from college.

Eugene’s employer.

At Manager Jung’s words, Limon and Eugene shrugged.

“Well, having a passionate junior isn’t a crime.”

“The producer’s fault is the producer’s fault. Manager, you don’t need to apologize.”

“Hahaha, alright. Thanks for letting it go. It would be even better if you used honorifics, though.”

Despite being addressed informally by two people who looked almost young enough to be his nephews, Manager Jung just laughed it off.

It wasn’t because he was a virtuous man. If he were, his smiling face wouldn’t have twitched as he requested they use honorifics.

Nevertheless, he didn’t lose his temper. He simply cleared his throat lightly.

“Ahem! By the way, Eugene?”

“Yes, Manager?”

“The customers keep asking when the live performance is. How about starting a little early today?”

At Manager Jung’s question, as he subtly gauged their reactions, Eugene held up her tray.

“I still have serving time, you know?”

Eugene tilted her head, wondering what they would do if she left before her replacement arrived.

Manager Jung exclaimed as if he’d been waiting for this.

“I can do the serving!”

“You, Manager? Serving?”

Perhaps because it was an unexpected answer, Eugene, who had a surprised expression, tilted her head the other way, adding another question mark.

“With that face?”

“What’s wrong with my face!?”

“To be honest, it’s a face that could be sued for defamation by simply describing it accurately.”

“…….”

Manager Jung clutched his chest, speechless after his unintentional rebuttal struck a nerve.

Kim Seungjun jumped up in place of his senior.

“Eugene! Our senior may have a face that would make a mountain bandit weep, but how can you say that so bluntly?”

Was this supposed to be a defense? Or a confirmation?

With his fists clenched, as if screaming for someone to kill this disrespectful junior, Manager Jung said with a smile,

“Hahaha, alright. My face is a bit rough.”

“A bit? Senior, where did you sell your conscience…”

Squeeze!

“But I’m the cafe manager, can’t I even do some serving? So, don’t worry about the serving, just make your decision comfortably.”

From his gentle smile to his voice, Manager Jung’s demeanor was truly gentlemanly, despite the fact that his hand was tightly gripping his junior’s neck, choking him to the point where his face turned pale from lack of oxygen.

“Alright, if you say so, Manager, I’ll finish work early. But you know about the extra pay, right?”

“Of course, don’t worry.”

Manager Jung nodded. And with a hearty smile, he said magnanimously,

“I’ll give you just your hourly wage, and all your performance fees will be processed as volunteer work.”

“OK! As expected of you, Manager, we understand each other.”

Manager Jung’s statement, combined with his grim smile, was outrageous enough to warrant a report to the Ministry of Employment and Labor for being a black-hearted employer.

However, Eugene simply gave a satisfied smile and even gave a thumbs-up.

[No matter how many times I hear it, those employment conditions sound like they’re missing a few screws.]

‘Well, whatever. The parties involved are happy.’

[That’s a logic that only worked in the era when there were no problems with making people work 18 hours a day without even paying minimum wage.]

‘Isn’t that what it was like during our PAB days?’

[Oh, no, not really. Even though we worked 24 hours a day, we received minimum wage, right? Based on high-level player standards, too.]

‘……Must have been nice.’

Na-kyung stuck out her plump belly, boasting that she was a slave with golden shackles, so he shouldn’t compare her to laborers with dirt shackles.

Limon was contemplating whether or not to poke her belly with his finger.

“Hmm, hmm. But the karaoke machine in our cafe isn’t in good condition right now. If things go like this, Eugene will have to do both the singing and the playing.”

Manager Jung cleared his throat. He then rolled his eyes and subtly glanced at someone, continuing,

“It would be great if someone could play the accompaniment so Eugene can focus on singing…”

The ‘someone’ he was looking at, Limon, chuckled as he looked at Manager Jung.

“Somehow, it seems like this cafe’s karaoke machine always breaks down whenever I come here.”

“Hahaha, I’m sorry about that. The karaoke machine in our cafe is quite old.”

“So, you want me, who happens to be here, is friends with your waitress/singer, and is a great musician, to play the guitar instead?”

“I would be grateful if you would.”

“Do you usually ask ordinary customers to perform?”

“I’ll make your juice completely free today! I’ll also give you a bagel and a sandwich!”

“Those are some great employment conditions.”

After chuckling for a moment, Limon finally got up from his seat. Aside from Manager Jung’s blatant request, he couldn’t ignore Eugene’s earnest gaze.

“But Manager Jung, I have something to say.”

“Why, is something missing?”

“It’s not really important, but if you don’t take your hand off him soon, he’ll die.”

“……Huh?”

Kim Seungjun, 29 years old.

He was almost strangled to death by his senior in college and forgotten on the road to the afterlife, but he barely managed to survive.

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‘A stroke of luck.’

Manager Jung smiled contentedly as he watched Eugene take the microphone on stage and Limon begin tuning his guitar.

Just seeing the two of them prepare for their live performance filled him with satisfaction.

“Senior, that was too much! This is attempted murder, attempted murder.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“You call this an exaggeration?! Huh?!”

At Kim Seungjun’s insistent questioning, pointing at the clear handprints on his neck, Manager Jung averted his gaze.

He knew that if Limon hadn’t spoken up in time, he would have been dealing with a corpse.

“Seungjun, how did you find those two?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“No, I’m really curious.”

Manager Jung spoke seriously.

When Kim Seungjun first told him he would introduce him to some amazing talent, he wondered what all the fuss was about.

When he saw Eugene volunteering to go on stage and perform live in her spare time, he thought she was just an aspiring singer with some talent. But after Limon, who had come to visit, reluctantly joined Eugene on stage at her request, Manager Jung realized something.

What this boar-like, single-minded junior had brought him wasn’t just a decent part-timer, but a goldmine.

“Do you know how much our cafe sales increase on the days those two perform live?”

“I don’t know, about 300%?”

To Kim Seungjun, who spoke with a playful smile, Manager Jung said with a serious face, as if delivering a death sentence,

“Add a 1 to the front of that, and you’ll be close.”

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[wasssupppp my dudes, imma be translatin this baby from now on. ur in daddy fusions van now and there is plenty of candy]