Chapter 20 · 10 min

Chapter 20

How Much Is All That?

January 1st particularly gives the thought that it shouldn’t be spent meaninglessly more than other days.

And other people seem similar in having this thought.

Woof woof!

Bark bark!

Abandoned animal shelter.

More volunteers than usual visited.

Im Hyang-gi, Sister’s friend who came together today, briefly clicked her tongue.

“They should come a bit usually.”

“Why. Still since many came today we can shake blankets and quilts, and also walk them.”

When there are few people just cleaning excrement and taking care of food is hard, so there were many times they couldn’t even think of playing let alone walking.

“Sister also hasn’t come much recently.”

“You try getting a job later too. On days off you’re busy being exhausted.”

“You can build stamina with exercise.”

“You two. Sorry but could I ask a favor?”

The shelter staff approached with a sorry face.

“Today many people came. Since you two are veterans here, could you help a bit beside the ones who came for the first time? Today the director’s body isn’t well so she couldn’t come.”

I asked with both eyes wide open.

“Did she catch a cold? Or the flu?”

The staff smiled and waved her hand.

“No. She slightly twisted her back.”

“Oh dear.”

Regrettable. If it was a contagious disease I would have cured it in one go.

“Bong-sik, especially could you take care of that person a bit?”

What the staff pointed to was a skinny man with a head much smaller than others and short height.

“He seems like a celebrity, but he said it’s his first time doing shelter volunteer work. Since Bong-sik is around the same age it would be comfortable.”

“A celebrity? He came alone without a manager?”

Im Hyang-gi asked with shining eyes.

“I don’t know up to that. Anyway please take care, Bong-sik.”

“Yes.”

Before volunteer work started.

I listened to precautions together with the volunteers. And while heading to the kennel, I approached the man the staff asked.

“Hello. I heard it’s your first time here. Have you raised a dog before?”

He nodded smiling awkwardly.

“Yes. When young I raised 3 in the countryside.”

“Then there won’t be aversion to cleaning excrement.”

“Of course. I have a strong stomach.”

“Fortunate. Indeed what, if you went to the military···.”

The man quietly avoided his gaze.

“I’m unserved···.”

“You’re still young.”

“No. I’m twenty-three.”

“Twenty-three? I’m also twenty-three.”

“Huh?”

He made a glad expression.

“Really? In full age?”

“Ah. In full age twenty-one. In Korean age twenty-three.”

“Ah···. But you already went to the military?”

“Yes. Now wear a mask. These days the weather is cold so we can’t ventilate often, so inside there is a lot of dog fur and dust. And even if the dogs beg to be pampered ignore for now. Playing is after everything is finished.”

“Yes.”

Entered the kennel.

Now, today too treat rewardingly···.

“······.”

“Why are you like that?”

“···No. It’s nothing.”

The kennel often has contagious diseases circulating because many individuals live in a narrow space. But today of all days no [Contagious Disease Patient] was visible.

“Let’s start from the innermost.”

“Yes.”

Only around the middle were barely three [Contagious Disease Patient] visible.

[This is a Contagious Disease Patient. Do you wish to treat?]

[(Estimated MP cost 30)]

And that to a very light degree.

No sick guys is a good thing, but the sudden decrease in number is a bit puzzling.

“The most important thing is door security. Absolutely don’t clean with the gate open. The dog might go outside and an accident could occur.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

I don’t know if he’s really a celebrity, but he diligently followed what I did. Later even without being told he cleaned excrement, and washed water bowls cleanly. He also carried heavy feed sacks well.

“I brought blankets and quilts!”

The personnel in charge of blankets and quilts brought them back after shaking cleanly.

“Bong-sik, here.”

“Yes. From Sister’s head to feet dog fur is stuck. It’ll be warm.”

“Shall I make you warm too?”

“No.”

“You really come here often. There’s also a close person.”

“Originally acquaintances. Sister’s friend.”

“Hello.”

“Yes, hello.”

“I heard you came for the first time today. How is it? Is it manageable?”

Im Hyang-gi’s eyes looking at him shone with curiosity. It seems she’s curious if he’s really a celebrity.

“My back hurts a bit, but seeing the cleanly cleaned kennel and the dogs liking it my heart feels proud.”

“By any chance are you a celebrity? It seems exactly like reciting a prepared interview answer.”

“Yes?”

At Im Hyang-gi’s question the man brightened greatly and lowered his voice.

“Does it show?”

“Yes. The face is small and the eyes are clear, so it seems exactly that side person.”

“Haha···. Actually, I’m an idol.”

“Really? Can I ask what the name is?”

“Not that famous yet, but the team name is···.”

I had no particular interest so I laid the blankets and quilts inside the dog house.

Soon he who finished chatting with Im Hyang-gi returned.

With a very good mood face.

“This was Walsun and Walkki’s right? Give it. I’ll lay it.”

“Yes.”

After all cleaning ended a short rest time.

Everyone gathered and chattered while drinking warm and sweet mixed coffee.

I subtly asked the staff.

“In a few days the dogs and cats also seem to have become a bit healthier. Is there some secret?”

A little earlier I also checked the container building where the cats are. There was no [Contagious Disease Patient] there either.

“Bong-sik, you don’t look at our shelter SNS well?”

“······?”

“A while ago through Mi-hyeon’s introduction actor Lee Hyo-seok paid all the hospital bills piled up at the animal hospital so far, and also made the kids receive all basic checkups and preventive vaccinations. He also left a comment saying he’ll help often from now on.”

“No wonder. That’s good.”

So that was why.

Even light [Contagious Disease Patient] decreased sharply.

A very fortunate thing, but separately from that it was a bit regrettable.

It was a stable experience hunting ground.

Shall I go to another shelter next time?

“Um, was it Bong-sik?”

When the staff was conversing with another person. The beginner volunteer idol quietly spoke.

“Can I speak comfortably?”

“Yes, do that.”

“Uh, thanks. You also call me hyung comfortably.”

I still don’t even know your name.

“That, can I ask one favor?”

“What is it?”

“Can you take my photo and upload it to SNS?”

His voice became smaller.

“Came to do shelter volunteer work, and saw a beginner working hard but it was an idol··· like that.”

“······.”

“I know it’s a bit cheesy, but even small promotion is a precious situation. Sorry.”

“If it’s that then it would be better to ask Hyang-gi noona. Since she has some followers.”

“Women no.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m an idol.”

“Ah. But I don’t use SNS well either, and followers aren’t many so there would be no effect.”

“It’s fine. If you just put the hashtags well, I’ll press like and share. And it’s not just asking to do it. I’ll give our concert tickets.”

I distanced myself from him.

“I’m not buying.”

Not even a female idol but a male idol concert or something, do you think I’ll go.

“You can give it to Sister. Who does Sister like among idols?”

I heard popular idol concert ticket reservations are fiercer than course registration.

Seems there aren’t many fans.

Indeed, so he’s asking this kind of favor to make the name known.

I sighed inwardly.

I don’t want to see a guy sparkling his eyes creepily more.

“Okay. My face doesn’t have to come out, right?”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

I went to the kennel together and took a few photos of him playing with the dogs.

Saying if it comes out too well it’s artificial, with an amateur feeling.

“If you only use the dogs for promotion and later succeed and ignore I’ll leave malicious comments.”

“Hehe. Got it.”

I accessed with my original SNS account not the ‘Plague Doctor’. His eyes looking at my phone together widened.

“You like Happy Quokka? Then you’re watching ‘Unknown Singer’ too?”

“Yes.”

I uploaded the photo of him taken a little earlier and wrote a post.

“But what’s your name and affiliation?”

“Group name is Hertz. Name is Burns.”

“Are you a foreigner?”

“No? Pure Korean.”

[Came to shelter volunteer work on January 1st and saw an idol. Surprised so took photo after permission #○○Shelter #AbandonedAnimalShelterVolunteer #Hertz #Burns]

“If needed shall I give ‘Unknown Singer’ audience tickets?”

Paused.

“Really? Can you get that separately?”

Lee Mun-yeong also said she could get it through an acquaintance related person, but I thought that person could because she’s the secretary of a fairly large pharmaceutical company representative.

“My cousin is ‘Unknown Singer’ directing staff. I think I can get next week’s special stage recording audience tickets not the main round. They said they distribute some as related person ones. How about it?”

It’s a proposal that came to Kang Bong-sik not the ‘Plague Doctor’.

I nodded without hesitation.

Indeed songs have to be heard on site not video to taste proper.

Moreover a broadcasting station stage.

It would be a different dimension from when heard at a small-scale performance venue or on the street.

“Call.”

I pressed the post registration button.

Burns grinned.

“I’ll give our concert tickets too.”

“No. That’s fine.”

***

Idol group Hertz’s leader, Burns got in a taxi with a smiling face.

‘Coming after hearing senior Mi-hyeon’s words was good.’

Somehow already 4th year since debut. But Hertz had a high possibility of disappearing without a sound if it continued like this.

So thinking he had to do something, he asked for advice from actress Shin Mi-hyeon with whom he spent trainee days together before.

「Even a little making the name known is important. Cover song videos are already uploaded, how about good deeds? Like abandoned dog shelter volunteer work.」

While doing so she informed the shelter she occasionally goes to.

「There’s a university student around your age who often comes there? He’s good and bright, so if you get close with him it would be good. The harder it is the more you should broaden human relationships and vision, then couldn’t you find a way out?」

Whether Shin Mi-hyeon’s advice is appropriate he still doesn’t know well, but Burns smiled while looking at Kang Bong-sik’s SNS.

-Oh idol

-Got on the account Kang Bong-sik

-Take me too

-Even wearing those clothes the ratio lives so he’s an idol for sure

Kang Bong-sik said he doesn’t use SNS well. Actually followers were also few, but most of those followers were ordinary university students. That is, the public.

‘Don’t be greedy, don’t be impatient, let’s make the name known modestly even like this.’

Burns left a comment on that post brazenly, with a slightly shy nuance and pressed ‘like’ then shared.

And he called his cousin.

“Yeah, hyung. Can I get ‘Unknown Singer’ special stage audience tickets a bit? ···What? You caught a cold?”

***

“···Yes, thank you! Thank you!”

“What call is it that you keep saying thank you?”

I hung up and grinned toward Sister.

“‘Unknown Singer’ audience guidance call.”

Sister stood up abruptly from the sofa.

“Main round?!”

“No. Special stage audience.”

I didn’t say it was received thanks to the idol. Since it was the price for uploading a post on SNS.

“Oh···. Is it only one person?”

“No. Including one companion. Want to go?”

“With you? That’s a bit.”

“I also don’t want to, Kang Hyun-seo. I asked out of courtesy.”

“Calling Sister’s name carelessly again, this cheeky bastard.”

What should I wear and go?

There won’t be a chance to meet Happy Quokka separately, but still going to a broadcasting station I can’t go wearing shabby clothes.

I took out the cash envelope hidden in the room.

“Hehe.”

Time passed, the day of the ‘Unknown Singer’ special stage recording.

I arrived in front of SBC broadcasting station with Park Jae-yoon.

“Hey. What if the security guard just lets me pass thinking I’m an idol.”

I ignored Park Jae-yoon spouting crazy words, and headed to the place where the ‘Unknown Singer’ audience guidance board was set up.

Unlike right next to it in front of the ‘Music Stage’ audience guidance board where young students were swarming, this place was quiet.

“Kang Bong-sik. Can’t we go over there? I heard it’s IAB comeback today. I want to see IAB.”

“I brought this bastard for nothing. If you’re going to whine go to your parents’ restaurant and slice sashimi.”

“I don’t want to.”

I showed the message received in advance from the ‘Unknown Singer’ side and ID, and received the ticket bracelet.

“Let’s eat and come.”

“Yeah. What’s delicious near here.”

“Don’t know? Shall we go here? They sell spicy pork rice bowl.”

“Yeah.”

Deciding the restaurant with the map app and coming out of the broadcasting station walking, an unidentified line was long.

“This must be that. Music show commute.”

At that time a pitch-black van slowly approached from far away.

People holding large cameras stirred.

“Came! Actisi! Actisi!”

“Actisi?!”

Female students holding ‘Actisi’ something slogans too.

“Wow···.”

I also admired looking at the passing car.

[Contagious Disease Patient]

How much experience is all that?