"Eh? Why? But I want to become a soldier."
The words slipped out before Rina could stop herself. Her hazel eyes widened as realization hit.
'What the hell… I don't want to become one.'
Eunseo leaned back in her chair, shaking her head slowly.
"Rina, why can't you understand? Do you know why we don't treat you as harshly as your siblings? Why do we even give you your own pocket money?"
Rina blinked, confused, her big eyes searching for an answer. "No… why?"
"Because we know you're soft. Your siblings can take the pressure, but you can't. So how would you survive soldier training?"
A heavy sigh cut through the room. Both Rina and Eunseo turned to see a tall man step inside.
His military coat stretched tight over his broad frame, the fabric straining against hardened muscles.
A few strands of white streaked through his hair, proof of years of labor and battle.
"If she really wants to become one," he said, voice low but firm, "then I'll take her with me for a month and train her. After that, we'll ask her again."
Rina's fist clenched, she didn't want to, but now cant change her words suddenly.
'Aghh, I don't want to gooo.'
"Do-yun…" Eunseo's voice sharpened as she glared at him.
"Ahem…" Do-yun coughed, shifting his gaze away, unwilling to meet her eyes.
Eunseo turned back to Rina, her tone softening."You should consider another career path. What do you think?"
Her eyes lit up hearing Eunseo. 'Yes, I should do this.'
[Host! Remember—idol or actress to gain EXP. If I don't get EXP, I'll be forced to throw you back into that world again, it's win-win, I got to get exp energy and you got strength.]
Rina's lips twitched at the sudden intrusive message blocking her vision.
"Um…" She hesitated, eyes flicking toward Eunseo.
'What should I do?' Rina think, think quickly, aghh, sigh, the idol is not a bad choice I like singing songs anyway. I don't know what to do other than that.
"Can I… become an idol then?" She spoke with a soft voice.
"Eh?" Eunseo froze, startled by the request.
"Why? Is that not possible?" Rina pressed.
"N-no, I mean…" Eunseo rubbed her cheek nervously with her finger. "You can, but… to become an idol, you'll have to sign a contract with a company."
At that, Do-yun leaned forward, his eyes bright with pride."Our Rina is the best. She can play piano, and she can sing. What's the problem?"
Rina's lips twitched again. She lowered her gaze to her hands, memories of endless piano lessons flooding back. She could play, if she wanted to.
"Okay… I'll see what I can do," Eunseo muttered.
"What are you all talking about?"
Rina turned as another man entered the room, about twenty-four years old. His shirt was ripped at the collar, and bruises from punches were scattered across his stomach.
"Oh my god, Do-yun!" Eunseo shouted, slamming her hand on the table so hard the plates rattled as she stood. "How many times have I told you, don't train him so hard! This isn't a military camp, it's our home!"
"A-ah, l-look, listen to me…" Do-yun raised both hands defensively, trying to calm her.
"Psst. I heard you're going to be an idol…"
"Ahh!" Rina jumped, clutching her chest at the sudden whisper in her ear.
She spun around, glaring at her brother Geon-woo, who had somehow slipped in unnoticed while her attention was fixed on their parents.
"What the hell, brother? You scared me!"
"Oh? Did you really get scared?" Geon-woo grinned, ruffling her hair with his hand.
Rina gave him a flat, deadpan look before huffing and swatting his hand away.
"Don't be so grumpy. Tell me, are you really going to? Didn't you always say, I'll be as strong as my brother and become a soldier?"
He flexed his arm, muscles bulging despite the torn collar and bruises across his body, looking more like a street brawler than a soldier.
"Hmph." Rina scoffed, crossing her arms. "I never said I wanted to be as strong as you. I said I wanted to be as strong as Dad."
"Really?" Geon-woo leaned in, locking eyes with Rina's hazel ones.
"Really." Rina planted her hand on her hip and glared right back.
Geon-woo only shrugged, leaning away. His gaze drifted to the doorway just as Sora walked in.
"Huh? Sister—weren't you supposed to call Rina?, You yourself vanish. Where were you?"
Sora blinked, then glanced at him nervously. "Ah--um, I was talking with a friend… on the phone."
She quickly changed the subject, raising her voice. "Mom, Dad, stop fighting. Let's eat." She moved toward the table, scooping rice onto plates.
Eunseo, seeing her daughter's intervention, sighed and sank back into her chair, sulking. Do-yun followed her lead, settling down without a word.
===
Tick. Tap. Tap.
In a dark, cramped room lit only by the faint glow of a single lamp, clothes were scattered across the floor, empty pizza boxes stacked in corners, and a faint smell of stale soda was in the air.
At the desk sat a slim young man, hair messy, a lollipop lazily hanging from his lips.
"Ugh…" He scratched his head in frustration, eyes fixed on the computer screen. Footage from a university campus played on loop, the same place Rina studies.
"Tch. Nothing useful. Guess I'll have to comb through the following days too. More overwork…" He slid his mouse with a sigh.
Ring, ring.
He glanced at his phone and tilted his head, surprised to see Sora calling him--again.
Clearing his throat, he forced a smile before answering."Hello, boss. You're calling a second time. What's the job? I still haven't found what you asked for."