The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 115
Behind the Fine Enter headquarters, a landmark in Gangnam, stands a separate annex.
It’s a five-story building, but its worn-out exterior makes it hard to believe it’s an agency building at first glance.
After weeks of remodeling, it’s now the Artiqve office.
If more labels join, they’ll divide the floors, but for now, only Artiqve has moved in.
“We have our own practice room now!!”
The kids jumped around excitedly.
With two practice rooms in the basement, one was assigned to Red Blossom and the other to Honey Pops.
No more scheduling conflicts like back at the main building.
As the team grew, offices were divided by department, and meeting rooms were set up on each floor.
“No need for a CEO’s office. We all shared one at Mirinae Enter too.”
Except for the venomous snake Yoon Taehyung, all Mirinae Enter employees were retained.
But among our five artist teams, there were some changes.
Team Leader Park Chanhyuk resigned, and Manager Song Seungjun moved to the actor division.
Only Senior Onyu and I relocated to the label.
“I was planning to quit if Red Blossom disbanded. Now that ‘disbandment’ sounds like a joke given their success, I feel even lighter.”
He handed me his new business card with a smirk.
[Park Chanhyuk, Team Leader of Nova Entertainment’s Artist Division]
“We’ll see each other often in the industry. Just pretend you know me at music shows.”
“Of course.”
I laughed as I took the card, but something felt off.
A black thread extended from the card, connecting to my chest.
The tingling sensation wasn’t pleasant.
‘What is this?’
[It’s a bond of fate. That company has a connection to you, Master.]
I remembered the red dots that appeared on my body.
Targeting those spots improved relationships.
‘But this is black?’
[Black means a bad bond. Evil spirits were all black, remember?]
The company Park was joining had a negative connection to me.
I’d never even heard of it until today.
How was I supposed to interpret this?
‘Is it bad for Park? Should I warn him?’
[We don’t know what kind of bad bond it is. Better not say anything until we figure it out.]
‘Got it.’
Manager Song, standing nearby, smiled and said,
“I’m just going back to where I belong. I originally joined the actor team but got moved when the fifth team was formed.”
The four of us had a heartfelt drink as a farewell.
After eight months of hard work together, we’d grown close.
“I’m really grateful to you, Juwon. Red Blossom struggled since debut, and it was heartbreaking. You made so many people’s wishes come true.”
“We all did it together. I couldn’t have gotten here alone.”
“What you did was on another level. What kind of manager storms a cult hideout to rescue kidnapped kids?”
“And what about nearly dying to save them? You’re like someone who jumped out of a movie. Our worlds are just different.”
I scratched my head and laughed.
Given the spirits, the movie comparison wasn’t entirely wrong.
It felt like shooting special effects every day.
Honey Pops’ dorm was also relocated near the annex.
Not as big as Red Blossom’s officetel, but perfect for the four of them.
“The last tenants were a girl group too. Another girl group moving in? There must be something about this place.”
The real estate lady clucked her tongue, saying it had been a girl group dorm before.
“Which girl group was it?”
“No idea. They suddenly wanted out before their lease ended, so it was empty for a while.”
She said it happened often in this neighborhood with so many agencies.
We reassured her we wouldn’t cause trouble.
The kids liked it too, saying it was cleaner than their old place.
Not long after moving in, trouble started.
“A stalker?”
“Yeah. Every time we enter the dorm, it feels like someone’s watching. No one’s around, but it’s creepy.”
Yuna spoke with a worried face.
Eseo and the maknae nodded beside her.
“That alone isn’t enough to suspect a stalker. Anything else?”
“Well… Sometimes there’s a shadow outside the window. And once, the curtains were open when we got back from practice. Oh, right! My lotion went missing but turned up in the bathroom corner.”
Changed curtains and misplaced belongings were serious.
It meant someone broke in while they were out.
“Nothing’s missing?”
“Not sure. We haven’t fully unpacked yet.”
They’re rookies, not even a year in—hardly famous enough for a stalker.
But their stories did suggest something was off.
I installed CCTV at the entrance and windows where they felt watched.
Days later, the footage showed nothing.
‘I’ll stake it out.’
[How will you know when they’ll come?]
‘Yuna and Eseo return from practice around the same time. I’ll wait then.’
The next day, I arrived early and scoped out the area.
I sat near a convenience store, pretending to wait for someone while keeping an eye out.
The first day, nothing. The next, I spotted a woman lurking near the dorm.
From behind, she looked young, around Yuna’s age.
“Excuse me?”
I approached and called out.
She turned, eyes widening as she stared at me.
‘She’s pretty.’
Neat short hair, stylish horn-rimmed glasses,
a floral blouse and short denim skirt—
her looks far surpassed Gangnam’s average.
She blinked at me, then tilted her head.
“Mister, who are you?”
Straight to the point.
“That’s my question. What are you doing near someone else’s place?”
“Someone else’s? This is my house.”
What?
“Then why are you loitering outside? If it’s yours, go in.”
Her expression shifted.
“I… don’t remember how to get in. Or the passcode.”
She kept deflecting.
Was she mentally unwell?
I recalled the real estate lady mentioning it was a former girl group dorm.
‘With her looks, she could’ve been an idol…’
“Want to talk for a bit?”
“Why?”
“I have some questions.”
“I don’t even know who you are.”
“It’s awkward standing here. Let’s grab a drink. I’ll tell you who I am and how to get in.”
I needed to figure out if she was unstable.
We went to a nearby café.
“What’ll you have?”
“Just water, please.”
I ordered mineral water and coffee.
The staff recognized me, glancing over but not approaching.
I’d need to start wearing a mask.
“So, who are you?”
She asked again as I handed her the water.
“I work for Honey Pops, the group living there now.”
“Honey Pops? A girl group?”
“Yeah, they debuted last year.”
“Never heard of them.”
Long way to go, then.
First, I had to confirm if she was the former tenant.
“I’m Shin Juwon. And you?”
“Dasol.”
“Are you… in a girl group?”
“Yeah. Main vocal of Everglow.”
She said it proudly.
So she was the former tenant.
“You lived there before, right?”
“I still do? I’ll go in later with my members.”
Definitely not right in the head.
Amnesia?
She seemed unaware they’d moved out.
‘Weird.’
The stares around us grew intense.
People whispered, glancing our way. Some even pulled out their phones.
‘Mistake.’
After the news coverage, many recognized me.
Red Blossom fans would find this especially odd—
their manager with an unknown woman at a café.
Perfect gossip material.
I stood abruptly.
“Dasol, sorry… I’m kinda recognizable… Not famous, but, well, people stare… Let’s talk somewhere quiet.”
I rambled as I hurried her out.
Finding no quiet spots, we ended up at a convenience store near the dorm.
A residential area with a small playground across the street.
We sat on a bench near the entrance.
“Sorry. I didn’t think before suggesting the café.”
“It’s fine. But mister, are you famous?”
“Red Blossom’s manager. They’re hot right now.”
“Red Blossom? That’s a girl group too?”
Was she seriously out of it?
How could an idol not know Red Blossom?
“O-oppa…”
I turned to see Yuna staring, shocked.
She must’ve been returning from practice.
“Uh, Yuna, she’s not— I mean, she was hanging around the dorm, so I was just asking— Might be related to the stalker you mentioned—”
Damn, why was I explaining like some cheating boyfriend?
“S-sorry, oppa! I didn’t see anything!!”
She bolted for the dorm.
What?
Now Dasol stood up.
“I have practice. Thanks for the water.”
“We’re not done—”
“I’ll get scolded if I’m late. Sorry.”
She headed for the main road.
Couldn’t stop her if she’d be late.
‘Everglow’s Dasol.’
I’d researched most girl groups, but this was new.
Since she thought this was her dorm, she’d be back.
First, I needed to learn about Everglow.
‘Her agency’s weird too. How could they leave her like this?’
If her company abandoned her, I’d have to help.
A mental state like that was definitely a “burden.”