Idol Hides His Military Service

“Hello! I’m candidate number 1 for Iam’s leader, the youngest member—Im Yunkyung of the Future Party!!!”

“Woooooo!!!”

“Yunkyung is so cute!”

“Im Yunkyung, fighting!”

The moment Yunkyung walked up to the platform first and greeted everyone, the people sitting in the chairs across from her each burst into cheers and answered back with friendly enthusiasm.

‘Where did she even find that?’

Yunkyung was wearing a homespun-looking jacket you’d expect a small-town village head to wear, plus a bright green rural-campaign-style cap.

It didn’t suit her at all—so it ended up suiting her perfectly.

Yunkyung already gave off heavy “youngest” vibes, and when she came out in that outfit and stood at the front, all the onlookers could do was smile.

-Next, our members will come out one by one and give their candidate speeches! When the speeches end, we’ll vote and pick the leader!

That was Yuri, who had explained the leader-picking content earlier.

‘A variable just got added to the plan.’

After hearing Yuri’s explanation, I realized that unlike I’d expected, it had become difficult for me to be chosen as leader.

“Who are you going to vote for?”

“It isn’t good to decide on a candidate beforehand. I’ll listen to every member’s pledges and speech, and then see who fits being leader the best···.”

“Come on. This is variety content. Why are you being so serious?”

“Even if it’s variety, choosing the group’s leader is···.”

Starting with Producer Raon and CEO Kim Sanghyeok, who were talking about leadership right now—

And on top of that, familiar faces from KJ Entertainment staff I’d run into here and there came into view.

-However, the voting won’t be done by us! The KJ Entertainment employees will vote! Please welcome them with a round of applause!!!

I’d naturally assumed we’d vote among ourselves, but Yuri delivered the shocking news that today’s leader would be decided by votes from KJ Entertainment employees.

‘If it had gone as planned, with Shinyu and Yunkyung’s votes, all I needed was to sweet-talk one more person and I’d be locked in as leader···!’

Was this what Zhuge Liang felt like, collapsing right before the great northern campaign?

It felt like the leader spot had been in my hand—and then slipped away.

Thanks to that, every member except Yuri had registered as a leader candidate, each one stepping forward saying they’d be leader.

“In our dorm, there are no human rights for anyone under nineteen! The thing I heard the most while living there was: ‘Yunkyung, close the door,’ ‘Yunkyung, bring me water,’ ‘Yunkyung, turn off the lights’!”

Maybe because it was now employee voting instead of member voting, Yunkyung must have figured she had a real chance—because she was already expertly whipping the employees up with pure slander.

“Wow···Im Yunkyung, don’t lie! You did that and then poked us in the side saying we’ve gotten lazy and fat lately, and ran away!”

Of course, I couldn’t just sit there and watch her stir people up.

I was about to step in myself when Lee Gahyeon stepped in instead and immediately shot down Im Yunkyung’s incitement.

But—

“Gahyeon! Warning. Please call her ‘Candidate Yunkyung.’ And you can’t interrupt during a speech without Yuri’s permission. If you break the rules one more time···.”

Tap.

As if she’d had it prepared all along, Yuri pulled out a mask with a big X drawn on it and held it up.

It was the kind of mask where, the second you put it on, a brand-new lifetime embarrassment would be born. Gahyeon, who’d been making an indignant face, shut her mouth tight with a pout.

And whether that satisfied her or not, Yunkyung resumed her speech.

“Our Iam has to stay ahead of trends! How long are we going to keep having the oldest member be the leader? That’s so old-fashioned, isn’t it? I, Im Yunkyung of the Future Party—the youngest—will lead Iam from the youngest member’s point of view!”

Clap, clap, clap.

“Yunkyung’s gotten way better at talking.”

“Because of you.”

“Lately you drag everything around until it becomes my fault, Ryujin-scrub.”

Yunkyung finished her speech more neatly than I expected.

I was genuinely surprised—her speech had a proper beginning, middle, and end, like she’d attended some kids’ public-speaking academy when she was younger—when Seo Ryujin, sitting next to me, took a jab at me.

I was thinking, She’s blaming me again, since lately Ryujin-scrub says “it’s your fault” whenever anything happens, and I was about to secretly drive a knuckle into her side—

“Who do you think Yunkyung learned from?”

“Huh?”

“She follows you around all the time and copies you. Look at that. Ten percent truth, ninety percent lies.”

Ah.

Hearing that, I finally understood the source of the weird déjà vu I’d felt while listening to Yunkyung.

I think I’ve been raising a tiger cub.

***

Leader.

This was never an easy position.

‘It’s still far too early to dump that responsibility on kids.’

From what I’d learned in my past life, going from platoon leader to company commander, responsibility was the kind of thing that—if you handled it wrong—could drag a person straight into ruin.

Even now, look.

“If I become leader, first···I want to make a workspace in our dorm! I think it’d be good if we all study producing together! So later, we can make an album where [N O V E L I G H T] every Iam member participates in production···.”

Even Shinyu, who was kind to a fault, had been lured in by the sweet temptation of the leader seat and was working that hard, pleading for votes. The current situation was painful to watch.

‘It’s the same as not handing a smartphone to a child who isn’t ready.’

Because I knew from experience what kind of disaster happens when the leader position goes to someone unprepared, I had no choice but to swallow my tears and harden my resolve: I had to become leader.

-The member chosen as Iam’s leader will receive special authority! They can establish rules in the dorm, represent the members and submit requests to the company once a month, and they’ll also have authority to mediate disputes in the dorm, among other things···.

It wasn’t because I coveted the leader’s authority.

Of course, a tiny personal motive did exist. For example: only the leader controls the dorm TV remote, when the leader plays games the other members should hold back on data usage so the wifi doesn’t cut out, and meat side dishes in the dorm should be given to the leader at 1.5 times the normal portion.

Or rules like: everyone wakes up at 6 a.m. and jogs around the apartment complex together to build camaraderie, Seo Ryujin and Ryu Ayeon sleep in the same bed to become closer, and the empty space on the second floor becomes my personal storage room.

I wasn’t saying I didn’t want small perks like that.

But what mattered more was duty.

It was, in a sense, the determination of a former army officer who couldn’t throw a heavy burden onto children.

“Hello. I am Lee Sion, running for Iam’s leader—thinking only of Iam, for Iam, on behalf of Iam, with nothing but Iam in mind—as a candidate from The No-Falsehood Party!”

Clap, clap, clap.

Up.

The moment my opening greeting ended, applause rose from the employees—and one of the members shot a hand into the air.

“Ayeon, please ask your question!”

Ryu Ayeon had her hand raised with a fierce expression, like she had something she desperately wanted to say.

Yuri, who was hosting, granted her the floor.

“Lee Sion, you···no, Candidate Lee Sion. I don’t know since when you started ‘thinking about Iam,’ but fine. Why is your party called The No-Falsehood Party?”

Snap!

Before Ryu Ayeon’s question had even fully ended, I snapped my fingers to show it was a good question.

“It means exactly what it says. I have no falseness in my sincerity toward Iam and our agency, KJ Entertainment. Or do you have a complaint about that name, Candidate Ryu Ayeon?”

“No!!”

Seeing Ryu Ayeon flinch and immediately deny it, her face full of panic, was deeply satisfying.

“Then we’re done here.”

I stood at the front again, preparing to continue.

‘An election is politics in motion. Politics is representing someone. These kids don’t have enough life experience yet.’

Everyone was talking about what they’d do if they became leader.

But that was the wrong direction.

The essence of an election is a hamburger.

First you scatter it. Then you see what sticks.

“To be honest, I don’t have ambition for the leader position.”

“Liar!”

Not another candidate—the host, Yuri, blurted it out in shock.

I wanted to pinch those insolent lips, but right now, I had to act calm.

“Among our members, there are many who suit being leader. First, Candidate Lee Gahyeon.”

“Me?”

“Gahyeon would do well if she became leader. But I worry. Gahyeon is the most soft-hearted and pure among us, and I worry that if she becomes leader, then when she has to say harsh things sometimes, she’ll end up getting hurt all alone.”

As I continued, I could see Gahyeon’s expression changing in real time—from flustered to moved.

‘Gahyeon is surprisingly delicate, compared to how she looks.’

Rather than obvious flattery like saying she looks young, this kind of emotional approach was what she needed.

“Next, Candidate Im Yunkyung. I understand that ambition—as the youngest member, wanting to stand tall and claim your rights. But that isn’t right!”

“What? Why?!”

“Because I already see Candidate Im Yunkyung not as ‘the youngest,’ but as an equal member. Without borrowing the authority of the leader seat, I believe Yunkyung sometimes shows a maturity beyond ours. I think she’s an incredible member.”

“Boss···!”

Yunkyung’s eyes shimmered like she was about to cry, moved by my words, and I nodded at her.

‘Yunkyung likes being treated like an adult.’

And also—

“I strongly support Candidate Geum Shinyu’s idea. Even if I become leader, Geum Shinyu’s pledge will be honored!”

“Sion! I knew you’d recognize me!”

There’s no lie. Maybe not right away—but someday, it’ll happen.

“And for Yuri, who gave up being a candidate today and stepped up to host for the members, I will propose to the company that once this promotion ends, all of Iam goes on a trip to Japan!”

“Sion!”

“Because we need time to travel with Yuri and learn about each other more closely.”

Yuri always acted cheerful and tough, but if you watched closely, you could tell she had a slight longing.

Not exactly longing—more like she was sensitive to reactions from Japan.

I got the feeling she wanted to prove to someone back there that she’d succeeded.

To win Yuri over, proposing a Japan trip was easy.

‘It’s on the company’s dime!’

By the time my speech was wrapping up, the atmosphere in the practice room had completely changed from the beginning.

At first, I could clearly feel the members’ firm determination to stop me from becoming leader no matter what—but at some point, their faces had turned into unwavering eyes of support.

‘Ryujin-scrub and coward Ryujin are a pass. Those two can’t be persuaded.’

Seo Ryujin and Ryu Ayeon were so wary of me that trying to coax them recklessly could backfire, so I lightly passed.

Besides, out of six candidates, I’d already secured the support of four—and even Yuri, who was hosting.

‘As The Art of War says, victory and defeat are decided before the battle is even fought.’

Seo Ryujin’s speech was still left, the last one—but the outcome was practically decided.

When I stepped down from the platform to thunderous applause and cheers, Seo Ryujin followed with a complicated expression and climbed up.

“Hello. I’m Seo Ryujin, running for Iam’s leader.”

Unlike the other members—or me—Seo Ryujin introduced herself calmly, without any flashy buildup.

‘What is this?’

At first, I thought she’d given up after seeing my speech.

But the calm she was showing now wasn’t surrender. It felt like preparation.

“I won’t talk long. Host, is it okay if I call in one other person?”

“Yes.”

Seo Ryujin asked Yuri for permission to call someone, and Yuri readily allowed it.

“Please come in.”

With permission granted, Seo Ryujin called toward the practice room door.

Creeeak.

The door opened, and a familiar silhouette appeared.

“Manager?”

It was none other than Iam’s manager, Kim Yunsik.

Seo Ryujin nodded at Kim Yunsik as if asking for help.

“Hoo···.”

Manager Kim Yunsik let out a short sigh, connected his phone to the screen installed in the practice room, and played a video.

-Lee Sion!! Debut is coming up, you have to manage your weight—where did you even get this?!

-Jiu, that isn’t mine! It’s Ryu Ayeon’s.

-Wipe the chocolate off your mouth before you say that!

My face appeared on the practice room screen.

“No···what is this!!!”

I could only stare in horror.

I didn’t know when they’d filmed this, but I had to stop it.

Step.

But as if they’d predicted me, Seo Ryujin and Lee Gahyeon grabbed me.

“The video you’re watching is footage of Lee Sion’s daily behavior filmed by Manager Kim Yunsik and Jiu, along with our members. It’s the original file. Not a single edit.”

-Seo Ryujin, today it’s your turn to study Liu Bei’s ‘lip touch,’ so···.

-Sorry!!! I said I was wrong! I hate Cao Cao! I like Liu Bei!! I did everything already!

-Yeah, I know you’ve reformed. But you still have to do what you have to do.

(Late at night, Lee Sion crawls into Seo Ryujin’s bed and whispers about Romance of the Three Kingdoms.)

-Manager, why didn’t you log into Legend of Valley yesterday?

-Um···Sion. Yesterday after work I was so tired that I fell asleep without realizing···.

-I waited for you, and I had to fight countless trolls on the Rift all by myself. If you had logged in, I wouldn’t have been demoted back to Silver 4···.

Click.

When the video ended, silence drifted through the practice room.

“Even without being leader, it’s hard to endure the havoc Lee Sion is already causing. But if Lee Sion is also given leader authority...what do you think will happen?”

Gulp.

At Seo Ryujin’s words, the sound of someone swallowing echoed unusually loud in the room.

“I have to stop that.”

Was that the kind of face Guan Yu made before a desperate last stand?

Looking at the shocked KJ Entertainment employees, Seo Ryujin continued.

“If I become leader, I’ll wake everyone according to the schedule so the members don’t end up late—including Lee Sion. And lately the salon order has been a mess because the rotation wasn’t properly set, so I’ll establish the order so plans can proceed smoothly.”

Clap, clap, clap.

At Seo Ryujin’s pledge, the staff who managed our schedules—including the manager—applauded.

“Also, for things the company has difficulty managing directly—like diet control and other restrictions—I’ll check and report them instead. On the other hand, I’ll also serve as a bridge, delivering the members’ requests back to the company.”

“Bravo···!”

“Ryujin made a good point.”

Before I knew it, even CEO Kim Sanghyeok and Producer Raon were clapping with impressed exclamations.

“Ah···no!!! Seo Ryujin, are you saying you’ll become the company’s puppet under the name of ‘leader’?!”

“Wait—this is more brutal for us than Sion is!”

“We have to stop this! The boss will compromise sometimes, but Ryujin won’t negotiate at all!”

“This is dangerous! Ryujin is too ruthless!”

Only then did the members seem to grasp the situation, raising their voices at Seo Ryujin, who was volunteering to become the company’s hunting dog, but—

“Seo Ryujin! Seo Ryujin!! Seo Ryujin!!!”

The tide had already turned.

The people with the votes had made their decision.