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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Conflicting Priorities
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Of course, Ha-ra's number one idol was, without a doubt, Kwon Wook.
But ever since he awakened ten years ago, Kwon Wook had walked the path of a Hunter, not an idol. He was something of a pseudo-idol, but in any case, he didn't sing and dance on stage.
So, over the past decade, quite a few idol oppas had come and gone in Ha-ra's life. In her dry life as a civil servant, it was hard to find a hobby with as much psychological bang for her buck as being an idol fangirl.
You could see them just by turning on your phone, and there were plenty of people who liked them too.
Of course, the physical cost-effectiveness was much lower by comparison, but that was a non-issue for Ha-ra. Her busy work schedule meant she never even dared to think about going to concerts or public broadcasts.
As for merch, after the “Ugi Oppa Incident,” Mr. Kang Jae-pil had become so utterly fed up that she couldn't collect it at home. Besides, it was extremely rare for things to end well with these oppas, so every time she quit a fandom, Ha-ra would breathe a sigh of relief, glad she hadn't collected any merch.
But now, a new idol had found its way to Ha-ra. This time, it wasn't an oppa, but an unni.
The youngest member of a famous girl group. Her name was Yulli.
My gosh, even her name is adorable. In reality, she was younger than Ha-ra, but who cared? If they're cute, pretty, and make more money than you, they're an unni.
She loved their recent album so much that she started looking them up on X-Tube, and before she knew it, she was a fan.
Moreover, as Ha-ra checked the concert dates, her heart swelled with anticipation. She was no longer the same Kang Ha-ra who couldn't even dream of going to a concert.
‘Now that I've awakened as an S-rank, I might actually be able to go! I'm going to try for a ticket! Today at 8 PM!’
Just then, a message popped up on Ha-ra's phone as she was looking at the ticketing information.
When do you get off work today?
Gasp. Right. Yoon Se-heon.
She'd completely forgotten because of the ticketing. Her promise to have dinner with Se-heon. Clutching her phone, Ha-ra rolled around on her bed, groaning.
Her usual quitting time was 6 PM. Meeting right at six was impossible, so if they met at 6:30 PM, getting tickets at 8 PM would be completely out of the question.
Idol concert tickets usually sold out within thirty seconds of 8 o'clock on the dot.
Ha-ra desperately tried to spin a happy scenario in her head.
‘Anchor Yoon's workplace is in Yeouido... If I go there by six... we have a quick dinner in front of his office and part ways, I might be able to cross the Han River and get home in time, right?’
As if.
No, wait. Ha-ra paused, then quickly tapped on her phone.
Hello! I ended up having the day off today. Since the business trip was canceled ^^;; But don't you have to host the 9 PM news? Will you be okay?
For the 9 PM news, doesn't he have to be there at least an hour early to prepare? The happy-scenario-spinner that had briefly stalled began to whir again.
Ping. Se-heon's reply arrived.
I had also cleared my schedule for the trip, so a junior colleague is covering for me through today. Besides, my back hasn't healed yet, so my evenings will likely be free for a while.
Huh... Then shouldn't you be resting in the evening all the more? ^^;;;
Don't I need to please the Constellation? I'm fine.
I think it's okay for you not to be fine!
That's true, but... I don't think you need to push yourself so hard...
The Constellation hasn't responded since yesterday, either.
Ha-ra tried calling out to her Constellation, just in case. Knock knock, hello, Constellation-nim.
But the Constellation remained silent. The system window was quiet, too. She had called for it when she woke up this morning, but there had been no response. It seemed its words about seeing her tomorrow at this time hadn't been a joke.
In the meantime, another message arrived.
Are you saying this because you're busy today?
Wow, he's uncanny... Ha-ra was floored. His intuition was incredible.
She wanted to reply with a “Yes,” but her fingers wouldn't move. And for good reason—she was the one who'd begged him to date her.
With the Constellation also unresponsive. What if she replied with something like, “I'm a little busy today, can we have dinner tomorrow instead?” and a disgruntled Yoon Se-heon said, “It seems you don't need this relationship. Let's break up.”
Ha-ra fought back the urge to cry as she typed out a message.
No... I'm very free... I was just worried that a busy person was making time for me...
The reply came a long while later.
Even if I were free, I don't normally make time like this. In that case, I'll see you at 6 at the place I dropped you off yesterday.
He meant he would pick her up in front of her house.
Ha-ra put her phone down and lay on the bed. Usually, a person about to go on a first date would be thinking things like, “What should I wear? What shoes should I wear?”
But Ha-ra's mind was filled with only one thought.
I have to get those tickets somehow, in secret.
I could just go to the restroom...
Or I could use the Constellation as an excuse...
Besides, people talk behind the king's back when he's not there. If it didn't like being used as an excuse, it could come and whine about it.
With that thought, Ha-ra turned her phone back on. She didn't know if she'd be able to go or not, but she decided to review some videos of songs likely to be on the concert setlist. She was really counting her chickens before they hatched.
It was at that moment.
[The Giant Eagle's Egg is moving.]
Hm? Startled by the sudden window, Ha-ra opened her inventory. The Giant Eagle's Egg, which she'd been planning to sell to a health food store, was glowing with a white light.
“What is this?”
Ha-ra took out the egg and turned it over and over. But unlike how it had been glowing in the inventory window, the egg was perfectly still.
It definitely moved, though.
Ha-ra tilted her head, then, with a soft “Ah,” she cast the ‘#HAPPYYOURDAY’ skill.
She remembered that for monsters, she had to input the dungeon's creation date. When she entered the date the Yeouido dungeon appeared, a status window popped up immediately.
[Giant Eagle's Egg]
Effect: Stamina +7 (Permanent)
Hatching Condition: ???
There wasn't much difference from before. Except now there was a hatching condition she hadn't seen.
Ha-ra propped her chin on her hand and hummed thoughtfully. What's this? Wasn't I just supposed to make a fried egg out of it?
What happens if I hatch it? There were so many puzzling things.
Trying to call the Constellation only resulted in a “Now Loading” message, which seemed to mean nothing would progress until it returned.
“Ah, I don't know.”
Ha-ra flopped onto her back. Whatever it takes, I just need to get those tickets.
