NOVEL NEXT Chapter 70
《’Rex Nova’s Show Live’ Broadcast Bulletin Board》
[Why is it just ads, haha]
It’s legendary that ads came up not even 5 minutes into the start, and then they throw another one right away, lol.
Do the viewers look like water?
At this point, isn’t this a historic broadcasting accident?
— Actually, the viewers are water. Because 70% of a human is made of water.
— But that’s the fun of watching live broadcasts.
— It’s not that historic, though; remember back in the day when someone shot a gun as soon as it started?
[I just got here, can someone summarize the situation?]
Hasn’t it been a while since it started?
Why are they still running ads?
— We don’t know either, lol.
— From now on, we can watch together.
[Haha, I have no idea, haha]
(Andrea’s photo image)
Just show Andrea.
Us 48 million Andrea fans support her through any controversy.
— So many fans, damn, is the orc one of them?
[Oh, it has started again]
It’s just as expected.
— ? (Author)
— ??? (Author)
— Damn, who are you calling? (Author)
19. Just a Regular Person (6)
Even if one continually turns away from reality.
Time will inevitably flow.
The ads that were guarding our peace have ended, and the filming filled with despair has begun.
Honestly, just looking at the PD or Rex Nova’s expression, it’s clear they aren’t in a state to continue the broadcast normally.
But still, can a pro be a pro?
They courageously continued the broadcast.
“…Show live, we will continue again!”
As Rex Nova spoke, the sounds of non-existent audience laughter and applause filled the location.
“We were doing what corner─. Ah, it was a phone call. Haha, I almost forgot.”
He looked as if he had completely lost his mind.
Rex Nova’s gaze filled with chaos and confusion landed on me.
“…Did everyone know this call might be our show’s last? …Just kidding.”
Rex Nova laughed foolishly.
The other guest, Andrea, and Vince Barbo still seemed unaware of the situation.
With an expression of disbelief, she watched Rex Nova’s antics.
The only guest who could guess his true feelings on this stage was me.
[On hold for phone call, caller ‘Chairman’]
I barely suppressed a sigh seeing the name pop up on my interface.
What the heck did it turn out like this?
Who am I, and where is this place?
I thought it would just be a matter of denying my relationship with Andrea on the show.
How did it get so tangled?
I felt maddeningly dizzy.
“…Let’s first listen to the call from our guest known as ‘The Man of Rumors’!”
After finishing his line, Rex Nova approached me.
His expression was dead, making me wonder if this was an expression an entertainer should show.
Turning his back to the camera, he looked at me.
Covering the mic with his palm so the sound wouldn’t reach the audio equipment, he said.
“……Please.”
His tone was desperate and pitiful.
I had no idea what he was asking for, but I decided to give my best in whatever I could do.
I nodded to Rex Nova.
Seeing us, Vince Barbo muttered in a discontented tone.
“Ha, what’s the big deal about just making a phone call? If someone heard it, they’d think I was talking to a big shot.”
It was a barely audible comment, but he was wearing a mic, so that voice fully transmitted to the entire site.
The already pale faces of the PD and Rex Nova slowly turned darker.
After a short deep breath, I answered the call.
If it had been any other normal day, this would have been the time for a middle-aged man to take care of business.
Strangely, the voice coming through the phone was that of the woman from the party.
[Ah, hello?]
“…Yes, are you in good health?”
[It’s been a while since we spoke, huh, hehe.]
Honestly, we’re not that close….
But I couldn’t tell the truth to the chairman of the world’s number one mega-corporation.
[It’s been a while; how have you been?]
“…I’m doing the same as always.”
Well, until the call came, life was good.
All the crew’s eyes were on me.
Since it wasn’t a hologram call, only my and the chairman’s voices echoed at the site.
[Ah, I should introduce myself first. Since this is live.]
“More importantly, how did you know to call me─.”
[Hello, viewers.]
The only ones who knew the truth, the PD and Rex Nova, began to look more than just dark; they were practically turning blue.
One could almost expect their hearts to stop at any moment.
But chairmingly, he ignored my question and continued.
[I’m ‘Taylor Blackstar,’ chairman of the Black Monolith Corporation. The truthfulness of my words will be posted on the Monolith official Net Space.]
…….
A brief silence followed.
In general, the filming scene is quiet, but this silence felt different.
The production staff, worried about the broadcast, now held their breath fearing for their heads.
…Well, at least the ratings are guaranteed.
I began to seriously contemplate whether I needed to have a close conversation with the involved parties about my payment.
Breaking the silence, the chairman spoke.
[I heard that my dear younger brother is appearing on the show.]
…….
When did I become his close younger brother?
I slightly turned my head to survey the area.
Vince Barbo was still staring at me, mouth agape, not yet realizing the reality.
His face was just right for a meme like ‘Vince Barbo’s humiliation’ on Net Space.
Andrea, who had taken the escort mission with me, was listening to the call with an expression of discontent.
The expressions of Rex Nova and the PD, who looked as if they had ascended to the sky in turmoil, were unreadable.
The chairman, seemingly unaware of the situation, continued speaking, ruthless.
Truly a mega-corp, the head of Monolith.
[So what was the topic of the broadcast?]
“I’ll explain.”
It was just a phone call, yet Rex Nova, lowering his head as if the chairman was before him, was trying to explain.
[Ah, the Executive Secretary informed me. It was about the multi-marriage issue involving a famous singer.]
“…Haha.”
Rex Nova took a step back as he eyed me, curiosity visible about my relationship with the chairman.
Although it was a rare scenario, if it turned out that the chairman and I had a special relationship,
the broadcast station would have faced utter destruction.
The chairman’s voice came through across the phone.
[That’s surely not a lie, right?]
Upon hearing that, I lightly sighed.
If the chairman started to make fun or say something odd, my situation could spiral out of control.
Fortunately, it seemed he’d share the truth honestly.
I believe in you, chairman…!
[As someone who considers you a close younger brother, I believe it’s better for someone good to be a spouse than just an ordinary person.]
“?”
Chairman?
[For instance, me—.]
At that moment.
The chairman’s voice suddenly cut off.
Checking the interface, I noticed the call had ended mid-conversation.
What was happening?
[Unnecessary call content was blocked.]
Eve’s voice chimed in.
……I really believed you!
From next to me, Andrea raised her thumb secretly, able to hear Eve’s voice too.
What on earth is that guy doing now?
Recognizing the end of the call, Rex Nova took over the atmosphere immediately.
“…Yes! It was truly unbelievable! I never expected to have a call with Chairman Monolith! Thank you sincerely for your time!”
He was putting on a professional desk appearance.
Trying his best to wrap up the broadcast.
“Chairman Monolith explained it personally! If he says no! Then it’s obviously not true!”
Perhaps wishing to escape these topics quickly.
He struggled to change the subject without further elaboration.
If he had been a dragon, flames would have probably burst from his mouth, but unfortunately for him, as a human, only saliva flowed.
“Once again, it has been revealed that the noisy topics of Neon City are indeed false. How regrettable—that’s a shame!”
After finishing his closing statement, Rex Nova approached Andrea.
Looking as though he was about to hear the words of the topic’s star.
“Now, let’s hear what Miss Andrea has to say, and then move on to the next topic!”
Of course, he could have come to me first to request an interview, but after all the issues I’ve caused, he wanted to avoid any potential problems.
Not wanting to let that slide, I felt incredibly wronged.
Rex Nova turned his back to the camera again, gazing at Andrea.
His eyebrows moved furiously.
Desperately trying to express his face instead of words, pleading for help to ensure it ended without issue.
But somehow, Andrea’s expression was strange.
She appeared filled with considerable discontent.
Having watched the number one Gyeomjok of Neon City, Catherine, for a long time, I instinctively sensed an ominous premonition.
…This is it.
Something is bound to explode soon.
But before I could stand up and stop her, it was Andrea who first crushed Rex Nova’s desperate hope.
“No, it’s not.”
“…Huh?”
Rex Nova’s lips emitted a baffled sound, caught entirely off-guard.
As if time had stopped, everyone’s actions froze in place.
“I’m seriously considering multi-marriage. There are so many people targeting me, I can’t help it. If I’m going to, I might as well aim for the first position—.”
“Let’s go to the ads!!”
Rex Nova shouted, cutting off Andrea’s words.
I put my face in my hands.
How did it turn out this way?
As Rex Nova sweated buckets in the fallout of this broadcasting accident.
Outside the stage, the PD was suffering from another issue.
“Because of the hacking, the later content didn’t go out? …Should I call that lucky?”
Listening to the situation.
It turned out the entire broadcasting station had been hacked, causing the live show to stop, fortunately preventing Andrea’s shocking speech from airing.
I caught a snippet of Andrea whispering so softly that the mic wouldn’t catch it.
“Hey, that hacking was you, right?”
[No, it wasn’t.]
“Not true!? Who on earth would hack at this timing?”
[Haha.]
“Damn it.”
…….
I felt like I was about to be carried off to the hospital with a headache.
*
“…I’m exhausted, so exhausted.”
After a long ordeal, I returned home safely and slowly opened the front door.
And then I halted.
“?”
Something felt off.
…Since when did our house become this spacious?
“Are you back?”
Catherine stepped from the ‘next door’ to our ‘house,’ looking at me.
The reason that physically impossible act was possible was that the wall separating the two houses had completely vanished.
“…What is this?”
“Well, since I decided to live together, I combined them.”
“…….”
What about my privacy?
And just as I stood there dumbfounded,
Andrea’s voice echoed from behind me.
“Oh, I moved here too.”
“?”
“There was an empty room on this floor. I thought it was a perfect opportunity, so I rented it.”
I looked in the direction Andrea pointed.
It was Bill’s old house.
Since he ran away it had become vacant, and it seemed she seized the opportunity.
…Hmm.
I began to seriously consider moving.