“Because the incident back then was a memory I personally wanted to forget, I didn’t even record it in my initial deposition. However, since distorted facts are being circulated, I felt the necessity to correct them.”

Photos of the practice room, where I had spent a considerable amount of time with bandages on my neck, and photos from official events where I wore nothing but turtlenecks, filled the projector screen.

Next came a capture of a group chat with the staff in ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) charge of makeup.

Spark Makeup – Ayun: [We need to cover Iwol’s neck for the Exclusive Report shoot, right?]

Spark Makeup – Ayun: [I wonder if cover-up makeup will be enough...]

Spark Makeup – Seungha: [It’s gotten a lot better, so I think we can hide it?]

Spark Makeup – Seungha: [But I’m worried that putting makeup on the wound repeatedly might make it flare up again.]

Me: [Is it possible to change the outfit?]

Spark Makeup – Ayun: [I think it’ll be hard since it’s a sponsored outfit.]

Spark Makeup – Ayun: [If it were a music show, we could at least put on a chokerㅠㅠ]

Spark Makeup – Seungha: [An idol’s body is their career asset, after all!]

Though it appeared perfectly seamless on broadcast, the traces of the struggle to hide the wound behind the scenes remained vivid. The reporters took photos of the screen in succession.

“I didn’t check the CCTV separately because it was a matter I didn’t want to turn into an issue. However, since the defendants requested all CCTV footage recorded that day, we discovered the following scene while in the process of sending it.”

A low-quality video began to play. It showed a silhouette of me in the corner, cowering while clutching my neck, and the silhouette of an adult male watching me with his arms crossed from behind the translucent window film.

I didn’t add any more words. The context explained everything.

The father’s violence, which had supposedly existed since my student days. My statement that I hadn’t mentioned it because it had become a trauma. And finally, the evidence released just now. What conclusion would one reach when putting all of this together?

“So you’re saying your father assaulted you and then tried to pin it on you?”

A question came from the press gallery.

“It is as you see.”

“But isn’t this video also insufficient as evidence of assault?”

“Correct. I did not state this previously because I thought there were no means to prove it.”

To put it the other way, it meant that everything I was raising as an issue had something to back it up.

“Is the reason there have been zero reports filed since you became an adult because of trauma?”

Not because there was nothing to report, but because even when something happened, I didn’t report it. Once that idea settled in, the tone of the questions shifted.

“Half yes, and half no. A large part of it was also that I didn’t want my group to be embroiled in gossip due to my personal affairs.”

“......”

“I am an idol. I didn’t want to tire out the fans, and I believed I shouldn’t. The reason I hid the scar on my neck was also because I had no intention of revealing it. I am only... sorry to have to break such unpleasant news through this kind of occasion.”

Since the Yu Hansu incident, I hadn’t wanted to cause the fans any worry. I desperately blocked the news of Hong Unseop’s caffeine attack from leaking out, and I didn’t halt activities even when my sister’s whereabouts became unknown. Because I wanted them to feel only joy when watching Spark.

The only thing I could do was act composed. Calmly, so as not to look exhausted.

I adjusted my grip on the microphone. Then, I steadied my breathing.

“Since I have answered all the points raised in yesterday’s press conference, I wish to request a clarification from their side in return.”

Until now, this had been a place to clear the grievances of myself and the fans. However, there was still someone whose resentment needed to be resolved.

“I ask the two of them to explain the abandonment of their eldest daughter that occurred approximately 30 years ago.”

I had already confirmed that the restriction on revealing divine secrets had been lifted. Since Choi Jeho had overheard the truth about my sister, I was now able to bring her up to the Spark members as well.

Flashes went off incessantly. The reporters leaned their upper bodies forward.

“You’re going to talk about your sister?”

Choi Jeho couldn’t believe his ears. He wondered if Kim Iwol had been pushed into a corner and lost his rational judgment. This was back when the lawyer had stepped out briefly to print something.

“You said you didn’t want to buy sympathy.”

None of the stories shared with the lawyer were anything short of shocking. And among them, the story of the sister had the greatest impact. Even Iwol himself, the party involved, had kept her existence hidden away.

“People aren’t interested in clarifications.”

“What does that have to do with your sister?”

“If I don’t drop an issue big enough, I’ll be labeled an unfilial bastard forever.”

Kim Iwol was still often described as giving people a bad feeling. The fallout from last year’s incident lingered on.

“...And.”

Kim Iwol had hesitated before speaking.

“I don’t know when I’ll ever get this much attention again.”

“......”

“I feel like revealing the story of my sister now is the best opportunity to let the world know of her existence. Who would listen to an idol’s personal history in such detail unless they were a fan?”

Throughout the conversation, Kim Iwol didn’t take his eyes off his old laptop.

“This incident will fade away eventually... I don’t want to upset the fans multiple times by mentioning it again later. I want to finish it in one go.”

The sound of typing continued mechanically and then stopped.

“Do I seem calculating? Selfish, even?”

While his eyes were still nailed to the monitor, Kim Iwol asked.

Choi Jeho only had one thing to say.

“The real trash is anyone who curses someone just for trying to find their family.”

Kim Iwol let out a short laugh. Then, he went back to writing out a long set of rebuttal materials.

And now, the story of Kim Iwol’s sister began to take the spotlight.

“By ‘eldest daughter,’ do you mean you have an older sister?”

“Could you elaborate on what you mean by ‘abandonment’?”

Questions rained down. Kim Iwol answered with a calm expression.

“I only had a suspicion that I might have a sister, but through conversations arranged by UA, I learned that the two of them abandoned my sister and hid this fact. Because of this, my father misunderstood that I had put a tail on them, and as retaliation, he hired someone to monitor every single move of my group member, Jeho.”

“You said there was no evidence of the conversation in the meeting room. Do you have evidence that he put a tail on you?”

“We have captured the circumstances of him providing a false dating rumor to MYTH. The timing matches perfectly.”

After that incident, Kim Iwol hadn’t met Choi Jeho’s eyes for several days. He said he was sorry, and Choi Jeho had told him not to apologize for something that wasn’t his fault. But it turned out Kim Iwol had been carrying that dating rumor in his heart the whole time.

“Your mother is currently protesting in the lobby, claiming that you’re giving false testimony. Did you consider that this could escalate into a defamation dispute?”

A reporter looking at their phone asked a question.

“I expected it.”

“Then the reason you chose to announce this regardless is...”

The intention behind the question seemed malicious, but Kim Iwol remained composed.

“This year marks the third year I’ve been searching for my sister.”

“......”

“I hope you understand that I am desperate enough to risk taking a hit.”

Kim Iwol pulled away from the microphone. The room fell silent.

“...We will proceed after a 10-minute break.”

As the recess was declared, the stiff atmosphere softened. People stood up from their seats.

As Choi Jeho was about to leave the conference hall, someone placed a hand on his shoulder. It must be Kim Iwol. He’d been sitting beside him.

He turned around to see if there was something to say...

“What the?”

“Did he collapse?”

...The hand slid down Choi Jeho’s arm. No one was in his line of sight.

Kim Iwol was slumped on the floor at his feet. He was clutching his stomach.

Previously it had been his heart, but Choi Jeho’s mind first thought of the “beverage.” However, the bottled water on the table was a new one that hadn’t even been opened. Beyond the untouched water bottle, flashes went off like crazy.

“Wait a moment, please do not come closer!”

The lawyer and the managers blocked the swarming reporters. Choi Jeho knelt down in front of Kim Iwol.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

Every time he shook him, Kim Iwol grimaced. The hand gripping his suit jacket was bright red.

“Can you get on my back?”

He asked, but Kim Iwol shook his head.

“I don’t want... to be carried out in front of people.”

“Then can you walk? Can you even stand up?”

Even as he scolded him, Choi Jeho knew he wouldn’t be able to persuade him. The image of Kim Iwol secretly trying to take medicine even when he was mentally falling apart was still vivid.

Choi Jeho violently pulled the table with the blocked front toward them. The white lights flashing above dimmed slightly.

“They won’t be able to see now. Happy?”

Kim Iwol slowly raised his head. His eyes were unfocused. He was covering his mouth with his other hand, as if he wanted to vomit.

“Vomit if you have to.”

Choi Jeho said. However, despite breaking into a cold sweat, Kim Iwol didn’t put his finger in his mouth as he had done before.

“It’s a nuisance.”

“......”

“If I get cursed at more than this... it’ll be hard to fix...”

F*ck.

Choi Jeho took off his jacket.

Then, he spread it out on the floor. Right under Kim Iwol’s face. He smoothed it out with both hands to remove any wrinkles.

“There. Satisfied?”

“......”

“I can just wrap it up and throw it away. Vomit or spit, do whatever you want.”

Kim Iwol frowned. It didn’t seem to be because he was offended by the words. Iwol’s back arched sharply.

“Urgh...”

Why did the sound of something coming up from someone else’s throat sound so loud?

“Uh, uh, he’s vomiting.”

“Everyone, please step out! What do you think you’re doing? How despicable!”

The sound of shutters still didn’t stop. They kept taking pictures as if someone vomiting was the most interesting thing in the world.

It’s a relief I blocked the view, he thought, but in that moment, something sticky and transparent dripped from between Kim Iwol’s fingers.

Is it saliva? Or gastric juice? Did he even have anything to throw up? He hadn’t eaten much lately.

Before he could process how strange that was, Kim Iwol started breathing raggedly.

Something gushed out over the hand covering his mouth.

It was much thinner...

“Isn’t that blood?”

...A transparent liquid, clotted red in places.