The elegant woman’s words hung in the air, a cool counterpoint to the pandemonium erupting around them. Reporters, momentarily stunned into silence by her arrival, now erupted into a cacophony of questions directed at the disgraced Mr. Kang. He sagged, a puppet with severed strings, his face still frozen in a rictus of horror. CEO Park, ever the corporate politician, rushed forward, hands outstretched, a practiced smile plastered over his shock. “Director Seo! What an unexpected honor! We weren’t expecting you back so soon.” Jin-ah, however, did not return the smile. Her gaze remained fixed on Ha-mi, an unsettling mix of recognition and assessment. “Indeed, CEO Park. It seems my presence is… timely.” Her voice, though soft, carried an undeniable authority that instantly quelled the most aggressive journalist. She turned to Mr. Kang, her expression chilling. “Mr. Kang. I believe your services are no longer required. Effective immediately. Clean out your desk.” Kang spluttered, “Director Seo! This is a misunderstanding! The Muse—she’s a fraud! She sabotaged me!” “The only fraud I see, Mr. Kang, is a man who would manipulate an ancient rite for personal gain,” Seo Jin-ah cut him off, her tone like polished steel. She flicked a dismissive hand towards security. “Escort him out.” Two burly guards materialized, seizing Kang by the arms. He continued to protest, but his words were swallowed by the general uproar as he was unceremoniously marched from the hall. Seo Jin-ah then addressed the remaining press, her voice projecting effortlessly. “Ladies and gentlemen, a full statement regarding the incident with Mr. Kang and the band's upcoming comeback will be released within the hour. For now, respect our privacy.” With that, she turned, her eyes sweeping over the boys who stood bewildered in the front row, then finally resting on Ha-mi again. “Boys. And Ms. Noh. My office. Now.” Ha-mi found herself trailing the group, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and dawning dread. The CEO’s office was a minimalist expanse of glass and dark wood, perched high above the Seoul skyline. The view was breathtaking, but Ha-mi barely noticed. Seo Jin-ah sat behind a pristine desk, gesturing for them to take the seats opposite. Do-yun, Ji-ho, Min-jun, and Si-woo sat in a tense line, their faces a mixture of relief and trepidation. Ha-mi took the last empty chair, feeling ridiculously out of place. “First, boys,” Jin-ah began, her voice measured. “I apologize for Mr. Kang’s actions. He twisted the prophecy to serve his own bitter agenda. He truly believed Muses were a curse, having witnessed his own group’s downfall during his idol days. His scheme wasn’t to help you succeed, but to ensure your public failure, thereby discrediting the entire concept of a Muse and allowing him to seize control of SNE assets once public trust dissolved.” Do-yun’s stoic facade cracked. “So the ‘fading’… it’s not a curse?” “No, Do-yun. The ‘fading’ is a safety protocol.” Jin-ah leaned forward, her posture easing slightly. “The original intent of the ancient compact was never to consume a Muse’s vital essence. That was a lie propagated by corrupted texts. True alignment is a symbiotic relationship. If the Muse and the group are truly incompatible, if their artistic wavelengths cannot align, the Muse’s spark simply… disperses. It allows her to return to her normal life, forgotten by the group, yes, but unharmed. It prevents a surge of mismatched forces, which could actually harm the idols, not the Muse.” Ha-mi blinked. “So I wouldn’t… die?” Seo Jin-ah offered a faint, almost sad smile. “No, Ms. Noh. Never. You would simply… become Noh Ha-mi, convenience store clerk, again. The ancient rite's primary function is shielding you, not punishment.” [Quest Update: Demigod Protocol Activated! Understanding Karma: 50%] Ha-mi’s phone buzzed with a notification she barely registered. Her thoughts were snagged on Jin-ah’s knowing gaze. “How… how do you know all this?” Seo Jin-ah’s eyes gleamed with a distant recollection. “Because I know the one who created it. Your original self, Ms. Noh. Or rather, the entity that you once were. You were not merely a mischievous demigod, as some legends claim. You were a guide. A guardian of artistic truth. You crafted this entire mechanism, this… ‘game,’ as a tutorial. A way to steer your reincarnated self through the perils of modern idol culture, to ensure the sacred bond between Muse and artists could flourish safely, even in a world that has forgotten true magic.” A stunned silence filled the room. Ha-mi felt a chill despite the warmth of the office. Her past self, a benevolent guardian? The entity who set up the entire scenario, complete with snarky system prompts and ridiculous quests, was actually a benevolent guide? It felt like a cosmic prank. Her imposter syndrome screamed, *You? A protector? You can’t even pay your rent!* Si-woo, ever the most direct, broke the quiet. “So… our Muse is like… a goddess?” His chin lifted, curious and sharp. Min-jun scoffed softly, but even he seemed too shell-shocked to fully dismiss the idea. Do-yun simply stared at Ha-mi, a new kind of awe in his gaze. Ji-ho, however, leaned forward, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a raw earnestness. He looked at Ha-mi, his voice soft, almost vulnerable. “Ha-mi, when I’m with you, I don’t feel disposable, I feel—” “We have a bigger problem.” Min-jun cut him off, his voice sharp, eyes fixed on Jin-ah. “The Harmonic Resonance isn’t just about a hit song. The ritual requires an emotional catalyst—a choice.” Ji-ho’s unfinished confession hung in the air, a fragile thing shattered by Min-jun’s abrupt interjection. Ha-mi pressed her fingers into the leather cushion, stung by disappointment and a sudden, terrible understanding. Min-jun wasn't just being rude; he was dissecting the heart of their predicament. She turned back toward the executive desk, stomach sinking. Seo Jin-ah’s gaze, which had been on Min-jun, now shifted back to Ha-mi, solemn and unyielding. “He’s right, Ms. Noh. To complete the synthesis, to truly achieve the harmonic peak that will elevate ASTRAL’s music beyond anything the world has ever heard, you must form a true, singular bond. You have to choose one of them, Ms. Noh. And you have to do it on stage.”

The Truth in the CEO's Office