Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 125

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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125. Challenge
The vending machine sat directly outside the Believer waiting room.
Ji Su-ho extracted two cups of five-hundred-won mix coffee and handed one to Believer’s manager, speaking as he did.
“Actually, I heard you requested a challenge with our trainees earlier…?”
“Ah, that. …Yes, I did mention it.”
Believer’s manager trailed off, his voice carrying a note of awkwardness.
He’d thrown out the idea earlier thinking he might capitalize on Tae-hyun’s trending appeal, but now that circumstances had shifted, he wasn’t convinced it was such a good move anymore.
Team Leader Ji Su-ho, as if reading his every thought, turned slightly and whispered.
“We’d actually benefit from doing a challenge with Believer too… As you know, we’re putting considerable effort into draining Boy’s Supremacy’s influence over Tae-hyun. But if we bring a Believer challenge into the mix right now, it might spark unnecessary talk, and frankly, I’m concerned about the optics.”
“Ah, I see. Yes, I understand.”
“But then again, since we’ve met Believer, having anyone other than Tae-hyun do the challenge feels a bit odd too….”
Believer’s manager, caught between needing Miro Maze’s publicity while finding Seo Tae-hyun too much to swallow whole, perked up his ears.
Ji Su-ho broached the subject with an earnest expression, his posture resembling someone seeking counsel on a difficult matter.
“So here’s what I’m thinking—would it be alright if we had Tae-hyun participate alongside just one other trainee? We’re grateful for your proposal, and from our perspective, a challenge with Believer is an opportunity we don’t want to miss. But I think it’d be better for both sides if we frame it less as ‘Boy’s Supremacy’ and more as ‘our juniors.'”
“Ah, yes. For us, it’s promotional either way. So which trainee were you thinking of…?”
The manager’s eyes brightened at the reasonable proposal.
But if Su-ho named that particular problem trainee from earlier, the manager had already decided to refuse.
Something about that trainee felt wrong. It was a manager’s instinct.
“It’s this friend here. See that one without the school uniform? He’s a dancer, actually.”
Su-ho pointed through the open waiting room door at someone.
Fortunately, it wasn’t the problem trainee the manager had been worried about.
A blue-haired boy standing at the very back, unremarkable in presence, his arm draped casually over another trainee’s shoulder.
“Ah… Yes. That works. We’d prefer not to have everything revolve around Boy’s Supremacy anyway.”
Believer’s manager nodded in agreement.
Even if Believer’s members were lacking—or rather, severely lacking—in vocal ability, their dancing was solid enough to hold its own anywhere.
There was no way Miro Maze would have pre-practiced Believer’s challenge, so if he just dimmed the spotlight falling on Tae-hyun appropriately, it should be manageable.
‘It should be manageable. Under normal circumstances.’
Ha-jin thought this with complete sincerity.
If Seo Tae-hyun and Lee Yu-gun had been ordinary K-trainees from the peninsula, this wouldn’t even be a contest.
Hell, if Lee Yu-gun were operating in his usual state—his “Lee Yu-gun Minus Mode” with debuffs cranked to maximum—Ha-jin would have volunteered to do it himself.
Before Ha-jin’s eyes materialized Lee Yu-gun’s stat window, freshly updated after the third preliminary round.
[Lee Yu-gun (Affiliation: Miro)]
-Debuff: All stats decrease due to unique trait effects
Vocals: C (C+)
Rap: Measuring
Dance: A+ (S)
Expression: B+ (A-)
Charm: B (B+)
Special: Copy & Paste (A+)
-With certain probability, completely assimilates the target of your focus
Appeal Points:
‘Still, twelve ships remain.’
-Sense of responsibility, perseverance, strong immersion
Yoo Gun right now was in what you might call ‘Lee Yu-gun Zero Mode’—his previously depleted stats had nearly fully recovered!
‘All that effort feeding him was worth it. I made the right call bringing him today.’
I’d decided not to blindly trust the system, but honestly, it was convenient at times like these.
‘Until I can use the skill, I need to maximize its use and develop my eye for reading situations.’
Just as I was thinking that, Ji Su-ho entered the waiting room and wrapped up the discussion appropriately.
The moment I brought up the challenge, the B-liver members seemed slightly annoyed but kept glancing at Tae-hyun.
I tapped Seo Tae-hyun’s shoulders as they instinctively tensed, and while everyone was moving out of the waiting room for the challenge shoot, I leaned in and whispered to him.
“Hey. Don’t be scared. You’re gonna win anyway.”
“….”
“If you just do your part.”
At that, Seo Tae-hyun looked at me with eyes that said ‘What’s with this guy?’
But I was certain.
We had nothing to lose in this challenge.
I could tell that without even calculating stats.
“You didn’t just slack off for three years. Just do what you’ve been doing, just like always.”
“…You have a really unique way of cheering someone on, hyung.”
Seo Tae-hyun shook his head and moved forward with Lee Yu-gun for the challenge shoot.
While watching that, my phone buzzed with a short messenger notification.
I quickly checked the messenger and found a welcome reply from someone I’d contacted before coming to the waiting room.
“Miro_Yupia_Seo Tae-il Senior ‖ hahahahahaha”
【Miro_Upia_Seo Tae-il Senior ‖ Yeah~ I’ll send it soon】
【Miro_Upia_Seo Tae-il Senior ‖ Do well on stage today! Fighting~】
【Miro_Upia_Seo Tae-il Senior ‖ (Emoticon of someone cheering powerfully)】
‘…Alright, that’s taken care of.’
So what now?
After thinking for a moment, I gestured to the other trainees who were watching Seo Tae-hyun and Lee Yu-gun’s challenge.
“Double J, Sparkle. Come on.”
“…?”
“Let’s go reduce the puffiness.”
“…Puffiness?”
“We’re going on broadcast, so we need to look good.”
“But… the recording’s already done…?”
Mm, no. We’re going on broadcast again.
Looking at those guys staring up at me with bewildered expressions, I smiled warmly.
* * *
At the same time.
The internet world, which was never peaceful even today.
After the “Shin Tae-pal Crime Triple Crown Scandal” swept through this place in the morning, fresh topics were being regenerated as always.
The one who opened the first volley was, once again, Idea.
[Wait, Upia is a candidate for 1st place today?]
Just saw the announcement in the public chat;;;
– ? We’re a candidate for 1st?
– ????Us????
– Idea passing by, bewildered
[Looks like even Upia didn’t know they were a 1st place candidate lol]
Just got Nam Da-down’s pop-pop message lol they just found out too lol
– Let’s go see Upia’s encore stage without Upia
– So Idea doesn’t know and Upia doesn’t know about Upia being a 1st place candidate…
– Who’s the other team’s candidate for 1st?
└ B-liver is making a comeback today
[Yo but Miro Maze kids are also on A-Countdown today]
Today’s A-Countdown is basically a Miro festival lol if Choi Yeon-woo kept doing A-Countdown MC, the network would just be Miro eating everything lol
– Miro’s form is insane
– Did Han Se-won save a nation in a past life or something???
– Right, Two-Me kids are on today too
└ But I’m confused, why is Miro Maze called Two-Me?
└ When we first decided, Two-M sounded weird, Miro Maze sounded weird, so since it’s Miro Maze (=Miro), we just went with Two-Me
└ So it was just made up on the spot lol okay got it
Once word spread about Upia’s sudden 1st place candidacy, people chimed in with interest.
Among them were those who let out exasperated sighs.
[Am I the only one who thinks the current broadcast is lacking…]
Honestly, they’ve already done their share, so why do they have to cling to it this desperately?
It’s time to give the juniors some opportunities too
Even though he’s gotten older, he doesn’t seem to be begging fans and says he wants to be number one with Pop-Pop, and it looks ugly.
The opposing team is making a comeback today but gets no mention, and the atmosphere is being created like winning 1st would be a crime. It’s ridiculous lol That team is really desperate for 1st this time, so can’t Upia just concede a little…?
Of course, none of it stuck.
– Did you know the ‘A’ in Idea actually stands for ‘Ardent’… wait, no, ‘Aggressive’…
Did you know that the ‘A’ in Idea was actually the ‘A’ from “Adeukbadeuk”?
– That’s why we’re in trouble too… What can we do if the kids are still active in the first team after 13 years? ㅠ Oh really… I’ll try to play first team again in a dirty and shameful way. Thank you for your support.
– Meanwhile, the actual juniors, Miro’s next-generation members, are just doing fine with today’s A-Countdown special stage
Idea, a 13-year-old fanbase versed in all manner of sabotage and slander.
They were already sufficiently satisfied with the sudden 1st place candidacy news.
But they never shied away from an approaching fight.
Through their long-accumulated database, they already sensed that if they failed to secure 1st on this A-Countdown, they would become fair game for the haters from that point on.
[Let’s really make sure our kids get 1st]
Honestly, I didn’t care much before?
But seeing the haters get drawn in, I’m determined to make them win 1st out of spite lol
I’ll empty my entire paycheck if it means getting the kids to first place today.
The awakened Idea members began encouraging paid voting.
Of course, this week’s first place was equally important to B-liver, so their fanbase wasn’t sitting idle either.
B-liver had released an album last week, and due to a member’s health issue, they were only starting their music show activities this week.
Therefore, since this was essentially their second week of promotion, they absolutely had to secure first place this week when all the firepower from their comeback’s first week would converge.
‘Who will ultimately take first place?’
What had begun as a competition had transformed into a battle of pride between the two fanbases.
At that critical moment, both B-liver and Miro Maze’s official AiTube channels uploaded new content simultaneously.
[B-liver and Seo Tae-hyun Challenge Drops]
It was a freshly filmed, piping hot challenge video.
– Wow, it reminds me of Socheon ㅜㅠ They have cocktails ㅠㅠㅠ
– ? Why is Lee Yu-gun there? Isn’t he not on your team?
└ Apparently Two-Me had something to film so he came along, their photos got posted on the official account
Boy Heaven’s output is insanely good.
The two B-liver members dressed in full stage costumes and Tae-hyun and Yoo Gun in casual short-sleeved shirts created a starkly contrasting visual.
With a concept of decadent, sexy vampires, B-liver’s choreography this time was somewhat sultry and seductive. Perhaps because of this, those encountering the challenge video for the first time were momentarily taken aback by the visuals of the nineteen-year-old trainees, who clearly looked young at first glance.
However, that impression changed in less than three seconds.
[Wow Seo Tae-hyun Lee Yu-gun absolutely killed the Run or Mine Challenge]
Tae Day
@tae_day
#MiroMaze #SeoTaeHyun #LeeYuGun
B-liver – Run or Mine Challenge
(Tae-hyun and Yoo Gun’s B-liver Challenge Video)
They should debut right now, seriously
– Wait, they haven’t debuted yet??
└ Yeah, still in the survival program…
– How did Han Se-won literally save the nation…
Wow, look at that core strength lol, the way they break down the movements is insanely good.
– I need to see them debut immediately and tear through every challenge out there
– Kang Ha-jin, Ju Eun-chan, Kim Won-ho, next it’s your turn…bring the challenges right now
The moment ‘Miro Maze’ is attached to Seo Tae-hyun instead of ‘Boy’s Supremacy’, we win this fight.
Kang Ha-jin’s conviction had reason behind it.
B-liver, freshly debuted but having already passed through B-light, had long since lost the audacity of a rookie.
Seo Tae-hyun, still young and fresh, desperately pushing toward debut, and Lee Yu-gun, whose physicality and presence rivaled even the adult B-liver members.
Watching the two groups in stark contrast, wasn’t it obvious who would receive more cheers from the audience?
People always respond to what’s new.
Fans who love idols crave dopamine and are captivated by catharsis.
It’s no coincidence that there’s a fanbase particularly drawn to survival programs and rookies.
‘…And that would be the same for B-liver fans too.’
The A-Countdown broadcast had begun.
I adjusted my in-ear pack while waiting for our turn to come around soon, my gaze sweeping across the audience seating.
The seats were packed with B-liver fandoms holding B-liver light sticks, alongside countless idol fandoms here for A-Countdown today.
“Ha-jin, let’s get ready.”
“Yes.”
At Su-ho’s call, I gripped the handheld microphone and turned toward the stage.
We were nowhere near the point of dreaming about custom microphones—the one I held was just the standard mic provided by A-Countdown.
Among those audience members about to witness our live performance, there wasn’t a single Destiny who supported and cherished us.
In a few moments, we would take the microphone as first-place candidates during the closing, but that glory belonged entirely to Upia and Idea.
But I didn’t care.
“Sad Ending Team, focus.”
“….”
“What’s our goal today?”
“Creating Destiny!”
“Don’t think you can just phone it in because we’re not being broadcast. Give it more heart than you did during the pre-recording. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“Sad Ending Team stage entry! We’re heading up!”
The audacity of rookies?
No.
I would show them the killer instinct of trainees who hadn’t even debuted yet.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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