Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 128

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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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128. Entertainment Cheat Code
Today’s Miro Maze opened with a special segment featuring interviews with the trainees.
【Q. How long have you been a trainee?】
【Jeong Si-u, Trainee: I dropped out of high school when I was nineteen, so… it’s been about four years now.】
【Seo Tae-hyun, Trainee: I’ve been at Miro for about three years? But if you count my entertainment industry activities before that… it’s been quite a while, honestly.】
【Park Jae-young, Trainee: I joined when I was fifteen. I graduated middle school here.】
Following the production team’s questions, the trainees shared their experiences—the regrets and hardships of trainee life, including the exhaustion they’d been feeling during the recent Survival Program.
【Lee Pa-rang, Trainee: Well, things like school athletic festivals, cultural festivals, school trips… I guess I do regret missing out on those kinds of experiences.】
【Ju Eun-chan, Trainee: But it’s a path I chose myself, so I have no regrets.】
【Seok, Trainee: Honestly… I think I’m getting a bit worn out. We’re constantly competing without any breaks, after all.】
To keep the interview from sounding too melancholic to viewers, the segment was filled with soft background music and bright color grading.
The final subject of this sentimental interview was Dan Ha-ru.
【Q. If you had free time, what would you most want to do?】
【Dan Ha-ru, Trainee: I want to play with my hyungs.】
【Dan Ha-ru, Trainee: Just put aside all those headache-inducing thoughts for a moment… I really just want to spend the day having fun.】
As the camera applied a slow-motion effect to Ha-ru’s bright smile, viewers thought to themselves.
‘Ah, today’s going to be boring.’
Based on the flow, it seemed the athletic competition from the preview would follow next.
Trainees playing around together without any conflict was peaceful, but hardly gripping.
Moreover, these were still rookie trainees who hadn’t even debuted yet.
They were entertainment novices, not yet prepared to let loose in front of the camera enough to naturally generate compelling editing and entertaining moments!
‘We’ll just highlight a few athletic trainees and wrap it up warmly.’
That’s what most viewers thought. Some even decided to skip the live broadcast and just watch their favorite trainee’s clips later.
However, a few Destiny fans stubbornly held onto their remotes, keeping the channel fixed.
It was because they believed the production team—who had drawn massive attention with the Miro escape from episode one—would never simply let a sports day happen as planned.
And the production team absolutely did not betray that faith!
【So here’s today’s story!】
-Kang Ha-jin hyung, do you play footvolley with your feet? Oh wait, footvolley is always played with feet.
-Phoenix Team, deploy!!!! (deploy!!!!!!)
-Ahhhhh!!!!
-Kyaaaaahhh!!!!!
Immediately following Ha-ru’s emotional interview came today’s highlight.
Starting with a scene of Kang Ha-jin wildly kicking at empty air,
it transitioned to Jae-young, Eun-chan, and Ha-ru charging forward at Si-woo’s command, surrounded by soapy water full of bubbles.
Past all manner of screams and shrieks, and Seo Tae-hyun making eye contact with the camera out of nowhere to strike an ending pose,
came a scene of trainees riding waves together, obscured by a question mark—pure chaos.
– ? This was supposed to be a sports day wtf
– What the hell did I just watch
– Why is this survival show taking entertainment more seriously than stage competitions;
As viewers watching the live broadcast encountered this unexpected highlight, they began to feel their interest piqued one by one.
The Production Team, as if reading the viewers’ reactions, quickly revealed today’s special MC to properly elevate the atmosphere.
-Wait, how much longer do we have to wait? Seriously?
-Da-down, your brother’s doing his spiel…
-Yeah, he’s doing it, but it’s way too long, right? This isn’t even a Pialand shoot, and? The juniors are struggling right now… (2x speed)
-This is exactly why I didn’t want to bring you. (exhausted soul departing CG)
-Ugh, Nam Da-down
Nam Da-down lololololololololololololololol
-The audio blew out the moment Nam Da-down appeared
└ Seo Tae-il and the trainees’ eardrums are exploding as wellㅠ
Nam Da-down from Upia, brought in specifically to lift the mood, certainly fulfilled his role perfectly.
The trainees, who had been somewhat stiff at the beginning, completely lost their composure within five minutes of Nam Da-down’s entrance.
-Okay, we’ve got our opening segment now. We got it, right, Production Team?
【♥The god of variety shows, the god of screen time, the supreme Nam Tae-ju, we love you♥】
-Then finally, let’s take a moment to divide into the teams that will be with us today.
Once the smooth opening talk ended, it was finally time for the team announcement.
The scene of each person drawing a ball quickly passed like an insert.
The Phoenix Team, which could only be called ‘Jeong Si-u’s kids’,
The Blue Dragon Team, where somewhat reckless characters had gathered,
The Lilac Team, composed of those rather modest and timid for Miro trainees.
And finally… (just) the Yellow Team.
People burst into laughter at that indescribably funny visual.
Terry Day
@tae_day
Oh I’ve seen this in a movie
Usually the one with the weakest footwork at center becomes the final boss
(Yellow Team members standing with Seo Tae-hyun at center)
[[On Air] Why did they have to dress them in yellow of all colors]
They look like kindergarteners with an abnormally fast growth rate
-That’s the cute part, don’t you know cute when you see it?
Of all people, the ones with the best physiques are going there lol
-What we expected: amazing athletic sunbaes
What Tumi gave us: beasts so busy tucking their shoulders to keep the chick outfit from ripping
Was it because there had been zero expectation for laughs?
They’d only just divided into teams, yet the highlights were already being extracted abundantly.
The Destiny viewers felt they could be satisfied even if the trainees went on to bore everyone with a fifty-minute athletic ability showcase.
‘At least the visuals are the most satisfying.’
Trainees positioned here and there across the wide sports ground under natural light, without heavy makeup, dressed in comfortable training clothes!
-Well then. Let’s start the first event!
【First Event: Bubble Futsal】
Finally, the beginning of the full-fledged sports competition.
I’d gotten my share of entertainment, and now I could simply enjoy watching those handsome guys roaming the Sports Ground and savoring their youth. That would be enough for today…
-Ah, Kang Ha-jin! A home run!! It’s a home run!!!
-But our sport is futsal, though?
-The moment I mention it, Dan Ha-ru’s incredible sliding!
-So we’re currently playing futsal, right?
-I think the soap bubbles are just fun!
Enough…
【Mom, they’re fighting again…ㅠ】
【The endless quarrel between the brothers】
-Hey!!!! Kang Ha-jin, weren’t you on the elementary school track team!!!!! Do it properly!!??
-I’m doing my best!!!
-How can you be worse than Lee Yu-gun wearing normal shoes and flippers!?!!
-Lee Yu-gun just happens to have a talent for flippers!!!
-…? Me?
【Yoo Gun discovers an unexpected talent!】
Eno, enough…
– Ju Eun-chan! Bonus 100 points!
– …? Why? Eun-chan didn’t do anything?
– He didn’t do anything, but he’s so handsome!
【Jeong Si-u Trainee: (satisfied applause)】
【Yellow Team Members: (bringing all sorts of reflectors around Tae-hyun as if refusing to lose)】
【Blue Dragon Team Members: (urgently striking poses as if they won’t back down)】
【Lilac Team Members: (just hoping this all ends soon)】
…This is too fun!
At the crazed variety show physicality of the elite trainees, Destiny couldn’t help but scream with joy.
* * *
– Please, someone tell these kids they don’t have to push this hard for variety shows
– Is this an idol survival show or extreme training for variety entertainment lolololololol
– Right… they were from Miro…
– It’s still so funny that I cryㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
– Don’t ever call Miro Maze ‘boring’ again
Just make Miro Maze a fixed variety show without worrying about debut or anything else!!
‘…Yeah. As long as everyone’s having fun, that’s what matters.’
Even if I’m permanently archived as a legendary disaster!
Even if clips like ‘Ha-jin playing futsal with his feet’ are being uploaded to AiTube Shorts!
Even if low-quality screenshots of me being terrible at ball games are spreading among fans with all sorts of edits…!
Ha-jin decided to be satisfied.
After all, Destiny looked so happy.
‘Being a fan of a trainee on a survival show isn’t easy either. It’s nice when they get moments to laugh like this.’
As someone who’d done their share of fandom, Ha-jin was well aware that he was the type with weak core support relative to his public recognition, and that the current fan atmosphere wasn’t entirely favorable because of it.
I hadn’t delved too deeply into the abyss, afraid of being subtly influenced, but….
Even without digging further, it was plain to see that Ha-jin’s fans had been struggling emotionally with recent controversies and baseless accusations.
Amid those exhausting days, Ha-jin’s delightful performance in Episode 5 seemed to serve as a much-needed ray of hope for them.
[System Notification: Being a fan is truly not an easy thing….]
[System Notification: The system is sympathizing with Ha-jin’s fans….]
[System Notification: (◞‸◟；)]
[System Notification: I wish I could be of some help.]
‘Well, what can I do? I can’t shape my fanbase however I please.’
Even knowing that I had weak core support and relied on casual fans, there was nothing I could actually do about it.
Core fandom wasn’t something that developed like muscle through training, and I couldn’t manufacture “something that would spark fan interest” on my own.
Fans simply discovered what suited their tastes.
[System Notification: Still…. Aren’t you anxious?]
[System Notification: I’ve observed statistics showing that ‘casual fan picks’ in survival programs see their rankings drop as they approach the finals…!]
‘Where did you even find such statistics?’
[System Notification: I did some studying!]
[System Notification: Since my partner is currently appearing on a survival program, I thought I should acquire the appropriate background knowledge to match that.]
[System Notification: Expressing pride…. ( *๑•̀д•́๑)]
‘Good job. I’m impressed.’
As Thirteen flipped through pages with a satisfying effect, beaming with pride, I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity, my shoulders shaking. My laughter was loud enough that I quickly lifted my head to check if Eun-chan, sleeping on the adjacent bed, had woken up.
[System Notification: …Wouldn’t it be better to just enter the Unconscious Space at this point?]
‘No way. Don’t you remember what happened to the guys last time? How long ago was that?’
[System Notification: Ahem…. I’m conducting thorough research on the side effects….]
The blue system window shrank slightly, as if embarrassed.
I shot Thirteen an exasperated glance before settling back comfortably against my pillow and scrolling through my fans’ accounts on my Bluebird timeline.
‘Well, to be honest, saying I’m not anxious would be a lie.’
Though I’d overcome much, fear of failure and my limitations still resided deep within me.
Even though I’d already achieved considerable success, and it had become solid ground for me to stand on again….
There was no avoiding the moments when anxiety and fear shook me.
‘Aside from regressions or missions…. Now I really want to try it. To succeed as an idol.’
The higher the passion burns, the higher the dream reaches skyward.
The greater the terror of that fall becomes.
In my first life that I remember, when I quit being a trainee for the first time.
When I started this cycle and received the mission.
That’s why I tried my hardest to maintain a cynical attitude each time.
Afraid I would love this dream too much.
What we love too desperately sometimes brings devastation and emptiness beyond measure.
I was terrified of that, and the life after such loss was unbearable.
Yet I ended up loving this life again, this rediscovered dream again, and these new connections again with all my heart.
And that became a profound realization for me.
‘…But now, I know there’s a life even after failure.’
Regrets that burned lukewarm instead of blazing hot,
The wound of being abandoned by a dream I loved with my entire soul,
I knew that all of these things had shaped who I am today.
‘So let’s just think about today. That alone is overwhelming enough.’
[System Alert: …This is something I’d like to tell the Chosen Regressor and The One Who Returns someday.]
‘Right. Let’s catch those bastards quickly. I’ll shake them by the collar and brainwash them myself.’
[System Alert: An excellent plan!]
Now I’m really tired.
I set my phone down carelessly beside my pillow and closed my eyes.
By the time the third competition—which had already finished recording—aired, we’d easily surpass episode seven.
‘…So about a month is left.’
Just one month until the debut team is decided.
Pushing aside the swirling worries and anxieties, I soon fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
And then,
– Hey guys, the Miro Maze voting notice just dropped
A new voting notice for Miro Maze had been posted.
The previous voting system that allowed selecting seven people was now restricted to just two.
Moreover,
– Eliminations are happening now lol

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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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