Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 358

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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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358. Coming Soon! (6)
【◀◀10 minutes earlier】
The moment the second round began, Ju Eun-chan bolted toward the room with that puzzle without hesitation, dragging the seemingly unbothered Dan Ha-ru along by the hand.
An interview scene with Dan Ha-ru against the purple set followed.
【Q. Why did you complete the puzzle with Silver Lion all the way to the end?】
-Ah….
Dan Ha-ru, unsure how to answer the question, wore a slightly awkward expression as he carefully scratched his chin before responding.
-My hyung wanted to complete the puzzle, but he seemed bored being alone.
-Besides, I didn’t really understand the rules anyway…. It just felt wrong to leave him there.
【Q. Weren’t you tempted by the pure gold ring as the grand prize?】
-The other hyungs seemed to want it more, so it didn’t really matter to me.
At the dignified maknae’s answer, the Destiny members couldn’t hide their admiration.
– Dan Ha-ru is hyung, Dan Ha-ru is hyung, Dan Ha-ru is hyung, Dan Ha-ru is hyung, Dan Ha-ru is hyung, Dan Ha-ru is hyung, Dan Ha-ru is hyung
– I’m jealous that Ju Eun-chan successfully raised his maknae into such an excellent butler
└ When you think about their ages, it seems like they just grew up together though
But then whenever Ha-ru is alone again, Eun-chan catches it perfectly lolololol They’re just soulmates, you know?
– A man who knows how to yield even pure gold to his hyungs… a man who hates his hyung being lonely more than anything… that’s our maknae… this is insane…
└ But in the end, he won himself? The hyungs became like dogs chasing chickens?
└ That’s common at Kairos so it’s fine
└ Those hyungs are all idiots about their dongsaeng anyway so it’s fine22
└ Our maknaes did it, so they’ll throw a celebration 333
└ How does Kairos raise their maknaes like this?
And in the conference room, Seo Tae-hyun broke down in tears.
“When did our Ha-ru grow up like that….”
“What, are you becoming Ha-ru’s guardian?”
Lee Do-ha silently handed a tissue to Seo Tae-hyun, whose chin suddenly crumpled with walnut-like wrinkles as his emotions overwhelmed him.
I shook my head and turned my gaze back to the TV. On the screen, Ju Eun-chan and Dan Ha-ru were still working on that puzzle. The puzzle, which had started being assembled from the edges, was gradually taking shape.
【Eun-chan: We’re done!】
【Ha-ru: (proud chick emoticon)】
【Eun-chan: It was our photo.】
【The completed puzzle revealed a group photo of Kairos!】
Once the overall form of the image became visible, assembling the remaining small pieces wasn’t difficult. Ju Eun-chan and Dan Ha-ru completed the rest fairly quickly. Upon discovering that the finished image was Kairos’s group profile photo from before their debut, Ju Eun-chan beamed with pride throughout.
【Ha-ru: …I think it goes here?】
While Dan Ha-ru carefully applied adhesive to keep the puzzle pieces from scattering and waited for it to dry, he looked around the room and found an empty frame that suspiciously matched the puzzle’s size perfectly.
A few minutes later, once the puzzle had hardened, the two carefully transferred it into the frame, then gently hung the frame on the wall-mounted frame holder that seemed designed specifically for this purpose.
【Ha-ru: Done.】
【Eun-chan: Should we call the hyungs to show them? (excited)】
Bbbbbbbiiiii―.
【A sudden sensor sound as the frame is hung?】
Then at that moment, with a beep sound…
【Eun-chan: …Huh?】
The wall opened!
A secret space hidden behind the picture frame responded to the sensor and revealed itself…!
‘Just how much money did Joo Eun-seok give them?’
I’d heard the Youth Targeting Project had pulled in solid production support from various places, but it seemed they had plenty of budget left over. If they could build a cutting-edge set like this?
It wasn’t that I was upset about not winning—absolutely not—it just reminded me of Kwon PD, who drank only Maxim coffee himself to save even a single penny of the production budget. Apparently, a PD’s generosity was directly proportional to their budget.
【Eun-chan: What is this?】
In any case, hidden behind that wall was a single piece of paper, half torn.
【Eun-chan: …A mock casting?】
It was a mock casting board with the faces and names of all the group members…!
* * *
-Your first partner has been matched.
-You can no longer board the ‘Pure White Hospital Ceiling’ world capsule.
【Casting Announcement – ‘Pure White Hospital Ceiling’ Complete】
【Role of Dan Ha-ru (Ju Eun-chan) – A bright female lead who doesn’t yield even to a life with limited time】
【Role of Jeong Si-u (Dan Ha-ru) – A supporting male lead who became a doctor, abandoning his own dreams to cure the illness of the one he loves】
-The final partner matching is about to begin.
【Ha-jin: Life….】
【▲ A reader frustrated that over 30 minutes of deduction amounted to less than a single puzzle ▲】
Though the pure gold slipped away, what mattered more was avoiding the penalty anyway.
On screen, the remaining five members searched for their partners using their own methods. With one team already eliminated, the deduction became even easier.
【Yoo Gun: Then I’m definitely in the ‘When You Remove Your Glasses’ world. ‘Pure White Hospital Ceiling’ is gone, and they said I’m not in ‘The Four Heavenly Kings of Horror’.】
Lee Yu-gun, who had luckily guessed his world through elimination, approached Seo Tae-hyun, who had been rolling around(?) in the corner of the set. Seo Tae-hyun, who either failed missions left and right or received hints that had nothing to do with him, was nearly on the verge of despair.
【Yoo Gun: You still haven’t gotten a single hint?】
【Tae-hyun: I just want to go to Jeju Island….】
【Yoo Gun: …You’re saying that while you’re so busy you can’t even sleep? Come on, get up and keep looking.】
【Tae-hyun: Will you help me look…?】
【Yoo Gun: Ugh, you’re really something.】
While Lee Yu-gun, Kairos’s one and only normal, sensible person, was being treated like a troublemaker and carried off, the other members remained on the set searching for the remaining hints with dedication.
The production team apparently saw no need to show the same footage multiple times, so they quickly displayed each person in split screens and moved on.
【Finally, the time for the final matching has arrived!】
-The capsule has opened.
-From now on, you may proceed with your final partner selection.
Three minutes until matching ends.
The final capsule time had finally begun. Leaving the youngest members behind, who were eating snacks and watching the hyungs’ choices with keen interest, I saw two people running quickly from far away.
【Do-ha: We’ll proceed with the matching.】
【Si-woo: Do-ha. Hurry, hurry. We’re running out of time.】
Jeong Si-u and Lee Do-ha, both completely covered in feathers from whatever they’d been doing.
The two of them climbed onto the ‘Four Heavenly Kings of Horror’ capsule together and first confirmed each other’s identities.
【Do-ha: Lee Yu-gun, male lead.】
【Si-woo: Lee Do-ha, ranked 0th.】
The two of them held their breath, almost certain they were partners, waiting for the result. The light above the capsule flickered rapidly as it spun.
【The partner matching result for the two of them is….】
【(Green light)】
【Si-woo: !!】
【Do-ha: We did it. We did it, hyung.】
The two of them naturally high-fived upon confirming the matching result, celebrating together. A brief VCR clip was inserted showing Lee Do-ha checking his virtual casting board through the mission just moments before.
With that, three people remained.
Among me, Lee Yu-gun, and Seo Tae-hyun, the Destiny fans’ comments were increasingly curious about who would actually be going to Hallasan Mountain. I watched the video quietly, recalling my memories from that time.
-Two minutes until matching ends.
-Please board the capsule quickly.
The moment the closing announcement played, a scene of someone sprinting frantically from far away was zoomed in on.
【Yu-gun: Hey, faster! Run faster!】
【Tae-hyun: Ugh! I’m running at full speed right now!】
【Ha-jin: No, listen to me for a second! Stop, just stop for a moment!!!】
【Yu-gun: If you were me, would you stop!?】
It was me holding a flashlight in one hand, and Seo Tae-hyun and Lee Yu-gun sprinting toward the capsule like madmen to avoid me.
【Ha-jin: Lee Yu-gun, do you really regret this? You’re making a huge mistake!】
【Yu-gun: If I don’t get on with Seo Tae-hyun right now, that would be the biggest mistake!!】
【Ha-jin: I’m your partner! How many times do I have to tell you, you bastard!!】
【Yu-gun: I saw you and Seo Tae-hyun switch roles!!!】
【Tae-hyun: Hey, hey! Lee Yu-gun! Get on quick! Hurry!!】
Though I couldn’t do ball sports, I was fast at running and nearly caught up to them, but Lee Yu-gun and Seo Tae-hyun boarding the capsule ‘after taking off those glasses’ was just slightly faster.
The screen zoomed in on me letting out a deflated sigh. The way I looked so disappointed, as if I’d knocked over a fully set table, made me look like a real villain even to myself.
-The matching time has ended.
-You two on the capsule. Are you really going to proceed with the final selection as is?
【Yu-gun: Yes!】
-Confirmed.
The lights above the capsule where Lee Yu-gun and Seo Tae-hyun stood flickered again as it loaded.
And soon―.
-We announce the result.
The final result of this grueling partner race was finally announced.
* * *
A few days later, at Gimpo Airport.
Following the Production Team’s opinion that it would be nice to shout “I love Destiny” while watching the sunset, the loser of this self-con was getting out of the van, boarding a flight to Jeju Island.
“Ha, seriously.”
Naturally, it was me. What a mess.
“On such a beautiful day, with such beautiful weather, I’m going to Jeju Island not to yacht, not to fish, not to parasail, but to climb Hallasan Mountain….”
Then Kwon Wook from the driver’s seat handed me my bag that he’d placed on the passenger seat and said.
“This time the managers aren’t coming along either, so listen well to what the PDs say, and come back safe and sound.”
“…Are you really not going? Really?”
“What can I do? It’s a penalty. Who told you to lose?”
I bristled at Kwon Wook’s irritating remark, but had no comeback, so I clamped my mouth shut.
Instead, I glared at the culprit behind this entire disaster, pouring every ounce of resentment into my gaze.
“This is all because that guy ignored what I said and just bolted!”
“…Ah, well. I’m sorry.”
Then the one who’d followed me down from the van grumbled in an awkward tone.
“How was I supposed to know it’d turn out like this?”
“If you’d just listened to me properly, it’d be Seo Tae-hyun at this airport right now, not us!”
“You should’ve acted more trustworthy in the first place, hyung.”
“What, you little bastard!?”
…The last capsule passenger who’d drawn the Jeju Island penalty along with me.
It was Lee Yu-gun.

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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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