Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 367

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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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367. Finding My Runaway Younger Sibling (1)
Kang Ha-won.
Who was he?
Though he appeared as cold and harsh as the bitter northern wind, he was actually the eldest son—born into hardship, he had come to the city alone as a child to feed his younger siblings, and there was nothing he hadn’t tried his hand at—much like a father figure. And his mother, who looked as warm and kind as the gentle morning sun, yet had spent her entire life fighting to survive as a “brilliant and capable daughter” under parents who harbored deep preferences for sons.
And from childhood so distant he could barely remember it, he had always taken the role of leader in every group he belonged to, and wherever he went, he seemed to know someone—creating the illusion that “could my older brother possibly know every single human on Earth?”—he was the younger sibling of Kang Ha-jin, the eldest son.
Having an older brother, Kang Ha-jin, the eldest son who, from childhood that he can’t even remember, took on the role of leader in every Group he belonged to, and wherever he went there was always someone he knew, making people mistakenly wonder if ‘could this hyung possibly know every single human on Earth?’…
【WonAWon】
【Hyung, are you going to our school festival today!!!!!!!!】
【(puppy setting off fireworks emoticon)】
【MyWon ‖ Got it】
…the only youngest member of the Kang family who simply wanted to live quietly.
【That’s all the reaction I get!?】
【(rabbit crying emoticon)】
【MyWon ‖ ?】
【MyWon ‖ Then what】
The reply to the messenger message he’d sent on a whim was, as expected, cold.
After waiting about five minutes without a response, another message finally arrived, albeit reluctantly.
【MyWon ‖ (frog character clapping emoticon)】
【This is something I’m sending against my will, you know】
I’m crying so hard / Boo hoo hoo
【MyWon ‖ No, then what do you want me to do】
【MyWon ‖ ;;】
Ha-jin chuckled as he read his younger sibling’s response, which was practically overflowing with bewilderment. Truth be told, he’d never been unaware that his only younger sibling had this kind of personality, so he wasn’t particularly hurt by it. Sending emoticons and whining was practically a habit at this point.
It was essentially his way of teasing his taciturn younger sibling.
“Ha-jin, Tae-hyun should be wrapping up soon. Let’s start getting ready.”
“Yes.”
At Su-ho’s call, Ha-jin, who had been lying on a mat in the waiting room, set down his phone and pushed himself up. Because he’d put force into his head as he rose, Eun-chan, who had been using Ha-jin’s back as a pillow, let out a groan—but fortunately, he fell back asleep quickly.
This was a broadcast production studio at Ntv, a place he’d never dreamed of visiting.
Before heading to the Hanbit University festival happening that evening, Kairos was conducting a brief interview shoot during the empty morning hours.
“…?”
As Ha-jin was about to get up, he noticed his phone on the floor light up with a messenger notification. Picking it up to check, he saw several more messages had arrived from Ha-won.
【MyWon ‖ (amazing emoticon)】
【MyWon ‖ (bear character holding a “you’re the best” fan emoticon)】
【MyWon ‖ (chick character holding an “I’m looking forward to it” placard emoticon)】
【MyWon ‖ Do well out there】
【MyWon ‖ Though I won’t be going…】
Upon reading that message, Ha-jin had to desperately suppress a foolish laugh that threatened to burst forth.
His taciturn younger sibling had an unexpectedly cute side that emerged at the most random moments. Look at this adorableness—he’d mobilized every emoticon he had, just in case his older brother’s feelings were actually hurt…!
In truth, for Kang Ha-won, the core of this message was “I won’t be going,” but for Kang Ha-jin, whose brain had long since been equipped with a younger-sibling-fool filter that had melted and stuck to his consciousness, such things hardly mattered.
Ha-jin quickly sent a reply.
I’ll tear down Hanbit University and rebuild it for you.
Ha-won ‖ No way. Do you know how much tuition costs?
I’ll use special effects left and right and create an amazing stage for you.
Ha-won ‖ That’s all coming out of my tuition money anyway.
I’ll get six thousand direct camera shots of Hanbit University on YouTube and flood social media so the school becomes super popular, brother.
Ha-won ‖ You’re not listening to a word I’m saying.
“Ha-jin, I think we really need to go now.”
“Yes, yes. Let me just send one more thing!”
Regardless of what his younger sibling said, Ha-jin eagerly pushed through his promise and sent a final message in response to Su-ho’s urging.
Brother, I’m heading to the shoot now. See you later.
Ha-won ‖ I told you I’m not going.
Oh right lol
See you next time
Ha-won ‖ k
With Ha-won’s reply, Ha-jin finally set down his phone and stood up. He tidied his slightly disheveled hair from lying down, then headed to the Studio with Su-ho.
Ha-won ‖ Oh right
Outside, Tae-hyun was rising from his chair after finishing the interview shoot. Ha-jin quickly switched into professional mode, plastered on a social smile, and greeted the Staff Members.
Ha-won ‖ I’m just saying this just in case
Ha-won ‖ Don’t mention me at the festival, brother
Ha-won ‖ Don’t talk about my school or anything like that
Ha-won ‖ I’m serious
And so, Ha-won’s final messages, sent with genuine sincerity, were unfortunately buried beneath the flood of other incoming messages.
The beginning of tragedy.
* * *
Let’s take a moment to review the history of the Kang brothers.
Kang Ha-jin, age 5. Kang Ha-won, age 4.
Kang Ha-jin. He takes center stage at the kindergarten talent show for the five-year-old class.
Kang Ha-won. Seeing him readily mimic his older brother’s movements, the teacher places him at center stage for the four-year-old class, but he bursts into tears and runs off the moment the song begins.
Kang Ha-jin, age 7. Kang Ha-won, age 6.
Kang Ha-jin. He finally secures the role of host for the kindergarten talent show—a position reserved only for children with natural charisma.
Kang Ha-won. The moment his older brother introduces his class’s performance, he bursts into tears and runs off the stage.
Kang Ha-jin, age 10. Kang Ha-won, age 9.
Kang Ha-jin. As the final runner in the lower elementary relay race, he closes a half-lap deficit on the Sports Ground and becomes the star of an incredible comeback.
Kang Ha-won. Sitting in the shade at the edge of the Sports Ground, he realizes that “sports days are really hot,” but then his brother—the comeback star—suddenly runs over and hugs him, causing him to tumble across the Sports Ground.
Kang Ha-jin, age 13. Kang Ha-won, age 12.
Kang Ha-jin. At the final elementary school sports day, he draws a slip for the mission race that says “bring someone you like,” and immediately grabs his younger brother’s hand and runs.
Kang Ha-won. Because of his ridiculous older brother, he briefly wants to blow up the Sports Ground.
Kang Ha-jin, age 15. Kang Ha-won, age 14.
Kang Ha-jin. Pushed onto the Middle School festival stage, he showcases the breakdancing he’s been practicing lately and becomes an instant star.
Kang Ha-won. He’s just started Middle School, but strangers keep asking him, “Are you Kang Ha-jin’s younger brother?”
Kang Ha-jin at twenty years old, Kang Ha-won at nineteen.
Kang Ha-jin. Became an idol.
Kang Ha-won. …Now faced the threat of being asked by the entire nation, “Are you Kang Ha-jin’s younger brother?”
Ha-won simply wanted to live an ordinary, quiet life, but his greatest rival in existence was his one and only older brother, born just twelve months apart—Kang Ha-jin.
Whether it was looks, height, skill, ability, or his infuriatingly crude and savage personality.
Kang Ha-jin was someone who commanded attention wherever he went, and Ha-won had no choice but to inherit that radiance as he grew up, whether he wanted to or not.
At least in the previous timeline, after Ha-jin gave up being an idol and became an ordinary salaryman, both of them began building their own separate lives, and such incidents diminished. But now….
Surviving as the blood relative of a popular male idol in South Korea required considerable courage for an introvert like Ha-won, someone who scored 99% on the introversion scale.
“Two, three!”
“KICK US OFF! Hello, we are Kairos! Thank you for having us!”
In a region of Gyeonggi Province where even the sunset had vanished and complete darkness had descended.
On the outdoor plaza of Hanbit University, which boasted a picturesque campus landscape where city and nature blended harmoniously and was frequently scouted as a filming location for dramas and movies, the festival stage was rushing toward its peak.
The deep green slogans symbolizing Hanbit University fluttered here and there, and around the time the student council’s glittering glow-in-the-dark bracelets began to emit light from all directions.
Ha-jin, wearing a slogan of the same design like a hairband around his head, was caught on the large screen. With his bangs completely swept back, his distinctly prominent T-zone drew no shortage of admiring gasps from the crowd.
“Hello. I’m Kang Ha-jin, leader of Kairos.”
His pleasant, mid-range voice cut through the less-than-ideal sound system and reached the audience.
However, most of the sporadic cheers erupting from various corners were from Destiny fans who had rushed over upon hearing news of Kairos’s schedule. The actual reactions from Hanbit University students who were being paid to attend were largely lukewarm.
‘Is it true that they revealed the festival lineup, got terrible reactions, and hastily sent out offers?’
I’d heard this was the festival’s final day, but the atmosphere felt considerably dampened for a closing day. With numerous other schedules besides the morning interview shoot, I’d rushed to arrive exactly on time and hadn’t checked the other lineups….
‘Whoever performed before us must have left the stage with a hostile atmosphere.’
From an audience perspective, it might have been different, but from a performer’s standpoint, there was nothing more frightening and sorrowful than such cold reactions from the crowd.
Of course, all of this was because the trot star in his thirties who performed immediately before Kairos had thrown out strange remarks under the guise of jokes.
It was because, as the atmosphere grew tense, he’d engaged in the insane act of comparing the school unfavorably to other universities and lecturing the crowd for three minutes without singing a single song.
Currently, posts like “Real-time Hanbit University Lee** Controversy” were endlessly rising and falling on social media….
But Kang Ha-jin, who had rushed onto the stage without even properly checking his phone due to his packed schedule, had no way of knowing such facts.
“I heard today is the final day of Hanbit University’s festival. Is that right?”
“Yes~!”
“Wow, so we get to decorate the very last stage of the final day? That’s quite an honor, isn’t it?”
In any case, Ha-jin delivered his opening remarks with characteristic boldness.
Though there were scattered empty seats visible throughout the outdoor plaza, and dark clouds were gradually gathering overhead as if rain might fall, such things mattered little to Kang Ha-jin.
When Ha-jin gave a subtle wink to Tae-hyun standing beside him, Tae-hyun, who had been waiting, clasped his hands together and spoke respectfully.
“With gratitude in our hearts for the honor you’ve granted us, Hanbit University students, we will do our very best to present you with an enjoyable stage today!”
It was the kind of perfect sentence that would probably be taught in the orientation lecture of a course called “Introduction to Idol Event Remarks.”
Immediately following that sensible remark, Ha-jin added his words with a bright, cheerful laugh.
“So we should probably start with our first song… but your cheers aren’t quite loud enough yet, are they?”
“That’s right, that’s right. This level isn’t quite sufficient for us to perform our song yet.”
“So we’ve prepared a somewhat different song to help lift the mood.”
At the mention of a different song, the Destiny fans holding the front row began murmuring rapidly. As the students maintaining their positions also showed curiosity at Ha-jin’s cunning smile, he nodded to a staff member at the side of the stage, giving them a signal.
“Seeing is believing. Before we explain what kind of song it is, let us show you the stage first. I’m sure you’ll all be able to sing along once you hear it.”
At those words, the Destiny fans quickly switched their thought processes, wondering what fun selection this charming leader puppy had brought this time.
Kairos had already showcased countless cover songs at Upia Concert and other events, so there were more than a few candidate songs coming to mind.
‘The animation theme song medley we performed at the Sangyeon University Festival yesterday? Or a Upia cover? Or something else entirely…?’
While I was contemplating various candidate songs, Jeong Si-u took his position on stage. The moment he assumed what looked like an imposing stance, the stage lights cut to black.
And then, a metal-based rock sound led by an intense electric guitar erupted forth.
Ahhhhhhhhhh―!
With Jeong Si-u’s piercing high note that seemed to pierce the heavens from center stage, the song began.
Carrying the conviction of the great nation in our hearts!
Let us illuminate the truths of the world!
‘What is this…?’
‘What song is this?’
The moment Ha-jin sang the opening verse with a spirited and confident tone as if performing a military march, laughter erupted from the Hanbit University students sitting with indifferent expressions in the audience seating—unlike Destiny, who were bewildered not knowing what song it was.
With all manner of metal sounds clashing together, this song carried hopeful lyrics that made it seem as though one must immediately cross that mountain and venture forth into the world.
With sincerity and spirit, with the radiant passion of youth~!
Rise up, young people of Hanbit!
…It was none other than Hanbit University’s school anthem (metal version) that Lee Do-ha and Kang Ha-jin had whipped up in a single night.

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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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