Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 41

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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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41. Special Mission! Shine Brightly (2)
Having decided to rehabilitate my pathetic teammates while living well and comfortably off their efforts, the first resolution I, Kang Ha-jin, made was ‘rehabilitating Kang Ha-jin’s appearance.’
The reason?
‘Because Kwon PD loves it!’
Looking at the current situation, there was no way our team would get decent editing anyway, and it was obvious at a glance that the first episode would be composed entirely of Team A—people who naturally generate buzz. Did they have anything interesting there right now?
‘Cherry boy Seo Tae-hyun, the rivalry between Lee Yu-gun and Kim Won-ho, Han Sung-woo marked as the battler….’
If I wanted to survive here and get any editing at all, I had no choice but to stand out in the eyes of the Kwon PD combo. Since I’d definitely made a strong first impression during the wall-climbing earlier, I figured showing something entertaining just two or three more times should do it.
First, though, improving my appearance was essential. During those days when I was grinding away under Kwon PD, there was something she used to say that made your throat bleed.
-The program’s authenticity? The fun of the composition? The novelty of editing? All garbage, Ha-jin. None of that matters if people don’t actually watch the broadcast first.
-Episode one absolutely has to pull together everything that’ll cause a stir. The handsome guy, the one who cries, the one who gets angry, the one who acts crazy, the one who’s talented.
-What do you think is the most important thing in an idol program? Our members’ kind and sincere hearts? No, it’s the GIF that makes people want to save it the moment they see it.
At that point I thought it was madness, but the results were undeniably effective.
“So hand it over. An item.”
I spoke firmly to the system, which had grown so tired it was melting away into mush. To survive at Miro—a place where even the talented ones are fierce and strong, and not quite at Rene’s level—by being ‘good-looking,’ I needed a much bigger booster than what I had now.
[System Alert: The system is not a cosmetic surgery clinic…. (Please stop!)]
But this time, even the system seemed helpless, refusing to yield to my coaxing and threats. Really, there’s no way? (I’d already said it won’t work thirty-six more times, but) Only then did I seem to accept it somewhat, pulling my body back and frowning.
“Sigh…. Okay, I get it. Sorry.”
As my momentum died down and I apologized, the system flinched and trembled slightly as if asking what I meant. I let out a short sigh, my expression bitter, and splashed water on my face. My face was filled with fatigue and worry—something rarely seen since my regression.
“Never mind then. I’d be better off practicing one more time instead of wasting time like this.”
[System Alert: …? Why are you like this?]
“…Honestly, I’m feeling a bit rushed right now. I didn’t even make the Wings Rank, my own teammates ignore me, and there are so many talented people. So I guess I felt overwhelmed. I took it out on you.”
At the sincere and honest apology, the system window blinked. I ran my hand roughly through my hair, my eyes full of melancholy, my face looking like I might cry at any moment as I bit my lip.
“I guess I was desperate enough to grasp at straws. Pushing even when you said it wouldn’t work… I’m sorry.”
The faint smile was practically the final smile of a sickly male protagonist from a youth manga. Seeing me about to rise from my seat, my shoulders hunched more than usual today—shoulders that resembled our parents’ bearing the weight of life itself—the system, after several crackling sounds, urgently called me to a stop.
[System Alert: …Hey, wait!]
The system window quickly calculated something, then displayed text in a dark window with about 70% opacity (as if whispering).
[System Alert: Calculating…]
[System Alert: Calculating…]
[System Alert: Calculating…]
[System Alert: The system, having agonized, responds.]
[System Alert: It’s not entirely impossible!]
[System Alert: Calculating…]
[System Alert: Calculating…]
[System Alert: While I cannot change the regressor’s current appearance, I can excavate and upgrade the stats you already possess!]
[System Alert: Additionally, to the extent the fixed regressor remembers, I can bring over stats from your previous life!]
[System Alert: However, since this authority hasn’t been granted to the fixed regressor yet, you’ll need to create and use it through your skill system. (Penalty cache substitution unavailable)]
As I was about to rise, I read through the system window’s proposal carefully, and my weary expression came back to life.
With an expression full of emotion, I covered my mouth and spoke toward the system window.
Wow, this is insane.
In other words, what this basically means is―.
“You could do it?”
[System Alert: …Did you not hear me correctly?]
As if I’d never been downcast at all, I straightened back into my usual posture and expression, sweeping my hair back before crossing my legs again.
“There was a method, and you said it couldn’t be done like that? Even when there’s such a ridiculously sweet option right here?”
[System Alert: …! (The system is too betrayed to continue speaking!)]
“No, wait—who should feel betrayed here? Me. That’s who. I’m stuck riding this merry-go-round of life with pathetic teammates and a demonic boss, facing a group project that’s basically a death sentence. And my only ally won’t cooperate? How do you think my heart feels right now? It’s being torn to shreds.”
[System Alert: Th, th, th…! This con artist…! (Demanding to know who gave this bastard acting lessons at the F-class level!)]
“So what should we do? I need you to compensate me for this aching heart of mine, don’t I?”
Kang Ha-jin’s Negotiation Principle Number 16: Make me feel pity for you—success.
“Then, well… shall we start by talking about that skill creation cost and the penalty?”
My smile shone as brilliantly as sunlight.
* * *
[System Alert: Skill 【What Makes Me, Me?】 has been successfully created.]
[System Alert: This is not a system skill patched into the user by default! (Error)]
[System Alert: A penalty will occur from creating skill 【What Makes Me, Me?】.]
[System Alert: The penalty temporarily reduces mental care effectiveness.]
[※Additional Conditions
1. Must be activated where Seo Tae-il is not present
2. Preferably activate in places with few people]
‘A satisfying deal.’
I gazed contentedly at the newly appeared windows, humming a little tune while wiggling my toes. Sure, the skill creation cost me 2,500 Cache that I’d painstakingly saved up, but at this point, what did it matter?
[System Alert: You basically haggled that down to half price….(╥_╥)]
The system’s somewhat aggrieved sniffling accompanied the message, but I swallowed it without a care.
“But what I like most is actually this.”
I read the additional conditions listed below the penalty notification one more time and grinned wickedly.
“Time to stop playing the fool, I’d say.”
It had been nothing but troublesome, always becoming a crybaby in front of Seo Tae-il at the most inconvenient moments. Since I had to accept some penalty anyway, minimizing the damage was the main point of this negotiation.
Satisfied with reading the system window, I pulled out my phone and opened the camera app. Then I examined my face carefully.
“It doesn’t look like there’s much difference, though….”
The moment I created the skill, I removed all the puffiness from my face, leaving only the bare minimum baby fat. (How is this even possible—this is insane!) I could have removed the baby fat entirely, but given my age, it was better to let it fade naturally to some degree.
‘Once I debut, there’ll be that charm in watching the baby fat disappear and the transformation happen anyway.’
Next, recalling memories from my third regression, I absorbed about 40% of my physique and stamina from right after my military discharge.
‘That was when I was living a disciplined life and taking meticulous care of my body.’
Muscles didn’t suddenly appear (the system said this would apply gradually), but I definitely felt my body become lighter. The foundational muscles in my back and waist had developed, and my shoulders seemed to straighten more naturally.
“I’ll stop here for now.”
The first shoot had already begun, and too many changes to my face would look off in the footage. The current level of change could easily be attributed to the difference between how I looked before and after the swelling went down, so I stopped using the skill and stood up to head back to the Practice Room.
[System Alert: …The system offers advice with the reluctant generosity of giving extra rice cakes to someone you dislike.]
[System Alert: The stats from your previous life are literally just ‘borrowed.’ Do not forget that their maintenance and development henceforth depend solely on your own will and effort!]
“Yeah, yeah. Thanks.”
I responded lightly and turned my steps. It was really time to go practice now. But why were there so many messages? Only then did I notice my phone was full of red notifications, and I scrolled through the backlog of alerts rapidly.
【Miro’s Seok-i ‖ Ha-jin, where are you right now? I heard the kids were disrespectful to you. Let’s talk.】
Seok-i’s anxious message slid to the bottom and disappeared among other chat windows. But after quickly checking the notifications, I simply locked the phone again and shoved it into my pants pocket.
* * *
The trainees’ dormitory was set up on the third floor of the same building. It seemed to have originally been designed as a break area and lounge, but for this survival show, it appeared they’d temporarily moved in furnishings.
‘For something like this, it’s decorated pretty well.’
Before diving into serious practice, I came down to the dormitory to unpack and change clothes, looking around the room assigned to me. Judging by how all the furniture was from the same brand, it seemed like product placement.
“Where did they get this kind of product placement from? What, does this bed even have a safety rail?”
I was thinking I’d need to meet up with Ji Su-ho on a day without filming or practice to hear the full story of what happened, and I was looking around deciding which bed to choose.
“…Huh?”
“What.”
“Hyung, what are you doing here?”
“What do you mean, it’s my room so I’m here.”
“Hyung, this is your room?”
“Yeah. You too?”
“Yes.”
Ju Eun-chan came in pulling his suitcase, looking surprised. His expression brightened a bit when he realized I was using the same room.
“Are you done with practice already?”
“No, we’re supposed to gather after dinner later.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Eun-chan looked around the room a bit, then headed to the innermost bed and started unpacking. He skillfully folded in the bed’s safety rail and was pulling out comfortable clothes when I just watched him.
“Hey, Eun-chan.”
“Yes?”
“Is there something going on between you and Han Sung-woo?”
“…What?”
Eun-chan turned to me with a startled expression. Of course, I didn’t think he’d miss it given what I’d said, but I didn’t expect him to ask so directly.
So without thinking, that’s what came out of his mouth.
“No, nothing special.”
“Hmm, okay.”
But I already knew everything, so with my arms crossed and a look that said he should just come clean, I tilted my head and threw another fastball.
“Then what’s your relationship with this insanely expensive furniture company?”
“…W-what?”
“Don’t tell me you’re actually a chaebol heir?”
“…I don’t understand what you’re saying at all, hyung.”
“You won’t know. Our Eun-chan won’t know.”
“….”
“Anyone can see that you know exactly how to use the safety rail on this furniture brand’s new bed model that they’re launching ambitiously, and every piece of furniture in your place is completely filled with this brand, but it’s better if you don’t know anything.”
I said, nodding my head.
“But I bet you can’t help being curious either.”
“….”
“Will you honestly spill the secret of your birth, or should we just brush it off as annoying gossip about an uncomfortable, unlucky trainee hyung?”
Ha-jin’s smile looked positively sinister. Ju Eun-chan swallowed hard. He missed his mother.

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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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