Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 483

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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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483. Boy’s Supremacy 2 (2)
The 【Boy’s Supremacy 2】 final live broadcast adhered meticulously to the conventions of every other survival program.
-Now then, we shall commence the competition to claim the new song that will grace the final stage.
-To secure the song of your choice, you must first emerge victorious in competition against those standing beside you.
Tension-filled competition,
【A mysterious letter arrives for the trainees exhausted from practice?】
-This letter is a video message you recorded when you first auditioned for ‘Boy’s Supremacy’.
-We hope you witness with your own eyes how much you have grown and changed during this time.
Emotional sentiment that stirs tears,
-Truly… this really is my last chance.
-I want to debut and stand before my fans with pride.
-I must stake my life on this. I began this journey with that level of resolve.
Unwavering determination and conviction that made my chest swell even fuller.
Ha-jin observed all of it with affectionate eyes.
No matter how much PD Kim Hak-seung had orchestrated his schemes, these individuals were no longer mere NPCs appearing on broadcast to Ha-jin—they were companions with whom I had spent time and shed sweat alongside.
Even if someone among them had participated in that scheme, I might be disappointed, but I could never bring myself to hate them easily.
‘Still… I hope that’s not the case.’
On the television screen, the participants of 【Boy’s Supremacy 2】 had just finished their second group song and were now holding their ending poses while breathing heavily.
Because the camera was positioned so low, I couldn’t see everyone’s movements in meticulous detail, but it seemed they all remembered and applied the coaching I had given them well. It was enough to understand why Tae-hyun had emphasized watching so insistently.
“How many minutes do you think I’ll appear for? It seems about time for me to show up.”
Even if I’m leveraging my name value, at most I’d probably get three or four minutes, right?
The cameras kept rolling on set, so I just let them be, but truthfully, I didn’t think my screen time would be as substantial as the fans expected.
After all, the true protagonists of this program are the participants, and since today is the final, the production team would be busy enough just crafting individual characters and narratives for each person.
【There is no boy alike beneath the heavens! Boy’s Supremacy Season 2】
【Vote for your boy right now!】
A filler bumper VCR passed by, and finally, the reality VCR that was presumed to be my segment began.
【B-Town is in the midst of final practice today!】
Alongside insert shots revealing a bright morning landscape, the scene of a certain training center in Gyeonggi Province where the group lodging had taken place appeared on screen.
Ha-jin took a large bite of the chicken leg from the seasoned fried chicken I had ordered for dinner. As I savored the golden ratio of the crispy, thickly-coated skin and meat with its sweet and savory glaze, it became clear that my earlier dampened mood had been a lie—a humming melody flowed from my lips.
Quite satisfied with the chicken’s pristine state, free of any oily smell, I was about to bring another piece to my mouth when—
Boom!
Boom!
Boom-boom—!!
【A suspicious vehicle suddenly appears!?】
“Pfft….”
Accompanied by an extraordinarily grandiose sound effect, a single truck standing in the central plaza of the training center was captured in an equally grandiose angle, emphasized tightly.
Kang Ha-jin, who recognized at a glance that it was the snack truck I had sent, dropped the chicken I was holding back into the box. It was an angle so blatantly boastful that there was no way I could have missed it.
“…?”
Wasn’t the scene supposed to start from entering the practice room…?
When did they even film this, you broadcasting station bastards?
While Ha-jin was left flabbergasted, the VCR continued rolling.
Staff members lined up to receive snacks, followed by scenes of young participants in familiar athletic wear making a fuss in front of the camera.
【Lee Seok-ho: Really, really the best! Ah! I’m so glad I came on Boy’s Supremacy, ah!!】
【Kang Ji-min: I really love this so much…. Wow, when I heard our homeroom teacher was Tae-hyun, honestly I was a little excited from the start, right? Ah, but then when the snack truck came like this, my heart just started racing and….】
【Kim Yun-jae: It’s so delicious. I was actually trying not to eat these days because I’m on a diet, but if I don’t eat this, I feel like I’ll regret it for the rest of my life….】
【Who is the star behind the snack truck that has the boys so excited?】
“Why are they making such a big deal out of this…?”
Of course, since I’m appearing on the show, they said they wouldn’t separately cast a special teacher for the finals, so they had to really hype up the only guest….
‘Ah, I guess so? But still, why go that far?’
Just a “special guest who stopped by while coming to cheer on the members” kind of thing, right?
No matter how much it’s standard broadcast protocol to build up a guest to the heavens, as always, planes that fly too high cause more damage when they crash.
Growing increasingly anxious, Ha-jin had even forgotten to pick up his chicken again when the VCR finally transitioned to Ha-jin’s first appearance in the practice room.
【Homeroom Teacher Seo Tae-hyun: Today, I’d like to introduce a special teacher who will coach you all together with me. Everyone enjoyed the coffee and desserts from the snack truck earlier, right?】
【The final special teacher is none other than the star of the snack truck!】
【The trainees stir with anticipation upon hearing hints about the special teacher】
“….”
Anticipation?
I thought even Teo from Sphere might show up, but they’re not disappointed that it’s just a chance appearance from an MC group member hyung? How far are they planning to build me up?
Ha-jin, who normally used the System to watch real-time reactions while watching broadcasts he appeared in, hastily turned off that function.
Hahaha, what? Kang Ha-jin?? Really??
Looks like Socheon2 was really broke after all, so he ended up getting a chance with Kairos members…lol
– So the final teacher is KHJ? That’s a bit disappointing
– You guys, does the broadcast bash the guest like that? Just watch the show properly
I know, I know.
Honestly, I knew I wasn’t at a level to receive such harsh treatment.
But still, still…!
‘I hate even the reaction that the production team is trying hard to build up the guest!’
Unaware of Ha-jin’s inner turmoil, member Seo Tae-hyun on screen smiled brightly and casually added another layer to the buildup.
【Homeroom Teacher Seo Tae-hyun: He’s our member hyung, and the reliable leader and producer of Kairos, right?】
【Homeroom Teacher Seo Tae-hyun: I heard many of you mentioned him as a role model during the pre-interview.】
【The final training camp before the finals!】
【The teacher for today who will guide the boys toward the final gate of ‘Survival’ is!?】
【Homeroom Teacher Seo Tae-hyun: (beep――) Please welcome our teacher! Give him a big round of applause!】
Along with Seo Tae-hyun’s comment, the trainees’ eager gazes toward the door and the scene of the door slowly opening and someone stepping in unfolded in slow motion.
For some reason, Ha-jin’s heart pounded harder than in any other filming scene he’d shot so far, and his hands and feet curled up as he covered his eyes with his hand.
Through the narrow gap between his fingers, he could see himself in a black baseball cap and glasses walking in steadily.
-No, I have to go higher.
-Reach for the sun.
-You guys, let’s do well.
【The scene stealer of the survival world!】
【Stage Average Views: 5 Million!】
【The Lead of [Miro Maze], who births legendary stages with outstanding stage direction abilities every time!】
With embarrassing subtitles, a highlight reel of Ha-jin’s activities in [Miro Maze] played past.
Even though it was only last year, I looked so much younger than I do now that I squeezed my eyes shut. Looking back at myself on that stage now, I appeared so immature it was unbearable.
-A trainee who always amazed Destiny with fresh, innovative stage concepts, execution ability, and versatile talents.
-…Trainee Kang Ha-jin!
【[Miro Maze] Final 2nd Place Debut】
-It’s a nerd concept.
-Nerd. Nerd.
-I object! Isn’t that actually more suitable for a leader!?
-We hope our seniors continue to be curious about us.
-We hope you’d be so curious about us that you’d go crazy.
-I won’t look.
-Whoever the spy is, I won’t find them. I won’t answer.
【With eloquent speech and versatile talents, dominating both the K-pop industry and entertainment!】
Clips of Ha-jin becoming a hot topic across various entertainment shows and broadcasts streamed one after another.
Most weren’t minor details known only among fans, but scenes that anyone with even a passing interest in the entertainment and broadcasting industries would have seen at least once.
Ha-jin’s hand, still covering his eyes, lowered slightly.
【This Year’s Rookie Award is….】
【Kairos!】
【Kairos!】
【Kairos! Congratulations!】
【Skilled Idol Kairos, who swept all rookie awards upon debut, and their Leader】
This time, scenes from the award ceremony where Kairos received the rookie award and gave their acceptance speech,
followed by Kairos’s official music video and the parts from music broadcasts that Destiny considers legendary,
were packed tightly in rapid-fire editing, as if saying not a single one could be omitted.
Rather than scraping together things that didn’t exist, it was an edit that seemed to have thrown everything in because there was genuinely so much material overflowing that they couldn’t figure out what to cut.
Kang Ha-jin slowly opened his eyes that had been tightly shut.
A close-up shot captured Ha-jin striding confidently toward the center of the trainees in the practice room.
【Truly a versatile hexagonal entertainer, Kairos Ha-jin!】
【Special Teacher Ha-jin: Yes, hello.】
【Special Teacher Ha-jin: Kairos Leader, Kang Ha-jin.】
Toward me, looking visibly flustered, the boys’ applause and cheers poured out.
Several cameras zoomed in on the flushed faces of certain boys. Immediately after, interviews with those boys were inserted.
【During Pre-Interview】
【Q. Do you have a role model among idols?】
【Boy Chae Yu-hyun: Um, Seo Tae-hyun senior from Kairos and Kang Ha-jin senior.】
【Boy Kwon Ho-young: Kairos Ha-jin senior.】
【Boy Shin Ji-hun: Kang Ha-jin senior, Kairos Kang Ha-jin senior.】
【Many boys listed Kairos Ha-jin as their role model.】
【Q. Why did you choose them as your role model?】
【Shin Ji-hun: Well, first of all, they’re good at everything. Really—rapping, singing, dancing, stage direction…】
【Kwon Ho-young: Ah, kind of… that person knows something. There’s a certain vibe to it. They know something. Kind of, that cool factor? Like that?】
【Yoon Ga-ram: I studied facial expressions by watching Tae-hyun, and I think I learned a lot about dance lines and body expression from watching Ha-jin.】
【Lim Tae-young: Ideas for the stage? That, um, what was it? There’s that stage with the Orpheus concept, right? In that scene where they’re sitting right in the center with their eyes open, I was like, wow, my heart skipped a beat.】
Sitting quietly and listening, I was bombarded with compliments that made me embarrassed.
Weren’t these the kinds of compliments that someone in their second year like me should be hearing from Endway or Yupia, or maybe other legendary idols instead?
Such thoughts kept making Ha-jin feel ashamed, but before I knew it, I was absorbed into the screen as if being pulled in.
【Special Teacher Ha-jin: I’ll do my best. Thank you.】
The version of myself on screen bowed with a calm voice in greeting.
Ha-jin cautiously turned the system monitoring function back on, which I had turned off earlier.
Then, in the monitoring window that appeared unobtrusively beside the TV screen like a chat box, a flood of real-time reactions that had been piling up poured out.
– Man, suddenly missing Tumi
Honestly, Tumi Kang Ha-jin? He was a legend, for real.
– Kang Ha-jin’s senior aura is insane;
Wow, but for someone in their second year, that portfolio is seriously impressive lol
– Is this Kairos or is this Kang Ha-jin
– But Kang Ha-jin… I’ll admit it
– What’s with those proportions why is he so handsome crazy bastard
“….”
Of course, this wouldn’t be everything.
“…Ah, really.”
Somewhere, much harsher evaluations might be circulating.
Someone might find these comments cringeworthy, dismissing them as artificial hype.
Yet somehow, Ha-jin couldn’t tear my eyes away from all of it.
Even as my favorite food—chicken—grew cold, I sat in silence, turning over that scene again and again in my mind.

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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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