Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 60

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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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60. Shouting to You (2)
I kicked out of the room and headed straight for the Practice Room. Tae-hyun spent almost every moment there except when eating or filming.
I threw open the Practice Room door with force, and sure enough, Tae-hyun was inside. He’d been practicing high-note ad-libs in his true voice to the MR of “Shouting to You” when I appeared, causing him to crack a note.
“H-hyung? What’s suddenly―.”
“No matter how I think about it, sticking to the original is insane.”
“…I know. You said so earlier.”
At my firm words, Tae-hyun offered a bitter smile. No matter how much that smile resembled the wistful expression of a “sickly male lead with a tragic past” from a pure romance manga, some things simply couldn’t be helped.
“But let’s try it.”
“…What?”
Still, I couldn’t ignore Tae-hyun’s ambition. Especially not when it was about proving himself. For some reason, this performance felt like something where everyone had to be satisfied—a heavy sense of responsibility that kept crushing down on me.
‘These bastards and their unnecessary apologies!’
Even though my mistake was clear, they were apologizing to me for burdening me with it. I wanted to give them a satisfying result where everything they hoped for came true.
“But in exchange, we’re changing the center. You’re not the center.”
“Ah… okay! That’s fine!”
“You can’t perform like you have been. We need to completely kill your presence, and it won’t be a part you sing well.”
“Anything’s good. I just want to share my song.”
“Sigh, really…. Call the others. Let’s practice.”
I repeatedly rubbed my face with my hands and sat down on the Practice Room floor. At my words, Tae-hyun immediately perked up and dashed out of the Practice Room.
[System Alert: Your colleague ‘Seo Tae-hyun’s’ current state is… ‘very excited’.]
Of course he’s already this excited, knowing what I’m about to suggest.
I clicked my tongue and crossed my arms. Finally, the colleague status window updated and the red light went out. I made a mental note to change that system window UI to grayscale someday, then let out a short breath.
I’ve really done it now. This insane thing!
“Now I need to clean up this mess….”
Am I really doing the right thing? I summoned the system window with a face sadder than someone eating mustard while crying.
[System Alert: Current Cache Balance∥10,320 Cache]
“Oh, that’s quite a bit.”
Ten thousand cache? It seemed I’d earned quite a lot of favor from people in the first mission.
‘That’s pretty decent.’
I was somewhat surprised by the generous budget, but I couldn’t smile. These numbers were about to disappear rapidly.
‘I worked so hard to save this!’
But once I’d made up my mind, there was no turning back in my dictionary.
[System Alert: Skill 【What’s My Style?】 (LV.1) ▶ (LV.2) Level Up!]
[System Alert: Skill 【What’s My Style?】 (LV.2) ▶ (LV.3) Level Up!]
[System Alert: Skill 【What’s My Style?】 (LV.3) ▶ (LV.4) Level Up!]
[System Alert: Skill 【What’s My Style?】 Caster’s ‘Vocal’ ability improves by an additional 24%.]
[System Alert: Skill 【As I Say】 (LV.6) ▶▶▶ (LV.10) Level Up!]
[System Alert: Skill 【As I Say】 (LV.10)’s passive deepens the caster’s ‘Appeal’.]
[(Next Passive Skill—–‘Enchantment’ (LV.20))]
[System Alert: Current Cache Balance∥1,320 Cache]
“Ah, my precious cache….”
[System Alert: Expression error detected. Cache is unrelated to your blood!]
Even now, the system window’s resolute tone grated on my nerves. Ugh, seriously.
Just as I was making a mental note to give it a proper flick on the forehead someday, the practice room door swung wide open again. Seo Tae-hyun came in with the other team members, his face flushed with excitement.
“We’re here.”
“Good. Come sit down quickly.”
The confused-looking team members approached me. In the meantime, I’d turned on my phone’s front camera and positioned it on the speaker so the entire practice room was visible. As I pressed the video recording button, Dan Ha-ru scurried over to my side and asked.
“What are you doing, hyung?”
“Getting footage.”
From now on, I planned to record all our practice in clean full shots and hand them over to the writer. It’d probably only make it in as a 2-3 second insert, but it’d be disappointing if it didn’t.
I adjusted the frame so everyone was visible, and we all sat down in a circle.
“Everyone’s prepared to pull an all-nighter, right?”
“Well, we’re mentally ready, but… we still don’t have any arrangement ideas.”
“I’ve got that covered. That’s why I called you all here.”
“. . . .”
“So if you’re all okay with it, I’d really appreciate it if you’d trust me one more time.”
The team members exchanged glances at Kang Ha-jin’s characteristically confident smile. Ha-jin explained the new concept and performance structure for this stage that he’d envisioned. Though they were hesitant at first, as they listened to Ha-jin’s explanation, they gradually began nodding along.
“―So this time, we’re going to,”
Ha-jin tapped the practice room floor with his hand, his eyes gleaming.
“make sure we move at least one person to tears.”
At Ha-jin’s solemn declaration, everyone nodded as if entranced.
* * *
Two days later. The day of Miro Maze’s second mission recording.
This recording took place not at the usual Miro Entertainment Building, but at Ntv’s set in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. Since the first broadcast hadn’t aired yet, no audience was separately recruited, but there were special guests suited to the enlarged set.
“My goodness, Sarin. It’s been a while.”
“Oh, hello, PD.”
Sarin, who had been reviewing the judging criteria in her waiting room while dressed in a burgundy suit, jumped to her feet. Kwon PD, who had entered the waiting room with a smooth demeanor, greeted her with a light embrace.
The two had worked together on a music broadcast that Kwon PD had directed years ago when he was still employed at the broadcasting station.
“How have you been? I heard you’d arrived while I was watching rehearsal, so I rushed right over.”
“Oh, you know. These days I’m swamped with childcare.”
“I know, right. You have no idea how grateful I was when you agreed to participate.”
“No, I was actually surprised. That my song would be used in an idol survival show.”
Sarin had stopped all album and performance activities after giving birth, dedicating herself entirely to raising her child. When she agreed to allow her song to be used and even accepted a special mentor appearance, the entire production team was shocked.
The OST queen everyone missed, the ballad empress, making her broadcast return through Miro Maze!
‘The publicity team was thrilled—there’s more than enough material for articles.’
It seemed like a decision made considering her loyalty to Seo Tae-il, who had written several songs for her, and the fact that it was a one-time appearance that wouldn’t take up much of her time. In any case, Kwon PD, who was a fan of Sarin before being a PD, smiled and asked her.
“By the way, Sarin, any news about your next album? I was actually hoping for something when I heard you’d be appearing.”
“Ah… not yet. Just raising my child is overwhelming enough right now.”
Sarin, who had been smiling brightly, suddenly darkened at the question about her next album. And Kwon PD, whose years as a PD had honed his ability to read celebrities’ emotions, didn’t miss that expression and quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, I’m glad you came today. I hope it won’t be a waste of your time. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Really? Should I be looking forward to it too?”
“They’re trainees, but they’re quite skilled. It’ll be worth watching. See you later then.”
Kwon PD cut the conversation short at an opportune moment, careful not to upset her further. As he cheerfully called out “Let’s do great today!” with a fighting spirit, Sarin bowed in acknowledgment and returned to her seat.
“….”
“…Unnie, would you like some water?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Her manager sensed Sarin’s mood had dampened slightly. Sarin forced a smile and lowered her gaze to the evaluation sheet before her.
【Scream at You】
Perhaps now, a song she might never perform again—her signature piece—echoed in her ears.
* * *
And at that same moment.
In the Miro Maze trainee waiting room.
“Hyung, if you pick wrong, I’m making you do all the laundry today!”
“Ahhh! Please! Please let our team be number three!”
The place had descended into absolute chaos.
“Alright then, let’s begin!”
“….”
“We’ll now proceed with a random draw to determine the performance order!”
“Woooooooah!!!!!”
With Seo Tae-il’s lead commentary, the trainees erupted in thunderous cheers and delivered a record-breaking reaction. Normally, the Wings Rank would have priority, but since all three team leaders happened to be Wings Rank members, they’d decided to let chance decide.
‘Hmph, but it doesn’t matter to me.’
Han Sung-woo inwardly scoffed while pretending to be nervous. He already knew which card was which number because he’d been informed in advance about the stage order determined by the card draw.
‘I even found out the mission song beforehand and secured control of the practice schedule.’
As long as I draw the order I want, there’s no problem. Yoon CP definitely said he’d make sure I draw first, so there shouldn’t be any obstacles…,
“Mentor. Would it be alright if I made a small suggestion?”
…or so I thought.
“Yes, Kang Ha-jin. What is it?”
“The card draw seems a bit lacking in tension. What if we decided the order through a small game instead?”
“A game?”
‘That bastard Kang Ha-jin again?’
The production staff murmured at Ha-jin’s sudden proposal. Tae-il’s expression also shifted to one of interest. Ha-jin grinned and spoke with charm.
“Hyungs. Do you really agree to entrust our fates to such an uncertain Schrödinger’s card? Why not let us seize our destiny and screen time fairly through our own abilities?”
“Wow! Kang Ha-jin is amazing!”
“Competition! Competition!”
‘Did these guys all lose their minds? What’s going on?’
As Ha-jin spouted eloquence like a traveling salesman and the trainees’ enthusiasm amplified, the atmosphere instantly heated up. When the production staff gave the signal, Tae-il nodded as well. Han Sung-woo had to work hard to maintain his composure as things unfolded in an unexpectedly strange direction.
“Kang Ha-jin, do you have a game in mind?”
“Now, quite coincidentally, aren’t we all the main vocalists of our respective teams?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
“How about a Cleopatra game—short and intense, showcasing quick and accurate pitch and ear training?”
With Ha-jin’s suggestion of a game already prepared, the trainees’ cheers grew even louder. Tae-il calmed the trainees’ excitement slightly.
“Alright, alright. Since this is Kang Ha-jin’s proposal, let me first hear the opinions of the other two leader trainees. If both of them agree, we’ll go with that decision.”
At those words, Han Sung-woo quickly glanced at Jeong Si-u. Even though he was the main vocalist, that guy was always acting high and mighty on his own. There was no way someone like him would agree to some ridiculous Cleopatra ranking game….
“Hyung.”
“….”
“You scared?”
“Huh? I’m in.”
“Woooooooah!!!!!!”
When Si-u readily shouted “I’m in” at my raised eyebrow, the waiting room erupted in cheers once more. Han Sung-woo quietly bit his lip.
If I object in this atmosphere, I’ll just look like the coward who backed down!
Han Sung-woo’s gaze turned toward me.
Tch—.
‘That annoying bastard…!’
The moment our eyes met, I saw him tilt his head with a smirk as if to say “go ahead and try.” Sung-woo swallowed hard, barely managing his expression before opening his mouth.
“…I’m in too.”
“Okay!”
“Yes, then since all three teams have agreed, we’ll determine the stage order through the Cleopatra game! All three trainees, please line up in front of me.”
‘Still, that guy isn’t particularly strong with high notes….’
Han Sung-woo stood in position, recalling Kang Ha-jin’s usual stage performances. Hadn’t he struggled with high ad-libs in the last title track, which is why they didn’t swap parts with Gong Seok?
‘…or so he must be thinking.’
And Kang Ha-jin, age 20, had easily seen through all those thought processes.
‘Sorry, Sung-woo, but that’s the old me.’
Special note: Currently having poured a whopping 9,000 cash into vocal ability to master the original song perfectly, standing on the verge of becoming a child prodigy vocalist!

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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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