Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 95

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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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95. Bomb? (6)
I never could have imagined it. What do you mean?
“Ju Eun-chan’s original position was vocals?”
“Yeah.”
Dan Ha-ru nodded repeatedly, a full spoon of ice cream from the container already in his mouth.
Struck by this second shock, I handed him a wet wipe to clean the ice cream smeared across his lips.
‘At this rate, the entire galaxy is conspiring against me.’
Fortunately, I found some consolation in the fact that I could still access the information on those I’d scanned using the Dragon’s Eye skill before and after Thirteen went on his business trip. I’d even updated it specifically for moments like this.
‘It’s not perfect data, of course… but it should be useful as a reference.’
Kim Won-ho’s stats hadn’t been updated since I scanned them during last month’s evaluation (I was shocked again to learn it wasn’t automatic), so the data still remained in percentage format. As for Jeong Si-u, my new teammate, I had no information on him whatsoever.
‘At least I had the foresight to scan Ju Eun-chan once before recruiting him.’
I sat down beside Dan Ha-ru and pulled up Eun-chan’s stat window while resting my head on the desk.
[Ju Eun-chan (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocals: B+
Rap: B
Dance: B+
Expression: B+
Charm: A+
Special: ※Unrevealed stat※
Appeal Points:
‘On My Own’
-Self-confidence, decisiveness, performance accuracy
After staring at stat windows overflowing with S’s and A’s, this B-filled landscape felt almost alien.
Yet these were absolutely not stats to be dismissed lightly. If I converted these stats to the old notation system….
[Ju Eun-chan (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocals: 43%
Rap: 84%
Dance: 41%
Expression: 64%
Charm: 35%
Special: ※Unrevealed stat※
Appeal Points:
‘On My Own’
-Self-confidence, decisiveness, performance accuracy (70%)
‘The conclusion is clear—this guy has monstrous growth potential.’
He was already pulling his weight adequately, yet aside from rap and expression, most of his percentages hadn’t even broken fifty.
During last month’s evaluation, while enduring that hellish boost camp, I’d noticed that these percentages were calculated differently for each individual. Perhaps it was because they represented a composite assessment based on diverse criteria—personal talent, growth potential, effort, and more.
‘The rate and magnitude of increase vary completely depending on each person’s circumstances.’
Take this example, for instance.
Kim Won-ho, once the second of the hopeless trio, had grown into someone quite reliable now, and his current stats looked like this.
[Kim Won-ho (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocal: 89% (Rap 34%)
Dance: 65%
Expression: 93%
Special: Choreography Creation (92%)
Appeal Points:
‘A TO Z’
-Quick Learning Ability
Compared to before the monthly evaluation, his dance rose by merely 3%, and expression by just 1%. Yet his special skill, ‘Choreography Creation,’ surged by a whopping 6%.
For reference, Kim Won-ho didn’t even know he was good at choreography creation until before the monthly evaluation. He asked me several times whether he’d really be evaluated on his own choreography.
‘Perhaps the percentages reflect such discoveries as well….’
In any case, I needed to think carefully about how to use this percentage system. A low percentage didn’t automatically mean potential, nor did a high one mean growth had ended.
The easiest example to understand this was right there in Ha-jin’s team.
[Lee Do-ha (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocal: 17% (Rap 64%)
This was Lee Do-ha’s vocal stat at the time of the monthly evaluation. Of course, it’s changed somewhat now.
[Lee Do-ha (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocal: 37% (Rap 64%)
His vocal had risen by a whopping 20% in just a few months! But what about his absolute ability?
[Lee Do-ha (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocal: F
Even if you raise it to 100%, he’d just become a tone-deaf person who happens to hit the right notes.
‘Lee Do-ha, how on earth do you even rap?’
Honestly, he’s incomprehensible.
Moreover, his rap, which carries an S-rank, hasn’t changed by even 1% so far.
‘So to properly use this skill, I absolutely have to look beyond the numbers and letters themselves… and synthesize every element that makes up a person’s talent and development. Ugh, please. Don’t do this to me. Why are you like this, world?’
On top of that, there was one more person complicating my mood.
“Ha-ru.”
“Yeah?”
I showed my phone to Dan Ha-ru, who was munching on the ice cream Seo Tae-hyun had bought him, and asked.
【Miro_Younger Sibling_Lee Yu-gun ‖ Concept ✓】
【Miro_Younger Sibling_Lee Yu-gun ‖ (AiTube Link)】
【Miro_Younger Sibling_Lee Yu-gun ‖ (AiTube Link)】
【Miro_Younger Sibling_Lee Yu-gun ‖ (AiTube Link)】
“What on earth is Lee Yu-gun thinking?”
Lee Yu-gun had actually sent a messenger with his own opinions.
Even detailed ones. During the meeting earlier, we’d decided on the basic concept and direction, and he’d sent them separately by text. (Apparently Lee Yu-gun doesn’t even have KakaoTalk on his phone. I wonder what kind of person he is.) But from reading everything he’d conveyed, I could tell he understood it properly.
“He didn’t just practice—he even pulled together a song selection list?”
“Huh, Lee Yu-gun hyung?”
“Yeah. So we decided on one of the songs he sent. It’s amazing.”
The materials Lee Yu-gun sent were flawless—from the references to the song selection, there was nothing to criticize. He’d even tracked down diverse performance reference videos from overseas choreography teams.
Ever since he’d danced through ten girl group songs in a row with a blank expression, I’d figured this guy wasn’t your average lunatic, but….
“So that’s a good thing, right?”
“You think that’s what’s best for my peace of mind?”
“Yes!”
“Good, just keep growing up bright like that.”
I ruffled Dan Ha-ru’s hair as he bounced his legs with a carefree grin, as if he didn’t have a worry in the world. He’d gotten a perm following Seo Tae-hyun, and his hair was a bit frizzy—there was something oddly soothing about it, like petting a puppy.
Dan Ha-ru accepted my touch quietly, then turned his head back toward the ice cream container and spoke again.
“I’m just trying to think lightly about it.”
“Huh?”
“My grandmother used to say that. When you’re scared because you think too much, just don’t think about it.”
Dan Ha-ru’s sparkling round eyes crinkled prettily.
“I’m so scared these days. What if I can’t debut with my brothers?”
“…Is that so?”
“Yeah. But if I keep thinking about this and that, it just gets too scary. So I decided to just not think about it!”
He said it cheerfully while shoveling a huge spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. I’d thought he was just innocent, but it turned out this little guy had been carrying his own worries in that head of his.
‘…I know that feeling pretty well.’
Lee Do-ha and Ji Su-ho had called me out on my bullshit, and I’d come to my senses since then.
I stroked Dan Ha-ru’s head as he rapidly emptied half the ice cream container, and spoke in a calm voice.
“Ha-ru.”
“Yes?”
“That ice cream is Seo Tae-hyun’s.”
“….”
“He’s on a diet, so he specifically got zero-sugar just to have one bite at a time.”
At that, Dan Ha-ru dropped his spoon with a soft clink and looked at me as if asking whether I was serious. I nodded kindly to confirm it was true.
“I wasn’t going to tell you, but since you said something admirable, I’m giving you a heads-up.”
“D-does that mean I don’t have a part in this stage performance…?”
Dan Ha-ru’s pupils trembled as he’d chosen Room 2 with Seo Tae-hyun. The kid was adorable.
“He said he bought it from a convenience store, so just find one and buy a replacement.”
After even providing this pro tip for committing the perfect crime, I stood up from my seat.
Right, there’s no point in just sitting here and worrying about it.
‘When did I start working with this much careful consideration?’
Whatever happens, let’s just solve it first, and if it goes wrong, we’ll worry about it then!
* * *
The Blue Flare team, minus Lee Yu-gun, gathered again.
Late in the evening, they assembled in the Trainee Lounge and each found a comfortable seat. It seemed today’s meeting wouldn’t end quickly.
“Alright, Blue Flare team’s second meeting begins.”
“Kim Won-ho. What’s today’s topic?”
“What position is truly suitable for Eun-chan’s—no, Ju Eun-chan’s role!”
Thanks to the self-cam being on, there was a bit of broadcast-style overacting included. Of course, if this aired, people would complain about why Lee Yu-gun wasn’t there again, but….
‘I’ll just brush it off as sending a text message!’
Now that the team composition had turned out this way, there was no way we could smoothly accept the narrative and move on. To neutralize the predicted discord and the controversy surrounding Lee Yu-gun’s attitude, I had to create a legend with this stage performance no matter what.
Having thought this far, I looked at Eun-chan and granted him the floor.
“First, trainee Ju Eun-chan. Please speak.”
“….”
As if undergoing a trial, Eun-chan, sitting across from me, brought out the words he had prepared.
To summarize, it was this:
-Until now, there were never many people in the team who could rap, so I had no choice but to take on the rap parts. I’m not even a rapper, yet I keep taking rap parts, and it’s become too burdensome. I also want to show Destiny my singing. Since Do-ha is in this team, I want to take on my original position as a vocalist.
“Okay. Then, trainee Lee Do-ha. Please state your position.”
Now it was Do-ha’s turn. Won-ho, who had become the day’s cameraman for this meeting, swiftly turned the selfie camera he was holding toward Do-ha.
-I don’t rate Eun-chan’s vocal ability poorly. (The specific feedback in this section was lengthy, taking about 5 minutes.) …So Eun-chan taking the vocal part is fine, but… (omitted) …the song we chose is difficult for one person to rap alone… (omitted) …so even if it’s not Eun-chan, we need at least one more person for the rap part!
Lee Do-ha’s logical (though slightly lengthy) rebuttal followed. Eun-chan also agreed that given the characteristics of the song choice, it would be difficult for Do-ha to rap alone. But still, he seemed reluctant to be pushed into taking the rap part.
At this point, I raised my hand.
“Trainee Kang Ha-jin speaking. Should I just do it?”
My rap absolute stat was A-. I had never shown it on stage before, but the team members knew my ability since I had rapped in turn during the skill check earlier.
“Rejected.”
“Why?”
However, that opinion was immediately rejected by the main vocalist Jeong Si-u, who raised his hand.
“If you’re out, am I supposed to sing alone?”
“Hmm….”
Si-u was the one who had waited for me, even accepting Lee Yu-gun, solely to compensate for the team members’ insufficient vocal skills. Unless Eun-chan suddenly improved dramatically, an equal trade with me made no sense to him.
“Hmm. What about me?”
The next one to raise his hand was Won-ho. Won-ho’s rap was somewhat lacking compared to the other team members, but objectively speaking, it wasn’t bad enough to dismiss.
Si-u and my expressions were beginning to brighten when Do-ha raised his hand this time.
“I’m against it. First, Won-ho’s voice is low, so the tone overlaps with mine. Plus, when he dances and does live vocals, he still has the habit of his breathing getting muffled, so if he raps, that will stand out even more. Sorry, Won-ho—I’m not trying to disparage you.”
In fact, Won-ho had received a similar evaluation from Sarin during the last Cinderella stage. He was fine when dancing, but during the singing parts, he kept shrinking back.
If he took on the rap part, where lyrical delivery was everything, that weakness would become even more glaringly apparent. This argument also held weight.
“Hmm….”
“What do we do….”
“….”
Watching the hyungs’ expressions darken with anguish, Eun-chan felt his shoulders shrink without realizing it. He knew these team members weren’t that kind of people….
-Ha…. Eun-chan. You’re hurting several people because you’re being stubborn about one thing.
-If you’d just compromise a little, everything would be fine. How can you always get everything you want?
Like I had said, it took time for everything to be okay. Eun-chan still carried the wounds left by Han Sung-woo and the other General Class hyungs.
‘No. I said it knowing they weren’t that kind of people.’
Even as he thought this, every time he heard the hyungs continuing to exchange opinions, he couldn’t help but feel himself shrinking.
‘…If I just compromise. Would everything really be solved just by doing that?’
Eventually, Eun-chan lifted his head as anxiety kept pressing down on him. It was just to say that he would take the rap part again.
“I, I’ll just—.”
“Trainee Kang Ha-jin speaking. Trainee Ju Eun-chan, please speak later.”
I raised my hand before Eun-chan could. Having missed his chance to speak, Eun-chan’s eyes met mine across the table. I stared at him with an unreadable expression.
Was he really going to assign me the rap part after all?
But the moment that thought crossed my mind, something told me Ha-jin wouldn’t do that.
“…Why don’t we just have him do it?”
I pointed to someone.

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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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