Top Girl Group Scenario Rewritten with My Own Hands - Chapter 1

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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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Episode 1
These days, fantasy novels use “Regression”—the trope of traveling back to the past—all the time, or so I’ve heard.
When I searched “returning to the past” on a portal site, the results were dominated by fantasy web novels. I didn’t know much about web novels, so I encountered the term “Transmigration Truck” for the first time today.
From what I gathered, most regressions seem to happen because the protagonist—the person who travels back in time—wants it to happen. Failed businesses, ruined projects, relationship troubles…
When the protagonist thinks, “Ah, I wish I could go back to the past!” some mysterious force responds with “Sure? Then let me send you back!” and off they go.
If that’s not the case, then usually the person loses consciousness during some inexplicable accident, thinking “I can’t die like this!”—and then they wake up years in the past. Most stories follow that pattern.
For some reason, traffic accidents—especially ones involving trucks—show up a lot. I guess it’s because it’s the easiest way to make the premise plausible…
All right, let me try to make sense of this absolutely ridiculous situation.
My name is Seo Ji-on.
I’m twenty-five this year, a Seojung Performing Arts University graduate with a major in Composition from the Applied Music program.
I worked hard and got lucky—now I’m a rookie composer who can actually make a living from writing music alone.
The place I’m in right now is… the Seojung Performing Arts University Dormitory.
In a dormitory room from my first year, first semester—the one where the sunset visible through the window is absolutely stunning whenever the sun goes down.
I’m telling you again: I graduated from university.
And until the moment I opened my eyes in this dormitory, I was standing at a crosswalk in the heart of Seoul waiting for the signal to change.
“…Huh? What the hell?”
I was so baffled that I couldn’t help muttering out loud. Really, what the hell?
So… it seems I’ve actually traveled back to the past.
That cliché from every piece of fiction—”hit by a truck and die, then go back in time”—it actually happened to me.
It’s absurd. Absolutely ridiculous.
The truck that rushed toward me with obviously contrived timing, the thought that everything was about to go black right before impact, waking up in the Seojung Performing Arts University Dormitory, the date on my mobile phone showing five years ago—all of it.
When I looked a bit further, I found out that dying from a truck and going back in time is such a common trope in fantasy novels that people even have a nickname for it: the “Transmigration Truck.”
So what you’re telling me is that I’ve somehow become a fantasy novel protagonist, suddenly hit by a truck and sent back to the old days?
Wow… Damn.
The situation is so awful that curses just spill out. I’d rather it was all a dream caused by losing consciousness in a real truck accident.
In my entire life, I never once wished to go back to the past. The past was never good enough to make me want to return to it, and I don’t have the confidence to live any harder than I already have.
I really have lived incredibly hard. There’s no way I could possibly live any harder than that!
A lot of people seem to want to go back to the old days, so why me? In novels, doesn’t it usually happen because that person wants it? So why was I suddenly dragged back to my early twenties without wanting it at all?!
Ugh… my head was pounding. After spending all that time searching through my mobile phone’s calendar, it was clear the date showed exactly five years in the past. It was hard to deny this insane situation anymore.
Looking at the schedule, my final exams just ended this morning. I don’t know whether to call that fortunate or what…
Overwhelmed by a sudden flood of surreal information, I closed my eyes and lay back on the bed.
I had closed my eyes because I didn’t want to think about anything for the moment, but the creaking of the dormitory mattress—familiar after so long, yet deeply unsettling—gave me goosebumps.
Beep-beep-beep-beep, click.
When I heard the dormitory door lock opening, I instinctively sat up. Maybe someone who could actually help me was coming—
“Oh, you’re awake? I saw you were sleeping when I got here, so I didn’t wake you on purpose.”
—there was no way.
It was my roommate. I let out a small sigh and lay back down on the bed.
“What? Why are you reacting like that?”
“…I’m exhausted. Just don’t talk to me.”
“Wow… So we’re really like this, Ji-on?”
“Yeah, we’re like this. I just want to sleep a little more—let me be.”
“Hmph, how could you. Did you pull an all-nighter last night?”
I nodded vaguely and rolled over. My roommate was just trying to mess with me; if I didn’t react, he’d move on on his own.
[Core contact established!]
[Loading project…]
[Welcome to the IF Project!]
…What?
I stared blankly at something that was radiating brilliant light and glowing brilliantly.
My field of vision shouldn’t have anything but dormitory walls, right?
Wait, what is this anyway?
A screen? A hologram? A projector?
[Now beginning the tutorial :)]
Before I could think deeply about the various questions, I lost consciousness.
***
When I came to, the first thing that caught my eye was that glowing something I’d seen before—no, glowing text.
[★Ethereal☆ IF Project ☆Radiant★]
…Sigh.
If the audience seating hadn’t been empty, I might’ve felt like the star of some TV show. What is this… a studio?
I glanced up slightly and saw white spotlights shining down on me without mercy. Wasn’t this just a broadcast studio, by anyone’s standards?
Shimmering LED panels at about eye level glowed with dizzying, gaudy colors, and camera-like devices rotated smoothly from every angle despite having no operator.
A dream—yeah, it seems like a dream.
If that’s the case, then I can sort of understand why these semi-transparent panels exist, like something out of a sci-fi movie.
The real problem is why I’m having such a dream in the first place. I’m the kind of person who’s more familiar with audio interfaces, master keyboards, and MIDI screens packed with tracks than with broadcast studios and filming cameras.
[Now beginning the IF Project tutorial.]
Ding!
Instantly, text appeared on the semi-transparent panel. I had no idea what this was supposed to accomplish, yet here came a tutorial out of nowhere…
[Would you like to hear an explanation of the IF Project?]
[▷ YES]
Are you kidding? You’re only giving me one choice and asking me to pick?
Just to see how far this would go, I stared hard at the panel flickering right in front of my face—and after a moment, a message appeared saying it would auto-proceed, followed by a cheerful alarm sound and the panel advancing.
This space really doesn’t intend to give me any freedom, does it…
[What is the IF Project?]
[A project that grants a second chance at life to those who have lost their opportunity to live :D]
[From now on, you will live a second life toward your ultimate objective.]
A second what now?
[You are dead!]
[You’re very fortunate to be participating in the IF Project, obtaining a second chance at life :D]
Oh, please don’t spout nonsense.
My brow furrowed involuntarily. That “Transmigration Truck” or whatever—that suspiciously contrived truck?
[Yes!]
It’s convenient that it understands awkward situations without me having to spell them out. I thought as I deliberately stared at the semi-transparent panel.
I didn’t die—you all killed me.
[That is not the case. You died, and were returned to the most appropriate time period by the IF Project.]
…I see. And what about sending me back to reality?
[This is already reality.]
Ah… I see.
Project administrator, come out. I think we need to have a conversation.
But the project simply ignored my thoughts and began presenting its message.
[In your previous time period, Seo Ji-on participated in writing and composing many songs. Notably, you were deeply involved in idol EVERGREET’s final three digital single albums to the extent of a full-time producer.]
EVERGREET… yeah, I was heavily involved with them. I basically became their dedicated producer.
Not that the group was ever hugely successful.
When I was graduating from university, an acquaintance asked me to temporarily take over producing duties for an idol group the company had essentially abandoned. I needed commercial portfolio work at the time, and that team needed a producer, so our needs aligned.
That group was EVERGREET. The kids were so earnest at that first meeting, saying they didn’t want to end like this, and asking me to work with them. The memory stuck with me so vividly—the work was genuinely enjoyable, I was invested in my own way, and it was disappointing that results never materialized.
EVERGREET didn’t make it through their full seven-year exclusive contract. They disbanded in their fifth year. The biggest reason was that maintenance costs exceeded penalty fees.
After I started producing, comments came in saying the songs were good and the group was talented but overlooked—yet the company showed no interest in pushing them.
Without any promotion, their songs gained word-of-mouth through pure member skill and my producing alone, even charting in the Daily Top 100 at one point. But the agency had apparently already written off EVERGREET. When a mid-tier idol group manages to crack the daily charts in this era where only the majors survive, and the company still disbands them citing maintenance costs, you see where their priorities lie.
It’s a disgusting world. In this age where it’s hard to survive unless you’re a major label artist, I had managed to create meaningful results—not quite a miracle chart comeback, but significant nonetheless. And what did I get in return? Cruel remarks like “So what, did you guys become top stars? You’re not even real singers—you think you’re something because of that little bit?”
Ugh, what a fossil. An absolute fossil of a human being. I really hated that company. More precisely, I hated that company’s CEO.
…So why bring this up? There must be a reason.
Right now, EVERGREET hasn’t even debuted yet. There’s still about another year before that happens, so are you saying I should take over as the dedicated producer from debut?
[That is correct.]
…That wouldn’t be difficult. When I first got involved, there was so much that had already fallen apart beyond repair.
I’d spent a long time thinking how much better things would’ve been if I could’ve started producing from their debut.
Yeah, I’m confident enough for that. The members had so much potential we never fully realized, and I’d often thought about how things would’ve gone if I’d approached it that way from the start.
[As a member of the girl group EVERGREET, become a successful idol!]
[That is your ultimate objective.]
Yeah, so succeed as an idol and produce…
…Wait. Did you just say idol? Me?
[Yes!]
[▷ Objective: Success of idol EVERGREET]
[▷ Final Objective Reward: Complete restoration of depleted Life Force]
[▷ Current Mission: Lead a successful debut as a member of idol EVERGREET! (Duration: D-365)]
Did I misread?
I stared intensely at the semi-transparent panel flashing before my eyes, thinking.
You want me to debut? I’m a composer…?
[Please guide the group to success this time as a member! :D]
No, I’m a composer!
A composer whose entire career has been behind the scenes except for high school band club—never had any reason to stand on stage!
Besides, if I just refuse to follow that objective, that’s the end of it, right?
[If you fail to achieve the objective, the Life Force temporarily granted for project progression will be recovered.]
[Please remember that you are already dead once.]
…Okay, got it. So you brought me back to life after that suspiciously artificial accident, is that right?
You guys are really despicable. Threatening someone with their own life?
[There are far more contemptible systems in the world.]
Yeah, but since the only one I’ve experienced is you all, you seem like the worst of the bunch…
The ‘System’ casually ignored my thoughts and filled my entire field of vision with semi-transparent rainbow-colored slogans.
At this point I’m starting to wonder if the project is fake and the real goal is just to irritate me.
[Please feel free to use the System as much as you’d like to achieve your objective and survive!]
[Good luck :D]
After the System finished saying what it wanted to say, it kicked me out of that space.
***
When I opened my eyes again, it was dark outside the window—a significant amount of time seemed to have passed. I unconsciously reached for my mobile phone to check the time.
…Huh?
When I unlocked the lock screen, there was a mountain of messages in the dormitory group chat from my high school band club—quiet since we were all busy studying around junior year. What’s going on?
– Hanbit Class 37 Kim Ji-min: Hey everyone, check this out
– Hanbit Class 37 Kim Ji-min: Our school festival video got picked up by YouTube’s algorithm
– Hanbit Class 37 Kim Ji-min: But all the comments are about Ji-on lololol
– Hanbit Class 37 Lee Min-jae: lololol @Seo Ji-on
– Hanbit Class 37 Lee Min-jae: Told you you’d blow up someday lmao
– Hanbit Class 37 Park Young-woo: Seo Ji-on YouTube star hahaha
– Hanbit Class 37 Kim Ji-min: Actually hilarious also
– Hanbit Class 37 Kim Ji-min: An entertainment company even commented wanting to cast Seo Ji-on lololololol
– Hanbit Class 37 Park Young-woo: lololololololololololol
– Hanbit Class 37 Park Young-woo: Honestly so proud Seo Ji-on
– Hanbit Class 37 Park Young-woo: Seojung Performing Arts University as Hanbit Foreign Language High School’s first ever applicant in 37 years of history—that’s huge lolol
– Hanbit Class 37 Lee Min-jae: Korea University, Ewha Womans University, Goldsmiths and Seojung—let’s go @Seo Ji-on
– Hanbit Class 37 Kim Ji-min: (screenshot)
– Hanbit Class 37 Kim Ji-min: If you don’t have an agency, they said to email them lololol???
– Hanbit Class 37 Kim Ji-min: @Seo Ji-on
…My goodness.
Now I was starting to understand why the System had sent me back to this particular time.
That casting email mentioned Music Proof’s new artist development team email address.
A label mainly managing indie musicians and bands—a singer-songwriter musician label that on the surface seemed to have absolutely nothing to do with idols.
And right about now, it was the agency preparing EVERGREET’s girl group launch after company executives relentlessly pushed for it—EVERGREET’s agency.
The real coincidence… I was wondering why it had to be this timing, and here it goes connecting things like this?
Ding!
A cheerful alarm sounded, and the semi-transparent panel appeared between my vision and my mobile phone screen.
[▷ Tutorial Quest: Join the agency ‘Music Proof’. (Duration: D-10)]
Oh, morality. Seriously, you’re the most contemptible system in the world.
Ten days? T-e-n d-a-y-s?
[Failure to clear the quest within the duration will result in a penalty.]
[Please refer to the system detailed guide for more information :D]
I was genuinely at a loss for words…
A hollow sigh filled the dark dormitory room.
So let me get this straight: I’m twenty-five, I got hit by a truck in the middle of Seoul, I died, my survival has been mortgaged to some project, I’ve been sent back to twenty years old, and now I have to become an idol—something I’ve never once considered in my entire life?
…God damn my fate.
Rewriting the Top Girl Group Scenario with My Own Hands
Author
: Nam Seo-rang
Production Date
: January 5, 2026
Publisher
: ACESMEDIA Inc.
Editor
: ACESMEDIA Editorial Team
Address
: 4F Urban Bench Building, 325 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Email
: [email protected]
※ This work is published by ACESMEDIA Inc. under contract with the copyright holder.
No part of this content may be used in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher and author.
This e-book is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction or duplication may result in legal liability.
UCI
: G720:N+A129-20260102083.0001

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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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