LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 2
Chapter 2. Find the Regressor
“Hajin-ah.”
“Yes.”
“Are you okay?”
When my high school homeroom teacher, who had retired and immigrated abroad, looked at me with a worried face and asked for an explanation about the blank career counseling form I submitted, I described my feelings in five characters.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m not trying to scold you… I’m just worried.”
Yes, teacher. I, too, am worried and anxious every day, living my fifth life with a chosen regressor, but I swallowed those words back down and nodded awkwardly. Smile, Kang Hajin. Smile.
“Are you having a hard time because of retaking the college entrance exam?”
“No, sir. It’s really not that.”
“Then why have you been so quiet and reserved these days?”
I glanced at the culprit who had been giving me a headache for the past three days and chose my words with a social smile.
“I definitely have the flu.”
* * *
My teacher, who had never seen me act like this before, allowed me to leave early, saying I must really be sick. Only then could I clear my head.
Yeah, I shouldn’t be doing this right now.
I looked up at the blue sky that reminded me of a certain day. I could imagine how much my face was covered in resignation and frustration without even seeing it.
“…Mission readout.”
With a vacant face and a weak voice, I summoned the cause of this situation.
[Mission List]
BQ 01. Find the Regressor!
SQ 01. In Search of Lost Dreams
[Please select the mission to view.]
“Show both.”
[Basic Quest 01.]
‘Find the Regressor!’
Description: You have been designated as the mentor for a chosen regressor. Find the chosen regressor and prevent the regression.
Reward: Young and rich, tall and handsome
“If it weren’t for the young and rich part….”
Well, I had to do it anyway, so that’s fine. If they’re giving me wealth and fame as a bonus, I’m thankful. Besides, if I’m going to the army three times, there better be a reward. Otherwise, I might have grabbed the regressor by the collar the moment I met him and demanded what he planned to do with my life.
Alright, that’s settled.
The problem is the next part.
[Single Quest 01.]
‘In Search of Lost Dreams’
Description: The quickest way to untangle a twisted thread is to find the starting point. Become an idol trainee within the given period.
Remaining period: 57 days. (Original: 60 days)
Success reward: Clue access for tracking the regressor
Failure penalty: 45% increased chance of fifth regression
Is this an idol story?
Although I welcomed the system window and quests with open arms, I wasn’t entirely happy about the change in the genre of my life.
“Let’s think positively, Kang Hajin. At least you don’t have to hunt monsters.”
Right, at least it’s not a hunter story. But the more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed to become an idol trainee in two months when some people struggle for years. The absurdity started to boil up gradually.
And there’s a penalty too? 45% is almost half.
“If I fail, it’s another regression?”
What kind of fate does this chosen regressor have?
I needed sugar. Instinctively, I pulled out a chocolate bar from my bag and started humming a song. A despondent melody drifted out.
“I’m lost….”
Yeah, this song is a classic when you feel hopeless….
* * *
An idol? I once dreamed of it.
Since I was young, I liked singing and dancing. On stage? I flew. Even I thought I was made for the stage. Naturally, I dreamed of becoming a singer, and that dream lasted exactly ten years.
“Hajin, your voice stands out too much. The volume is too high.”
“Well… it’s a bit ambiguous.”
“Have you thought about changing your career path? When will you debut like this?”
Would it have been better if I had known earlier that mediocrity and incompetence were a fine line?
I always heard that I was good, but the opportunities never came to me. It was always like that. Was I lacking in passion? Was I not skilled enough? Was I not diligent? The missed opportunities eventually started to eat away at me.
“Hajin, let’s try one more time.”
“….”
“They said you showed potential, after all.”
Potential. Potential? Maybe I wasn’t confident enough to prove myself.
“No, I’m done.”
So, I gave up on my dream. I needed a place where I could prove myself and be recognized.
Anyway, reminiscing about it now is pointless. If I have to do it, I’ll do it. If not, it’s a fifth regression. I snapped out of my short reverie and returned to reality. I found my old phone, which I still wasn’t used to, and accessed the internet.
< Male idol, audition, agency >
I can’t go to the army three times. Absolutely not.
* * *
The final candidates were three.
1. Miro, a mid-sized agency known for male idols
2. Renes, one of the top three agencies in Korea
3. Lime, an agency specializing in solo artists
After sorting through all the features of domestic agencies, their artists, audition announcements, and periods found in search results, I selected those that matched my conditions and organized the necessary information into an Excel sheet.
Good thing I still had my data organizing skills from team projects.
I did have a favorite agency, but they recently debuted a new boy group, so I had to rule them out. Considering the next mission is probably debut, the chosen regressor (I decided to call him “ 선귀자 ,” chosen regressor, because I didn’t know what else to call him) wouldn’t wait until that agency released another boy group.
Since I was using my skills, I also dug through various SNS and communities and found that the three agencies I selected were either close to debuting a new group or looking for the last member.
“Does it matter which one I go to?”
Is the chosen regressor a trainee? There were no clues at such an early stage. The closest audition was an open audition at Renes, one of the top three agencies, this coming weekend. Since many would apply, it wouldn’t hurt to slip in and test the waters. I thought of a song list while considering the traits of the agency’s idols.
By the way, it’s only been a year since I gave up on being a singer. What should I tell my mom?
* * *
“Seoul?”
“Yeah, hanging out with a friend.”
“Which friend?”
“…That, Kyunghyun.”
“Okay, have fun. Do you have money?”
“Yeah, I still have some allowance left.”
I had a buffering moment trying to remember which friend I hung out with often during this time, but Mom seemed to take it in stride. Since I was sure to fail the audition, I thought it was better to give a vague excuse than to make Mom anxious.
After stealthily typing out the application with an eagle typing method to avoid my younger brother’s notice, I soon received a basic information text. It was a struggle to resist the habit of writing my highest level of education as college and putting in my ambitions after joining in the motivation section.
Hold it in, Kang Hajin. You’re a blooming nineteen-year-old. A nineteen-year-old in the prime of youth.
< Renes Ent Open Audition Notice >
I checked the text again, which contained the address, schedule, and precautions, and left home. I sat on the subway, listening to the audition song through my earphones, and opened the file with the agency research notes to find the Renes Enter sheet.
<[Renes Enter]
Affiliated artists: Catheon, Sphere, Themis, Lunaland (abbreviated)
Features: One of the top three agencies in Korea, currently in need of debuting a new boy group as Sphere is nearing military enlistment.
Traits: Pursues complete idols. ★Appearance, talent, and star quality are important★>
As with most idols from Renes, Sphere had firmly established itself as a top-tier idol group in Korea. All members except one had renewed their contracts and continued activities, but since the eldest members were scheduled to enlist next year, debuting a new boy group was urgent.
In the first life ten years from now (it still felt strange to say this), a nine-member group named something like Lennon debuted, and there was a lot of talk that they had hastily debuted all the trainees out of desperation.
While recalling when that successor group debuted and who its members were, I turned off my phone. Although I had analyzed everything thoroughly due to my professional habits, to be honest….
‘Debuting here would be a disaster.’
Because Sphere became so popular, there were rumors that Renes delayed debuting their successor, and even during the trend of large groups, Renes insisted on small groups. But when the first teaser was released, everyone flipped, praising Renes.
[Renes Enter next boy group visual.jpg]
[Hey, new Renes boys are insane]
[Renes brought gods instead of idols]
If their nickname was Greek sculpture idols, that said it all, didn’t it?
Faces were Renes’ trademark. They reaffirmed the age-old truth of the idol world. Glancing at my reflection in the black screen, I shuddered and put my phone away.
‘I don’t think I’m ugly, but…. I’m not at their level.’
Even if I were lucky enough to become a trainee, debuting would be difficult. Not that I planned to half-ass the audition….
While thinking that, someone approached me.
“Excuse me,
hello.”
“Yes, I believe in the Way.”
“Huh?”
“Passing through because I’m a fellow believer.”
Preemptively shutting down a cultist was the best move. Ignoring the startled reaction, I got up with a social smile.
It was already my stop.
* * *
“Next, please.”
“Kids these days are… a bit young, don’t you think?”
The head of Renes Enter’s rookie development team took off his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes.
“I don’t expect much, but I wish they’d tone down the vanity.”
His words, spoken with a sigh, carried a hint of weariness. This broadcasting program had spoiled the kids. He had joined the rookie development team because he loved the passion of kids chasing their dreams, but among those who dreamed of becoming ‘idols,’ less than a quarter genuinely wanted to be ‘idol singers.’
“All they do is wink and stick out their tongues. They don’t sing.”
Even though Renes was known for focusing on looks, they weren’t looking for hollow statues. While looks were the most important because skills could be taught, they needed to show something that hinted at what kind of stage presence they would have.
“Number 53 sang decently earlier.”
“Did you see the way he showed off during the song? That’s unteachable. He’s already aware he sings well and is lost in his own performance.”
“Ah, like Junghyuk?”
Junghyuk was a vocal trainee precariously positioned in the next boy group debut lineup. The manager nodded, furrowing his brow.
“Junghyuk… he needs to lose that stubbornness to fit as a main vocal.”
“True.”
“Where are the straightforward kids? I don’t feel like auditioning anymore.”
Just then, the next participant entered.
“Hello, I’m number 71.”
The manager, who had been slouching in his chair, straightened up a bit. The boy with calm black hair and horizontally long monolid eyes looked quite appealing. For a high school boy, his skin was clear too. Interested, the manager glanced at the application form.
“I’ll start singing now.”
Without the usual hesitation of auditionees, he spoke calmly, and the staff beside the manager also seemed to expect something. Soon, the song began without accompaniment.
I’ll never forget you
To me, you’re an indelible
Scarred memory
Those shattered moments
Can we call them happiness?
Can we say that?
How dare I
The song he chose was an OST that Themis’s main vocalist Lia had sung in her rookie days.
Though a few years old, the song was still occasionally mentioned as a classic OST ballad due to its popularity.
The song required sustaining high notes for a long time and seamlessly connecting emotions from low to high tones, making it a favorite cover that few could surpass Lia.
But….
‘He’s quite good.’
The manager spun his pen lightly at the cleanly handled high notes, then felt a thrill at the seamless transition to low notes with mixed breaths.
The high notes were impressive, but the deep groove in his low tones brought his voice to life. Holding the application tightly, the manager thought while keeping a poker face.
‘Damn, jackpot!’