Falling for the Omega Idol

HANEUL hesitated, unsure if Jung Taeyang's words were meant for him or the person on his other side. But when he glanced over, their eyes locked again, confirming that Taeyang was, in fact, speaking to him. 

He suddenly didn't know what to say. Mostly because he didn't expect Jung Taeyang to speak to him at that moment, or even ask him such a question. He knew, though, that he couldn't say that he wasn't a fan.

With cameras everywhere, what if one captured this exact moment? Admitting he wasn't a fan could provoke the wrath of Noir Roses' fandom or even Lily's solo fans. It seemed unreasonable to be disliked over something so trivial, but K-pop stans could be fiercely protective and sometimes irrationally sensitive to perceived slights against their idols. Better to play it safe than risk backlash. 

"I mean, who isn't?" he said with a smile to answer Jung Taeyang's question.

"I'm not," Jung Taeyang straightforwardly said. There was that tone again, as if he was sulking.

But Haneul didn't have time to worry about that. He needed to make sure no one else had heard what Jung Taeyang said. Glancing around quickly, he saw that everyone was still caught up in the excitement of seeing Lily. Seeing that, he quietly let out a sigh of relief.

"Hey, don't say that," he murmured, his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear. "What if a camera caught you saying something like that? Rozes would definitely come after you," he added, referring to Noir Roses' devoted fandom.

Jung Taeyang blinked. "Are you... worried about me?"

Haneul was once again at a loss for words. He had only meant to offer some friendly advice. How had Jung Taeyang jumped to that conclusion? Then again, if a part of him wasn't at least a little worried, he probably wouldn't have given the advice in the first place. So, in a way, Jung Taeyang had a point.

Realizing this, he felt his cheeks warm slightly. Was this yet another side effect of his "fan heart"? He looked away, awkwardly scratching his cheek, and cleared his throat before saying, "Just think of me as a concerned citizen."

He then shifted his focus to the stage, acting as though he couldn't feel Jung Taeyang's eyes on him.

So, he didn't see the corner of Jung Taeyang's mouth slightly turning up. The gloom that had clouded his mood suddenly lifted. Anyone who knew him well would instantly recognize that he was now in a good mood.

"You're probably wondering why I'm here right now," Lily said from the stage. "Well, let's just say I'll be your captain on this journey to achieving your dreams."

With those words, she was practically confirming that she would be the host of the survival program. Everyone caught on immediately, their excitement growing even more. Most had assumed Lily would just be the first guest on the show—who would have guessed she would actually be the host?

Haneul began to wonder just how much JH Entertainment had paid to secure Lily as the program's host. It must have been a hefty sum. But the investment would undoubtedly pay off; after all, Lily's name alone was enough to generate a buzz around the survival program.

Recalling Lily's earlier remark about being their "captain," Haneul realized it was a clever play on words. The contestants, unaware that they'd be boarding a ship after the first mission, likely hadn't thought much of her comment.

"But I can't do this alone," Lily continued. "So, I've brought along some mentors to help guide you on this journey. Please give them a warm round of applause."

As soon as Lily finished speaking, four people walked onto the stage. Haneul's eyes widened slightly at the sight of them. Except for one, the other three mentors were different from those he remembered. But he quickly composed himself. Since signing the contract for this program, he had faced plenty of unexpected changes. By now, surprises like this shouldn't faze him.

The contestants grew even more excited at seeing the four mentors. In addition to the one Haneul remembered from Boys Odyssey in his previous world, he recognized another: a popular trot singer.

The four mentors started to introduce themselves.

"Hello, this is K-Beat. I will be in charge of rap," said the man in his late 20s. He had a sharp jawline, with short, tousled black hair and dark eyes. His skin was a warm tan, and he sported a neatly trimmed beard. He wore a simple black leather jacket over a white T-shirt, paired with dark jeans.

Haneul wasn't familiar with him, mostly because he had never been into hip-hop. From what he remembered, the mentor in charge of rap in his previous world's Boys Odyssey had been an idol known for his impressive rap skills.

"I'm Dyna, a part of Fusion Dance Crew. I will be in charge of dance," the only woman among the four said. She had a sleek bob haircut dyed jet black, with a few strands of electric blue running through it. She wore a cropped leather jacket over a fitted tank top and ripped jeans, with combat boots that added a tough edge to her appearance.

She was the only mentor from Boys Odyssey in his previous world who remained in the mentor lineup in this world. Her dance crew had competed in a popular dance show on Vnet. Dyna was already choreographing for idol groups at the time, but her appearance on that program significantly boosted her fame.

The next one who introduced himself was the trot singer, the one Haneul was also familiar with.

"Hello, I'm Yoon Jihoon, and I will be in charge of vocals," he said softly, his voice calm and steady. The man had a kind smile and gentle eyes, with soft brown hair that fell neatly across his forehead. He wore a light blue sweater over a white button-down shirt, his appearance clean and approachable.

Just as he had been surprised to see Lily, Haneul was equally taken aback at the sight of Yoon Jihoon. He was currently the most popular trot singer in Korea, and Haneul couldn't believe he had found the time to join this survival program. 

Just how much of a budget had JH Entertainment allocated for this show?

The last to introduce himself was a man wearing a crisp, tailored suit. His hair was neatly styled, and he wore thin, rectangular glasses that framed his sharp, focused eyes. His posture was straight, with his hands clasped in front of him, and his expression remained composed and professional.

"I'm Choi Minhyuk, a performance director at JH Entertainment. I will be in charge of performance."

Haneul recalled that in his previous world's Boys Odyssey, there had also been someone in charge of performance, but that person was more of a music producer than a performance director. In his opinion, choosing a performance director this time around was a much better decision.

"The five of us will try our best to guide you and help you grow," Lily continued with a warm smile. "We're here to support you every step of the way as you chase your dreams. So, let's work hard together and make this journey worth your while." She paused for a moment before adding, "Oh, and before I forget—welcome to Boys Odyssey!"