Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 19. The Most Effective Way to Remove a Bomb (4)

Dan Haru, with his big round eyes wide open, fervently continued.

“When we went to Renes last time! What if he was shocked by your brutal honesty and went into hiding! You should feel guilty!”

“It’s called guilt, not guiltiness. And how is this my fault?”

Dan Haru bluntly replied, “Honestly, I think you do bear some responsibility,” and Junghyuk nodded vigorously in agreement.

These punks?

“Okay, let’s say Seo Taehyun was so shocked by my blunt truth that he went into hiding. That makes it even more important that I don’t go. He’d hate seeing my face.”

“Only a sincere apology from the perpetrator can heal the victim’s wounded heart.”

“Now I’m the perpetrator? Wasn’t the real perpetrator Cha Minseok?”

“Then should we bring Minseok hyung along?”

“…Forget it. I won’t say anything.”

Despite my logical rebuttal, Dan Haru remained adamant. His eyes even sparkled, as if he was determined to bring along the Renes statue itself.

Realizing Dan Haru’s side was hopeless, I turned to target Junghyuk. But he was already resolute, having felt a sense of obligation and responsibility towards Seo Taehyun, as he solemnly searched for the address of the pension.

“Eunchan, don’t make that face. You scare me the most when you look like that.”

With his appearance resembling the legitimate successor to a crime boss in a noir movie, Junghyuk’s stern expression made him look like a gangster.

Exhausted from trying to reason with these two stubborn teens, I just lay down. Eunchan, who had been diligently looking at his phone, glanced at me and slowly came over to ask.

“…Why don’t you want to go?”

“Do you want the honest answer?”

Eunchan pondered for a moment before nodding silently, indicating he wanted to hear the truth.

“I don’t see what benefit there is in bringing Seo Taehyun back with such effort.”

“……”

“You said you wanted to make the game fair for everyone, and I’m doing that. Seo Taehyun, a survival show veteran with a thick fan base? To me, he’s just a high-level competitor, nothing more, nothing less. Sorry, but that’s how I see it.”

They might have known each other longer and, being teenagers, might still be swayed by emotions, but I was different.

I did feel a bit sorry for his life in the previous world, but that was it. In this life, I’d only seen his face two or three times and barely spoke to him. I might be saying something too cold for these young ones, but the truth is the truth.

With a grim expression as if contemplating burying someone, Junghyuk thought quietly before asking,

“If there was a benefit, would you come?”

“Hey, I’m not even that close to Seo Taehyun. Is this really worth convincing me? Nothing will change just because I go.”

“The investors.”

Just as I was about to wonder why they were trying so hard to include me, Junghyuk casually mentioned it. Puzzled, I looked at him as he quickly continued.

“I saw the PPT you were making last time. Seo Taehyun was in it. He’s the frontman who’ll gather all the initial buzz and recognition.”

Oh, come on.

“There’s very little pre-released information about the Miro trainees. Sure, being Miro, a survival show would definitely be a hit. But the buzz with and without Seo Taehyun would be on a different level.”

I couldn’t deny it. I was almost convinced.

Eunchan and Dan Haru looked at me passionately. Those angelic cat-like eyes nearly swayed my heart…

…Not a chance!

“I’m absolutely not going to find him, so stop with the nonsense and eat some chicken.”

I’m already busy enough living my own life, and now you want me to go on a wild goose chase for Seo Taehyun, who might be a ticking time bomb? You must be joking.

* * *

‘…It’s quiet.’

Meanwhile.

Seo Taehyun, the one who had turned Miro upside down, lay coolly on a platform, enjoying the refreshing sea breeze.

“Taehyun, I got another call from your sister today. She’s worried about you. Are you really okay staying here?”

His uncle clicked his tongue in concern, having just finished cleaning a vacated guest room. Taehyun nodded with his eyes half-closed.

“I’ll just stay quietly for a few days.”

“I’m fine with you being here, but your mom’s really worried, you know.”

“It’s okay. I’ll call Mom myself.”

“Alright then…. We have a reservation today, so let me know when the guests arrive.”

His uncle, thinking further nagging would be a burden, didn’t meddle anymore. Instead, he placed some eggs and sikhye on the platform for Taehyun and quietly left to give him space.

Taehyun slowly opened his eyes.

‘What should I tell Mom?’

His parents had supported him for seven years. Even three years ago, after Boys’ World, when his father insisted he quit, his mother worked harder than he did to convince him to let Taehyun continue as a trainee. And now he had thrown all that away, ending his idol career.

‘…How can I tell them I won’t debut?’

Taehyun sighed deeply, recalling the Director who blocked his path to debut.

How did it come to this?

Taehyun remembered the day it all began.

-If you come, they said we’ll definitely debut. Let’s debut together, Taehyun.

There were many reasons why he agreed to Minseok’s proposal, but the main one was that he felt so lonely after Boys’ World ended.

Taehyun had to survive alone without an agency among much older hyungs. The promise of an immediate debut and an unbelievable signing bonus was less important than having a friend to navigate the uncertainty with.

-Director, what’s this…?

-You know Ocean Blue, right? They really like you. If you sign now, they’ll debut you as a solo artist and give you extensive activities. Sign here.

The incident started with a contract the Director handed him one day.

-I was going to say no, but I’m giving you this opportunity because I’m thinking of you.

-…I’m still not ready for a solo debut. I want to train more at Miro.

-What? This is a great opportunity!

A well-known foreign agency, an amount of money unimaginable for a teenager, and a guaranteed debut. To exhausted trainees, it was a tempting offer. But Taehyun knew.

A place that seemed sweet always had hidden traps.

-Are you sure you can ignore this? You’re Boys’ World Taehyun now, but in a few months, people will forget you. It’s nothing for me to stop your debut.

When things didn’t go his way, the Director started acting out. Although Taehyun was in the special class, he was excluded from all its benefits. Trying to find another agency proved difficult as the Director had blocked all paths.

Days passed without knowing what to strive for.

-Minseok, you’ll take care of it?

-It’s safer with me since I commute from home rather than living in the dorms. I’ll keep it safe until we meet the reporter.

Believing he couldn’t stay passive, Taehyun began gathering evidence, large and small. From the double contracts the Director showed him to the abuses he inflicted on other trainees. It was scary, but he believed evidence was his only salvation.

He didn’t realize what Minseok had done with that evidence he had trusted him with, nor why he transferred to Renes without a word and stopped contacting him.

“…Bastard.”

Taehyun was tired of it all. What was the point of debuting if you had to betray your friend? Although the dream he had long cherished stirred with frustration deep inside, Taehyun was too exhausted to acknowledge it.

-I gave you a chance once too.

-…What?

-You know I was supposed to go to Boys’ World, but you went instead. Think of it as you giving me a chance this time.

-Do you hear yourself?

-Oh, come on. What’s the problem? You can debut without all this!

Remembering the conversation with Minseok that day made his head throb again. Taehyun tightly shut his eyes. It was humiliating and pathetic to realize only now that his closest friend had been nurturing not friendship, but jealousy.

“This is the worst.”

The seaside pension, owned by his uncle, was a perfect place to clear his mind and spend time alone. He and Minseok had often come here. Memories he didn’t want to recall resurfaced, making him feel down again.

“Ah, Haru.”

He also remembered the faces of others who were with him in those memories.

-I want to debut with someone like you.

“We didn’t even get to eat tteokbokki together….”

He worried that Eunchan might blame himself for this situation. He hadn’t even been able to explain properly before leaving.

…Maybe I should call him. Just as Taehyun stood up from the platform, thinking about those lingering faces.

“……?”

“You, punk.”

A shadow fell over him, accompanied by an angrily familiar voice. Taehyun, unable to make a sound, looked up in shock.

“Found you.”

There stood Kang Hajin, looking like the grim reaper.

* * *

“Gasp―!”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

As soon as our eyes met, Seo Taehyun instinctively

tried to run. But I had anticipated that. I grabbed his hoodie and pulled him back onto the platform.

“Hyung, why are you here!?”

“Hyung? That’s disrespectful. Taehyun.”

“How are you here!?”

I glared at the reason that dragged me to this coastal area in Gangwon-do, gritting my teeth.

“Eg du nue tumeun eujune….”

Ping! A familiar notification popped up above Seo Taehyun’s head.

[System Alert: ‘Seo Taehyun’ is reacting to you. Based on Seo Taehyun’s response rate in the upcoming conversation, the decision to recruit him as a companion will be made.]

[Companion Recruitment Status 1/??]

Damn quest!