Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 25. Do You Want to Be Special? (3)

What is the most important thing for a participant in an idol survival show?

An outstanding singing talent?

A dance ability that makes joints bend every second?

A flashy speaking skill that can produce countless memes?

Or,

A clean past with nothing to hit the fans on the back of the head?

A diligent attitude with no risk of trending for the wrong reasons all day long?

A benevolent personality that makes people want to promote their character, which is taboo in the idol world?

There might be countless answers to this.

But the answer I think is this:

‘Position.’

In simple terms, it’s a character battle.

For the planner who creates idols, for the fans who want to pick their ‘favorite’ in advance, and for all the public who will come across this survival show.

‘In this group, I will take on this role, and my charm is this. Therefore, I can create this chemistry with other members and show this kind of appearance on stage.’

Emphasizing this. In idol survival shows, this ‘position battle’ practically controls everything.

‘There is a very good example to support this hypothesis nearby.’

Seo Taehyun, who captured all the buzz around Boy’s World but lost the character battle.

So, the ‘character’ as an idol is very important. You need to create a fundamental image that fans can consistently think of, but you must not be fixed in that image.

While showing unexpected aspects that can be interpreted and analyzed anew, you need to make people think, ‘This is definitely OO.’

And right now, here.

“Um, then shall we decide on a leader first?”

“…….”

There are some disorganized folks who start at a disadvantage in this position battle.

“Does anyone want to do it?”

Gong Seok, who was the oldest among us, asked with a flustered voice, but everyone just looked at each other and didn’t volunteer.

If this were a survival show, they might have aimed for the leader role, but in this situation, it was just like taking on a group project burden.

‘And to begin with… none of them have the qualifications to be a leader.’

I pointed to the one who barely met the conditions for wearing the armband.

“Isn’t Doha the best? He’s from the special class.”

He was my age but was already making a name for himself in the underground with his self-composed songs, a confident producing member, Lee Doha. Anyway, he was the only one among these disorganized folks from the special class, so it seemed most natural for him to take the leader role….

The expressions of the other four became a bit subtle after hearing my words. Even Doha himself.

“…What’s with the mood?”

“Oh, um. Hajin, you don’t know because you just got here.”

The buildup felt off. The three glanced at Doha, then only moved their lips without speaking, and Doha, who had a perplexed look, started speaking very awkwardly and uncomfortably.

“I can’t dance well.”

“…….”

“And I’m not good at singing….”

“…But you’re from the special class?”

“I got good scores for producing and rapping.”

Aha.

In short, he was a one-tool human. In other words, he was skilled enough to secure a debut spot with just that one talent.

But in the monthly evaluation, his solo rap skills wouldn’t raise the level of the rest of the group, so he was out of the question as a leader. Realizing this, I finally understood why a top-tier special class guy was stuck with this motley crew.

“Our group is all from the lower classes, so….”

These guys were all ambiguous.

That’s why they were pushed out. It was awkward to join groups that were firmly positioned for performance or singing.

“…….”

After those words, there was a brief silence. Except for the still-confused Doha, the remaining members seemed to be struggling with a growing sense of anxiety.

A dark shadow fell over their faces. They were smiling, but it was a self-deprecating smile that anyone could see. It was the bitter smile of losers who sensed failure in the upcoming monthly evaluation. Anyone would react like that in this situation. I understood that, but.

“Hey.”

“……?”

“I’ll do it, leader.”

I had my life on the line for this monthly evaluation, guys.

“You, you?”

“Hajin, you? No way….”

“Is there anyone else who wants to do it besides me?”

At my words, everyone exchanged surprised glances. Yes, yes. It must be surprising that a trainee of just one month was willing to take on the very important role of group leader for the monthly evaluation.

But a little thought should bring them to realize.

Except for Doha from the special class, the next highest level person was me.

‘I’m the guy who’s been taking two top-tier classes within a month of joining.’

And as if he knew it from the beginning, the guy raised his hand first.

“I agree.”

“……!”

Doha. That bear-like guy who had been staring at me since the talk about choosing a leader started.

As soon as I said I would be the leader, he almost eagerly nodded and agreed. When the guy closest to debut agreed, the others, whose pride had been lowered to the extreme, started nodding their heads, looking at each other.

“If Doha agrees….”

“Well, then we’ll help a lot too.”

“Please take good care of us, Hajin.”

“Yes. Please take care of us.”

The leader was decided amidst awkward congratulations. Three weeks until the monthly evaluation.

I had to prepare a performance with these guys that would rank us in the top ten.

And to do that, the first thing I needed to do was.

“Then shall we have a meeting to discuss what to do?”

“Oh, before that, I have something to say.”

“Huh? Yeah, go ahead.”

“Regarding this monthly evaluation, I’d like to be fully in charge.”

Taking proper control as the leader.

“What?”

“I’m not saying I’ll do everything my way. Of course, I’ll consider everyone’s opinions, but since you made me the leader, just trust me this once.”

Trust your former group project master, guys. I’ve got my life on the line here.

* * *

“Hyung, what time are you going home today?”

After all the meetings were over and his group’s gathering seemed to be finished, Seo Taehyun approached and asked.

“Well.”

Even if I finished all the practice I set as a goal, it would barely be in time to catch the last train home, but I had a lot to analyze and find references for the monthly evaluation. I had made a promise, after all.

About 30 minutes ago.

-You know I’m the Zhuge Liang of Miro, right? Of course, it’s very embarrassing to say this myself, so don’t react.

-…Still.

-I want to show that I can really do it. Honestly, everyone feels bad right now, right? Because we seem like extras.

-Hey, why do you talk like that!

-Isn’t that true?

At my sharp words, Gong Seok bit his lip in embarrassment. I knew all too well how crazy it drove people to still be in this position at the age of twenty-three while being a late trainee. I had met hundreds of such people in my previous life working in the entertainment industry.

-In our current situation, having too many cooks will just spoil the broth. I can’t make you the pirate king, but I’ll let you ride the waves. Just trust me once, hyung.

At my voice and eyes filled with conviction, the three people’s eyes wavered. I had finally gotten a promise from these hopeless trio (who still had no proper nickname) and Doha to let me lead.

Of course, I intended to take full responsibility for my words.

While roughly organizing the things I needed to do today in my head, I pointed to Joo Eunchan, who was trailing behind Seo Taehyun.

“Wouldn’t it be better to stay at the company overnight and then sleep at his place?”

“Right? Then let’s practice late and go together. I’m also planning to stay at Eunchan’s today.”

As if he expected this, Seo Taehyun nodded and pulled my arm with determination. It was as if he had forgotten about not wanting to be an idol in his past life, returning to his original practice-obsessed self.

“We need to go before the other kids move. We need to grab Practice Room A.”

“Did you hide money there?”

“Isn’t it usually honey?”

“Honey is cheaper than money.”

At my words, Seo Taehyun briefly made a face as if he was fed up and shook his head.

“The folding beds are only in Practice Room A.”

“What about the ones in C?”

“Jayden hyung broke them the other day.”

“What are you doing, not running? Speed is key.”

Practicing late without a folding bed? It was like commuting without earphones. Not essential but unbearable without it.

Seo Taehyun and I moved quickly and carefully like we were on a spy mission, leaving the practice room. Joo Eunchan, who had been leisurely following Seo Taehyun, seemed to give up on following us and returned to the practice room.

“Hello~.”

“Oh, Taehyun, hello. Hajin, hello too.”

When we arrived at the New Talent Development Team office, where we could apply for late-night practice, the employees who recognized us greeted us warmly.

“You guys have been sticking together a lot lately.”

“Hajin hyung likes me too much.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

While Seo Taehyun, who had already equipped his social skills mode, chatted with the new talent development team employees, I wrote down my and Seo Taehyun’s names, and just

in case, added Joo Eunchan and Dan Haru to the late-night practice list. Apart from us, only a few more names were listed on today’s roster.

[Jung Siwoo]

[Han Sungwoo]

[Lee Doha]

…….

‘Lee Doha?’

I guess I’ll see him again while practicing tonight.

Thinking it might not be a bad idea to have a conversation with the still-mysterious Lee Doha, I put the pen down.

“Ah, Taehyun, if you’re done with the application, come see me for a bit~.”

“Me?”

“Well, I’m off then. Goodbye!”

“Okay, Hajin, practice well! Good luck with the monthly evaluation~.”

Leaving Seo Taehyun, who was called by an employee just before I left, I walked out of the office alone. Then I passed through the corridor leading to the practice room and headed to the rooftop garden, which was empty due to the freezing weather.

‘There’s something I need to do right at this moment.’

After confirming that no one was around, I sat on a chair in the corner and opened the system window. Having tweaked the functions and design a bit, it now looked like a UI from an SF movie.

‘It’s quite satisfying.’

[System Alert: Persistent guy…. (Great job!)]

The speech bubble changed, you punk.

Ignoring the system’s unnecessary grumbling, I opened the cash window.

[System Alert: Current cash status∥7,820 cash]

I thought I had saved it bit by bit, but a little indeed adds up. It was time for a major cash blowout.

‘Someone might say to save it cautiously for an uncertain future….’

That’s for a life lived once. For a fixed regressor who might live 5 times (+a), there is no tomorrow.

Today, I’m going to spend it all.