Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 26. Do You Want to Be Special? (4)

“Ah, what should I splurge on first?”

With the mindset of a newly rich person ready to indulge in some extravagant spending tonight, I skimmed through the system window. Of course, I had already decided on the first thing to buy.

“First, let’s upgrade the skills I already have.”

Skills could be leveled up with experience points. Although I had been gradually leveling them up through practice, in the end, you couldn’t beat paid upgrades with free efforts.

I didn’t hesitate to spend some cash.

[System Alarm: Skill (LV.3) ▶ (LV.4) has leveled up!]

[System Alarm: Skill (LV.4) ▶ (LV.5) has leveled up!]

[System Alarm: Skill (LV.1) ▶ (LV.2) has leveled up!]

[System Alarm: Skill (LV.2) has leveled up. You can now convert a wider range of likability into cash.]

[System Alarm: Current Cash Balance ∥ 6,200 Cash]

‘That should do it. Next.’

To prepare for the end-of-month evaluation and the survival rounds, there were many things I needed. I immediately moved to the skill activation tab.

[System Alarm: To create a skill, please set the details of the desired skill.]

The most important ability in survival? What would that be?

“I want to check people’s abilities. As detailed as possible. If it’s related to stage elements, even better.”

[System Alarm: Measuring the probability of skill creation….]

[System Alarm: The skill content is effective for quest progression! The creation probability has increased. (Measuring…)]

[System Alarm: Skill creation is possible!]

[System Alarm: Do you want to create the skill ? Required Cash 5,000 (Y/N)]

What’s with the naming sense…?

[System Alarm: All skill names are derived from the skill user’s database to aid in easy understanding. No complaints allowed.]

“Yeah, thanks.”

[System Alarm: You’re welcome. (´,,•ω•,,｀)]

It’s not a compliment, so don’t be embarrassed.

Thinking that I might take Kang Hawon to a PC café over the weekend, I pressed the button to create the skill. Five thousand cash? The cost of living is truly atrocious. Watching the savings I had painstakingly accumulated disappear in an instant felt like my bank account was being torn apart.

[System Alarm: The skill has been successfully created.]

‘First, let’s check myself….’

I was about to try it out when my hand stopped mid-air as if controlled by someone else.

‘To check….’

A feeling I had forgotten since starting my regression washed over me like a giant wave. Would it be okay? To confirm your limits? The helpless person hiding inside me spoke up.

I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“Later, let’s do it later.”

I quickly took a deep breath and regained my composure. It wouldn’t hurt if I didn’t check, right? I brushed off the strange emotions that had momentarily overtaken me. In that short time, I broke out in a cold sweat, and the biting wind of the winter night felt chilly against my clothes.

I hurriedly left the rooftop as if running away.

“Ah, my head….”

I had gone outside to find a place without people, but the bitter cold had frozen my body in an instant. As soon as I stepped back into the warmth, the chill melted away, and I started coughing and felt dizzy.

“Going out twice would kill me, seriously.”

I coughed so hard that I almost vomited blood. Experiencing firsthand that coughing too much makes your stomach ache and brings tears to your eyes, I roughly wiped my tear-filled eyes and pressed my still throbbing head.

“Huh?”

Oh, my.

“Kang Hajin?”

A familiar voice called out from behind. Turning around in disbelief, I saw Utopia’s Seo Taeil standing there with a worried look.

I quickly assessed my condition. My face, red from the cold, my runny nose, my tear-stained eyes, and my grimace.

‘Oh, please.’

“What is it? Hajin, you’re—”

Is the misunderstanding not over yet?

“No.”

I promptly denied it.

“What do you mean no…”

“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s a misunderstanding.”

“Were you crying just now….”

“No.”

“Your eyes are still red—”

“I said no.”

Seo Taeil still looked skeptical, but seeing me repeatedly deny it, he eventually nodded as if to say he understood. I wanted to correct the situation further, but….

“Okay, fine.”

His expression seemed to say, ‘I know everything, but I’ll pretend not to for your sake,’ so I kept my mouth shut.

The situation was awkward, and it didn’t seem good to be alone together right now, so I tried to slip away after a quick greeting, but as usual, things didn’t go smoothly with Seo Taeil.

“So… are you preparing well for the end-of-month evaluation? How’s it going?”

He even approached me and asked kindly. He was a senior after all, and more importantly, he had pushed me forward by even giving me his manager’s business card, so I felt guilty just brushing him off.

‘Honestly, I should make sure to keep him on my side, so there’s no need to upset him.’

In the end, I gave up on running away and comfortably answered him.

“I just started preparing. Since it’s my first monthly evaluation, I’m a bit worried.”

“You know I’m a survival producer, right? I’ll be judging the monthly evaluation too. I have high expectations.”

“For me?”

“Of course. You’re a trainee I brought in with my name on the line. But don’t worry, I’ll be fair in my judgment.”

‘Sure you will.’

I had been so focused on Ji Suho that I had temporarily forgotten, but it seemed like Seo Taeil had a significant role in me becoming a trainee at Miro.

The rumors about Miro’s strategists might grow even more inflated, but at this point, I had nothing to lose. If I couldn’t avoid it, it was better to use it to my advantage.

‘Ah, that skill.’

While exchanging a few more words with Seo Taeil, I remembered the new skill I had tried to test earlier but failed.

“It’s your first time, so you must be really nervous, but just go for it. From what I’ve seen, you’ve got the basics down.”

Miro’s founding father. The best leader in the history of the idol industry, who had led the wild members of Utopia for over ten years.

‘His stats would be a good benchmark.’

As we continued talking, I opened the system window and activated the new skill. Ding, the sound of coins being deducted for skill activation rang out, and soon, an alert window popped up in front of me, measuring like it was gauging attack power.

“I can’t even remember what I did for my first monthly evaluation…. It’s been so long.”

[System Alarm: The skill is being activated.]

[Seo Taeil (Group: Utopia)]

Singing: 93%

Dancing: 83%

Expressiveness: 91%

Special: Composition, Producing (63%)

Appeal Points:

‘Everything is in my hands!’

-Leadership, Charisma, Stage Presence

Wow, those are some incredible numbers.

“Uh, senior. Hello!”

I was trying to analyze the numbers, but then Seo Taehyun came out of the office and approached us. He greeted Seo Taeil warmly, and Seo Taeil looked surprised as he glanced between us.

“Hey, Taehyun, hello. Are you two close?”

“…Not really?”

“Not much….”

“Ah, so you are close.”

When asked if we were close, we looked at each other and thought about it for a moment. Seo Taeil laughed cheerfully and gave us some encouraging words.

He seemed to have more to say, but when he heard his manager urgently calling him, Seo Taeil quickly said goodbye and left.

Seo Taehyun, who had been bowing politely until Seo Taeil was out of sight, raised his head and motioned for me to follow.

“Hey, but are we not close? I’m kind of hurt.”

“You said we’re not, too.”

“You said ‘not really.’”

“Let’s just call it even.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I walked toward the practice room. Responding appropriately to Seo Taehyun’s grumbling, I continued to analyze Seo Taeil’s stats displayed before me.

‘Is it a percentage? If so, is his producing only at 63%?’

Seo Taeil’s popularity stemmed not only from his crazy leadership as Utopia’s leader but also from his highly praised producing and composing skills.

Even internationally renowned artists had sought him out on social media, praising his abilities as a producer. So, seeing his score at just 63% was surprising.

‘Something’s off.’

“Ah, I want to eat tteokbokki. I need to manage my weight, but this is bad.”

To be sure, I needed another comparison. Another sample from the trainees would be useful. Without hesitation, I activated the skill on Seo Taehyun.

[Seo Taehyun (Group: Miro)]

Singing: 45%

Dancing: 67%

Expressiveness: 52%

Special: Acting, Charisma (82%)

Appeal Points:

‘My eyes are drawn to you!’

-Tone, Dance Line, Stage Express

iveness

‘So it’s not a simple percentage.’

Seeing Seo Taehyun’s stats confirmed my suspicion. This wasn’t just about numbers.

‘Even if Seo Taehyun isn’t the best singer or dancer, he’s not someone who should have such low scores.’

The only somewhat acceptable scores were in his special section for acting and charisma.

‘I need to investigate this further.’

Lost in thought, I arrived at the practice room. As Seo Taehyun and I entered the reserved A practice room, my attention was drawn elsewhere.

There was someone else I needed to use this skill on.

“……”

“Hey, are you coming in?”

“Uh, you go ahead.”

I waved Seo Taehyun off as he looked puzzled and turned towards where my gaze had been drawn. At the end of the hallway, among the interconnected practice rooms, there was one small room with a light on.

Ding—

I pressed the bell installed as a knock alternative for the soundproof practice room. After some noise from inside, the person I had been waiting for appeared.

“Oh…?”

“Hello, Doha.”

“…Uh, hi.”

We have some unfinished business, right? Smiling kindly, I saw Lee Doha’s pupils dilate rapidly.