Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 40. Special Mission! Shine Brightly (1)

“Then, I’ll now explain how the team selection will proceed.”

There wasn’t any particular reason for me to have chosen Han Sung-woo as my battle opponent.

‘He’s the easiest to deal with.’

As a bonus, he was also somewhat annoying. Right after the special class and the regular class were merged, he was the one who took the lead in causing political strife. Because of him, the atmosphere in the practice room was destroyed as the younger trainees, not knowing any better, started following his lead.

‘I’ve already thought of a clever way to make things look good.’

Although he was known to be quite skilled, it didn’t matter as long as I won. If I could just get into the right team, there would be no problem.

‘The title track team selection will probably go in order, with the Wings-ranked members choosing first, one by one.’

It was the kind of system where the top-ranked trainees would pick the team they wanted to join. Although being ranked 10th out of 18 was honestly in the lower ranks, I was certain the selection would still reach me.

‘Kim Wonho would avoid teaming up with Lee Yoo-geon if possible. Given what Joo Eunchan and Seo Taehyun said earlier, the chances of them choosing the same team as Han Sung-woo are zero.’

If just a few of the top trainees chose different teams, I would have a chance. This was the first stage to be shown to the public, so I had to enjoy the bouquet effect by being among the talented ones. It seemed I could just follow Seo Taehyun and Joo Eunchan’s lead….

“The teams for the first title track have already been divided based on the results of last month’s evaluation.”

…What?

“Trainees ranked 1st through 9th, from Jung Siwoo to Kim Wonho, will form one team, Team A.”

Wait, hold on.

“And trainees ranked 10th through 18th, from Kang Hajin to Park Jaeyoung, will form the other team, Team B, for this mission.”

On the large screen, the faces of the team members for Team A and Team B, as just explained by Seo Taeil, appeared in their respective columns. Among them, the top seven, who were in the Wings rank, had a wing design attached to their name tags, which was a detail that added insult to injury.

“By the way, for this mission, the trainee with the highest rank in each team will automatically be given the role of leader. So, trainee Jung Siwoo and trainee Kang Hajin, please come forward to collect the materials needed for practice.”

By the time I came to my senses, I found myself holding the lyrics sheet and pen for part distribution and the tablet PC for choreography practice, surrounded by lower-ranked trainees—none of whom I was close with, or had ever practiced together with.

Over the heads of the guys who swarmed around me like bees to see the parts, I saw Han Sung-woo, nestled among a lineup that looked like they could debut right now without any problem, giving me that annoying smile.

I thought to myself.

‘…Our regressor friend, it seems like this might be the moment you’d want to regress. Or not? At least, I want to. Please, do it. Regress.’

I’m screwed, damn it.

* * *

To confess, if someone asked what I hated most since joining Miro…

The constant threats of regression? Han Sung-woo’s ridiculous territorial attitude? Director Son’s insane misdeeds?

After putting aside all the strong candidates, I would answer like this:

‘This wretched sense of defeat.’

The feeling that no matter what, we could never beat those who were good, and that the ones who would debut were already decided. Even though we’d return to the dorm or home at night to get a perfect 10 hours of sleep, there was a resignation and helplessness that our skills would never improve beyond this.

For the regular class trainees, that ‘sense of defeat’ was a default setting.

Just like right now.

“Ah, but honestly, isn’t this too unfair? Honestly, everyone in Team A was originally from the special class. They’ve learned different things; how could we possibly win?”

“Don’t you know that these things are always prearranged? Did you see those three from the Seo group all dressed up today?”

“Seo Taehyun and Siwoo hyung already have a bit of a fandom…. We really can’t win. We should just hope it doesn’t end too embarrassingly.”

After the teams were decided, during the first practice session…

I had to step out for a bit to relay some things to the production team, being the team leader and all. When I returned, instead of practicing, the others were already sitting around and goofing off, making me sigh.

I absolutely despised people who blamed others without reason. And I hated even more those who, without thinking, spouted baseless comments, belittling the efforts of others.

‘I don’t have time to clean up after idiots who blame others for everything.’

Seeing no value in listening any further, I made a point of opening the door loudly.

“What are you doing, sitting around when you should be learning the choreography?”

That said, I wasn’t such a socially inept person that I would make things uncomfortable by showing my emotions to kids who were nearly 10 years younger than me. So, I approached them with a slight smile on my face.

“Ah….”

“You’ve all warmed up, right? I’ve handed in the part distribution to the PD, and there’s going to be an interim check tomorrow, so let’s start by learning the choreography today.”

“…….”

“What are you doing, not getting up? Aren’t we going to practice?”

“…Seriously. This guy’s really full of himself.”

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

‘Did he just say I’m full of myself?’

[System Alarm: The system suspects that your hearing might be impaired.]

Unfortunately, since there was nothing wrong with my hearing, the guy who spat out that insult, saying I was full of myself, stood up with an annoyed expression, looking up at me with eyes full of discontent.

“Hyung. Are you excited because you’ve been made leader twice in a row? Feeling like you’ve made it or something?”

“…….”

“You seem to be forgetting, since you’ve been hanging out with Seo Taehyun and Joo Eunchan and those guys lately, but honestly, it’s only been a month since you became a trainee.”

“…….”

“Even your good ranking this time was all because of the other members in your group, yet now you’re suddenly… pretending to be the leader, pretending to lead us. Honestly, we don’t really like it.”

[System Alarm: That insolent mouth… S-stop it!]

I simply stared down at the overly honest guy’s face.

‘What is this… this bundle of arrogance and inferiority?’

And then I asked the ultimate question that had been on my mind the entire time I was listening.

“So what do you suggest? Are you saying we shouldn’t even try for the broadcast?”

“What were you thinking when you chose Sung-woo hyung?”

“What?”

“I heard Sung-woo hyung tolerated your disrespectful behavior until now, but honestly, isn’t it too much? You didn’t choose Joo Eunchan and those guys because you’re friends with them, right? Isn’t that cowardly?”

“…….”

“And now you want to act like a leader with us.”

I finally remembered who this guy was. The one who always stuck close to Han Sung-woo, willingly playing the role of his lackey. So this guy, who had servility ingrained in his bones, was throwing a fit because I picked a fight with Han Sung-woo?

[System Alarm: The system demands that the (Fixed) Regressor establish authority with a verbal lashing immediately!]

[System Alarm: The system is puzzled by the (Fixed) Regressor’s lack of response!]

“…….”

I momentarily pushed aside the flashing system window, which was more enraged than I was. I looked at the guy glaring at me with eyes full of hostility, and at the others who, while hiding behind him and watching cautiously, didn’t have the courage to step forward and stop him.

‘At least it’s a relief that Gong Seok isn’t here.’

If the leader of the No Hope Trio had been in that group, I might have truly lost my faith in humanity. But since I had no expectations of these guys anyway, I wasn’t really affected. Even the few former special class trainees who remained were all guys close to Han Sung-woo, so they had similar expressions on their faces.

“Hey, do you guys feel the same way?”

“…….”

“Do you all agree with what he’s saying?”

Even when I asked them one last time, giving them a chance, they just looked around nervously without giving any answer. Seeing that, I simply drew a straightforward conclusion.

“…Fine, then. For this mission, let’s all just focus on surviving on our own.”

[System Alarm: Input Error]

[System Alarm: Input Error]

[System Alarm: There is an error in the (Fixed) Regressor’s reaction!]

[System Alarm: Why are you not executing a proper lesson?!]

Why would I?

Leaving them behind, I turned and walked out of the practice room. The system window, still furious, continued to pop up quests and rewards urging me to teach those guys a lesson, but I felt cold blood coursing through my body, from head to toe.

‘Why should I bother trying to reform those jerks?’

After all, the battle with Han Sung-woo was going to be judged on individual scores. Let’s just assume we

lost the team competition and focus on scoring well individually. Honestly, it’s not like those guys have the same desperation to achieve something as the No Hope Trio did.

“Hey.”

[System Alarm: …….]

“Shall we strike a deal?”

The system shuddered and wailed as I walked toward the rooftop with a smile. Brace yourself, because I’m going to blow through every bit of cash in my account today.

* * *

“Hey? Where’s Hajin?”

“Ah, hyung, where did you go?”

“Kang Hajin hyung? I don’t know. Maybe he went to cry in the bathroom.”

“Ah, you damn idiot.”

Gong Seok, who had briefly left the practice room to contact his parents, noticed that Hajin still wasn’t back when he returned. And as he observed the odd atmosphere among the other trainees, he felt an inexplicable sense of hostility. What is this vibe?

“Where did Hajin go? Aren’t we going to practice?”

“We’re just going to practice individually and then meet up tomorrow for filming.”

“What?”

“That hyung, thinking he’s all that just because he’s been a trainee for a short time and acting like a leader—it was annoying, so I said something, and he got upset and left.”

‘Ah, these guys are at it again.’

Gong Seok’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as the backbiting began. This had happened often before too. Ganging up to bully a trainee they didn’t like and letting their inferiority complexes run wild.

‘Before Hajin, it was Eunchan….’

In fact, Gong Seok had once been part of that group, feeling uneasy and increasingly inferior, and joining them for comfort. It was easier to stay within that group. The frustration of not seeing a future for himself was somewhat alleviated by blaming others for everything.

But not anymore.

“You don’t know where Hajin went?”

“No, he left earlier….”

“Ah, hyung, what’s with you? Since earlier.”

Gong Seok walked out of the practice room, clearly showing he had no more business with them. As soon as he left, he took out his phone and sent Hajin a message. (He didn’t have the courage to call.)

****

There was something he really wanted to say to Hajin.

* * *

And back to Hajin, at that time…

“Give it to me.”

[System Alarm: I can’t give it!]

“This friend of mine is being disappointing again?”

[System Alarm: The system protests, stating that the bullying happened earlier, not now!]

“Bullying? Come on, I said it’s a deal, a deal.”

I was pushing the trembling system window, attempting to strike a deal (which was more like extortion and threats).

“I mean, in web novels, you see stats being increased for looks and body shape, but why can’t you do that? Did I raise you wrong?”

[System Alarm: **YOU’RE NOT MY FATHER**]

“Hey, if you think about it, dude. That time, when I was like, ‘Oh, I can’t live like this,’ and so on, you came to me. Doesn’t that make me your second parent, your spiritual parent?”

[System Alarm: The system refuses to be swayed by the nonsense of the (Fixed) Regressor.]

So that won’t work, huh? Tsk.