NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 41
Chapter 41. Special Mission! Shine Brightly (2)
The first thing Hajin decided to do, after resolving to eat well and live well on his own by rehabilitating his messed-up teammates, was to “transform Kang Hajin’s appearance.”
The reason?
“Because Kwon PD likes it!”
Looking at the current situation, it seemed our team wouldn’t get good editing anyway, and it was obvious that the first episode would be filled with attention-grabbing individuals from Team A. Does anything interesting even happen there?
“There’s Cherry Boy Seo Taehyun, the rivalry between Lee Yugeon and Kim Wonho, Han Sung-woo being targeted as a battler…”
If I wanted to survive and get any editing time, I had no choice but to stand out to the Kwon PD combo. Since I’d already made a strong first impression by setting fire to the pole earlier, I thought showing them something fun two or three more times would do the trick.
To achieve that, an upgrade in appearance was essential. Back in the day, when I was working hard under PD Kwon, there was something she used to say until her vocal cords bled.
“The authenticity of the program? The fun of the composition? The novelty of the editing? Screw all that, Hajin. People have to watch the show first for any of that to shine.”
“For the first episode, gather everything that could make it a hot topic. Good-looking kids, crying kids, angry kids, crazy kids, talented kids.”
“What do you think is the most important thing in an idol program? The kind and diligent hearts of our kids? No, it’s the GIFs that make people save them at first sight.”
At the time, I wondered if it was madness, but the results were undeniable.
“So, hand it over, the items.”
Hajin spoke firmly towards the system, which was slumped and melting, exhausted from being nagged. In Miro, a place brimming with good-looking people, though not as much as Renes, I needed more than what I had now to survive as the “good-looking one.”
[System Alarm: The system is not a plastic surgery clinic… (Please stop!)]
But this time, the system couldn’t help it. Despite all of Hajin’s coaxing and threats, it didn’t yield. Was it really impossible? (The system had already said no more than thirty-six times) Only then did Hajin seem to accept it, leaning back and frowning.
“Sigh… Yeah, I get it. Sorry.”
When Hajin’s intensity diminished and he apologized, the system flinched and trembled as if asking what he meant. Hajin let out a short sigh, wearing a bitter expression as he rubbed his face with both hands. His face was filled with the fatigue and worries that had been rare to see since his regression.
“Fine, then. I guess practicing one more time would be better than wasting time like this.”
[System Alarm: …? What’s with you?]
“…Honestly, I’m feeling a bit desperate right now. I didn’t even make it into the Wings rank, my teammates are ignoring me, and there are just too many talented people. Maybe that’s why I felt so overwhelmed. I took it out on you.”
The system window flickered at his sincere and honest apology. Hajin roughly ran his hand through his hair, biting his lip with eyes full of sorrow, as if he might cry at any moment.
“Maybe I just wanted to grab at straws. Even though you said it wasn’t possible, I forced it… I’m sorry.”
His faint smile was akin to the last smile of a sickly male lead in a youth comic. His hunched shoulders, particularly today, resembled those of our parents burdened by the weight of life. Watching Hajin, who was about to rise from his seat, the system stuttered and hurriedly called him back.
[System Alarm: H-hey!]
The system window quickly calculated something, then displayed the words in a black window with about 70% opacity, as if whispering.
[System Alarm: Calculating…]
[System Alarm: Calculating…]
[System Alarm: Calculating…]
[System Alarm: The system in agony responds.]
[System Alarm: There isn’t no way at all!]
[System Alarm: Calculating…]
[System Alarm: Calculating…]
[System Alarm: While it’s impossible to change the appearance of the regressor as it stands, it is possible to discover and upgrade existing stats!]
[System Alarm: Additionally, as long as the Fixed Regressor remembers, you can bring stats from the previous life!]
[System Alarm: However, since this is not a right granted to the Fixed Regressor, you must create and use a skill within the Fixed Regressor’s skill system. (Penalty: Cash substitution is not allowed)]
As Hajin, who was about to get up, carefully read through the system window’s proposal, the melancholy expression on his face was replaced with renewed vitality.
With a face full of emotion, Hajin covered his mouth and said to the system window.
Wow, this is insane.
So, in other words―.
“You could have done this?”
[System Alarm: …I didn’t hear you well?]
Hajin, as if he had never been downcast, returned to his original posture and expression, crossing his legs and sitting back down, brushing his hair back.
“So, there was a way, but you kept insisting it was impossible? And you had this golden method up your sleeve?”
[System Alarm: …! (The system is too speechless from betrayal to speak!)]
“No, who’s the one who should be feeling betrayed right now? It’s me. I’m stuck in this mess with my crappy teammates and devilish boss, spinning on the merry-go-round of life’s group project. How do you think I’d feel if my one and only ally wasn’t cooperating? My heart would be torn apart, right?”
[System Alarm: Y-y-y…! You scammer…! (The system is furious, wondering who on earth taught you acting classes!)]
“Then, what should we do? You should repay me for this tormenting anguish I’ve suffered, right?”
Kang Hajin’s Negotiation Principle No. 16: Make them feel pity for you, success.
“Well then… Shall we start by discussing the skill creation cost and penalty?”
Hajin’s smile was as radiant as sunlight.
* * *
[System Alarm: Skill
[System Alarm: This is not a system that was originally patched for the user! (Error)]
[System Alarm: The creation of the skill
[System Alarm: The effect of mental care will be temporarily reduced as a penalty.]
[※Additional Conditions
1. Activate in a place where Seo Taeil is not present
2. Activate in a place with as few people as possible
‘It was a satisfying deal.’
Hajin, humming a tune, wiggled his toes as he looked happily at the newly popped-up windows. Although the creation of the skill cost him the 2,500 cash he had diligently saved up, this was more than worth it.
[System Alarm: You even haggled for a discount on that…(╥_╥)]
The system’s whimpering, filled with a sense of injustice, was met with Hajin’s indifference.
“But what I’m most pleased with is this.”
Hajin smirked as he reread the additional conditions below the penalty notification.
“Isn’t it time to stop being delusional?”
The fact that he always ended up crying in front of Seo Taeil, due to various unfortunate timing, was a significant inconvenience. If he was going to face penalties anyway, minimizing their impact was a key point in this negotiation.
Satisfied after reading the system window, Hajin pulled out his phone and launched the camera app. He carefully inspected his face.
“It doesn’t seem like there’s much difference…”
Right after creating the skill, Hajin reduced all the swelling on his face, leaving only the slightest bit of baby fat. (The fact that this was possible was awesome!) He could have removed the baby fat too, but given his age, it was better to leave it to naturally decrease over time.
‘Once I debut, I’ll lose the baby fat, and that’ll bring its own appeal.’
Next, he absorbed about 40% of his physique and stamina from when he was freshly discharged from the military, recalling the memories from the third round.
‘That was when I was living a particularly disciplined life, taking great care of my body.’
While his muscles didn’t bulk up in an instant (the system said it would apply gradually), he certainly felt a bit lighter. With basic muscles forming in his back and waist, his shoulders also seemed to straighten out more naturally.
“I guess this will do for now.”
Since filming had already begun, too much change in his appearance would have stood out. The changes now could be reasonably attributed to different makeup and swelling differences, so Hajin decided to stop using the skill for now and got up to head back to the practice room.
[System Alarm: …The system offers advice out of a ‘hate but still give a rice cake’ attitude.]
[System Alarm: The stats from your previous life are literally ‘borrowed.’ Do not forget that their maintenance and development from now on depend solely on your will and effort!]
“Yeah, yeah. Thanks.”
Hajin responded lightly, turning on his heel. It was really time to practice now. But why are there so many messages? Only then did Hajin check the flood of red notifications on his phone and swiftly scrolled through the missed alerts as if flipping through pages.
? I heard the kids were rude to you. Can we talk?>
The message sent by Gong Seok with desperate concern was buried at the bottom of the chat, overshadowed by other messages. But after quickly checking the alerts, Hajin simply locked his phone again and slipped it back into his pants pocket.
* * *
The trainees’ dormitory was located on the third floor of the same building. It seemed like a space originally designed as a lounge or rest area but temporarily set up with living arrangements for the duration of the survival program.
‘For a temporary setup, it’s pretty well-furnished.’
Before diving into serious practice, Hajin had come down to the dorm to unpack his things and change clothes. He looked around the room assigned to him, thinking about how all the furniture seemed to be from the same brand, suggesting it was PPL.
“Where did they get this PPL from? Wow, does this bed even have guardrails?”
Hajin thought that he might need to connect with Ji Suho on a day without filming or practice to get to the bottom of this incident. He was busy deciding which bed to choose when—
“…Huh?”
“What the.”
“Hyung, what are you doing here?”
“What do you mean, I’m here because this is my room.”
“Hyung, is this your room?”
“Yeah. You too?”
“Yes.”
Joo Eunchan, who had just dragged his suitcase in, entered the room with a surprised look. When he realized he would be sharing a room with Hajin, his expression brightened a bit.
“Is practice over now?”
“No, we decided to meet again after dinner.”
“Oh, really?”
Eunchan briefly looked around the room before heading to the innermost bed to unpack. As he expertly folded down the bed’s guardrail and started laying out his comfortable clothes, Hajin quietly watched him.
“Hey, Eunchan.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have something going on with Han Sung-woo hyung?”
“…Sorry?”
Eunchan turned to Hajin with a surprised expression. He hadn’t expected Hajin to ask so bluntly, even though he knew Hajin would eventually figure it out.
So, he blurted out without thinking.
“No, nothing special.”
“Hmmm, really?”
But Hajin, with his arms crossed and nodding, threw another straightforward question, clearly indicating that he already knew and wanted Eunchan to come clean.
“Then what’s with this crazy expensive furniture brand?”
“…S-sorry?”
“Are you seriously a chaebol heir?”
“…Hyung, I don’t understand what you’re saying at all.”
“Of course not. Our Eunchan wouldn’t know.”
“……”
“Even though anyone can see that you know exactly how to use the guardrails on the new bed model this furniture brand ambitiously released, and that your entire apartment is filled to the brim with this brand’s furniture, it’s better if you don’t know anything.”
Hajin nodded as he spoke.
“But you know, hyung can’t resist being curious.”
“……”
“So, are you going to spill your secret birth story, or do you want to settle it with some inconvenient and annoying gossip about your fellow trainee hyung?”
Hajin’s smiling face looked devilishly sinister. Joo Eunchan gulped. He missed his mom.