Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 10

Chapter 10. The Trainee Who Refuses to Debut (1)

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Park, a third-year employee on Content Team 1 at Miro Entertainment, nearly spat out his coffee one ordinary morning after hearing a rumor spreading around the company.

“Zhuge Liang?”

“I’m serious!”

Industry veterans lit up at the arrival of a newbie. A regular newbie would’ve been entertaining enough—but this one? He was already tied to half the company’s big names.

“Section Chief Kim, Team Leader Ji, even Seo Tae-il came to persuade him.”

“So basically Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage.”

Once the rumor gained momentum, it snowballed into endless speculation.

“He’s really that amazing?”

“I heard he used to be a trainee at Rene.”

“Wasn’t he personally trained by Jang Seoyoon?”

“No, Team Leader Ji street-cast him.”

“Wait, didn’t he fight with Tae-il during a guide recording?”

Mr. Jung from Marketing chimed in excitedly.

“You know that time Tae-il was comforting some guy in the hallway?”

“Oh, that was him?”

“They fought? He wasn’t being scolded?”

“No, apparently it was a huge fight. He stormed out and refused the trainee contract.”

“Wow. That guy’s gutsy.”

Park was impressed despite himself. He fought Seo Tae-il? Seriously?

“Oh! He’s coming. Over there.”

“Who? Him? Now?”

“Wow, he looks decent even in a mask.”

The chatter died down as the subject himself appeared. Everyone pretended not to stare.

And Kang Hajin, fully aware of every glance, thought:

Ha. Fuck.

Starting off loud as hell.

As a trainee, you’re supposed to get used to attention and gossip. Plenty of wannabe idols crave it. Even hate comments are better than none.

But—

This was just inflated hype.

This kind of spotlight, before even joining a debut lineup, was poison.

“Really? He looks pretty ordinary.”

See? The scoring had already begun.

Human psychology is funny. Someone else being praised doesn’t harm you, but you still feel the urge to scrutinize them.

It would blow over eventually.

But Hajin didn’t have time.

He had three months to debut.

If staff developed a bad impression, everything could collapse.

So he turned and walked straight toward them.

“Hello. I’m Kang Hajin. I’ll be starting as a trainee today.”

“Ah, hello.”

“I’m still figuring things out… I was told to go to Practice Room 3, but I’m not sure where it is.”

He smiled sheepishly.

One employee who’d been observing him with folded arms visibly relaxed.

“Oh, it’s this way.”

“I’ll show you. I was heading inside anyway.”

As expected, the guard dropped quickly. The employee even offered to buy him a drink.

Behind Hajin, new evaluations began immediately.

“He’s nice.”

“You can’t tell that from one meeting.”

“These days, plenty of good-looking guys act full of themselves. He’s practically a scholar.”

The effect of a “polite and sociable newbie” was powerful.

< System Alert: Multiple individuals feel curiosity and favor toward you. >
< System Alert: ‘Favor’ is being converted into Cash for the skill system. >

A satisfying internal cash-register sound rang in his mind.

Last night’s new skill was working perfectly.

< Skill <How Much?> is active. >

Converts received favor into Cash.
Cash can be used to pay skill costs.

+600 Cash (Total: 1,000 Cash)

Of course, creating this skill had temporarily reduced his mental stabilization again.

Which resulted in:

“Mom…”

“Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“Mom…”

For his mother, it was just her twenty-year-old son being affectionate.

For him?

Utter humiliation.

Twenty-nine-plus years old in soul, clinging like that.

He shook off the memory.

Focus.

The building interior was sleek and maze-like—just as complex as Rene’s Greek-temple aesthetic.

“You’ll get lost if you’re not careful,” the employee laughed.

Just then—

“I’m going.”

“Hey! You’re not listening!”

A door opened nearby.

And someone stepped out.

Small face. Jet-black hair.

Hajin blinked.

Wow.

He looked like someone Miro would’ve kidnapped straight from birth.

“Ah, Eunchan.”

“…Hello.”

That voice was illegal.

Like he’d been born declaring:

Hello, I was destined to be an idol at Miro.

Before Hajin could look longer, the boy walked away in long strides.

Then the door opened again.

“Don’t just walk off like that—”

“Oh, Haru.”

Another boy.

Bright eyes. Sparkling. Almost teary.

“Director called you?”

“Yes. I was practicing…”

“Did you see Eunchan?”

“He went that way.”

The second boy dashed off.

Hajin’s instincts prickled.

Director?

Through the frosted glass, he caught sight of that same unpleasant face.

The Director.

Something was going on.

Later.

The dance trainer introduced him to the trainees.

“I’m Kang Hajin. Nice to meet you.”

Half-hearted applause filled the room.

The trainer declared a 30-minute break and left.

And just like that—

Hajin was alone with the trainees.

Silence.

Then an older-looking trainee spoke.

“Let’s gather. Introductions first. Hajin, sit here.”

Clearly the class leader.

Natural authority.

“I’m Han Seongwoo. Twenty-two. Class B leader.”

The others applauded enthusiastically.

Figures.

Then—

The door burst open.

“Sorry!”

“Sorry!”

Eunchan and Sparkles entered.

Seongwoo’s smile flickered.

“Let’s be on time. This is group life.”

The atmosphere dropped several degrees.

Power structure established.

Eunchan introduced himself.

“Joo Eunchan. Eighteen.”

That voice again.

Then—

“Hello. I’m Dan Haru. Seventeen.”

Hajin smiled warmly.

“I heard your name earlier. It’s memorable.”

Haru stiffened.

“Earlier? Where did you meet?”

Seongwoo asked.

Haru’s eyes wavered.

And Hajin knew.

See? I told you.

This kid is hiding something.