Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 24

Chapter 24. Do You Want to Become Special? (2)

Why bring up the monthly evaluation right before a survival show?

Obvious.

“We’ll still be holding the monthly evaluation this time.”

“Aaaah~.”

“However, this evaluation will be a little special.”

At Ji Suho’s signal, the staff member beside him taped a large sheet of paper to the back wall. A neatly designed chart listed trainees’ names, divided into groups.

“This time, the top ten in the monthly evaluation will start the March survival show in the ‘Special Class.’”

Special Class.

That word—basically Miro’s caste system—shifted the entire atmosphere. The excitement in the room turned icy in an instant. The glances flying around sharpened.

“Of course, we won’t use the term ‘Special Class’ on broadcast. But it means exactly what you think it means, and the benefits are the same. Special Class members will likely be introduced first on-air and have an advantage when we distribute parts for the title track.”

“……”

“You’ll also have advantages for posters and other promotional materials. Once the show begins, the Special Class lineup can change. But you’ll be the first faces the public sees.”

And first impressions are everything.

Seo Taehyun—already getting early push—was an exception. He had recognition from before. But the rest of us?

We were complete nobodies. Civilians. Faces the public had never seen.

If we wanted fans—if we wanted popularity—exposure was the only answer.

Even I was already being mentioned online over one dumb “cat’s gratitude” sighting.

As if reading my thoughts, a new quest window popped up.

<Single Quest 03.>
<“Do You Want to Become Special?”>

<Details> The trainers currently show little interest in you, a mere chick-level trainee. Stand out in the monthly evaluation and rank within the Top 10. <Success Reward> Clue for Tracking Regressions & Companion Recruitment <Failure Penalty> 40% increase in possibility of triggering 5th regression 15% increase in survival show elimination probability

Is this balance collapse for real?

Let’s review my specs.

Name: Kang Hajin
Age: 20 (officially. Mentally: 29+, plus extra lives.)
Special Note: Lived as an ordinary civilian for 2n years. Currently a one-month trainee at Miro.

Top ten?

Against guys who’ve been doing this for years?

Easy? Yeah, right.

This damn system—can it stop threatening me with regression already? I’m doing all of this to prevent regression in the first place.

Grinding my teeth, I mentally reviewed the trainee headcount and the skill levels I’d seen over the past few days, calculating my odds.

“Normally, we’d let you form teams freely. But since this impacts the survival show, we assigned teams ourselves so we can evaluate individual ability more clearly. Check your team.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Training will revolve around your evaluation teams for now. Any questions?”

“No, sir!”

“Good. Then get started. Fighting!”

“Thank you!”

Ji Suho’s sincere encouragement drew booming responses. He was clearly well-respected inside Miro.

The moment he left, trainees swarmed the posted team list.

“I hope we’re on the same team.”

“Doubt it. They probably split us.”

Seo Taehyun muttered beside me as we walked. I shook my head.

Unlikely.

Our positions were worlds apart.

Without Director Son Hyeonggu, Seo Taehyun was basically a confirmed debut member. Even if he screamed “I hate being an idol!” mid-survival, showed up dressed like a demon, and performed death metal, fans would still scream, We support Taehyun’s transformation!

And me?

Sure, I’m “Miro’s Zhuge Liang,” but I’m still a one-month newbie.

They wouldn’t stick me next to Seo Taehyun before I’d even finished a proper vocal evaluation.

“Agh. I’m screwed.”

“Whoa—we’re together!”

“Ugh… I’m with him.”

Reactions exploded across the room. If this were filmed, cameras would’ve zoomed in like it was the finale.

“Hyung! We’re together!”

Joo Eunchan—tall enough to see over everyone—popped out of the crowd and called to Seo Taehyun.

Taehyun, who’d looked briefly disappointed about being separated from me, lit up again.

“Really? Thank god. At least I’ve worked with you a lot.”

“Exactly… I’m glad I’ve got at least one hyung I’m close with…”

“One? Just me? Who else is on your team?”

They hurried to check.

Meanwhile, Dan Haru approached me looking like he was about to cry.

“And you?”

“…They’re all hyungs I’m not close with.”

“So you and I got split.”

“Yes… You’re A-team. I’m C-team…”

Haru puffed his cheeks, visibly anxious.

Of course, he’d probably crush it anyway.

“Who’s in your team?”

“Siwoo-hyung… Yuki-hyung, Minwook-hyung, Taewon-hyung, and Kyungho-hyung.”

“…That’s rough.”

“Hngh. What do I do?”

That was basically:

Jung Siwoo (Special Class golden child)
Two of Han Seongwoo’s underlings
Two timid moderates

A perfect recipe for Dan Haru to get steamrolled.

But what about me?

Now I was getting uneasy.

Then—

Tap tap.

I turned.

That bear again.

Lee Doha.

“Uh, Doha. If it’s about earlier, I need to check my team—”

“We’re together.”

“…Huh?”

“Same team.”

He pointed at the chart.

■ February Monthly Evaluation Teams

A-Team
Kang Hajin (Vocal)
Gong Seok (Vocal)
Lee Doha (Rap)
Kim Wonho (Dance)
Yoon Taehee (Dance)

B-Team
Seo Taehyun (Vocal)
Joo Eunchan (Vocal)
Lee Yugeon (Dance)
Jayden (Rap)
Park Jaeyoung (Dance)

C-Team
Jung Siwoo (Vocal)
Dan Haru (Vocal)
Yuki (Vocal)
Kim Minwook (Dance)
Yoon Taewon (Dance)
Shin Kyungho (Rap)

D-Team
…

Savage team composition.

Each team clearly had a concept.

B-Team?

Dance synergy monsters.

Lee Yugeon—street dance prodigy.
Seo Taehyun—stage presence king.
Joo Eunchan—center-level performer.

C-Team?

Vocal war.

Jung Siwoo—elite music university vocal major.
Dan Haru—sixteen-year-old with inhuman high notes.

Basically a boss fight.

And then—

A-Team.

On paper, balanced.

But compared to the extreme concepts of the others?

We looked… average.

And in this industry, average is a death sentence.

Better to be a sharp triangle than a well-rounded hexagon.

Hexagons get rolled into circles.

This was not good.

Doha stepped closer.

“The others are waiting.”

“Ah. Right.”

I looked toward our three teammates.

Kim Wonho. Gong Seok. Yoon Taehee.

All General Class. Short trainee periods. None of them top-tier.

This was basically a leftovers team.

Which made one thing even weirder.

Why was Lee Doha here?

The only former Special Class member in A-Team.

He didn’t react to my questioning look.

He just walked quietly toward the others.

“Hi, hyungs!”

“It’s our first time grouped like this!”

“Our positions are cleanly divided. That’s good, right?”

“And we have Doha, so arrangement won’t be a problem!”

The three hopeless optimists—(no offense, just facts)—forced bright smiles.

But you could see the anxiety behind their eyes.

This wasn’t stable.

A bad feeling started gathering in my chest.

And by now, I should know—

when I get a bad feeling,

it’s usually right.