Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 35
Chapter 35. The One Who Tries to Touch the Sun (1)
Leaving Home
“Did you pack everything?”
“Yeah. It’s enough. I’ll be back on weekends anyway.”
Kang Hajin zipped up his suitcase and slipped on his shoes. His mother picked up the car keys and followed him outside.
“Make sure you eat properly. And call me.”
He nodded and loaded his luggage into the trunk.
Out of habit, he walked toward the driver’s seat—
“Hey. Passenger seat.”
“…Oh. Right.”
Ah.
In this timeline, I don’t have a license yet.
Past-life habits were dangerous.
Survival Notice
During the drive, Hajin reread the official message.
February Monthly Evaluation Rank: 10th (Confidential)
Filming for the survival program begins Thursday.
All trainees must move into the designated dormitory.
Absolute confidentiality required.
Any misconduct may result in immediate removal.
10th place.
He’d already known from the quest completion window.
Still, seeing it written officially felt different.
Not bad.
What was strange was that no one else’s ranking had been revealed. Even mentioning it was prohibited.
They’re definitely setting something up.
He’d deliberately avoided asking Ji Suho for detailed survival information. Going in blind would make his reactions more natural—and less mentally draining.
The Dorm
When they arrived, a massive, newly constructed building towered before them.
“…Miro’s insane.”
A gigantic logo was emblazoned across the entrance.
Was this really just for a survival show?
Inside—
A fountain.
Decorative greenery.
LED lights shifting in aurora colors along the ceiling.
It was absurdly extravagant.
And mildly irritating.
Across the shimmering water stood someone staring at it with the exact same expression.
Lee Doha.
“Hey.”
“Oh. Hi.”
Sporty clothes. Duffel bag slung over one shoulder. Built like an athlete.
As Doha approached, Hajin remembered—
The quest reward.
Companion Recruitment.
And Doha’s name had been included in the eligible list.
The system chimed dryly:
[System: No more nudging. Handle it yourself.]
“Are you in the special class?” Doha asked bluntly.
“Top 10?”
“Don’t know. We’re not allowed to say.”
“Ah. Sorry.”
“…It’s fine.”
Hajin lightly punched Doha’s arm.
“Ah.”
“…Why are you made of stone?”
Doha didn’t even flinch.
5th Floor
They stepped into the elevator.
Lights rippled upward from the floor like a futuristic stage intro. Media art screens played music videos from Miro artists.
“…Did they win the lottery or something?”
When the doors opened at the 5th floor—
A dead end.
Just a wall covered in dense artificial foliage.
Then—
A monitor flickered on.
On-Screen Message
〚Welcome to Miro Town〛
Life is often like an unsolved maze.
Welcome, trainees who will become Miro’s new wings.
Are you ready to escape the maze and reach the sun?
If you are ready, open the door and come inside.
※ Leave your luggage behind. ※
“No mic packs? No script reading? No briefing? We’re just starting like this?”
Hajin looked openly unsettled.
Doha, meanwhile, pressed against the foliage wall.
“There’s no door.”
Silence.
They both turned slowly toward the only other “door.”
The elevator.
“…No way.”
They left their luggage behind and stepped back inside.
“But what floor?”
Hajin pressed the highest button.
“Obviously up.”
“…”
“It said reach the sun.”
Ding—
The elevator began to rise.
No PD in sight.
No writers.
No visible cameras.
No microphones.
And yet—
The survival show had already begun.