Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 37

Chapter 37.The One Who Tries to Touch the Sun (3)

Ally Recruitment

Kim Wonho.
Lee Doha.

Hajin stood at the edge of the maze path, eyes unfocused for a moment as he weighed the two names.

He still didn’t fully understand what Ally Recruitment truly meant. A buff? A permanent bond? A future lifeline?

Unclear.

But if he could only choose one, then the decision couldn’t be sentimental.

It had to be strategic.

From a pure value standpoint, the answer was obvious.

Lee Doha.

Almost guaranteed debut material. A producer-level talent. High ceiling. Massive growth potential.

But—

Response rate: 68.9%.

Not low.

But not absolute.

Kim Wonho?

Response rate: 92.3%.

Quick thinker. Emotionally reactive. Highly adaptable.

“Hyung, stop spacing out and look at this.”

Hajin blinked.

Why are you two reacting to me in the first place…

The maze stretched endlessly ahead.

His head throbbed.

He tilted his gaze upward.

The ceiling was open.

Cameras mounted along metal frames.

Floodlights embedded discreetly.

“…They’ll get footage from above, right?”

“What?” Wonho frowned.

“If I climb.”

“…Climb what?”

Hajin didn’t answer.

He stepped toward the hedge wall—

—and jumped.

Hedge Strategy

Two quick steps.
Grip.
Pull.
Vault.

He landed on top of the hedge.

“HYUNG!”

“Don’t wait.”

Behind him, Doha didn’t hesitate long. He climbed smoothly.

Wonho groaned under his breath, then followed.

The hedges weren’t solid barriers. Decorative. Dense but climbable. Plenty of footholds if you looked closely.

Hajin scanned from above.

Paths twisted below like veins.

“There,” he pointed.

“Our goal is five-minute clear.”

“How?” Wonho asked, breath uneven.

“Straight line.”

“You scare me sometimes.”

They advanced by rooftop traversal, cutting through the maze like they’d rewritten the rules.

Control Room

Behind the concealed hedge wall, the production room buzzed.

“Who are those three?”

“Kang Hajin. Lee Doha. Kim Wonho.”

The head PD leaned forward.

“They’re ignoring the maze.”

“Yes.”

A slow smile spread across her face.

“Good.”

Ji Suho, standing behind them, exhaled quietly.

Good… probably.

Within minutes, the trio reached the exit platform.

First wave cleared.

More trainees began emerging from conventional paths, breathless and confused.

The PD tapped her pen against the desk.

“Mark them. Post-interview priority.”

On the cue sheet at the very top—

A name was already printed.

Kang Hajin.

Ji Suho pretended not to notice.

Mic Fitting

“Please put on your mics.”

Hajin instinctively picked up the pack.

“I’ll handle it.”

The staff blinked. “Ah—okay.”

Years of production reflex didn’t disappear with regression.

He clipped Wonho’s mic securely.

“Don’t let it hit your necklace. And lose the ‘~im’ speech habit during interviews.”

“…What?”

“Everything’s recorded.”

Wonho swallowed. “Hyung, you sound like Team Leader Ji.”

Occupational hazard.

They returned to the cleared fifth floor.

Other trainees had gathered.

Joo Eunchan pacing.
Dan Haru talking too loudly.
Seo Taehyun sprawled against the wall like he’d run a marathon.

The air buzzed with adrenaline.

Hajin quietly opened the system.

System Check

Ji Suho (Awakened)

Titles: Burning Passion, The Darkest Shadow
Trait: Star Maker

Recognizes star potential (77% accuracy).
Perceives aura color based on talent.
Affected by previous timelines.

Recruited allies can be tracked and summoned (10 cash).

Hajin tried it.

Ally Link Activated.

His phone buzzed instantly.

Ji Suho: Kang Hajin?

He smirked faintly.

Impressive scale.

Ji Suho: Thought you wouldn’t enjoy advance spoilers.

Did Miro win the lottery?

Ji Suho: Seo Taeil did once. Third prize.

Ah.

That explained a fraction of this ridiculous production budget.

After a few more exchanges, Hajin deleted the messages.

Rule one of survival shows: delete evidence.

Orientation

The door opened.

Ji Suho stepped inside.

Behind him—

Two women.

“Hello, everyone.”

The room straightened instinctively.

“Surprised? We wanted real reactions.”

He introduced them.

Head Producer Kwon Myeongeun.
Main Writer Go Sehwa.

The leadership of the survival show.

Applause filled the room.

Smiles everywhere.

Except—

Hajin.

The moment Kwon Myeongeun stepped forward, something inside him froze.

Recognition hit like blunt force.

His first life.

His previous company.

His senior PD.

And now—

The head producer of the survival show that would determine his debut.

Hajin slowly lifted a hand to his mouth.

This wasn’t coincidence.

This was interference.

And that—

was dangerous.