Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 5

Chapter 5. Find the Lost Dream (3)

— — —

Let’s rewind my past life for a moment.

“…And so, we would like to thank everyone who came to watch our performance, nurtured by the love of our parents and teachers…”

It started lightly.

Kindergarten recital. I was the MC, reciting the script perfectly from memory. That photo ended up on the very first page of my graduation album.

Then—

“I agree that students still struggle with self-control when it comes to mobile phone usage. However, the fundamental purpose of a mobile phone is communication.”

“Rather than confiscating them outright due to their entertainment functions, wouldn’t it be more productive to teach proper use and cultivate self-restraint?”

I’d only agreed to be my friend’s debate partner because he bribed me with sweet potato pizza.

We ended up sweeping awards.

And later—

“I believe life is a continuous chain of choices and regrets. Since I was young, every decision I’ve made has turned out to be either the best or the worst.”

“So are you saying you’ll regret choosing this department?”

“If I’m going to regret something anyway, then I’ll make this decision the best one. Right now, applying here, I’m confident I can turn it into one of my proudest and wisest choices.”

That answer—something I blurted out during my university interview—apparently became legend. One professor who constantly tried to recruit me for graduate school once laughed and said,

“If you wanted to, you could talk a department store into giving you a discount at full price.”

In short:

I may not be extraordinary at many things.

But I am very confident in my ability to talk.

There’s a reason people said, “Presentations? That’s Kang Hajin,” throughout college.

“…It wasn’t easy for me to decide to pursue a dream I once gave up.”

Kang Hajin’s Life Plan Presentation was reaching its conclusion.

Dad had already mentally passed the decision to Mom.

Mom watched quietly, her expression unreadable.

I had exhausted every objective metric. Mock exam scores. Admission pathways. Risk analysis. Financial breakdown. SWOT.

What remained was sincerity.

My throat felt dry.

“This is an important time, and I’m not giving up on studying. But since an audition opportunity has appeared, I want to challenge myself—at least once more—even if I fail.”

That’s a lie.

I’m twenty-nine inside.

I know how brutal this industry is. I know debut isn’t guaranteed. I know even debuting doesn’t guarantee success.

But I have to audition to stop the regression.

And I have to stop the regression to pull my family out of this endless winter.

If reclaiming a discarded dream is the condition, then acting like a hopeful nineteen-year-old is easy.

“You know I’m good at this. Just give me one year. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll quit properly.”

If I fail, I regress anyway.

I offered what I thought was a slightly rehearsed smile.

To them, it probably looked like youthful determination.

The final slide appeared.

Thank you.

Silence filled the room.

“Hajin.”

Dad’s voice was gentle. But he looked at Mom.

Mom said my name once more.

“…Mom knows you’re good.”

That was dangerous.

Her words struck something deep.

Memories from my first life—lying in bed at twenty-nine, jobless, scrolling endlessly, too afraid to step outside—rushed up like cold water.

“And Mom… is okay even if you’re not.”

That version of me still existed inside.

Mom didn’t know about that future version.

“Mom just… doesn’t want you to suffer. I want you to hear praise. Good words. I want you to live without regret. That’s all.”

It felt like comfort meant for a future I hadn’t told her about.

Then—

< System Alert: Sudden Quest! >
Content: A child’s wound becomes a parent’s scar. Change your mother’s mind and have your rediscovered dream acknowledged.
Deadline: Linked to SQ 01 (D-46)
Failure Penalty: 75% increased chance of 5th regression
Quest Completed.
Special Reward: One designated person’s trait-viewing right (self excluded)

The notification appeared.

I had succeeded.

Mom had agreed.

But strangely… I didn’t feel victorious.

My fist tightened behind my back.

This life.

I will end the regression.

Meanwhile—

<Has that kid contacted you yet?>
<If we can’t submit a report this week, we’re in troubleㅠㅠ>

Rene’s New Artist Development Team Leader, Jang Seoyoon, sighed at the message from Miro Entertainment.

“He looked so excited when he took my card…”

But No. 71 hadn’t contacted her.

It wasn’t like there weren’t thousands of kids desperate to become celebrities.

And yet—

Both Rene and Miro were restless, like butlers waiting to be chosen.

She began typing—

<Then let’s just drop i—>

She stopped.

Deleted it.

Last time, Miro had sent over Cha Minseok—now the ace of New Rene. Rene owed them.

Then—

<It’s No. 71. I left a text because you didn’t answer.>

“…Oh my God. Hallelujah. Jesus Christ.”

Assistant Manager Yoon shot up.

“It’s No. 71?!”

Jang answered immediately.

“Hello, Hajin. This is Jang Seoyoon from Rene’s New Artist Development Team 1.”

The moment she heard his voice, she knew the pride battle was over.

“I’m sorry I got back to you late.”

Late? It was very late.

But—

“Miro Entertainment wants to see you as soon as possible.”

“Thank you. When should I go?”

“Friday. 5 PM. At Miro.”

“…The CSAT’s over. I’ll be there Friday at five.”

“I’ll accompany you.”

The call ended.

Assistant Manager Yoon glowed.

“If he debuts, I might transfer to Miro.”

Friday, 5 PM.

“Hello. I’m Kang Hajin.”

Seeing him again at Miro, Jang had one fleeting thought:

Should we have kept him?

He looked sharper now. Hair styled. Black leather jacket. The calm nineteen-year-old from the public audition now carried a faint, sensitive edge.

But Hajin wasn’t just calm.

He was pissed.

The reason floated before his eyes—

< Single Quest 02 >

“The Crazy One in This Zone Is Me!”

Content: Having entered (or about to enter) Miro, overcome suffocating politics and rivalry within, meet allies who will help you, and debut successfully.
(Removing hidden bombs reduces regression probability and increases success rate.)
Time Limit: 6 months
Success Reward: Clue to track the regressor
Failure Penalty: 85% increased chance of 5th regression

“…Eighty-five percent?”

His eye twitched.

Six months.

Politics. Rivalry. Hidden bombs.

Should I just kill everyone?

He smiled faintly instead.

Because if there was one thing Kang Hajin was confident in—

It was surviving rooms full of people.

And talking his way through them.