Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 6

Chapter 6. The Crazy One in This Neighborhood Is Me (1)

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Eighty-five percent?

That wasn’t even funny.

“A little later, everyone else will join us, but… to be honest, we already watched your audition video.”

Oh, really? The crazy one in this neighborhood?

“Today we’ll do a simple skill check and ask some questions to get to know you better, Hajin.”

You sent me to the military twice, made me become an idol trainee, and now you want me to defuse bombs inside an entertainment company?

“Hajin?”

If you’ve never seen a real crazy person, try me. Show me someone crazier than a guy who regressed from taking the CSAT back into the army and then woke up again as a high school senior.

“Hajin? Hey.”

“Ah—sorry. I think I’m just nervous. I didn’t sleep at all last night.”

“Oh no, you didn’t sleep? You really didn’t have to be that nervous.”

Crap. I’d spaced out for a second after that regression warning.

I slapped on my well-trained capitalist smile and refocused.

Thankfully, Team Leader Jang Seoyoon and Miro’s Section Chief Kim interpreted it as the nerves of a teenager standing on the edge of his dream.

“But Hajin, did you style your hair? Your image feels different from the audition.”

“Yeah. In person, you’ve got more… something.”

Good. The expensive haircut and new clothes weren’t a waste.

Of course, I couldn’t say, “Yes, I invested capital in this look.” So I ducked my head slightly.

“Thank you. I wanted to look good.”

“The more I see you, the more you seem perfect. You really have to join our company.”

Section Chief Kim’s tone was almost affectionate.

Obviously.

This styling was engineered specifically for Miro.

Let’s pull up the Miro sheet from my Excel file.

< Miro Entertainment >

Artists: Upia, Project W (disbanded), Enderway
Traits: Known for talent-driven boy groups; heavy investment in music and concept. With Enderway stabilized, preparing the next group amid expansion.
Tendency: ☆Prefers sharp, intense, “badass” visuals☆

Miro idols had a generational nickname:

“The music industry’s My Way.”

Upia, their first-generation group, had established such a strong, rebellious image that it became company DNA.

They cared less about flower-boy visuals and more about presence. Edge. Skill. Spark.

If Rene polished diamonds—

Miro recruited blades.

‘I was worried the piercings might look rude, but it’s fine.’

At Rene, overdressing just makes you Applicant #1524.

So I went clean and minimal there.

But if I’d shown up at Miro like that?

They would’ve cut me before the music started.

Thankfully, my sharp single-lidded eyes helped. The moment Miro’s audition was confirmed, I re-pierced my ears and cut my hair into layered lengths.

Back when I was younger, I chased trends—two-block cuts, wolf cuts, whatever was hot.

Now?

I’ve had ten extra years of experience with this face.

Timeless streetwear. Haircut optimized across timelines. Zero failure rate.

“Everyone will be here soon. Hajin, get ready.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t be nervous!”

Team Leader Jang Seoyoon looked more nervous than I was.

I entered the recording booth.

This audition format was new: recording a portion of an existing artist’s song.

“They said they check how well you take direction?”

Sure.

This is a pressure interview.

Miro liked me—but they were testing how I handled stress.

< Single Quest 02 >

“The Crazy One in This Neighborhood Is Me!”
Content: Having entered (or about to enter) Miro, endure suffocating politics and rivalry inside, meet allies who will help you, and debut successfully.
(Removing hidden bombs lowers regression probability and increases success rate.)
Time Limit: 6 months
Failure Penalty: 85% increased chance of 5th regression

First bomb right here.

Three interviewers.

“Well then… do your best.”

One was a director-level executive who looked like he actively disliked me.

Another was a team leader watching with unreadable intent.

And—

“Wow, you’re really fresh. Hyung, was I like that when I was a trainee?”

Seo Tae-il.

Leader of Upia.

Foundational pillar of Miro. Twelve years since debut.

The man who dragged a small-company group to the top, survived scandals, military hiatus, and the so-called seven-year curse—and then renewed for a third contract.

The day that renewal article dropped, he’d casually said during an SNS live:

“Well… I guess they finally realized it. Without me, it’s a mess.”

If anyone else said that, they’d be crucified.

But this was Seo Tae-il.

And somehow, everyone agreed.

If he’s the bomb…

This is going to be massive.

I glanced at the lyric sheet.

Upia’s debut song.

They were making me audition with the original song in front of the original artist.

Sadistic.

A normal trainee would already be crushed.

But I’m not normal.

“First, let’s check your tone. Sing lightly from verse one to the chorus.”

Seo Tae-il’s voice came smoothly through the headphones.

I adjusted the headset—

And the alarm rang.

< System Alert: Skill <As You Say It> (LV.1) has been activated. >

You think I’d come to defuse bombs without safety gear?

The night before.

“I’m not doing it.”

The moment I saw “85% regression probability,” I declared a strike.

< System Alert: Pardon? >

“You heard me. I’m not doing it.”

I crossed my arms. The system window flickered violently.

“Up to ‘become an idol trainee in two months,’ fine. Young & Rich Tall & Handsome? Sure, tempting.”

“But what is this? Defuse bombs? Build a debut team? Is this some modern fantasy novel? I can’t even memorize lottery numbers properly, and you expect a nineteen-year-old to conquer an entertainment company?”

I stomped the sand in frustration. Sand slipped into my slippers. Disgusting.

“Seriously. You said I’m a mentor. A mentor? I’ll collapse before I even see the mentee’s face.”

“I’m not doing it. Regression? Fine. Make me regress. I’ll live forever.”

< System Alert: Input error >
< System Alert: Input error >
< System Alert: (Fixed) An error has occurred due to the regressor’s sudden behavior! >

“What error?”

< System Alert: I am flustered! >

“…You’re ridiculous.”

Somehow I’d started treating the system like a person.

Seeing it panic, I pressed further.

“Give me a skill. Or an item.”

< System Alert: (Fixed) The regressor does not receive separate skills… >

“Then I’m not doing it.”

< System Alert: Even providing assistance is already a major convenience… >

“Not doing it.”

< System Alert: ……. >

“I said I’m not doing it. Let that selected regressor bastard keep looping until he loses his mind.”

The crazy one in this neighborhood?

System.

You’re the first one who should get a taste of crazy.