ALL NOVEL Chapter 69
Chapter 69. System Update (4)
Meanwhile, at an outsourced production company that had become increasingly busy as the first broadcast approached.
“Jinhee, did you send over the first teaser for the general edit?”
“Yes! They said they’ll send it by dawn today!”
“Is there anyone who can make a highlight reel for me? It’s urgent.”
“I’ll do it, sunbae!”
Although not having to prepare for filming was good news for the cast, for the production company, it was just the beginning.
Everywhere, there were PDs who hadn’t washed properly or slept for days. Like zombies or beasts, they were hammering away at keyboards, fiercely preparing for the first broadcast of *Miro Maze*.
“PD Chaehyun, do you know where Team Leader Myeong-eun went?”
“Oh, Writer Go. Myeong-eun sunbae went out with the CEO a little while ago. Is there something you needed?”
“I wanted to ask him about the next mission structure… It seems he’ll be late. Got it, thanks.”
Writer Go, who had come down from the writers’ room to find PD Kwon, took in the chaotic office scene as if it were nothing.
Maybe it was because she had been seeing such scenes for nearly 20 years.
Writer Go’s eyes caught sight of a video playing on someone’s monitor.
“What’s this?”
“This is the first teaser that will be uploaded next week.”
A junior PD, who was very tense, turned the monitor towards Writer Go, asking, “Would you like to see it?”
“It’s still a version that hasn’t undergone the general edit (comprehensive editing: CG, subtitles, and other post-production work) or mixing.”
“It’s fine. I’ll watch it with that in mind.”
When the space bar clicked, the teaser began to unfold with grand music.
The chronicles of Utopia and Enderway, singers from Miro, passed by briefly in a highlight reel.
-I’m curious.
-I wonder just how much more these kids can grow.
-How much more they can show.
-I think they’re kids with plenty of potential.
-I’m confident. I’m putting my name on the line, so I must have that much certainty.
An interview with Seo Taeil, the main host of *Miro Maze*, played as the audio.
Black-and-white training scenes of the trainees flowed stylishly in slow motion.
-You can look forward to it.
With Seo Taeil’s voice at the end, scenes from episodes 1 and 2 flashed by quickly.
The moment of awe at the massive maze set,
The shocked reactions at seeing the blurred title of the first mission,
The image of two people facing off, their faces cleverly concealed…
The fast-paced music, which had been pounding rhythmically, suddenly stopped.
-We have to go up.
-We have to reach the sun.
It wasn’t Taeil’s voice.
At the same time, the screen showed the slow-motion of someone jumping over a high wall.
The backlit lighting made his silhouette look like Icarus, challenging the sun.
**MIRO MAZE: In Search of Icarus’ Wings**
“Oh, the general edit title hasn’t arrived yet…”
Even though the temporary title subtitles were added by the PD, the imagery was decent, making it look quite plausible.
Writer Go crossed her arms and smiled.
“Nice. Please post it in the group chat once it’s complete.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“But is PD Kwon going to take long? There’s a lot to discuss.”
Writer Go sighed at the absence of PD Kwon, who hadn’t returned yet.
‘…I also need to talk about CP Yoon.’
She sighed again, thinking of the man who was the biggest obstacle to this otherwise smooth-sailing survival show.
“If I ever do a survival show with Ntv again, I’m not human.”
With a troubled expression, Writer Go headed back upstairs to the writers’ room.
There was still a mountain of work to do.
* * *
“Ha, teacher.”
At that moment, back in Hajin’s room.
Kang Hajin, who had no idea that he had just graced the ending scene of *Miro Maze*’s first teaser.
He was currently…
“Have we been in business for just a day or two?”
[System Notification: ……;;;]
“If you keep doing this, it makes things difficult for me, really.”
[System Notification: ;;;;;;;;;; ( ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ )]
Sitting arrogantly with his legs crossed, resting his forehead on one hand, he was calmly threatening the time manager.
[System Notification: The current situation is highly unusual because it’s extremely rare for a human to be granted the time manager’s authority… This incident occurred because there are very few cases to reference….]
“The Cat’s Gratitude quest, the sofa from earlier… Thirteen, do you perhaps dislike me?”
[System Notification: …A little?]
“If you say ‘a little,’ what happens to my hurt feelings? Who will take responsibility for my shattered eardrums? I’m a trainee, you know? A poor idol trainee who rolls, runs, jumps, and flips every day, so much so that the lifespan of my cartilage is decreasing day by day?”
Faced with a barrage of words like bullets, the system—or rather, Time Management Department Manager No. 13—quickly…
[System Notification: ☆★Ta-da!☆★ I’ll grant anything you wish!]
[System Notification: ♥♡Special reward time for the fixed regressor who needs mental comfort♥♡]
…switched tactics.
After all, the only reason he was being so strict was that there was something he wanted.
Hajin sighed, crossing his arms as he looked at the system window with the apple-shaped neon effects bursting from it.
“You’re trying hard.”
[System Notification: Whose fault is that!!? (ʘ言ʘ╬) (The fixed regressor’s joy is my joy♥)]
“This place is a goldmine for inner thoughts.”
Hajin’s refreshing smile was unnecessarily clear and bright. His long, straight fingers tapped habitually as he crossed his arms. Without needing to think much, Hajin opened his mouth.
“Actually, there’s something I desperately need your help with.”
[System Notification: ……?]
“Do you remember last time, when I took an item from Seo Taehyun’s past timeline?”
[System Notification: Are you referring to memory retrieval?]
“Yeah, that. I’d like to use it one more time.”
Hajin’s request was simple. He wanted to use the function that allowed him to retrieve someone’s memories and borrow items from those memories once more.
Thirteen, who had been worrying that Hajin might ask to bend the rules of time and space just to punch someone, immediately responded.
[System Notification: Calculating…]
[System Notification: Calculating…]
[System Notification: Calculation complete.]
[System Notification: As a special reward, memory retrieval permission can be granted.]
[System Notification: Whose memories would you like to retrieve?]
When asked about the target, Hajin’s expression sharpened. His cold eyes glimmered with a sudden, chilling light.
“Ntv Variety Department PD Yoon Kisuk. I need his memories. If I can retrieve an item too, that would be even better.”
[System Notification: Oh no. But… if your relationship with the memory owner isn’t amicable, memory retrieval may be restricted…]
“If it were someone I was on good terms with, would I be extorting you like this?”
[System Notification: …It’s possible! But! I’ll do it!]
“You’re amazing, my dear Thirteen.”
Having successfully extorted the memory retrieval right, Hajin whistled with a satisfied smile.
‘With this, I’ve laid the foundation.’
As Hajin roughly organized the tasks he needed to accomplish in his mind, he quickly sent a text to Ji Suho.
I know you’re busy, but I wanted to consult with you about something.
Please contact me when you have time.
Thank you.>
“…Does it sound too formal?”
But he didn’t want to leave room for any misunderstandings with anyone else.
Shrugging his shoulders, Hajin was about to turn off his phone screen when he noticed the time displayed at the top.
<05:58 PM>
“Oh. The performance video.”
He had almost forgotten about that.
“Ha, no matter how I think about it, I feel like I’ve been living a much fuller life since I regressed.”
I wasn’t originally someone who lived such a productive day.
As Hajin voiced his pointless complaints, he heard his mother’s voice from outside the room.
“Hajin-ah, the porridge is ready. Do you want to eat now?”
“Oh, sure. Just a moment.”
Hajin went out to the living room at just the right time, as the savory scent of sesame oil filled the air.
How could a mere vegetable porridge smell this delicious? He was already starving, and the tantalizing aroma made his mouth water.
“What is this? Didn’t you say it was vegetable porridge?”
“If I had made a plain vegetable porridge, you’d have pouted. I added some tuna, so eat it slowly. As for the chicken, we can see how things go tomorrow and eat it with Hawon.”
“Oh, vegetable tuna porridge is a different story. I’ll eat it in my room.”
“If it’s too much trouble to wash the dishes, just leave them, and I’ll take care of it.”
When his mother asked in her still-concerned voice, Hajin gave a playful response, gently pushing her shoulder.
“Are you underestimating your eldest son’s stamina? Are you underestimating my household skills?”
“Your mouth is always full of excuses. Hurry up and eat, and don’t get indigestion again.”
“Yes, I will! Thank you for the meal
!”
Hajin took the pale, thin porridge—bringing the whole pot with him—back to his room. After setting the pot and spoon on his desk, he quickly turned on his computer and logged into iTube.
“The official Miro account should have posted it by now…”
When he accessed the official Miro iTube channel, familiar yet unfamiliar thumbnails greeted him.
The thought that soon, new images created by him and his trainee friends would push these thumbnails down gave him a strange feeling.
’59 minutes… 6 o’clock!’
Click, the mouse sound echoed as the refresh button was pressed.
“It’s up, it’s up. Oh my gosh, it’s up.”
After a slight loading time, two videos with a completely different vibe from the dark, charismatic thumbnails were newly uploaded to the feed.
“Jeez, I’m nervous.”
Feeling uncharacteristically tense, Hajin squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head.
The place where he reluctantly turned his gaze was occupied by Seo Taeil, who never seemed to age, playing a vampire concept, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb. It was probably from the MV of his recent solo song.
“…….”
Watching that only made Hajin feel more conflicted, so he slowly scrolled down. Two new videos were at the very top of the list.
Hajin first looked at the thumbnail for Team A and was astonished.
“Wow, did the person in charge go crazy?”
Typically, thumbnails for performance videos like this would select the most impressive or eye-catching scene from the performance.
But this was *Miro Maze*, a survival show for trainees.
It was better to advertise visuals that might make idle K-pop fans scrolling through their feeds think, ‘Wait, who is this?’ and click.
“Even so, this is… Jung Siwoo, Seo Taehyun, Joo Eunchan? Wow. They must have really wanted to show off their faces.”
Joo Eunchan, wearing a black denim jacket buttoned up to his neck, slightly pushing back his hair, his heavily made-up eyes lowered in a smoky gaze.
Jung Siwoo, with pale, flawless skin, his black hair neatly down, eyes closed, hands clasped in prayer, revealing a sculpture-like profile as he slightly tilted his head up.
Seo Taehyun, with pink hair, wearing a white beret at an angle, dressed in a white cropped denim jacket, reaching out with a wistful expression.
The three axes of beauty, representing something like Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla personified, were all captured in one photo. Their visuals didn’t fall behind or lose out even among the thumbnails of their great seniors.
Admiring the eye of the person responsible for this composition, Hajin sighed in despair.
“How am I supposed to win against this?”
Seriously, these celestial beings need to stop slaughtering us commoners.