ALL NOVEL Chapter 74
Chapter 74. Guess What? (2)
“Shall we get going, then?”
“Sure.”
Hajin and Suho stood up. It had already been two hours since they had entered the restaurant. Suho, while packing up his things, thought it was a good decision to reserve the room for three hours.
The plan Hajin had just explained was more intuitive than “perfect.” It was a reckless plan where even one misstep could lead to everything falling apart.
“…When do you plan to execute this?”
However, Suho instinctively knew that there was no better plan. That’s why he couldn’t help but nod when Hajin asked if he wanted to join.
“Well, for now… Team Leader, you’ll probably need some time to prepare, and I’ve got some things to look into myself.”
“Then, let’s share updates as we progress.”
“Yes, sounds good.”
Hajin looked just as deep in thought as Suho. But Suho had decided not to pry further or interfere with Hajin’s shadows anymore.
“I think I’ll have to head straight to the office, so I won’t be able to drop you off.”
“That’s fine, I’m not a kid like Dan Haru, you know.”
“It’s not because you’re a kid, it’s because you’re now an artist under my care.”
Instead, Suho had decided to genuinely treat Hajin as an artist he was responsible for.
Starting with something as difficult as speaking casually. It seemed a bit odd for a manager, especially one at Suho’s level, to keep speaking formally to a trainee from a subsidiary.
“What? So you’re going to speak casually from now on?”
“Yes, from now on, I’ll speak casually. I’ll treat you just like the other trainees.”
“…? You’re speaking as if you haven’t been doing that already.”
A boy who had lived multiple times.
A boy who had never once debuted, despite his excellent mind and overflowing talent throughout all his lives.
A boy who radiated a white light that Suho had never seen before.
Becoming a “colleague” of such a boy was an opportunity Suho, as a manager, didn’t want to miss.
“Make sure you keep your face covered and avoid crowded places as much as possible.”
“Are you seriously switching to manager mode just like that? I’m still just a trainee, you know?”
“…Hajin, you haven’t monitored your team’s video reactions yet, have you?”
“……”
“Make sure you watch them on your way. You’ll see what a sensation your performance has caused online. And make sure you’re wearing a hood and a mask when you watch.”
With that final piece of advice, Suho got into his car. Hajin, still looking uninterested, just scratched the back of his head while his hands remained in his jacket pockets.
‘How did he know I haven’t monitored it yet?’
With that thought, Hajin casually saw Suho off. After Suho’s car disappeared in the distance, Hajin started walking toward the subway station to decide his next destination.
“……”
Taking out his phone was a completely instinctive move. The subway station was quite a distance away, and Hajin hated being bored.
So, taking out his phone was simply to alleviate the boredom while walking.
“Ugh.”
Hajin stopped in his tracks on the road.
He hesitated for a moment, then sighed as he put his phone away,
Let out a frustrated noise and picked it up again,
Finally, after biting his lip, he managed to open the iTube app.
“Wow, seriously, why am I even doing this.”
And with fingers full of frustration, he forcefully typed in the search term.
It took him quite a while to press enter, but eventually, he did.
Despite all the self-deprecation and negative thoughts that had kept him from watching the video last night, Suho’s words had sparked more curiosity and interest than anything else.
“……”
Even after pressing enter, Hajin instinctively closed his eyes and slowly opened them again.
And then he saw it.
“…Huh.”
His own image filling the thumbnail.
‘That’s me? Just me, alone?’
The Feather rankers had their flaws overall, but none of them were so lacking in impact that they should have no presence at all.
The youngest in the rank, Park Jaeyoung, had a smart and capable image, earning him quite a bit of affection from the rookie development team staff. Overseas returnee Jaiden and the clean-cut model student-like Gong Seok were not bad visuals either. Even that annoying brat, Yeongho, at least had a decent face.
“I’m the thumbnail?”
But instead of picking a few of the nine members, the thumbnail for Team B featured only him.
Hajin, almost entranced, clicked on the video.
**MIRO MAZE (미로메이즈) ∥ Daylight (日光) (Prod. Seo Taeil) – Team B Performance Video**
**Views: 573,165**
**Comments: 1,872 (sorted by popularity)**
—
– Who came here to see Hoodie Oppa in real life, hands up
└ Me
└ Me too, LOL
└ I was curious because there was so much buzz, and now I’m obsessed
└ 444
– Hajin, please debut
– Is there an individual cam of this?
– That guy in the center is really good
His visual is so Miro, and he sings well, so I like him
Miro is known for being talented, so I had high expectations
…See More
– The importance of the center position
– But everyone’s good, yet one guy is overwhelmingly so;;
– By the way, I heard a rumor that Hoodie Oppa has only been a trainee for 3 months
└ Lies
└ Not a lie, it’s written in his profile that he joined Miro at twenty
└ How can that be 3 months of training? Seriously unbelievable
– If you mess up again, this is my last K-pop hope, Kang Hajin
└ Granny, that’s a lie
└ Damn brat
—
Hajin stood frozen in place, reading through the comments.
Of course, not every comment was favorable. Not every comment was about Hajin, and not every comment was full of praise.
“……”
But for the first time in a long while.
For the first time in what felt like forever.
He was being “acknowledged” for the results of his efforts.
[System Alert: The Chosen Regressor’s state is stabilized by “public recognition.”]
[System Alert: The “Wandering and Drifting” mode is reduced by 10%…. (Loading)]
[System Alert: The “Wandering and Drifting” mode will be deactivated if maintained below 50% (currently 78%)]
[System Alert: The “public” feels curiosity and affection towards you.]
[System Alert: The “public’s affection” is being converted into cache for the skill system. (Converting cache…)]
With a strangely cheerful notification sound, multiple blue windows popped up, displaying various alerts. However, Hajin’s eyes remained fixed on the comments in that small monitor.
“…This is really happening.”
Honestly, Hajin had never truly considered his achievements to be “achievements.”
As Suho had pointed out, due to the events in his first life and the series of regressions, Hajin had consciously tried not to invest too much affection in what he was doing now.
‘Because there’s no need to.’
He only did what was necessary and no more. He only gave back as much as he received.
He did what he had to do, and avoided what wasn’t necessary.
This was a line drawn from deep within Hajin’s defensive mechanisms.
Hajin didn’t want to experience the “loss” of being abandoned by something he loved and poured his heart into, ever again.
‘Why bother when it’s not something I’ll do for the rest of my life anyway?’
Why bother when it’ll all disappear with one regression?
That’s why Hajin never placed much importance on anything he accomplished in this life.
Even though he had consistently performed well in all three evaluations, Hajin didn’t think his achievements were “objectively” impressive.
‘In the monthly evaluation, I was ranked 10th overall, and honestly, the quality of the title song mission was lower than Team A’s. The second mission was only rated highly because Sarin had a personal story behind it; the other mentors had their criticisms.’
So Hajin had always feared the prospect of his limitations becoming apparent.
He feared seeing himself objectively.
Just like that day in his previous life when he lost his purpose and wandered, having failed at everything.
‘I don’t want to confirm that I’m nothing.’
He didn’t want to confirm that he was a person who couldn’t be anything and wasn’t anything.
“…Damn it, what’s wrong with me.”
Tears suddenly started falling from Hajin’s eyes.
Flustered, Hajin hurriedly lifted his head and wiped his tears, but the inexplicable sobs were already lodged in his throat.
“Why am I acting like this, so pathetic.”
People passing by started to stare. Hajin thought he needed to do something to get out of this absurd situation, but every time he acknowledged the small achievement in his hand, the tears just wouldn’t stop.
[System Alert: The system presents the Chosen Regressor with a small message.]
Through his blurry vision, more letters appeared, this time transforming into sound, ringing in Hajin’s ears.
– Hajin Kang? His vocal power is insane. I thought it was AR, but hearing his voice, I realized it was live LOL
– Guys, seriously, Hajin is amazing. He danced in the center, then immediately sang the third verse chorus without missing a beat T_T
– Hajin’s voice is so unique… At first, I thought it was husky, but it’s not. Si
woo’s voice is husky, while Hajin’s is smooth and solid…? Totally my style.
– Honestly, I think Team A’s main vocalist sings better, but Hajin fits the third verse chorus better. After listening to this, I can’t listen to that without feeling it’s lacking. This is just perfect.
– The details in Hajin’s movements are incredible. Everyone else in Team A is too tired to fully extend their fingers in this part, but in Team B, only Hajin perfectly executes it!!
[System Alert: I was… too curious and ended up checking it out myself!]
It seemed like these were the internet reactions Thirteen had randomly looked up.
For Hajin, whose vision was still clouded by tears, Thirteen kindly converted the reactions into sound and relayed them.
“Damn it… Thirteen, you bastard….”
[System Alert: The system is confused, saying this was supposed to be a touching moment;;;]
Those warm, affectionate voices were enough to bring the resolute Hajin to his knees.
In the end, Hajin broke down. Right there in the middle of the busy road in front of the subway station, without even thinking about how it was an inconvenience to others, he collapsed and cried.
“Ah―, what is this.”
And only after breaking down did Hajin have no choice but to acknowledge it. That he still hadn’t escaped from that square bed at twenty-nine years old.
The Hajin who had become accustomed to failure and feared loneliness was still here.
“Wow, this is really pathetic….”
The truth was, Hajin craved recognition.
He needed the confidence that he was someone who could achieve even more.
He desperately wanted to believe that everything he had done so far had not been in vain.
He wanted to love every moment of his life.
[System Alert: “Kang Hajin” gains an epiphany.]
[System Alert: “Kang Hajin’s” epiphany significantly influences quest progression.]
[System Alert: The Chosen Regressor’s state is stabilized by “Kang Hajin’s conviction.”]
‘What?’
A flurry of system windows rapidly updated.
The very last window displayed something completely unexpected.
[System Alert: The “Wandering and Drifting” mode is reduced by 10%…. (Loading)]
[System Alert: The “Wandering and Drifting” mode is reduced by 10%…. (Loading)]
[System Alert: The “Wandering and Drifting” mode is reduced by 10%…. (Loading)]
[System Alert: The “Wandering and Drifting” mode is deactivated as it is maintained below 50% (currently 48%)]
Stunned, Hajin stopped crying and blankly stared at the system windows.
The most recent window contained something entirely unexpected.
[System Alert: “Kang Hajin” is “responding” to you (response rate 100%)]
[The recruitment of “Kang Hajin” is now possible.]
[Would you like to recruit him? (Y/N)]