Hard Mode Idol

─ Change the members’ favorability to neutral or above!

Park Yoochan (0/1) Dislikes

Jung Ilhan (1/1) Neutral

Baek Kanghyun (0/1) Dislikes

Lee Seoho (0/1) Strongly Dislikes

O Gain 1500 points upon success

This mission has no penalty for failure and no time limit. Just do it until it’s done. But if the main mission is blocked, it will be difficult to raise my grade, and the only answer for points will be the weekly mission.

Anyway, I have to do it since I have to… The only consolation is that Jung Ihan’s favorability is already neutral. Unexpectedly, he doesn’t dislike me.

The others are as expected.

There’s nothing I’m as clumsy at as winning people’s hearts. What a disaster. I should at least be glad the clear condition is not ‘likes’.

Hmm. What to do.

First, I need to at least meet and talk with them to have progress in the relationship, but there’s no genre I’m as unconfident in as building friendships. It’s frustrating. I guess this is when you say the future looks bleak. While clicking this and that information with an unsettled heart, fidgeting…

Ah, right. I had the eavesdropping skill. I forgot about it because it’s trash that requires 50 health. It said I can see other people’s information. Maybe I can get some hints? If I try it like clearing a dating sim game… Hmm. Good!

Since nothing will change by staying still, it’s better to try something.

Thanks to the grade increase, my health that was barely enough is now full at 120. I think it’s okay to use about 50? Since I decided, I should execute it. You only know by trying anything. It might unexpectedly be a good skill, you know?

Where would these people be? I hope at least one of them gets caught.

Jin Seungcheol went down to the underground visitor parking lot. With discerning eyes, he told his son to call just for formality, but he knew his son wouldn’t call. He vividly felt that the family relationship had already been completely severed.

The company was more proper and decent than Jin Seungcheol expected. Even if it was a child he gave up, a child was still a child, so he wanted to check.

“Then Mr. Jin, we will protect your son well. Thank you for trusting us and leaving him in our care.”

“Yes. Please take good care of him.”

When he bowed his head, a polite greeting came back. Seen off by Manager Kim Hyemi, Jin Seungcheol immediately got in his car and started the engine.

While leaving the parking lot, Jin Seungcheol let out a stifling sigh. Haon was a strange child from the moment they had him. His wife suffered from anxiety throughout her pregnancy, and the topic of aborting him almost came up for Jin Seungcheol too.

But they had him because he was the second child they both wanted. They thought it would be different if they had him. However, the child born like that was an object of fear for the couple. Just coming close to him brought up an inexplicable aversion, to the point they couldn’t even properly hold the child.

They couldn’t tell anyone that their own child was scary and unlikable. Jin Seungcheol and his wife seriously contemplated if they had gone crazy. Their minds became exhausted.

But their first child Yujun was just cute and lovely, making it even stranger. So they had a third child. To check if they were crazy. Their youngest Yuran was the same as Yujun. Just lovely.

Both children were pretty and lovable, but only Haon was different. Unable to bear the guilt and self-loathing, when his wife’s depression and hysteria worsened, Haon said he would leave the house first.

Still, since he was their child, they got him a small studio and started providing living expenses. Life became tight since he was the sole breadwinner, but the family found stability. His wife, freed from depression and hysteria, was considering returning to work.

‘But the Haon I saw today…’

He wasn’t scary or aversive. He was just an ordinary, no. A boy lovely and lovable enough to doubt if he was really my child. But that didn’t mean he felt close to him.

‘Were we apart for too long?’

Is that why he feels like a stranger? Haon. Haon. He tried rolling his son’s name in his mouth, but it only felt unfamiliar and awkward. As if saying it for the first time.

Well.

When did he ever call him affectionately?

Jin Seungcheol laughed self-deprecatingly. He gently stepped on the accelerator while holding the guilt he would have to carry for life in his heart.

But paradoxically, he somehow felt refreshed. He had a feeling that he wouldn’t have to care anymore.

I left the manager’s office with the thought of walking around the practice rooms and meeting the members, but an unexpected person was standing there. It was the puppy. As soon as our eyes met, the puppy’s face crumpled. Then he chewed his lips.

“Ugh, ugh.”

Why is this puppy suddenly groaning like that? Anyway, good timing. Let’s try using the skill. I immediately used the eavesdropping skill.

[Lee Seoho]

Talent: Unexpectedly has an aptitude for acting!

Blossoming condition: An immature brat needs to grow up!

What the heck is this…?

It’s trash. This skill is definitely trash. What does him having an aptitude for acting have to do with me?! Seeing there’s a blossoming condition, it seems he hasn’t grown up, but does he become good at acting when he grows up? But that’s none of my business.

It’s been clearly proven that information checking like this isn’t worth investing 50 health. I had a strong feeling that this mission will drag on for a really long time.

“Hey. Let’s talk for a bit.”

“Why?”

“Tsk. I said let’s talk.”

“Do it here.”

“It’s a bit…”

The puppy rubbed the back of his neck as if in a bind and gave me a look. What. What is it? As I stared at him silently, his ears turned bright red.

“Can’t you do it for a moment?”

What kind of grand thing is he trying to say, whining like a puppy seeing off its owner?

“Fine. Where are we going?”

“This way.”

The puppy took the lead, and I followed, looking at the back of his head that stuck out a span taller than me. The place he took me to was an empty vocal room. He waited for me to go inside, then closed the door.

“Are you okay now?”

“Yeah. I’m fine though.”

Is this what he brought me here to check? This kid really has nothing to do…

“…I’m sorry.”

“What?”

An unexpected word popped out, revealing my bewilderment. The puppy’s face reddened as he shouted again.

“I said I’m sorry! Argh, why are you making me say it twice? I already apologized, I’m sorry!”

He said it two more times. Each time he said “I’m sorry,” his already flushed face seemed to ripen more and was about to burst. His exposed neck and hands were all bright red.

“For what.”

“I’m the one who made you like that.”

“You apologized yesterday.”

“When did I? Before I could properly apologize, the manager came, and I got kicked out…”

He’s bringing up something that could have been glossed over vaguely. He honestly told the manager without thinking about the disadvantages to himself.

How can a person like this exist? The expression “immature young master” really suited him. Can you become this honest by growing up loved?

Seeing the puppy carefully checking my reaction without saying anything, even after apologizing made me laugh.

“It’s not because of you. You don’t need to apologize.”

If you think about it, it’s because of the system. Of course, it’s true that the puppy triggered the abnormal condition, but usually nothing would happen from that level of shaking. So it’s not this kid’s fault. Because he didn’t know about my situation.

“Why not? Of course it’s because of me. If it wasn’t for me, nothing would have happened to you. I, well, I do dislike you, but still, I had no intention of harming you. I’m really sorry… I mean it.”

This kid is cute. Receiving such a sincere apology while living. This is also a first for me. I’m having many rare experiences while living my second life. So it was also the first time for me to forgive someone.

“Okay. I’ll accept your apology.”

“…Is that all?”

“Then do I need to say something else?”

“No…”

“Are you done talking?”

Is it my turn to talk now? I should tell him to fix his bad habits. It doesn’t seem like he’ll fix it just by hearing it from me, but I still have to say it. Because me being fine and him doing that to others are different. But the puppy opened his mouth before me.

“I really liked Jaehyuk hyung.”

“All of a sudden?”

“Ah, just listen quietly.”

“Okay…”

Whatever. I’ll let it slide because he’s cute. I nodded, stopping mid-answer because even his glaring at me was cute.