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  • Star Maker Chapter 56

    [Has no one here seen Idol War? It was insanely fun.]

    └ I don’t watch crap like that.

    └ Same. I skipped Chicken Race because it was just shirtless male idols having a chest party, and Idol War looked like an emotional battle over who smudged their eye makeup better.

    └ Emotional battle… You’re not wrong, but I don’t feel like saying you’re right either.

    └ Same here. It was emotionally manipulative, but I’d still sell my organs to support it.

    └ Our PerColors ㅠㅜ keep showing us your Perzique ㅜㅠ.                 *ㅜㅠ is a Korean emoticon for sadness.

    └ What’s “Perzique”?

    └ I think it’s a fan term for Personal Color—PerCol + Physique.

    └ Oh, that’s clever. Perzique!

    └ I was watching with my mom. At first we were trashing the “Personal Color Scattered Bean Powder Team,” but by the end we were both voting for them, lol.

    └ Got chills when they sang the chorus while crying at the end.

    └ And the song’s actually good. Vivid~

    └ I can see it now. Personal Color shooting a makeup ad with Vivid as the BGM.

    [Was Idol War really that good? The feedback looks great.]

    └ It was insanely good. They said it’s a 10-episode pilot, but I hope they just jump right into season 2 after that.

    └ It’s all thanks to the PD. Honestly, the format and flow were super cliche, but the editing brought it all to life. Pacing was insane.

    └ Agreed. The pacing was top-tier.

    └ Most variety shows have parts you just want to skip, but not with Idol War. If anything, I wished they had shown more.

    └ Really? I thought the missions ended too quickly.

    └ But dragging that stuff out would make it boring. You know, with slow-mo shots and captions like “A Battle of Goodwill!”—instant cringe.

    └ The pacing was good, but it really came together when Personal Color left the audience speechless.

    └ Facts.

    └ Idol War really is a war. They didn’t edit out any mistakes. Seemed like they tried to show the stage performances as raw as possible.

    └ Speaking of mistakes—Dream Girls comes to mind.

    └ The Mistake Idols.

    └ Mistake idols, lol. Dream Girls, lmaooo.

    └ That performance was nightmare-tier.

    └ What were they thinking doing live vocals with that confidence?

    └ On Idol War, live vocals are mandatory. After each broadcast, KBM posts the AR (pre-recorded backing track) used on stage.

    └ I checked those. Most groups still had backing vocals, but Personal Color had nothing except during the chorus. It was 100% live.

    └ As expected from a MOK idol.

    └ If Spain is the go-to in soccer, then MOK is the go-to in K-pop.

    └ Then why couldn’t AT, who got humiliated by HSH, make it?

    └ Because he is not from MOK—he is from Kim Dong-han.

    In the early hours following the first episode of Idol War, conversations started buzzing across variety show fan communities.

    At the heart of it all was Personal Color.

    It was impossible to talk about Idol War without talking about them. And that’s when media outlets with proper sources began flooding in.

    • KBM’s pilot program Idol War gets off to a great start with 7.1% viewership.
    • Idol War receives consistent praise: “Showcased real music, not just packaged idol images.”
    • Actress An Jia rediscovered! The top-rated moment (11.5%) goes to Personal Color’s An Jia’s stage.
    • Long-time underdogs Personal Color make a flashy revolt. Will their new song Vivid top the charts?
    • A strong debut for Idol War—could it reclaim the Wednesday variety throne?

    Despite the late hour, these headlines were met with a flood of comments.

    Of course, some people bashed the show without even watching it.

    But the actual viewers were overwhelmingly positive, and the negative comments got buried in no time.

    With all the top comments being favourable, more people started checking it out through replays.

    Seeing this, KBM made the first episode of Idol War available for free.

    Even if it meant a slight loss, their clear aim was to significantly expand the viewer pool and reclaim the Wednesday variety crown from SBN.

    The buzz then carried over to social media.

    Clips distributed by the MOK PR team spread across platforms, piquing people’s curiosity.

    Eventually…

    “Personal Color” and “Idol War” were locked into the #1 and #2 real-time trending topics all Thursday long.

    “You are cursed with a wanderer’s fate.”

    That was the first thing Team Leader Park Cha-myung said after hearing from Seon-ho about his conversation with CEO Kim Dong-han.

    Seon-ho hadn’t shared the details of that conversation with anyone else.

    He had just vaguely mentioned that he got some praise for his hard work.

    That went for Kwon Hosan too. Since the conversation involved Personal Color, it wasn’t something he could casually bring up.

    So the only person he could turn to for advice was Team Leader Park.

    “A wanderer’s fate?”

    “You were assigned to Hye-mi, then to Personal Color, and now you might have to go back to Hye-mi. What else would you call it?”

    “Hmm…”

    “What kind of rookie changes teams every month? And not because he’s bad, but because he’s too good. Know when to stop.”

    “Why do you think CEO Kim Dong-han said all that to me?”

    Park shrugged.

    “Isn’t it obvious? He wants you to reel Hye-mi back in. Contract renewals usually start about three months before expiry, and her renewal is six months away—perfect timing.”

    “Oh, negotiations start three months in advance?”

    Seon-ho had no prior experience with contracts in the entertainment industry.

    So it made sense he wouldn’t know.

    “There’s a lot of loose ends to tie up once the contract ends—copyrights, sponsorships, CFs, etc. Not legally mandated, just industry practice.”

    Patting Seon-ho’s shoulder, Park added,

    “I know you find the CEO intimidating, but this one’s simple. He’s rewarding you for doing a good job, and using the opportunity to try pulling Hye-mi back in.”

    “Then… is there no way I could be in charge of both Personal Color and Hye-mi?”

    “How’s a road manager supposed to handle two teams? What if their schedules clash—are you gonna just drive for whoever pays more? You would have to be a director at least.”

    After thinking for a moment, Seon-ho asked again.

    “Then what if Hye-mi clearly states she wants to renew, and I stay with Personal Color?”

    “Dunno? Then it should be fine, I guess? But just remember—if Personal Color flops, your shot at a promotion goes with it.”

    “I understand.”

    Hearing this, Park looked at him curiously.

    “Why are you trying so hard to turn down the CEO’s offer? I mean, I wasn’t a fan of how he chewed Hye-mi out either, but honestly? As a boss, Kim Dong-han’s not bad.”

    “How so?”

    “He sticks to the rules. When a boss starts shifting standards based on their feelings, it becomes a nightmare to work under. That’s the exact reason I quit my first entertainment job.”

    “Hmm…”

    “Besides, you’re getting shockingly special treatment right now. Who gets offered a promotion three months in? Are you perhaps the CEO’s hidden son?”

    “You know we have different last names, right?”

    “So what? You’re both guys.”

    “…”

    Park Cha-myung, who had just thrown out a sudden team leader-style joke, chuckled at Seon-ho’s expression and said,

    “Just accept it. If you liked working with Personal Color, aim for the director position in six months and slowly bring them back. The girls from Personal Color like you too, so it wouldn’t be hard.”

    When Seon-ho didn’t respond, Park Cha-myung continued.

    “Now that I think about it, in six months, Personal Color will probably be settled in, and the time of managers running around everywhere will be over. That’s like scooping honey, isn’t it?”

    Seon-ho thought the team leader wasn’t wrong.

    No, thinking rationally, he was right.

    Seon-ho reflected deeply on why he felt uneasy about CEO Kim Dong-han’s offer.

    The answer came quickly.

    “Then there’d be success, but no happiness.”

    “Huh?”

    “Let’s say I bring back Personal Color in six months. What about Director Kwon Hosan? And Manager Jung Jiwoon, who will have worked hard until then? Whether Personal Color chooses me or Director Kwon, they will feel uncomfortable.”

    He disliked CEO Kim Dong-han’s method of stripping away human emotions and reducing everything to a system.

    During the recruitment interview with Team Leader Park Cha-myung, he had been asked a question:

    ‘Exactly what kind of producer do you want to be?’

    At the time, he had answered without hesitation:

    ‘Someone who creates happiness through music.’

    His life included a portion meant for Seon-ah.

    In that kind of life, he didn’t want to blindly chase money or success.

    During his most painful times, music was the only thing that had brought him happiness—he wanted to share that music with more people.

    Seeing Seon-ho’s answer, Park Cha-myung first made a baffled face and then burst into laughter.

    “To be honest, that sounds dumb, but maybe it’s because you’re that kind of guy that you were able to save Hye-mi and Personal Color.”

    “Really?”

    “Yeah. Just don’t go around talking about happiness and all that. People will think you’re a fool. These days, ambition, money, and success are the trends, man.”

    Then Park Cha-myung added,

    “But I’m actually curious how far you will go. I kinda want to root for you.”

    Though Park Cha-myung was a practical person who clearly distinguished between what he could and couldn’t do, he wasn’t someone who laughed at others ideals.

    On the contrary, he could support them sincerely.

    “If you ever need my help, just say the word.”

    “Then this is exactly when I need it.”

    “Huh?”

    “Could you give me the CEO’s personal number?”

    -This is Han Seon-ho. If you’re available to talk, I have something I’d like to discuss.

    It wasn’t polite for a rookie employee to message the CEO directly, but there was something he had to confirm.

    Thanks to Park Cha-myung, he had sorted out his thoughts clearly, so he felt at ease.

    After sending the text to CEO Kim Dong-han, Seon-ho began working on the written interview Team Leader Choi Ki-seok had given him.

    Seeing Seon-ho working at his desk for the first time in a while, employees started striking up conversations.

    “What are you up to, Seon-ho?”

    “Just writing up the interview Team Leader Choi asked for.”

    There were co-workers from Team B as well.

    “I watched the show yesterday. Great job.”

    “Thank you.”

    Even Shin Ho-yoon, head of the singer division, came down personally to offer a few words.

    “What are the Personal Color guys up to?”

    “Preparing for tomorrow’s recording. They’re at the practice room with their dance instructor. I’ll head down after I finish this.”

    Clearly, the staff’s attitude toward Seon-ho had shifted.

    As he was absorbed in finishing the interview, someone tapped his shoulder and handed him a coffee.

    “Seon-ho.”

    “Oh, Director Baek. Hello. What brings you here?”

    “I have something to ask. The composer Prefer—he’s not officially under contract, right?”

    “No. We work with him on a per-song basis.”

    “Then do you think you could get him to listen to this?”

    It was Baek Sangyeon from Team C, whom Seon-ho had occasionally run into. He handed over a USB.

    “What is it?”

    Baek looked around cautiously and lowered his voice.

    “These are the candidate tracks for Junho’s digital single, sent by the A&R team. But Junho’s not feeling them.”

    “What does he mean by that?”

    “He says they don’t really fit him. But they’re too good to throw out. He wants them revised just a little…”

    Baek leaned in closer and whispered,

    “If the A&R team gets vague feedback, they lose it. It’s a pain. The CEO spoils them too much, and now they think they’re running MOK.”

    “That sounds rough.”

    “It’s more annoying than hard. They always think if a song doesn’t do well, it’s the promotion’s fault, not theirs.”

    Shaking his head in frustration, Baek added,

    “Anyway, both Junho and I want Prefer to do the rearranging. Could you talk to him for us?”

    “What’s the deadline?”

    “Well, since the company’s focusing on Hye-mi and Personal Color right now, it can take its time. Just get it in by the end of January.”

    That gave about two months of time.

    Seon-ho nodded without hesitation.

    It was a chance to raise Prefer’s influence within MOK—there was no reason to refuse.

    “Sure, I’ll talk to him.”

    “He listens to you?”

    “For the most part, yeah.”

    “Man, I’m so jealous. Why don’t I have a friend like that…”

    Then Baek whispered again.

    “You know PD Joo Min-hwan, right?”

    “PD Joo? Yeah, I know him.”

    Joo Min-hwan was the producer who had deliberately done a lazy arrangement of Autumn Leaf by Su-rim.

    “He’s got it out for you. So stay away from the A&R department if you can.”

    “Me? Why?”

    “He just hates Prefer. Prefer roasted him on Autumn Leaf, then beat him again on Girl In The City. And you’re the one moving Prefer.”

    Now that he thought about it, the competing track for Girl In The City, which Hye-mi had chosen, was Joo Min-hwan’s.

    Just as Seon-ho was about to say it’s probably fine since they’re on different teams, his phone rang.

    Thinking it was CEO Kim Dong-han, Seon-ho excused himself and left the office.

    But when he checked the caller ID, it wasn’t the CEO.

    —Writer Min Heeyoung.

    The screen showed the name of the writer for High School in Melody, which would begin filming in two weeks.

    “Yes, hello?”

    -Manager, this is writer Min Heeyoung.

    “Hello, how have you been?”

    -Sorry, I’m a bit busy right now. Can I skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point?

    Her voice carried the fatigue and rush of someone overwhelmed.

    “Of course. Go ahead.”

    -I’ve got two things. First, I’d like Personal Color to make a cameo.

    “A cameo?”

    -In the first episode, there’s a scene where the main characters attend a concert. I want to include Personal Color Vivid in that scene. I just watched Idol War and their song was fantastic. It matches the drama’s vibe perfectly.

    Seon-ho instinctively wanted to say yes.

    It sounded like a great opportunity.

    “It sounds like a great idea, but I’m not in a position to give a definite answer. I’ll pass it on to the higher-ups.”

    -I figured. This is just a way to give you credit. I want them to know this contact came through you.

    Then she added,

    -I also heard you’re close with the composer Prefer. Could you connect me with him?

    “What for?”

    -After watching Idol War, I’m convinced that only Prefer can bring out An Jia’s full potential. I want him to write the song she’ll sing in the drama.

  • The Regressed Extra Becomes a Genius Chapter 184

    The exam had been going for an hour.

    Today, the first day of the final exams, was proceeding relatively peacefully.

    That was because the main team events wouldn’t start until the second and third days.

    For reference, the largest event—a massive battle—would take place on the last day, the third day.

    Because of that, rather than combat roles, everyone had begun taking on different responsibilities.

    Scouting, keeping watch, food supply, and so on.

    My role was scouting.

    Incidentally, I volunteered for the scout role myself.

    Since the most important thing in a captains match was “information,” I didn’t want to leave it to anyone else.

    “Hmm.”

    That’s why I was currently climbing a mountain.

    Rather than wandering around this wide area aimlessly, climbing to higher ground to get an overview offered several advantages.

    “Whew! The air’s nice.”

    Even though it was a virtual world, the natural environment was implemented as realistically as the real one.

    The clear air made me feel like my whole body was being purified.

    Breathing in deeply, I gazed out from the mountaintop at the surrounding scenery.

    Vast grasslands and forests. And scattered in between, modern buildings standing alone.

    It felt like the secret labs from a sci-fi movie.

    As I scanned the area, I occasionally spotted groups of people gathered together.

    It was Team A and Team C.

    Since they had a lot of members, it wasn’t hard to spot them.

    “……They’re all focused on getting food first.”

    They were catching animals using magic and transporting them—like watching a primitive tribe.

    The whole concept of this “Combined Captains Match” was inspired by tribal warfare anyway.

    Then, at the edge of my vision, I noticed a man surrounded by several people.

    It was Kim Chang-hyun, the top student of third year.

    “Hm……”

    I fidgeted with my fingers, briefly conflicted.

    Kim Chang-hyun was the commander of Team A.

    If I could assassinate him, there’d be no need for a large-scale battle—we could eliminate all of Team A in one move.

    Not to mention, I would earn a massive amount of points based on the number of survivors in Team A.

    “……”

    And honestly, if I wanted to, I was confident I could assassinate him right here and now.

    If I drank a magic concealment potion, even an S-rank mage wouldn’t be able to detect my surprise attack. And if I compressed my mana deeply, I was sure I could hit him from this long distance—though the power would gradually weaken.

    But I gave up on that idea.

    The exams in the virtual world were all broadcast live in real time to the outside world.

    Using a concealment ability for a bit of greed would definitely bring more trouble.

    That kind of risk wasn’t worth taking.

    “……Tch.”

    I’d wait for the next opportunity.

    There was still plenty of time.

    Now then, I should start preparing for the event.

    There were no team events on the first day, but that didn’t mean there were no events at all.

    There were personal and small-group joint events.

    The first event coming up was the “Monster Hunter Time Attack.”

    Being the first event, the points it offered weren’t that huge, but one of the rewards for first place was quite important to me.

    It was something I absolutely needed in order to reach fifth place in the overall rankings.

    The “1-on-1 Colosseum Summon Ticket.”

    It was a ticket that let you summon one opponent of your choice and fight them one-on-one.

    Naturally, you couldn’t use it on a commander. But that wasn’t a problem for me.

    My target was the fifth-ranked overall competitor, Park Inhwan.

    To reach fifth place myself, Park Inhwan’s early elimination was essential. That item was a must.

    [The first event will begin in 3 minutes.]

    Just then, a voice announcing the event rang out.

    [The first event is a two-person team event: ‘Monster Hunter Time Attack.’ The top 10 will receive individual points, and first place will receive the special reward: a 1-on-1 Colosseum Summon Ticket.]

    Monster Hunter Time Attack was an event where you had to defeat a semi-boss monster in a two-on-one match as fast as possible.

    The rules were simple enough that anyone could participate.

    As long as you had someone to take the test with.

    [If you’d like to participate, please add your ‘party member’ and apply using your smart student notebook.]

    I immediately sent a party request to Lee Seo-jun through the smart student notebook.

    And I typed a message.

    [Accept the request.]

    About ten seconds later—

    [‘Lee Seo-jun’ has accepted your party request.]

    The message appeared saying he had accepted. I liked how he accepted it without a single complaint.

    [Your application has been completed.]

    [2 minutes until the start of the ‘Monster Hunter Time Attack’ event.]

    Before the event started, I checked over my condition.

    Stamina, mana. Both were in good shape.

    There was still time until the biggest event on the third day, so for today, the first day, I planned to go all out.

    Saving strength for the end could wait until tomorrow.

    My goal today, Day 1, was to earn as many individual points as possible.

    [10, 9, 8, 7……]

    [3, 2, 1……]

    [Teleporting to event location!]

    A surge of strong mana enveloped my body.

    At the same time, a blinding light flashed before my eyes.

    Flash!

    When the light disappeared, I was in a new place.

    A pure white space.

    It looked like a secret experimental facility with hidden secrets.

    —Grrr…

    A monster’s growl echoed from somewhere.

    I hadn’t participated in personal events in my previous life, so each moment felt unfamiliar.

    “Kim Sunwoo.”

    Just then, a familiar voice came from behind me. I turned around and saw Lee Seo-jun approaching with a cheerful expression.

    “Yo. You made it?”

    “Yeah. But I didn’t think they’d have two-person events in a Captains Match like this.”

    He looked around curiously as he spoke.

    “Probably so it’s not boring while everyone’s just waiting around, trying to gauge each other without making the first move.”

    “Good point.”

    I shifted my gaze to the side.

    A massive iron cage.

    Behind it, in the darkness, a giant wolf with glowing red eyes stared out.

    Even at a glance, it looked over 2 meters tall standing upright.

    Its name was the “Giant Red One-Eyed Wolf.”

    Despite having only one eye, it was an A-rank monster that was tough to deal with, thanks to its huge frame, sharp teeth, and tough hide.

    [The event is beginning!]

    [Rankings will be determined based on how quickly you defeat the monster in front of you!]

    ─Clang!

    The iron gate rose, and the wolf slowly stepped out of the darkness, drooling.

    I calmly activated the Outsider’s Privilege and pinpointed the wolf’s weakness.

    “Aim for its forehead.”

    “What?”

    “The forehead is its weak spot. The skin there is relatively thin.”

    Lee Seo-jun stared at me for a moment, then nodded. He could have asked how I knew or if the information was reliable, but he didn’t.

    “The forehead, huh. Got it.”

    White mana burst forth from Lee Seo-jun’s sword.

    [Time Attack begins.]

    Boom!

    The massive one-eyed wolf was engulfed in flames and collapsed. The ground trembled from the impact.

    “Hoo…”

    Yoo Ara let out a long breath of relief, her body releasing the tension of victory.

    Her teammate and Team C leader, Choi Seo-yoon, approached her.

    “Weren’t we pretty good just now? I think we have a real shot at first place.”

    At her words, Yoo Ara nodded. For a team working together for the first time, their coordination had been surprisingly smooth.

    She was slightly wary of Lee Seo-jun and Kim Sunwoo, but even those two, who had broken numerous records at the Mage Academy, didn’t seem unbeatable this time.

    “….”

    Yoo Ara glanced from the fallen one-eyed wolf to Choi Seo-yoon, replaying the battle in her mind.

    Choi Seo-yoon’s magical combat style was the complete opposite of her own.

    While Yoo Ara overwhelmed opponents with her raw magical power and destructive force, Choi Seo-yoon utilized precise mana control and keen instincts to shape various forms of ice, applying slow and steady pressure.

    It was a style more suited to 1-on-1 fights than dealing with multiple opponents—very similar to Kim Sunwoo’s style.

    “….”

    Recently, Yoo Ara had found herself conscious of Kim Sunwoo, and she even secretly practiced magic and fighting styles resembling his.

    “…I’m kind of jealous.”

    “Huh? What do you mean?”

    “Your combat style. I don’t have that kind of finesse. I’ve been practicing to be more like that, but it’s not going well.”

    Choi Seo-yoon tilted her head at Yoo Ara’s muttering.

    “I’m actually jealous of your destructive power.”

    “Really?”

    “Yup. The grass always looks greener, right?”

    Yoo Ara fell into thought at that.

    The grass looks greener on the other side, huh?

    That might be true.

    “But you’re practicing a different style because of Sunwoo-senpai, right?”

    “Eh?”

    Yoo Ara flinched, caught off guard. Choi Seo-yoon chuckled.

    “Knew it. But I get it. When I see Sunwoo senpai mixing martial arts into his combat, it looks really cool. I want to be like that too.”

    Yoo Ara nodded in agreement.

    Mixing physical combat into an elemental-based style was definitely admirable.

    But Yoo Ara had never dreamed of mimicking Sunwoo’s martial arts. She had no physical aptitude whatsoever—she had even chosen support magic instead of enhancement for her sub-specialty.

    While chatting with Choi Seo-yoon, they waited for the results of the event.

    [‘Monster Hunter Time Attack’ has ended.]

    The event was finally over.

    [Announcing the top 10 teams.]

    ━━
    1st: Lee Seo-jun, Kim Sunwoo (2 minutes 22 seconds)
    2nd: Choi Seo-yoon, Yoo Ara (7 minutes 52 seconds)
    3rd: Kim Chang-hyun, Jeon Min-gi (7 minutes 55 seconds)
    …
    …
    ━━

    [Congratulations. You have earned 600 personal points for 2nd place!]

    “…?”

    Yoo Ara and Choi Seo-yoon were baffled as they looked at the rankings.

    They had expected to potentially lose first place to Sunwoo and Seo-jun—but what shocked them was the time difference.

    The gap between first and second place was massive. Nearly three times faster.

    “…That’s insane.”

    Even Choi Seo-yoon was stunned.

    “How do you beat that thing in under 3 minutes?”

    Yoo Ara had the same thought.

    It was as if they knew the monster’s exact weakness and only targeted that.

    Well… if it’s Kim Sunwoo, maybe he really could…

    “…Kim Sunwoo.”

    Yoo Ara clenched her fist.

    When they had been teammates in the previous team battle, he’d been incredibly reassuring—but as an enemy, he was a nightmare.

    “…Should’ve been on the same team for finals too instead of midterms…”

    She couldn’t help but feel unfairly annoyed.

    Flash!

    After the event, I returned to the original location.

    In my hand was the first-place reward box from the event.

    I finally had it.

    The 1:1 Colosseum Summon Ticket.

    With this, I could attempt to eliminate Park Inhwan early—the biggest obstacle to me achieving 5th place overall.

    The special prize only went to one person, but I arranged with Seo-jun to let me use it.

    “Heh.”

    I chuckled quietly and opened the box.

    Inside was a single small ticket.

    [You have obtained the ‘1:1 Colosseum Summon Ticket.’]

    [You may designate one person for a one-on-one battle.]

    There was no reason to delay, so I immediately infused mana into the ticket.

    The ticket glowed faintly with mana, and a voice echoed in my ear.

    [Using the 1:1 Colosseum Summon Ticket.]

    [Please state the team and name of the person you wish to summon.]

    “Team C, Park Inhwan.”

    [Team C Park Inhwan. Target located.]

    [Would you like to summon him to the Colosseum now?]

    “Yes.”

    [Confirmed.]

    [Team C Park Inhwan is being summoned to the Colosseum.]

    A flash of light—then the scenery changed.

    I looked around. As the name suggested, it resembled the Roman Colosseum almost exactly.

    [You have entered the Colosseum.]

    [Only the surviving victor may leave this place.]

    Looking ahead, I saw Park Inhwan appear, startled by the sudden summoning.

    Our eyes met.

    Park Inhwan stared at me, stunned, and I smiled.

    “Nice to see you again, Inhwan.”

  • The Double Life of a Genius Musician Chapter 1

     

    [(Anonymous) I want to make a lot of money without anyone knowing who I am.]

    ↳ Same here lol

    ↳ Where does that even exist? Wake up.

    ↳ Being famous is better;; Why do you think chaebols go into politics? After money comes power.

    ↳ Doesn’t it depend on the person?

    ↳ I don’t need to make a lot of money, I just want everyone to know me.
    ↳↳ Then dance naked in Gwanghwamun. That’ll do it.
    ↳↳↳ WTF isn’t that a crime lol
    ↳↳↳↳ You’ll get famous. Anyway, it works.

    ↳ Is there even a job like that?

    ↳ These days there kind of is, right? Like webtoon or webnovel authors, or hitting it big with crypto.

    Is there really anyone who doesn’t feel this way?

    I think everyone’s heart is the same.

    Me too.

    In fact, I have one more condition.

    I want to make money doing what I love.

    A bit picky? So what.

    They say dreams are supposed to be big and detailed.

    Even if you can’t say it out loud, it was somehow comforting to know that everyone secretly holds a shy desire in some corner of their heart.

    “Off to work again today!”

    They say just hearing the word “work” makes people shake and sweat.

    But every evening, I wait for this moment.

    A job where no one knows my identity, but I can earn money joyfully.

    Tonight too, I head out for my “night job.”

    Ah, what that is, you ask…

    As the turntable started spinning, the silence turned into a frenzy.

    A small room hidden in the shadows.

    In the DJ booth, Seo Taeyoon’s solo stage unfolded.

    The beats flowing from his fingertips mesmerized the crowd.

    “This beat is insane…”

    “It’s different every time.”

    “Don’t post this on social media. If it gets too crowded, we won’t be able to come.”

    “Word of mouth is already blowing up, though?”

    The lights flowing across the console made even the dark figure look mystical.

    DJ Blackhole.

    Seo Taeyoon really pulled people in like a black hole.

    With overwhelming mixing and stretching skills, and his own fresh beats, the once-quiet club in the outskirts was always packed.

    “Blackhole…!”

    “Wooo!”

    Yet Taeyoon, the main star, calmly operated the turntable, unfazed.

    Even in the middle of madness, he remained composed, as if alone with the music.

    “He must’ve gotten a lot of scouting offers—why is he still here? If he went to Gangnam, he’d be at the top in no time. His tracks aren’t generic. That level of arrangement is pro.”

    To the customer’s remark, the club manager just nodded.

    A man who introduced himself as a casting manager for a major agency muttered.

    “That mask… The whole concept is crazy. It’s not easy to make people this curious. His eyes look alive though… Could he be a magikkun?”

    “Magikkun?”

    “Mask scammer. Looks hot with a mask, but not so much without it?”

    “Ha ha. Imagine whatever you want.”

    “Living up to the name, huh. Blackhole…”

    The club manager gave a faint smile.

    ‘If he ever takes that mask off, it’ll be chaos.’

    Even with the silly chatter, the heat of the night continued.

    And so did the growing attention toward Taeyoon.

    As dawn approached and the club atmosphere was at its peak—

    “This is a tax investigation! We’re here for a search and seizure!”

    With a sharp shout, investigators began searching every corner of the club.

    “Turn off the music and turn on the lights.”

    A sudden tax raid.

    Taeyoon put down his headphones and stopped the music.

    In place of the intense beats, the space was now filled with the noise of chatter.

    “Once again, please listen carefully…”

    From the mixing console, Taeyoon looked down helplessly at the stage.

    Then one investigator approached the DJ booth.

    “We need your cooperation.”

    But then—

    “Um… So if this is a seizure, does that mean I can’t perform tonight? It’s a really important night.”

    Taeyoon asked an unexpected question.

    “…?”

    What’s with this guy.

    The investigator looked at him.

    He hadn’t noticed with the mask on, but he was surprisingly clean.

    Usually, people working in places like this had a certain sketchy vibe.

    But this one… seemed different?

    The investigator thought it was bold, how he could speak so nonchalantly with such a decent face.

    “We’re going to check out the booth. It won’t take long, so please stay put.”

    “Okay. Sorry, but…”

    “…?”

    “If you’re checking the equipment, please be careful. I went through a lot to get that stuff secondhand.”

    Taeyoon scratched the back of his head and slumped his shoulders.

    He’d prepared this stage for a whole month.

    A special show revealed only under the full moon.

    It was also the debut of his original track, Lunatic Beat.

    “Man, I really put everything into tonight…”

    Fiddling with the turntable out of habit, Taeyoon took a deep breath, trying to steady his heavy disappointment.

    Of all days, why today.

    He could already picture the disappointed faces of the audience.

    They paid good money to get in… He felt sorry.

    It was like something out of a news report, happening right in front of him.

    Strange. Why a tax raid on a small club in the outskirts?

    Aren’t those for big corporations?

    A chill started at his toes and crept up his spine.

    “No way… Nah, it couldn’t be.”

    The worst-case scenario flashed before his eyes.

    It’s only been a year.

    He was finally building a fanbase and riding the momentum.

    “Positive thoughts, positive thoughts.”

    There was nothing he could do.

    All he could do was shake his head and stare down at the chaotic stage.

    [Business Suspended]

    “Ugh, come on…”

    The woman sighed as she looked at the notice on the club’s door.

    No wonder it was oddly quiet out front at this hour.

    She had barely made time to come, and now it’s closed?

    Thanks to DJ Blackhole, this place must’ve been raking in money.

    What happened? Are they relocating or something?

    Her manager, who parked late, walked up.

    “Why is it so quiet? They not open?”

    She gestured toward the sign with her chin.

    Once or twice a month.

    Watching a DJ show here with a shot of tequila was her only joy in life.

    “What’s going on now?”

    “Hold on.”

    Her manager’s fingers flew across his phone screen.

    After a while, he finally found the news.

    “…Looks like they’re shutting down?”

    “Then what about the DJ? Is he moving somewhere else? No news? Did he leave? That sucks, right?”

    The manager shrugged.

    What, am I his manager? How would I know?

    “Ugh… I’m gonna go crazy.”

    Han Yujin buried her face in her hands.

    Her manager looked at her with a complicated expression.

    “Yujin. Let it go already. You weren’t like this. Why are you so obsessed with this club?”

    “I just… It’s comfortable and nice. That’s all.”

    “Comfortable? When your whole face is covered? You, who hates loud places, like this? Come on. If you’re that desperate, go check out a place in Hongdae.”

    “What, you want headlines saying ‘Han Yujin, washed-up celeb, now clubbing’?”

    “This isn’t a library either.”

    “This is the only place. No one pays attention to me here because they’re too focused on the DJ. And…”

    “And?”

    “No other place has DJ Blackhole.”

    The manager looked at her with pity.

    She was only twenty-five.

    This industry is unpredictable, sure—but after 8 years, being tossed aside like a outdated product? Seriously?

    Han Yujin used to be a popular idol.

    Then her group disbanded, and she went solo.

    One wrong move ruined everything.

    A bad song choice, and her fall was as fast as her rise.

    Now she was stuck doing local gigs.

    “Let’s go. We’ll check social media—maybe there’ll be an update. Want some tteokbokki and fried snacks for dinner?”

    “Sure, let’s go.”

    All the manager could do was feed her high-calorie food and pretend not to notice.

    Just as Yujin was about to leave with a bitter heart—

    “…Huh?”

    A man with a suspicious vibe appeared.

    She knew instantly.

    He wasn’t a customer.

    The man pulled his hat low and looked straight at her.

    That man was none other than Seo Taeyoon.

    Han Yujin poured out all the questions she had for the man.

    “Where’s DJ Blackhole? Did he stop performing?”

    “I’m not really sure.”

    “But you work here! How can you not know?”

    “I’m not an employee. Just a part-timer.”

    “Oh…?”

    “Well then…”

    “Wait, sorry, hold on.”

    Employee or part-timer—it didn’t matter. As long as she could find out anything about DJ Blackhole. A clue to a track, a post on social media—anything would help.

    “Yes?”

    When Seo Taeyoon responded with a slight tilt of his chin, Han Yujin put on a deliberately surprised expression. His sharp, stylish features beneath his cap were too different compared to his curt tone.

    “Um… who are you, exactly? Do we know each other by any chance?”

    “……?”

    Something completely off-topic had slipped out. Her manager gently tugged her arm with a look that clearly said, What are you doing?

    “Ah, sorry. That’s not what I meant—would it be possible to get DJ Blackhole’s contact info?”

    “Contact info?”

    “I just couldn’t think of a better title… Anyway, I’m a fan. I’ve been coming here since a year ago, just to hear the DJ.”

    “Ah, I see. But why…”

    She stared intently at Taeyoon’s face.

    She hadn’t expected kindness, but was it really okay to be this indifferent? Fine—playing dumb was better. All she needed was to achieve her goal.

    “A way to reach DJ Blackhole. SNS, phone number, address—anything’s fine. No, wait. Sorry, that’s a privacy issue… Oppa, a business card?”

    At the mention of a business card, Taeyoon gave her a look that said, I thought so.

    Business cards? From some whatever planning agency or entertainment company? He had a truckload of those.

    “No, never mind that either. Just a moment.”

    Instead of a card, what ended up in Han Yujin’s hand was a small notebook and pen. She began scribbling something down.

    “Here.”

    Taeyoon took the note indifferently, thinking, What’s taking her so long just to write a number…

    “……!”

    He looked back and forth between the note and Han Yujin.

    It would’ve been shocking enough if a famous celebrity had written her personal number for him—but that wasn’t all.

    Next to the contact number was a small, shyly drawn picture of a bunny.

    A bunny DJing with a headset on—adorably detailed.            TL : You can see the bunny in the cover.

    Anyone could tell… this was DJ Blackhole himself.

    “Please make sure this gets to him. Even if you can’t find him, at least pass on the message.”

    She gave him a pleading look before leaving with her manager.

    “She draws well… I didn’t know she had this kind of talent. And this is… me?”

    It was the first time he’d seen himself at the DJ booth—his expression captured so vividly, enjoying the world with such shining eyes.

    Taeyoon slowly ran his fingers over the bunny drawing. He couldn’t take his eyes off the image of himself drawn on the paper.

    After crouching there for a while, gazing at the little rabbit, he carefully folded the note and tucked it into his wallet.

    He turned the rusty lock on the back door. The door creaked open.

    “Even the sound of this door feels romantic.”

    The smell of cigarettes hit him first—thick, familiar. No air freshener could mask the lingering scent of sweat and faint traces of alcohol. All of it was oddly comforting.

    He passed through the familiar, bittersweet space and entered the DJ booth.

    After the police raid, he had only grabbed his headphones and expensive gear in a rush. But just as important things had been left behind.

    LPs, CDs, music magazines, and a stack of business cards that could fill a binder. Who would’ve cared about any of this?

    He began gathering these treasures into a box. Maybe… maybe it was just an excuse to come back here one more time.

    Taeyoon stared through the glass at the empty dance floor. Figures of the audience who once cheered to his beats flickered in his memory.

    The echoing cheers in his ears, the crowd’s reactions changing with each track.

    His hollow eyes were faintly reflected in the booth window.

    It was comfortable. So much, really…

    He had hidden his true self behind a mask.

    Behind it, there wasn’t a loser college kid who dropped out to run away from life.

    Nor a wannabe messing with a DAW in his room.         *DAW means music program for producing music.

    Nor a pitiful soul using music to escape reality.

    There was only a club DJ, spinning seductive beats night after night.

    That was why Taeyoon insisted on this club.

    Here, he was the dazzling main character. He didn’t need to worry about others’ judgment. He could create music led purely by instinct.

    This was the only place where he could face the real him—behind the mask.

    He remembered the day of his interview with the club owner.

    —I’m not expecting much. Just show me real music. I can’t stand kids who rip beats off NewTube and pretend to DJ.

    —I’m confident in my DJing. I wouldn’t be here if I was just faking it.

    —Great, you’re in. A DJ gives us style, you know? Gotta scratch those records, make some noise. The mask… bit of a waste, covering that decent face. Actually, it’s better. Shows you’re betting everything on music, not looks. I like that. Manager Kim, get the contract.

    For a back-alley club, the pay was decent, and incentives were solid.

    The owner had an air about him—you could tell from the flashy watch.

    —Here’s your signing bonus. Buy some clothes, get a haircut. Let me know if you need gear. I don’t want much—just stick around. Work long-term, that’s all I ask.

    They were good people.

    Rain or snow, night after night, they operated the DJ booth.

    Just like Taeyoon kept his promise, so did the club owner.

    There was no pressure to show his face. No lectures about following trends.

    “I wish I could’ve at least said goodbye. Can’t believe the place changed hands just like that.”

    It had been a good place. Filled with good people.

    Only one issue: an overly passionate fan would camp outside, obsessed with discovering Taeyoon’s identity.

    —Please take off your mask just once!
    —One million won if you reveal your face!
    —You won’t show it because you’re ugly, right?
    —He must look like an orc—calling it now.

    Sometimes, mischievous spectators disguised as fans would tease him. But he didn’t mind.

    If anything, they made the club even more popular.

    “Got everything…?”

    He looked around the club one last time, arms full of his box of things.

    “Huh?”

    Ding! A message popped up.

    [Manager-hyung: Taeyoon. Must’ve been worried, huh? The club’s reopening. We’re going to do this right. Let’s talk in person about the details…]

    Taeyoon grinned and typed out a reply.

  • About a Dating Sim Where Dating Is Impossible Chapter 177

    The revenge from the Ottomans—long foreseen ever since Emperor Dragases was enthroned as co-emperor—was carried out with an unparalleled thoroughness.

    The sword that was originally meant for the Turkic principalities like Karaman was now pointed at the ancient capital. Before long, a force of no less than eight thousand soldiers swept through the Thracian region.

    If not for the triple walls, the city might have already fallen.

    The other areas without those walls stood no chance of holding.

    The lands that had been barely secured through Manuel’s cleverness were thus returned to Ottoman hands.

    The speed of it shocked everyone. Those who had doubted Ottoman supremacy abandoned their hostility when, within a month, much of Thrace—including Selymbria—fell. But the Ottomans vengeance didn’t end there.

    “This is not enough. I have yet to hold to account those who broke their oath.”

    The Sultan no longer cared for the Thracian region that had accepted Ottoman rule. Instead, his gaze turned toward the ancient capital itself—Constantinople. With no power left to resist the Ottomans, Murad’s decision quickly turned into action. Thus began a suffocating siege.

    The surviving Ottoman fleet from the previous war assembled near the Golden Horn, and an army of eight thousand blocked every land route to Constantinople. The ancient city was isolated again, just like years before.

    Only one thing was different this time:

    —There was no one left to call for help.

    All the capital could do in response was muster its meager forces. The soldiers were deployed to the walls by the other emperor, John, and as they prepared for a siege, the people gathered in churches to pray. A long trial of patience had begun for the city.

    It was during these siege preparations that the Ottoman envoys arrived.

    Among the envoy’s was a boy who looked far too young, accompanied by a man who guarded him confidently, shoulders straight. Yet it was the Janissaries escorting them that drew the most attention. The personal guard of the Sultan, loyal only to his command.

    Seeing the Janissaries, the Imperial Guard remained on edge. Dozens of them entered the palace.

    If they harbored any hidden motives, who could stop them? And if they couldn’t be stopped, how were they to interpret their presence in a diplomatic envoy?

    Everyone who witnessed the procession had the same question. Even the emperor of a thousand-year-old empire was no exception.

    The audience chamber of the Blachernae Palace.

    As they entered, the Janissaries formed a tight formation reminiscent of a square phalanx. Only the front was left open, revealing just two figures at the center—a young boy and an Ottoman officer standing proudly at his side. It was the officer who first raised his head towards John.

    “This is the son of your lord, the Sultan. Show your respect.”

    “Your lord, is it…”

    The very first words were already infuriating. John murmured bitterly to himself, but couldn’t fully suppress the rage boiling inside him.

    Thanks to the dedication and cunning of Emperor Manuel, the Empire had freed itself from Ottoman vassalage decades ago.

    And yet they still claimed them as vassals—how shameless. John clenched his fist tightly to restrain the urge to scream at them to leave.

    Just as his lips began to tremble with fury, someone behind the throne made their presence known. The emperor turned instinctively, but even before looking, he knew who it was by the voice.

    “Have patience, Your Majesty.”

    It was Georgios Sphrantzes, the secretary who had followed the former emperor. A loyal and silent servant of the throne.

    With dozens of Janissaries in the palace, any outburst would only give the enemy the advantage. Perhaps this was even meant as provocation. Just as Sphrantzes had said—now was the time to endure.

    So, instead of unleashing his anger, the young emperor chose to challenge the envoy with a voice that trembled ever so slightly.

    “Do not spout nonsense. The Empire may have once allied with the Ottomans, but we were never your vassals.”

    No one believed that the alliance still held any weight now. But it was essential to assert that they had never been vassals—to remind them that they had once stood as equals.

    Whether or not that meant anything to the Ottoman envoy—Ishak Pasha—was unclear. Ishak briefly curled the corner of his lips, then approached with deliberate confidence and laid a letter on the ground.

    “Take it and read. The merciful Sultan offers forgiveness for all betrayals up to now. The conditions for his mercy are written within.”

    “…Bring it here, Sphrantzes.”

    “As you command.”

    As Sphrantzes stepped forward and bent down to retrieve the letter, Ishak Pasha’s voice echoed softly through the chamber.

    “Cowardly emperor.”

    An insult so casually thrown in the heart of the court. The one most startled by it was the young boy in the envoy. But Ishak Pasha merely shrugged in the face of the glares turned on him.

    Coward, he said. John ground his teeth quietly at the insult, emotions roiling beneath his calm. That was all he could do.

    As Sphrantzes returned with the letter, he murmured a quiet consolation:

    “You endured well, Your Majesty.”

    The gentle, reassuring tone of the small voice calmed John. Only then did he regain his composure and close his eyes for a moment.

    “Is this what it means to endure?”

    He hadn’t realized how painful it would be to suffer in silence for the sake of a vague and distant future. And in this audience hall, filled with Janissaries, there was no one he could share that burden with.

    As emperor, he could show no weakness before the Ottoman envoys. The pressure to remain composed demanded even greater endurance.

    So John reaffirmed his vow:

    “I will not let Constantine—that child—suffer all this in my stead. As I swore before the Lord in my father’s name, I will be his scabbard until the end.”

    Now that he had earned his father’s trust, he would repay it—no matter the cost. Motivating himself forward with that conviction, John found clarity. He was now ready to face the letter’s contents. In a calm voice, he urged Sphrantzes:

    “Sphrantzes, read it aloud.”

    “…From the Sultan of the Ottomans, Murad, to the Emperor of Constantinople.”

    As John braced himself and the Ottoman envoys remained silent, Sphrantzes began to speak. And thus, through his voice, Murad’s roar echoed in the hall.

    “I have long promised freedom of faith to the Christians and faithfully upheld it. I honored the alliance made in my father’s time and preserved peace with you.

    But from the moment I inherited the title of Sultan, you cast aside both the alliance and the oath made before God.

    I punished Thrace because they broke their vow to God. And now, I come to exact the price of your betrayal—not only from your city, but from you, Emperor.”

    “……….”

     

    “Though there may be no trust left, the alliance between us was forged in our fathers’ time.

    In honour of my father’s legacy and the alliance he established, I shall grant you generous and merciful terms of peace.”

    “And what are those terms, Sphrantzes?”

    “…First. Emperor John of Constantinople shall come to the court at Edirne and kiss the foot of the Sultan to swear his fealty as a vassal.”

    At that moment—

    Ishak, who had been silently listening to Murad’s letter, stepped forward once more.

    The imperial guards attempted to draw their swords, but were quickly restrained by the dozens of Janissaries already occupying the center of the court.

    Ishak Pasha glanced around at the scene and then burst into a mocking laugh as he turned his gaze to the Emperor of the capital.

    “Do you now understand what I meant by calling you ‘our lord,’ Emperor of Constantinople?”

    This harsh insult once again shook John’s composure.

    His face flushed red with fury and agitation—undeniable proof of his anger.

    However, he soon calmed himself by drawing long, slow breaths.

    If they were provoking him this deliberately, it was surely because they had something planned.

    That thought was the only thing keeping John steady.

    “…You said ‘first,’ so I assume there’s more. Go on, Sphrantzes.”

    “…Second.”

    Even Sphrantzes, who always seemed so blunt, faltered at the next condition—it was not something easy to speak of.

    But continuing to stand silently would benefit no one.

    With the Sultan’s envoys provoking them this persistently, there was no telling when John might snap.

    At last, Sphrantzes gave a short, strained sigh and pressed on.

    “…The repaired triple walls shall be torn down by the Emperor’s own subjects.”

    “……”

    Surprisingly, John did not visibly react to this statement.

    He merely blinked a few times, brought his right hand to his lips, and began stroking his chin repeatedly.

    But he couldn’t completely hide the trembling of his fingers.

    A long silence followed, broken only by the Emperor himself.

    “…How bitter this is.”

    Was this the fate of a fallen nation?

    A wretched reality, one that might seem obvious enough to warrant surrender.

    Indeed, countless others had already turned their backs on the crumbling empire.

    John had never completely abandoned it, but he had once accepted it himself.

    But he would not accept it any longer.

    If this was a time for endurance, then he would endure—and prevail.

    John silently recalled, over and over again, the lands lost in helplessness, the deaths he could only watch in powerlessness, and the vow he once made: to become a scabbard.

    Now, that vow moved him.

    “Leave.”

    The Janissaries immediately grew tense, their presence sharpening like blades.

    Ishak narrowed his eyes into a piercing glare.

    The imperial guards placed their hands on their hilts, ready for what might come next.

    It was a standoff so taut that blood could spill at the slightest command.

    And at that edge of catastrophe, it was a boy—one who had been silently watching the exchange—who finally spoke.

    “I cannot understand you, Emperor of Constantinople. Why do you reject peace?”

    “Peace, you say?”

    “You were the ones who broke the alliance first. It was your side that brought war upon us. And yet we’ve demanded no brutal tribute in return. All we ask is a vow of vassalage and for the walls to be torn down. Why must you respond with such outrage?”

    “If the Sultan demands I lick his foot, I could do it. If he wants me to bow my head, I could kneel. But I will never concede the triple walls.”

    “And what could possibly make those walls so sacred—?!”

    The Emperor of the capital hesitated.

    Not because he lacked an answer, but because too many came to mind.

    What could the triple walls mean?

    The final legacy of a thousand-year-old empire in decline?

    The last bastion holding the empire together?

    Or simply crumbling stones that once symbolized a lost glory?

    To all these questions he threw at himself, John shook his head.

    “The restoration of the triple walls is proof—of the trust this city’s people have placed in my brother. It is a pledge to wait, no matter how long it takes. That is why I cannot yield them. Son of the Sultan, leave my sight and tell your Sultan this, word for word: I will hold to my trust in my brother to the end. This city shall not surrender.”

    “Are you going to drag everyone in this city to their deaths?!”

    “That’s enough, Prince Ahmed.”

    A harshly growling Ahmed was stopped by Ishak stepping in front of him.

    With a gentle gaze, he looked back at the prince, then turned once more to John.

    But unlike the warmth he showed Ahmed, the eyes he now cast at the Emperor were cold as a hunting hound’s—bared fangs behind a predator’s roar.

    “Then seal your gates tight and never open them, fool. Remain the emperor of your city, if you must. The Ottomans shall rule all beyond those gates. That is the Sultan’s final message to you.”

    With those words, Ishak turned and began to lead Ahmed out of the audience chamber.

    The Janissaries who had occupied the court slowly withdrew, casting fierce glances around as they retreated.

    Only after they were gone did the imperial guards finally let out sighs of relief.

    But John had no time to share in that relief—he was already deep in thought.

    The Ottomans had already surrounded the entire capital.

    The siege would likely continue for a long time.

    Perhaps even years.

    In the face of such a prolonged ordeal, what must he do?

    After some deliberation, John called out.

    “Sphrantzes, are you still nearby?”

    “Of course, Your Majesty.”

    “…Summon Kantakouzenos.”

    “Which Kantakouzenos do you mean, sire?”

    “You know perfectly well what I call her. Don’t play your little games. I mean Kantakouzenos, the one charged with the defense of the capital.”

    “…As you command, Your Majesty.”

    With a quiet bow, Sphrantzes withdrew.

    Through the less footsteps and fading presence, John confirmed the young secretary had left properly.

  • Star Maker Chapter 55

    While Seon-ho hesitated at the unexpected call, CEO Kim Dong-han spoke again.

    “If you’re really busy, we can meet tomorrow instead.”

    “No, sir. I’ll come up right away.”

    “Yeah? Then see you in a bit.”

    As Seon-ho hung up, countless eyes in the PR team turned to follow him.

    The moment Team Leader Choi Ki-seok, who had been on a long call with a journalist, put down the receiver, he asked in surprise.

    “What was that? Was it the CEO?”

    “Yes.”

    “What did he want?”

    “He told me to come up to his office.”

    “To the CEO’s office? Why?”

    “I don’t know.”

    Team Leader Choi turned to the team members.

    “Has the CEO ever called in a road manager before?”

    “Never. You know that anyone below team leader level isn’t even allowed in there.”

    Whatever his personality might be, CEO Kim Dong-han was a stickler for rules when it came to running the company.

    That’s why he had stubbornly improved the producing system over the years, even at a financial loss.

    And it was also why he avoided showing favouritism or personal interest toward any particular employee.

    He believed that even the smallest act by the CEO could shake the company’s discipline, so he treated all employees strictly within the system.

    But he called for Han Seon-ho?

    This was exactly why Choi Ki-seok and the other MOK employees were shocked.

    Summoning Seon-ho to the CEO’s office—normally off-limits to anyone below team leader—meant that CEO Kim Dong-han regarded “Manager Han Seon-ho’s” capabilities as at least on par with a team leader.

    Some might say that interpretation was too much, but for Team Leader Choi, who had watched Kim Dong-han for nearly ten years, it wasn’t wrong at all.

    Kim Dong-han was a rule-bound perfectionist, to the point of being obsessive.

    Still…

    Team Leader Choi tilted his head.

    Logically, this should be a moment of great surprise, but he wasn’t all that shocked.

    Because, deep down, it somehow made sense.

    Han Seon-ho had revived Personal Color, a group that had been practically dead in the water for three years.

    And he did it in under two months.

    Sure, there had been a similar case with Hye-mi, and rumors had swirled within the company.

    But Hye-mi and Personal Color were completely different stories.

    If Hye-mi was a hidden gem neglected due to conflict with AT, then Personal Color was a group whose time had run out and was barely holding on thanks to An Jia.

    In major agencies, it’s often said that the life of an unknown group is three years.

    If a big agency pushes a group for three years and they still don’t make it, it’s considered an act of God—meaning, it’s beyond help.

    And hidden in that phrase “act of God” was the understanding that there were internal team issues that couldn’t be solved through promotion.

    Was there really no team leader-level manager assigned to Personal Color in the last three years?

    Of course there were. Plenty, in fact.

    Which means that Seon-ho had managed to revive a group that even MOK’s most capable resources had all given up on.

    Personal Color hadn’t become popular yet—they were only just getting started.

    Seon-ho had helped them grow wings, but it would still take great effort for them to fly.

    But from here on, it was up to the company’s promotional push.

    Even just laying the groundwork for that promotion was enough to evaluate Seon-ho as team leader material.

    And then there’s Prefer, moving in perfect sync with him.

    Soon, Prefer’s name value would rise alongside Personal Color.

    “Autumn Leaf” and “Girl In The City” were both hits made by rearranging existing songs.

    In the eyes of an agency, rearranged songs meant sharing revenue with the original songwriter.

    And it also meant getting permission during the production process.

    For a company like MOK, which put so much effort into its producing system, this was far from ideal.

    That’s why the industry’s response to Prefer had been indifferent.

    Creatives tend to prefer what they know, and it had been assumed that Prefer was a producer who specialized in arrangements.

    But not anymore.

    Because of the original song Vivid, the perception of Prefer would inevitably change.

    If things had been lukewarm before the first broadcast of Idol War, now it would become as hot as lava.

    “…No, but seriously, what is this?”

    “Sorry?”

    Team Leader Choi’s sudden muttering made the others blink.

    Ignoring their confusion, he pointed at Seon-ho.

    “Hey, Han Seon-ho. You’re close with Hye-mi and Personal Color, right?”

    “Uh? I guess… yeah, we’re pretty close.”

    “What about Oh Hanbit and Jung Su-rim?”

    “To some extent…”

    “Director Yoo Ayeon?”

    “Same with her…”

    “And the CP who offered you the casting for Idol War?”

    “I met him thanks to Director Yoo. We’re not personally close.”

    “Then why would someone who’s not close call and speak so casually with your name? Obviously, he thinks highly of you.”

    Talented in managing, best friends with Prefer, and despite being new to the industry, already has a solid network.

    The kind of network that usually comes only with years of experience.

    And that wasn’t all.

    He was good-looking.

    Not in an annoyingly pretty-boy way, but with a kind, universally appealing look.

    You might ask why appearance matters for a manager, but the higher your position, the more important it becomes.

    Because the impression a person gives really matters.

    Showbiz is a world driven by all sorts of superstitions and gut feelings.

    So the impression someone from an agency gives could affect how much investors were willing to invest.

    “Han Seon-ho, this guy…”

    Seon-ho looked curiously at Team Leader Choi, who was now glaring at him with intense eyes.

    Then Choi’s expression softened into a wide smile, his eyes forming crescent moons.

    Even his dimples popped out.

    With his wild hair and intimidating face, that smile was pure shock and horror.

    Team Leader Choi, still grinning, slung an arm over Seon-ho’s shoulder.

    “Let’s be friends.”

    “Uh… what?”

    “I said let’s be friends.”

    “Uh…okay.”

    “Anything bothering you at work?”

    This moment was the most uncomfortable thing Seon-ho had experienced so far, but he could only say no.

    “The CEO’s waiting. Go on up. I’ll tell Manager Kwon when he gets off the call.”

    “Okay.”

    Seon-ho left the PR office, feeling the curious stares of the team members behind him.

    Seon-ho fell into thought as he rode the elevator up to the 9th floor, where CEO Kim Dong-han’s office was located.

    That was because he had no idea why the CEO had summoned him.

    Of course, the most likely reason was what Hye-mi had previously mentioned—‘political showmanship.’

    Giving him the authority to choose a singer.

    And then, if he achieved decent results with that singer, promoting him.

    But that wasn’t something CEO Kim Dong-han needed to call him in personally to say.

    It wasn’t hard to offer a word of praise to an employee who had delivered strong results, but that just wasn’t how Kim Dong-han operated.

    “—Ninth floor.”

    Before he could even finish sorting his thoughts, the elevator doors opened.

    Well, it’s not like going from the 3rd to the 9th floor takes long anyway.

    With the mindset of “might as well face it head-on,” Seon-ho stepped off the elevator.

    The 9th floor felt spacious.

    Technically, every floor should have the same size since it was the same building.

    But Seon-ho found the 9th floor noticeably larger because, unlike the other floors packed with offices, there were only four doors here.

    CEO Kim Dong-han’s office.

    The office of Executive Director Im Guk-han, the No. 2 of MOK, who was currently in Japan.

    A VIP room for guests.

    And a fitness room with various equipment, indoor golf practice space, and shower facilities.

    That was all the 9th floor held. Because the space wasn’t densely packed, it felt even bigger than it actually was.

    Without the information desk in front of the elevator, the area might have felt too empty.

    Passing the vacant info desk, Seon-ho arrived in front of Kim Dong-han’s office.

    He didn’t know the exact location since it was his first time on this floor, but it was the only place with the lights on.

    Straightening his outfit, Seon-ho knocked on the door.

    Knock knock.

    A voice responded almost immediately.

    “Come in.”

    When he opened the door, he saw a large, well-decorated office.

    It had shelves full of LP records, a turntable, and even an ultra-large wall-mounted TV.

    But what really caught Seon-ho’s eye was the man sitting on the guest sofa, looking over a file.

    It was CEO Kim Dong-han, dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit, a silver watch complementing it.

    While preparing for Tomorrow K-Star, Seon-ho had reviewed various audition programs, and he’d seen CEO Kim appear as a judge before.

    But this was the first time he saw him in person.

    Kim’s last TV appearance had been four years ago, yet his appearance hadn’t changed much.

    Thanks to his thorough self-care and lean physique, he looked more like someone in his late 30s or early 40s, even though he was in his late 40s.

    “Hello. I’m Han Seon-ho from Management Team B.”

    After examining Seon-ho for a moment, Kim Dong-han pointed to the seat across from him.

    “Have a seat.”

    Once Seon-ho sat down, Kim spoke again.

    “You’re younger than I expected. And better-looking too.”

    “Thank you.”

    “How old are you this year?”

    “I’m twenty-five.”

    “When did you join the company?”

    “Early September.”

    “So, exactly three months, then.”

    Kim began asking Seon-ho a few personal questions—mostly about his background.

    As they talked, Seon-ho couldn’t help feeling a bit thrown off.

    The image of Kim Dong-han he had built up while working on Hye-mi’s project and the man sitting before him now were completely different.

    What’s more, he could sense a certain fondness from Kim Dong-han toward him.

    Why?

    Kim had clearly hoped Hye-mi wouldn’t succeed and had subtly made that known to the employees.

    Because of that, Hye-mi had been ignored for a long time.

    Yet Seon-ho had gone against Kim’s policy and made Hye-mi a success.

    Logically, Kim should dislike him.

    No—since they weren’t of equal status, “dislike” wasn’t even the right word. “Find him insolent” would be more fitting.

    Is it because of the Idol War?

    That was when Kim Dong-han asked,

    “You’re on Singer Team B, right?”

    “Yes.”

    “How is it working under Team Leader Park Cha-myung?”

    “I’m enjoying the work.”

    “Enjoying it. That’s important.”

    Kim made a thoughtful sound and continued.

    “You’re currently under Kwon Hosan, right?”

    “Yes, that’s correct.”

    “Between Team Leader Park and Kwon, who do you think you work better with?”

    A question he hadn’t expected at all.

    He also couldn’t guess why Kim was asking it.

    “Their work styles are different, so it’s hard to compare. But I’ve learned a lot from both.”

    “So both are good bosses?”

    “Yes, they are.”

    “Then it doesn’t really matter.”

    Kim nodded, then casually dropped a bombshell.

    “I’d like you to hand over Personal Color’s file as soon as possible.”

    “…Handover?”

    “I plan to push Personal Color with full force, but Director Kwon and one road manager won’t be enough. Since you know Personal Color well, I want you to choose someone to take over.”

    Kim slid the file he had been reading to the center of the table.

    Only then did Seon-ho realize it contained personnel records of managers who currently weren’t in charge of any artists.

    “I’m not saying pick someone right now. Just decide by Monday morning.”

    Without even glancing at the file, Seon-ho asked,

    “You want me to choose the manager who’ll take over Personal Color from me?”

    “Take over? Hmm. Their rank is higher than yours, but I suppose you could say they’re your replacement.”

    “What’s the reason?”

    Right now was a critical period for Personal Color.

    This wasn’t the time to be switching managers—and even if there were a reason, they should be doing everything they could to keep things stable.

    It had already been proven that no one could manage Personal Color better than he could.

    Surely, Kim Dong-han was aware of that.

    “What do you mean, reason? You’re part of Team B, aren’t you? You only got assigned to Team A’s Personal Color because of the new employee training.”

    “…”

    “So now you should return to Team B.”

    “My training period isn’t over yet.”

    “But you’ve already proven you don’t need more training.”

    “But…”

    “Go back to Team B and take charge of Hye-mi again. In six months, you’ll have a new business card.”

    Kim drew a small rectangle in the air with his index finger.

    “One that says ‘Department Head’ on it.”

    “…”

    “I value you very highly. That’s why I can promise you a proper title just nine months after joining.”

    Kim firmly pushed the file at the center of the table toward Seon-ho.

    “Report to my office on Monday. Bring the file of whoever will take over Personal Color.”

  • The Regressed Extra Becomes a Genius Chapter 183

    Back at the dormitory, I was eating chicken with Gretel.

    As I was happily munching on the chicken, Gretel suddenly picked up a drumstick and placed it on my plate.

    “What’s this? You want me to have it?”

    Gretel nodded in response.

    “No, it’s okay. You eat more, Gretel.”

    I handed the drumstick back to her.

    Gretel looked at the drumstick for a moment, then glanced up at me.

    She seemed to be asking why I wasn’t eating the best part.

    It was surprisingly touching that she’d offer her favourite piece. Is this what being a parent feels like?

    Just watching Gretel eat was enough to make me feel full.

    “Gretel, your favourite part is the drumstick, right?”

    “Ung-ae.”

    Gretel nodded.

    “If that’s your favourite, should we just order drumsticks next time?”

    “Ung-ae?”

    Gretel’s eyes widened, as if asking, Is that even possible?

    “If you want, we can get just drumsticks. Or a mix of drumsticks and wings.”

    “Ung-ae!”

    Gretel jumped for joy, clearly happy.

    Seeing her that happy brought a smile to my face too.

    Honestly, I could give up the drumstick so easily because I’m a wing person.

    Not a fan of thick meat, I preferred the crisp skin you get with wings. That’s the best part.

    Either way, I was glad Gretel and I didn’t like the same part—it avoided any conflicts.

    “Next time, we’ll order only drumsticks and wings.”

    Gretel nodded and took a bite of her drumstick.

    I watched her happily, then got up.

    After washing the sauce off my hands, I sat down on the sofa.

    Yawning from after-meal sleepiness, I glanced at the fruit hanging from the branch on Gretel’s head.

    It had grown quite a bit in the past few days.

    At this rate, it would probably be fully ripe within two weeks.

    “Hm.”

    As I stared at the fruit on her head, I noticed something odd.

    The colour had changed.

    Last time it was green, but now it had turned yellow.

    “…Maybe the effect changed?”

    That seemed likely.

    A yellow glow… I wondered what kind of effect it would have this time.

    As I secretly licked my lips in anticipation, an alert came from my smart student notebook.

    [Sender: Korea Mage Academy]

    [All Year Combined Captain Match Rulebook and Testing Site Information]

    The rulebook had arrived.

    I immediately opened it to check the contents.

    It was nearly 20 pages long, filled with dense and complicated rules.

    With a much larger number of participants, they’d added many new rules, unlike the simple “defeat the captain” setup from before.

    The easiest way to describe this version of the captains match was that it combined elements from the previous end of semester Tower Climbing Survival.

    But there was no need to study the rulebook too deeply—I already had knowledge from my past life and the original story.

    It was all perfectly memorized in my head.

    I closed the rulebook and checked the location information.

    With almost 450 students participating, the test location had been upgraded to something more fitting in scale.

    [Large-Scale Virtual Training Center on a Special-Purpose Artificial Island under the Mage Association]

    An artificial island owned by the Korean Mage Association.

    This “Large-Scale Virtual Training Center” was the designated testing site.

    It was known as one of the best, along with the tower in the UK.

    “Yawn…”

    I closed the message and stood up.

    The test would begin next Tuesday. I should start managing my condition and go to bed early.

    Monday afternoon.

    After completing this week’s final practical—Phantom Maze Escape—I returned to the waiting room.

    “Phew.”

    I let out a deep breath and looked around the room, noticing all the empty seats.

    “…Am I first?”

    “Yeah, you’re first. By a landslide.”

    As I muttered to myself, Jang Ancheol suddenly appeared behind me.

    I’d sensed someone approaching, so I wasn’t too startled.

    Jang Ancheol stared at me like I was some kind of marvel before speaking.

    “You really surprise people every time. I’ve never seen someone with such high illusion resistance in my life.”

    Illusion resistance.

    Since Jang Ancheol didn’t know I’d learned Eunwol Illusion Severance from the Eunwol clan, his reaction made sense.

    “Tsk. If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve voted for Team B too…”

    “Vote?”

    I tilted my head at his random comment.

    Jang Ancheol waved his hand awkwardly.

    “Ah, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

    “…Suspicious.”

    He gave a awkward smile and pointed toward a part of the room.

    “There’s a waiting room over there. Just relax there for now.”

    “…Okay.”

    I walked over in the direction he pointed.

    With some time to spare, I decided to check my stats again for the first time in a while.

    [Stats]
    Stamina: 73.2
    Strength: 76.57
    Mana: 64.1
    Speed: 40.2
    Reflexes: 73.3
    Dexterity: 29.2

    No noticeable increases—probably because I’d already made big improvements.

    But stats were just that: numbers.

    In truth, they weren’t that important.

    Stats were more for showing your class level, so to speak.

    Like how a super strong bodybuilder still wouldn’t stand a chance against a trained martial artist.

    High stats alone didn’t mean much without strong magic control or combat technique.

    Still, with stats like this, no one would look down on me.

    No one could say my talent was being held back by physical limits.

    Flash!

    Just then, a portal opened and Lee Seo-jun stepped out.

    Apparently, he was the second to escape the illusion maze.

    Since we both learned Eunwol Illusion Severance, this result was to be expected.

    “Lee Seo-jun is second. You made it out pretty quickly too.”

    At Jang Ancheol’s comment, Lee Seo-jun didn’t look pleased—he looked more like he’d just lost.

    “…Second.”

     

    Perhaps because he was always aiming for first place, Lee Seo-jun didn’t seem satisfied with the result.

    Noticing how Lee Seo-jun felt, Jang Ancheol lightly patted him on the shoulder.

    “I can understand how you feel. Honestly, if it weren’t for today’s first place, your record would’ve been a new one for the Mage Academy.”

    Lee Seo-jun nodded, then asked,

    “First place was Kim Sunwoo, right?”

    “You caught on right away. That’s right.”

    Jang Ancheol replied while glancing at me. Lee Seo-jun also glared at me following Jang Ancheol’s gaze.

    “…There’s no way to beat you in the escape exam.”

    “Don’t be too discouraged. Your result was still outstanding, enough to shock people.”

    “…Yeah.”

    Lee Seo-jun nodded and walked toward me with firm steps.

    As I watched him approach, I said playfully,

    “Second place showed up, huh?”

    At my words, Lee Seo-jun frowned and became serious.

    He was too competitive for any jokes when it came to rankings.

    “Tsk.”

    If you’re upset, just take first place. Who told you to settle for second?

    Time passed, and students began to appear one by one after escaping.

    Yoo Ara, Shin Young-joon, Lee Hyun-joo, Park Inhwan.

    The order of escape matched the overall second-year ranking.

    Park Inhwan, who escaped late, checked the scoreboard and clenched his teeth.

    Then, he glared at me as if he wanted to kill me.

    “Ha. So annoying.”

    “…What’s with him again?”

    Lately, Park Inhwan had been glaring at me more and more.

    He would badmouth me behind my back or shoulder check me on purpose when passing by.

    Of course, I always reinforced my shoulder with mana and gave him a proper lesson in return.

    At that moment, Shin Young-joon, sitting next to me, smirked.

    “He’s just scared you’ll take his fifth place in the final exam. He’s super sensitive about it.”

    “Ah…”

    So that’s what it was about?

    I chuckled softly.

    “That’s all?”

    At my mumble, Park Inhwan’s expression turned even more hostile.

    I returned his glare with ease and composure.

    Come to think of it, despite being humiliated by me during several trainings, that guy still hasn’t learned his lesson.

    Seems like he’s still bullying others too.

    “Hm.”

    Looks like he needs a real wake-up call in this captain match.

    Time flew by, and the final exams began.

    The main event, the “All-Year Combined Captain Match,” would start tomorrow, Wednesday. Today was the written exam.

    Naturally, I finished filling out the answer sheet in under five minutes thanks to my outsider’s privilege.

    Beep—

    An alert sounded to signal the end of the exam, and the teacher came by to collect the answer cards.

    “Alright, students. That concludes the written test. Great work, everyone.”

    As the teacher finished speaking, students began stretching and rising from their seats.

    Then, like predators eyeing their prey, they turned their gazes to me and swarmed in.

    “Sunwoo! What’s the answer to number 6?”

    “Hey, hey. Kim Sunwoo, what was your answer for number 19?”

    ‘…What is this?’

    I was flustered by the sudden barrage of questions.

    “Hey, hey, just give us your answer sheet.”

    They even called my test paper the “answer sheet” and tried to take it.

    These guys normally don’t even care about written exams, but now they’re going wild since it’s the last test of the year.

    “Ugh!”

    Annoyed, I just threw my test paper out the back door.

    Everyone’s eyes followed it, then they rushed after it.

    The next day.

    With the written exam over, it was finally time for the most anticipated event of the Korean Mage Academy’s finals — the “All-Year Combined Captain Match.”

    Nearly 450 students used the portal and arrived at the “Large Scale Virtual Training Center.”

    Like the previous tower climbing exam, this center used the mysteries of holy relics to create a vast virtual space that could accommodate all 450 students.

    “As you all know, the exam can last up to three days.”

    The biggest difference from previous captain matches was the duration.

    Past exams ended in a single day, but this combined captain match could last up to three days.

    The key word here is ‘up to’.

    Depending on how the exam goes, it might end in less than a day.

    In other words, if a team defeats the opposing captains quickly, the exam could end early.

    But realistically, that’s nearly impossible.

    This isn’t a 1:1 match — it’s a 1:1:1 scenario, meaning most of it will be a game of chicken between teams.

    To prevent that, the exam introduced new mechanics.

    One is “base capture.”

    The other is “events.”

    Base capture, as the name suggests, allows teams to gain various blessings during the exam.

    Strategically, it also grants numerous advantages, including large amounts of points.

    And events are just like in the previous tower climbing test — challenges that occur at intervals during the exam.

    Winning these events gives team points, personal points, and special rewards. These special rewards can greatly influence future events and battles.

    “As stated in the rulebook, if no team wins within three days, the one with the most points will be declared the winner.”

    That’s why this captain match has a point system.

    Since it’s a 1:1:1 structure, the system discourages teams from playing passively and trying to win by outlasting others.

    “Alright, the exam will now begin. Each team, please proceed to your designated portals.”

    Along with the other students, I entered the portal assigned to my team.

    Flash!

    As I passed through the portal, a vast green field came into view.

    Around me were nearly 150 members of Team B.

    [The exam will begin in approximately 3 minutes.]

    “…Feels kinda like the tower climbing test, doesn’t it?”

    “Yeah, it does.”

    “Hmmm.”

    I looked around. Where’s the captain?

    While scanning my surroundings, I spotted Lee Seo-jun and Team B’s support unit captain, Jang Soo-yeon, nearby.

    “Kim Sunwoo? We were looking for you. Come here.”

    At Lee Seo-jun’s call, I approached. Jang Soo-yeon glanced at me and spoke.

    “You’re Kim Sunwoo, right? I look forward to working with you.”

    She extended her hand.

    Up close, her broad shoulder muscles made her frame look even larger. She seemed about the same height as me.

    “Yes, I look forward to working with you too.”

    I took her hand and felt the roughness on her palm.

    After the handshake, she seemed to recall something.

    “By the way, I saw your performance in the midterm captain match. You were quite impressive.”

    “Ah, yes. Thank you.”

    Caught off guard by the compliment, I slightly bowed my head. When I looked up, Jang Soo-yeon was staring directly into my eyes.

    Her gaze was a bit intense.

    “I heard that was the first time Lee Seo-jun didn’t come in first.”

    At her comment, Lee Seo-jun gave an awkward smile.

    Unbothered, she continued to stare into my eyes and spoke.

    “Kim Chang-hyun has always been number one. But I want to beat that guy just once. Help me out.”

    Her voice was calm and composed.

    But there was sincerity in her words.

    I nodded.

    “Yes, let’s go for first place together.”

    Pleased with my answer, Jang Soo-yeon gave a small smile.

    “Good.”

    Then, a voice echoed from the sky.

    [We will now begin the exam countdown.]

    [5, 4, 3, 2, 1…]

    [The All-Year Combined Captain Match has begun.]

    At last, the final exam for the second year — the last test of the year — had begun.

  • A Veteran Player Becomes a Troublemaker Chapter 90

    “As expected.”

    Feeling guilty for making Nea wait so long, Ian sighed.

    ‘This training hall is perfect, except…’

    Its one flaw was that only those of Schrantz blood could enter. Even urgent matters had to wait outside.

    That’s why he needed to stick to a schedule.

    “Did I miss meal time?”

    “Yes, quite a while ago. Though reheating the food isn’t an issue.”

    “No need. Too much hassle, and I can’t be bothered to wait. I’ll just eat it cold. You know what would be nice? An alarm clock. Though here, it’d have to be some delicate mechanical device. Wonder if it’s even possible to make one. Probably expensive, huh?”

    “What are you talking about?”

    Ian brushed it off without answering.

    Nea didn’t press further.

    Him spouting nonsense wasn’t anything new—she was used to it by now.

    “Ah, right. There’s something I need to tell you.”

    “What is it?”

    “The investigation is finished.”

    “Investigation?”

    When Ian gave her a blank look, she sighed.

    “Did you forget? Ever since we arrived, you told me to look into what’s been happening in the territory.”

    “Oh. Right.”

    Hugo hadn’t just sent Ian here to guard the estate.

    The real reason was to solidify Schrantz’s influence in the Dariel region.

    After deploying agents and gathering intel through Nea, the final report was finally ready today.

    “Let me see.”

    Ian took the report and began reading.

    The further he got, the more stunned he became.

    “Is this for real?”

    Nea nodded grimly.

    “At first, even the men thought the rumors were exaggerated. But it’s all true—still happening now.”

    The contents varied, but the highlights included:

    • Local officials and village chiefs acting like kings, imposing excessive taxes to line their own pockets.

    • Some officials openly harassing young women, even resorting to assault.

    • Married women weren’t spared either.

    • Despite complaints, the guards turned a blind eye.

    As a result, discontent festered. Some villagers abandoned their homes, while others turned to banditry.

    “Hah! I heard administrative gaps were severe due to the sudden expansion and lack of manpower, so they delegated some authority to existing officials, but…”

    These were former Erce retainers now serving Schrantz.

    With no replacements available, they had kept their positions to avoid administrative chaos.

    “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.”

    And play they did—far worse than expected.

    The situation was so volatile that a rebellion could erupt any moment.

    “Nea.”

    “Yes, Young Master.”

    “This ‘Redem’ guy—he’s the ringleader? The most influential figure in the region?”

    “Yes. He even has a private force of over a hundred and connections with local soldiers and knights.”

    Meaning corruption ran deep.

    If Ian marched in with troops, word could leak, and evidence might be destroyed.

    ‘Worse, they might even turn their blades on me.’

    “This is bad.”

    And if left unchecked, things would only deteriorate further.

    ‘Some parents were so desperate they even sold their own children to slavers?’

    That detail had shocked Ian the most.

    ‘For things to get this dire…’

    Even the agents compiling the report must have been just as appalled.

    This wasn’t something Ian could ignore.

    ‘If this drags on, we’ll lose manpower—or face outright rebellion.’

    A worst-case scenario for Schrantz.

    It had to be dealt with before things escalated.

    “In that case…”

    Ian set the report down and stood.

    His crimson eyes gleamed with lethal intent.

    “We normalize things.”

    Swiftly. Permanently.

    “Nea.”

    “Yes, Young Master.”

    “We’re paying this bastard a visit. Prepare to leave immediately.”

    It was late, but Ian wasn’t waiting.

    “And summon four attendants to accompany me.”

    “Attendants?”

    “Yeah.”

    He listed the names—each one chosen for a reason.

    “As expected.”

    Redem’s days were filled with nothing but joy and satisfaction.

    A grin stretched across his face—he had never imagined he would live to see the day when money flowed so effortlessly into his hands.

    Relaxing on the terrace, he sipped expensive wine and indulged in rare, exquisite fruits that were hard to come by in this region.

    ‘Well, I’ve suffered like a dog my whole life. This much reward is only fair.’

    Back when he served under House Erce, he had worked like a slave for meager wages.

    There were countless times he considered switching jobs, but the only thing he knew was administration.

    He gritted his teeth day after day, climbing the ranks—only to be unjustly framed by his superior, who pinned their own mistakes on him.

    As a result, Redem, once a promising official in House Erche’s main estate, was exiled to this backwater.

    ‘Heh. When House Erce lost the territorial war and this place fell under Schrantz’s rule, I thought I was done for.’

    It was practically a demotion, and he had been drowning in despair—until he realized it was an opportunity in disguise.

    Schrantz had left him in his position without a second thought, too preoccupied to care.

    Before long, he took advantage of the chaos. With the new rulers too busy to monitor the region, he began skimming funds.

    He didn’t even have to work hard—just delegate to his underlings and let the system run itself.

    Sure, his subordinates took their own cuts, reducing his share bit by bit…

    ‘But this way, they stay quiet, and I stay safe.’

    He made sure they were all complicit, ensuring no one would dare report him.

    And it worked perfectly.

    He even taught them how to embezzle discreetly, turning them into loyal followers.

    Besides, he had other businesses running on the side—this was just pocket change.

    Of course, Redem didn’t fully trust his lackeys.

    ‘Long tails get stepped on.’

    He never assumed he’d go unpunished forever.

    ‘But let them try. If they can even catch me.’

    He had bribed all kinds of people—soldiers, officials, anyone who mattered.

    If anyone came for him, the local garrison would tip him off long before they arrived.

    He’d have more than enough time to flee.

    ‘So I’ll take what I can while I can.’

    Once he left this territory, he’d live the rest of his life in luxury, free from want.

    “I’m feeling a bit lonely… Ah, right. That madam mentioned a new girl at the brothel with exceptional ‘night skills’… Should I call for her?”

    The wine had gone to his head, and the solitude was getting to him.

    Just as he reached for the bell to summon his butler—

    “Master!”

    The very butler he was about to call burst in, panting.

    “Perfect timing. I was just about to call you. You know that brothel I frequent? Go and—”

    “This is no time for that! Some unidentified troublemaker is causing a scene at the gates! He says if you don’t come out within five minutes—or refuse—he’ll storm in!”

    “An unidentified troublemaker?”

    “He won’t say who he is! Just keeps shouting that he’ll only speak to you directly!”

    Redem’s face twisted in irritation.

    ‘Who the hell is this? Someone I screwed over?’

    He had silenced or framed anyone who got in his way—so the list of potential enemies was… extensive.

    The problem was, he had too many people who might hold a grudge.

    No way to guess who it was.

    “Can’t the guards just throw him out? Why bother me with this?”

    He had hired private soldiers precisely to deal with nuisances like this.

    “T-that’s the issue, Master. They can’t.”

    “What do you mean, can’t?”

    “Four of our men have already been subdued by him.”

    That was surprising.

    His private soldiers weren’t pushovers—they were known for their strength in the region.

    For someone to take down four of them… this wasn’t some ordinary thug.

    ‘None of the people I’ve crossed are that strong… Did someone hire muscle?’

    Honestly, the idea intrigued him.

    “Fine. I’ll go see for myself.”

    “W-what? You’re really going out there?”

    “I want to see this troublemaker’s face.”

    If this guy was as capable as he sounded, Redem could use him—either as a bodyguard or to deal with future pests.

    Strong subordinates made life easier.

    And if he looked like some hulking brute, even better.

    Intimidation worked wonders in avoiding messy situations.

    “But just in case, gather all the guards.”

    “Yes, Master!”

    Redem wasn’t taking chances. If negotiations failed, overwhelming force would do the trick.

    He walked toward the main gate.

    Just as the butler had said, four of his men lay sprawled on the ground.

    More soldiers had arrived in the meantime, now forming a defensive line at the entrance.

    ‘Huh. He’s not as huge as I expected.’

    Given how easily he had taken down four men, Redem had assumed the intruder would be built like a bear.

    But the figure standing there wasn’t much larger than his own men.

    ‘…Those eyes, though.’

    Something about his gaze sent an involuntary shiver down Redem’s spine.

    But he couldn’t show weakness in front of his men.

    Just a few months ago, he wouldn’t have understood why nobles cared so much about appearances—but now, in this position, it made perfect sense.

    Show vulnerability, and your subordinates start looking down on you.

    So he had to project strength.

    And right on cue, the butler returned with over ninety guards in tow.

    ‘This should make him realize his mistake.’

    Mobilizing this many men for one guy was a bit excessive, but it drove the point home.

    By now, the intruder should have grasped just who he was dealing with.

    “So. Where did you crawl out from, you stray mutt? And who hired you? Speak nicely, and I might let you off easy.”

    Redem smirked, oozing confidence.

    But the intruder didn’t so much as flinch.

    “‘Stray mutt,’ you say?”

    His eerily calm response only deepened Redem’s confusion.

    ‘What’s his deal? Does he have some powerful backer?’

    Or was he just insane?

    The dim lighting made it hard to see, but as the man stepped closer, his features became clear.

    “Huh?”

    Black hair.

    Crimson eyes.

    Even if Redem had never seen him before, there was only one thing this combination could mean.

    ‘Schr… Schrantz…?’

    His time in House Erce hadn’t been wasted—he had heard plenty about Schrantz.

    And the one thing repeated most often was this:

    Every member of House Schrantz is born with black hair and crimson eyes.

  • How to Live as a Magical Genius at the Academy Chapter 53

    The day had finally come for the Dungeon Survival to begin.

    The top-rank and upper-rank class students, who were scheduled to go first, gathered early in the morning at the southern pier.

    “Training on an uninhabited island… it kind of makes my heart race.”

    “Don’t get your hopes up. We have to stay inside the dungeon for three days and two nights.”

    “If we give up in the middle, don’t we get to stay outside the dungeon?”

    Since this was the first time they were doing training off-campus, most of the students looked excited.

    “Everyone, line up!”

    “Board the ship in an orderly fashion!”

    The assistants from the Biological Department loaded the students onto the ship.

    After a few hours of sailing, they would arrive at the uninhabited island where the training dungeon, “Catacomb,” was located.

    “Hm, they all look so cheerful. I guess we’ll have to really work them hard!”

    “Take it easy, muscle-head. Safety comes first.”

    The ones exchanging words as they watched the students were Professors Murselt and Sylvia, who were in charge of this practical evaluation.

    They were colleagues from the Biological Department, teaching “Enhancement Biomagic” and “Healing Biomagic” respectively, but the two didn’t get along very well.

    “Hmph, that’s just like you, Professor Sylvia, not believing in the power of the body. The students will overcome all difficulties with enhancement magic!”

    “When they’re in danger, it’s healing magic that ensures their survival. Not that a muscle-head like you would understand.”

    The two had been classmates during their student days and were once rumored to be a couple… but due to differing magical philosophies, they became bitter rivals.

    This kind of falling out was common in the mage community.

    “Professors… can you two give it a rest already?”

    Klein, who had been watching from the side, let out a sigh.

    Though the practical evaluation was being led by the Bio-Magic Department, Klein, who belonged to the Lore Department and oversaw dungeon-related matters, was also tagging along.

    “Let’s all hope this wraps up safely and without incident.”

    “Haha. Don’t worry, Klein.”

    Murselt clapped Klein on the back with a massive hand.

    “Not once in Dungeon Survival history has there been a serious injury or fatality! Relax!”

    “Alright, alright, now stop hitting my back!”

    Klein let out a yell at the powerful backslap.

    Caw, caw.

    I looked up at an unknown bird flying over the ship and enjoyed the ocean breeze.

    The first time I boarded a ship, I wasn’t allowed outside, but this ship to the uninhabited island let us come out to enjoy the sea.

    A blue ocean… it’s nice.

    I’d been to the beach plenty of times before, but it felt refreshing to be completely surrounded by water like this.

    It seemed like lying down for a nap right here would feel amazing.

    “Blaaargh!”

    But my peace was suddenly broken by the sound of someone retching.

    “H-Helios! Are you okay?!”

    “Stop yelling… My head’s pounding… urgh!”

    “I didn’t know you were the type to get seasick.”

    Curious, I approached and saw Helios leaning over the edge of the ship, retching.

    Charlotte stood nearby with her arms crossed, and an unfamiliar girl was walking back and forth nervously beside him, watching with concern.

    “Helios, you’re seasick?”

    “E-Eriol? What are you doing here… urgh!”

    As Helios threw up into the ocean, the birds swarmed in, thinking it was food.

    It wasn’t a pleasant sight.

    “Hold still for a moment.”

    I constructed a spell in my mind.

    It wasn’t something we learned in class, but a healing spell I picked up while flipping through textbooks.

    “It’s a healing spell that eases dizziness. You should feel a bit better.”

    “Urgh… ugh…”

    Helios slumped weakly against the railing.

    He must have felt less dizzy, but the seasickness had clearly drained him.

    “Didn’t he say he was confident in his survival skills…? Doesn’t look like it.”

    “Getting seasick and exploring a dungeon are two different things… damn it.”

    Staggering, Helios got up.

    “I-I’ll go lie down inside for a bit.”

    “Yeah, get some rest.”

    “……”

    Helios glanced at me briefly before heading into the cabin.

    “A little thank you wouldn’t hurt. He’s got way too much pride,” Charlotte muttered, arms still crossed, clearly annoyed by his attitude.

    “Charlotte, you’re on a team with Helios, right?”

    “Y-Yeah,” she said, stammering a bit as she nodded.

    “Along with Ingrid here.”

    “Ah, hello!”

    The girl with the silver bob cut gave a deep bow.

    “I’m Ingrid Wiesbaden! I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr Eriol! It’s great to meet you!”

    Description of Image

    “Just call me Eriol, no need for the ‘Mr.’”

    “Ah, I’m sorry. I’m just not used to addressing people so casually…”

    She seemed even more formal than Senia.

    “I’ve been watching your achievements ever since you entered the academy and took first place every time! To be honest… I’m a fan!”

    “O-oh, really?”

    “Yes!”

    Rather than flattered, I felt more confused.

    I never imagined someone would call themselves my fan.

    “My grades are usually a bit unbalanced… so I’ve always admired how you excel across all fields!”

    “I see…”

    “Eriol, don’t take her too literally. This one placed eighth on the last midterms and ranks within the top ten overall.”

    Charlotte let out a sigh as she spoke.

    “She’s no slouch in practice either. Don’t underestimate her.”

    “C-Charlotte, there’s no need to say that to Eriol…”

    “Anyway, you’d better not let your guard down too much.”

    With that, Charlotte raised her finger confidently.

    “This time, our team is going to take first place in the Dungeon Survival. We’re not going to lose to your team.”

    “…”

    It had been a while since I’d seen Charlotte act so competitive.

    But unlike during the rookie tournament, it didn’t feel hostile.

    More like pure fighting spirit, in a good way.

    “Alright, let’s both do our best.”

    There wasn’t going to be any direct fighting between teams anyway, so a healthy rivalry would be good.

    When I nodded with a smile, Charlotte unexpectedly blushed.

    “W-What’s with that reaction? At least be a little more…”

    “What?”

    “N-Nothing.”

    She quickly turned her head with a huff.

    “I’m tired too, so I’m going to rest inside. See you later, Eriol.”

    “Yeah, rest well.”

    “Hmph…”

    Charlotte walked off, visibly annoyed about something.

    As I watched her go, Ingrid spoke up in a cautious voice.

    “You really are something, Eriol. To stand so confidently even in front of Charlotte… If it were me, I’d be shaking in my boots.”

    “I didn’t think she was all that scary though?”

    “N-no, of course not.”

    Maybe she was just a naturally timid person.

    “Um… actually, there was something I wanted to ask you.”

    “Me? What is it?”

    “I heard you’re pretty good at reading ancient spell languages. Is that true?”

    “Well… I didn’t learn it formally, but I can read it fairly well.”

    Even without official training, I was capable of deciphering things like Ancient Formula Language Level 3.

    It seemed that being exposed to so much magical material at the academy had awakened my spiritual aptitude for reading.

    “The truth is, the Wiesbaden family—my family—specializes in studying ancient texts and ruins. I came to the academy to study that field.”

    “Oh, so you’re aiming for the Transcendental Department?”

    “Yes, well…”

    Ingrid trailed off slightly.

    “So the thing is… I’d like to do a bit of exploration in the Catacomb aside from the survival portion.”

    “Didn’t the academy already finish exploring the Catacomb?”

    “They cleared out the monsters and traps, yes, but they didn’t examine everything inside.”

    “Hmm…”

    “The Catacomb is an underground tomb built by an ancient, wicked religion. There are supposed to be a lot of strange murals inside… I’d like to see them while I have the chance.”

    “I get what you’re saying.”

    I realized what Ingrid was trying to ask.

    “You want me to let you know if I find any murals with ancient writing on them, right?”

    “Y-Yes!”

    “If I come across anything special, I’ll let you know. Might not be until after the competition ends though.”

    “T-That’s perfectly fine! Thank you so much!”

    Ingrid smiled and bowed deeply.

    So deeply, I worried her head might fall off.

    ‘But still…’

    An ancient wicked religion, huh?

    I felt like I’d heard something like that before somewhere…

    The students were led by professors and teaching assistants from the academy during the Dungeon Survival, but there were other adults present as well.

    Namely, the sailors who operated the ships between islands.

    They were to remain on standby near the uninhabited island throughout the survival, in case of emergency.

    “Captain, it’s time for shift change. You can take a break now.”

    “Alright, first mate.”

    The captain stretched lightly as he stood from the bridge.

    Then he patted the first mate’s shoulder.

    “For the Red Moon.”

    “For the Red Moon.”

    They whispered something no one else could hear.

    And with that, the captain left the bridge, relieved by the first mate.

    “Thank you all for coming all the way here by ship!”

    Even without using amplification magic, Professor Murselt’s voice echoed across the island.

    “This uninhabited island’s ancient ruin—the Catacomb—has been remodeled by our academy into a training dungeon! There are no dangerous monsters, and no lethal traps either!”

    Students stationed throughout the island listened intently, tense expressions on their faces.

    There were over 30 entrances into the Catacomb, and each team was assigned a different one.

    “But don’t think it’s going to be easy! If you let your guard down, you’ll be crawling out on the back of a teaching assistant! Treat this like a real dungeon!”

    The students had been provided with half a day’s worth of food and water.

    Anything more would have to be obtained inside the dungeon.

    “Defeating the training monsters or disarming traps inside will automatically earn you points! There are also many ways to get bonus points, so do your best! Understood?!”

    “Yes…!”

    “Good!”

    Murselt responded with a booming voice that reverberated across the island.

    “Then let the Dungeon Survival begin! See you all in good health three days from now!”

    Rumble!

    The 30-plus entrances opened all at once, and the students began entering the Catacomb.

    The Dungeon Survival had begun.

  • Star Maker Chapter 54

    As soon as Personal Color appeared on the screen, the PR team office fell silent.

    Until now, they had been watching the show like office workers watching a soccer match during overtime, but now it was like stockbrokers staring at the graphs.

    It meant it was time to get to work.

    And the ones who became the busiest were the PR team staff.

    In just five minutes or so of Vivid’s stage, they had to summarize promotional points, capture usable screenshots for articles about Personal Color, and find appealing material for entertainment journalists.

    However, despite the workload, the PR team members felt somewhat discouraged.

    After all, PR was only satisfying when netizens reacted positively, or when reporters from the entertainment department hounded them for better sources.

    But judging from the broadcast so far, Personal Color’s role had already been decided.

    A team eliminated in Round 1, a sacrifice to generate buzz.

    Unless Vivid’s upcoming performance was truly extraordinary, it didn’t seem likely that this perception would be overturned.

    And from what they knew of Personal Color, the team didn’t have that kind of ability. If they did, they wouldn’t have made it this far just barely.

    Still, work was work.

    Determined to find something worth using, the PR staff placed their hands on the keyboard and focused on the TV.

    But soon, it wasn’t their hands that were moving—it was their mouths.

    “What the hell?!”

    “Director Kwon! What is this?!”

    When lead vocalist Baek Songyi started singing, the staff didn’t react much.

    The opening was solid, but Personal Color had always been technically strong.

    But when Riha, standing behind Baek Songyi, began her part, the PR office started buzzing.

    Because—

    “There’s no cutaway footage at all?”

    “No reaction inserts either!”

    “Cut baris” was slang in broadcasting for segment editing—cutting shots into parts.

    “Inserts” referred to additional scenes interspersed throughout.

    Just as the staff shouted, Vivid’s stage lacked the usual choppy editing or abrupt cuts.

    And even more shockingly, the screen—normally filled with constant transitions from PD Nam Yunsoo—remained still, almost disturbingly so.

    It was as if the only thing the show wanted to present was the song.

    Within that stillness, Personal Color’s members poured everything into their singing.

    “…Ah.”

    Initially surprised by the lack of editing, one by one, the staff began to be astonished by the performance itself.

    The Personal Color on the screen wasn’t the same team they thought they knew.

    It wasn’t the team that was technically good but lacked heart—the group on the verge of disbanding.

    Through Idol War, Personal Color delivered something the six teams before them hadn’t.

    Something that stirred the hearts of viewers.

    The performance built to its climax.

    After Woochan’s rap and Teiji’s singing came Jia’s part.

    And in the moment that “actress An Jia” became “singer An Jia,” a PR staff who had been silent until now suddenly screamed.

    “O-oh!”

    Because every time they hit refresh, a flood of comments was pouring in, too fast to count.

    “It’s working! It worked!”

    Kwon Hosan, whose face had been sullen and dark, shouted with excitement.

    Even though the earlier awkwardness from Personal Color still lingered in his mind, this stage was a successful reversal.

    Enough to keep the team intact and move forward with a proper relaunch.

    But PD Nam Yunsoo’s twist wasn’t over yet.

    In fact, the true reversal was only beginning now.

    It started with the chorus of Vivid.

    Vivid – Vivid –
    This is the moment to shine the brightest
    Vivid –

    Just as the catchy and easily singable chorus played, the static screen finally changed.

    What appeared were the awkward images of Personal Color from before.

    Members sitting far apart in the waiting room.

    Baek Songyi reaching for a box of bottled water instead of taking the bottle next to An Jia.

    But this time, it didn’t stop there.

    After Riha left her seat, An Jia was shown placing her cushion on Riha’s chair.

    Baek Songyi returned with water bottles for everyone and quietly placed them on the table.

    The previously shown awkwardness was now followed by moments of care and consideration.

    Behind every awkward scene Personal Color had shown, there had always been kindness.

    When the FD delivered lunchboxes and the members sat silently—

    —they were waiting for Woochan’s interview to finish so they could eat together.

    When Riha winced in pain from her high heels—

    —Teiji was later seen slipping slippers next to her without a word.

    It was impressive that PD Nam Yunsoo had discovered all of this.

    Thanks to his efforts, the viewers could no longer misunderstand Personal Color.

    They didn’t hate each other.

    In fact, they liked each other.

    They just didn’t know how to show it well.

    As the insert cuts showing their sincerity came to an end, the chorus of Vivid, previously lowered in volume, returned with full force.

    Vivid – Vivid –
    Clearer than anything else
    Vivid –

    The camera zoomed in on the members as they cried on stage.

    Slowly.

    One by one.

    Lovingly.

    Soon, the sound of applause and cheers from the audience judges could be heard.

    As the applause faded, audio from the post-performance interview began playing.

    Even as the members spoke honestly about the issues they had faced, the visuals continued zooming in on each of them.

    That was how Idol War ended.

    There was no montage or wrap-up after the Vivid performance.

    The zoomed-in shot pulled back to a wide angle, showing only the members of Personal Color holding hands.

    And maybe that was why the emotional impact of Vivid lingered.

    To anyone watching, the true stars of the first Idol War broadcast were Personal Color.

    The MOK PR office, now overwhelmed by the unexpected reversal, fell into stunned silence.

    The one to break it was Yoo So-yeon, a female staffer from Singer Team B under Team Leader Park Cha-myung.

    “Insane…! That was insane, right?!”

    Her outburst snapped everyone out of their daze.

    “That wasn’t just a hit! That was a megahit!”

    “Is one ‘mega’ enough? It was a mega-mega-megahit!”

    “Wow, what just happened? Is that really the same Personal Color we saw yesterday?!”

    “Oh no, I was so focused I didn’t even take any notes!”

    Listening fondly to the team’s excited chatter, PR Team Leader Choi Ki-seok clapped his hands.

    “Alright, let’s start organizing material to send to the journalists.”

    “Every scene was a highlight—how are we supposed to choose?”

    “What do you mean? Jia’s solo gave me chills!”

    “I vote for the crying members part!”

    “Aww, still, the most touching part has to be when the members were looking out for each other.”

    “Totally. And the way the visuals and the music synced up was just perfect. It felt like the song was made just for that scene.”

    “But seriously, doesn’t it feel that way? The lyrics themselves talk about personal colors… Ah!”

    A staff member from the PR team let out an exclamation.

    She had just remembered that all of Vivid’s lyrics were written by Personal Color.

    “Wait, so Vivid is like a letter the members wrote to each other?”

    At her words, Team Leader Choi Ki-seok nodded.

    “You just focus on compiling everything about the song. Don’t worry about anything else. Dig into that song.”

    “Yes, sir! I’ll dissect the lyrics to pieces.”

    “Don’t just focus on the lyrics. There’s something more unique than that.”

    “Huh? Like what?”

    Team Leader Choi clicked his tongue.

    “Does Vivid sound like your typical hook song?”

    “Oh…!”

    “The chorus only appears at the end, there’s no part swapping… Do I need to go on?”

    “They structured it that way to be more sincere, right?”

    “Exactly. And let’s get an interview from Prefer too… Oh, Prefer is handled by this guy here.”

    He slung an arm around Seon-ho’s shoulder.

    “Can you get an interview with Prefer?”

    “If it’s a written interview.”

    “Geez, picky as always. Fine, let’s go with written. I’ll draft the questions and you ask them nicely, got it?”

    “Understood.”

    “And you, you’re doing a written interview too.”

    At the unexpected suggestion, Seon-ho tilted his head.

    “Me?”

    “Who else would it be? Me?”

    “But why me?”

    “What do you mean why? You were behind every part of this performance from A to Z. The song, the choreography, the lyrics, taking care of everything on set. You even got them the casting, didn’t you?”

    Only then did the staff in the office recall that today’s stage had come to life through Han Seon-ho’s hands.

    Until now, Seon-ho’s skills were just rumors. But in this moment, there was no longer any doubt.

    Hearing Team Leader Choi’s words, Seon-ho asked,

    “Even so, would there be any need for me to be front and center?”

    “There isn’t yet… but who knows, there might be.”

    Choi Ki-seok grinned slyly and nudged him.

    “Be honest. You slipped PD Nam Yunsoo some cash, didn’t you?”

    “Huh?”

    Seon-ho was momentarily flustered but managed to compose himself.

    “What do you mean, cash?”

    “Otherwise, why would PD Nam feature you so much? Look at you getting all flustered. You totally paid him because you want to debut, didn’t you?”

    “It was only three or four times, though.”

    “Hey, there are thirty-eight performers on Idol War. Even if each one gets shown three times, that’s over a hundred appearances. And you think three or four is few? Especially when every shot was your best angle?”

    As Team Leader Choi pointed out, Seon-ho had indeed been on screen quite a lot.

    Especially during the discussion about performance order with Baek Songyi—his voice had even been heard.

    Then an older female employee chimed in.

    “Oh come on, Team Leader. It’s not that they only showed Seon-ho’s good side. He just looks good no matter how they film him.”

    “Oh wow, Ms. Kim, that’s a bold comment.”

    “What’s bold about it? I just wish my husband looked half as good as him.”

    While everyone was laughing, Team Leader Kang San and his actor management team slipped out of the office with stiff expressions.

    Team Leader Park Cha-myung clicked his tongue as he watched them leave.

    “Kang San’s way too petty. It’s the first time in three years there’s something to celebrate, and he can’t even say a word?”

    He then turned to speak to Kwon Hosan.

    “Congratulations, Team Leader. From now on, it’s only uphill from here.”

    “Thank you. It doesn’t feel real. This is all thanks to Seon-ho.”

    “Han Seon-ho, this guy. Ever since Autumn Leaf, I knew he had potential, but he really pulled something off this time.”

    Park Cha-myung patted Seon-ho on the shoulder a couple of times and asked Team Leader Choi,

    “Should we have Team B help out a bit too?”

    Choi, who had just gotten off the phone, nodded.

    “That would be great, actually.”

    By then, the PR team’s phones were ringing nonstop.

    Reporters, practically reincarnated as oxpeckers, were probably begging for juicy material to write articles with.

    Some of those calls were no doubt early attempts to book Personal Color ahead of the competition.

    Meanwhile, some staff with morning shifts left the office after offering their congratulations, while others settled in to help the PR team.

    Looking around at the PR team still buzzing with energy close to 1 a.m., Seon-ho felt a strange kind of emotion.

    He was watching his efforts become someone else’s happiness.

    “How do you feel?”

    Director Kwon Hosan had quietly approached.

    “I don’t know how to put it… but I think I’m happy.”

    “The kids in Personal Color are even happier. You should give them a call.”

    “You should do it, Director.”

    Seon-ho added firmly,

    “If it weren’t for you, Personal Color wouldn’t have made it this far. So you should be the one to call.”

    Director Kwon hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

    While he stepped away to make the call, Seon-ho checked his phone.

    It had been vibrating like crazy, and it was now filled with congratulatory messages from all kinds of people.

    Of course, Hye-mi, Su-rim, and Hanbit had texted, but also Director Yoo Ayeon and Hyun-seok.

    Even “Our Woochan,” whom he had run into at a cafe, had sent dozens of screenshots of online comments, just spamming them to Seon-ho.

    Her profile picture had even been changed to a screenshot of Woochan on Idol War.

    There were also tons of messages from managers, journalists, broadcasters, and staff from event agencies he’d met at university festivals.

    After a moment of thought, Seon-ho started typing a message.

    The recipient was PD Nam Yunsoo.

    He wrote and deleted, wrote and deleted—until finally, he just sent a short message: “Thank you so much.”

    The reply came quickly.

    -Don’t mention it. I didn’t do it to get thanks. I did it because I want my program to succeed.

    -Still, thank you.

    -I only picked that scene because it was the best one for the show. That’s all.

    After thinking a bit, Seon-ho sent over a coffee and chicken gift voucher.

    That’s when he started to feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on him. Looking around, he saw that most of them were staring.

    “What? Is something wrong?”

    “Seon-ho, pick up office phone, quick!”

    “Me?”

    Prompted by a PR staff, Seon-ho answered the call.

    “Yes, this is Han Seon-ho.”

    —Are you busy right now?

    The voice on the line was completely unexpected. While Seon-ho hesitated, it continued.

    —If not, come to my office for a bit.

    The voice belonged to none other than CEO Kim Dong-han.

    TL : Don’t tell me he wants to use Seon-ho just so his son can succeed.

  • The Regressed Extra Becomes a Genius Chapter 182

    “Ugh. It’s disgustingly hot…”

    Somewhere in the scorching deserts of East Africa, where it felt like my whole body might burn away.

    I pulled a water bottle from subspace and poured it into my mouth.

    Gulp, gulp.

    “Ugh.”

    My immediate thirst was quenched, but the fatigue in my body remained.

    That’s because I had completely drained my mana while testing out a newly acquired skill, Rain of Mana.

    I had anticipated as much, but Rain of Mana was just like Rune Bind—a mana-devouring beast.

    Even with Heart of Nature and Fighting Spirit activated together, just maintaining the spell was a struggle.

    Still, the results weren’t bad. Actually, they were satisfying.

    The skill’s power, tested against a swarm of monstrous locusts, exceeded even my expectations. As expected of an S-rank ability.

    “Oh, right.”

    Now that I think about it, a ton of messages popped up the moment I killed the locusts.

    Since I had to use Rain of Mana in Kim Sunwoo’s form during the final exam, I quickly left to avoid being seen and didn’t get the chance to check them.

    I opened the outsider’s privilege system to review the previous messages.

    [You have achieved the ‘Desert Traveler’ achievement.]

    [You have received 3,000 points as a reward.]

    [You have achieved the ‘Massacre’ achievement.]

    [You have received 5,000 points as a reward.]

    [You have achieved the ‘Locust Slayer’ achievement.]

    [You have received 3,000 points as a reward.]

    [From now on, ‘Locust’ monsters will feel fear toward you.]

    [You have successfully slaughtered monsters using a skill. Rain of Mana proficiency has increased by 8%.]

    “Oho.”

    I earned 11,000 points in one go.

    That felt pretty good, but what really caught my attention was the increase in Rain of Mana’s proficiency.

    Most of the skills I’d gained recently were fixed-type skills that didn’t even have proficiency levels.

    [Rain of Mana (S)]

    [Grade: 1 (8%)]

    Since the power and attributes of the skill change depending on the user’s abilities, it looks like it can be improved by leveling up its proficiency.

    It’s already this good—how much better will it become once it levels up?

    “Looking forward to it…”

    Being this satisfied made one thing all the more frustrating.

    Because of how unique the ability was, I couldn’t use it while in the form of Kim Jinwoo.

    If Kim Jinwoo used the same ability as Kim Sunwoo, people would eventually figure out they were the same person.

    “Tch.”

    Pushing that regret aside, I started walking through the desert again, and in the distance, I spotted a giant desert spider—just slightly smaller than my own body.

    A Ruins Guardian Spider.

    It was a monster known for its docile nature. It rarely attacked humans first.

    “……”

    I carefully observed the Ruins Guardian Spider.

    If the spider was here, that meant there were ruins nearby.

    The name “Ruins Guardian” wasn’t just for show.

    “…Desert ruins, huh.”

    Now that I thought about it, there was a part of the upcoming plot that required visiting a hidden desert ruin to collect Mysteries.

    Since I was already in the desert, I wouldn’t mind trying to explore the ruins… but unfortunately, I had another engagement today besides wandering the desert.

    I took out my smart student notebook to check the message.

    [There will be a Team B strategy meeting at 6 PM today in the 2nd Grand Auditorium of the Sage Building. All B-Team members are required to attend.]

    “Busy day.”

    It was 4 PM now, so I had about two hours left.

    Of course, I could instantly travel from here to Seoul using the interdimensional gate.

    The problem was… the gate was pretty far from here.

    Looking back, I really regretted not renting a car.

    How long was I going to have to walk?

    “Sigh…”

    Just as I let out a deep breath and started walking again through the desert—

    Three massive vehicles came barreling across the sands toward me.

    They were headed straight in my direction.

    I watched cautiously as the vehicles approached.

    The deserts of Africa had long become lawless zones unfit for humans, due to the frequent appearances and attacks of monsters.

    That meant there was a very real possibility of armed bandits.

    Thankfully, my mana had recovered somewhat.

    Even if those vehicles were full of armed thugs, I was confident I could defend myself.

    After all, their magical capabilities likely wouldn’t be worth worrying about.

    “Jinwoo?”

    But the voice that called out from the vehicle was completely unexpected.

    At the same time, a rear window rolled down, revealing a familiar face.

    Black hair. Stunning beauty that could charm anyone who looked.

    “Han Se-yeon?”

    It was Han Se-yeon.

    Her eyes went wide, clearly surprised to see me.

    “What brings you here? I never imagined I’d run into you in a place like this…”

    The feeling was mutual.

    Why was she here?

    As I stood there, stunned by the sudden encounter, the reason for her presence clicked in my mind.

    Africa was a monster-infested lawless zone, but it was also a land of boundless opportunity.

    Various energy resources, ancient ruins, and countless field monsters were hidden throughout the desert.

    You could say the entire African continent was one massive “Monster Field.”

    In the original story, Han Se-yeon expanded her business into Africa, seizing that potential and achieving tremendous success.

    It even became a stepping stone for her to close the gap with Han Se-jin—something that once seemed impossible in the Hanseong Group hierarchy.

    “I know, right? I didn’t think I’d meet you here either, Miss Han.”

    At my reply, Han Se-yeon stepped out of the vehicle with a bright smile.

    “So what brings you out here?”

    “I’m…”

     

    I closed my mouth for a moment and thought about what to say.

    It wouldn’t be good to associate the identity of Kim Jinwoo with the locust extermination.

    “I came to investigate a desert ruin.”

    “Ah~ Recently, a lot of ruins have been discovered around here. So, did you find anything?”

    “Like I said, I only came to check things out. But from what I’ve seen, it doesn’t seem bad. What about you, Han Se-yeon?”

    “Me too. I’m here to investigate the desert.”

    Han Se-yeon answered with a small smile.

    “Jinwoo, then where are you headed now?”

    “I’m on my way to the portal gate to return to Seoul.”

    “Oh? Same here. Then let’s go together. I’ll give you a ride to the immigration gate. Deputy Chief Yang, is that okay?”

    Han Se-yeon turned her gaze toward the window and asked someone. It seemed one of her companions was sitting beside her.

    Apparently, she got the okay, as she turned back toward me.

    “The team says it’s fine. Let’s go together.”

    I nodded.

    I was already worried about how long it would take to reach the destination, so I had no reason to refuse.

    “If you’re offering me a ride, I’d be happy to accept.”

    At my reply, Han Se-yeon gave a gentle smile.

    Then she opened the door and got back into the car.

    I followed her and was about to sit beside her when I made eye contact with a woman in her 30s sitting next to Han Se-yeon.

    “This is Deputy Chief Yang, who’s in charge of the development industry sector at our company.”

    “Nice to meet you. I’m Yang Wonjoo.”

    The woman called Yang Wonjoo bowed her head slightly in greeting.

    Yang Wonjoo… That’s a name I’ve never heard before. Probably nothing I need to worry about.

    “Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Jinwoo.”

    Yang Wonjoo stared at me for a moment, then gave a nod.

    And so, I sat beside Han Se-yeon. The cool air from the car’s air conditioner hit me the moment I got in, and it felt like heaven.

    The vehicle started moving right away.

    It drove forward across the rough sands.

    Still, with three people sitting in the back, it felt a bit cramped.

    Every time the car shook, Han Se-yeon’s shoulder bumped against mine..

    Feeling a bit awkward about it, I glanced toward Han Se-yeon—and at that moment, our eyes met.

    “…….”

    “…….”

    We both gave a small laugh at the awkwardness.

    As soon as I returned to Korea, I rushed to the Mage Academy’s auditorium.

    I had gotten caught up chatting with Han Se-yeon and ended up a bit late.

    The scheduled time was 6 p.m. It was now 6:12 p.m.—twelve minutes late.

    Clunk.

    When I opened the auditorium door, I saw a large crowd of students, probably around 150.

    Everyone turned their eyes toward me at the sound of the door opening.

    Lee Seo-jun, who was leading the meeting at the front, frowned and spoke to me.

    “Why are you so late?”

    “Ah, sorry. I had something personal to take care of.”

    At my reply, Lee Seo-jun shot me a glance but gave a light nod and resumed the meeting.

    I sat by myself in a seat toward the back.

    The meeting content was predictable.

    How to divide the roles for the Captain Match.

    “There are three main roles: Assault Team, Defense Team, and Support Team.”

    As expected, with the increased number of people, the roles were more specialized compared to the last Captain Match.

    Assault, Defense, and Support. You could probably guess their functions without needing much explanation.

    The Assault Team attacks the enemy, the Defense Team protects the captain, and the Support Team assists both depending on the situation.

    That’s the simple explanation, at least. In reality, it’s a bit more complex.

    For example, the Assault Team doesn’t just attack enemies—they also have to capture outposts to earn points and blessings.

    By the way, the blessings gained from capturing outposts include things like mana recovery and magic resistance.

    “First, we’ll vote on the role each person wants. I’ve sent the voting link via message in the Smart Student Notebook group chat.”

    I checked my Smart Student Notebook.

    Without hesitation, I voted for the Assault Team.

    Once voting ended, the meeting resumed.

    I listened half-heartedly, then got a bit bored and started browsing news articles on my Smart Student Notebook.

    [Who is Responsible for the 20,000 Dead Locusts Found in East Africa?]

    News of the locust massacre had spread faster than expected.

    Looking at the details, it said even the Tu Wang Guild, who first discovered the bodies, had no idea who was responsible.

    I had worried about being suspected after crossing paths with the Tu Wang Guild, but it seemed that concern was unnecessary.

    Well, wide-area magic users are common enough, and Kim Jinwoo is already known for a combat style focused on 1-on-1 fights, so that probably helped avoid suspicion.

    “Now that roles are more or less decided, we’ll vote for each role’s leader.”

    I looked up from the article at Lee Seo-jun’s voice. Apparently, it was time to vote for leaders.

    “Is there anyone who wants to volunteer as a leader?”

    At that moment, a woman with short black hair sitting in front raised her hand.

    “I’ll volunteer as the Support Team leader.”

    Even from behind, her sturdy and broad frame stood out.

    Jang Soo-yeon, 3rd year, ranked 2nd.

    She’s a reinforcement-type mage who uses a sword. She didn’t have much importance in the original story.

    Lee Seo-jun nodded and looked around again.

    “Anyone else want to volunteer?”

    “I’ll volunteer as the Defense Team leader.”

    This time, someone raised their hand from the left corner.

    I couldn’t quite recall the name since the character didn’t appear in the original story, but I think she was ranked 4th in the 3rd year.

    Her specialty was barrier and binding magic—support type.

    Since both the Defense and Support leader volunteers had great credentials, the students seemed to agree and nodded.

    “Only the Assault Team leader is left… Any volunteers?”

    No one raised their hand right away.

    Understandably so.

    While the Assault Teams of Teams A and C were composed mostly of manifestation-type mages who excel at wide-area magic, Team B had relatively more reinforcement-type mages.

    People probably didn’t want to take responsibility for a likely failure.

    I raised my hand.

    “I’ll volunteer as the Assault Team leader.”