Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Translator: Penny
Chapter 29
Adora is a girl group.
And not just any girl group—they're a solid second-tier group, three years our seniors, with a substantial fanbase. If we get involved with them, we're the ones who'll get screwed.
"It's just fanboying... Could I get an autograph...?"
"Don't even get close. Don't give them any reason to get involved with us."
Under my glaring gaze, Kim Dobin reluctantly lowered his head, casting lingering glances at Adora.
Before rehearsal, while watching the Adora sunbaenims take the stage to check their choreography, Kim Dobin looked around.
"Huh, Yuan Sunbaenim isn't here? Is she late because of a personal schedule?"
"But with one member missing, the choreography is getting a bit messed up."
As I watched Dobin dance along to the music, claiming he'd memorized all of Yuan's parts, I rubbed my throbbing temples.
It was a small mercy that we were performing seriously, not as a joke, which meant we wouldn't be embroiled in any scandals if we were filmed.
"Don't waste your energy before the rehearsal. Just stay still."
"Come on, Hyung, you know how much stamina I have. No need to worry."
"Fine. Just stay still. You're distracting me."
"Yes, sir."
Someone was watching us.
As a mid-tier idol group with limited experience and popularity, our performance slot was early, but our soundcheck and rehearsal were scheduled later. Still, the wait before going on stage wasn't long.
As we stepped onto the stage, the AR track began playing.
This was just a simple movement check. The full rehearsal would take place after the movement check was completed, about two hours before the actual performance.
The music cut off abruptly after the first verse.
Since the instrumental break wasn't included, it probably lasted around 1 minute and 10 seconds. That's why the wait for the movement check was so short.
Since the rehearsal would now cover the full song, the waiting time would be longer than before.
I sat slouched, propping my chin in my hand, watching groups of friendly artists gather in temporary tents set up as waiting rooms. They chatted amiably, and I scoffed coldly.
We used to be like that too—no, more accurately, just me. I remembered a time when I was part of a group that flaunted their camaraderie and chatted just like them.
As if summoned by my thoughts, someone who clearly wasn't a gentleman appeared before me.
"Eden Hyung, long time no see! Hajun Hyung, hello!"
"Wow, did you guys pave your faces with rubber flooring? They're so thick and bouncy, they might as well be made of rubber."
My remark, somewhere between admiration and sarcasm, prompted the KICKS member to try to retort with a still-grinning face.
"Hyung, what's with your attitude toward Sunbae?"
"Ah, yes, yes, esteemed six-month senior. What business brings you to address such a lowly flop idol group with a 'white house on a hill' concept?"
"No, Eden Hyung, don't talk like that. I just wanted to clear up some misunderstandings between us—"
"I distinctly heard with my own two ears from a KICKS member, a six-month senior, so I'm not sure what misunderstandings need clearing up."
"No, seriously, who told you all this?"
"Are you unfamiliar with the Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Act? How tired must that whistleblower have been of hearing your gossip to risk blowing the whistle? You're the ones lacking conscience, yet you're trying to punish the only one with any decency left?"
"Ah, Hyung, please—"
"I heard you guys even made detailed scoring charts to rate girl groups. Instead of wasting time hunting for whistleblowers, why don't you find some healthy topics to discuss—you know, something other than gossip and rating appearances—and focus on unifying your team first?"
I deliberately cut him off, using the most formal and sarcastic tone I could muster.
As the final touch, I clasped my hands together and bowed deeply, even pressing my palms together in a Buddhist-style anjali mudra. His face flushed crimson.
Now that I'd revealed their detailed scoring charts for rating girl groups, they couldn't deny the existence of a whistleblower in their group any longer.
Unity? Bullshit. Just keep tearing each other apart.
From behind, I heard the Maknae Line whispering among themselves.
"Wow, he's so reassuring. Even we're getting pissed off hearing this. I wonder what the other team must be thinking."
"They always said our family's dog was at its most reliable when it was biting someone else."
"Hyung, if Eden Hyung heard you call him a dog, wouldn't he kill you?"
"I trust Eden Hyung understands metaphors."
"Out of all the metaphors you could've used, why dog? Aren't you worried about getting your ass kicked?"
"I don't know. I'm getting scared now. I wish I could take back what I said earlier."
These guys are unbelievable... I can hear everything, you brats. Don't you ever learn from watching what happens to people who talk behind others' backs?
As the KICKS member kept glancing nervously behind him, as if pleading for help, the KICKS Leader sauntered forward.
The KICKS Leader stood with his arms crossed, gazing down at me as I remained slouched in my chair, chin propped up. He finally spoke.
"We're making a comeback next month, around mid-November. It's just a digital single, though."
"That's way too much information, Your Majesty. So what?"
"Why? I heard you guys are preparing for a comeback too. Looks like you'll be releasing something around the same time next month. Last time, our promotions overlapped at the very end, so we didn't clash. But this time will be different."
Ah, so they did come back in November. I was only focused on the January charts next year, so I didn't realize that. Not that it would have mattered much even if I had known.
My indifferent gaze met his eyes, which were brimming with malice.
We used to be quite close during our trainee days. How did things turn out like this? I guess I really have no eye for people.
"I'm going to crush you so completely that you'll admit with your own mouth that your success was just dumb luck."
"Finally showing your true colors, huh? You must have suffered so much suppressing your true nature while pretending to be friendly all this time. You'll find out next month whether our success is due to luck or skill. And from now on, if you so much as speak to me, I'll kill you. Remember that."
[Threatening language containing forbidden words detected.]
[Original Intent Score -2]
He continued to use mocking honorifics until the end, grinning smugly. But as his Original Intent Score dropped and the pain surged through him, his expression instantly vanished.
"Hey, I'm giving you ten seconds. Get lost."
His voice dropped to a menacing growl, and the KICKS members, clinging to their last shred of pride, turned away, desperately trying not to look panicked.
[Vulgar language detected.]
[Original Intent Score -2]
Another wave of pain washed over him, and he grimaced sharply.
Damn it, every time I run into those guys, my Original Intent Score drops by two points at once. At least Seo Yehyeon only costs me one point per drop.
How am I supposed to deal with these bastards without cursing?
"Why do they keep poking at people who are just minding their own business? Are they trying to piss me off?"
"They've always been like this. They just pick their targets carefully. That's why you didn't notice it before."
"So those bastards think I've become an easy target now?"
The furrow between Ryu Jaehee's brows deepened as he muttered gloomily, "KICKS should have seen that expression..."
Feeling a sharp, persistent gaze, he propped his chin on his hand and raised an eyebrow.
"What's with the staring? Still thinking about that legendary 'nicest group ever' that almost happened?"
Seo Yehyeon shook his head briefly in response.
"I guess he was being relatively gentle with me after all."
"Exactly. If I spoke to Hyung like those guys earlier, he'd cut off all communication and pretend I didn't exist for the rest of his life."
"Who do you think has a 'cookie-cutter' fragile mentality?"
"Yeah, that's based on experience."
Soon, the stage rehearsal began. They rechecked their stage outfits, hair, and makeup, and adjusted their in-ear monitors.
I slipped out of the waiting room to watch Adora line up in formation on stage. Yuan's spot remained empty.
The Adora managers huddled below the stage, whispering among themselves. One of them approached Manager Hyung.
"When we were checking the stage blocking earlier, the person who danced Yuan's part from below—would it be okay to have them stand in on stage briefly during the rehearsal?"
"Huh? Who was dancing...?"
Manager Hyung had stepped away when it happened, so he turned to us for an explanation.
When his eyes met Kim Dobin's, which were sparkling with eagerness, Manager Hyung fell silent.
"Me!"
The Adora Manager's face brightened as he spotted Kim Dobin, who had raised his hand enthusiastically.
"Yes, he's the one. Well, Yuan is running a bit late due to a personal schedule, and the other members complained that rehearsing without him would mess up the choreography... So they asked me to bring up whoever was dancing under the stage earlier..."
As the Adora Manager continued his lengthy explanation, Kim Dobin glared at our Manager Hyung with his eyes, urging him to agree quickly.
As soon as Manager Hyung nodded, I swiftly grabbed Kim Dobin's arm as he tried to follow the Adora Manager.
"Dobin-ah, if you even think about trying to get her number, we're both dead. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
I gripped his shoulders tightly, emphasizing my warning with a chilling intensity. Kim Dobin nodded desperately, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
And so, like a stray dog lured by the promise of food, Kim Dobin trotted after the Adora Manager...
"Why does his face look like that?"
"He's about to explode. Why is he so red?"
"Was it really the right choice to let Dobin Hyung perform on this stage? Looking at him now, I doubt he even remembers the choreography."
"At least we don't have to worry about any scandals."
After watching the dance practice video on the Adora Manager's phone backstage, I was now on stage, listening to the Adora members explain the choreography.
My face was flushed crimson, and my body was stiff as a board.
"What if he acts like this in front of other girl groups?"
"Eden, what's with calling your teammate 'that'?"
"Fine, I'll call him 'he' from now on."
"I saw him on a music show once. He was perfectly normal around other girl groups. It seems he only acts like this around Adora Sunbaenims."
Seeing him in this state, I suddenly regretted sending him to the rehearsal stage.
"Ugh, I hope he doesn't suddenly lose it and confess or do something crazy."
"Come on, the way he looks at Seo Raon Sunbaenim is probably the same as how Dobin Hyung looks at Adora Sunbaenims. I know him pretty well as his roommate."
"How am I supposed to know how you look at Seo Raon Sunbaenim?"
Ryu Jaehee responded to my casually tossed remark with a clear and concise answer:
"You don't see idols as romantic interests."
As Kim Dobin took his position in the formation, having memorized all the movements, a lively, upbeat melody filled the air.
It was hard to believe he had been stiff with tension just moments before. Kim Dobin now executed the refreshing choreography with a bright smile, which Ryu Jaehee, standing beside me, captured perfectly on his phone camera while clutching his stomach with laughter.
"Heh, did that Hyung swallow Yuan Sunbae or something? He's even mimicking his expressions perfectly!"
I also filmed Kim Dobin with my phone, squinting slightly as he moved through the choreography with the natural ease of a former Adora member.
"Why does he seem even more excited than when we're performing?"
Remembering that I hadn't attended this event in my first timeline, I couldn't help but chuckle wryly.
Seriously, isn't Kim Dobin the one benefiting the most from this regression?
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny