Chapter 87: Job Competency Improvement Program (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 87: Job Competency Improvement Program (1)
Spark’s songs were notorious for their high notes.
With high-note specialist Park Ju-woo and vocal master Jeong Seong-bin leading the charge, and Choi Je-ho and Kang Gi-yeon being no slouches themselves, every member of the team managed to pull off those hellish tracks with ease.
Even the group’s rapper, Lee Cheong-hyeon, was a good singer. Apparently, when the agency held auditions, they graded vocal ability regardless of the applicant's intended position.
So, while I understood why there was so much trust in the members' singing abilities…
‘Still, isn’t this a bit too high?’
This was a problem on a completely different level from the main vocals struggling. Even I, a sub-vocalist, was being forced to show off high notes!
For someone whose loudest shout in life had been trying to stop Department Head Nam from driving home drunk, this was simply too cruel.
“But Hyung, if we lower the key here, the upbeat vibe just doesn't come alive.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who had been gauging my reaction, lowered the key and played the track again. The song’s impact was definitely weaker than before.
I was supposed to be helping these kids take first place, but instead, I was going to ruin the song and get us panned just because the key was lowered for my sake?
“We can’t have that.”
“Right? And honestly, our members are more than capable of handling this!”
Does that ‘our’ happen to include me? If so, you’ve made a grave miscalculation.
‘In those webnovels with game systems… they usually, you know, boost your stats and stuff.’
I thought back to all the webnovels I’d managed to binge-read during my recent breaks. They were my only source of information regarding systems.
When I was truly desperate, I’d even considered sending an inquiry email to a webnovel author to ask how a system’s architecture was actually structured—that’s how far gone I was.
I hadn't finished all the series that were over a hundred chapters long, but thanks to them, the System didn't feel like a completely alien existence anymore.
However, I had developed a new grievance with my own boomer-like System.
While other systems gave out money and legendary items, this System—wearing the mask of Department Head Nam—had been keeping a low profile lately.
‘Don’t I get any experience points or anything this time?’
As I muttered to myself internally, the System appeared.
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[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ Seeing as you’re having such idle thoughts, Assistant Manager Kim must have a lot of free time lately, huh? When a person is truly busy, eh? They don’t have time to think.
+
Yeah, fuck you too. I wasn't expecting much anyway.
Nothing else for it. I’ll just have to consider my vocal cords dead starting today.
Seeing my determined expression, Lee Cheong-hyeon asked, “What are you so worried about? It should be well within your vocal range, Hyung.”
Sure. If I pinch my thighs hard enough, the sound might come out.
And then I’ll be inducted into the Hall of Fame for the most unsightly male idols. I could already hear my cracking high notes being sold as Shorts on YouTube.
Before my darkening vision, the System—with a soul blacker than pitch—reappeared.
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[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ By the way, Assistant Manager Kim, are you expecting something? A package arrived for you. Don’t order personal packages to the office. This isn't a post office.
+
The only things I was expecting were the quote from the filming studio and the demo tape Lee Cheong-hyeon promised to turn in by this week. What was it talking about?
I grumbled internally.
And as always, the System only said what it wanted to say…
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[SYSTEM] The ‘OJT’ period is being notified to ‘Party B.’
▷ Period: 20XX.03.XX ~ 20XX.03.XX (7 days total)
▷ Purpose: Strengthening job competency through collective education and training
▷ Target: All 6 members of Spark
▷ Condition: Achieve a minimum of 5 hours of daily practice per task during the OJT period
▷ Reward: Proficiency increases by 1 for each task that meets the 5-hour minimum practice requirement for all 7 days.
+
‘Proficiency increase?’
…I took the bait immediately.
This was an offer I couldn't ignore.
Lately, no matter how much I practiced—even after gaining real-world experience on stage—my proficiency levels had barely budged.
Furthermore, I wasn't the only target this time.
This was a chance for the Spark kids—whose skills had plateaued at a high level—to grow like beanstalks.
‘It’s a crying shame the high schools aren't on break right now.’
A sigh escaped me. Why did this team have so many minors!
While I was lamenting, Lee Cheong-hyeon asked me, “Hyung, what are you thinking about?”
“Thinking about how we all need to work ourselves to the bone to make your song shine even brighter?”
I gave a bright smile to Lee Cheong-hyeon, who was working so hard to produce a great song. It looked like I needed a plan for some desperate special training.
But before that.
‘Instead of just hitting the 5-hour minimum, how about you raise proficiency by 1 for every 5-hour unit?’
According to the System’s proposal, even if we practiced 10 hours every day for 7 days, proficiency would only go up by 1.
On the other hand, if it were calculated in 5-hour units, that same 10 hours of practice could raise proficiency by 2.
If we were going to be run into the ground anyway, I intended to squeeze out every bit of reward possible.
+
[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ Assistant Manager Kim. You know, a company isn't obligated to grant every single thing an employee wants, right? That’s for the company to decide. You’re crossing the line right now.
+
Even the law says a person who works 4 hours gets a 30-minute break, you bastard.
When I persisted with my petty nagging, the System finally accepted my proposal.
You should have just done that from the start. Honestly, these ‘Party A’ types never think for themselves until ‘Party B’ gives them a nudge.
Now the remaining problem was how to convince the boys.
Ten hours sounds easy, but practicing for ten hours on top of their workouts and lessons meant they would have almost no break time.
Forget breaks. By their standards, they’d have to cut back on sleep too.
Even though the recommended sleep time is 8 hours a day, these kids were already sleeping far less than that. I didn't want to reduce that time even further.
‘Maybe I should just practice 20 hours a day myself and focus on bringing up the average stats…?’
Just as I was entertaining that absurd thought, Jeong Seong-bin approached me.
“Iwol-hyung, what are you thinking so hard about?”
Right, I should discuss this with the organizational leader.
It’s not that I lack confidence in persuading people. But it’s not like I’m overflowing with it either.
Still, tricking kids who have lived far less than I have felt like a matter of conscience rather than capability. I steeled myself and broached the subject.
“Hey, Seong-bin. Do you believe that effort leads to results?”
I swallowed hard after asking.
It weighed on my mind to say something like this to Jeong Seong-bin, who had struggled through a long trainee period and suffered because of evaluations.
That was exactly why I had come to persuade him first, but…
Seong-bin’s answer was completely unexpected.
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“Huh? You do?”
“Is there anything you can’t achieve through effort? I mean, I’ve realized that sometimes it takes a lot more effort than I initially expected, though.”
Seong-bin gave a bitter smile. I made a huge fuss, hoping his mood wouldn't sink too low.
Fortunately, Seong-bin’s expression soon returned to his usual gentle face.
“But I did debut in the end. I believe in the power of effort.”
Fuck, you’re all grown up. You’re more of an adult than I am…
He was so admirable that I wanted to give him an ‘Outstanding Colleague of the Month’ award.
If this kid, whose mental state had been so shattered, had debuted a year later like in the original timeline, how would he have felt?
Furthermore, what would he have thought when the team he debuted with after enduring such hardships eventually disbanded?
All sorts of stray thoughts flashed through my mind. I brushed my hair back, trying to shake them off.
Focus. Selling these kids a dream comes first today.
I put on my most innocent smile and asked Seong-bin, “Hypothetically, if you practiced exactly as I told you for just one week, and you were guaranteed to get results corresponding to that effort… would you do as I say?”
“Guaranteed?”
“Yeah, for sure.”
The System didn't lie, after all. It just didn't always say the things it should say.
Seong-bin tilted his head for a moment before answering.
“I’d do it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’d probably do it even if there weren't guaranteed results. It’s not like you’d ever make us do anything bad for us, Hyung.”
What a touching answer. This instructor will make sure to run you guys ragged with all his heart and soul…
I was soaking in a wave of emotion when Seong-bin spoke up with a serious face.
“But, Hyung.”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“Hyung… you’re not in a cult, are you?”
Do I look like I’m in a cult?
Me, who woke up after working overtime to find I’d lost my degree, lost my job, and even had my career path forcibly changed? I’m at the point where I wouldn't believe in God even if He existed.
I was so dumbfounded I was about to just stand up and leave, but Seong-bin’s expression was far too serious.
He looked tense, as if he expected me to start preaching the ‘Good Word’ at any second.
I’m not in a cult. This is so unfair.
I mean, sure, you should be wary of cults around you, but still!
I rubbed my face hard with both hands.
Then, with a smile of total resignation, I spoke to Seong-bin.
“Listen carefully, Seong-bin.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Actually…”
I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again. I sent Seong-bin a look of pure sincerity.
“That one week… is when the energies of the universe align.”
“…Pardon?”
Seong-bin looked blank.
Yeah, I know you don't understand me. I don't understand myself either.
But I didn't want to be branded a dangerous person and kicked out before hitting my KPIs, nor did I want to give up the chance for all the members to hit a third growth spurt.
I even placed a hand over my heart to look as sincere as possible.
“My ancestral spirits told me. I would have told you sooner if I’d known, I’m sorry.”
“Um, Hyung.”
“You know ancestral spirits are part of folk belief, right? I’m really not in a cult. I’m not going to go proselytizing, I’m not going to buy religious items to wear, and I’m not going to sell you guys Octagonal Negative Ion Carbonated Water. I promise.”
After I squeezed my eyes shut, grabbed Seong-bin’s hands, and made my vow, silence fell over the emergency staircase.
And a few seconds later, Seong-bin’s explosive laughter filled the stairwell.