Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Why the Hell Is This Bastard Freaking Out?
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‘Is that Kang Minje guy getting bullied?’
That was when the woman who’d called 119 shooed out the spectating trainees, telling them if they weren’t going to work out, they should get lost.
The place fell silent in an instant, and then Kang Minje got up from his spot.
“See you later.”
He headed out of the gym. The crowded space emptied out in a flash, leaving me alone.
What the hell.
‘Whatever, not my problem.’
I focused quietly on my run. Luckily, time flew by.
***
Morning was quiet. I got out of bed and stretched. I was tired from lack of sleep, but I could manage.
That was when I rubbed my eyes again. Suddenly, someone spoke up.
“Don’t act so cocky.”
I nearly jumped.
I looked at him. His hungover face glared back at me.
I flashed a bright smile. Ah, my dear roommate asshole.
‘Fuck. What’s his deal?’
If you’re gonna get wasted, just crash nicely. Why the hell is this bastard freaking out?
Still, it was weird. Had I done anything cocky?
I quietly reviewed what I’d done.
So, yesterday after eating with Kang Minje, I came back to the room. The two guys were already drunk, so I introduced myself.
Then I washed up, slept, and woke up. That was it.
The early morning air was chilly. I was grabbing my smartphone and recorder to head out when he suddenly sat up and said that.
‘Never happened.’
If I’d really been cocky, I’d accept it, but no matter how I racked my brain, nothing came to mind. So I just tilted my head.
Then he spoke.
“You ate with Kang Minje? You acting all high and mighty ’cause you’re buddies with him?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
I turned to face him.
‘What was his name again?’
Come to think of it, he hadn’t told me. When I first came in, I’d politely said, “Hello, hyung. I’m Cha Dowon.”
“Being friends with Kang Minje…”
I grinned widely.
“Is that acting high and mighty?”
Who knew.
I was smiling nicely, but he looked pissed. He tried to get up but plopped back down from the hangover.
Tsk tsk tsk.
‘Young guy doing what he does best.’
One liver, kid.
“This fucker’s got a big mouth!”
His breath reeked of booze every time he spoke. I shrugged.
“Sorry about that. See…”
I grabbed my towel and stood up briskly.
“I don’t talk to idiots.”
Because it’s a waste of time. Why should I put up with their shit? It just stinks.
“Hey!”
“I’m off to practice. See you later, hyung.”
He mumbled something behind me, but I shut the door and left.
‘So that’s…’
The classic seniority bullshit.
‘Not even the army, damn it.’
I shrugged and crossed the living room. I thought it was empty, but someone was up.
“Oh, Manager.”
“First night—sleep okay?”
The plump manager was chugging soda first thing in the morning. I shrugged.
“You know about the profile photos next week?”
“What floor? What time?”
“Third floor. Time TBD. Didn’t Suyong tell you?”
I nodded. Who’s Suyong?
“I told him to…”
“He didn’t.”
“Forgot?”
“Feels intentional.”
The manager’s round eyes flickered. But he soon smiled awkwardly, like he got it.
“Th-they’re not bad guys…”
“Tell me important stuff directly from now on. Don’t rely on them to pass it along.”
The manager let out a long sigh and gulped down more soda.
“Stressing me out. Want one?”
“I’m good. But Manager.”
“What’s with the ‘Manager’? Call me hyung. Yongdam-hyung.”
The manager smiled good-naturedly.
“Soda’s allowed here, huh?”
“Of course. Worried about gaining weight? Whoa!”
The manager clutched his bottle and eyed me up and down.
“You trying to tattle to Mira too?”
Who’s Mira?
“Don’t! Mira’s scary as hell! My blood sugar was borderline at the health check, so chocolate bars are banned now.”
Real nutritious info. I furrowed my brow.
“Manager.”
I sighed.
“I got here yesterday.”
“Yeah? Right.”
“I don’t care if you chug soda by the case.”
The manager hugged his soda tight. The red liquid in the bottle looked so small and precious on his arm—it was gross.
“The soda I mean is the barley kind.”
He scratched his head.
“Oh, beer.”
“Allowed in the dorm too?”
His round eyes trembled slightly.
“Did those kids drink again?”
Again?
‘Not a one-time thing, huh.’
Real idiots.
“One more time and they’re done for…”
“Just fire them now?”
“Look, Dowon. That’s your name, right?”
I nodded.
“You just got here yesterday, so you don’t know, but this industry’s tough. They weren’t always like this.”
What’s that got to do with anything?
“One hundred come in, ten make debut groups, and three actually debut.”
“So?”
I walked on quietly.
“What’s that got to do with getting wasted?”
I couldn’t help laughing.
“If they’re gonna quit, tell them to quit. It’s easier.”
“Dowon, you’re too harsh.”
“You seem harsher, Manager.”
Half-assed.
“Saying such cruel things!”
Mercy.
“Isn’t beating around the bush crueler?”
I patted his shoulder and spun around.
“Be nice to the right people.”
Good people are useful. I didn’t hate this hyung type. But he wasn’t helping right now.
‘Too nice and you slip.’
Not my business, though.
I checked my watch quietly. Precious time ticked away. I fiddled with the smartphone in my pocket as I walked.
Totally worthless nutrition.
***
Dance practice was at five p.m. I put on my sneakers and stretched on the practice room floor. It was early, so I was alone.
I pulled out my smartphone quietly.
[cheat mode 0/3]
[Cha Dowon’s HP]
[70/330]
“Worn down a lot.”
Running on the treadmill and studying Chinese and Japanese drained HP in real time. I quietly activated the cheat.
[Change to 330]
[Changed to 330. Body updating.]
[Side effect: Itchy toes for 5 seconds.]
Itchiness hit soon after, but my body felt refreshed. I pocketed the phone.
I’d learned something from using it the past few days.
‘Recovery has minimal side effects.’
Cheating physical abilities came with annoying, painful costs, but recovery was easy.
“Problem is HP doesn’t grow.”
Still, building stamina raised it bit by bit. Started at 300. I smirked wryly and stretched more.
That was when people poured in. Some new faces, some I’d seen twice.
‘Oh?’
My roommates were there too. I smiled brightly and bowed.
“Hello. I’m Cha Dowon.”
I was smiling at them, but none of the six or so greeted back.
“Ah!”
I scanned their faces one by one.
“Ignoring me?”
I asked lightly, and a few glared obviously.
“Oh, uh, I’m Lee Younggon.”
“I’m Joo Kihoon.”
Two or three greeted me. Got the vibe. I kept smiling.
“Please take care of me.”
They nodded hesitantly.
Then the instructor came in. I kept smiling big as I looked at him.
“One new face?”
He spotted me right away. The choreographer who made Yumi’s dance for the audition.
I bowed slightly and looked up.
“Sit up front for now. Oh, already did. Smartass.”
The choreographer ruffled my hair lightly.
“Name?”
“Cha Dowon.”
“Just follow along for now. We’ll rebuild your joints from basics.”
Threat?
“Don’t be too scared. You’ll survive.”
Half-dead, maybe.
I raised both hands in surrender then lowered them. He grinned at me.
“Kids, music’s up! Watch close—you’re next.”
The trainees lined up in two rows. Music started, and they moved in perfect sync.
‘Hmm.’
Gaps in the formation here and there.
‘Those who went home, huh?’
Not my business. But surprising.
‘They dance well.’
Pretty good for drunks last night. Music ended, and the instructor handed me a tablet PC.
“Dance is here. Second one. Learn this first. It’s a test.”
I nodded.
“Check in three hours. Do what you can. Figuring your position.”
“If I do well…”
Ah, test.
I smiled sweetly.
“Get the best spot?”
He grinned.
“Ambitious one.”
He pointed quietly to the corner.
“Rookie dreamer, practice there first. Rest of you, eyes front!”
Misleading words, respected teacher.
Unaware or not, he busied teaching them moves. I went to the corner, plugged in earphones, and checked the choreo quietly.
‘Complicated.’
Not easy. Basics mixed with advanced.
‘Makes sense for a test.’
I memorized desperately. Reps got the moves rough, but angles sucked.
Clock said an hour gone.
‘Damn!’
Two hours left. Pathing simple, but moves mixed up. Then a voice from the side.
“No big deal.”
“Acting all cocky.”
“Thought Kang Minje hyped him, but just a mediocre retard.”
I stared blankly.
“What’ll you do if he nails it?”
“Eyesight’s trash. Can’t get angles. Advice from a senior: go home.”
Senior my ass.
I smiled brightly. Didn’t know what was missing, but they helped big time.
“So my eyesight sucks, huh? Seniors?”
I replayed the video. Arm bends in the clip weren’t clear.
I pulled out my smartphone quietly.
‘Thanks for the advice.’
[Cha Dowon Eyesight]
[D rank. Change?]
[To A rank]
[Impossible with current body state.]
[To B rank]
[Impossible with current body state.]
[Then C rank]
[Changed to C rank. Body updating.]
[Side effect: Bloody tears for 5 minutes.]
[cheat mode 2/3]
Damn. Bloody tears? Not here. I tapped frantically.
[Side effect in 5 min → 5 hours]
[Changed. Bloody tears for 10 min in 5 hours.]
[cheat mode 3/3]
[Resets at midnight.]
‘Didn’t know.’
Can adjust side effect timing. Costs extra and uses a cheat though.
Then it hit.
My eyes stung like needles stabbing under them. Like raw garlic rubbed in. I just breathed hard.
Pain was brief.
I rubbed my eyes and replayed.
‘Wow.’
Clear now. Moves replayed perfectly in my head.
I stood and followed. Mirror me nailed the choreo.
Felt exactly how each move went.
‘That’s it.’
Others sat exhausted, chatting shit. I bowed sincerely to them.
‘Listen to seniors and rice cakes fall in your sleep.’
Adjusting angles in the mirror, I grinded quietly. They ignored my hard work.
‘Gonna shock my seniors.’
Two hours later couldn’t come soon enough.