Chapter 37

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 37

Chapter Title: I'm~ Your Man~!!

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Ching! Ching! Ching! Ching!

I was shaking the tambourine in a trance, like some spirit had possessed me.

"Hey, Han Kyung-jun, you lunatic~ The song's already over~?"

"This next one... who requested it?"

"Whoa, damn, this song slaps for real."

"I did. Feel free to join if you wanna sing along."

"Ah, it's starting. I'm singing along too! Karaoke in Korea means a full group sing-along~!"

The kids were itching to sing, caught up in the excitement of my tambourine playing.

"Unnie's too pretty~"

"I'm going crazy watching unnie~!"

"Ha, but now! I'm tired~♪"

They were belting it out so wildly.

To the point where I wouldn't hear each other unless I shouted.

Ching! Chaaang~! Chaaang... Ching!

Meanwhile, instead of singing, I kept checking the status window in front of me while varying my tambourine rhythm to match the beat.

At first, I was worried they might not like it because of the cigarette smell and the shabby interior.

But with the great vibe now and the status window confirming it...

They were genuinely having a blast at karaoke.

And so was I.

Ching! Chaaang... Ching! Chaaang!

My head felt like it might spin off from all the non-stop tambourine shaking and headbanging...

How could I not be thrilled seeing those steady rewards pop up?

And on top of Life Points, my Inssa Force was rising and Assa Force dropping.

This was totally jackpot?

It was called the Inssa Mock Exam, scaring me like I'd fail and get nothing...

But now it just looked like the status window dying to shower me with rewards?

Ching! Ching! Ching! Ching! Chaaang~!!

Haha!

This tsundere status window!

The reason I was going all out shaking this tambourine like a madman?

I coveted the reward too much.

The prize for acing the Inssa Mock Exam at this karaoke spot was something I desperately wanted.

My 1st Life enemy cloud.

A virtual space holding all the study and research data I'd devoted my life to before regression.

In other words, if I aced this Inssa Mock Exam with A+ grades...

I could pull any of my 1st Life future data at will.

This was insane.

Shattering causality harder than regression itself.

It made begging the status window every chance I got feel so worth it.

And pulling an all-nighter to drag myself here—no regrets at all.

Definitely an enormous reward.

"(It's only 100MB, not much, but still) it's awesome...!"

As long as I stayed under 100MB, I could bring anything.

PDF papers: dozens of pages at least.

Even a hundred-page one was doable.

Stressing again: this was huge.

Even as a KAIST grad with my PhDs and postdoc to professor...

What I could do with just my brain had limits.

I wasn't some photographic memory genius.

Papers I'd written, research I'd slaved over all-nighters...

A few years later, details faded except the core.

That's why we write papers.

Daily research logs to record and organize everything—for that reason.

"Awesome! Too good! Jackpot!"

This was my biggest worry post-regression.

Future memories fading over time had me so anxious.

No more.

Just get Cloud Access, and I'd overcome my memory limits.

Plus, pump 'Memory' in Intelligence with Life Points...

Then I'd remember every detail of my current studies and 1st Life research.

Birth of a study monster: regressed KAIST middle schooler.

Not instantly, though.

This three-sub-objective Inssa Mock Exam needed full clears for A+.

Ding!

Good.

First one's cleared.

Second goal: give them the best karaoke memories.

Ching! Ching! Ching!

So I pour my heart into the tambourine.

Super earnestly, super intensely.

Shaking it with all my life.

Yeah.

I'm just a prop to hype their mood.

A background screen existing solely for them—like the bassist in a band.

Bass is cool.

Unlike vocals or drums, it's the least flashy...

But without it, the song feels empty right away.

That's me: the silent powerhouse. Haha.

"Whoa, shit! That was insanely good! Crazy! Awesome! One more song!"

"What's up with Han Kyung-jun~?"

"...Should we send him to the hospital?"

"He's totally lost it."

"K-Kyung-jun... you okay...?"

"UHAHAHA! Sorry, let's go~!!"

I voluntarily went nuts.

Hyped the mood like a maniac.

Probably already gave them the best memories.

So I could just fade into the background without singing...

"Hey, Han Kyung-jun. Why aren't you singing~?"

Damn.

"We've been singing alone forever~ Let's sing together~"

"...I'm on backup. How dare a lowly stone like me touch the mic? You ladies sing, and this humble stone will stick to tambourine..."

"Ah, that's too noisy. Please stop."

"Agreeing with Lee A-ram for once. Why does every song's rhythm go off the rails? You can't keep a beat?"

First time witnessing Hong Ja-hee and Lee A-ram agree.

No hope for those two.

I turned to our sweet So-mi.

"...Does Miss Han So-mi share this opinion too?"

"Uh, um..."

Han So-mi pondered.

"But we're at karaoke... shouldn't you sing at least one...?"

"..."

She sided with Yu Eun-ha.

No one on my side...

No, forget that.

Wasn't my tambourine backup legit?

Lots of praise from people.

Asked that, instant reply.

"Your backup sounds like trot or some cheesy uncle tune. Who even praised it?"

"..."

Lee A-ram finished me off.

Couldn't deny it.

It was true.

Aside from once with my ex-wife...

Karaoke was always with grad seniors or profs.

All uncles, including me.

"...Even without me singing, won't this be your best memory?"

"If you sing one, it'd really be the best memory ever."

"Ooh, A-ram, well said~!"

Lee A-ram smirked with one corner of her mouth.

So annoying.

"..."

No escape.

Backing out now would tank the mood via express train.

"Ugh, I really don't wanna... sigh."

Had to grab the mic despite hating it.

The girls went "Ooo~" with mocking claps, pushing me deeper into hell.

Solo was fine.

But in front of people? Only once, dragged to karaoke with a prof and weird hostess.

Half-drunk then.

Otherwise, always backup.

Even profs admitted it.

Don't sing, just backup.

Elite uncles rated me that way.

I was terribly tone-deaf.

Profs were one thing.

But my ex-wife, right after seeing my true sound...

Never went karaoke again.

But now.

"...Eun-young, right?"

"You memorized the number too?"

"Whoa, Han Kyung-jun pretending not to care but all prepped."

"Can't wait~ Right, So-mi?"

"Yeah... somehow I think you'll nail it."

~♪ ~~♬ ~♩ ~♭ ~~♬

The requested number loaded and started playing.

"O! I know that song~!"

"XX501. That one, right?"

"Ah, that addictive crazy one? Kept hearing it mid-StarCraft, lost rank-up cuz of it."

"Somehow... feels familiar."

Double X zero one.

XX501, famous boy idol group back then.

Title track: I'm Your Man, highlighted in lyrics multiple times.

Now just catchy Inssa tune.

But in 10 years, re-evaluated as insanely addictive.

Especially "I'm~ Your Man~!" hook so sticky.

Netizens called it Suneung banned song.

Hear it, then in exam room, brain loops "I'm~ Your Man~!" ruining the test.

"...Don't mock if I suck."

I laid the groundwork.

"Got it."

"Won't mock~"

"If you suck, I'll roast you endlessly."

"Ahaha..."

No use.

Better if they just mocked.

I'd suck so bad it'd kill the vibe, not even roast-worthy.

Too late now.

Put your phone back down

Tears staining your eyes

Lyrics on screen.

Countdown: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Honestly wanna quit now.

Even moral debate presentation...

Or home ec aggro on Park Ra-heol...

Never this tense, heart pounding.

Lee A-ram.

You asked if I wasn't scared of being hated?

Scared.

Of course, terrified.

Anyone would be.

That's why 1st Life, I lived as Assa.

If temporary, no biggie.

If hated from start, wouldn't care.

But first goodwill in 37 years.

No ulterior motives.

Just fun, random class bonding.

Casual kindness received.

That's why fearing it'd shatter...

Paradoxically scarier.

However,

Inssa or Assa...

All the same.

Decided to live together.

Hedgehog's dilemma to embrace.

"...!"

I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Put your phone back down~♩ Tears staining your eyes~♪"

Started singing.

Quiet.

Only my voice.

Probably shocked.

Opened eyes thinking that.

"...?"

Totally wrong.

"Ooo..."

"Knew it."

"Waa..."

"Tch, not bad."

Kids watching with admiring eyes.

Not disappointed.

Too unrealistic all four deaf.

Then what...

"...So close, so close~♪ Everything hurts me so~♪"

Kept ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠singing, realized.

My voice, mic to speaker—amplified.

Surprisingly decent.

Not pro-level...

"So close, everything's too missed ~♩"

Huh? High note rising?

"So close, close, close~♬"

Yeah? Tough beat flowing naturally?

Ah.

Charm stat affecting singing?

Then...

To nail this quest.

Get my future cloud.

Whoosh!

Spin around forcefully.

Firm vow to hold off on Charm for a bit...

Set aside.

Bumped Charm by 3.

"No one but you for me~↗ No one~♬"

Way past average 10 Charm, belting full voice.

Proudly shouted.

"I'm~ Your Man~!!"