Chapter 171
Chapter 171
Have you ever heard the ghost story about finding a doll you threw in the trash sitting right back at your front door?
That’s exactly how I feel right now.
‘Why is this showing up here?’
The trait I just pulled was ‘That sounds right.’
It was a C-rank trait I’d drawn during the early days of Aju-sa and used to persuade Seon A-hyun, only to delete it once I debuted.
The fact that it popped up again was ridiculous enough, but something else was even more absurd.
‘Why is the rank A?’
In my experience, if you pull a trait you already have, it synthesizes into a higher rank, but usually, the name changes.
‘Is this system just completely disorganized?’
I didn't understand why the name remained the same. Surely it wasn't some "trash game" logic where they just buffed the rank to A because it was useful.
First… let’s check the details.
[Trait]
‘That sounds right (A)’ acquired!
- Causes emotional stir in the listener.
: Activation probability 60%, default state: Active.
“…Hmm.”
The description was the same, but the probability had definitely increased. I believe it was 35% at C-rank, but here it was 60%.
‘If that’s the case, it’s definitely a higher rank even if the name didn't change… but why?’
At that moment, a thought crossed my mind.
‘Is this a warning?’
Come to think of it, I’d once formed a hypothesis that whenever a new trait appeared, a moment to use it inevitably followed.
And that hypothesis… had been mostly correct so far.
So, perhaps the reason the name didn't change was to make me think twice—a warning to make sure I took this trait….
‘I’m overthinking it.’
I shouldn't focus too much on the status window’s intentions. It wasn't like I hadn't been blindsided by it before.
Still, there was no need to ignore it just because it felt ominous. I had to judge objectively.
“…….”
I tapped my arm with my finger before eventually shrugging.
‘Well… I was going to swap it anyway.’
An ‘emotional stir’ was a useful ability in many ways.
‘This is the right choice.’
I manipulated the trait slot.
[Trait: International Student (A) has been deleted!]
And so, the trait ‘That sounds right (A)’ re-entered my status window. Congratulations on getting your position back.
Now, all that was left was investing the stat points….
“Yeah. I agree with Se-jin that the basics are the most important. But I think it’s more about mindset than technical aspects. It’s important not to lose your rookie mindset, you know?”
“Mm~ That could be true!”
“I-I also… think the heart is important…!”
“That’s right! Heart! Personality!”
No, that’s not the kind of "heart" I meant.
Besides, they’d reached a conclusion that had absolutely nothing to do with stat investment.
‘Good grief.’
But since these guys looked so heartwarming, as if they’d reached a grand consensus… I decided to leave them be.
“So the conclusion is mindset… Wait, why were we talking about this again?”
“Moon-dae hyung asked!”
At Cha Yu-jin’s remark, Ryu Cheong-woo turned his head toward me. I avoided his gaze.
“…I just asked because I was bored.”
“Ah, I see.”
Ryu Cheong-woo laughed awkwardly.
“I thought you said it to help us get our heads in the game. Since we have new promotions coming up soon.”
“Ah~ We can just use it for that! Good luck with the comeback!”
“G-Good luck!”
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted into cheering for a successful comeback. Man.
‘At least everyone isn't as high-strung as they used to be.’
The group was now firmly established on its trajectory. We had good songs and choreography.
And since repackage albums usually have short intervals and similar configurations, there was less expectation for record-breaking results, which actually seemed to reduce the pressure.
There was no need to worry about being held back by the new season of Aju-sa either. Since the company would be laying low for a while due to the industrial espionage incident, it wouldn't be difficult to refuse appearances or interviews.
I heard that in the recently aired Episode 6, they were doing something crazy called a "Stock Sell-off Discount"—basically selling ‘minus votes’ for cheap.
Since it wasn't my problem, it felt like watching a fire across the river.
‘Hmm, should I take it a bit easy this time too?’
It would be a lie to say I didn't feel like dumping points into Dance just to make things physically easier on my body.
I looked at the still-open status window and let out a short laugh.
‘What am I saying? I’m the guy who dies if I don't gather 200,000.’
Let’s be efficient.
Since the performance for this song wasn't particularly intense, it was better to emphasize other elements to make the stage more attractive.
‘It all converges into one thing anyway.’
I raised my stats exactly as I’d first planned.
Bringing Star Quality from B+ to A-.
‘Well, even with this, I’m no match for Cha Yu-jin.’
Still, I was curious to see what kind of difference there would be compared to when it was B.
*
Thursday afternoon, October 17th—two weeks after Park Moon-dae finished settling his status window.
“Comeback!!”
Park Moon-dae’s Fansite Master shouted, unable to contain her overwhelming excitement as she watched the music video and streamed the audio on her tablet and spare smartphone respectively.
A common phrase was displayed on all those screens.
[TeSTAR - Picnic]
It was the new title track from TeSTAR’s repackage album, released on the 14th of that month.
‘I love it so much!’
She couldn't help but grin, feeling both worried and delighted that her singers were working like oxen without a break.
‘I was worried they wouldn't be able to maintain the momentum from Haengcha!’
There was no need for that. The promotional track was excellent.
The refreshing and smooth R&B song was perfect for listening to on a chilly autumn morning.
‘Please become a commute-pick…. Please!’
It was only the third day since the release, so fans were busy pushing the rankings up the daily charts rather than worrying about the general public’s pick, but the Fansite Master was counting her chickens before they hatched, unlike her usual self.
‘This one has to do well on the digital charts!’
She felt a strange sense of pride that everyone had to listen to it, especially since they’d made a song so focused on easy-listening.
Furthermore, TeSTAR had managed to include bits of themselves that fans would love—things that are often missed when focusing too much on public appeal.
They had brought the details to life in the music video.
- It doesn't matter what the weather forecast says
It’s a day I want to meet you
Walking lightly, step by step
Today is a blue sky, yeah
Go on a picnic, Go on a picnic
The plot of the music video was a simple story about ‘TeSTAR members as college students going to play at the Han River,’ but the use of props and framing was no amateur work.
This was because they had cleverly recreated and inserted crucial moments and props from TeSTAR’s history, from Aju-sa to Haengcha.
For instance, there was a high school uniform in Park Moon-dae’s room that looked exactly like the Aju-sa uniform, Seon A-hyun blowing bubbles at the Han River, and the framing of Ryu Cheong-woo walking through the trees.
These elements, which only those in the know could find, delighted the fans.
Because of this, a journalist interested in TeSTAR even published a commentary:
=========================
[The Nostalgia Brought by a Group Celebrating Their 1st Anniversary]
Here is a time where a massive story has been compressed. TeSTAR’s time, spent running without rest, has a dense consistency due to the deep sense of shared experience with the public.
……
The feeling of unraveling all those moments one by one and letting them scatter beautifully is special.
Those who know will know, but even those who don't can enjoy it……
=========================
Of course, this article didn't receive massive public attention, but it was showered with comments and support from TeSTAR fans, including the Fansite Master.
And while the fans weren't exactly drunk on the "lore" interpretations, the initial public reaction was quite good.
The proof was that K-POP communities weren't flooded with posts saying ‘the song is bad’ or ‘Haengcha was better.’
That was the extent of it.
Of course, this didn't mean the fans watching weren't annoyed.
‘When they came out with Haengcha, you said it was “too much” and “cringey”!!’
Seeing people praise past promotional tracks—which could no longer be criticized because they were over—while using them to bash the new song was infuriating every time.
The Fansite Master briefly recalled that sight with a feeling of wanting to grab the back of her neck, but she soon calmed herself.
‘It’s okay, it’s a masterpiece.’
Since the song was good, everything was fine.
Moreover, it wasn't just the title track that was getting good reviews. The repackage album’s inclusions were also wonderful.
As a pre-order benefit, they had sent out picnic blankets and boxes, and the patterns were drawn by the members themselves.
‘I know it’s a marketing tactic… but it was a brilliant one.’
The Fansite Master looked warmly at a corner of her room where a blanket with a crushed, rice-cake-like apple pattern drawn by Moon-dae was hanging.
For reference, right next to it was a collection of ‘May Groom’ dolls from The Singer I Made in various sizes.
Just looking at them made her feel full.
“Good…. Everything is going smoothly.”
The Fansite Master calmed down in an instant, and at the same time, she rolled around on her bed in a fit of heart-fluttering happiness.
To be honest, when she first started her activities as a Fansite Master for a member of a group that debuted through a survival show, she had secretly worried that it would be a path strewn with thorns.
But looking at the score so far… the days had been much smoother and more enjoyable than she had feared.
Problems had cropped up, but they were handled so perfectly that they died down quickly.
And above all, the results were great!
‘Ah, it was so good when he appeared on The Past Calls too.’
Recalling how her timeline had lagged because everyone was so excited, saying he was the definition of intelligence like a crown prince from a historical drama, she felt a surge of pride.
Moon-dae is a genius puppy….
It was just primal fangirling.
A moment later, she suddenly snapped back to reality.
‘Work, work!’
She had to quickly edit the photos she took at the last event so she could watch today’s comeback stage with a refreshed mind!
However, what the Fansite Master saw in the internet tab she habitually clicked on her laptop… was a notice posted on TeSTAR’s WeTube channel community.
=========================
[<TeSTAR’s Living Together TEST: Side Story> Roommate Swap Part 2!]
Who ended up sharing a room? It will be pre-released to Membership Loviewers tomorrow (Fri) at 7 PM! > - <
(Photo)
=========================
The attached photo showed several male hands playing a card game.
Matching it with the text… anyone could see it was a game to decide roommates!
“Waaaaah!”
The Fansite Master let out a scream of joy.
‘This is going to be so fun!’
It wasn't that she disliked A-hyun, of course, but by this point, she also wanted to see Park Moon-dae’s reaction when he was roommates with another member.
But then, she calmed down slightly.
‘Hmm… not Ryu Cheong-woo… I hope it’s Lee Se-jin!’
Although they had moved past it well and it hadn't become a problem, everyone had vaguely guessed that something had happened with Ryu Cheong-woo based on Moon-dae’s appearance in the last Summer Package.
Of course, it wasn't anything serious.
‘They were only like that then; they’ve been getting along fine since.’
She had only suspected they’d had a small argument, but that didn't mean she had to hope for the risk of them becoming roommates.
And since the first impression of the Aju-sa first team match combination was still so strong, the Fansite Master secretly picked Lee Se-jin.
‘Anyway, I hope it’s fun!’
As a result, only this broad wish of the Fansite Master was fulfilled.
*
“WOOOW! Moon-dae hyung!”
“……Wow.”
Is this for real?
I was momentarily speechless as I looked at Cha Yu-jin, who was holding out his hand for a high-five.
So, this is….
“We’re roommates!”
He even provided the confirmation. I get it.