Chapter 15: The Trainee Who Refuses to Debut (6)
15. The Trainee Who Refuses to Debut (6)
To explain how Seo Tae-hyun got extorted by Kang Hajin, we need to rewind a bit.
About 3 hours earlier.
Miro Entertainment's B-Class practice room.
And sprawled right in the middle of that practice room was one Kang Hajin. Three weeks into his trainee life. Current thoughts?
'Should I just regress?'
[System Alert: The system is no longer swayed by the Fixed Regressor's bluffs.]
Didn't work. Too bad.
After surviving the so-called "physical training" (more like teetering on the brink of hell), I barely managed to cling to my sanity before spiraling into existential questions like, "Isn't this just enlisting again?"
Pull yourself together, Hajin. The military is the military. There's no comparison. Of course, I say this as someone who's already been through re-enlistment once.
'Don't I have any skills like Pain Nullification, Infinite Stamina Boost, or 10x Lung Capacity? Don't regression protagonists usually grind EXP to upgrade stats automatically?'
If I had skills like that and still ended up riding this endless regression bus, I'd kill myself. Eventually, I gave up fighting gravity and collapsed onto the practice room floor.
'At this point, even the fluorescent lights look like hellfire...'
[System Alert: Sudden Quest!]
Objective: Bonus Time for Exhausted You☆ Go around and help as many people as possible!
Time Limit: Within 3 hours of first assistance (3:00:00)
Success Reward: ☆★See More★☆
Failure Penalty: 60% increased chance of random events
...Turns out it was literal hellfire. F*ck.
'Is this blackmail...?'
I barely stopped my eyebrow from twitching. (Not that I could complain, given my own history of regression-based threats.)
'And what's with this flashy "See More"?'
[Success Reward: Rewards scale based on degree of assistance.]
—10%~30% assistance: Heartwarming Anecdote (Low) post-debut
—31%~70% assistance: Heartwarming Anecdote (Mid) post-debut
—71%~98% assistance: Heartwarming Anecdote (High) post-debut
—98%~100% assistance: All above + Cancel random event. Unexpected Luck(!)
Are you kidding me?
'I thought it'd be something grand.'
Looking again, the penalty wasn't regression activation but a "random event." So this was just a lighthearted event. That realization oddly eased my mind enough to drag my heavy body up.
'Since the timer starts from the first help, I need to choose carefully.'
First impressions matter. If I only helped once and got stuck in a lesson, I'd be screwed.
"Hyung, can you hold my clothes for a sec?"
"Sure."
"Thanks."
[System Alert: First assistance achieved! (Completion: 1.2%)]
Time remaining: 2:59:58/...
"Ah, what the hell..."
"Huh?"
The moment I tugged Joo Eun-chan's hoodie free from where it was stuck around his neck, the system window updated with a ping.
Seriously? This counts?
"Hyung, did you just...?"
"Nah, there was a bug on you."
"A bug?!"
"Got it, got it."
Whether or not Eun-chan's eyes widened comically at the word "bug," I patted his back absently and thought:
Three hours left. Goal: 100%. To maximize help in a short time...
'First, find people who need help.'
Operation: Steal the Well from the Thirsty! Hajin's eyes sharpened as he searched for prey.
To cut to the chase, Hajin's strategy was wildly successful.
[System Alert: 43rd assistance achieved! (Completion: 91.7%)]
Time remaining: 00:32:38...
"Not bad, huh?"
[System Alert: (Speechless)]
"Come on, as long as they feel grateful, it counts."
About 2.5 hours earlier.
After checking the quest, Hajin's first stop was the trainees' restroom.
System question marks be damned. Without a word, he emptied all the toilet paper (even the hand towels!) and hid them in the supply closet. Then he waited in the practice room until someone headed to the restroom.
"Hey, grab some tissues. They're all out."
Those who heeded his warning took tissues from the practice room, only to find the restroom truly empty—and felt relieved!
[System Alert: 6th assistance achieved! (Completion: 10%)]
Time remaining: 2:28:37...
'Not bad.'
But the efficiency was lacking. At this rate, his post-debut heartwarming anecdote would be "Toilet Paper Fairy"! Unacceptable. Hajin swiftly moved to his next target.
"Eh, who did..."
"I did it, noona."
"You should've left it for me."
"You seemed busy with calls, so I just handled it."
"I should've done it. Thanks, Hajin."
Stealing tasks from the overworked new staff.
"Hyung, please... just one sip."
"Take the whole thing."
"Really? I can have it?"
"Yep."
Tossing ice water to Dan Ha-ru, who was crawling on the floor after dance practice, parched.
"Hello, ma'am. Have this while you work."
"Oh, you didn't have to."
"It's leftover from buying the kids snacks. It's hot out, right?"
"You really didn't... Thanks, I'll enjoy it."
"Oh, and the practice room trash is full. I'll drop it off downstairs on my way."
The cleaning lady, who'd started treating Hajin like a nephew, beamed gratefully. Even the umbrellas he dug out from lockers during sudden rain pushed the meter past 90%.
[System Alert: 44th assistance achieved! (Completion: 93.7%)]
Time remaining: 00:28:25...
A bizarre situation where no one asked for help, yet gratitude overflowed. Watching the percentage climb, Hajin felt an odd pride.
Wait, am I good at this?
[System Alert: The quest's intent... is... completely... lost...]
"Just a bit more."
Ignoring the system's exasperation, Hajin scanned the area. The rate had slowed—he'd milked most opportunities. With time running out, he needed one big score.
Where else could he help?
"Hyung, is today's concept, like... that?"
"Huh?"
"'Call me anytime, Superhero Kang Hajin...'?"
Joo Eun-chan and Dan Ha-ru, who'd contributed to 27.9% of the 93.7%, rattled their melted ice water and asked. Their grateful but slightly disturbed eyes blinked.
What? It's not like I did anything crazy. Why the fuss?
"You're scarier when you're nice."
"Want me to steal your ice water rudely?"
"Teacher Kang transcends kindness—he is consideration and charity incarnate."
"Exactly, thirsty lamb. The ice cream's in that fridge. Eat it before the manager catches you."
"Hyung, I love you!"
After shutting their babbling with a few retorts, it finally quieted down. Now's not the time for banter.
Hajin hurried to find the last few percentage points. Time was truly running out. After three hours of labor, settling for a lousy 5% anecdote was unacceptable.
"Let's see... Who needs help?"
And so, while searching for his final prey, Hajin went to the first floor to fulfill his promise to the cleaning lady by taking out the trash.
There, he saw it.
"......?"
"You smoke?"
"...No, just taking out the trash."
"Tch, whatever. Not like it matters now, right?"
The department head, picking a fight with Tae-hyun over some nonsense.
'Ugh, worst cliché ever.'
His instincts screamed. Getting involved here would be a pain. Sure, Tae-hyun was a person of interest, but this was separate. If I meddle now, forget bomb disposal—I'll get marked by the department head before I even figure out how to defuse anything.
With that rational judgment, Hajin planned to discreetly dump the trash and slip away unnoticed.
"Meow—."
If not for the round eyes peeking from between the bins.
"...Since when do cats talk?"
The phrase "drowned cat" came to mind—because, well, the kitten was literally drenched. Blood on its leg suggested it had crawled in to escape the rain.
Instincts flared again. Picking it up would be trouble.
[System Alert: Time remaining: 00:28:37... (Completion: 93.7%)]
Only 30 minutes left, no money, no umbrella. Hajin wasn't even a big animal lover. He couldn't skip practice to hunt for a vet, and staying meant running into Seo Tae-hyun. Better to just leave and find another target.
"......."
"Hey."
"?"
That was the plan. So why was he now holding a soaked kitten, standing before a soaked Seo Tae-hyun?
"Got any cash?"
"Huh?"
"You could've brought your wallet to take out trash."
"Are you picking a fight?"
"...No, I'm begging. Know any nearby vets?"
"......."
Hajin put on a pitiful face and shoved the injured kitten forward. Sure enough, Tae-hyun's expression softened instantly at the tiny creature—far quicker than it would for a 182cm grown man.
"Your cat?"
"No, found it crying by the trash. Its leg's hurt."
"Oh no."
Tae-hyun frantically pulled out his phone to call a cab. Only then did Hajin remember the glorious 21st-century invention called smartphones. Ah, why didn't I think of that?
"Why are my bad hunches always right?"
"Huh?"
"Never mind. How long for the cab?"
As the cherry on top, the department head—finished with his smoke—spotted Tae-hyun returning inside. Their eyes met briefly before the man snorted and walked off.
Department head, Seo Tae-hyun, kitten. Every element Hajin had vowed to avoid now tangled together in one scene. He sighed deeply, staring at Tae-hyun's worried face as the boy examined the cat.
Yeah, clichés exist for a reason. Can't avoid 'em, damn it...