Chapter 26: Do You Want to Be Special? (4)
26. Do You Want to Be Special? (4)
"Ah, where should I start splurging first?"
With the mindset of a nouveau riche determined to blow all my cash tonight, I scanned through the system window. Of course, I already had my first purchase planned out.
"First, let's upgrade my existing skills."
Skills could level up through experience points too. I'd managed to raise them slightly through practice so far, but let's be honest—free-to-play can never beat pay-to-win.
Without hesitation, I swiped my virtual card.
[System Alert: Skill <As You Say> (Lv.3) ▶ (Lv.4) leveled up!]
[System Alert: Skill <As You Say> (Lv.4) ▶ (Lv.5) leveled up!]
[System Alert: Skill <How Much Will It Cost?> (Lv.1) ▶ (Lv.2) leveled up!]
[System Alert: Skill <How Much Will It Cost?> (Lv.2) has leveled up. You can now convert a wider range of favorability into cash.]
[System Alert: Current Cash Balance ∥ 6,200C]
'This should do for now. Next.'
Preparing for the monthly evaluations and survival show required a lot. I immediately navigated to the skill activation tab.
[System Alert: To create a skill, please specify the desired skill's details.]
What ability would be most crucial for a survival show? Obviously—
"I want to check people's stats. As detailed as possible. Their strengths and weaknesses, especially regarding stage performance."
[System Alert: Calculating skill creation probability...]
[System Alert: The skill content is highly effective for quest progression! Creation probability increased. (Calculating...)]
[System Alert: Skill creation possible!]
[System Alert: Create skill <Dragon's Eyes>? Required Cash: 5,000 (Y/N)]
What kind of naming sense is this...?
[System Alert: All skill names utilize the user's database for easier comprehension. Complaints prohibited.]
"Fine, thanks."
[System Alert: You're welcome. (´,,•ω•,,｀)]
Don't get flustered—that wasn't a compliment.
Might as well take Ha-won to a PC bang this weekend, I thought as I pressed the skill creation button. Five thousand cash? The inflation here is downright criminal. Watching my hard-earned savings vanish in an instant felt like tearing up my bank account.
[System Alert: Skill <Dragon's Eyes> has been successfully created.]
'First, let's test it on myself...'
Just as I was about to try it, my hand froze mid-air as if controlled by someone else.
'Check...'
A feeling I'd forgotten since starting this regression washed over me like a tidal wave. Will you be okay? What if you see your limits? A helpless voice hidden deep within me whispered.
I felt like I couldn't breathe.
"Later... I'll check later."
I hastily caught my breath and pulled myself together. It's fine if I don't look, right? I forcefully shook off the strange emotions that had briefly overwhelmed me. A cold sweat had broken out during that short moment, and the winter night's biting wind seeped through my clothes, chilling me to the bone.
I fled the rooftop like a fugitive.
"Ugh, my head..."
I'd gone out to find some privacy, but the freezing cold had left me half-frozen. The moment I stepped back into the warm indoors, the chill dissipated, triggering a coughing fit and dizziness.
"If I go out again, I'll die. Seriously."
Coughing so hard I nearly choked, it felt like I might cough up blood. My stomach muscles ached from the strain, and tears welled up—a firsthand experience of how excessive coughing could wreck you. After wiping my teary eyes and pressing my throbbing forehead, I heard—
"Huh?"
"Kang Ha-jin?"
A familiar voice called from behind. Turning around, I saw Seo Tae-il from Uphia wearing a concerned expression.
I quickly assessed my condition: red face from the cold, runny nose, teary eyes, and a grimacing expression.
'Oh no.'
"What's wrong? Ha-jin, are you—"
Is the misunderstanding arc not over yet?
"Nope."
I denied it outright.
"What do you mean n—"
"Whatever you're thinking, it's a misunderstanding."
"Your eyes are still red—"
"Nope."
"Your nose is—"
"I said no."
Tae-il still looked skeptical but nodded reluctantly at my repeated denials. His expression clearly said, 'I know what's up, but I'll pretend I don't to spare your pride.' Arguing further seemed pointless, so I shut my mouth.
The situation was awkward, and being alone together didn't seem ideal, so I tried to slip away with a quick goodbye. But today, Tae-il wasn't letting me off easy.
"So... how's your preparation for the monthly evaluation going? Any thoughts?"
He even stepped closer, asking casually. As a senior and someone who'd vouched for me with his manager's business card, I couldn't just brush him off without feeling guilty.
'If anything, he's someone I should keep on my side. No need to antagonize him.'
Abandoning my escape plan, I relaxed my posture and gave a vague answer.
"Just starting preparations. It's my first monthly eval... I'm a bit nervous."
"You know I'm joining as a producer for the survival show, right? I'll be judging the evaluations too. I have high expectations for you."
"For me?"
"Of course. I'm the one who brought you into Miro. I'll judge fairly, though."
'Yeah, right.'
I'd been so focused on Ji Soo-ho that I'd forgotten—Tae-il had played a bigger role in my recruitment than I'd realized.
The rumors about Miro's "Zhuge Liang" might grow even more exaggerated now, but at this point, I couldn't refuse even if I wanted to. If you can't avoid it, might as well milk it for all it's worth.
'Ah, that skill.'
While exchanging a few more words with Tae-il, I remembered the new skill I'd failed to test earlier.
"First-timers get nervous, but just go all out. Stick to your usual style, and you'll do fine."
Miro's founding hero. The greatest leader in history, who'd tamed Uphia's wild members for over a decade.
'His stats should be a good benchmark.'
As our conversation continued, I pulled up the system window and activated the new skill. Ding—the sound of coins deducting for skill activation—and soon, a notification window appeared, analyzing stats like an attack power meter.
"I wonder what I did during my first monthly eval... Can't even remember now."
[System Alert: Skill <Dragon's Eyes> activated.]
[Seo Tae-il (Group: Uphia)]
Vocals: 93%
Dance: 83%
Expressiveness: 91%
Specialty: Composition, Producing (63%)
Appeal Points:
'Everything is in my hands!'
—Leadership, Charisma, Stage Presence
Damn, those are insane stats.
"Oh, sunbaenim! Hello!"
I was about to analyze what these numbers meant when Seo Tae-hyun emerged from the office and spotted us. He greeted Tae-il warmly—they seemed acquainted—but Tae-il looked surprised, glancing between us.
"Hey, Tae-hyun. You two close?"
"...Not really?"
"Not particularly..."
"Ah. So you are close."
As we both hesitated at the "Are you close?" question, Tae-il chuckled and gave us a generic pep talk. He seemed to want to say more, but when his manager called for him urgently, he quickly excused himself.
Tae-hyun bowed deeply until Tae-il was out of sight, then straightened up and gestured for me to follow.
"But hyung, aren't we close? That hurt."
"You said 'not particularly' too."
"You said 'not really.'"
"Let's call it even."
Shrugging, I headed to the practice room. While half-listening to Tae-hyun's chatter, I analyzed Tae-il's stats still floating before me.
'Percentage-based? So his producing is only 63%?'
Tae-il's popularity stemmed partly from his "mad leader" persona in Uphia, but his producing and composing skills—praised as post-idol level—played a huge role.
Even overseas artists had sought him out on SNS for collaborations. For his producing to be rated only 63%...
'Something's off.'
"Ugh, I want tteokbokki. I'm supposed to be dieting—this is bad."
I needed a comparison sample. Might as well test it on another trainee. Without hesitation, I activated the skill on Tae-hyun.
[Seo Tae-hyun (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocals: 45%
Dance: 67%
Expressiveness: 52%
Specialty: Acting, Charm (82%)
Appeal Points:
'My eyes are drawn to you!'
—Vocal tone, Dance lines, Stage presence
'Definitely not percentages.'
Seeing Tae-hyun's stats confirmed it—these weren't simple numbers.
'There's no way Tae-hyun's skills are that low. He's not a top-tier vocalist or dancer, but he's way better than this.'
The only somewhat believable scores were in acting and charm...
'I need to investigate further.'
Lost in thought, I realized we'd reached the practice room. As Tae-hyun and I headed to our reserved Room A, my gaze snagged on one spot.
Come to think of it, there was one more person I needed to test this skill on.
"......"
"Hyung, not coming in?"
"Go ahead."
I waved Tae-hyun off and turned toward what had caught my eye. At the end of the hallway, among the maze of practice rooms, one small room stood illuminated.
Ding—
Instead of knocking (soundproofing made it pointless), I pressed the bell installed outside. A clattering sound came from inside (?), and soon, the person I'd been waiting for appeared.
"Uh...?"
"Hey, Do-ha."
"...Hi."
We have unfinished business, don't we? At my friendly smile, Lee Do-ha's pupils shook violently.