Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Extreme Job Debut Team (1)
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President Oh left the practice room, and soon after, a man walked in.
He appeared to be in his thirties, with strikingly handsome features. His physique was impressive too. Even in just a black cap and training clothes, he looked sharp.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Hello."
"Hey, Jae! You're back with us, Jae!"
"Yeah, that's right."
He spotted me and couldn't hide his delight.
"You feeling okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good."
"That's a relief. No issues with dancing? I heard you lost your memory."
"The guy's body is perfectly fine. Just lost his memories. He's okay."
No, losing my memories is the biggest problem here.
I stared at Han Tae-hee, who had answered for me.
But the man just took it at face value.
"Right. As long as you can dance, that's what matters. Let me introduce myself properly again. I'm your choreography teacher. Name's Kim Jung-hyun. Just call me Teacher Jung-hyun."
"Yes, Teacher Jung-hyun."
"Alright. I'll be keeping a close eye on you all for the next few days and drilling it into you. Priority one is memorizing the moves and formations. Get them down quick, then run through them repeatedly with the group."
I nodded.
Right now, I knew nothing about the song or the choreo. Starting with individual practice before joining the group made sense.
You've got to memorize the basics before you can sync up formations or anything.
These next few days were going to be brutal.
I could already see the road of suffering stretching out ahead.
Then, something actually popped up right in front of my eyes.
[A SUB QUEST has been generated. Would you like to check it? Y/N]
A sub quest notification.
This made the second one.
The first sub quest had given pretty generous rewards, so I hit Y with some expectations.
[SUB QUEST GENERATED!
[Even a Thousand-Mile Journey Starts with a Single Step]
▶You're now part of EverPlanet's debut lineup. Time to embark on the road to debut. Even a thousand-mile journey starts with a single step. For a successful debut, nail what's right in front of you perfectly. Within the time limit, master the song and choreography for your debut title track.
Rank: D
Quest Completion Conditions:
1) Perfectly master the debut title track song within the time limit
2) Perfectly master the debut title track choreography within the time limit
Completion Rewards: EXP, SPECIAL ITEM, -BLIND-
Failure Penalty: Debut stage failure]
[Accept the quest? Y/N]
Jackpot.
They turned what I had to do anyway into a quest.
One reward was hidden, which was a bit nagging, but I naturally hit Y to accept.
Then, [Sub Quest Completion Deadline D-7] appeared at the top of my vision.
'Mastering something brand new perfectly in a week... that's gonna be intense.'
But what can you do? Gotta give it a shot.
I stretched while steeling myself.
Thus began a hellish week.
* * *
Before starting practice, I checked the demo track first.
The demo already had not just the other members' voices but mine recorded too. Looked like original Ha Jae had laid it down.
I nodded along as the demo played through the amp.
Oh Woong-jae was the real deal. He nailed the song selection.
Even though I'd only vaguely heard it ages ago, one listen had it sticking. Solid track.
"This is the title track, right?"
"Yeah. Great pick, huh?"
"Nice."
"The hook with the sync'd sharp group choreo is gonna look killer. Here's the choreo draft."
The choreo draft video next was pre-recorded by the choreo teachers.
As Kim Jung-hyun said, the track's highlight seemed to be the razor-sharp group dance flowing from the hook.
Nail this part right, and it'd be fire.
"Choreo checked? Let's start with the intro part. You guys practice individually for now."
"Yes."
While the others practiced on their own in one corner, I got Kim Jung-hyun's focused guidance from the top.
"Okay, intro part. Listen to the beat coming in. Hit it with this hand move. One, two, three and four. There you go. Good. Next part..."
Kim Jung-hyun was a damn competent trainer.
He explained the tough bits in a way that clicked, and he knew exactly how to highlight the key points.
"Jae, your skills have leveled up? What's going on?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. Looking solid. Just build some strength. You used to lack confidence and come off all limp. This time, put more power into the moves. Like this—bam. Feel that?"
I followed his instructions and quickly picked up the first verse choreo. The moves themselves weren't too tricky, so I could keep up.
Once I seemed to have it down, he nodded and patted my back.
"Good. For today, lock this in solid. Jae, individual practice now. I'll check on the others quick and be back. Can you memorize all this by then? Run the formations from the draft too."
"Huh?"
"Be right back."
Dude, choreo teacher. Memorizing all this in the meantime is a stretch.
But whatever. If he says do it, I do it.
After that, I kept grinding the practice.
Kim Jung-hyun's check-ins pushed the pace insanely fast, and the intensity was off the charts.
A bit dizzy, a bit nauseous, a bit lightheaded, but I chugged ion drinks and powered through.
Had to master the moves quick to deliver that polished, detailed perfection.
Finally, after time flew by in that mad lesson grind.
"Okay. Good work, everyone. Lesson ends here for today. Jae, you rest up too!"
Me included, the members collapsed on the floor. Everyone but stamina monster Lee Jae-oh was wiped out.
I'd been repeating moves solo and had no voice left—just slumped against the wall, panting.
'Whoa, this is brutally tough.'
So this is what prepping for debut really meant.
I'd heard of debut teams, but never actually prepped for one myself.
Status window check: Passion at 0 ages ago, stamina barely at 10.
I used to last longer than this, but stamina drained way too fast. The skinny build?
[Stamina and passion drain rates are affected by Strength stat. Higher stat means slower drain.]
Tell me that shit earlier, system.
Next stat points, all-in on Strength.
Or I'd be the first trainee to die in practice.
Looks and charm matter, but... gotta survive first.
'More practice today...?'
Any more in this state, and stamina hits zero for real.
It said zero triggers some status ailment or whatever.
No way that's good. Gotta avoid it.
Tiger essence juice? Maybe chug that.
Then, Han Tae-hee, sprawled starfish on the floor staring blankly at the ceiling, spoke up.
"Guys... I can't feel my body..."
"...Me too. Can't even eat today. Gonna crash at the dorm soon as we get back."
"I don't even have the strength to talk... Toughest practice of my life."
"Then how are you talking now?"
"Beats me..."
At Kim Kwang-myeong's question, Teddy trailed off, brushing back his sweat-matted hair.
Teddy probably suffered way more than me. Main dancer moves the most.
I gave Teddy a pitying look. Hang in there. That's the main dancer's fate.
Then, Go Eun-young—sitting there like she'd lost her soul—muttered in a lifeless voice.
"Hyungs... what if we die dancing?"
"What else? I'll get you in Guinness as 'Died Dancing.'"
"Family pride right there... But I'm hungry."
"Me too."
"Order food, guys?"
Lee Jae-oh, perched on a chair, grabbed a takeout flyer rolling around in the practice room corner.
Compared to the others who could barely move, he looked way too fresh.
I clicked my tongue watching him. Just how tanky is this guy?
Han Tae-hee seemed to think the same, mumbling weakly.
"Jae-oh doesn't even get tired, huh."
"I get tired too, hyung."
"Doesn't look it."
"Today's as rough as boot camp prime. What're we eating?"
Everyone picked menus at Lee Jae-oh's question.
I went with pork rice bowl. Safe bet for unknown spots—low fail rate.
After ordering, soon an auntie showed up carrying food on her head into the practice room.
"Who ordered three pork belly stir-fries, three pork rice bowls, and one double spicy rabokki at peak 6:30 rush?"
"Auntie, you're here?"
They'd ordered from here a ton. Total regulars vibe. Auntie seemed used to delivering too.
She set the bowls down, tone scolding but oddly warm.
"Did I say unify your orders or not?"
"I always get the same, auntie."
"Yeah, that damn rabokki of yours. Rabokki's the most hassle, kid."
"Hehe."
Teddy flashed a sweet eye-smile at auntie and took the rabokki bowl.
Auntie chuckled like he was cute.
"You love rabokki that much?"
"Yes! Yours is the best."
"Smart kid, knows good food. Here, service."
Auntie added an extra dish of rolled omelet among the sides.
At the rolled omelet, the guys let out a collective "Whoa!"
"Thanks!"
"Auntie, you're the best."
Moments like this really hit home how young they all still are.
Even eldest Han Tae-hee was just 22.
Auntie probably gave extras 'cause they were adorable.
"Eat up and practice hard. Leave the empties out front when done. I'm off."
"Yes, take care!"
"Bye."
After auntie left, we huddled up and ate. Everyone scarfed like they hadn't eaten in days. Starving, apparently.
I took my time, topping the rice bowl with well-fermented kimchi and digging in. The flavor exploded through me...
Couldn't help nodding. This place nails pork rice bowls.
[Consumed very delicious food. Stamina and passion recovery +10% for 1 hour.]
System-certified spot. First since Park Su-rim's seaweed soup.
I ate on, satisfied.
Then, mid pork belly, Park Su-rim spoke up.
"But Jae."
"Yeah, hyung."
"You still remember nothing, right?"
"Yeah."
No clue what original Ha Jae was like, so I nodded.
Park Su-rim topped his pork with kimchi and continued.
"I see. But it's kinda weird."
"What is?"
"Feel like you've changed since the accident? Like a whole different person. Eating well, sleeping well."
Of course. I am a different person.
"What was I like before?"
"Hmm... Hard to put it. Personality seems similar, but you were more sensitive back then."
"Yeah, Jae had a nasty temper, Kwang-myeong said."
"So you two fought all the time."
"Not fighting—he just picked fights one-sided."
"Nah, from what I saw, mutual fault mostly."
"..."
Looks like... Ha Jae was a hothead. Explains the bad blood with Kim Kwang-myeong.
But I'm different from original Ha Jae. Never been the sensitive type—more laid-back, actually.
Better clear it up now.
I set down my empty pork rice bowl and said.
"Dunno. Can't tell if I've changed. Memories are gone. Not sure if they'll come back..."
Of course, they won't. No reason his memories would be in me.
Unless I swap back to my body and he returns here—but short of that, I'd keep living as me, wearing Ha Jae's skin.
"No signs of it now, honestly. Feels like I'll just keep going like this."
So, even if a bit late, I said it.
"If I'm different from before, don't find it too strange. This is me now too."
Changed 'Ha Jae' or not, this me—please take care of me.
Either way, they'd be riding this ship with me long-term.