Skill-Powered Genius: Flop Idol Chart Breakthrough?

"...A sudden quest, huh."

He sighs and checks the quest details. He's not surprised. These pop up often when managing entertainment careers. They rarely have failure penalties, but the rewards are solid, so whenever one appears, he has to prioritize it no matter what.

This time's no different.

"Unlocking the IP Shop via a sudden quest."

In game terms, it's the shop where you buy items. And IP... that's the currency you can recharge with real cash. Most systems are locked except for the status window, so he hasn't seen cash recharges yet, but apparently quests reward IP.

Anyway, he has to succeed at this one. Especially considering what's sold in the IP Shop.

Even setting aside how to earn IP, the stuff available there isn't sold for cash without reason—most of it has insane effects. For reference, all the skills he set up early on were bought with cash.

He senses her eagerness to meet him right away from the messages. A guy with a flop girl group clinging to him, even if they debuted. This reversed world is the best.

They settle on a nearby bustling street as the meeting spot. His apartment has a weird name, but the neighborhood matches his old world's. Easy to pick a place.

Kim Nayun. Not quite national-level power, but neighborhood—no, school-level looks. Twenty years old. Same age, but she calls him oppa since his birthday's earlier.

"Hold up."

She's twenty this year, and a sex partner with this body?

"So when did that start? Gotta have her bring a uniform next time."

Anyway, she's the leader and main vocal of the utterly failed Shine Candy, but yeah, failed. And the reason...

The concept's one thing, but the songs are straight trash.

His skills must make his ears sensitive. Just a quick listen, and his head throbs. Who the hell made songs this bad?

No wonder they can't escape the pack of dozens of debuting idol groups monthly. Their agency is mid-tier major, but fans don't rate them well. Too ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠money-grubbing? Whatever, irrelevant to Shine Candy.

They barely have any fans to complain. Digging through memories with her, no manager even cares for the team. Abandoned.

"And I have to save a girl like this..."

For a quest given to a day-one NEET in this world, the difficulty's sky-high.

"Would be so much easier if she were a guy..."

While waiting for the diligently rushing Kim Nayun, he pulls up YouTube and searches male idols. True to the reversed world, views on random songs and MVs are insane.

He picks a decent-looking group and checks views. Two weeks old, over 3 million.

Decides to give ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the song a listen.

"Hm..."

Not bad, but meh. No real hook, story's weak. Song's just okay? Bland, no standout features. Yet this popular?

Visuals aren't god-tier either. Not ugly, but nothing screams handsome. Average schoolboy look?

So the harsh words slip out naturally.

"Even guys like this become idols."

Talent pool's thin, can't be helped. Still, comments are flooded with diehard fans spamming hearts.

Might as well scout trends, so he listens to other idols too.

That's when it happens.

"Um..."

He pulls out his earbuds and turns. A casually dressed beauty hesitates, fiddling with her phone—probably trying to snag his number.

"S-sorry! Sorry!"

But their eyes meet, and she bows repeatedly before fleeing.

...Hmm.

Handsome guy day one. Thought it'd be all upsides, but damn, this is exhausting. Fifth time already. Weirdly, they all apologize and bolt on eye contact.

No clue why. Do I look that scary?

I'd give my number easy.

Why? Easy guy here. Won't turn down a pretty one who approaches.

Just walking draws stares from everywhere. Gasps now and then. "Who's that? Idol? Model?" All sorts of guesses about him, all praise naturally.

Like that celeb said, fresh and thrilling. Day one, so it hasn't gotten old yet.

"Over there... Ah, sorry!"

"..."

Of course, the pressure's another story. Everyone stares like zoo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠monkeys. Even thirsting for female attention, it's suffocating.

He figured enjoying the reversed world perks, but it's trickier than expected.

Never been this showered in attention before.

But he has to get used to it. This is the entertainment management world where he builds his own empire. Can't waste his strongest weapon: looks.

He brushes off the scorching—practically stinging—gazes from women and waits for Kim Nayun.

"O-oppa...!"

Moments later, the beauty from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his phone comes panting up.

"S-sorry! You waited a lot, right?"

Early 160s height. Wavy blonde-tinted hair. Fancy pastel knit and beige pants. Fashion screaming effort.

And her beauty backs it up.

Prettier than the pics.

The girls who tried talking to him while waiting were glance-worthy too. But Kim Nayun's a cut above. Makes sense she debuted in a girl group.

Even if it flopped. Other groups he glimpsed? Reversed world visuals are nuts.

As he acts familiar, soft gasps ripple around. Kim Nayun's chest subtly puffs—pride, probably. Hanging with a guy this handsome? Natural.

But it fades quick. Staring at his face, she speaks in a deflated, cautious tone.

"I should've come first, but traffic... Should've left earlier. Practice ran late..."

"It's fine."

"Really sorry. You're not mad, right?"

She eyes him carefully, guilt oozing. Embarrassing, but considering his body and her history, it clicks. Original owner must've exploited his looks hard.

"Shit happens."

"Phew... Hearing you say that really relieves me, hehe."

"Wanna move somewhere else?"

"Y-yeah!"

She mentions a private cafe nearby, so they head there. For couples dodging stares—mostly guys' issue, but anyway—it's trending. Predictably, fully enclosed space.

Perfect.

He sits; she takes the opposite. Pulls wet wipes from her small bag, cleans his spot spotless, then checks the menu.

"What do you want?"

"Iced Americano."

"...Huh?"

She looks shocked, but he nods again. No clue original's tastes, but iced Americano guy's him—skips other cafe drinks.

Orders placed, he probes casually.

"Practice means... prepping a new album?"

"Album? What album. You know we're total flops."

Casual tone, but laced with future worries. Fair.

Three years in, one single? Trainee status fits.

"How've you been, oppa? Feels like three months..."

"Just chilling at home."

"Ah... Yeah, you get tired going out."

Not really, but he nods. Tall frame and face draw endless stares—even standing brief.

"Seriously, someone like you should've debuted, not me..."

She stirs her smoothie, wistful.

"If you'd debuted back then, you'd be a universe-class star, not some scrub, right? When you quit, manager unnie, team lead, even the boss tried stopping you?"

"Huh..."

Must've. Memories fuzzy. But this body's specs are nuts, clear enough.

"No comeback thoughts?"

"Dunno?"

"Eh...? You gonna?"

He flashes a slight smile at her shock. Unsure. Needs his entertainment empire, but idols? Not keen to start there. Looks and talent fit, but past life's flop memories linger.

Composer? Actor?

Has the skills either way. But empire-building there? Hmm.

As he ponders career paths, a moan-mixed gasp comes from across.

Kim Nayun stares blatantly.

"O-oppa, even just smiling is cheating."

"..."

Her gaze drips affection. Handsome guys can blush beauties with a grin, apparently. Old girlfriend would just phone-scroll.