Chapter 376
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 376
While a flustered Kang Yeon-hu stood there unable to respond, Seo Ho-yun scanned their surroundings before pulling Yeon-hu by the arm toward a secluded area. He shoved Yeon-hu’s shoulder against a wall to steady him, then bent down and began spraying the canister he held in his other hand onto Yeon-hu’s left ankle.
Pshhhhh.
“What... what are you doing?”
The mist was so thick and pungent it made him cough. Kang Yeon-hu furrowed his brows, covering his mouth with the back of his hand as he hacked.
“Look, Seo Ho-yun, cough, I appreciate it, but I’ve already sprayed plenty of pain relief. Don’t do anything unnece—”
“Don’t raise your voice and draw attention.”
Who’s the one drawing attention right now?
Even in the midst of the frantic backstage rush, staff members glanced over, wondering if something was wrong.
The Seo Ho-yun that Kang Yeon-hu had known until now was a man who wouldn't budge an inch unless there was something in it for him. He wanted to demand what kind of bizarre stunt this was, but the words wouldn't come out easily because Seo Ho-yun was staring at his ankle with an expression of pure annoyance.
“Fine. Move...”
“Stand up straight.”
“Are you speaking informally to me now?”
Sighing deeply at Seo Ho-yun’s blatant disregard for his words, Kang Yeon-hu decided to just walk away. But the moment he stepped forward with his left foot...
“...Huh?”
The pain that had felt like being stabbed with an icicle just moments ago was gone.
“What is... uh...?”
He stomped his foot again, unable to comprehend the situation, when a staff member behind him practically shouted his name.
“Kang Yeon-hu, standby!”
Moving his feet as his logic dictated, Yeon-hu couldn't take his eyes off Seo Ho-yun, feeling as if he’d been bewitched. Seo Ho-yun waved his hand dismissively, looking bored.
“Hurry up and go.”
“...Ye-yes?”
With that, Ho-yun turned and left first. Kang Yeon-hu watched him until he disappeared from sight before finally stepping onto the lift.
“High Five going up. 3, 2, 1...!”
Feeling a vibration that mirrored his own heartbeat, Kang Yeon-hu closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.
He didn't know what Seo Ho-yun had just done, but regardless, this was the moment he had to greet his fans in perfect form.
When his eyelids lifted again, he had returned to his usual self: the idol Kang Yeon-hu.
*
Meanwhile, having passed through the backstage area and into the restroom, Seo Ho-yun clicked his tongue in disapproval.
Ding!
[Don’t you regret it?]
“Regret what?”
[Using an item that’s been gathering cobwebs in your inventory for half a year because you were saving points... and using it on someone else.]
Seo Ho-yun shifted his gaze to the blue window floating beside him.
[Main Item: World Give Me Strength!
In the eventful world of entertainment, your body is your greatest asset!
Spraying this on an injured body part restores it to its original state.
Maintain a healthy body and enjoy a smooth, fulfilling idol career!
※ Effect lasts for 15 minutes after application.
※ Can be used multiple times.
※ Unlike temporary items, this item can actually reduce pain.
Cost per use: 4,500 Points]
It was the permanent version of the temporary item Seo Ho-yun had used during The Dawn’s solo concert.
[You used the one where the pain persists just to save points for yourself, but you gave the real deal to someone else...]
[And that one is three times more expensive...]
True. Why did I do that?
He was never one to take a loss.
He had felt his temper rising at the thought of helping without an immediate gain, but he couldn't help it—leaving it alone felt like something unpleasant was gnawing at his nerves.
“Forget it.”
Seo Ho-yun wasn't the type to wallow in pathetic regret over things that had already happened.
“The kid said he was hurting.”
And well, someone like Kang Yeon-hu would surely be useful someday.
As he turned on the faucet to wash the smell of the medicine off his hands, the System Window felt the need to add one last comment.
[...This is why I like you so much, Seo Ho-yun.]
“You, seriously, shut up.”
*
[The National Treasure has finally been returned]
The Dawn returned to Korea after finishing their Japanese promotions.
The K-POP concert had set both the local and domestic scenes ablaze. Among the full videos quickly uploaded to Nutube, the most-watched performance was The Dawn’s cover of Revi’s “I Can’t Mature.”
[kpop_Dawn.jpg
Is their stylist a literal genius?
└└ Maybe it’s because the outfits around them were so flashy, but these outfits really stand out lol]
[Kim Seong-hyeon’s physique is seriously sexy... Those movements are unreal... With that build, he should be a Ttukttak-i, but what is this...]
[But Seo Ho-yun... My brain knows he’s an idol... but maybe because I know his personality, why does that 'exhausted salaryman' vibe suit him so well?
└ He’s younger than me, but why... does he feel like a boss? The moment he took off his glasses, I got chills like I was about to get scolded for real.]
While Noeuls were buzzing over The Dawn’s outfits and concept, clips offering a glimpse into their Japanese activities began appearing across various platforms.
【We’re going to try a surprise interview with The Dawn as they pass by the station!】
“Hello! You must be surprised by this sudden interview request?!”
“O-oh, no! Our manager told us in advance, so it’s totally fine!”
【This popular Korean idol is a bit too honest...】
From an interview on a major Japanese variety show where Jeong Da-jun was excessively honest due to some miscommunication...
[Ack!!! The kids went to karaoke over there ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
...to self-produced vlog content on The Dawn’s official channel.
[Is it for real that they recorded the karaoke session from start to finish and uploaded it?
Jeong Da-jun is like, 'Is there no tambourine? Tambourine?!'
Ah, it’s so funny because they’re such K-High Schoolers. How old are you guys even?!]
Kang Yi-chae was excitedly belting out Christmas carols already, while Kim Seong-hyeon, looking drained, sat huddled in a corner just clapping along.
Seong Ji-won and Seo Ho-yun had their heads together, constantly refilling the free ice cream provided by the Japanese karaoke bar, alternating between chocolate and melon syrup.
[Look at Seong Ji-won singing a Japanese song... I’m literally dying...]
[Look at Kim Seong-hyeon refusing to dance when they ask, but then doing it anyway... Seo Ho-yun got smacked on the back by Kim Seong-hyeon while snickering and eating ice cream, lol.
└ They’re actually so close. Seo Ho-yun giggling even after getting hit is so cute.]
Since most official schedules were uploaded via WH Entertainment’s website, Nutube channel, or SNS, fans were wandering around looking for new content to consume. Then, one clip on Twitter began to be retweeted at a rapid pace.
【Clip from Japanese Variety Show ‘Tokyo Warai’ featuring The Dawn】
[??? The Dawn appeared on another variety show?]
[Was this on the schedule?
└ No? As far as I know, it wasn't.]
[Isn't that a pretty famous program? We would’ve known if they were on it.]
As someone quickly translated and quoted the original post, it spread even faster.
【Today, I’m going to pretend to be a model.】
It was a social experiment program. They hired a middle-aged male comedian who wasn't very famous in Japan and gave him the role of a world-class model to see if people at the broadcasting station would actually believe he was a model.
The comedian, who had a portly build far from a typical model’s physique, wore sunglasses with a pink teddy bear pattern and a blue lunchbox cloth tied around his neck like a scarf. He struck poses, glaring intensely at the camera.
A large caption appeared behind him.
【Global Super Model – O. J. S ! !】
[Does the acronym O.J.S stand for Ojisan (Middle-aged man)??? LOL]
[LOL, man, this show is hilarious.]
The panels in the studio watching the comedian cheered him on.
【We went straight into the experiment!】
“Whoa... is this a Tokyo Warai experiment?”
“You’re working hard...”
However, when they asked people who encountered the comedian during the actual shoot, everyone just gave a faint smile and a clenched-fist "fighting" gesture.
【It’s a warm society... but is the experiment a failure?】
It seemed like no one would actually believe it.
Just as the staff were about to discuss changing the guest or the clothes, a man in plain clothes with a black hat pulled low walked past them.
“Excuse me, sorry. You can’t come in this way.”
An actor playing the role of the comedian’s manager quickly blocked his path, showing quick wit.
【Acting skills that grew suddenly due to a harsh world!】
The man whose path was blocked turned his head with a surprised expression, then frowned slightly as if he didn't understand the Japanese. Not only the panel in the studio but the viewers as well let out gasps of admiration.
“Yes?”
The person in the close-up was none other than Seo Ho-yun.
[???]
Subtitles appeared under his flawless, bare face.
【Ho-yun, Lead Vocal of the Korean Idol Group THE DAWN!】
【The protagonist who gathered tens of thousands of fans at the K-POP concert!】
Footage of Seo Ho-yun playing the bass and giving an intense gaze during the K-POP concert was inserted as reference.
【Will a real global star be fooled...?】
The Dawn’s interpreter, who had approached, translated for Seo Ho-yun. As Ho-yun listened intently, Kang Yi-chae walked up close and rested his chin on Ho-yun’s shoulder. Seo Ho-yun pushed Yi-chae’s forehead away with his index finger and gestured with his head.
“Hey, let’s go. They say they’re shooting a model.”
【He’s fooled!】
[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[What, our Ho-yun is so unbiased lol]
[Why does he look so innocent and soft lol]
Kang Yi-chae’s eyes went wide, and he soon left with a parting “Arigato~!”
Next came a scene where the program staff rushed over to The Dawn’s road manager to talk.
【The active Korean idols had no prejudice!】
【ARIGATO for protecting O.J.S’s dream!!】
[LOLOLOLOL ARIGATO!!]
[Good lord, this broadcast is chaotic.]
[It’s so funny how the panels who were rooting for OJS are so touched and thankful to The Dawn.]
There was a debate over whether it was staged or real, but eventually, opinions like "It’s real, that’s why we can see Seo Ho-yun’s unstyled, bare face," and "Don't you see him walking like a middle-aged man going to use the exercise equipment on a hiking trail? You can't fake that," took the lead.
[Points of this video...
Seo Ho-yun walking like an unstyled middle-aged man.
But his face turns the video into 4K the moment he appears.
Seo Ho-yun getting fooled innocently.
└ + Rapper Kang Yi-chae’s accurate English diction of ARIGATO.
└└ But is 'Arigato' the only Japanese Yi-chae knows?
└└ I think he forgot 'Konnichiwa.'
└└ Ah, makes sense.
└└ Man, Noeuls are so ruthless lol]
*
“What is this?”
Seo Ho-yun, who had inadvertently completed a quest to appear on a major broadcast, looked at the System Window in disbelief.
[Quest Complete!
You have achieved 3 appearances on major variety shows.
Success! Rewarding 30,000 Points.]
[Quest Complete!
The Dawn’s performance video achieved the highest view count among the K-POP concert clips held in Tokyo.
Success! Rewarding 10,000 Points.]
[Current Points: 239,500]
With the points he had painstakingly gathered through various missions plus the two just added, his points suddenly soared to the mid-200,000s.
Seo Ho-yun quickly threw out a question, as if not wanting to miss an opportunity.
“So, does appearing on a show like an extra count too?”
[Where do you think you’re going with that! It only counts if it generates buzz.]
“Tsk.”
He gave a displeased look to the System, which was acting friendly again after he helped Kang Yeon-hu, and then flopped onto his bed.
Well, I guess luck like this comes because I’ve lived a good life.
Just as he was about to close his eyes with that nonchalant thought...
Ding!
An unpleasant notification sound rang out.
[Quest Arrived!
Appear as a cameo in the ultra-luxurious Letflix drama ‘Before the Moon Wanes’ and achieve 1 million views on a Nutube clip within 2 weeks!
On Success: 10,000 Points
On Failure: Significant drop in Awareness due to a feud rumor with Top Actor M, 1-year ban from appearing in visual media.
※ The duration is calculated from the day the Nutube video is registered.]
“...”
It seemed Seo Ho-yun hadn't lived a life quite good enough for only luck to come his way.