Chapter 164. Final (8)
Dan Haru is the Chosen Regressor.
Although I’d been suspicious for quite some time, Hajin’s eyes sparkled as he finally caught the decisive evidence.
‘Hey. Is there any way to check Dan Haru’s traits or something right now? Use your authority. I’m pretty sure it’s him.’
[System Alert: M-Master Regressor…!]
‘Huh? What is it? Oh, hurry up and trigger some sudden quest or something. This is for sure.’
[System Alert: No, well, that’s important too! Of course, it’s important…!]
‘What’s more important than this regressor bastard? Ugh, don’t you have some hidden reward stashed away? Dig it up, you idiot. Am I the only one serious about catching this regressor? Typical headquarters, handing off the task to a subcontractor and then pretending not to know anything…’
[System Alert: Th-They’re announcing the third place right now!]
In the joy of finally finding the proof, Hajin momentarily forgot that they were in the middle of the results announcement. But at Thirteen’s words, he snapped back to reality.
The 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th places had already been announced.
As expected, if Jung Siwoo was in 2nd place, then 3rd place would likely be either Lee Yugeon or himself.
No, it had to be.
‘Wow, what if I really get 3rd place? My heart is pounding like crazy right now.’
[System Alert: Ahhh, I can’t watch…!]
‘Hey. Can’t we just do that fast-forward thing that that damned regressor did last time?’
[System Alert: Are you serious?]
[System Alert: (ʘ言ʘ╬) ?]
…It just means I’m that nervous, you idiot.
Hajin quickly averted his gaze from Thirteen, who jumped in enthusiastically at times like this.
And finally, the third place announcement came.
“The trainee in 3rd place is…! Trainee Jung Siwoo!”
What? Who?
Completely unexpected, Hajin suddenly forgot that Dan Haru was a regressor who had gone mad and turned into a dark-mode baby rabbit warrior, and widened his eyes.
‘Jung Siwoo? Jung Siwoo got 3rd place? Are you kidding me?’
Then what rank am I?
At that moment, Kang Hajin’s lips began to dry up.
An ominous feeling crept up the back of his neck.
‘No, no, please, don’t tell me.’
Many factors determine the results of the final.
First, since Miro Maze is an internal survival competition, the opinions of the company’s new talent development team can’t be ignored,
The switch to a one-pick vote after the second elimination round would also have some impact,
“Now, only two wings of Kairos remain: the 2nd and 7th places.”
The complacency of the fans of top-ranked trainees,
The awakening of fans of lower-ranked trainees,
“Now, let’s announce the second wing of Kairos, the 2nd place trainee.”
Casual viewers who normally don’t like survival shows but tuned in just to see the final results,
And those who might have caught the audience’s votes in real-time by suddenly exploding with potential during the live stage….
And, and… What else?
“The trainee who consistently amazed the Desties with unique and new stage concepts and adaptability, as well as versatile talent.”
Or…
Something significant happened that left a lasting impression on the public right before the final, which could be enough to boost a trainee’s rank.
For example, making a bold statement at an official event, causing a massive self-purging reaction within the fandom, and increasing overall viral momentum.
Or, transforming their image during the final, creating a huge visual shock within the idol community at the last minute.
Or, a trainee who had been eliminated posts a supportive message along with a heartwarming story on their personal SNS.
Alternatively, a surprise event where they accepted a senior singer’s 1st place award on their behalf might later be revealed to the senior singer’s fandom as one of their ideas, making it a factor.
So that fandom might conduct a kind of gratitude vote.
Ah, in a similar vein, this could happen too.
Even though they didn’t become a direct junior because of the agency’s colors, a solo singer from a girl group, who regretted it, might encourage their fandom to vote for a trainee who had admirably covered their song during the audition.
‘No way, it can’t be. Really, it can’t be.’
Kang Hajin was unknowingly facing the butterfly effect that had come upon him.
“The trainee who will become the new wing of Kairos in 2nd place!”
In that fleeting moment.
Kang Hajin’s heart raced as if it would burst.
“…Trainee Kang Hajin!”
A thunderous roar erupted.
And before his eyes, a blue screen so welcome it made him want to cry appeared.
[Single Quest 02.]
‘I’m the crazy one in this area!’
Content: You who have entered (or will enter) the Maze.
Overcome the suffocating politics and checks within,
Meet allies who will help you, and debut successfully.
(Removing hidden bombs lowers the chance of regression and increases quest success rate)
Time remaining: 6 months.
Success reward: Clue to tracking the Regressor
[System Alert: Congratulations. Master Regressor!]
[System Alert: (*≧∀≦*)]
Kang Hajin looked out into the audience with an expression of disbelief.
Among the many people, he could only see those holding merchandise with his name on it, shouting his name.
Someone close to the stage was already crying, shining a ‘★Congratulations on your debut, my star Hajin★’ message using a phone’s LED app.
“…Ah.”
After countless timelines,
In this timeline, where he’d struggled to protect his life.
“…Ah, I can’t believe it.”
Kang Hajin finally grasped the shining dream he had once dreamed.
* * *
“There were so many things I wanted to say if I stood here…”
I’m doomed.
I can’t think of anything to say.
My mind isn’t just a blank page, it feels like an empty Word document with a blinking cursor the night before a deadline.
‘How did the others manage to speak at all?’
Lee Doha. I’m sorry I was surprised when you gave your debut speech. You were so damn calm.
Still unable to hide my daze at the reality that hadn’t quite sunk in yet, I gripped the microphone tightly. My hands were shaking so much that I felt I might drop it.
“Uh… Honestly, I never thought I would debut at such a high rank.”
I thought I was lucky to get 3rd place.
At best, I thought I’d be in 7th place.
And even if that happened, I wouldn’t have been too disappointed.
Because, for me, the fact that I debuted at all held great meaning.
“But now that I’m actually standing here… My mind is so full of thoughts that I don’t know where to begin. But I’m not usually the type to be at a loss for words… You know that, right?”
As usual, I blurted out nonsensical words when I got nervous.
I didn’t even know what I was saying, but somewhere in the audience, I heard a voice screaming, “We know!!!!!” in response. The audience, and I, burst into laughter at that.
Only then did my tense shoulders relax a little, and I began to regain my senses.
Holding the microphone, I thought of the people I should thank first.
“…First and foremost, and for the longest time, to my mom and dad, who believed in my ‘potential’.”
Kang Hajin thought back to a distant day.
To his parents, who would be listening to these words, it was a day that wasn’t so long ago.
– Stop talking about potential.
– Why are you like this, Hajin? I believe in you. You can do it.
– Mom, sometimes…
– …
– I’m scared of my worthless future. That you’ll be disappointed in me.
– Hajin.
– If I don’t achieve something when you believe in me so much, then it’s really all my fault.
– …
– So I’ll just do something else. Not what I’m potentially good at, but what I’m actually good at.
There were definitely moments when that unconditional trust felt like a shackle.
Hajin feared every moment of failure.
As he increasingly wanted to rationalize his increasingly insignificant self and live just adequately, the bigger his parents’ expectations and belief in him grew, the more he saw himself as pathetic for not being able to meet them.
“Thank you for raising me to be a son who can repay your faith.”
But looking back,
It was precisely that belief that allowed him to rise again, time and time again, from the abyss of failure and fear.
“…I’m happiest that I can finally prove that mom and dad were right.”
Hajin knew well what kind of words his parents and those around them heard.
He knew the kind of worries disguised as advice that said they shouldn’t raise their children like that with so little money, and he knew the thoughts that kept his parents up at night.
“So now, be proud and boast about your son.”
I’m glad I could be your pride.
That was the one thing he managed to swallow back.
Because he had no intention of stopping at just this debut.
He decided to save those words for when he reached an even higher position.
“For my dearest friend, Kang Hawon. Are you watching?”
Next was a message for his brother, who was probably running low on HP around this time.
“Didn’t I tell you? This time, I’m going to be an idol.”
A wide, bright smile spread across Hajin
‘s lips.
“…I did it. Now it’s your turn. Hang in there for your entrance exams, man.”
Recalling Hawon from a previous life, who had struggled so much with the stress of entrance exams around this time, Hajin sincerely encouraged him. The camera director, showing great sense, zoomed in on Hawon sitting in the family section. As Hawon, with unstyled hair and a neatly dressed shirt, appeared on the screen, the audience erupted into cheers once again.
Seeing Hawon on the big screen, holding his slogan with a face that looked like he was about to cry, Hajin himself had to fight the lump in his throat. If he cried here, he’d really become a hopeless crybaby.
“And finally….”
Lastly, I had to thank the Desties who voted for me…
“Lastly…”
But…
“…Ah, geez, really!”
[System Alert: Just give up… If you give up, it’s easier….]
[System Alert: The system shakes its head, saying it seems you’ve always been a human faucet.]
Unable to hold back the tears, Hajin covered his eyes with his arm and began to cry.
Hajin’s tears filled the concert hall with even louder cheers.
From afar, Seo Taeil, who was at the MC stand, quickly grabbed some tissues and hurried over to Hajin. Hajin took the tissues Taeil handed him and wiped away his tears, barely managing to continue his speech.
“Lastly, to all the Desties who voted for and supported me!”
You have no idea how much I wanted to say this.
Hajin silently celebrated to himself and delivered his final words with a proud smile.
“I’m proud of you.”
I really wanted to say that.
“I’m proud and thankful, not just because you voted for me, but because of the miracles and love you’ve shown all the way here.”
At all the crossroads of regression so far, I know that without these people, nothing could have been changed.
“…Thank you for being my pride.”
Hajin bowed deeply with heartfelt gratitude.
It was his last greeting as ‘Trainee Kang Hajin’ and his first greeting as ‘Kairos Kang Hajin.’