Chapter 196. The Happiness the Boy Desires (1)
The Rookie Award.
An honor that can only be won once after debuting as a singer—a privilege exclusive to rookies.
‘It was something I aimed for from the beginning.’
Not winning the Rookie Award didn’t mean the end of a singer’s career, but for a rookie starting with nothing, a single line like “Rookie Award Winner” held significant meaning.
It was beneficial for establishing a rising star image and also provided a justification to raise one’s value in event and broadcast negotiations.
[Single Quest 03.]
‘The Happiness the Boy Desires’
Content: Congratulations on your successful debut.
To protect everyone’s dreams and happiness,
Your group needs a strong foothold and a path to success.
Fill in the gaps of the past timeline, and change it again.
Survive the pouring idol wars and win the Rookie Award.
Success Reward: Blocking the Returning One’s timeline interference
Failure Penalty: Increased possibility of the Returning One’s timeline interference
“They’re not asking us to sweep every Rookie Award at every awards ceremony…. Just win one, right? That’s doable.”
I nodded, adjusting my posture. Since it had been a while since I last met Thirteen, there was a lot to do today, just as he had mentioned.
Amidst the numerous question marks floating in my mind, I decided to ask about the quest first.
“First of all, the ‘boy’ mentioned here. This refers to the Chosen Regressor, right?”
[System Notification: Correct!]
“And that Chosen Regressor is Dan Haru.”
This was something the damned regressor had confirmed directly, so there was no need to ask further.
Dan Haru’s profile appeared on the empty system window. On the system window that suddenly displayed his profile, Thirteen, with a black sunglasses emoji, began his report.
[System Notification: During the time I was disconnected from Kang Hajin-nim, I continued to investigate the Returning One and Dan Haru-nim.]
[System Notification: Although it was not easy since Dan Haru-nim’s basic personality recorded in the current timeline was completely separated from the Chosen Regressor…. ]
[System Notification: Still, I made quite a significant discovery!]
A new piece of information, which Thirteen claimed to have found, popped up on the large screen in front of me.
<Past Timeline>
[System Notification: Do you remember the time when the Returning One attacked Kang Hajin-nim last time?]
“You mean when he trapped me in the playground time loop?”
[System Notification: Correct. As you know, that place is similar to this unconscious space.]
“Similar? Then, are you saying it wasn’t an unconscious space?”
[System Notification: If it had been an unconscious space, you would have experienced side effects immediately after escaping from there.]
I recalled that time, which I didn’t even want to think about again.
Indeed, right after escaping, I had called Kim Wonho, pinched Dan Haru’s cheek, bought a bunch of snacks at a convenience store, and walked home, so it didn’t seem like there were any side effects.
Then, where exactly had I been?
Then, suddenly, the words <Past Timeline> that Thirteen had boldly displayed in front of me caught my eye.
“…Are you saying that was a past timeline?”
[System Notification: To be precise, it was a place like the remnants of a timeline, but yes, in simpler terms.]
[System Notification: It seems he was hiding in the past timelines created through Dan Haru-nim’s repeated timelines, waiting for the right moment.]
“For what moment?”
[System Notification: The moment when Dan Haru-nim’s personality as the Chosen Regressor disappears, and he can take over that personality.]
“So he was waiting for a chance to possess him.”
[System Notification: …Kang Hajin-nim, you’re really like an otaku.]
“Only just now?”
Raising my eyebrows at Thirteen, who was suddenly alarmed by the word ‘possession,’ I quickly asked the next question.
“At that time, the regressor clearly told me that he made a deal with Dan Haru. Could that have something to do with taking over his body?”
[System Notification: As I mentioned before, a time manager cannot take on a biological form for any reason.]
[System Notification: So, it’s unlikely that the deal with Dan Haru-nim was directly about ‘taking over his body.’]
[System Notification: However, I believe that deal was probably the start of it.]
This was roughly what I had guessed, so I nodded and crossed my arms.
“Then why the Rookie Award? What does our group winning the Rookie Award have to do with the regressor?”
[System Notification: It’s exactly as it sounds.]
[System Notification: It’s what Dan Haru-nim desires.]
“The Rookie Award?”
[System Notification: Yes. And right now, more than anything, we need to make the Chosen Regressor love this timeline.]
I stared at Dan Haru’s profile picture, still lingering on the system window.
Just what was he thinking with that small head of his? I realized I needed to come up with a faster way to draw out the Chosen Regressor’s personality.
Then, Thirteen belatedly added a few words.
[System Notification: It’s a rather complex story, so I can’t tell you everything today…. ]
[System Notification: But there’s only one way to prevent Dan Haru-nim from being possessed by the Returning One.]
“What is it?”
[System Notification: Make him want to live as ‘Dan Haru.’]
That one sentence made my heart sink for some reason.
[System Notification: The biggest problem is that the Chosen Regressor’s personality and his basic personality are completely separate.]
[System Notification: The Chosen Regressor doesn’t consider the current ‘Dan Haru’ to be himself.]
[System Notification: The less he does, the weaker his influence on ‘Dan Haru’s timeline becomes, and the more opportunities the Returning One will have to steal that timeline and personality.]
Dan Haru, the Chosen Regressor, who said he must have repeated countless regressions to become happy, seemed to have concluded that even after crossing so many timelines, he still didn’t want to live.
[System Notification: But just because the personalities are separated doesn’t mean Dan Haru-nim isn’t Dan Haru-nim.]
[System Notification: Just like how the Fixed Regressor isn’t someone other than Kang Hajin-nim.]
I quietly rose from my seat, deep in thought.
It was time to wake up.
[System Notification: I’ll provide more detailed information as time allows!]
“Alright. I’ll ask if anything else comes to mind.”
[System Notification: Um…. ]
“…?”
Just as I stood at the exit, Thirteen hesitated for a moment before cautiously adding a word.
[System Notification: Kang Hajin-nim, I believe you can do it.]
“What. Win the Rookie Award? I have to, what else can I do? It’s the youngest’s wish.”
[System Notification: No, not that.]
[System Notification: I mean, getting the Chosen Regressor to become attached to life again.]
“…….”
As I remained silent, Thirteen’s system window shone brightly as if to give me reassurance.
[System Notification: You’ve already experienced it once, haven’t you, Kang Hajin-nim?]
“…Me?”
[System Notification: The experience of accepting the life you returned to after regression as your own.]
[System Notification: Since you also came to love this timeline as your own…. ]
[System Notification: I believe you can definitely persuade Dan Haru-nim too.]
[System Notification: Maybe no one but Kang Hajin-nim can do it!]
Looking at Thirteen, who sparkled brightly as if cheering me on, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
It reminded me of the time I had sat on the street, acknowledging that I, too, wanted to love this life so dearly.
“Yeah. Thanks for the support.”
Despite everything, I had survived.
And I hadn’t forgotten that it was because of the warmth extended to me.
Now, it seemed it was my turn to reach out to someone else.
“Let’s go. To grant the youngest’s wish.”
* * *
The preparations for Kairos’ debut were progressing steadily.
Fans were capturing every frame of the teasers that highlighted their dual concept, eager to uncover the hidden meanings and world-building within them.
[Reasons why our debut song ‘Daylight’ might be connected]
Miro Maze’s title track, ‘Daylight’ = sunlight
In this teaser, there were many scenes in the hideout where ‘sunlight’ was emphasized.
The debut song title is ‘Over the Night’
Which contrasts with the concept of ‘Day,’ where sunlight exists.
And if you look at the lyrics of ‘Daylight,’
There’s a line, “Hello, it’s me.”
It feels quite meaningful.
Most importantly, both songs are written and composed by Seo Taeil sbn…
The person who led Utopia’s coup
Couldn’t possibly have stayed out of this interesting concept.
Harang @dohajin_luv
Kairos Over the Night
Teaser speculation…
The burning house of cards
Feels like a very symbolic metaphor.
The first thing that came to mind was
House of Cards
Details in the thread below
(Teaser screenshots)
(Teaser screenshots)
Gang Daejang @strongjin
I don’t know much about all that,
I just want the music video to be released already
ㅅㅂHealing and post-apocalyptic themes
coexisting?
I’m already dizzy.
Daejang-nim, Daejang-nim
What do you think about
The theory that Hajini will be the one to corrupt Euncha-ni?
[Hey, are you out of your mind??? They’re still kids]
Looking back, the information that came out in IMMAPCEP
All matches the teaser ㅁㅊㅁㅊㅁㅊ
Siwoo’s hobby of playing the guitar, Doha’s athletic routine,
Haru’s diary, Taehyun’s contemplation.
All of this came from IMMAPCEPㅠㅠㅠㅠ
– ㅁㅊ
– What’s this? What am I supposed to interpret from this?
– Miro, you freaks are driving me crazy again.
– So, does this mean IMMAPCEP is connected to the world-building??? But this might be a bit of a stretch.
└ I think they just reflected the members’ actual hobbies or traits in IMMAPCEP on purpose to cater to our over-immersion.
└ Ah, I’m going crazy. What do I need to rewatch? Did they hide something else?
Not just decent, but nearly successful, the reactions were highly enthusiastic.
Each time a new interpretation emerged, the views on Kairos’ various content, including the teasers, skyrocketed.
And not long after, the concept photos for Kairos’ debut album were released.
**KIRUS Official @kirus official**
**K:RUS Debut Album ‘K:ONCEPT’**
**Concept photo OVER VER.**
#Kang Hajin
(A photo of Hajin wearing a mustang jacket, standing with fallen leaves)
– Wow, it’s out.
– So, is this the concept photo for the debut album?
– I can’t resist kidnapping Kang Hajin when he’s standing so atmospherically under those fallen leaves in that stylish outfit.
└ You’re going down.
└ Falling.
└ ㅊㄹ
**Reason Gun @2uuu_gunn2**
This is driving me crazy, guys.
The OVER concept photo was taken with the members’ birth flowers.
Yugeon’s birth flower is the tiger lily,
Do you know what its flower language is?
“Please love me.”
(A concept photo of Yugeon with a tiger lily)
The concept photos, taken with each member’s birth flower, caused another wave of excitement.
These concept photos, shot in the same outfits they wore in the hideout scenes of the teaser, seemed to capture an ordinary yet fresh day in the lives of teenage and twenty-something boys.
Destiny fans busily spread the concept photos everywhere, promoting them.
At that time, when the community and SNS were filled with talks about Kairos.
– Oh? Hey guys.
Someone brought up some new news.
– Renes is about to debut their next group ㄷㄷ
A new rival had appeared.