Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Things had been simple after the war.

He'd claimed he was "resting," and who could argue? After all, stabbing oneself in the middle of a battlefield did tend to justify a break.

So he secluded himself in his quarters, ignoring the influx of letters, calls, and endless attempts to thank or praise him. All Cale wanted was peace, and finally, he seemed to be getting it.

The world was moving on. The war was over.

Things were slowly getting back on track, and Puzzle City was rebuilt, now the most famous tourist attraction across both the Western and Eastern Continents.

History books were selling like hotcakes, chronicling the legendary Allied Armies and their greatest commander, Cale Henituse.

Be that as it may be, Cale didn't have to know about that last bit.

Anyway.

As mentioned, everything was going just fine for our great commander and self-proclaimed slacker.

Well. Everything except for one tiny, insignificant detail.

Cale woke up one morning in a place that was both unfamiliar and disconcertingly familiar at the same time.

He noticed right away that this wasn't his bed. It wasn't the Super Rock Villa, with its cozy mattress that had grown warm from the kids who always snuck into his room at night despite having their own rooms.

It wasn't even his room in the estate of the Henituse territory, with its overly luxurious bedding.

This bed was comfortable-sure-but not luxuriously so.

The sheets were plain, the pillows unremarkable. And most notably, there wasn't a single trace of Raon, On, or Hong anywhere nearby.

He was sure nothing alarming happened in his sleep. There was no strange light that sucked him to this world. There was no warning from the God of Death or any Gods at that. He was sleeping peacefully, and now he is in a strange place.

Cale sat up slowly, squinting at his surroundings.

His first thought: This is not my bed.

His second thought: This is not my room.

And his third thought? A muttered, "Dammit..."

He gripped the sheets tightly, frustration already bubbling up.

'Seriously, who keeps thinking I'm free real estate to be moved around at their whim? Am I some kind of cosmic toy for the gods to play with whenever they get bored?'

Ah.

He really felt like slapping someone right now.

Trying to subdue his anger and frustration, he finally forced himself out of the bed to check his surroundings and assist the situation.

He couldn't afford to lose his temper. Not yet, anyway. First, he needed to figure out what was going on.

With a sigh that reeked of resignation, Cale swung his legs off the bed and forced himself to take stock of his surroundings.

The room he was in wasn't grand, nor was it shabby. It was... average. Clean, but devoid of personality. The furniture was minimal: a desk, a chair, a small closet. No golden accessories, no extravagant decor. Just plain, practical furnishings.

In fact, the atmosphere was so sterile it gave off a slightly gloomy vibe-like no one truly lived here.

The only thing that indicated otherwise was the single drawer behind the bed. Inside, Cale found an ID and a few personal papers.

The name on the documents was Cale Henituse.

Well, that was unexpected.

And yet, not entirely surprising. He was starting to get used to this kind of nonsense.

According to the papers, his parents in this world were still Deruth Henituse and Jour Thames. His mother had passed away when he was young, and she was listed as Korean.

It seemed that after her death, this version of "Cale" had decided to move to Korea, his mother's homeland, a few years later.

His father, Deruth, had remarried Violan, just like in his original world. She brought her son, Basen, into the family, and together they'd had another child, Lily.

His living situation in this world is funnily enough, similar to the original Cale Henituse in his world.

It is like an alternative universe.

His father was a wealthy man in this world as well, owning many wineries and businesses.

He is 18 years old.

He does not go to a university or have a job. Just floating through life on the cushion of his family's money.

And as he expected, he is of European ethnicity, specifically from France.

Cale shook his head, already feeling the beginnings of a headache.

After checking his personal information, he went to search for any electronic device, preferably a smartphone, to also check the contacts, messages and see if the previous owner of this body had any close friends, but judging by the fact he is not a student nor a worker, it's almost unlikely.

The phone, when he found it, was... depressingly sparse.

Three contacts.

○ Landlord

○ Father

○ Mother

That was it.

"Well," Cale muttered to himself, staring at the screen, "I didn't have high expectations, but this is just sad."

Still, the lack of contacts wasn't what truly concerned him. What he needed to know was whether this world had any apocalyptic tendencies he should be worried about. Monsters, catastrophes, anything of the sort.

So, he searched.

Key terms like apocalypse, monsters, and end of the world yielded nothing alarming. Just dictionary definitions and a handful of fantasy novels.

The date was identical to the day he'd first transmigrated to his original world.

All signs pointed to this being a peaceful, normal Earth-like world.

After his search, Cale stepped out onto the balcony to get a better sense of his surroundings.

He leaned against the balcony railing, staring out at the quiet neighbourhood below.

The street was lined with modest apartments, small shops, and a park in the distance. Kids were playing, adults were jogging, and the occasional dog barked happily at passersby. The place where he lives seemed like an extremely average neighbourhood.

And it looked just like the normal world he was living in just before the apocalypse.

A peaceful world where nothing crazy or eventful happened.

It reminded him too much of the Korea he used to know, but that didn't bring him any comfort.

Although it was a nice change of scenery to see Korea again, this time in a peaceful setting, it is still not where he felt he belonged.

And even if the situation was not that bad right now, that didn't mean that he wanted to continue being here.

This wasn't his world. His family wasn't here. No loud, energetic dragon floating around him. No overprotective swordmaster hovering nearby. Just silence. And that silence was suffocating.

He wants to go back as soon as possible to his family and friends.

Still, he couldn't panic. Not yet. For now, he'd treat this as a vacation. He'd relax, gather information, and wait for whatever higher power had pulled him here to fix their mistake.

First, he had to figure out how this world worked. Then, he needed to find a way back. After that, he would make sure whoever was responsible for this mess got a thorough talking to or worse. He wasn't picky. That was the plan.

And for a brief, fleeting moment, Cale thought it might actually work.

Until a strange screen popped in front of his eyes..

It was a similar screen to what was described in Web novels and video games as a status window.

_______________________________

Help the variable 'Park Moondae' debut or die.

[Ensure that the variable 'Park Moondae' debuts as an idol within the time limit]

Remaining period: D-365

Penalty: Death

Reward: Returning back
_______________________________

Cale stared blankly at the screen, willing it to disappear.

Unfortunately, the text stayed right where it was, glaring at him like an obnoxious reminder of his misfortune.

If that wasn't the dumbest thing he'd ever seen...

Who came up with this nonsense? Did the gods suddenly get bored of apocalypses and start dabbling in web novels instead?

'So this is how it is?'

Dragged to another world, saddled with a mission, and threatened with death if he fails? What kind of nonsense is this?

Who the hell is even 'Park Moondae' and why does he have to debut?

Just when Cale thought he might be able to take this as a vacation, something crazy like this happened.

"Ridiculous," Cale muttered.

There are so many things he has to do, and on top of that he has to ensure his survival.

Survival.

It was something he was already used to fighting for. But ensuring someone becomes a famous singer was not on his list of ways to avoid death!

Just what kind of crazy situation was he put into?

Still, the penalty was clear: death. If there was one thing Cale Henituse was good at, it was surviving. So, fine. He'd play along. Park Moondae, idol training, whatever it took.

But he wasn't going to put in any extra effort. If this Park Moondae kid couldn't carry his own weight, well, that wasn't Cale's problem.

Honestly, this wasn't even the weirdest thing that had happened to him. Sure, the stakes were ridiculous, but compared to fighting monsters, talking with mythical creatures and having ancient powers, what was a little idol training? Still, that didn't mean he had to like it.

Growl.

For now, let's ignore this crazy situation and buy something to eat. Whatever ridiculous world he ended up in, one thing was certain: he wasn't dealing with it on an empty stomach.

Chapter Text

Preparing to get out, Cale opened his wardrobe to find something to wear.

He scanned through the array of clothing, frowning slightly. There were only casual and comfortable clothes, which was exactly the type of attire he preferred, but even these screamed wealth. Fine silk shirts, neatly pressed trousers, and even the simplest of sweaters were of such high quality that they looked like they had been handcrafted by the most expensive designers.

He grabbed a plain white hoodie and black trousers. It wasn't as if he planned to make an impression today.

He slipped into his clothes, ran a hand through his red hair, which was far too vibrant for his liking in this world and headed out. 

His goal was simple: find a grocery store, buy noodles and other necessities, and come back to continue figuring out how to deal with this new situation.

However, the moment he stepped out of the apartment, he felt eyes on him.

The passersby kept staring.

Cale furrowed his brows, feeling a mix of confusion and annoyance. It wasn't the kind of casual glance one gave to a neighbour or a random person walking by. These were lingering stares, filled with curiosity, admiration, and confusion.

He took another step, and yet another group of people turned to look at him.

'Why are they staring? Did I wear something ridiculous without noticing? No, that's not it...'

Cale mentally reviewed his appearance. His clothes were plain, and he didn't do anything attention-grabbing.

And then it hit him.

'Wait. Have 'I'... never gone outside before?'

It sounded absurd at first, but as he walked, the whispers of strangers began to confirm his suspicion.

"Is that him? The guy who lives in that apartment?"

"Wow, I didn't even know someone like him was living here."

"Is he a celebrity or something? His face is unreal."

Cale felt the beginnings of a headache creeping in.

He quickened his pace, now determined to verify his theory. He made his way to the grocery store, ignoring the stares and whispers as best as he could. 

After buying noodles and a few snacks, he returned to the apartment building. His suspicions were bothering him too much to ignore, so instead of going straight to his unit, he went to the landlord's office.

As soon as the landlord saw him, the man's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Kid, is that really you?" the landlord exclaimed, his voice loud enough to make Cale flinch slightly. "You're finally out of that apartment! I almost forgot what you looked like."

Cale blinked, unsure how to respond to the landlord's exaggerated reaction.

"What were you even doing all alone in that tiny apartment for so long? It's such a waste of a beautiful face!"

Cale's lips twitched at the ridiculous comment. He wanted to refute the landlord, but the truth was clear.

The reason people were staring at him wasn't because they didn't recognize him—it was because they'd never seen him before.

Cale let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I hate that I'm right," he muttered under his breath.

The landlord, oblivious to Cale's inner turmoil, continued to chatter about how he had assumed the apartment was empty for years and how surprised he was to see Cale alive and well.

Cale excused himself as politely as he could and returned to his apartment. Once inside, he locked the door behind him and slumped onto the couch, groceries forgotten for the moment.

His thoughts were a tangled mess.

'So, in five years, the original owner of this body never went outside? Not even once? Just how much of a recluse was this guy? No wonder the strangers were staring.'

Cale sighed again and ran a hand through his hair. As much as he wanted to ignore this bizarre turn of events, he couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was off.

And just as he was trying to sort through his thoughts, a strange book materialized out of thin air.

Cale froze.

The book hovered for a moment before gently landing on the table in front of him. Its cover was simple, with bold letters spelling out the title:

"Guide to Debut or Die."

"...What now?" Cale muttered, narrowing his eyes at the book.

He leaned forward, cautiously flipping through its pages.

The contents were brief, unlike the detailed novel 'The Birth of a Hero', but it provided enough context for him to grasp the situation.

It outlined who Park Moondae was and also mentioned that, like Cale, Park Moondae had a system.

In conclusion, Park Moondae is almost like the main character in this world, just like how Choi Han was the main character of 'The Birth of a Hero'.

The difference was that this world didn't revolve around wars and empires. Instead, it revolved around idols, fame, and the cutthroat entertainment industry.

"Well, whatever," Cale said aloud, leaning back against the couch. "As long as the main character does his job, I'll be fine."

Helping the protagonist shine was something Cale had experience with. He'd done it before, and he could do it again. All he had to do was stay in the shadows and quietly support Park Moondae's rise to fame.

This isn't all that hard since it seems that the main character is much more knowledgeable about the idol world than he is.

It seems like there isn't much he has to do anyway.

Still, the book left him with more questions than answers.

'Why am I here? Who arranged this situation? It's almost as if they know exactly what I'm good at and what I hate. This feels way too convenient.'

Cale shook his head, trying to push away the unsettling thoughts. He needed a plan, and he needed one now.

Reaching for a notebook he found in the corner of the apartment, Cale began to jot down a list of tasks.

The list of things he has to do included the following:

**********************************
1. Find Park Moondae

The first task was straightforward—find Park Moondae.

Apparently, the so-called main character of this world is going to show up at a karaoke booth near a broadcasting station. So, the plan is simply to go to that karaoke booth at the same time as Park Moondae.

He wasn't entirely sure why the system had dumped this responsibility on him, but one thing was clear: Park Moondae's success was tied to Cale's survival.

That meant Cale needed to enter the survival show himself.

Cale slouched deeper into the couch, running a hand through his hair.

Singing? Dancing? He'd never tried either, and the thought of standing in front of a camera to perform made him want to curl into a ball and disappear.

He could already feel the secondhand embarrassment creeping up his spine.

But there was one advantage he could lean on.

His looks.

He knew this face was attractive enough to make an impression. At least that was one thing working in his favour.

For now, the priority was locating Park Moondae.

Thankfully, that shouldn't be too difficult. According to the novel, the karaoke booth was in front of a broadcasting station—not exactly a hidden location. As long as he got there on time, he should be able to spot the guy.

"But what do I even say to him?" Cale wondered aloud. "Hey, I'm here to babysit your career so I don't die? Yeah, that'll go over well."

He sighed, scribbling another note:

Keep interaction with Park Moondae minimal.

Cale didn't need to befriend the guy; just ensure he made it to the end of the survival show. No need to get too involved.

2. Figure out his talent in singing and dancing.

Cale stared at the second point on his list, his lips pressing into a thin line.

Talent? What talent?

The truth was, he had no idea if he could sing or dance. He'd never tried either.

It wasn't something that had ever crossed his mind.

And now he was supposed to perform in front of a national audience?

The survival show required participants to perform. Cale had no idea if he had any talent for singing or dancing, but he couldn't afford to embarrass himself too much.

The first step was figuring out what he was working with. That meant testing his singing and dancing skills—if they could even be called that.

He grimaced at the thought of going to a karaoke booth alone. The idea of standing in a tiny room, singing into a microphone, felt absurdly embarrassing. Still, it was better to humiliate himself in private than in front of others.

As for dancing... Cale shuddered. The thought of moving his body to a beat was mortifying enough; doing it in public was unthinkable.

Seriously, how could he, whose favourite form of workout is breathing, go through torturous dancing? 

He will have to hope whatever team he ends up with in the survival show doesn't give him a lot of dancing parts.

Cale glanced at the list again and sighed. He'd never been a fan of idols or the whole industry. To him, they were just people doing what they loved in front of an audience, not something he could relate to.

"Why do I have to suffer for this?" he muttered.

3. Search for Kim Rok Soo.

Cale's expression grew more serious as he read the third point on the list.

Kim Rok Soo.

Even if it is another world very much different to the Earths, he knew of, he still can't exclude the possibility of Kim Rok Soo existing here.

The possibility of another version of Kim Rok Soo existing here was unsettling. Would they be the same? Different? Did they even exist?

Cale frowned, tapping his pen against the notebook.

The place where he'd lived as Kim Rok Soo wasn't far from here. Visiting it might give him some answers—or at least some closure. But deep down, Cale doubted he'd find anything.

Since this is a much different world than Earth yet eerily similar, it would make more sense that the people here are not the same as the ones he knew on Earth.

"This world is too different," he muttered. "The system, status window... It's nothing like Earth."

Still, he couldn't ignore the possibility.

4. Buy household items.

The gloomy atmosphere of the apartment was making Cale's already bad mood worse. Some small changes could help.

Cale glanced around the room, his gaze landing on the peeling wallpaper, the dusty furniture, and the dim lighting.

"This place is a disaster," he muttered.

The apartment wasn't dirty, per se—just... neglected. It felt like the kind of place where time had stopped, leaving everything in a perpetual state of mediocrity.

Cale sighed and made a mental note to buy some cleaning supplies during his next trip to the store. Maybe some new curtains, too. And a lamp. The lighting in here was practically nonexistent.

He stared at the small kitchen, noting the lack of cookware.

"...And I should probably buy a frying pan."

**********************************

Shaking his head, Cale grumbled under his breath. He will have to start by buying everything he needs to get by since it is the easiest task.

So, he went shopping.

Of course, shopping wasn't supposed to be complicated, but when you looked the way Cale Henituse did—like a fantasy protagonist ripped straight out of a novel—it inevitably attracted attention.

It wasn't long before he noticed the stares. Some people gawked, others whispered to their companions, and a few bold ones even approached him outright, asking if he was a celebrity.

"Excuse me, are you an actor? A model? You must be in the industry, right?"

"Can I have your number?"

He plastered on a polite, tired smile, muttering a dismissive, "No, sorry," as he moved through the aisles.

It wasn't as if he could blame them. After all, being a fantasy character in a modern setting made him stand out in ways he hadn't anticipated. His striking red hair, sharp features, and piercing reddish brown eyes looked downright otherworldly in this mundane world.

This face doesn't belong here. Not in this world.

The name Cale Henituse didn't help matters, either. It sounded like something straight out of an epic novel, not a normal name you'd hear in a karaoke joint or a department store.

And so, with every second that passed, he hated his situation just a little more.

After finally finishing his shopping (and avoiding any more awkward encounters), Cale moved on to the next task on his mental checklist: figuring out his singing and dancing abilities.

For that, he went to a karaoke booth.

The room was small but sufficient for his needs. The screen flickered on, the lyrics appeared, and Cale selected a random pop song from the queue.

When he started singing, he was... surprised.

He didn't sound bad. In fact, he sounded decent. Not amazing, but not the trainwreck he'd half-expected.

He had no idea if this would be enough to survive in an idol competition, but at least he wouldn't be kicked out on the spot. It was a small relief.

Next, he tried moving to the rhythm, testing his coordination and flexibility.

The result? Passable, but nothing extraordinary. It wasn't a complete disaster, but he had no illusions about being naturally gifted in this department.

"For now, this is enough," he decided, turning off the karaoke machine.

The next thing he did was search for Kim Rok Soo, or the alternative of him if it existed.

Unsurprisingly, he didn't exist here so he will ignore that matter completely now.

With that settled, Cale moved on to the next, and far more important, task: finding Park Moondae.

It was described in the book that Park Moondae would go to a karaoke booth to be cast by the writer from the broadcasting station, which is a clever move by Moondae, strategically positioning himself in the right place at the right time.

The broadcasting station was not difficult to find as the company was a bit famous. There was one karaoke that was in front of it, so it must be the one the writer goes to. 

The karaoke booth was around Seong District, the area where Tnet is located.

He is unaware of the exact time so he will just have to spend the day here hoping for her to suddenly pick him.

The writer was desperate to find people for the survival show, especially fresh faces that could stir up some buzz. 

An attractive foreign participant would be perfect bait, not just for the audience but also for the show's producers. Whether he turned out to be awful or amazing, it wouldn't matter. His presence alone would generate content.

And if there was one thing this world loved, it was content.

Before Cale could even enter the room he rented in the Karaoke, the writer, he guessed, approached him while she held both his hands.

Cale froze, blinking down at the woman who was now holding onto him with what could only be described as unbridled enthusiasm.

"Student!" she exclaimed, her voice practically vibrating with excitement. "You have such a beautiful face! What's your name?"

I knew she was desperate, but not that much.

Cale seemed a bit taken aback, rightfully so. The woman was smiling widely while looking at him.

"...Cale Henituse."

"Such a beautiful name, you look like a character from a fantasy book. Our program scouts talents, you would make a great addition."

"Don't you think it's a bit early to say that?" Cale deadpanned. "You haven't even seen if I have talent."

"Hahaha, that doesn't matter!" she laughed, brushing off his scepticism. "You can try, and you won't lose anything!"

Cale was about to respond when he noticed a young man standing nearby, looking both shocked and confused.

This man must be Park Moondae.

He probably did not expect this strange turn of events to happen.

He was probably also checking his status window.

The writer, however, seemed utterly oblivious to Moondae's reaction. She tugged on Cale's hand, her enthusiasm unrelenting. "Come with me! I'll take you to the broadcasting station right now!"

Before Cale could protest, she pulled him along, grabbing Park Moondae in the process. The young man didn't seem to know how to react, reluctantly following behind them as the woman practically dragged them out of the karaoke booth.

The walk to the station was short, but it felt longer than it should have. Cale caught Moondae sneaking glances at him, clearly trying to figure out who he was or why he'd suddenly appeared in this situation.

Yeah, I know, Cale thought, meeting Moondae's gaze briefly. I don't want to be here either.

When they arrived at the broadcasting station, the staff started at them. She was smiling proudly at the other staff as if she had found a treasure.

The staff exchanged glances, some clearly impressed, others trying to hide their amusement.

The interview that followed was straightforward enough. Cale sat in front of the camera, answering questions about his name, age, and background.

He kept his answers as minimal as possible. There wasn't much to say, anyway.

The interviewer, however, seemed more interested in staring at him than asking questions. It was almost unnerving.

The interviewer handed them a piece of paper with instructions, smiling politely. "You'll be contacted in about ten days. Be prepared for the first evaluation then."

Cale nodded, folding the paper and tucking it into his pocket.

As they left the station, the writer beamed at them. "I told you this would work out! Don't forget, ten days from now. Don't be late!"

Cale offered her a faint smile, though inwardly, he was already calculating his next move.

All in all, it can be said that it worked out well.

Chapter Text

Park Moondae went to the karaoke booth as planned. And as expected, the writer was there, scanning the karaoke booths for potential candidates.

As she was almost dragging him out to the broadcasting station, they both took notice of a man.

A red-haired foreigner.

It was impossible not to notice him.

Blood-red hair framed a pale, beautiful face, his sharp features striking enough to capture anyone's attention. He seemed like a character out of a fantasy novel, with a presence that made the mundane surroundings feel out of place around him.

Even in casual clothes, the man carried himself with a grace and confidence that made him look as though he belonged on the cover of a magazine or, more likely, on the pages of a fantasy novel.

There was no doubt in Park Moondae's mind that someone like this was already a celebrity or at least someone destined to become one.

Yet he was in a karaoke, alone at that.

The man-Cale Henituse, as the writer would soon call him-nodded at Moondae in polite acknowledgement. It was a simple gesture.

The writer seemed overly eager for someone who just needed an extra.

I guess you can't blame her, that guy is quite the catch.

He wanted to check the status of this man whom he now knew as Cale Henituse.

Surprisingly, as soon as he had that thought, a screen popped in front of his eyes.
_____________________________________

[Name: Cale Henituse]

Vocal: B- (EX)

Dance: D- (S+)

Visuals: EX

Talent: EX

Characteristics:

• Motivational Manipulator
• Charisma
• Mental Resilience
• Strategic Performer

Status Abnormality: Error

_____________________________________

"What the..."

Moondae unconsciously said that out loud.

"Is something wrong, Park Moondae-ssi?"

"Oh, nothing, sorry."

The redhead started at him while smiling gently. His smile was something out of a fantasy book. No, not just his smile, everything about him screamed, 'I don't belong here.'

He was the first person whose status window he checked, but this...

This is beyond anything he expected.

It was also his first time seeing the grade EX, which he guessed to be the highest grade possible probably.

Isn't this a bit unfair?

With a status window like this, he could be the face of every billboard. The kind of person that could sneeze on camera and sell out an entire skincare line.

Well, let's analyze it step by step.

1. His grade.

Although his current grade in singing was similar to his and his dancing was also quite average, his visuals and charm grade was no joke...

The value in the brackets is most likely the maximum growth rate.

In addition, he had great potential for improvement. He is such a gem in the entrainment industry.

2. His characteristics.

He didn't even know where to begin with this one.

The only characteristic he has right now is 'Infinite potential' which enables him to increase his level with practice and gain points from missions in a game-like structure.

However, looking at that man's status window, his characteristic does not come close in comparison.

He really wanted to know what each one meant and what they had to do with being an idol.

Just when he had that thought, the status window opened, explaining the characteristics.

'I didn't know I could do this just by thinking about it.'

_____________________________________

Characteristics:

• Motivational Manipulator (inactive)

Boost a person's willpower and skill performance by convincing them they're essential to the victory of the team.

• Charisma (inactive)

An idol's bread and butter!

Charisma represents the ability to draw attention and (unintentionally) be viewed as a shining star.

Effects doubles when efforts are put into avoiding attention and remaining in the background.

• Mental Resilience (inactive)

[Level up to view more.]

• Strategic Performer (inactive)

[Level up to view more]

_____________________________________

In short, this guy was a walking cheat code.

Moondae had to bite back the urge to curse.

3. The status abnormality.

While his status abnormality is 'Debut or Die', Cale's is Error. This could mean that it is either blocked by the system or that perhaps he does not have one.

As the system is very ambiguous, all he can do is make guesses.

The fact remained that this man is a mystery.

His thoughts were cut short as they reached the broadcasting station.

"Student Park Moondae-gun, this way."

The writer guided him to a room and told him that he would have to do a short interview.

The interview was nothing special.

However, there were some unexpected elements.

"...In ten days?"

She then processed to sugar-coat it and nicely put her words.

He returned home to prepare for the first evaluation in 10 days.

***

The day of the recording approached after exhausting training.

The 1st round of evaluation.

This would be the first impression he will have on everyone, including the viewers.

Having a very great impression is not that good because you will have to stick to that impression until the end, or else viewers will criticise you, and you will also be the centre of attention.

Having a very bad impression is not any better, as you could become a joke or get evil edited. 

However, the worst is having an extremely average impression. It will make you look boring, and not many viewers will be interested as there's not much to bad talk or good talk. You will hold nothing special.

The filming began with taking pictures of the participants.

A middle schooler tried buttering him up to make connections but lost interest right away when he knew he had no company.

Many participants were doing the same. Some were just trying to break the ice.

However, the only participant that no one approached was none other than Cale Henituse.

He had a stoic expression, and every time someone made eye contact at him, he would smile.

This made it even more difficult to approach him.

It wasn't a friendly smile. It was the kind of smile that nobles in historical dramas gave before ordering someone's execution.

He also looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here, which is understandable considering he wasn't someone who wanted to be an idol.

And even though they were all sitting at the same level, he was sitting in extreme elegance and looked like someone of something akin to nobility.

Yeah, how did he never hear about such a person in the past?

Park Moondae checked Cale's stats again.

_____________________________________

[Name: Cale Henituse]

Vocal: B (EX)

Dance: D- (S+)

Visuals: EX

Talent: EX

Characteristics:

• Motivational Manipulator
• Charisma
• Mental Resilience
• Strategic Performer

Status Abnormality: Error

_____________________________________

His level of improvement was not drastic.

His initial grade was already quite enough to make him in the top 30 anyway.

His vocal grade has moved from B- to B, while his dancing grade was still the same.

Moondae resisted the urge to smirk.

Ah. A weakness.  He must dislike dancing.

He paused his thoughts as someone shouted for them to move.

"Let's move the set!"

The filming for the main broadcast has finally begun.

***

Many participants have already been evaluated, and he was called in the middle of the session.

As he finished his performance, Park moondae went to sit on a leather chair. 

A man who looked to be of a similar age and had a gentle impression started chatting with him.

It was Lee Sejin.

This guy is going to be involved in a huge drug distribution scandal in the future, so it's better to avoid him.

Many participants went on the stage, with many being nervous.

Particularly, a man called Seon Ahyeon, who had many great grades but was unfortunately ranked lower than him because of his status abnormality.

The last participant to present was Cale Henituse.

By this point, the audience, judges, and even some of the participants were drained from the endless performances. The excitement from earlier in the day had long since faded into a dull monotony, leaving only fatigue behind.

However, when the redhead's name was announced by the MC, a sudden shift rippled through the room.

"Cale Henituse?"

"Ah, the redhead?"

"I noticed him earlier... He has such a sharp vibe."

Low murmurs spread among the participants and staff. A few judges exchanged intrigued glances, drawn in by the unusual name and presence.

As Cale stepped onto the stage, the murmurs ceased. It became silent as if time stopped in this place.

Did he just activate an area-of-effect silence debuff?*

The red-haired man walked with deliberate, steady steps, his posture perfectly straight.

His expression was unreadable. He was calm and stoic, exuding an unshakable confidence that bordered on unnerving.

He wasn't nervous. That much was obvious.

In fact, it felt as though he wasn't the one being judged but he was the one evaluating them.

The MC broke the silence.

"Ah, our final participant of the day! Please introduce yourself."

Cale nodded slightly, acknowledging the MC. His sharp, yet polite voice resonated through the hall.

"My name is Cale Henituse. I have no past experience to speak of."

As he said that, he had a gentle sheepish smile as if he was a little embarrassed by this fact.

It was similar to Park Moondae's curt introduction earlier in the day, but the difference was stark. While Moondae's blunt delivery had been met with laughter, Cale's short speech carried a strange weight that drew people in instead of pushing them away.

The judges, now flipping through his application, glanced at each other.

"Ah, so you've never been part of any agency before?" one judge, a woman with a bright demeanour, asked curiously.

"No, ma'am."

"I see..." Mewdy raised an eyebrow. "Your Korean is quite good. Have you always lived here?"

"No," Cale replied smoothly. "I moved here a few years ago. My mother is Korean-she taught me."

His tone was polite yet measured, giving away little of his personal feelings. It was almost mechanical, yet the way he maintained eye contact made it impossible to dismiss him.

The judges exchanged brief glances, satisfied with his responses.

"Alright," the woman said, gesturing to the stage. "Please begin your performance."

The hall fell silent once more as the music started.

And just when he started his performance, a screen popped in front of Moondae's eyes.

[Cale Henituse's characteristic 'Charisma (EX)' was activated. Audience impression is boosted by 120%.]

His movements weren't perfect, but they didn't need to be. There was something inexplicably captivating about the way he carried himself.

Cale's vocals were solid, unrefined yet steady. His dance moves, while lacking in technical precision, had an understated fluidity that suited the music. But it wasn't these elements that left the strongest impression.

It was his presence.

Every movement, every note, carried an effortless confidence that drew eyes to him as if by force. Even when his performance had small flaws, no one cared.

It wasn't just talent or effort.

It was the way he stood, the way he stared directly at the camera during key moments, and the quiet, magnetic energy that surrounded him. It felt like he belonged on the stage, as though it was his natural domain.

Park Moondae found himself frowning.

Even though the performance itself was not the greatest out of all the participants, it still left the best impression out of all the 78 people who stood on the stage.

Objectively, his skills aren't the best... Seon Ahyeon and Lee Sejin outperform him in dancing, and a few others have better vocals. But...

He stole a glance at the judges.

Sure enough, they were captivated.

This is the power of an EX-grade characteristic, huh?

There were a few other participants who had slightly higher grades in vocal and dance than him, however, because of his characteristic and EX grade in both visuals and talent, it gave off a vibe that he was better than the rest of the participants.

When the performance ended, there was a brief silence as the music faded. Then, one of the judges, a dance coach known for his sharp critiques-spoke up first.

"Well, that was... quite impressive."

His tone carried genuine surprise as if he hadn't expected to be this intrigued by the last participant of the day.

"I'll be honest," he continued, "your technical skills still need a lot of work. Your vocals and dance are decent, but they're not polished enough to compete with the best here."

Cale nodded calmly, his expression unreadable.

"However..." the judge leaned forward, a glint in his eye. "You have something that can't be taught. A stage presence and aura that draws people in."

Mewdy threw even more praise at him.

"Exactly! There's a rawness to your performance, but it doesn't feel amateurish. If anything, it's refreshing. I can see you growing into a star."

The judges laughed, clearly impressed.

"Cale Henituse's rank is... 12th place!"

Cale bowed his head respectfully.

"I look forward to learning under your guidance."

The same judge laughed. "And I look forward to teaching a beauty like you!"

"Please take care of me, I will work hard." Cale nodded again to thank her.

As Cale returned to his seat, Park Moondae couldn't help but analyze the situation further.

Despite the minor flaws in his performance, the redhead had managed to secure a spot in the top 15, a feat Moondae knew wasn't purely based on skill.

Despite Seon Ahyeon having much better dance skills, the difference between their ranks is far.

Cale Henituse's performance wasn't perfect. But he didn't care about being perfect, and somehow, that worked in his favour.

"Isn't his presence a little scary?"

Moondae glanced at Lee Sejin, who had whispered the comment quietly enough to avoid the cameras.

He didn't disagree. Cale Henituse didn't seem like someone you could approach casually.

At that moment, the red-haired foreigner walked past them.

He then sat on the seat of his rank number.

"Cut! Thank you for your hard work! Participants, let's move right away."

"Get your rank ticket~ You can take it on board!"

The accommodation was a 10-minute walk from the set. However, the production team had arranged various modes of transportation for the participants, depending on their rankings.

From 11th to 25th place, premium buses were provided-spacious, comfortable, and designed to reflect the participants' "status."

It was also a convenient way to film moments that could be edited into future broadcasts.

From the 11th to the 25th, premium bus vehicles were waiting.

Lee Sejin smiled broadly as he got into the bus first.

I waited for a while to ensure we wouldn't end up sitting next to each other by accident, then entered the bus slowly.

Someone quickly followed and got on the bus from behind, making a thumping sound.

Then he hesitated and sat quietly next to me.

It was Seon Ahyun.

"....?"

Why are you...?

Well, never mind. It was nice to be quiet.

Cale Henituse sat alone, untouched by the hesitant glances of his peers.

It seemed that it was really difficult to approach him.

* * *

They quickly arrived at their dorm.

A spacious five-person room was arranged from the 11th to the 25th ranked. I got pushed up in the rankings by five people, but this means I won't have to share a room with Lee Sejin, who is ranked 20th.

I was lucky.

Due to a five-rank drop in his position, Cale was now ranked 17th, placing him in the same dorm as Lee Sejin, who was ranked 20th.

"Wow~ Me! I'm going to use this bed!"

As soon as I entered the bedroom consisting of two bunk beds and one single bed, a man randomly jumped into the single bed.

I guess he wanted to look fun and cheerful for the camera.

I moderately grabbed the bottom of the bunk bed.

Then, once again, Seon Ahyeon placed his luggage on the bed above me.

"...."

He looked up and bowed his head. It's as if I have a subordinate who follows me-.

After that, we changed into the training clothes we were given and went to gather.

When I think about it now, I think it was because aspiring celebrities were harder to deal with, while a relatively quiet, normal person was more comfortable with me.

I left him alone because I didn't think he would be a problem.

Chapter Text

Cale had only 10 days to prepare for the 1st evaluation.

For most participants, they would have been in a desperate race to polish vocals, master choreography, and perfect stage presence. For Cale, it was a countdown to a problem he'd rather avoid entirely.

Cale spent the first few days mapping his new neighbourhood. The area was quiet, filled with weathered apartment buildings and narrow streets, giving off an old, lived-in charm.

His neighbours were mostly elderly retirees, their gazes filled with a mix of curiosity and suspicion whenever he passed.

Still, his once lifeless apartment also started to feel like someone lived in it. Groceries filled the fridge, and a new lamp brightened the dim living room, all in an attempt to ward off the lingering gloom.

He had access to a small fortune, so spending wasn’t an issue.

But even so, he couldn't spend it carelessly. The bank account listed his guardian as Deruth Henituse, so he assumed the funds came from there. However, he had no idea if those parents acted the same as in his world or had utterly different personalities.

That was why he searched for the names of his family on the internet, and he found plenty of results of articles painting the CEO of Henituse Group Deruth Henituse as a leader of a successful business with smiling photos of Violan, Basen, and Lily at charity galas. It was an odd mirror to his memories. His name, meanwhile, was absent from every caption.

Not that he particularly cared, but it confirmed what he already suspected. His relationship with his family in this world was likely distant at best.

The biggest adjustment, though, wasn't the family situation; it was technology.

This version of Earth was far more modern than the one he'd come from. Despite the year being the same year he was in on his previous Earth, technology here had progressed far beyond what he was used to. This made sense, considering that the Earth he used to live in was too busy dealing with an apocalypse and had no time to prioritize technological advancements.

This fact became painfully obvious the first time he used a self-checkout machine.

Or rather, tried to use it.

Cale stood in front of the device, his eyebrows twitching as he stared at the uncooperative screen. 'Why is this machine so complicated? And why is there no staff to help? There aren't even proper instructions to follow.'

A small group of teenagers passed by and snickered behind their hands. He ignored them.

Mostly.

But after several failed attempts, his patience was running dangerously low.

'It is either you or me, today.'

His finger jabbed at the screen with increasing violence. Beep. Beep. Beep-

"This is not how you do it."

Just as he was about to give up entirely and perhaps eat out in a restaurant, a voice chimed in from beside him.

Cale turned his head.

A teenager with bright red hair, a little like Rosalyn's, was standing there with sparkling eyes, smiling at him like he was watching an old man struggle with technology.

"We have the same hair colour!"

"...Ah." Cale blinked, not expecting the excitement.

"Mine is dyed, but yours seems real, is it?"

"...No, it's not dyed."

[Wow, that's cool!]

The boy grinned like he had just found a long-lost twin.

"I am Cha Eugene, by the way!"

Cale internally sighed. This kid is way too energetic.

He recognized the name from the guidebook he had skimmed. However, the description of that book was, unlike Birth of a Hero, not very detailed, so he had no idea what this guy's personality was like.

Now, he was finding out firsthand.

"Then, thanks for the help, Cha Eugene-ssi."

"Don't be so respectful!"

"Right, ok then, Cha Eugene, thanks for the help today."

"I can teach you how to use it~!" Eugene declared, eyes sparkling. "Look here. You have to swipe the item like this and then press this button."

'...So I was pressing the wrong thing the whole time?'

Cale nodded solemnly. "You've been really helpful. I don't know how to repay you."

"I know~ Just vote for me in the Idol Inc. show!"

"You are in that program?"

"Yeah, and I am going to win and debut as an idol!"

Oh my, isn't he confident?

"I am participating as well."

Cha Eugene gasped, as if they had been long-lost comrades. "No way?! We're going to be friends, right?"

Before Cale could answer, and he wasn't going to,  another guy who seemed to be of the same age was shouting for him from a distance.

"Cha Eugene! What's taking you so long?"

"Ah! I really have to go, but I will see you at the show soon!"

Cale stared after him as Eugene was running off.

The red-haired whirlwind vanished.

'Man, isn't he too hyper? Are all guys this age full of energy like this?'

Thinking about meeting this guy and other energetic kids like him made Cale feel exhausted already.

***

The rest of the days passed in quiet research and light vocal practice, just enough to not embarrass himself. 

The day for the first evaluation came. And Cale wasn't looking forward to it at all.

The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with ambition and desperation, a suffocating mix of nervous energy and fierce competition. It was almost amusing, in a way.

Before the audition, the staff took a profile picture of each participant and then moved them to the place where they will perform for the first time on the stage.

Cale had no experience in the K-pop industry previously, so he spent his time beforehand gathering information and recording it.

After all, Cale was not here because he wanted to debut as an idol. He was here because someone else needed to.

His gaze swept lazily across the room, skimming past the jittery trainees fidgeting in their seats, the ones whispering nervously, the ones practicing invisible choreographies with their fingers.
Finally, it landed on a figure sitting calmly in the corner.

Park Moondae.

He watched Moondae stand up when his name was called. Cale was not a fan of K-pop, but he did know that his vocals were one of the best out of all the contestants. However, as the judges wanted to see more of his dance moves, he performed a second song with a more upbeat choreography. 

Pfft.

Cale almost let out a snort. Moondae's face, which looked stoic while dancing to such a song with cheerful vibe, was pretty funny. The chorus of MallangDalcom's 〈POP☆CON〉, which was released 10 years ago, beat the eardrums powerfully.

‘So that’s him. The one the system wants to debut.’

Cale leaned back in his chair. ‘At least he’s competent.’

After Park Moondae finished, a few other participants performed. And then, finally, it was Cale's turn, which was the last.

The song he chose needed to be easy enough to perform with simple choreography. His voice wasn't heavenly, and his dance movements weren't anything exceptional. He knew how to manipulate stage presence just enough to leave an impression. However, he wasn't aiming for top place, it would be good enough to hold on until he ensures Park Moondae is debuting.

To his mild surprise, his initial ranking was 12th place. 'Not bad.'

Since he was the last to perform, they moved on immediately afterwards to their accommodation. Despite it being only a ten-minute walk away, they had to spice it up for the purpose of entertainment by dividing the participants into three groups based on their ranks.

As Cale was in the middle ranks, he ended up in the premium bus. Well, it was fine with him. If it meant less physical activity, he had no complaints. Better yet, no one approached him during the ride, leaving him with a perfectly quiet trip.

Upon arriving at the dorms, he noticed that his rank had dropped to 17th place. He was in a room with four other participants whose ranks ranged from 16th to 20th. The room was not luxurious but moderately comfortable. It was good enough.

Unexpectedly and unfortunately, one of the participants, who will be his roommate for a while, approached him.

"Yahoo~ You are so quiet; loosen up a bit!"

Cale glanced up with the mildest of expressions.

A young man stood in front of him wearing an easygoing grin that radiated the kind of effortless charm that made people naturally like him.

To Cale, however, it was just instantly irritating.

Cale sighed internally. He didn't care to entertain this guy, but he also knew that maintaining a certain image was necessary in a survival competition, especially when everything they did would be picked apart on camera. 

So, instead of ignoring him outright, Cale raised his chin slightly and responded with an even smugger smile, one he didn't even bother to hide.

"Sorry if I seemed too unapproachable. I am not used to this kind of setting."

Lee Sejin tilted his head, his eyes glinting with something amused.

Oh?

Cale's voice was low, smooth, and just the right amount of detached. But Lee Sejin caught something else. A flicker. The tiniest twitch of an eye muscle. Most people wouldn’t notice. But he did. 

Unfortunately, Cale's "face card" was far too powerful; even small slips got masked under a veneer of flawless composure. To outsiders, he probably looked serene, if not a little endearing, making it even harder for anyone to find fault with him.

"Well, it's okay!" Lee Sejin beamed, brushing it off easily. "We can support each other, yeah? My name's Lee Sejin, by the way~"

I didn't ask.

"Let's take care of each other then, Lee Sejin-ssi."

It wasn't that Cale thought all the other participants were bad.

He understood.

In an environment like this, cameras rolling, judges watching, fans forming opinions off a few seconds of footage, everyone had to put on a show. Some wore their masks better than others, but at the end of the day, it was survival. It was just the game. Still, understanding it didn't mean he had to like it. 

As he watched Lee Sejin's bright, persistent smile, Cale couldn't help but think, 'So this is what it feels like for Alberu whenever I get on his nerves...'

The thought almost made him chuckle.

After getting to know the dorm and finishing filming a short scene, the cameras finally disappeared. They were handed matching uniforms and instructed to change for the next schedule.

"You're pretty good at this, huh?"

Cale blinked once, slowly, before responding.

"At what?"

"At acting like you care."

...

For a second, Cale simply stared at him, resisting the urge to sigh out loud.

So he noticed. The guy was sharper than he let on. Not surprising. Someone who could survive in this industry needed to be.

Still, Cale wasn't about to let himself be pinned down so easily.
Maintaining the same composed facade, he tilted his head slightly, letting a slow, knowing smile curl on his lips.

"Isn't that just another part of the industry?"

Lee Sejin stilled for a second. Then, to Cale's mild irritation, he let out a laugh.

"Ah, this is gonna be fun~"

...Fun?

Cale narrowed his eyes slightly.

“You’re pretty young, right?” Sejin added, shifting topics without warning. “How old are you?”

"Nineteen in Korean age."

"Hah! Then you should call me hyung!" Lee Sejin said, pointing at himself with exaggerated pride.

Cale offered a polite smile that barely reached his eyes.

"Of course, Sejin hyung-nim."

Lee Sejin's grin widened even further, practically glowing with satisfaction. He didn't like how pleased this guy looked.

After they finished changing, they then went to gather with the rest of the participants.

The MC proceeded to explain a system that was used in the previous seasons of the show. Cale already knew about it because he had skimmed through last season's first episode for reference. However, he didn't like it, so he only watched the first episode to get an idea about the show.

The show had been way too dramatic for his tastes.

And now, witnessing it firsthand, he realised it was even worse in person.

The MC's over-the-top gestures, the dramatic pauses, and the clearly scripted suspense. It was all so painfully obvious.

The producers were obsessed with tension. They thrived on blowing up minor reactions into major conflicts, twisting harmless moments into scandals, and crafting rivalries that didn't exist.

After the MC finished his exaggerated explanation, they gave them a badge for vocals and dance. While some were unfortunate enough not to get any.

The best outcome would be not to get any badges or at most a bronze one because it will lessen his time in the screen. Of course, he can't totally slack off because if he doesn't do well enough, his class could drop and he will be eliminated.

In the end, he got a silver for his vocals and a bronze for the dance.

Had the judges mistaken his mechanical precision for actual talent? Or were they simply dazzled by that inexplicable "stage presence" people kept mentioning?

Either way, it didn't matter. As long as he wasn't in the upper ranks like gold or platinum, he could blend into the background just fine.

According to the MC, they will have to practice the show's theme song for 10 days before having the final evaluation.

"The song for this season is...〈Shining Star〉!"

The beat for the song was way too catchy, which made it annoying when it was repetitive. He groaned, thinking about how he would have to practice it all day for the next ten days.

The moment Cale stepped into the dorm, he ignored everything else and made a beeline for his bed. With a heavy sigh, he flopped down onto the mattress, arms sprawled out, eyes already closing.

Unfortunately, his moment of peace didn't last long.

"Congratulations on your silver!~"

Cale cracked one eye open.

Lee Sejin stood nearby, grinning, his usual easygoing energy completely intact despite the long day.

Cale, meanwhile, had zero energy left to entertain this conversation. But fine. He supposed he had to be polite. "Yes. And you, too, congratulations on getting gold in dance. You must be good at it."

Lee Sejin beamed, clearly not one to downplay praise, but instead of accepting it outright, he shook his head dramatically. "No, it's not good enough, so I'll have to work hard.~"

Cale blinked.

...Was this guy serious? Gold wasn't good enough?

For someone like Cale, gold was a nightmare; it meant more camera time, more expectations, and more effort.

But Lee Sejin...

Cale narrowed his eyes slightly, analysing him.

This guy wasn't just playing around. It was subtle, but there was strategy behind his words.  Still, Cale wasn't about to prolong this conversation any further. So with zero enthusiasm, he responded. "Ok, let's work hard."

Lee Sejin laughed, amused by his lacklustre response. "Wow, such passion, Cale."

Cale turned his head, ignoring him completely.

If Sejin wanted enthusiasm, he was barking up the wrong tree.

Chapter Text

As the training phase began, everyone was practicing tirelessly.

Now, all you could hear in the practice rooms were strained breaths, sneakers squeaking against studio floors, and the occasional groans of pain as bodies pushed past their limits.

Park Moondae was especially diligent.

Cale hadn't spoken to him directly yet after their meeting in the karaoke room, but he had been quietly observing. They were both placed in the Beginner dance class, though their vocal assignments differed.

Cale could tell immediately that Moondae wasn't just hardworking; he was deliberate. Focused, precise, and utterly unaffected by the chaos around him.

While others chatted during water breaks, Moondae never wasted a second. His face, nearly always unreadable, gave away nothing. And yet, it wasn't empty. It was... quiet. Settled. A kind of maturity that reminded Cale a little of himself.

'He's different,' Cale thought, adjusting the towel draped around his neck after a punishing warm-up. 'Not just diligent. He's desperate, too. Like there's something more riding on this than just debut.' Cale let out a sigh. 'It is inevitable. It's a matter of life and death for him after all.'

Moondae seemed to be doing fine on his own, so Cale didn't see the need to interfere. As long as he kept progressing, Cale wouldn't have to step in. Less trouble for him.

Unfortunately, Cale's own practice was not going as well. He was getting scolded from the first day along with the rest of the contestants, including Moondae. The difference was that he was slightly worse, and he didn't care one bit what the choreographer was complaining about. Still, since everything was being recorded, he kept a face just respectful enough not to be called out.

"Is this how someone of your rank should act?" barked the dance instructor.

The studio fell quiet for a moment. All eyes briefly flicked toward Cale, then quickly away again. No one wanted to get caught in the line of fire.

"If this is the effort you're putting in, I must have evaluated you wrong!"

Cale resisted the urge to roll his eyes. 'Then why did you evaluate me that way in the first place?'

He didn't say it, of course. He had no intention of getting kicked off the show because of some petty argument. Ultimately, making him lose his mission's target and his only way back home. So he better shut up and respect the elderly.

"Are you even trying? I don't see any improvement. Do you want to become an idol or not?!"

He wanted to say, No, I really don't. But he bit the inside of his cheek instead.

"I will do my best," Cale replied, voice flat but respectful.

"Yes. You have to."

'Fine, old man. I'll play along.'

He bowed slightly.

What Cale didn't know was that someone else had been watching him just as closely.

From across the room, Moondae had been watching.

For the most part, he didn't waste time analyzing other participants. But he had still noticed Cale Henituse.

At first glance, he seemed like the classic delusional high-ranker. The kind who either bribed someone or lucked out in the first round and now had no idea how to hold their spot. Moondae had seen a few of them. But Cale didn't fit cleanly into that mold.

He obviously didn't bribe someone, as Mooondae has already seen him being cast along with him. It also wasn't luck that made him get his rank. It was the acknowledgement from the judges that he was a great performer.

When instructors raised their voices, he didn't flinch. He didn't offer excuses or fight back. He just listened, bowed slightly, and carried on.

There was something unsettling about that composure. 'He's not here to be liked,' Moondae thought, watching him from across the studio as they all fumbled through another round of footwork. 'He's not even here to win.'

But he wasn't here to lose, either.

Which was strange. Most people with that attitude either had absurd confidence or zero self-awareness. And Cale didn't seem to have either.

Cale's eyes didn't hold ambition. They didn't hold fear, either. Just a kind of tired resolve like someone playing a game they didn't believe in, but still stubborn enough to stay on the board until the last move.

That kind of energy wasn't flashy, but it was dangerous. People like that didn't burn out or explode. They endured quietly and unshakably. Which made Moondae uncomfortable because he could recognize that look.

He saw it in the mirror more often than he liked to admit.

'...I should keep an eye on him.'

Not because Cale was a threat or a potentially dangerous competitor. But because Moondae couldn't decide whether they were on the same side of the fire or walking toward it from opposite ends.

Cale's eyes suddenly flicked up and met Moondae's, perhaps because he had been staring for too long. 'No matter how much you look at it, it's a face that is universally agreed to be the most beautiful.'

Moondae turned his gaze back to the mirror and frowned.

A face completely deserving of the EX visual grade.

***

Lunchtime rolled around like a lifeline.

The cafeteria buzzed with subdued conversation, broken by the occasional clang of utensils and the soft thud of trays against tables. Most participants were too tired to talk much. They just ate mechanically, heads low, trying to recharge before the next round of training.

The food was... edible.

'The taste is worse than a soggy apple pie,' Cale thought as he forced himself to chew. 'But it feels nostalgic, somehow.'

He'd missed Korean food. Yet, his taste buds had been spoiled by years of feasting like a noble in a fantasy world, the exotic meats and luxurious banquets cooked by Beacrox. After all that, this cafeteria fare tasted nothing short of terrible.

However, he knew the importance and the luxury of just having food on the table.

'You have to eat to survive,' he told himself, finishing every last bite out of habit. 'I hope the kids are eating well, too.'

His hand briefly tightened around the chopsticks.

Cale couldn't help but think about how his family would be doing now. He touched a palm to the table as if reassuring himself. 'Time passes differently in different worlds, so maybe it hasn't been that long.'

He was halfway through the bland soup when a familiar voice rang out.

"Hello!"

Cale glanced up.

Cha Eugene stood before him, beaming.

He didn't respond right away. Just gave a vague hum that could be interpreted as interest or indigestion.

"I didn't get to talk to you again after that time in the supermarket! You remember, right?"

"Yes. I remember." How could he not?

Cha Eugene's energy was impossible to ignore and a little too much for this hour of the day. Or any hour, really.

Without hesitation, Eugene dropped his tray right across his. He didn't seem to notice, or maybe care, about the lack of enthusiasm in Cale's response. He just grinned and bit his food with an energy not befitting of someone who has been dancing for hours.

"You're always so quiet. I thought you might be eating alone again." There wasn't judgment in the words, just honest curiosity.

Cale blinked at him. "I like eating alone."

"Oh! Then I'll be quiet, too!"

Eugene said it with full sincerity, then immediately took a huge bite of rice and hummed in satisfaction.

He wasn't quiet at all.

Cale let him talk.

He didn't mind the company. As long as he didn't have to hold up his end of the conversation.

***

Later that evening, Cale was still in the practice room, replaying the same chorus steps for the tenth time. He was still sore, but he needed to improve.

'People do this for fun?' He muttered while wiping his sweat off his forehead. 'Where's the fun I'm dying.'

The door creaked open behind Cale. "U-Um, e-excuse me..."

Cale turned around, already expecting a staff member telling him to clear out. Instead, he saw a bundle of nerves in human form.

A tall, slender figure stood awkwardly in the doorway, clutching a water bottle like a shield. His soft blonde hair framed delicate features, and his eyes were wide with nervousness. It was like seeing a startled deer trying to gather the courage to speak.

"We c-could p-practice together?" he asked, voice breaking.

Cale blinked. He had seen a lot of beautiful beings, elves, whale tribe, and dragons, but even so, Seon Ahyeon's appearance gave him pause.

'Beautiful,' he thought bluntly.

It was just a silent acknowledgement. He was beautiful enough that he could probably pass as an elf.

Ahyeon must have noticed his silence because he quickly stepped back, flustered.

"I-It's o-okay if you d-don't want to! I can use a-another r-room, really-"

"No," Cale interrupted calmly. "Let's practice together."

His tone was flat but not unkind. He wasn't going to reject someone that nervous.

Ahyeon looked stunned.

"R-Really?"

"Yes. I'm Cale Henituse."

"I-I'm S-seon Ahyeon. It's n-nice to meet you."

"You too."

"P-Please speak c-casually with me!"

Cale tilted his head, then gave a faint smile. "Alright. I will."

Ahyeon beamed like he'd just been granted a blessing.

They began to practice. Despite his timid nature, Ahyeon was surprisingly skilled at dancing. He guided Cale through steps gently, offering soft tips and encouragement. His corrections were never harsh, always apologetic, but helpful nonetheless.

Cale didn't comment on it, but he followed Ahyeon's instructions wordlessly, adjusting his posture, counting beats aloud, and slowly settling into the rhythm.

When they finally collapsed onto the floor, sweaty and exhausted, Cale was too tired to move.

From beside him, there was a faint rustling. Ahyeon, after rummaging through his bag, quietly offered him a wrapped chocolate. 

"You l-look like you n-need this." Ahyeon murmured, holding it out with both hands like it was a peace offering.

Cale took it without hesitation. "...Thanks."

They sat in silence for a bit as their breathing gradually slowed.

Ahyeon glanced at him from the side. "...Y-You're g-getting better at dancing."

"...You think so?"

Ahyeon nodded, his expression sincere. 

Cale paused.

"...Thank you."

And for once, he said it not out of politeness, but because he meant it.

In the days that followed, Cale kept on practicing dance, vocals, and timing. Little by little, he smoothed the rough edges. Not enough to shine, but maybe enough to blend in. Hopefully, that would be enough.

Just pass as average. That was the goal.

The long-dreaded ranking evaluation finally arrived.

Cale sat among the other trainees quietly as they were lined up in their seats under the glaring lights of the set. The air buzzed with tension. Every breath sounded too loud. Every shifting shoe echoed too far.

Then, the set lights flared to life.

The judges walked in, smiling as if they hadn't spent hours preparing for this moment. Cameras tracked their every move as they greeted each other and introduced the format.

One of them explained the evaluation format: a multi-to-one interview system. Meaning, multiple judges would grill each trainee individually. The participants were also supposed to evaluate their fellow trainees, but behind the temporary set.

Cale barely reacted. He'd expected as much.

But then, something unexpected happened.

As the instructors clapped to the show's motto, 'SHINE YOUR STAR', elegantly written in cursive on the interview desk, the wall of the interview room began to move.

Gasps echoed across the room. Even Cale blinked once.

The supposed 'interview room' wall dropped into the floor like a stage curtain, revealing a massive open theater set and directly in front of it, the front row seats filled with trainees.

Cale had thought they were just waiting to be called. Turns out, they'd been the audience all along.

"The 77 participants who practiced the same song will now evaluate each other's performances!"

The atmosphere shifted.

So that was the twist. No private room. No neutral panel. They'd be performing—and judged—by the very people they trained beside.

Cale leaned back slightly. 'This isn't ideal.'

Last season hadn't done this. Back then, evaluations were solo and private.

And now, the ranking order would start in reverse.

"77th place, Chu Seonggu-gun, please come forward!"

The trainee looked like he was being dragged to his execution. There were whispers, stifled sighs. Cale didn't join in.

Even Moondae, sitting nearby, said nothing. Smart. Sympathy was just another edit waiting to happen. The moment someone pitied too loudly, they'd be cut into a cringeworthy montage.

The first performer missed most of the verse. It went about as expected.

The next participant didn't fare much better. They looked half-crushed the moment they stepped on stage. The room remained cold and tense.

After watching five or six people perform like that, even the judges were starting to look uncomfortable.

It was a brutal setup.

But the production team had nothing to lose.

'If they flop, they'll just edit it for drama,' Cale thought blandly. 'They're disposable either way.'

That was the truth of it. These contestants were being used. Either as cannon fodder to draw sympathy, or as stepping stones to make the "worthy" ones shine brighter.

Still, this approach did spotlight some people.

Some showed growth. Some had enough mental steel to endure. Others might not have talent, but they had looks or pre-show popularity to keep them safe.

Some had both.

Cale glanced up as the next name was called.

"Participant Lee Sejin, you must have worked hard."

"You're doing great!"

"H-h, huh... T-thank you..."

Lee Sejin. Cale recognized him—he used to be a child actor. His face was flushed red, his breath short, but he didn't miss a single note. He finished the performance, barely holding himself together.

'He'll pass,' Cale thought. 'He's the type they keep.'

He returned to zoning out just as the middle-rank section began.

A long stream of average performances followed. The same song, over and over. Slight variations in energy and technique. A few moments that stood out, but nothing truly memorable.

Cale suppressed a sigh. This was worse than the ceremonies and banquets with nobles. At least those didn't come with repetitive audio.

Even the judges were showing signs of boredom now.

"Well..."

"I think it's fine."

Cale glanced toward the stage lazily, just in time to see Seon Ahyeon return to his seat looking like he'd just escaped battle. The boy raised a trembling fist toward someone off-screen.

"F-Fighting...!"

He followed the gesture.

Ah. Park Moondae.

Cale blinked.

'Since when were they friendly?'

Moondae didn't react much, just gave a small nod. As expected.

Then he rose and walked toward the stage, movements as steady and calm as ever.

"22nd place, Park Moondae!"

"Yes."

The choreographer's face already said it all: disinterest. They'd clearly written him off.

'Can sing but can't dance,' Cale translated in his head. 'They stopped expecting anything after day three.'

The music started.

Moondae stepped into the first move.

Cale tilted his head slightly.

'...That's new.'

His movements weren't just cleaner, they flowed. There was a line to his body, a rhythm beyond just memorizing steps. Transitions were smooth. He wasn't just repeating choreography anymore. He was performing.

Cale sat forward slightly. 'So this is the power of a main character...'

Improving this much in just a few days was nothing short of absurd. And impressive.

'The judges are going to eat this up.'

Sure enough, one glance at the choreographer revealed it: a shift. Subtle, but there. Eyebrows lifting. Surprise breaking through the bored professionalism.

'Huh. Not bad.'

For the first time since this round started, Cale found himself watching a performance all the way through. And not because he had to.

Chapter Text

After Moondae's impressive performance, a few more trainees took the stage. Then, shortly after, it was Cale's turn.

He stood up from his seat and walked forward without hesitation, posture straight, expression unreadable. As he walked to the stage, there was not a hint of nervousness seeping from his demeanour.

From the outside, he wasn't the most ideal idol candidate. His dancing was average, his vocal technique serviceable, and his attitude came off as indifferent at best. But there was something undeniable about the way he carried himself.

Strangely enough, despite acting like he didn't care much for idol training, he remained diligent. He trained as hard as any of the others and never half-assed his work, even if his disinterest made it look like he was simply going through the motions.

That nonchalance, while easily mistaken for arrogance, had its own strange charm.

In any case, the instructors were curious to see how far he'd come after ten days of training. If he showed even slight improvement, that would be enough. If not, well... then he'd be another attractive face used for early viewer interest before quietly being pushed to the side. No matter how visually appealing he was, it was an idol survival show, not a beauty contest.

Once he was in position, the music began flowing.

His vocals were clear, with solid control and a steady rhythm. He didn't fumble or try too hard to impress. The most important thing for a rookie performing on stage is to have confidence and a clean delivery. And Cale seemed to do just that.

His vocal range wasn't advanced, but his tone was pleasant, and he used it wisely. Even if nothing was flashy, the performance was easy to listen to. His dancing was mediocre, but compared to his first evaluation, it was a vast improvement.

The last note faded, and silence hung in the air for a beat before the judges began to speak.

Youngrin was the first to comment, her usual calm expression softening ever so slightly. "Not bad. You utilised your voice range in a suitable way and used it to your advantage."

Cale gave a small bow. "Thank you."

Another dancing instructor continued, "As for dancing, it could be improved, but you delivered the moves cleanly, so it was good."

"Yes. Thank you." Cale replied while bowing slightly.

"Your performance overall was good. You seemed composed, and you didn't let the stage shake you. With more practice, I think you'll improve quickly!" Judge Mudie cheerfully commented.

"I appreciate the advice. I will work hard."

"We'll look forward to seeing more from you."

And with that, Cale stepped down and returned to his seat, the faint hum of the next trainee's name already being called behind him.

Cale guessed that he would get a good enough grade later on, but it wasn't enough to be relaxed.

Performing like that had taken more stamina than he'd expected.

Still...

'It was kind of fun,' he admitted, running a hand through his hair.

*****

The show's theme song was the first piece of content released to the public, and naturally, it would also be the first major group performance. Each participant would perform it, but the amount of screen time they received depended entirely on their rank.

Higher grades meant better camera angles, front-row placement, and more chances to leave an impression.

This time, unlike the previous evaluation, a new ranking tier had been introduced: Platinum. An elite badge for those deemed the most promising potential members of the final debut lineup.

As the MC finished his overly dramatic explanation with a practiced smile and exaggerated hand gestures, staff members began passing out small boxes to each participant, which included the badge of their ranking.

He didn't expect a top grade. But he didn't think he'd rank too low either.

He just needed to be somewhere in the middle.

Opening his badge, he was surprised to see a gold badge.

"Hmm?"

Cale had expected silver.

Moondae, meanwhile, had expected gold but was shocked to find platinum instead.

Spotting the badge in Moondae’s hand, Cale walked over.

"Good job," he said seriously, nodding in approval.

Moondae blinked, confusion flashing in his eyes.

…Was this their second conversation?

'The only time we spoke was when the writer was scouting us. Why did he suddenly say this?'

"Thank you," Moondae said finally.

"Yes. Keep it up."

‘Maybe that’s just how he is… He doesn’t seem like a bad guy. Still, I’ll keep an eye on him.’

Cale smiled faintly the kind of smile Raon would’ve shouted at, "Human! Who are we scamming this time?!"

Watching them from afar, Lee Sejin raised a brow, amused.

"They give off a similar eerie vibe," he muttered under his breath.

*****

By the time recording wrapped up at 8 p.m., the participants were completely drained.

Cale was lying flat on the floor, catching his breath like he'd just returned from war. Which wasn't too far off. They'd been rehearsing nonstop, and the only lunch they'd been given was a gimbap. It hadn't been filling, but he ate it anyway. Hunger was more distracting than bad food.

During the short break, stylists had lightly touched them up just enough to look fresh on camera, but not enough to stop anyone from looking half-dead inside.

Cale noticed one of the handheld cameras drifting across the practice room. It was going from trainee to trainee, asking quick, on-the-spot questions. Like earlier, when they asked Moondae if he liked the uniform.

"Yes." Moondae had nodded with a stoic face.

But Cale could read it plainly in his eyes: It's ugly. But I'm being filmed.

'Ahh, seriously wearing it is embarrassing and it's not even comfortable.'

Cale felt dreadful thinking about the inconvenient and tight clothes that idols usually wear on stage.

After lunch, rehearsals resumed, and then filming officially started at 4 p.m., dragging all the way to 8 p.m. Straight hours of dancing, positioning, and retakes. Criticism, compliments, commentary, and lights that never dimmed.

By the time the main PD finally stepped forward, most of the participants looked like they might cry if asked to run the routine again.

The PD congratulated them lightly before announcing that they’d get a brief break as shooting would continue after their performance aired next Friday, and filming would resume the day after.

The participants cheered and applauded each other happily with the strength they had left.

Cale slumped deeper against the floor and closed his eyes briefly.

'Hah... finally.'

He had been pushing himself for two straight weeks. His stamina was already frayed. And while he could manage more if needed, he didn't want to.

This break was a gift. He intended to use every second of it.

*****

The entire week Cale spent his time resting at home.

"The performance is supposed to air on... Music Night?" he muttered, clicking through the streaming site with a frown. "I know the previous season was bad, but is it really that horrible?"

He remembered hearing something vague about Season 1 tanking due to a scandal- something about a contestant getting pregnant with another contestant. The details were blurry, and frankly, he didn't care enough to dig deeper.

Still, he didn't think the show deserved this level of mockery.

'Tsk. People are the  same no  matter the world.'

Cale was instantly reminded of the nobles back in Roan who gossiped like it was their divine duty, smug in their little circles while thinking the rest of the world revolved around them.

After struggling for ten minutes and accidentally opening three pop-ups and a drama he didn't ask for, he finally figured out how to stream the broadcast.

On the screen there was a man and a woman who were talking about some music matters that Cale was not interested in.

"When will they start airing the performance?"

Frustrated with the useless babbling, Cale picked up his phone and started searching about this broadcast.

While he was scrolling, he noticed a site that seemed to have viewer's comments on this specific broadcast.

[ 'MusicBOMB' talk talk! ]

- Are there no interesting news this week?

- It's getting boring

- I heard some idol survival show will begin airing soon

Coincidentally, on the screen, the MC started mentioning something about the <Idol joint-stock Company> being re-listed.

As soon as that idol said that, the live comments section exploded.

- Re-listed? What a joke lolol

- Why is everyone suddenly talking?

   ┗ IJC is lunching a new season

      ┗ Ahh...

- Reading comments is more fun that watching the boring performance of trainees

- What scandal will appear this time lolol

┗ This time, it's between guys only

    ┗ What a shame. No one will get accidentally pregnant this time

Cale glanced at the chaos and sighed. “People online are really enjoying this. But this season will succeed, unlike the last one.”

Well, he didn't think much of the comments. People like to talk shit everywhere. They are mocking and cursing it now, but soon, they will get invested into it and start praising it.

On the screen, the two MC's finally finished their introduction and soon, the performance was supposed to start. However, instead of the trainees' performance, someone else appeared.

"Hmm? What is instructor Youngrin doing here?"

Youngrin was apologising on behalf of the show.

'Even as someone who isn't knowledgeable about idol survival shows, I can see that this is blatantly ridiculous.'

But it sure will bring in plenty of attention. The page was already booming with comments.

- Have the production team gone crazy?

- How dare they make Youngrin apologise!

After the ridiculous introduction that was delivered by Youngrin. The camera moved upwards and the flashing lights were focused on ten participants who were standing on the middle of the stage, the platinum badge owners.

The camera moved up and down focusing for a few seconds on each one of the ten participants.

Moondaw was one of the participants focused on and well he didn't particularly stand out.

The one who actually stood out the most was Cha Eugene.

"The kid sure will get a ton of attention."

The intro soon started and the performance began.

Honestly, seeing it on screen felt strange and the song wasn't as bad as when he was continuosly practicing for it.

"It's not at all a song I would willingly listen to but it isn't bad objectively speaking."

Viewers on the page seemed to actually take a liking to it, much to their dismay.

- Why do I actually like it?

- Such a waste of a good song

There were also many comments about the trainees whenever there was a  closeup.

- There are many young faces. It's uncomfortable (^^;

- Even if you are talented, if it's an ugly face, you won't get popular

- Did you guys notice the redhead?

  ┗ I might watch the show for him

At Seon Ahyeon closeup, people went crazy about it.

"You can't deny he has such a beautiful face and his dancing is also great. He needs to have more confidence."

- How disappointing. Why is such a beautiful guy wasting his face here

  ┗ If they are handsome, it must mean he's talentless
     
     ┗ That guy dances well tho

  ┗ A kpop group needs visual to survive

- He is so deer like. I am rooting for you already

As each closeup appeared, people commented either to complain about their performance or their face.

Finally a closeup of Cale was seen.

No matter how he looked at it, this is not a face suited for this kind of setting.

Cale felt awkward seeing his face on the screen.

- Wow, I felt my heart stop for a moment

- There are two redheads foreigners and they are both handsome. The show is exciting already lolol

- Usually seeing a foreign face is unpleasant but this is not awkward

-Was he a model before?

-Why is he in this show? He doesn't deserve to be there!

It lasted for a few seconds but it was enough to catch the viewers attention.

After the performance ended, the trailer for the show started.

"Ah am I going to show up often in this stupid show...?"

Cale couldn't take a few seconds of himself. He felt even more worried thinking about showing up on screen  more often.

I need to hide  myself  more thoroughly or else I will end up getting even more recognition from the viewers.

"Having red hair doesn't help maybe I should have dyed it or something."

Cale didn't realise that having red hair wasn't the issue here.

Either way, he wanted this whole ordeal to end as quickly and quietly as possible so he could return home.

But for now, he could make the best out of his situation while it lasted. Even if it felt like competing with children.

Getting drained from reading the endless stream of comments, Cale was about to close his phone.

But just as his thumb hovered over the button, a headline caught his eye.

"...Already?"

[The beautiful redhead trainee on IJC re-listed new idol survival show. Who is he?!]

Cale blinked slowly, his expression flattening.

"For God’s sake," he muttered under his breath, "how are they that quick?"

Chapter Text

[The redhead trainee on IJC re-listed new idol survival show. Who is he?!]

[I've seen many people wondering who the beautiful redhead foreigner is. I did some research, so here is what I discovered. 

First of all, trainee Cale Hentiuse is mixed with his father being French and his mother a Korean. The Hentiuse family is well known and is considered one of the wealthiest families in France.

However, Cale Hentiuse seems not to have a direct official close relationship with the family and has instead chosen to live in Korea, his late mother's home country.

This is all I could find for now, so stay tuned! I will update you when more information becomes available. ]

The comments section below the article was already in chaos.

- Woah, aren't you people invading his privacy?

 

┗ It is all online. What's the big deal

 

- He is handsome, so I'm rooting for him

 

- French dad, Korean mom... So he's multilingual???"

 

┗ Visuals, rich family, probably speaks three languages... what's next, a tragic backstory?

 

- If he debuts, he's 100% becoming the group's visual. No discussion.

 

- Wait, he's rich AND hot? Must be nice being born lucky.

 

- Lol, bet he got scouted because of his looks, not talent.

Cale stared at the screen, then slowly put his phone face down. He leaned back against the couch, rubbing at his temple as if that would somehow erase the flood of strangers' opinions about him.

Of course, he knew this was inevitable. But knowing that didn't make the thought of people digging through his nonexistent 'idol trainee past' any less irritating.

He stared at the article for a few seconds, sighed, and tossed the phone onto the bed.

Enough internet for today.

"Sleep sounds better than reading strangers dissect my life."

For now, Cale decided, he was going to do the most important thing on his personal to-do list: absolutely nothing.

***

All good things must end, and Cale's peaceful break was no exception. Filming resumed.

For the next mission, the MC announced with an exaggerated flourish that each team wouldn't be formed based on the participants' preferences but randomly.

A large box was placed in front of the trainees, filled with numbered balls. One by one, each participant stepped up to draw.

After all the contestants picked a number, the 5 signs that were covered were revealed to be the 5 leading agencies of kpop. 

Participants were required to pick an agency in the order of the number they got. 

Cale glanced at his number. 59.

...So it's going to be a long wait.

Normally, lower-numbered participants would get priority when choosing agencies, leaving those in the back nervous about being pushed around. But Cale wasn't worried. That's because first and foremost, he didn't have a specific agency in mind, so he didn't have a problem being pushed back. Secondly, his rank was gold, that meant only a few participants could move him, which again is not a big deal 

He just hoped that he would end up in a competent group so he wouldn't have to put too much effort. 

By the time his number was finally called, Cale noticed Cha Eugene peeking at him with a bright grin, subtly motioning for him to join his team.

Cale considered it for exactly one second before discarding the idea.

Too risky. Cha Eugene's group was already full, and kicking someone out would attract unwanted attention. Besides, joining a flashy, high-profile group sounded like a shortcut to unnecessary screen time.

'Logically speaking, choosing a mediocre group will make me stand out even more. I also don't know any of the participants here, so I can't judge how exactly they would act in a team, but it's better to avoid fights.'

Thinking about it thoroughly, it seemed like picking the group that Moondae chose seemed like the safest option.

As he walked over, Moondae looked up at him briefly, confusion flickering across his face. Cale gave him a faint smile in greeting.

"I'm glad you joined our group!" a random bronze-grade participant said cheerfully.

Cale nodded politely. "Thanks."

Ryu Chungwoo stepped forward next, offering a firm handshake. "I hope we work well together. Let's do our best."

Cale nodded again, hesitant. "Yeah. Let's... do our best."

'That guy seems like the Mr. Nice guy type. Better be nice back if you don't want to get backlash.'

Soon after, Lee Sejin sauntered over, looking far too pleased with himself. He greeted the group warmly before immediately zeroing in on Moondae to tease him about something.

Moondae looked seconds away from committing murder.

Cale quietly pretended not to notice.

Finally, after all participants had finished choosing agencies. It was time to form the teams. Unlike what they expected, teams were formed randomly based on the participants' numbers.

The MC asked the first participant of each team to press the button behind the sign. The button showed two rows of 7 numbers. Each row is a team. 

[4, 7, 12, 15, 33, 37, 62]

[17, 24, 27, 38, 41, 59, 72]

'Hmm.' 

Looking at it, the first row turned out to be a much better arrangement and was talented. 

As for the team Cale was in, it was alright...

'I have a bad feeling about this.'

Ryu Chungwoo quickly gathered the group together, naturally slipping into the leader role without anyone objecting.

"How about we introduce ourselves?" he suggested warmly.

The mood was awkward, especially among the lower-ranked trainees. Probably because they felt discouraged already. 

However, a silver grade participant, noticing the tense atmosphere, nodded with excitement and replied, "I will start! My name is Yujin. I'm a silver grade rapper. I'm 18 years old, so you can speak casually, hyung-nims!" 

"Sure, Yujin-ah," someone replied, easing the tension a little.

Following suit, the rest of the members introduced themselves, some with more enthusiasm than others. 

"My name is Cale. I'm a gold grade and I don't have a fixed position."

"Ooh, that's cool! You are an all-rounder!" Yujin said brightly.

"No," Cale corrected flatly, "don't exaggerate it. I am just average at best."

That earned a few awkward chuckles, effectively killing the small burst of enthusiasm.

The conversation came to a halt as the MC started explaining how the song selection would go. 

'Random again? They are determined not to make it in the participants' favor.' 

As the sign rolled, the team members were anxiously staring at the screen. 

Finally, they ended up getting the song <Tiger by VTIC>. Which, judging by the cheers around the room, was a good pick. 

As Cale's group celebrated half-heartedly. In contrast, Moondae's team looked gloomy. 

'Did they get a bad song?' 

As if reading his mind, Ryu Chungwoo whispered, "They pulled a female group song. Probably hard to rearrange."

Then, louder, so everyone could hear: "But their team is strong. They'll handle it well."

Cale nodded. "Obviously."

*****

"Let's start dividing the roles." Ryu Chungwoo announced.

"Hyung-nim, I think you should be the leader." 

All of the group members nodded in agreement.

"Sure, as long as there is no objection." Ryu Chungwoo's gaze swept across them as he spoke.

Everyone exchanged glances, then nodded firmly. "No way anyone else could do it. Chungwoo-hyung is the best fit."

The members cheered lightly, their earlier tension easing a little now that the leader was decided.

Ryu Chungwoo wasted no time and began assigning roles and distributing song parts.

"Who wants the center position?"

Silence.

Everyone's eyes darted around the room, but no one volunteered. The killing part had intense tutting movements that were precise, sharp gestures that required perfect rhythm. Mess it up, and the whole performance looked sloppy.

To make it worse, this was the highlight of the stage where the rap break began, the strongest moment of the song. Whoever got it would naturally draw the most attention.

And with our first televised performance coming up, Cale thought dryly, that's exactly the kind of spotlight I don't want. 

As the silence dragged on, Chungwoo sighed and suggested, "How about we all try out, and then we'll vote on who fits best?"

"Yeah, sure."

They went one by one, attempting the center part.

Cale deliberately held back during the tryout; he wanted to avoid this part as much as possible. The last thing he wanted was to be stuck in the spotlight. Unfortunately, his body seemed to have other plans. Even without trying, his tutting was almost flawless.

"Cale-hyung, how did you nail that so perfectly?!"

Cale's jaw tightened. Perfect. Exactly what I didn't want.

"I just... copied what I saw," he replied flatly.

"Still, you have to admit it's impressive," another trainee muttered.

One of the main dancers chimed in, "I think Yujin handled the rap vibe better. If Cale-ssi teaches him the tutting, he'll nail it after practice."

Ryu Chungwoo nodded, "Right, this is a good idea. Cale, do you agree?"

"I will do my best, but there's really nothing to teach. I think Yujin will be able to do it himself."

"No, hyung, I would like to be under your guidance!"

"...Fine. I don't mind."

Ryu Chungwoo happily announced, "Then it's decided!" 

The rest of the positions were distributed with no issues, and Cale ended up as the sub vocal 2.

And so practice began.

As well as the groans and nagging.

"Haah... hyung-nim... maybe we should take a break," one trainee panted. 

'You monstrous bastard,' Cale thought, glaring at Chungwoo, who still looked infuriatingly energized. 'How can he have so much stamina?!'

"Oh? Is it too much?" Chungwoo blinked innocently. "Let's rest a bit."

Cale dropped onto the floor, tugging at his shirt collar.

The tempo of the song was too fast, so they couldn't keep up. The choreography was brutal as well.

VTIC was a group well-known for its sexy and powerful concepts. This makes it harder for a trainee to perform professionally on stage. Copying their level was nearly impossible.

'The moves are fine. I've memorized them already,' Cale thought, sweat dripping down his jaw. 'But keeping up with the beat was another story.'

Not to mention that it was VTIC, so they are bound to comparison. It is because many kpop fans firmly believed that there couldn't be a trainee who is better than the popular, well-established VTIC.

Ryu Chungwoo was pleased with the final arrangement. It must mean that he feels comfortable enough doing this type of song; however, the rest of the members' excitement died down after starting the dance practice.

Nearby, the main vocalist of the group was muttering under his breath again.

"This... isn't enough," he whispered softly, too low for most to hear. "If we just copy them like this, we'll disappear."

Cale's brows furrowed, but he didn't say anything yet. He filed that away.

10 minutes had already passed. 

"Don't get discouraged," Chungwoo said firmly, sensing their doubts. "We can deliver a great stage."

And with that, they continued the practice.

***

Back in the dorms. 

The small room was littered with practice notebooks, empty water bottles, and a growing sense of collective despair.

"Ugh, I can't memorize any of the moves," one of the trainees groaned, collapsing dramatically onto the bed. 

"Yeah," another agreed, slumping against the armrest. "The moves are complicated enough, but the lyrics are way too lengthy. My brain's already full."

For Cale, however, this wasn't an issue. He already used 'Record' earlier and memorized every single move and lyric. 

Not that he'd announce that.

Yujin finally turned to him. "What about you, Cale hyung? How's it going for you?"

Cale paused, weighing whether honesty would make things worse. "Well, it's alright."

There was a beat of silence.

"Wow," Another trainee sat up straight, staring at him as if Cale had just confessed to being a supercomputer in disguise. "A foreigner is telling us that it's alright. I feel... incredibly shameful right now." 

"I second that," Yujin muttered. "I've been practicing for hours and I still can't get past the first chorus, and hyung here-" he pointed accusingly at Cale "-just casually drops an 'it's alright.'"

Cale blinked slowly, expression blank. "...What do you want me to say? That I'm suffering too?"

"Yes! At least then we'd all be miserable together!"

Cale sighed, leaning back against the wall. Do they expect me to fake incompetence just for team morale?

"Don't worry," he finally said, his tone flat but somehow cutting. "If it makes you feel better, I might still mess up on stage."

The trainees stared at him, horrified. "That... doesn't make us feel better at all."

"Good," Cale replied simply, picking up his blanket as if the conversation was already over.

***

After two days of continuous practice, it was time for the instructor's evaluation.

"It's fine," the choreographer began, voice sharp enough to cut glass, "But the overall quality is messed up."

The air grew heavy. Their exhausted breaths from performing quieted. 

"There's an obvious difference in skill that the audience won't help but notice it. It made the performance that was supposed to be powerful and strong, weak and clumsy, which created the opposite effect of the original song."

He began criticizing each of them one by one, naming mistakes and weak points without holding back.

Cale's jaw clenched as his thoughts simmered. This guy's talking like we owe him our careers. Ridiculous.

"I think you are all aware that you will be compared with the original artist so if you want to avoid this, it's either you improve the level of the stage so it's worthy of comparison or rearrange it in a way that will suit your team."

As the team was too nervous, Ryu Chungwoo took the initiative as the leader and thanked the instructor. 

"We will make sure to listen to your advice well." 

The group shuffled out, eyes lowered, carrying the weight of every harsh word. 

Cale didn't care about the things that the instructor was spouting. He was just frustrated that that guy talked to them in a strong, harsh manner as if he were above them. 

'Who does he think he is? Why would he speak to kids so roughly?'

Cale promised himself that the moment he is out of the show, he will make sure to return that offence ten times. 

In the vocal feedback, Judge Mudie seemed to share the same opinion. The difference was that she was a bit nicer about it. 

"You did really well. Your voices were clear, and each part had a different flavour! Ryu Chungwoo especially fits the song perfectly!" Judge Mudie cheerfully commented. 

The group members happily thanked Judge Mudie for her positive affirmations.

"However, the team is lacking balance and confidence."

The members' momentary excitement quickly died down. 

"Since each member has a unique voice, it will make it difficult for the audience to enjoy the overall performance." 

The members realised that they needed to discuss it later. 

Cale was irritated yet again. 

Being an idol is too complicated for his liking. 

***

At the end of the day, they gathered at the dorms, drained and muted. 

They stared at each other in silence for almost a minute before Ryu Chungwoo finally started talking. 

"So, as you know, it seems like there are some issues with the overall quality of the performance, so we need to address them."

A few members couldn't raise their faces from embarrassment. They must have believed that their low level is the reason for the drop in the quality of the performance. 

Which isn't too far from the truth. 

"Hyung-nim, I will practice harder. I don't want to drag everyone down."

"Yeah... I will try to push my limits too." 

A few bronze-grade members nervously said, their voices heavy with guilt, and silence followed. None of the members knew how to respond while the mood dropped further.

That's until a stern voice was heard. 

"You shouldn't degrade yourself like that," Cale said unexpectedly. "I think all of you are working really hard. Don't let what the instructors said bother you too much. If we are copying one of the most talented kpop groups, it's natural we will fall short in comparison." 

'If they keep sulking like this, practice will drag on forever. Might as well say something uplifting.'

Cale was fed up with seeing some members believe that they are hindering the group's quality. 

The members were too startled to reply. A closed-off, mysterious member who barely even talked was suddenly saying things like this. Somehow, this made his words all much more meaningful.

"We are a team," he added simply. "Stop blaming yourselves individually. We'll improve together."

The silence broke. For the first time that night, the tension eased.

Ryu Chungwoo nodded passionately. "Exactly. Let's sleep for now, and we will continue practising harder together from now on!"

***

Since the dance practice room for Cale's team was right next to Moondae's, he occasionally caught glimpses of their rehearsals whenever he passed by.

Today, by chance, he ran into Seon Ahyeon in the hallway.

"Ah, C-Cale-ya! H-how are you d-doing?" Ahyeon stammered, but his voice carried a little more strength than before.

Cale raised an eyebrow.

'He somehow sounds more confident than last time...? Progress, I guess.'

"It's going fine. What about you?"

"I-I'm g-glad! O-our t-team is doing w-well. M-Moondae also g-gave us s-some really g-good i-ideas and-"

"Cale-ya! Why are you chatting without me? Include me too~"

Keun Sejin appeared out of nowhere, sliding into the conversation. He slung an arm casually around Ahyeon, beaming.

Ahyeon flinched at the sudden intrusion. "W-we were just talking a-about h-how p-practice w-was going..."

"Ahyeonii, you can't say that!" Keun Sejin gasped dramatically, shaking him by the shoulders. "This is classified information! We can't leak our top-secret stage plans to the enemy team!~"

'Enemy team?' Cale's expression remained blank.

'Why are you acting like I care? I didn't even ask.'

"I'll head back now," Cale cut in, brushing past the chaos before it could spiral further. "Good luck with your practice."

"Y-yes! T-thank you!" Ahyeon stammered, waving with both hands.

Keun Sejin, ever cheerful, winked. "Don't peek at our practice, okay~?"

Cale didn't bother responding. He returned to his team's room, shutting the door behind him.

Whatever Moondae's team was plotting, it didn't matter. Judging from their energy, they'd managed to work out something that fit their song perfectly.

And that was fine by him.

***

A few days later, practice had settled into a steady rhythm. Everyone seemed satisfied.

Or so Cale thought.

He was heading back to his room after another long session when he noticed his roommate, Subin, sitting on the edge of his bed. The younger trainee stared at the floor, hands tightly clasped together and brows knitted in worry.

Cale paused at the doorway, debating. He could ignore it and get some sleep... but leaving this unchecked could cause problems later.

With a quiet sigh, he stepped inside.

"Was practice too hard today?"

At Cale's question, the man, whose eyes were deeply locked on the floor, shot up his head, surprised, "Ah, Cale hyung! Yeah, it was tiring, but we have to do at least this much." 

"Then what are you thinking about so deeply?" Cale leaned casually against his desk.

Subin hesitated, chewing his lower lip before speaking, "Don't you think our stage is... too ordinary?" 

Cale raised an eyebrow. "Ordinary?"

"Our team is doing great so far, and at this rate, we might deliver a solid stage, but I think... I think it won't be enough." 

Cale frowned slightly, trying to gauge where this was going. "What made you say that?"

Subin's gaze hardened, and he clenched his hands. "The first stage is the most important for trainees like us. If we are going to stand out among all those groups, we need to do something different that will catch attention. Something that makes people remember us." 

Cale studied him quietly for a moment, expression unreadable.

Right. For him, this was temporary. But for Subin... for most of the kids here... this was everything.

For them, the stage wasn't just about passing this round. It was their shot at their dreams, maybe their only one. No wonder he was panicking.

'Haah'

Cale sighed internally. He came here to help one guy debut, but now here's another.

'How annoying.'

"Then let's do it," Cale said finally.

Subin blinked, startled. "What?"

"Let's utilize the opportunity."

Subin's eyes widened, hope flickering across his face. "You think so?!" But almost immediately, uncertainty returned. "But it's too late now. It will be an inconvenience for everyone if we rearrange the song. They are already practicing and-"

"You can't be sure unless you try." Cale interrupted flatly.

Subin stared at him for a moment, then exhaled slowly and clenched his fists, determination settling on his face. "...You're right. I'll bring it up tomorrow."

"Do whatever you want," Cale waved him off, already walking toward his bed. "Good luck."

"Thank you for listening to my worries, hyung-nim. I will make sure to repay you!"

"There's no need," Cale replied without looking back. "I did what anyone would have done."

"You're down playing yourself again, hyung."

Cale gave an awkward laugh under his breath. 'Just drop it. Don't make me regret listening to you.'

***

The next day, during team practice, Subin suddenly stepped forward. 

"I... I'd like to make a suggestion!" 

The members turned to look at him, startled. Subin was usually so quiet that seeing him volunteer anything was surprising enough.

"Go on," their leader, Chungwoo, encouraged cautiously.

Subin took a deep breath. "The verse before the killing part... I rearranged it a little. I think it'll help balance the flow better."

The group exchanged puzzled glances.

"You rearranged it yourself?" one member asked.

"Y-yeah," Subin admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Wah..." someone muttered. "Our Subin has been hiding talents, huh? Since when could you arrange music?"

After the rhythm stopped, the members stared at each other and then at Subin. 

Even Cale looked up from where he was leaning against the wall. He hadn't expected much, but... as Subin played the demo on his phone, the shift was immediate.

He couldn't help but wonder why that guy was too reluctant to share something that exceptional. 

"I think Subin nailed it," one member said.

"Yeah," another chimed in. "It fixes the imbalance perfectly!"

Subin's ears turned pink as everyone started praising him. He fidgeted awkwardly, unused to so much attention.

Ryu Chungwoo nodded firmly, taking control again. "Alright, we'll go with this. We don't have much time, so let's start practicing with the new arrangement right away."

As the group jumped into action, Cale crossed his arms and leaned back, watching them.

He didn't particularly care about standing out or leaving an impression, but... at least with Subin's changes, their stage would be smoother. Less effort for him in the long run.

Moondae's team, on the other hand, seemed to be doing well enough on their own. Performing just above average shouldn't put his group in direct competition with them.

Still, he knew without even seeing it:

'They'll stand out for sure.'

The thought was more fact than assumption.

As the days passed and the performance drew closer, the atmosphere in the practice room shifted.

Even late at night, he could hear footsteps in the hallway as trainees practiced endlessly on their own. Everyone was aware that the first stage would either make them or break their spirits.

Cale had intended to stay indifferent. To him, this was just another task to get through.

But the tension in the air was impossible to ignore.

His first impression on stage was approaching fast.

And whether he liked it or not, the moment he stepped under those lights... hiding would no longer be an option.

Chapter Text

The awaited day for all trainees had finally arrived. And backstage was full-on chaos.

Hair and makeup stylists dashed from one participant to another, arms full of palettes, combs, curling irons, and garment bags. The muffled sound of the audience leaked faintly through the thick curtains, mixing with the relentless clatter of footsteps and loud chatter of trainees.

Cale sat calmly on a chair in front of the mirror, unaffected by the rush around him.

His stylist, however, wasn't making it easy. She stood frozen in front of him, a brush in one hand, foundation sponge in the other, staring at his face as if she'd just discovered a new species.

"I don't know where to start," she muttered under her breath.

Cale blinked, unsure whether he was supposed to answer that.

Then she leaned closer, her voice dropping into awe. "I'm afraid if I put too much, I'll ruin your natural beauty."

Natural... what?

"...Pfft." Cale let out the softest, most awkward laugh.

The stylist's excitement only grew. "No, seriously, you have the kind of face that just... works. I feel like I'm touching a rare artefact."

"... Just don't break it," Cale said dryly.

She laughed, delighted, and began applying makeup with exaggerated care, dabbing as if handling something fragile. When she was finished, she immediately called her colleague over. "Hey, come here! Look at this. Cale-ya, you're too beautiful."

"Thanks," he said flatly, leaning back in the chair.

Behind them, the dressing area buzzed with nervous chitchat as the other trainees finished their styling.

Someone groaned, peeking through the curtain. "There are so many people out there."

"Ahhh, I'm getting nervous."

Cale ignored them, fiddling with the hem of his outfit, and promptly frowned.

'Ugh. The clothes are too much.'

Their stage outfits were modernized hanboks. Cale's costume was especially unique. His outfit looked like a hanbok trying to imitate a tailored suit, complete with detailed accessories and silver-threaded designs. It was stylish, unique, and incredibly uncomfortable.

"Chungwoo-hyung, it fits you so well!" Yujin exclaimed.

Ryu Chungwoo laughed, scratching his neck bashfully. "Hahaha, thank you."

Someone else glanced at Cale and muttered, "I thought it'd look weird seeing Cale in a hanbok, but why does it look good?"

Cale gave them a blank stare until they shut up.

He hated to admit it, but it was true. It's just as they say, the face is the key to fashion. No matter what he wore, it would look good on him.

"I think it's starting soon," someone else interrupted nervously.

Sure enough, the staff were calling for participants to stand by, guiding everyone toward the waiting area near the stage.

Despite the show being ridiculed online and people claiming it's going to be a failure. Many people still came. The audience seats were nearly full, buzzing with anticipation.

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, the MC finally stepped onstage and began introducing the first teams.

The opening stages were... mediocre, at best. The first few teams were covering songs from QuZ Entertainment's own idol groups, but their energy was flat.

Cale watched the monitors with a stoic expression, arms crossed. It wasn't a bad performance, to be honest, but it wasn't enough to make him react to it. Especially since Cale was someone who was not interested in idols in the past, it wasn't that enjoyable.

'If this is the standard,' he thought dryly, 'Then I could have just slept through practice.'

The next few performances were similarly unremarkable.

Then Cha Eugene's team appeared on screen, and the atmosphere shifted.

From the first beat, Eugene's presence commanded the stage.

'...Is this how a good performance is supposed to look?' Cale found himself thinking, mildly surprised.

The difference between talented and average trainees became obvious here. Eugene moved like he'd been born for the spotlight, every gesture sharp and effortless. The team's rapper was equally amazing, weaving his verse seamlessly into Eugene's high-energy vocals. Together, they looked less like trainees and more like professionals.

"Impressive." Cale suddenly blurted out aloud.

"Yeah, it was really great!" a teammate whispered back, nodding eagerly.

Cale didn't reply, keeping his gaze fixed on the screen.

The following stages were anticlimactic compared to Eugene's team, and it wasn't until Moondae's group was called that the room stirred with anticipation again.

Moondae's team was before them, so he watched as he headed with his team to the stage.

A hush fell backstage as they took their positions. The opening notes of their song were a soft, synthetic melody that felt unsettling. The first chorus came in, sung by Seon Ahyeon, and the participants started moving in unison.

Almost immediately, something felt off.

'Is the original song like this?' Cale frowned slightly. 'Why does it feel creepy?'

The performers' faces were expressionless, their eyes vacant as though they weren't fully human. Whenever their parts came, their gaze snapped sharply back into focus, then drifted again.

The effect was chilling.

As the tempo shifted, the song's desperation deepened. The pitch dropped lower and lower, wrapping the stage in a suffocating gloom.

Despite the lyrics themselves being sad, the performance made it feel more chilling as though a ghost was weeping just to lure you closer before devouring you whole.

Under the spotlight, the participants' white costumes came into sharper view, streaked with dark crimson dye.

"Are they zombies?" someone muttered.

Another whispered, "No, no, it's vampires. Look at the red dye on their clothes."

'Either way,' Cale thought, 'they'd fit right into a horror movie.'

Then, just as the tension peaked, the lighting shifted. The performers' once-vacant eyes seemed to regain life, and the fear hanging over the stage melted into lingering sadness.

The song ended with the participants collapsing in unison, their bodies hitting the stage floor as the final note echoed.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, the audience erupted.

"Wahhhhhh!!"

Even the participants watching backstage found themselves applauding without realizing it. "Woah," someone whispered behind Cale.

If Eugene's stage had been fun and explosive, this one was eerie and captivating. Cale couldn't deny that he found it entertaining.

'They'll definitely win,' he thought, glancing at his own team.

His teammates, however, didn't seem to share his calm. Their morale was visibly shaken.

Seeing this, Ryu Chungwoo spoke up with a steady smile. "Guys, don't let it get to you. We worked hard, too."

The attempt was noble, but it didn't reach their eyes.

Cale sighed internally. This was taking too long. He needed them to be functional."Why are you nervous?"

"It's our first stage and our opposing team is already at that level... I don't know if it's possible to overcome them."

"I don't think there's a reason to worry," Cale replied evenly. "Nervousness is reserved for people who didn't work hard enough. If you did your best, there's nothing to fear."

Somehow, that simple statement seemed to steady them more than Chungwoo's pep talk.

Their team was called next.

As they stepped onto the stage, Cale's heartbeat picked up unnaturally fast.

'...I'm not nervous,' he insisted to himself, clenching his jaw. He took a slow, deliberate breath, forcing his posture into its usual lazy stance just as the lights hit his face.

Alright. Let's get this over with.

The music started.

From his seat in the audience, Moondae leaned back slightly, his gaze fixed on the stage.

The members spread into formation, and the main vocalist opened.

- Their claws are hella sharp

-Ready to break you apart

- You can't catch me like that

The arrangement was cleaner than he expected. Subin's adjustments had paid off as the transitions were smooth, and the opening hooked attention immediately.

Moondae's eyes inevitably landed on Cale.

Cale, who never seemed to care, who carried himself like someone just passing the time. And yet, under the lights, that detached air only made him stand out.

...This guy.

Moondae's gaze sharpened.

He's not even trying to stand out, but he's pulling attention anyway. How annoying.

'Though he needs to work on his facial expressions slightly.'

As soon as Cale's part started, the system window filled Moondae's vision.

[Charisma (Active)
Effect: Audience impression is boosted by 120%.
Effect doubles when efforts are put into avoiding attention ...]

...

"...Is it just me, or does Cale suddenly look way more charming?" Keun Sejin muttered in his seat nearby.

'You got it right. It was a characteristic.'

Onstage, Cale moved with sharp precision, his expression unreadable yet magnetic. Every turn of his head, every subtle glance pulled the audience in.

- Make me a boss

- Yeah

- Yeah, that's right

"Wow…" Heeseung murmured softly. "He looks really cool right now."

Keun Sejin tilted his head back toward Heeseung, grinning. "See? I wasn’t the only one who noticed!"

With Cale's final note, the music soon stopped and the performers stopped dancing.

Loud, enthuastic cheers were heard throughout the place.

The audience collectively had that thought, "It was great, but not the best." It was a strong trainee performance, but the shadow of the original artists and the sheer genius of the previous team loomed. Having popular members in their team or handsome faces is not enough to make their overall stage the best.

***

They staggered offstage, breathing heavily.

Cale had a thought at that moment, 'I am hungry.' He depply regretted skipping a proper meal earlier. Now he was tired, sleepy, and starving. Really, he wanted to go home.

After a quick break, the staff called them back to the stage for introductions. The MC stepped forward to introduce both teams.

Keun Sejin's team, October 31, went first, posing confidently for the crowd.

Then it was their turn. Cale, trying to mimic his teammates' poses, ended up doing something awkward with his hands without realizing it.

Screams erupted anyway.

"Wahhh!! Cale-ya's so cute!"

The cheers were loud enough to break the auditorium.

Cale's expression stiffened. 'That was too humiliating. Never again.'

As the cheers gradually died down, the voting atmosphere thickened.

The MC explained the voting method. There were two votes, a team vote and individual vote. After the voting finished with an ambiguous vibe, they went down the stage.

***

At the middle of the night, when filming finally finished, the result of the team vote was announced.

"October 31 wins with a score of 210 to 274!"

Cale just crossed his arms. 'As expected.' Honestly, he wasn't surprised they lost. But... 'I didn't think the difference would be this close.' Only a 64-point gap. For a first stage, against a team like Moondae's, that was outstanding.

His teammates, however, didn't see it that way. The air around them grew heavy with disappointment. One was even on the brink of crying.

Cale thought that instead of being upset, they should be proud of losing with a slight difference.

As the tears finally spilled over, Ryu Chungwoo immediately crouched down beside Donggyun to comfort him.

The opposing team was about to start celebrating. But when they saw the other team, they stopped themselves and sat in an ambiguous sense of joy.

'Hah, I hate crybabies the most.'

Cale stepped up and stood in front of him. His tone was stern. "Didn't we do our best?" 

The trainee who was crying, Donggyun, started blankly at Cale. Before he could even register an answer to the question, Cale continued. "If you think you didn't, then stop crying, practice harder, and come back to get a crushing win." He paused, letting the words sink in. "If you did your best, then hold your head high. We only lost by 64 points to a team that performed like professionals. There is no shame in that. "

The entire room fell silent, stunned by the blunt yet empowering speech. Even the opposing team looked taken aback.

Cale ignored their gaping expressions and turned his gaze to Chungwoo. "Isn't that right?"

Chungwoo beamed, nodding with fierce pride. "He's right. Everyone, be proud!"

Just like that, the long day wrapped up on a surprisingly light note as the crushing weight of defeat was replaced by a firm and determined resolve.

Back in the waiting room, everyone started packing their bags. The exhaustion in the air was heavy, however, the tension was gone.

"Hey," Ryu Chungwoo said suddenly, clapping his hands together. "How about we make a group chat? So we can stay in touch."

"I'm in!" Yujin immediately handed over his number like an excited puppy.

"Me too," another trainee added, and soon a quiet wave of agreement moved through the group. One by one, they shuffled over, typing their numbers into Chungwoo's phone, their weary smiles genuine as they were drawn in by the youngest member's infectious, bright energy.

Cale watched the scene unfold from his spot near the door, his own bag already slung over his shoulder. A deep, internal sense of dread settled in his stomach as he reluctantly pulled out his device.  'My phone might get busy from now on,' he lamented silently, already imagining the annoying pings of notifications that would surely plague his peace from now on.

After a final round of weary but warm goodbyes, they finally went their separate ways.

Chapter Text

Eugene, out of nowhere: Would you die for your dream?

Cale: I'd rather kill it and get ten hours of sleep.

_________________________________

Cale: I think Eugene runs on sugar and blind optimism.

Moondae: He's biologically a golden retriever.

Eugene, sliding into frame : NO! I am a tiger!

_________________________________

Raebin, reading a quote sent from his grandparents: This one says: 'When the wind doesn't blow your way, adjust your sails.'

Cale, blinking slowly: When the wind doesn't blow my way, I lie on the ground and become a rock.

Raebin: *writing this down seriously*

_________________________________

Interviewer: Who takes the longest to get ready?

Cale: I wake up ready.

Eugene: That's not true. You spent ten minutes staring at a sock once.

Cale: I was debating whether life was worth it.

_________________________________

Moondae: We all have our demons.

Moondae, grabbing Keun Sejin: This one's mine.

_________________________________

Cale: God, give me patience.

Keun Sejin: I think you mean "Give me strength"?

Cale: If god gave me strength, you'd be dead.

_________________________________

Moondae: Self-care is suppressing all your trauma until it comes back and hits you in the face with the force of 7 very large trucks.

Everyone, concern visible in their eyes: ...

Cale, nodding slowly: Impressive. I like it.

_________________________________

Cale to Moondae while smirking slightly: We smell of sweat and loss.

Keun Sejin: Is this his way of making friends...?

_________________________________

Keun Sejin: Nothing in life is free.

Eugene: Love is free.

Moondae: Knowledge is free.

Raebin: Friendship is free.

Ahyeon: Self-respect is free.

Cale: Everything's free if you don't pay for it.

Everyone: ...

Raebin: Cale hyung, that's illegal -

Moondae: No, let him finish...

_________________________________

Eugene: In my defense, I was left unsupervised.

Raebin: Wasn't Cale with you?

Cale: In my defense, I was also left unsupervised.

_________________________________

Instructor: You have to feel the rhythm. Become one with the beat.

Cale: If I become one with anything right now, it'll be the floor.

Chapter Text

Cale wasn't used to the terms and slangs used by the youngsters.

In fact, he wasn't experienced in texting at all. The most messaging that he remembered doing was sending long reports to his manager. It was all work related.

He didn't have anyone he could call a friend during his school days and mobile phones were barely introduced at that time anyway.

Then the apocalypse hit and all technology ceased to exist. 

Monsters didn't really care whether you had unlimited data or not. When your phone battery had to be reserved for using its flashlight while sprinting through ruined subways, social apps weren't exactly a priority.

Even when society began patching itself together after ten years, the last thing Cale thought about was learning how to 'text like the kids.'

Which is why Cale was now starting at his phone, unsure how to respond to the flood of messages.

▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎

Mountain Heroes 💢

Ryu Chungwoo
We did great, guys!! Don't feel down!

Yujin
Hyuuungg, you're the best 👏👏👏

Donggyun
ㅠㅠ thank you everyone

Subin
ㅋㅋㅋ don't cry hyung

▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎

Some of the kids were even sending some links for articles and posts related to their team.

Cale clicked at one of the links sent out of curiosity.

[The Stages Were Good, But Only Because They Were Handsome?]

[The covers of LeTi Entertainment that were performed seem to be getting the most buzz out of all the stages but it's evident to me that they were only popular because of the popularity of the agency's song and the handsome faces of the trainess.

I was actually there in person, and I can say the performances didn't feel professional at all. They were sloppy and awkward in a lot of places. The hype came from the songs, not the quality of the performance.

On the other hand, Cha Eugene's group felt like a complete stage. Everyone in that group performed well so it was balanced, polished and didn't feel like trainees at all.

P.s: here's a picture to prove I was there (Blurry picture attached) ]

┗what are you talking about? Marshmallow's arrangement was creative.

┗ Did you even watch the stages, or is this just aggro?

┗ Just another Eugene's fan spouting nonsense

Cale tossed the phone aside for exactly three minutes before guilt made him pick it up again. What if he missed something important?

The unread count had already jumped to 157.

"...Are these kids being paid per message?"

He scrolled.

▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎

Mountain Heroes 💢

Yujin
Cale hyung-nim!! Hyung are you reading? 

Donggyun
Cale-ssi maybe doesn't use chat much?

Subin
This is a post that I just saw. Cale hyung you became famous ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

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Most of the members of the group were calling Cale by name now.

While Cale was reading through the flood of messages, he tried to click on the post Subin had sent. But before he could, a private message popped up from Ryu Chungwoo.

==================================

Ryu Chungwoo ➤ You 

Cale, you don't have to respond to the messages if it's bothersome.
I'm sure the kids are noisy, but they mean well. Just ignore it if it stresses you out.

==================================

Cale stared at the text for a moment.

He didn't expect that the leader of their previous team would message him over something this silly. But somehow, that made him feel a little more grounded.

He thought to himself that Chungwoo would probably make a good leader in the future.
Cale still didn't know how to respond to such a useless concern... but he felt touched anyway.

He replied simply:

==================================

Me
It's alright, hyung. Thank you for your worries.

==================================

Chungwoo replied with a smiling emoticon.

Cale stared at it for a few seconds, unsure what expression it was even supposed to convey. But since it wasn't angry or disappointed, he assumed it was fine.

He went back to the group chat. There were even more messages now.

It looked like Subin's post was the current hot topic, so he decided to respond to the last message before diving into whatever embarrassing thing they'd found.

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Mountain Heroes 💢 

Me

Our team did well, based on the enthusiastic reactions.
Let's continue putting in our best effort.

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After Cale's text, the group became even more excited responding to Cale with a bunch of emojies and stickers. 

It was... a lot.

Cale blinked at it all, unsure how to react.

Still, it was strangely satisfying. And maybe... a little amusing.

He then checked the post that Subin had sent earlier. They had mentioned he was becoming "famous," so he figured he should at least see what that nonsense was about.

---

[Who is 'Cale'?]

[On stage he didn't even do much but... eyes kept going to himㅋㅋㅋ aura so strong.]

[+601] Hul never heard of him before

[+522] That's exactly the type who suddenly blows up

[+430] Must be handsome ㅋㅋ

[+298] I was so mesmerized that I forgot what song he was singing.

[+122] Don't know if I like a foreign-looking trainee stealing spotlight... ㅠㅠ

[+88] Let's see if he's really talented or just looks good

---

[Did Anyone Notice the redhead in Mountain Heroes?]

[His expressions were zero but somehow it made me laugh. Like he didn’t care at all but it looked cool??]

[+207] His visuals are foreign 

          ┗ I think he's mixed?
          ┗ he looks like he should be in a movie not on an idol stage

[+148] My friend was at the filming and said the crowd reacted loudest during his part ㅋㅋㅋ

[+99] He looks like he doesn’t want to be there but it’s addicting

       ┗ It’s literally his charm. Anti-idol idolㅋㅋㅋ

[+87] He looks scary at first but then he’s actually kind of funny without tryingㅋㅋㅋ

[+72] His “I don’t care” face >>> any fan service

[+20] I am so sad I couldn't see him face to face ㅠㅠ

---

"Hah. This is way too tiring..." Cale turned off his phone, exhausted. 

The day had just begun, but it already felt like it should be over.

He laid back on his bed for a moment.

Let's just ignore it completely.

It's easier to pretend it doesn't exist.

Yeah. If you don't look at it, it's not real.

***

A promotional event was held a few days later. The event didn't require much effort. It starts by the theme song <It's me> stage by the 77 participants and then stand around while fans took pictures of them.

All they had to do was smile and pose.

Cale prided himself on doing exactly that: standing still and looking presentable. No need to do anything extra.

Well, that's what he thought.

"Cale yaaa, do a heart!"

Multiple voices called out from the crowd. It took Cale a few seconds to even realize they were talking to him. 

He wasn't sure what exactly they wanted him to do. But if they paid to be here then the least he could is do those silly poses they ask. 

The only problem is  he had no idea how.

He vaguely raised his hands, unsure where to place them.

He hesitated. Fans were raising their phones expectantly and he tried lifting his hand, then put it down. Tried again. Moved it slightly.

Cha Eugene, who was standing nearby, noticed Cale struggling and smoothly walked over.

Without saying a word, Eugene grabbed Cale's flailing hand and gently lifted it to form a half-heart with his own.

The fans screamed in response even louder than before.

Cale blinked. Was that really necessary?

It felt like all the attention in the venue had suddenly been directed at him.

"What are you doing...?" he muttered, caught off-guard.

Eugene just beamed at him.

"Cale hyung, complete my heart! "he said brightly, grabbing Cale's other hand and lifting it over his shoulder to finish the shape.

Cale felt like it was way too close for comfort. But he complied, making the full heart shape, and offered a small, polite smile.

The sound of camera shutters and cheers told him the fans were satisfied.

He let go immediately afterward.

Looking around, he saw other trainees were also being dragged into similar poses.

Moondae looked like he was suffering silently through a peace sign, stiff as a statue. Keun Sejin, meanwhile, looked like he'd been doing fan service since birth.

As they exited the stage , Eugene patted his back. "You did well," he said brightly.

Cale raised an eyebrow. "I didn't do anything."

"Exactly," Eugene replied, grinning.

...He wasn't sure what that meant, but he chose not to ask.

Cale exhaled slowly. And just like that, the day wrapped up.

They were told afterward that all participants would be gathered together soon to watch the premiere of the show's first episode.

Cale already dreaded the idea of watching himself on a big screen.

Back in his room, he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

He closed his eyes.

Maybe he'd be lucky and the cameras just forgot he existed...

Sigh.

But that was a problem for another day so let's ignore it for now.

Chapter Text

They were back in those ugly uniforms.

Around him, the trainees buzzed with nervous energy. Some were jittering their legs, others whispering about how they'd be edited, and a few were trying to hype themselves up with forced laughs.

Cale, meanwhile, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.

The chair wasn't exactly comfortable, but fortunately, he wasn't required to do anything. Compared to missions, this was practically a vacation.

Still, the thought of seeing his face plastered across a giant monitor wasn't exactly pleasant. Just the thought made his jaw clench slightly. But of course, it wasn't enough to shake him. He'd survived worse. Much worse.

As the staff scurried about and cameras began rolling, someone approached.

"Cale ya~"

The voice was all singsong and already grating.

Cale tilted his head lazily, eyes half-lidded. Keun Sejin stood there, grinning as if cameras were already on him. Behind him trailed two other trainees, faces Cale vaguely recalled as having been in the opposite team during the last mission.

Beside Cale, Moondae shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable from his seat but trying not to show it.

The three interlopers must have gotten bored talking among themselves, because now they were here, bringing their noise along with them.

"Moondae Hyung-nim, how do you feel about the first episode?"

"Ah~ Are you ready to become a legend in ranking evaluation?"

"It's amazing! Moondae-ssi!"

"Stop it-"

Moondae tried to ignore them, but then his hand brushed against the bottle tucked under his chair. He picked it up and glanced at the label. Clearly an advertisement placement.

He cracked it open and took a sip.

Cale took one as well, he wanted to open it but he saw moondae expresion when he drank it was telling enough.

'Does it taste that bad?'

Cale casually set the bottle down again. He was glad Moondae had taken the first sip; he'd saved him the trouble of discovering it himself.

Before he could think further, staff called for silence. The giant monitors flickered, and then,

"Ten! Nine! Eight!"

The room erupted into shouts as the trainees began counting down. Their voices overlapped chaotically, high-pitched and enthusiastic, as if they were all five years old at a birthday party.

Cale didn't join in. He simply raised an eyebrow.

'Where do they get this energy? Did someone pass out free candy before this?'

Maybe it was just for the cameras, but even pretending looked exhausting.

Finally, the number hit one, and the show's flashy opening filled the screen. The screen showed all kinds of responses from the Internet, like articles criticizing Idol Inc. and some of the best comments.

The first trainee segment rolled out. A fresh-faced boy, practically still in middle school, talking earnestly about his dream. Cale squinted, vaguely recognizing him.

'He was in Moondae's team, wasn't he? What's he, sixteen? Too young to be shoved into this circus.'

The kid looked like he'd break if the wind blew too hard. Cale wondered idly if the producers threw him in just to tug at the viewers' hearts.

The segment moved along, and soon enough, Moondae appeared on the screen.

The moment Moondae appeared, the three guys at their side perked up like wolves catching scent of prey.

'I hope they don't turn their attention to me next.'

Unlike the others, who prayed desperately to appear even once, he was hoping for the exact opposite. Cale wished his own part would not air in the first episode at all.

The three of them weren't mean-spirited, exactly. Just noisy. But noisy was still unbearable.

Moondae looked as if he wanted to hit them but was holding it in.

In the screen, they saw moondae introducing himself briefly with his impassive face.

Cale blinked. The editing had slapped on suspenseful background music, cutting between dramatic close-ups of Moondae's blank face and the judges' bewildered expressions.

"...Pff." A short laugh almost escaped him. He pressed his lips together.

'What's with this cheap drama edit? His expression is just normal. No, it's literally just him standing there.'

The judges' voices overlapped in confusion.

[Eh? You haven't trained anywhere?]

At the bottom of the screen, scrolling comments popped up in real-time:

- No training? Is that even allowed???

- I am not buying this ordinary guy character

His stoic face seemed so in contrast with the absurd and exaggerated reaction of the judges who were confused with Moondaes very short introduction and lack of training.

Before the performance could start, the screen abruptly cut to a commercial break.

"Ahhh, they cut it! Just like that?!"

"Don't be sad. They'll definitely show the performance."

Moondae's lip twitched. He looked like he wanted to strangle all three of them.

Cale, unbothered, picked up the awful drink again, taking a slow sip just to keep his mouth occupied. Then, before he thought too much about it, he spoke. "I don't think it will be an issue since you did well."

The noise cut.

All four of them turned to stare at him, three with wide eyes, one with faint disbelief. It was the first time Cale had voluntarily contributed to their chatter.

Moondae blinked. His expression barely shifted, but the faint widening of his eyes gave him away. '…Did he just… compliment me?' He didn’t know whether to nod, laugh it off, or call Cale out for saying something so out of character. Instead, he settled for the safest option: a short, stiff nod and decided not to question it further. 

Cale, satisfied, turned his head back to the screen as if nothing happened.

Inside, though, he registered the odd stillness in the air. 'Strange. Why are they acting like I confessed to murder? It was just one sentence.'

The silence that followed felt oddly peaceful.

But only for a second because the show resumed. And now, Moondae's stage was beginning.

[I remember the 'me' I used to know...]

[As if every day is a PARTY, ooh~]

Cale tilted his head, watching closely. 'Oh, he is even better than I remember.'

- OMO his voice??? Goosebumps!!

- Why is he good?

On the screen, the judges were praising Moonda's performance. Then he was asked to showcase his dancing.

The moment 〈POP☆CON〉's bubblegum track started blaring, laughter filled the room.

Moondae looked as embarssed as it gets.

Even Cale, whose expression rarely changed, couldn't stop a soft chuckle from escaping. 'This is defiently going viral online.'

Moondae glanced sideways at him as if betrayed that even Cale was laughing. His face screamed, Even you?!

- ㅋㅋㅋㅋ his face is killing me

- Moondae's poker face is kind of legendary though...

- Debut material for sure

 

Despite the humiliation, it seemed that it left a great impression on the watchers which was great for moondae. Since in this industry, that was what mattered most.

A few more participants performed after that Cale didn't bother paying attention to.

And the last contestant to appear was none other than cale.

'Ugh.'

The trio who had been teasing Moondae immediately shifted their sights, buzzing with interest as if they'd been waiting for this exact moment.

As Cale name was called and he was walking to the stage, the background music suddenly shifted into a syrupy romantic ost that didn't exactly fit the show's supposed competitive vibe. To his disbelief, the editors had literally overlaid flowers drifting around his face, as if he'd stumbled into a shoujo anime.

"..."

Who the hell approved this edit? Why are there petals?

His ears burned faintly, but he forced his face to stay blank. If he reacted, the editors would only have more material to play with.

Of course Keun Sejin found it nothing short of hilarious. "Pwahaha Cale-ya, are you in a drama? Look at those flowers!"

Cale resisted the urge to smack him over the head with the closest object.

Even Moondae, usually the most composed of the bunch, coughed into his hand and quickly averted his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching as if holding back laughter.

Meanwhile, the cameras cut to the participants sitting in their seats, zooming in on wide-eyed trainees whispering to each other. The captions added sparkly effects, little pink hearts, and floating text bubbles like, [Handsome...] [Main character aura!!]

Scrolling comments began flooding the bottom of the screen in real-time.

- Why does he look like he walked out of a webtoon??

- WHO ADDED THE FLOWER FILTER, I'M CRYING

- This editing team has no shame but I'm eating it up

- Wow... his proportions though...

- Why does it feel like a dating sim intro scene ㅋㅋㅋ

- Editors clearly have a bias, look at this flower garden edit

Moondae, sitting back in his chair, peeked at Cale through the corner of his eye. His lips pressed into a thin line.

'Should I have invested more in the visuals...?'

Before Moondae could think more about it, the judges on the TV began their questions.

[How can you speak Korean so well?]

[My late mother was half Korean so I learned it from a young age.]

[Did you not recieve any training?]

[I did not.]

[No, why does this sound familiar? Isn't this just like the popcorn trainee?]

The hall burst into laughter at the uncanny resemblance to Moondae's earlier introduction.

Keun Sejin nearly doubled over. "AHAHA-it's the same intro! Cale-ya, you're copying Moondae!"

Moondae turned slowly toward him, voice low. "...Shut up."

The comments went wild as well.

- Wait, another no-training legend???

- LOL is he Moondae's cousin

- That's the guy who did the heart with Eugene, right?? Cute awkwardㅋㅋ

- Poker face brothers unite

 

The screen cut to Cale's performance clip. His voice carried easily, smooth and unhurried, drawing out the melody as if it belonged to him. The camera zoomed in on his blank but oddly captivating expression.

The judges' comments overlapped.

[Your tone is very stable.]

[For someone untrained, this is remarkable.]

[You don't seem nervous at all.]

Around the room, other trainees shifted. Some looked impressed, grudging admiration in their eyes. Others looked sour, lips pressed thin as if the praise stung their pride.

Keun Sejin, of course, had no filter. He clapped dramatically, looking like he was watching the premiere of a blockbuster. "Cale-ya, that was too good! Ah, your aura is no joke!"

Cale didn't even glance at him. Does this guy ever shut up?

- He looks bored but sounds like a professional

- Petition to debut him and Moondae as the poker face duo

- He is not that great honestly. You seem to be tricked by his face.

- Am I the only one who feels like he doesn't even want to be hereㅋㅋㅋ

 

What a waste of energy. I'd rather have no attention at all.

But judging from the buzz around him, both online and offline, that hope was already doomed.

After Cale's part finished, the episode concluded and each went back home. He left the set with the quiet certainty that his life had just gotten infinitely more troublesome.

----------------------

(Moondae's pov)

Even after the set wrapped up and they were filing out, Moondae caught himself glancing sideways at Cale. The guy walked with his usual disinterested stride, hands shoved in his pockets, as if the day had left no impression on him whatsoever.

Meanwhile, Moondae’s mind kept replaying that moment.

"I don’t think it’ll be an issue. You did well."

It hadn’t even sounded like praise, more like a bland observation. And yet it kept echoing in his head.

His ears heated up all over again. He scowled, tugging his hoodie up. Why did it feel like a compliment?

No one else seemed to think much of it. And Cale, he looked like he’d already discarded the entire day into the trash bin of his memory.

'Does he even remember saying it?'

Moondae pressed his lips together, annoyed at himself. It was ridiculous and irrational to dwell on one offhand comment. He’d gotten praised by actual judges with years of experience. But for some reason, the casual way Cale had said it lingered heavier than the scripted praise on camera.

'…What a stupid thing to get stuck on.'

He shook his head and marched forward, forcing his thoughts back to tomorrow’s schedule. Still, somewhere in the back of his mind, the words refused to fade.

And Cale?

He was already thinking about what snack to buy from the convenience store, completely oblivious to the fact that Moondae was replaying his line like it was some rare recording.

Chapter Text

Three days had passed since the first episode of Idol Inc aired, and it had caused quite a stir across social media. Although many people were still criticizing it, there were also plenty of positive comments and that's enough to indicate that the show's debut had been, in its own way, a success.

Cale, however, couldn't have cared less about all the excitement, discussions, and opinions about the show, the contestants, or even himself. He'd made up his mind to ignore the entire thing as much as humanly possible.

So he did exactly that. 

He spent those three days simply resting.

The residents of the neighborhood had started to get used to him too, even showing some interest in how he was doing and what he was up to. At first, they hadn't been particularly welcoming. They used to look at him with unpleasant glances, half of which were unrefined curiosity and raw interest, while others stared at him with a scrutinizing, disapproving gaze. 

This was because most of the people living there were elderly, and in the beginning, they'd assumed Cale was just another idle young man who slept in and ate instant food, with no "proper job" and too much free time. The type they'd scold their grandchildren about.

But after getting to know him and learning that he was motherless, that his late mother had been of Korean descent and that he lived here because of her, their attitude changed. Somehow that tidbit softened them. Pity took root, and soon enough, they began to treat him fondly almost like he was one of their own grandchildren.

Cale didn't exactly encourage the attention, but he didn't mind it either. It bothered him plenty when he suddenly felt a strange shift, especially knowing it was because they pitied him, no pitied the fake persona he lived as. He didn't particularly enjoy the sympathy, but it didn't grate on him the way it normally would. Maybe because it reminded him faintly, almost painfully, of Grandma Kim back in the apocalypse, who never hesitated to use her healing abilities on Kim Rok Soo when he gets injured for disobeying.

...It's not the worst thing in the world.

And so, when he stepped out of his small studio that morning, the usual greetings came his way like a routine.

"Cale ya, did you eat?"

"Yes," he replied, giving a slight nod. 

"You're still eating those premade meals from the convenience store, aren't you?" an elderly woman asked, squinting at him.

"They're efficient," Cale said expressionlessly.

"Efficient?" she repeated, scandalized. "Young people these days.. What about nutrition?"

"I'm not dead yet," he replied.

"Aigoo, don't say such unlucky things!"

"I'll buy a healthier food next time." That seemed to appease her; she nodded in approval

Another neighbor leaned over her fence. "Where are you off to now? You're dressed nicely today."

"There's filming," he said simply.

"Oh! Is it that idol program? My granddaughter screamed for an hour yesterday because her favorite kpop boy wore a new hair color. Maybe she saw you too!"

Cale paused. "...I hope not."

"Aigoo, look at you pretending not to care," she laughed, waving him off like he was being shy. "Go on then. Do well on your filming! If you're on TV again, I'll make sure to record it this time!"

He didn't bother correcting her. He just gave a faint nod and continued walking down the narrow street toward the main road where bus stop to the Idol Inc. conference hall would pick him up.

Behind him, one of the old ladies called out, "Cale-ya! Eat some real food after work! I'll leave kimchi by your door!"

Cale glanced back for a second. He exhaled quietly, adjusting his mask. 'Yeah, maybe it's not that bad.' he admitted to himself, though a tiny frown tugged at his brows.

Being cared for like this made him feel... unsettled.

***

Cale hadn't bothered to search his name online; he preferred not to inflict that kind of suffering on himself. But some things were impossible to avoid. Even without trying, he had caught glimpses here and there and honestly, he didn't like what he saw.

In his opinion, it didn't matter if the public's attention had landed on him for now. There were plenty of contestants more skilled and deserving than him, and once the later episodes are aired, viewers would surely realize he wasn't the standout and that there were others far more worthy of focus.

'It's like fireworks,' he thought dryly. 'They look bright for two seconds and disappear. Hopefully, faster in my case.'

As Cale was muling over these perfectly reasonable expectations, the boys from his previous team suddenly showed up, full of energy, congratulating him for becoming "famous" after the first episode's broadcast.

"Cale! How does it feel being being the most famous contestant in the show right now?" one of the boys asked with a grin.

It sucks. That's how it feels.

"Haha, you're exaggerating." Cale said aloud in a flat tone.

"Ah! So that's the reason you don't text in our group chat!" Yujin, the youngest, gasped in fake revelation. "Right, you're too popular for us now." 

Cale stared at him. 'What are these guys even imagining?'

"Hey, don't tease him too much." Ryu Chungwoo interrupted with a laugh, though he didn't look like he planned to stop them either.

Cale shrugged. "In any case it's just temporary. The moment the stages are revealed, they will forget about it."

A beat of silence followed. Everyone was looking at him in a stupefied expression as if they wanted to scream, Is that what you think will happen? They were shocked that Cale expected for all of the hype about him to disappear.

Cale looked around noticing their shocked faces. "What?"

'Did I say something weird?'

Before they could even voice their denial on Cale's remark, the MC's voice echoed through the hall, drawing everyone's attention. 

"Each of you will be advertising various products produced by T1 while doing a live stream!"

On the screen, flashy categories appeared: Electronics, Toys, Mobile, Food. 

'It would be nice if it were food...' 

The host then continued explains the process in which the pr content will be picked. 

"... It's a scavenger hunt with a 15 minute time limit!"

Cale felt like it was really silly and wasn't looking forward to it. He decided that he would just pick whatever and get this over with. It would be better if it was a normal item and not something that would attract attention. 

A moment later the MC announced the beginning of the time and trainees scattered running for their life to search for the balls. 

Cale stayed in his place. He noticed Moondae also unmoving, eyes narrowed and his expression thoughtful, probably calculating what would be the next best move. 

Following the competent person was statistically the best survival strategy.

Without hesitation, Cale began walking after him.  He followed him to the backdoor which seemed like the safest room and no one would think about coming here, it's a good choice. 

As they reached the back hallway, he realized two extra bodies had attached themselves to their group.

'Since when have they been following us?' Cale thought.

Ha Iljoon waved cheerfully. Keun Sejin gave a lazy grin like a cat who had intruded somewhere on purpose.

Moondae stopped walking. For a moment, his expression clearly said: Why are there suddenly three people?

Cale felt a little guilty at that moment but following Moondae seemed like the safest option. 

"Cale ya, did you also follow Moondae?!" Iljoon asked brightly.

"He looked like he knew what he was doing." Cale replied without shame.

Moondae gave him a long, bewildered look. Then, deciding this was not the time to question life choices, he simply said, "Let's search before the others arrive."

They spread out and began searching for balls on the area. 

Cale opened a storage cabinet and spotted a golden ball. "Not very shiny," he noted, mildly disappointed. It was too dull to his liking.

"Woah, you picked 2 golden ones! Aren't you lucky?"

Cale's eyelid twitched; he wanted to disagree. He could almost hear Eruhaben's voice echoing in his mind, calling him an unlucky bastard. And really, with how things kept turning out, that nickname was aging like fine wine.

After they finished the hunt, they gathered around the balls they collected. They noticed the balls to be divided in Gold, silver, and bronze. 

'Would that make any difference?' 

In Cale's point view there really was no meaningful difference if he gets anything as long as it doesn't demand too much effort. 

"I don't mind whatever." he said.

" I also don't mind!"  Iljoon chimed in immediately, clearly just following the flow.

"Then I will just pick the bronze one."  Cale concluded on the spot, already reaching for it like he was selecting the least dangerous landmine. 

"Cale ya you don't have to sacrifice yourself! We can divide it equally~" Keun Sejin drawled, voice sweet but eyes sharp.

"Lee Sejin-ssi, it-"

"Didn't I tell you to just call me Sejine hyung?~" Sejin interrupted with a bright grin.

'This guy is like if Alberu was an Idol. They are both just as equally insufferable, even insisting on the hyung title.'

Annoying.

Cale slowly let go of the bronze ball, his hand withdrawing with a calmness that was somehow... ominous. His lips curved into a smile so disarmingly bright that anyone who knew him would immediately be suspicious. A smile if Raon saw, he would refer to as a scamming smile. 

"Then Sejin hyung since you're the eldest it's only right that you get the best. Respecting your seniors is only proper, isn't it?" Cale said earnestly, eyes gleaming with innocence as if he is not aware of what he was doing.

Keun Sejin's smile froze, his expression complicated. "...What?" He didn't expect that kind of response. He let out a small laugh, almost disbelieving.

Moondae paused, his face still neutral, but his eyes slightly sharpened with interest. Iljoon, who had been ready to grab just any ball, blinked in confusion. Did, did something just happen?  

They both stared at Cale like they had just witnessed a rare wildlife phenomenon. They have never seen him smile like this before.

"Ah, well it's okay, you don't have to-"

"No, no. Sejin-hyung should take it, I insist!" Cale said sincerely, eyes sparkling with fake admiration. "Hyung-nim, who will soon become a great idol."

Again with the too polite act. It felt less like respect and more like being pinned to a wall by etiquette.

Sejin's eye twitched almost imperceptibly. 'He's doing this on purpose ...He's REALLY doing this on purpose.'

Keun Sejin frown deepened,  he seemed to not like this twist at all. He muttered, "Please stop doing that."

Cale's expression didn't change. In fact, his eyes even curved a little, like he was genuinely pleased. "Doing what? Sejin hyung-nim~" He echoed sweetly, absolutely not stopping.

Iljoon choked back a laugh. Moondae quietly looked away, as if pretending not to witness a homicide.

That was the moment Keun Sejin realized he had severely underestimated the red-haired fox he attempted to tease.

Before Sejin could stop cale further, the announcement of the time nearing is end cut them off.

"There's only a few minutes so we should move quickly." Moondae said calmly, already pocketing his ball like nothing had happened.

"...Yeah," Sejin muttered, accepting his fate.

Sejin went totally quiet. In that moment, Cale experienced a deep and profound sense of peace, the kind that only came from watching someone else realize they’d lost a battle they started.

They each took the balls they wanted and went to the main hall. Cale read the paper tied to his bronze ball and his expression changed a little.

Hmm.

"I think I can work with this."