When Joo Danwoo was assigned the main rapper position for Team 6, I thought:
'Can't win.'
Trying to catch up to Joo Danwoo with rap I had learned over just a few days was impossible from the start. I could never match the skills he had built up, the hours he had practiced, or—most importantly—his natural talent.
It was a predetermined loss even before we stepped onto the stage.
But that didn't mean I could just give up.
So what should I do?
After thinking it through, I arrived at a single conclusion.
'Then I'll raise my expression stats.'
I decided to pour all the stat points I'd earned as a reward for clearing the penalty directly into Expression.
If I couldn't catch up to Danwoo's rap, then at the very least I had to draw the audience's focus in any way I could—preferably with a different appeal.
Vocal and dance skill matter, sure, but on a stage, expression alone can change everything.
How you interpret the song, the emotion you put into it, your facial acting—depending on how you express all of that on stage, the audience's concentration changes in real time.
Fortunately, the stat that could synergize with Expression and give me a buff—Focus—had already been unlocked earlier. So I raised Expression by one level, aiming for that synergy.
Thankfully, the strategy seemed to work. The moment I stepped onto the stage and began the performance, I could feel the audience's eyes following me.
I tried my hardest not to lose that concentration as I performed.
— Ding-dong!
— …!
『Talent (Expression) stat growth!』
Talent (Focus): B → S- (Stat +5, Lock lifted — Synchronization complete)
A sudden unlocking had occurred.
The familiar notification sound that rang during the performance, the unexpected pop-up window—it all told me, unilaterally, that I had achieved yet another unlock.
…I see.
Thanks to that, I finally figured it out—how exactly my stats were being unlocked.
Up until now, there had been two unlocks:
The first was during the 1st mission, when I had desperately wanted to improve my main vocal ability.
The second was during the 2nd mission, when I wanted stats that would keep me from falling behind Joo Danwoo.
In other words, the condition for unlocking was simple:
'When the system's goal and my goal are aligned.'
The system's ultimate goal was to debut me through DEAR DOLL. Accordingly, every quest was built around that single objective.
Within that rigid framework, I had been trying to avoid the forced quests as much as possible, and every time I tried to run, the system forced even harsher quests on me to stop me from escaping.
But even that system, which tried so hard to control me, had rare moments when it became surprisingly generous.
That happened only when I genuinely wished for something that would help me survive DEAR DOLL.
Even the roulette was generous then.
The luck roulette spun at random—normally.
But whenever I strongly desired something aligned with the system's goal, it gave me support that matched my wish.
By comparing what I had hoped for during each stat unlock, it wasn't hard to predict the conditions under which the system would unlock future abilities.
"..."
Everything seemed to be moving the way the system wanted, which left a bitter taste in my mouth. But I calmed the tangled mess of thoughts and took a small breath.
There was no time for distractions. At some point, the performance onstage had ended, and the staff were signaling for us.
At that signal, Do Ji-hyuk turned to us and shouted like a leader:
"Alright, let's go!"
"Nemam Key team, fighting!"
"Fighting!!"
Amid the cheering, we exchanged light high-fives, and I followed the others up the stage. I pushed the cluttered thoughts aside.
In the end, what I could do was already decided.
In a situation where every move was restricted and controlled by quests, I had no freedom. I had quests assigned to me, and failing to complete them meant death.
So the only thing I could do now was act according to how the system pushed me.
"Wooooaaaah!!"
Under the pouring stage lights, we waved to the audience shouting our names, bowed, and then took our positions.
As the noise settled and the intro began, Cheon Serim—standing at the center—started the choreography. I moved to the beat and thought:
'Find a way.'
Even if every path seemed blocked, I couldn't sit still and do nothing.
I already knew far too well what waited at the end of being pushed around by someone—or something—else. That was how I ended up in this life in the first place.
But before searching for a method, the first priority was to finish this stage well.
There were spectators in front of the stage, and teammates beside me.
And after the stage ended, I'd have to find a way to protect myself—whether from inside the system or outside it.
I can't die again.
I couldn't lose this reset life so meaninglessly.
***
"Haaah, I thought I was gonna die from nerves…"
"For someone that nervous, you destroyed the stage pretty well…"
Yoo Chanhee came down from the stage with wobbly legs, and Hwang Young-oh replied in a sour tone. Watching Chanhee sheepishly scratch his head, I clicked my tongue.
Genius is genius, I guess.
It hadn't been long since he had been trembling with anxiety about his unstable vocals, yet now Chanhee was hitting the pitches that used to give him trouble.
There would still be differences from song to song, but his vocal ability had clearly improved. And his built-in buff seemed to have fully activated in this performance.
Chanhee's base buff increased the audience's immersion.
And during this stage, he practically soared, pulling reactions from the crowd with his signature presence.
He used his buff to give synergy to the whole team.
Thanks to that—and because the audience reactions felt even more intense than during DEAR DOLL—I was certain of something.
Going forward, Yoo Chanhee would stay in the upper ranks and debut without any major upsets.
He probably produced at least one legendary fancam today.
There was no longer any useless worry or hesitation in Chanhee.
His confident attitude and skill shone fully on stage. And unless something unusual happened, that condition would carry into future performances.
Of course, there were others who seemed likely to remain in the upper ranks as well.
Do Ji-hyuk and Cheon Serim, who had always shown stable skill, along with Yoo Min-seong, Hwang Young-oh, and even me. The unexpectedly major buzz around today's performance—traveling through idol fandom and even reaching the original artists—was creating an even bigger response than expected.
'…Baek I-hyeon's assistance was unexpected, but still.'
Thanks to that help, the video had apparently spread all the way overseas, and even on the original upload on MeTube, foreign-language comments were beginning to appear.
Since recognition directly translated into votes, all the team members were delighted by this trend.
I, however, felt slightly differently.
'It was about time something blew up.'
The thought appeared suddenly, but I was already half-certain.
I'd never once lived as a "popular" idol, but after spending years in the entertainment industry, I knew at least a little about how this world worked.
Public attention and influx of new viewers—along with the resulting buzz.
It all sounded great, but there was a trap.
The more attention you drew, the more easily controversy followed.
"…!"
And my prediction hit far earlier than expected.
"…I'll be right back for a moment."
"Serim-ah?"
The stage had ended, and after moving to the waiting room and checking our makeup again, we were scheduled to head to the broadcast station lobby for the mini fan meeting—one of the perks for winning first place.
But just as Cheon Serim—who had finished his touch-up makeup first—sat on the sofa and checked his phone for the first time since performing, his expression hardened. And with that, the whole atmosphere shifted.
"What's that? What's with Serim?"
"Is something wrong?"
"...."
Something wasn't right.
Cheon Serim was someone who always carried a bright smile, and this was the first time I'd ever seen him make a face like that. It didn't seem like a family issue. Which left only one possibility.
'Something exploded.'
Without hesitation, I picked up my phone and opened the DEAR DOLL fandom forum. Even before searching Serim's name, I already saw what had happened.
「Is the runaway trainee Kim [redacted] mentioned on ListenMusic really Cheon Serim??」
'Runaway?'
I glanced toward Do Ji-hyuk. He was staring at the door Serim had exited through, worry filling his face.
Until now, the only one the fandom called a runaway was Do Ji-hyuk.
Because he left his previous group, Black Ocean—a group that had imploded after all its members got into scandals—some fans called Do Ji-hyuk a "runaway." No other trainee had ever been given that label.
But a trainee like Cheon Serim—who had never even debuted—being called a runaway?
I clicked the post without hesitation.
***
**「I heard Kim [redacted] from SNCH on ListenMusic and the runaway he mentioned is seriously Serim?? Looked it up and Serim's old company was Eight Entertainment.
Low-res but if you look at the old trainee photos SNCH posted years ago, one of them totally looks like Serim;; Is this for real? If so it's super disappointing lol. If he ran from his team right when debut was set, he must be so irresponsible. I doubt he'll do well even on DEAR DOLL.
No, it's not him
└ Not him my assㅋㅋ Anyone can see it's Serim
└Yes, Serim used to be at Eight Ent but why are you so sure he's the runawayㅋㅋ If you're wrong you'll ruin a boy's career when every single vote matters nowㅋㅋ
└? Why are you jumping peopleㅋㅋ Should we keep voting for someone irresponsible?
I called Garam Entertainment today and they said yes, Serim's former company was Eight Ent. But when I asked if he almost debuted before, they said they didn't knowㅋㅋ Said it wasn't their business
└Trying to wash their handsㅋㅋㅋ
└How do they not know where their trainee came from or what he did before?? That's total mismanagement
Wow what a disappointment
Wait why is Serim being called a runaway?? What's ListenMusic??
└ SKS radio broadcast. Two days ago SNCH's Kim [redacted] was sharing stories about his debut days and said their debut lineup was finalized and they even filmed the MV, but suddenly one member ran away so the whole team almost got scrapped. The rumor right now is that runaway was Serim.
└Insane; isn't that too much? He quit like that and then tried to do idols again on a survival show? That's so irresponsible
? Why is anyone surprised? Serim does idol work as a hobbyㅋㅋ Everyone knows his family is filthy richㅋㅋㅋㅋ His parents are political figures, and he transferred to a famous private arts school midwayㅋㅋ And when he first appeared he was wearing BurXry lmao he's not even hiding itㅎ
└What does his family background have to do with desperation… say something that makes sense
└You say something that makes senseㅠ He ditched his debut lineup and then got into a new company and onto DEAR DOLL—what do you think got him there? Money and connectionsㅠ
└So he took a spot among kids who're actually desperate and stole their votesㅋㅋ
He's been selling himself as this cheerful bright guy but maybe that "brightness" was just irresponsibility^^
Shouldn't he drop out? Having someone like that acting cute on this program with kids who actually need this is just deceptive.」**
***
The replies that followed were all speculation about Serim's background, questioning his sincerity, or outright insulting him.
Only then did I understand.
'I always wondered why someone like him didn't debut.'
Despite his excellent skills and standout personality, Cheon Serim had never become a member of iDine. And he hadn't debuted with another group either. I had never seen an idol like him during my years active.
That left only one conclusion.
'He must have dropped out before the third mission.'
This incident would likely make Cheon Serim abandon his dream of debuting altogether.
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