Chapter 3
"Status Window."
[Name: Seonwu Rin]
Level: 2
Stamina: A+
Vocal: D+
Dance: C-
Appearance: B-
Charm: C
Remaining Points: 1
Trait
- Frail
For it to actually appear, I momentarily doubted if it was an illusion, but my mental state right now was perfectly sound.
'If it's like this, becoming an idol might actually be worth a try?'
Looking at the status window, hopeful thoughts suddenly swirled in my head. Going to an audition, debuting, and succeeding.
'Success.'
Success that I had always dreamed of since I was young. I felt the opportunity for it had come closer than ever.
'First, calm down.'
I slightly suppressed my excited mind and examined the status window again.
I hadn't played many games in my life, but the status window was simple enough to recognize at a glance.
Vocal, Dance, Appearance, and even Charm. Stats that were clearly related to an idol to anyone.
It felt as if I had become a character in an idol game.
First of all, the Vocal and Dance abilities caught my eye.
'C, D? About how good is this? Is it around the level of an average person?'
My singing skills are the epitome of ordinary. Except I can hit high notes a little better than others?
And dance... I've never learned it properly, but I've always been confident in using my body.
'If I just learn it, my skills will improve quickly.'
Thinking like that, I could understand why my Dance ability was slightly higher than my Vocal ability.
And I got a rough idea of what a D-rank stat meant.
D is the level of an average person, and C is slightly better than average. Would B be considered close to a professional's skill?
Then next is Stamina. The highest-ranked stat among the ones I have.
Should I consider A+ as a stat that surpasses typical professionals?
Thinking about my current physical condition, I was certain it was definitely not at an average level.
'Wait, then what if I raise my Stamina stat here?'
I didn't know exactly what level of physical ability the Stamina stat referred to, but just seeing the word 'stamina' made me think of a few sports.
'Wouldn't I become a complete monster?'
Even right now, if I just set my mind to it, I was confident I could perform at a semi-pro level or higher in a few events.
If the system helped me on top of that... Messi and Ronaldo might no longer be just a dream.
-The status window consists of stats that affect entertainment activities in general. Stats increased through the status window do not apply to professional sports.
Hmm, quite firm.
More than that, it's my first time seeing a message in a Q&A format like this. Is this also an effect of the status window?
Either way, I understood that this whole situation itself wanted to make me an idol.
So it's telling me not to stray onto other paths, right?
There was no answer this time, but well, I felt like I knew even without seeing it. The path the status window and system had chosen for me right now was exactly the path of an idol.
'But do I really have to walk this path?'
What is my current situation? To utilize the status window, I ultimately have to debut as an idol.
Choose a different path?
Of course, I had confidence that I would succeed no matter what I did.
Even though I was a high school graduate and a newly discharged unemployed man right now. The things I had built up until now would surely lead me to success. This wasn't a vague expectation, but a conviction.
'But how quickly can I succeed?'
Graduate from college and get a job? Raise funds and start a business?
'It takes too long.'
I am young, but my grandmother is not.
I could succeed on my own, but then who would support my younger sibling in the meantime?
Thinking like that, my chest felt stifled.
Right, the real reason I wanted to succeed. That was to protect my family. And to do that...
'I have to succeed quickly, as fast as possible.'
Auditions, and an idol.
A means to succeed faster than any other method.
In the end, 'Goal' was telling me this. If you want to succeed the fastest, follow me.
The things I had done to achieve my goal so far flashed through my mind.
From getting a perfect score on my first English exam, to enduring a tough military life, and finally reaching today.
I walked the path presented by my goals, but I could proudly say that enduring that process was entirely thanks to my effort.
Through numerous processes, I gained the confidence that I could accomplish anything.
Goals only present the path.
My mind had briefly been distracted by this thing called the status window, but ultimately, no matter what path I chose, enduring the process and finally achieving it was my responsibility.
Idol.
I had never thought about it until now, but it was the fastest path to success among the things I could challenge right now.
'Alright, let's do it.'
Keep the worrying short, and once decided, work hard enough to die so there are no regrets.
That was one of the beliefs I had kept while living my life.
'Since I've decided, I need to start preparing now.'
What should I do first?
The first thing that came to mind was watching National Idol Season 1 from the beginning.
I needed to know about the program first to properly know what to prepare.
Then shall I start right now?
Just then, I heard the front door open from outside.
"Grandma! Why did you buy so much?"
"Thinking about Rin's appetite, it's nothing. At this rate, we'll eat it all by tomorrow. Anyway, where's our grandson?"
"Oppa! Grandma is here, come out quickly!"
At the sound of them calling me from outside, I opened the door and went out.
In front of the door, I saw a red handcart full of groceries and my grandmother standing stooped beside it.
"Is our grandson hungry? Oh my, your face has become half its size. Grandma will cook dinner quickly, just wait a little."
"Half its size my foot, he looks like he could chew on iron."
With all three family members gathered, it finally felt real that I had been discharged.
Grandma, who seemed to have more white hair and looked thinner than before I enlisted.
My younger sister, who had now truly grown up.
The appearances of my precious family that I had to protect.
"Oppa, don't just stand there, move this."
"Rin, that's very heavy. If you stay still, Grandma will do it all. Go into your room and rest."
"It's okay, I'll move it."
Ignoring my grandmother's restraint, I picked up the grocery bags placed on the handcart and moved them to the dining table.
"Look at these forearms, Grandma. I have to use them at times like this, or when else would I?"
"Our grandson does have the strength of a strongman."
Even over the trivial task of moving the groceries, the two of them chatted happily.
'Still, I need to give Grandma her gift.'
Taking advantage of the moment when Grandma was talking with my sister, I went into my room for a bit to get Grandma's gift.
Bzzzzt
At the sound of my phone vibrating, I looked at the screen and saw a text message from an unknown number.
[Hello. This is National Idol writer Kim Miyeon. Seonwu Rin, please come to K-Dance Studio by 1 PM tomorrow. I will tell you the details again tomorrow. Address...]
Now it's really starting.
***
"I think this is the right place?"
Arriving at the address the writer sent, I saw the entrance to a studio with the lights off.
Checking the time, it was still 30 minutes before the appointment.
'Did I arrive too early?'
I debated waiting in front of the door for a moment, then pulled the door just in case.
With a clank, the door opened. And faintly, the sound of music coming from inside.
I slowly walked inside, following the sound of the music.
Going inside, light leaked out from behind the locked glass door of the practice room at the very end.
'Who could it be? Perhaps a fellow audition participant?'
Reaching the door, I saw a large dance practice room through the transparent glass door and two men dancing inside.
I didn't know much about dance, but even to a layman, it felt like they danced well. A feeling like they were perfectly in sync with each other?
'Are they idol trainees? But... twins?'
Looking closely, the two had exactly the same faces.
At that moment, I accidentally made eye contact with one of the men dancing.
The man briefly gave an eye greeting when our eyes met and went back to dancing enthusiastically.
A short while later, as the music ended, the two people's choreography ended as well.
I carefully opened the door, went inside, and offered a greeting.
"Hello."
"Huh?"
The man who had been making a mischievous smile after the song ended saw me and his big eyes widened in surprise.
The man who had made eye contact with me earlier saw that and let out a slight laugh.
"Hahaha, hello. Are you perhaps a participant in the National Idol audition?"
"What, did you know beforehand?"
"The writer told us in advance that two more people were coming."
"That's not the point, I was startled because you suddenly came in!"
"I saw you standing outside the door earlier."
Seeing the two grumbling at each other about why they weren't told, I felt like I wouldn't even be able to properly greet them at this rate, so I spoke up again.
"Did the writer say two more are coming?"
At the sound of my voice, the two looked at me simultaneously.
"Yes, that's right. She told us to form a team of four for the grade evaluation and prepare for the stage."
Grade evaluation, I knew it well since I reviewed episodes 1 and 2 of National Idol Season 1 yesterday.
Coming out by agency and showing a stage, then receiving an individual grade—that was the grade evaluation.
'I thought I'd be doing it alone since I'm an independent trainee.'
Unexpectedly, it seemed I had to form a team with others and take the grade evaluation.
But do the two people in front of me not have an agency?
"If you don't mind me asking, which agency are you two from?"
"We are both independent trainees."
I thought they danced quite well, but they were both independent trainees.
It seemed independent trainees would team up to receive their grade evaluation. They said four people, so one more independent trainee would come.
"Which agency are you from originally?"
"Excuse me? Originally?"
"Ah, we were trainees at WD for 5 years. You... come to think of it, we haven't even introduced ourselves. I'm Bu Jiseok, and this guy is Bu Jihun. As you can see, we're twins."
"Yes, my name is Seonwu Rin. Seonwu is my surname and Rin is my given name. But... WD, as in Seo Minju's agency from Season 1?"
"Yes, that's right."
It was introduced as quite a decent agency, housing a popular idol group.
Why did the two of them leave the agency after being trainees for 5 years?
"Are you curious why we left?"
"Ah, well..."
"It's okay, everyone asks because they're curious. It's not a particularly grand reason. We failed to debut and left. They said the two of us couldn't debut together."
Bu Jiseok's expression as he spoke was very calm. Probably, I wasn't the first or second to react like this.
Then, Bu Jihun, who had only been watching from the side, spoke up.
"But your hairstyle is cool. Do you usually keep it cut that short?"
"Not really, I was just discharged from the military yesterday."
"Yes? Discharged?"
The two looked at me with faces that found it hard to understand.
I found the two of them amusing as their emotions showed right on their faces.
"Did you really get discharged yesterday?"
"Yes, that's right."
The Bu brothers still looked dubious. At that moment, a person came in through the open door.
"Hello..."
The person who came in greeting carefully was a man with a skinny body and a face that still looked boyish.
"Um, I received a message from the writer to come here."
"You're a National Idol trainee, right? We're audition participants too."
When Bu Jiseok said that, the man replied with a much more relaxed expression.
"Phew, I came to the right place. But it seems I'm the last to arrive. I'm sorry..."
"It's okay, there's still some time left until the appointment. By the way, what's your name?"
"Ah, I'm Gang Ajin. I'm an independent trainee."
Seeing Gang Ajin speaking cautiously the whole time, I could roughly guess what kind of personality he had.
'Fortunately, there doesn't seem to be anyone particularly prickly.'
When I was breathing a sigh of relief inwardly.
-The trait 'Perfect Match' is activated. (Target - Gang Ajin)
When forming a team with Gang Ajin, all stats increase by 20% on stage.
Letters appeared before my eyes.
And at the moment I saw those words, I instinctively grabbed Gang Ajin's hand and said.
"Please debut with me."