-[Will you awaken the +5 title “Recognition Monster” into the title “World Star”?]
Gang Rojun, who had been looking at the notification on his phone.
“Title awakening? ‘World Star’?”
Even as he murmured softly, he stroked his chin.
‘As expected, titles don’t end at +5.’
When the “AI Simulation” app had explained titles early on, it had said each title could be enhanced up to +5. But now that he had actually reached that number, it had thrown him something new called title awakening.
‘Did the “Recognition Monster” title get enhanced this time because of “Rental Lover” launching in Japan?’
Or maybe it included the power of “Geubaekpeu” that had built up so far. After all, both domestically and in Japan, the response after “Geubaekpeu” ended had been quite incredible. In any case, the first thing to deal with now was this “title awakening” floating before his eyes. However, Gang Rojun didn’t particularly agonize over it.
‘I don’t know what it is, but I should definitely awaken it.’
For reference, as “Recognition Monster” reached +5 this time, the number of coins Gang Rojun could earn in a day increased to 16. Titles were the only means of increasing daily coin acquisition. That alone was reason enough to awaken it.
Soon, Rojun pressed “Allow,” which had appeared along with the notification.
Then the text changed.
-[Congratulations! Title “Recognition Monster” has successfully awakened into title “World Star”!]
-[Awakened titles can be enhanced up to +10, and bonus coins increase to 2!]
A smile spread across Gang Rojun’s lips.
‘As expected, now that it awakened, the bonus coins changed to 2 as well.’
Until now, enhancing a title had granted 1 bonus coin each time. All the bonus coins so far added up to 11. Combined with the 5 basic coins earned daily, completing the daily mission gave him 16 coins. Now that would change to 2 each.
‘Well, I guess that only applies to awakened titles, but that’s still something. Then if I enhance the awakened title “World Star” to +10, that’s 20 bonus coins alone?’
By simple calculation, he could earn 36 coins a day. In ten days, that would be 360. As if this wasn’t the end, more notifications popped up.
-[By acquiring the awakened title “World Star,” passive “Imposing Presence” has been generated!]
Imposing Presence? Rojun blinked and slightly narrowed his brows.
‘What’s the passive “Imposing Presence”?’
They were words one might see in a game. Well, “AI Simulation” was basically no different from a game in the first place, but even so, this newly created passive was bound to feel unfamiliar. After waiting a little longer, the notifications that had been appearing vanished.
In other words, that was all “AI Simulation” had to say.
Gang Rojun immediately tapped the “AI Simulation” app. His character appeared right away. There was a change. The area around the character was glowing in a strange way. On top of that, the statuses had changed as well.
-[Titles: Side Hustle Tycoon+3 / (Awakened) World Star / Global Genius+2 / Instrument Master+1]
-[Passive: Imposing Presence]
The awakened title “World Star” and the passive “Imposing Presence” stood out. Rojun, who had been stroking his chin, tapped “Imposing Presence,” and short lines of text appeared on the phone screen.
-『Imposing Presence: No matter who the other party may be, the aura you exude shall grow even more brilliant.』
-『User Gang Rojun’s imposing presence increases.』
Rojun read the lines for a moment and grasped the underlying meaning.
‘The aura I exude? It means my aura gets stronger, right?’
Aura was a word that encompassed many things. Atmosphere, or charm, or energy, and so on—it could also be called star quality. It could be an overwhelming kind of style or force. The power to monopolize another person’s gaze even when doing nothing in particular, to captivate everyone present with just a single word.
Gang Rojun was already a visual monster, and now that was being amplified even further.
Gang Rojun was purely impressed.
“This kind of thing works too?”
However, he didn’t feel any major change right away. It looked the same to his own eyes, but would it be different to others? Whatever the case, since it was “AI Simulation,” it would be 100%. If it helped him, then passive or whatever, Rojun was grateful.
“Nice, awakening. If I get the other titles to +5, will they all give passives too? Or is it random?”
With the appearance of a passive, Gang Rojun’s interest shot up. There was even one more thing he had gained from this title awakening.
-[Inventory]
-[1] One Free Use Ticket for AI Automation
An item that allowed him to use “AI Automation” for free.
“Sweet as hell. Seriously sweet.”
It was only natural that the corners of Rojun’s mouth reached his ears.
Saturday the 28th.
At the news that Gang Rojun would attend this year’s SBC Acting Awards.
《“Rojun” to Attend SBC Acting Awards, at a Year-End Awards Ceremony Less Than a Year After His Appearance? Highly Unusual》
《“Writer Rojun” Invited to SBC Acting Awards for His Debut Work!》
Various media outlets went wild.
“He’s going straight to a year-end awards ceremony in less than a year?? Rojun really is a proper ecosystem-disrupting species.”
“It’s funny that before being an idol, he’s attending an awards ceremony first as a writer, his side job. There’s never been anyone like this, right?”
It made sense. Throughout the history of the entertainment industry, Rojun’s case was the first and the only one of its kind.
“This guy really feels like he’s about to cause a huge incident. What if he actually wins an award?”
“Come on—even so, would SBC really just hand an award to a kid who hasn’t even been a writer for a year?”
“My guy, ‘Rental Lover’ pulled in a whopping 24% viewer rating. And it was a single-episode drama, too. And how huge were the issues it stirred up?”
“Hmm—anyway, reporters are going to swarm this year’s SBC Acting Awards. I’m definitely attending too, and I’m only shooting Rojun! He’s absolutely the best-selling figure this year.”
“You think only reporters will flock there? The public will rush in like crazy too! I’m definitely going!”
The entertainment industry was pushed and pulled by issues. Novelty was included among them as well. Media outlets, large and small, were desperate to capture Gang Rojun’s image, and this same phenomenon was similar among the three major terrestrial broadcasters in Korea as well.
“What happened with casting the final winners of ‘Geubaekpeu’??!”
“Th-that’s, GN hasn’t responded!”
“If they’re not responding, then go there yourself!! Do you think you’ll get an answer by sitting here hammering the phone?!”
“Will that be possible?? GN Entertainment only just got them too.”
“Possible, my ass! This year’s congratulatory stage has to be them no matter what! It won’t just be us at MBS—KBC and SBC are definitely thinking the same thing!!”
A war was unfolding to cast Rojun, Sihu, Gangmin, and Dogyeong. The three terrestrial broadcasters were aiming for the final winners of “Geubaekpeu” as the congratulatory stage for their year-end awards ceremonies. It wasn’t strange.
No matter what anyone said, what had struck the world this year was “Geubaekpeu,” and the ones who had inherited that enormous popularity in full were Rojun and the members.
But as expected, the one with the highest possibility was SBC.
“E-even if they do stand on a congratulatory stage… I think SBC has a higher chance. Their leader, Rojun, has also been invited as a writer—”
MBS and KBC were well aware of this, but they didn’t give up.
“So are you going to do nothing and just throw in the towel?? Whether or not we cast them will decide the ratings??! Get over to GN right now!”
After all, year-end awards ceremonies were also battles for ratings. That was why they invited famous idols or singers to perform congratulatory stages in the middle of the ceremonies.
With Gang Rojun going to SBC, they had already lost the first war.
《[Awards] Among This Year’s Three Terrestrial Broadcasters, Will SBC Win with “Rojun” Behind Them?》
If they gave up the congratulatory stage too, it was obvious that SBC alone would hit the jackpot this year.
Meanwhile, Sihu, Gangmin, and Dogyeong returned to the “Geubaekpeu” campus. As soon as they arrived, Gang Rojun and the members gathered in their room and were busy catching up on the things they had put off talking about. It began with EY Entertainment.
“No, seriously, I was eating when I saw the EY article, and I was like, gasp!”
“Me too, me too. Rojun hyung, do you really have some kind of psychic power?”
“Would I?”
“Then how does something like this happen?”
After spending a few minutes talking about EY Entertainment, the topic naturally extended to what they had done during the break. Then Dogyeong, wearing an indifferent expression, suddenly looked at Rojun and murmured.
“But Rojun hyung. It feels like you got even more amazing somehow.”
“What did?”
“I can’t put it into words—but did your face get even more handsome? What is it? Hyungs, don’t you feel it?”
Sihu and Gangmin quickly agreed as well.
“I thought so too. Rojun, did you work out like crazy while we were gone? Or did you go to a dermatologist?”
“You did get more handsome, but… there’s something weirdly overwhelming about you. I can’t put it into words.”
Dogyeong let out a deep sigh while looking at Gang Rojun.
“No, hyung. Getting even more handsome is just too much. How hard are you trying to make us look like squids?”
Sihu, the oldest, scratched his baby-permed hair.
“I was already planning to follow the exact same workout schedule as Rojun starting today. You guys join in too.”
“…Rojun hyung should stop working out. Your body’s already good enough.”
Yeah, this was the kind of atmosphere. Gang Rojun chuckled and shrugged.
“No. I’m going to become a muscleman.”
Even as he answered, Gang Rojun murmured inwardly.
‘The kids’ reactions… That passive “Imposing Presence” is definitely working properly.’
The next day.
The parents of Sihu, Gangmin, and Dogyeong arrived at the “Geubaekpeu” campus, and all of them were busy exclaiming as they looked at Gang Rojun.
“Oh my! Rojun?? Nice to meet you! Seeing you in person, you’re soooo handsome, really.”
“…Thank you.”
“My kid kept making such a fuss about how your real-life looks were unbelievable, and it was true.”
Soon, the parents shook Rojun’s hand one after another, asking him to take good care of their children. Gang Rojun, who received their greetings politely, felt a slight envy as he looked at the other kids’ parents.
‘They all seem like good parents.’
However, there was no time to get sentimental.
-Screech!
Several vans soon arrived at the campus. They were cars sent by GN Entertainment. The reason was simple. Today, including Gang Rojun, they were scheduled to have a meeting with GN Entertainment for their official contracts.
Soon, everyone got into their respective vans and departed.
Rojun, who rode in the same car as Sihu, looked out the window.
‘An official contract, huh… I’m kind of nervous.’
A few dozen minutes later, the vans arrived at GN Entertainment’s headquarters near Hapjeong Station in Seoul. Rojun was purely surprised as he looked at the massive building.
‘Whoa—it’s freaking huge.’
The employees who had been waiting in advance in the underground parking lot guided Rojun, the members, and the parents. At first, they all gathered in a large conference room and listened to a brief briefing, after which Rojun and the members each moved to different meeting rooms.
Gang Rojun entered a meeting room close to the conference room.
-Swish.
It was a place with a square-shaped table. As Rojun sat down appropriately by the window.
‘Phew—it’s okay. I experienced this in the “Culture Drawer” too.’
He encouraged himself. In truth, during the time he had spent alone at the campus, he had already finished organizing what he needed to say and what conditions he would bring up in this contract. Then he recalled PD U Hanseok’s advice.
‘I’m the one holding the cards. Don’t be self-conscious. Be comfortable.’
Soon, the meeting room door opened, and GN Entertainment employees entered. About four men and women. They were all smiling. After shaking hands, the employees handed Rojun their business cards.
“I reeeally wanted to meet you, Rojun-nim. When Rojun-nim said our GN on ‘Geubaekpeu,’ I screamed.”
They brought up other topics first to ease the atmosphere.
“But Rojun-nim, the broadcast really didn’t capture even a quarter of you. Your real-life appearance is unbelievable!”
“Thank you.”
“I’ve seen so many handsome people at our GN, but… I can’t take my eyes off you.”
Sihu, Gangmin, and Dogyeong were probably seeing the same scene right now. Rojun responded appropriately to the GN Entertainment employees’ conversation. Had about ten minutes passed? The female employee who had been leading the conversation held out the contract for review that she had brought with her.
“From now on, we’ll explain the official contract to you.”
Meeting Gang Rojun’s eyes, she deepened her smile.
“Before explaining the official contract, the CEO told us to hear your conditions first. Aside from what you self-promoted on ‘Geubaekpeu,’ are there any parts you’d personally like, Rojun-nim?”
Was it time? With the eyes of all the employees focused on him, Gang Rojun let out a small breath and nodded.
“Yes, there are.”
“Mhm, please feel free to tell us.”
“I have about three conditions.”
At some point, seriousness settled over the employees’ faces, and Rojun calmly murmured.
“Freedom to use my phone, provision of a workspace, and I don’t need personal training. Doing it on my own is enough.”
The moment she heard the three conditions, the female employee widened her eyes in considerable surprise.
‘W-wait a second. Again here, after “Geubaekpeu”?!!’
And Gang Rojun.
‘Control my expression. Wipe away all traces of a smile. Expressionless mode on.’
Was exuding as much of a villainous moment as possible.