The one who sent a message to Gang Rojun, bringing his steps to a halt, was the “AI Simulation” app. Seeing interest in Rojun’s eyes, Sihu turned around and spoke to him.
“Rojun, what are you doing??”
Gang Rojun answered as if it were nothing.
“Oh, I’ll just check this and go. You go on ahead.”
“Mm-hm, okay.”
The members moved farther away, and Rojun lifted the corners of his mouth as he checked what had appeared on his phone.
-[You have completed the title mission “Anything My Hand Touches Becomes My Side Hustle!”]
-[The title “Side-Hustle Rich” has met the conditions and will be enhanced by +1!]
-[As the title “Side-Hustle Rich” has been enhanced, 1 bonus coin will be added to mission-acquired coins.]
-[Congratulations! The title “Side-Hustle Rich” has reached +5!]
Apparently, the title “Side-Hustle Rich” had been enhanced to +5. Gang Rojun, who had seen similar notifications before, murmured softly.
“Title awakening.”
As he recalled the awakened title “World Star,” the “AI Simulation” brought up an additional notification.
-[Title awakening is possible.]
-[Would you like to awaken the title “Side-Hustle Rich,” which has reached +5, into the title “All-Round Entertainer”?]
“All-Round Entertainer”? With his smile deepening, Gang Rojun pressed “Allow” without hesitation. He already had experience with it, after all. In any case, the text on his phone screen changed rapidly.
-[Congratulations! The title “Side-Hustle Rich” has completed awakening into the title “All-Round Entertainer”!]
-[Awakened titles can be enhanced up to +10, and bonus coins will increase to 2!]
And then.
-[With the acquisition of the awakened title “All-Round Entertainer,” the passive “Limit Break” has been created!]
This time as well, a passive had been added. Last time it had been “Pressure,” and this time it was “Limit Break.” Just as Rojun tilted his head—
“Ugh!”
A sudden, intense pain shot through his wrist. It was twice as strong and lasted twice as long as the usual tingling. His wrist throbbed and buzzed. For a moment he wondered if something was wrong, but thankfully the pain gradually subsided, and Gang Rojun relaxed his furrowed brow as he looked down at his smartwatch.
“What the hell. That scared me.”
Probably. No, one hundred percent, it was the strongest jolt he had ever felt. The reason was obvious: the title “All-Round Entertainer” that had just awakened, or the passive “Limit Break.” The “AI Simulation” had injected something into Gang Rojun’s body. Strangely enough, unfamiliar knowledge, things he had never really known before, was now surging through his head.
“······”
It was a bizarre feeling. He was still the same Gang Rojun, yet completely different from just a few seconds ago. Rojun quickly moved his fingers and opened the “AI Simulation” app.
It did not take him long to find the change.
-[User: Gang Rojun / Age: 24 / Height: 185.8 / Desired Occupation: Idol / Coins Held: 1,143]
-[Passive: Pressure / Limit Break]
-[Titles: (Awakened) All-Round Entertainer / (Awakened) World Star / Global Genius +2 / Instrument Master +1]
-[Side Jobs: [1] Screenwriter, [2] Actor, [3] Lyricist, [4] Composer, [5] Producer]
-[Global Languages: [1] Japanese, [2] English]
-[Instruments: [1] Acoustic Guitar]
His height had grown a little more in the meantime. How long was he going to keep growing? And there were the added passive and awakened title. The new side job was indeed “Producer.” His participation in producing “Vanguard” right before this must have played a big part. Rojun immediately tapped the new passive, “Limit Break.”
-『Limit Break: You shall be able to achieve endless growth.』
-『User Gang Rojun’s limits will be unlocked.』
As Gang Rojun read the explanation—
‘Limits?’
As if he had noticed something, he quickly tapped something else in the app. It was Rojun’s current stats.
-[Looks (150/150)│Singing (73.8/150)│Rap (70.2/150)│Choreography (71.4/150)│Talking Skills (37/150)│Acting (38.2/150)│Lyric Writing (150/150)│Composition (45.1/150)│Arrangement (0/150)]
The maximum value for all abilities had risen to 150 points. As soon as he saw the answer, Gang Rojun murmured in a low voice.
“So that’s why it’s Limit Break—”
In short, the “AI Simulation” app had opened a path for Gang Rojun to climb even higher than before.
‘This is insane. Lyric writing is 150 now too. Hold on, if it’s 150 points, how much more amazing does that make it?’
He only needed to look at the “Looks” stat to get a simple idea. He had thought 100 points was the maximum, but there had been more above that. His height was still increasing too. From what he had tested, a skill in the 70s was already quite substantial. And yet he could grow to double that?
‘······Stats in the 150s, and if learning gets mixed in on top of that—wow, damn, that’s seriously crazy.’
Honestly, Rojun could hardly even imagine it right now. He could only roughly gauge it through the already maxed-out “Looks” and “Lyric Writing.” On top of that, what stood out among his stats was that “Composition” was rising faster than expected.
‘From now on, I’ll get 18 coins from daily missions too. Good. Very good.’
With his smile stretching from ear to ear, Gang Rojun—
-Swish.
—headed to the restaurant with light steps.
Afterward.
Once they finished eating, Gang Rojun and the members resumed recording. After the title awakening, Rojun’s directing became even sharper, and by the time Sihu’s turn came after Gangmin, it was late afternoon. In the end, they could not finish recording “Geurinbi” in a single day.
“See you all tomorrow! Take good care of your throats!”
After hearing the producer’s advice, the members of “Vanguard” gathered at the recording studio again the next morning. Sihu’s individual recording was finished around noon. Next, Sihu, Gangmin, and Dogyeong’s group recording began, and Gang Rojun’s turn to record came in the late afternoon.
However, Rojun’s recording did not take very long.
“Hmm, to my ears, that was the best one. What about you, Rojun? Satisfied? Not satisfied?”
“I’ll try it just one more time.”
“Okay.”
Gang Rojun repeated it a few more times on his own, but since it was finished in roughly two hours, it was quite fast compared to the other members.
And so, the recording of “Geurinbi” was completed.
However, the song recording work was only about 30% done now. After “Geurinbi,” it was time for “Windveil,” composed by Sihu. This time, Rojun, Gangmin, and Sihu recorded first, while Sihu directed. Gangmin and Sihu sighed as they entered the booth.
“Whew—I’m going to dry up and die.”
“Tell me about it. I’m seriously going to learn composition.”
Still, Sihu’s directing was softer than Gang Rojun’s.
“Gangmin. You know that part just now? It was too fast. Let’s slow it down just a little.”
“Got it, hyung.”
If one had to compare, Gang Rojun was the whip, while Sihu was the carrot. Either way, the recording of “Windveil” took longer than “Geurinbi,” but it did come to an end. “Vanguard” and the members, Director Kim Gibaek and the management team, the A&R team, and others gathered to listen to the songs recorded not with guides but with the members’ own voices.
-♬♪
Of course, they were not yet one hundred percent complete. Instruments, chorus, mixing, and so on still remained, but the staff seemed satisfied enough. The final song, “Flying Bell,” was scheduled for next Monday, with its composer Song Mingeun coming to GN Entertainment.
Before they knew it, it was January 29. There were now only two days left in January.
Meanwhile, “Vanguard’s” official fan club, “Guards,” was frantically setting off celebratory fireworks.
-Wowwwwwwwwwww Vanguard Insta surpassed 2 million followers!!!
-Their form is seriously insaneㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠ
-Wow.... already 2 million?? Isn’t this the shortest record???
The “Vanguard” fan accounts on social media were in an uproar as well. After all, “Vanguard’s” official Instagram account had set a new record.
[@Van_guard official]
[Posts 14]
[Followers 2.011 million]
[Following 2]
It had surpassed 2 million followers less than two weeks after opening. This was the fastest speed among all domestic idols, and the press immediately bit into it.
《Vanguard Achieves 2 Million Followers in Shortest Time for a K-Pop Group》
《Official SNS Account Surpasses 2 Million Followers, “Vanguard” Sets New Record! / Photo》
“Vanguard,” which had already been hot due to Gang Rojun’s “Strange as a Looking Glass,” the establishment of the official fan club, and more, heated up even further.
《[Star Talk] “Vanguard,” 2 Million Followers Less Than Two Weeks After Official SNS Launch···Shortest Record Among Idols》
《“They Haven’t Even Debuted Yet?” “Vanguard” Sets Unusual Record of 2 Million Followers During Debut Preparations》
Naturally, GN Entertainment kept throwing fuel onto the heated blaze, and after hearing the news about the official SNS, Gang Rojun and the members were busy looking through Instagram.
“Wow—already 2 million······”
“What happened while we were recording songs??”
“There are a ton of Japanese comments too!”
“There’s English too?”
Thus, a hectic weekend arrived. Director Kim Gibaek called Gang Rojun aside in the practice room.
“Rojun, um—there’s somewhere you need to go with me for a bit.”
Rojun nodded and followed him. Kim Gibaek took the elevator with Gang Rojun and headed down to the underground parking lot. Why the parking lot? Just as Rojun tilted his head, Director Kim Gibaek abruptly stopped walking.
Then—
-Swish.
—he pointed with his index finger at the car right in front of them. A thin smile came as a bonus.
“The lyric fee I mentioned before, Rojun.”
Rojun’s gaze was already fixed on the white car before his eyes.
“This is my car?”
“Yes. It came in this morning—a fresh, brand-new car. From now on, it’s yours, Rojun.”
Soon, Director Kim Gibaek handed Gang Rojun the car key with the B logo on it, and Rojun, whose eyes widened slightly, opened the door of the glossy white foreign car with a click. The interior was filled with that new-car smell. Gang Rojun slowly ran his hand over the steering wheel. He was deeply moved by the foreign car he was owning for the first time in his life, a car he had once thought he would never be able to have as long as he lived.
‘Oh, man, that new-car smell is killer!’
After Gang Rojun spent several dozen seconds completely absorbed in the new car, Director Kim Gibaek came up beside him. Through the open car door, he murmured to Rojun.
“That dream car you mentioned, the Lamburghini? You’ll be able to have that soon too.”
Monday, February 1, GN Entertainment.
Late in the morning, composer and broadcaster Song Mingeun entered GN Entertainment, naturally for the recording of “Flying Bell,” “Vanguard’s” final song. The members of “Vanguard,” who were already acquainted with Song Mingeun, bowed deeply to him.
“Hello!”
“Good morning—”
Song Mingeun greeted them with a wave.
“It’s been a while, everyone. You’re a proper group called ‘Vanguard’ now, huh? I’m overwhelmed with emotion myself.”
Song Mingeun patted the members on the shoulders, starting with Gang Rojun. As Rojun looked at him, his gaze moved toward Song Mingeun’s abdomen.
‘Hasn’t he gained even more weight in the meantime? He said he was going on a diet, but it looks like he hasn’t done it at all.’
Just like that, Song Mingeun and the members of “Vanguard” began recording “Flying Bell,” while on another floor, GN Entertainment’s in-house choreography team, though panting for breath, finished working on the videos they had been filming.
“Where’s ‘Vanguard’ right now?”
“They’re probably in the recording studio.”
“Then call Director Kim Gibaek and send over the choreography videos.”
It meant the choreography for “Vanguard’s” debut songs, “Geurinbi,” “Windveil,” and “Flying Bell,” had been completed. These choreographies would soon be delivered to the members of “Vanguard.”
“Around this afternoon, we’ll demonstrate the choreography in front of the ‘Vanguard’ guys, so let’s practice a little more.”
A few hours after that.
A white van was driving through Gangnam. Looking inside, there was an actress with pale skin and long straight hair tied into one line. It was Choi Rina, whose beauty mark beside her nose stood out.
“Ugh—I’m hungry. Oppa, don’t you have anything to eat?”
Choi Rina, who was on her way to the salon before carrying out her schedule, whined, and the phone resting on her thigh gave off a short vibration.
-Bzzzz.
When she checked, it was a notification from a NewTube channel she had subscribed to. Thinking the timing was perfect, Choi Rina finished talking with her manager after a few minutes and immediately tapped the notification. A familiar NewTube channel appeared on her phone screen.
[Channel Name: Vanguard]
[Subscribers: 4.93 million]
[Videos: 13]
It was the “Vanguard” channel she had subscribed to long ago. Soon, she thought—
‘Yes! Starting my day with Rojun’s face!’
—and played the video that had just been uploaded while putting her earphones in.
-Vanguard TALK EP.3｜Vanguard
On screen, the members of “Vanguard,” dressed quite naturally, bowed.
-[“Two, three!”]
-[“Hello! We are Vanguard!”]
Starting with Gang Rojun in the center, then Sihu, Gangmin, and Dogyeong, they gave brief greetings. Choi Rina’s lips twitched upward as she glanced at her manager.
‘Rojun’s······visuals look like they’ve gotten even, even, even stronger?’
At that moment, Gang Rojun on the screen spoke in a calm tone.
-[“We are currently focusing on practice, and I think we’ll be able to meet you all very soon. Today, we’d like to inform you about ‘Vanguard’s’ debut showcase. ‘Vanguard’ will be holding our debut showcase at Gocheok Dome.”]
Choi Rina’s eyes widened.
‘Huh??! Go, Gocheok Dome??’
Before she knew it, the words slipped out of her mouth.
“Whoa, amazing.”
At that moment, tens of thousands of people were watching the same video simultaneously.