Chapter 02
Let’s rewind for a moment and look at how the band club video—where a comment from a Musicprove casting manager appeared—ended up on YouTube in the first place.
At foreign language high schools, there are surprisingly more students who clearly separate “time to study” and “time to have fun” than straight-laced, study-only types. From what I’ve heard, students who are obsessively focused on studying tend to be more common at science high schools than at foreign language ones.
Hanbit Foreign Language High School, which I graduated from, had that kind of atmosphere too. Apparently, it used to be stricter, but by the time I was attending, it had shifted to a more relaxed environment where students were encouraged to enjoy their school years.
Thanks to that, my high school life was far freer and more enjoyable than I’d expected.
The Hanbit FLHS band club, OneShine, was a self-governing club made up of students who loved music. Since there were a lot of members, rehearsals were usually split by class year.
And our year—Class 37—was… subtly no, openly full of attention seekers.
The YouTube channel “Hanbit FLHS Band Club OneShine Class 37”, which was created during our first year when everyone got swept up in the mood, has lots of videos besides mine. From short clips of funny mistakes during rehearsals, to recordings of songs we sang for performance assessments.
(To be honest, I still don’t know why we uploaded those.)
In the band, I mainly handled vocals and second guitar. I’d been playing guitar and piano for a long time, and after everyone unanimously decided that I should be the vocalist—something about my vocal tone being the best—I naturally ended up as second guitar as well.
In many ways, it’s a club full of memories for me. Gratitude, memories, passion—all of it is packed into that place. It was where I realized what I truly wanted to do. Where I stopped living according to someone else’s dream and finally found my own.
That pretty much sums it up.
Like most school bands, we performed at the school festival. One autumn day with perfect weather, we played live on an outdoor stage, and that performance was uploaded to our YouTube channel.
That video ended up catching the algorithm’s attention—and that’s how the casting comment appeared.
I only found out later that the mysterious comment and email address belonged to Musicprove’s New Talent Development Team. Normally, I would’ve dismissed it as “nonsense, not interested” and never even read it.
…So now what?
Last night, I did send an email to that address, carefully writing something like:
“I am the person in the video. I saw your casting offer and am interested, so I’m reaching out.”
***
[▷ Tutorial Quest: Join the agency ‘Musicprove’ (Time limit: D-9)]
I stared at the translucent panel in front of me with all my might.
It first appeared in the evening, and they’re already counting that as one full day? This system really has no conscience.
Maybe I wanted to deny reality yesterday, because I felt incredibly sleepy and didn’t resist it at all. After sleeping deeply and waking up in the morning, I remembered something absurd—
Back when I was twenty, during finals week, there was a time when I slept only six hours total across an entire week.
***
“So you really slept nonstop from yesterday evening?”
“Probably… I must’ve been exhausted.”
“You barely slept all week, and you say that like it’s obvious… I’ve never met someone who sleeps less than you.”
Well, there was the end-of-semester party yesterday, and I’d said I was going, then didn’t answer any calls. Of course she’d worry if I was alive.
I nodded lightly at my roommate’s words.
“Hey, Kang Sua.”
“Hm?”
My roommate Kang Sua turned to me with an innocent expression.
Her light brown, shoulder-length hair shimmered as it swayed, her big eyes and softly curved eye shape catching the morning sunlight and somehow making her look even prettier.
“You’re leaving the dorm today, right? I don’t have much to do—want help?”
“Seriously? That’d be amazing. Just help me get to the main gate!”
Chatting idly about how her mom was coming to pick her up at noon, how her younger sibling was a sensitive high schooler so home felt uncomfortable, I helped Sua pack up her dorm room.
***
“…I don’t know what to do. Please help me.”
I like Kang Sua’s voice. Ever since we first met, I thought she had a beautiful tone. When she sings, she uses her voice skillfully—from light and high to deep and heavy.
Her words, spoken hesitantly in a calm, low voice I’d only ever heard while singing, echoed in my mind.
Words that, for me, now belonged to the past.
“I know we’re not close enough for me to ask something this shameless… but you’re the only one I could think of. You’re the only truly skilled producer I know.”
Seojeong Arts University is undeniably the top practical music university in the country. Even now, I still don’t fully understand why Kang Sua—who got in as a current-year student after beating a nearly 300-to-1 vocal major competition—chose to debut as an idol, especially with a company that barely supported her.
Her vocal style suits a solo artist far more than an idol.
The acquaintance who asked me to produce EVERGREET was Kang Sua herself. She said she wanted to try something, anything, as a member and leader of the team.
Mission or no mission, I don’t think I could’ve ignored Sua—or the other EVERGREET members. Maybe working on a few albums together had made me attached.
If only the mission had been to make the team succeed as a producer. That’s something I’m confident in…
***
I spent the entire morning helping Kang Sua pack and carry her luggage to the school gate.
After that, I had complete free time.
I’d need to leave the dorm myself soon, so I’d have to make plans—but for now, I had plenty of time.
Only then did I objectively look at my situation.
Do I have enough money?
No. Very likely not.
What money does a twenty-year-old have? Back then, I even skipped dinner to save money.
Do I have a place to stay?
For now, yes. But at best, only until this Friday.
Is there even one adult who’ll be on my side right now?
No. Absolutely not.
…Oh.
This was worse than I thought.
I suddenly regretted never caring about financial planning. I should’ve at least looked at stocks… though without seed money, it wouldn’t have mattered much.
Checking my bank app, I wasn’t completely broke—but I wasn’t comfortable either. Even renting a cheap goshiwon would be tight.
…Should I just swallow my pride and go back home?
That thought crossed my mind briefly—until my fingers brushed the scar near my ear while pushing my hair back. The idea vanished instantly.
Wait. Aren’t idols not supposed to have facial scars?
Hey, system. What about this?
The system didn’t answer. Of course it didn’t. It only shows up whenever it feels like it.
Even the so-called “detailed system guide” I skimmed yesterday didn’t look that helpful.
“System detailed guide… show me.”
Do I really have to say it out loud every time?
Blushing with embarrassment, I carefully read the information on the translucent panel.
***
SYSTEM DETAILED GUIDE
PROFILE
Name: Seo Ji-on
Age: 20
Based on the current timeline
Affiliation: Seojeong Arts University
HP ♥♥♥♡♡
If HP is fully depleted, the project fails and the temporarily granted life force is reclaimed.
HP reflects actual health. Real-world health conditions apply, and HP loss caused by the system may result in physical abnormalities.
VOCAL Lv.39
DANCE Lv.8
SPECIAL – Composition/Producing Lv.53
Instrument: Guitar Lv.81
Instrument: Piano Lv.79
Instrument: Bass Lv.55
Trait – Tuning (A):
Turning dissonance into harmony. A sharp sense that detects problems faster than anyone else and resolves them quietly and efficiently.
Maximum level is Lv.100.
Levels indicate how well abilities can be expressed.
Levels can be increased through the shop.
Traits are unique abilities whose value may change as skills grow.
Achievement Points – Locked
Shop – Locked
IF: NOW
Goal: Success of idol group ‘EVERGREET’
Current Mission: As a member of EVERGREET, lead a successful debut (D-364)
Tutorial Quest: Join the agency ‘Musicprove’ (D-9)
System window can be summoned by thought alone.
***
…At least I don’t have to keep humiliating myself out loud.
Seeing the countdown reduced by one day made it feel all too real.
I worked so hard until I was twenty-five. Do they even know how hard it is for a young freelance composer to survive in the industry?
My commercial portfolio—gone. College graduation—reset. Starting everything over from scratch.
My life feels hopeless.
After letting out a deep sigh, I slapped my cheeks hard with both hands. Not fully awake—but a little clearer.
Get it together. You have to, to survive.
First priority.
Housing.
I need to leave the dorm soon, so I should find the cleanest, cheapest goshiwon possible.
Once I accepted this insane unreality as reality, my head actually felt clearer. Don’t overthink it. Just do what needs to be done.
While searching goshiwons within my budget, my phone vibrated with a notification.
[Subject: This is Musicprove’s New Talent Development Team]
I opened it immediately.
The email politely read:
“Thank you for responding to our casting. Your talent stood out clearly in the YouTube video. If you’re interested in auditioning, please contact this number.”
Nine days left…
There’s no time to hesitate.
I called the number without thinking further.
“Hello, this is Lee Subin, Team Leader of Musicprove’s New Talent Development Team.”
…Okay. Correct answer.
I’ve heard that name before.
“Hello, this is Seo Ji-on, the one who received the casting offer. I saw your message saying to contact you if I was interested in auditioning.”
“Oh! Nice to meet you! I was the one who left the casting comment, and I’m really happy you reached out!”
She sounded genuinely pleased.
She continued.
“We’re currently preparing to launch a girl group. Musicprove hasn’t launched idols before, but we have a solid reputation in the indie scene—bands and singer-songwriters especially. There’s nothing special you need to prepare. Just think of it as visiting the company. When would be a comfortable day for you?”
“Ah… would tomorrow or the day after be okay? If I do this, I’d like to decide as soon as possible…”
“Of course. Would tomorrow afternoon work?”
If I didn’t have memories of living until twenty-five, I might’ve thought this was a scam. I’d already seen how loosely the idol team ran things while working as a producer.
“Yes, tomorrow is fine.”
“Great. Come to our building at 1 PM tomorrow. Just prepare about one verse of a song you often sing. I’ll text you the address.”
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you. See you tomorrow.”
…Is it really okay to schedule an audition this casually?
Still, the date was set.
Not knowing what the penalties really meant yet, I felt some of the tension ease.
Alright, then.
She said one verse of a song I usually sing—but I’m not going to take this lightly.
Just in case.
I picked up the old acoustic guitar beside my bed.
Why have instruments if I’m not going to use them?
I’ll use everything I’ve got.
