Chapter 2
Hayan sat in a corner of the studio, looking completely out of it. Staff members hurried around, preparing for the filming that was about to begin.
As for Hayan’s situation—
I suddenly passed out, and when I woke up, some ridiculous quest popped up in front of me.
And now she had returned to the first filming day of PaPoWorld.
There was no mistake. This was the familiar studio she both hated and felt strangely attached to.
Which meant—
I’ve gone back to before debut?
“Let me wipe the sweat off for a moment.”
While she was lost in thought, a staff member approached with a handkerchief and gently dabbed her face.
Only then did Hayan realize sweat was dripping down her forehead.
Her body was reacting nervously. The space and the people around her were painfully familiar.
…It’s real.
She could no longer deny that this was reality.
…I haven’t seen this annoying red ribbon in a while.
Even the group uniform for PaPoWorld.
Bam!
“Ahhh!”
“Eek!”
A fanfare blasted out loud enough to tear through her eardrums, and a system window suddenly appeared. At Hayan’s scream, a staff member fell backward onto the floor. Everyone in the studio turned to look.
“Wh-what’s wrong?!”
“I-I’m sorry! I’m so sorry…!”
Hayan hurriedly helped the fallen staff member up. She waved both hands frantically while apologizing, and one by one, people looked away and returned to their work.
After a certain amount of time, you have been randomly selected.
Quest Accepted (Yes)
Are you kidding me? There was only “Yes” in the first place!
What kind of nonsense is this?!
No matter how much Hayan protested internally, the strange system window continued.
You have accepted the quest!
Congratulations. You have been granted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revive DIP’s first failed idol group, DAZE.
Did you really have to add “DIP’s first failed idol group”?
Of all titles to earn a “first” in, it had to be that. Her expression darkened.
But first, you need to form DAZE, right?
“……”
Main Quest Updated!
: Survive the survival show and become a final debut member.
However,
The very first quest message appeared again.
You must debut with the original DAZE lineup.
“…What?”
I have to do the survival show again? Go through that physical and emotional hell all over?
And with the same members as before?
She understood what it meant, but she couldn’t accept it emotionally.
To put it simply—
It’s like finally quitting a company, only to be told to reunite with your former coworkers that you have awkward feelings with.
Do it.
And now it’s speaking informally to me?
Hayan let out a disbelieving laugh inside her head. She hadn’t expected it to have a personality. And a rude one at that.
If you fail the Main Quest, you will return to the starting point (current timeline).
Upon each regression, 10% of your previous memories will be erased.
The system continued calmly.
If I go back to the starting point… does that mean I might be stuck repeating the same timeline forever?
She wanted to scoff and call it a bad joke. But she couldn’t.
Everything around her was too vivid. Too real.
The heavy air felt like it was mocking her.
Live in reality.
I already lived more seriously than anyone.
Even if the result was miserable.
She slowly scanned the studio.
The trainees were warming up their voices and stretching, trying to calm their nerves.
Except for Haemi, who was casually staring at her phone as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
…Shin Haemi.
Haemi had been so popular that her individual merchandise was sold for nearly five times the price of less popular members.
[DAZE Soundplay unreleased photocards splitting (Catherine X)]
If you wanted Haemi’s goods—
[But if you’re taking Haemi, you have to buy another member too]
—you had to purchase one from an unpopular member as well.
Of course, Hayan was one of those “unpopular members.”
Was there any crueler buy-one-get-one deal in the world?
Just then—
Ding!
The basic passive skill “Seventh Sense” has been activated.
Seventh Sense: You can view the stats of target individuals!
Information flooded her vision again.
I can see other people’s stats?
Like ability levels?
Her eyes quickly moved to the original DAZE members.
This is ridiculous.
As doubt rose in her chest, the system explained further.
Grades are ranked from highest to lowest as follows: A+, A, B+, B, C+, C, D+, D.
The moment she looked at Haemi, a status window popped up.
Shin Haemi
Vocal: C
Rap: B
Stamina: A
Visual: A+
Dance: A+
These are Haemi’s stats?
Is this real?
As expected of the main dancer, her Dance was already maxed out. Visual being A+ wasn’t surprising either.
Hayan stared at the window blankly. With those skills, no wonder she wasn’t nervous.
She had always known Haemi was talented. But seeing it turned into concrete grades made it feel like an impossible wall stood between them.
Even her visuals are maxed out.
She understood why. The first time Hayan saw Haemi as a trainee, she had nearly gasped out loud.
Her long, sharp eyes left a deep impression. Her high nose and defined lips were striking. Even before getting used to the camera, her features had overwhelming presence. After debut, being called “the ideal idol face” wasn’t an exaggeration.
“There are trainees who absorb things in a day, but Haemi is the best among them.”
Even the brutally honest dance trainer, who crushed confidence daily, praised her endlessly.
Haemi’s trainee period, excluding the filming of PaPoWorld, was only three months.
Three months wasn’t enough to turn someone into a professional-level performer.
Yet she had done it.
She never once lost first place in monthly evaluations, whether for visuals or skill.
Her parents did have connections to DIP’s chairman. But even considering that, everyone admitted she deserved to debut. Even without backing, she would’ve made it somehow.
Still, even Haemi had flaws.
- Shin Haemi seriously has devil-level talent lol. She clearly has zero attachment to DAZE and looks like she’ll never renew her contract, but she’s still the most popular member.
Hayan remembered that comment.
You can’t hide dead eyes.
Even casual K-pop fans noticed it. Imagine what she was like when cameras were off.
That’s why she escaped first.
That irresponsible attitude had scarred Hayan’s idol career.
Just then, a strange sound pulled Hayan from her thoughts.
“…?”
Somewhere in the studio, there was a chewing sound.
Like a dog eating kibble.
Mumble, mumble.
She found the source.
Catherine was practicing rap with her mouth stuffed full of rice cake.
- Honestly DAZE was doomed anyway. Catherine was smart to run back to America. She was too good for nerd K-pop culture.
Yes. The Catherine who “went back” to America.
She coughed lightly, then drank some water and continued practicing.
“I’ve hit the jackpot, 사실 별 의미 없어, please disturb my thoughts about—”
Her rap poured out like a waterfall breaking through a dam.
“Wow… what is that?”
“I suddenly want to go home.”
All the trainees turned to look at her. In a room full of tension, only Catherine boldly showed her cards.
Catherine
Vocal: D+
Rap: A+
Stamina: B
Visual: A+
Dance: A+
Her stats appeared.
As the main rapper, her abilities were just as impressive as Haemi’s. She was more than ready to debut immediately.
Catherine walked over to Minsu, who was warming up nearby. They were the same age and had formed a close bond as trainees.
- Isn’t it common to try being an idol first to build recognition before acting? And the group was clearly failing. Minsu did nothing wrong~
Apparently, their bond was strong enough that they decided to leave the group together later.
No wonder she suddenly brought in a web drama offer when we were declining.
At the time, Hayan thought Minsu was trying hard to revive DAZE.
Nope. She was just looking out for herself.
Minsu said something to Catherine, then sang loudly. Catherine nodded, seemingly checking her condition before their first stage.
They looked close. Very close.
Grrrrowl.
Suddenly, a miserable sound came from Hayan’s stomach.
No, my stomach, please read the room…!
She clutched her abdomen in panic. Thankfully, it was drowned out by Catherine’s loud rap.
Anyway, Minsu and Catherine were known for being unusually close among trainees.
Hayan rubbed her stomach carefully.
I need to show my best first impression.
She hadn’t eaten or even drunk water since yesterday. She refused to allow even the slightest puffiness.
I have to keep this mindset.
This was a rare opportunity. Even her past self had prepared this desperately. Her stomach was protesting proof of that.
Even as she resolved herself, her stomach let out another small whine. Catherine whipped her head around like a startled chicken.
“Hey, Minsu. Didn’t you hear that?”
“Huh?”
“Like… chicken? I heard a chicken.”
“Why would there be a chicken here? Are you hungry?”
“Ugh. So hungry!”
Hayan stiffened and pretended not to hear.
She looked at Minsu.
Jeon Minsu
Vocal: B
Rap: D
Stamina: C+
Visual: A
Dance: C
Jeon Minsu. DAZE’s leader and lead vocal. The eldest, same age as Catherine.
Right. This looks more normal. Haemi and Catherine are the monsters.
Finally, stats that looked like an actual trainee’s.
Now, she should check Heera’s stats.
Hayan looked around—but Heera was nowhere in sight.
Where is she?
She slipped out into the hallway connected to the studio. Near the emergency stairs, she heard someone humming.
She leaned closer to the door.
Heera was humming an unfamiliar melody.
Ding.
The sound of recording stopping echoed.
Ah. She’s composing a top line.
Instead of practicing for the first stage, Heera had chosen to hide and write music.
- Sorry to DAZE fans, but Hong Heera shines way more as a producer than she ever did as an idol lol
Hayan pressed her forehead.
Already focusing on producing over idol work…
Maybe producing was her real passion all along.
In her previous life, Heera had left the group entirely and changed careers.
Hayan quietly opened the door.
Hong Heera
Vocal: D
Rap: B+
Stamina: D
Visual: A
Dance: B
Hong Heera. DAZE’s youngest member and rapper.
Her stats looked average. But her true talent was producing.
She said she knew how to use MIDI even before joining.
While others copied songs, Heera brought in original tracks.
That’s how she switched companies and became a producer.
Even now, the melody she hummed sounded promising.
Even if it was uncomfortable to admit, her talent was real.
If we debut with the same members, can’t we just follow the same path as before?
Just as Hayan started thinking—
The second basic passive skill, “Variability,” has been activated.
The process of reconstructing the universe inevitably involves errors.
However,
The system spoke again.
Hayan immediately understood.
So things won’t flow exactly like before. Don’t get comfortable.
She pressed her temples.
Debuting herself would be hard enough. Now she had to deal with uncertainty and keep the same lineup?
Is that even possible?
There was another problem.
Yes, this was before everything happened.
But in the end, those members had abandoned the group and hurt her.
Pretend it never happened and start fresh…?
As if.
She let out a long sigh and turned back toward the studio.
And froze.
Haemi was standing in the hallway with her arms crossed.
When had she gotten there?
Their eyes met.
Despite the noise around them, this space felt silent.
“What are you looking at?”
Haemi spoke first.
Hayan tilted her head. She was the one blocking the way.
“I asked what you were looking at.”
“Oh.”
Haemi gestured toward the emergency stairs.
Ah. She wasn’t picking a fight. She was literally asking.
“Nothing. Just…”
Hayan brushed it off and walked past her.
Back in the studio, she took a deep breath.
It was time to face what she most wanted to avoid.
My stats… should I check them?
The moment she thought it, the same blue system window unfolded before her.
Wait. What?
