translation by mourningmoor
For the past few days, I’ve been researching idols from this world, including MuteSeven, DAS 17, K-MAX, Another Level, and Möbius.
As a result, I realized one thing: you need to grab attention visually first.
This doesn’t mean you have to have well-defined features.
Sure, being good-looking is a big plus, but more than that, you need distinct individuality and something that sparkles.
That’s exactly what the dirty rabbits from the dungeon needed.
Something that sparkles.
I can’t give them sharp facial features, but I can infuse them with something that sparkles.
We call that 《charm》.
《Charm》 comes from 《confidence》, and 《confidence》 comes from a reasonable amount of 《self-love》.
You rabbits, take this and try to develop a reasonable amount of 《self-love》.
I julienned potatoes, onions, carrots, and the canned meat called “Spam” and stir-fried them in oil. I seasoned them with salt and pepper and infused a tiny bit of magic into the dish.
When I placed the completed dish on the table, the rabbits gathered around, their eyes widening.
“Wouldn’t instant rice and kimchi go well with this?”
Siu asked, swallowing his saliva.
“Go get them yourself.”
After making all this, you should at least know to do that much.
Looking down at them with a bored face, I sat leaning against the living room wall and opened my laptop.
“Aren’t you eating, hyung?”
Roa, holding a spoon tightly in both hands, asked with sparkling eyes.
“Yeah, eat with us.”
Siu, who had come back with instant rice and kimchi, chimed in.
Even Jaewon, with his mouth full of the potato dish, nodded in agreement.
Glancing at them briefly, I shifted my gaze to the laptop and replied indifferently.
“You three who have school, eat a lot.”
This body is busy, you see.
I’m planning to transform you all completely.
“Well, I’ll eat slowly with the person sleeping in the room.”
Was it because I said it teasingly?
The ones who still hadn’t started eating were now looking at me with anxious eyes.
Looking over the laptop, I alternated my gaze between the three of them.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
Not that I needed to ask.
These kids are exactly like that.
Rabbits that just sit there, waiting for a “Go ahead and eat!” order before they start eating.
Nodding in understanding, I gave a short command.
“Eat!”
As soon as the command was issued, the rabbits grinned and began eating.
* * *
Jaewon, a high school freshman; Roa, a sophomore; and Siu, a junior—they all still had to attend school.
Hanjoon, who was twenty, had just graduated high school a little while ago. And I—no, Kang Ichan—apparently dropped out of school two years ago and passed the GED last year.
The GED, meaning he obtained his high school diploma without attending school.
“This kid must’ve been pretty smart.”
Reading through Kang Ichan’s “diary” stored on the laptop, I was able to gather quite a bit of information.
The diary, which was written in painstaking detail, contained the entirety of Kang Ichan’s life.
It seemed this kid, who was usually far too quiet, poured everything he wanted to say into his diary.
Clicking my tongue, I closed the laptop.
This kid, from head to toe, is entirely different from me.
Oh, except for one thing—we share the same birthday: March 3rd.
“Was this fate, too? Of all things, to share the same birthday.”
I remember being surrounded by a blinding white light when I opened the gate and flung myself through it.
Then, it felt like my body was being sucked into something, spinning uncontrollably.
According to Gyuhyung, a white lightning bolt struck Kang Ichan’s body at that moment. That must’ve been me.
And just like that, Kang Ichan’s body became mine.
A child who shares the same birthday as me.
In the end, the owner of this extensive diary seems to have lost his life because of me.
Poor kid.
Smirking bitterly, I suddenly glanced at Hanjoon, who was sitting across from me and eating his meal with gusto.
A lazy, dirty, game-addicted wreck of a rabbit.
“Hanjoon hyung, stop eating and let’s go practice.”
“What?”
Unlike the other kids, Hanjoon had a bit of bulk to him.
It wasn’t excessive, but it made it harder for him to harmonize with the others.
There are five days left until the music video shoot.
If we could just slim him down a little…
“Let’s go practice.”
“Practice what?”
“Dancing.”
This kid’s weight management starts now.
* * *
As soon as the kids returned from school, the company issued new management guidelines.
Han Junyoung must lose 3 kilograms starting now.
Kim Jaewon must lower his energy levels by at least 50%.
Yoon Siu must train to smile no matter what the situation.
Park Roa must eliminate the overindulgent artistic elements from his performances.
Kang Ichan must answer PD Pyo’s calls promptly.
Most of these were identical to the messages I’d asked Gyuhyung to pass on to the management team earlier today. But the one guideline directed at me—answering PD Pyo’s calls—made me scoff.
When did he even call?
Snickering, I looked at the kids.
They had just changed their clothes and entered the practice room, devouring the boiled eggs I’d brought.
Eat plenty, kids.
This is my generosity.
But Gyuhyung, who was relaying the management’s decisions, seemed a little frantic.
“Guys, did you hear that?”
The kids, too preoccupied with eating, weren’t paying any attention to the manager’s words.
Just like wild rabbits, unpredictable and uncontrollable, the moment you let go of the leash.
“Guys. Hey, guys?”
On top of that, the manager can’t even handle them properly.
Blade Entertainment, are you seriously okay with this?
“Hey, kids.”
I snapped my fingers toward the kids.
Immediately, the three of them turned their heads with wide eyes.
“Can we listen up a bit? The manager’s trying to talk.”
With a quick glance at Gyuhyung, the three of them obediently nodded.
Only then did their attention finally shift to Gyuhyung.
“Th-thank you, Ichan-ah.”
Smiling awkwardly, Gyuhyung continued delivering the management’s decisions.
“Finish eating quickly and get ready for practice. Starting today, Director Gong Seokho will be taking over instead of Ji Youngjun ssaem.”
“D-Director Gong?”
The egg Siu was eating suddenly fell from his mouth.
On the other hand, Jaewon swallowed his whole egg in one gulp, only to start pounding his chest as if he were choking.
“Ugh, no way! Director Gong is totally spartan. He’s a perfectionist.”
“Right, and he’s super harsh. They say he’s like a knife when he talks.”
Roa chimed in right away.
Still fumbling nervously, Siu cautiously spoke up.
“Why is he suddenly coming to us? Isn’t he busy preparing for the Dinaple sunbaes’ album?”
“You’re right. But apparently, he’s making time to oversee you guys personally.”
Gyuhyung added that such cases were extremely rare.
It seems you’ve entered the realm of special care.
Even though the company had invested all its resources into their flagship group “Dinaple,” it now seemed like they were finally starting to take an interest in you.
“So let’s work even harder, okay?”
The problem lies with these kids.
Talentless and unremarkable, they shy away from hard work despite their lack of charm.
Of course, the youngest scrunched up his face in frustration and muttered.
“Oh, seriously. So it’s basically hell training now.”
Seeing Jaewon, usually so cheerful, react like this, it seems Director Gong really is a tough one.
Siu chimed in as well.
“Yeah, Director Gong is seriously ruthless.”
It was then that Hanjoon, who had been practicing choreography alone in the corner, staggered toward us.
“Ruthless?”
He flopped down in front of the kids, his chest heaving.
“That guy isn’t the ruthless one. This guy is.”
Sweat-drenched, Hanjoon glared at me with trembling lips.
“You’re the real devil bastard.”
Well, if they call me a devil for this much. There's still a long way to go.
I smiled faintly, twisting my lips, and nodded to the spot where Hanjoon had been dancing a little while ago.
“Hyung, you still have two more rounds of practice left.”
It was my way of telling him to hurry up and finish what he started.
Hanjoon’s face turned bright red as he shouted angrily.
“Hey!”
I stared back at him with a cold gaze.
“You lost the game against me. If you lost, you have to keep your promise.”
Why did you even make that kind of bet in the first place, huh?
* * *
Blade Entertainment is a company founded by renowned PD Pyo Cheonhee, choreographer Gong Seokho, and singer-songwriter and famous DJ Ricochet.
When PD Pyo left The Music Entertainment, he focused on building the group Dinaple, centered around Ga Yuna, who had followed him out. The group was composed of Lee Sayoung, a former child actor; Seon Woomin, from an audition program; and four members selected through internal auditions.
While not an overwhelming success, Dinaple achieved notable results. Now in their third year since debut, they’re categorized as a fairly successful girl group.
L.I.T. was born from that mediocre success.
At first glance, the name seemed simple, but it was a carefully crafted acronym.
L.I.T. stands for Lightning In Thunder, symbolizing thunder and lightning.
“Lit” also serves as shorthand for “light”.
And is slang among American youth for something amazing or cool.
The members were chosen through street casting and internal auditions, focusing on selecting “cool and amazing” individuals.
Thus, L.I.T. was born.
But a problem emerged.
When viewed individually, each member seemed to stand out, but when brought together in a single frame, it was a mess.
Internal criticisms arose, accusing the company of miscasting.
PD Pyo faced backlash for focusing too much on “good personalities” during the selection process.
The result was a team that, while kind-hearted, was unremarkable and lacked even a stroke of luck—perceived by some as a “throwaway card.”
But now, the atmosphere has completely shifted.
Watching the kids perform choreography in unison, Director Gong Seokho turned off the music with a serious expression.
The kids stopped their movements, panting heavily as they looked at him.
First of all, Kang Ichan’s transformation was particularly astonishing.
Kang Ichan, the member with no presence, a token member of the group, was now leading the performance with commanding presence.
Perhaps spurred on by Ichan, the rest of the members were subtly changing, too.
“You’ve all improved a lot.”
Gong clapped his hands and called the kids over.
“You’re much better now. Let’s just work on your eye contact with the camera. Especially you, Siu.”
“Yes, ssaem.”
Siu awkwardly scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
Gong patted Siu’s shoulder reassuringly before turning his gaze to the schedule posted on the wall.
“The shoot is in two days. Tomorrow is the full-dress rehearsal, so be prepared.”
The kids nodded with serious expressions at Seokho’s words.
Already visibly tense.
Everyone, except for one.
“Kang Ichan.”
Ichan, who had been maintaining a detached expression and zoning out, briefly locked eyes with Gong.
In his dark eyes, a mysterious glint flickered.
This kid had undeniably changed.
“Let’s have a word.”