"Alright, good job everyone! You're going at a nice pace. Let's pick this up again in the next class."
"Yes, instructor!"
"Class dismissed."
At that announcement, Damien collapsed from exhaustion. He lay still on the ground for a moment, gathering his depleted energy. Every muscle in his body ached which was now a familiar feeling over the past month.
With a reluctant sigh, he summoned the system interface.
A translucent blue panel blinked into view above him.
[Accessing Status...]
[Name: Damien Hertz (Alias: Yeong Myeongho/Damien Yeong)]
[Age: 16]
[Gender: Male-Alpha]
[Physical Condition: Excellent]
[Group: TBA]
[Agency: Starlite Media]
[Mission Progress: 0.9%]
[Base Attributes (Ratings)]
*Status Error: Locked*
Current Balance: 0 Points
[Special Skills]
Unshakable Resolve: Reduces self-doubt and anxiety. Enhances endurance through physical and emotional discomfort.
*Status Error: Locked*
[Status Error: Skill & Stat Lock in effect. Physical performance temporarily decreased (-75%).]
[Time Remaining: 7 Days]
"Only a week left..." Damien mumbled. Seven more days and this punishment would finally be over.
A tiny floating cube hovered around him.
System: [Congratulations, host! You've survived three weeks without your skills and stats! Remember, try not to slack off.]
Damien nearly rolled his eyes.
Gee, thanks, system. You know, some nicer encouragement doesn't hurt.
The system stopped its bounce, contemplating.
System: [Was that not a nice encouragement, host? Should I adjust encouragement protocols?]
Damien: "..."
Forget it.
Sadly, Yuki wasn't in his physical conditioning class. Damien could almost picture if he had been—grinning, yanking him up the floor, and handing him a cold bottle of water. Without the sun-like energy that Yuki radiated, the session felt twice as long and three times as exhausting.
"Haa..." Pulling himself up, he sighed.
When his stats weren't locked, he could go hours without stopping, almost like a machine. Some things you just take for granted, knowing its true value once its been pulled away.
He laughed inwardly. I swear I'll place in the top ten in the monthly evaluations.
As annoying as the system's punishment had been, it had forced him to work harder. His dance precision, his stamina... they were miles ahead of where they'd been a month ago. He could feel the difference in the way his body responded—stronger, more controlled. Without the system's buffs masking the process, his growth was raw but real.
It felt real.
The rest of the day continued in an exhausting blur. Acting and media class came after physical conditioning. By evening, he was drained. Damien dragged himself to his apartment and showered.
As he changed, he contemplated whether or not to sleep. Normally, on Fridays, Damien would surrender to sleep as soon as he lay in bed. But knowing he had no training tomorrow gave him a rare burst of energy to actually do something with his night. As he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, he recalled a nagging thought that had been at the back of his mind for weeks.
Ever since the whirlwind of auditioning and joining the company, he hadn't really stopped to research the idol industry itself. He'd been so busy living it—training, practicing, completing system quests, and dealing with Hajoon—that he never sat down to study the bigger picture of this world he'd thrown himself into.
He took a long drink of water, thinking.
The original Damien—had dreamed of being an idol, but he had come from a completely different life. Sure, he'd picked up bits and pieces during his early search for companies while auditioning, some experience as a trainee, a few casual mentions here and there. He knew the names of a few top groups, had a general sense of the big entertainment companies, and understood that idols were practically everywhere in media here.
But a deeper understanding? Not yet.
"Well, no time like the present," Damien murmured. He settled at his desk, powering on his laptop. The system appeared perched atop the monitor. Clearly it sensed his intent.
System: [The host is researching about the industry? Shall I prepare a more condensed document for the host's perusal?]
Damien raised an eyebrow. "You can do that? Wait. If you can hack cameras, access the world's data, and condense evidence files... I honestly shouldn't be surprised at what you can do at this point."
The system floated up and bounced happily.
System: [All for the host! I'm here to support you through your missions! What would you like to know?]
"Just give me the basics for now. I've heard some names tossed around, but I never really looked into it. Had more pressing things to focus on..."
System: [Alright! Just give this system a few moments.]
In front of him, the laptop screen burst into a flurry of open tabs faster than any human could click. Damien watched, mouth slightly agape, as webpages and articles flashed by. The system was collecting information at lightning speed, distilling it into what looked like a neatly formatted document.
In less than a minute, the dust settled. His screen now showed a comprehensive overview titled: Idol Industry 101 - A Beginner's Guide.
"You've been holding out," Damien murmured. "I could've used this a few days ago. I lost sleep digging through Minsoo posts all night."
System: [*sniffle* Host...]
Seeing the system's slightly damper bounce, Damien laughed slightly. "Alright, alright. I know you were gone. I'll stop teasing."
Damien leaned forward, shifting his gaze from the system to the laptop, eyes scanning the screen. As he began to read, the system's voice narrated.
System: [The current idol industry is dominated by several top groups, a handful of powerful entertainment companies, and constantly evolving trends. Here's what you need to know, host.]
The system continued.
System: [In the idol industry, three powerhouse companies reign at the top. Referred to as the "Founding Pillars," they've been shaping the K-pop scene for decades, dominating both domestically and internationally. These giants are Obsidian Music, Aurora Entertainment, and Lynx Media Group.]
Damien: "What sets them apart, exactly? Do they each have their own specialty?"
System: [Correct. Each company has carved out a distinct identity and brand.]
System: [Obsidian Music is one of the longest-standing companies, established in the 1990s. Their artists are known for their polished, professional image and strong vocal foundations. Obsidian groups often enjoy long careers, and several have achieved significant global success over time.]
System: [Aurora Entertainment is famed for pushing creative boundaries. They're the go-to for experimental concepts, eye-catching performances, and bold visual storytelling. Their artists tend to be involved in the creative process, and their comebacks often set trends in both music and aesthetics.]
System: [Lastly, Lynx Media Group is known for its global reach (especially in Asia) and cinematic-level production quality. Their marketing strategies are aggressive, and their idols frequently branch into acting, fashion, and brand ambassadorships. LMG groups are polished for mass appeal across multiple industries.]
Damien pondered the information for a moment before moving onto the groups.
System: [The top idol groups as of this year consists of four groups, two of which are globally acclaimed. One of those groups is ECLIPSE, a five-member girl group under Aurora Entertainment. Dubbed as the "Record-Breaking Queens," they've dominated the domestic charts for the past three years and made significant global strides.]
System: [Next is Neverland, a six-member boy group under Lynx Media Group. They're known for their whimsical, dreamy concepts and music that leans into themes of escapism. While they haven't broken into global charts just yet, they maintain a strong international fanbase—and an even more dedicated following in Korea, where they consistently rank high.]
System: [Another well-known group is Love In Rewind, often shortened to LIR. They're a seven-member girl group under Blueveil Entertainment, known for their music centered around themes of youthful optimism, emotional healing, personal growth, and love. Beyond their sound, LIR has built a reputation as trendsetters and are especially popular among fashion-forward fans.]
System: [Lastly, the last group is IGNYTE, a five-member boy group under Obsidian Music. Debuted four years ago, they're one of the industry's biggest acts, known for their explosive performances and powerhouse vocals. They consistently top charts worldwide and have a fandom in the tens if not hundreds of millions. They are currently the most popular idol group in the world, host.]
"Interesting..." Damien murmured, scrolling further.
Then he paused on the current trends in the entertainment industry. It went over globalization, tours, social media presence, and fandom culture.
Finally, he reached a section titled "Life of an Idol: What Idols Do" and he had to stifle a laugh. They did everything, it seemed. The system had helpfully bullet-pointed a typical idol's array of activities—from music production, performance, promotions, fan engagement, training, and other ventures like acting or modeling.
The more Damien read, the more the puzzle pieces of the industry clicked into place. He blew out a breath, sitting back in his chair. Reading it all laid out like this made his head spin.
"Thanks, system."
Without 110, he probably would've had to trudge through endless websites, fan blogs, and outdated articles—again. At least this time, the information was actually digestible. And more importantly, he wouldn't lose an entire night trying to piece it all together.
System: [It's my pleasure, host! Is there anything else this system can help with?]
Damien tapped a finger against his desk, brow furrowed in thought.
"Yeah, one more thing," he muttered. "Can you pull up the top idol groups' profiles and maybe link some of their hit songs? I should probably know what they look like… and, y'know, what they sound like too."
System: [On it!]
Within moments, a playlist appeared on the screen—hit songs from each of the mentioned groups. Damien clicked on IGNYTE's latest title track, curious about the group that was apparently the top of the top. A powerful, synth-heavy beat poured from his speakers, soon joined by rich, layered vocals. The music was polished and electrifying, the kind that made you unconsciously bob your head. Even outside of a performance video, Damien could imagine the kind of sharp choreography that would accompany such a song.
Then chorus hit—a catchy melody delivered by a soaring male voice that sent a slight shiver down Damien's spine. He didn't realize he was holding his breath until the chorus ended.
"Wow…" he murmured. That voice—clear, resonant, brimming with emotion—somehow it felt familiar. He couldn't place why. Perhaps because he'd heard IGNYTE's songs in passing before?
When the song finished, he sat in silence for a moment, letting the last echoes fade.
He felt… energized, oddly. Inspired, even. There was a reason IGNYTE was at the top. Their music struck straight at the heart.
The system quietly brought up the group's profile. On the screen, a promotional image of five members appeared, each exuding charisma. Front and center was a young man with brilliant blonde hair and a confident smile, reaching a hand toward the camera. The caption identified him: Kim Jaeho—Main Vocalist, Centre of IGNYTE.
Kim Jaeho...
The name echoed like a dropped stone in still water.
Kim Jaeho? Why does that sound familiar?
Damien's gaze sharpened, flicking toward the man again. There was something about the way he stood, the slope of his shoulders, the expression in his eyes—it all clawed at something buried deep in his mind.
Have I heard it from a trainee? Maybe an ad? A poster? Yes but—no… that's not it.
There was something else. Something he should've recognized the moment he heard the name.
And then—
His breath hitched.
The memory snapped into place like a key in a long-forgotten lock.
Kim Jaeho… he was... the idol from original Damien's memories. The one whose performance lit that first spark in the young boy. The one who made Damien want to throw away his life as a Hertz.
He was the reason why Damien wanted to become an idol.