Of course, not all the feedback was positive. Some people still held onto their distaste for Secreti’s formerly unlikable image—especially when it came to Yeon Yu-jin.
But the CEO seemed pleased nonetheless.
“This is a good enough result. We’ve basically achieved our goal of making Secreti seem more likable.”
My manager-hyung had once kindly explained it all to me, knowing I’d lost my memory.
HB Entertainment, a small to mid-sized agency, had Secreti as its first idol group. Without the money or expertise for massive-scale promotions like the big agencies, every small success felt like a miracle.
Thanks to the unexpected success of the live performance following the dungeon incident, our previously empty schedule was finally starting to fill up.
My manager-hyung’s face lit up.
“We just got an offer from the DangGo Channel asking if you’d be willing to appear on Healing Voice!”
Healing Voice was a NewTube music program that featured a wide range of artists—from solo singers to idol groups. The host artist would select a lineup of songs, and everyone would perform them live in succession.
Since we’d already done something similar on Secreti’s official channel, I didn’t find the idea difficult at all.
I can totally handle that.
Compared to brutal dance practices, this was nothing.
The CEO’s eyes gleamed like a wild beast when she heard what Manager Hyun-soo had said.
“Make sure the boys get on the show. Got it, guys?”
When the CEO asked the Secreti members gathered in the meeting room, leader Ra Ho-yeon nodded.
“We’ve got more than enough time on our hands.”
Unexpectedly, Seo Yoon-chae looked absolutely thrilled and eager.
“Just give me the chance, and I’ll do great.”
“…Me too.”
“Let’s start picking songs right away.”
Cha Si-yoon and Shin Tae-boem were visibly excited too. Maybe it was the rare wave of positive public sentiment—lately, they’d been caught smiling at their phones more and more.
Everyone seems to be in a good mood.
When I’d first woken up in Yeon Yu-jin’s body, I’d been bombarded with curses—told that I was ruining the whole group.
And now… it felt like that had happened ages ago.
The CEO turned to Ra Ho-yeon.
“I’ll leave the song selection up to you guys. You’re the ones who know best what you can pull off.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“How’s Yu-jin’s dance practice coming along?”
“Hmm… Progress is on the slow side. Maybe it’s because he completely forgot everything due to the memory loss. I thought muscle memory would kick in, but at this point, he looks like someone who’s never danced in his life.”
Yikes.
That hit way too close to home, and I couldn’t help but grumble.
“…A bit harsh, don’t you think, Ra Ho-yeon? I’m doing my best, y’know. Not even slacking off or anything.”
“I’ll give you that. Even the choreography instructor said you’ve got grit, at least.”
Hearing our exchange, the CEO looked like she was about to cry from pride.
“Our little Yu-jin has really changed… sniff sniff.”
What’s so emotional about that…
Seeing the reactions of the staff made me wonder—what the hell had the real Yeon Yu-jin done to end up as Secreti’s resident trainwreck?
There had to be some story behind it.
Potato bopped me on the head.
[More importantly, aren’t you forgetting something?]
Forgetting what?
[Ugh. You’ve got something important today! Your ability reassessment exam!]
Ah.
In the warm, cheerful mood, I’d completely forgotten.
“Um, CEO.”
“Yes, Yu-jin? What is it?”
“Today’s the deadline for my ability reassessment.”
“…Ah.”
The mood immediately turned solemn.
“I thought it’d be quicker to drive to the testing center, so I was wondering if I could head out with Manager-hyung now?”
“Y-yeah, go ahead.”
“Thank you. Hyun-soo hyung, let’s go.”
“R-right.”
Manager Hyun-soo awkwardly got up from his seat. Just as we were about to leave, caps pulled low, the CEO jumped up in a fluster.
“J-just don’t overdo it out there!”
Pfft.
I nearly burst out laughing.
Her desperation to keep “Yeon Yu-jin” from being kicked out of Secreti now that things were finally going smoothly was just too obvious.
“Yes, yes.”
For some reason, my heart felt lighter. Maybe it was because there were people now who actually needed me.
Even if I was in Yeon Yu-jin’s body, the singing skills I had now were all mine.
And in the moments I was singing, I could exist as myself, no one else.
Ability reassessment? Easy. I was once classified as SSS-rank—it’ll be a piece of cake.
Back when I was declared a once-in-a-generation genius Guide, I’d been clueless about how Guiding even worked, so I got exposed pretty fast.
But now, I’d been through it all.
If I aim just right and make myself look like a C-rank Guide, it should be perfect.
The fact that government officials had requested the reassessment meant they’d noticed something off.
But if I went in and came out with a “Haha, still D-rank!” result, that would just make me look more suspicious.
After all, hiding your true power? That was something only top-tier ability users could pull off.
Just like those hidden masters in wuxia novels.
So, C-rank was the sweet spot. Just enough to prove their instincts weren’t wrong, but not enough to draw too much attention—and enough to let me keep living as an idol.
Lots of people start working as Hunters from C-rank, but… all the famous celebs I looked up were at least B-rank.
Even in this more peaceful world, society still judged Hunters harshly by their rank.
Like ranking universities—people didn’t really care unless you were an A- or B-rank Esper or Guide.
I thought it was all nonsense… but it clearly mattered a lot to the ability users of this generation.
Not that it matters—if anything happens, the high-rankers are the ones getting dragged in first.
Clicking my tongue, I started heading out when Seo Yoon-chae suddenly grabbed me—well, grabbed my sleeve.
“…What the hell? You’re stretching my shirt.”
His face was beet red, lips moving silently. I couldn’t read that expression at all.
“…You’re coming back, right?”
“What? Can’t hear you. Someone’s got a teeny-tiny voice—”
“I said, are you coming back or not?!”
Jesus.
Even Potato flinched in shock.
He’d been trying to nap lazily on my head but now glared daggers at Seo Yoon-chae.
[What, did he swallow a megaphone or something? So loud!]
Agreed, 100%.
He used to pick fights with me—well, with Yeon Yu-jin—over every little thing, but lately he’d been surprisingly quiet.
Was this what he’d been building up to?
I brushed Seo Yoon-chae’s hand away, answering lightly.
“I’ve got nowhere else to go. People might think I’m running away or something.”
“…You don’t know what the test results will be. If it turns out you’re A or S-rank, you might…”
Seo Yoon-chae trailed off.
When I glanced at the other members, they had oddly similar expressions.
Wait, seriously?
I thought they still saw me as the group’s black sheep, but apparently not.
They hadn’t said anything aloud, but it was clear—they didn’t want me to leave, even if my results came out great.
That was unexpected.
“You guys were the ones who wanted me gone more than anyone else, weren’t you?”
When I said it outright, Seo Yoon-chae flushed again—this time with anger.
“We did, but… not anymore. You’ve changed. Even when it’s hard, you don’t skip workouts or dance practice. You’re obsessed—in a good way. And you sing well. So…”
He went silent again.
After a long moment, he suddenly burst out, yelling:
“So just… stay! No matter what the results say, we want to keep working with you, as part of Secreti, as a team!”
Coming from the most sharp-tongued guy in the group… what the hell.
I was about to tease him again, but the words flew out of my mouth on their own.
“Okay.”
“…Huh?”
“I was planning to anyway. Even if you didn’t ask.”
I was just as surprised as he was.
What the hell’s wrong with me?
Seo Yoon-chae’s expression completely melted—for the first time, he looked like a dumb, happy idiot.
“You just—”
“Hyun-soo hyung! Let’s go!”
I bolted into the elevator like I was fleeing the scene.
I’m thirty, and here I am acting like this in front of a bunch of bratty Espers.
Unbelievable…
But apparently my face didn’t reflect my irritation, because Manager Hyun-soo looked surprised.
“Something good happen? You’re all smiles.”
“…I am?”
Sure enough, when I checked the mirror—I was smiling.
…Hmph. Must be because the punks who used to hate me are finally warming up.
[Doubt that’s the real reason~]
Potato snickered, clearly ready to keep prying. I ignored him.
…But can I really afford to be doing this?
I needed to find whoever killed me—only then could I leave this life without regrets.
The thought made my chest heavy.
The one who killed me and tried to steal my ability—are they still alive?
If so, I hope they’re living large.
That way, when I tear them down, they’ll feel the same despair I once did.
***
The moment the car carrying Yeon Yu-jin pulled away…
“….”
Hyun Je-ha, hanging from a tree, quietly began to follow.
