Genius Idol’s Strategy to Conquer the Entertainment Industry

Chapter 241

This time, I had to say I couldn’t do it.

I thought so until I saw the demonstration of the choreography that seemed impossible to follow, not to mention dangerous.

A situation where I had no choice but to do as told?

I’ve openly defied more coercive orders before, so this was nothing.

I would have refused without hesitation.

If only that guy hadn’t appeared in front of my eyes out of nowhere.

“!”

Unlike last year when I saw the events at True through reflections in mirrors or glass windows.

He appeared before me like a ghost with substance…

Without even having time to wonder how.

He was much smaller and younger than the me who had grown a bit taller over the past year, and he soared into the air without a trace of fear.

“!”

That was the same technique the choreographer had shown a moment ago.

Yet it was completely different from start to finish.

I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was different.

Everything was just different.

The gap between the choreographer’s skill and that kid’s skill was more pronounced than the difference people felt when they saw Ahn Hee-seop and me.

And in a place seemingly disconnected from the world’s time,

I enjoyed the privilege of watching, watching, and watching again that exquisite technique.

Thanks to that, until a while ago, I only had a vague idea of how to use my muscles, but now I could sense more clearly.

Seeing countless times how a human, who shouldn’t be able to, defied gravity.

A ridiculous thought crossed my mind, perhaps it’s the world’s natural law that water flows upwards and a fully bloomed flower returns to a bud and withers.

The boy’s form was so perfect that I slightly opened my mouth.

After watching, watching, and watching again until I finally had a thunderous realization.

At some point, when I stood still, or rather, was too weakened to move, the boy with a pale face nodded at me as if to say it was enough.

‘It’s okay now.’

I could do it.

That guy was not here but living on as On Hae-jae in a distant place, so this must be a mere illusion born of self-satisfaction.

It seemed like a faint smile appeared on his face.

My feet moved irresistibly.

Then my legs, arms, waist, and neck.

When I took a step, I felt like I could finally see clearly how I should move and what line I should draw.

Yes. You must have done it like this.

A wind that couldn’t possibly blow in an enclosed space pushed me to the fullest.

In each moment, I realized how boringly I had used my body all this time.

Just as I reached the highest point like an old dream and was about to come down.

A system window appeared before my eyes.

[You used the incomplete 《Acrobatic (Intermediate)》 skill.]

[Due to lack of strength stats, the incomplete 《Acrobatic (Intermediate)》 skill is canceled!]

What?

Before I could properly read the ominous description, several system windows appeared in quick succession in my vision as I was abruptly pulled out of the immersive state, as if submerged in a deep pond.

[Penalty for canceling the incomplete 《Acrobatic (Intermediate)》 skill is given.]

[Critical!]

[Agility stat effect partially avoids the penalty!]

I thought I heard Larry’s tongue clicking sound from somewhere.

No, it seemed like I actually heard it, not just imagined it.

While I was making such idle speculations, my ankle twisted at an odd angle, and eventually, my whole body, which had been barely supported by my toes, swayed and collapsed.

* * *

Even until the moment when his seemingly weak ankle, unbelievable given how high he had jumped, twisted mercilessly, and his knee and shin hit the floor with a dull sound, no one predicted On Raon’s failure.

‘Well, he did it so splendidly…’

Even Gyun Seong-ha, who had been staring blankly at his chilling movements, couldn’t believe what was happening before his eyes.

But an insufficiently prepared body lost strength and balance.

Thud!

The collision sounded painful enough to make the onlookers flinch.

Startled, people screamed or widened their eyes, and some rushed forward.

“On Raon!”

“Oh my god…”

“Wow. Is he seriously screwed?”

“What do we do? Is he unable to move?”

Normally, if I had fallen incorrectly, I wouldn’t have been able to move my neck.

Thanks to the timely effect of the agility stat, On Raon managed to brace himself with his hands and lift his upper body upright.

Whether it was mere coincidence or not, a system window appeared, announcing the acquisition of the new 《Fall Recovery (Intermediate)》 skill.

That aside.

‘What was that?’

I found it hard to comprehend what I had just seen and experienced.

In a dazed state, like waking from a vivid dream, I was bombarded with questions about my well-being.

Kang Ji-woo, who was closest to the youngest member sitting with his head bowed in silence, was startled by the blood dripping onto the floor and called out to Gyun Seong-ha.

“Seong-ha, get some tissues.”

“Yes, yes!”

Kang Ji-woo took the tissues Gyun Seong-ha brought and handed them to On Raon.

On Raon, holding an excessive amount of tissues, used some to wipe his nose and checked his body.

Fortunately, apart from losing about half of his HP and having a nosebleed due to a penalty, he seemed fine.

Just like during the Heart Attack stage filming, On Raon’s nosebleed didn’t stop easily, so he used his grace multiple times before realizing he was overusing his skills.

Abnormal statuses cannot be healed by grace.

On Raon didn’t know exactly what criteria classified abnormalities in the dimensional administration system.

However, based on experience, he guessed that internal injuries and mental issues were classified as abnormalities.

Anyway, this nosebleed would stop eventually.

Other than that…

Maybe a bit embarrassed?

‘Still, it’s less embarrassing than when I fought for first place with Oh Hyun-jin or acted cute with an ugly face. Ah, even less embarrassing than when Ban Yo-han talked about purity at the university.’

Overcoming the current shame with more embarrassing memories, On Raon finally raised his head.

“I’m okay. Really, I’m fine.”

“The nosebleed…”

On Raon awkwardly smiled and explained to Lai, who looked at him as if asking whether it was dangerous to have a nosebleed without hitting his head.

“Oh, I’ve been tired lately because of the comeback preparations. And I tend to get nosebleeds often. It will stop soon, so don’t worry.”

The idols, knowing how exhausting the schedule before a comeback was, nodded sympathetically at On Raon’s fatigue, who didn’t look very robust.

The choreographer, who had been frozen, calculating the scolding he would get if this was reported to the fans, belatedly approached to check On Raon’s safety.

“Fortunately, you seem okay. Well, it’s not like I was forcing you to do it. If you couldn’t, you should have said so…”

The choreographer cleverly evaded responsibility with a few words and then said he would inform about the acrobatic choreography later.

‘Even though the leader himself said they were preparing for a comeback, he still forced him…’

Silent arrows of criticism were shot at the choreographer’s consistently irresponsible attitude over the past few years.

To change the uneasy atmosphere in the practice room filled with long-standing discontent, the choreographer quickly led the other idols to start practicing.

Meanwhile, On Raon, supported by Seo Moon-gyeol, moved to a corner to avoid disturbing the practice.

“Are you really okay?”

“Yeah. I didn’t even need support. Now, won’t people finally believe my nose is real?”

Gyun Seong-ha glared at On Raon, who was casually saying anything while rubbing his nose with the tissue.

“Can you joke at a time like this?”

Gyun Seong-ha’s eyes were slightly red, perhaps from being so startled that his heart ached.

“No. I saw a post before saying whether I had a nose job.”

“What? Who said that? Your nose is so unique that even the hospital would say, ‘Sir, we can’t create a nose like this with surgery!'”

Gwak Sang-hyun, who had been talking with another group’s manager outside and rushed over after being contacted by Ban Yo-han, lightly hit Kang Ji-woo on the back of the head for babbling nonsense at the wrong time and place.

“They said you fell badly! How’s your ankle? Are your legs okay? Let me see your face. Any injuries?”

“I’m fine. I didn’t hit my face, it’s just a nosebleed.”

Gwak Sang-hyun looked skeptical at On Raon’s reply, who was still bleeding from his nose.

“It seems like too much blood for just a nosebleed… Are you sure you’re okay?”

“It’ll stop soon.”

“Your ankle?”

“It’s fine.”

Ban Yo-han, who was closely examining On Raon’s ankle, asked again.

“I clearly saw your ankle twist at an impossible angle. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Oh, I’m really fine. Look.”

On Raon, sensing they wouldn’t believe him unless he showed them, twisted his ankle around.

The grace worked well for simple injuries, so there was no pain in his ankle.

“Hey, don’t twist it already!”

“It’s a relief you’re not hurt, but how come you didn’t get hurt…”

“Is he flexible?”

Kang Ji-woo glared at the back of the choreographer who was glancing this way and sighed before pointing out in a low voice.

“What were you going to do if you got seriously injured?”