Ji Hyo processed all the necessary paperwork regarding his withdrawal. Surprisingly, everything went smoothly. Perhaps a part of him had expected resistance—some complicated procedure, or at the very least, a mountain of red tape—but instead, the company only hesitated in one regard:
They didn't want to let go of his face.
"Are you sure about this?" one of the staff asked for the third time, scanning his profile. "With your looks, you could easily switch over to acting. The company's more than willing to support your transition."
Another staff member nodded fervently. "Honestly, your visuals are top-tier. We've had discussions internally about grooming you for screen projects. Why don't you give it some thought? An acting debut might suit you better than an idol debut."
Ji Hyo offered a polite smile. He appreciated the compliments—even if they were heavily laced with persuasion—but deep inside, he already made his decision.
He thought about his acting trait: Expressive Acting [D+].
Sure, it was there. But he didn't feel confident enough to bank his future on something he wasn't fully passionate about—or even remotely good at.
"Thank you," Ji Hyo said, bowing slightly. "But I'd like to pursue my own path."
Even then, they tried again.
"If not acting… then modeling?" one staff member pressed. "There's a high-end brand looking for a fresh new face. We could set you up with a test shoot next week."
"I'm flattered," Ji Hyo said, his tone gentle but firm. "But I've made up my mind."
After a few more attempts to sway him, they finally sighed in resignation and handed him his finalized documents. Just like that, his chapter with Glint Entertainment officially closed.
He walked out of the building, the weight of the decision heavy on his shoulders—but oddly, there was no regret.
Only clarity.
And then—
"Hey!"
A voice called out just before the glass doors slid shut behind him. Ji Hyo turned, only to be immediately pulled into a warm hug.
It was Felix.
His arms wrapped around Ji Hyo tightly, holding on just long enough to say what his words couldn't.
"Congratulations, idiot," Felix said with a soft laugh. "You really did it."
Ji Hyo smiled, returning the hug. "Thanks. I guess I'm free now."
Felix stepped back, hands still on Ji Hyo's shoulders. "Well, you better not disappear. We're hanging out a lot more now, okay?"
"Of course," Ji Hyo chuckled. "I'll bug you endlessly."
Felix grinned but paused slightly, gaze softening. "Still… are you really okay with this? No regrets?"
Ji Hyo nodded. "None."
Felix looked away briefly, his usual confidence slipping just a little. "…I still haven't decided."
Ji Hyo's brows raised. "You're staying?"
Felix let out a long breath. "For now, yeah. But I don't know for how long. Seeing you walk away like that… it kind of makes me wonder if I'm still holding on because I want it… or because I'm afraid to let go."
Ji Hyo gently patted his shoulder. "Whatever you decide, just make sure it's for you."
Felix gave a small smile. "You're getting way too wise for someone who still can't stretch properly."
Ji Hyo rolled his eyes. "I'll kick you."
"Try. I dare you."
They both laughed.
Then came a comfortable silence. The kind that only true friends could share. And Ji Hyo realized something.
This wasn't the end of a journey—it was the beginning of a new one.
And somehow, he wasn't afraid.
Not anymore.
Ji Hyo returned to his apartment, a strange quietness settling in with him.
It was still early—barely noon—so he decided not to stress himself out. He pulled out his phone and ordered takeout from a nearby restaurant. Spicy chicken, rice, and some kimchi stew. Comfort food. Something familiar after the unfamiliar weight of walking away from Glint.
But as he waited for his food to arrive, the reality slowly started to sink in.
He was free now.
Free… but also directionless.
No more daily training schedules. No more vocal drills. No dance instructors barking corrections. No looming evaluations.
He stood by the kitchen counter, arms crossed, staring blankly at the fridge door like it would somehow give him answers. His mind was filled with a quiet hum of uncertainty.
"…Now what?" he mumbled to himself.
The system chimed in with its usual matter-of-fact tone.
[Host, you appear to be experiencing post-withdrawal existential anxiety.]
Ji Hyo groaned. "No kidding."
[Would you like assistance in planning your next course of action?]
"I don't even know what I want to do next…"
[Based on current circumstances, the system recommends three potential pathways:
Join a new agency with stronger debut potential.Pursue independent music creation and digital presence growth.Enter audition programs or survival shows to build popularity.]
Ji Hyo leaned on the kitchen counter, resting his chin on his palm. "Hah… You make it sound like it's just choosing items from a vending machine."
[Correction: Only Path Two aligns with your active mission parameters—building organic popularity and proving individual growth. Pursuing independent growth will yield more credit rewards and unlock higher skill acquisition rates.]
"Huh…" Ji Hyo rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So, going indie might actually help me grow faster?"
[Affirmative.]
Before he could think deeper about it, the doorbell rang.
Lunch had arrived.
He grabbed the bags, set the food neatly on the kitchen table, and sat down. The aroma of spicy chicken and warm stew filled the air, giving him a momentary sense of comfort. As he dug in, his thoughts kept drifting back to his future. His hand paused midway to his mouth.
"Guess I should've thought this through before quitting, huh?"
[Correction: Impulsive decisions often reflect hidden desires. Your decision was aligned with your subconscious wish to forge your own path.]
"Thanks for the psychological analysis, Dr. Bixiry," Ji Hyo muttered sarcastically.
[You're welcome, Host.]
He chuckled dryly, then returned to eating. As he was halfway through his second helping of rice, the system chimed again.
[Reminder: You still have two active quests pending.]
Ji Hyo blinked. "Right… I almost forgot about that."
[Side Task: Create a Song and Gain Positive Comments]
Time Limit: 2 Days RemainingReward: Music Production Skill Level Up (Reward tier depends on response quality)Penalty: Music Sensitivity Trait will be removed, and Music Production Skill will be downgraded.
[Weekly Mission: Social Media Growth Challenge]
Subtasks:Create a Social Media Account [Complete]Upload First Post [Complete]Reach 100,000 Followers [Incomplete]Rewards: Tiered rewards unlocked with each subtask.Penalty: Mission Failure will result in decreased Public Appeal and Charisma Drop.]
Ji Hyo sighed, leaning back in his chair. "That's right… I've been too focused on quitting that I forgot I still have things to do."
[Procrastination detected. Would you like assistance in initiating task sequence now?]
"…Not while I'm still chewing."
[Understood. Please resume after digestion.]
Ji Hyo chuckled, shaking his head. "Seriously… you're unbelievable."
But as he looked at the system panel, he knew he couldn't waste time anymore. If he really wanted to build something on his own, then this was where it had to start.
From scratch.
From nothing.
From himself.
As he finished the last spoonful of his lunch, he reached for his phone again. "Alright then… Let's get to work."
Speaking of tasks, Ji Hyo had already completed two.
While still chewing the last bite of his chicken, he tapped into his social media app out of curiosity. He didn't expect much—he knew how hard it was to grow a following from scratch, and with how oversaturated the internet already was, he assumed his post would be buried under digital noise.
But when the screen loaded, he nearly dropped his spoon.
"…What the—?!"
His selfie—the one he casually uploaded last night with barely any thought—had blown up.
Over 10,000 reactions, and thousands of comments.
Ji Hyo blinked, rubbed his eyes, and stared again.
It wasn't a dream.
The top comments were wild, unhinged, and borderline terrifying.
"HOW IS THIS GUY REAL?! Must be AI-generated, right??" "No way a man looks this perfect. I call BS." "I'm sorry, but if this face appeared in front of me, I'd offer him all my holes." "Forget filters, I need this man injected into my bloodstream." "God really gave him the 'Temptation of Nations' trait."
Ji Hyo almost choked on his food.
He reached for his drink and gulped it down before coughing violently. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!"
He wiped his mouth, half-shocked, half-amused. "Do people just say stuff like this online now? No filters anymore?"
[Host, your current visual score is classified as 'S+'. Such reactions are within statistical expectations.]
Ji Hyo rolled his eyes. "Still! Some of these people need therapy."
He scrolled further, watching more people debate whether his photo was AI-generated or not. Others were sharing his post across fan pages and meme pages.
Some users even started a fan thread titled "Is Handsome Boy Real or Just a Fever Dream?"
He couldn't help but laugh. "They think I'm AI. That's so dumb… but kinda flattering."
[Host, congratulations. You have completed a hidden task of the Social Media Growth Task: First Post Uploaded – Viral Engagement Achieved.]
[Hidden Task Reward Unlocked: Charisma +1 | Public Appeal Increased ]
"Oh? That's actually… pretty good," Ji Hyo muttered, checking his updated profile. "Looks like going viral really does help."
He checked his follower count.
23,482 followers
Ji Hyo's jaw slackened. "What?! That much already?!"
[Your visual impact exceeded projected metrics. Viral posts often accelerate follower acquisition.]
"Well damn," Ji Hyo leaned back, stretching his arms. "If this continues, I might actually complete the 100K goal before the week ends."
[Updated Progress: 1st Social Media Post ✔ | Current Followers: 23,482 / 100,000]
[Optional Bonus Triggered: Achieve 50K followers within 72 hours to unlock 'Social Media Influence' trait.]
Ji Hyo raised a brow. "Now that sounds like a real bonus…"
He chuckled to himself, amused by the unexpected progress. The compliments were still absurd, and the vulgar comments were eye-popping, but at least it meant he was gaining traction.
And if he wanted to pave his own path now, every bit of traction mattered.
"Well," he sighed with a smirk, "I guess I'm officially a thirst trap now."
[Correction: You are a rising idol trainee with statistically improbable facial ratios.]
"…Yeah, okay. Let me just go with 'thirst trap'—it's easier to digest."
[Suit yourself.]
Still chuckling, Ji Hyo set his phone down and looked out the window. The sun was still high, and the day was far from over.
But as Ji Hyo stared at the skyrocketing follower count and the overwhelming thirst comments, a strange thought passed through his mind.
"…But if I look this good, why don't people notice me more often in real life?"
He furrowed his brows. It was true. Despite his face practically being a divine sculpture, people barely reacted when he passed by. Sure, some stared for a few seconds—but there were no screaming fangirls, no swooning reactions, no heads turning the way you'd expect for someone with S-tier visuals.
"Seriously… do I have some kind of invisibility curse or what?"
The system responded almost immediately.
[Explanation: Despite your high visual score, Host's 'Presence' trait had not yet been activated.]
"Huh?"
[Public Appeal unlocked. Converting to Idol Trait classification.]
[New Trait Gained: Presence – A+]
Ji Hyo blinked at the sudden notification. "Presence…? What's that supposed to mean? Isn't that the same thing as stage presence?"
[Incorrect. Presence and Stage Presence are fundamentally different.]
The system's voice took on its usual lecture-like tone.
[Presence refers to your innate ability to stand out and draw attention—consciously or unconsciously—even when you're not performing. It's the magnetic aura that makes people turn their heads when you walk into a room, the inexplicable pull that draws eyes toward you in a crowd.]
[Stage Presence, on the other hand, activates during performances. It enhances your command over an audience while on stage.]
"Ahh… so Presence is like… real-life visual gravity?"
[Precisely. It's what makes someone unforgettable even without doing anything at all.]
Ji Hyo leaned back in his chair, tapping his chin. "Okay… then how's it different from charisma?"
[Charisma affects how people perceive your personality and behavior—it's about charm, confidence, and social impact. You can have high charisma and still blend in visually. But Presence is purely the aura—how much you naturally stand out.]
[To summarize: Presence = Your visual aura. Charisma = Your behavioral allure. Stage Presence = Your performance impact.]
"Damn…" Ji Hyo muttered. "So I was basically a god-level statue… hidden in a corner with no spotlight?"
[Yes. Like a museum masterpiece placed in a grocery aisle.]
"…You're really savage for a system."
[System specializes in brutal honesty.]
Ji Hyo sighed but smiled. "Still, this is actually good. With Presence now activated, people will actually notice me without me doing anything?"
[Correct. You will attract more natural attention in daily interactions, social media posts, and even casual street encounters.]
"Guess I'll need to start wearing a mask in public now."
[Too late. You've already gone viral.]
Ji Hyo chuckled again. But deep inside, he was relieved. Now it made sense why people treated him normally despite his visuals—he wasn't emitting that attention-drawing aura yet. But now? That had changed.
Presence: A+.
This was a real game-changer.
And if he was going to chase stardom without a company backing him anymore, he needed every advantage he could get.
He stared at his reflection in the kitchen glass cabinet for a moment, smirking to himself.
"Alright then… bring it on, world. Let's see if you can ignore me now."