I’m a Genius Idol but my Passive is Sunfish Chapter 1

“You’re destined to be a celebrity.”

 

A fortune teller’s shop in Myeongdong.

 

He was drawn in by a flyer that read <Forbes’ Top 3 Fortune Tellers in the World>.

 

It felt professional when they asked for his date and time of birth, but now, all he could think was that he had wasted my money.

 

“You’ve got peach blossom energy too.”

 

“Peach blossom, as in peach blossom luck? Me?”

 

“Yes! And a very, very powerful one at that!”

 

No wonder. It’d been suspicious from the moment she said the fee was prepaid.

 

“Ah… is that so?”

 

Baekya (Reserve Forces/21/Just discharged) pretended to adjust his glasses and subtly glared at the fortune teller in front of him.

 

‘Scammer.’

 

Then their eyes met, and he felt a pang of guilt for no reason. He hurriedly lowered his head—only for her to suddenly slam the table, making him jerk his head back up.

 

“You have the fortune to become a dol-ai!”

 

She must mean idol…

 

It was then that Baekya was certain.

 

‘I’ve been played.’

 

The world he’d returned to after 21 months wasn’t kind.

 

***

 

“I should have just bought chicken with that money.”

 

Baekya checked the time as he left the fortune teller’s shop.

 

‘Has it even been 5 minutes since I went in…?’

 

Thinking that he had spent 10,000 won per minute, a sigh escaped him automatically. It was, without a doubt, his dumbest expense of the year.

 

But wasn’t Forbes a fairly reputable foreign business magazine? Guess that was all in the past now.

 

A bitter taste filled his mouth.

 

In the army, it was easy because all you had to do was what you were told. But now that he was back in civilian life, it felt like he’d been dropped right into the middle of a battlefield.

 

‘Could this be what they call being army-material…?’

 

That didn’t sound great.

 

Baekya’s face darkened rapidly. Even though he had volunteered, it was only a second best choice because he didn’t have anything he wanted to do. Besides, it wasn’t a place he’d want to stay for long.

 

‘Anyway, what am I going to do for a living now…’

 

His friends had already decided their career paths in their senior year of high school. He was the only one who still hadn’t decided.

 

Baekya idly thought that maybe he should’ve gotten his fortune read earlier.

 

“Not just anyone can be an idol…”

 

In fact, if he had been just two years younger, he might have given it a try out of youthful bravado. After all, wasn’t he known among his friends as a decent singer? Baekya found himself mulling over the fortune teller’s words without realizing it.

 

However, the current Korean idol market was already saturated. Even the 3rd generation, which was at its peak, had an average trainee period of 6 years.

 

On top of that, the steadily decreasing average age had pushed the debut-age cutoff even lower…

 

‘It’s probably too late now, right?’

 

But they say the best time is when you think you’re late. With a strange surge of confidence, Baekya took out his phone.

 

When he turned on the screen, it was filled with messages from his friends.

 

[Shin Jaehyun: I can’t believe Baekya’s already dischargedㅠㅠ You worked hard!]

[Kim Yookyung: Escaping the island lol]

[Kim Yookyung: It’s good to be an early birth, isn’t it~? Discharged from the army at 21, is this for real? lol]

[Shin Jaehyun: 7 PM at Hongdae today, right?]

 

The two of them had insisted on dragging him out to celebrate his discharge. Checking the messages, Baekya smiled warmly.

 

‘Come to think of it, it’s about time for these guys to enlist soon.’

 

I’ll have to tease them when I see them.

 

[Me: Yeah! See you later]

 

After sending a cheerful reply, Baekya pressed the portal site app. He checked his surroundings for a moment, then his fingers quickly tapped the keypad.

 

[How to become an idol]

 

It was a chance to consult the collective wisdom of the internet. Even with a rough search, results poured in.

 

Baekya tapped the top post. It was the latest one, uploaded just yesterday.

 

===========================

[Question] How to become an idol like AIMㅠㅠ (Urgent)

I’m a 5th grade boy whose dream is to be an idol. I’d like some advice..!

1. I’m 155 cm tall and weigh 42 kg, but I’ll grow taller, so that’s okay, right?
2. My looks are average to a tiiiny bit handsome.
3. I can sing most of AIM’s songs. But I’ve never learned to dance, so I’m not sure… but I feel like I’d be good at it.
4. That’s all. Please give me some answers.

===========================

 

There were four comments.

 

– By AIM, you mean the most popular boy group these days, right! In that case, wouldn’t it be better to be in the same agency? ID Entertainment holds open auditions every Saturday, so it might be a good idea to check it out. (Please choose as best answer^^)

– If you’re handsome, go to ID. If you’re talented, go to US. If you’re good at rap, go to a HIGHTICK audition.

– If you’re a tiiiny bit handsome, I think ID will be hardㅠ (They’re famous for being very strict about looks) Instead, I recommend HIGHTICK since they don’t look at appearances^^ And you seem confident in your skills~

– You don’t need anything else. Idol = handsome. Then they’ll come scout you themselves.

 

But as he looked, there was one thing that was consistently mentioned. Appearance. Baekya looked at his reflection in the subway screen door.

 

A buzz cut that had just started to grow, thick horn-rimmed glasses, and skin that had been tanned black during his military service.

 

“Hmm…”

 

It was a dirty world.

 

There was an insurmountable mountain called appearance standing in Baekya’s way.

 

“Yeah. Get a grip, Han Baekya. An idol, seriously?”

 

Baekya shook his head hard to shake off the thoughts. He’d almost created a lifelong cringe memory by getting swept up in a fortune teller’s words.

 

Just then, a comment was posted in real-time. It was an ad for an idol-raising game.

 

– (๑و•̀ω•́)و A chance to turn your life around! I want to be an idol! Surviving as a Genius Idol ▶ Download now new

 

‘Are they telling me to just play a game since it’s probably hard to become an idol in real life? People are so mean.’

 

Moreover, the timing felt strange, as if it was directed at him. In a fit of anger, Baekya clicked the link.

 

‘Who do you think you are!’

 

The download proceeded, connecting directly to the app store. In the game’s description were flashy ads featuring an idol group as the models.

 

“Wow… Are we even the same species?”

 

They were seriously handsome.

 

They were faces he’d seen a few times back-to-back with popular girl groups while in the army.

 

‘Was their name Daisy? Dayz? I think it was a pretty common name.’

 

The boy group that ID Entertainment had launched 8 years after AIM. However, they were also a group that was called a ‘flop idol’ because of their lower-than-expected results.

 

[<Surviving as a Genius Idol> is an idol-raising game.

The future of the group will change depending on your skills. Challenge yourself to become a genius idol with the star points you earn through quests~!

Now, let’s survive! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و]

 

The game’s introduction was grandiose.

 

With an awkward smile, Baekya now looked at the ratings and reviews.

 

[Everything’s fine except no matter what you do, you die ★]

[Our kids are pretty ★★★★★]

[I diligently raised the sunfish, but it died 100 times, so I gave up ★]

[The epitome of a trash luck-based game ★]

[Is there anyone who has seen an ending other than dying? ★]

 

The rating said it all. The reviews were brutally honest.

 

“From the looks of it, people are mad about the endings.”

 

Died because of debut failure. Died from stress. Died after being embroiled in a rumor. Died in a car accident while avoiding a sasaeng fan. Died in a concert hall accident. They died for a truly diverse range of reasons.

 

One review called it ‘raising a sunfish,’ and there was truly no sunfish like this. They really meant ‘surviving’ in a literal sense. It felt like a waste of data.

 

Baekya reflected on himself from just a few minutes ago. Then he was about to press cancel download, when the phone screen switched and a flashy graphic appeared.

 

The download had completed in the meantime.

 

[Please enter your stage name.]

 

“What? There’s no exit button on this?”

 

He pressed the home button several times to exit the game, but nothing happened. It was probably stuck in tutorial mode…

 

After thinking for a moment, Baekya decided to just play the game until an exit button appeared.

 

▶ Stage Name: Baekya

 

When he pressed confirm, a guide message appeared at the bottom, saying that synchronization was in progress.

 

[Synchronizing <Baekya>.]

 

‘Wasn’t there a review earlier asking for better linking…?’

 

[64%]

[82%]

[…99%]

 

And then it was darkness.

 

***

 

“Baekya. Han Baekya!”

 

His shoulder was shaken roughly. Baekya let out a groan and pushed himself up from where he had been lying face down.

 

“Ugh…”

 

His head felt like it was going to split, and his hand automatically went to his forehead.

 

“Get a grip now.”

 

“Can’t you take your glasses off when you sleep? Anyone would think you’d die if you took them off.”

 

Voices that were no different from his school days reached his ears. It was Jaehyun and Yookyung.

 

‘Did I come straight to Hongdae? I’m pretty sure my last memory was getting on the subway…’

 

Slowly opening his eyes, Baekya looked ahead. And then, an unimaginable development unfolded.

 

“Wh-what, what is this?!”

 

Crash!

 

All he did was stand up, yet the chair flew back with a loud clatter. His sudden outburst startled the two standing nearby as well.

 

“Y-you crazy bastard! You scared me!”

 

“Wow… I almost had a heart attack. Your sleep-talking is something else.”

 

When he opened his eyes, he was at school, and he was wearing a school uniform.

 

‘High school? What is this? A dream?’

 

But for a dream, it felt far too vivid. His senses were unbelievably sharp.

 

However, it seemed the two of them had no intention of waiting for him any longer. At the sight of Baekya, who looked even more foolish today, they grabbed his wrist and forcefully dragged him away.

 

Where to? To Jjang-manna Bunsik.

 

“Wh-where are we going?”

 

“This kid is exceptionally stupid today. Are you sick?”

 

“I said I’d treat you to tteokbokki today. You were the one who said today was definitely a bunsik day.”

 

Jaehyun laughed, patting Baekya’s back.

 

“Hey, judging by how out of it he is, he probably won’t eat much.”

 

At that, Yookyung clenched his fist and shouted ‘Nice’, not forgetting to declare that anything Baekya didn’t finish would be his.

 

However, the inside of the bunsik restaurant they arrived at was already full.

 

After a brief moment of chiding that it was because Baekya had been dawdling, the three of them stood in a line in front of the food stall.

 

“Three tteokbokki, two assorted fried foods, and one sundae and one tonkatsu, please.”

 

At Jaehyun’s well-organized order, Yookyung clapped. A paper cup filled with odeng broth was already in his mouth.

 

“Pfft.”

 

At that sight, Baekya was certain that this was a dream.

 

‘He burns his lips badly doing that, and after that he never pulls this stunt again.’

 

Feeling much more at ease, Baekya looked at Jaehyun and said.

 

“Can I have a Pi-X-chu?”

 

“Oh ho. Are you finally coming to your senses? Sure. Eat a lot.”

 

As soon as he said it, a seasoned Pi-X-chu was placed in front of him. It was a little disappointing that he couldn’t taste it since it was a dream.

 

Baekya thought that he should really come here once when he woke up from the dream, and took a big bite.

 

Just then, a white status window appeared before his eyes.

 

[Synchronization gift has arrived!]

▶ Confirm

 

“…Huh?”

 

Startled, Baekya took a step back. The Pi-X-chu in his mouth fell to the floor.

 

It was an unbelievable situation, even as he was seeing it. In the midst of it all, the words in front of his eyes changed once more.

 

[Exclusive title acquired! <Genius Idol>]

[Skill Draw (5 times)]

▶ Basic Skill Draw (Free)

 

As the gift box opened, confetti burst out.

 

“…Draw?”

 

He muttered without thinking. But the system interpreted Baekya’s behavior as acceptance and immediately proceeded with the draw.

 

[Skill acquired!]

[<Sunfish(R)>, <3 Kkangs a Day(A)>, <When the Nerd Takes Off His Glasses(B)>, <Courtship Dance(D)>

※ All skills obtained while slots are empty are automatically equipped.]

▶ Confirm

ㅤㅤAdditional Skill Draw (5 times)

 

“Wh-what is this?”

 

Baekya shouted at the status window. His face looked as if he had seen a ghost. However, it looked a little different to Jaehyun and Yookyung.

 

“…Are you crazy?”

 

“K-Kim Yookyung. Hey, you guys can’t see this? This skill thing!”

 

Baekya pointed at the empty air and looked back and forth between the two of them.

 

“…Skill?”

 

Jaehyun, with a fork in his mouth, looked at Baekya like he was strange.

 

Baekya, who couldn’t be unaware of it, took off his glasses and rubbed them frantically on his school uniform shirt. Something was definitely on his glasses.

 

But before he could even finish wiping his glasses, his face was lifted up by a strong grip.

 

“What’s this. Who are you?”

 

“Uh, huh?”

 

Yookyung’s gaze was unusual.

 

“It’s Han Baekya, who else would I be?”

 

Flustered, Baekya shook off Yookyung’s arm. Then, this time, Jaehyun grabbed Baekya’s cheeks.

 

“Hey. Why do you even wear glasses?”

 

Shin Jaehyun, you too?

 

With his glasses off, his friends and the surroundings looked blurry.

 

“What are you guys talking about? Obviously because my eyesight is bad…”

 

But even in this situation, the status window was clearly visible. Everything else was blurry, but only the status window was clear.

 

A confusing space. He had a strong feeling that it would probably stay there until he chose an option.

 

Pretending to put his glasses back on, he subtly moved his finger over ‘Confirm,’ and the status window disappeared.

 

However, he couldn’t achieve his original goal. Because Yookyung, who had grabbed his wrist, snatched his glasses again.

 

“This bastard is super handsome!”

 

Even without seeing, he could tell. That all eyes within a 50-meter radius were focused on him.

 

“Wh-what are you talking about, you crazy bastard? Just eat your tteokbokki!”

 

Shaking off Yookyung’s hand, Baekya quickly put on his glasses. Then, head lowered, he started devouring his piXchu like he was in battle. The glances thrown his way made his face feel like it was about to burst.

 

‘There really are all kinds of ways to mess with people.’

 

As Baekya was fuming, thinking that they were teasing him even in his dream, a man approached him.

 

“Excuse me, student. Do you go to school around here?”

 

“…I do?”

 

Baekya, who was tearing at his Pi-X-chu, lifted his head. Then a business card was held out in front of him.

 

“I happened to see you with your glasses off as I was passing by, but have you ever thought of becoming a celebrity?”

 

Is this the street casting I’ve only heard about? No, it could be a ‘Have you heard of our Lord and Savior’ situation.

 

His friends were in a state of super excitement, letting out suppressed, unintelligible screams.

 

“Woooooah!”

 

“Ooooh!”

 

“Haa…”

 

How embarrassing.

 

Baekya felt like he wanted to hide in a mouse hole. After subtly glaring at his friends, Baekya sighed and politely refused.

 

“I’m sorry. I’m not cut out for that.”

 

He knew his face without glasses better than anyone. A perfectly ordinary high school boy. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

However, the man didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down easily.

 

“Have you perhaps heard of ID Entertainment? It’s the agency with the idol group AIM.”

 

“I’ve heard of it. But my family doesn’t have money…”

 

“No! Our company does not ask for any financial compensation from our trainees. It’s 100% company-supported, and we’re planning a new boy group, so I’d really appreciate it if you could just come for an audition, even just for a look…”

 

It was at that moment, as the man was talking earnestly, that the status window that had disappeared reappeared.

 

[A new quest has arrived!]

[Q. I want to be an idol! (1): Accept the audition offer]

▶ Yes, I’ll give it a try.

ㅤㅤAn audition?

 

‘A quest?’

 

It felt like some kind of game.

 

This time, it seemed he had to choose one of the two, but as if it were a matter of course, there was no option to refuse.

 

‘The second option is probably the closest thing to a refusal.’

 

Without hesitation, Baekya chose the second one. Then the corresponding text flowed from his mouth.

 

“An audition?”

 

What is this?!

 

Flustered, Baekya covered his mouth with both hands and glared at the status window.

 

“Yes! You don’t need to think of it as difficult. You just need to do a simple song, dance, and a camera test.”

 

‘…How on earth is that simple?’

 

Baekya refused once more. The status window disappeared, and a look of disappointment was evident on the man’s face.

 

‘Did I do it?’

 

Just as he was looking at the man, feeling relieved, the status window appeared again, as if to mock him.

 

And Baekya made a decision. So what had he decided?

 

“Uh?! Look over there, an elephant!”

 

To run for it.

 

“W-wait a minute! Student!”

 

It was a sudden chase.

 

***

 

Baekya hid in a subway station bathroom.

 

At some point, the status window had been disappearing and reappearing, but now it was completely gone. It seemed he had successfully shaken off the man.

 

“Ugh.”

 

With intermittent waves of nausea, Baekya rinsed his mouth with cold water.

 

He thought his heart was going to pop out of his mouth, but after rinsing a few times, he calmed down a bit. Then, this time, the water droplets on his glasses obstructed his vision.

 

‘A dream can be this exhausting?’

 

Baekya thought as he took off his glasses. He felt like his real self was probably experiencing sleep paralysis.

 

“Why did I even go to a fortune teller…”

 

A rational suspicion that it was definitely because of that fortune teller’s shop arose.

 

I must have fallen asleep on the subway, I hope I don’t end up going to the last stop…

 

Baekya muttered and inadvertently lifted his head. Then he made eye contact with a handsome boy reflected in the mirror.

 

“…Huh?”

 

But something was strange. When he looked to the right, the boy looked to the right, and when he looked to the left, the boy looked to the left.

 

Is this like… a decalcomania of you and me?

 

“…No way.”

 

Baekya’s pupils wavered.

 

After checking several times that there was no one around, he gently raised his finger and poked the mirror.

 

And then, E.T. No, Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam unfolded before his eyes.

 

“This is me?!”

 

Even for a dream, there’s a limit to how much you can beautify someone, isn’t this too much!

 

It seemed the fortune teller’s words had been quite a shock to him.

 

“Super handsome!”

 

Well, it did feel good.

 

“Should I get plastic surgery to look like this when I wake up?”

 

No. In reality, there was the law of an unchangeable original. This was only possible because it was a nonsensical dream.

 

Pulling himself together, Baekya left the bathroom. What’s the point of looking at a face that’s not even mine, it’ll just make me long for it.

 

Anyway, because of that man, he hadn’t even been able to touch his tteokbokki and fried food.

 

“The Pi-X-chu was delicious…”

 

Smacking his lips, Baekya naturally went through the ticket gate.

 

‘Around this time, I would have been living with my sister.’

 

Looking at the subway map, Baekya headed for Apgujeong, where his sister would be.