Damien inhaled deeply, placing Kang Yejin's business card carefully on the desk beside his bed, handling it carefully like a delicate piece of evidence. The crazy look moments ago was replaced with sudden contemplation. With a sigh, he shifted and leaned back comfortably against the soft pillows piled at his headboard.
"Okay..." he murmured, tracing his fingertips absentmindedly across his lower lip, eyes distant with thought. "Let's figure out exactly what's happened so far."
Damien closed his eyes.
He let memories flood back, sorting through the missions he'd completed. He recalled clearly—the first task mission had focused on mending strained relationships within the Hertz family, bringing everyone closer. The second involved redirecting Johann's dangerous obsession, ultimately preventing a potential crisis that could have severely harmed the family.
Yet, the connection between these tasks and his new idol mission felt puzzlingly distant. How exactly did stabilizing family bonds and calming Johann's emotions contribute to his journey into the entertainment world? Weren't these missions supposed to directly impact his ultimate goal?
And the rewards given... Wasn't this turning more and more like a game?
"System," he called out quietly but firmly. "Can I see my stat screen?"
Instantly, a familiar holographic interface materialized in front of of him, illuminating the room with a soft blue hue.
[Accessing Status Screen]
Damien squinted as he carefully studied the detailed information displayed:
[Name: Damien Hertz (Alias: Yeong Myeongho)]
[Age: 16]
[Gender: Male-Alpha]
[Physical Condition: Excellent]
[Group: TBA]
[Agency: TBA]
[Mission Progress: 0%]
[Base Attributes (Ratings)]
Vocal: C+
Dance: C
Rap: F-
Charm: A+
Visual: S
Stamina: C+
Artistry: A+
Fame: D- (Notable in a tight social circle only)
[Special Skills]
Reactive Acting: Boosts performance when acting. 50% increase in mastery of expression and control of complex roles.
I'm Good at Everything!: Improves proficiency and learning in various skills.
Unshakable Resolve: Reduces self-doubt and anxiety. Enhances endurance through physical and emotional discomfort.
Old Money Upbringing: Slight increase in elegance and aura. Gives 10% increase in negotiation and sponsorship probability.
Language Expert: Enhanced linguistic ability and comprehension across multiple languages.
Special Host: Access to the system and its support, shop functions and triggered events.
Damien clicked his tongue thoughtfully. "Well, my vocals and dancing are decent—thank goodness. However, my rap... Well, I have never rapped before so it makes sense. I guess I have to work on that..."
He skimmed through his skills once more, interest building in his gaze. "And these skills are quite interesting... Especially the language expert skill. No wonder I could understand German without ever having to learn it. I wonder if I got these skills as soon as I transmigrated?"
He swiped to dismiss the screen, gesturing casually with his hand. "Now, let's see what's in shop."
[Accessing System Shop...]
The hologram flickered, revealing neatly categorized tabs filled with various items and skills. Damien browsed quickly, his eyes widening slightly at the range of unlocked offerings. He also noticed that the previously simple set up of the shop had expanded.
Across the top, the tabs were neatly labeled:
[Attributes]
[Skills]
[Items]
Beneath these main categories, additional sub-tabs now clearly appeared. Under skills were:
[Permanent Skills]
[Temporary Boosts]
Under items were:
[Performance Items]
[Social Items]
[Miscellaneous Items]
Intrigued, Damien tapped on [Permanent Skills] first, and the screen smoothly shifted:
[Poker Face (Permanent)]
> No matter what you feel, always maintain a calm and cool look!
> 300 Points
"Useful," he mused, then moved to the [Temporary Boosts] tab:
[Dance Prodigy Boost (Temporary)]
> Become a flawless dancer! Wow others with your moves!
> Lasts a month
> 500 Points
[Stage Presence Amplifier (Temporary)
> Own the stage! Make everyone aware and in awe of the group and your own presence!
> Lasts during one performance
> 500 Points
Damien frowned slightly. "Great effects, but temporary…"
"System," he asked cautiously, "how many points do I currently have?"
[Current Balance: 200 Points]
"..."
I can't even buy anything!
Damien stared blankly at the holographic number, his eyes widening slowly in disbelief. "Two hundred points? Seriously?"
He slumped back heavily against his pillows, exhaling loudly. Didn't he have eight hundred points? How had he burned through so much without even realizing it?
The system chimed gently, as if sensing his confusion.
System: [Host, task missions are rated from A to F based on performance. Both missions you've completed were rated C, each providing 400 points.]
Damien groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "Only C-rank? Why so low? I thought I did pretty well…"
System: [Think carefully, host. During your missions, Lukas contributed significantly. The missions weren't entirely your own effort.]
Damien's mouth snapped shut as realization settled over him.
It's true...
The system had a point—his first task mission practically resolved itself, and Lukas had undeniably played a crucial role. After he collapsed from the rain, he literally woke up the next morning wondering why his mission was complete.
System: [To achieve a higher rating and earn more points, you must proactively handle missions yourself. Additionally, you've spent points on various purchases, reducing your total.]
"..."
Damien didn't know whether he should laugh or cry.
System: [To remind the host, you've purchased eight specialized notebooks at 50 points each, totalling 400 points. Additionally, you've spent 200 points on various high-quality paints and inks. Thus, only 200 points remain.]
"Alright," Damien admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, in my defense, those paints were exceptional—and they refilled themselves! That was practical!"
When the system did not respond, he could only shut his mouth.
"..."
"Is there anything I can even buy?"
System: [The host can purchase most of the items in the items tab.]
The screen shifted smoothly. Under [Performance Items], amusing and practical choices appeared:
[Heart Detector Glasses]
> Check the affection percentage of others.
> 100 Points
[Instant Costume Change Spray]
> Instantly changes outfit and ideal for stage emergencies.
> 50 Points
[Voice Modulator Gum]
> Temporarily modifies your voice pitch.
> 50 Points
Damien chuckled softly. "Some of these are ridiculous."
Moving quickly to the attributes tab, Damien noted the displayed offerings:
[Group Synergy]
> Buff performance when in synchronized teamwork.
> 100 Points
[Choreography Retention]
> Accurately learn new routines. Affects rehearsal efficiency.
> 200 Points
[Leadership]
> Boosts group cohesion, decision-making, and team-based missions.
> 250 Points
[Live Consistency]
> Ability to perform just as well (or better) live compared to recordings. Boosts concert success.
> 250 Points
"Now these look promising," Damien murmured appreciatively. "I definitely need most of these if I want to survive being an idol."
The system helpfully interjected:
System: [To let the host know, bought attributes start at F. To increase the attribute rating, you can put in a specific amount of points.]
"Oh?"
System: [Each rating has a minus and a plus. To increase a level in the F category, it costs 50 points; E costs 100 points; D costs 150; C costs 200 points; B costs 250; A costs 300, and lastly S costs 400 experience points.]
"Wait so let me get this straight. For example, if I want to increase my attributes from S- to S+, it'll cost me 1200 experience points?"
The system bounced happily.
System: [Yes, that's right host!]
He exhaled slowly, leaning forward with elbows on knees, chin resting thoughtfully on interlaced fingers.
"...And to get from F to S+, it'll cost more than 4000 points." Damien's jaw dropped slightly. "That's absurdly expensive. And I barely gotten any task missions. It wont be good to have too much attributes if I can't level them up to a good grade."
Under [Social Items], the options seemed equally useful yet slightly ominous:
[Social Media Reputation Boost (Minor)]
> Temporarily improves online presence.
> 150 Points
[Scandal Shield (Single Use)]
> Protects the user from a single scandal.
> 350 Points
Damien laughed incredulously. "A Scandal Shield? System, do you really think I'd be involved in a scandal?"
System: [Host, given that most entertainment personas get into scandals, you can never be too careful. Also, given your family's prominence... It is advisable to anticipate possible complications.]
"Point taken," Damien acknowledged. Finally, he glanced at the [Miscellaneous Items] tab:
[Professional Networking Badge]
> Enhances your networking effectiveness when worn.
> 300 Points
[Sleep Efficiency Boost]
> A vial that improves quality and efficiency of sleep.
> 100 Points
Damien laughed aloud at the final option. "Sleep Efficiency Boost? That actually sounds useful."
After careful consideration, Damien shook his head decisively. "I'll save these points for now."
He waved away the hologram, collapsing onto his bed with a groan. "I should sleep before I actually lose my mind. Tomorrow, I'll plan properly."
The system interjected politely:
System: [Would you reconsider the Sleep Efficiency Boost, host? You could sleep better immediately.]
Damien chuckled lightly, shaking his head as he nestled into his pillows. "No, thanks. I'll manage for now."
Closing his eyes, Damien felt his thoughts slowly settling, finally leaving the chaos for tomorrow.