Main Mission Start!

Damien stared up at the towering luxury apartment in Gangnam in awe. He exhaled slowly, feeling a strange mixture of awkwardness and apprehension. To his left, Yuri noticed his hesitance and gently squeezed his shoulder to support him.

"Don't be nervous, it'll be alright."

Damien gave a small smile.

The chauffeur opened the car door, bowing as they stepped out onto the pavement. Yuri led the way in a confident strut, followed by Damien, their shoes clicking rhythmically across the lobby floor.

System, I just realized you never told me anything about my grandparents before. How are they like?

System: [From the data, it seems they both really like you. The Yeong Family founded Medinova Tech, a company that manufactures and develops advanced medical equipment. In fact, host, they produce most of the advanced medical equipment all over the world.]

Damien fought the urge to groan aloud. F*ck why is everyone like this? No pressure at all, system... At least they like me, or else I really wouldn't know how to act.

They stepped into a private elevator. Yuri pressed a polished button to the penthouse where his grandparents stayed. The gentle hum of machinery enveloped them as they ascended.

Then the elevator doors parted silently, revealing an elegant foyer. Modern artworks adorned the walls—vibrant paintings, sculptures, porcelain vases. There was also a subtle fragrance of jasmine and polished wood, likely from an incense. From deeper within the room, there were soft murmurs and gentle laughter.

"Mother, Father," Yuri announced respectfully as they entered the main lounge area, "We've arrived."

Two elegantly dressed elders rose gracefully from the sofa. His grandmother, Yeong Hyejin, exuded warmth, her eyes crinkling at the edges. Her husband, Yeong Minho, stood beside her, dignified. His grey hair was neatly styled and his gaze was sharp but welcoming.

Damien instinctively bowed deeply. "Hello, grandmother, grandfather. It's wonderful to see you."

Hyejin approached him with sparkling eyes, gently cupping his cheek. "Oh, look at you! Look how big you've grown! You're even more handsome than Yuri described."

"He certainly takes after you, dear," Minho teased. Hyejin, hearing this, laughed softly.

"Come and sit," she encouraged warmly, guiding Damien to livingroom. Both Yuri and Damien sat down on the sofa.

...

As the afternoon continued, Damien found himself relaxing more deeply into their conversation. His grandmother told charming stories about Yuri's childhood, inciting soft laughter and teasing glances between mother and daughter. Damien watched, heartwarming with quiet joy, feeling genuinely welcomed despite his earlier tension.

Hours passed quickly, and soon it was evening. Before sunset, he wanted to wander around Seoul by himself. 

"Do you mind if I step out for a bit?" he asked softly.

Yuri had given him a knowing smile and whispered, "Only if you don't cause too much trouble."

Damien had rolled his eyes dramatically, knowing full well Yuri's teasing meant she trusted him implicitly. "I won't, Mother."

Minutes later, Damien breathed deeply as he merged into Seoul's bustling weekend streets. Walking alone through the city, he felt a refreshing sense of anonymity. He savored every step, blending seamlessly into the crowd of students, office workers, and casual shoppers. Since Damien inherited his mother's features, he just looked like another young teen strolling casually, only his emerald green eyes setting him apart.

Wearing a simple dark sweatshirt, jeans, and a plain black baseball cap pulled low, he looked around for places to eat. Right now, his growling stomach was the only thing guiding him, a nagging emptiness leading his steps.

Damien turned into a narrow alley bustling with food stalls and small restaurants. He stopped near a vendor offering an array of snacks, the mouthwatering scent drifting through the air—but it was the fish cakes that immediately drew him in.

"Ahjusshi*, a portion of fish cake please," Damien requested politely, smiling excitedly. The older man beamed back, quickly placing the broth and skewers in a cup and handing it to him.

"Enjoy, young man!" He said joyfully.

Damien nodded and stepped aside to taste the steaming snack. The umami flavor exploded in his mouth, perfectly balanced, wonderfully nostalgic. The long fish cake was fluffy in texture and was piping hot, which was perfect for the slightly cold evening. He hadn't realized just how much he missed authentic street food. Grinning to himself, he moved down the street, savoring each bite.

Wow... It's been so long. It's delicious! It's sad that you can't taste, system. I would've given some to you.

System: [...]

The system that floated by his side lost its happy bounce, slightly sad. However, it quickly recovered.

Meanwhile, Damien—who was lost in culinary delight—didn't notice the sharp-eyed woman watching him intently from a few stalls away. She was dressed in a stylish but professional way, her expression intense as she observed Damien with scrutiny.

Finished with his snack, Damien tossed the tray into a nearby bin and strolled onward. He barely made it a few steps when the woman appeared in front of him, causing him to stop abruptly, nearly crashing into her.

"W-What—"

"Excuse me," she spoke confidently, extending a sleek business card with both hands. "My name is Kang Yejin. I'm a casting director at Starlite Media."

Damien blinked in surprise, accepting the card carefully and examining it. 

Starlite Media? Is this a scout for some kind of entertainment company? 

The lady continued, "Our agency is scouting fresh talent—yes, people exactly like you. You're natural, unpolished, yet effortlessly charismatic. And that's precisely what we're looking for!"

Damien was taken aback and could only laugh stiffly, scratching the back of his neck. "I mean, that's flattering, but..."

Before he could finish, a familiar internal chime resonated clearly in his head.

[Ding!]

[Main Mission Assigned]

Damien froze mid-sentence, eyes widening comically. 

[Main Mission: Become the number one idol in the world!]

[Time Limit: None]

[Reward: Wish Granted]

[Failure: Permanent Death]

Hah? System, you're joking, right? Idol? Me? How is this... How does this even make sense!

System: [Host, congratulations for discovering the main mission! Would you like to activate the mission information?]

No! You're not answering my question!

Visibly concerned by his sudden silence, Yejin gently waved a hand in front of him. "Are you alright?"

"Oh, um, yes," Damien stammered, forcing a polite smile. "Just… processing your offer."

She nodded sympathetically, clearly accustomed to unusual reactions. "No pressure. If you ever want to take the chance of becoming a trainee, contact us!"

Damien hesitated, mind racing. Becoming an idol would spectacularly disrupt his family's secretive lifestyle. It would also mean dealing with thousands of screaming fans—a daunting thing to think about. Would his family even allow him to become an idol?

"Okay..." he suddenly blurted without thinking, then instantly regretted it.

Wait—did I just say yes?

Yejin smiled triumphantly. "Wonderful! I'll be waiting for your call."

As she walked away, Damien stood stunned, heart sinking faster than an anchor thrown in the sea. 

Then he turned his attention to his floating friend with a strong glare.

System, this mission better have a logical explanation! The original Damien wanted to be an idol? That's like finding out my super-serious father secretly dreams of becoming an influencer. Why did Damien, the heir of the huge Hertz conglomerate, want to become an idol!?

He felt his sanity slipping. And worse, he didn't know anything about idols nor anything about the entertainment industry. All he had done for the past sixteen years was worry about the Hertz family and the arts. He never payed attention to trends, social media topics—none of it. 

He was royally screwed.

System: [Host, I promise everything will become clear once you activate the mission information!]

"Great. Just great." Damien groaned aloud, drawing odd looks from pedestrians. "Just what I needed—another career change." He sighed, rubbing his temples as panic set in. He needed a plan. Fast.

After sixteen years of meandering around in this strange world, he'd finally found a direction.

Unfortunately, that direction involved the flashy and chaotic world of the entertainment industry—a direction he did not see coming nor was he prepared for.

But maybe it wasn't all doom and gloom. After all, for the first time in sixteen years, he had something resembling hope.

He might actually be able to go home.