Ch.55Ten Million Conditions

# What are the benefits of regression?

Honestly, there would be countless benefits.

If I had to pick something trivial among those types:

‘It’s being able to conquer The Great Adventure of the Platypus during its prime.’

Easily beating games that couldn’t be conquered with a child’s physical abilities.

Like defeating the final skateboarding boss with a gun in the game <Me and Dad>,

Or helping a child escape from a room after being captured by aliens,

Or ensuring a sleepwalking man returns home safely without waking up,

Or helping a ninja with a baseball bat successfully create a golden baseball statue.

Games that can’t be beaten without guides.

Or games so difficult you’d give up even with infinite coins.

All of them easily solved with an adult’s physical abilities.

‘Easy.’

After experiencing nostalgia from the past several times,

I suddenly checked the calendar to confirm my schedule.

‘Special meeting tomorrow, huh.’

I don’t know how the timing overlapped so coincidentally.

After conducting the Brilliant special meeting on Saturday,

The release of <Endless Frontline> was the very next Thursday.

Originally, there wouldn’t be many promotional methods available in this era,

Making marketing quite challenging.

But to have an event where actors meet fans right before the movie release…

It was literally impossible for the promotion not to work.

Perhaps audiences curious about <Endless Frontline> would be even more excited.

A chance to meet the actors before the stage greeting? Everyone would want to come.

‘According to the president, about 50,000 people applied.’

The fact they narrowed down that number was even more impressive.

‘Is this becoming a movie promotion event rather than a uniform event?’

Just as I was thinking that.

>Donghu, I got into the special meeting too.

>Let’s meet there, I’ll bring something delicious.

>Are you sticking to your diet these days? It’s good to consume protein about 1.5x your body weight.

A KakaoTalk message arrived from Master Paek Sangha.

‘What, he got in too?’

First the High Dream concert,

And now this.

Our master’s luck with draws was extraordinary.

++++++

On the day of the Brilliant uniform special meeting,

President Han Seongmun laughed in disbelief at the scene before him.

“Is this really the scale for a uniform event?”

After increasing the original capacity of about 20 people to more than double with 45 seats,

What would have been a casual conversation venue had transformed into something like an idol fan meeting.

“We didn’t expect it to be like this either, but honestly, it would be disappointing if the scale wasn’t this big.”

President Han Seongmun nodded at his subordinate’s words.

“That’s true.”

Kim Donghu, the person who made reclaiming the industry’s top position a reality rather than a dream,

And made such a successful event possible.

To express gratitude to him,

This level of preparation wasn’t too much.

“Since this is our first event like this, I’m worried we might make mistakes…?”

He was concerned about making errors and facing criticism.

We need to do our best to successfully complete the event.

Just as he was thinking this.

Thump, thump.

“…?”

Someone could be seen approaching from a distance.

A shark-like appearance with a fierce expression that suggested he might have killed someone.

Though just walking normally, he naturally created an intimidating atmosphere.

‘W-what is this?’

Why would such a person come to a uniform event?

As fear of the unknown filled his head,

Just as he was about to call security to prevent the event from being ruined,

“Is this the Brilliant special meeting venue?”

“Y-yes? Yes, yes.”

The boisterous shark-man’s words snapped him back to reality.

“Ah, I’m number 1, so I just arrived early. Did I come too early?”

At the same time, he presented an invitation with the number 1 written on it.

‘…What? He’s actually coming to our event?’

Why would someone like this buy our uniform?

Though confused, everyone responded with smiles since he was a valued customer.

Simultaneously, one thought crossed everyone’s mind:

With this person here, we don’t need to worry about any terrorist attacks.

In fact,

As if to prove that thought,

Even as the event time approached and more people gathered,

Everyone obediently followed instructions, subdued by the shark-like man’s presence.

Thus, 30 minutes before the event was scheduled to begin.

Grab!

“Honey, you’ve become popular, huh?”

In the waiting room where no one could see, Ryu Jaerin hugged Kim Donghu tightly again.

“What if someone sees us?”

“Who would see? Who would dare enter the models’ waiting room?”

“The managers…?”

“I came alone without a manager.”

That’s how trainees usually are.

At Ryu Jaerin’s casual remark, Kim Donghu awkwardly scratched his head.

To think this kid would later become a globally famous idol.

People’s futures are truly unpredictable.

“Why didn’t you invite me to the VIP preview?”

“…Because only related personnel could attend?”

“Isn’t our relationship sufficient?”

“A kindergarten classmate who’s an idol trainee, and actually doing uniform modeling together with you?”

“Hmm… I wonder?”

Ryu Jaerin deliberately evaded answering and looked up at Kim Donghu.

After staring with bright, Puss in Boots-like eyes for a few moments,

As soon as she confirmed Kim Donghu was embarrassed, she stepped back two paces.

Being bold was important, but

Occasionally pulling back after pushing was also key.

Ryu Jaerin checked her watch with a faint smile.

“I’ll stop here for today, it’s not like this is the end anyway.”

What do you mean you’ll stop here?

Answering Kim Donghu’s questioning look with a smile,

Ryu Jaerin quickly slipped out of the waiting room.

Since most people at the event came to see Kim Donghu anyway,

She needed to make her presence known first to avoid being completely overshadowed.

“Hello, I’m Ryu Jaerin!”

After her greeting, she received cold stares.

“…”

It was an expected reaction.

As an idol trainee with zero recognition, what kind of welcome could she expect?

Just as she thought that.

Clap, clap, clap!

As soon as the shark-like man started clapping loudly.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!

Applause suddenly erupted in succession.

‘Is he ruling through fear?’

Just as Ryu Jaerin was dumbfounded.

“Hello, I’m Kim Donghu.”

Wooooooah!

Cheers and shouts erupted for Kim Donghu who appeared leisurely.

President Han Seongmun watched contentedly from behind,

‘When renewing the contract next year, I’ll secure him no matter the cost.’

He silently vowed to become the president responsible for all the uniforms actor Kim Donghu would wear in the future.

“We sincerely welcome everyone to the Brilliant special meeting. Due to time constraints, we’ll skip the small details! Let’s see the two-shot!”

As if carrying on that determination,

The host smoothly conducted the event.

Everyone was indifferent when the uniforms were introduced and showcased.

But when the long-awaited fan meeting time came, fans fidgeted in their seats.

They all wanted to quickly go and exchange a few words with Kim Donghu.

Although the conversation would last at most about a minute,

The mere possibility was something to be grateful for.

“Now it’s the fan meeting time everyone’s been waiting for! Please line up in order, one by one, in an orderly fashion! Thank you!”

“Yes!”

The fan meeting proceeded amid enthusiastic cheers.

Kim Donghu was surprised from the start.

“…Master, you really came?”

“Would I come falsely? I’m here to see our Donghu, I had to come for real.”

“Um… that… be happy?”

“Donghu, I don’t ask for much. Just like before, let’s run 10km daily, that’s fine, right?”

“…”

You came to the special meeting just to say that?

You could have said that through KakaoTalk anytime?

Facing such madness, Kim Donghu momentarily felt dizzy.

+++++

The following Thursday after the successful Brilliant special meeting,

Which was too exhausting to even talk about:

“I’m sorry, customer, tickets cannot be purchased on-site at the moment.”

“Are there really no tickets available?”

“No, ah… there’s one A-section seat on the far left for next Monday at 6:30 AM, would you like me to help you book it?”

“…No, that seat is not okay.”

Theater employees couldn’t keep up with the flood of people.

They knew <Endless Frontline> was well-promoted and popular, but not to this extent.

Dealing with people all day,

And dying from popping popcorn.

‘I chose the wrong place to work.’

‘I really want to beat up my past self.’

‘There’s always a reason places don’t pay minimum wage, why was I tempted by money?’

It was especially bad since this theater was scheduled for the <Endless Frontline> stage greeting.

While frantically dealing with customers:

“You’re all working hard. I brought some hamburgers, please take turns eating them.”

Someone wearing a hat and mask pulled low suddenly extended food toward the counter.

“…Y-yes?”

The momentary confusion didn’t last long.

The employee facing him froze the moment they saw his eyes.

‘K-K-K-K-K-K-Kim…!’

Someone so handsome that just seeing his eyes made you speechless.

Eyes like embedded galaxies that instantly captivated people.

“Th-thank youuuu….”

With the snack secretly provided by Kim Donghu,

Thud.

The employee’s legs gave out and they collapsed on the spot.

++++++

When discussing a film’s performance,

The first day’s audience metrics are crucial factors.

These figures roughly indicate whether a film will reach ten million viewers.

Thump, thump, thump.

In that sense,

Park Geumgang, CEO of Studio Geumgang, couldn’t believe the numbers she was seeing.

“I-is this really our movie?”

“Yes, I thought my jaw would drop too.”

Director Kang with his Guan Yu-like beard also seemed to lack a sense of reality,

Shaking his head and laughing helplessly.

“I think I’m going to be a director with a ten-million-viewer film, I’d like to receive congratulations in advance.”

“I-I’m also becoming the CEO of a production company with a ten-million film… I’d like congratulations too!”

<Endless Frontline> opening day audience: approximately 500,000.

It was the moment the signal flare for a ten-million-viewer film was fired.