Saying there were no objective indicators for achieving KPIs was like saying workplaces with five or more employees didn’t guarantee paid holidays on legal public holidays.
In other words, it was nonsense.
In that sense, it was also aningless for to be overly excited about raising my skill proficiency by 1 point on my own. Because I had nothing to compare it to.
If the goal was to debut with Spark, I needed to understand what level the other guys were at.
Moreover, if the intangible factors were shown as clear nurical values of skill proficiency?
Only a fool wouldn’t take advantage of this opportunity.
‘If it’s a trial access, maybe they’ll let view just one person’s profile.’
I had already decided whose resu I would view if I could see just one out of the five.
Soone in a vocal position, with no noticeable shortcomings, and an all-rounder in Spark, including self-managent aspects.
[SYSTEM] Would you like to view ‘Jeong Seongbin’s’ resu?
▶ Yes / No
It was Jeong Seongbin.
Then a resu in the sa format as mine appeared before my eyes.
Before reading the contents, I looked for any viewing ti limits or tirs, but there were none.
It seed my assumption that the number of people I could view was limited was correct.
[Spark’s Eternal Leader] Jeong Seongbin
Jeong Seongbin (18 years old)
Career History
– 4th place overall in February’s monthly evaluation
– 5th year trainee under UA
Performance Evaluation (100)
– Vocal proficiency: 12/20
– Dance proficiency: 8/20
– Self-PR: 7/20
– Attendance managent: 13/20
– Organizational adaptability: 11/20
The resu I finally got to see after a lot of hard work was shocking.
It was only natural that while I barely managed to get my vocal and dance proficiency sum into double digits using underhanded thods, Seongbin’s numbers were different from mine from the first digit.
However, it was a bit strange that Jeong Seongbin, who was much better at dancing than I was, had a dance proficiency score only three points higher than mine.
In this case, the answer was one of two things.
‘Either the density of skill built through actual effort is higher than the skill built through weak thods like mine, or there’s a big barrier between 6 and 8 points.’
If it was the latter, it was ti to start managing my vocal proficiency as well.
Another notable point was his organizational adaptability.
Jeong Seongbin’s adaptability was as high as his singing ability.
Considering his skill level was enough to make him the main vocalist even if he debuted elsewhere, it was possible to assu that his adaptability was also at a great level.
That was the level of adaptability needed to be the leader of Spark.
I ntally gave Seongbin a round of applause of respect. It was a realm that I, with my adaptability of 10, couldn’t even dream of reaching.
‘I should put my welfare points into vocals for the ti being.’
If a difference of about five points in proficiency didn’t cause significant issues, it seed right to start focusing on singing, considering my original goal of aiming for the sub-vocal position.
Sohow, I felt like I had beco a pitiful company employee obsessed with personnel evaluations for promotion.
* * *
The opportunity to practice singing in a new way ca sooner than expected.
Our manager brought us a guide recording task for a seasoned singer under UA.
“Seongbin will be doing the guide itself, but the Director suggested to let all of you take turns recording to gain experience.”
It was indeed a perk of being with a company that had its own recording studio.
Such an opportunity would be hard to co by in companies that have to book external studios by the hour.
Coincidentally, a new task appeared at just the right ti.
[SYSTEM] ‘New task’ has been assigned.
▷ Experience recording
▷ Reward: Exp (5)
‘5…’
Speaking of those exp points, an adjustnt was made as soon as I confird that my vocal proficiency had reached 6 points.
[SYSTEM] The obtainable experience points have been adjusted.
▷ Before: Basic exp 10
▷ After: Basic exp 5
▷ Special notes: When the performance evaluation score reaches 7 points, manual distribution of points will be restricted.
Now they made adjustnts without even providing a reason. Such a filthy system.
Moreover, It seed that from 7 points onwards, I wouldn’t be able to arbitrarily increase my proficiency.
Since I had no other choice, I’d have to do as told, but I hope they’d let rate the system soday.
You think you’re the only one who can give scores? I can give them too. I’m a mber of Job Planet, you know.
Anyway, in order to get even a small, pitiful 5 points of experience, I had to focus on recording the guide right now.
‘It’s nice and there’s no pressure.’
The job itself didn’t demand high perfection, and the completion criterion for the task was just ‘experience’, so there was almost no pressure.
Still, I wanted to gain sothing. I didn’t want to waste my ti just to earn a few experience points. We had co all the way to the recording studio, after all.
I asked Park Joowoo, who seed as relaxed as , instead of Seongbin who needed to concentrate on performing his main job.
“Has Seongbin been doing guide recordings for long?”
“Probably. …As far as I know, about 2 years.”
“He’s a talent, a real talent.”
Then Lee Cheonghyeon interjected.
“I think Seongbin hyung has always done the guides for Junhoo sunbaenim’s songs.”
“I see.”
I also knew Jang Junhoo. He was a ballad singer who rose to fa after his debut song beca a huge hit.
‘Judging by the range and tone, it does feel sowhat similar.’
The song we were given to practice this ti was also a traditional ballad.
Personally, it wasn’t as impressive as the debut song. Considering that I couldn’t rember it well, it might not have been a hit.
The song itself wasn’t difficult, possibly because it aid for easy listening.
Whether it was due to that or his own ability, Seongbin’s guide recording went smoothly without any issues.
The rest of the mbers also sang well during their turns.
Even Choi Jeho and Kang Kiyeon, who didn’t specialize in singing, showed decent vocal skills, thanks to years of training at UA.
I too finished my first-ever recording, making the most of my vocal proficiency of 6.
“Iwol, you’re not very nervous even though it’s your first ti recording?”
“And you didn’t go off-key either. You did well for a beginner! You can co out now!”
It seed UA’s unique shower of praise for beginners continued even in the recording studio.
Receiving praise wasn’t a bad thing, but I shouldn’t beco complacent.
Objectively, the current praise should be seen more as encouragent and support rather than a genuine positive evaluation.
There was only one thing to do at tis like this.
Practice.
As soon as the guide experience was over, I returned to the underground vocal practice room and solemnly opened the lyrics book.
Today’s goal was to sing the assigned song from vocal class perfectly without going off-key.
Just as I took a deep breath and was about to dive into the world of self-reflection, I heard voices outside.
This vocal practice room didn’t let sound leak out, but so noise from outside could be heard a little.
‘If I can hear it this clearly inside, they must be talking quite loudly outside.’
In society, there were tis when pretending not to hear was the polite thing to do.
Just as I was about to put in my earphones out of consideration, I heard, ‘That’s not what I ant!’.
It was Kang Kiyeon’s voice.
‘Isn’t it hard to hear this clearly unless they’re shouting?’
I was already feeling troubled, what else was it this ti? I sighed.
I turned off the playlist that was playing on repeat and got up from my seat.
Outside the soundproof booth, Kang Kiyeon, who often looked angry even when standing still, and Choi Jeho, who looked visibly upset, were facing off.
A hostile atmosphere swirled between them.
Lee Cheonghyeon was beside Kang Kiyeon, and Jeong Seongbin was standing between Kang Kiyeon and Choi Jeho.
Unintentionally, I made eye contact with Seongbin, who looked very distressed.
‘Seongbin, would it help if I just stay inside?’
In response to my telepathy, Seongbin made an expression like a dandelion seed drenched in rain.
‘Please step in…’
That was a bit difficult. I believed in the principle, ‘Kids grow by fighting with intelligence and logic.’
Kang Kiyeon looked at , apparently having heard the sound of the door opening.
It seed like it was ti to deploy the side-eye acting I had honed at Hanpyeong Industry but hadn’t had a chance to use for a while.
“Are you two fighting?”
“…No.”
Kang Kiyeon replied, suppressing his barely contained anger.
It seed he had raised his voice out of frustration.
Just as I was thinking that I should teach him the thod of enduring three tis[1]Iwol was referring to the idiom ‘If you hold yourself back/be patient three tis, you can avoid murdering people’. , Choi Jeho intervened.
“Weren’t you picking a fight? You have a problem with , don’t you?”
At Choi Jeho’s unyielding attitude, Kang Kiyeon’s brow, which had just started to ease down, furrowed again.
Before teaching Kang Kiyeon about patience, it seed more urgent to educate that guy on ‘speaking kindly’ first.
Thanks to Choi Jeho pouring oil on the fire, the atmosphere was heading toward disaster.
“Hyung, can’t you do sothing about that tone…”
“Hey, Kang Kiyeon. Let’s stop here!”
Lee Cheonghyeon tried to stop him in a deliberately cheerful voice, seeing Kang Kiyeon grinding his teeth.
However, Kang Kiyeon didn’t bother to hide the fact that he had a lot to say. It seed the spark from Choi Jaeho’s provocation had ignited him as well.
I had to reluctantly abandon my plan to watch for a bit and then try to separate them.
“Okay, Kiyeon, I understand you’re upset, but try to calm down.”
“…”
“That way, you won’t forget the reason why you started fighting. If you get fixated on the wrong thing, nothing good will co of it.”
“…Huh?”
All four of them looked at simultaneously upon hearing my words.
Why? Isn’t addressing the core issue a basic step to problem-solving?
“Hyung, you are trying to stop the fight, right…?”
Lee Cheonghyeon asked with a visibly perplexed face.
I shrugged and answered.
“I have no intention of stopping it.”
“Huh?”
“They wouldn’t be acting like this for no reason. They’re old enough. If there’s sothing they don’t get along with, they can fight.”
Jeong Seongbin, whose face had turned the palest among them, moved his lips as if wanting to say sothing.
“You’re not going to throw punches or anything, right? You’re aspiring idols, you wouldn’t do such a foolish thing.”
At my words, Choi Jeho and Kang Kiyeon looked dumbfounded.
Sorry, but I was quite displeased having to step in at my age for a fight between kids ten years younger than .
1. Iwol was referring to the idiom ‘If you hold yourself back/be patient three tis, you can avoid murdering people’.
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