Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: A Different Experience
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I knew something like this would happen.
I turned my head slightly and looked at Yoo Hajin.
“Brother Hajin, thanks for stepping in earlier.”
“I’m the leader. It’s only natural. But seriously, what’s up with Senior Giki?”
“Who knows. Maybe he had a nightmare or something.”
A nightmare about money flying away into thin air, that is.
Kang Minje said calmly.
“Isn’t Senior Giki supposed to go to a mental hospital or something?”
“Like some kind of paranoia?”
“He already caused an accident with drunk driving.”
“People who mess up once usually mess up even more.”
Kang Minje said as he rolled his neck.
“Only a tiny fraction actually hold back and reflect.”
Is that so? Well, maybe.
Yoo Hajin stretched his arms as he said.
“Ah, who knows what’s going on!”
Just then, the door opened again. It was Ki Jaeyun, who had said he was finally going to the bathroom. He stood outside the door, peering in as he spoke.
“Is it resolved? The vibe was weird earlier, so I called security!”
You’re the one who called security?
“I saw Executive Director Lee and the president coming too. What happened? It’s all over, right?”
I didn’t want to answer.
“Say something! What? What?”
It was annoying.
Only the kind Yoo Hajin responded.
“We don’t know either.”
I rested my chin on my hand and said to Kang Minje.
“Are we continuing the recording?”
“We have to finish today’s quota. We don’t have time to waste.”
Of course we shouldn’t, but.
“Recording even after all this chaos.”
“You two can go. Only Jaeyun’s left anyway.”
Ki Jaeyun flinched in his seat. I stood up with a grin.
“I’m heading to work out.”
“Don’t go! It’s scary!”
Yoo Hajin shook his head as he said.
“It’s not like you’re alone. What’s there to be scared of?”
“Being with Brother Minje is scary in itself!”
I stared straight at Kang Minje.
‘What did he do to make the kid act like this?’
Kang Minje beamed at Ki Jaeyun.
“Don’t worry, Jaeyun.”
Ki Jaeyun grabbed my clothes.
“You seem like the biggest problem, so I saved you for last!”
Oh dear.
‘That’s why I said don’t talk like that right in front of people. It’s like gossiping to their face.’
The kid holds grudges.
I shook my head and walked away. Yoo Hajin did the same.
Once the door closed, my dear leader brother kindly linked arms with me.
“Brother Hajin, thanks. For stepping in.”
“Of course. The leader has to protect the maknae.”
A chuckle escaped me.
“What happened between you guys?”
Yoo Hajin muttered softly.
“I won’t pry. Looks like it worked out.”
That’s why he’s the leader.
“Thank you.”
“If you’re grateful, make more tteokbokki.”
“Next one’s curry, though.”
“Curry’s good too. You’ll save me a spot, right?”
“Just bring your body.”
Yoo Hajin grinned and stretched his arms.
‘Yoo Hajin really is essential.’
That split-second choice might not last a lifetime, but it’d affect the next ten years at least.
I quietly pulled out my smartphone. Switched it to cheat mode and tapped the screen.
[Cheat Mode 2/3]
[Cha Dowon Vocal Ability]
[B. Change?]
[Change to A]
[Changed.]
What?
I jolted in surprise. As I stopped walking, Yoo Hajin looked at me questioningly.
[Side effect: Unconscious for 24 hours.]
[Cheat Mode 3/3]
What?
No cheats left to delay the side effect. I grabbed Yoo Hajin’s arm right away.
“Hyung! Me. Suddenly dizzy. Call an ambulance……”
My vision went black. I felt a firm arm grab my shoulder.
“Please.”
That was the last thing I said. The world went dark like a power outage—nothing felt real anymore.
***
The unfamiliar ceiling actually wasn’t unfamiliar.
Cheap wavy patterns. Why are there so many ceilings like this? I’d heard before regression that they had a lot of asbestos.
‘Do they even allow that material in hospitals?’
I blinked and sat up. Rubbing my eyes, I realized I was hooked to an IV.
‘Damn.’
That was close. From now on, only use it with two cheats left.
‘Was in the middle of schedule. They must’ve called it right away.’
Sighing as I looked around, I finally noticed someone slumped over the bed.
‘Ah, the manager.’
Why is it always this guy when I wake up?
The chubby manager suddenly thrashed about.
“Ah, Mira! I’m sorry!”
Ah, shut up.
I let out a small sigh and lay back down. The empty six-bed room was dead silent.
‘Might as well sort my thoughts since this happened.’
My smartphone was on the table. I quietly fiddled with it.
‘So, the cheat worked.’
Why?
‘Vocal skills like this weren’t supposed to kick in until the body was trained?’
No way to figure out the criteria.
‘Ah, but with the eye for detail upgrade, it went up with new experiences.’
The only change from then to now was ‘recording.’ But singing the way Kang Minje wanted wasn’t that hard.
Was that a “different experience”? No.
“Then, what is it?”
One thing stood out as odd.
‘Vita’s Giki.’
I quietly glared at my smartphone.
‘No way you counted stealing his money as a different experience and boosted my vocal ability?’
How am I supposed to interpret this?
Doing bad things makes me a better idol spec-wise?
My face twisted completely.
‘Damn, what the hell.’
My head was endlessly complicated.
Right then, the smartphone rang. I checked who it was and swiped immediately.
-Cha Dowon! You collapsed!
Word spread fast. I whispered with a smile.
“I’m fine now.”
-You sure your brain’s okay? Why’d you collapse out of nowhere?
“Who knows. Too much stress?”
No idea, but they probably ran tests. Nothing wrong, so stress it is.
-You that delicate?
“Nah.”
-Idol life that tough?
“Still a trainee. Haven’t even debuted. I’ll talk about hard or good after I make it.”
-Boring guy.
Noona seemed thrilled to chat after so long. It felt great.
“How about you, Noona? Studies going okay?”
-Gonna die. Too much to memorize. And it keeps piling up.
“Hang in there.”
-But well……
Her voice brightened. I could feel it.
-It’s what I really want to do.
Yeah. Noona. Right.
‘Never give it up.’
This time, no need to give up anything because of me. So.
“Noona, one question?”
-Ten’s fine. What?
“If a kinda different experience ends up super beneficial for you, what would you do?”
-What nonsense. Hey, first off, that different experience is legal, right?
Noona as expected. Sharp as ever.
I spoke without wetting my lips.
“Of course, within legal bounds.”
Noona sighed.
-Cha Dowon.
“Yeah, Noona.”
-I don’t know what kinda different experience, but let’s not do it blatantly. Live decently, subtly good. I know you’ve been on edge since Mom passed, but try to make it all add up to good, my dear little brother.
I chuckled. Familiar words.
“That’s Mom’s catchphrase.”
-You know good things come even in your sleep if you listen to Mom? Please, little brother.
I quietly sank into thought.
-Cha Dowon?
“Ah, Noona. Still, I hate bullies.”
Noona went quiet.
“You know, those types with no grudge who grab a hostage and go, ‘You messed up, so I’ll kill ’em!’ Every time I see that, I think: If the hostage dies, does the hero feel guilt? Why not just say the guy’s bad, keep him alive, and toss him to the hostage’s family?
-Don’t see the world so harshly, little brother. How about trying a good different experience?
“With people coming at me, how can I live good? But, well……”
I let out a small sigh.
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
Not that I’ll live good.
“Noona, gotta hang up. Eat properly even if busy.”
-Okay. You too, eat well and stay alive. Oh, text me your debut date.
Call ended. I quietly stared at my smartphone.
‘What to do.’
Why do some cheats work and others don’t? I slowly organized my thoughts.
‘When do cheats activate?’
I recalled.
First, training the body changes it.
‘Abs weren’t for nothing.’
Second, experiences change it.
‘Eye for detail shot up. After filming top singer Yumi’s music video.’
I switched the smartphone to cheat mode.
‘So, taking Vita Giki’s money—is that a derivative of experience?’
Any experience counts? You?
A laugh burst out. Noona’s voice from earlier echoed in my head.
‘Live good, she said.’
Well, if conditions allow, maybe. But they don’t.
I let out a big sigh.
“Yeah. Yeah.”
Different doesn’t have to mean bad.
“Gotta try a good different experience too.”
I straightened my shoulders. After 24 hours out, my body felt refreshed.
Right then, the manager asleep at the bed’s edge snapped his head up!
“Mira! Sorry! Ah!”
The manager looked around and said.
“Where am I? Who am I?”
Can’t you tell?
Too lazy to answer, I stayed still. Finally, he looked at me.
“Dowon?”
“Yeah. Manager.”
“Why the patient gown…… Ah! You collapsed again.”
Cheat side effect, but we’ll go with that.
I acted nonchalant.
“Guess I did.”
“You lunatic ambitious punk! Know how scared I was?”
“Did they run tests?”
“Blood pressure, ECG—all normal. Nothing. They said maybe mental?”
“Oh?”
Not that, but couldn’t say.
The manager suddenly yelled.
“Ambitious punk!”
Ah, startled me.
“How much this little guy must’ve suffered!”
Suddenly, his heavy body enveloped me. Soft flesh hit my nose before I realized.
‘I’ll go crazy.’
The manager was hugging me.
“Heard! Giki went nuts?”
Ah, rumors spread like that.
“Why’d you endure it alone! Tell me at least!”
My shoulder was wet. He was sobbing; I wanted to run.
“Um, Manager.”
“Call me brother.”
“Manager, I wasn’t that stressed.”
“No need to lie! Makes sense, no parents, debuting must be tough. Even smooth sailing isn’t easy, and Giki throws a fit!”
No, I’m sailing smooth? Song turned out great?
Ignoring my thoughts, the manager patted my back.
“Ambitious punk! Poor thing! Haven’t eaten, gotten skinny!”
I’ll go mad. For real.
“I’m really fine.”
Please let go.
“Don’t worry, kid.”
About what?
“Giki caused a scene. Executive Director Joo chewed him out again. What’re you doing to a pre-debut kid, making him collapse from stress? Called Vita and scolded—no, lectured them!”
Huh.
‘Things are twisting weirdly.’
In short, got chewed out for bullying a fragile junior?
‘Compared to what they did, it’s a drop in the bucket……’
Still, Giki must be super pissed?
Lost money, got scolded, tried to interfere but song’s great?
Hilarious if true. I held back laughter. Body shook, so manager cried harder.
“Don’t shake, ambitious punk. Cocky but such a scaredy-cat, what to do.”
Ah, damn.
I took a deep breath.
‘Well, gotta use what I can.’