Chapter 177
Chapter 177
Whether I viewed Cheong-ryeo as a top-tier competitor in the industry or a lunatic suffering from reset syndrome, he was absolutely not the kind of person I wanted to hear from on the first day of my vacation.
Should I just ignore it?
The temptation was powerful.
…However, the fact that it was a phone call and not a text, unlike usual, grated on my nerves.
He usually just texts. Why a call?
If it happened to be an emergency, not picking up might actually lead to a more annoying situation. For instance… something regarding the composers.
“Fuck, just let me rest.”
I eventually let out a sigh and answered the phone.
“Hello?”
—Ah, Junior. I’m sorry, you’re on vacation right now, aren’t you?
This bastard definitely saw my status message and called anyway.
“…Yes. I was given some time off.”
—Then you must be at the dorm.
I had a gut feeling that if I said yes, I’d be faced with an incredibly irritating situation. I quickly changed my story.
“I’m just about to head out. I was thinking of heading down to the countryside to rest.”
—I see. Then do you have a moment right now?
“Excuse me?”
Just as I was wondering what kind of nonsense he was spouting, he immediately followed up with an explanation.
—Ah, I’m filming right now.
“……!”
—Um… it’s KBC’s Instant Roadmap, and ‘a close junior’ came up as the keyword for a location recommendation.
Instant Roadmap. It was a program where they traveled all over the country for half a day based on the luck of the draw, using lots filled with viewer requests. In short, it was a travelogue based on chance.
It was also a consistently popular show, the kind that VTIC would choose to appear on right before a comeback.
I heard there’s a segment where they involve acquaintances on the fly. Is that it?
I suppose among the people who might be free, I had the best name recognition, but I had no intention of working on the first day of my break. Especially not with this guy.
Of course, since the cameras were rolling, I couldn't openly show my distaste, so I tried to deflect politely.
“Uh… I’m really honored, Sunbae-nim. But I’m leaving very soon…… I barely have any time. What should we do?”
When I spoke with a suitably regretful tone, a troubled voice came back from the other end of the line.
—I contacted you because you were right nearby, Moondae-ssi… Could you spare just a tiny bit of time? You just need to pick a lot once.
“…….”
—If it’s too uncomfortable, I understand.
It’s damn uncomfortable, you prick.
But if I refused here and the editing went south, I’d be the only one losing out. Since I was on vacation and at the dorm, people would definitely crawl out of the woodwork to interpret it as me snubbing a major senior because I couldn't spare a single moment.
And the fact that he was acting so humble was definitely aimed at that.
He’s crossing the line.
I’ll definitely pay him back for this.
“Not at all. Since you’re the one asking, Sunbae-nim, I’ll find a way to make time.”
—Really? I’m sorry and thank you. I’ll buy you something delicious later.
I tried to subtly push the narrative that he was power-tripping on a troubled junior, but he didn't take the bait. Dammit.
“Are you coming here now?”
—Yes. I should be. Um… I think I’ll arrive within five minutes.
“Understood.”
—See you in a bit.
I heard Cheong-ryeo’s laughter through the phone before it disconnected.
What a pain.
I suppressed a sigh, grabbed a mask and a hoodie, and headed outside.
Maybe I should have gone with the others when they asked.
It would have been better to go look at branded apartments in Seoul with Bae Se-jin like he suggested.
At least I’d get the market prices out of that.
This was just pure irritation.
Since it was morning just past rush hour, the complex was quiet. I spotted a black sedan already waiting in front of the main gate. Someone waved slightly out the window when they saw me.
Is that it?
As I approached, the passenger door opened immediately.
“……!”
Across from me, I saw Cheong-ryeo sitting behind the steering wheel.
“Hello, Moondae-ssi.”
“Hello, Sunbae-nim.”
“You came down fast. Thank you so much.”
“First… shall we greet the camera here?”
Perhaps it was a segment where the staff wasn't present yet, as Cheong-ryeo was alone in the car. I could see cameras mounted at all sorts of angles around the driver’s seat. Cheong-ryeo pointed to the camera attached in front of the passenger seat.
I leaned into the passenger side just enough to give a greeting.
“Hello. I’m TeSTAR’s Park Moondae……. Sunbae-nim, about the lot drawing?”
“The PD said he’d let me know while we move. We’ll just take a short lap around the neighborhood, so could you take the call when it comes?”
This was getting even more annoying. But having come this far, I couldn't exactly argue in front of the camera.
“Yes. Of course.”
I climbed into the passenger seat for the time being. As soon as the door closed, Cheong-ryeo filled the audio.
“Don’t forget your seatbelt.”
“Yes.”
As if I wouldn’t wear it even if you didn’t tell me, you prick.
I turned my body to fasten the belt when I suddenly became conscious of the smartphone in my pocket.
Come to think of it, shouldn't I contact the company?
Being called out so suddenly on my first day of vacation, I hadn't thought that far, but even for a brief cameo, it was better for everyone if I reported it.
I’ll do it as soon as I get out.
Since we were filming, it was best to avoid touching my phone as much as possible.
It was then.
……?
A strange sense of dissonance struck me.
…Filming.
I looked at the camera again.
The light isn't on.
Usually, an 'On Air' sign is indicated by a red light, but this camera had no such indicator. No, it wasn't just this camera; the others were the same.
…Is it a specific type of filming setup?
Just in case they were off due to an error or malfunction, I reached out toward the camera.
At that moment.
Whoosh.
Something suddenly flew at my face, clamping down hard.
“……!”
“There.”
A white cloth-like object blocked my eyes, nose, and mouth. My breath was suddenly cut off, and a strange, volatile scent pierced my brain.
“Mmph.”
Regardless of what I was thinking, I tried to raise both hands to tear the cloth away, but my consciousness blurred in an instant.
Fuck….
I tried to bite my tongue, but it was too late.
Everything went black.
*
“…Gah!”
“Ah, you’re awake?”
My head hurt like hell.
I instinctively tried to clutch my head at the pain that felt like my brain was being shaken, but both of my hands were pulled upward together.
Clink.
Silver… handcuffs.
…Handcuffs?
Even while my head felt like it was splitting open, the feeling that something was horribly wrong was overwhelming.
“Drink some of this.”
A silicone cup suddenly appeared before my eyes. The owner of the hand holding it was… Fuck, it was Cheong-ryeo.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Well, first, have some water…”
“Do you think water would go down my throat right now, you crazy bastard?”
“…….”
If my head were clearer, I might have responded more calmly, but I was even more pissed off because I could roughly guess what was happening. I tried to analyze the situation while pressing my head with both hands.
This bastard made me get in the car saying it was for a broadcast, then that cloth…
Was it an anesthetic?
Then obviously, the broadcast had been a lure to bait me. The cameras wouldn't have been on, either.
Fuck…!
I can’t believe I fell for something like this. No, I mean, this whole situation is absurd to begin with—it’s not like we’re in some crime thriller.
I took a deep breath and lifted my head again. My surroundings finally came into focus.
…It’s not an apartment.
Looking at the ceiling and floor, it seemed to be an old house. That meant there was a high probability it was somewhere remote.
There’s no point in screaming; there’s no way he didn’t take that into account.
In other words, it was the kind of place where someone could be killed without immediate interference… or so it seemed.
This is insane.
Why the hell was he doing this all of a sudden?
I swallowed hard. Then, I tried to think as calmly as possible. First, a question.
“…Why on earth did you knock me out and drag me here? And where is this?”
“I have a proposal. I figured you wouldn't be very keen on it, so I prepared this so we could try it long-term.”
Cheong-ryeo shrugged and placed the water cup near me. I then realized that my feet were also suitably restrained.
Thorough, aren't you, you fucker.
“What kind of proposal?”
“Well… it might be a bit of a cliché story. About starting over.”
I knew it would be something like this if this lunatic was going to bring it up. However, the timing was completely out of the blue.
“I believe I told you I was satisfied with the current state of things. And you said you’d try to adapt as well, Sunbae-nim.”
“Ah, that.”
Cheong-ryeo stared down at me without moving a muscle.
“A problem came up.”
“…Excuse me?”
“One of the members is about to be indicted in a criminal case.”
“…!!”
“It’s a bit of a messy entanglement. I don’t think it can be cleaned up. Expelling him from the group is a given, but… given the fallout, I don’t think the comeback will happen as scheduled.”
Fuck. My vision went dark. I swallowed.
“……Even so, if only that person leaves, won't the group be fine?”
“Pardon? Haha. Junior. Why are you pretending not to know?”
Cheong-ryeo smiled.
“It’s not like VTIC is a large group with ten members; if one leaves, the impact is huge. There will be image issues too, so it’s almost certain that this will be the signal for our decline.”
Cheong-ryeo pulled up a chair and sat across from me.
“The company is already bringing up the next group. Well, wouldn't it be fair to say it’s the end?”
I can’t let this continue. I have to steer the conversation.
“…In the future I came from, I never heard any major news regarding VTIC. It will probably pass without turning into a huge incident…….”
“Didn't you say you didn't know much because you were a student studying for the civil service exam?”
“VTIC is such a big group that if it were an incident of that scale, I definitely would have seen it on the news or somewhere…”
“Haha, don’t try so hard.”
“…….”
He wasn't in a state to listen to anything. It wouldn't be strange if he bashed my head in right now….
A weapon.
I immediately scanned the area within his reach. I was checking to see if there were any tools that could be used as a weapon.
“What are you doing?”
“…I was just curious where we are.”
“Ah, we have plenty of time, so you can be curious about that slowly.”
What the hell did that mean?
“Of course, it depends on your choice… Well, I should get back to my proposal.”
Cheong-ryeo asked with a smile.
“Why don’t you commit suicide?”
A chill ran down my spine. This crazy bastard.
“Are you insane?”
“I thought you’d say that. It’s a point where there would be some resistance.”
He nodded casually.
“I suppose dying by your own hand is a bit much, isn't it? But I’d like to avoid killing you myself if possible.”
A sensible reason like 'because it's gruesome' didn't follow.
“I don’t know if things reset even when you’re murdered…. I don’t want to introduce unnecessary variables.”
“…….”
“You feel the same, right? We have to avoid the terrible situation where you might not be able to go back to the beginning for the first time.”
“I told you enough times that I don’t think I’ll go back if I die…….”
“I’m telling you, you will.”
Cheong-ryeo locked eyes with me.
“Even if you don’t want to, you’ll go back, so don’t worry.”
“…….”
“Ah, and I meant to tell you… Junior, you shouldn't trust casting calls like that. Naturally, when calling an acquaintance, everything is discussed in advance before filming. Remember that, in case you get scammed or fall for an empty promise next time.”
Cheong-ryeo stood up from his chair.
“Then, let’s slowly plan out which direction would be better for you when we start over. Ask me anything if you’re curious.”
“…….”
“Get some rest. You said you were on vacation.”
Cheong-ryeo hummed lowly as he opened the door and walked out.
Click.
The door closed again with a polite, small sound.
“…Phew.”
I felt cold sweat running down my spine where the tension had spiked. Sweat also pooled at my wrists under the handcuffs.
I’ve avoided becoming a corpse for now.
But there was no telling when that guy would lose his mind further and decide 'it’s just easier to kill him.' What kind of shitty situation is this….
I fell for this?
Did my brain melt because it’s vacation? Fuck.
In a surge of boiling rage, I slammed my handcuffed hands against the floor. Only the floor got dented; the handcuffs were fine.
It didn't matter.
I’m going to crawl out of here in one piece, no matter what.
I’ll make you regret not crushing my head with a sledgehammer while I was unconscious, you son of a bitch.