Chapter 179

Chapter 179

I had so much I wanted to say to this bastard, but I had to start with this.

"First, let me ask. How on earth were you so sure a crazy plan like kidnapping wouldn't get caught? Everyone would be frantic to find me the moment my vacation ended."

"..."

Cheong-ryeo stared at me with dark eyes before answering tonelessly.

"Because I planned to finish it within ten days."

He must have checked the duration of my vacation on my smartphone.

"So you mean if I didn't show any signs of committing suicide within ten days, you were going to kill me. Got it."

I shifted my posture slightly and asked again.

"And I understand you firmly believe that if I die, things will restart, but where does your confidence come from that you will go back with me?"

It was a question I couldn't leave unasked.

"Did it never occur to you that I might be the only one who dies, and you'll just be hauled off for murdering an idol from another group?"

"..."

"Senior."

Cheong-ryeo leaned back in his chair. His face was expressionless.

"Well... I wouldn't have been caught."

"...!"

"I have your phone... and as long as I provide the right gestures, the police don't usually launch an investigation when a member of a scandal-ridden idol group like TeSTAR goes missing. The agency blocks it."

Cheong-ryeo gave a faint smile.

"They'll just think you gave up because the pressure was too much, or that you lost your roots and ran away after getting paid. They'll look for you amongst themselves for a bit... but eventually, they give up when the costs get too high. The remaining group makes enough money even without you, so they end up focusing on keeping that running."

"..."

"And just like that, Park Moon-dae disappears, processed as 'on hiatus for health reasons.' Hmm... I imagine after two or three years, there'd only be a few people occasionally bringing you up for nostalgia."

That was a leap.

With plenty of time left on my contract, there was no way an agency backed by T1 would give up on 'Park Moon-dae' so easily.

Furthermore, my current buzz was at a level that could easily place me in the top ten among idols. The aftermath of a sudden hiatus wouldn't vanish that simply.

...But, looking at the overall framework... there was a chilling plausibility to it.

'Fuck.'

I really almost died. I clicked my tongue, but I was satisfied with the conversation itself.

"I see. Thank you for the testimony."

"...?"

I pulled something out of my pocket.

It was my smartphone, and it had been recording.

"...!"

"You left it in such a cliché spot that I found it immediately."

This bastard had even considered location tracking; he'd turned it off and connected it to a laptop to use a messaging app via a proxy.

Regardless, my smartphone, which I'd found inside the dishwasher, was fortunately intact.

I pressed the stop button on the recording.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"You probably figured that even if I reported you, it would look like a mutual physical altercation given the situation, so the controversy would only grow if it hit the media. You were likely aiming for me to get caught up in that mess and fail my final mission."

I tapped the smartphone.

"I've left the recording and photos of the scene, and I've even set them to auto-backup to the cloud."

"..."

"It means the moment I walk out of here and report this, it's over for you."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. So start being a bit more cooperative, you son of a bitch."

I perched on the edge of the chair and slammed my fist into his face.

Thwack!

The short, dull sound echoed satisfyingly.

That really cleared my head.

Cheong-ryeo seemed to be checking the inside of his mouth with his tongue, likely having cut it, but he didn't seem particularly shaken.

"...I can't even make a comeback anyway. Hmm, that hurt. I thought you said you weren't feeling well."

"The guy who got knocked out by someone 'not feeling well' sure has a big mouth."

"Haha, well, I don't think you'll actually report me anyway."

Cheong-ryeo met my eyes.

"Even with evidence, I don't think you'd leave any room for a scandal like this to interfere with your mission."

"True."

I nodded.

"But if I get too pissed off... who knows. I might release it the moment the final mission is over."

"..."

"It'll get a bit noisy, but there's no one in my group who would oppose it. The reporting process should be smooth. What do you think?"

If anything, people would be horrified, asking why I didn't report it sooner.

I could already see it clearly.

However, the reaction from this guy after hearing this... was beyond the norm.

"Pardon? Hahaha."

Cheong-ryeo laughed brightly.

"I thought you were smart, but you're completely naive."

"...!"

"You like your team right now? Ah, I'm sure it's great at the moment. Your results are good, and you have so many external enemies that you have to stick together, so how could it not be great?"

Cheong-ryeo lowered his head.

"But how many years do you think that will last?"

"...!"

"No, it won't even take years. Just a year or two after you hit it big, you'll get someone talking nonsense."

He looked into the void. His eyes were bored, as if reminiscing about a predictable past.

"From bullshit about 'finding their true self' to people selling out the group while frequenting clubs—all sorts of people emerge. It's the same no matter how you build the team. Human passion and sincerity are consumable resources."

"..."

"You might not think so now, but think carefully. Haven't there been minor flaws that bothered you? Later on... those will return as massive disappointments."

His low, calm voice finished the thought.

"Once the tour is over and you get another settlement, you never know if there won't be a single person telling you to just let it go quietly instead of doing something unnecessary."

"..."

I don't trust people much either... but this guy was on another level, probably because this came from repeated experience.

I stared at him, momentarily speechless, then shrugged.

So what, is he telling me not to get unnecessarily attached and to start fresh with a focus on efficiency?

How ridiculous.

"If we really don't get along, we can just disband later. The missions will be over by then anyway."

"...!!"

"I can just work with the guys I get along with... and if it doesn't work out, I'll just quit. Why are you staking your life on a group like that? Oh, right. I've been thinking about this since I heard about the restarts."

I crossed my arms.

"Is it so bad if VTIC hits a decline?"

"What?"

"This isn't an industry where you can stay top-tier for a thousand years. A prime is a prime because it ends."

No matter how much you stretch it, an idol group's popularity is bound to pass its peak and decline once they hit a certain age or go to the military.

"VTIC is bound to decline eventually even without this, so I'm saying I don't understand why you'd go as far as restarting just to delay that for a little while."

Surely he didn't have the delusion that VTIC could be the best in the industry forever.

Cheong-ryeo's expression vanished for a moment, but he soon gave a thin smile.

"You haven't done it even once yet, so it might not feel real to you, but a single restart isn't actually that big of a deal. If it can extend the group's lifespan, it's worth a try."

He leaned forward slightly.

"And I've planned it so that the group's career doesn't drop because of an unexpected incident like this, but rather follows a very gentle downward curve. That's how it will be next time, so don't worry."

I threw out a comment.

"It won't work."

"What?"

"That perfect career... it's not coming."

I tried to rest my chin on my hand, but I stopped because my hand throbbed. Dammit.

"VTIC's decline is an event that absolutely must happen; only the timing changes. But how do you know which timing for the decline is the most perfect? Are you going to keep restarting every time album sales drop?"

I reached a conclusion.

"Then you'll have to restart forever. Rationalizing it by saying 'the next one will be better.'"

"..."

Cheong-ryeo opened his mouth as if to say something, but he couldn't answer immediately.

His face was blank.

'I think I hit a nerve.'

Whether it was a landmine or a switch, I had to solidify it now.

'I have to break his spirit.'

I couldn't let this guy interfere with my business anymore.

Since things had already come this far, there was no point in holding back my cards. I'd end it here.

I spoke first.

"Well, even if I die, I can't restart, so I won't even have that chance."

Cheong-ryeo spoke almost reflexively.

"...That's why, if you fail the mission..."

"I just die. Period."

I uncrossed my arms.

And then, I told him the truth.

"I wasn't originally Park Moon-dae."

"...!!"

"I was a college graduate studying for the civil service exam, but when I woke up, I was in Park Moon-dae's body. I didn't restart; I just entered someone else's body."

Even as I said it, it sounded absurd. I let out a short laugh.

"So if I die from failing a mission... in the best-case scenario, I'll probably just return to my own body and that's it. Don't you think?"

"..."

"Wasn't it strange from the start? I probably didn't feel like someone in their early twenties. I was originally twenty-nine."

For the first time, all sorts of emotions flickered across Cheong-ryeo's face. It seemed he didn't think I was lying.

He muttered blankly.

"That shouldn't be possible."

"But it is. Why would I lie to you when I've already got you cornered?"

I laughed while massaging the back of my neck.

I hadn't mentioned it before because I was afraid it would become a weakness, but since I had evidence of attempted murder in my hands, I could afford to say this much.

It felt incredibly refreshing.

"You can't restart anymore."

"..."

Alright, he's definitely shaken.

Now... I don't really want to, but for a perfect seal, shall I offer a carrot instead of a whip?

"So... it means ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you don't have to give up on your current life just because a flaw appeared."

"...!"

"What you have now won't disappear. So just live a bit more comfortably. Raise your dog, do what you want to do."

If I could just cut ties cleanly here, I really had no intention of suing him.

Of course, I would claim compensation for damages.

'As long as I don't have to deal with him again, I'm satisfied with just cutting him off.'

I fiddled with my wrist, feeling the itchiness from the scratches.

"..."

Cheong-ryeo lowered his head. His hands, tied to the table leg, were trembling slightly.

At that moment, a pop-up appeared.

[‘That sounds right (A)’ activated!]

I didn't know what this meant in this context, so I decided to wait and see.

"..."

It was only after quite some time had passed that Cheong-ryeo raised his head.

His face was unexpectedly calm.

"I don't know what I should do."

"You'll have to figure that out yourself."

"I suppose so."

Cheong-ryeo's voice was steady, but there was a strange sense of melancholy in it.

'I guess that makes sense.'

Since he'd kept restarting whenever he failed to succeed as an idol, he must have poured all his value judgments into VTIC's success.

'Otherwise, he would have gone even crazier.'

And he probably processed the situation of constantly resetting when a mission wasn't cleared as an 'opportunity for VTIC's perfect success' in his brain.

But now, I'd blocked that and essentially shoved the idea that 'it's not an opportunity, it's giving up!' down his throat.

And while I didn't know what would happen in the future, for now, he definitely seemed to have lost his will to fight.

'That's it, fuck.'

Now that I'd provided evidence first, revealed my situation second, and delivered a psychological attack third, he'd probably rationalize it on his own for about six months.

'And by then, the mission will be over.'

Excellent.

I immediately stood up from the chair.

"Then I'm leaving. I'll leave the tools next to you, so untie yourself."

Since his movements were restricted, it would be difficult for him to throw the tools at me.

Clatter.

"..."

Cheong-ryeo stared at the toolbox I pushed toward him with my foot, then spoke softly.

"If you wait a bit, I can drive you to the dorm."

"I'll pass. The memory of inhaling that anesthetic is still vivid."

"..."

Looking at the map, we were on the outskirts of Seoul, so taking a bus for an hour or two shouldn't be a problem to get back to the dorm.

The scratches on my wrists wouldn't be visible since I was wearing long sleeves.

I grabbed only my smartphone and headed straight for the front door.

A voice came from behind me.

"...I'm sorry."

That sentiment and attitude better last for at least six months. Otherwise, I'll throw him in prison even if it costs me.

I opened the door and stepped out. The wind hit my face.

It was refreshing.

I immediately caught an intercity bus at a nearby stop and headed for the dorm.

I had to transfer once, but the route wasn't complicated, so it wasn't a big issue.

The problem was that the pain was starting to set in.

'I'll need to get checked out.'

I planned to come up with an excuse after returning to the dorm.

To distract myself from the pain, I checked my smartphone on the bus.

First, the group ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠message room had been quite active since the vacation started.

It was mostly status reports on where they were and what they were doing or general chatter, but there were also those calling out for 'Park Moon-dae,' who wasn't responding.

It went like this:

[Keun Se-jin: Moon-dae Moon-dae? Did you cancel your phone plan?]

[Keun Se-jin: Looking for Park Moon-dae... To think he'd cut ties with the secular world even if it's a vacation... As expected of Tibet, he's merciless.]

And Cheong-ryeo had replied like this:

[Me: Stop it.]

Honestly, the synchronization was creepy.

'...He did a more plausible job than I thought.'

I checked the other private message rooms with a bitter taste in my mouth.

[Kim Rae-bin: Moon-dae hyung, my grandmother is asking for a video call. I'm very sorry, but could you give us just one chance? I will match any date and time you want!]

Below that was an image of Hallasan Mountain glowing in primary colors, with fluorescent text saying 'Always grateful to you, the thankful one♫'.

"..."

What can I say... it was exactly the situation I expected.

And Cheong-ryeo, impersonating 'Park Moon-dae,' had turned him down cleanly.

[Me: Sorry. I want to rest. Would next time be okay?]

[Kim Rae-bin: I am truly sorry. I understand. I will see you after the vacation ends!]

This felt a bit bad.

'It's not even a difficult thing to do.'

Thinking I should do it for him once I went to the hospital and regained my senses, I checked the rest.

They were all similar. If someone suggested something, he'd turn it down.

[Bae Se-jin Hyung: I've looked at three listings. Which one do you think has a better layout? (Photo)]

[Bae Se-jin Hyung: You don't have to reply if you're busy.]

[Me: I'm not sure. Sorry.]

Same here.

[Seon A-hyun: Moon-dae-ya, I'm on a trip near Seoraksan Mountain with my family right now. The autumn leaves are so beautiful, I love it. I couldn't take photos as well as you, but I took a few. I'll bring them to the dorm. (Photo)]

[Me: Okay, thanks.]

This side was the same.

And Cheong-ryeo's final trace was found in the group message room.

[Me: I've come to a hotel to rest more properly. See you all when the vacation is over.]

[Keun Se-jin: Whoa, a hocance! (Emoticon) Moon-dae Moon-dae, tell me, is it 5-star??]

"..."

There were no replies after that.

For some reason, it felt... a bit much.

The reality that my vacation had been blown away was starting to sink in.

'Fuck.'

Should I just blow everything up and destroy that bastard once the status effect is over?

Fortunately, looking at the date, half of the vacation was still left. I tried my best to calm down and leaned my head against the bus seat back.

Since it was a weekday afternoon, no one recognized me in my mask and hat on the empty bus, and I was able to arrive at the dorm peacefully.

However, my physical condition was anything but peaceful.

'Dammit.'

The moment I opened the dorm's front door and stepped inside, I collapsed onto the floor as I let out a sigh of relief.

Thud.

I barely felt the marble floor against my cheek because of the burning sensation throughout my body.

'Fuck.'

This is bad. I can't move.

It feels like all the cartilage has been drained from my joints.

I have no strength at all.

'Ambulance.'

No. If you look at the injuries left on my body now, anyone would see me as a victim of a crime.

I've handled things this far; I don't want any unnecessary controversy before the status effect is resolved.

'Maybe I'll be okay if I pass ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out for a bit and wake up...'

My appearance is a bit rough, but if I just stay collapsed in the hallway like this...

Vrrr- Vrrr-

Smartphone.

Someone was calling.

Almost unconsciously, I pressed the answer button on the smartphone.

A voice I hadn't heard in days echoed.

-Ah, you picked up...

I cut them off.

"Right now... dorm, 119... don't call... hospital, please..."

-What??

"Company... don't contact, please..."

-Moon-dae-ya? Park Moon-dae!

I went completely limp.

It's a strange thing to say, but it was the deepest sleep I'd had in days.