Chapter 233
Chapter 233
Kim Rae-bin adjusted his grip on the box in his hand as he walked down the hospital corridor.
Since his other arm was still in a half-cast and couldn't move freely, he had to move with extra caution.
Kim Rae-bin pressed his lips thin.
‘I must not let any accidents occur, such as dropping this box!’
Fortunately, the swarm of media personnel that had been loitering around the hospital since the accident had thinned out considerably, allowing him to make it this far without much trouble.
It was because quite some time had passed since the shocking reports of the traffic accident first broke.
Once the headline "In a Coma, Recovering from Surgery" persisted for more than ten days, they had moved on to find other prey.
It was typical of the entertainment industry, where incidents erupted nearly every other day.
However, the internet remained a scene of utter pandemonium, swirling with all sorts of pessimistic speculative articles, columns, and the worry and rage of fans.
[TeSTAR Park Moon-dae… Is there a risk of brain death?]
[The accident that befell the ‘May Groom’ <Reconstruction of That Day>]
[7 days since surgery, prayers for Park Moon-dae’s recovery]
Kim Rae-bin only occasionally saw such things on the main pages of search engines; he had neither the knowledge nor the mental leeway to examine the detailed reactions.
Thus, he understood the basic facts only through the comments fans left on the official account.
‘Everyone is deeply concerned about whether Moon-dae hyung will wake up.’
Fundamentally, that was correct.
It was then.
“Kim Rae-bin!”
“…! We’re in a hospital, be quiet!”
Cha Yu-jin burst out of the adjacent hospital room, using his crutches with dazzling dexterity as he chased after Kim Rae-bin at a frightening speed.
He was still hospitalized because he had fractured a larger bone than Kim Rae-bin, resulting in more severe injuries.
“Are you going to see Moon-dae hyung?”
“…Yes.”
“I’m coming too.”
Cha Yu-jin answered firmly and matched his pace to Kim Rae-bin’s.
He possessed a level of composure that made it hard to believe he was the same person who had sobbed uncontrollably during the surgery, offering up rapid prayers in unintelligible Spanish.
‘I envy Cha Yu-jin for being so simple-minded.’
Kim Rae-bin felt a brief flash of envy toward Cha Yu-jin before silently resuming his walk.
Park Moon-dae’s room was right nearby.
“Hyung.”
“We’re here.”
“Oh, uh, welcome…”
Inside the room, Seon A-hyun, who had been sitting as still as a stone statue, quickly stood up and answered in a small voice.
“Is Moon-dae hyung comfortable?”
“…Yes, they said he, uh, shouldn’t be in any discomfort.”
“Got it!”
Cha Yu-jin sat down energetically beside the bed and began to diligently explain recent events to the unconscious Park Moon-dae, mixing Korean and English.
“The fans say they’re sending paper cranes? [It’s fascinating. I guess every country has similar stories. Anyway, it’s good that they want you to get well soon, right?]”
The general consensus among the members was that ‘he might be listening,’ but since it provided a strange sense of hope, they didn't stop Cha Yu-jin.
“It seems the other hyungs have already visited and left.”
“…Ah, they went to the, uh, company a little while ago.”
“I see.”
Kim Rae-bin nodded and waited for Cha Yu-jin’s turn to end.
The news he had brought was very important, so he didn't want his words to overlap with Cha Yu-jin’s.
Watching Cha Yu-jin chatter on persistently, he suppressed the urge to shout, ‘Don’t waste visiting hours on redundant stories!’
‘Because one must be quiet in a hospital room!’
Kim Rae-bin told himself that he would show a dignified and sensible side of himself in front of the great Moon-dae hyung.
In the end, he was able to quietly take the baton without bickering with Cha Yu-jin.
“Hyung, hello….”
Of course, there was no answer from the recumbent Park Moon-dae.
For some reason, Kim Rae-bin felt like he might cry. It might have been because it reminded him of his grandmother, but regardless, he held it in.
“I—I have prepared something.”
Struggling to remain calm, he lifted and opened the box.
The box was full.
Several sheets of paper covered in all sorts of lines and musical notes, iconic props, and… a laptop.
Seon A-hyun’s eyes widened as he stood quietly by.
“Th-this is….”
“…These are the concept materials for the next album.”
Kim Rae-bin answered stoutly.
“We are preparing diligently, so please don’t worry about the future schedule at all and just wake up whenever you’re ready!”
It was the first thing he had done as soon as he was discharged.
“…….”
Even Cha Yu-jin was lost for words as he looked at Kim Rae-bin.
In truth, it was a highly irrational action.
Even if Park Moon-dae woke up right this second, no one knew if rehabilitation and a comeback could happen immediately.
Furthermore, more time had passed than expected without Park Moon-dae regaining consciousness.
There were even whispers among the medical staff about the need for a full re-examination.
Despite that, Kim Rae-bin had ‘prepared’ the next activities in detail, as if they were possible right now.
Just to report it to a Park Moon-dae who was asleep and couldn't even see it.
‘I know.’
Kim Rae-bin thought.
It was almost unbelievable that he had spent his time on something so nonsensical, predicting an uncertain future with such unconditional positivity.
‘But… I’ve experienced it.’
Since his grandmother had woken up, Moon-dae hyung would surely wake up soon too.
“I will… wait while preparing!”
Kim Rae-bin sat stoutly in the chair next to the bed, clutching the box and reaffirming his illogical conviction.
Then, a loud voice erupted from beside him.
“That’s right!”
“……!”
“Hyung, wake up so we can do another concert! Let’s do lots of them!”
“Y-yeah! Moon-dae, I’ll prepare too…!”
Following Cha Yu-jin, even the dejected Seon A-hyun seemed spurred into action, clutching his knitting tightly as he shouted.
If anyone else had been there, they might have clicked their tongues at the pathetic sight or looked on with pity.
But they remained steadfast.
“…….”
Of course, Park Moon-dae still didn't answer.
Reality wasn't a cartoon; someone in a coma wouldn't wake up just because their colleagues called out to them.
But they decided to wait.
Instead of planning for a future without Park Moon-dae, they chose this.
And for the sleeping Park Moon-dae, the moment of choice was approaching.
The ‘Click’ text on the status window that I repeatedly tapped flashed brightly, just like in reality, and brought up a new popup.
The now-familiar slot machine image appeared.
When I pulled the lever… the slots began to spin.
Between the gold-shining slots, I occasionally saw platinum-colored ones.
However, unlike in reality, those slots weren't filled with all sorts of embarrassing phrases.
Every slot was empty.
“…….”
But I just waited for the slots to stop. Cold sweat dripped from my chin.
The moment the slowly spinning slots came to a halt.
Pop!
[Slot Machine Jackpot!]
: Drawing a Legendary Trait!
It landed on a platinum-colored empty slot.
[Trait: _____________ Acquired!]
The blank space in the popup was blatant. As if I could fill it with anything.
‘Is it because this is a dream?’
I couldn't be sure. But one thing was certain.
A platinum-colored, Legendary Trait.
‘It’s Rank A.’
What Rank A traits do I know…
As I thought that far, a flash of intuition struck me like a blow to the head.
And before I knew it, I opened my mouth.
“Bacchus… make it 1000.”
[Do you wish to enter ‘Bacchus 1000 (A)’?]
[Yes / No]
I raised my hand and hit ‘Yes.’
The additional effect attached to the upgraded Rank A Bacchus 1000 was….
—All fatigue recovery speed +100%
Then, what if it went up to Rank S?
[Identical Trait Confirmed!]
Would you like to synthesize ‘Bacchus 1000 (A)’?
Yes.
In that moment, colorful lights exploded before my eyes like fireworks.
And the popup was updated with a shimmering rainbow light.
[Synthesis Successful!]
Acquired ‘Nectar (S)’!
The Sweet Taste of Life
—Full Life Recovery (One-time use)
“……!”
This is it.
I slumped to the floor.
‘I did it.’
I had picked the right option.
My body, which had stood up at some point, greedily drank in the rest.
My limbs trembled as the tension bled out, and my head was a mess from the unresolved questions.
But I knew one thing.
‘I can go back.’
The moment I activated that, the logic held that my body would undergo full recovery and wake up.
The possibility that the body of ‘Ryu Gun-woo’ in this dream might recover instead of my real body… No, shut up. That won't happen.
‘The status window didn't even work here at first.’
Besides, hadn't it synthesized with the trait I originally had in reality as ‘Park Moon-dae’?
This was definitely targeted at my real body.
My mind tingled with excitement.
And at the same time… I grew anxious.
‘I have to do it quickly before the status window becomes inactive again.’
I didn't know what else might happen in this damn dream. I tried to immediately activate the trait ‘Nectar (S)’ floating in the popup.
And I muttered without realizing it.
“Let’s go back.”
“Already?”
“…!!”
…When I turned my head, the guy who said he was leaving for a schedule was poking his face into the practice room.
It was Cheong-ryeo.
I instinctively went on high alert. I had plenty of excuses.
“I meant I was going back because I didn't think any more practice would be productive.”
“Liar.”
The guy strode into the practice room.
‘If I press it right now….’
Wait, if he finds the motion of pressing the air suspicious, could this crazy bastard attack me?
While I was quickly weighing the pros and cons, Cheong-ryeo stood across from me.
Then… he spoke with a disinterested face.
“Hmm, you have less tenacity than I thought.”
“What?”
“You said it was your third time, right? I was wondering if choosing to restart over something like this at this stage isn't a bit of a hasty choice.”
Ah, so that’s what he meant.
Well, there was no way this bastard would know this was a dream I was having while in a coma.
He seemed to have understood it as me ‘going back to the beginning.’
I replied with a much lower level of hostility.
“I’m not restarting. I was just thinking for a bit and my words came out sounding more serious than intended, but I really meant I was going back to the dorm.”
“Sure. Then listen up.”
He wasn't buying it at all.
With a face that looked certain I had made up my mind to restart, he continued nonchalantly.
“For starters, the two you’ve gathered now… they seem a bit tricky to handle. They won't be cooperative every time. You saw it this time too, didn't you?”
“…….”
“In the future, it would be better to observe them for about a month before deciding whether to let them join. I think you were a bit hasty this time. Was it that good just before?”
“Yes.”
I smiled.
“I chose them simply because I wanted to be with them.”
“……!”
Cheong-ryeo… developed a peculiar expression.
It was the look of someone whose distant past had suddenly surged to the surface.
Then he muttered.
“…Well, since it’s the beginning, I suppose it doesn't matter once or twice.”
“…….”
I didn't bother to reply.
Instead, after a moment, I intentionally tossed out a casual remark.
“Still, if I do restart, please make sure those kids debut. I’ll leave you with plenty of good information.”
“Hmm, those two?”
“You said they were subpar. I don't think they’ll be a threat to VTIC.”
Cheong-ryeo shrugged.
He didn't understand, but it was an affirmation. This meant that if there were no major issues, there was a good chance he’d do it if he felt like it.
I practically ushered the now-calmed guy out to see him off.
Then, I set up several scheduled emails for him.
[August 202X.txt]
Future knowledge that would arrive every two weeks.
And… I tipped off the prosecution about the gambling den Bae Se-jin’s father used to run.
—It is an illegal gambling den where large quantities of drugs are traded. Please be sure to investigate.
I wasn't going to be here anyway, so it didn't matter if I was revealed as the informant.
‘…This should make things a little better.’
Finally, I searched for and sent the contact information of the hospital where Seon A-hyun’s current counselor in reality worked to Seon A-hyun’s parents.
—This is a doctor I received counseling from, and I was greatly helped.
Click.
Closing the smartphone after finishing everything, I felt strangely refreshed.
‘…Is there anything left?’
It was then.
“Oh~ Are you close with Cheong-ryeo sunbaenim?”
Turning my head, I saw the guy who had left while looking at his phone returning to the practice room.
I glanced at the popup for a moment before replying to Lee Se-jin.
“…Not exactly ‘not close.’”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but I have no intention of introducing you to him.”
“……!”
“That guy is a lunatic. Be careful around him from now on.”
“……What?”
The guy looked like he couldn't believe what he’d just heard. It was a human expression I hadn't seen in a while.
“…….”
This damn dream would probably all vanish the moment I left.
So this was just for my own satisfaction, but so what?
I reopened the smartphone I had closed and spoke quickly to him.
“I’ll introduce you to a composer instead of that guy, so listen well. Use them usefully when you debut.”
“What are you talking about?”
I sent him a text out of the blue. It was the contact information of a composer who would still be unknown.
Bzzzzzt!
The vibration was loud, but Lee Se-jin just looked dazed.
“Now, contact this person… listen through the samples, and pick number 3 or number 7. Those will do well.”
“…What’s with you all of a sudden?”
I chuckled.
“Actually, I think you’d pick those even if you just listened to them normally. I just wanted to say it.”
“……!”
Because that’s what the real you did.
Lee Se-jin’s eyes were full of bewilderment. He rubbed his face with one hand as if choosing his words before finally speaking.
“Uh, I’m grateful, but I have no idea what you’re talking about right now. Why don't we talk after you calm down? No, and why is that sunbaenim a lunatic….”
Seeing him with his guard down, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
‘…If there had been a little more time, he might have opened up.’
It was somehow quite pleasant.
I looked at him for a moment before turning my back toward the door.
“Hey, wait.”
“See you again.”
In reality.
There was nothing left to do here.
I waved one hand behind me and walked out of the practice room without hesitation.
The popup was still floating in my vision.
[Would you like to activate ‘Nectar (S)’?
(※Warning※: Consumable Trait / One-time use)]
“Yes.”
And then, my vision burned white.