Chapter 299
Chapter 299
Normally, hearing your roommate's voice in the early hours of the morning wouldn't be cause for alarm, but the current situation was an exception.
‘This is a disaster.’
Ryu Cheong-woo was supposed to be away for a two-day, one-night camping variety show.
That was why I’d felt safe enough to have a video call, thinking I basically had a private room.
[Oh….]
“Wait.”
Clack.
I shut the laptop first. Then I stood up and headed for the door.
“Hyung, just a second.”
I opened the door.
Ryu Cheong-woo, dressed in light casual wear, stood there with a somewhat puzzled expression. I was puzzled too. Why the hell are you here?
“Um, I thought you went to the shoot.”
“Ah, there was an issue with the cast, so I’m joining them tomorrow evening instead.”
Ryu Cheong-woo rubbed the back of his neck a few times and spoke in a slightly sheepish tone.
“But the door was locked… I was going to just sleep in the living room if you were asleep, but I heard a noise.”
“…….”
If he’d heard what was being said, there was no way he’d be this calm.
‘The soundproofing in this place is good to begin with.’
I suppressed a sigh and stepped aside.
“There were so many noisy guys earlier that I must have locked it and forgotten. I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about.”
He seemed sincere, but the fact that he actually bought that excuse was almost funnier. I gave a brief mental thanks to Cha Yu-jin and sat back down on my bed.
I’d wait a bit, and once Ryu Cheong-woo went to wash up, I’d take my laptop and head out…
“Moon-dae, your laptop light is on.”
“I was playing a game until just now.”
Ryu Cheong-woo looked a bit shocked.
“At this hour?”
“Yes, well. I figured one day wouldn't hurt.”
Because I’d been thinking about Cha Yu-jin right before this, that was the only excuse that came to mind. I felt like my dignity was crumbling.
A dubious response came back.
“Hmm… that can’t be good for your health, so let’s try to keep it in moderation.”
“Yes.”
I answered with difficulty.
“I’ll pack it up now.”
“Right. Even if your schedule tomorrow is in the afternoon, it’s already 3 AM.”
Ryu Cheong-woo gave a faint smile and started taking out his pajamas.
I suppressed the urge to punch my bed and judged the situation rationally.
‘He’ll be in the shower in thirty seconds.’
So, I should get ready to grab the laptop while pretending to tidy up…
“Um, Moon-dae. Since the timing is right… can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
Holding his clothes, Ryu Cheong-woo started tentatively.
I should have guessed it then.
“About that VTIC sunbae-nim.”
Ah, damn it.
I swallowed a groan at the mention of the guy currently inside my laptop.
‘It’s closed, so he shouldn't be able to hear.’
“From what Se-jin said, it sounded like something happened. Did that sunbae do something to you?”
“Um…”
I did a quick calculation. How close to the truth should I get, and how specific should I be?
Then, I found the right concentration.
First, I’d imply it was a thing of the past so he wouldn't overreact.
“There was a bit of an incident before.”
Then, I’d shift the focus to the explanation that it wasn't my fault to change the atmosphere.
“He picked a fight, so we scrapped. It’s not like I hit him first; I was just fighting back.”
“He picked a fight?”
“Yes. So we… got into a bit of a fistfight.”
“…….”
He looked quite flustered.
Good. It seemed to be heading toward a similar situation as the two guys with the same name from before.
“That… sounds like he tried to hit a hoebae and got countered instead.”
Spot on.
“Exactly. There’s the difference in years of experience, after all… hierarchically speaking, it was his fault. I just happened to be good at fighting back.”
“I see.”
Is that it?
Now is the time for some words of comfort or advice, and then it’ll be over…
“But did you two get close enough to play games together?”
“…!”
Dammit.
I don’t even know how many times I’ve been startled tonight.
However, it didn't seem like Ryu Cheong-woo was trying to interrogate me; he was just genuinely curious.
“I heard a voice coming from your earphones when I walked in. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop.”
The laptop must have stayed awake for a moment instead of going into sleep mode as soon as it was closed. Even so, this guy has terrifyingly good hearing.
“Is there anything bothering you? Or anything uncomfortable? Regarding that.”
…He also seemed a bit worried.
Given everything from my informal speech recording incident to various other circumstances, he probably suspected some kind of ongoing hazing or bullying.
Was he guessing that the sunbae was using me as a production bot in a game until dawn just to torment a hoebae?
‘He used to be an athlete, so he must have seen plenty of cases like that.’
I shrugged.
“Not really. We just got comfortable with each other after fighting, so we stay in touch. I received a full apology, too.”
“Hmm.”
“I’m putting him to good use, so you don't have to worry.”
“…Putting him to use?”
“Well… once I put him in his place, he became easy to handle. I just mobilize him conveniently every now and then, so don't worry.”
“Easy to handle….”
Ryu Cheong-woo seemed to accept it, but then a sudden look of concern crossed his face.
He asked hurriedly.
“Moon-dae, you’re not… bullying him in return, are you?”
I’m the one who gets pissed off every time, you punk.
“Of course not.”
I spent a bit of time reassuring Ryu Cheong-woo, who had started worrying about the situation from the opposite perspective.
“Hyung, do I really look like that kind of person to you?”
“No. Of course not. But, well, you’re so smart that… I just wanted to say that if you ever feel like getting revenge, you don't have to become the same kind of person….”
“Stop saying such obvious things and go wash up.”
With an embarrassed laugh, Ryu Cheong-woo finally went into the bathroom. I headed out to the living room with my laptop, saying I’d finish the game and then head out.
I opened the laptop with my back to the veranda. I intended to stop the app and turn it off, but… surprisingly, Cheong-ryeo’s face appeared.
[Ah.]
The guy seemed to be working on something, writing something down.
But he hadn't hung up this video call?
[Is the conversation over?]
“I didn't think you’d still be logged in.”
[I wanted to hear the answer to my question.]
Ah, so it comes back to that in the end.
‘This and that, why are there so many people demanding explanations?’
I pressed my throbbing forehead and answered in a low voice.
“It’s a situation where it’s hard to speak out loud, so let’s use the chat.”
[Fine.]
-CHR: Like this?
-Apple: Yeah.
-CHR: ^^
-CHR: So, why are you doing an analysis you can’t even use?
Do I owe you something?
I felt a momentary sense of skepticism, but considering this guy’s contribution, I quickly typed away.
-Apple: There’s something I want to deduce once I’ve completely analyzed the pattern.
-CHR: Like what?
-Apple: I don’t know why I’m here.
-Apple: My memories of that time are faint.
I heard him make a low sound through the earphones.
I thought he was lost in thought, but then an absurd message popped up.
-CHR: Wasn't your wish to be an idol with a new identity?
-Apple: I told you I was a civil service exam student.
-Apple: My only connection was taking and selling data.
-CHR: Maybe you were secretly nurturing a longing to be an idol?
This bastard, seriously.
I deliberately kept my emotions out of it and calmly worked the keyboard.
-Apple: Looking at your case or Kwon Hee-seung’s, it seems you both had quite specific desires.
-Apple: Do I look like the type?
Laughter echoed through the earphones. I was about to change the setting to mute but stopped just before I did.
-CHR: I get it.
Right.
-CHR: But I don't think that’s all.
What?
-CHR: You don't seem like the type to show your whole hand just because you want to feel relieved.
-CHR: What’s the other reason?
True. Since I had the exceptional means of the Status Window and Missions, I was capable of much more.
But even without explaining that, there was an explanation I could give. I paused for a moment, then slowly typed my response.
-Apple: I want to make sure this crazy shit doesn't happen again.
In the end, it all came back to this.
A "wish" sounds nice, but in reality, navigating a "Status Effect" without a Status Window is madness.
Even with one, I’ve nearly died several times.
…And I don't even know how many times the guy on the other side has died.
‘It’s already madness in the sense that there’s no choice and no knowledge.’
This was definitely part of the reason why I’d acted as soon as I found a clue instead of just idly waiting for a ‘Conversation with Park Moon-dae.’
However, the guy I was chatting with didn't seem to quite agree. Cheong-ryeo glanced at the monitor.
-CHR: Does that mean it would have been better to just die?
-Apple: As if.
Extreme again, I see.
-Apple: If you want to keep people from dying, you can use other methods.
-Apple: Like starting a donation campaign.
-Apple: Sending someone to the past out of the blue and making them die again if they can’t clear it doesn't seem like a good thing.
A short reply came back.
-CHR: Are you unhappy right now?
Is he saying that because it’s funny coming from someone who benefited?
I typed again.
-Apple: We’re the successful cases.
-Apple: We have no way of knowing what happened to those who failed.
Kwon Hee-seung’s Status Effect.
It clearly only said ‘Failure,’ and the effect wasn't listed.
‘Cheong-ryeo’s clearly specified a restart.’
If so, it meant that normally, ‘Failure’ could just mean dying and that’s it, like my Status Effect.
What happens after that… I didn't have a very positive feeling about it.
-Apple: It’ll be hard to catch the next target.
-Apple: But if I analyze the patterns, I might find a way to stop it.
-Apple: Isn't it worth a try?
Since time and space are factors that can be controlled.
[……]
Cheong-ryeo didn't reply for a few seconds. He just moved his hand on the mouse a few times.
By the time I realized it looked like he was stroking a dog, a reply came back.
[Maybe so.]
I nodded slowly.
And the guy on the screen suddenly started smirking.
‘What now?’
-CHR: And.
-CHR: Also to prevent variables in your activities caused by someone with future knowledge?
“…….”
-Apple: You already know, so why are you checking?
[Hahaha!!]
I bet that could be heard even without earphones. I felt a wave of disgust and finally turned the setting to mute.
-CHR: It’s good to kick away the ladder.
-CHR: Sure. I’ll continue to cooperate well, hoebae-nim.
“This son of a….”
“Are you still gaming?”
At that moment, I realized once again that I was sitting in the dorm living room.
“No. Just a second.”
Good thing I muted it.
-Apple: I’m turning it off.
This time, I really closed the app and shut the laptop completely.
Ryu Cheong-woo was leaning out of the room with a mysterious smile.
“The game must have been really fun.”
“I’m going to delete it.”
“No, you don't have to go that far….”
“No. I’ll do it for my own sake.”
I silently endured Ryu Cheong-woo’s subsequent encouragement and lay down on my bed.
“I’ll close the door.”
“Okay.”
‘Let’s just get some proper sleep.’
After asking for Ryu Cheong-woo’s understanding, I set my alarm for 10 AM and put down my smartphone.
Maybe because I’d said a lot of things through typing that I wouldn't normally say out loud, I was more tired than I thought.
‘…I’ve pieced together all the circumstances I can think of for now.’
A system that hops to a candidate who is close in time and space.
Discovering that pattern was an achievement. But the more I did, the more the chilling details were revealed.
‘How does the System even know who’s going to die voluntarily in the future and hop to them?’
No, to begin with, the ability to make someone return to the past at the moment of their death was a transcendent power.
I instinctively called up the Status Window.
[Name: Park Moon-dae (Ryu Gun-woo)]
A list of text starting like that.
Why did this remain with me even though the system that hops between people had left?
It was a strange feeling that the more I analyzed the patterns, the more my own uniqueness was revealed.
And in the end, I realized my choice wasn't wrong.
‘Ultimately, a conversation with "Park Moon-dae" is necessary.’
It was undeniable. There was a high probability that the blank spaces I had could be found there.
‘And if things keep going like this, at least one target….’
I fell asleep right as I reached that thought.
It was a deep, dreamless sleep for the first time in a long while.
And the next day.
Vrrr-!
“…….”
I slept well.
I turned off the 10 AM alarm and cleared the message notifications and pop-ups on the screen.
And although I didn't pay much attention to it, among them was an entertainment newsletter app I’d recently started subscribing to.
[“No ‘Military Hiatus’ Felt” T-Holic 6-Member Comeback]
As I later found out, that thing was no different from a disaster warning.