Chapter 314
Chapter 314
The Level 7 Civil Service Examination.
It was the very exam I had failed at the final stage—the third interview—back when I was living as Ryu Gun-woo. Just thinking about it immediately brought back memories of the exam-prep life, where you end up grinding away years of your existence.
But why on earth was this popping up now as a Status Effect in this situation?
‘Is it insane?’
It hadn't even appeared for me.
`[Receiving reward]`
That was still what showed up for me. So, that bizarre Status Effect… seeing as it only appeared when the Gong-myeong of ‘Park Moon-dae’ called out, it seemed to be bound to him.
‘Then it should’ve given him the stats, too. Why the hell aren't the stats showing up?’
I suppressed the urge to swear out loud and asked.
“…When did that appear?”
[I remembered how you called for the Status Window on the day you bought the lottery ticket, Hyung… so I tried calling for it myself the next day….]
Damn it.
‘He saw that?’
It seemed he hadn't been able to bring it up because of the atmosphere, and only now was he asking.
[Now that I think about it, that ‘Receiving reward’… did you have to do something like this too, Hyung??]
Yeah, something like that.
But without even waiting for an answer, Gong-myeong continued speaking without a break, as if pouring out all the words he hadn't been able to say.
[I did buy the studio apartment, but was it the right choice…? Would renting have been better? And something really strange happened….]
It seemed that besides the Status Effect threatening death if he didn't pass the exam, quite a few shocking things had happened to the ‘Park Moon-dae’ who had been living in my body for the past few months.
And the final boss was that.
—Re-listing! Idol Inc. ┃ Moon-deng-deng’s Moon-dae-ga-tto Moment☆
[There! That’s me, right??]
“…….”
He was talking about some guy participating in an idol survival show using his own body.
‘As I thought, it was the same timeline….’
It seemed this really was the past of the same world where I had lived in Park Moon-dae’s body. I silently endured the Park Moon-dae highlight reel on the screen.
[I tried to contact you somehow, but there was nowhere to reach you….]
Right, of course. You had even canceled your smartphone plan.
Seeing the chicken feet mukbang on screen stirred complex emotions within me.
‘Back then… that’s how I was living.’
I forced my mouth open.
“That’s me.”
[…?? Hyung, I think I misunderstood what you just said….]
“No, what you’re thinking is right.”
I suppressed a sigh.
“I lived in your body.”
[Uh… Uhhh??]
I felt bad for the guy who was already freaked out by the Status Window appearing, but it was an explanation that had to come first.
Sitting on the living room sofa, I began to slowly recount what had happened to me.
It wasn't difficult. It was easy to summarize.
A moment later, Gong-myeong cried out.
[S-so… you were an idol in my body!? Because you’d die if you didn't become an idol?]
Yeah, that’s it.
Gong-myeong vibrated frantically.
[N-no wonder! I thought he looked way too cool to be me!]
Is he serious?
He certainly knows how to be tactful. I know what my broadcast image was like around that time. I wouldn't have minded if he said I looked like a lunatic.
[T-then, you were just about to win the Grand Prize when you suddenly woke up here??]
“Yeah. But that’s not what’s important right now.”
[Pardon…?]
I spoke gloomily.
“Look at my case. It means you really might die if you don't pass the civil service exam.”
[….]
I don't know if a Gong-myeong can swallow, but it gave off a similar sensation.
[I-I see.]
He’s surprisingly calm.
[Actually… just in case, I bought some practice problems and tried studying. But I… I don't really know……]
Or maybe he’s just given up.
‘I need to map this out for him as a priority….’
After thinking for a moment, I spoke.
“Listen carefully. First, look at the text that appeared on that hologram again.”
The name of the Status Effect was ‘Death if Not Passing!’, but if you looked closely at the description, there was an escape route.
—Death upon failure to receive a transcript without a disqualifying grade in the first written exam of the ‘Level 7 Civil Service Examination’.
This specific part.
“The standard isn't passing; it’s not getting a disqualifying grade.”
[…Oh!]
“You just need to get over 40 points in each subject on the transcript.”
And seeing as they bothered to attach a ‘(1)’ after the Status Effect, this probably wasn't the end of it. The requirement to actually pass would likely appear in the next Status Effect.
For now, it added credibility to the logic that he ‘just needs to avoid a disqualifying grade’… but in the long run, it was a marathon of death.
“What month is it now?”
“I-it’s April….”
The first exam was in July. Exactly three months left.
‘Why this of all things….’
Who held such a grudge over failing the civil service exam to pull this crap? I gritted my teeth.
‘It would be easier if I could just take it.’
I felt like I could bring my score up to the passing line with just a month or two of rehabilitation for the Level 7 PSAT.
The problem was that I seemed to wake up here only once every few months; if this interval continued, the exam was as good as gone.
And if it was certain that this Status Effect was bound to ‘Park Moon-dae’, then Park Moon-dae….
“…….”
This won't do. I handed down my verdict.
“It would be better for you to go to a boarding academy.”
[What??]
Depending on the facilities and the instructors, there were high-end boarding academies that would let you do nothing but study for about 2 million won a month.
If he put the rest of his money into some stock futures I knew about and just went in there to study, wouldn't he manage somehow?
“If the next Status Effect shows up with passing as the condition anyway… a boarding academy is the most efficient choice.”
Isn't a boarding academy better than dying?
[T-there’s a next one too??]
“Probably.”
[Ugh….]
Though it depends on what the criteria are.
If this ‘Park Moon-dae’s’ memories are the center… based on what we talked about, he seems to have returned about six years into the past, so there might be about seven stages.
‘It’s hell.’
It wouldn't even be strange if promotions or performance reviews appeared after he passed.
But if I pivot slightly… what if this was applied retroactively because I set ‘Conversation with Park Moon-dae’ as a reward, and the guy who had disappeared came back to live in my body?
‘Then… the point when I won the Grand Prize would be the standard.’
Even then, would there be about five stages? I suppressed a sigh.
Of course, I couldn't be sure how it would be applied, but the important thing was that it would be a massive struggle.
Seven or five Status Effects.
‘Fuck….’
Suppressing a sigh, I sat down at the PC. I opened a page and started searching for civil service exam lectures.
[202X Civil Service D-100 Shortest Completion All-in-One Package OPEN!]
“First, let’s sign up for the online lectures….”
No, wait.
Seeing the ad banner in front of me, something flashed in my mind.
Right.
‘I definitely solved the practice questions for this year too…!’
These were the latest practice questions from the period when I was most focused on the exam. I clearly remembered organizing them while listening to lectures.
“…….”
I grabbed the mouse again.
And Gong-myeong began to hum as if making a confession.
[Hyung, I… I haven't really studied much since I finished high school…….]
“No, it’s fine.”
[Pardon??]
I pulled up the PDF file of the workbook he had downloaded onto the desktop.
After skimming through it, I smiled.
I remembered it.
“I’ll point out what’s going to be on the exam, so just study exactly that.”
[…!!]
I think the boarding academy can wait until next year. Since I’ll point out all the types for him this year, he’ll avoid a disqualifying grade.
…Of course, this was assuming he had basic reading comprehension.
‘If he doesn't, it’s over.’
For the record, a surprising result was waiting.
[So, it’s number 3…?]
“…….”
I nodded.
“Correct.”
[Yesss!!]
After a quick run-through, it turned out this guy’s head was decent.
No, more than just decent… his basic understanding itself was good. It was the kind of level where he definitely would have done well on the Suneung if he had stayed in high school.
‘His memorization seems a bit lacking, but the PSAT isn't a memorization exam anyway, so it doesn't matter.’
Combined with the practice questions in my memory, it meant he would easily pass the first hurdle of avoiding a disqualifying grade.
I tapped the workbook where I had finished checking everything. I had found and marked all the similar types.
“If you keep this up for three months, you’ll be fine.”
[R-really?]
“Yeah.”
If he clung to it for dear life, he would avoid disqualification.
[……]
Gong-myeong seemed to hesitate, but soon hummed with a lower, more trembling vibration than before.
[Actually… this is a shortcut, isn't it? Since I’m receiving what you studied, Hyung…….]
It was surprising that he had the mental room for such ethical considerations when he was about to die if he didn't pass, but I kept my mouth shut.
It was because I felt a strange sense of being moved coming from him.
[Even so, I’m really happy that it feels like I can do it. Thank you……….]
“…It’s mutual aid.”
Since I became an idol in your body.
When I said that, Gong-myeong bounced as if slightly excited.
[T-then! Shall we watch that? The one where you appeared on <Aju-sa>, Hyung!]
“…….”
Do you really have to?
But since he had been doing nothing but studying for almost ten hours, it would be good to give him something.
‘Is it fun for him to see himself on TV?’
Without a word, I switched the PC screen and accessed WeTube….
—Park Moon-dae’s past currently causing an uproar, the sanitary pad controversy?
For a moment, I almost tore the sofa, but I soon calmed down.
What I saw was a recommendation for a recent video. That incident where I had tried to voluntarily leave Aju-sa.
‘So that was today.’
Come to think of it, the dates matched up perfectly. I let out a low groan.
It was a problem that would be resolved once the person involved stepped up in the early morning anyway. There was no need to feel any new emotions about it now.
However, this guy was the problem.
[T-that…… I……….]
“I know it’s not true. It’ll all be sorted out, so you don't have to worry.”
For ‘Park Moon-dae’, this was a situation that could be extremely shocking.
Having one’s private life suddenly exposed to the public would be infuriating. It could even be scary.
“…I’m sorry. This probably happened because I went on a survival show without your consent.”
Even if it was to avoid sudden death, the person involved might not care about that. But Gong-myeong was horrified.
[N-no! I’m… I’m receiving so much help even after coming into your body, Hyung….]
Gong-myeong trembled anxiously.
[But… what if you can't debut because of me, Hyung….]
“I told you, I will.”
I’ve already done it, so what is he talking about?
But for some reason, he didn't answer for a while.
And it was only around the time I started preparing a meal that he suddenly began humming again.
[I… I think I can contact them!]
Who.
[I didn't remember the number… but I have that friend’s email address!]
“…!”
[We emailed a few times because of a group project… it’ll definitely be there.]
I see.
The two of them seemed to have been on fairly good terms, so it made sense that such a trace would remain.
But was there a need?
He would notice and post an explanation in the early morning anyway. It might be better not to do anything suspicious—
‘Wait.’
…Could it be?
I hurriedly recalled the past.
—Everything is going so well all of a sudden even though I didn't do anything?
It had been strange back then too. I had thought there was no way everything could be resolved so magically and quickly.
And if this was the same timeline as back then….
“…….”
I eventually nodded.
“Where are you writing the email?”
[…! T-there, in the bookmarks…!]
Following his instructions, I left a fairly long email for that friend.
It was an earnest request filled with worry, greetings, an explanation, and apologies.
I could have edited it more effectively, but I didn't bother touching it. I just checked to make sure there were no inappropriate remarks.
And as I re-read the content, I instinctively realized that this friend had written the explanation post after reading this email.
‘The vocabulary overlaps.’
It was obvious that the choice of words had been influenced.
In the end, the explanation post had been uploaded thanks to this email.
[I’d like to send it like this….]
“…Sure.”
As I pressed send, I was swept up in a peculiar feeling.
My thought back then was right. Things don't just suddenly get better.
It was just that someone had specifically worked for it.
So, the kindness really was kindness.
That night, as I lay in an unfamiliar bed, I admitted it.
“Thanks. For sending the email.”
[No. It was the natural thing to do….]
Despite hearing the thanks, Gong-myeong hummed gloomily instead.
[I’m sorry… for making you get caught up in something strange.]
“Is it any worse than you having to take the Level 7 exam in three months?”
[Ugh.]
Right. You should worry about yourself. After a bitter smile, I tossed the smartphone aside.
[U-um, Hyung. If you fall asleep, will you…?]
“That’s why I’m going to try not to sleep.”
[Ah… okay!]
Gong-myeong’s tone lightened a bit. He seemed scared that I might not wake up again for several months.
“Looking at the pattern, I’m sure I’ll come back, so even if I disappear, don't worry and just prepare well for the exam.”
[…Yes.]
Looking at the clock, I engaged in meaningless small talk with him.
The clock moved steadily.
—11:55 PM.
And the moment the minute hand pointed to 12….
I naturally fell asleep.
When I opened my eyes again, it was morning once more.
‘Do I unconditionally fall asleep once the day turns over?’
Trying to hold out by not sleeping wasn't going to work. I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Then, I heard a scream similar to the previous morning.
[Aaaah! Hyung! Hyung, you’re here??]
“Yeah.”
Seeing as I was wearing a sleeveless shirt, it seemed quite a bit of time had passed again. I suppressed a sigh and sat up.
And Gong-myeong immediately poured out his words.
[I took the exam! I didn't pass… but there were no disqualifying grades!]
Even if he hadn't told me, the fact that we could talk suggested as much.
“Yeah. Good job.”
[…! Yes!]
Gong-myeong seemed happy, but he soon calmed down.
[But another Status Effect appeared…. Ah, before that, um, there was a schedule today…]
“A schedule?”
[It’s marked in the smartphone alarm…….]
For some reason, his voice grew quieter. He was even trying to avoid mentioning it directly.
‘Did he think I’d scold him for playing around instead of registering for a boarding academy yet?’
That wouldn't be more urgent than a Status Effect.
With a smirk, I got up and picked up the smartphone. I immediately checked the alarm name.
—TeSTAR Festival Appearance 2:30 PM
“……?”
[Um… could I go there?]
I suddenly wanted to hear everything that had happened from the beginning.