Chapter 315
Chapter 315
I woke up to find that another few months had passed, and out of the blue, I was about to go watch one of my own old performances.
The reason for this situation was... surprisingly simple.
I pressed my temples as I organized my thoughts.
"So... you were studying, and when you had some free time, you got curious and looked up my activities, and at some point, you started enjoying it."
[Yes!]
He answered with such pure brightness.
[Magical Boy... oh, and that stage where you wore the baseball uniform was really cool! And that variety show where you appeared alone was really fun too... though I couldn't watch the live broadcast because I was studying...]
It sounded like he’d kept up with all the major news. It was a miracle he’d managed to avoid failing his subjects and dodging sudden death.
...No, wait. It was possible this was his only joy in life.
Did he relieve his stress by watching idols?
If so, I couldn't really scold him.
[And, after checking my preliminary scores, it looks like I definitely passed the cutoff... so, I thought maybe I could go see you in person just for one day, so I got a ticket...]
"..."
Gong-myeong’s voice trailed off, growing faint.
'Good grief.'
I suppressed a sigh and spoke.
"...Where is it?"
[! ]
Right. I understood.
A person would go insane if they did nothing but stay cooped up and study all day. From a long-term perspective, he did need a day of rest.
Gong-myeong’s resonance vibrated with frantic excitement.
[It’s not far from here! It’s a festival in Gyeonggi-do...]
"Hold on."
I changed my clothes.
There would be thousands of people there; surely nothing would happen. I just had to endure the sobering experience of monitoring my own stage in person.
[Hyung, thank you so much!]
I think I heard him thank me about three times while I was squeezing toothpaste onto my brush.
"It’s not that hard. You should at least have this kind of fun."
[Huh?]
I let out a short laugh.
"Since you're heading into a boarding academy tomorrow."
[...Ugh!]
I had no intention of interfering with a student's last bit of leisure for the year.
An hour later.
To avoid being suspected of being a crazy person talking to himself, I bought wireless earphones at a convenience store. This should be enough to keep up appearances.
Of course, while moving, I was also handling the things I needed to do.
"First, why don't you tell me what's been happening?"
[Yes!]
First, I checked the new status effect that had appeared for this guy.
[!Status Effect: Death if Not Passing! (2)]
Failure to pass the 1st written exam of the 'Level 7 Civil Service Examination' will result in death.
Right. I figured as much.
The time limit was the same: one year. Hmm.
'Next time, I should tell him to delay confirming the clear.'
If things got pushed back, we could end up in a crazy situation where the period expires before the 2nd or 3rd round of exams.
Since the exams were on a yearly cycle, it might not make a huge difference, but he could potentially gain an advantage with the timing.
But the moment I thought that, I also remembered how my own status effect clear had been confirmed.
'Truth Verification.'
I didn't know if a piece of trash like 'Truth Verification ☜ Click!' had appeared for him too, so I had to check.
"Looking at the date, it doesn't seem like the status effect changed immediately after you checked your scores."
[Uh... yes! Actually, something strange popped up...]
Gong-myeong’s resonance trembled slightly. And as soon as he explained, I knew why.
At the very bottom of the success pop-up that appeared right after he checked his 1st-round scores, there was an option.
[Accept Synchronization ☜ Click!]
He said he felt an eerie sensation about clicking it, so he hesitated for weeks before finally accepting it in September.
[I was going to wait and ask you if you showed up, hyung...]
But there had been no word from me, and in the end, he had clicked that button yesterday.
And the result was...
[Accumulation Complete.]
He said a window like that appeared.
'...That must have felt incredibly unsettling.'
[Um, hyung. Could it be that I did something wrong and some kind of penalty is accumulating...?]
"No, it's probably not that."
Based on the general feeling... it seemed like 'Park Moon-dae' was being established as having existed during the process of the rewards I set being fulfilled, but I couldn't be sure.
'Just what kind of mechanism is this?'
The list of things I needed to analyze grew. I decided to set it aside for now.
Because we had already arrived at our destination.
I got off the bus and checked the sports stadium in front of me.
"This is it."
[Wow!]
I remembered this.
'I think it was a festival hosted by some corporation.'
For such an event, it was rare that they didn't reserve the whole place and instead sold tickets. This guy had somehow managed to snag one.
'The lineup... we were among the top acts.'
Recalling the details, I stepped inside.
The air inside the venue was stuffy. As expected of a modern society where abnormal temperatures occurred as easily as breathing, it was hot even though it was late September.
'No wonder I was sleeping in a sleeveless shirt.'
As I sat in an aisle seat on the outskirts, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu. What was it? Was I remembering my days as a data seller?
[Um, hyung. Do you remember this performance too?]
"Yeah."
[Then...! Do you know when you'll be coming out?]
I consciously pressed my Bluetooth earphone as I answered.
"Second to last."
[Whoa...]
I wondered what part of that conversation was worth being impressed by. Was it the practicality of just getting off work early instead of fighting for the ending slot?
'Should I share some anecdotes from the promotion period when I have time?'
I felt like a curator. I shut my mouth. And on stage, the performances were just beginning.
"..."
The following stages didn't stir much emotion. They were people I'd promoted with, so I'd seen them plenty of times.
However, seeing them from down here again, that déjà vu of being back in my data-selling days returned.
[Hyung, are you bored by any chance...?]
"No, it's fine. It probably just looks that way because I'm used to it."
I could say this because I knew that no matter how much I muttered in this noise, the people around me wouldn't hear. And Gong-myeong seemed to understand well, perhaps because this was his body too.
[Since you promoted as an idol, of course you would be!]
"That, and I used to go around filming things like this back in university."
[! ]
Mmm, I shouldn't have said that.
However, instead of asking something like 'Were you a journalism intern?', Gong-myeong agreed enthusiastically.
[Right! Like, you even filmed that Young-rin fancam, hyung...!]
"...??"
How does he know so much?
"Did I even tell you things like that?"
[That... yes. I found out somehow!]
Right. Well, it wasn't exactly a secret, so I might have let it slip while drinking.
I nodded.
Since the guy sharing my vision was excited, I watched the rest of the performances without turning my head.
And after a long time, the guys we were waiting for finally climbed onto the stage.
Waaaaaaah!!!
The screams were about three times louder than before.
And the figures took their positions.
TeSTAR.
—The you I'll meet tomorrow
I think of you all day today
Me... wearing a navy stage outfit and holding a microphone.
—I dream a dream as blue as the day
"..."
[Wow...!]
It was a strange feeling.
I had certainly monitored my stages countless times. I had to check exactly what I was doing to refine it.
But seeing a live performance entirely from the perspective of an audience member... was almost shocking.
Even though I was only the size of a lighter.
'Was I making that kind of expression?'
My face on the electronic screen and the matchstick-sized figures running around intersected in my vision.
—Cast a spell
Only then did I truly understand that I was included in those scenes I had once recorded as data.
Park Moon-dae on stage... looked like a fairly decent idol.
I sat quietly in my seat among the cheering crowd until TeSTAR's stage ended.
And only when the rapper, whom 'Park Moon-dae' said he wasn't interested in, came out did I lightly stand up and leave.
[Hyung?]
"Going to the restroom."
I wanted to splash some cold water on my face. I couldn't believe I found this situation so deeply moving.
...I missed it.
'Good lord.'
I moved my feet and naturally headed toward the end of the hallway. And the moment I entered the restroom, I realized.
Just now... I had very naturally entered a restricted area for authorized personnel only.
"..."
I guess since I didn't look like a fan of any of the performers, they assumed I was staff. The event security was truly pathetic.
'Well, it's not like I'm carrying a camera.'
I shrugged and turned on the water at the sink.
And at the same time, I heard it.
Bang!
Someone threw a stall door open so hard it seemed like it might break and stepped out.
"...?"
What the?
I happened to see the person's reflection in the mirror directly in front of me.
And... it was someone I knew.
[Whoa, whoa, whoa! This person!]
It was Bae Se-jin.
In that instant, I grasped the situation.
'He was holed up in a stall crying.'
It was early in their debut, so it was obvious. Come to think of it, had I experienced a similar situation during Daydream?
"..."
This was the Bae Se-jin of the days when he was trying to be less prickly but still had a foul personality due to family issues.
I watched Bae Se-jin, who had stopped before reaching the sink. His eyes were sharp with wariness.
'Hmm.'
I felt a peculiar sensation. It was... almost like I was glad to see him.
Of course, I could look like a weirdo, so I had to fix the situation first.
I spoke briefly while washing my hands.
"You're Lee Se-jin, right? I'm sorry. I'm a fan, so I was just surprised."
"...!"
"I enjoyed your stage earlier. I think your expressions are always really good."
Bae Se-jin—no, Lee Se-jin, who hadn't changed his name yet—wore a dazed expression.
'Ah, was this around the time he was getting a lot of hate?'
Since it was a time when he was being bashed by online public opinion for being an additional member and lacking stage skills, my words might actually arouse more suspicion.
But Bae Se-jin didn't do that.
"...Thank you."
Instead, he looked a bit embarrassed, a hint of awkwardness crossing his face.
"I'm the one who's thankful. I'll be rooting for you."
"...Yes."
Only then did Bae Se-jin come to the sink and start washing his hands.
'Crisis averted.'
I shook the water off my hands and tried to walk toward the door, but a voice came from behind me.
"Um...! If you need... an autograph, ahem, if you want one."
"Ah."
I'd thought this before, but this guy actually has decent fan service. I made a show of fumbling through my pockets a few times before bowing my head.
"I don't have a pen. I'll definitely ask for one next time."
"...Okay."
And so, I ended my brief conversation with the Bae Se-jin of the past and carefully slipped out of the staff area without catching anyone's eye.
I couldn't deny that it was a fresh experience.
[Wow... do you think he recognized you, hyung?]
"Probably not."
Back then, we were barely on speaking terms.
'If it was September of the debut year...'
Come to think of it, it was soon after this that he would report his father's fraudulent gambling to the police and change his name. Was it early October?
'Hmm.'
Back then... I'm pretty sure they didn't just get caught for gambling, but drugs were involved too, which significantly increased the sentence.
'He accidentally found out the identity of a druggie by sheer luck.'
I stopped walking.
...Perhaps?
"Can we stop somewhere for a moment before we go?"
[Huh? Yes!]
I looked for the nearest public telephone.
[...?]
Then I called the civil service office of the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency.
[Hyung??]
Ah, they picked up.
"There are drugs being stored in an illegal gambling den in the basement of the XX building in XX city."
And I hung up.
[Uh... uhhh...]
They might think it's a prank call now, but once Bae Se-jin makes his anonymous report, they'll remember it.
The dates were close, and they'd have two tips about the same location with completely different vibes.
'It'll at least have the effect of making them search for drugs.'
I shrugged and stepped out of the phone booth.
"It's not a prank call, so don't worry. The police won't come looking for us."
[I-Is that so...?]
I shared a few anecdotes from the early debut days as we slowly returned to the officetel.
By the time we had dinner and washed up, the day was almost over.
'Going out definitely eats up time.'
After giving him some advice regarding the status effect, I quickly went over the previous year's 1st-round exam questions with him. He picked things up quickly, probably because he'd been studying for a few months.
After that, there were exactly 30 minutes left in the day.
Thanks to that, I was currently chatting with 'Park Moon-dae's' resonance, who seemed a bit depressed.
[Hyung, do you think... you come back every time I clear a status effect?]
"Could be."
There was only one case so far, but it was a possibility. At that, Gong-myeong hummed gloomily.
[Then... I might not see you again until a year from now.]
I let out a short laugh.
"Think of it the other way. It means as long as you pass the 1st round, we'll see each other again."
[That's... true??]
"Yeah. Work hard."
[...Yes!!]
It was a bit redundant since failure meant sudden death, but wouldn't it be better if his guide showed up like an annual membership?
I gave him one last lesson on how to sell stocks in case he needed money urgently, and then I fell asleep.
It was midnight.
And morning again.
I opened my eyes again because of the sound of an alarm.
Sunlight was streaming in.
Now then, I wonder if 'Park Moon-dae's' hypothesis...
[Hyung! It's you, right?]
Judging by the voice, it seemed he was right.
"Yeah."
I chuckled at the excited vibration of the resonance.
"Did you do well on the exam?"
[Yes! Yes!! I passed...! The 1st round!]
Right, well done.
Even if he had registered for a boarding academy... Wait, this was still that same officetel.
I got up from the bed and looked around. Something was sitting on the table.
"Did you not register for the boarding academy?"
[I did! Oh, it's the weekend, and I had something to do yesterday, so I came to the officetel for a bit... and I thought this place would feel more familiar to you when you came, hyung.]
"I see."
It was a rather thoughtful idea. I nodded and headed toward the table. On the table was some kind of advertisement poster...
Wait.
[Be happy^^ VTIC Cheong-ryeo]
This bastard... why is his autograph here?