Chapter 317
Chapter 317
If it was four days after the accident, the media would have been in an uproar, claiming there were no signs of me waking up.
I opened my mouth immediately.
"I'm fine. I'll make a full recovery."
[The—the news said you were d-dying...]
"I'm not dying."
I don't know which lunatic described a coma with that kind of wording, but I felt like suing them.
[Hyung, you're really not dead...? You didn't come to help me because you're a ghost now, right?]
"I told you, no."
I was literally on my way up to accept a Grand Prize; what on earth was he talking about?
‘You were the one who disappeared, not me.’
Hearing this from a guy who didn't know what would happen to him once this 'Reward' ended made me feel... a bit troubled.
I suppressed a sigh and spoke.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner, but I didn't think of it. I woke up perfectly fine and went back to my activities."
[...]
Since I had crushed every obstacle and climbed my way up every time, I hadn't thought there was anything specific he needed to know. Everything was going to be resolved even if this guy didn't do anything.
However, from the perspective of someone who didn't know how things would be handled, it was understandable to be worried.
Especially... if he had lost someone close to him in an accident before.
‘I was careless.’
I sat on the edge of the bed and spoke calmly.
"You took the new Status Effect just to check if I’d show up, didn't you?"
It was still June. We had agreed to wait longer before taking the next Status Effect, but he must have triggered it now just to see if I would appear.
‘Honestly, it’s impressive he held out for four days.’
With the news constantly saying I was kicking the bucket, he probably couldn't stand not knowing.
Gong-myeong seemed to calm down for a moment, but then he started trembling again.
[I-I'm sorry. I was supposed to press it in September, but I...]
"No, you did well."
Even from an efficiency standpoint, it was a situation worth verifying. His guide had almost evaporated into thin air, after all.
‘It’s much better than him taking the exam in that state and failing.’
I let out a sigh of relief and stood up.
"You handled it well, so don't worry about it. It's a month before the exam, so I can pick out some more practice questions for you. If anything, this is an advantage."
[Yes...]
Gong-myeong settled down as if greatly relieved. He really had been in a state of panic.
"You've worked hard. For the past four days."
Gong-myeong wavered as if he were sobbing.
Just in case, I checked my physical condition and realized my stomach was practically stinging.
"Have you not been eating?"
[...Whenever I tried to eat, people kept talking about your accident... so, only sometimes.]
He said he didn't talk about idols, but I guess he talked about idol accidents. Is someone else's disaster always that interesting?
Regardless, it must have been agonizing to hear talk of someone he knew dying while trying to eat. I clicked my tongue inwardly.
"Still, make sure you eat from now on, no matter what."
[Okay...]
Gong-myeong went limp. Since he seemed too drained to speak properly, I decided to assess the situation myself.
‘First... today is Monday.’
Since the exam wasn't far off, I expected him to be at the boarding academy through the weekend, but this was an officetel.
‘He must have intentionally left to match the timing of my return.’
Looking at the schedule on the smartphone, it seemed he had been diligently attending the boarding academy.
Next, I accessed the internet.
[TeSTAR’s Park Moon-dae Unconscious for Four Days... What Does the Agency’s Statement ‘Recovering’ Really Mean?]
The article was posted in the social section and was absorbing a flurry of criticism like, "What's with this title?" I scrolled through the comments.
Perhaps because four days had passed and the perception that "it’s gotten really serious" had set in, most of the trolls had left, and the majority were fans.
Worry, panic, despair, anxiety...
"..."
Actually, back then, I only saw everything after it was all over, so this was my first time seeing such raw reactions. Seeing it firsthand was quite sobering. I was scheduled to be unconscious for another 18 days.
Yet, on one hand... it was absurd how a part of me felt a little happy.
‘...Stop thinking useless thoughts.’
I sighed and closed the news screen. The other guys should be conscious and hospitalized by now.
‘I heard most of them ended up with minor injuries, so there weren't any major issues, but...’
In reality, when I woke up, Cha Yu-jin was the only one recovering from visible major injuries. The rest were wearing braces at most.
‘Hmm, then it would make sense for the company to cut their losses on me and set a new plan.’
Now that I thought about it, it was a bit strange.
By the time I hadn't woken up for over two weeks, the company definitely should have made a move.
Even if the subsidiary held back because of the manager issue, the headquarters, T1, were exactly the type of people to do that.
‘...Come to think of it.’
Suddenly, I remembered something Seon A-hyun had said before.
—W-when the car accident happened, Se-jin worked r-really, really hard...
—He t-talked to the company... and kept visiting the hospital, talking about the surgery... He r-really worked hard! He couldn't even e-eat well...
"..."
After a moment of thought, I created a new anonymous email account. Then, I entered the agency's email format into the 'Recipient' field.
However, it wasn't the general address.
I typed in the direct email address of the 'Management Department Chief.'
Then, the subject line.
—Reportedly, a plan to force TeSTAR's Q4 activities is scheduled for announcement.
I wrote it like an internal whistleblower under the guise of anonymity, detailing what kind of public backlash would ensue if they forced activities with a 6-member lineup.
‘Since he’s currently in the middle of a factional power struggle with the General Manager, this will work.’
With this, even if the General Manager discusses it with the headquarters and brings up this plan, the Management Department Chief will be able to push back immediately. He already knows the weakness of the plan. Then, the two of them will be too busy biting each other's throats to proceed properly...
‘...It'll give the members one less thing to worry about.’
Keun Se-jin.
At this point, he was the only one in the group who could properly communicate with the company, but imagine if the company came to him with such a bullshit proposal.
There was no telling what would happen to his head under that extreme stress.
‘He seemed to have held his ground well until I woke up, though.’
Well, I hope taking these measures helps even a little. I hit send.
My heart felt a bit lighter.
Only then did Gong-myeong vibrate faintly again.
[Hyung, may I ask where you sent that...?]
"Ah, to the company..."
Wait.
Talking to this guy reminded me of one more thing.
—Actually, an article was going to be released last year, but the company blocked it.
The plane crash involving this guy's parents.
He said the company blocked an article that was about to break around the time I was discharged. I doubted those bastards would have blocked it properly in the midst of all this chaos.
"...Park Moon-dae."
[Yes!]
"I'd like to... ask for your understanding on something."
I explained the situation to him.
That the media might prey on his family history if they weren't careful. It was annoying enough that it was already public knowledge; I couldn't let them hand this over too.
So, I planned to send an email to the agency pretending to be a journalist wanting an 'exclusive' to put them on guard.
...It wasn't a method I particularly liked, but given the constraints of time and space, it was the most effective.
"So, I have to write the details in the email. I'm sorry if it's uncomfortable for you to see."
[No... Uh, I'm really okay with it...?]
"...? Really?"
[Yes.]
Gong-myeong vibrated dully.
[To be honest, it doesn't really feel like it's about me... Our appearances are so different... and, well, I don't know how to put this... but it feels like I'm watching the real 'you' on TV.]
"...I see. Alright."
[It might just be my own thought, but because of that, I feel a sense of familiarity...]
"I appreciate that."
Gong-myeong vibrated as if he were smiling in spite of himself.
"I'll wake up on July 6th, so don't bother looking at the news until then."
[Yes!]
"You're only allowed to watch the charity concert after your second exam is over."
[Yes...]
And I emphasized one more thing.
After passing the second exam, the third stage—the interview—remained. The next Status Effect would undoubtedly be for that third stage.
So, this is what he had to do.
"First, take the interview, and only take the next Status Effect immediately if you're certain you passed."
Once you receive a Status Effect, you only get one chance to clear it.
Since he was a guy who had never done anything like an interview in his life, I couldn't ignore the possibility of failure.
[I'll definitely do that!]
However, inwardly, I did think he might just pass on his first try.
And when I opened my eyes again the next morning.
[...Hyung.]
"Yeah."
I realized that I had woken up in the spring of the following year.
This guy failed his interview.
'Park Moon-dae' failed the third stage.
Of course, it wasn't because he was exceptionally bad at interviewing.
[I'm sorry. My score was outside the 1x selection range, and I was shaking too much during the interview...]
Turns out his score was borderline to begin with in the 1.5x selection.
"You did well. If you passed the second stage, you're practically there. You just have to work hard for one more year."
It would be fine as long as he passed this year. But Gong-myeong wavered anxiously.
[What... what if I don't pass this year?]
Having slipped once at the finish line, he seemed to have become fearful.
But there was no need for that.
"No, you can pass. I'm not just saying that to encourage you; I mean it."
I failed because I lost my cool and tried to win an argument with the interviewer for no reason. This guy just needed to raise his score a little.
And he could do it.
"You pulled your score up to the passing range in just two years. Honestly, that's insane."
[U-huhu.]
"And for this grade of exam, as long as you work hard for the first three years, your score is bound to go up to a certain point."
I spoke without hesitation.
"So, since you're already at the passing level, if you work hard for a few more months, you'll pass, more likely than not."
[...Yes!]
Strength returned to the responding resonance.
‘Good.’
His motivation was back. I nodded and finally began the day.
Since he had to run like hell for his final exam opportunity, I spent this time cooperating with his rest as much as possible.
Letting him rest while doing what he wanted and answering the things he was curious about.
For example, like this.
[Hyung, by any chance, the next comeback...]
"July 12th. So don't look for anything else and just listen to the song on that day."
[Yes!]
As I answered, I realized. The song being released on July 12th was the most recent one, 'Promise.'
In other words, it was already the year I had come from.
‘We’ve caught up quite a bit.’
Even though I hadn't specifically found out anything concrete about the system.
‘The guy himself seems to have no clue about it.’
I crossed my arms.
Still, if I were to evaluate it, the 'Conversation with Park Moon-dae' itself was quite productive. I felt like I had actually become somewhat close to this guy.
Moreover, 'Park Moon-dae' seemed likely to complete the Status Effect more successfully than I had first anticipated.
‘It’s strangely rewarding.’
Well, I was also gaining a few benefits.
[Hyung, what is that?]
"I have something to take care of."
It was because I remembered a 'timely' exposé that had taken down the most annoying guy during this period.
Chae Seo-dam’s secret dating account.
Of course, I didn't do anything major. He was a civil service student; he couldn't afford to get sued.
I just... posted one thing on an anonymous site.
========================
[I think Chae Seo-dam’s haters are working on a rumor]
The way this account ID was created is too similar to Chae Seo-dam’s previous account, but it was made recently.
It’s amazing how much they want to bash him.
========================
I posted it in a way that suggested Chae Seo-dam’s private dating account was 'an account intentionally created by an anti-fan.'
This would make the people who wanted to prove it was real flock to it... and well, someone might even hack it, just like I had seen happen.
It was just a possibility. Well... although I already knew the result.
‘If it really wasn't him, he could have used this as a card to shut the antis up.’
Regrettably, Chae Seo-dam himself had been the one being careless.
After confirming that the comments were piling up, I waited five minutes and then deleted the post.
‘Clean.’
[Hyung... did you help that person because they were being framed?]
"The opposite."
[...??]
I didn't bother explaining in detail to the dazed resonance. Just study hard.
After that, I spent the time just resting as planned, and the day passed in an instant.
Gong-myeong hummed gloomily.
[It’s already 11 o'clock...]
"Yeah."
In other words, the time for the final battle was approaching.
If my hypothesis and calculations were correct, this was the interval where the 5th and final Status Effect had to be cleared.
I hadn't explained it in detail, but he also believed my words that the 'Status Effect' would end with him passing this exam.
However, he was curious about what would happen afterward.
Just before the day ended, he asked me this.
[Hyung, when this is all over... what will happen?]
It was something I had been concerned about as well, but for now, I gave a plain answer. There was no need to make him anxious.
"For me, nothing special happened; the Status Effect just disappeared and that was it."
[Really?]
"Yeah. Well... even if it's not, you won't suddenly drop dead anymore."
Gong-myeong wavered like the sound of laughter.
[I guess so!]
Right.
And just in case I were to return immediately to the moment I was giving my Grand Prize speech, I had prepared an alternative.
"Then do your best, and I'll see you in half a year this time."
[Yes!!]
"If I don't show up, contact me in December at the number I gave you."
Gong-myeong wavered with tension and anticipation. It seemed to be a sign of affirmation.
‘Either way, I can control the outcome.’
As long as this guy passes.
With that, I fell asleep, considering various possible results.
When I opened my eyes again, I realized I was lying on the officetel bed this time as well.
"..."
It was Ryu Gun-woo's body again. Nothing had particularly changed.
And looking at the season outside the window... it was late autumn.
The exact season when the results for the Level 7 exam would be announced. I knew immediately.
‘He passed.’
The fact that I had returned at this timing meant only that. I chuckled and sat up. Then I called out.
"Park Moon-dae."
You did well.
But no answer came back.
"...Ryu Gun-woo?"
I couldn't hear any resonance.
The strange vibration that used to ring somewhere deep inside me was gone without a trace.
"..."
What... is going on.
I waited a bit longer. Just in case this punk was playing a prank to celebrate his passing.
But even after five minutes, the surroundings remained silent.
I was the only one in the officetel.
I swallowed hard.
"...Status Window."
[Receiving reward.]
It meant it wasn't over yet. I was still in the process of receiving the 'Conversation with Park Moon-dae' reward.
So... it definitely wasn't the worst-case scenario I had considered.
‘Then why did the person I was talking to disappear?’
What on earth was happening?
I suppressed a curse and immediately got out of bed. I planned to find out anything I could through the surrounding clues and deduce the situation.
It was then.
Vrrr, vrrr.
A call came in. It was the smartphone by the bedside.
'Unsaved Number'
I answered it immediately, intending to extract any information I could piece together.
Then, a voice came through the smartphone.
However, it was a voice I knew.
—Found you.
...Cheong-ryeo.