Chapter 371
Chapter 371
Cha Yu-jin.
The center possessing the ‘Trait: Blackhole (S)’.
With a combination of insane conditions optimized for an idol, from skill to mentality, he held Triple A stats even at a young age. He wouldn't even have a hiatus since he didn't have to serve in the military.
It wasn't strange at all that the system gave this guy five stars.
However… the other conditions were the problem.
[Cha Cha Yu-jin doesn't know anything, right?]
“Yeah, he doesn't.”
This guy… he didn't know a damn thing about bodies being swapped, returning to the past, or status windows appearing.
And he was the most difficult type of person to explain that to properly.
-OK. So, we knew each other originally, but you went back in time and became a different person?
-Should I call 911?
‘I’m screwed.’
I groaned and rubbed my face.
However, the status window flashed excitedly.
[Will you accept him as he is?]
“…Yeah.”
Dammit, fine. I can’t not take him.
[First Colleague Recruitment]
: <Colleague Awakening> has been unlocked!
-> Move
Another new tab opened.
I pulled up the pop-up immediately. This time, instead of a banner, something like a game’s colleague list scrolled down…
[Awakenable Colleagues]
Shin Jae-hyun: Working out today (^^)
Cha Yu-jin: Sleeping soundly (―p―)zZ
“…….”
I could see pixel art images of each of them that looked like emoticons. This… it seemed like a downgraded version of .
It was a bit ridiculous, but it might not be bad for searching for information. Even if it was low-quality.
…Seeing Cha Yu-jin’s name after a while was actually a bit nice. Anyway, it seemed the others were all here too.
“Whew.”
I sighed and checked my remaining Exp. 2,000.
‘Surely a level-up won't result in a failure.’
That would be crossing the line, something even the original ‘Section 127’ game didn't do. Of course, the moment they introduced a star-rating system, it was already a lost cause.
‘If I think of it as an enhancement concept, there’s a possibility of failure.’
And if it fails, the Exp just evaporates.
“Is there a probability table or something here?”
Like what percentage for failure, what percentage for five stars, and so on.
I should at least know the expected value before calculating, shouldn't I?
[Just a moment!]
Keun-dal’s pop-up scurried away and then reappeared a moment later, as if creeping back in.
[There’s… nothing like that.]
“…….”
Minimum expectations… shattered.
Well, there wasn't anything on the colleague recruitment banner earlier either.
I wasn't even angry anymore. I was the idiot for expecting business ethics from this crazy system. I looked at the ceiling and suppressed a sigh.
Then I realized there was a mail icon in the top corner of the status window.
‘Wait.’
Is there some kind of notice there?
I clicked it.
[Failure compensation has arrived….]
+ 10G
+ 10G
“…….”
For the record, there is no Gold tab in this status window.
In other words, it was a fake item. It probably appeared during the process of overlaying the existing Section 127 skin.
‘This damn thing is trying to pay me off with scraps of text gold….’
I looked away before my blood pressure spiked any further. Then I returned to the main point.
Colleague Awakening!
[Would you like to awaken Colleague: Cha Yu-jin?]
- Use 1,000 Exp
Fine.
I pressed confirm.
Then, an unusual light began to swirl around Cha Yu-jin’s pixel image.
[A leap toward soaring….]
And a few seconds later.
A fanfare exploded over Cha Yu-jin’s name.
[First Awakening Successful!]
It worked.
I clenched my fist. It wasn't because of the thrill of success.
‘So, what happens now?’
I needed to check how effective the description I pasted was, but other than the emoticons of these guys I’d recruited as colleagues, there were no realistic hints.
‘What am I supposed to do with a colleague?’
Just then.
Another pop-up slid into view.
[<Communication> has been unlocked!]
“…!”
Don't tell me it’s going to make me talk to my colleagues through the status window like Keun-dal…
[A contact has been created….]
Cha Yu-jin: 858-XXX-XXXX
“…….”
It just straight-up gave me his real number.
No, looking closely… the area code was even for the US.
San Diego, California.
‘Dammit.’
I punched the bed.
Is Cha Yu-jin in America?
Is that why his status said he was sleeping!
Cha Yu-jin had a dream.
In the dream, he left his hometown and took a job in a foreign country, the land of his ancestors.
—Take your STAR. Hello, we are TeSTAR!
He was a K-pop idol!
It was a profession he never imagined would appear in his life.
From the moment he impulsively accepted a scouting offer that came out of nowhere after the semester ended, everything was decided in an instant.
There was only one reason.
It was fun!
And he eventually debuted in a great team….
—Yu-jin is the best at this kind of thing.
They were good members.
It wasn't always good times, but every moment ended with a good result.
A thrilling… more dynamic than anything, his life!
At that moment, he realized.
‘This isn't a dream.’
Cha Yu-jin opened his eyes.
And in that moment, he realized he had remembered a past that wasn't a dream.
“Hooo.”
6:00 AM.
He reached out and turned off the alarm that hadn't rung yet.
Then he walked out to the kitchen, drank some water, and reflected on what had happened.
‘Ah.’
His hair, which wasn't dyed, felt somehow awkward. So….
Who was he?
‘23-year-old Cha Yu-jin, a member of the K-pop group TeSTAR.’
However, the current Cha Yu-jin’s body was living a completely different life. He had entered a local high school and was on the football team….
He didn't know much about K-pop. At least, not until yesterday.
‘Wait, was that really yesterday?’
He couldn't tell what the situation was. He had clearly gone to a friend’s house to hang out during his long-awaited vacation….
Was he actually in a dream right now?
Without much hesitation, he brought his hand to his face.
Thwack.
“Ow.”
It hurt like hell.
He criticized his own judgment for hitting his face, and then realized why he was criticizing it.
He had to go on stage, so he couldn't have scars on his face.
“Hmm.”
He set down the water glass and shrugged.
‘I am an idol.’
It was right to start from there.
All the knowledge, information, and skills he remembered were definitely not fake. They were sophisticated and practical experiences that a mentally ill person couldn't just make up.
‘Rather, this side is more suspicious.’
He rubbed his chin. For his life, wasn't this life at a local high school too bland?
It was no different from middle school.
‘Well, anyway.’
First, he would text the other TeSTAR members’ numbers….
‘……I don't know them?’
Then again, who memorizes other people’s numbers these days?
He shrugged and was about to think of the next method. But before that, an alert popped up on his smartphone.
Ding.
It was a message sent to his FaceLook account.
And it was abruptly in Korean.
Text in a familiar tone.
“Oh my god.”
Cha Yu-jin chuckled.
How could he appear at the most perfect timing every single time?
He tapped the screen with one hand.
It seemed that blowing his savings on airfare was going to happen the same way regardless. Cha Yu-jin giggled.
“…So now you’re waiting for a former member arriving from the US?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded.
I wasn't particularly fond of the expression ‘former member,’ but there was no need to be curt with the guy who had followed me all the way to the airport.
“The fact that past memories can return randomly is a strange variable. I’m not sure if it’s necessary to use it, though.”
Cheong-ryeo was fiddling with something on his smartphone with an indifferent face.
That bastard seemed to be acting under the complete assumption that this was reality.
‘…I understand, though.’
Since it probably wasn't his first or second time.
I briefly considered bringing up the story about the dog to him, but decided against it.
‘I should bring it up when a solution to go back is visible.’
Doing it now would probably just drive him even more insane. I suppressed a sigh and just held up the placard.
[Welcome TeSTAR’s Cha Yu-jin]
…It was embarrassing, but since my face was different than before, I had no choice.
‘At least it was a relief I could find his FaceLook account with his phone number.’
And fortunately, not long after I held it up, a guy came running excitedly through the gate.
A guy wearing a jumper that looked like a ski suit, dragging a suitcase as if swinging it with one hand.
“Hyung!”
The civilian Cha Yu-jin.
I was momentarily speechless, caught in a strange sentiment… Wait, how old is this punk?
The strikingly young Cha Yu-jin stopped in his tracks and furrowed his brows.
“Moon-dae hyung?”
“Yeah. It’s me.”
Get it together.
No matter how old he is, I have to start by explaining why our bodies are different for things to progress.
But before I could open my mouth, he spoke first.
“You look like Moon-dae hyung, but you’re a different person. Did you get plastic surgery?”
“…Something like that.”
“Oh….”
“Ahem.”
I heard the sound of that bastard Cheong-ryeo snickering. I pressed my temples and muttered.
“Anyway… I’ll give you our dorm password or something, so test me however you want.”
“That is not necessary. You are Hyung!”
“……Really?”
“Yes. [Only Moon-dae hyung among us says things like that.]”
Cha Yu-jin grinned.
“I know. So please explain!”
“……Fine.”
I led the guy, who was mixing in bookish expressions like he did back during <Aju-sa> now that he was younger, out of the airport.
And then, at a PC cafe in Seoul.
“…So that’s how it happened.”
I finally finished the nonsense-like explanation of the situation after a full hour.
I was breaking out in a cold sweat.
‘It’s getting to the point where even summarizing it is beyond embarrassing….’
I blocked my twitching mouth with coffee. I couldn't even guess how Cha Yu-jin would respond.
But the guy nodded readily.
[This is a kind of parallel dimension, like a multiverse. Right?]
“……??”
Cha Yu-jin… understands this?
And with those terms?
The guy shrugged.
[Besides, even alien mind parasites… Limestone movies like that kind of stuff. I know that much.]
At the same time, he probably thought, Why do you like such nerdy stuff? but anyway, I was just grateful he accepted it. To think I’d benefit from Limestone like this.
Of course, it was possible because he could feel the evidence right now.
Because his life had changed.
[Anyway, somehow I didn't feel like this was my reality.]
Cha Yu-jin, who said he had ‘found all his memories,’ shook his head as he downed his hot chocolate.
[It’s too boring. How should I put it, it’s like a tape being played on repeat?]
Is that so?
[And there’s no way I’d be a quarterback candidate this easily. That’s a world for people 6’3” and taller.]
Cha Yu-jin grumbled that for someone who was 6 feet tall like him to succeed, there had to be cooler adversity and mountains to overcome.
I agreed.
“It feels like the conditions were set moderately. Even the ages don't match.”
“That’s right. That Sunbaenim? The Sunbaenim who is no longer a Sunbae was originally much older.”
Cha Yu-jin pointed at Cheong-ryeo quite politely.
“…….”
That guy… has lived much longer than you think.
Anyway, the pointed-out Cheong-ryeo was processing something on his smartphone without much agitation.
“Are you busy?”
“A little. I have to start adjusting the debut schedule soon.”
You’re adjusting the schedule…?
Then Cha Yu-jin suddenly cut in.
“Debut?”
“It seems I have to become famous to return the others’ memories. I guess that’s like game experience points.”
“Mmm….”
A look of displeasure briefly crossed Cha Yu-jin’s face, but he soon accepted it.
“OK, I got it.”
What?
“I’m debuting too!”
Cha Yu-jin smirked.
“If I’m there, the group will become famous faster.”
“…!”
It was a statement overflowing with confidence to the point of arrogance, but I couldn't refute it.
“And we’ll quickly become TeSTAR again! Let’s find everyone and do something!”
“…Do what?”
Cha Yu-jin grinned.
[Anything! We have to find a way back. As TeSTAR!]
This kid….
He felt quite reliable for someone who was supposedly 17 right now.
But it seemed the other guy didn't feel the same.
“Hmm.”
Cheong-ryeo scanned Cha Yu-jin up and down as if appraising livestock, remained silent for a moment, and then gave a short conclusion.
“That won't work.”
“…!”
But Cha Yu-jin wasn't affected.
“Everyone has a chance to challenge. That group hasn't debuted yet. So it’s not yours, Sunbaenim.”
He tried to hit him with facts.
But Cheong-ryeo wasn't affected either.
“It seems there’s a misunderstanding.”
Cheong-ryeo smiled brightly.
“It’s not me, but the company won't accept you, Yu-jin-ssi.”
“…!?”
And he spoke like a death sentence.
“Because you don't have the look that LeTi prefers.”
“…….”
“…….”
I thought of the current debut team—Shin-o, Ju-dan, and Cheong-ryeo. And finally, I thought of my current appearance.
…Don't they all feel somewhat gloomy and cold?
And finally, I looked at the 17-year-old Cha Yu-jin sitting in front of me.
He was a guy whose eyes looked like they were about to burst with light.
Hmm.
Certainly… it would feel a bit out of place if this one guy joined.
“I’m really good. Even so?”
“Well. Even if you ask me… I’m not the owner of the company.”
Cheong-ryeo smiled brightly.
“Just like you said.”
Ah, this bastard is pissed.
Honestly, with Cha Yu-jin’s stats, even if they didn't debut him immediately, the agency would keep him somehow if they had eyes.
‘LeTi would do the same.’
But seeing a guy who knows everything acting like that meant he was going to cut him off himself.
Cha Yu-jin stared blankly at Cheong-ryeo, then soon nodded without lingering regret.
“OK. Then Hyung, come out of there. Find a new agency with me!”
“Wait.”
It’s not like agencies churn out rookies every quarter, and if we go like that, there’s no telling when we can debut again.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
I pressed my temples. Cheong-ryeo spoke without losing his smile.
“That’s what he says.”
Cha Yu-jin stared at Cheong-ryeo in silence for a moment, then spoke quite seriously.
[I don't know why you’re being so hostile, but don't you want to go back? You already have your group. Don't you miss them?]
“…….”
Should I have covered one of their mouths?
[We can look for a way back together, so I don't know why you’re not doing that.]
Cheong-ryeo stared at Cha Yu-jin without expression. I prepared to move if necessary.
‘Did he just… poke an unexploded shell with a metal skewer?’
But a moment later. The words that came out of his mouth were light.
“Is that so?”
“…!”
“You’re right. Now that I think about it… I wonder if I was being too complacent.”
Cheong-ryeo twisted his lips.
“It’s not like there’s a mission, haha!”
Ah, dammit….
Just as I was about to stand up, Cheong-ryeo stopped laughing.
“So let’s go with the logic of survival of the fittest.”
What?
Cheong-ryeo laughed.
“Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve said this… do you know how many members my original group had?”
Five.
But it didn't seem like that was what he meant.
The original VTIC… before he touched it.
“Nine.”
“…!”
“Quite a lot, right? Haha. It’s a composition where two more people were included in the current debut team of seven… where do you think those two people suddenly appeared from?”
“…….”
Why was there… a team change at the last minute?
‘Let’s judge considering the timing.’
I reflexively blurted out the answer.
“A survival program.”
“That’s right.”
Cheong-ryeo picked up his smartphone again.
“There was originally an in-house survival program that LeTi conducted in partnership with Tnet.”
It helps build a fandom in the beginning, but as more provocative idol survivals flooded the market, it was a format that had lost much of its momentum by the time TeSTAR was active.
But at this point, it was still in vogue.
“But people’s hearts are very difficult to control. Right? The more it becomes an unspecified majority, the more variables appear.”
Cheong-ryeo’s eyes narrowed.
“So at some point, I just scrapped it….”
He set down his smartphone and said lightly.
“This time, I’ll just leave it be.”
“……!”
“Anyone, only those who survive there will debut.”
“That’s.”
“It’s rational, right? And efficient.”
I swallowed hard. We were screwed.
—Let’s have the winners of the in-house survival program debut.
At first glance, Cheong-ryeo’s words sounded like the freedom of giving up influence over the group. Since he was saying he’d debut with whoever survived.
But in fact, it wasn't.
‘The influence this guy exerts over the agency is at an unbelievable level.’
I didn't know if he had dirt on them, remembered and used all the butterfly effects, or both. Regardless, it was certain.
But would this guy really leave the survival to run its course?
‘That would be insane in the first place.’
He must have already seen many times what happens if you just leave that survival alone.
‘He’ll definitely have pre-selected winners.’
And this time, he would compose all those pre-selected winners. With the top-tier VTIC he had picked… and someone like me to replace the main vocal.
In short… that was just a declaration of ‘I’m going to screw you over before you debut.’
‘Dammit.’
I hurriedly opened my mouth.