Chapter 386
Chapter 386
Ryu Cheong-woo comes out of the gacha at this timing?
Honestly, I wonder if this Colleague Gacha system has a will of its own, just like the Trait Gacha system Keun-dal used to run—spitting out exactly what I need when I need it.
‘…Come to think of it, when I pulled while thinking of Lee Se-jin, Lee Se-jin actually appeared.’
Of course, it was a different guy with the same name, but still.
Just in case, I spoke up mentally.
‘Were you able to influence this too?’
[Ah, n-no. I don’t think I can do things like that anymore… though I did try a few times.]
A small, dejected-looking pop-up appeared.
‘No, it’s better this way. It’s cleaner than getting more entangled with the system and causing problems.’
[ ]
‘Got it?’
[Ah, y-yes, sir…!]
Good.
Anyway, there was only one choice for me to consider right now.
[Would you like to Awaken Colleague: Ryu Cheong-woo?]
- Cost: 1,000 Exp
Ryu Cheong-woo’s Awakening.
I looked up. I saw the man himself, his eyes shining with a sense of immersion and accomplishment I hadn't seen in a long time.
‘Hmm.’
I looked at Ryu Cheong-woo, who was waiting for my answer, and spoke.
“No, I just think it’d be better if you had an acceptance speech ready.”
Since these things are best enjoyed without knowing what's coming, I decided to hold off on pressing the Awakening button for a moment.
Until after the elimination announcement.
“An acceptance speech?”
“The production team is definitely going to ask for your thoughts the moment you pass.”
A flash of bashfulness crossed Ryu Cheong-woo’s face. He probably thought I was just encouraging him, saying he’d obviously win.
It was actually a sincere warning, though.
“Um… then wouldn't it be enough to just say thank you?”
“It’d be better to be more honest about how moved you are. Make it dramatic.”
“…?”
If the production team has any sense, they’ll definitely frame this as a massive plot twist.
And a short while later.
On the stage where the audience had all filed out, the eliminated contestants were finally revealed one by one.
“And now, the results!”
[〈Supplementary Class〉 Ryu Cheong-woo]
[Participant Confirmed!]
Ryu Cheong-woo truly became the final victor of this entire game.
Moreover, he was the only survivor from the Supplementary Class.
He became the sole exception to the production team’s calculation that voters would choose a familiar face over a stranger, even if their skills were similar.
“Thank you, um……”
Having finally grabbed the microphone, he seemed to be struggling to keep his voice steady while trying to speak as calmly as possible.
It was the first time I’d seen him this shaken since passing Idol Inc.
“It’s been a very long time since I’ve done something with this much passion… I think I’m a bit overwhelmed. Thank you for giving me this next opportunity. I won’t let it go to waste, and I’ll show you an even better side of myself. Thank you!”
It was simple, but it carried enough nuance to show he was genuinely hooked on this work. Excellent.
Plus, to anyone listening, it sounded like he was hinting at the circumstances behind him quitting archery. No, I hope they take it that way. A good narrative is always a plus.
“This concludes the announcement of the eliminated participants.”
And the Club Main Vocal disappeared, included among the nine eliminated contestants, which included two others personally picked by the CEO.
There were 12 people left.
—Do you know how many members were in my original group?
—Nine.
The number was gradually approaching that mark. Though I didn't know what the final count would be this time.
I wondered how many members Cheong-ryeo thought would be appropriate for this short-term project group, considering it wasn't his own group.
‘I might… need to discuss this with him at some point.’
Anyway, moving on.
Time to do what needs to be done.
“Hyung, thank you.”
“You did the work, not me.”
As soon as the cameras were off and we stepped off the stage, Ryu Cheong-woo thanked me, his voice filled with newfound determination.
“I need to practice hard. To keep up.”
“Hmm.”
Judging by his tone, it seemed he’d already made up his mind based on the atmosphere; he sounded like he was going to lock himself in the practice room and pull all-nighters until the next shoot.
Even for him, that would wreck his stamina and likely backfire.
“Maybe I should have joined you when you said you were going to do this at first. It’s a bit of a waste.”
“Why? Do you feel like you’re short on time?”
“…….”
As if regretting the lack of time to improve his skills, Ryu Cheong-woo gave a slight nod, which was unlike him.
‘Well, you don’t have to regret it anymore.’
Because I can give you back your practice time.
“Here.”
“Huh?”
Take it. I pressed Ryu Cheong-woo’s Awakening button.
[A leap toward soaring….]
And for the first time, I witnessed a ‘Colleague’s’ Awakening with my own eyes.
Immediately, Ryu Cheong-woo stumbled. Quite heavily, more than I expected.
“What…. Ah.”
“…!”
Is… is the reaction usually this strong?
“Are you okay over there?”
“Who is it?”
Even the staff reacted. But Ryu Cheong-woo remained silent, leaning against the wall with his head bowed.
‘Shit.’
Is this reaction normal?
Just as I was about to act—whether by checking the status window or calling emergency services—he fortunately lifted his head.
His voice was calm.
“……Ah, um, I’m fine.”
His expression was gentle.
“I’m sorry. I think the tension just suddenly let go.”
“Ah~”
The staff backed off after seeing Ryu Cheong-woo smiling normally.
And even after the staff had all disappeared, Ryu Cheong-woo didn't lose his smile.
However, his face slowly turned beet red.
“…….”
“…….”
“……Um, Moon-dae?”
“Yes.”
And after a short, heavy silence.
“Whew……”
Ryu Cheong-woo bowed his head again and let out a long groan.
[Uh-oh, that person…….]
Yeah.
Before embarrassment, fear, confusion, or relief could set in….
‘…The embarrassment hit him first.’
I quietly feigned ignorance as the leader recalled all the various 21-year-old, youthful behaviors he had displayed.
“So… um, it’s a sort of accidental situation.”
“Yes.”
A little later, after Ryu Cheong-woo had regained his composure while packing his things, I finished a quick briefing on the current situation.
Even if someone else had overheard, it was so unrealistic they would have thought we were talking about a movie or a game, so there was nothing to worry about.
And as someone who already knew my soul had been swapped, he was quick to grasp the situation.
“It did feel a bit strange. Now that I look at it this way, I see it. The parts that were different from reality felt awkward.”
Instead of talking about parallel dimensions or whatever, Ryu Cheong-woo seemed to cleanly interpret the situation as a lucid dream or a hallucination.
“I suppose you could say I made different choices in areas where I normally wouldn't have.”
It seemed he could think of several more examples besides the archery, but Ryu Cheong-woo didn't bother going into detail.
He did make sure to say this, though.
“Then just now, at the perfect timing, a way for me to snap out of it was created.”
“Yes.”
“So you purposely waited until after the elimination announcement. To let me feel the full reward of winning the audience vote on my first stage.”
“…….”
“Thank you.”
“……It was because we were filming, so it’s not something you need to thank me for.”
“Haha!”
Ryu Cheong-woo laughed and added more.
“Speak comfortably to me. Hyung, you really are my hyung, after all.”
“…!”
“No wonder I felt like I should call you hyung even though we’re the same age.”
Ryu Cheong-woo laughed sheepishly, saying that was another strange part.
“You can keep speaking casually even when we go back. We’ve known each other for over five years; it’s about time we dropped the formalities.”
“…If you say so.”
Ryu Cheong-woo laughed it off coolly.
‘I knew he was this kind of guy, but….’
It was incredibly cringeworthy. I suddenly found myself waiting for the others to arrive.
Fortunately, as I had tipped them off, the guys from the Elite Class, who had finished changing in a different waiting room, soon came running toward the back of the lobby.
“Moon-dae hyung! Does Cheong-woo hyung remember now?”
“Yu-jin.”
“Wooow!”
Cha Yu-jin ran over and slammed a high-five.
That guy calls me Moon-dae so naturally even when Kim Rae-bin is right there.
However, Kim Rae-bin didn't seem to have much of a reaction, as if his brain had automatically processed ‘Moon-dae = Gun-woo hyung’s nickname.’
He just greeted us diligently.
“Greetings, hyungs! I watched today’s stage with great impression.”
“Ah, right now Rae-bin is also….”
“Hmm.”
Noticing from my reaction that Kim Rae-bin didn't have his memories, Ryu Cheong-woo shifted his tone.
“Oh, my apologies. I spoke casually without thinking, didn't I?”
“Pardon? Not at all! As you are an elder and a fellow participant, you certainly have the right to do so.”
Ryu Cheong-woo burst out laughing.
“He’s exactly the same, exactly the same.”
“……?”
“That’s right. Kim Rae-bin is the exact same person.”
“…! Could it be that you mean I have shown no improvement compared to the image you saw on the program previously……”
“No, you dummy!”
“…?!”
I left the three of them to chatter and looked at the person coming up behind them.
He was slowly joining us after receiving farewell greetings from the other participants.
“Congratulations. I guess I’ll see you in the Elite Class next time.”
Cheong-ryeo.
“Who knows, since the numbers have dwindled.”
“Hmm? It’d be troublesome if you couldn't make it up even now. Do you really think that?”
“…….”
“I’m joking. I believe in you, hyung.”
I felt a chill run down my spine.
“You beat a main vocal who always had a firm spot in the debut lineup. Of course you’ll be in the Elite Class starting from the next shoot.”
“…….”
After confirming that the rest of the participants had left the lobby and the other three were absorbed in their conversation, I lowered my voice and asked.
“How the hell did that bastard last seven years?”
“Because he was easy to handle.”
He twisted his lips slightly.
“But people are bound to change. Their self-awareness grows, and they show different patterns based on groundless confidence in themselves.”
“…….”
“Hmm… losing him was my mistake, so I won’t make excuses.”
I recalled the path the former VTIC main vocal took after leaving the group following his club scandal.
It was easy.
Because there was nothing.
He didn't even open a common social media account, and he was quiet, without a single news article or sighting.
I wonder who was behind that.
“But the type with clear weaknesses is easy to handle. Isn't it a shame? I could have handled him without any major variables this time.”
“Then go hold a wild card round or something.”
“Haha!”
The guy chuckled.
“It’s fine. I’m not disappointed.”
“…….”
“I just asked in case you were, hyung.”
Noticing the change in how he addressed me, I turned my head to see that the other three had finished their conversation and were looking our way.
And Cheong-ryeo looked that way too.
Specifically, at Ryu Cheong-woo.
“This one too?”
He meant, did his memories return?
“Yeah.”
“Hmm.”
He scanned Ryu Cheong-woo briefly, as if appraising him.
No, it wasn't ‘as if.’
[Trait: Appraisal (A)]
Valuable things are rare, and trash is everywhere.
: Human resource judgment +150%
He was likely using his trait.
And soon, he smiled and held out his hand.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
the two shook hands.
At least Cheong-ryeo wasn't acting out like he did when he met Cha Yu-jin.
‘As long as they don’t fight.’
Since it didn't seem like anything was going to explode immediately, I decided to take the spare moment to check my status window.
It was because the main quest had just been cleared.
[Quest: Colleague Awakening] -> Completed!
The ones I had awakened so far were Cha Yu-jin, Bae Se-jin, and Ryu Cheong-woo.
It seemed the condition was to awaken a total of three people.
‘Then is Cheong-ryeo an exception?’
What kind of guy is treated as a starting character?
Anyway, if I had succeeded in gathering enough colleagues, what was next?
‘What else? Progressing through the stages.’
It was the main content.
[Quest: Colleague Awakening Fame Collection Activity 1/N]
- Let’s collect fame.
Required cumulative fame: 1,000,000 Exp
The scale was insane, but since fame naturally breeds more fame, there was no need to adjust the period. Moving on.
I pulled up the bottom-most pop-up. It was the colleague status window.
Colleague List
[Shin Jae-hyun: Calculating newly added resources (*^-^)]
[Cha Yu-jin: Recalling happy memories (+ㅅ+~♫)]
[Ryu Cheong-woo: Checking his physical condition (•ᴗ•])
Including the newly added Ryu Cheong-woo, they all looked like themselves, with no unusual issues.
Except for the one guy who wasn't here.
[Bae Se-jin: Receiving a formal apology from the CEO (`ㅅ ´=3)]
“…….”
What on earth is he doing?
I picked up my smartphone, intending to contact him immediately.
And then, I saw the message at the very top.
It was a message Lee Se-jin had sent two days ago.
Zairop’s dorm.
Vrrr.
“Mmm.”
It had been a while since he’d been in bed before midnight, just about to fall asleep, but Lee Se-jin picked up his smartphone out of habit.
And he saw the late reply.
“Ah.”
The filming must have finally ended.
Even though he’d just sent it because it crossed his mind during his regular networking management, Lee Se-jin felt a strange sense of welcome and quickly typed a reply.
A moment later, the ‘1’ disappeared, and a new reply came.
“That’s it~”
As expected, the hurdle was low since he hadn't debuted yet. Lee Se-jin typed an even faster reply this time.
It was only after sending it that he realized.
‘…What was that overreaction?’
It was a sudden burst of energy that could make him look like a scammer or someone who couldn't read social cues because they had no friends.
‘Ah, why am I like this!’
The moment he tried to fix it, a reply came immediately.
“…??”
This worked?
‘Is he just humoring me because I’m his senior?’
Even though he’d made a mistake, he strangely didn't feel bad.
But the reply didn't end there.
What kind of random comment was this? Was it small talk?
Lee Se-jin quickly thought of a suitable answer and sent it. The feeling that he should wrap this up and go to sleep had vanished before he knew it.
And the reply that came… was unexpected.
“…….”
I know him too?
‘Wait.’
A namesake Lee Se-jin knew.
Only one person came to mind who was older than Ryu Gun-woo and whom they would both likely know.
And Ryu Gun-woo’s replies arrived in succession.
Lee Se-jin sat up in bed.