Chapter 427
Chapter 427
The outline for VTIC’s charity concert quickly took shape. The lineup was spectacular.
From famous idols to solo ballad singers, rappers, and even trot singers. There was even news that Malang Dalkom would be reuniting for a rare appearance. The public interest skyrocketed to a level usually seen only in major variety show specials.
[So, if I go to see TeSTAR, I get to see all those people too?]
Not exactly.
‘The guests were planned exclusively for the broadcast.’
The concert was split into two parts: Part 1 featured only VTIC, and Part 2 featured the guests.
Only Part 1 would be enjoyed offline with the fans. Part 2, consisting of pre-recorded segments from the guests, would be edited together and broadcast simultaneously on the internet and CVN.
‘They used their heads.’
Fans who booked tickets to see VTIC as a full group before their hiatus would be pissed if half the performance was taken up by guests.
By doing this, they avoided fan backlash while leveraging the high-profile guests to raise the prestige of the event itself. It effectively solidified VTIC’s position as hosts in the eyes of the general public.
‘This design has Cheong-ryeo’s fingerprints all over it.’
The broadcasting station was so thrilled they were already blasting advertisements everywhere.
‘It would have been awkward if we had declined.’
Looking at how things were playing out, I didn't regret the decision to appear.
Since the formats were similar, some WeTube wrecker would have definitely tried to compare this to that ambiguous, "package-deal" public broadcast concert we did.
Something like that.
As expected, whenever you're involved with those VTIC guys, it’s best to check for traps first. I nodded, satisfied that I had sidestepped a landmine.
Anyway, time passed, and it was now a Sunday afternoon in the second week of October.
TeSTAR was currently in the station's waiting room, changing into their outfits.
“Come to think of it, it feels like it’s been a while since we’ve all done this together as TeSTAR.”
“Right, hyung? It’s probably because it’s been quite a while since we appeared on a music show.”
Today, we were scheduled to take the stage for the pre-recording of this charity concert, <VTIC’s Save the World>.
In other words, the only people in the audience were TeSTAR fans recruited specifically for the broadcast.
‘It’s going to feel exactly like a music show.’
I chuckled, suddenly remembering our first pre-recording right after our debut. I had been terrified when SNS notifications started blowing up in the early morning just because I wanted to show off the lunch boxes we received.
“Malang Dalkom sunbaenims were right before us… and yeah, VTIC sunbaenims are supposed to do their pre-recording right after us.”
“Oh, is that today?”
“In that case, I should contact them to say we’ll stop by to greet them after our performance!”
Chatting as we finished our preparations, we headed toward the stage.
Before our eyes was a stage lined with cameras.
‘There are drones too.’
Even though this wasn't a regular music show, the station seemed to have put quite a bit of unique effort into it.
The staff seemed a bit thin, but since it wasn't a live broadcast, they could probably cover it with post-production editing.
First, let's win them over.
“Hello, everyone!”
“Is everyone hungry? Oh, you’re okay? Good!”
Lights and cheers erupted before us.
The seating area, which held about a thousand people, was packed. Keun-dal was probably out there somewhere, but true to his nature, he didn't tactlessly pop up a message.
I waved with a smirk. The ends of the harness belts on my outfit swayed with the motion.
‘Our slot is 16 minutes, right?’
It was the perfect amount of time for four songs and a short special performance.
The setlist was a flashy arrangement that added ‘Drill’ to the end of ‘Wheel’, sublimating it into ‘Daybreak’.
I felt we had balanced our latest tracks with public appeal as much as possible.
‘Recording should take about two hours.’
“Then, we’ll begin.”
As with any pre-recording, we finished the light banter and fan service toward the fan section and took our positions.
I crouched down at my spot on the far right and thought.
‘I’m in a position where I pop out from behind the dancers and appear on camera. So I need to be careful with the angle….’
Right then.
Thump.
Suddenly.
I couldn't breathe.
“Gasp.”
My head spun. The lights and the accompaniment distorted, my ears rang dully, and colors bled into my vision.
Something was wrong.
“…Moon-dae?”
My body felt abnormal, like I was experiencing sleep paralysis….
‘Poisoning?’
It felt like a strange chemical reaction was happening inside me. My heart hammered, and my hair stood on end.
What did I do?
“Park Moon-dae!”
I stumbled and reached out with my arm.
My elbow felt cold. The texture of the dusty stage floor pressed against my cheek.
No, had my face slammed into the floor?
“…!”
In an instant, my hearing cleared.
“Over here!”
“Move him, we have to move him first.”
Whoosh.
I felt tension surge from my head to the tips of my limbs. When I came to, I seemed to be backstage, covered with a blanket or something similar.
A hand grabbed my shoulder.
“Park Moon-dae! Park Moon-dae, look at me. Where are you right now?”
Lee Se-jin.
I gasped for air.
“…The station.”
“What were you doing?”
“The stage, cough!”
Dammit, I still couldn't breathe properly.
I coughed as if I had choked on something. It wasn't because of pain.
It was because of the shock.
‘Suddenly.’
An immense pressure washed over me, as if I were being chased by a killer in the middle of the night, or as if I were standing precariously on one foot on the edge of a rooftop.
I felt dizzy.
“Call 911! Get an ambulance. Hurry!”
“Let’s monitor the situation a bit more first….”
“Park Moon-dae can’t breathe, what situation are you monitoring?! Now!”
I raised my hand.
And slapped my own face.
Slap.
I couldn't clench my fist, so the sound was a bit pathetic, but the pain brought my head back to reality.
“…Wait.”
“…!”
“If I, if I just stand up…!”
I didn't refuse Seon A-hyun’s help as he supported me. I swallowed hard and spoke.
“I think… I just need a little rest.”
This was a mental issue. My body was fine.
The problem was that I didn't know the cause….
“……I don’t know.”
There are plenty of people in this industry with panic disorders, and everyone would probably think it was that… but for that to make sense, there had to be a trigger.
‘There wasn't one.’
Dammit, I was just looking at the audience and taking my formation without a single thought. No, wait, if that’s the case….
‘…I just collapsed on stage.’
Hell.
“How’s the atmosphere? Up there.”
“Is that what you’re worried about right now?!”
“Hyung, wait a second.”
Lee Se-jin spoke calmly.
“They probably didn't realize. You were in a spot where it was hard to see.”
“…….”
“Got it? They’ll just think you tripped or something.”
I got it. I got it, but….
“Hyung, are you cold? Do you feel like your body temperature has dropped?”
“Wa-wait.”
My hands must have been shaking. I heard the sound of several people running to get more blankets.
Then I heard Ryu Cheong-woo speaking to a staff member.
“Give it to me. I’ll call the ambulance.”
“No, wait.”
My brain wasn't working. Don't call,
“Give it to me.”
Ryu Cheong-woo snatched the smartphone from the staff member and approached me in an instant.
Then, he asked in a low voice so those around us couldn't hear.
“…Hyung, did you see something unpleasant up there? Tell me, and I’ll have them remove it. I’ll handle the communication.”
“No, it’s not that.”
That wasn't it.
No, my head felt like it was going to explode. No, rather than my brain, it was more toward my spinal cord or heart….
‘What is this?’
My thoughts were a mess. To think I’d face a situation this devoid of logic or reasoning in my life.
The sound of my heartbeat echoed in my skull. My hair stood on end.
In the midst of that, I heard bickering nearby. It sounded like the manager was arguing with the others….
“Why is he taking a call now, seriously…!”
A call?
“Yes, for now, I’ll try to hang up on my end….”
“Who is it?”
“…!”
The noise stopped. Finally, it was quiet. The manager looked flustered, but seeing me, he reflexively opened his mouth to answer.
‘It’s….’
I read his lips.
Dammit.
“…Give it to me.”
“Hey!”
With trembling hands, I snatched the smartphone from the manager.
Then I put it to my ear.
Cheong-ryeo.
The news that I had lost it must have reached their waiting room as they were arriving for work. Think. I have to think.
‘The fact that this guy went out of his way to call means…….’
It certainly wasn't out of concern.
…It was because he suspected something.
Yes.
How do you know?
A brief silence followed on the other end of the line, but soon a voice came through.
A voice so low it sounded as if the blood had drained from it.
“……”
What?
What are you talking about?
I got rid of it ages ago. No, it’s been a long time since it passed from me to Gold 2. So how could that possibly…….
Wait.
‘…Status Effect.’
Status Effect. Suddenly, I remembered.
The strange afterimage I saw at the beach after visiting the grave.
[Sudden]
Status Effect: ‘Death if Not ■■’ occurs!
It was bullshit, it made no sense, but…….
If that hadn't been a hallucination.
“…….”
“Park Moon-dae, what are you hearing?”
The voice over the phone rang out again.
The moment I realized it.
I saw it.
Piercing through the flickering static, the notification finally rose… the text.
[! Status Effect: ‘Death if Not Achievement’]
If 1 million albums are not sold within the set period, death.
That wasn't the end.
There was an additional line at the bottom.
[※ Penalty of Fragment of ■■■]
: Duration reduction (1/4)
And then, it came to me naturally.
The date I had checked on my smartphone the moment I regained consciousness on the plane.
-
And I recalled today’s date.
The second Sunday of October.
Exactly three months. One quarter.
‘…One-fourth of a year.’
It had all passed.
In that case, if I looked further down past that additional text….
[Remaining Period: D-1]
Dammit.
Before the chills could even run down my spine, I asked myself.
‘There’s one day left?’
Is that why I was so anxious? Because my survival instinct kicked in and screamed at me to do something right now?
My brain answered.
‘No.’
Let’s calculate this coldly.
The dates have already passed.
If so.
It’s not that there’s one day left… it’s that there’s less than a day left, so it’s being displayed as one day.
And this.
It wasn't an urge to hurry; it was a warning siren that I was screwed.
[Remaining Period: D-1]
[Remaining Period: D-0]
BEEEEEEEP!
[! Failure]
Status Effect: Death if Not Achievement
Deadline Reached
My heart hammered against my ribs.
I stood up.
“Moon-dae?”
And I ran down the hallway. My head throbbed.
“Moon-dae, that way is…!”
I heard a sound.
Creeeeeak.
Thump.
And then, stage equipment began to fall over my head.
I rolled my body and started sprinting toward the edge of the stage.