Chapter 434
Chapter 434
A few hours ago.
CRASH!
“Aaaaah!”
As the stage equipment began to collapse and screams filled the air.
‘Hurry, hur—hurry…!’
Keun-dal had tried to access the status window to communicate with TeSTAR’s Park Moon-dae—that is, Ryu Gun-woo—to check if he was safe.
But it was impossible.
‘…Huh?’
Instead, he was met with a bright red warning window. A pop-up reading ‘Status Effect: Failure.’
“…!!”
He could swear that he hadn't let his guard down since returning to reality. In fact, Park Moon-dae had even given him a specific warning.
—Don’t you feel like you’re resonating with the system like before? You said it felt like you were being absorbed.
Naturally, worried that the system might still linger, he had checked thoroughly. But there had been no sign of it…
—No, I don’t feel anything like that anymore!
—Good. That’s a relief.
Then suddenly, a Status Effect failure.
If that was the case, then… wouldn't he die?
Gun-woo hyung.
‘Wh-what should I do?’
He still couldn't feel the system’s powerful presence. But the disaster had already struck.
Even as his mind went blank, Keun-dal’s brain worked at full speed.
And then, miraculously, it clicked. He remembered the title he had given Park Moon-dae to celebrate his clear.
“…!”
Permanent Suspension of Status Effects! The current situation, where a ‘Status Effect: Failure’ appeared while completely ignoring that title, was a contradiction!
‘If I can just find a way to exploit this logic…’
From past experience, he knew the system was vulnerable to these kinds of logical flaws. Moreover, since he had originally been the status window itself…
‘It might be possible!’
He grit his teeth and began to frantically dig through the status window.
“…So, you tried to mitigate the disaster as much as possible by swapping the Status Effect for a Mission Failure. And in the process of trying so many times, you poured all your consciousness into the status window, causing your physical body to lose consciousness.”
“Yes, that’s… that’s right.”
We were sitting on a bench in front of the broadcasting station as the sun began to set.
Aside from the fact that we were sitting around listening to the story without any interruptions, it was a fairly peaceful scene.
Well, except for the fact that there wasn't a single soul in sight.
I sat on the bench and watched Keun-dal gratefully accept the water Kim Rae-bin handed him.
We were still in the courtyard of the empty broadcasting station.
While it was a positive development that this guy had woken up and confirmed my suspicions, I still had no idea what was actually going on beyond that.
‘And what is this reward window?’
I glanced again at the pop-up that had appeared the moment Keun-dal regained consciousness.
[Mission Failure Scenario Complete]
Winner: Player Park Moon-dae (Ryu Gun-woo)
Reward: Fragment of ■■■ 1 (1/4)
From the "Scenario" to the "Winner" and the "Fragment," I had a mountain of questions, but there was a reason I couldn't ask them.
“…Hmm.”
There were currently eight other guys right here with their eyes wide open.
Furthermore, one of them even raised his hand to interject.
It was Keun Se-jin.
“Um, I’m sorry for eavesdropping on such a private conversation, but since we all went through this together, I have to ask.”
“Yes, yes!”
“So, does this mean Park Moon-dae knew… that this was targeting him and that he might die right then and there?”
“…….”
The atmosphere instantly turned ice-cold. I looked away.
‘I only managed to escape because I didn't say anything, damn it.’
I felt a bit wronged.
Fortunately, someone stepped up to defend me.
“Moon-dae hyung suffered a lot. I understand him. Hyung wanted everyone to be safe.”
It was surprising to hear such a mature judgment from Cha Yu-jin.
“But ‘understanding’ and ‘accepting’ are not the same thing. Hyung’s actions were too cruel!”
“…….”
So it was a build-up.
“The situation was moving too fast to even think. It’s not like I had anyone to ask, and I couldn't be sure, so I didn't say anything.”
I quietly explained the situation.
“I was just working hard because I wanted to live, too. It wasn't like I was acting out of some grand sense of self-sacrifice for others.”
“…….”
The mood settled down a bit. Keun Se-jin wiped his face with his hand and finally conceded.
“Fine. You went through a lot.”
“…!”
Good.
I quickly turned my gaze to Keun-dal before anyone else could protest. It was perfect timing, as the next questioner had appeared.
“I have a question as well.”
It was Ju-dan.
How did this guy even get mixed up in this? He seemed to be finding this more interesting than anyone else.
“Then is this place some kind of mental sub-world that you created, like last time?”
Is that really what you’re curious about?
Keun-dal answered readily.
“No, it’s not like that. This is reality, but… since Hyung successfully escaped, the penalty for the building collapse has been negated. So, this reality will soon disappear!”
“…!”
The explanation went like this:
Originally, the ‘Mission Failure Penalty’ would only have been completed if I had been hit by the final building collapse.
‘But I avoided it.’
Because of that, the penalty was deleted, and that deletion applied retroactively, meaning the fact that the building collapsed—the penalty for the mission failure—ceased to exist entirely.
‘Even knowing the circumstances, this sounds like nonsense to me. I can only imagine what the others are thinking.’
“Um, maybe the system’s power to return to the past is similar. Erasing reality and starting over from the past…”
“…!”
And there was one other person here besides me who could understand those words.
I looked back at Cheong-ryeo. He was just listening to the explanation without much of an expression.
Keun-dal continued his explanation.
He said that because these guys had exited the building at the same time as me, they had somehow ended up staying here instead of returning to the past.
“…Anyway, so you’ll all be leaving here soon and returning to the point where the building collapse didn't happen! Just like everyone else.”
“Ooh.”
“That’s a relief, truly.”
Whatever the logic, they seemed to like the conclusion. The group of guys, looking disheveled from escaping a disaster, nodded with much more peaceful faces.
And the questioner himself was impressed.
“I see. It’s a type of… choosing one parallel world and discarding the rest.”
“…! You understood that?”
“On a theoretical level, yes. If you’d like, I can recommend some related materials later.”
I ignored the way Cha Yu-jin mouthed the word ‘Nerd’ next to Kim Rae-bin.
Ryu Cheong-woo gently asked Keun-dal again.
“Then when can we go back?”
“Uh… right now!”
“…!”
And in the next moment.
[---]
The figures sitting on the benches vanished instantly, as if evaporating.
However, I didn't disappear.
Instead, I saw Keun-dal take a deep breath and look at me.
“I felt like there was something I needed to tell you separately, Hyung. So I sent them back a little early!”
That was a pretty thoughtful idea.
The problem, however, was that not everyone had disappeared.
“Hmm, I can see a countdown.”
“Gasp.”
“I guess the GM permissions are still active.”
Cheong-ryeo was still sitting on another bench.
And I also saw the countdown he was talking about.
[100 seconds until scenario deletion]
It meant this place would disappear in 100 seconds. There was no time to waste.
“Just ignore him and speak quickly. If there’s a countdown, we’re short on time.”
“Yes. Right.”
I’d save the other questions, starting with whether the system survived, for after we got out. I needed to hear what this guy had to say first.
Keun-dal spoke in a tone that was clearly trying to remain calm.
“Hyung.”
Yeah.
“When you go back, it’ll be before the building collapse… but the events before that will have still happened.”
“…?”
The events before that?
And then, a beat late, I realized.
“Because I only started interfering after you were first threatened by the Status Effect failure.”
The first signal of the Status Effect failure.
Keun-dal swallowed hard and spoke in a low voice.
“When you go out, it’ll be the moment the stage equipment is falling on top of you.”
“…….”
“You were hit by that, weren't you? You dodged it, but it was still dangerous, so I thought you needed to know this so you could dodge it again… I felt I had to tell you.”
That’s when I realized.
‘He doesn't know I got hurt back then.’
This guy was just a bit nervous because he thought I had barely dodged it the first time.
“Got it. I’ll be more careful and make sure to dodge it.”
“…Okay.”
I shot a look at Cheong-ryeo to tell him to keep his mouth shut, but then I realized it was time for him to worry about himself as well.
“…The stage equipment collapsing will affect you guys too. You should start thinking about how to respond.”
Wasn't this a charity concert hosted by VTIC? The moment ‘accident’ and ‘event’ were linked, it would become a mess.
But Cheong-ryeo smiled… no, he didn't.
He spoke with a blank expression.
“Maybe you should worry about yourself.”
“…….”
Wow, I try to be considerate and he gives me shit… whatever. I have my own problems to deal with.
“Protect your head first.”
“Yeah. I know.”
I took a deep breath and reviewed my next move. Fortunately, time was running out before Keun-dal could notice anything strange.
“The countdown is almost over, right?”
“Yes….”
I read the numbers.
3.
2.
1.
And when I blinked.
“Park Moon-dae…!”
I was running across the stage again.
Instead of the stale air filled with dust from the cracks, I felt the smell of dry ice and the heat of the intense lights warming the air-conditioned room.
‘Here it comes.’
And the equipment falling from above.
CRRRRRRRACK!!
But this time, with a perfectly clear mind, I knew exactly what to do.
Because I knew exactly where it would fall.
‘Faster…!’
Instead of just running blindly, I gave it a burst of speed and slid.
So hard my thighs stung.
THUD-THUD-THUD-BOOM!
Amidst the roar.
The equipment turned into wreckage behind my back with a chilling sound. Screams erupted.
“Aaaaah!”
“Gah!”
And,
“Whew.”
The moment my slide stopped, I assessed my position.
I was backstage, completely off the stage.
“…….”
I looked back.
I could see the smashed and collapsed stage equipment, but this time… it was at least my height away from me.
A complete evasion.
‘It’s a success.’
My back and ribs didn't ache like before.
I waited a little longer.
My thighs were hot from the friction, but that was it.
That was the end of it.
“You!”
The members, who appeared backstage with horrified faces, rushed over with immense relief.
And the building didn't collapse any further, nor did it shake.
“Phew.”
I sprawled out on my back, as much as I wanted.
There were still many unanswered questions and problems to ponder, but I couldn't stop myself from laughing.
“You’re laughing?”
‘I lived.’
No one died, no one was hurt, and we got out.
Things went strangely after that.
Naturally, as soon as the audience members got their smartphones back and were evacuated, they posted all sorts of things on social media, and articles began to pour out.
[SBC Broadcasting Station Stage Collapse (Breaking News)]
[‘Unprecedented Stage Collapse’ No Casualties... Everyone Safe]
The titles were sensational, but that’s just how articles are. Fortunately, since no one was hurt, it didn't seem like the public outcry would last very long.
No matter how big the collapse was, there were no photos of the stage because all the smartphones had been collected.
And no one was injured? That really shortens the shelf life of the news.
I thought they would just wait for the right moment and reschedule the pre-recording somewhere else, but…
[TeSTAR Member Park Moon-dae Narrowly Avoids Stage Accident… “Plans to Rest and Recover”]
Who was it?
—Every time I see an article about this kid, he’s being threatened by steel beams.
—Doesn't Park Moon-dae need to perform some kind of ritual to ward off bad luck?
—I heard he ran out onto the stage, why did he suddenly do that? It’s so scary, it’s like he knew the accident would happen and purposely tried to get hit;;; Did he want to get someone fired? The stage manager?
└I can’t believe there’s a psychopath posting a comment like this when someone almost died.
└Why would he take a gamble like that when he’s a handsome idol making tons of money? These losers and their delusions, honestly lol.
I don’t know who leaked it, but thanks to them, my activities were put on hold. How very kind.
Furthermore, I hadn't yet seen who the blame for the stage collapse fell on or how VTIC responded to the situation.
Because…
I was currently in this state.
“I need to contact the company…”
“Mmm~ Just stay lying down. Get some good rest.”
“…??”
“D-do you want an apple, Moon-dae…?”
That’s right.
…I’ve been hospitalized for a week.
For the record, I had no injuries other than a minor laceration on my thigh.
Even that healed in two days.
‘Why on earth?’
“I’m checking out…”
“Ah, the doctor said you can’t~”
“Th-that’s right.”
“…….”
These bastards must have coordinated their stories before coming here, because they’re telling such obvious lies…
‘This is driving me crazy.’
And so, my forced rest began.