Chapter 463
Chapter 463
Breadcrumbs, breadcrumbs, and more breadcrumbs.
Normally, there’s a gap of a few days between the music video release and the first music show performance during a comeback.
Usually, fans spent this time building anticipation by checking social media updates, teasers, and minor content. Or they’d rewatch the music video on loop, desperately waiting for the broadcast...
But things had completely changed.
Fan communities and social media were in a full-blown festival mode, riddled with spoilers, walkthroughs, videos, screenshots, and collectible photos.
TeSTAR’s side had issued a generous policy stating that "Normal Endings" and "Bad Endings" were allowed to be streamed.
The reason they took such a radical approach in the first place was to aim for word-of-mouth marketing; they couldn't afford to miss the promotional opportunity.
Besides, if you wanted to experience it yourself, you had to buy the album anyway.
The "code" on the included photo card, which opens the door in the ending, was tied to a single account. Illegal downloaders couldn't see the ending!
Furthermore, the lyric books, digital tracks, and concept photos downloadable from the game title received rave reviews for how different they felt after playing the game.
Overall, it was a very unique attempt.
And it was completely unexpected.
At the very least, it meant they had successfully grabbed everyone's attention.
[TeSTAR actually put a game in their album]
[New work from the creators of Ruined Industrial Complex: TeSTAR’s album (Not a joke)]
[Current status of TeSTAR’s insane live-action gameplay LOL]
The sight of fans being shocked that the "MV Extended Version" was actually a game spread everywhere, and naturally, internet users caught wind of the news.
On WeTube, several game streamers who couldn't possibly miss this bait were already playing.
Because Lee Se-jin’s prologue was so shocking, it was great for getting reactions and making good content, creating a win-win situation.
Of course, there were arguments and noise as tastes and reviews clashed, but even that contributed to the buzz.
It was the kind of promotion money couldn't buy.
Thanks to this, album sales were skyrocketing.
The simple packaging—consisting only of a USB, a recycled paper box, and a photo card—actually made it easier to purchase without feeling burdened, lowering the barrier to entry.
And amidst the start of this typhoon-like promotion period...
"Whew."
The Fansite Master was gaming like a madwoman.
The movie-like live-action composition, the interactive choices, and the balance of thrill maintained by luck-based elements that didn't require complex controls... it appealed to her perfectly.
As a result, she was pouring all her free time into it.
"Moon-dae looks so pretty in this cut..."
Currently, she was replaying the VER 2 album, which mainly featured the Prisoner camp.
When playing as the Prisoner camp through the VER 2 USB, the chapter began from the past perspective of Park Moon-dae and Cha Yu-jin.
And in the latter half, there were events where the Phantom Thieves would wear prison uniforms if caught, or events where they could overpower a guard and force them into a prison uniform.
She was also able to uncover a bit about the nature of the experiments the prisoners were undergoing.
[Administering 10ml of ■■■■: Sensing objects 100m away.
- Complaints of dizziness, hallucinations, and headaches.]
Hmm, is it an experiment to create espers or something?
She had felt a bit of an American vibe from it... and the eerie, grotesque nature of it certainly fit that.
Anyway, it seemed Cha Yu-jin had a brilliant mind and highly developed sixth sense, and Moon-dae could apparently use psychokinesis!
...Though he did cough up blood.
After seeing the Bad Ending where Moon-dae collapses after recreating the music video scene of blowing up the surveillance cameras, she had sealed away his psychokinesis...
Regardless, playing the Prisoner camp in VER 2 felt like that.
It was similar to the Phantom Thief camp but darker, with a story more focused on the facility.
However, the VER 3 album was a bit different.
In the case of the Guard camp, it took a somewhat special perspective...
Starting from Lee Se-jin’s point of view, it was a playthrough where he cooperated with the Phantom Thieves.
Whoa.
It felt like he was a guard on their side, someone who was fed up with the facility and looked the other way...
Of course, in reality, he was planning to backstab them at the very end and round them all up like fish in a net.
The line Lee Se-jin hummed to himself was a masterpiece.
Ack!
The spicy aftertaste of the VER 1 first-experience prologue was powerful!
Thanks to that, VER 3 became a bizarre experience where the player felt dizzy wondering when they would backstab the characters they were playing with.
This is all because I played the Phantom Thief side first... Hm?
"Wait, hold on. Come to think of it..."
Was this order intentional?
A thought flashed through the Fansite Master’s mind.
The key shape shown in the music video... was exactly the USB from the "VER 1 album."
The other two versions looked slightly different from the one in the MV.
And when they were on sale, the product page was shown. Naturally, most people who were only going to buy one album would have bought VER 1...
And before that, when they were taking pre-orders without any information, they only sold them as a set.
And even people who bought all three versions would have played VER 1 first, since it’s the shape from the music video.
She had done the same thing.
That meant... most people were bound to see the Phantom Thief scenario first before seeing the stories of the Prisoners or the Guards.
It was designed so they could enjoy the "base flavor" first and then keep discovering new elements while maintaining the tension.
"Wow."
The Fansite Master’s mouth fell open.
She couldn't precisely articulate this meticulous design intended to keep multiple playthroughs from becoming boring—since she didn't know much about games—but it resonated with her deeply.
"Amazing."
Anyway, moving on.
So, in VER 3, the Phantom Thieves were able to walk around in navy blue uniforms while accompanied by Lee Se-jin!
Because of that, the "hide" options disappeared.
Instead, events were triggered where they could access the facility's documents or overhear more information.
Fortunately, as the Phantom Thieves cooperated with the prisoners and built a slight rapport, Lee Se-jin’s values began to waver.
It was because he realized the two prisoners were incarcerated despite not having broken any specific rules.
And after various incidents, he ended up accepting Ryu Cheong-woo’s proposal to join the Phantom Thieves.
"Ooh!"
She had succeeded in recruiting many TeSTAR members, including Guard Lee Se-jin...
But she kept getting nothing but Normal Endings until the very end.
Why!?
Even though she had been spoiled on Moon-dae’s syringe choice and chose correctly to see the Phantom Thief outfit... it was still a Normal Ending.
What is it...
Is it because I was too scared to approach A-hyun and couldn't recruit him?
[We have made it out of this damn facility.]
The ending with no epilogue, where the credits just rolled after that line every time!
All that remained was Park Moon-dae’s incredible thighs... anyway, that was that.
So, this time, she was truly fully prepared.
Here I go...
The Fansite Master, who had looked up a walkthrough while avoiding as many spoilers as possible, gripped her hands and sat back down in front of the computer.
She had found it! The condition for the True Ending!
First, they said to watch from VER 1...
She clicked the game icon and quickly progressed while recalling the strategy.
The walkthrough.
The dice that appeared when I hid must have been the hint!
That hadn't been the "correct" choice at all.
If you met him without having gathered all your allies, it was Game Over, but if you encountered him with everyone recruited, the True Ending event would trigger!
Alright.
And then, the moment of truth.
The Fansite Master squeezed her eyes shut and ignored the "Hide" option.
And finally.
Step, step.
Bae Se-jin, who had been touching the key to the lock pad, flinched and looked back.
From around the corner, a blonde guard in a navy blue uniform appeared, starting with his combat boots.
The screen froze.
"...Phew."
The Fansite Master clenched her fists. And...
A hollow BGM began to play.
Seon A-hyun stared blankly at the key Bae Se-jin was holding.
Then, he scanned the six people standing around him, all dressed in similar attire.
After a series of short, suffocating close-up shots...
The guard opened his mouth.
The Fansite Master covered her mouth.
Whoa!
That was it.
The jewel that the Phantom Thieves had been trying to find, but had eventually concluded was false information spread by the facility to lure test subjects.
Seon A-hyun had informed them that the tutáculum really existed.
Then, he turned around and began to walk away again with an unwavering stride.
Step, step...
On the screen, Bae Se-jin swallowed hard.
▶ [Follow him. - Trust]
▶ [Ignore him. - Distrust]
"...Whew,"
This was a no-brainer.
If following him here led to failure, there was no way it would lead to the True Ending!
The Fansite Master vigorously clicked "Follow him," and naturally, the characters on the screen moved to follow Seon A-hyun.
Seon A-hyun moved at a rather inconsiderate pace, passing through the complex exterior of the facility several times.
Down, and further down.
After passing a couple of easy dice checks...
Whirrrrrr—
They arrived in front of a small iron door.
Next to it was a lock pad identical to the one at the entrance.
Amidst a modern organ BGM, Seon A-hyun stood beside the iron door.
The six members with the keys approached the lock pad.
Only then did the blonde guard speak.
...The front?
The Fansite Master was confused.
What did "the front" mean when they were supposed to be entering a code?
Is there something on the front of the photo card?
But no matter how much she looked at the photo of Kim Rae-bin biting a stylus, there were no particular hints.
There’s only this on the back...
[AW23-5DQ2-B25E]
This code.
Just as she was about to panic, fortunately, Bae Se-jin’s narration came on.
That’s what I’m saying!
"...!!"
At that moment, the Fansite Master realized it too.
If you imagined looking at the characters on the back from the front side...
...They would appear backwards, in the opposite direction!
Then, the code...
Tap, tap, tap.
She began to type on her keyboard.
[AW23-5DQ2-B25E]
This.
[E52B-2QD5-32WA]
Like this, in reverse!
"...Yes!"
And the moment she pressed Enter.
Vroooooom—!
With a bright light, the iron door began to open.
Her fingertips tingled.
Wow...
And after the light subsided.
On the screen, in the very center of a small room with iron walls on all four sides.
A beautiful green jewel was inside a hexagonal glass case.
An enchanting BGM played.
The prop looks so cool...
The camera slowly approached the jewel...
A gloved hand reached out. And...
▶ [Grab the jewel.]
▶ [Ask a question.]
"......"
The choices appeared.
Phew.
The Fansite Master crossed her arms.
This game had no save or load function.
You could skip events you’d already seen, but it was impossible to undo a choice once made.
However.
...I have to uncover the truth.
Her social media friends had said that was the meaning of the True Ending!
Feeling like a detective, the Fansite Master swallowed hard and clicked the bottom option.
[Ask a question.]
Then... Bae Se-jin on the screen withdrew his hand.
And he turned his head toward Seon A-hyun.
It was then.
Someone interrupted.
...Prisoner Park Moon-dae, who had changed into a Phantom Thief-style leather suit.
He asked quickly in a low voice.
Bae Se-jin replied.
Park Moon-dae’s face turned pale.
C-Crazy.
The drug that makes them espers...
No, come to think of it, she thought that had been green too. The Fansite Master covered her mouth again at this twist and stared at the screen.
"......"
The camera slowly panned.
Ryu Cheong-woo looked at the blonde guard and asked.
At that moment.
The screen went black.
"...?!"
And only then did Seon A-hyun’s voice ring out softly from the black screen.
With a calm BGM, the screen brightened again.
And what was revealed... was an attic.
TeSTAR was sitting on the wooden floor around a board game, amidst the warm light of a lamp.
The scene that had appeared in the teaser.
"...??"
The Fansite Master was plunged into confusion!
But Seon A-hyun’s calm voice continued.
Cha Yu-jin and Park Moon-dae, who were sitting comfortably, both twitched their brows. They were the ones who had played the prisoner roles.
Ryu Cheong-woo, who was resting his chin on his hand, said cautiously.
Following Cha Yu-jin’s grumbling, Park Moon-dae rubbed his chin and spoke.
Keun Se-jin nodded. Then he laughed cheerfully.
Then, the screen was sucked in, and the background returned to the secret facility.
There, Keun Se-jin, in his Phantom Thief outfit, said:
After that, a battle of truths ensued, utilizing the secrets of the facility uncovered throughout the game.
And the conclusion was...
The facility was an institution researching how to completely control this drug, tutáculum, which granted eerie abilities!
Oh.
It was quite exciting to see the information collected so far fit together one by one.
Though she still didn't know why the scenery kept getting sucked back into the attic.
Seon A-hyun’s soft voice was pleasant to hear.
At the members' combative reactions, Seon A-hyun, who was holding a book, smiled and nodded.
Kim Rae-bin clicked his tongue as if he didn't want to and picked up the dice. Seon A-hyun also picked up his dice.
One might have jeered at it being an absurdly rigged game, but everyone seemed so immersed that they just nodded.
The Fansite Master did the same, but soon realized the reality.
Wait, don't tell me I’m the one rolling?
And that hunch was correct.
Whoa!
Looking at the dice that appeared on the screen, the Fansite Master almost screamed internally while calculating the probabilities... but eventually placed her hand back on the mouse.
And she clicked.
"Ack."
Rattle, rattle...
The ten-sided die rolled... and rolled... and the value was...
[5]
...O-Oh no.
It’s too high!
Feeling her blood run cold, the Fansite Master involuntarily swallowed and watched the screen.
The game was progressing.
Because Seon A-hyun was throwing the dice inside his book, the value wasn't visible.
And over Seon A-hyun’s face, the expressionless guard in the navy blue uniform briefly overlapped.
Huh?
But a moment later.
Seon A-hyun smiled brightly and moved the book.
The number shown on the black die was...
[6]
Cheers erupted.
Seon A-hyun smiled and closed the book.
Applause broke out.
Seon A-hyun smiled softly and set down the paper book he was holding.
As he said earlier, it seemed he had played the role of running this board game.
Ah, I think I’ve seen something like this in an American show?
So that’s why it came out like this, because of the American high school concept!
The Fansite Master nodded.
A-hyun did have a key role!
Still, A-hyun’s fans might be a bit disappointed that his screen time was short. That thought crossed her mind, but she was soon swept away by the sight of the cute TeSTAR members and the development on the screen.
While Cha Yu-jin and Keun Se-jin bickered, Kim Rae-bin rubbed his chin. His somewhat fierce silver accessories rattled.
Kim Rae-bin replied gloomily, but Park Moon-dae just chuckled. And Seon A-hyun also giggled at the sight.
In that gentle scene, Bae Se-jin smiled and set down his die.
The narration continued.
Inside the board game, the jewel token was shown in a close-up on the screen.
The camera once again showed TeSTAR in the attic, bathed in the soft light of the lamp.
The camera moved upward, capturing the image of the harmonious TeSTAR members sitting in a circle.
Along with a softly rearranged B-side track from this album, subtitles appeared.
[True Ending]
~In the tutáculum. (In the hideout)
It was the True Ending.
"Whew..."
She leaned back in her chair.
So, this game was a concept where the 80s American high school versions of TeSTAR from the previous album were playing a board game... that was the idea.
‘So, the repackage album...’
It was all connected.
The fansite master felt an indescribable surge of emotion as she watched the ending credits roll again.
Scenes she had witnessed so far flashed through her mind—the moments in the attic, the intricate details of the characters—all passing by in a blur.
“……”
The hype was surging through her relentlessly.
She was dying to see the stage. But she still had to wait for that.
That was why.
‘I’m going to play again!’
*
After quickly handling only her most urgent tasks, she clicked the icon and logged back into the game.
This time, it was a different version.
‘The Guard!’
She had saved Moon-dae’s main route for the grand finale!
To reach the True Ending once more, she progressed through the game, hitting the skip button repeatedly.
‘Ah, this is seriously fun.’
Her heart pounded. What new things would they show her in this version?
Finally, she reached the point where the members of TeSTAR, all lined up in their guard uniforms, had to enter the code!
“Alright!”
She quickly grabbed her photo card and began entering the code backward, just as she had done before.
[E52B-2QD5-32WA]
‘Perfect!’
She hit enter.
‘Now the door will open and the jewels will—’
That was how it was supposed to go.
[%EA%B8%B0%EB%8B%A4%EB%A0%B8%EC%96%B4]
Instead.
A blonde guard turned to look at the camera.
Seon A-hyun.
‘...Huh?’
“...??”
Then, the uniformed Seon A-hyun inside the game smiled.
It was the first smile he had shown in his guard persona.
A gloved hand brushed against the camera.
“...?!”
Did he just say... played?
The BGM cut out.
No, before she knew it... the camera angle had changed.
The game world, where the other members had been visible, was now gone. Only Seon A-hyun remained on the screen.
In that moment.
The Hidden Route had begun.