Chapter 485
Chapter 485
Cheong-ryeo stared at the message pop-up from Keun-dal.
Ironically, the one most bewildered by this situation was the guy who wasn't even in the room—the very person who had sent the pop-up.
[H-Huuuh? What is th-th,is?]
"You're even making typos."
Cheong-ryeo rested his chin on his hand as if observing an interesting phenomenon. Keun-dal let out another digital scream through the pop-up.
[Aaaah!!]
What a mess.
I suppressed the urge to rub my temples and asked, "Since when could you see it?"
"Hmm, this is the first time for this specifically."
Without blinking, Cheong-ryeo watched the pop-up pour out a stream of wailing text for a few more seconds.
Then, he spoke indifferently.
"Is that... the thing currently using your previous body, Junior?"
"……."
"Ryu Gun-woo."
Cheong-ryeo gave a thin smile.
"It seemed like your bodies swapped not too long ago. I'd like an explanation."
"…!?"
He knew about the body swap between me and Keun-dal? Wait.
"…Did you notice at the awards ceremony?"
I thought something felt off when our eyes met while he was zooming in with his high-end camera.
"That's right," Cheong-ryeo admitted readily.
He tapped his chin with a finger.
"Well, let's just say your… judgment seemed a bit clouded. Unlike your usual self."
"……."
Is he saying Keun-dal looked stupid?
Look at this guy picking his words, knowing full well what the situation is.
A guy who isn't even in the industry ended up in an idol's body; what kind of 'judgment' was he even measuring?
Sigh.
Anyway, the atmosphere was just right to explain why things had turned out that way.
"There were some complications."
I gave him a brief summary of the events involving the system fragment that had possessed Keun-dal.
Cheong-ryeo’s reaction to the story wasn't particularly dramatic. It was likely because the issue had been resolved through relatively moderate means instead of something insane like a building collapsing.
…Or perhaps he had already guessed.
"I see. Ah, you posted the photos you took back then on the internet, right? I enjoyed them."
"……."
How did he know that too—never mind.
Seeing him smile and thank me for taking good photos left me speechless.
Let's just drop it.
The guy was sharp as a devil.
Regardless, there was only one reason I could think of for why Cheong-ryeo could suddenly see the status window.
"I think it's an influence from when you were the GM in the virtual world created by the system."
"Hmm. That sounds plausible."
Indeed. Cheong-ryeo had a history of being the GM—the Game Master—of a game created by the system.
He could manipulate the settings window and pause the game.
I’d been stabbed in the back by that power before, but it was also a formidable ability that had allowed us to land a blow against the system.
If some of that role's power returned when I reactivated the system… it makes sense.
Well, in that case. There was one thing I wanted to test.
"……."
Without a word, I summoned my status window pop-up in mid-air.
[New! Update Completion Reward]
[New! New Function Unlocked]
[New! Survey]
…….
I placed it in a different spot from Keun-dal’s pop-up.
[Hyung…?]
I intentionally didn't respond. Then, Cheong-ryeo spoke.
"I think he's calling you."
"Yeah. I'm sending him a message telling him not to panic."
I confirmed it.
Cheong-ryeo is only reacting to Keun-dal’s pop-ups.
Which meant…
He can't see the status window next to it?
I checked his demeanor again, pretending not to. His pupils, his expression, his gestures….
…It looks natural.
Of course, this was a man who had successfully worked for decades in a profession that required extreme emotional control. There was a non-zero chance it was a fake, but…….
I uncrossed my arms.
I'll let this much slide.
If he could actually see it and was going to such lengths to hide it just to mess with me? No, I wasn't on such bad terms with this bastard anymore.
We have at least that much trust now.
That was my conclusion. However, the problem was that Cheong-ryeo’s analysis was only just beginning.
He traced the surface of his glass, where condensation had formed from the cold.
"Hmm, so that thing you call the 'System'… it didn't disappear completely, but entered multiple bodies."
"……."
"Even if you consider it a trophy, absorbing and using it… don't you think you're engaging in an excessively high-risk activity?"
He lifted his gaze from the glass to meet my eyes.
Applying the system to the company?
—What are you going to do if you suddenly want to 'Restart'?
"……."
His eyes seemed to be saying exactly that. It was a conviction that could only be held by someone who had experienced it countless times and had their thought process structured by it. The certainty that if you used it, you would surely become addicted.
It's almost like a religious obsession.
Even though it was summer, a strange, eerie chill crawled up my spine. It was enough to make me doubt my own judgment in deciding to make good use of the system now that it had become my bound item.
…Damn it.
I swallowed a sigh.
"I only used it because I was going independent and cutting ties with T1. I don't plan on using it anymore."
"I see."
Cheong-ryeo shrugged as if telling me to do as I pleased, but then he casually tossed out his next words.
"I'd like to check it."
What?
"The status window?"
"Yes."
Immediately, another pop-up appeared as if its ears had perked up.
[Would you like to designate 'GM' as a System Administrator?]
Are you crazy? This thing really doesn't know when to butt in or stay out.
Get lost.
Why would I reveal my internal source of information to a competitor? I closed the status window immediately.
Then, I managed to speak.
"I just called up the status window."
"Really? I still can't see it."
"Yeah."
The conversation ended there. However, I felt even more uneasy. Meeting this guy had made me realize something anew.
I did say I'd get rid of the company system earlier, but….
Damn it, it wasn't like I had nothing weighing on my mind.
I looked at Cheong-ryeo and remembered the pop-up that had appeared when I ran into Kwon Hee-seung.
—‘Fragment of ■■■’ possessor confirmed!
"……."
A ‘Fragment of ■■■’ was likely a piece of the system. And since Kwon Hee-seung had one, there was a very high probability that this guy, who had experienced the system just the same, also had a piece of that fragmented system inside him.
That was the problem.
I could only absorb more of these fragments by raising the company grade.
To put it another way, it meant this:
—If I shut down this system, the company grade managed by the system would naturally cease to exist.
—Then, I wouldn't be able to recover the ‘Fragment of ■■■’ that Cheong-ryeo likely possesses.
…It meant this guy would get hit with a Mission Failure without even having a status window.
I couldn't exactly say he'd be fine just because he was an experienced user.
I don't even know how many times this bastard restarted while going through that experience.
Furthermore, if he made a mistake and his Reset Syndrome flared up again, nothing could be more horrific.
No, to put it bluntly, the sparks could fly toward me and kill me too.
Besides… didn't this guy give me decisive help in escaping when I was hit with a status effect? During the building collapse.
"……."
Fine.
Yeah, for the sake of my conscience, I had to draw a line. I came to a conclusion.
I'll leave the company system as it is.
But I couldn't just let myself be blindsided like last time.
At the very least, I need to understand the reason and logic behind the updates caused by the fragments.
—Why did the ego from the timeline before I became Park Moon-dae suddenly appear?
—And why did it have to be Cha Yu-jin?
The effects and the targets. At the very least…
I need to be fully prepared and minimize the variables.
After that, I’d have to build a stable structure to recover the fragments without triggering a Mission Failure for this guy.
However, I would refrain from using the system itself recklessly from now on. I’d just leave it alone and watch for now.
At least until Keun-dal finishes his analysis.
The quiet pop-up flashed again.
[I will do my best…!]
Thanks.
I'll make sure you're well-paid.
[Hyung… but right now, I think I have more money than…….]
"……."
[S-Sorry. I mean, since you're the one who made all this possible, please feel free to use it….]
It was fine. We reached a dramatic compromise through the pop-up: a reserved seat at the concert.
For the record, Cheong-ryeo watched the pop-up with interest and asked a few questions before finally, a step late, asking how I’d been.
Though, of course, it was still about work.
"Ah, I heard your group is filming a reality variety show this time."
That leaked too?
"Hmm, but the director you usually work with… he should be part of a studio under T1."
"Yeah."
The variety production crew that had done everything from the hotteok-selling travelogue to The Grandson of That House and Carrot Coin were all tied up at T1. That was why we’d struggled quite a bit.
Cheong-ryeo smiled thinly and continued smoothly.
"Should I introduce you to someone good?"
Oh. This guy was determined to fleece me.
"We've already finished casting."
Be satisfied with the paid platform for behind-the-scenes content, you punk.
Because the person we recruited was none other than….
"…Hello."
"Wow, hello, Writer-nim!"
Opposite the energetically greeting TeSTAR sat the main writer in charge of their new reality show.
Keun Se-jin offered a handshake with a beaming smile.
"It's been a long time!"
"Ah, yes."
Ryu Seo-rin.
She was the very person who had been the writer for Idol Inc.
Furthermore, she was a blood relative of my university senior and twin fansite master, Ryu Seo-jin… but I’d think about that later.
Regardless, this woman was one of the most important production staff members recruited for TeSTAR’s reality show.
And the reasons were two very simple ones.
First.
"It's great to be working with you again like this, Writer-nim."
"…Ah, right."
It was because she had also been discarded by T1.
The reason why this person, a major contributor to the Idol Inc. series, had been kicked out?
It's because we, who debuted through that show, all went independent and flew the coop together.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason; there seemed to have been a complex struggle between broadcasting lines linked to political circles. Caught in the middle of that fierce internal corporate power struggle, she, a freelance sub-writer, had essentially lost her livelihood.
Though, knowing her personality, she probably could have clung on if she really wanted to.
But she clearly didn't feel the need to. She didn't have to.
She had built up connections by collaborating with Netplus on several hits, and it seemed she had pivoted her career in that direction entirely.
For the record, we had participated in her first project there too.
That… Hellfire K-Pop Camp.
"How many years has it been since then?"
"It's been quite a while. Thank you for your help back then."
Ryu Seo-rin nodded. She even gave some lip service, saying things had gone well thanks to the TeSTAR members.
Of course, that wasn't the reason we were working with her.
The second reason was….
"So… about this reality show."
She was good.
Whether it was sacrificing participants to the viewers or creating narrative points to turn a level 1 emotion into a level 10, she was a writer who was simply good at making variety shows. She also had a good eye for people.
In other words, there was no better person for TeSTAR to partner with right now.
"You're not looking for the kind of cute, charming reality program that idols usually produce, right?"
Her tone suggested that if that was what we wanted, we should look elsewhere.
Ryu Cheong-woo nodded immediately.
"Yes. Even in the past, we've always leaned toward making our reality programs entertaining, even if it meant more hardship and time."
"I see," Ryu Seo-rin replied without hesitation.
"Then shall we go with a style similar to that PD? I'm acquainted with the writing staff there as well."
Confidence radiated from Ryu Seo-rin’s voice as she spoke.
As expected.
She wouldn't do a half-baked job; she would properly recreate that atmosphere. The vibe of playfully teasing the cast and pulling pranks.
Moreover, since we had already produced several variety shows with that PD’s crew, the public was likely to view it generously, thinking, 'Ah, this is just TeSTAR's style.'
However.
"No."
"Hmm?"
I didn't think we could avoid the criticism of it being a knock-off if we did that.
Ryu Seo-rin’s specialty isn't that.
Naturally, her originality would fall short of that insane production crew, and there was no need to settle for that.
So, what I meant was…
"Please do it the way you originally used to."
"…!"
Everyone just needed to do what they were best at.
Ryu Seo-rin narrowed her eyes and asked with a 'surely not' expression.
"Well, if you mean what I originally used to do…."
"Yes."
"……."
Didn't we all know the representative example?
TeSTAR’s reality show would go in that direction.
"Like Idol Inc."
Soon, Ryu Seo-rin’s face took on an expression that asked what kind of crazy talk this was.
However, the investor always has a strong say.
A few days later.
Filming for TeSTAR’s reality show began as scheduled.
I opened my eyes.
What I saw was a familiar ceiling.
It was my room in the dorm… the one I’d seen for years.
"……."
At first listen, it sounded natural. Isn't it perfectly normal to see a familiar ceiling when you open your eyes?
But there was one more premise here.
TeSTAR moved.
In other words, this was not TeSTAR’s current dorm. It was a space that looked exactly like the dorm before the move.
"What is this?"
I sat up.
In the dark room, something was resting on my stomach.
"…?"
It was a yellow file.
I narrowed my eyes to see in the dark and intentionally read the cover of the folder aloud so the camera would catch it.
"Your profile file."
Then I opened it.
[Your occupation is a Doctor.]
And below that, descriptions and characteristics were written.
Hmm.
So it's like this.
In fact, TeSTAR had intentionally not listened to a detailed briefing on the specific settings within the program. It was for the sake of the reality show. We only knew the format and the goal.
"Where am I supposed to use this?"
I spoke my thoughts aloud as I got out of bed.
In my mind, the words I’d said during the group meeting when we were recruiting Ryu Seo-rin were rewinding.
—We're experienced, so we already know.
The concept of TeSTAR’s new reality program.
—That writer's survivals are entertaining.
It was a Death Survival.