Chapter 547
Chapter 547
Cheong-ryeo’s 100th restart.
I knew that in this timeline, Ju-dan hadn't debuted as a member of VTIC.
But I never imagined we’d meet in such an absurd situation.
One moment, I was Cheong-ryeo’s status window, only to be deleted and wake up in the middle of the night outside a VTIC concert venue.
And on top of that…
I pressed my fingers against my temples and asked again.
“The embassy?”
What was he talking about, suddenly bringing up embassy phone numbers?
“Yes.”
Ju-dan nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Seeing as it’s midnight in this weather and you aren’t even wearing a coat, it seems likely you were involved in a theft after overindulging in alcohol.”
“…”
“If you happen to think you still have your passport on you, perhaps you should check that first.”
In short, he thought I looked like a traveler who’d gotten hammered in a foreign country and then mugged.
…I must look pretty pathetic. I kept my hand on my temple and asked, “Do you happen to have a mirror?”
“You could just use the selfie mode on your smartph—”
Ju-dan stopped mid-sentence and looked at me with a peculiar gaze.
His expression said, I knew it.
“I see your smartphone is gone as well.”
“…”
He was just inventing reasons for me now.
Actually, this was better. It saved me the trouble of making up an excuse.
“First, I’d like to move somewhere warm.”
“Ah, a place nearby that’s still open… Hmm, this way.”
I immediately followed him as he began to lead the way.
As I walked behind him, my mind slowly began to regain its composure, despite the lingering pain.
My current state is…
For a moment, I felt like my consciousness might slip away again if I let my guard down, but somehow, it was manageable.
My body, however, felt like total trash.
It felt like my whole body was being shattered.
It seemed to be an aftereffect of being ripped out of that guy’s status window.
Well, I thought the worst of it would have vanished by now, but if this is the baseline, it’s a bit disappointing, though still…
“…”
Then, the realization slowly dawned on me.
Are you out of your mind?
Why the hell was I accepting this so naturally?
I had just escaped the insane experience of living inside a system as a status window for three months—what was there to be disappointed about? I should be celebrating. What was I thinking, calling this "baseline"?
Even while I was inside the system… I actually sent emoticons and joked around? Me?
Instead of grinding my gears and desperately trying to find a way back.
Something’s wrong.
And this deletion incident was the same.
Given that guy’s thought process, I should have expected this and prepared for it. No, I should have been the one gritting my teeth and preparing to stab him in the back first.
…No.
I looked back coldly.
I definitely thought that way at the beginning of my time as the status window.
But at some point, I forgot.
And so, I was hit without any preparation.
Instead of looking at the big picture, I just appealed to my own usefulness, begging him not to delete me… No.
I hadn't appealed to my usefulness; I had appealed to the usefulness of the status window.
“…”
Goddammit.
I was just trying to equate myself with the status window again, wasn't I?
This is driving me crazy. I wiped my face with both hands.
Does being inside the system affect you like that?
The conclusion was…
I had assimilated to the point where the resistance and pressure I used to feel when accessing the system had started to feel comfortable.
To a dangerous degree.
I wiped away a cold sweat and forced myself to think rationally.
It’s a relief I was kicked out.
My body was in the worst shape possible, but it was a blessing to have escaped that cursed way of thinking. At least now I could feel the goosebumps and realize how strange it all was.
The more I looked back on those three months as a status window, the more absurd it seemed.
…And finally, something clicked.
So this is what Keun-dal went through.
The loss of personality, gradually becoming assimilated as a part of the system.
A bitter taste filled my mouth. It was even worse because I had no idea what was happening in reality.
I just hope time doesn't flow the same way here as it does back home.
Park Moon-dae, missing for three months? The internet would be in an absolute uproar, and even if I went back, I wouldn’t be able to promote like before because I’d be too busy explaining my disappearance.
Sigh.
How was I going to handle this?
Just as I was clutching my head, feeling dizzy from all the grim hypotheticals, the guy next to me started rambling again.
“In case you’re suspicious that the timing of my approach was too perfect and suspect some other crime—human trafficking, for instance—let me clarify…”
When is he going to get to the point?
“I am a trainee at LeTi. I just came back for a moment to find something I left behind.”
“Ah, right.”
“If you’re wondering why a trainee would be attending a VTIC sunbaenim’s concert…”
Oh, it’s obvious.
“Are you in the debut group?”
“…Yes.”
“The company probably asked you to come to gain experience.”
Companies usually bring trainees along for media play, framing them as "passionate rookies coming to see their seniors' stage," and to get them some exposure.
Since LeTi is a wealthy company, they probably brought them to the LA concert to show off the symbolic significance of being in America.
“…Yes.”
Ju-dan finally shut his mouth and just kept walking. I must have hit the nail on the head.
The place he led me to was a sort of cafe-bar.
Well, since most cafes abroad would be closed at this hour, it was a sensible choice.
The heated air was warm, but perhaps because my body was in so much pain, I couldn't really feel much of a difference.
I replied logically.
“Thank you for the guidance. But as for the cafe… I don’t have any money.”
“I can at least buy you a cup of coffee.”
That was the answer I was waiting for. I suppressed the urge to down a whiskey and just ordered a hot latte.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can accompany you after you call the embassy. It’s already close to midnight, and I’m not supposed to be out after that.”
“Yeah. That’s LeTi for you. Curfew.”
“…”
“Official promotional materials have to go out, and there’s the issue of sightings. I understand.”
“…”
What?
Ju-dan seemed to be in deep, agonizing thought before he asked, “Are you… in the industry?”
You just realized?
I didn't answer, but he scanned my face and nodded.
“Your appearance is quite good, but as you know, this industry values age, so you probably aren't an idol trainee. In that case…”
“…”
Is this really happening? Am I really sitting here in the middle of the night listening to this?
Actually, I had already figured out what I looked like from my reflection in the window.
I was in the form of Ryu Gun-woo.
Specifically, the haggard look of the office worker I was right before I died.
At least I was wearing actual clothes, even if they were thin. It would have been a disaster if I were in pajamas. I silently sipped the served latte.
“Ah, have you already debuted?”
I didn't answer.
It was an ambiguous situation—I couldn't really say I had or hadn't.
In the first place, to return to my debuted state, I had to go back to reality… and right now, I only had one clue.
[Rebooting]
That terminal.
The popup I saw inside the system, the one I had contacted right before I was dragged here from reality.
That was the only lead.
But that meant I had to access the system again, which meant I’d have to endure that brain-melting sensation again while trying to stay sane.
I furrowed my brows.
Does that mean I have to contact Cheong-ryeo again?
I’d have to find a way to use that bastard who tried to restart just to kill me…
“…”
Wait a minute.
I recalled the moment I was being removed as the status window.
Cheong-ryeo’s outfit at the time.
He was wearing outdoor clothes.
The reason he suddenly changed clothes when he had no scheduled outings.
Could it be…
“…”
Had he already restarted?
Thinking about it, it was the logical progression. He removed the status window because it was delaying his restart; naturally, he wouldn't waste any more time and would restart immediately.
Then where… where am I right now?
In the life he restarted for the 101st time? Or is this world running separately, regardless of whether that Cheong-ryeo guy restarted or not?
That wouldn't make sense.
Keun-dal had already determined that going back to the past meant the entire world itself was being rewound.
I stared down at my empty coffee cup, my mind racing.
Either way, it’s decided.
First, I need to find Cheong-ryeo’s whereabouts.
……In that sense.
I looked up.
I saw a helper who was perfect for the job… no, a pretty decent ally.
“Ahem. If you’ve calmed down, it would be best to contact the embassy soon.”
Ju-dan was blathering away while sipping the Einspänner he’d ordered.
I answered him seriously.
“There’s no need for that.”
“…! Why?”
His eyes sparkled, as if he were imagining some extraordinary reason.
This was actually better.
I spoke calmly.
What kind of words would pique this guy’s interest…?
Fine. There’s no other way.
“I’m from the future.”
“Pfft!”
Ju-dan sprayed the Einspänner he was drinking.
“…So.”
Ju-dan rambled rapidly, as if he were in a trance.
“The current leader of VTIC has the ability to return to the past, and you’re a person from the future who inherited and used that power…”
“Yes.”
I had cut him off, but honestly, I didn't mind letting him talk as much as he wanted. We were in a foreign country, after all.
Besides, even if someone overheard, they’d probably just think we were fans roleplaying some elaborate setting. It sounded that much like bullshit.
But as expected, this nonsense worked well on Ju-dan.
With a serious face, he asked a few follow-up questions to see if there were any logical inconsistencies in my story, and even now, he was earnestly verifying…
“This is truly fascinating. Have you ever heard of chaos theory? It’s similar to the butterfly effect…”
“Yes. I’ve looked into many theories.”
I hurriedly cut him off.
There was no time. It was better for me to just verify things quickly.
“If you look into my background, you’ll see that right now, I should still be in university. It’ll show that I’m in Korea.”
After I went as far as logging into my university account, he checked the information thoroughly and gave a deep nod.
It seemed to be working…
“Do you have any desire to meet the 'you' of this timeline? Hmm, no. I wouldn't recommend it. It’s a bit of a dangerous hypothesis.”
“…”
Patience.
“So, do you believe me?”
“Let’s act on the assumption that I do. Honestly, you seem to know me quite well.”
“…”
“I suppose we had some connection in the future?”
I gave a slight nod.
“Very well.”
He spoke with a fair amount of reliability.
Ju-dan straightened his clothes, clasped his hands, and said, “First of all… you seem older than me, so feel free to speak casually.”
“Sure.”
“…”
He fell silent, seemingly flustered by my immediate agreement. What?
“…May I also speak casually?”
“Go ahead.”
“Actually, it’s fine. I’m more comfortable with formal speech.”
Then why did you even ask?
Anyway, I returned to the main point.
“…Fine. Regardless, there’s only one thing I want to confirm here.”
I looked at him intently.
“Whether Cheong-ryeo has returned to the past right now.”
“…!”
Ju-dan’s expression changed.
A bit of thrill had been added to the mix.
“Then, does that mean Cheong-ryeo sunbaenim has already…?”
I nodded.
“That’s what I need to check.”
Ju-dan swallowed hard.
“Understood.”
Thanks for taking the bait.
I stayed the night at Ju-dan’s accommodation.
It was a decent business hotel, and he said the company provided it.
“Is there no one sharing the room with you?”
“It was originally a double room, but my roommate went to stay elsewhere with his family. Thanks to that, I’ve been using it quite comfortably.”
So there’s a silver spoon among the trainees. Anyway, thanks to that, I was able to avoid clumsy excuses and sleeping on the floor.
However, I couldn't actually fall asleep even after lying down on the bed. I wasn't sure if it was okay to sleep, and the pain was too severe.
On the bright side, it gave me plenty of time to reflect on my decisions.
Alright.
First, short-term measures, like "how to handle that Cheong-ryeo bastard depending on the situation."
I could come up with plans for those as I checked the situation. My body was a mess, but my brain was still working.
The problem was this.
The fundamental threat.
—To find the clue, I have to go back into the system.
And what kind of influence I would fall under once I went back.
“…”
Dammit.
Even if the clue itself was a lure, I had to see it.
Because I have to go back.
I spent the night in such fierce calculation.
And the next day.
Ju-dan guided me back to the VTIC concert venue.
The concert wasn't until tomorrow, but most of the staff and related personnel were already there.
“If you use my cousin’s identity, you won't be stopped at security.”
He’d made up some background info on his own, and I just let him. I figured I should leave him some room for fun so he’d keep cooperating.
“For the record, there are no particular rumors regarding Cheong-ryeo sunbaenim.”
…Okay.
So, from the morning, I followed him and slipped toward the staff entrance of the VTIC concert.
However, my mind remained cold due to a problem that still had no solution.
A way to keep my sanity inside the system.
I needed that.
In the process, we inevitably passed the place where I had come to my senses yesterday.
Even in my distracted state, I could tell the atmosphere had shifted 180 degrees.
—Wooooo!
It was bright and bustling.
The chatter and laughter of excited people echoed from all directions. And VTIC’s hit songs pulsed through the air in between.
It was a scene typical of concert-goers.
The interesting part was that I could hear songs that weren't VTIC’s at all.
[Come on, baby you know it’s real!]
[It’s just like sweet cotton candy!]
“Hmm, looks like a K-pop random dance challenge. And that over to the west looks like a performance by a professional dance team.”
Ju-dan nodded as he looked toward a plaza-like area.
Everywhere in the vast space, there were small stages for WeTube videos or for enjoying the pre-concert festivities.
“VTIC is a group that represents the genre. So, celebrations for their concerts often turn into festivals for K-pop itself. You probably already know that, but I’m just adding some explanation.”
Yeah. I already knew.
I’d seen it a few times at our own concerts, too.
“…”
Hmm.
I checked my appearance.
A stranger in a hat.
Then I asked, “Can anyone participate in those?”
“Yes. I believe so, but usually, out of courtesy, only local fans particip—”
I didn't listen to the end and started walking.
“Excuse me?”
A short while later.
In the heart of the noisy, excited festival.
A man with a black hat pulled low held a portable microphone and stood by the edge of some stairs.
“…”
Ju-dan wondered what this sudden outburst was, even doubting if he’d been charmed into guiding a madman, but for now, he stood opposite him and watched his actions.
The man checked the microphone with surprising skill, though something about it seemed awkward.
He was about to choose an instrumental on WeTube…
When he paused.
“…”
There were almost no songs that TeSTAR’s Park Moon-dae had sung.
They were all songs that would come out in the future—and a future that would unfold in a different direction than this one. For now, they were merely imaginary songs existing only in his head.
And naturally.
…Right. They aren't here.
TeSTAR’s songs weren't here either.
Not a single one.
“…”
But that didn't mean he couldn't sing.
The man finally chose a song.
Soon, along with a faint instrumental, the man raised the microphone.
Tap, tap.
In the very beginning.
The song he had practiced to become an idol when he had first crash-landed into his new life.
The song that still flowed out with the same feeling because he had practiced it so often back then.
It came out through Ryu Gun-woo’s lips.
[I remember the 'me' that I used to know.]
.
Park Moon-dae’s first evaluation song from <Re-listing! Idol Inc.>.
In this world, it was a solo song released only a few weeks ago by the youngest member of the disbanded T-Holic.
Here, it was a song that hadn't even begun its climb back up the charts, yet it was now being carried by Ryu Gun-woo’s voice.
“Beyond the shining and dazzling season, to the tired and weak times.”
Overlapping with the poor microphone quality, his raw voice echoed.
“Holding my broken self, oh…”
[Only me.]
[Yes, It’s me.]
The voice spread out.