Chapter 562
Chapter 562
The popup formed words once again.
[Junior.]
That was the trigger.
As if the tape sealing the bottom of a box had been ripped away, thoughts came pouring out of my head. Another word connected.
Shin Jae-hyun.
The leader of VTIC.
And the reason this man called me "Junior" was… because I was a competitor in the same profession who debuted later than him.
That profession was "Idol."
The name of the group was…
‘TeSTAR.’
Right. I was TeSTAR’s Park Moon-dae.
I remembered. I nodded slowly.
Then I froze. Wait. I remembered? That meant…
‘…I had forgotten.’
The moment I realized that, a chill ran down my spine, snapping me back to my senses.
—Gasp.
My surroundings became vivid.
I took a deep breath and looked around. My awakened mind felt sharp and cold.
‘What the hell is this?’
I was still inside the System.
Only one thing had changed. The terminal I had been analyzing until a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, a very simple popup was floating in the air.
The very thing that had brought me back to my senses.
I opened my mouth immediately.
“Cheong-ryeo.”
[Finally.]
“…Good grief.”
Seeing how he cut me off and answered however he pleased, it was definitely him.
It was funny, though, that even that felt somewhat welcoming.
‘How on earth did he show up here?’
Moreover, I wanted to know how he was the only one speaking normally, unlike the others who appeared as bizarre descriptions when they popped up… but that wasn't the priority right now.
I tried to straighten myself up, only to realize I didn't have a body, which made me frown again.
In the meantime, the popup changed its text.
[What is your current situation, Junior?]
Let’s see.
Let me recall what I saw just before.
The terminal that told me I had successfully learned the textbook ‘How the System Behaves.’
And my own pathetic state, where my ego began to vanish the moment the notification ‘Restarting with the New Version of the System’ appeared.
Well.
“I’m screwed.”
The smile vanished from my face.
“It looks like this bastard is trying to turn me into the next System.”
*
[Park Moon-dae (ㅁvㅁ): Recovering Park Moon-dae.]
“Uwaaa!”
“Ha…”
In front of Raising Dot Park Moon-dae.
People let out sighs of relief or groaned as they looked at the screen, which had finally become somewhat legible.
However, Park Moon-dae’s form was still a dark, lumpy circle.
In the dot-art screen where the background was crushed and turned black, the only thing maintaining its shape and sparkling was Park Moon-dae’s will.
Lee Se-jin immediately grabbed Keun-dal’s shoulder.
“Can we bring Moon-dae back now?”
“I-I’ll check right away.”
But someone was already using the passage.
It was Cheong-ryeo.
Having snatched the connection almost as if by force, he was using the passage without moving an inch.
His concentration was immense.
Keun-dal guessed that this was possible because, as a GM, the influence he could exert personally was greater.
‘Still, the perceived time must be different…’
Time flowed incredibly fast on the other side.
Because of that, it seemed almost certain that Park Moon-dae’s indicator had returned, so Keun-dal spoke with sincerity.
“You did a great jo—!”
But he stopped mid-sentence.
Cheong-ryeo was staring at the popup with wide eyes.
As if he were in shock.
*
[You’re…]
I was the one about to die, but for some reason, the popup looked like it had lost its mind. I suppressed a sigh.
“Get it together. I’m going to try something before that happens.”
If I were the type to obediently become the System, I would have done it long ago. I’ve held out this long and gritted my teeth to find a way back, and now you want me to just die?
‘Not a chance.’
I would find a way out, no matter what.
I took a deep breath.
Verification of hypotheses first.
“First… it seemed like you guys were preparing something to bring me back to reality. Is that right?”
The popup spat out an answer only after a brief pause.
[Yes. The plan was to bring you back after recovering your stamina.]
He had become much calmer.
And I understood the answer. So that’s why they kept giving me "Blessings" and whatnot, trying to pour energy into me.
I still didn't know the principle behind it, but now wasn't the time to ask.
I rattled off the questions I had prepared.
“This is inside the System. When I was here, the other guys' popups didn't appear. Is it true that you guys can't attempt to bring me back to reality from here?”
[Correct.]
[So, get out of there.]
It was sound advice.
Besides, I had a history of escaping after being encroached upon by the System last time, so I wanted to get out right away too.
The problem was that it wasn't working as I wanted.
“I think I’m trapped. I don’t see a way out.”
Furthermore, I just realized that I was speaking freely inside the System.
As if it were a natural thing to do.
‘This is bad.’
I had grown accustomed to it.
Now, instead of pressure or repulsion, I was starting to feel as comfortable as if this place were my own limbs.
The ‘Waiting Time’ was coming to an end.
Soon, something good would come…
[Junior.]
Whew.
I snapped back to my senses.
If I slipped up even for a second, I’d really be dragged away and be totally screwed.
I instinctively tried to wipe away cold sweat, only to groan upon realizing I didn't have a body.
The fact that I felt fine made it even more horrifying.
[So you’re saying you’re in a state where you can’t leave right now.]
“…Yeah.”
I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut, but I didn't have eyes. It was actually a relief. It was better not to let him know I was shaken.
I asked calmly.
“How are you talking to me inside the System right now?”
[The position of GM still remained.]
[I used it.]
So that was it.
In the System’s virtual world, it was an authority that could even stop time. It seemed natural that he could at least float a popup inside the System.
‘But if he overdoes it, won't he get sucked into the System too?’
I could clearly see a disastrous situation where we all get screwed together.
Just in case, I added.
“Don’t do anything useless and just stay put. I’m going to… think for a moment.”
Fortunately, the popup didn't disappear. I took a deep breath and fell into thought.
A way to escape… a way to escape.
‘Dammit.’
No matter how much I thought about it, everything was conceptual and abstract. At best, I could think of something like Ju-dan beating me up to wake me up from the outside, but there was no way that would work.
Let’s think logically.
‘Something logically certain…’
And then, a crazy idea occurred to me.
…
“If I become the System, won’t I naturally return to reality?”
[Junior.]
No, listen.
This is the past where a System already exists. If the goal is a reboot, there’s no need for another System to exist in this time period.
‘No, come to think of it, it’s impossible for two Systems to exist at the same time. The System’s ability is to go back to the past.’
Two entities wouldn't be able to turn back time to the past individually.
So, just like sending a new employee on a field assignment to gain experience, I think it sent me to the time of Reset Syndrome Cheong-ryeo, the System’s prime.
“Then, if I become the System, it will naturally call me back to reality to find a host.”
If it was a reboot, that was the answer.
Of course, in that case, the one returning to reality wouldn't be Park Moon-dae, but the System…
‘Can’t I use this?’
[You can’t be serious.]
“Wait.”
I hurriedly stopped him before this guy could decide I was completely tainted by the System and take independent action.
And after having a conversation with him and going through several verifications…
“Alright. I have a plan.”
I grinned, breaking into a cold sweat.
First.
“Leave me here and get out.”
*
A space of nothingness.
The new System was completed there.
‘Good.’
The wait was over.
Now, all that remained was to return to the place I came from and continue the work that needed to be done.
Grant wishes, and survive.
‘Not bad.’
The System thought so and nodded. Then it realized it didn't have a head.
‘Hmm.’
That felt strange for some reason, but the System soon conformed to its instincts.
Everything was comfortable.
The way back was clearly visible. The pressure I felt when being sucked into this place would act in the opposite direction the moment I was completed, pulling me back to reality.
He naturally went with the flow and surrendered himself.
Soon, the interior of the existing System he belonged to began to distort.
And the environment all around began to whirl rapidly.
‘Ah.’
Time and space flowed forward at a high speed.
Having left the interior of the existing System before he knew it, he curled his body to avoid being crushed by the pressure of escaping the flow of time as he watched the surroundings flash by.
‘Let’s go back.’
To reality.
At those words, his non-existent heart seemed to throb strangely.
The pressure grew stronger, and the surroundings whirled even faster…
Then.
Tiring.
[Keun-dal calls you.]
Silence.
The System stared at the popup.
Inside the environment that was distorting so fast it was unrecognizable, tightening and suffocatingly quick.
Only that one thing remained still.
Kindly.
[Keun-dal recognizes you.]
Recognizes me?
For a moment, the System stopped surrendering its body to the pressure sweeping over it.
And stopping in place just like that popup, it turned its gaze toward it again.
‘He recognized me…’
In that split second.
[Keun-dal moves you.]
[Target: Park Moon-dae]
Light burst out from the popup.
‘…!!’
In the midst of it, I felt like I saw a white hand reaching out and grabbing me.
But it hadn't grabbed all of me. Only a part of me touched that hand.
Only the part of me that had protruded, reacting to that popup.
Riiiiiip!
Park Moon-dae entered the hand that gripped him.
And then.
“Hyung!”
Park Moon-dae raised his head.
It was a familiar officetel.
The living room where the sunset of the fantastical Magical Boy was setting outside the window.
“Hyung!”
It was his own Mental World.
In front of his eyes, he saw an artificial figure, neither Park Moon-dae nor Ryu Gun-woo, flickering with glitches.
A form he had seen a few times.
It was Keun-dal’s appearance in the Mental World.
“Ah.”
It was a success.
Park Moon-dae could finally press his face with both hands.
“…”
The prediction was brilliant.
‘Because I had to leave Cheong-ryeo’s System to return to reality.’
The strategy was to call himself back just before returning to reality, timed perfectly with that moment.
Of course, it was dangerous.
Recalling that he was almost on the verge of his ego merging with the System, Park Moon-dae swallowed hard.
But soon, his expression softened.
‘Still, it worked.’
Look at himself sitting here.
Right across from him, the very person who created this Mental World, Keun-dal, was looking at him with a face that looked like he was about to cry.
Park Moon-dae looked back and grinned.
To the person he was glad to see, who had finally called his name, Park Moon-dae…
“Hyung, are you crazy?! No, no! How could you do something like this!”
His collar was grabbed.
“You told me to just call you when the timing was right without any detailed explanation because there was no time, but if the timing was off, you would have died! The dots kept getting crushed! A message popped up saying you were losing Park Moon-dae! And to do something so dangerous…”
“It worked, didn't it?”
Anyway, it was a success.
“Ugh!”
Keun-dal looked like he was about to explode with anger and tried to shake Park Moon-dae by the collar, but in the end, he made a tearful face.
It was because of the irrepressible joy and relief.
And fear.
“I-I only managed to grab you, Hyung, but the System is also trying to return to reality… At this rate, the moment we go to reality, you and the System will merge again!”
However, instead of getting anxious with him, Park Moon-dae looked out the living room window.
As if he missed those colors—red, yellow, pink, and purple blending softly.
And then he spoke with a peaceful face.
“It’s okay.”
“What?”
“The System will be pulled in the opposite direction.”
Park Moon-dae grinned.
“Because the guy who owns the System is calling it!”
*
“Help Menu.”
Moving his lips to call the Help Menu, Cheong-ryeo looked ahead.
At the one who demanded this task.
“…”
There stood a figure that looked exactly like him, standing without a smile.
[The Incarnation of the Idol gazes at you.]