Chapter 629
Chapter 629
An hour and a half until they could board the attraction.
Park Moon-dae’s first fansite master simply endured.
“Yeon-ju, I think your hair is caught. If you just take off that shark mask for a second…”
“I’m fine! It’s comfortable!”
“Uh… okay! Wow, look at this. The graffiti on this wall looks like something our boys would have drawn…”
“Oh, it’s really cool. I’ll take a picture right away.”
‘Save me.’
With her face shoved into the shark plush, the fansite master screamed internally, somewhere between a shriek and a groan.
TeSTAR didn’t seem to have noticed the anomaly (?) over here yet, but fortunately—or unfortunately—her friend, the former grad student sitting next to her, also hadn’t realized why she was acting like this.
That carefree attitude, not even suspecting that the three men moving along to ride the attraction with them were TeSTAR…
At that moment, the fansite master suddenly snapped to her senses.
‘Should I tell her?’
That Pa—Park Moon-dae was right next to them.
‘We’ve been fans together for so long…’
She felt like her friend would feel a huge sense of betrayal and regret if she found out too late, but if she told her now, boarding the attraction would probably be impossible…
Imagining her friend stopping in her tracks to scream only to regret it later, the fansite master made a decision.
‘…I’ll tell her when the timing feels right!’
She decided to wait for a moment when they could be quiet.
In the meantime, she could hear the voices of TeSTAR speaking in English from beside her.
[It’s darker here than I thought.]
[Hmm… Sci-fi, horror, spy. Every keyword screams ‘I’m dark,’ you know? Hyung, of course it is.]
Even though it was English she couldn’t fully grasp, the voices pierced her ears.
A clean accent, and one that popped with a rhythmic bounce.
‘Oh my god.’
The fansite master swallowed hard.
She tried her best not to focus on her peripheral vision, which was obscured by the shark plush, but it wasn’t very effective.
[…But don’t forget. This is an investigation.]
[Don’t worry. If I don’t know, who would?]
[Mhm. I’ll look closely… at every small detail.]
I want to be good at English listening…!
‘Wait, if I could understand what they’re saying here, would that be full-on eavesdropping?’
Just as she was thinking that… she lost her footing.
“Ah.”
It was the natural consequence of being distracted.
The moment she scrambled to regain her balance, she heard worried English from beside her.
[Did you hurt your ankle?]
It was Seon A-hyun.
The fansite master almost jumped like a startled cat, but she managed to play it off with a gesture.
“Fine, okay!”
Seon A-hyun, wearing a navy blue baseball cap, gave a small nod (the fansite master thought, ‘His face is insanely small’) and quietly turned his head away.
Phew.
‘I’m so happy I could die.’
After an hour of waiting that felt like both heaven and hell.
[It is time to clock in.]
Attraction staff members, dressed in suits and wearing masks shimmering with holograms, guided them to the door.
“Whoa…”
It was a steel door covered in ‘Handle with Care’ warnings and company logos, looking like it led to a basement.
Creeeeeak!
Inside the door that opened with a heavy sound, there was a room that felt like a spy’s waiting room, with a giant hologram screen floating on one wall.
As if it were briefing them on a mission.
Then, a video began to play.
“Oh.”
[This company is very suspicious.]
A short edit of TeSTAR’s self-produced content, dubbed in English like a cinematic trailer, flowed out.
Employees who went missing after being chased by monsters in a suspicious company building, only to be reborn as AIs and frozen.
And then, a notice and a broadcast appeared.
[You are their replacements.]
You’re their replacement.
Pshhhhh.
Dry ice poured out, and the emergency lights inside began to flicker.
While her heart pounded.
[Would you like to record your attendance?]
A code reader next to the hologram blinked.
“Our employee IDs!”
“Ah.”
This was the attraction’s interactive element.
When she tapped the employee ID merchandise she had purchased against the device, a light flickered on, and with the message ‘Welcome to KIS, Employee,’ the clunking code reader transformed into a music box.
“That’s so cool!”
“Wow.”
There was an additional effect as well.
Suddenly, a red glow emanated from the gaps in the music box, and it began to thud as if it were about to burst open.
[AI Hidden Code Confirmed / Danger!]
It seemed to be the effect of reading the code that had been attached to the album app.
“Ooh!”
The alarm rang for a moment and then cut off.
It was a bit eerie, but the incredible realism—as if she had cast a spell or activated a secret function—made her heart flutter. And then…
[Oh, that’s cool!]
Something truly heart-pounding happened.
Cha Yu-jin suddenly leaned his upper body toward her.
‘Hey!’
[Would it be okay if I filmed that?]
“Ye… Yes.”
He was holding a GoPro and said something like “Can I,” so he probably meant he wanted to film it.
The fansite master nodded, and Cha Yu-jin leaned down toward her.
“…!”
Holding her breath, she unintentionally focused on the sensation of the air created by Cha Yu-jin’s torso as it passed right by her.
The scent of the wind, and the scent of skin lotion…
‘Stop it!’
What kind of madness was this!
She barely suppressed the urge to tear at the shark head.
Meanwhile, Cha Yu-jin finished filming the warning light with his GoPro and stood up, tipping the brim of his bucket hat.
[Cool. Thank you.]
“…….”
‘So… this is what it feels like.’
He was one of the members famous for being incredibly charming every time she went to a fan signing event, but seeing it without a table between them made it even more overwhelming.
It was innate.
‘Even as a non-celebrity, you’d be guilty as charged, you crazy guy.’
Muttering words she could never say out loud, she continued to move along, following the staff’s guidance.
[I will guide you to the office.]
Staying true to the AI concept, the attraction staff member changed the expression on their hologram mask to a smiling face while checking the queue.
‘The staff here all have great physiques…’
Nodding to herself that it was indeed a major corporation’s theme park, she walked into the mist… and finally stood before the boarding platform on the ride’s rails.
And the vehicle she was to board was…
“Gasp.”
It was a roller coaster—well, a ride—that looked like a set of very conceptual and realistic, modern-style office chairs and desks!
The design was unique yet perfectly suited the concept.
“It’s amazing…”
“Cool, right?”
And the three-seater back row that TeSTAR climbed into looked like a company reception sofa, complete with a table.
As the fansite master tried her best not to look too obviously at them enjoying themselves, her friend beside her even attempted a slight translation.
“Doesn’t it sound like they’re saying they’re so excited they can’t breathe? I guess people think the same no matter what country they’re from.”
“I-I see.”
They’re from the same country as us.
It seemed her friend still hadn’t realized the situation. She had even briefly made eye contact with Seon A-hyun when she almost fell earlier.
But there was no time to think further.
The safety bars lowered, and the staff displayed a giant hologram sign.
[10 seconds until elevator opening]
While the chairs vibrated with the engine’s tremors.
As the countdown ended, the vehicle launched forward like a shot!
Up through the elevator structure built into the ceiling!
“Waaah!”
“Daebak!”
With a sense of speed, the rails were sucked into a dilapidated, broken office hallway on the 7th floor.
Feeling the wind, the fansite master momentarily forgot about TeSTAR in the back and screamed with joy.
‘This is fun!’
It was a premature judgment.
“Aaaaah!”
“Aaaah!”
This attraction boasted thrills on par with a roller coaster.
The structure combined a haunted house with a dark ride. You would race along in the vehicle, then get off to explore the space, repeating this cycle two or three times.
‘So that’s why multiple teams entered at once!’
Since the space was large, the turnover rate seemed like it would be surprisingly good. But she couldn’t dwell on that thought for long.
Because a monster was chasing them.
“Aaaaah!”
“Crazy, crazy!”
Very cleverly, the monsters—like the Music Box Monster—only chased them very closely when they were in the vehicle, drawing out peak screams.
The Music Box Monster opened its mouth wide right in front of her.
“Hic.”
‘I-I can feel its breath…!’
She got goosebumps wondering why they had implemented even this level of detail.
TeSTAR wasn’t being cowards in their content; they were being brave! If she had to run away from this, she would have fainted. Seriously!
“M-my legs have no strength.”
“…….”
In the end, by the time she got off the roller coaster for the second time, her legs were practically trembling.
The sign telling people to call a staff member if they wanted to quit midway wasn’t there for nothing.
‘No wonder the monsters looked too high-quality just for self-produced content…’
They must have brought the ones from here.
Staggering along, she declined her friend’s offer of support and walked through the eerie, flickering basement hallway…
“Are you okay?”
“Ah! Yes…”
Someone spoke to her.
No, not just someone… Park Moon-dae.
A tall man with a hoodie pulled deep over his head.
‘…??’
She thought her heart was going to drop out of her chest in stages.
What? Is this real? No, why is he speaking in Korean?
‘Hey, what if you get caught…!’
Of course, usually, only a fansite master could perform the feat of recognizing a celebrity just by their voice with a changed tone in a foreign country, but still!
‘What if I ask if you’re Korean and keep the conversation going….’
…But in the end, unable to miss the chance to ‘talk to her bias,’ she asked reflexively.
“Are you Korean?”
Dammit!
But Park Moon-dae was composed.
Under the dim hallway lights, a low, calm voice came from behind his sunglasses and white KF mask.
“I am Korean.”
It was a statement with a strange nuance, as if the people he came with weren’t.
Such a smart guy. Whose idol is he…
“…….”
“Ah, look over there.”
Just as the fansite master was about to fall into a trance, her bias pointed at something with his hand.
The end of the hallway was in sight.
“The basement?!”
[Staff Storage]
Ultimately, the attraction concluded brilliantly with a scenario where they destroy the terrifying altar inside, save all the employees, and liberate the AI from the computer.
[AI Release Complete!]
“The scale is insane.”
“Wow, this was fun.”
Anyone who had seen TeSTAR’s self-produced content, especially fans, would find it even more enjoyable.
‘Even though I have the actual people right next to me…’
At this point, she also stuck close to her friend and enjoyed the thrill of the attraction that stimulated all five senses.
However, the ending left her with a somewhat unique impression.
“I guess we go that way!”
The back door opened as the computer monitor turned off.
The attraction visitors passed through a final hallway where the glass windows acted like mirrors due to the darkness…
“Huh?”
“Uh, wait?!”
The silhouette reflected in the glass wasn’t her, wearing a shark plush.
What was reflected there was… a Black Torso!
“Whoa!”
The Black Torso, moving exactly like her as it followed her movements, was both fascinating and chilling.
It was probably an LED screen.
‘My god!’
After a moment of marveling at the incredible technology, she felt a strange sensation as she pondered its meaning.
‘If this is a kind of mirror… then I’m the Torso?’
To think the visitors were the Torsos.
The setting for this attraction was clearly that the visitors had come to save or confirm TeSTAR.
But their true identity was…
‘A doll…’
It was a chilling twist that everyone was an AI doll, but a fan of TeSTAR would think a bit differently.
‘…Hmm.’
In the intro, Seon A-hyun had danced while hugging a torso, shielded it with a parasol, and then given it a grand funeral.
When she first saw that intro, she thought it was a bit eerie yet possessed an artistic beauty…
Thinking about it again, it felt somewhat sorrowful.
The current situation as well.
‘In the end, did the visitors replace TeSTAR’s place?’
Or were they giving a funeral with courtesy and affection to the visitors who failed?
Chewing on that lingering imagination, she slowly exited the hallway of Torso mirrors.
She saw light.
“Ah, there!”
“This must be the last ride, right?”
Beyond the door, the final roller coaster was waiting.
And there was a reader there that recognized employee IDs as well.
[Would you like to record your clock-out?]
A fun, magical effect popped out, just like when they entered.
And the effect of the hidden code was added as well.
[AI Hidden Code Confirmed / Danger!]
“Ah…”
With a flicker, her name appeared on the hologram.
[AI Yeonju / Staff]
“…!!”
It was the nickname she had set in the Dreamland app.
As she stared at it with her mouth slightly open at the amazing interaction that further enhanced the immersion…
“…….”
Feeling a gaze, she turned her head to find Park Moon-dae beside her.
When their eyes met, he smiled as if to say, ‘Isn’t it fun?’
She could tell.
Even though the lower half of his face was covered, she could see his eyes crinkle behind the dark sunglasses.
“…….”
‘You crazy man.’
It was more of a problem because he didn’t seem to have any ulterior motives. My heart! Huh?!
“Waaaaah!”
“Aaaaah!”
…And so, the fansite master used the final roller coaster course as an excuse to scream her head off, bringing the attraction to a refreshing close.
‘That was fun.’
Wrecked by the immense emotional drain and exhilaration, the fansite master trudged along the exit path…
And it was just before she stepped out into the bright sunlight of the amusement park.
Tap.
She heard the sound of footsteps stopping behind her.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I saw something amazing.”
Park Moon-dae had spoken to her again.
He was pointing at the fansite master’s employee ID.
“Thank you for sharing.”
His tone was even more gentle and soft than the way he spoke on TV or during regular promotions. It was as if a foreigner or a gyopo had learned the Seoul dialect. It seemed like he was intentionally using that voice to avoid being recognized.
Even though I already know everything!
‘Fck…….’*
Thinking about it again, how could he be this smart and cute?
How many days in her life had she cursed this much (in a complimentary sense)? Come to think of it, they were all related to Park Moon-dae. Anyway,
“A-ah, no, it’s nothing.”
“Yes, it is.”
Park Moon-dae, who firmly disagreed, gave her a small nod.
Just as she thought it felt like a goodbye.
“Thank you. Then, I’ll see you at our concert, Noona.”
“…?!”
Park Moon-dae ran off with the other members and disappeared behind the attraction.
“…? ……!!”
Did I, did I just……
“Ye-Yeon-ju!”
Creeak.
The fansite master moved her head toward her side with a sound like a rusty hinge. Her friend, the former grad student who had run out late, shouted with a bright red face.
“Moon-dae! Moon-dae! TeSTAR!”
“Uh, yeah, yeah…”
It seemed she had also realized at some point but couldn’t find a way to tell her. No wonder she had been quiet from a certain point.
But her friend’s main purpose in speaking was more than that.
Her friend held out both arms.
In her embrace… were things that hadn’t been there before.
“T-th… these, the boys gave these to me before they left…”
They were business card merchandise with the names of Park Moon-dae, Seon A-hyun, and Cha Yu-jin.
They were items for sale. However, the difference was… they had signed them personally.
[Park Moon-dae]
“…….”
“They said th-thank you! They said thank you!”
Those crazy guys… they had known all along.
That they were pretending not to know.
“…….”
“Yeon-ju?”
The fansite master slumped to the ground.
‘I’ve hit the jackpot…’
It was a golden shackle that would last a lifetime.
[Guest! Did you enjoy the tour?]
“Ah, yes.”
I slipped into the back of the attraction, which only staff could use, and watched the two women walking away in front.
Fans I’ve seen for a long time.
‘I didn’t expect to see them like this.’
Well, this was just about right. I looked up with a smile…
[Then, it is time to work.]
I turned back to the attraction staff member who was persistently talking to me.
The staff member grinned and peeled off the hologram mask. His bare face was revealed.
“They were fans, right? Was it fun?”
“It was fun.”
It was Keun Se-jin, with a few strands of sweaty bangs sticking to his forehead.
“Then we’re all done with the preliminary preparations, right?”
“Yeah.”
The monitoring work for the attraction by those of us who are good at English and wouldn’t feel out of place is over…
“Looks like you’re ready too.”
The guys who aren’t as comfortable with English have also finished their early shifts to get adjusted.
“Of course.”
The guys who had finished their staff rotation in the back walked over.
Ryu Cheong-woo, Kim Rae-bin, and even Bae Se-jin.
And finally, a camera followed them.
We all grinned.
We had to milk the content for all it was worth on an opportunity like this.
“Then, TeSTAR’s amusement park staff experience… let’s begin!”