Chapter 92
Chapter 92
“…….”
I locked eyes with him and muttered softly.
“…I think I’m going to remember that every time I record from now on.”
“Haha!”
Cheong-ryeo waved his hand dismissively.
“Don’t worry about it. To be honest, I just made it up. I just put a little twist on a common recording studio ghost story.”
“……I see.”
“But you know those recording studio ghost stories are usually true, right?”
“……!”
Cheong-ryeo chuckled a few more times, spouting more nonsense, before announcing he was going to go wash up and disappearing.
“…Phew.”
I managed to get through it.
I struggled to keep a disgusted expression off my face.
‘That guy definitely knows.’
Some bastard who knows about this damn status window or regression just used a ghost story as a smokescreen to test me.
‘How does he know?’
He didn't seem entirely certain. That meant he hadn't directly confirmed my status… In that case, did he deduce it based on circumstantial evidence and some prior background knowledge?
…No, even that was vague.
‘There are too many uncertainties.’
I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead, pretending to smooth back my hair. Then, I decided on my next move.
Cheong-ryeo returned shortly after.
“I’m glad I brought a rechargeable electric kettle. Mix it with some cold water and use it as you need.”
“Ah, thank you so much.”
I took the cylindrical device Cheong-ryeo held out.
It wasn't a thermos; it was an electric kettle.
‘No wonder the Americano was boiling.’
While marveling at the production crew’s attention to detail—making sure only cold water came out of the taps—I got to work.
‘Status Window.’
First, I’d check that guy’s status window.
Judging by the patterns I’d seen so far, Traits and Status Effects usually provided hints to help deduce what kind of person someone was.
‘There’s no harm in checking.’
But the moment the pop-up appeared…
A hint I hadn't even expected came crashing in.
[Name: Cheong-ryeo (Shin Jae-hyun)]
This person’s information is currently unavailable.
※ Requirement: Check the second ‘Truth’.
“……!”
I immediately turned toward the bathroom.
It was to hide my agitation.
I walked slowly into the bathroom and shut the door.
“…….”
There were no cameras inside the bathroom.
“Phew….”
But the microphones were still there. I kept my mouth shut to ensure I didn't let any nonsense slip out and checked the status window again.
[※ Requirement: Check the second ‘Truth’.]
I hadn't misread it.
To check Cheong-ryeo’s status window, I had to accept the ‘Truth’ reward I had put on hold.
‘Is it rushing me?’
Or perhaps it was demanding this because Cheong-ryeo was indeed connected to this whole situation.
‘It feels like looking at level-locked content in a game.’
Either way seemed plausible, making it hard to be certain.
‘…You want me to restart the Status Effects with such an uncertain hint?’
It was madness. That only made it feel more unsettling.
‘If the goal was to rush me, it could have used much more extreme measures.’
What if the status window was dangling a carrot, signaling that this guy really did have a clue?
“…….”
Let’s decide.
‘I can’t live with Status Effects popping up forever anyway.’
My assumption that the Status Effects would eventually disappear if I kept clearing them was, strictly speaking, nothing more than wishful thinking.
And no matter how much I delayed this, I only had 300 days. I’d have to collect the reward eventually.
‘I might as well take what I can get now.’
I didn't know how Cheong-ryeo would act once this moment passed. It was better to settle this while we were still feeling each other out.
‘…Pop-up.’
[Successful 1st Place!]
You successfully took 1st place on the public broadcast <Popular Music>!
! Time Limit: Met (Great Success)
! Status Effect: ‘Death if Not 1st Place’ removed!
: Check Truth ☜ Click!
I slowly raised my hand and pressed ‘Click!’.
And just like last time, my vision went black.
*
On the rooftop of a building where a cold wind blew.
“…….”
A man had a cigarette in his mouth. The smoke scattered, driven by the chilly winter wind.
One would expect him to cough in the freezing air, but the man didn't even blink.
He simply stared down with piercing eyes. The glittering night view flowed below. An advertisement was playing on an electronic billboard across the way.
It was for a brand he had once modeled for.
To be precise, his group had.
‘Where did it all go wrong…?’
The man watched the vibrant colors of the video, suddenly lost in thought.
Was it the poorly timed overseas expansion? A concept that didn't fit the trends? Members who had lost their initial spark? The agency’s investors who only filled their heads with useless vanity?
“…….”
Then, he reached a conclusion.
‘It was wrong from the very beginning.’
The member lineup itself had been a mistake from the start. There were too many useless members.
No, they weren't just useless; they were hindrances.
‘If I had picked them, I wouldn't have done it like this.’
Only then did he admit it. He had lived his life wrong.
‘Emotions, tears. Those are things you only use when you’re selling something.’
People want to sit once they’re standing, and they want to lie down once they’re sitting. Personal circumstances, unavoidable stories… those were all just cheap excuses people babbled about.
“…….”
Once he admitted it, he felt a sense of relief. The man smiled faintly and flicked the smoldering cigarette butt into the sky.
And just like that, he fell over the railing.
Clatter.
Along with the sound of his feet kicking off the railing, the man plummeted toward the road below the skyscraper.
But when the man regained consciousness…
“…!!”
He opened his eyes in a small room of an ordinary house.
“……What the.”
The screen of the old cell phone he picked up reflected a boy’s face.
……It was himself, before he became Cheong-ryeo.
*
“Gasp!”
I snapped back to my senses, gasping for air.
I immediately turned on the water.
Squeak.
With a creaking sound, cold water poured out. I splashed it onto my face instantly.
“…….”
It was exactly the same as when I saw ‘Park Moon-dae’s’ past. This format of peering into someone else’s past from a third-person perspective.
And… this guy was definitely Cheong-ryeo.
‘Son of a…!’
This bastard returned to the past, too.
Piecing it together, it seemed like he had ruined his career, came back, and then succeeded.
A hollow laugh escaped me at the thought that his story was much more suited for a web novel plot, but anger flared up first.
‘So that’s why you blocked me from checking his status window…!’
Because if I could check it through the status window, the ‘Truth’ reward would be meaningless.
No, more importantly, why the hell was this considered a reward?
I could accept seeing ‘Park Moon-dae’s’ past since it was directly related to my situation.
But what did it matter to me what kind of bullshit Cheong-ryeo pulled? Why give it to me as a grand ‘reward’?
‘You should have given me a hint about the Status Effects instead…!’
…My surging anger only subsided after I kept my head under the cold water for quite a while. Finally, I managed to draw a rational conclusion.
‘…It must mean I can get hints from him.’
If I could get information from someone else who had experienced this strange supernatural phenomenon, I might finally understand how this whole situation worked.
In that sense, it felt like the status window was providing hints step-by-step, as if progressing through a game—
Ding.
[‘Death if Not an Award’]
If you do not win the Rookie of the Year award at the most prestigious domestic awards ceremony within the set period, you will die.
Remaining Period: D-365
…Seeing it pull this shit again made me think it just wanted me to suffer.
‘Still, this time is a bit better.’
Unless something miraculous happened, we were likely to sweep the Rookie of the Year awards.
The vague criteria of ‘most prestigious’ was a bit concerning, but even then, there were only… hmmm, three main candidates. Based on objective performance, there was no way we’d lose.
In an era where it was hard to gain public recognition, it would be impossible for any rookie debuting in the latter half of the year to surpass TeSTAR from <Aju-sa>.
‘Getting 1st place on a public broadcast was actually harder.’
Having calmed down a bit, I wiped the water from my face.
I walked out of the bathroom, holding the kettle Cheong-ryeo had given me.
“I’m finished with it. Thank you so much.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m just glad it was useful.”
I returned the kettle and sat down across from Cheong-ryeo.
I pulled some snacks out of my backpack and handed them to him.
“We have to stay up all night, so if you don't mind, would you like something sweet?”
“Ah, thank you.”
Cheong-ryeo took them immediately, but he only made a show of opening them and didn't actually eat.
‘I can’t tell if he’s managing his diet or if he’s just on guard.’
Pretending to rummage through my backpack, I checked Cheong-ryeo’s status window again.
This time, it appeared properly.
[Name: Cheong-ryeo (Shin Jae-hyun)]
Vocals: B+ (B+)
Dance: S+ (S+)
Appearance: A+ (S-)
Star Quality: A (A+)
Trait: Appraisal (A)
! Status Effect: Correction (Inactive)
‘Is he insane?’
His stats were at a veteran-pro level.
I had intended to check his Trait first, but my eyes were drawn to the stats automatically. I almost bit my tongue.
‘But he doesn't have Infinite Potential.’
My vague expectation that all his stat limits would be EX was wrong.
Anyway, let’s focus and look at what I originally intended to check.
First, the Trait.
[Appraisal (A)]
: Valuable things are rare, and trash is everywhere.
- Human resource judgment +150%
‘It’s a talent suited for a businessman.’
If the ‘Truth’ vision I just saw was real, it might be a talent he gained while reflecting on his life before he died.
The only thing that bothered me was that he only had one Trait.
‘Did he not have something like a Trait Gacha?’
…The differences between us were quite distinct.
Anyway, let’s move on.
Next was the Status Effect.
[Correction (Inactive)]
: Let’s try again.
- Upon failure, return to the beginning.
…I felt a chill run down my spine.
I recalled our conversation from earlier.
—This time, he tries his best to become a successful idol without any scandals… but what do you know? He keeps dying in accidents and returning to the past!
‘That idol ghost story he was spouting earlier… was it his own story?’
Could it be that if I failed to remove a ‘Death if Not ~’ type of Status Effect, the status window would reset to when it first appeared?
It was a terrifying deduction.
However, this Status Effect was currently ‘Inactive’.
That alone was a huge harvest. It meant there was a way to deactivate it.
‘The summary is finished.’
Next was further investigation.
I put my bag down and stared at Cheong-ryeo again.
“Are you finished checking the snacks?”
“Yes. Nothing special.”
“Haha.”
You’re still not sure about me, are you?
As expected, this guy didn't know much about me. He was just testing the waters.
That meant I had the upper hand in terms of information, so now it was my turn to test him.
Let’s see what I can dig up.
“Um… Sunbae-nim, would it be alright if I asked for some advice?”
“Of course. I’m not sure if I can be of much help, but… is something bothering you?”
“Yes. It’s just… I was wondering, Sunbae-nim, how did you and your fellow members first start out?”
“…Hmm, start out?”
I picked up my cold coffee and took a slow sip on purpose. Then, I continued slowly.
“Since our team’s formation process was quite unique… I think we have a very strong sense of camaraderie in that regard, so I was curious about how it was for other groups.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. Through what process did the VTIC sunbae-nims come to debut together?”
“…….”
In the ‘Truth’ vision, this guy had pinpointed the ‘members’ as the fundamental cause of VTIC’s failure.
‘This bastard definitely swapped the members in the middle.’
I didn't know what a mere trainee could have done to achieve that, but it was an almost certain deduction.
Because the current VTIC was doing perfectly fine as a top-tier group without any major scandals.
“Hmm, that’s an interesting question.”
Cheong-ryeo smiled and picked up the snack I had given him.
Crunch. The sound of a nut being crushed echoed. I waited silently for his answer with a serious face.
Now, show me some agitation.