Chapter 66: System Update (1)
66. System Update (1)
"Honey, what are you doing?"
"Hm? Oh, nothing. The house just feels so quiet."
Hajin's mother, Yeong-in, who had been quietly sipping instant coffee at the dining table, smiled at her husband's question.
"With Hajin gone, the house feels empty."
Hawon, still in high school, had been attending weekend prep classes for college entrance exams. And now that Hajin had left for the survival show's dormitory training, the couple found themselves alone in what used to feel like a cramped semi-basement apartment.
Beep-beep-beep-beep—
The familiar sound of the keypad broke the silence.
"Is Hawon home early?"
"No, he said he'd be late today and asked me to pick him up later..."
"Then who's entering our passcode?"
Startled, they turned toward the front door facing the living room just as it swung open. A faded suitcase abruptly appeared through the gap, followed by a boy no taller than the door itself stumbling in noisily.
"Hey! Mom! Take this!"
"What— Hajin? Is that you?"
"Quick! Ah! Your son's dying here!"
"What in the world— How did you get here?"
As Hajin kicked the suitcase inside and squeezed through the half-open door, the mysterious bundles he'd been carrying in both arms finally toppled over.
"Good grief, Kang Hajin! You'll be the death of me!"
Yeong-in, who had just been lamenting the quiet, now smacked her son's back while picking up his scattered belongings. His father, Jung-wook, quickly joined in to help.
"How did you get here without telling us?" Yeong-in asked her son in surprise. "Weren't you supposed to be filming?"
"Got some time off. Ah, Mom."
The parents watched their suddenly reappearing son with equal parts concern and joy. Hajin, who had collapsed onto the floor amidst his luggage, grinned and formed a V-sign with his fingers near his eyes.
"Mom, your son took first place."
Yeah, first place.
We took first place.
—The winner of the second mission, "To the Top!", is Team Sad Ending! Congratulations!
—Huh?
Let me emphasize again—I never expected to do this well. Apparently, our performance left quite an impression on the judges.
"I thought first place would go to the Masquerade team."
Well, whatever. It's not bad to do well at anything. As I flopped onto the mattress, even the familiar sight of our old ceiling felt welcoming.
Our team took first in the second mission, while Han Seong-woo's disastrous "Storm" team placed third. Thanks to that, all our team members earned benefit points. The Wings rankings were likely reshuffled, though we wouldn't know the results yet.
—The next Wings rankings will be determined by your existing scores, mission benefits, and one more factor.
—Viewer votes.
Starting tonight at 6 PM, Miro Maze would begin accepting viewer votes on their YouTube channel and official website alongside our performance videos.
'Since votes will accumulate after the broadcast airs, the next recording will probably be after the first episode.'
Though the premiere was still some time away, my break lasted only a week. After that, we trainees would return to the company to resume practice as usual.
But a week was more than enough time to reorganize everything.
[System Notification: 183 pending alerts... 。：゜(；´∩｀；)゜：。]
...Right, I should deal with that too.
As I glared at the cluster of red notification bubbles, someone knocked on my closed door.
"Hajin, want me to order chicken?"
"Out of nowhere?"
"Well, I'm happy to see my son after so long. And you said you took first place. Say no if you don't want any."
"Mother. There has never been a moment in my life when I've refused chicken."
"Good, I'll order some then. My treat."
"Not now—can we get it for dinner? I need to sleep first."
"Alright. Rest up, and we'll order later then."
"Yes!"
I pumped my fist in genuine excitement, making my mom laugh incredulously before she closed the door, telling me to sleep well.
I stared at the closed door for a moment. Its peeling paint.
"...We'll move out in about three years, right?"
Having lived here most of my life before, I never realized how uncomfortable it was. But after spending months in Miro's shiny new building and Eun-chan's luxurious apartment, the difference became obvious.
The poverty I never noticed as a child.
"......"
Suddenly, countless thoughts raced through my mind. Countless memories and emotions too.
—What's wrong, Hajin? I believe in you. You can do this.
—...Mom knows you're talented.
—And even if you're not, that's okay too.
Living in a place like this, facing each uncertain day.
How could she say those things?
She didn't know the future like I did.
"...This time, I won't regress."
Three years from now, my parents would finally buy their dream home—an apartment with an elevator, southern exposure so bright they'd need curtains to sleep past dawn.
Nothing like this semi-basement, dark without fluorescent lights, poorly ventilated even with windows open, where passersby's feet were visible at eye level.
"I won't let it be taken away again."
I couldn't let them lose the fruits of their labor so pointlessly again.
And to prevent that, I had much to verify and prepare.
"Alright. I'm ready."
At my solemn declaration, the blue system window flashed open with a large notification.
[System Notification: The Fixed Regressor's permissions have been updated in the latest update.]
[System Notification: You can now access more detailed information about human "timelines."]
[System Notification: Would you like to enter the "Unconscious Space" to review this information? (Entry condition: Deep sleep)]
"Yeah. Let's see what you've updated this time."
As I nodded, an unbearably bright light erupted. Closing my eyes quickly, I felt my body go limp and sink into the mattress as if gravity had multiplied tenfold.
[System Notification: The Fixed Regressor has entered the "Unconscious Space."]
I fell into a deep sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back in that familiar void—an endless expanse of nothingness.
Soon, the familiar blue window appeared.
[System Notification: Verifying the Fixed Regressor's permissions for this "Unconscious Space."]
[System Notification: Assigning this "Unconscious Space" as the Fixed Regressor's personal domain.]
[System Notification: You may now manifest any space you imagine.]
"I can reshape this place as I imagine?"
I pondered briefly. Having never truly had "my own space" in this life, my imagination felt lacking.
"Well, bigger is better, right?"
I calmly envisioned the private workspace I'd always vaguely wanted.
Maybe with a view of the ocean.
Since I'd be handling many tasks here, a proper desk would be nice.
And a spacious sofa to avoid back pain from sitting too long.
As I mentally added each element, the empty void gradually transformed into a convincingly realistic workspace.
[System Notification: The interior of Fixed Regressor (Kang Hajin)'s "Unconscious Space" has been finalized.]
"Whoa, these updated permissions are killer."
[System Notification: (Proud) ＼＼\(۶•̀ᴗ•́)۶//／／]
"Now, let's tackle those pending alerts."
I first checked the <Update Log> at the top of the notifications. Lines of text began scrolling before my eyes.
[Kang Hajin (Fixed Regressor) Permission Update (1.0) Log]
More detailed information about "human timelines" is now accessible.
The "Unconscious Space" is now assigned to you. You may enter at will.
※ Entry keyword required ※
※ Note: Time flows differently in the Unconscious Space compared to reality ※
Increased influence over "Comrades." You can exert greater impact on them.
Security clearance upgraded.
"Number 2 makes sense. The others need more explanation."
I should sit down first. I headed toward the enormous, plush-looking sofa nearby. Just eyeballing it, my butt would sink at least two meters into—
"Ahh!"
[System Notification: U-um, you only visualized the appearance, so tactile sensations need to be specified separately...]
"Thanks... for the heads-up. Damn it...!"
Pain like diving onto concrete shot from my tailbone up my spine. Collapsing forward, I gritted my teeth against the agony.
"Thish ish a shofa? (Is this a sofa?)"
[System Notification: So if you imagine things more concretely and in detail...]
"My impoverished imagination turned this big, luxurious leather sofa into a boulder. Right, my fault."
[System Notification: ...If you'd like to revise the interior, just nod! (≡^∇^≡)/]
Arguing further was too painful with my aching back. After a half-hearted nod, I mustered every ounce of imagination to properly materialize every sensory aspect of this space.
[System Notification: Fixed Regressor (Kang Hajin)'s "Unconscious Space" interior has been modified.]
Sinking halfway into the sofa—now perfectly contoured to my preferences, with ideal cushioning, texture, and even temperature—I sighed.
"Ah, perfect. Feels just like Eun-chan's bed."
[System Notification: Space manifestation complete. Please specify an entry keyword.]
"An entry keyword... So saying it lets me in? Can't be something too common then."
However lively I was here, in reality I'd be practically comatose.
Better choose something unusual—not an everyday phrase that might accidentally trigger it.
"Hmm, what though? Something I'd never say normally—"
[System Notification: The entry keyword must be 10+ characters, including Hangul, English, or special charact—]
"Seriously? You're unbelievable."
[System Notification: ...But as a special exception, Hangul-only is permitted this time.]
"Graaateful. As always."
Ten Hangul characters meant no single word would suffice—it had to be a sentence.
"Okay. Got it."
[System Notification: Setting user's entry keyword. (Entry keyword: )]
"I hate mint chocolate."
[System Notification: (?_?) ...But why?]
"I hate mint chocolate."
[System Notification: (Though we're not curious about the Fixed Regressor's taste preferences.) (╭ರ_⊙)]
"What? That's the keyword. I hate mint chocolate."
Exactly 10 characters, and something I'd never joke about.
"I'm a mint-choc hater, after all."