After the First Trip
After finishing our first trip, we were thrown back into the busy schedules.
We filmed various contents that would be released in the future for our debut preparations. Honestly, even with two bodies, I felt like it was still insufficient.
But being busy was better. Whenever I had a little free time, thoughts of the system and new villains kept bubbling up in my head.
Thinking about it, quests haven't come after that day.
The system had been quiet lately. It was the noisy guy.
Despite the worry that it would appear unannounced and make noise, the guy had vanished after that.
It seemed not to appear unless there was some business or big event.
“Still, it's good that it's quiet.”
But as soon as that thought ended,
“I said it's good because you're not here?”
The system immediately countered my words as if denying them.
“What? Again.”
It didn't seem like it just came out out of boredom, but maybe there was something to say.
“Bingo.”
“...I thought it was getting quiet.”
“Well, then, shall we start the conversation?”
* * *
The place I woke up was the space created by the system, like last time.
The only difference was that last time it was just a black room with a table and chairs, but now it was decorated like an operation room from a detective novel.
On the whiteboard, various papers and photos were stuck closely together.
What is attached?
I went in front of the whiteboard and read the paper.
“Cut the kimchi into pieces about the size of a cup. Prepare an appropriate amount of pork. Put a little sesame oil in the pot, stir-fry the pork first...?”
A kimchi jjigae recipe was written there.
“?”
It was the same for others.
“How to eat cereal deliciously?”
In short, this whiteboard that looked like it had something for a detective novel was just a place to stick meaningless information.
“No, it's not even joking.”
Then, the system behind me showed an annoying expression as if asking what I was going to do.
Shut up.
The previous system wasn't easy, but this guy claiming to be the 'new system' and appearing was even more troublesome in another sense.
“What is there to say.”
The system in front of the whiteboard pointed to a chair as if to sit.
I sat down reluctantly, and the system smiled with eyebrows raised mockingly.
You know it too. There are people who want to ruin you.
“...Not few.”
“But, there's only one person who wants to ruin you even using the system.”
I know who he's talking about.
“Ah, that kid.”
The existence that suddenly appeared during the survival and tried to interfere with Won Ji-an.
Actually, I wonder if using the word 'interfere' is simple enough.
They knew what would happen if I or Won Ji-an couldn't debut.
“So, why are you talking about him?”
With a snap of fingers, the paper stuck on the whiteboard disappeared cleanly, and a map appeared on the board.
I said, I came here to help you. So, I tracked you. To find out who the existence that wants to ruin you is.
...Oh.
Is that even possible.
No, I can't trust it lightly.
It might be pretending to help to gain my trust. Maybe this playful and mocking personality is also an act to make people open up easily.
“...Still can't trust me?”
As if reading my thoughts, the system said in a resigned voice as if to do whatever.
I thought so. But now I don't care. Whether you believe or not is up to you. Whatever you say, I'll be the donation angel for you.
Donation angel... what?
“Making people into underprivileged neighbors in an instant. What are you donating?”
I'm not underprivileged. Do you think I'm happy because I don't believe in me? People who don't believe in love are underprivileged.
I decided to skip the meaningless conversation and get to the point.
“So, you tracked it. What was the result?”
Soon, a map window appeared on the whiteboard. There were several places marked in red.
It was probably the route marked by tracking the guy's location.
“If I use the system ability, there will be invisible residual waves left, and before they disappear, I tracked and figured out the route.”
The map zoomed in, and one prominent building appeared around it.
“Lumen Entertainment.”
Soon, a window with information about Lumen Entertainment appeared.
Lumen Entertainment. No one in the industry doesn't know the name, but it's not a huge company that shakes the board, a mid-sized agency in the middle.
The affiliated artists were similar. Not the type that breaks out at once, but the type that builds presence with repeated activities.
“Hmm...”
I was lost in thought for a moment.
“Tracking showed the route led here, so it could be coincidence, but if not coincidence, it could be an idol affiliated with this Lumen Entertainment?”
‘Same industry... is that it.’
I had expected it.
Who could benefit from stopping my debut.
I thought it could be another trainee from the survival, but thinking differently, it could be an entirely external existence.
‘Could it be an existence I haven't met, completely unknown?’
Then, that existence could be an idol under Lumen Entertainment. Or, it could become a trainee before debut.
It hasn't been clearly revealed yet, but I decided to remember it for now.
“But, you know.”
“If that guy also has a system, he must know that the tracking ability is there to the system.”
I tapped the table with the pen in my hand and thought for a moment.
“Then, is there no possibility that he predicted what we would track and moved on this route to confuse the information?”
“Oh...”
The system clapped lightly.
“Indeed! You're sharp.”
What is sharp?
This level is something a middle schooler can think of in a moment.
“But, he won't know.”
“That you have a kind system like me!”
I was momentarily speechless.
“Wow...”
Though it sounds unbelievable from the front, it wasn't wrong.
The previous system was quite uncooperative with me, and towards the end, it had a strong tendency to scheme and plot with the guy.
So, having an existence that kindly tracked the route like this could be something unexpected from the other side.
“...Lumen Entertainment.”
Upon searching, there was one rookie group whose debut coincided with ours.
I skimmed the first released member list. No familiar faces.
‘Really, could it be here?’
Honestly, I didn't want to believe it.
No one in the members was related to me. It was completely first-time for someone with no connection at all.
Could they kill me as if they knew me.
Acting as if they knew me, I suspected among the surrounding people....
‘No, I don't know yet. It might not be.’
The outline wasn't properly formed yet, and this information couldn't be trusted.
So, I decided to watch for now.
“Be careful.”
I didn't know what expression to make at the system's words.
“Alright.”
I answered and stood up from my seat, but suddenly thought.
“But, what should I call you?”
“I can't keep calling you system. Right?”
The system blinked in surprise at the words. It hadn't expected me to ask for a name.
“Uh...”
“No name?”
“So, when I was human, there was, but now I lost my body, so if I use that name, it feels weird.”
“Feels weird?”
“If I use the name from my human days, I might want to get my body back.”
No attachment to getting a body again, and thinking the current life is good, but if the name from human days is disadvantageous, maybe greed would arise?
This crazy guy could think about wanting a body.
‘I can't understand this guy's psychology.’
At that moment, the system said.
“Then, please call me Bodi!”
“Bodi?”
“Yes, from the meaning of guardian angel who protects you, take the name from bodyguard 'Bodi'!”
Bodi.
The name didn't stick well to my mouth, but I nodded roughly.
“Alright, Bodi.”
I don't know if I can trust this guy, but at least better than nothing.
* * *
At the point where about a month was left before debut, we entered full-scale MV filming.
Because the concept was a dream-like situation where the MV changes rapidly, filming continued by moving to various locations. During the process, there were frequent changes in costumes and styling.
In short, I was out of my mind.
‘But, I feel like we were putting effort into the MV.’
We filmed the MV by moving to places like abandoned school, amusement park, swimming pool, etc., and overall it had a worn-out, old atmosphere.
At first, it was vague after just hearing the explanation, but as we filmed, I seemed to understand what kind of feeling we wanted to convey.
After filming the MV over three days, no matter how good the stamina, I felt like my body was losing strength.
I had been trained to some extent by the extreme schedules from the survival, but since MV filming was the first time, it was true that it took more effort than usual.
But the filming itself was fun. After all, it was the first MV filming.
From the perspective of someone who had dreamed and longed for debut so much, filming the first MV was bound to be thrilling and pleasant.
So, the MV filming was successfully completed without any issues.
* * *
As debut approached, contents were released one by one.
Track list, concept photos, MV teaser, highlight medley were released one by one, and fans' reactions exploded.
And finally, the day before debut arrived.
‘Tomorrow is debut...’
Honestly, I couldn't believe it.
Time passed so fast.
The dorm atmosphere was similar to usual but with a slight tension.
The noisy members were also lower tension than usual today.
‘Honestly, if I wasn't afraid, it would be a lie.’
A new something was starting. I didn't know what would happen ahead, maybe facing another crisis, but....
Still, I decided to go. I had already come too far to be shaken by fear.