The Encore Stage That Almost Failed
- Reward: 100G
Is preventing Won Ji-an from fainting mean that he's about to faint right now?
At that moment, I saw Won Ji-an, who was on the verge of collapsing.
What should I do...?
My brain worked quickly.
If I didn't want to do noise marketing like Hael without regard for methods, fainting on the encore stage wasn't a good thing at all.
After taking first place, the encore stage was something everyone would experience for the first time, so even just receiving congratulations would have been enough.
'Open the store window.'
That was the only way for now.
To prevent Won Ji-an from fainting, I had no choice but to borrow the system's power.
In a hurry, I called Bodi and manipulated the system. The store window opened. By the way, I had already memorized all the item types.
'Purchase Fatigue Recovery Potion.'
The Fatigue Recovery Potion could be seen as a kind of HP recovery item.
Fortunately, there was still gold left from the previous quest reward, and I could buy items from the store with it.
By the way, this item could be used not only on myself but also on others. I pressed the use button and entered Won Ji-an as the target.
'I hope this is enough...'
After using the item, I checked Won Ji-an's status.
I was worried if it would be okay. I had used the item, but since it was the first time, I couldn't gauge the effect.
"...Eh?"
At that moment, I saw Won Ji-an's complexion changing in real time.
Previously pale as if about to collapse, now it was as if a bright filter had been applied, his whole person had changed.
He changed that much?
Indeed, the effect of the item.
While being cautious of the system's existence, every time I used such abilities, I unconsciously relied on them.
It was like a plant on the verge of death had been given water, regaining its vitality.
Won Ji-an sang with a louder voice than before and waved his arms.
QUEST COMPLETED
And the quest completion window appeared. At the same time as the reward was given...
『Saved the Stage That Almost Failed』 Title Acquired
I hadn't seen a title acquisition window in a long time.
What is this?
It seemed like a title obtained by saving the almost-failed encore stage...
Deciding to check later, after greeting, I came down from the stage.
Thus, I successfully completed the first encore.
In the hallway, holding a trophy, I filmed a congratulatory video with the members.
While the members were in the middle of self-congratulations, I headed alone to the bathroom.
Opening the door and entering, I immediately opened the system window and checked the title I received just now.
『Saved the Stage That Almost Failed』 Title Acquired
[Saved the Stage That Almost Failed]
- Luck +15
- Stage Quality +20
So, using this would raise luck and stage quality. I thought it would be useful later.
Right now, I'm not wearing the title...
After learning that the system's true identity was the great black villain trying to backstab me from behind, I started trying not to use abilities actively.
I couldn't yet have confidence in whether I could trust the new system's abilities.
But, will there come a day when I have no choice but to use it like today.
When I thought it would be better to just use it as much as possible and judge.
Knock knock.
The bathroom door opened, and Hael entered at a good timing.
I see him often in the bathroom.
Just when I thought that. Before my thought ended, the system window appeared again.
『Frequently Encountering Villains in the Restroom』 Title Acquired
[Title 'Frequently Encountering Villains in the Restroom']
- Odor Purification +50
- Safe Zone function activated
"Huh."
This was the first time I acquired such a spiteful title.
It seemed the effect was used only in the bathroom.
Odor Purification meant purifying the smell, and Safe Zone was...
Upon checking the detailed explanation, it seemed like a function that turned the bathroom into a safe zone for a certain time, making external intrusion impossible.
It also blocked conversations inside from leaking out.
What kind of title is this?
I don't want to encounter this guy often in the bathroom. I don't want to have conversations in smelly bathrooms.
Because bathrooms are places for waste disposal, not for intimate conversations.
My value is that all places and tools in the world should be used for their purpose, so I didn't want to use things like safe zone.
But, I have many things I want to ask this guy too.
I needed a space where I could talk freely without worrying about others' eyes. Even though I didn't want it to be the bathroom...
"Pfft."
When I equipped the title, Hael burst into laughter openly.
Ha, what the hell.
The title 'Do Won-woo Frequently Encountering Villains in the Restroom' appeared above my head, which was funny even to me.
While maintaining a calm expression despite Hael's mockery, I approached him.
"Hey."
"Eh?"
Since the Safe Zone function was activated, no one could enter here now. No matter what conversation, it couldn't be heard from outside.
That means everything that happens here becomes a perfect secret.
Crack!
I slapped his cheek first.
"Huh...?"
Hael, not expecting this development, stood with his head turned for a while blankly, then let out a hollow laugh.
"I just hit...?"
I nonchalantly brushed off my hand.
"Yeah."
To be precise, I was a type that hated violence. When I saw group bullies beating someone in the bathroom in school, the first thing I felt was disgust.
Moreover, I thought responding to villains with violence was low...
"Why? Didn't you know how to hit?"
I wanted to hit him hard enough to make him self-disgusted.
Of course, it was the first time I hit someone in my life, so my palm looking down was slightly trembling.
"You were trying to kill me."
To calm the trembling hand, I repeated clenching and unclenching my fist and said.
"Due to your interference so far, if either of us couldn't debut, someone would definitely have died."
Recalling memories I didn't want to remember, I continued.
"Also, that day on the rooftop... the day you entered Yoon Hyeon-min's body. On that day, you really tried to kill Yoon Hyeon-min. If we were a little late, you would have really died."
Throughout the words, Hael remained motionless with his head turned.
Looking at such Hael, I said.
"You aren't crazy just like that. There must be a reason. Maybe you received a goal from the system or something. But stop here."
Hael, who wasn't moving, just rolled his eyes to look at me.
"You giving me a quest to kill someone is the system? That's not helping you achieve your goal. The system has other purposes and deliberately traps you."
Even after the words ended, Hael just blinked with a blank expression.
"......"
"......"
Only the sound of dripping water was heard in the bathroom filled with static.
Just when I was waiting thinking he would say something, Hael suddenly approached me with unfocused eyes.
What the hell is this crazy guy.
When I prepared to defend against the sudden approach, Hael passed by me and approached the mirror.
"?"
For a moment, I was taken aback by the unexpected situation and turned my head towards the mirror.
And what I saw was Hael sticking his head out extremely weirdly towards the mirror.
It was almost like his face was glued to the mirror.
What... is he doing?
Soon, Hael started fiddling with his own face.
Not stopping there, he grabbed and pulled his eyes, nose, and mouth madly.
Is he really crazy?
It seemed like he was checking if something was wrong with his face after being hit on the cheek.
But it was too bizarre a sight. No matter how important appearance is for the job, it felt like obsession with the face had gone beyond bounds.
"Hey. You..."
Just as I put my hand on Hael's shoulder to snap him out of it.
"Get out, you bastard."
...Eh?
Hael glared at me with bloodshot eyes and muttered curses.
"You bastard, you son of a bitch, you were almost killed. If a scratch appears on my face, what the hell, what would happen? Huh? What would happen? If a bastard scratch appears on my face... huh? Huh?"
Hael stopped talking for a moment and then opened his mouth wide and screamed.
"What would happen!!!"
I was at a loss for words.
In front of my eyes, the crazy spectacle unfolding in real time, all I could do was stand still and observe the opponent.
"You bastard. Are you an idol even after doing that? Ah, an idol hitting an idol's face? If you're an idol, knowing how important the face is, doing this... Are you a person even after doing that? Huh? Are you a person? An idol? A bastard who isn't even a person or an idol!"
Behind Hael saying that, my reflection in the mirror appeared. The title 'Frequently Encountering Villains in the Restroom' shone pathetically above my head.
"...Do you have the right to say such things?"
I almost lost my train of thought at the opponent's crazy appearance, but I maintained a calm attitude and said.
"Funny. Talking about idols with such personality... No. This is a problem of humanity beyond idols. You who tried to kill someone, asking me if I'm a person?"
Hael looking at me saying that tilted his head.
Then, as if ridiculous, he curled the corners of his mouth and burst into laughter.
"My personality? My personality is the problem?"
Hael quietly raised his head.
"That's the problem when it's exposed, you idiot."
"......?"
"As long as it doesn't get exposed. No matter what I do, whether I kill someone or not, as long as it doesn't get exposed, and I make it so that only my fans don't know, I'll become a perfect idol."
I was losing words with this unbelievable logic continuing.
"No, I just said it? This is a problem of humanity beyond idols. Killing a person is..."
Before the words ended, Hael shouted with a tantrum.
"You bastard! You are a murderer too! What you did is murder! Because you hit my face to end my idol life! You are an idol murderer! Idol murderer!"
...Huh?
At that moment, I realized.
That the other person couldn't understand the words.
"Why is hitting me becoming murder?"
Hael didn't answer. Instead, he smiled with the corners of his mouth raised.
"Watch."
Hael, who was cursing madly, suddenly changed like he had taken medicine and showed a calm expression.
"Your face... I'll trample on that pretty face of yours."