The Broken Hourglass
Quietly scrolled through the system window.
[WEAK]
These effects are so weird…
I know someday this will come in handy, but this is the first time I've received this much impact after obtaining the title.
…Am I weak?
I've always known from my past life that my athleticism was below average compared to my peers, but I had never once thought of myself as weak. I didn't want to define myself as weak simply because of a lack of stamina or coordination. I believed strength wasn't defined by power alone.
“Enough.”
While wiping my hands at the water fountain, Bodi's voice came from behind.
“Enough with the excuses.”
Damn it.
By the way, when did he appear again?
“Now acknowledge your own weakness.”
“……”
“I was also surprised. Even if it's because of the height of the hurdles, I've never seen someone jump as far as you.”
I had nothing to say, so I wiped the sweat from my forehead with a handkerchief.
“I was just trying to make it funny.”
“……”
A silence fell.
When I glanced over, Bodi was sending me a somewhat melancholic gaze.
Damn it.
I can think and calculate like in escape rooms or mystery variety shows, but my physical coordination is truly abysmal.
No matter how much I raise my dance stats, my body just doesn't move any better.
The moment I felt deeply that dance and athletics are completely different domains.
Still, how is this possible?
Won Ji-an, who had appeared beside me without me noticing, patted my shoulder.
“It's okay, Won-woo. It can happen. We laughed enough, so it's fine.”
Now I'm becoming the image of someone weaker than Won Ji-an.
Well, whatever. It's a variety show; if it was funny, that's what mattered, I told myself.
“I heard that once an image is branded in a variety show, it sticks forever. Then I'll be stuck as the body image guy forever?”
Won Ji-an didn't reply.
Until the shoot, I was the one worrying about Won Ji-an, but I realized how wrong I had been.
Won Ji-an was already flying around more than usual.
Thanks to the stamina recovery item I gave him, he looked full of energy, as if he hadn't nearly passed out.
That's good, but…
“Won Ji-an.”
“Hm?”
“…Am I funny?”
I was genuinely worried that I couldn't make anyone laugh, but my concern was immediately dismissed.
“Funny.”
His short, decisive answer made me think it was too blunt for a moment.
“Honestly, my schedule is busy and there are all sorts of things weighing on me. But today, while filming, I actually laughed without holding back. Just watching you run makes me laugh.”
That much?
“Really?”
“Yeah. It's too funny, Won-woo.”
“Just by running?”
“Yeah. The fact that you know you can't do it but still give it your all is hilarious.”
…Is this praise?
I didn't know how to take it, but I nodded anyway.
“Thanks.”
The filming resumed after that.
Before the closing remarks, the MC and guests showered me with praise.
“Haha, our Won-woo really lit up the show. The variety show spirit has arrived.”
“If it's this much, you must have been born with the variety show blessing. Or in other words, a talent in the physical variety show category.”
Seeing everyone praise me like this made me feel like I hadn't done too badly after all. Maybe I could relax.
I didn't know how I looked to them, but since it was a variety show, I decided it was enough that I made them laugh.
***
After filming ended and we returned to the dorm, members were chatting in the kitchen.
“We're back.”
“Oh, Won-woo. Did the filming go well?”
“Yeah.”
After a casual greeting, I tried to head to my room, but the members who saw me started laughing.
What's going on?
At that moment, Na Jae-hyun teased me.
“Won-woo hyung, you jumped the hurdles really well.”
How did he know that already? I asked with my eyes, and Na Jae-hyun showed me his phone screen.
“Won Ji-an hyung sent it!”
“Sent it? Already?”
“Yeah. Go check the group chat right now. There's a really funny video.”
Late to the group chat, I checked the video Won Ji-an had sent.
Ah.
It was a video taken from afar during a break of me practicing hurdles.
In the video, I was sprinting full speed, then failed to clear the hurdle and ended up sitting in the middle.
When I came down from the hurdle, the bee headband used as a forfeit in the game swung wildly.
So that's how I looked to the others?
Is there a mouse hole somewhere?
“Won-woo's face is red!”
Kwon Hak-jin pointed at my face and laughed. When I looked in the mirror, sure enough, my face was flushed in real time.
Again with this face.
No matter how hard I tried to keep a poker face, I couldn't control the color of my face.
Soon, the members who replayed the video again laughed while looking at the screen.
“Wow, it's really funny.”
“Won-woo has a good head but can't use his body at all. The gods really are fair.”
“Yeah. I think it would make the top three funniest scenes of the year.”
The members laughed while watching the video.
Yeah, if everyone's having fun, that's fine.
It seems an image of someone with a good head but terrible coordination is being created.
While drinking cold water to cool my heated face, the members' conversation continued.
“But I think it would be good if Won-woo appeared in a lot of variety shows he can do well in.”
“For example….”
“Like the mystery variety show from last time. Or the quiz show I watch these days, it would be great if he appeared there.”
Listening to that conversation, I nodded.
“I hope so too.”
It would be nice if I could appear in a variety show that suits my abilities.
Of course, since I don't have much variety show experience yet, I can't guarantee how well I'll do, but if it involves using my head, I was confident.
“I think hyung Lee-jae and hyung Hak-jin would do well in dance variety shows.”
“The two of them as a duo?”
“Yeah, it would be nice if we did something.”
Within this cheerful atmosphere, the members chatted.
Looking at the members, I thought it was still peaceful.
…For now.
Leaving the members' laughter behind, I quietly entered the room.
***
Quietly closed the door.
Outside the door, the members' conversation mixed with laughter continued.
The members don't know that there's someone trying to harm me right now.
That's why this daily life felt so alien. Even knowing someone wants to kill me, I was laughing and chatting casually, enjoying life.
Metaphorically, my lower body was in cold water and my upper body in hot water.
Thinking about it, after dealing with that crazy bastard, I'm laughing and living normally.
Only Won Ji-an knows my current state.
Of course, Won Ji-an doesn't know everything. I haven't told him about what happened with Hael in the bathroom.
Anyway, I can't just stay quiet like this.
Since I knew who the enemy was and learned that the enemy was an insane bastard beyond imagination, I decided I had to prepare.
First, let's make full use of the resources I have.
After completing the quest to stop Hyun Si-woo's injury last time, I had received a gacha ticket as a reward.
I decided to use this to spin the gacha.
I don't know what I'll get, but if I get an offensive or defensive pack, that would be good.
Hah, took a short breath and pressed the use button.
Soon the gacha started spinning with flashy effects. And the item that came out was….
Rare Item
Use the item to completely stop the surrounding time for 10 seconds.
Only you can move during the stopped time.
What is this?
“Broken Hourglass?”
I muttered the item name and checked the description window.
[Broken Hourglass]
- Using the item will completely stop the time around you for 10 seconds.
- Only you can move in the stopped time.
Being able to stop time for 10 seconds…
“Where can I use this?”
Strictly speaking, it seemed closer to a defensive item than an offensive one.
Ten seconds seemed very short, but depending on what I did with that time, it might feel different.
“Why is this item defensive?”
Looking up at the voice from above, Bodi was dangling from the ceiling.
“…Are you a ghost?”
“It's a Spider-Man cosplay.”
Bodi came down from the ceiling and said.
“If used well, it's an item that can sufficiently attack. Hitting the opponent's head hard for 10 seconds….”
“No, not that primitive attack. That only gives short-term damage. I want long-term damage, not just making them hurt for a moment.”
Then Bodi covered his mouth.
“Ooh, that's harsh. Long-term damage, you say. Want to give them eight weeks of recovery?”
I briefly considered stopping Bodi's mouth for 10 seconds.
“Not just surface damage, but things that could cause internal bleeding. If I touch those, there'll be some impact on him too.”
“Ooh, internal bleeding? You really want to give long-term damage?”
“Shut up, you.”
I quietly silenced Bodi who was rambling about jokes that weren't even funny, and organized my thoughts.
As seen before, a strong slap to snap him out of it doesn't work. He probably won't take it as a real threat and will go even crazier.
Anyway, with this item, no matter what that guy does, I can do as I please for 10 seconds.
It wasn't a good pack for offense, but I decided to keep it as a defensive measure.
Still, I felt a bit relieved. There was a 10-second window to stop anything from happening.
Even if it's a short 10 seconds, for that amount of time, I can control it.
Still not bad.
Depending on how I use this, I might be able to change something important.