The System's Game
The System. That damned system I had cursed so bitterly.
It reincarnated me into this body, sent me those wretched quests, and dumped all these unfortunate storylines on me like throwing bombs. Of course, I did receive some help during all this...
'I think even that was just a part of the joke to that guy.'
The moment I stared at the system in silence.
"Hello."
A somewhat mechanical voice rang out. The system, that being, spoke to me without any hesitation.
Just from the way it spoke, it felt like a real person. An artificial voice layered on top of someone who could exist somewhere.
"Greetings are over with. Why did you suddenly appear in front of me?"
I asked without preamble, straight to the point. If the existence had been hiding until now and suddenly revealed itself, there must be a reason.
"The reason for appearing?"
The system said.
"I wanted to meet you."
Just for that reason, after hiding its appearance until now, it suddenly appeared?
"Is the truly bad thing in this world misfortune or happiness?"
"What?"
I was at a loss for words at the out-of-the-blue question.
"Misfortune exists to make happiness shine even more brightly. If everyone was happy, people wouldn't bother trying to get happiness or yearn for it."
The system continued to speak.
"So, to move people, happiness is necessary, and misfortune is the tool that enhances that happiness."
"..."
"We're all living while struggling to become happy."
The system said that.
"After all, the world has been operating with this kind of system."
A hollow laugh escaped me.
What meaning would there be in logically explaining why the world is like a dog?
It would just become a logical and dog-like world. No, after all, there's no logic. It's just pretending to be logical while saying dog-like nonsense.
"So, the real problem is the happiness you're trying to get."
But the system didn't stop talking.
"If you decide to become unhappy, there won't be any suffering."
"What are you trying to say?"
Is this the kind of nonsense you're showing me in person? At the time when I was listening quietly with a smile on my face.
"In that sense, Won Ji-an was a special person. Because he chose to disappear without struggling for happiness."
The moment Won Ji-an's name came from the system, my mind froze.
"I wanted to test if he could do the same in this life."
'...Hah.'
Just because of that, he dumped all the misfortune onto Won Ji-an?
"Is that the reason?"
"Yes. Because you seemed curious."
I had some idea, but in this world, there was no grand cause or justification for someone becoming unhappy.
"I'm saying this because I want to know your reaction."
At that moment, strength entered my fist.
"This is all just a game to you?"
Just as I was about to take a step forward with my fist clenched.
The system's voice came out.
"So, I have one proposal to make to you."
"...Proposal?"
In my head, I knew. That guy was going to toy with me again.
Even though I knew that fact, my heart was already shaking.
"I'll give you the choice."
"Choice?"
The system said in a cheerful voice.
"Yes! I'll let you choose a target to transfer Won Ji-an's misfortune to!"
My head cooled down.
'Can I specify the target?'
In the end, I had to push someone onto my own hands. Just thinking about it made disgust rise in my chest.
But there was no choice. Now that I've come this far, it's too late to put on such pretense.
"Then, Yoon Hyun..."
"That's not possible."
The system said.
"You can only choose one main character from the novel."
'...Ah.'
That means you can't use it on supporting characters or extras.
In other words, it's asking me to decide who to send out from the debut group in place of Won Ji-an....
"If I don't want to?"
"Nothing will change."
"..."
"Wow, you're hesitating. If you don't choose, Won Ji-an won't be able to debut and will die?"
The cold reality poured ice water on my head.
"I know."
If I don't choose, Won Ji-an will disappear. Other main characters can live even if they don't debut here, but Won Ji-an will disappear if he can't debut.
So, now is not the time to put on such pretense or hypocrisy.
'Wait a second.'
At that moment, one thought flashed in my mind.
'Is it possible...'
"You appeared in front of Won Ji-an too?"
After silence, the system answered.
"Yes."
"Then, that transfer right..."
"Bingo!"
At that moment, the system's voice broke with noise and sounded eerie.
"Yes. I was the one who gave it."
Only then did I understand what was going on.
The Won Ji-an's expression that was unnaturally calm even though his name had come up.
That being the system that transfers misfortune to others, the way he had calmly urged me to use the transfer right right away.
Now I understood everything.
"You were the one who proposed it? That I should let Won Ji-an take my misfortune on his own."
After all, the transfer right was just a lie. It wasn't random to others, but there was a designated target. That target was Won Ji-an himself.
Won Ji-an had originally planned to take the misfortune instead of me. I had fallen for it like a fool.
"Hah... haha."
Now, only laughter came out.
"There was no need for this. If you hadn't brought Won Ji-an in and given me the choice from the beginning, I wouldn't have had to dump the misfortune twice."
The system laughed.
"Because it's more fun that way."
Ah, I see.
After all, for this damned system, everything is just a game.
"...Give me time to think."
"Okay."
As soon as I finished speaking, the system's light gradually faded.
After the system disappeared, the world returned to its original scenery. Looking around, I saw trainees wandering the hallway for the upcoming filming.
'I have to choose someone.'
To save Won Ji-an, I have to choose one of the main characters.
That way, that member will not debut and will be sent out from the debut group.
'I really don't want to.'
But there's no other way. It's only in novels that everyone can be happy. This is reality.
It was an incredibly cruel thing, but my head was already turning quickly.
The person who would be least affected if they couldn't debut here.
One name came to mind.
'Na Jae-hyun.'
His family background wasn't bad, he was under a planning company that supported him with some capital, and he was still young.
Growing up in a wealthy environment, he hadn't experienced any unhappy events in his life so far, and his personality was inherently bright, so even if he couldn't debut here, he wouldn't become a failure or break.
'Then, Na Jae-hyun...'
At that moment, someone suddenly hugged my shoulders from behind.
"Hyung!"
It was Na Jae-hyun.
Just from seeing his face, I was in a state as if my mind would go crazy again.
Why at this timing? Is this also a prank by the system?
"What are you thinking? I couldn't see you from earlier and came looking."
Na Jae-hyun said that while taking something out of his pocket.
It was an annoying pet.
"You wanted to see Choroki, right?"
"..."
When I looked at him with a face devoid of laughter, Na Jae-hyun flinched.
"Hyung, is there something bad happening?"
I couldn't say anything.
If Na Jae-hyun had read my thoughts just now, what expression would he make?
When he learns that I was trying to dump misfortune onto Won Ji-an to save him, would he still be able to smile brightly like now?
'It's just rationalization.'
Whether or not it's less affected if you can't debut here is just rationalization that it's good for me in the end.
There is no person who can debut without being affected. There is no person who can be unhappy.
I know that, but my head was still turning quickly.
"I'm sorry."
"What?"
"Just sorry."
At my sudden apology, Na Jae-hyun tilted his head.
"What suddenly?"
Na Jae-hyun, unaware of anything, was fiddling with the stone in his hand.
"Did you see Won Ji-an? Do you know where Won Ji-an is now?"
At my words, Na Jae-hyun's head turned.
***
When I opened the door and entered, Won Ji-an was lying dazed on the bed.
A camera installed next to him was visible. I couldn't talk comfortably. But the person next to him might be possible.
"I know you tried hard. To make me happy."
That's why I said it in a way that Won Ji-an could understand.
Just as I thought he might understand, Won Ji-an had a strange expression. He probably guessed what I meant.
"Why did you go that far?"
Won Ji-an avoided his gaze.
"Why did you do that?"
Did Won Ji-an think he was an existence that was okay to die even if he did?
Because in his past life too, he chose death by giving up happiness, so in this life, he thought it wasn't a big deal to make the same choice.
The part where he said it was like receiving punishment, was it actually meaning he was punishing himself?
'I don't know.'
It was confusing. After all, was the person I knew the right one?
"While trying so hard for me, why are you not interested in becoming happy yourself?"
It didn't make sense.
What was the reason for doing this, throwing himself away and taking on others' misfortune.
That he was okay with dying anytime, but wanted others not to die.
After all, was there something special about us that we would do that much? When you think about it, we weren't even close.
It was just an oddly empathetic relationship that couldn't be helped in the environment of reincarnation and system.
'Just, without any attachment.'
Did he think living in the past life or this life was meaningless?
But even so, Won Ji-an seemed to want to live. No. I don't know. I can't know what Won Ji-an is thinking. He's an existence I can't read at all.
"I want to debut with you. That feeling is still the same."
Won Ji-an, who had been staring at the floor with a nonchalant face, looked up at me.
"So, I will try. To make you happy."
'Even if you judge yourself as an okay person to become unhappy, it doesn't matter.'
No matter how Won Ji-an thinks of himself, I will try.
To make Won Ji-an happy.