Chapter 2

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 2

Chapter Title: The 30-Day Countdown

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Wh-what kind of syst…….

"……eeeeem?!"

I couldn't even finish the word before my vision blurred and all strength drained from my body. My breath caught in my throat, and the entire world faded into the distance.

'Th-this…….'

That's when I realized it.

Everything I'd seen up until now hadn't been a hallucination.

'Is this death?'

Even as my consciousness slipped away, one thing was crystal clear. I was dying—that much I knew.

'I'm dying like this?'

I'd barely survived, just to go out like this?

'You crazy bastard!'

No way! I can't die like this!

My past life flashed before my eyes like a montage.

The time Dad opposed my dream of becoming an idol. The grueling practices that brought me to tears, but I pushed through anyway.

My twentieth birthday, after five years as a trainee without debuting—I'd driven alone to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the East Sea just to watch the sunrise because I craved the ocean.

Hearing from Section Chief Kim Min-jae that I'd been selected to debut in Flame.

And then, the accident on the music video shoot—all of it rushed by in an instant.

'This is insane…… How could this happen?!'

Seeing it all at once like this, it felt so damn unfair.

Seven years. Seven whole years.

That's how long I'd spent in the company, practicing nonstop without a single weekend off.

To some, it might seem short, but to me, it was most of my life.

'And now this bullshit happens?'

But as if my will meant nothing, I could feel my consciousness fading away bit by bit.

'No, no……!'

I tried everything to hold on, but it only sank faster.

'Is this really the end…….'

By then, the rage burning inside me had ebbed, replaced by an inexplicable calm…… Yeah, right!

Am I crazy? It's too unfair—I can't die like this.

I hadn't even debuted, let alone become a top star. I couldn't just fade away pointlessly!

"Gah……!"

Suddenly, sensation flooded back like a tidal wave. My blocked airway cleared, oxygen rushed into my lungs, and a chest-splitting pain hit me.

What, what is this?

"Patient! Patient! Are you okay?"

"Huh?"

The first thing I saw was a nurse shaking my shoulders.

"I just……."

"You suddenly passed out! Are you alright?"

"……Passed out?"

No. It wasn't just passing out…….

'I literally died and came back to life, didn't I?'

Cold sweat poured down my face like rain. I dazedly turned my head, and a bunch of new alerts had popped up.

More translucent lines kept appearing. Even in my dazed state, the text stood out unnaturally clear.

The first thought that hit me after reading it all?

'This fucking…….'

This asshole stole another second?

❤

I'm screwed. That was the conclusion I'd reached after much deliberation. Totally screwed.

A phrase I'd heard somewhere swam endlessly through my mind. Nothing described my situation better.

"This is fucking insane……."

I spat out yet another curse and checked the translucent text hovering before me.

This time, my name was there. Below it: Coins, Likes, and time.

One thing was for sure.

"I've only got 700 hours left?"

Unbelievable, but undeniable—I'd experienced it myself just ten hours ago.

In ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠short, I was on a death clock. Barely a month left.

"Fucking hell……."

Hard to put what happened ten hours ago into words, but my instincts screamed it was death.

Exhausted from barely escaping it yesterday, I'd passed out into sleep.

"I survived, but only 30 days left? After 30 days, I die again?"

What kind of bullshit is this?

But fortunately—or not—a faint glimmer appeared through the crumbling sky.

No, it was right in front of me, crystal clear.

[Gather 'Likes' on SNS to earn Coins and buy items!]

"Likes?"

SNS?

So…….

"Post photos on SNS, rack up Likes, earn Coins, and buy life extensions?"

Ha, hahaha.

Something snapped in my head.

"Are you kidding me, you bastard?!"

What? Likes?

"LIIIKES?!"

Likes my ass—what kind of nonsense is this? Are you insane?

First it gave me a week, then bumped it to a month since that was too stingy…….

"……Yeah, right! This is total bullshit!"

If you're giving time, make it at least a year! A month? Just 30 days? Who the hell gets that shoved up their nose?

Damn it.

❤

By the time I finished discharge and got home, it was just past noon.

Dad had returned from overseas but had work, so he wouldn't be back until evening. I'd have a few hours alone.

Better this way. I still needed time to process yesterday.

"No, give me more details."

Just "gather Likes on SNS"—how the hell?

As if answering my thoughts, lines scrolled up.

……It can read my mind too?

Well, with text floating in mid-air and my lifespan ticking down, what's one more impossibility?

"Haha, next thing you know, I'll be a superhero."

Shouldn't I star in a Hollywood hero flick? The man who sees translucent sentences—Sentence Man!

"Sigh……."

Forcing dumb jokes didn't lift my mood.

Anyway, I needed more info. I stopped overthinking and read the lines carefully.

Familiar words: SNS, Likes, photos, shop.

On the surface, it made perfect sense. Not even in a foreign language.

But.

"Total bullshit."

That was my honest take after reading it all. No multi-accounts, face must be half-visible.

Unrealistic setup, but rules perfectly realistic—blocks ID theft, botting, abuse.

And a Shop Window? What is this, an RPG…….

……What?

And then it actually happened.

Well, given everything so far, it was bound to pop up. Still, it's ridiculous.

"Screw it, I don't even know anymore."

Nothing would surprise me now. Just accept and understand.

So, first things first: gather Likes?

"Let's see."

3 Coins for 1 day, 24 hours. That's 300 Likes. Minimum 300 Likes a day to not die.

"Oh?"

Sounds doable when you put it like that.

"Fine, screw it—I'll do it."

I've prepped seven years to be an idol. Can't I snag 300 Likes a day?

Good.

Time?

From now on, I'll buy it with…… no, with hearts.

❤

……Turns out, I was the crazy one for thinking that.

"Hey! How many years has it been? You doing well?"

- Huh? Oh, yeah…… First time since middle school graduation, right? What's up?

"What, do I need a reason to call? Just felt like it."

- Not borrowing money, not selling insurance, not getting married, right?

"What're you talking about? I said I just called. Anyway, you on Goodstar?"

- Goodstar? Nah, why?

"No account? Make one and hit Like on my Goodstar. Please."

- ……What?

A baffled response came through the phone. Then.

"No, it's simple. Sign up, search my account I send you, follow, and just Like……."

- I don't do SNS.

Click.

"Fucking hell……."

I'd lost count of how many times this happened. Calling contacts top to bottom, begging, only to get shot down.

Getting Likes on SNS was way harder than I'd imagined.

If I'd been active already, maybe. Starting from scratch? Exposure was brutal.

Commenting on others' posts, uploading multiple photos—limited results.

And…….

"Why are there so many crazies here?"

Refresh once, and photos flood in like mad.

Normal ones are basic. Thirsty attention-grabs upload endlessly in real-time.

Who knew there were this many attention whores in the world.

"……No way others are dealing with this insane crap too?"

Else why post so desperately?

Anyway, I did my best to break through the competition for Likes.

Best meaning glued to my phone all day, posting photos.

But after three days of grinding? Barely three Coins.

"……This won't cut it."

Couldn't even earn two days' worth in three days.

At this rate, time would run out in a flash.

"Can't let that happen."

No Coins, I die. This isn't a game—it's real death.

Searching for a way, I turned to the internet's power.

Tons of people must struggle like me—"How to Get Lots of Likes" search yielded floods of tips.

Picked the best one.

What was it?

"In a capitalist society, it's all about money."

Thankfully, tech advanced enough: pay for Likes from shady services.

"Likes? Now I'll buy 'em with cash."

Test inquiry, deposit—and Likes poured in on schedule. Coins too.

Ding-ding like arcade Coins nonstop.

Yes!

"How many? How much do I need?"

Money conquers all in modern society. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Buy max within my budget!

As I went to order more.

"……."

……You son of a bitch?

The second the alert appeared, bought Likes and Coins vanished instantly.

A heartbreaking sight. At least the pre-saved Coins remained. If those went too, I'd be done.

"Ah…… I had like 30."

The lost Coins shimmered like a mirage. Tears welled up. Short-lived bliss, huh.

I muttered in despair.

"……Status Window."

All I had left: 3 hard-earned Coins and 33 Likes from three days.

Not even two days' life. Invest three days for one? Worst value ever.

"I'm gonna lose my mind."

This pace? Dead end. Likes were inching up daily, but who knows the future.

"Ha……."

Laughable from sheer absurdity. Total checkmate.

Just posting daily at this rate? Barely extend 10 days in a month.

10 days buys 3. 3 buys 1…….

"……Can't go on like this."

No answers, no matter how I think.

Fine, for now, we'll manage. Optimistically, consistency means more Likes ahead.

But past 30s, 40s, 50s, into 60s……?

#AgeIsJustANumber #IFollowFirst #MutualFollow #RespectTheElderly #Likes #NoLikeThenPerish

"Fuck!"

No, impossible no matter what.

Forget that—will SNS even exist then?

Need a drastic solution.

What? Time to find it.