Chapter 2
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 2
Chapter Title Return to Reality
When I opened my eyes, it wasnt an unfamiliar ceiling.
Having spent ten years inside Grand Quest Saga, my old memories had grown a bit hazy, but I still remembered the ceiling of the oneroom apartment where I used to live.
I sat up in bed and quickly scanned my surroundings.
The room is the same, the layout is the same, the furniture is the same. I really am back in my old place.
It was a slightly emotional moment.
It was incomparably shabby compared to the luxurious castle and vast chambers granted to me as the crown prince of the Arcadian continent.
But I had achieved the goal Id longed for over so many years.
I had returned to South Korea.
Still buzzing with excitement, I froze for a moment when I caught sight of my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Ha haha. It really is this face unchanged.
Elegant waves of golden hair.
Dark brown eyes and a sharply defined nose.
A sleek yet powerful jawline.
This appearance, which exuded nobility without a word, was unmistakably Karis von Walden.
One of the main characters in Grand Quest Saga, the body Id possessed for ten years, and the crown prince of the Walden Kingdom.
When I was told that returning to the original world meant going in this very body, I had honestly been skeptical.
Karis von Walden was a game character, after all.
I couldnt fathom how he could descend into the real world.
But it seemed the gods power to manipulate worldlines was far more potent than Id imagined.
Hold on. If this body really made it to South Korea
I recalled the novels Id read before entering Grand Quest Saga.
And I tested out a word Id recited in my mind countless times while playing the game.
Status Window.
A golden Status Window materialized before my eyes with a beautiful effect.
It was a design very similar to the system that shabby god had been fiddling with, stroking his goatee.
I pushed the comical scene from my mind and checked my current status.
Name Karis von Walden Han Jihyuk
Age 20 28
Vocal C
Dance C
Stamina B
Looks SSS Nonadjustable
Charisma C
Traits Prince of the Kingdom, Surpasser of the Demon King
Status Ailment Otherworldly Being Possessor
The moment I saw the stats, a hollow sigh escaped my lips.
What kind of trash stats are these?
To reiterate, I hadnt returned to South Korea for some other purpose.
I came back to chase the dream of becoming an idol, the one Id devoted my school days and youth to.
Even if Id failed the final debut, I surely had skills honed over six years.
So why were the essential stats for becoming an idol this pitiful, extralevel garbage?
As I stared at the Status Window with disbelief, a small message window popped up.
Welcome, Possessor Karis. We will now begin the special Grand Quest briefing designated for you.
The Grand Quest assigned to you is Debut within 365 Days. Shall we proceed?
It felt like the system was coming alive on its own.
When I pressed the Yes button, the message vanished, and a massive system settings window appeared.
You are currently using the special entity, Karis von Walden.
As this entity did not originally exist in the current worldline, there are restrictions on usage time. Additional time will be granted upon completing this Grand Quest. If you fail to complete the Grand Quest within the allotted period, the current entity will return to its original world.
Wait. Return to the original world? Does that mean Id go back to Arcadia possessed in this body again?
I asked hurriedly upon seeing the word return, and an immediate reply came.
You understand correctly. If you fail the quest, you will be transferred back to the original world while still possessed in the body of Karis von Walden. As this is the precious Earth worldline you struggled to return to, please approach the quest earnestly to avoid failure.
No, this isnt the kind of penalized system I wanted
We will now explain your current status.
My pitiful cry, hit with a sudden bombshell, was utterly useless.
Id worked so hard to escape that damn world.
To think failure here would send me back into Grand Quest Saga.
The system, which seemed to surpass even highperformance AI, ignored me and continued with the basics.
You are 100 synchronized with the body of Karis von Walden. In other words, all ability values, biological rhythms, and habits are set according to the body of Karis von Walden.
So my mind is me, but the body is this crown princes.
It started to make sense.
A crown prince naturally had zero musical talent. The entire concept of Grand Quest Saga was a game where you built up a kingdom to rival the demon kings army and took it down.
It was only natural that stats essential for becoming an idol in South Korea were utter trash.
However, your soul is also synchronized, allowing rapid growth in skill point acquisition for specific fields.
As a tutorial reward, weve granted 1 skill point. We recommend using it.
This system was no different from a typical game.
Giving points earned from quest clears to raise stats was standard.
Without hesitation, I used the point on my C Vocal.
A flashy effect burst forth, and Vocal rose to B.
They really went all out on the effects.
I checked the remaining stats and slowly assessed the situation.
The grades screamed ridiculous at first glance.
Points were essential to raise stats, and securing primary sources for points would be the most efficient route.
If I keep practicing, achievements should unlock naturally. Raising stats with points wont take long to reach my original level.
As I muttered to myself without realizing it, I noticed another fact.
My speech pattern was exactly like Karis von Waldens from the game.
The haughty tone typical of fantasy nobles was copied and pasted perfectly.
Maybe after living as the crown prince in Grand Quest Saga for so long, it had seeped into my subconscious.
I tried reviving my old Korean speech patterns.
Bring me some water!
You there, stop yapping and shut your mouth!
You hopeless idiot!
No good.
I even tried forcing out curses, but my tongue wouldnt obey.
It was like facing a foreign language for the first time.
I clutched my hair in frustration for a moment.
I was Korean, so listening and understanding were fine.
But this patchedin speech pattern in the weirdest way was a massive obstacle.
So thats what it meant by biological rhythms and habits set to the body.
My head spun for a bit.
Idols could plummet to ruin with the slightest slip in speech.
If I spouted this novellike accent on camera
Just imagining it was dizzying.
While I was racking my brain internally, the system proceeded to the final tutorial step.
In addition to stats, you have been granted skills. Please check them.
Finally, we will set the identity of Karis von Walden for use in presentday South Korea. Please fill in the items below, and we will adjust the worldline accordingly.
I pondered the guidance window, divided into detailed sections rivaling a job application.
Hold on. If I can set this bodys background however I want
Maybe I could turn Karis von Waldens absurd habits to my advantage?
I immediately grabbed the laptop haphazardly placed in the room and connected to the internet.
Then I searched for a world map and checked around Europe.
Wheres a country that sounds plausible?
This is the last one, right?
Yes. That documents the end.
Phew.
At the KJ EM building in Sangamdong.
In a meeting room on the 8th floor, a producer rubbed her fatigued eyes after reading applications late into the night.
Today marked the final deadline for Idol Training Simulation, an ambitious project greenlit by headquarters.
Theyd aimed for 100 trainees total, but a few dropped out after applying, leaving 96.
Well, major agency trainees had signaled interest right after registration opened, so lastminute entries were rare anyway.
For some reason, applications kept coming right up to the wire this time.
The producer put her glasses back on and examined the document handed over by her junior.
This is the one who applied yesterday at the last minute?
Yes. It says independent trainee, so I didnt expect much, but it turned out to be a surprisingly unique character. There were a few foreigners among the applicants, right?
Foreigners? Maybe three or so.
Theyre probably all Japanese or Chinese.
Yeah.
A Europeans a first, isnt it?
Among the 96 applicants, independent trainees were a tiny fraction.
Independents were rare enough, and foreigners even rarer.
Combining both, with a European nationality to boot?
The onslaught of headspinning words left the producer flustered.
Worried her fatigue was clouding her vision, she doublechecked the trainee profile.
EEstonia?
Yes. I couldnt believe it either, so I verified it. Born in Estonia for real. The backgrounds wild too. Apparently, Korean blood from her greatgrandmothers side led to studying Korean naturally, then got hooked on Kpop.
The producer scanned the profile marked Karis von Walden a couple more times.
The backstory alone had endless hook potential, but the attached photo was nextlevel.
Blond with dark eyes. That could pass for mixedrace without batting an eye, right?
Id need to see in person to say for sure. But the mask appeal is locked in, at least?
True If the photos this good, the real things unguessable.
Her junior narrowed her eyes as the producer spun her pen excitedly.
Senior, why are you suddenly so pumped when you were halfdead earlier?
Obviously. I smell it. You know its a given in these audition shows for surprise talents to pop up, right?
You mean that Idol Production 101 story? That was years ago. Over three, even.
But those debuts did so well it dragged our company into this market. Backed by a megacorp, no less.
She finished thoroughly reviewing Kariss application and set her pen down.
A faint smile bloomed on her fatigueworn face.
Whatever happens, my ten years of instinct are screaming. This kids either a massive hit or a total bust.
And if its a bust?
Then we milk the agro in editing to boost ratings, then cut him boldly midshow. The formats perfect for provocative edits, right? Makes him the ideal card.
As the title suggested, Idol Training Simulation blended survival elements with game mechanics to hook viewers deep.
Shed felt it from the start when the main PD recruited her for the project.
It exploited idol fans emotions too perfectly.
Missions that wrung every drop from trainees, paired with addictive, highstakes rewards.
In a show packed with such features, versatile cards usable on either end were pure gold for production.
Pass it to the PD. All final apps checked. Interviews and tests as planned.
Got it.