Chapter 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 2
To summarize my life: a dragon rising from a ditch.
I grew up in a reasonably (probably) happy home, but we weren't rich. I lost my parents in a car accident as soon as I became an adult. After going through a nightmare-like rehabilitation, I raised my youngest brother, Seo Ho-jin—who was ten years younger than me—as if he were my own child.
“Seo Ho-yun, why do you live so ruthlessly?”
“To make sure I can keep food on the table.”
To stay with Seo Ho-jin and survive as an orphan in this harsh world, I couldn't afford to just be "nice." To survive, I had to become a "poisonous bastard" that made everyone shake their heads in disbelief.
I gritted my teeth and studied, talked my way through interviews, and when I finally passed the open recruitment to become a broadcasting station PD, I felt like the world was mine.
Because I was a rare rookie PD rather than a lateral hire, I was constantly squeezed and torn apart by my seniors. Despite that, I earned the nickname "the most poisonous of the poisonous" while drifting through all sorts of investigative programs and variety shows.
And that wasn't all. At thirty-three, I launched a small competition program under my own name for the first time: Pick the One. A show no one had high expectations for became a massive "mega-hit."
-Wow, isn't the trailer insane?
-Is this editing even allowed?
Trend-setting editing, just the right amount of MSG, tear-jerking backstories, and a relentless competitive structure!
It was a program that Koreans, living in a cutthroat competitive society themselves, couldn't help but love. Transfer inquiries and salary negotiations poured in from every broadcasting station imaginable.
That genius, Seo Ho-yun, who received love calls from everywhere—that was me.
“Hyung, seriously… did you really become an idol?”
But my career has gone down the drain.
Furthermore, I’ve become an idol.
And an unknown one at that.
“…Give me back my hard work.”
“But Hyung, you really did get younger.”
“Read the room, you brat.”
I stood up, grabbed Seo Ho-jin by the shoulders, and shook him violently. Seeing as he was trying to act like my equal, it seemed I had spoiled my damn little brother far too much.
“Is there nothing different about you?”
“Nothing at all.”
Seo Ho-jin frowned slightly and fumbled with his phone. He explained that his assignments for his professor were still there, and the news was the same. After searching for five more minutes, he reached a conclusion.
“The only thing that changed is you, Hyung.”
“Is this a prank camera?”
“Do you think I’d do something like that if I didn't want to die by your hand?”
I snatched the phone from Ho-jin. I looked for the game he said he’d installed, Unknown Idol Tycoon, but it was nowhere to be found.
“What on earth is…”
Ding!
A system window popped up.
It appeared right next to the bickering Ho-jin, but he didn't seem to see it.
[Quest:
You have been possessed by Unknown Idol Tycoon!
We have prepared a Play Guide for you, who knows nothing.]
“…Play Guide.”
At those words, the system window began to flip through pages rapidly. I hurriedly read the explanations that appeared.
[PD Seo Ho-yun, who lived his life ruining others' lives, has been possessed by Unknown Idol Tycoon.
Except for your family member, Seo Ho-jin, and certain specific individuals, no one remembers you as a PD.
To put it simply, it’s best to think of this as a parallel world.]
A parallel world?
[To escape this world and return to where you originally lived—to become a PD again—you must clear Unknown Idol Tycoon. If you fail to clear it, logging out will become permanently impossible.]
“What if I just study again and become a PD?”
[Heavy penalties will be imposed if you deviate significantly from the Main Scenario.]
“Sigh…”
My breath hitched. My original world. The reputation I… the reputation I had earned through all that bullshit disappeared in a single day. To get it back, I have to clear this game.
“What do I have to do to clear it?”
[Follow the Main Scenario.]
“And what is the Main Scenario?”
[You must become a first-tier idol recognized by everyone!]
My fists trembled. This reality was absurd.
I slumped onto the sofa and looked for a cigarette. As I tried to light it, a system window popped up urgently.
[Idols do not smoke!]
“…….”
I glared at it with a face that looked ready to kill. The system window followed up immediately.
[Unknown Idol Tycoon respects the player's freedom.]
It tucked its tail between its legs pretty quickly. I didn't know whether to be grateful or what.
After smoking and organizing the strangely irritating system windows, the status was as follows:
[Main Scenario Arrived
Would you like to start?
Yes/No]
Being a broadcasting station PD, I knew the entertainment industry well, so my calculations were fast.
A first-tier idol recognized by everyone. Basically, even if we don't hit Billboard, we have to at least dominate Asia… that’s what it’s telling me to become.
‘…….’
I took a deep drag of the cigarette and let my brain work. I reached a conclusion.
“Start the Main Scenario.”
[Starting Main Scenario.]
[A quest has arrived.]
“What, Hyung, are you really going to do it?”
Whether I could be an idol or not wasn't the problem.
“…Food.”
“…….”
“We have to make a living, don't we?”
“Are you obsessed with food, Hyung?”
A man obsessed with food. I gave Ho-jin a light noogie. To feed Ho-jin and survive myself, I had to do something. The outcome was already set to success.
However, the how was what mattered.
I had run through life like a madman and earned the nickname "Devil PD." Whether the methods were clean or dirty didn't matter. As long as I reached the goal, I just had to obtain the title of a first-tier idol.
“Ho-jin.”
“……Y-yeah.”
“Have you ever seen me fail at something?”
As I muttered calmly, Ho-jin rubbed his arms as if he’d gotten goosebumps.
* * *
[New User Reward.
Stat viewing is now available.]
Stat viewing?
“Show me.”
[Viewing Seo Ho-yun’s stats.]
[Seo Ho-yun
Unknown Idol. Even if you danced on Subway Line 1, people wouldn't recognize you. They’d just think you’re a subway madman.]
…….
[Singing: B
Dancing: D-
Variety: B+
???: ???
??: ??
Charm: B+]
“These are my stats?”
I felt a sense of unease looking at them. My stats were… disastrous. My singing, even when I was just belting it out with a spoon in a soju bottle, was recognized by the Bureau Chief.
But, huh? Isn't a D- in dancing a bit much?
[These stats have been evaluated objectively.]
For a moment, I started thinking like I was evaluating an audition contestant, then I snapped out of it. Fine, let's assume the stats marked with question marks will unlock later.
“Hey, and why is my Variety a B+? It should be an S.”
[Being good at editing is different from having the variety sense to be funny yourself!]
“…That’s a fair point.”
I was annoyed, though. The system window sent a quest window as if intentionally ignoring my words.
[Quest Arrived:
‘Visit the Agency!’
We are proud of you for accepting reality^^
Visit the agency and listen to the explanation about the failing group ‘The Dawn.’
Listen to the explanation about The Dawn 0/1
Success: Start next scenario, +5 Charm.
Failure: -30 Charm.]
“What even is Charm?”
Muttering curses, I headed outside. Just as there were no changes to my brother, the outside world was still Seoul in 202X. Even though I had rejuvenated by ten years, it didn't seem like I had regressed in time. It really was a parallel world.
Since nothing had changed, there was no need to adjust. At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.
“Wait, hold on! Let me regress.”
Ding!
[Why?]
“So I can buy a lottery ticket.”
[…….]
Buy a lottery ticket. Or at least buy some stocks or crypto. Then I wouldn't have to follow this crazy system window.
I muttered hollowly at the thought crossing my mind.
“My lottery, my real estate, my crypto…”
With a heart full of futility, I staggered toward the agency. My worries about being recognized were pointless; even walking around without a hat, no one recognized me.
Ding!
[Because you’re a nugu!]
Stop it, it hurts.
I was actually more popular back when I was a PD. At least back then, there were plenty of people who wanted to throw eggs at me. How am I supposed to grow such a nugu into a first-tier idol?
When I arrived at the address saved in my phone, a call came in from a number saved as ‘Manager’ with impeccable timing. Between the quest and this, it seemed to be an initial setup created for the start of the game.
“Yes, this is QBS PD Seo Ho-yun.”
[Did you take the wrong meds? What do you mean, PD?]
Ah, professional habit.
The voice of a man in his thirties came through.
“This is Seo Ho-yun.”
[Seo Ho-yun, you punk, have you finally made up your mind?]
“Yes. I’m in front of the company.”
[Good, well done. I’ll be right out.]
I didn't know what he meant by "made up your mind," but I nodded, relying on the intuition I’d built up over years of broadcasting life.
‘Daepasung Entertainment.’ I took a quick look at the company lobby, but as expected, it wasn't a place I knew.
It seemed this Unknown Idol Tycoon (what a terrible name) and the Republic of Korea I lived in had been mixed together.
Scanning the photos hanging in the lobby, it looked like they put more effort into cultivating actors. I sat on the sofa and squinted to see if there were any familiar faces. The only somewhat famous person was Min Ji-heon, a ‘trustworthy actor.’
This agency is a flop.
“Aigoo, if it isn't our prospect.”
A man with the same voice as the one on the phone walked out. With a bit of a belly and a greasy face, he looked to be around my original age.
Following my habit when doing business, I bowed politely and extended my hand.
“I am Seo Ho-yun.”
“…So, what’s with this concept, Ho-yun?”
“……Shall we call it mind control?”
Is the 23-year-old idol version of Seo Ho-yun a bit different?
As I withdrew my hand, the manager put his arm around my shoulder and naturally led me inside.
“Are you feeling any better?”
“Yes, well, thanks to your concern.”
“Right, coming back means you’ve made up your mind, right?”
“About what.”
“About being an idol, about doing The Dawn!”
The Dawn. It was a group name that kept making me think of traditional folk rhythms.
“The people at the company have been waiting. The CEO waiting a whole year for you is a truly exceptional measure. Do you know how popular The Dawn is?”
‘For someone saying that, the MV views were pretty low.’
“It’s still not too late. Anyway, the debut recordings from a year ago are all finished. It only fell through for you after that… but for an idol group, well, an odd number is better for the center, right? There’s still a spot left for you.”
‘Isn't it just that no one else wants to do it?’
I quietly swallowed my words and walked toward the CEO's office. Still, I had gained quite a bit of information.
1. The Dawn is a one-year-old rookie group.
2. It’s an idol group hastily created by an actor management agency to ride the K-pop wave.
3. The group’s performance is a failure.
They’re doomed.
Knock, knock. The manager opened the CEO's office door with a face full of tension.
“Aigoo, CEO. Seo Ho-yun is here.”
“Seo Ho-yun?”
The CEO was a middle-aged man in his fifties.
I gave him the same polite greeting I gave the manager.
“It’s been a while. I am Seo Ho-yun.”
“Never heard of him…”
What? I momentarily lost control of my expression out of sheer absurdity, but the manager defended me, seeing as I was an artist under his care.
“What are you talking about! He’s the lead vocal of The Dawn, Seo Ho-yun. The one you praised so much, CEO.”
“Ah, The Dawn. That…”
It seemed the CEO had no interest in me. To be precise, he seemed to have no interest in the idol group called The Dawn.
This agency was even more of a flop than I expected.
“…I’ve returned after a year of rest.”
“Right, Ho-yun. Honestly, it’s a big decision to return to The Dawn. It’s not like they’re that popular.”
He sighed and rummaged through some documents without even looking at me. His tone was indifferent.
“C-CEO.”
The manager was sweating bullets.
Having been used to hearing harsh criticism, I glanced at the manager. It seemed the CEO was quite intimidating to him.
“Ho-yun, as you know, we are an actor management agency.”
“Yes.”
“If The Dawn doesn't start making money, there’s a possibility of disbandment. You don't know how much money it takes to maintain an idol group, do you?”
I know.
I already know that money disappears like crazy.
‘How could I not know?’
But he’d been strangely looking down on me since a moment ago, playing power games with "I don't know you" and "Who are you?"… I rolled my eyes for a moment, scanned the CEO's office, and asked.
“How long until disbandment?”
“What?”
I asked frankly. The CEO frowned, seemingly not expecting a half-baked idol to dare ask such a thing.
I asked again, kindly and clearly.
“I’m asking how much money is left.”
“Seo Ho-yun!”
The manager jumped. I remained calm. Intimidating the CEO of a small-to-medium agency like this, who couldn't even properly care for his own idols, was easy.
‘I just have to treat him the same way.’
Indeed, the CEO’s eyebrow twitched, looking slightly flustered.
“…You’ve become quite bold after not seeing you for a while?”
‘Look at him. A second ago, he said he’d never heard of me.’
His intentions were transparent, but I didn't want to drag things out with tedious talk, so I returned to the main point.
“Thank you for the compliment. So, how long do we have?”
“Half a year at most, I suppose.”
Half a year. I did the math. Half a year is a period where, at best, one title track comes out and you do a few broadcast activities before it’s over. What mattered was how much of a result we could produce within that time.
‘Hey, can’t I just debut somewhere else?’
I asked the system window.
[Additional Explanation!
No, you cannot. Once you draw the sword, you must at least slice a radish.
It must be The Dawn.]
It was obvious it was just trying to mess with me for no reason.
“…Understood.”
When I answered obediently, the CEO scanned me from head to toe. Honestly, I wanted to boldly strike a deal right now, but I didn't know anything yet.
“…Did you become a different person after being sick?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, in the past, you were a bit… blurry. Well, whatever. I’ll send the contract again. We have to file for your reinstatement.”
I didn't remember well what I was like at twenty-three. I thought I was similar.
Anyway, I nodded. I had to see the contract. It was a very important matter.
I’ll have to renegotiate later.
“Go ahead and try your best.”
In reality, it was more like, “Gooo aheeead and tryyy your beeeest,” but I ignored the sarcasm.
Ding!
Suddenly, a system window popped up. I frowned and looked at it. I had a bad feeling.
[Choices:
1. That’s nothing, I’ll crush it!
2. Just give me more money.
3. I shall succeed even if I must lay down my life, Sire!]
‘What?’
What are these burdensome choices?
At a glance, it seemed I had to choose one of these, but I really didn't want to.
I kept my mouth shut. Then, a time attack appeared at the bottom, and in an instant, it hit zero seconds.
At that moment, my mouth suddenly moved on its own.
“…I shall succeed even if I must lay down my life, Sire!”
……What the?
It was a sudden historical drama line. I couldn't even close my mouth out of sheer absurdity, and the CEO laughed awkwardly.
“Um… that’s a bit much. You don't have to lay down your life.”
“No, that’s not it…!”
“Ho-yun! Let’s go! Ho-u Ho-u!”
As I opened my mouth to protest the injustice, the manager suddenly covered my mouth and dragged me out.
I told you, I didn't do it! This is driving me crazy!
‘Hey! What happened with this!’
[Unknown Player Tycoon has various mini-games^^]
‘You said you respected freedom, you bastard.’
[You’re not supposed to believe what a game status window says! >//<]
‘This little…!’
[Quest Completed:
‘Visit the Agency!’
We are proud of you for accepting reality.
Visit the agency and listen to the explanation about the failing group ‘The Dawn.’
Listen to the explanation about The Dawn 1/1
Success. +5 Charm.
The next scenario begins.]
[Quest Arrived:
‘Talk to the Members!’
Greet the members of the failing group ‘The Dawn.’
Greet The Dawn members 0/4
Success: Start next scenario, +5 Charm.
Failure: Rumors of discord with The Dawn members.]
It’s definitely ignoring me on purpose.
I was flipping through the system windows in annoyance when the manager smacked my back hard. My face naturally crumpled.
“That hurts.”
“Are you crazy? What’s wrong with you? How could those words come out in front of the CEO?”
I didn't do it.
“Has your liver swollen outside your belly?”
“If it had, I’d be in the emergency room.”
“Wow, look at this guy. Just because you have a mouth doesn't mean you should…”
The manager thumped his chest as if he were suffocating from frustration.