Chapter 232
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 232
[“PD-nim, are you even human?”]
On the screen, my past self watched with a bored expression as she screamed in a fit of rage.
[“If you had a shred of conscience, you never would have edited it like that!”]
The girl was Jeong Cheong-yeon, a trainee who had placed fourth in a survival show for those who had failed to debut despite years of training.
She had wanted this. It was something already agreed upon with her agency beforehand.
That was why I had meticulously edited her footage to manufacture those results. She had achieved her goal, and if left alone, things would have settled down eventually. I couldn't understand why she was whining about a problem that would have naturally faded with time.
My eyebrows twitched as I watched the tears streaming down her face like rain.
[“You placed fourth, didn't you?”]
I wondered where the girl had gone—the one who said she’d do anything, even sell her soul, just to debut.
In contrast, I remembered being slightly pissed off when I thought of Song Ji-on. She had stubbornly followed her agency’s ridiculous demands, forced to draw negative attention to herself, only to be left helpless against the barrage of verbal arrows flying her way.
Jeong Cheong-yeon had received so much screen time that rumors circulated she was PD Seo Ho-yun’s niece, and in the end, she bore fruit. But with Song Ji-on, the more I tried to help by increasing her exposure, the harsher the criticism became and the further her rank dropped.
It was the first time in my life my calculations had failed me so completely.
[“What does that matter? Everything important is already gone—!”]
Song Ji-on’s image overlapped with Jeong Cheong-yeon’s.
Song Ji-on eventually crumbled and didn't even make the cut for the final stage.
The complaints overflowing from Jeong Cheong-yeon’s mouth were things Song Ji-on would have been envious of.
[“Well, you’ll live a long life then. They say you live longer the more you’re cursed at.”]
Perhaps that was why I spoke so bluntly, without any filter.
I pulled out a cigarette and put it in my mouth. Click, click. The lighter sparked, and the tip caught fire.
[“—If that’s all you have to say, I’m leaving. I’m busy.”]
I was a bit sensitive back then, too.
I watched her hang her head, teeth clenched and body trembling, before glancing at my phone and turning to leave.
Then, a curse I had heard many times before was hurled at my back.
[“I hope you crash and burn, PD-nim. A day will surely come when you regret this. A day when our positions are reversed and you finally understand me. Even if you beg and cry then, it won’t matter!”]
[“My, how terrifying.”]
I chuckled.
Leaving her and her curses behind, I quickened my pace. I was short on time if I wanted to get back to the production office and start editing again.
However, I suddenly stopped.
After scratching my head in thought for a moment, I pulled out my phone again.
[Me: Song Ji-on-ssi]
[Me: Can we talk later?]
I didn't think I could solve everyone's problems.
But I already knew about Song Ji-on’s situation, she wanted to be an idol, and I just happened to be a variety show PD.
Leaving her like that felt like a weight on my conscience.
I went to the editing room and immersed myself in work after sending the text, but soon an assistant director came to find me. He said the Bureau Chief was calling for me urgently.
I saw myself boarding the elevator slowly, letting out a massive yawn.
From the look on my face as I pressed the button for the top floor, it was clear what I was thinking: What is he going to chew me out for this time?
[“Hey, PD Seo!”]
As soon as the 'me' on the screen opened the door to the Bureau Chief’s office, a roar erupted.
It was, of course, the Bureau Chief.
[“You! A scandal just broke out, and you’ve been wandering around until now?!”]
[“…What is it?”]
[“The message boards are going crazy because of that trainee from your show!”]
My expression gradually soured.
It was about Song Ji-on, just as I had feared.
[Song Ji-on’s private Starstagram account got leaked lolol]
The reactions from back then scrolled across the digital billboard.
These were things even I was seeing for the first time.
[Omg T_T almost all the posts are about wanting to die;; is she okay? She looks depressed]
[Attention seeker attention seeker attention seeker]
[Isn't that just a classic trait of celebrities with mental issues? lol Being endlessly bright in front of the camera and then endlessly depressed behind it lol]
[She chose this path herself, it’s pathetic how she acts like she’s struggling twice as much as everyone else;;]
[Fck, she framed the other trainees and acted like she was the only nice one, then does this sht behind their backs. Stop trying to get attention.]
[I feel bad for Song Ji-on T_T...]
I skipped past the useless, trashy comments and picked out only Song Ji-on’s posts to read.
My hand traced the screen haltingly.
The pressure from her agency and the verbal abuse she endured were written abstractly, making it difficult for people to guess who she was talking about.
The content on her Starstagram was much worse than the things she had occasionally let slip to me.
[Omg another post just went up;;]
Below that, a post Song Ji-on had uploaded thirty minutes prior was added. It simply said, ‘It’s over now.’
In that instant, a single post filled the entire screen.
[Isn't she talking about PD Seo?]
Ding!
Suddenly, a system window popped up over it.
[Notoriety Points are being accumulated.]
“……Cough.”
So this was how the Notoriety Points had piled up?
The screen flickered once and was instantly covered with reactions criticizing and slandering me.
[True, Song Ji-on got a lot of sympathy. Because her agency got on Seo-Crazy’s bad side, Seo-Crazy went absolutely f*cking ballistic on her lolol]
[Lol T_T Poor Song Ji-on, what is all this T_T]
[I thought PD Seo at least treated the cast well, I guess not..??]
[What do you expect from a guy who does Devil’s Editing? F*ck, what’s with the brain-dead idiots defending him?]
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
.
.
.
Ding!
Ding!
Di-ding!
The timing was truly uncanny. It was as if Jeong Cheong-yeon’s curse had actually manifested.
Then, the digital billboard began to evaporate from the top, turning into a mass of black clouds. Part of it began to take on a human shape.
It paced around anxiously, biting its nails. Soon, it made a phone call.
[“Song Ji-on, pick up.”]
…It was me.
It was the ‘me’ from back then.
He strode out of the lobby, still holding the phone that remained unanswered.
The little guy in the form of Seo Ho-jin, who had been watching silently, took my hand and began to follow him.
The remaining black masses materialized into malicious text one by one and chased after us.
[Brain○Δdead○Δbastard○ΔDevil’sEditing○Δbrainwashed]
“What is this?”
“Ignore it. Follow the one in front of you.”
The kid glanced back and frowned at the letters floating in the air.
The ‘me’ from back then was headed toward the broadcasting station’s parking lot.
My pride and joy, the car I had bought as soon as my job as a PD was confirmed so I could take Seo Ho-jin places, was parked there.
[“Sh*t, please just pick up.”]
I saw myself getting into the car and slamming the door in frustration while redialing the disconnected call.
But the car didn't start.
Clunk.
Instead, as if calling to me, the driver’s side door swung wide open.
The ‘me’ who had just boarded was nowhere to be seen inside.
“……This is crazy.”
I had a feeling.
If I got in that car, I would face the memory I needed to find.
Rumble!
At that moment, a building in the distance collapsed like a row of falling dominoes.
“Ugh…!”
The ground I was standing on cracked from the impact. I could see red veins bulging through the gaps.
It felt as if my subconscious was declaring that it could no longer hold on.
Startled by the sight of the world rapidly crumbling from the edges, I looked down as a strong force tugged at my sleeve.
“Get it together! This is the last one. If you get in that car, you’ll find out what happened. It’s the only way to get out of your subconscious.”
The kid pulled me toward the car. Then he looked up at me.
“It’s time to say goodbye.”
I could guess what would happen if I got in that car. My fingertips began to tremble.
The scenes I had seen when I first became separated from the system through Min Ji-heon’s ability.
The scenes I had mistaken for the car accident that killed my parents when I was twenty—.
“It’s okay!”
A small hand covered mine, squeezing it.
“It’s okay, Hyung. It’ll be fine. You’re safe, and I’m going to make sure it stays that way!!”
I raised my gaze, which had been fixed on the ground, and saw eyes that were filled with nothing but me.
“Are you staying here alone?”
“…Of course.”
“Come here. Take my hand.”
It was a stupid thing to say, but I felt like I couldn't help but blurt it out.
The kid flinched.
“W-What?”
“At least until you’re somewhere safe.”
I knelt on one knee and lowered myself to meet his eyes.
I knew he couldn't leave with me.
If so, I at least wanted to confirm his safety.
Whatever this thing was, I couldn't leave a being that looked like a ten-year-old Seo Ho-jin alone in a collapsing world.
“Are... are you an idiot?”
“Watch your mouth.”
No, f*ck, in a world where system windows pop up, people’s stats are visible, and weird items are everywhere, was it really that strange for me to worry about him?
The kid couldn't even speak, his mouth just hanging open. I forced my lips into a small smile to reassure him.
“Ho-jin, with Hyung—”
Just as I felt my facial muscles tighten.
Screeeeeech!
Part of a building that hadn't collapsed yet folded over and came crashing toward us.
Thinking it was dangerous, I tried to pull him into an embrace, but the kid reached out his arms first. Then, the building stopped with a bizarre, grinding screech.
“You have to go. Hurry!”
Shouting that, he shoved me toward the car with his whole body. Before I could resist, the letters that had been chasing us pushed me along with him.
The door was forced shut, and the kid spoke urgently.
“—Hyung, if you truly care for your brother, don't forget that you have to get out of here. The memories that want to synchronize with you will go wild to try and hold you back, but don't ever look back.”
“Seo Ho-jin! Hey!”
I pounded on the window that wouldn't open, but it didn't budge.
[Hello, customer. Starting navigation.]
“If you endure that and make it out safely…”
My knuckles turned red and the skin scraped off.
My eyes met his through the window.
“Well, then… maybe have a meal with the brother over there.”
“Hey, hey! Seo Ho-jin!!”
The seatbelt fastened itself, and the car began to move even though I hadn't stepped on the accelerator.
As the interior lights flickered on and off, blurring my vision, the kid’s face gradually receded into the distance. A cheerful navigation voice spoke.
[Drive safely today as well!]
I hurriedly checked the rear window, but I couldn't see him clearly. His form was being obscured by the letters that were hot on our trail.
The car accelerated in an instant.
[RealΔlyΔSeo■Ho-yunRealΔlyΔPre■sentation■from■talk■nonsense■sonofabitchΔhell■gonePresentation■from■talk■nonsense■sonofabitchΔhell■was]
“……!”
The letters, which were crumbling and breaking yet stubbornly chasing me, began to pass through the window and cling to my body.
[Sonofabitch■bastard■Δbastard■Δ■bastard■bastard■bastard■bastard■bastard]
At the same time, the radio turned on, and a high-pitched mechanical sound flowed out.
[Part of the memory is being unlocked.]
Then, as the car entered a tunnel, colorful lights surrounded it. Simultaneously, images flickered past as if projected by a beam projector.
[“Yes, no, I’m going to talk to her myself. I know. I know that agency is malicious. But people come first. I have to see with my own eyes if she’s actually okay.”]
The ‘me’ in the image frowned, pulling the phone slightly away from his ear.
[“I’ll take care of it.”]
With that final word, he hung up and slammed his fist against the steering wheel, his head bowed.
[“A person might be dying, and all they care about is the station and the agency. Do they think everything that comes out of their mouths is actually speech?”]
He restarted the engine with an expression that looked like he was barely holding back the urge to flip everything over.
The car that had been parked on the side of the road soon pulled away.
[“F*cking bastards….”]
As I exited the tunnel, my voice echoed from all directions.
And then, text that had melted until it was unrecognizable fell like rain, covering the car.
[If you think about it, isn't it PD Seo’s fault? If you think about it, isn't it PD Seo’s fault? If you think about it, isn't it PD Seo’s fault?]
[First the mental issues, now he’s causing a real accident lolol I knew this would happen]
[Die die die die die die die die die]
Instead, I could tell what the content was through the radio.
The car was faithfully racing toward the end.
[Notoriety Points are being accumulated!]
[Notoriety Points are being accumulated!]
[Notoriety Points are being accumulated!]
Static—.
[“——PD-nim…. It’s Ji-on. You didn't pick up, so I’m leaving a message.”]
—Click.
[“…I’m really sorry. Don't worry about the rumors on the internet. It’s about the agency.”]
[“Like you advised me last time, I’m going to leave the agency, so I’ll clarify to the public right away that it wasn't you. …In the worst-case scenario, I’ll try again as an individual trainee—ye—…”]
The crackling radio cut off there.
In an instant, it became as quiet as if all the sounds in the world had stopped.
“……Ugh.”
A wave of nausea hit me.
My head spun from the information swirling around me.
I curled up on my side. My whole body was shaking.
“Seo Ho-yun.”
As I barely managed to pull myself together, a familiar voice came from the back seat.
It was Kim Seong-hyeon’s voice.
I almost turned around reflexively.
“Where are you going? Why are you so pale?”
He sounded deeply concerned for me.
A hollow laugh escaped me at the trickery. Kim Seong-hyeon’s soft, dumpling-like face naturally came to mind.
“Hyung, Hyung. Where are we going now?”
I squeezed my eyes shut and gripped the steering wheel with both hands, enduring it, when Jeong Da-jun’s voice came next.
“Hyung? What’s wrong?”
“Ho-yun-ah?”
Kang Yi-chae, Seong Ji-won….
The voices of those I knew passed by, all overlapping and mixing together.
I could handle this much. I could ignore it.
Just as I thought that,
Beeeeeeep—.
“……Hyung.”
Young Seo Ho-jin’s voice pierced my ears.
“Actually, I’m a little scared.”
“…….”
“Can’t we stay here together? Don't leave me here alone.”
My eyes snapped open.
I was gripping the steering wheel so hard my hands had turned white.
“Hyung, you can’t abandon me.”
But you see.
The Seo Ho-jin who is now twenty-four has grown into a fine adult who even knows how to scold his rude older brother.
I was the one who fed him, clothed him, and raised him.
Even the tiny Seo Ho-jin in my subconscious was a decent human being who knew how to comfort me when I was trembling, rather than looking after himself.
‘Get it together.’
“The memories that want to synchronize with you will go wild to try and hold you back.”
As the kid said, those are just my memories trying to hold onto me.
Just to be buried together in this collapsing place.
My brother, my brother is─────.
“…Hey.”
I spoke without looking back.
“F*ck off.”
I raised my middle finger beside my head and stomped on the accelerator of the car that had been moving on its own.
Vrooooom!
With a roar so powerful the car shook, it shot forward.
The letters that had been surrounding the car and me pierced through the windshield and whipped past my cheeks and eyes.
[Mental■■▽∂issuesnowre■alaccident■knewit■would]
[■▽∂issuesnowre■die■▽∂die■ac■■∂]
[▽∂■■die▽∂die■■die▽∂die■■die▽∂■]
Scratches appeared and beads of blood formed, but I didn't slow down.
[Player has successfully exited the tunnel■out■───….]
The vision that had been blacked out by letters cleared, and a deep, blue sky unfolded.
[As a reward, the memory is unlocked.]
Then, sound was the first thing to signal danger.
Screeeeeeeeeech!
K-boom!
—After that, by the time the truck entered my field of vision, a massive impact had already slammed into my body, and my head hit the ceiling.
Broken glass sliced into me, and the airbag crushed my chest.
The car had already overturned several times.
My consciousness was hazy.
My body shook violently as if I were freezing. Scalding hot liquid was flowing from every opening.
It was likely blood.
“Ah, cough, ack….”
I finally face the fact I had been trying so hard to ignore.
This was the accident Min Ji-heon had shown me.
[“Cough, f*ck, my luck is really….”]
And I will surely die in this accident.
A voice like scraping metal leaked from my mouth.
I could feel my heart, which had been racing just a moment ago, slowing down.
[Memory is being unlocked.]
The thread of thought I couldn't let go of until the end burrowed into my brain.
[Memory is being unlocked.]
[‘Seo Ho-jin…….’]
“Cough… ghk.”
[‘What’s going to happen to him now—….’]
My vision grew increasingly blurry.
Drip.
A drop of blood that had traveled down my forehead, past my eye, and off my chin fell onto the back of my hand. My pupils lost focus and wandered aimlessly.
—…….
My heart stops moving.
……Beeee—…!
[Notoriety Points have been accumulated.]
…Ding!
[You have met the conditions to start the game.]
Ding!
[Player ‘Seo Ho-yun’ can be revived.]
[Would you like to start?]
Thump.
My chest heaves.
Thump. Thump.
My heart begins to beat, however faintly.
[Loading….]
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
[—Loading complete.]
[Do you really wish to revive the player?]
The sound of my heartbeat thunders against my eardrums.
The buildings that were collapsing mercilessly turn into bubbles and fly away.
A brilliant energy washes over me.
[Reviving the player.]
The warmth stings as it touches my skin.
And slowly, the pain fades.
At the same time, I realize that time is turning back.
To before I hit the truck.
To before I saw the digital billboard.
To before I met the little guy.
Back, and back….
The smell of coffee spreading through the stuffy air, the musty scent of dust, and the artificial fragrance of an air freshener hit the tip of my nose.
And,
Ding!
[Congratulations, Seo Ho-yun-nim!]
[You have been selected as a player for ‘Unknown Idol Tycoon.’]
I saw myself with a stupid look on my face, water dripping from my chin.
The day I was transmigrated into a parallel world.
The 23-year-old Seo Ho-yun looking at the system window in disbelief.
My consciousness, which had been drifting aimlessly, is sucked into the darkness.
Then, the system window popped up with a familiar notification sound.
[Seo Ho-yun-nim, you have uncovered the hidden truth of the player. You met your death in your original world and have gained a new life in this world.]
A new life.
[Upon successful completion of the game, you can log out of ‘Unknown Idol Tycoon’ and lead a new life in your original world.]
[In the original world, everything remains unchanged except for ‘Seo Ho-yun.’]
A new life.
[※ Frequent loans due to failure to clear quests/scenarios will result in physical penalties leading to death. Please be careful.]
A new world.
It says that after I died and fell here, everything in the original world remains the same.
That means—.
[Clear the game through idol activities to gain a new life!]
—That means Seo Ho-jin, my brother, is left all alone there.
“Gasp—!”
My constricted lungs expanded as air rushed deep inside.
As I coughed violently, noises reached my ears.
“Doctor! The patient is conscious!”
“Check his vitals first!”
“Cough, huff, huff….”
Through my blurry vision, people’s faces appeared and disappeared repeatedly.
“Patient, can you hear me? You’re in the hospital, do you recognize where you are?”
Behind the person who kept talking to me, the tearful voices of the members drifted in.
I forced my eyes, which kept trying to close, open and looked at the ceiling.
A blue system window was floating there.
[Congrat—lations—, Seo Ho— -nim!]
[Success—lly retur— to real—!]
I couldn't read the words properly because of the pain that felt like my brain was falling out.
‘…Fck, this hurts like hell.’*
Then, Jeong Da-jun’s voice, thick with tears, came through clearly.
“Hyung, wake up, Hyung!”
“Guardian, you cannot shout. Please wait outside!”
I wanted to say something to the person who kept shouting, but my eyelids were too heavy.
And so, another blackout.
I was submerged in complete darkness.