Chapter 265
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 265
“What’s wrong?”
I could feel Seo Ho-jin looking at me with concern, sensing that something was seriously off.
I didn't have the confidence to meet his eyes, so I slightly turned my head away.
The same age.
You and I... are the same age...
“Haha. Ahahaha.”
Fuck...
“Why? What’s the matter?”
That single question was all the confirmation I needed regarding the current ‘Seo Ho-jin.’
His expression, his tone, his wavering pupils, and the slight tremble in his fingertips—everything served as evidence of the truth.
He wasn't teasing me, nor was he lying.
No, there was no way Seo Ho-jin would go this far just to mess with me.
“...Hyung, are you okay?”
In the end, the Seo Ho-jin standing before me...
“...No.”
...had completely forgotten that I used to be a PD, that I had become ten years younger, and that I was working as an idol here just to reclaim my original life.
I squeezed my eyes shut and then forced a playful smile as I opened them.
“—I was just asking because a certain someone’s younger brother has been acting up so much lately.”
Acting was second nature to me by now.
Seo Ho-jin just stared at me, seemingly at a loss for words.
“You brat, what do you mean 'same age'? We’re nearly a year apart. Once a younger brother, always a younger brother.”
When I added that I’d have to find a time to discipline him properly, Seo Ho-jin finally reacted. He shook his head a beat late and stammered.
“O-Of course I think of you as my hyung! That’s not it, it’s just that you—”
He kept repeating the word 'hyung' as he rambled on, but his words just drifted past my ears.
I just wanted to get out of here and clear my head.
Right then—
Vrrr, vrrr.
The phone in my pocket vibrated.
“...Ah, must be the manager. I have to go.”
“What? Already?”
“Yeah, I have a meeting with the planning team about the comeback.”
I threw out the first excuse that came to mind and turned to leave, but Ho-jin hurriedly grabbed my arm.
“Hyung, Hyung! Wait a sec—!”
“...!”
In that instant, I reflexively jerked my arm away.
I was startled by my own reaction, and I could see that Ho-jin was shocked too.
‘Shit.’
Ho-jin’s hand froze in mid-air, unable to reach for me again. His eyes were wide with surprise.
“...I’m leaving.”
I tore my gaze away from his lingering, regretful eyes and forced my heavy feet to carry me out of the house.
I knew it was a pathetic way to handle things, but I couldn't think of any other way to fix it, nor did I have the mental capacity to try.
The ground visible beneath the brim of my hat felt as if it were swaying, mirroring my internal state.
I pulled my hat down lower and hurried my pace, but then I heard whispering and the click of a camera shutter from behind.
“Whoa. Hey, isn't that Seo Ho-yun?”
“I think it is?!”
“Hey, hey, hurry up and take a picture.”
I quickly lowered my head and hailed a taxi.
“Here? Is this the right place?”
“Yes.”
I gave the driver the address and leaned back into the seat.
Seo Ho-jin’s voice continued to echo in my ears.
“We’re the same age.”
‘Why? Why... for what reason?’
I buried my face in my hands and curled into a ball. A moment later, I felt a light tap on my shoulder.
“Student, are you okay? Are you sick? Should I take you to a hospital?”
When I took my hands away and looked up, the taxi driver was looking at me with a worried expression.
Only then did I realize I was breathing heavily.
“Student?”
“Yes, I’m fine...”
The familiar streets were visible outside the window.
“I’m okay.”
I pulled out my wallet, handed him whatever bills I grabbed first, and got out of the car.
I headed toward the dorm, not even processing the driver’s shout to take my change.
Beep, beep-beep, beep-beep-beep—
“Huff, huff...”
Beep, beep...
“Ugh...”
My fingers slipped several times while trying to punch in the passcode for the front door.
Belatedly remembering I had a card key, I fumbled through my pockets, found it, and finally managed to get inside.
“Calm down... just calm down...”
Let’s... calm down.
The dorm was dark, with all the curtains drawn as if no one was home, allowing only a faint, dim light to filter in.
I clenched my trembling hands.
Seo Ho-jin’s voice still echoed from all directions like a double chorus.
‘Why doesn't he remember?’
As I chewed over the question that had no answer, I realized I had been scratching my ear incessantly.
Seo Ho-jin was the only being in this world who remembered the whole me.
Because he remembered, I could take pride in the fact that I hadn't gone crazy.
And today, the foundation that allowed me to exist as myself had vanished.
Am I really going crazy?
‘I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine.’
The moment the skin on my ear tore and a bit of blood smeared onto my fingertips, I thought of Seo Ho-jin asking me that question with such an innocent face.
Seo Ho-jin...
Wait, first of all.
‘Is that really Seo Ho-jin?’
Is that kid, who has no memory, really my brother?
Disjointed thoughts burrowed into my body, clinging to me like thick poison.
Just as my emotions were reaching a breaking point—
“Ho-yun hyung, why aren't you answering your—?”
The front door I was leaning against opened, and Kang Yi-chae walked in.
“Kang Yi-chae.”
Seeing me flinch in surprise, he blinked once, shifted his gaze to my ear and hand, and then immediately pushed me toward the bedroom.
“Yi-chae-ya...”
I never wanted to show the members this side of me. I tried to force a smile and say something, but no words would come out.
After sitting me down on the bed, he let out a short sigh and walked back out to the living room, closing the door behind him.
“......”
Thanks to that, my mind cleared a little.
Soon, I heard the other members entering the dorm.
“Huh? Yi-chae, are you cleaning?”
“The pretty cleaning fairy has arrived~!”
“Wow, the sun must be rising in the west today. Where’s Seo Ho-yun?”
A brief silence followed, then Kang Yi-chae’s cheerful voice continued.
“...Ho-yun hyung says he’s not feeling well. He’s resting in the room.”
“Ah, okay.”
“He has been overworking himself lately.”
“Then should we all clean the living room together while we're at it?!”
I knew very well that this was their way of being considerate.
I rubbed my forehead for a long time before lying down on the bed.
“...I’m going crazy.”
I didn't want to think about anything anymore.
‘I don’t know.’
I just wanted to be alone.
I felt pathetic.
On the other hand, I wondered if the current situation—where he simply believed his brother’s job was being an idol—was actually better for Seo Ho-jin. Better than watching his brother be forced to act as an idol to return to his original world after being assimilated into a game he used to play.
Besides, even if Seo Ho-jin had lost his memory, I thought maybe it would be resolved once I finished all the scenarios and quests and returned.
‘But what if it isn't resolved even after I go back?’
No, honestly, I wasn't even sure if I could go back anymore.
I couldn't distinguish what was real and what was a situation manufactured by the system.
“...Have I lost it?”
What if all of this was just a delusion of my own broken mind?
What if even the moment I thought I died was just a dream of a madman?
“Fuck...”
What if I’m not Seo Ho-yun?
Ding!
Just as I was being swallowed by my thoughts, a familiar sound rang out.
[You haven't ▽ gone ■ crazy.]
I looked up and saw a familiar blue light flickering.
[▽■ Loading items...]
[Loading sys■m...]
[Loading system ■...]
[■ading system...]
[──────…….]
[──────…….]
[…─────…….]
[…─────…….]
[……────…….]
[……────…….]
[……─────….]
[……─────….]
[……──────.]
[System synchronization complete.]
[System compensation for instability will be provided.]
[100,000 Points have been awarded.]
Confetti popped next to the system window.
[Ack! I’m sorry! Please don’t be mad. I’m really sorry. It’s not that I’m setting off the confetti on purpose, it’s just that it was set up that way initially... Ahem, never mind.]
As I just watched silently, a new window popped up.
[Mic test, mic test. Can you see this clearly without any errors?]
When I didn't respond, the thing increased the saturation of the system window and displayed more text.
[It’s been a while, you could at least give me a reaction.]
It flickered its light as if embarrassed.
[You’re crazy? Why are you acting so unlike yourself, Seo Ho-yun? Get it together. You’ve never been crazy, not even once.]
“Right...”
I responded half-heartedly, watching the system window that seemed to scatter like a sigh.
[It’s true! Otherwise, why would your knowledge from your PD days still remain?]
Maybe I’m just a very detailed madman, I countered internally.
[More than anything, there’s clear evidence in your wallet that you haven't gone crazy!]
My lips twitched for a moment.
“......”
I pushed my slumped body up and picked up the book that was by my bedside. I tilted the book and flipped through the pages quickly until a family photo, pieced together from fragments, fell out.
In place of the family photo that had vanished when my age was changed in this world, there was the very family photo Seo Ho-jin had made for me.
[If you were crazy, how could that still be here?]
The breath that had been stifling my chest finally broke free.
“......I guess so. I haven't gone crazy yet.”
However, my brain still wasn't functioning properly, and I refused to even think about the situation itself.
I didn't want to do anything.
“That’s a relief, fuck.”
As I lay back down on the bed, the system window displayed a series of messages.
[Why do you look like death warmed over? Because your brother lost his memory?]
The system window, which had been quiet until it announced the synchronization was complete just now—how did it know my brother had lost his memory?
Realizing the answer immediately, I let out a cynical smirk.
“Did you enjoy the show?”
[...No. Not really. It’s actually worrying to see someone who doesn't usually act like this behave this way.]
I just wanted it to piss off.
But even saying that out loud felt like too much effort.
Just as I was about to close my eyes and try to sleep, leaving everything behind—
[There is a way.]
My body froze.
[There is exactly one way to bring back Seo Ho-jin’s memories.]
[However, it requires an enormous amount of points.]
[Even with the large amount of points you just received as compensation for the instability, it’s not enough to cover it!]
When I fixed my gaze on the system window, it threw out a line as if intentionally provoking me.
[Are you up for it?]
Slowly, my brain began to work again.
While I tried my best not to show my desperation, the thing displayed a window as if it knew exactly how I felt.
[ RESET
An opportunity to start over from the beginning ]
Below the flashing button, the required points were written in small text.
[It’s a Reset.]
You son of a bitch.