Chapter 92

If I can't debut, I'll get a disease that will kill me 092nd Chapter

“…….”

I met the other person's eyes. Then I muttered softly.

“...I think I'll remember this every time I record from now on.”

“Haha!”

Cheongrye shook her hand.

“Don’t worry. Actually, I just made it up. I just modified a recording studio ghost story a bit.”

“……Hmm, I see.”

“But do you know that the recording studio ghost story is real?”

“……!”

Cheongrye laughed a few times, then disappeared, saying she would come back after washing up.

“...Phew”

I let it go.

I tried hard not to show a disgusted expression.

‘That guy definitely knows something.’

This bastard who knows about the damn status window and regression is testing me with a ghost story smokescreen.

‘How does he know?’

He doesn’t seem to be sure. It means he hasn’t directly confirmed my status... so, did he deduce it from the background knowledge and the situation?

...No, that’s still ambiguous.

‘There are too many uncertainties.’

I pretended to be organizing my thoughts while wiping the cold sweat from my forehead. Then I decided on my next move.

Soon, Cheongrye returned.

“I’m glad I brought the rechargeable electric pot. Mix it with cold water and use it.”

“Ah, thank you very much.”

I took the cylindrical device Cheongrye offered.

It was an electric pot, not a thermos.

‘No wonder the Americano was boiling.’

I admired the production team for taking care of such unnecessary details, which only resulted in cold water. I did what I had to do.

‘Status window.’

First, I checked that guy’s status window.

From the trends so far, the characteristics and status abnormalities usually provided hints about the character.

‘There’s no harm in checking.’

But the moment the popup appeared, an unexpected hint came.

[Name: Cheongrye (Shin Jae-hyun)]

This character cannot be identified at the moment.

※Required condition: Confirmation of the second ‘truth’

“……!”

I immediately turned towards the bathroom to hide my agitation.

Then I slowly moved to the bathroom and closed the door.

“…….”

There were no cameras inside the bathroom.

“Phew….”

But the microphone was still there. I kept my mouth shut to avoid making any unnecessary sounds and checked the status window again.

[※Required condition: Confirmation of the second ‘truth’]

I didn’t misread it.

To check Cheongrye’s status window, I need to claim the ‘truth’ reward that I have deferred.

‘Is he pushing me?’

Or maybe Cheongrye is really involved in this situation, which is why it’s being demanded.

‘It’s like seeing a level-restricted content in a game.’

Either way, it’s hard to be certain.

‘...Is this uncertain hint trying to restart the status abnormality?’

It was a crazy move. That’s why it felt so unsettling.

‘If the purpose is to push me, more extreme measures could be used.’

If the status window is dangling a carrot, suggesting that this guy really has a clue?

“…….”

I made my decision.

‘Anyway, I can’t keep living with the status abnormality popping up all the time.’

My guess that the status abnormality would disappear if I clear it as is is, strictly speaking, just wishful thinking.

And no matter how much I delay, it’s 300 days. After that, I have to claim the reward.

‘Might as well get what I can now.’

I don’t know how Cheongrye will act after this timing passes. Better to finish it while we’re both still probing each other.

‘...Popup.’

[Successful 1st Place!]

You have successfully achieved 1st place on the public music show 〈Popular Music〉!

!Time Limit: Satisfied (Great Success)

!Status Abnormality: ‘Death if not 1st place’ removed!

: Confirm Truth ☜ Click!

I slowly raised my hand and placed it on ‘Click!’

Then, just like last time, my vision went dark.

* * *

On the rooftop of a building, a cold wind was blowing.

“…….”

A man was holding a cigarette. The smoke was scattered by the chilly winter wind.

Despite the cold air, the man didn’t even blink.

He only looked down with a sharp gaze. The city lights flowed below. An advertisement was playing on the opposite billboard.

It was a brand he once starred in.

To be precise, it was his group.

‘Where did it all go wrong...’

The man, looking at the vibrant colors of the commercial, suddenly fell into deep thought.

Wrong timing for overseas expansion? A concept that didn’t fit the trend? Members who lost their初心? Investors of the agency who only added unnecessary elements?

“…….”

And he came to a conclusion.

‘It was wrong from the start.’

The group composition was fundamentally flawed. There were too many useless members.

No, not useless, but obstructive.

‘If I had formed it, it wouldn’t have been like this.’

He finally admitted it. He had lived his life wrong.

‘Emotions, tears. They’re only useful when you sell them.’

People want to sit when they stand, and lie down when they sit. Personal circumstances, unavoidable stories... they’re just cheap excuses.

“…….”

After admitting it, he felt relieved. The man smiled faintly and threw the remaining cigarette butt into the sky.

Then he fell over the railing.

Thud.

With the sound of the railing being kicked, the man fell to the road below the high-rise building.

But when the man regained consciousness.

“...!!”

He opened his eyes in a small room of a house.

“……What.”

The old mobile phone he picked up showed the face of a boy.

...It was himself before becoming Cheongrye.

* * *

“Huff!”

I took a deep breath and regained my composure.

Then I immediately turned on the water.

Creak.

The water gushed out with a squeaking sound. I immediately splashed my face with it.

“…….”

It was just like the time with ‘Park Moondae’. The structure of looking into someone else’s past from a third-person perspective.

And... this time, it’s definitely Cheongrye.

‘What the fuck.’

This bastard also came back to the past.

Roughly piecing it together, it seems he messed up his career and came back to succeed.

Thinking about it, it’s a perfect web novel plot, which made me chuckle, but frustration came first.

‘So that’s why you blocked me from checking the status window...!’

If I check it through the status window, the ‘truth’ reward would be meaningless.

No, more than that, why is this even a reward?

The past of ‘Park Moondae’ was directly related to my situation, so I could understand it.

But why give me a grand ‘reward’ for whatever Cheongrye did, and what does it have to do with me?

‘It should give me hints related to the status abnormality...!’

...The anger only subsided after I dunked my head in cold water for quite a while. Then I finally came to a rational conclusion.

‘...It means I can get a hint.’

If I can get information from this strange supernatural experience, I can definitely understand how the situation is unfolding.

In that sense, this status window seems to be giving hints step by step, like progressing in a game.

Ding.

[‘Death if not 1st place’]

: If you do not win the rookie award at the most authoritative domestic award ceremony within the specified period, you will die.

Remaining period: D-365

...Seeing this again, it feels like they just want me to suffer.

‘But this time, it’s a bit better.’

I should be able to win the rookie award unless something unusual happens.

The vague ‘authoritative’ standard is a bit concerning, but in the end, there are... hmm, 3 candidates. Objectively, I won’t lose.

In the current trend where it’s hard to gain popularity, no rookie debuting in the second half of the year can surpass a Testa from 〈Aju〉.

‘Actually, getting 1st place on a public music show is harder.’

I calmed down a bit and wiped the water from my face.

Then I walked out of the bathroom with the pot I received from Cheongrye.

“It works well. Thank you very much.”

“It’s okay, I’m glad it works well.”

I returned the pot and sat opposite Cheongrye.

Then I took out a snack from my backpack and offered it.

“We have to stay up all night, so if you don’t mind, would you like to have something sweet?”

“Ah, thank you.”

Cheongrye took it immediately but only opened it without eating.

‘Is he managing it or being cautious?’

I pretended to rummage through my backpack and checked Cheongrye’s status window again.

This time, it appeared properly.

[Name: Cheongrye (Shin Jae-hyun)]

Vocal: B+ (B+)

Dance: S+ (S+)

Appearance: A+ (S-)

Charisma: A (A+)

Trait: Emotion (A)

!Status Abnormality: Correction (Inactive)

‘Is he crazy?’

What the hell kind of stats are these, like a veteran.

I intended to check the trait first, but my eyes were drawn to it. I almost bit my tongue.

‘But the potential isn’t infinite.’

My vague guess that all stats might have an EX limit was off.

Anyway, let’s focus and check what I originally wanted to see.

First, the trait.

[Emotion (A)]

: Valuable things are rare, and trash is abundant.

-Human resource judgment +150%

‘A talent like a businessman.’

If the ‘truth’ flashback I saw earlier is true, it might be a talent he gained by reflecting on his life before he died.

The only thing that bothers me is that there’s only one trait.

‘Was there no trait draw system?’

...The difference from me is quite clear.

Anyway, let’s move on to the next.

This time, the status abnormality.

[Correction (Inactive)]

: Let’s try again

-If you fail, you go back to the beginning.

...It gave me chills.

And I recalled our conversation just now.

-This time, I’m trying hard to become a successful idol without any controversy... but it keeps happening. I keep dying in accidents and going back to the past!

‘The idol ghost story he mentioned earlier... was it about himself?’

Is it possible that if you fail to remove the ‘death if not...’ type of status abnormality, the status window resets to when it first appeared?

It’s a chilling theory.

However, this status abnormality is in an ‘inactive’ state.

That alone is a big gain. It means there’s a way to deactivate it.

‘I’ve finished the summary for now.’

Next is additional investigation.

I put down my bag and looked at Cheongrye again.

“Have you finished checking the snacks?”

“Yes, there’s nothing special.”

“Haha.”

Are you still unsure?

Sure enough, this guy doesn’t know much about me. He was just testing me.

That means I have the upper hand in information, so it’s my turn to test him.

Let’s see what you’ve got.

“Um... Senior, would it be okay if I asked for some advice?”

“Sure. I don’t know if I can give you advice, but do you have something on your mind?”

“Yes. Actually... I was wondering how you started with your senior teammates.”

“...Start? What do you mean?”

I took the cold coffee and deliberately took a slow sip. Then I continued slowly.

“Our team formation was unique, so I think we have a strong sense of camaraderie... I’m curious about other groups.”

“...Is that so?”

“Yes. How did the VTIC seniors start together?”

“…….”

In the ‘truth’ flashback, this guy clearly chose ‘members’ as the fundamental reason for VTIC’s failure.

‘This guy definitely changed the members in the middle.’

I don’t know what methods a mere trainee used, but it’s almost a certain guess.

Currently, VTIC is thriving without any major controversies.

“Hmm, that’s an interesting question.”

Cheongrye smiled and lifted the snack I gave him.

Crunch. The nuts were chewed and disappeared. I waited solemnly for his answer.

Now, be shaken.