Chapter 1

01

"Can PD still be considered human after that?"

I was indifferent, even with the idol in front of me shedding tears.

"Why?"

"If PD had a conscience, you wouldn't have edited it like that!"

I glanced at her, who was shouting in anger. It was a competition show for trainees who hadn't debuted despite years of practice, and she had placed fourth, not a bad result.

Most importantly, it was a result I had created.

Precisely, through editing.

A genius at editing, a talent bestowed by the devil, a 33-year-old young genius PD. That was the description that followed me, Seo Ho-yun.

I didn't mind it.

Because it came with money.

"You placed fourth."

"So what? The important things are already gone. The public calls me crazy. I've lost contact with friends I've practiced with for ten years. They say I get hit with eggs when I go out on the street."

"You'll live a long life."

"What?!"

"People who get cursed live longer."

I took a cigarette and put it in my mouth. I flicked the lighter, and it lit up. After taking a deep drag, I blew out the smoke, and the idol looked at me in disbelief.

"You know you can't sing well, right?"

"What did you say?"

"At the beginning, you said you wanted to become famous no matter what. I liked your passion, so I edited and uploaded it. I made you a bratty but dance genius, a nagging but eye-catching entertainer. They even say I'm like your nephew, even though we don't look alike."

When I repeated what people said on the internet, her face turned red and blue.

"You said you wanted to succeed, and I helped you."

It was obvious. Without me, she wouldn't have placed fourth. I told her this objectively, but she trembled with anger.

"Did I want that?"

"At first, you said that was all you needed, didn't you?"

"……"

"Look at your bank balance when you're feeling down. It'll make you happier."

When the director pours alcohol on my head and curses, I look at my bank balance. Then I pat my chest.

Yeah, what's the big deal? Money solves everything.

She clenched her teeth and bowed her head. I glanced at my phone. It was time to go.

"If that's all, I'll leave. I'm busy."

"…PD."

Just as I took a step, she called me. Then, with eyes like a ghost, she cursed me.

"I wish PD would fall apart. You'll definitely regret it one day. The day will come when our positions are reversed, and you understand me. When that happens, begging and crying won't help."

"Wow, scary."

I chuckled. I didn't expect such an entertaining thing to happen on a bad day.

I quickened my pace, leaving her cursing behind. I had to go back to the studio and edit again.

I thought it was just a funny incident.

Until the system window appeared.

***

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

[Infamy Points +100]

[Infamy Points +350]

[Infamy Points +500]

[Infamy Points have accumulated. Game start conditions are met.]

[Loading...]

"What the hell."

The loud dinging annoyed me. Dreams should be moderate. I had only slept for four hours in three days while editing, drinking energy drinks. It was probably the alarm.

Just as I was about to open my eyes in annoyance,

[Congratulations, Seo Ho-yun! You have been selected as a player in the 'Unknown Idol Tycoon' game. Congratulations on your 10-year rejuvenation!]

[Seo Ho-yun: Unknown Idol from a small company.

Age: 23, Characteristics: Military service completed, no talent for dancing.

A genius PD, but no one remembers him.

(※Except for specific individuals)

[If you fail the game, you will never be able to log out.]

I felt like I had been hit by a hammer while sleeping. When I opened my eyes and got up, the system window was floating. I stared at it and burst out laughing.

"Come on."

I threw my phone and went back to bed. I must have been seeing things from overworking on editing.

"What a strange dream…"

I must have pushed myself too hard yesterday. But the system window floating on the ceiling didn't disappear. The blue light in the dark room made it feel surreal.

Ding!

"……"

Ding!

"……What a dream."

I couldn't even force myself to sleep with the continuous dinging. As I struggled to get up, the system window became clearer.

[Quest: 'Reality Awareness Time!' Accept reality.

You are no longer a genius PD but a player in 'Unknown Idol Tycoon.'

You have become an unknown idol.

Accept reality 0/1

Success: 'Failing Idol' title

Failure: Permanent log-out]

Permanent log-out? The ominous title made me get up quickly. What kind of dream am I having?

I washed my face and got up. It seemed like the dream was going to last a while. I stumbled to the bathroom to wash my face. After splashing cold water on my face and waking up a bit, I looked in the mirror.

"…What is this?"

The dark circles from excessive overtime and the dull face were gone.

My face was fresh. No, that wasn't the only problem. My face was...

The Seo Ho-yun from ten years ago.

This was pure terror.

I touched my face, then jumped back in shock. Even in a dream, it couldn't be this vivid.

'How many people can say, "Yay, I'm rejuvenated"?'

I ran out of the bathroom and into the room.

"What's wrong, bro?"

"Seo, Seo Ho-jin."

"You scared me, are you finally crazy?"

My brother, Seo Ho-jin, who was drinking water, casually answered, then spat it out when he saw my face.

"Phew! Cough, cough… Did, did you get plastic surgery?"

"What?"

"Why does your face look like this? Plastic surgery can't be done in a day, right? Has Korean medical technology advanced that much? It looks like Seo Ho-yun from ten years ago…."

Seo Ho-jin approached and examined my face.

Seo Ho-jin was the same. Normally, I would have yelled at him for grabbing my face, but I couldn't.

[Seo Ho-jin]

[Seo Ho-yun's brother, a college student.

※This character remembers you.]

Seeing the system window next to Seo Ho-jin,

"Move."

I quickly grabbed my wallet. Then I noticed my resident registration card. The first digit had changed.

"What is this?"

[Once again, congratulations! Seo Ho-yun, you are now a player in 'Unknown Idol Tycoon.']

"Bro?"

Seo Ho-jin, looking as if he were in a dream, muttered. He searched my name on his phone with trembling hands. A page appeared.

[How How / Real name: Seo Ho-yun, Daepaseong Entertainment idol, debuted in 20XX]

It was definitely my face. It should have said QBS Broadcasting PD!

There were no articles like 'Devil Editor Seo Ho-yun, Is This Right?'

'Petition for Broadcasting Sanctions Against Seo Ho-yun'

'Seo Ho-yun PD's Program Sets New Ratings Record'

—articles that praised and criticized me simultaneously.

All that remained were articles about a failed idol's profile.

[How How! How How, Daepaseong Entertainment's new idol, please take care of us!]

"What the hell…."

"Bro!"

I grabbed my head with both hands, feeling a splitting headache.

A genius PD, a talent bestowed by the devil, a genius at editing—Seo Ho-yun? I became an unknown idol?

***

"I'll apologize, bro."

After talking to the pale Seo Ho-jin, this was the result.

1. This is not a dream. (I asked Seo Ho-jin to hit me to wake me up, but it just hurt.)

2. I have been possessed by a game Seo Ho-jin has been playing recently. ('Unknown Idol Tycoon,' a mobile game where you raise an idol.)

3. I am 23 years old, and everyone else is the same. (Seo Ho-jin is still 23.)

And… the most important last point.

"Bro, you're an idol… the kind of idol I'm thinking of? Where MR is removed, and you get bashed for not knowing a common quiz question? The kind of idol who has to smile no matter if it rains or snows?"

"Seo Ho-jin… don't be so detailed, it's annoying. Be quiet…."

"I'll be quiet."

I became an idol. A very unknown one. A search on the green window only showed one page.

What is this? My head throbbed as I touched my forehead. The system window still floated beside me.

[Quest completed!

'Reality Awareness Time!' Accept reality.

You are no longer a genius PD. You are an idol.

Accept reality 1/1]

[Success.]

['Failing Idol' title obtained!]

Seeing the 'Failing Idol' title spinning above my head, I felt like vomiting.

Why? Why me? Where am I?

"What about the files I worked on until yesterday?"

[They're gone!]

I saved and backed up, but they're gone?

"What the hell… crazy… crazy!!"

As I muttered like a madman, Seo Ho-jin rolled his eyes.

"Isn't that not the most important thing right now?"

"Be quiet."

The first system window I saw came to mind.

Infamy Points. The more controversial the program, the more people cursed me. The last idol who cursed me.

-I wish PD would fall apart.

Hey, I'm ruined….

-The day will come when our positions are reversed, and you understand me.

I understand. Can I beg again?

-When that happens, begging and crying won't help.

Ah, it won't help….

"Bro, snap out of it!"

"My save file…."

I muttered, burying my head. The conclusion was clear.

I have become an idol. An unknown one.