Chapter 2

02

If I were to sum up my life, it would be this: a dragon rises from the mud.

We were a moderately (perhaps) harmonious family, but not wealthy. As soon as I became an adult, I lost my parents in a traffic accident. After a nightmarish rehabilitation, I took care of my much younger brother, Seohojin, as if raising a child.

"Seohoyun, why do you live so harshly?"

"To eat well and live."

To survive in this harsh world without Seohojin, I couldn't just be a good person. To survive, I had to become a ruthless person, someone who would make anyone's jaw drop.

I clenched my teeth and studied hard, and when I passed the public recruitment for a PD at a broadcasting station by impressing the interviewers, it felt like the world was mine.

I was bullied by my seniors because I was a rare new PD, not a career PD, but I still earned the nickname "the most ruthless of the ruthless" and wandered through various news and entertainment programs.

That's not all. At 33, I launched my first program under my name, a small competition show called "Pick the One," and it became a huge hit, despite no one expecting it to.

- Wow, the trailer is insane!

- Is this going to get censored?

Trendy editing, just the right amount of MSG, tear-jerking stories, and endless competition!

It's a show that Koreans, who live in a harsh competitive environment, can't help but love. Offers for transfers and salary negotiations came in from all the broadcasting stations.

I was that genius, Seohoyun, who received love calls from everywhere.

"Bro, are you really... an idol now?"

But my career was gone.

And I became an idol.

Moreover, a hear-say idol.

"...Give me back my suffering."

"But bro, you really look younger."

"Pay attention, kid."

I grabbed Seohojin's shoulders and shook him. It seemed I had spoiled him too much, as he was about to bite me.

"Has anything changed for you?"

"Nothing at all?"

Seohojin frowned slightly and fiddled with his phone. He explained that his assignments for his professor and the news were the same. After searching for five more minutes, he concluded:

"Only you have changed."

"Is this some kind of hidden camera?"

"Would I do this to you to kill you?"

I snatched his phone and looked for the "hear-say idol tycoon" he mentioned, but it wasn't there.

"What the hell is this..."

Ding!

A system window appeared above Seohojin, but he didn't seem to notice it.

[Quest: You have possessed a hear-say idol tycoon!

A play guide is prepared for you, who knows nothing.]

"...Play guide."

At those words, the system window started to flip through. I read the explanation that appeared simultaneously.

[PD Seohoyun, who has been ruining people's lives, has possessed a hear-say idol tycoon.

No one remembers you as a PD except your family, Seohojin, and certain individuals.

To put it simply, think of it as a parallel world.]

Parallel world?

[To escape this world and return to where you originally lived, to become a PD again, you must clear the hear-say idol tycoon. If you fail, you will be unable to log out forever.]

"Can I become a PD again if I study again?"

[If you deviate significantly from the main scenario, a major penalty will be applied.]

"Huh..."

My breath caught in my throat. The world I originally lived in. The fame I had worked so hard to achieve was gone in a day. To get it back, I had to clear this game.

"What do I need to do to clear it?"

[Follow the main scenario.]

"What is the main scenario?"

[You need to become a top-tier idol that everyone recognizes!]

My fists trembled. It was an unbelievable reality.

I sat on the sofa and searched for a cigarette. As I was about to light it, a system window appeared urgently.

[Idols don't smoke!]

"..."

I glared at it as if I was about to kill it. Another system window appeared.

[The hear-say idol tycoon respects the player's freedom.]

It immediately backtracked. I didn't know whether to be grateful or what to say.

After smoking and organizing the annoying system window, the current situation was as follows.

[Do you want to start the main scenario?

Yes/No]

As a broadcasting station PD, I was quick at calculating the entertainment industry.

A top-tier idol that everyone recognizes. Not necessarily Billboard, but at least an idol that dominates Asia.

'...'

I inhaled the cigarette deeply and thought. I came to a conclusion.

"Start the main scenario."

[Starting the main scenario.]

[A quest has arrived.]

"What, are you really going to do it, bro?"

Can I be an idol? Can I, or can't I? That wasn't the issue.

"...Food."

"..."

"Shouldn't we eat to live?"

"Bro, are you obsessed with food?"

A food-obsessed guy. I hit Seohojin on the head. To feed Seohojin and myself, I had to do something. The result was already set to success.

But how I did it would be different.

I ran my life like a madman and earned the nickname "devil PD." Whether the methods were clean or dirty didn't matter. I just had to get the title of a top-tier idol.

"Hojin."

"..."

"Have you seen me do anything I can't do?"

I muttered calmly, and Seohojin shivered.

***

[This is a reward for new users.

You can now view your stats.]

View stats?

"Show me."

[Viewing Seohoyun's stats.]

[Seohoyun, the hear-say idol. Even if you dance on the subway, people won't recognize you. They'll think you're a subway lunatic.]

...

[Voice: B, Dance: D-, Variety: B+, ???: ???

???: ???

Charisma: B+]

"Are these my stats?"

I felt a strange feeling. My stats were... terrible. I had been recognized by the CEO for singing with a shot glass and a spoon.

But, huh? Isn't D- for dance a bit harsh?

[These stats are objectively evaluated.]

I thought about it for a moment, like evaluating an audition participant, and then I raised my head. I decided to deal with the stats marked with question marks later.

"Hey, and why is my variety B+? It should be S."

[Being good at editing and being naturally funny are different!]

"...That's true."

I was angry, but the system window ignored my words and sent a quest window.

[Quest arrived: 'Visit the agency!'

I'm proud of you for accepting the shock. Visit the agency and listen to the explanation about the failing group 'The Dun.'

Listen to the explanation about The Dun 0/1 Success: Next scenario starts, +5 Charisma.

Failure: -30 Charisma]

"What is charisma?"

I muttered curses and went outside. Just as there was no change in my brother, the outside was still Seoul in 202X. Even though I had rejuvenated by 10 years, it didn't seem like I had regressed in time. The parallel world they mentioned was really true.

Since there was no change, I didn't need to adapt. At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.

"Wait, give me a time loop."

Ding!

[Why?]

"To buy a lottery ticket."

[...]

Buy a lottery ticket. Or at least buy some stocks or coins. Then I wouldn't have to follow this crazy system window.

I muttered in despair at the thought that flashed through my mind.

"My lottery, my real estate, my coins..."

With despair in my heart, I staggered toward the agency, but no one recognized me, even without a cap, despite my fear that someone might.

Ding!

[Because you're a hear-say idol!]

Stop it, you hear-say, it's sad.

I was more popular as a PD. Back then, many people wanted to throw eggs at me. How can I turn this hear-say into a top-tier idol?

When I arrived at the address on my phone, a call came from a number saved as 'Manager' at a perfect timing. It seemed to be an early setting for the game to start.

"Yes, I'm Seohoyun, PD at QBS Broadcasting Station."

[Did you take your medicine? What PD are you?]

Oops, occupational habit.

A man's voice in his 30s came through.

"I'm Seohoyun."

[Seohoyun, you finally made up your mind?]

"Yes, I'm in front of the company."

[Good, I'll be right out.]

I nodded, not knowing what he meant by "made up your mind," but with the intuition I had developed from years at the broadcasting station.

'Big Bang Entertainment.' I glanced around the company lobby, but it wasn't a place I knew.

It seemed that this 'hear-say idol tycoon' (terrible name) and the Korea I lived in were mixed together.

Looking at the photos hanging in the lobby, it seemed they focused more on actor training. I sat on the sofa and looked around for a familiar face. The most famous person was actor Min Jihun, known as a "trusted actor."

A failing agency.

"Oh, our promising star."

The man who spoke on the phone walked out. He had a slight belly and a shiny face, and he looked to be around my age.

I bowed deeply and extended my hand, as I did when selling.

"I'm Seohoyun."

"...What's the concept, Hoyun?"

"Mind control, I guess?"

The 23-year-old idol version of Seohoyun seemed a bit different.

He withdrew his hand, and the manager put his arm around my shoulder and led me inside naturally.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, thanks to your concern."

"Good, so you've made up your mind to come back?"

"To what?"

"To be an idol, The Dun!"

The Dun, a group name that kept reminding me of a certain rhythm.

"The company people have been waiting. The CEO waited a whole year for you, which is a special measure. The Dun is so popular."

'For a group that popular, their music video views are low, aren't they?'

"It's not too late yet. After all, the debut recording from a year ago is already done. It just fell through because of you... For an idol, it's better to have an odd number for the center, right? There's a spot open for you."

'No one else wants to do it, right?'

I swallowed my words and walked to the CEO's office. I had gathered quite a bit of information.

1. The Dun is a one-year-old rookie group.

2. It's an idol group hastily created by an actor management agency riding the K-pop wave.

3. The group's performance is failing.

It's failing.

Knock, knock. The manager opened the CEO's office door with a tense face.

"Oh, CEO, Seohoyun is here."

"Seohoyun?"

The CEO was a middle-aged man in his 50s.

I bowed deeply, just as I did to the manager.

"Nice to see you after a long time. I'm Seohoyun."

"First time I've heard of you..."

What? My expression couldn't be controlled for a moment, but the manager defended me.

"What are you talking about! Seohoyun, the lead vocalist of The Dun. The one you praised so much."

"Oh, The Dun. That..."

It seemed the CEO wasn't interested in me. More accurately, he didn't seem interested in The Dun.

It was a worse failing agency than I expected.

"...I'm back after a year off."

"Yeah, Hoyun. It's a big decision to come back to The Dun. You're not that popular, you know."

He sighed and shuffled through papers without looking at me. His tone was indifferent.

"CEO, CEO."

The manager was sweating profusely.

I glanced at the manager, hearing the blunt criticism. It seemed the CEO was a bit scary.

"Hoyun, as you know, we're an actor management agency."

"Yes."

"If The Dun doesn't make money, there's a possibility of disbanding. Do you know how much it costs to maintain an idol group?"

I do.

I already know how much money it takes.

'How could I not know?'

But he's been subtly belittling me, asking who I am and playing mind games... I glanced around the CEO's office and asked.

"How much time is left before disbanding?"

"What?"

I asked honestly. The CEO frowned, not expecting a half-idol to ask such a question.

I asked again, clearly and politely.

"How much money is left?"

"Seohoyun!"

The manager jumped. I remained calm. It was easy to intimidate a small agency CEO who couldn't even properly care for their idols.

'Just treat me the same way.'

In fact, the CEO seemed slightly flustered and raised an eyebrow.

"...You've become bold after a long time."

'Oh, you said you just heard of me a moment ago.'

I could see through him, but I didn't want to drag out a pointless conversation, so I returned to the main topic.

"Thank you for the compliment. So, how much time do we have?"

"Maybe half a year at most."

Half a year. I thought. Half a year is a short period where you can release one title track and do a few broadcasts. The key was how much performance we could achieve within that time.

'Hey, can't I debut somewhere else?'

I asked the system window.

[Additional explanation!

No. You have to cut the grass with the sword you draw.

It must be The Dun.]

It was obvious they were just trying to corner me.

"...I understand."

I answered obediently. The CEO looked me up and down. Honestly, I wanted to make a bold deal, but I didn't know anything yet.

"...Have you come back as a different person after being sick?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you used to be a bit... vague... but, never mind. I'll send you a new contract. You need to apply for reinstatement."

I didn't remember much about what I was like at 23. It seemed similar.

Anyway, I nodded. I had to read the contract. It was a very important matter.

I'll negotiate again later.

"Try your best."

It was more like "Try your best, won't you?" but I ignored it.

Ding!

A system window appeared. I frowned and looked at it. It didn't feel good.

[Choice 1. I'll give it a shot, no matter what!

2. Give me more money.

3. I'll succeed even if it costs my life!]

'What?'

These awkward choices?

At a glance, it seemed I had to choose one of them, but I really didn't want to.

I shut my mouth. Then a time attack appeared at the bottom and quickly reached 0 seconds.

At that moment, my mouth moved on its own.

"...I'll succeed even if it costs my life!"

...What?

It's like a historical drama. I was so surprised I couldn't close my mouth, and the CEO laughed awkwardly.

"Um... That's a bit too much. You don't have to risk your life."

"No, that's not what I meant...!"

"Hoyun! Let's go! Haha!"

As I opened my mouth to protest, the manager suddenly covered my mouth and dragged me away.

I didn't do that, I'm going crazy!

'Hey! What's going on?'

[The hear-say player tycoon has various mini-games!]

'You said you respect freedom, brat.'

[You shouldn't believe what the game status window says! >//<]

'This guy is really...'

[Quest completed: 'Visit the agency!' I'm proud of you for accepting the shock.

Visit the agency and listen to the explanation about the failing group 'The Dun.'

Explanation about The Dun heard 1/1. +5 Charisma.

The next scenario has started.]

[Quest arrived: 'Talk to the members!' Greet the members of the failing group 'The Dun.'

Greet The Dun members 0/4 Success: Next scenario starts, +5 Charisma.

Failure: Rumors of conflict with The Dun members]

You deliberately ignored what I said.

I flipped through the annoying system window in frustration, and the manager patted my back.

"It hurts."

"Are you crazy? Why did you say that in front of the CEO?"

"I didn't say that."

"Did your gall come out?"

"If it did, I'd be in the ER."

"Look at this guy. With a loose mouth like that..."

The manager, frustrated, pounded his chest.