The holidays were in a few days.
"Now that I think about it, your group doesn't have a private plane, right? Hmm, it looks like you haven't made a profit yet."
These were the words of a guy who was well-versed in making people angry, but today he didn't really bother me as much.
"There is sufficient domestic demand, so there is no need for a private plane along the route."
"Really?"
"Wow! Oh my god! The sheets!"
"…"
Because there was a guy next to me making all kinds of fuss.
Gold 2, Kwon Heeseung was looking at the inside of Cheongryeo's private plane with his mouth wide open.
"Wow… S-sunbaenim, is it okay if I take a picture of this?"
"If you are confident that it will not be leaked."
"…"
As I watched Kwon Heeseung quietly put down his smartphone, I took out my smartphone.
"Are you going to take a picture?"
"No."
Why on earth would I do that? This was for contact purposes only.
I checked my messages once again.
[Ryu Chungwoo Hyung: Have a nice trip, everyone]
[Seon Ahyeon: Everyone, please take care of yourselves and if you have any problems, please let me know at any time!]
[Bae Sejin Hyung: Mungae is doing well. (photo)]
[Kim Raebin: I'm so glad the dog is doing well. I'm still on my way back to my hometown. I will contact you guys again when I arrive.]
[Cha Eugene: (waving hand emoticon)]
[Lee Sejin: Yes, everyone, have fun on your vacations ㅋㅋ]
Half of the members thought I went out to play, while the other half thought I still went out to work.
At that moment, the group message room was updated.
[Lee Sejin: But why did Moondaemoondae turn his read-receipts off?? You're not allowed to disappear on us again, you know? (flaming emoticon)]
I laughed and moved my fingers.
[Me: They're on. See you later.]
A few days ago, when I explained this situation to people who knew the full story by saying, 'I'm going to take care of it,' I remembered their reaction.
-Really? We can go together.
I knew it.
-That would be difficult.
-What?
-It's not that I'm afraid you'll be disturbed or caught up in it. It's a matter of structure.
-What?
-There shouldn't be people around.
Yes.
The hypothesis I developed was simple and valid.
First of all, the premise.
-The system moves to the next host the moment their status abnormality ends.
The next host would be a person who the system could get in the quickest and was nearby.
Why does the system do that?
'Isn't it because it can't survive without a host?'
So what if we could prevent it from meeting its host for a long time?
For example… What would happen if Kwon Heeseung cleared the status condition in a place where there was no suitable person within hundreds of kilometers in all directions?
'If the theory is correct, it won't be able to survive and will disappear.'
That was my aim.
And Cheongryeo, who had already reasoned with me about the movement of the system, let me use his private jet as soon as he heard the explanation of the situation.
'This bastard was having fun at the time, so I thought he would give it to me obediently.'
I nodded inwardly.
After looking around the inside of the private plane, Cheongryeo naturally sat down on the seat…
Wait a minute.
"Why aren't you getting off?"
"Hmm?"
Cheongryeo lowered his head to the side.
"I don't know why you thought I would get off. Isn't this my plane?"
I should have expected this.
'For some reason, he said he wouldn't take the money.'
I pressed my eyebrows and muttered.
"This time, let's minimize the variables as much as possible."
"Haha, hoobaenim, then why are you staying as well?"
"… !"
"Is there any difference between you and me? The situation is the same for both of us. It's strange that I'm the only one who applies it differently."
A quick-witted bastard.
Yes, actually, I had already received a confirmation regarding my case.
Through Keundal.
-It can't go back to the same person… I don't think it's possible.
-Why?
-Because it's just like that.
It was a bit of an odd choice of words, but it meant that users of the system who previously returned would not be able to re-enter.
It was a vague but impossible statement to ignore. Because these words came from a guy who was assimilating with the system.
'Therefore… there are exceptions.'
Still, I didn't bring Keundal just in case.
Strictly speaking, the system never entered Ryu Gunwoo's body.
'It just took my mind out of it.'
So, I decided to share my view with Keundal and monitor the situation remotely.
Then why did I try to exclude Cheongryeo, who was also an exception like me?
Wasn't it obvious? Look at that bastard's personality right now.
'He's a guy who doesn't know where things will go.'
I was thinking of excluding him so as not to create a variable.
'… I'll have to keep a close eye on him.'
I finally sighed and answered.
"Do whatever you want."
"As expected, hoobaenim. I like that you are logical."
I changed my mind. This guy was already provoking people today.
I leaned against the backrest roughly.
"Hyung! Where was our destination?"
"The Pacific Ocean."
"Oh my god."
The place for executing the plan was on the deep sea, where no one lived.
The plane continued to move.
And it wasn't until lunch and afternoon that we arrived at the location.
"How does it feel to be floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?"
"I've already experienced it more than once."
"Haha."
I saw this every time I went to the US for work, so how could I be inspired by something like this?
I quickly did the calculations.
'If we miss this timing, we'll get too close to the American continent.'
It was appropriate to perform the plan within 30 minutes.
And then I looked at the cockpit. It was the location of the captain and co-pilot who firmly believed that the LA Airport was our destination.
And I recalled the Q&A I had with the person who hired the pilot.
About the possibility of the system getting to them.
-What are the chances that these people will be suitable?
-It's a gamble. Considering the tendency, the probability is extremely low.
Cheongryeo suggested with a smile.
-Alternatively, we can use a helicopter and place it on an uninhabited island or desert. Well, it might be a bit difficult for the person involved. Wouldn't it be better to do that though?
-This conversation is over.
There was a reason why uninhabited islands were uninhabited. It wasn't because they didn't have enough money to live there.
But wasn't it possible to ask Kwon Heeseung to risk his life in order to not give the system the slightest possibility?
'Let's restrain ourselves.'
I decided to make the best move that was realistically possible, and this was the result.
Kwon Heeseung also seemed to sense the atmosphere and looked a little nervous.
"Then, shall we click now?"
"Okay. Wait."
I called my status window. A pop-up appeared as if it were natural.
[Hyung, no way… ?]
Yes, it was ready.
'Please re-open the status clear window for Kwon Heeseung.'
The popup didn't respond. It was only slightly shaken.
Still, a hologram appeared in front of Kwon Heeseung.
"H-heok, hyu! I'm surprised every time!"
That kid used strange exclamations.
Cheongryeo muttered with slightly less interest in his eyes.
"There's nothing special about it."
"Because it's only visible to the person concerned."
"Hmm."
Cheongryeo crossed his arms. And he bobbed his head.
"Then, like this?"
"Yes."
I closed my mouth and adjusted my posture as well.
It was then.
[Hyung.]
Keundal's pop-up appeared again.
'If there are no serious problems, leave it as is. If you're going to say it now…'
[No, that's not it!]
It wasn't?
The pop-up shrank in size as if it were embarrassed.
[Actually… I feel a little bit of hope.]
"…"
Okay. I guess this guy actually wanted to continue living as a human.
I knew that he just pretended that he had no regrets because he couldn't help it and didn't want to be a burden.
The pop-up trembled again and carefully spat out one letter at a time.
[Hyung, thank you so much… For doing this for me.]
'It's done.'
Actually, it wasn't just for this guy. In the first place, I felt uncomfortable leaving this time bomb alone, so I tried to destroy it whenever I had the chance.
On the contrary, this guy actually helped me.
'Proceed.'
[… Yes!]
"Then… I'll press it!"
Kwon Heeseung stretched out his hand with a nervous expression.
And pressed the button.
[!Status abnormality: 'Make It Work' removed!
: *^@5#& Check ???? Click!]
Click.
And the status window… disappeared.
Without a trace, as if it never happened.
"Ah."
There was a quiet silence on the plane.
Nothing happened.
Amazingly.
"…"
"Is this… the end?"
What came to mind reflexively in response to Kwon Heeseung question was my own case.
'A congratulatory window popped up.'
But since it was Keundal, it has nothing to do with the system…
"Uh, uh, huh?"
"… !!"
A hologram appeared again in front of Kwon Heeseung.
However, the appearance was different from before.
[??? ? ]
[? ?? ???? ? ??]
[: ?? ? ? ?????]
Full of question marks… A strange state.
'Fuck.'
I got up from my seat.
And then a low voice was heard from the other side.
Cheongryeo.
"Hmm… I can see it."
"… !"
What?
"Hy-hyung."
There was no time to look back at Cheongryeo. My eyes were fixed on the status window that appeared in front of Heeseung Kwon.
Kwon Heeseung's face was stained with surprise.
'… Keundal!'
There was no answer to my call.
Instead, the status window…
I started to tremble.
Wood-dud-dud-dud-duk.
Kwon Heeseung turned his head and opened his mouth.
[Hyung, this is more…]
The sound was fragmented.
Like a vibration.
Piiiiiiing---!
Tinnitus.
There was a sound that couldn't be heard. It sounded like something was breaking.
My vision turned completely white.
'This…'
In the next moment…
All kinds of holograms were everywhere.
[Status!$#6]
[Dol&[email protected]]
[■■■■■■■Sound■]
[StatestatestatestatestateImaginaryStateStateImaginaryState #%2]
It felt like something strangely entered my head…
'Fuck!'
I gritted my teeth. Hot blood flowed from my lips, but I had no time to feel the pain.
Things became distorted and turned white.
Flicker.
Flicker.
'… Ah.'
And 10,000 meters above sea level.
No, inside a small room.
Everything was torn apart.
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee—
There was no screaming or pain.
Just reality being shattered and torn apart…
It was unusual.
Hwaaaaaaak!
A whiteout.
• * *
-… Beep beep!
What?
Beyond my heavy mind, I heard a sharp sound…
Was it an alarm?
I thought dully, but for some reason, I felt that it couldn't be it.
I didn't know why. But the sentiment lingered for a long time, and I didn't wake up.
Longer, deeper.
Falling asleep…
If only that word hadn't come to mind.
-Daydream?
'Fuck.'
"-Heok!"
I opened my eyes.
A bright light stung my eyes. Several incandescent lights hanging from the large ceiling emitted light.
A black wall, and a huge wall next to it, reflecting light, taking up the entire side… A full-length mirror.
A choreography practice room.
"… … !"
I got up. And I looked down at my body.
I was wearing black training clothes.
I reached out and touched my shoulders and neck. I could feel traces of sweat.
-Beep beep beep!
I reflexively turned off the smartphone notifications that were still ringing.
Something was different.
"Hoo."
This location.
I was sure I was just sitting on the plane…
No way.
I turned my head and looked in the mirror.
No, I tried to look. If only I hadn't seen another guy in a tracksuit sprawled out next to me before.
And if only it wasn't a familiar face.
"… !"
Cheongryeo.
However, there was a difference from the one I saw just before.
'His age.'
He looked young and appeared to be around 20 years old.
At that moment, goosebumps ran down my spine.
"You…"
Without another word, the other person opened his eyes.
"… !!"
"Ah."
The guy with his eyes open had no expression. And with an emotionless face, he familiarly checked the practice room.
Like he knew.
As if to confirm.
And he turned his head rhythmically.
Then, our eyes met.
Only then did facial expressions appear.
"… !"
First, he looked surprised, then…
"Haha!"
Inspired.
A vague and powerful emotion that could be combined with lament, joy, excitement, despair, hope, and other strange emotions.
"Oh, this is happening. Things like this can happen, can't they?"
I barely opened my mouth.
"Where are we…"
"This is LeTi's practice room. My agency!"
What?
Cheongryeo laughed as if he was crying.
"In this beginning, hoobaenim- no, maybe you aren't a hoobaenim anymore. Haha!"
My hair was starting to turn white.