"As you said, a survival show has too many variables. There's no need to do that."
"Really? Hoobaenim also debuted through a survival show, so I thought you would prefer it."
Cheongryeo took turns looking at me and Cha Eugene, then spoke softly.
"Don't worry too much. Won't you become the person you want to be? Haha!"
"…"
I got goosebumps. This guy had come to a conclusion.
It wouldn't work.
"Wait a second."
I stood up holding Cha Eugene's arm.
"I know you're upset, but let's cool down and talk again."
"Well, I wasn't particularly angry. Right?"
Don't act like you're not upset when you're really upset.
"Why are you overreacting when I said that I was willing to give everyone equal opportunities?"
"I like that idea… Ow!"
This other guy needed to stay still.
"Okay, let's meet again tomorrow and talk."
I hurriedly took Cha Eugene and got up, then looked back at Cheongryeo.
I don't know. I should say it.
"… Thank you for coming to the airport today. Have a safe trip back."
"…"
Cheongryeo seemed a little shaken, but now the priority was to catch this bastard that was running wild like a colt.
"And you, watch your mouth."
"Ah, ah! Moondae-hyung, it hurts!"
As soon as we left the game room, I slapped Cha Eugene on the back.
"The current situation is a mess, so we have to say the right things while taking into account the atmosphere."
"I didn't even see that sunbaenim! There's no reason to be the only one looking at me!"
"…"
That… Anyway, this guy was only saying the right things.
'Cheongryeo was more openly aggressive than I thought.'
It was unexpected. I thought he would just gently coax him into becoming a trainee at his agency and say things like eliminating competition.
Rather than making calculations to use, it came down to arranging the rankings…
I clicked my tongue. My mouth was bitter.
'… That bastard must have lost his mind too.'
After struggling so hard and adjusting to his new reality of raising a dog, he suddenly found himself starting over again?
It was wise not to go crazy.
I took my hand away from Cha Eugene and held back a sigh.
"… Okay. You didn't do anything wrong. But he also has his own circumstances."
Cha Eugene shrugged.
[We all have our own circumstances, but that doesn't mean we can act like two-faced.]
"…"
He was saying the right things so I didn't have anything to reply with.
"Alright. Anyway, you'll have to get used to the jet lag today, so get some sleep first. Have you found a place to stay?"
"No!"
"…"
"The plane ticket was expensive. Are you going to that motel?"
He said it so clearly.
"Just… Follow me."
I was already at a loss as to what I should explain to Ryu Chungwoo, but that didn't mean I could leave a guy who had no money to come to Korea to sleep on the street.
'If only this bastard wasn't 17 years old…'
With Cha Eugene in tow, I returned home to the officetel where I had also spent a few nights.
Ding-dong.
As a courtesy, I rang the doorbell once.
"Hyung?"
And when Cha Eugene saw Ryu Chungwoo coming out the front door, he was delighted.
"Chungwoo hyung is here? Did he come first?"
"We're relatives, and we're living alone together."
"OK…"
Cha Eugene spoke to Ryu Chungwoo with a slightly new face.
"You don't know?"
"What?"
Ryu Chungwoo seemed to think for a moment about what the situation was, but then burst into laughter.
The kid looked young, so I guess he didn't have any doubts.
"Hyung, will you introduce us to each other?"
"Yes. This is Cha Eugene."
I explained that he was an international pen pal as part of a school program and came to Korea all of a sudden.
Ryu Chungwoo was impressed.
"He is a courageous friend."
"What does 'courageous' mean?"
If this were a real situation, he wouldn't have anything to say because he would have been beaten with a broom and dragged home by his parents.
In fact, it seemed like there was a lot of talk at that guy's house, but his family customs were so liberal that he got permission after escaping to Korea.
I pressed my eyes.
'… I'm sure they'll pay his living expenses.'
At least it wasn't the worst. I heard that his guardians continued to take care of him.
"Can he just stay for a few days until he finds somewhere else to stay?"
"Of course. He needs to sleep too, so what?"
"Thank you! I'll be in your care!"
Cha Eugene occupied the guest room and utility room, and I went into my room and started thinking in earnest.
How on earth should I deal with this situation?
Just in case, I checked the status window… Let's not talk.
[Companions]
[Shin Jaehyun: Working hard (//-^)]
[Cha Eugene: Adapting to the new room ()ㅅ〈=☆]]
The problem was that I had no idea what the first guy was working so hard at.
And what was the shade of that emoticon? A sign that he was upset?
'Hoo.'
My head hurt.
At that time, a pop-up appeared in the status window. It was Keundal.
[Are you okay?]
"Yes."
It wasn't t like they said they were going to kill each other, and this kind of mess was fully expected… No, I had to handle it.
[Hyung, I… If you could debut in the same group with only one person of your choice, what would you do?]
I thought about it for a moment, but there was a neat answer here anyway.
"Well, I should go with someone who is likely to become more famous in a short period of time."
[Is it that simple?]
"It's that simple."
I sat down on the bed.
"If the goal is to get things running, efficiency is the top consideration."
The sooner I dealt with it, the sooner I could return to TeStar's reality. Here, the emotional battle became entangled as it went.
'It seems like the system is secretly hoping for me to do all kinds of stupid shit.'
The system. I had no intention of being dragged along.
And when considering everything, the more advantageous side was naturally Cheongryeo.
Even though the years and circumstances are a bit off, the information and experience he knew about these years was probably out of this world.
"…"
Still, if possible, it was better to have both because it covered a wide range of demand.
'Well, there's no way to know.'
Cheongryeo did have advantages, so it was tempting. I had to relax my mind a bit.
I frowned.
It was then.
Knock-knock. A fairly polite knock was heard, and then the door suddenly opened.
Who could it be? Cha Eugene.
"Hyung! I've made some plans for tomorrow."
"What?"
Cha Eugene… Made a plan?
"I'm going to find Kim Raebin."
"… !"
"It's okay if Kim Raebin doesn't know about TeStar! We just have to make him an idol."
Indeed.
Okay. It might work if it's Kim Raebin. I grinned.
"Good."
"Hehe!"
Cha Eugene sat on my bed in his street clothes, but I turned a blind eye. Because he made productive comments.
And if this guy was looking for Kim Raebin… Since they had been trainees together before, it would be easier to predict the range of action.
"Do you know where he might be right now?"
"I do! Kim Raebin house in Gangwon-do!"
"…"
I guess we should book a KTX ticket first.
And one more thing.
"Hyung, what are you doing?"
"Finding Kim Raebin."
I turned on the Internet and accessed WeTube and Sound Mist.
If this was truly an environment where everyone could live reasonably well… Wasn't it obvious what Kim Raebin was doing?
Composing music.
• * *
17-year-old Kim Raebin, who was in high school this year, was working hard to prepare for his future during winter vacation.
'I passed… !'
This was his career as a composer.
He had just started his first job by exchanging emails with an agency in Seoul.
Considering his young age and lack of personal connections, it was a remarkable achievement, but unfortunately, neither he nor his guardian had any specialized knowledge.
Thanks to this, Kim Raebin was planning to get a uniform for a nearby high school next week.
Instead of putting everything on the line to demonstrate every last bit of his amazing talent, he continued his peaceful daily life.
"Raebin, you should be heading back now before the sun sets~"
"It's already about that time! Then, I will get going."
On a sunset afternoon, he was about to return home after helping out at his grandparents' strawberry house.
Kim Raebin, who came out of the greenhouse, was locking the door when he heard someone shouting.
"Kim Raebin!"
"Yes!"
Everyone around here was elderly. He turned his head in response to the voice that so naturally belittled him.
(TN: It is rude to address someone by their full name without any honorifics unless they are older than you or are a friend.)
But there… There were people he didn't know.
"… … ??"
Those people… Who were they?
"That's right, it's Kim Raebin!"
"Yes."
The person wearing the jacket in a wild and haphazard manner shouted out excitedly, while the person wearing the long padding calmly replied.
Both of them… For some reason, they didn't seem younger than him.
Then…!
'I can't believe this is the bullying of a high school student that I've heard about… !'
When he was receiving school violence education, he saw someone come to the other person's house and discipline the student who had not yet entered school… !
He had never been bullied by anyone in his life, but he might be getting bullied now!
Kim Raebin, who made all his peers intimidated by his appearance, stiffened his face and body with an unreasonable expectation.
"Wait a minute."
But those who came close… They just had happy faces.
And it was intense.
"… !"
One of them had the brightest eyes of anyone he had ever met in his life.
With his almost yellow eyes shining, he held out a hand… And he pointed at him.
"Kim Raebin, I found you!"
"… … ?"
What… Did he have any business? No, he shouldn't point a finger at someone's face before that!
However, before Kim Raebin could ask a question, the other person spoke first.
"Yes, you found him."
And he looked at him.
"It's nice to meet you, Raebin-ah."
A clear and solid voice that was pleasant to listen to.
It seemed cold and delicate, but when he looked again, his eyes seemed warm. Kim Raebin felt like he was about to cry.
For some reason, his heart ached. Where… he thought the two looked familiar.
'… ?'
Why?
Kim Raebin thought carefully, and then, like a lightning bolt, he came up with an answer.
It was a very likely guess.
Kim Raebin opened his mouth with a very sorry expression.
"Sorry! I don't remember the specifics, but I'm sure the two of you are familiar with me!"
"… !"
The surprise on the two people's faces… Kim Raebin was unable to capture in detail the passing of an unknown emotion.
So he asked brightly.
"Are you a relative on my mother's side?"
Were they relatives he met when he was a preschooler and didn't remember?
"…"
"…"
There was silence for a moment.
"No."
"Then…"
"We came because we have a suggestion."
A person with a delicate expression smiled faintly.
"We're here to scout you."
"S-Scout??"
The strong-looking one shouted like a cheerleader.
"Become an idol with us!"
"What… ?"
Kim Raebin was confused. The person with the delicate look took out a smartphone and turned the screen without hesitation.
It was his account.
"This is yours."
"… !"
Without any time to think, the sensitive person calmly continued talking.
It was as if Kim Raebin was discussing an issue that had been concluded as a matter of course.
"You must have thought about wanting to personally perform this song on stage."
As if Kim Raebin was possessed, he opened his mouth instead of shaking his head…
And five hours later, as if he had been scammed, he made an appointment to go to Seoul.
'… ??'
Kim Raebin's dream of becoming a small producer was hijacked by becoming an idol.
• * *
[Cha Eugene: Having a victory ceremony ()ㅅ〈/]]
As soon as we returned to Seoul after exchanging contact information with Kim Raebin, Cha Eugene had this status intermittently.
'It worked out well.'
I shook my head while smiling.
Given his personality and talent, it wouldn't be surprising if he got scammed into a contract in an instant, but his bloody expressions seemed to balance it out.
Of course, the method of persuasion was also unique.
'I'll think back on that later.'
First… What should I do with this guy? I moved my gaze over Cha Eugene's explanation.
[Shin Jaehyun: Thinking of a puppy (//~^)]
"…"
He was crazy, really.
I shook my head and stood up. I ended up leaving the officetel late at night.
As expected, he was in the company's practice room.
Alone in that practice room.
I went inside. That guy didn't move at all.
"It's past midnight, why are you still here?"
"… Well."
Cheongryeo was staring at the wall mirror without any expression.
"There's no particular reason."
Was he thinking too much that he didn't even want to practice?
Instead of saying that, I went and sat next to him.
"There's something I couldn't say before."
Then, I chose the words and said them slowly.
"Before… Thank you for sending photos of Kongi."
"…"
"I couldn't raise a dog myself because I didn't have the conditions to do so, so it was good to see pictures instead."
Cheongryeo looked into space for a moment without saying anything, and then asked briefly.
"How do you think he's doing right now?"
Kongi.
"I believe you can check for yourself."
"Sure."
Cheongryeo was not excited or angry. I just muttered slowly.
"Trust is not a matter of probability. Yes?"
"Yes."
This meant that no matter what we believed, we shouldn't expect it to actually come true.
However, I have also thought about something of my own these past few days.
"But I also have some worries."
"What?"
I crossed my arms and took a deep breath.
"The system is too friendly."
Cheongryeo only turned his eyes and made eye contact with me.
"Why would it be friendly to the guy who tried to kill it? I was the one trying to get rid of it."
If the system were truly omniscient and omnipotent and could create the entire world, it would lead us all to accidental deaths.
"However… Instead, it only gave us good conditions. Age, environment, ability, economic conditions…"
I suppressed the sobbing in my throat.
"Even my parents."
"…"
Cheongryeo flinched for a moment.
"There is no way it would give favors to the enemy for no reason. There's definitely something it regrets. There is a reason to appease and please."
"It's giving us an option."
"… !"
Cheongryeo continued speaking, covering his chin with one hand.
"You mean, it wants to make us choose this side?"
"Yes."
I calmly continued my reasoning.
"If there was no way out, then it could make this world however it wished without any benefits. It's tempting us to stay because there's a way in which we can get out of here."
"…"
"And my theory with the highest structural probability is… This will probably be the last time."
"Last time?"
"Yes. Clearing this game. If I succeed as an idol again, I think there will be something there."
At the point where the quest was finished, and I saw the ending.
Wouldn't there be a choice between ending and going back reality, or continuing to stay in this world after the ending?
I lay down with my head in the practice room.
It really felt like I was lying down in my company's practice room.
"Of course, this is just an assumption, but I think the evidence itself is persuasive. What do you think?"
"…"
Cheongryeo released the hand covering his chin.
"I have a question."
"What?"
"Is there any reason why you shouldn't just stay here?"
"Because I want to go back to reality."
I answered without hesitation.
"And actually, you want to do that too."
"…"
"Isn't that why you didn't even mention your dog until now?"
Wasn't it just a subconscious desire to make it seem like Kongi never existed rather than suffer a useless mental blow?
"…"
Cheongryeo leaned against the wall.
It was similar to when I first woke up in this body.
And he slowly opened his mouth.
"I'm not sure."
This damn guy's defense mechanism was really…
But instead of continuing, he closed his mouth. There must have been a time or two when he thought he wanted to go back but was frustrated. Fuck. I'd have to tolerate this much.
It was understandable.
"But… Kongi hasn't been born yet."
"… !"
"You should see him soon."
"We have to organize it like that then."
I got up.
"So, let's create such a group."
Not VTIC or TeStar, but a group that could reach the highest efficiency in the shortest amount of time.
A risk-tolerant group that prioritized profit over stability without considering future variables.
"A group that can win both the Rookie of the Year Award and the Grand Prize as soon as they debut."
I declared.
"And let's go back and watch the ending right away."
It was a short-term project group proposal.