01. Regressor (1)

Tap, tap. I heard the sound of water droplets breaking on the surface. I felt like I was lying in a dark and damp place, like a cave. I tried to open my eyes out of anxiety, but my head was dizzy as if I had just woken up.

"Ah...."

When I opened my mouth, my throat was blocked, so only a new sound came out. I was clearly on stage just a moment ago, but what is this.... I got goosebumps as the water flowed down my cheek.

My eyes, which had opened wide, shook here and there. I struggled urgently, and the water surface rippled with the movement of my arms.

'Where am I...?'

I don't know if it was sweat or water, but it started to drip down my head. After I caught my breath, I finally saw the surrounding scenery.

A bathtub filled with water. I was sitting there, clothed. When I raised my head, the water droplets that had been pooling on the ceiling fell down on my cheek. If a stranger had seen it, it would have been a peaceful scene, but to me, it was the most terrifying thing.

So the problem is that I don't remember finishing the stage and leaving the broadcasting station. And it was a comeback stage after a year.

'Am I out of my mind and can't remember, or did I collapse during the stage? If it's the latter, there's no answer.'

There were many things to worry about, including the various articles that would pour out, public opinion, and even the broadcasting station's opinions. Later on, it would be said that health management is also a skill.

After 9 years of being an idol, I took a deep breath and calmed my mind, having become accustomed to various unexpected situations.

'There was no reason to collapse in the first place. I'm a little tired, but not to the point where I'd lose my memory or pass out. I also adjusted my diet appropriately, so it shouldn't be malnutrition.'

... When I thought about it calmly, there were many strange things.

First of all, this isn't a hospital. There were no managers or members around, and no staff. Even though my job often suffered from noise, the surroundings were too quiet. In the first place, there was no way they would put a sick person in a bathtub full of water.

"Excuse me? Is anyone there?"

Even when I called out to someone, all I got in return was silence.

I got out of the bathtub and walked to the sink. Water dripped down my feet and pooled on the white tiles. My body was shivering, perhaps because I had been in warm water.

"Oh, man, it's cold."

The sudden change in body temperature made me want to curse, but I chose my words carefully, thinking there might be a hidden camera. Judging from the awkwardness in my voice, I thought I had caught a cold.

"Haa...."

I turned the faucet on the sink to hot water, and warm water poured out. The warmth lingered on my fingertips where the water touched them.

I washed my face thoroughly and pressed my tired eyes with my hands.

I feel like I can finally live. When I need to come to my senses, washing my face with hot water is the best.

After that, I roughly shook off the water to check my appearance and raised my head toward the mirror.

"... Huh?"

I let out a small sigh and stared blankly at the person in the mirror. This wasn't me praising myself, but seriously, I swear, a handsome man I'd never met before was standing there.

'I want to faint. No, did I already faint and wake up?'

Everything was too vivid to be a dream, and it didn't make sense to be reality.

They say that people in unrealistic situations tend to calm down, but I was just so damn flustered. If I hadn't bit my lip, I would have cursed instead of thinking.

My brain, which had reached its limit, made a ridiculous assumption that I had never been interested in before.

'Is this me? Is that...the possession that the youngest was talking about? Is that the situation?'

The only information I could get out was the youngest in our group reading a web novel and getting excited about explaining it.

I briefly recalled a conversation I had with the youngest in the past.

'So what is possession? What's good about it?'

'When a soul enters someone else's body, it's usually called possession. The advantages vary by genre. There are many types, such as academy, hunter, etc.'

'I don't know what you're talking about. Just practice.'

'No. Listen, hyung. Usually, in this case, the system or status window....'

Youngest, what should I do when I can't see anything, whether it's the system or the status window? Everyone says that they get possessed while playing games or reading novels, so why on earth did I become like this?

I wiped my face with both hands in frustration. Wait, if this is possession, what happened to my original body?

I felt my face turning pale without even looking in the mirror. My heart was beating hard, and I was feeling anxious.

'Computer or cell phone... Anyway, I need to find an electronic device that is connected to the Internet.'

I am an idol. An idol's daily life can be found by searching the Internet even a little. If there is something wrong with me, it will come out without fail.

I put aside all other thoughts and ran out of the bathroom. The neat interior caught my eye in the angular space unique to apartments, but there was no sign of people.

'Is this really a house where people live?'

It was such a quiet space that I had such doubts. There was no computer or TV. After searching for a while, I found a cell phone on the bed in the bedroom.

"The lock number... huh?"

The cell phone's lock screen was unlocked with facial recognition. I took a deep breath and went to the portal site, and a new article appeared on the main page in a large font.

[Breaking News] Lighting falls during music show recording... Idol H in critical condition, 3 injured]

[Planet Han A-won, unconscious due to stage accident.

['I can't guarantee when he'll wake up']

[Lime Entertainment, 'We'll do our best to help Han A-won recover.' Statement... Planet announces suspension of activities]

"Haa......"

When I checked the article, I felt tired. I could feel the bed getting wet because of the moisture in my hair, but I didn't have the energy to care about that. Only one word took over me.

I'm done.

'Han Awon was involved in a lighting accident during comeback stage on the 12th....... He was taken to the hospital after receiving emergency treatment, but he is currently known to be unconscious. In addition, two dancers around him were said to have suffered minor injuries.... Lime Entertainment, Han Awon's agency, announced through their official SNS that Planet's group activities will be suspended and that they will focus on his recovery.'

Fortunately, no one else was seriously injured besides me.

I put one hand on my forehead and lowered my head, and my eyes flashed. It was as if I was asking to be looked at.

[SYSTEM: The system is attempting to synchronize the possessed body.]

[SYSTEM: Loading...]

[SYSTEM: Connection complete]

"Is the possessed body important right now? There's an article about my activity suspension."

My head was already so complicated. I was staring blankly at the notifications when I suddenly came to my senses. System, possessed body, synchronization. When I saw the strange word, I thought of the conversation with the youngest.

As I stared at the message, notifications kept popping up.

[SYSTEM: Support system, forcibly executing 'memory assimilation'.]

"What nonsense...... cough."

Before I could finish speaking, something fishy rose in my throat. After I vomited out everything I had, the surroundings were stained with blood.

I tightened my grip on my phone. The noise gradually changed to tinnitus. The moment I staggered while enduring the dizziness.

"Heo-eob."

I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. Countless memories were fragmented and torn apart in my head. The feeling of information being forcibly injected. Many lives flowed like a panorama.

Parents died in an accident, dropped out of school to become an idol, barely debuted as a trainee, and started life over after the dream was shattered.......

This is the memory of this body.

"Fuck..."

Unable to bear the intense pain, I sweared, and the words came to mind vividly.

[SYSTEM: The system has sent you a message. Do you want to check?]

[SYSTEM: Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes]

After thinking for a long time, I pressed one of the "YES". The phrase that the system was writing made the situation feel like a joke.

[SYSTEM: Synchronization is complete, and the system sets your goals.]

[SYSTEM: Please achieve your goal with the body of Yoo Young, the regressor]

[SYSTEM: If you don't achieve your goal, the spirit and soul of "Han Awon" belong to the system forever]

What does this mean.

My mouth opened at the strange word. I shook my head and blinked, but the message did not change.

"What are you saying? If you're going to explain it, do it right."

As I murmured to myself with my teeth clenched, a new message came up. This time, even the selection window came out properly.

[SYSTEM: Do you want to check out the details?]

[SYSTEM: Yes / No]

As I clicked 'Yes' with the intention of grabbing at straws, a plain message window popped up. The system seemed to like my choice and spat out words as if it was a god.

[SYSTEM: This system is called the 'support system' and is a program that selects a target and supports him to achieve his dream. The person currently set as the target is 'Yoo-young', but contrary to the system's expectations, 'Yoo-young' has been repeating his life for a long time...]

"It's too long. Please summarize it."

I said while pressing my temple while reading the words. My head was ringing since a while ago, and I couldn't concentrate on the present. It felt like someone was grabbing my brain and shaking it. Words were floating and lines were breaking apart. The support system stopped explaining because of what I said. Then something unknown came to mind.

[SYSTEM:...It is impossible to achieve the goal as it is, so 'Han Awon' was transplanted to 'Yoo-young' under the system's judgment.]

This is too much omitted.

"...I'm sorry, can you explain it again from the beginning?"

Despite my pleas, the system did not explain it again.

So stingy. I clicked my tongue and swallowed a sigh as the pain subsided. It was definitely absurd, so my sense of reality disappeared.

I had pulled up the group that had been a mess and reached the top team, but now I possessed... and in the body of a regressor?

I didn't know where to start. It felt like I was the only one separated from this world.

[SYSTEM: This is all happening in reality. Also, if you achieve the designated objective, you will be cleared and can return to your original body.]

"I can go back...?"

I jumped up from my seat as if screaming. The members and fans who were always by my side, the fun stage with them. My heart was beating wildly at the thought of being able to see it all again.

'Let's calm down for now.'

All I have to do is make this guy, Yoo Young's dream come true. I shouldn't get excited already when the information and future are uncertain.

"So what on earth is that goal?"

I tried to calm my heart and looked down at the bloody bed. Then a new window slowly appeared.

[Check target profile]

- Yoo Young (Han A-won)

- Target designated target: Top idol in the first team

- Trait: Regressor, Minus's Hand, Kingmaker

- Status: ---

"What......?"

My hand floated in the air in an unexpected situation. Thinking about it, it seemed that in 'Yoo Young's' memories, he had always been an idol.

As I pressed the target with my thumb, the description of the trait below it appeared.

- Regressor (⬛⬛⬛ rounds): You can go back in time in exchange for the target's death.

- Minus's Hand: Yoo Young's basic trait is that he has great talent but ultimately fails. What he truly wants will never be attainable.

- Kingmaker: Han A-won's basic trait. Anyone with any talent can succeed. I will burn my body and make what I see the top.

'.....?'

No, this is crazy.

In short, you're telling me to make Yoo Young a successful idol. With that ominous trait.

In the first place, isn't the trait of a kingmaker strange? Kingmakers literally make kings, not idols.

My mind was spinning, and my legs almost gave out.

"It's my fate."

I still doubt if I'm crazy. But I can't just deny it. I have to act under the assumption that this is reality.

I took a deep breath and slowly thought back to that designated goal.

'The goal is to be a top idol........

That's Yoo Young's dream, right? I cleaned up the bloody bedding and messy house and changed into damp clothes. When I opened the wallet on the desk, I saw the student ID between my check cards. When I tried to take out the student ID, the crumpled certificate of expulsion fell out along with it.

'Name, Yoo Young......it says on the student ID. 18 years old. Dropped out a while ago.'

So what time is it now? My mind was hazy because pieces from so many lifetimes came in haphazardly.

'I have to organize this guy's memories first.'

In order to succeed, I have to analyze the cause of failure first.

I sat down on the desk chair without a moment's hesitation.

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