Chapter 102

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The game development company that collaborated with TeStar had built up recognition by releasing several games with a thick fan base even before being acquired by T1.

Thanks to that, there were related small-scale game communities.

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What do you think about the appearance of 127 Section in the idol MV subtitles?
(TeStar Comeback Trailer Video)
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– Hmm, this… seems correct.
– I just watched it. The background of Seoul, the red curse, biohazard, and even the water tank appeared. Isn’t it confirmed?
– No, why would an idol advertisement be attached to such a peripheral flop game developer? (Confusion emoticon)
└ The taste of a large corporation’s investment is sweet.
– Something… something is happening.
– Ah, wasn’t it a girl group? Thank goodness, the influx of geeks has been blocked.
└ Instead, the fangirls will be attached.
└ As long as they spend a lot of money, who cares? I’m just worried these guys will close the server and run away again.
└ Ah, LOL. Agreed.

Words like ‘Why did they make something like this with idols and ruin the image’ could not be found.

First, because the video was very cinematic and well-captured the atmosphere of the previously revealed game background, and second… because they were not in a position to be picky.

‘Ruined Factory’, the creator of , had gained some recognition under the radar over the past few years for making high-quality games, but because they couldn’t properly develop a monetization model, they always lacked operational support.

Thanks to that, they just wanted to prevent an early server shutdown.

– Is this a part where we can look forward to a major corporation’s investment?
– Wow! 127 Section is going to become a national god-tier game!
– So when exactly is the game coming out… Why did they release a trailer but the release date isn’t even up?! (Table-hitting emoticon)
└ What do you expect from a mom-and-pop shop? Hehe.

And after TeStar’s comeback was sufficiently promoted through articles and such, the game company announced the release date a step later.

[‘Ruined Factory’s’ new game to be released in partnership with national stocks TeStar]
[TeStar’s comeback trailer was a collaboration video… release imminent]

– Yay!
– Wow, the recognition is skyrocketing!
– TeStar? They are the sons of Ruined Factory.
– Uh-huh, calling them TeStar, you should call them God-Star.

While the game enthusiasts were rolling around in anticipation, the TeStar fans’ side began to feel uneasy.

– Is this album really for a game advertisement?
– No way they’re just proceeding with what that general manager did as it is, right…?
– No, at least tell us specifically how they collaborated. Just writing it vaguely like that is annoying, seriously. LOL.
– Do we have to bash the agency again? T_T
……

Fortunately, at a point where the fans’ anxiety didn’t grow further, new information was revealed.

[TeStar Concept Photo ‘Side A’]

It was TeStar’s album concept photo.

And the atmosphere of these photos was… overtly refreshing.

Scenes such as lying in a forest wearing a white T-shirt or lying on a bed with headphones on and looking at the natural scenery outside the window.

And everyone was barefoot.

Overall, it was a refreshing and nostalgic landscape, like a summer day in adolescence.

– No, crazy.
– Uaaaah, refreshing is here!!
– Ahyun is barefoot…! Barefoot!
– Did you see the cut where Moondae bites an apple? Did you see it?!
– I feel like I’m going to faint.
– Sob sob sob T_T Guys, the more I see you, the more handsome you get…

The fans were able to retouch the photos while feeling relieved by the completely different feeling from the previously released information about or the comeback trailer.

* * *

“Moondae-ya! The reaction is totally good!”

“I’m watching it right now, too.”

“Haha!”

I could hear the sound of Big Sejin laughing as he crossed the hallway. It seemed like he was planning to tell the other rooms as well.

I checked the comments on my smartphone screen. Everyone naturally realized and moved on to the fact that the game collaboration was only a part of the album.

‘I think releasing them in this order was correct.’

If the fact of the game collaboration was revealed later, they might feel a sense of betrayal or rejection, and if I hit it first, interest could be sucked right into the game.

‘So, I’m approaching it step by step.’

It was important to build up so as not to cause rejection, while at the same time merging with the game only moderately.

‘We shouldn’t be too intertwined.’

It was better for the game collaboration to be treated as an extra story that just lets you enjoy the worldview more interestingly.

While I was enjoying that moderate sense of satisfaction, a pop-up appeared on the smartphone screen I was looking at.

[VTIC Cheongrye Sunbaenim: Are you releasing an album?]

“…….”

This… is definitely a question with a purpose.

Still, it wasn’t something I could ignore, so I replied.

[Yes. We’re having a comeback at the end of this month.]

[VTIC Cheongrye Sunbaenim: I see. Then there’s still some time left.]

And an unwelcome suggestion came.

[VTIC Cheongrye Sunbaenim: I have a song I made; do you want to use it as a B-side track?]

Are you crazy?

[It’s really okay. I can’t cause you such trouble, Sunbaenim, and the album is already organically completed. Thank you very much for the suggestion.]

[VTIC Cheongrye Sunbaenim: It’s because there’s a story I want to hear. I’m giving it because I feel bad receiving it for free, so don’t worry. You don’t have to use it for this album either. ^^]

“…….”

[By any chance, is it a story about the future?]

I spoke euphemistically just in case there were bastards peeking at the chat logs, but it meant ‘do you want to hear future information?’.

[VTIC Cheongrye Sunbaenim: Yes.]

[As I told you, I don’t have much experience, so there aren’t many stories I can give.]

[VTIC Cheongrye Sunbaenim: I’ll listen to it and judge for myself. ^^]

“…….”

Ah, this bastard is uncomfortable to see again.

‘But I can’t cut ties.’

Then I should dig up some information, too.

[Then I also want to hear your past stories instead of a song, Sunbaenim.]

Unlike just a moment ago when the reply came in an instant, it took a little time for a response to return.

[VTIC Cheongrye Sunbaenim: Go ahead.]

* * *

Since I already didn’t have time preparing for the album, I wanted to postpone the meeting with this guy until after the activities as much as possible, but it was blocked.

– I’m leaving for overseas at that time because of the concert tour.

Thanks to that, I rented a recording studio in the middle of the night after all the practice was over.

‘Damn it.’

For now, I told the company that I would try working together, but I didn’t know how it would turn out.

‘Even though I’m not going to work anyway.’

Anyway, Cheongrye arrived a few dozen minutes later.

“Hello. Have you been well?”

“Yes. I’ve been well.”

“It seems so. The trailer was well-made. …Ah.”

As Cheongrye hung a thin coat on the clothes rack next to the door, he looked over here without expression.

“By any chance, did you already know about that game? Does it become a huge hit once it’s released? Is that why you collaborated?”

“…The company just made me do it out of the blue.”

“Ah, I see.”

Cheongrye sat on the recording studio chair with a smirk. Then he took out a small object from his pocket.

It was a USB.

“Then, do you want to listen to the song first?”

This guy really doesn’t listen to people.

“……It’s okay even if I don’t receive the song.”

“Since we met at the recording studio, just listen to it anyway.”

Cheongrye manipulated the machine in front of the booth here and there, then soon played the song.

“……!”

“It’s good, right?”

It was a tropical house song that stuck to the ears.

That’s why it was even more suspicious.

‘It doesn’t seem like he’s the type to give this to someone else instead of using it himself.’

“Why are you trying to give it to me instead of using it yourself, Sunbaenim?”

“Hmm, I’m just not into this kind of song.”

“…Then what about your junior in the same company?”

“…….”

“Or it’s a situation where you could give it to your team members. For unit activities.”

“……Hmm.”

Cheongrye turned off the song. Then he rested his chin on his hand.

“As expected, you’re smart……. Uselessly.”

“…!!”

“Actually, I didn’t write this.”

Cheongrye took out the USB and threw it into the trash can.

“Two years from now, a promising rookie composer gives it to T-Holic and it becomes a decent hit… should have been the song. I snatched it.”

What?

“Ah, there’s no need to pity the composer. After this song, this person touched plagiarism and was sued multiple times, ending up fleeing overseas.”

“…….”

Cheongrye laughed as if embarrassed.

“Well, that was before I returned. He should be living well now. Since I paid him well for the song.”

“…….”

“But I can’t give the song to someone in our company. Because I don’t know if he’ll try to give a plagiarized song again.”

“…But you’re saying you’ll give that to me?”

Cheongrye smiled.

“Of course, I was planning to explain the circumstances. If I explain it like this, you, Moondae-ssi, will never receive a song from this person again. Isn’t that right?”

“…….”

I think he was planning to screw me over if I hadn’t noticed.

“I think you just said I noticed because I was uselessly smart.”

“I said that because it’s no fun explaining it.”

He’s slipping away quite well.

Cheongrye continued with a serious face.

“I just want to manage these risks well. I’m not looking for grandiose information… just the big flow. Just tell me the trends and events as you remember them. Then I’ll answer you as much as I know, too.”

“…….”

I only studied, though.

All I remember are events that frequently appeared on the 9 o’clock news or the portal main page.

But what this guy wants to know isn’t the name of the typhoon that will come next summer.

“…You remember I was a civil service exam student, right?”

“It seems you were familiar enough with society to participate in Idol Inc. and take first place.”

A misunderstanding occurred here. I answered brazenly.

“That’s just effort and talent.”

He’s a guy who seems like his eyes would flip if I brought up the status window. Let’s not even open my mouth.

“……For that, you took care of the cuts as if you knew them too well.”

Since it doesn’t seem like it would work even if I said I sold data as soon as I dropped out of high school… Hmm.

Let’s take the closest and most common case.

“I dug into idols before starting the exam, so I roughly know this area.”

“…….”

Cheongrye seemed momentarily at a loss for words.

“……Whew.”

And eventually, he let out a sigh.

“So you were an idol fan.”

“Yes.”

“…Whose fan were you?”

“SoftSweet.”

“…….”

Cheongrye let out a sigh again. And he replied in a slightly softened voice.

“…Anyway, tell me everything you remember. I’ll answer you, too.”

It was a declaration of surrender. I nodded my head.

“Yes. I will. Hmm… Ah, Maximite’s Beat-On will have a drunk driving incident around the beginning of next year……”

“He was originally that kind of guy. Next.”

“Hmm… At the end of this year, Mudie-ssi will release a carol, and since I kept hearing it in restaurants… I think the digital music performance was probably good.”

“……I see. Next.”

After repeating this about three times, Cheongrye asked gloomily.

“…Don’t you know about the beats that will be popular next year?”

“If I knew that, I would have already used it.”

“…!!”

Cheongrye finally admitted that I didn’t have any particularly special information.

“It doesn’t seem like you’re lying… Geez.”

“Shall I tell you the competition rate for next year’s civil service exam?”

“…Forget it.”

“Hmm.”

Is it my turn to ask questions now?

“By any chance, do you have any idea why this situation happened? Or an incident.”

“That’s what I want to know, too.”

Cheongrye frowned.

“What’s certain is that once you finish the mission, you don’t have to worry about dying suddenly anymore. …Moreover, future knowledge still remains, so these few years have been very useful.”

The nuance of the word ‘useful’ used in that context was very subtle.

“……Did you snatch songs?”

“Haha, what an obvious thing to ask. They’re not composing themselves, and isn’t the one who receives it from the composer first the owner?”

Cheongrye laughed brightly.

“I’m disappointed that it ended last year, too.”

“…!!”

In those words, I realized.

‘This bastard turned back time last year.’

And went back to before the debut.

That means… considering VTIC’s years of experience, he turned it back at least 7 years or more.

Then there are at least 8 status abnormalities. If he tried to avoid them without knowing anything, how many times did he fail…

‘……No wonder he’s out of his mind.’

I resolved to keep my distance from him in the future.