Chapter 93

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Cheongryeo started to trail off his words first.

“Um, where should I start talking from……”

“I will listen attentively.”

I purposefully knelt down. It was because on the broadcast, I had to come out as a rookie idol seeking advice from a sunbaenim as high as the sky.

Cheongryeo gave a soulless laugh and told me to sit comfortably a few times as empty words, then once he confirmed that diverting the topic wasn’t feasible, he only then started to answer.

“As for us, we started by meeting as a team at the agency, and everyone had good personalities so we got close quickly.”

And a standard answer followed, saying everyone worked hard during debut too. It was cliché, but it was also a virtue people expected from idols.

I downed the coffee that didn’t have much left. Since it was the part that had settled, the strong taste woke me up.

“Strangers who knew nothing about each other met as a team, and everyone fit well without fighting. It’s truly amazing and wonderful.”

“….”

“Surely everyone is a good person, but I think it might be because Cheongryeo sunbaenim exerted great capacity as a leader. I truly respect you.”

Proper flattery was a rookie-like remark.

It didn’t cross the line to the point of seeming like bashing other members.

However, the meaning it roughly implied must have been delivered to Cheongryeo.

‘You used some means to pick only the guys who fit your taste exactly and formed the team, didn’t you. I know too.’

As expected, Cheongryeo was staring straight at this side.

“Is that so.”

“Yes.”

“I’m embarrassed. It wasn’t to that extent.”

“No. You are amazing.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Now, he must have grasped the situation.

“Since it’s the first time I’ve tried talking about such things in a place like this, I don’t know how it was.”

“It was a big help. Thank you.”

“…Don’t mention it.”

This should have been enough for him to know who was the one with something to lose. I finished the conversation at that point.

“Now, then shall we be a bit comfortable?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

After that, the ordinary mountain villa distress skit continued.

The continuing landslide and the broken back room.

And even the eerie news from the radio found in the warehouse.

Hmm, I thought I had filmed it well while being immersed in my own way. I decided I should watch the broadcast later.

Without any special events, the filming ended the next morning.

* * *

As soon as the filming ended, rain started to pour down. It was monsoon rain.

“You’ve worked hard~”

I bowed and greeted everyone around, then took out my smartphone according to the production team’s suggestion.

And I made a video call.

Ring ring ring- click!

Not long after, a familiar face appeared on the screen. …It was Lee Sejin.

‘Why did I call Ryu Chungwoo but you come out first.’

[Heol, Park Moondae.]
[Is it a call from Park Moondae hyung?]

Clattering sounds were heard, and soon the screen was filled with those TeSTAR guys.

‘It was worth giving a hint to come out all together if anyone calls.’

Also because the talk had already finished beforehand with the production team saying it would be good if TeSTAR appeared for a few cuts as extras.

Originally they were thinking of putting it into the main filming, but it was impossible due to the timing, so it seemed it would enter the ending as a scrap cut like a cookie video.

[F-Filming ended?]

“Yeah, I’m about to go in now.”

[Come carefully.]
[T-That’s right. B-Be careful……]
[Buy some snacks on your way back~]

“…….”

It was even raining and I was hearing all sorts of conscienceless requests. I was about to ignore it, but thinking of the camera, I replied as warmly as possible to Lee Sejin.

“You buy some. So I can eat some when I go in.”

[Oh~ Park Moondae received it well? Okay!]

That side also seemed to have been conscious of the camera as they laughed it off roughly. I chattered for a few more trivial small talks, then soon ended the video call.

I received a text from the manager that the arrival would be slightly delayed because of the sudden heavy rain.

Ah, by the way, it was the new manager who had finally come a few days before. He was even younger than my original age.

“Park Moondae-ssi, are you not going in?”

“Ah, sunbaenim.”

I bowed my head to Cheongryeo who spoke to me. I felt a few staff members nearby looking with side-glances.

“I’m waiting because the manager hyung said he’d be late.”

“I guess it’s because it’s raining. Then the lunch time will be late too, why don’t you have a meal before going in?”

“Yeah, Park Moondae-ssi. Eat before going in. Originally we should even have a company dinner, but because it’s raining and we have to organize, we can’t.”

A writer passing by cut in and helped.

They praised me quite a bit saying I pulled out good pictures, so it seemed the impression of Park Moondae was caught quite well.

I was thankful for making work easy.

“Then I will eat gratefully.”

“Sure.”

Cheongryeo brought his car, and I explained the situation to the manager and received permission readily. After all, there was no afternoon schedule.

‘I should go in and sleep right away after it’s over.’

During the pleasant imagination, Cheongryeo drove the car back.

‘Since it’s his 7th year, he’s at a level where he can buy his own car.’

“Get in.”

“Thank you.”

I immediately sat in the front seat. Thud, I closed the door and buckled my seatbelt, then the car started immediately.

Cheongryeo didn’t wait any longer.

“I don’t like wasting time. Shall we get straight to the point without uselessly testing each other?”

“…….”

“What year did you come from?”

“Sunbaenim first.”

“Haha.”

Cheongryeo laughed and then stopped abruptly.

…He seemed a bit like a mental patient.

‘Suddenly talking informally and then laughing out loud?’

I had to keep checking if he didn’t forget to look ahead. I began to pay attention to both the conversation and the view.

Anyway, it was a situation no different from him admitting it with his own mouth.

“For me, the time point has already passed. It’s not very useful. Um, I was thinking of hearing some stories about the future to come.”

“I also don’t have much to tell you.”

“What?”

“I was a student preparing for the civil service exam.”

“…….”

Cheongryeo seemed to be at a loss for words as there was no answer, then soon let out a sigh as if air was leaking out.

And as if he lowered the tension slightly, he said in a slightly more comfortable voice.

“It’s absurd. What kind of idol is a civil service exam student……”

“If I don’t do it, I die.”

“Ah, you’ve already figured it out that far.”

‘……?’

A slight sense of incongruity was felt.

“When did sunbaenim know?”

“I tried to send one guy away but failed, and then I died and went back.”

“……Send where?”

“To his home country. Since he’s a guy who will set up a workshop and run away as soon as he fills three years anyway.”

Cheongryeo smiled and lightly tapped the steering wheel.

‘I’d rather drive myself.’

The problem was that Park Moondae didn’t have a license. There was no other situation to sigh about.

…Anyway, I felt it clearly from the conversation just then.

‘This guy, he can’t see the status window.’

Seeing that he realized the ‘death status abnormality’ only after dying and returning, it meant a guide called a status window didn’t attach to this guy.

‘That’s why he couldn’t fill three traits.’

Literally, he bashed his head against the ground.

Although he was more advantageous than me in the sense that he started as an idol and returned to his own body.

“At what timing did you die? I guess you died because you couldn’t debut in an audition.”

If I uselessly lied there, the words would have started to get twisted instead. If that guy noticed and started mixing lies, I would also be troubled.

I decided to tell the truth.

“I haven’t died yet.”

“……Is that so? Then how did you know?”

“I just knew. That if I don’t make achievements within the time limit, I’ll die.”

“…….”

Cheongryeo stared ahead without a word, then muttered softly.

“I’m envious?”

“…….”

I could see Cheongryeo’s eyes glancing at me with only his eyeballs rolled in the rearview mirror.

…To be honest, it was damn eerie.

“Isn’t right now the perfect time? It must feel like living as a protagonist.”

“…Even though I might die every time the time limit returns?”

“……Ah, that’s right. There would be such a difference in perspective……. Um.”

Cheongryeo suddenly continued speaking abruptly in a much lighter tone.

“That, I think it’s a kind of penalty.”

“Yes?”

“Dying if you fail at a task you have a hunch you should do. Honestly, isn’t it worth enduring? Since you returned to the past.”

“…….”

I didn’t know at all.

Wasn’t this guy purely a crazy person? It seemed he had gone mad from rationalizing the situation because of a defense mechanism.

But Cheongryeo gave a surprisingly common-sense reason. It was a very surprising reason.

“By my calculation… it seemed that basically one time, plus the number of years you returned is given. That.”

“……!”

It meant there was an end to the status abnormality.

‘That’s why his was in an inactive state.’

I calculated on the assumption that those words were correct. Then since I had come back across three years…….

‘Four times. Among them, I’m already in a state of having finished two times.’

Hope twinkled.

…Of course, how much I can trust this guy was another matter. Still, for now, let’s be satisfied that someone to dig information out of appeared, and ask about the point that was on my mind next.

“But, how did you know that I returned to the past?”

“…Ah, I just knew?”

“…….”

He was purposefully imitating my words. It meant I should spill first.

I inwardly clicked my tongue.

‘Still, I can’t talk about the status window already right now.’

That guy seemed fine normally, but as expected, he seemed a bit gone regarding that supernatural situation. I decided not to touch him more that day.

“Anyway, it was fun meeting you, hoobaenim, in many senses. It was a beneficial experience.”

“Yes, sunbaenim. Thank you.”

“Contact me if there’s anything you’re curious about.”

“Thank you.”

Afterwards, I had a meal quietly at an appropriate Korean set meal restaurant and returned to the dormitory.

‘…Finally.’

Having stayed up all night while playing a game of wits made me damn tired.

When I opened the front door and entered, those guys who didn’t have an afternoon schedule popped out from here and there, waved their hands, and passed by.

“Park Moondae arrived~”
“How was it, was the variety show okay?”
“Y-You’ve worked hard!”

“……Uh, it was okay, thank you.”

Wow, those guys, I was glad to see them.

They said people got attached if they saw faces often, and it seemed I had become comfortable as we were together every day.

I caught Lee Sejin who was brushing his teeth and asked.

“What about snacks?”

“Uh-huh, did you believe that, Park Moondae-ya?”

Of course I didn’t.

But somehow I tried saying it once while catching the atmosphere. Of course, the result was as expected.

But surprisingly, Lee Sejin pointed to the refrigerator.

“Check and pick two things you want to eat~ I bought them from the convenience store.”

“…….”

The expectation… missed.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. By the way, originally it’s three per person, but since you got a solo variety show, I subtracted one?”

“…….”

“Hahaha! It’s a joke~ joke! Originally it’s two.”

This guy was crossing the line a bit lately.

At that moment, the smartphone rang.

Buzzing.

[VTIC Cheongryeo Sunbaenim : Contact me if you feel like you’re going to die ^^]

“…….”

Suddenly, I felt like whatever Lee Sejin’s behavior was, it was fine.

‘Anyway, he’s much better than this guy.’

[Yes, I understand. Thank you.]

I roughly replied, then leaving the snacks behind, I went straight to bed as soon as I washed up.

“You’re here.”

“Yes. Was there any special event?”

“None. …Going to sleep?”

“Yes. Because I stayed up all night. Can I close the curtains a bit?”

“Sure.”

After having a short conversation with Lee Sejin, I started to take a nap after closing the blackout curtains by mutual agreement.

Because there was monitoring to be done in the evening.

[TeSTAR’s Living Together TEST! Episode 6]

The broadcast of the reality trip episode was today.