Debut or Die - Chapter 485
Reed chapter first at Utoon.net
Chapter 485
Cheongryeo can see the pop-up message from Keundal. Ironically, the most baffled by this situation wasn’t present here. The one who actually triggered the pop-up.
[Gaaaasp What is thi,s?]
“You even made a typo.”
Cheongryeo propped his chin as if observing an interesting phenomenon. Keundal screamed again through the pop-up.
[Uaaahhh!!]
What a mess. I resisted the urge to rub my temples and asked. “Since when did you start seeing it?”
“Hmm, this is the first time.”
Cheongryeo, without blinking, stared at the crying pop-up for a few more seconds. Then he spoke indifferently. “Is it… using your previous body now?”
“…”
“Ryu Gunwoo.” Cheongryeo smiled. “It seems your body changed a while ago. I’d like to hear more about it.”
“…?!”
It’s about the incident where Keundal and I swapped bodies. Or that wasn’t it? Wait a minute.
“…Did you notice at the awards ceremony?”
When we made eye contact through the zoom lens of a telephoto camera, it felt strange.
“Yes.” Cheongryeo readily admitted. Then he tapped his chin with his finger. “Hmm, let’s just say your… judgment seemed a bit off. Unlike your usual self.”
“…”
Does that mean Keundal looked dumb?
Look at him, picking words, knowing the situation. He’s not an industry person, so what kind of judgment is he talking about?
Huu. Anyway, it’s a good time to explain why we looked like that.
“There was some stuff going on.”
I briefly summarized the events related to the system fragment that had possessed Keundal at that time.
Cheongryeo’s reaction wasn’t spectacular. Probably because all the issues were wrapped up in a moderate manner without any crazy stuff like building collapses. …Or maybe he already guessed it.
“I see. Ah, you also posted the photos taken then on the internet, right? I saw them.”
“…”
How did he know… never mind. Seeing him smile and thanking me for taking good pictures, I had nothing more to say. Let’s drop it. What a shaman-like guy.
Anyway, there’s only one reason I can think of why Cheongryeo is seeing the status window.
“It seems to be influenced by you being the GM in the virtual world created by the system.”
“Hmm. That makes sense.”
Right. Cheongryeo had a history of being the GM, or game master, in the world created by the system. He could manipulate settings and stop time. Although it hit us hard back then, it was a tremendous ability that allowed us to hit back at the system. If the power from that role has somewhat returned as I restarted this system… It would make sense.
Hmm, then. There’s one thing to test.
“…”
I silently called up the status window pop-up in the air.
[New! Update Completion Reward]
[New! New Feature Unlocked]
[New! Survey]
…….
They were in a different position from Keundal’s pop-up.
[Hyung…?]
I deliberately didn’t react.
Then, Cheongryeo opened his mouth in front of me. “It seems to be calling you.”
“Yeah. I’m sending a message to not panic.”
This confirmed it. Cheongryeo is only reacting to Keundal’s pop-up.
Then. Is the status window next to me invisible?
I checked his demeanor again, pretending not to notice. His pupils, expressions, gestures… Everything looks natural. Of course, this guy has successfully worked in a profession where you have to manage your expressions to the extreme for decades. There’s a slim chance it’s a fake, but…
I unfolded my arms. Let’s let this one slide.
What if he could really see it but was determined to hide it just to mess with me? No, our relationship hasn’t fallen out to that extent.
There’s that much level of trust for now. Is what I ended up concluding.
The only problem is that Cheongryeo’s analysis has just begun. He looked over the surface of a glass with condensation from cold, meeting the air.
“Hmm, so what you call the ‘system’… it hasn’t completely disappeared but has entered various bodies.”
“…”
“Even if it’s loot, don’t you think absorbing it and using it is a risk too great?” He raised his eyes from the glass and looked directly at me.
Applying the system to the company?
“What if you want to ‘restart’?”
“…”
His eyes seemed to say that. It was a certainty that only someone who has repeatedly experienced and internalized such situations could possess. Using it would certainly lead to addiction.
It seems almost fanatical. Despite the summer heat, a strange feeling made me shiver, enough to make me question my judgment on using the system, which had turned into my personal item.
F*ck… I swallowed a sigh.
“I used it to become independent from T1. I don’t plan on using it anymore.”
“Alright.”
Cheongryeo shrugged as if it was none of his business but then casually threw in another remark. “I’d like to check.”
What is he saying?
“You mean the status window?”
“Yes.”
Then, as if interested, another pop-up promptly appeared.
[Would you like to designate ‘GM’ as the System Administrator?]
Are you crazy? This guy doesn’t know when to stop. Get lost.
He’s talking about full disclosure of internal information to a competitor. I immediately erased the status window. Then, I barely opened my mouth. “I just called it up.”
“Really? I still can’t see it.”
“Yeah.”
The conversation ended there. But I felt more uneasy. There’s something I realized anew by meeting this guy.
Actually, even though I said I would remove the company system… Damn, it’s not that I’m not having second thoughts.
I thought of the pop-up that appeared when I met Kwon Heeseung last time.
[Confirming the holder of ‘■■■ Fragment’]
“…”
The ‘■■■ fragment’ is likely a piece of the system. And since Kwon Heeseung had it, there’s a high probability that some fragmented parts of the system are within this guy who also experienced the system. So, it’s a problem.
The fragment could only be absorbed by raising the company level.
To rephrase it, it means this:
-If I shut down this system, the system won’t be able to manage at a company level.
-Then, I won’t be able to recover the ‘■■■ fragment’ from Cheongryeo.
…This means he would face mission failure without the status window. Saying he would be fine because he’s experienced it is… not good enough.
I don’t know how many times this guy restarted during that experience. Moreover, if it triggers the reset syndrome again, it’d be a nightmare. Hell, there’s a chance I could die from it too.
And… didn’t this guy once give crucial help when I was hit by a status abnormality? It was during the building collapse.
“…”
Alright.
Yes, for my conscience’s sake, I’ll draw a line.
I made up my mind. I’ll keep the company system. But I couldn’t afford to be caught off guard like last time. I need to understand the reason and principle behind the updates caused by the fragments.
-Why did someone in my past life before becoming Park Moondae suddenly appear?
-And why was it Cha Eugene?
Effects and targets. At least, I need to prepare enough and minimize variables. After that, I need to structure it so that the fragments can be recovered without causing a mission failure to this guy.
I’ll refrain from using the system recklessly. Let’s just leave it alone and observe it for now. At least until Keundal finishes the analysis.
The quiet pop-up flashed again.
[I’ll do my best…!]
Thank you. I’ll pay you well.
[But Hyung… you don’t have much money now…]
“…”
[Sorry. I mean, Hyung created this, so please use it freely….]
It’s fine.
I concluded with the pop-up with concert invitation seats. By the way, Cheongryeo was next to me, curiously watching the pop-up and asking a few questions, and then belatedly asked about recent news. It’s still about work, though.
“Ah, I heard your group is filming a reality TV show this time.”
Did it leak too?
“Hmm, but the director who originally worked with you is… affiliated with T1 Studio.”
“Yes.”
The variety show production team, who did everything from the travelogues about selling hotteok to that grandchild’s carrot coin, is all under T1.
Cheongryeo continued smoothly with a sly smile. “Shall I introduce you to a good person?”
Oh. This guy is determined to rip us off.
“We’ve already secured someone.”
Be satisfied with paid platform behind-the-scenes content, you p*nk. Because the person we’ve secured is…
* * *
“…Hello.”
“Wow, hello, Writer!”
Across from TeSTAR, who greeted energetically, the main writer responsible for TeSTAR’s reality show was sitting.
Keun Sejin smiled broadly and offered a handshake. “Long time no see!”
“Ah, yes.”
Ryu Seorin. The writer of . Also, my senior in college and blood relative of Ryu Seojin, the twin home master… but let’s think about that later.
Anyway, this person is one of the most important members of the production staff recruited for TeSTAR’s reality show. And there were two simple reasons.
First.
“It’s nice to work with you again, Writer.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Because she was also kicked out by T1.
Why did this person, a key contributor to the series, get kicked out?
Because all of us who debuted there became independent and left. Of course, that’s not the only reason. There was a complicated battle for influence involving political connections in the broadcasting industry. Caught up in that fierce internal political struggle, the freelance sub-writer had her livelihood half taken away.
Considering this writer’s character, she could have clung on stubbornly if she wanted to. But she didn’t. Because there was no need for that.
After several successful collaborations with Netplus, she built connections there and seemed to have shifted their career in that direction. Incidentally, we participated in the first project. That… It was Know KPOP NOW.
“How many years has it been since then?”
“It’s been quite a while. Thank you for that time.”
Ryu Seorin nodded. She also gave lip service, saying it went well thanks to TeSTAR.
Of course, that’s not the only reason we’re working with her. The second reason is…
“So… about this reality show.”
She’s good. Whether it’s sacrificing participants for the viewers or creating narrative points to amplify the impact from 1 to 10, she makes excellent variety shows. She also had a good eye for people. So, there was no one more suitable for TeSTAR to partner with right now.
“You don’t want the usual cute reality programs that many idols produce, right?” She seemed to suggest looking elsewhere for that.
Ryu Chungwoo immediately nodded. “Yes. Even if it takes more effort and time, we prefer making entertaining reality shows.”
“That’s right.” Ryu Seorin responded without hesitation. “Then let’s go with something similar to that PD’s style? I also know those writers.” There was confidence in her voice.
As expected. She would deliver the proper atmosphere without being sloppy. The playful and deceiving atmosphere of teasing the participants. Moreover, since we had produced several variety shows with that PD’s team, the public would likely accept it as TeSTAR’s style. However,
“No.”
“Hmm?”
It would still come off as a knock-off.
This isn’t Ryu Seorin’s specialty. Naturally, it would lack originality compared to that crazy production team, and there’s no need to accept that. So,
“Please do as you normally do.”
“…!”
Everyone should do what they do best.
Ryu Seorin narrowed her eyes and asked, “Really?”
“You mean… what I originally did…”
“Yes.”
“…”
We all know the prime example. That’s how this TeSTAR reality show will go.
“Like .”
Soon, Ryu Seorin looked like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. But the investor always has the stronger voice.
It was a few days later. The filming of TeSTAR’s reality show started as scheduled.
* * *
I opened my eyes. What I saw was a familiar ceiling. The very ceiling of the dorm I’ve seen for years… my room.
“…”
At first glance, it seems natural.
Isn’t it normal to see a familiar ceiling when you open your eyes?
And there’s one more premise.
TeSTAR has moved. So, this isn’t the current dorm of TeSTAR. This must be a space resembling the dorm before we moved.
“What the…?”
I got up. In the dark room, something was lying on my stomach.
“…?”
It was a yellow file.
I squinted to adjust to the dark and deliberately read the cover of the file out loud to ensure it was caught on camera. “Your profile file.”
Then I opened it.
[Your job is a doctor.]
Below that, explanations and features were written.
Hmm. So this is how it goes.
In fact, TeSTAR deliberately didn’t get a detailed briefing on the program’s internal settings. It was for the sake of the reality show. We only knew the format and purpose.
“What is this for?”
I diligently spoke out loud while getting out of bed. In my mind, the lines from the group meeting when we recruited Ryu Seorin replayed.
“We’ve experienced it, so we already know.”
The concept of TeSTAR’s reality show this time.
“Survival shows made by this writer are all fun.”
It’s a death survival show.
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