Chapter 2
“I died? Then what, is this supposed to be heaven?”
‘What kind of heaven looks this shabby?’
[This is not heaven. Due to the influence of ㅁㅁ, Cha Siwoo has been given one opportunity.]
“An opportunity? And what’s this ㅁㅁ?”
[ㅁㅁ has sent you back five years before your death. Complete the quests given to you within those five years and ultimately receive your reward.]
“What are you? You’re talking complete nonsense. You expect me to believe this?”
[I cannot speak about myself.]
“You’re telling me I died and came back five years into the past… That doesn’t make any sense.”
Then again, the translucent window floating before his eyes couldn’t be explained by common sense either.
[Accept the fact that you have returned to the past. Then proceed with the quest.]
‘How am I supposed to accept that?’
“Fine. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that I do. So what’s this quest? What are you trying to make me do?”
[Cha Siwoo, become an idol.]
???
“What?”
[Ultimately, succeed as a world-class top-tier idol.]
‘That came completely out of nowhere.’
“An idol? Those people with the high price tags?”
During his days as a paparazzo, he had sent quite a few idols crashing into ruin because they were worth a lot of money.
To him, idols were practically special events because their photos sold at such high prices.
[…Idols are not high-priced cash cows. Idols are shining beings who captivate the hearts of the public with attractive appearances and dazzling talent.]
‘You want someone completely ignorant about singing and dancing to become an idol? A world-class top-tier idol at that?’
“Do you think anyone can become an idol? Do you really think that’s possible? I made a living taking photographs. I know absolutely nothing about singing or dancing.”
[That depends entirely on you, Cha Siwoo.]
“Are you kidding me? I can’t do it!”
[If you complete the final quest, you will receive the greatest reward.]
“A reward? …What reward?”
[The participant will be given what they need most. In Cha Siwoo’s case, the reward will be a panacea.]
‘…!’
“Can that panacea be used on someone other than me?”
[Of course.]
‘That’s exactly what I need!’
The reward was tempting, but the quest’s absurdly great difficulty immediately gave him a headache.
These days, the average idol trainee is trained for at least five to ten years.
Even those who prepared that long often failed to become world-class top-tier idols after debuting and working themselves to death for another five years.
‘The odds of success are incredibly low.’
“This is harder than winning the lottery jackpot. Are you just torturing me with false hope?”
[Then give up the quest and die.]
“…What?”
‘Why did its tone suddenly change?’
[Cha Siwoo, this is not the time to argue. For reference, if you abandon or fail the quest, you will return to your original timeline. At the time of the accident, you died instantly from massive blood loss.]
‘…I really died?’
“Then what happened to my sister?”
[That information is classified.]
“…”
[Ultimately, it is your choice whether to proceed with the quest.]
‘You say that, but I don’t actually have a choice.’
The thought of leaving his sick sister behind was unbearable.
The reason he had worked so desperately despite being called a monster, a devil, and the worst kind of human was because of her medical bills.
His entire life until now had been a relentless struggle for the sake of his only remaining family.
‘Let’s think positively. Maybe this is an opportunity.’
The promise of a panacea upon completing the quest represented the only possible way to save his sister, who had become a vegetable.
“If I complete the quest, can I really trust that this panacea reward is real? Can it truly cure any illness?”
[Of course. It can cure not only incurable diseases but any illness that modern medicine cannot treat.]
Realistically, such a thing was impossible.
But if turning back time was real, then he felt certain the panacea was real too.
‘Then there’s no reason to hesitate.’
“I’ll do the quest. But!”
[…?]
“I have a condition.”
He had no idea what the blue window actually was, but if it had given him this chance, he had no choice but to try.
[What is it?]
“You must have a reason for making me this offer, right?”
After living long enough, he had learned that nothing happened without a reason.
[…]
‘Silence means yes, doesn’t it?’
“Wouldn’t it be more entertaining if I succeeded rather than failed?”
If you planted desire and curiosity in someone, they usually took the bait.
[Cha Siwoo, you are a human with a silver tongue.]
“Everything has a reason. So, how about giving me some sort of tutorial item? Just one benefit.”
[KEKEKE]
“Why are you laughing?”
[Kekeke… This is the first time I’ve seen a human this shameless.]
“Since you laughed, pay the fee for it.”
[Your shamelessness is refreshingly novel. I think I understand a little why ㅁㅁ chose to give you this opportunity.]
“So, are you giving me something?”
[Very well. Since you made me laugh, I will randomly increase one ability stat necessary for an idol.]
“Randomly? If possible, make it singing.”
‘If I’m going to be a singer, I should at least be able to sing well.’
[You’ll find out soon enough.]
‘Fine. At least I got something.’
“Alright. I’ll proceed with the quest.”
[You have agreed to proceed with the quest. The final quest, ‘Become a World-Class Top-Tier Idol,’ will now officially begin.]
Ding.
The cramped studio apartment was suddenly engulfed in bright light.
‘Ah, that’s blinding.’
The intense radiance turned his entire field of vision white.
Only after the alarm echoing through the room finally stopped did the apartment return to normal.
The translucent blue window still shimmered before his eyes.
***
—
[Welcome, Cha Siwoo, participant in the ‘Become a World-Class Top-Tier Idol’ quest. To debut as quickly as possible, you must participate in an audition.]
Main Quest: Participate in the idol survival audition ‘Star Picking 5’ and debut successfully.
Sub Quest (1): Pass the first-round audition for the idol survival program ‘Star Picking 5.’
A reward will be granted upon success.
Failure will return you to the original timeline. (buh-bye~)
—
‘So failing means it’s over immediately. They’re really ruthless with lives.’
Star Picking 5 had been an enormously successful idol debut survival show that achieved the highest ratings on cable television five years ago.
‘Not only do I have to debut as an idol when I never planned to, but I also have to join a survival program…’
He had at least sung a few times during company dinners for social obligations.
As for dancing, he had never danced once in his life.
“But I’ve literally never danced before. Is it really okay for me to go to an audition?”
[How is that my problem?]
???
“What exactly are you?”
[Good luck.]
The translucent blue window vanished.
“Hey?”
[…]
“System window?!”
[…]
“Excuse me? Sir?? Mr. System???”
[…]
No matter how many times he called, the translucent blue window did not reappear.
“Ha… damn it. I guess I need to apply for the Star Picking 5 audition first.”
Searching for Star Picking 5 on his phone, he discovered that online preregistration had already closed and only on-site registration remained.
“The on-site registration deadline is April 7th. Wait, what day is it today?”
Checking the calendar on his phone, he saw the date.
April 7th.
“It’s today? Damn it.”
Looking at the clock on the wall, he saw that a considerable amount of time had already passed.
“I need to get ready and leave immediately.”
With no time to spare, he hurriedly started moving.
Creeeak.
As he opened the bathroom door, the old metal hinges squealed as though exhaling years of accumulated age.
Inside the dark, cramped bathroom, the fluorescent light flickered intermittently.
Several floor tiles were cracked, and old mold stains spread between them like spiderwebs.
Approaching the square mirror above the sink, he saw a younger version of himself staring back.
“It’s really me at twenty.”
Dark circles hung beneath his hollow eyes.
His pale face, drained of color, looked far fresher and livelier compared to the exhausted appearance he had at twenty-five.
“Wow. Five years really makes that much difference. Well, back then, I still got five hours of sleep a day, so I looked pretty decent.”
The moment he became a paparazzo, his daily routine fell apart.
He survived on naps taken whenever possible, day or night.
Normal meals and an ordinary lifestyle had been sacrificed entirely in pursuit of exclusive scoops.
‘Compared to then, I’ve practically become younger again.’
“This isn’t the time for that. I need to wash up and get ready.”
When he turned on the faucet, the rusted metal resisted before finally giving way.
A moment later, cold water sputtered out.
“Ah! Cold!”
‘Right. This apartment didn’t have hot water in the first place.’
Since he had rented the cheapest semi-basement room available due to overwhelming hospital bills, hot water and proper water pressure had been luxuries.
“Yeah. This is how I used to live before becoming a paparazzo.”
The cold water immediately cleared his head.
***
Star Picking 5
Riding the popularity of audition programs, the cable network’s male idol debut audition show was called Star Stage.
Since becoming a celebrity ranked highly among the dream careers of teenagers, the number of applicants aspiring to become idols had been enormous during the early seasons.
More specifically, that was true until Star Picking 4.
“The number of applicants for Star Picking 5 has dropped a lot because of the Star Picking 4 vote-manipulation controversy.”
The producer turned his gaze away from the head writer, who was sighing.
“Why are there so few standouts this time?”
The audition program genre had already been squeezed dry.
Most well-known trainees who could attract attention had already appeared somewhere.
“We sent notices to the agencies. We told them that if they want their artists appearing on our music programs, they must send some decent trainees.”
“Then we should have enough agency trainees.”
The number of trainees who debuted in the entertainment industry was far larger than most people realized.
‘Most rookies just disappear without making any impression.’
If agencies wanted their trainees to appear even once on music shows to gain recognition, they had no choice but to comply.
“The urgent issue is independent trainees.”
If the show only featured agency trainees, accusations of unfairness would be inevitable.
Independent trainees were necessary.
The problem was that after last year’s vote-rigging controversy and malicious editing scandals, independent trainees had become far more cautious.
Rumors circulated through online communities that the production team would push agency trainees anyway and choose them in the end.
Since there was truth to those rumors, the staff didn’t bother denying them.
Even if they wanted to judge fairly, the idol industry worked like any other workplace—you did as you were told by those above you.
“Still, the kids who want fame will apply.”
“The problem is that none of the independent trainees who submitted online applications really stand out.”
“Today’s the last day for first-round on-site registration, so let’s wait a little longer.”
“Yes. Honestly, I don’t care if they’re weird. I just hope at least one trainee shows up who can generate some buzz.”
Normally, assistant writers and junior producers handled the judging at the on-site auditions.
Today was different.
The head writer and chief producer had personally taken seats as judges in hopes of finding someone who could boost ratings.
The audition venue, which had been running since morning, was overflowing with the enthusiasm of young trainees.
‘Enthusiasm is all they’ve got, though.’
An idol was supposed to possess something captivating that drew people in.
‘There are plenty of kids who sing well, dance well, and look good. The difference between making it and not making it comes down to star quality.’
The head writer sighed after realizing there were very few contestants who truly stood out.
“What if our ratings flop?”
“Please, just give me one trainee. One person who can bring in ratings.”
Before long, the sun set and closing time approached.
In a somewhat tired voice, the head writer called the next participant.
“Contestant number 2031, please come in.”
The lifeless eyes of the head writer and chief producer immediately brightened the moment the door opened.
“Wow.”
‘He’s finally here! My ratings!’
“Hello. I am contestant number 2031, Cha Siwoo.”
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