LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Kang Ji-woo observed my expression and spoke calmly.
“If bringing this up made you recall painful memories, I’m sorry.”
I was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming sense of pure goodwill emanating from Kang Ji-woo.
‘Wow. He’s sincere.’
Does such a pure, kind-hearted, and righteous young man really exist in this world?
Is it only possible because it’s a game?
Slightly flustered, I quickly answered while averting my gaze.
“No, honestly, the memories from back then are so vague that thinking about it now only makes me really angry and upset, but it hasn’t left a trauma or anything. You don’t need to worry. I’m not just pretending to be okay; I really am.”
I wondered if I had the right to say this, considering I wasn’t ‘On Raon,’ but it would be even funnier to be trembling without any memory. The truth is the truth.
[You, too, are like Seo Moon-gyeol…? Kang Ji-woo feels a strange emotion. Kang Ji-woo’s favorability +2. Current favorability +87]
I had wondered where the average favorability value of 50, which was the quest trigger condition, got supplemented, given that Gyun Seong-ha’s favorability was well below 50. So, it was you?
No wonder the favorability kept rising steadily every time we ate and practiced singing.
Of course, I could confidently say that Kang Ji-woo was the kind of guy who would share his favorability with even a stray cat on the street, so it wasn’t that surprising.
No, more than that. Is there no one else to compare me to but Seo Moon-gyeol, an alien to someone like me, a normal earthling?
Strictly speaking, in the game, I am the alien from another world, and Seo Moon-gyeol seems more like the native earthling.
…Let’s not think too deeply about it. It only gives me a headache.
“Then that’s a relief.”
Unaware of my thoughts, Kang Ji-woo just smiled gently and said.
“When I heard about you from Yo-han before, I was really worried about you. The event with Gyeol is still vivid to me… And I heard that True’s trainees will be there too.”
No matter how you look at it, it’s quite something to worry about people you’ve never even met. His kindness was almost overwhelming.
I knew he was kind, but it was to the point of concern.
Does he know that living like that makes it hard not only for him but also for those around him?
Birds of a feather flock together, so it seemed that only similar people would gather around Kang Ji-woo.
It was a bit surprising that Ban Yo-han was his closest friend, but just because someone calls me a jerk doesn’t mean they’re a jerk to everyone.
“I trust that you’re okay, but if something happens when you get there, you’ll tell Gyeol or Yo-han anytime, right?”
“Right.”
It felt like he was forcing me to answer.
“They’re both good guys and trustworthy, so they’ll help you out.”
He went on with a long lecture about how asking for help was never something to be ashamed of. It seemed like Kang Ji-woo was determined today.
Just a month ago, both Kang Ji-woo and Ban Ga-eul only told me to take care of Ban Yo-han, who knew nothing.
Now that I think about it, it made no sense to ask me to take care of someone like Ban Yo-han, who would be laughing leisurely even if he were dropped in Brazil.
Kang Ji-woo, Ban Ga-eul, and even Ban Yo-han himself wouldn’t be unaware of this.
So, was it just an excuse to accept me? Was Kang Ji-woo planning to say these things to me back then too?
“…Got it.”
As I answered while struggling to meet Kang Ji-woo’s eyes, brimming with sincerity and earnestness, a quest completion window popped up simultaneously.
[Side Quest
[As a confirmed quest reward, you’ve received the hidden story of Seed Entertainment and the loyalty of Seed trainees.]
[From now on, Seed trainees will have a favorable interest in your affairs. Use the Seed trainees actively to survive!]
The system, which usually felt like a mere annoyance, seemed psychopathic today.
Can they just give away people’s hearts as rewards like that?
Having allies in a program where we’ll start to seriously compete and bite at each other’s throats was reassuring.
I hadn’t forgotten that, as a player, I would return to reality someday and these guys were mere NPCs.
‘But there are feelings, you know.’
Utilizing them felt unpleasant.
Anyway, it was late, and since we were scheduled to depart early in the morning for the Pick Heart shoot, we wrapped up the conversation there.
Seo Moon-gyeol, serene as usual like a worldly ascetic, and Gyun Seong-ha, looking like he wouldn’t sleep a wink, left small goodnight greetings and returned to their rooms.
The rest of us also laid out our bedding on the floor without a word, turned off the lights, and lay down side by side.
“…”
Quite some time passed like that.
I heard steady breaths from one side, probably indicating that Ban Yo-han and Kang Ji-woo had fallen asleep.
I couldn’t sleep.
If I switched my sleep mode to fatigue recovery mode, the night would pass, and morning would come in an instant, but I didn’t feel like doing that tonight.
It meant I had a lot on my mind.
Was it because I finally understood why Kang Ji-woo and the Seed people had been unnaturally kind to me as my departure day approached?
‘I think I know why Seed couldn’t debut Kang Ji-woo, Seo Moon-gyeol, and Gyun Seong-ha even as a trio.’
Setting aside whether a trio group would be successful these days, all three had mentalities not suited for surviving in the entertainment industry.
The moment these three stepped into showbiz, it was clear they’d be torn apart.
Good-looking, kind but hopelessly clueless guys.
‘Where in the world can you find people like Kang Ji-woo or Ban Ga-eul these days? They’re like mythical creatures. It feels like seeing a unicorn shooting a rainbow beam from its horn in Gwanghwamun right now.’
The reason I found their kindness unnatural was simple.
It’s because I believed such goodwill couldn’t exist in this harsh modern society.
Thus, I felt the game’s absurd unreality anew.
* * *
Unable to sleep, I finally switched to fatigue recovery mode and closed my eyes. The next moment, it was morning.
We ate the meal Kang Ji-woo had prepared the night before and got ready to leave the dorm. Master Chef Kang’s food was delicious until the end.
Kang Ji-woo came out to the front door to see us off.
“What about Gyun Seong-ha?”
“I didn’t wake him on purpose. I thought it’d be better to let him sleep a bit more since he probably had a hard time emotionally.”
According to Seo Moon-gyeol, Gyun Seong-ha eventually cried silently for a long time last night, but loud enough for those on the second floor to hear, before falling asleep, and didn’t wake up when we were leaving.
Instead, Kang Ji-woo handed me a small MP3 player he was holding.
“This is something Seong-ha contacted his parents about a few days ago and got from them.”
“Why are you giving it to me?”
“He said it’s a parting gift.”
It was strange. Whether Gyun Seong-ha thought well enough of me to give such a gift was one thing, but he wasn’t the type to use warm words like ‘parting gift.’
“Your expression is really funny right now.”
This guy?
“I’m just kidding. You said you needed an MP3 player, right? Even though it looks old, it has all the necessary functions, so use it. You don’t need to return it.”
Since it was something I needed, I accepted the MP3 player with a word of thanks.
Since it was the last time and I couldn’t see Gyun Seong-ha’s face, I should at least leave a message of thanks for him.
With a ‘ding’ sound, the elevator doors opened, casting a bright light.
Perhaps because this was the second time in such a situation, facing Kang Ji-woo wasn’t as hard as it was when I said goodbye to Go Soo-jong.
“Thanks. Really.”
“See you again.”
Kang Ji-woo said as he lightly hugged me. I wasn’t sure if we would meet again.
So instead of nodding, I whispered softly enough that the guys behind me couldn’t hear.
“You’ll do well, Hyung.”
After all, if people like him succeed, this harsh world would become a more beautiful and livable place.
I felt Kang Ji-woo’s body tremble slightly.
Just as I wondered if I had said something unnecessary, Ban Yo-han, who was holding the elevator button, urged me.
“Guys, are you going to do this all day? It’s not like you’ll never see each other again. Let’s go before people start showing up.”
“Oh, I’m going.”
Under normal circumstances, I would have retorted, asking who would be wandering around at this hour, but now I felt like he was helping me escape the awkward situation.
Damn. I caught the habit of saying embarrassing things from Kang Ji-woo. If I were to catch anything, I wish it were his singing skills.
As soon as I hurriedly stepped into the elevator without looking back, Ban Yo-han repeatedly pressed the close button, shutting the doors.
Just before Kang Ji-woo’s figure disappeared from the elongated vertical window as the elevator descended, a favorability notification popped up.
[Kang Ji-woo is comforted by your words. Kang Ji-woo’s favorability +10. Current favorability +97]
Well… saying such things isn’t a bad thing.
* * *
Gwak Sang-hyun, who was in charge of driving today, had already heard that it would be the last time he saw me.
“It’s a shame we won’t see each other anymore. Was everything comfortable during your stay?”
“It was great. If I succeed later, I’ll send a box of red ginseng extract to everyone at Seed.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Of course.”
I might say nonsense, but I don’t lie. Probably.
The time I spent in this game had already approached two months, and the season had turned to late spring, slightly warm.
I had disposed of my winter clothes since there was no place to keep them.
We arrived at the now-familiar dormitory with much lighter clothing than before.
Before submitting my phone, I checked the group chat I had made for practical reasons while staying with the Seed trainees, and messages were pouring in.
Kang Ji-woo’s reminder to take care of myself and return safely.
And beneath that, Gyun Seong-ha, who had clearly just woken up, sent something like a cheer.
**”근딜장인댕성 [Have a safe trip, Gyeol hyung.]**
**”근딜장인댕성 [And you too, Yo-han hyung and On Raon.]**
A month ago, he would have just sent a private message to Seo Moon-gyeol and ignored me and Ban Yo-han without hesitation… such a remarkable improvement.
I imagined Kang Ji-woo shedding tears of joy, thinking how much his kid had grown, as he checked the group chat.
Then, Gyun Seong-ha sent an additional message in the private chat.
**”근딜장인댕성 [Hey]**
**”근딜장인댕성 [That’s not a gift]**
**”근딜장인댕성 [I was going to throw it away, but Gyeol hyung said you needed it, so I just gave it to you. Ji-woo hyung said it weirdly.]**
**”근딜장인댕성 [Don’t get the wrong idea]**
This guy, Gyun Seong-ha, always uses perfect spacing and punctuation when messaging in the group chat seen by Seo Moon-gyeol.
It was a message that clearly showed his different treatment of people, even in small details.
Anyway, just because this guy awkwardly gave it to me while pretending not to care, it didn’t change the fact that it was a gift, so I smiled faintly and tapped the screen.
**”나 [Thanks, I’ll use it well ㅎㅎ]**
**”근딜장인댕성 [Oh, no, I told you it’s not]**
**”나 [Gyeol hyung is next to me]**
After a brief pause, a reply came back.
**”근딜장인댕성 [No, Raon-ah ♡♡]**
As I laughed, shoulders shaking, at the sight of the two hearts that were clearly not expressions of affection but rather self-filtered cursing to avoid Seo Moon-gyeol’s notice, a favorability notification popped up.
[Seo Moon-gyeol is pleased to see his cherished younger siblings getting along. Seo Moon-gyeol’s favorability +1. Current favorability +51]
This time, I couldn’t help but nod at the system’s sarcastic comment.
You see as much as you know, they say.
Once, I thought he was perfect in every way, but knowing now that he’s just kind and somewhat lacking, it’s enough if this hyung is happy.
Finally, I left a message to Go Soo-jong, whom I often kept in touch with, saying I wouldn’t be able to contact him for a few days, and submitted my phone.
This time, without any ranking distinctions, all the trainees received a white short-sleeve T-shirt with the Pick Heart logo at the bottom and black training pants with long vertical white and red stripes.
We also received large sticker name tags with our respective rankings from the previous ranking ceremony and stuck them on our abdomen.
Having completed all preparations, we were about to enter the auditorium where the shooting would take place when a familiar staff member, whom I had seen multiple times during the shoot, called my name and ran over hurriedly.
“Raon! I forgot to give you this!”
The staff handed me a sticker with a large letter ‘P’ printed on it.
“Stick this on the right side of your chest. Make sure it doesn’t fall off!”
What… is this?