The stage lights dimmed, and following the glowing lines on the floor, I stepped down toward backstage. As the next performance’s special stage began, we ran into the final act of the night—Black Call.
“Wow, real celebrities.”
Chae Jungwoo, the one who’d supposedly shaken up the company, looked just as playful as ever, grinning mischievously.
While the members exchanged greetings, a staffer approached Black Call and gave them some instructions. As they began to move, Joo Woosung, who had been adjusting his in-ear, started to follow, but then turned back and looked at me, standing slightly sideways.
“Hey.”
The corner of his mouth tilted up.
“For a second there—you were a real idol.”
I watched him disappear into the corridor, then returned to the artist seating area just as Black Call’s VCR began playing.
The video opened with their debut days, smoothly transitioning through their activities and hit music videos like Get Over, Kings, and Blackout.
【Writing new records on the Billboard charts—Black Call, the history of K-POP itself!】
Scenes of their past award wins flashed by, ending with Black Call embracing each other in tears after winning “Artist of the Year” at the Music TV Awards Live.
【I’ll be your idol forever.】
The VCR cut off with Woosung kissing his trophy, and the stage filled with a thick layer of blue smoke.
A Zippo lighter engraved with a ranunculus flower spun slowly on the darkened screen.
Click,
As the lid flipped open, a massive five-meter skull slowly rose from the stage center.
Ssshhhk—
【Na na na na na na—】
The moment the lighter in the video ignited, flames erupted across the stage to the pounding rhythm, and stairs unfolded from the skull’s open jaw.
【Na na na na na na—】
Out stepped Joo Woosung, arms crossed and leaning against a wall, wearing an utterly bored expression. He tapped his cheek twice with one hand, then curved his lips into a smirk.
【It’s getting on my nerves】
So, he’d gone all out.
【I wanna push you with no room to breathe,
hold your trembling hands and ask—Are you mine?】
The funky melody transformed into a grand string trio, sweeping through the dome as Black Call dominated the hall.
【When you step on my heart,
our lips overlap.】
Even with the intense choreography, Chae Jungwoo’s voice didn’t waver as he took center stage.
‘Their new label’s gonna blow up, huh....’
Every artist around us looked stunned, struck silent by Black Call’s sheer presence.
I nodded faintly to the rhythm for the cameras and thought,
‘...Just a little more, and maybe—’
Maybe The Dawn could surpass Black Call.
I wasn’t the only one thinking it; the others beside me were watching with burning eyes.
Suddenly, Woosung’s words from yesterday resurfaced.
“Don’t even think about running away after stepping into this world.”
I didn’t know what would happen next, or if I’d ever come back here—but even now, I was imagining The Dawn a year from now, three years from now... in the future.
Maybe by then, we’d be the ones closing the ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ ceremony, finally overtaking Black Call. Or standing shoulder to shoulder with them on an international stage.
‘When Woosung goes to the military... that’ll be damn satisfying.’
Seeing Woosung’s face fill the massive left screen gave me an odd feeling.
‘Yeah, it’ll be boring without you.’
Our first meeting hadn’t been pleasant, but I couldn’t deny how much he’d helped me get here. I hoped he’d stay just like this—doing what he loved, living happily.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the performance ended.
As the applause subsided, narration for the next award began, and a neatly dressed man walked on stage.
“—Hello, I’m actor Kim Junhyuk.”
Only the digital and album grand prizes remained.
After briefly sharing updates about himself and the award’s history, Kim Junhyuk smiled gently.
“Now, let’s find out which song made our hearts race the most this year.”
Jung Dajun’s shoulders tensed as he clasped his hands together, and Sung Jiwon patted him softly.
“The 46th Korean Music Awards, Digital Song of the Year...”
Like Black Call, The Dawn had won both main awards, but since our digital performance had been stronger, if we were to win, it’d likely be this one.
I subtly prepared to stand.
Alright, Woosung, thanks for everything so far—
“Black Call, Blackout. Congratulations.”
—You son of a bitch!!!
Rage bubbled up from deep inside, nearly breaking through my expression.
Jeon Saeyoung stood first, blowing kisses to the cameras, followed by Woosung, who walked out with calm confidence, smiling at me like it was nothing.
‘If you win the album one too, you’d better shave your head and report for duty.’
Black Call had achieved a domestic award triple crown. Any shred of gratitude I’d felt toward Woosung evaporated completely.
“Ah, thank you. Honestly, um... I was really nervous...”
After Saeyoung gave the first thanks and Jungwoo mentioned their new label briefly, Woosung took the mic.
“Hm—”
He looked damn pleased.
With a faint grin, he spoke in a soft, velvety tone.
“...You know, these days—I really look forward to tomorrow.”
His boyish smile filled the giant screen, mesmerizing everyone.
“There were hard times, but right now I feel like I’ve gone back to the beginning, when this all first started. I’m so happy. To everyone who made me feel this way... to all our Bloys—thank you.”
He was glowing, genuinely happy—too happy to even hate.
“...We’re Black Call! Thank you!”
As they left the stage, waving hearts to fans, I almost sighed aloud.
Talent, effort, personality...
Maybe I should just let it go—
‘No. Not a chance.’
【Korean Music Awards
Album of the Year】
Suppressing the irritation boiling inside me, I clicked my tongue quietly as the orchestra swelled and the presenters—actor Jang Seongsik and the broadcasting chairman—took the stage.
“I’m Jang Seongsik. It’s my honor to present the Album of the Year at the Korean Music Awards.”
After a short greeting, the nominees appeared on the big screen. When The Dawn appeared last, a roar erupted from the audience.
Smiling proudly, Jang Seongsik took out the envelope.
“Well then, we’ve waited long enough, haven’t we?”
A tense background track filled the hall.
As he opened the envelope, Kang Ichae, sitting beside me, lowered his head and fidgeted with his fingers.
“...Hoyun hyung.”
He leaned toward me, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Hey... good work.”
“......”
“No matter what happens next... remember this.”
Then he met my eyes, steady and unshaken.
“We really did well.”
And he smiled faintly.
“The 46th Korean Music Awards, Album of the Year—!!”
Jang Seongsik’s voice thundered through the dome.
“—Album, Aeronautics!”
Ichae must’ve known.
That this long, disaster-born game—
“The Dawn, congratulations—!!!”
—had finally reached its end.
Waaaaaaaah—!!!
Amid the cheers and congratulations from every corner, I stared at the system window filling my vision.
[Congratulations, Seo Hoyun!!]
[You have completed four years and cleared Obscure Idol Tycoon!]
I blinked slowly, about to stand, when someone grabbed my arm.
“...Hey.”
Kim Sunghyun and Jung Dajun pulled me into a hug, burying their faces in my shoulder. I exhaled, trying to pry them off, but then I saw Sung Jiwon looking at me, his eyes wet.
“Hey, it’s... it’s the grand prize.”
“...Yeah, I know.”
“We won the grand prize!”
“I know, idiot.”
I clenched my fist and patted Sunghyun’s back a few times.
“Good job.”
Overwhelmed, Sunghyun let out a long breath and finally burst into tears.
“Get it together. Let’s go,” I whispered, lifting my chin—just in time to see Joo Woosung mouthing something at me from the crowd, eyebrows furrowed.
I just smiled back and started pushing the sniffling members toward the stage.
Thud, thud, thud.
Walking up the narrow hall, passing by the applauding presenters, I looked up at the lights above.
Ding!
[Mr. Seo Hoyun,]
[Thank you for completing the long journey of Obscure Idol Tycoon.]
Waaaaaah—
[You have gained the right to a stable, peaceful new life.]
[Accepting your clear reward will completely terminate Obscure Idol Tycoon. If not claimed within a set time, it will be automatically received.]
As we stepped onto the stage, I saw Kim Sunghyun take the trophy from the chairman, wiping his tears with his sleeve before stepping up to the mic. I accepted the bouquet from Jang Seongsik.
[Mr. Seo Hoyun, will you accept your reward?]
‘No.’
Not yet.
The moment the ceremony ended, I needed to drive straight home to confirm Seo Hojin’s safety.
Only then could I leave this world in peace.
“H-hello. We’re The Dawn.”
Ignoring the system window still hovering in front of me, I fixed my gaze ahead.
Just as Sunghyun hesitated, opening his mouth—
[—Unlocking all of Mr. Seo Hoyun’s traits.]
Suddenly, a new window appeared.
‘...Traits?’
What traits?
Before I could process it, another notification popped up.
Ding!
[Seo Hoyun
My proud Grand Prize-winning artist.
Vocal: A+
Dance: A-
Variety: S-
Acting: A-
Charm: S-
Adaptation: 100%]
“Thank you. We were only able to receive this award—...”
Adaptation? What the hell is that?
“—because of our fans, Noeul.”
As the others cried tears of joy, I stood adrift among them, staring at the system message forming in front of me.
[Congratulations!
You have unlocked the ‘Adaptation’ trait!]
[‘Adaptation’ is linked to other characters’ ‘Contribution’ and represents your level of assimilation into this world.]
Assimilation into this world.
...And suddenly, lightning struck in my mind.
This overly kind world.
The settings that conveniently changed just for me.
“We will always be one, and we promise to show you our best!”
Sung Jiwon’s head turned toward me, though his face was hidden in the backlight.
“—Hoyun, your speech—...”
[To put it simply, think of it as a parallel world.]
Even as the members pushed me toward the mic, all I could hear was Min Jiheon’s voice echoing in my head.
“Listen. If I want to go back to my original world, I have to clear all the quests. So if you can explain what this system really is—”
“When you say ‘original,’ what do you mean?”
“The world I came from, obviously.”
At the time, I’d taken Jiheon’s question as casual curiosity.
But what if it wasn’t?
“—Hoyun?”
In the moment of our greatest triumph, the foundation of everything I’d believed shattered.
Ding!
[...Lastly, I should tell you this—so you don’t do anything stupid later.]
Blinking slowly, I lifted my chin and faced the translucent blue window.
[Did you really believe in parallel worlds?]
Blinding lights.
An audience waiting for my acceptance speech.
[Failure to clear meant permanent inability to log out—which, of course, meant death.]
[There was never another world. The system simply adjusted settings for convenience.]
Fans crying, laughing, cheering for me—believing my story had a happy ending.
[...The ‘parallel world’ thing was just added for immersion. I never thought you’d cling so hard to your “brother in another world.” But hey, it made you play seriously.]
Standing before all those people, bouquet in hand, I felt like someone had smashed the back of my head.
[Mr. Seo Hoyun, there was never a world to return to. So...]
The light flickered, hesitating, and then the voice spoke one last time.
[Sorry I lied, hyung.]
