These game developers, who collaborated with TeStar, had built up their reputation by releasing several games with a strong fan base even before being acquired by T1.

Thanks to this, there were small gaming communities involved.

No words such as 'Why would you use idols and get your image buried?' could be found.

The first reason was that the video was so cinematic that it captured the existing game's background really well, and the second was that they were not in a position to deny it.

'Abandoned Factory', the production company of had, unknown to others, gained quite a bit of recognition for making high-quality games, but due to the failure to develop a billing model properly, there had always been a lack of support for the operation.

Because of this, they just wanted to prevent premature server shutdowns.

And after TeStar's comeback was sufficiently publicized through articles, the game company announced the release date a little later.

While game enthusiasts were rolling around in anticipation, TeStar's fans began to feel uneasy.

...

Fortunately, new information was released at the point where fans' anxiety did not grow any further.

It was the concept photo for TeStar's album.

And the atmosphere of these photos... was frankly refreshing.

They were pictures of them in the forest wearing white T-shirts or lying on the bed with headphones on while looking at the natural scenery outside the window.

And they were all barefoot.

Overall, the scene felt refreshing and nostalgic, like an adolescent summer day.

Fans were relieved and were able to be corrected by the photos with a completely different feeling from the previously released information of or the comeback trailer.

* * *

"Moondae! The response is great!"

"I'm also watching it now."

"Haha!"

A loud noise was heard across the hallway as Keun Sejin laughed. It seemed like he was trying to talk to the other room as well.

I checked the comments on my smartphone screen. Everyone naturally moved on knowing that the game collaboration was only a part of the album.

'Seems like it was right to solve it in this order.'

If we revealed the fact about the game collaboration later, there might have been feelings of betrayal or rejection, but if we hit it first, they would be able to get interested in the game.

'That's why you approach it step by step.'

It was important to build up so that there was no sense of rejection, and at the same time to blend in with the game in moderation.

'There shouldn't be too much involvement.'

It was better to treat the game collaboration as a side story that made the vision more fun.

While I was enjoying the right amount of satisfaction, pop-up appeared on the screen of my smartphone.

"..."

This... was a question with a definite purpose.

Still, it was something I couldn't ignore, so I replied.

Then an unwelcome offer came.

Is he crazy?

"..."

Although I said it in a roundabout way in case there were people who peeked at the message history, I meant if he wanted to hear the information about the future.

"..."

Ah, seeing this bastard again is going to be uncomfortable.

'I can't cut ties with him either.'

Then I would also have to dig up some information from him.

Unlike just before, when the replies came in an instant, it took a little time for the response to come back.

* * *

I already had no time to prepare the album, so I wanted to postpone the interview with this guy until after the activities, but that was denied.

Because of this, a recording studio was rented in the middle of the night after practice was over.

'Damn it.'

First of all, I had told the agency that we were trying to work together, but didn't know how it would turn out yet.

'Although I'm not going to work anyway.'

Anyway, Chungryeo arrived a few tens of minutes later.

"Hello. How have you been?"

"Yes. I've been well."

"It seems so. The trailer was good. ...Ah."

Chungryeo hung a thin coat on the hanger next to the door, and turned around without an expression.

"Did you already know about that game? Will it be an unprecedented hit when it is released? Is that why you collaborated?"

"...We're doing it because the company made us do it."

"Oh, I see."

Chungryeo smiled and sat down on a chair in the recording studio. Then he took a small object out of his pocket.

It was a USB.

"Then, would you like to listen to the song first?"

This bastard really didn't listen to people.

"...It's fine if I don't receive the song."

"Just listen to it since we're in the recording studio."

Chungryeo operated the machine in front of the booth and soon played the song.

"...!"

"It's good, right?"

It was a catchy tropical house song.

That made me even more suspicious.

'I don't think he's the kind of person who would give this away to someone else.'

"Why are you giving this to me instead of using it yourself, sunbae-nim?"

"Well, it's because I don't like this type of music."

"...Then what about the juniors of the same company?"

"..."

"Or you could give it to a member of the same team. For unit activities."

"...Umm."

Chungryeo turned off the music. And leaned on his chin.

"As I thought, you're too smart... uselessly so."

"...!!"

"I didn't actually make this."

Chungryeo took out the USB and threw it in the trash can.

"Two years ago, a promising new composer gave it to T-holic and it should have been quite a hit. I took it."

What?

"Ah, there's no sympathy for the composer. After this song, he was sued for plagiarism and ended up fleeing abroad."

"..."

Chungryeo smiled awkwardly.

"Well, that's how it was before I came back in time. I'm sure he's living well now. I paid for the song well."

"..."

"But I couldn't give the song to the people in our company. You don't know if the song was going to be a song of plagiarism again."

"...But you were going to give it to me?"

Chungryeo smiled.

"Of course, I was going to explain the situation. If I explain it like this, Moondae-ssi would never accept a song from this person again. Am I wrong?"

"..."

I feel like if I didn't notice, he was just going to screw me over like that.

"I think you just said that it was because I was uselessly smart and noticed it."

"I said that because it was no longer fun to explain."

He's good at getting away with it.

Chungryeo continued his words with a serious expression.

"It's because I want to manage these risks well. I don't need a lot of information, just the big trends. Just tell me what you remember about trends and events. Then I will answer you with what I know."

"..."

I had only studied.

All I could remember were events that frequently appeared on the 9 o'clock news or the main portal.

But what this guy wanted to know was not the name of the typhoon coming next summer.

"...You do remember I was only studying to become a civil servant, right?"

"I think you were familiar enough with society to participate in IdolCo and win first place."

A misunderstanding occurred here. I answered shamelessly.

"That was just my effort and talent."

This guy looked like he was going to roll his eyes if I brought up the status window. Let's keep my mouth shut.

"...Aside from that, I took care of the screen appearances as much as I knew."

I don't think telling him that I sold idol data as soon as I dropped out of high school would work...

Let's use the closest and most likely excuse.

"I found out things about idols before starting to prepare for the civil servant exam, so I know a little about it."

"..."

Chungryeo seemed to be speechless for a moment.

"...Huu."

And he finally sighed.

"You were an idol fan?"

"Yes."

"...Who were you a fan of?"

"MallangDalkom."

"..."

Chungryeo sighed again. And then he answered in a slightly softer voice.

"...For now, tell me everything you remember. I will answer you too."

It was a declaration of surrender. I nodded.

"Yes. I will do that. Well... ah, Beat-on from Maximite will cause an issue around the beginning of next year for drunk driving..."

"That guy has always been like that. Next."

"Umm... At the end of the year, Mudy will release a carol song and I kept hearing it at restaurants... so perhaps the music chart placement was good."

"...I got it. Next."

After repeating it like this three times, Chungryeo asked grimly.

"...Don't you know what kind of music beat will be popular next year?"

"If I knew that, I would have already written it."

Chungryeo eventually admitted that I had no useful information.

"I don't think you're lying... Gosh."

"Should I at least tell you the competition rate for next year's public officials?"

"...That's enough."

"Hmm."

Now it was my turn to ask a question.

"Do you have any guesses why this situation happened? Or any incidents?"

"I want to know that too."

Chungryeo frowned his eyes.

"What's certain is that once you've done the task, you don't have to worry about dying all of a sudden anymore. Besides the knowledge of the future still remains, so these years have been very useful."

The nuance of the word 'useful' used in that context was very subtle.

"...Did you steal the song?"

"Haha, what's with the obvious question? It's not that they compose the music themselves. I think the person who gets it from the composer first is the owner."

Chungryeo smiled brightly.

"It's a shame that it ended last year."

"...!"

I realized from those words.

'This guy went back in time last year.'

And he went to the time before his debut.

This meant that, in light of VTIC's annual run, this has been running for him for at least 7 years.

Then there must have been at least 8 status abnormalities. How many times did he fail while trying to avoid it without knowing anything about the status abnormality?

'...You would go insane.'

I vowed to keep my distance from him in the future.

//TN: Holyshit Chungryeo has been doing this literally in hard mode without a status window for years while dying over and over again ㅠㅠ Kinda reminds me of Yoo Junghyuk from orv if he was an idol and less emo

I also find it kinda funny how he keeps using '^^' at the end of his messages while saying things that pisses Moondae off :'d