The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 316

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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316

I hurriedly bought a hat at the Express Bus Terminal Station underground mall, pulled it down firmly over my head, and walked toward where the advertisement had been displayed.

Ding!

[Why did you come here?]

“I was curious.”

I wanted to know who this person was who claimed I owed them money.
At first, I’d dismissed it as affectionate teasing from fans—the kind of message where someone lends money and asks for repayment, with an undertone of wanting me to contact them. That’s what I’d thought.
But as time passed, the phrase “Ho-yoon, pay back the money. And contact me” kept rattling around in my head.
There was something oddly familiar about the way it was phrased.

Then suddenly, I remembered a phone call from my Manager during the Dead after Hope shoot—someone had come looking for me.
At the time, so many people were trying to reach me that it probably wasn’t a big deal, but I felt I needed to confirm it, so I casually asked my Manager about it.

“Manager, was there anyone who came to see me?”
“Who? The CEO?”

But he seemed to have no idea what I was talking about.
Hoping to find some clue, even belatedly, I’d come to this place myself.

“…Sigh.”

The advertisement period had ended—everything had been taken down.
Nothing ever came together easily.
I sighed and moved on.
After just a few steps, a familiar place appeared.
About two years and several months ago—during the time when we were filming Shining Star Season 1—I’d heard that fans had put up a large screen, so I’d stolen the van from my Manager and come to the Express Bus Terminal Station.
Kim Sung-hyun, who had been suffering greatly from the school violence controversy, had burst into tears the moment he saw it.
I still remembered every single line written on each sticky note I’d seen back then.
Letters from fans are always precious, but those sticky notes from that time had left an especially strong impression on my heart.
Later, when I went out to eat with my Manager and all the members together, Kim Sung-hyun was still crying, and I’d laughed and told him to stop crying, that we’d receive even more in the future…

“It’s completely empty.”

As expected, there was nothing here.
I sat on a nearby bench and took in my surroundings, filled with other advertisements.

Ding!

[What are you thinking about?]

I lifted my gaze and stared at the System Window for a moment.

“…What’s your real agenda?”

I figured it was time to ask. Something I’d come to realize after falling into the Unknown Actor Tycoon role and filming the drama Shining Star.

“Did you deliberately gather The Dun Members?”

That’s what the Screenwriter had said.
A combination that could never fail.
Yes, it was true.
The Members’ stats were evenly distributed, and looking back now, they were almost excessively high.
This became increasingly apparent as the Shining Star filming continued.

And I thought about it.
Perhaps the Members were gathered for me.

A world that was far too easy.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t suffered, but the situations and Members seemed strategically positioned for me, even the people around me.
For someone pushed into the role of Obscure Idol Tycoon, the days had been so good I could almost mistake them for peace.

That was the problem.
Life can’t consist only of good things.

[…What do you mean by that?]

The System Window wavered with a resolute blue light.

“Never mind if you don’t want to answer.”

I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why I’d been sent to this place, but seeing that the System Window had corrected the error meant it had already achieved what it wanted. I didn’t expect to extract information willingly under such circumstances.
And if I grew frustrated, I could always dig into it myself like I had been doing.
I clicked my tongue softly and was about to leave when the alarm chimed again.

[All I can tell you is this.]
[I only hope that Seo Ho-yoon will always be loved by many people.]

“Damn it….”

I waved my hand dismissively and snapped my fingers, as if brushing aside empty sentiments.
Simultaneously, the cubic form scattered like smoke, and a new window materialized in its place.

Would you like to return to Idol Tycoon?

Yes / No

I nodded.
My vision warped and began spinning.

There had been plenty of frustrating moments along the way, but ultimately I’d accumulated considerable points and managed to relieve stress while clearing my mind.
With the points I’d gathered, I’d soon be able to recover Seo Ho-jin’s memories.

[Returning to Idol Tycoon.]

It wasn’t a bad ending.
Except….

[Synchronization in progress….]

Min Ji-heon’s words clung to me persistently.

[Synchronizing points….]

To forcibly wear another’s clothes, there must be sufficient justification. If I received something important, an equivalent price would inevitably follow….

[Synchronizing recognition….]

In other words, someone had to sacrifice something in exchange for my life.

[Synchronizing stats….]

One thought led to another, spiraling outward until it finally dragged forth a figure I had deliberately avoided confronting all this time.
An ominous suspicion that made my stomach churn.

[Synchronizing ■■■….]

That stupid bastard who sacrificed something….

[All synchronization complete.]

Might be my younger brother….

[Returning to Idol Tycoon.]

‘Damn….’

Enveloped in pure white light, I squeezed my eyes shut.

‘Fuck.’

…I’d just made a truly awful assumption.

.
.
.

Blink,

…blink.

“…!”

Floating through a haze of consciousness, my eyelids fluttered slowly before sensation suddenly flooded back.
I came to my senses and pushed myself upright, surveying my surroundings. The familiar sight I’d grown accustomed to seeing—a hospital room.
Right beside the bed, Seo Ho-jin sat uncomfortably in a chair, nodding off.
I fumbled for my phone on the bedside table.
Checking the date, I realized more than ten days had passed.

[Congratulations!
You have successfully returned from Unknown Actor Tycoon.
Your points have been accumulated and can be used in Idol Tycoon.]
[Points: 370,000]

The moment I became aware of my surroundings, the System Window gleamed, flaunting its presence.
After confirming my points, I relaxed my grip and dropped my phone onto Seo Ho-jin’s body.

“…Ugh!”
“Hey.”
“…Huh? What?”
“Why are you acting like this here? What’s with the pathetic—”

But before I could finish, Seo Ho-jin’s eyes snapped open and he scrambled to his feet.

“…Gasp!”
“Hey, you should go home and—”
“Brother?! Brother, brother, brother?!”
“—take it easy—”
“Is it really you? You’re awake?!”

Crash, bang, bang, bang.

Go ahead and destroy the whole hospital room.
Seo Ho-jin stumbled in panic, colliding with the table and tripping over a chair as he flailed about.

“Are you okay?! How’s your condition? Does anything hurt?”
“If you’d just shut up, I’d feel much healthier.”
“What, what?”
“What about school?”

Seo Ho-jin’s flustered excitement came to an abrupt halt.
His eyes were rimmed with red.

“School? Now? How can you say that to me right now?!”

For a moment, my younger brother’s voice rose as if about to explode with anger, but it quickly subsided.

“…No, never mind. It’s fine. You’re still hurting somewhere, so let’s not fight. I’ll hold back, I’ll endure…”

This bastard.

“Hyung, be honest with me. Is there any disease I don’t know about that I’m suffering from?”
“There isn’t.”
“Then why do I keep hurting like this? The Doctor said he doesn’t even know what’s wrong with me.”
“There isn’t. Hey, you go out quick and….”

Just as I was kicking out the guy who kept muttering about needing detailed tests overseas, assigning him to contact The Dun Members, trying to restore my mental and physical peace in the Hospital Room,

“…ing?”

Droplets of water traced down Seo Ho-jin’s cheeks, falling one by one.
Despite his massive frame, the way he cried was identical to when he was young. With such a fragile heart, how would he manage social life later, let alone marriage.

“I really, truly thought something was happening to you, hyung….”
“….”
“Why are you always like this, hyung….”

Feeling oddly embarrassed, I stayed silent, and Seo Ho-jin bit down hard on his lower lip.

“Damn it, that’s enough….”
“…What?”
“I didn’t curse.”

I didn’t even ask if he cursed. I just said “what.”
The shameless guy lifted his arm and rubbed his eyes vigorously.

“Stop being pathetic and quit crying. People don’t die that easily.”
“…You sure know how to say pretty things.”

Seo Ho-jin, who had been grumbling with his lips pouted, soon let out a deep sigh.

“I’ll call the Doctor. And the Members too. They were all really worried.”

Then, embarrassed at having cried, he quickly walked toward the Hospital Room entrance.
My chest felt oddly ticklish.
Brushing aside the hair that had fallen across my forehead, I picked up my phone again.

57 missed calls.
382 messages.

I ignored the missed calls and checked the messages instead.
As I scrolled through, I spotted one from Joo Woo-sung.

[Joo Woo-sung: Did you collapse again?]
[Joo Woo-sung: Damn it, born so frail and weak…]
[Joo Woo-sung: Message me when you wake up]

“…Hmm.”

I tapped the phone screen with my finger for a moment, then pressed the call button.
The dial tone rang for quite a while. I was about to hang up, thinking he might be in the middle of a schedule,

[Yes, hello?]

Joo Woo-sung’s voice came through the speaker.

“…Uh….”

I was gathering my thoughts on what to say first when a shout so loud it made my ears ring suddenly pierced through.

[Seo Ho-yoon?!!]

…He certainly sounded energetic.
I held the phone away from my ear for a moment, then brought it back, and words came pouring out.

[What? What?! Are you with it? When did you wake up? You’ve been fine for a while now and only just called me?]
“….”
[Are you okay? Are you alive? I can’t visit right now because of my schedule… Oh, hold on!]

It seemed he’d really stepped away from work—I could hear someone calling for him in the background.

[Hey, I’ll stop by later today with Chung Beom and Hee-young. You’re still at the hospital, right?]
“…Yes, I’m still at the hospital.”
[Got it. Don’t push yourself and wander around—just stay put and rest.]

I didn’t answer, instead scratching the back of my head.
Then Joo Woo-sung asked in a slightly cautious tone.

[…Are you in a lot of pain? Why are you being so quiet?]
“No.”
[Damn it. But why does your voice sound like that?]

Whether it was Seo Ho-jin or Joo Woo-sung.
Why were they all making such a fuss?

“Woo-sung.”
[What?]

Even as I thought that, the concern directed toward me was no longer unfamiliar or awkward.
I could no longer deny it.

“…You’re really a pushover, aren’t you?”

I liked this place.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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