The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 404

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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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404

“Everyone, have a happy Christmas!!”
“Merry Christmas~!!”

As the chorus of the project song “Snowflake” ended and only the melody continued to flow, the MCs delivered their closing remarks toward the camera.
Walking out to the extended stage with the members and greeting the Noeul fans who were bouncing excitedly, Da-jun clung to my shoulder.

“Ho-yoon! That song was absolutely incredible!”

With the microphone off, I ruffled the Maknae’s hair as he bounced around enthusiastically. But my attention remained fixed on the System Window I’d pushed to the corner of my mind.
After leaving the stage according to the Gayo Star Championship staff’s signal and arriving at the waiting room, everyone seemed busy preparing to leave, yet a warm atmosphere lingered. Despite being people we saw more often than family due to our packed year-end schedule, we were all immersed in the afterglow of the ending song and the spirit of Christmas.

“Seo Ho-yoon, thank you for your hard work!!”
“Yes, thank you.”
“The stage was great!”

After changing clothes and hastily wiping off the heavy makeup, I packed my things lightly and headed outside the building with the members, where camera flashes erupted from all directions and heavy snow poured down.

“It’s snowing!”

I gazed at the scene for a moment before getting into the car.
My honest impression was that year-end seasons accompanied by heavy snowfall were always a mess. And right now, I was more concerned about how the fans who came to see us would make it home.
Soon the van headed toward the dormitory.
Through the car window, I caught sight of children walking with banners and light sticks. As the speed gradually decreased and I noticed the movement had stopped, I looked ahead and saw the crosswalk blinking as the traffic light was about to turn green again.
I quickly rolled down the window and shouted.

“Be careful in the snow!”

Screams erupted, but the car had already started moving. Da-jun, who had squeezed in beside me and was waving enthusiastically, fastened his seatbelt again and spoke.

“Hyungs! Yi-chae and I are going to watch a Christmas movie. Want to join us?”
“No thanks. I’m tired.”
“Aw, Ho-yoon, aren’t you curious? We’re planning to have an absolutely amazing night!”
“Lucky you.”

Excluding myself, the other members were also intoxicated by the atmosphere, their excitement amplified as they chattered far more boisterously than usual.

“Ji-won, you’re going to watch it with us, right?”
“Hmm~, should I?”

Sung Ji-won answered lightly, caught up in the excitement. The small mole dotting his slightly furrowed nose bridge stood out distinctly.

“Hey, Ho-yoon… what’s wrong?”

When I lifted my gaze to meet his eyes, Sung Ji-won scratched his cheek with an awkward expression.

“…just?”
“Just…?”

Sung Ji-won tilted his head with an uncomfortable smile, and the van that had arrived at the dormitory came to a stop. Kang Yi-chae, who had quickly moved to the front to escape the members, burst out first and shouted.

“Whoever gets in the elevator last has to do the dishes tomorrow!!”
“Ugh!!”
“It’s already your turn anyway!!!”

While the members grumbled and chased after Kang Yi-chae, I alone disembarked with a leisurely demeanor.
With each step, the ground crunched beneath my feet. After boarding the elevator last, I gave a brief response to the members teasing me about being on dish duty.

“Keep it reasonable and get some sleep.”
“You should stop bothering him and get some rest if you’re tired!! …Of course, if you get bored, you can come back out!”
“Don’t you dare bother me either.”

I pinched the maknae’s cheek between my thumb and forefinger, then opened the door and went straight to my room through the foyer.
Still fully clothed, I sat on the bed to gather my thoughts when laughter suddenly leaked in from the living room.
Sung Ji-won’s voice was among them.
Suddenly, the interview he had conducted at the popup store came to mind.

“—By the way, did you know there’s a sentence that comes after ‘Forgetting is God’s blessing’?”

Standing before the camera as always, Sung Ji-won spoke calmly, his lips bearing a faint smile.

“‘Remembering is the will of mankind.'”

Even as the thoughtless younger members joked, saying things like “Ji-won dropped a gem today” and “Sung Ji-won isn’t a practice machine, he’s a wisdom machine,” he seemed completely unaffected, merely chuckling.

“Of course, you might want to forget painful memories. But by acknowledging and holding onto them, doesn’t that make you someone who can appreciate the good things you encounter later with greater gratitude?”

By then, even the kids who had been snickering had fallen silent.

“—So, yes. I don’t want to lose any of my precious memories. Even if they’re truly painful ones. Because that’s my choice.”

“Sigh….”

I brushed back the bangs that had fallen awkwardly across my forehead and looked up at the ceiling.
Recently, my mind had been consumed entirely by thoughts of RESET, to the point where sleep eluded me.
I still hadn’t reached a conclusion.
That’s right—still.
This situation was the exception.
My Younger Brother, Seo Ho-jin, had always been an existence that defied the rules I set.
If the person had been anyone else, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. I would have left them to forget me forever.
But the reality was that the person in question was Seo Ho-jin.
A sigh escaped unbidden.

‘He didn’t choose to forget.’

He had lost his memories due to the world’s overload, and that responsibility lay solely with me.
I had an obligation to restore a complete life to my Younger Brother.

‘And he has the right to have those memories.’

I scrubbed my face roughly with dry hands, then buried my face in my palms and steadied my breathing.
Slowly, I lifted only my eyes, staring into the void as I spoke.

“…Open the RESET window.”

Partial RESET
An opportunity to initialize certain portions
Required Points: 300,000

As if it had been waiting, the window materialized once more in the center of my vision.
Seeing it, the resolve I had painstakingly fortified threatened to crumble like a sandcastle before a wave.
I bit my lower lip, then released it as I spoke.

“…Designate Seo Ho-jin’s memories to a specific portion….”

[Designating ‘Seo Ho-jin’s Memory’.]
[You can reset the designated section by using 300,000 Points.]
[Do you wish to reset?]

Following that, the options “Yes” and “No” appeared, blinking.
Before just two paths—not even an essay question—I hesitated, unable to choose.

‘I can’t waver.’

This is his right.
His memories—ones I don’t even know about—might have been lost, and I’m merely someone who shares blood with him; I have no authority to interfere with anything.

[Do you wish to reset?]

Or perhaps, letting Seo Ho-jin live in blissful ignorance was the righteous path. I’m no god; I have no right to steal someone’s free will.

[YES / NO]

Maybe my Younger Brother would be happy to have his memories restored—….

[Do you wish to reset?]

…Damn it, am I rationalizing this right now?
My thoughts kept circling the same orbit, skewed by my own desires.
Doubting my own judgment, I even found myself thinking that doing nothing at all would be the safer choice.

[YES / NO]

Yes, after restoring him, Seo Ho-jin might later confess that things were better before.

[Do you wish to reset?]

Or he might pour his resentment onto me.
Being a good person, he might simply stay silent instead.
Then I’d want to kill myself for making such a decision.
Because I wouldn’t have acted for Seo Ho-jin’s sake—only for my own.

[YES / NO]

I lifted my head and gazed at the shimmering blue light, as if announcing its presence.
But if he truly wanted to know the truth as well.

“I really want to know what happens to my brother….”

That kid I had encountered on the day I was rushed to the Emergency Room after a Quest failure, his eyes puffy and swollen.

“It was a bit tough finding those photos, brother.”

The one who had handed me that bumpy family photo carefully taped together.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you~.”

My younger brother who had bought a whipped cream cake with his small hands and even sung to celebrate my birthday.
Just as I lived on such memories—,

“…Re….”

—Seo Ho-jin would need this memory as well.

“…Reset….”

[YES.]

The System Window swiftly caught the words that tumbled out like a murmur.

[You have selected Reset.]
[Resetting the designated target: ‘Seo Ho-jin’s Memory’.]
[300,000 Points will be used.]
[Current Points: 4,000]

The Reset proceeded swiftly before I could even reconsider.
Watching it happen, I slowly lowered the hand I had raised to stop it.

[Applying….]
[Applying….]
[Applying….]
[Applying….]
[Applying….]
[….]
[….]
[….]
[….]
[….]
.
.
.
[….]
[….]
[….]
[Adjusting….]
[That section has been reset.]

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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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