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Episode 03
I rubbed my eyes. But the window in front of me didn’t disappear.
I remember seeing something like this before when playing mobile games. Maybe I’m dreaming?
‘Is it only visible to me?’
I looked around, but everyone was busy with their own tasks.
At that moment, the text changed.
[ SYSTEM – V 1.0 ]
Hello, User.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
The backup data recovery process has been completed.
Backup data recovery?
‘Does this have something to do with me being back 10 years in the past?’
As I tilted my head in confusion, the content changed again.
[ SYSTEM – V 1.0 ]
Analysis has confirmed that the user is unlikely to reach the normal ending on their own.
Therefore, this system has decided to activate ‘User Support Mode’ to provide assistance for the user to progress towards the correct ending.
‘It’s like some kind of game tutorial.’
It felt completely surreal.
[ SYSTEM – V 1.0 ]
Target Ending : □□□□
From now on, step-by-step quests will be given to help the user reach the correct ending.
Upon completing quests, you can acquire additional rewards.
‘The target ending is broken text, I can’t see it.’
What kind of nonsense is this? It was so absurd I was at a loss for words.
It really must be a dream?
“Ouch!”
I pinched my cheek, and a sharp pain shot through me.
‘Can a dream hurt this much?’
That wasn’t the only strange thing.
The sounds around me were so loud they hurt my ears.
The sensation of ‘hearing,’ which I had almost forgotten, pierced into my ears.
‘Ugh. My ears hurt.’
My mind was completely in chaos.
I had no idea what was going on or how. As I covered both ears with my hands and frowned, I heard it.
Seol-ah~! Yunseol!”
A familiar voice.
I slowly turned my head.
Bright brown short hair, chubby cheeks that still hadn’t lost their baby fat. A girl with a cute impression was there.
‘Moon A-rin.’
I could recognize her instantly.
The person who, ten years later, would deafen me, steal my compositions, and ultimately take my life.
My heart sank.
‘Why you…’
Moon A-rin smiled nonchalantly and sat down next to me.
“Did you wait long? My next shift ran a bit late.”
Her nose tip red from the cold.
As if nothing had happened,
As if we were still close friends.
Seeing her face sent a chill down my spine. Only then did a harsh sense of reality wash over me.
‘There’s no way this is a dream.’
I reached out and pinched Moon A-rin’s cheek. It was soft and warm.
“Hing. I’m so sorry~.”
Moon A-rin laughed, thinking I was just playing around.
A cold sensation ran down my spine. Only then did I admit.
This isn’t a dream or anything; it’s real reality.
‘I really did regress. Back to ten years ago.’
As I remained silent, Moon A-rin smiled awkwardly and continued.
“Oh, right. Did you bring it?”
“…What?”
“What do you mean ‘what’~! Your original composition! You said you were considering changing your major.”
Ah, right. That time.
Suddenly, a long-forgotten memory flashed through my mind like lightning.
‘In my first year, when I was thinking about switching from piano performance to composition, I did talk to Moon A-rin about my worries.’
I had brought my self-composed piece to Moon A-rin, who majored in composition, asking for her evaluation.
‘Yeah. It must have been from then.’
Looking back, Moon A-rin’s life changed right after that.
Her school grades were average, but she suddenly debuted as a genius composer and soared to success.
I didn’t think it was strange back then.
But now, the words Moon A-rin whispered to me came back vividly.
-Hmm, Seol-a. The song isn’t really bad, you know? It’s okay. But how should I put it, it feels like I’ve heard it somewhere. That’s not a bad expression, but listening to many songs, you might do that subconsciously…
Her face, looking troubled as if she didn’t want to say something bad, now seemed creepy.
Had Moon A-rin been thinking about stealing my songs even back then? Right after hearing it for the first time?
After that, whenever I brought a new piece, Moon A-rin subtly tore it down, discouraging me.
Why didn’t I realize it back then?
That every time I visited, Moon A-rin would create a hit song.
‘She strictly told me never to listen to external music because I might subconsciously plagiarize it.’
My fault was naively believing and following that advice.
At that moment, a new window suddenly appeared before my eyes.
[ SYSTEM – MAIN QUEST ]
Transfer to the Composition Department at Korea University!
Description: This is the first goal given to you, who has returned to the past. Correct the failures of the past.
Condition for Success: Successful transfer
Reward: Acquire Inspiration (B)
Penalty: Hearing Weakening (20%)
‘A quest?’
Ignoring the quest window for a moment, I was taken aback. A-rin urged me.
“Play it quickly! I’m curious!”
For now, I ignored the quest window and answered.
“…No.”
I immediately closed my laptop.
“It’s still unfinished. I’m embarrassed to let anyone hear it. I’ll let you listen after I polish it a bit more.”
Moon A-rin tilted her head but then nodded.
“Okay. Then let me know when you’re ready!”
As I smiled awkwardly, Moon A-rin hugged me tightly and said.
“But promise you’ll let me hear it first, okay? Because I’m Seol’s be~st friend!”
And then, in a suggestive tone, she whispered.
“I’m also worried about whether quitting the piano you were good at to compose is the right thing to do~. You know. You either have innate talent or you have to work like crazy to catch up with others. I just hope Seol doesn’t struggle in vain.”
It sounded like she cared and worried, but subtly mixed with a nuance of tearing me down.
“Okay? Promise!”
I barely managed to curl the corners of my mouth. Suppressing the slight tremor, I pretended to be fine and answered.
“Yeah. I will.”
Because,
“Promise.”
I have to remain your friend.
At least for now.
I don’t know how I managed to chat with Moon A-rin.
It was all trivial talk I don’t even remember now. Things like who in school seemed to be dating whom, which professor gave too much homework.
I wasn’t very responsive, but she didn’t seem to find it strange.
Barely shaking off her suggestion to have dinner together, I returned to the rented room I stayed in during my university days.
Thud.
As soon as I closed the door, I slumped to the floor right there.
The cold floor letting in the chilly wind was rather welcome.
This cold felt like proof that this wasn’t a dream.
“Haa.”
I collapsed without even taking off my outerwear.
It’s not a flashback, not heaven. Because A-rin couldn’t possibly go to heaven.
This was reality.
Ten years ago, winter of my first year of university.
I had returned to that time.
“I didn’t let it get taken away…”
My lips moved involuntarily.
Right before letting Moon A-rin hear the song.
Before everything fell apart.
Returning precisely to this time didn’t feel like mere coincidence.
Maybe it’s a second chance to correct all the mistakes of the past, or something like that.
Staring into the air, I muttered inwardly.
‘System.’
[ SYSTEM – MAIN QUEST ]
Transfer to the Composition Department at Korea University!
Description: This is the first goal given to you, who has returned to the past. Correct the failures of the past.
Condition for Success: Successful transfer
Reward: Acquire Inspiration (B)
Penalty: Hearing Weakening (20%)
‘As expected. It’s still there.’
I don’t know the reason, but
It seemed I had regressed ten years along with this strange system window.
What bothered me most was, of course, the penalty called ‘Hearing Weakening.’ Does it mean my hearing will get worse if I don’t complete the quests?
‘I can’t let that happen. I just started being able to hear again.’
I touched my ear and muttered inwardly.
The thought of losing my hearing again was terrifying. I don’t know how much power this bizarre ‘system’ has, but.
‘I was planning to transfer anyway.’
Fortunately, it didn’t seem too different from the direction I intended to go.
‘I couldn’t see the ‘Target Ending’ specifically, but it seemed to think my previous death was the wrong direction.’
If so, this system probably wouldn’t block my path.
No, it rather felt like a guide, showing me what I need to do.
‘If I use it well, there’s no better aid.’
I don’t know its true identity, but it feels like a power vast enough to turn back time wants me to succeed.
It felt like I had gained a powerful ally indeed.
‘This time will be different.’
I was confident I could climb higher.
This time, in my name.
