Chapter 1
These days, fantasy novels really love the idea of “regression,” going back to the past.
When I searched “going back to the past” on a portal site, most of the results were fantasy web novels. I don’t really read web novels, so I learned the term regression–reincarnation–possession for the first time today.
From what I saw, most regressions happen because the main character wants it. Their business fails, their life falls apart, their relationships collapse…
When the protagonist thinks, “Ah, I want to go back to the past!” some mysterious force goes, “Really? Okay, back you go!” and sends them to the past.
If not that, then it’s usually something like this:
“I can’t die like this!”
They lose consciousness because of some accident, and when they wake up—bam—it’s several years earlier.
For some reason, traffic accidents show up a lot. Especially getting hit by a truck.
Is it just the easiest way to make the story make sense…?
***
…Alright. Let’s organize this completely ridiculous situation.
My name is Seo Ji-on.
I’m 25 years old.
I graduated from Seojeong Arts University, majoring in composition in the practical music department.
I’ve worked hard, and with some luck, I finally reached the point where I can survive just by composing. I’m a rookie composer, but still.
And the place I’m in right now is…
the dormitory of Seojeong Arts University.
The exact dorm room I used in my freshman year, first semester.
The one where the sunset outside the window looked insanely beautiful every evening.
Let me repeat this again:
I already graduated from college.
And right before I opened my eyes here, I was standing at a crosswalk in downtown Seoul, waiting for the light to change.
“…What the hell?”
I muttered to myself without even meaning to.
No, seriously. What the hell is this?
So… I think I went back to the past.
That cliché thing you see in fiction—“hit by a truck and sent back in time”—actually happened to me.
It sounds like bullshit. Total bullshit.
The truck that came speeding straight at me on the most obviously forced trajectory.
Opening my eyes in a university dorm right after thinking “I’m screwed” at the moment of impact.
Even the date on my phone showing exactly five years ago.
I even found out that getting hit by a truck and regressing is such a common fantasy trope that it’s nicknamed the “reincarnation truck.”
So you’re telling me…
I suddenly got hit by a truck and came back to the past like some fantasy novel protagonist?
Wow… damn it.
This situation is so bad that curses just come out naturally.
I’d rather this be a dream from a real traffic accident, with my consciousness messed up.
I’ve never, not once in my life, wanted to go back to the past.
My past wasn’t good enough to miss, and I don’t think I could live more desperately than I already did.
I really lived my life like hell.
So hard that I couldn’t possibly try harder!
Plenty of people want to go back to the past—so why me?
In novels, it’s usually because they want it, right?
Then why did I get dragged back to my twenty-year-old self when I never asked for this?!
Ugh… my head was pounding.
The date on my phone calendar was clearly five years ago, so I couldn’t even deny this insane situation anymore.
Looking at my schedule, I saw that my final exams ended this morning.
Should I be thankful… or what…?
With all this unreal information crashing into me at once, I closed my eyes and collapsed onto the bed.
I didn’t want to think about anything.
But the familiar creaking sound of the dorm mattress—something I hadn’t felt in a long time—felt both nostalgic and horribly unsettling at the same time.
Beep, beep, beep. Click.
The sound of the dorm door unlocking made me sit up instantly.
Maybe someone who could help me—
“Oh, you’re awake? You were sleeping when I got here, so I didn’t wake you.”
…Yeah, no.
It was my roommate.
I sighed quietly and lay back down.
“What? Why that reaction?”
“…I’m tired. Don’t talk to me.”
“Wow… Ji-on, is that all we are to each other?”
“Yeah. That’s all. Just let me sleep a bit more.”
“Wow, so mean. You pulled an all-nighter again?”
I nodded vaguely and turned away.
If I didn’t react, he’d get bored and stop.
Then—
[Contact with a key character!]
[Loading project…]
[Welcome to the IF Project!]
…Huh?
I stared blankly at something glowing brightly in front of me.
There should only be a dorm wall there.
What is this?
A screen? A hologram? A projector?
[The tutorial will now begin :)]
Before I could think any deeper, I lost consciousness again.
***
When I woke up again, the first thing I saw was the same glowing letters.
[★ WELCOME TO THE IF PROJECT ★]
…Haaaaah.
If the seats weren’t empty, I’d think I was on some TV show.
What is this, a studio?
When I looked up, blinding white lights were shining straight down on me.
It looked exactly like a broadcast studio.
Flashing LED panels at eye level, cameras moving around on their own, no people in sight.
Okay, it’s probably a dream.
If that’s the case, I can kind of accept the hologram panels.
But the real question is—
why am I dreaming something like this?
I’m way more familiar with audio interfaces, MIDI tracks, and keyboards than studios and cameras.
[The IF Project tutorial will now begin.]
Ding!
Text appeared on the translucent panel.
A tutorial already? I don’t even know what’s going on yet.
[Would you like to hear an explanation of the IF Project?]
[▷ YES]
Are you kidding me? There’s only one choice?
I just stared at the panel instead of touching it.
After a moment, a message popped up saying it would proceed automatically, along with a cheerful sound.
Guess this place has no concept of free will.
[What is the IF Project?]
[It is a project that grants a second life to those who lost their chance to live :D]
[From now on, you will live a second life toward a final goal.]
Second… life?
[You are dead!]
[But you were lucky enough to be selected for the IF Project and granted another chance :D]
No. Just no.
My face twisted automatically.
That suspicious truck—so that was it?
[Yes!]
At least it understands without me saying anything.
I glared at the panel.
Didn’t you kill me?
[No. You died, and the IF Project returned you to the most appropriate time.]
…Sure. Then can you send me back to reality?
[This is already reality.]
…Oh. Right.
Project manager, come out. We need to talk.
But the project ignored me and continued.
[Seo Ji-on has participated in writing and composing many songs in the previous timeline.]
[Among them, you were deeply involved as an exclusive producer for the last three digital singles of the idol group EVERGREET.]
Evergreet… right.
I really was involved a lot.
They weren’t successful, though.
Around graduation, I took on producing an idol group that was basically abandoned, through a connection.
I needed a commercial portfolio. They needed a producer. Mutual benefit.
That group was Evergreet.
I still remember the members saying they didn’t want things to end like that and asking me sincerely to help them.
Evergreet disbanded in their fifth year, before finishing their seven-year contract.
Maintenance costs were higher than the penalty.
After I started producing for them, people said they were good but buried.
Their songs even entered the daily top 100 once—purely through word of mouth.
Still, the company had already given up on them.
What a shitty world.
If you’re not from a big agency, you barely survive.
And what they said in the end was basically,
“So what? You’re not top stars. You think that means something?”
I hated that company.
More specifically, the CEO.
…So what’s your point?
This is before Evergreet even debuted.
Debut is still about a year away.
Are you saying I should produce them from the start?
[Correct.]
That’s not hard.
I’ve thought plenty of times how much better it would’ve been if I’d been there from the beginning.
I’m confident in that.
[Become a successful idol as a member of the girl group EVERGREET!]
[That is your final goal.]
…Become an idol?
Me?
[Yes!]
[▷ Goal: Success of idol group EVERGREET]
[▷ Final reward: Complete restoration of lost life force]
[▷ Current mission: As a member of EVERGREET, lead a successful debut! (D-365)]
…Did I read that wrong?
Debut?
I’m a composer.
[Become a member and lead the group to success this time! :D]
No. I’m a composer.
I’ve barely been on stage in my life.
Can’t I just… not do this?
[Failure to achieve the goal will result in the retrieval of the life force temporarily granted to you.]
[Do not forget that you have already died.]
…Okay. Fine. Got it.
So you revived me and now you’re blackmailing me with my life?
That’s disgusting.
[There are many systems in the world that are even more petty.]
Yeah, well, you’re the worst one I know.
The system ignored me and filled my vision with flashy rainbow slogans.
[Please make full use of the system to survive and achieve your goal!]
[Good luck :D]
And just like that, I was kicked out of the space.
***
When I opened my eyes again, it was dark outside.
A lot of time must’ve passed.
I checked my phone—
Huh?
My high school band group chat was suddenly full of messages.
- Kim Jimin: Guys, look
- Kim Jimin: Our festival video hit the algorithm
- Kim Jimin: And all the comments are about Ji-on lol
- Lee Minjae: LOL @Seo Ji-on
- Lee Minjae: Told you you’d make it someday
- Park Youngwoo: Congrats YouTube star
- Kim Jimin: It’s hilarious
- Kim Jimin: A company commented saying they want to cast Ji-on LOL
- Park Youngwoo: Proud of you
- Park Youngwoo: First arts college student in our school’s history
- Lee Minjae: Let’s go Seojeong Arts @Seo Ji-on
- Kim Jimin: (screenshot)
- Kim Jimin: They left an email asking to contact them???
…Oh my god.
Now I get why the system sent me back to this day.
That email belongs to Music Proof’s rookie development team.
A label known for indie musicians and singer-songwriters.
A company that looks completely unrelated to idols.
And also—the company currently preparing to launch Evergreet.
Seriously… this timing.
Ding!
A panel appeared.
[▷ Tutorial Quest: Join the agency “Music Proof” (D-10)]
Wow. Shameless.
Ten days?
[Failure will result in penalties. Please refer to the system guide :D]
I sighed heavily in the dark dorm room.
So let me get this straight.
I died after getting hit by a truck.
Got dragged back to being twenty.
Now my life is being held hostage by some project.
And I have to become an idol.
…Damn it. What a life.
