Chapter 76
“Can you explain a bit more clearly what you mean?”
“It is impossible to explain each and every event that will occur as if foreseeing the future. The causes and results of events change depending on your actions.”
But—
“I can explain the flow in which the system will intervene in that event.”
“That’s complicated. Then… first, explain a bit about that system.”
“Which specific part are you curious about?”
“Specifically… yeah. Can you explain why something like this happened to me in the first place?”
“That is possible.”
Umi paused for a moment. It didn’t take long before she continued.
“The system has activation conditions.”
“Activation conditions? You mean my body didn’t change by coincidence? What are the conditions?”
“I will explain from now on.”
Umi floated something that looked like a chalkboard in midair and began organizing her words by writing them down.
So, according to Umi, it went like this.
This thing called a quest is created at the moment when, at the instant of death, a powerful desire that transcends that death appears.
When I asked her to explain exactly what that meant, she said she couldn’t answer in that much detail—
‘Still, I think I can infer it to some extent.’
Thinking back to the time of the truck accident, it felt somewhat understandable.
At that moment, Jihyeon had nothing in her mind except the single-minded resolve to save Ayoung, and she had even smiled faintly at the thought that Ayoung had survived. Because to Jihyeon, Ayoung was the very reason for her life.
If what death meant was not the end of Ayoung’s life but the end of her own, then it made sense that she had emotions strong enough to transcend that.
“Then can I think of this quest as something that helps me?”
“You may think of it that way.”
“So it could be different?”
“That depends on what you do.”
“…Alright. Then next.”
“Yes.”
“If what you’re saying is true, there could have been an option where I just came back to life normally. Why did I end up switching bodies with Ahn Jihyeon?”
If she revived because of a desire stronger than death, then why would there be any need to switch bodies with Ahn Jihyeon—that was the core of the question.
“I cannot give a detailed answer to that. However, it is related to the fact that the system manifests based on a powerful desire that transcends even death.”
“A powerful desire….”
A powerful desire. Jihyeon slowly chewed over Umi’s words.
Wasn’t wanting to protect Ayoung the strongest desire of all? If it was related to my desire, then does that mean—
‘My longing…?’
The feeling of longing for Ayoung. And from that feeling, the intense desire that I wanted to become like her too.
The dream of becoming an idol—wanting to shine like Ayoung—which I had given up early on, saying it was impossible with my physical condition.
Ridiculously enough, at the moment of death, that thing I had tucked away in one corner of my heart raised its head so fiercely.
‘I thought being satisfied through her was enough.’
So that’s how it was. Jihyeon brushed her hand over her own face and let out a hollow laugh.
I thought I’d given up, but I wanted it this badly too.
Just how strong did that desire have to be for me to change into not just any ordinary idol, but Ahn Jihyeon?
‘Well, maybe several situations overlapped.’
Wanting to help Ayoung, and wanting to become an idol.
To do both at the same time, it would probably only be possible if it were someone like Ahn Jihyeon.
And since it was obvious she wouldn’t answer even if I asked for more details—
‘Would she answer if it wasn’t directly related to me?’
“Then why did Ahn Jihyeon switch bodies with me in the first place?”
“That part cannot be explained to you since you are not the person concerned.”
“So I can’t know anything about matters related to Ahn Jihyeon?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“Then… does that mean Ahn Jihyeon is just being dragged around by this situation—by this system?”
Suddenly, something Jihyeon had said came to mind.
The way she had complained irritably, asking what sin she had committed to suddenly end up suffering in a short, stubby body.
Maybe that reaction was only natural.
At least, until Umi continued speaking.
“That is not entirely the case.”
“What?”
“When two people are directly affected as the result of one system, one side does not become a unilateral victim.”
“Can you explain that a bit more simply?”
“That content is related to ‘Ahn Jihyeon,’ so I cannot explain it.”
“Hm….”
This is giving me a headache. Anyway, if I roughly summarize it, even though Jihyeon switched bodies, she isn’t just a victim—that’s probably what it means.
Well, fine. I’ll just ask her directly later if I get the chance.
“Forget that. Explain the synchronization thing you mentioned earlier.”
“Yes.”
According to Umi’s kindly continued explanation, the moment Jihyeon reads her diary, she comes to know her in detail, so the synchronization progresses quickly.
To put it another way, it feels like skipping several planned quests all at once, whoosh, depending on the stage of progress.
“While living in Ahn Jihyeon’s body, you must already have realized that she is not as happy a person as she seemed.”
“Well, yeah. Obviously….”
“However, you must also have felt that, despite that, nothing excessive has happened at all in matters related to Ahn Jihyeon.”
“That’s… true.”
It really was. Jihyeon nodded in agreement with Umi’s words.
Seonghan hadn’t pestered Jihyeon, nor had anything particularly bad happened.
Up until now, at least.
‘Come to think of it, if there had been a misunderstanding, there should have been something left on the phone or at least some contact, but there was nothing like that.’
“Yes. Those things you are thinking of right now were a kind of protective device, like a prohibition, for Jang Saehee, who has not yet fully adapted to Ahn Jihyeon’s body.”
“So you’re saying the system protected me or something like that?”
“It was a measure to allow you to move forward step by step. The warning windows appearing, and the existence of quests, are all for that reason.”
‘Ah, right. There were warning windows.’
The warning windows that restricted Jihyeon from taking actions that deviated from the stage.
Interpreted differently, they could be called protection.
“So now, if I read this diary and skip several stages at once, it could be dangerous?”
“It cannot be said to be necessarily so, but external threats—and assistance—will increase at the same time.”
“Assistance?”
The light vanished from Umi’s eyes, which had been answering so kindly just moments ago.
Startled by her gaze that looked like a powered-off robot, Jihyeon barely had time to react before Umi declared the end of the Q&A.
“This is as much as I can tell you. Questions are no longer permitted.”
“You said you’d answer until right before I accept?”
“You have heard all prepared questions. I inform you again. Questions are no longer permitted.”
“Ah….”
What the hell. There really wasn’t that much.
‘So now I have to decide.’
Whether to learn about Jihyeon’s past or not. And whether to proceed to the next stage because of it or not.
‘Just helping Ayoung is already honestly overwhelming.’
Thinking about it, this quest—no, it’s not a quest, so what should I call it, a progression?
Accepting this progression isn’t exactly a good option.
But it’s a problem I’ll have to face someday anyway.
If I put it off any longer, it might overlap with a time when Ayoung desperately needs Jihyeon’s help even more than now.
‘If that’s the case, it might be better to take advantage of the roughly three days of leeway I have now, learn the truth of it, and take some kind of measures.’
Besides, Jihyeon is the type who can’t stand not knowing things she’s curious about.
And not only that—she isn’t going to live turning her back on the other MOA members forever. With a bit of breathing room now, resolving this would make it easier to focus fully on survival.
Yeah. Then… let’s do it.
