Chapter 329 ·Synchronization in Progress
Chapter 329: Synchronization in Progress... (4)
While Do Seohan was hospitalized,
Jin Sehyun was meeting with Kim Woochan of The Way.
Everything that had happened defied common sense, but he couldn't simply lose himself in confusion forever.
Jin Sehyun first calmed himself down.
“So you're saying what I saw wasn't a hallucination?”
“Yes. It was part of the Synchronization process. Seohan lost consciousness because of the aftereffects.”
To summarize what Kim Woochan had told him:
The current world was a Parallel Universe created by Do Seohan's Regression, and the reason Seohan had collapsed was a side effect that occurred during the process of Synchronizing the two universes.
The reason Kim Woochan was helping Do Seohan was because they had become tied together by fate, whether they wanted to or not.
He hadn't absorbed everything all at once, but he understood the general idea.
As expected, none of it was something that could be accepted with common sense.
Even so, Jin Sehyun didn't argue.
Instead, he simply stared quietly at Kim Woochan.
For some time now, Kim Woochan had been blankly staring into empty space.
Frowning, Jin Sehyun cautiously asked,
“Do you... see something?”
“Ah. Yes. I can see the Status Window.”
“The Status Window....”
At Kim Woochan's casual answer, Jin Sehyun wasn't sure how he was supposed to react.
“I... see.”
Well, what else could he do?
Even if he couldn't understand it, all he could do was let it go.
He silently watched Kim Woochan scan the empty air with his eyes.
Then Kim Woochan calmly continued,
“If there's one piece of good news, it's that the Synchronization itself was successful. I don't know why, though. It didn't happen like this last time.”
“Th-There was a previous time too?”
“Yes. He collapsed once before.”
A perfectly healthy kid had collapsed right in front of Jin Sehyun.
At the time, he'd assumed it was because the intense schedule had taken its toll on Seohan's body.
To think even that had been a side effect of Synchronization....
Jin Sehyun frowned.
“Then does that mean... I'm not the only person who knows Seohan returned to the past?”
“Hmm. No. You're probably the only one. Synchronization itself failed back then.”
Kim Woochan bit his lower lip thoughtfully.
Last time it failed.
This time it succeeded.
What had been different between the two cases...?
Could it be...
“The amount of data...?”
“Hm?”
This Synchronization had also produced side effects.
But in the end, it had succeeded.
The fact that Jin Sehyun still retained his memories despite his Synchronization percentage increasing significantly was proof enough.
He couldn't be certain that was the reason....
But perhaps it was because of the amount of data that needed to be Synchronized.
In a calm voice, Kim Woochan explained step by step,
“You didn't have much interaction with Do Seohan.”
“No, I didn't.”
“And you probably would've never met again afterward....”
After the Stardust Project, the two of them would never cross paths again for the rest of their lives.
Since there was comparatively little accumulated data between them, there had likely been fewer conflicts once Synchronization truly began.
Which meant...
Do Seohan had only just barely managed to climb the smallest mountain.
With a hardened expression, Kim Woochan muttered,
“...It'll be a problem if even his family gets caught up in this.”
“Nothing's going to happen to Seohan... right?”
Jin Sehyun asked urgently before immediately realizing what he'd said and shutting his mouth.
The fact that Seohan had already collapsed was bad enough.
If things became even worse than they already were....
“He might die.”
At Kim Woochan's calm reply, shock flooded Jin Sehyun's face.
He frowned deeply and glared at him.
“What? Then shouldn't we stop...”
“Ah.
I forgot to mention that.”
Kim Woochan lowered his eyes.
Then a shocking sentence left his lips.
“If Synchronization fails, Seohan dies.”
“W-What did you say?”
“Because he was someone who should've died in the first place.”
Someone who should've died...
Had returned alive.
Do Seohan's Regression was by no means a normal phenomenon.
A being that existed outside the natural order had to be removed.
That was the law of the universe.
As the cruel reality sank in, Jin Sehyun's complexion turned deathly pale.
For a long while, he remained frozen without saying a word.
The silence was finally broken by Kim Woochan.
“So.
Shall we get back to the main topic?
Let's have a constructive discussion about how we can make Synchronization proceed more smoothly.”
Having just finished saying something terrifying, Kim Woochan smiled brightly.
“We're all in the same boat.”
There was no denying that.
“Seohan, are you able to eat alright?”
“Hm?”
“You can swallow it okay?”
It didn't take long before I was discharged.
Every test the hospital had run came back normal, and the doctors concluded it would be better for me to recover at home.
The problem came afterward.
I'd walked back to the dorm perfectly fine under my own power, yet everyone kept staring at me with worried expressions.
“Careful stepping over the doorway. Don't collapse...!”
“Y-You can feed yourself, right?”
“My arms and legs aren't broken.”
Anyone looking at me would think I was critically ill!
Eventually, I even brushed away Seo Ian's arm as he tried to help me put on my parka.
I couldn't exactly tell them not to worry when I'd suddenly collapsed out of nowhere.
Still...
This was way overboard.
“Forget about schedules. Don't even dream about it.”
Kang Siwoo even threatened me with a fierce glare.
But we were supposed to leave for overseas in two weeks.
If things stayed like this, I'd be in trouble.
Looking at Kang Siwoo, I carefully asked,
“Wasn't... there supposed to be a meeting today?”
“Hm? It got canceled.”
“Wh-Why?”
“Because you're sick.”
“No, but you guys still have schedules!”
I couldn't believe it.
A dumbfounded laugh escaped me.
I frowned as I looked at everyone, and Cha Seongbin shrugged.
“The only things left are the self-content shoot and the album meeting anyway. The company said you're not allowed to leave the dorm, so everything got canceled.”
“They said I'm not even allowed outside the dorm? Why's the company suddenly acting like this?”
“Do you know how much hate we got this time...? Starting with the announcement, then the way they handled the artist's health... Everyone said it was the worst. Did you know protest trucks even showed up outside the company?”
“Even protest trucks....”
No wonder Manager Song Jinha had sent me such a long message this morning.
It was full of reminders telling me not to worry about anything and to focus entirely on resting.
Sorry.
But I couldn't keep that promise.
There were far too many things I needed to worry about.
How could I just lie around peacefully?
At this rate, I wouldn't even be allowed to join the overseas tour in two weeks.
I still hadn't checked the mountain of messages and calls people had sent me.
I'd come straight back after being discharged, so I didn't really know everything that had happened while I was gone.
So...
Swallowing dryly, I asked Kang Siwoo,
“Hyung, there's something I wanted to ask.”
“What?”
“I... wasn't suspended from activities, was I?”
Sure, I'd been unconscious for three days...!
But if Double즈 had managed to smooth things over....
“You were obviously suspended.”
“Huh?”
—I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.
“An indefinite suspension, actually.”
“N-No!”
Damn it.
“I want to keep working!”
“Absolutely not.”
Cha Seongbin let out a hollow laugh.
“Hey, do you seriously think that's happening? Not a chance.”
No, why?!
I didn't even cause any trouble!
Why can't I even work when I want to?
Clenching my fists tightly, I rapidly looked around.
There was only one person who might help me.
I turned pleading eyes toward Jin Sehyun.
“Hyung, please....”
“Haa.”
Jin Sehyun closed his eyes tightly with a deep sigh.
The meeting was ultimately held the next day.
Thanks to Jin Sehyun's determined support, I somehow managed to step into the conference room.
Of course, worried looks from every Double즈 employee had followed me from the moment I entered the company.
It wasn't like I'd broken any bones, yet they practically escorted me all the way to the meeting room as though I needed assistance.
Apparently, claiming overwork worked the first time.
The second time, not so much.
“...Seohan, are you really alright?”
“Ah, yes. I'm perfectly fine.”
“Please don't push yourself too hard....”
Assistant Manager Kim Seyeong from the A&R Team lowered her head with a gloomy expression.
“I-I really am okay.”
“You don't have to force yourself to say that....”
Even though I was the one insisting I was fine, the meeting room felt like a funeral.
Judging by the atmosphere, even though I'd managed to attend the meeting, it didn't seem like I'd be able to voice my opinions freely.
But today...
I intended to drop a bombshell.
Specifically—
“I intend to go on the Europe tour.”
The overseas schedule two weeks from now.
I absolutely had to participate in the Europe tour.
“Hm?”
“I-I didn't mishear that, did I?”
A heavy silence fell over the conference room.
Looking at the stunned Manager Song Jinha, who was blinking in disbelief, I repeated myself more firmly.
“I have to go on stage.”
“No.”
The frozen Manager Song Jinha finally spoke.
Another employee, who had been nervously clearing his throat, hurriedly added,
“That's right. We appreciate your passion, but let's be reasonable.”
“Seohan... Our company may... have its flaws, but we're not that evil. How could we possibly send someone overseas right after they collapsed from illness...”
Kang Siwoo quietly placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Hey.
Even I don't think this is right.”
I'd expected this much opposition.
But now that I had Jin Sehyun backing me...
I had no intention of backing down.
“I think an indefinite suspension without any detailed explanation about my condition is the bigger problem. Besides, I'm physically capable of working right now....”
“We're going to revise the announcement. We already got torn apart over it, and we were planning to release another notice once your condition was confirmed....”
“I want to go. More importantly, I'm really fine.”
I understood the company's position.
But my own life was on the line.
I had no choice but to win this argument.
“Haa....”
Manager Song Jinha spoke with a troubled expression.
“Seohan.
I understand how you feel, but....”
He let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face.
“You'll die.”
“I'm perfectly fine.”
“No.
I'll die.”
Manager Song Jinha's right hand trembled violently.
In a low, exhausted voice, he added,
“All of us will die....”
Assistant Manager Choi Minyoung from the Management Team spoke with a grave expression.
“If we force a member who just collapsed to go on an overseas schedule only two weeks later...
We're all getting fired.”
“And more importantly....”
Manager Song Jinha's expression darkened.
A familiar name finally left his mouth.
“Producer Do Seojun isn't going to let this slide.”
“My brother?”
At those words, my face also went cold.
I had a very bad feeling about this.
It sounded like he'd already stormed through here once.
Frowning, I cautiously asked,
“...Don't tell me he already came by?”