Ever since I opened my eyes in Han Seungbeom’s body, I’ve thought about it countless times.
Where on earth is Han Seungbeom, how did he save me, and what price did he pay for it?
There was very little I was able to find out about Han Seungbeom.
That he was a child I had loved, and that he must have loved me just as deeply. That was all I really knew. There was nothing else I’d been given. No one explained anything to me, and even the status window had been given to Seo Yuseong, not me.
Looking back now, I actually found myself thinking it’s a wonder I managed to hold on this long in that state.
“That child, he already died a long time ago.”
“…What is that supposed to mean?”
Someone who could finally give me answers had appeared, and yet that … that was the truth I got. Unlike when I learned that Seo Yuseong was still alive, this time, even if it really was the truth, I didn’t want to believe it.
“It means exactly what it sounds like. From the moment you entered that body, hyung, Han Seungbeom disappeared from this world.”
Somewhere deep in my heart, I had always believed that Han Seungbeom would always be with me. But now, I was being told he no longer existed.
My mind went blank, as if I’d just heard something utterly absurd. I understood the sentence itself, but not the full weight of its meaning. It was a vague, drifting feeling, like I was just floating on the surface of something I couldn’t grasp. Maybe my subconscious was pushing it away, refusing to even acknowledge the grief.
‘Han Seungbeom is dead?’
Only after repeating those words to myself over and over did I finally speak, my voice small and faint, as if it might vanish at any moment.
“…Why?”
For what reason?
I wanted to insist it was a lie, but given who I was talking to, it wasn’t so easy to do.
Seo Yuseong was different from Choi Jeokhyeon. If anything, he caused problems by being too honest, but he was never the kind of guy who lied to deceive someone.
With my face twisted in anguish, I grabbed Seo Yuseong by the shoulders. He looked down at me calmly with those still, sunken eyes, then began answering my question in a flat, emotionless voice, as if he were reading from a textbook.
“Like I said, the system was created exclusively for Han Seungbeom. It was never designed with anyone else in mind. But he tried to save someone outside the system’s intended beneficiaries, so of course, problems were bound to happen.”
In hindsight, it made perfect sense.
Bringing someone back from the dead was never going to be that easy.
Back when this body got into an accident, I’d gotten a message saying that, as aSystem Beneficiary, restoration was possible even at the current cost. But whether that skill could be used so freely on someone else was something I had no way of knowing.
As if confirming that thought, Seo Yuseong continued his explanation.
“Restoring any body other than Han Seungbeom’s goes against the system, so it requires a ridiculous amount of cost. Nevertheless, Han Seungbeom still forced himself to use the ability, so it was inevitable that he would suffer severe consequences.”
“…….”
“After being murdered by Kang Hyukwoo and opening my eyes again, the first thing I saw was Han Seungbeom collapsed on the floor, coughing up blood … His face was deathly pale, and blood kept pouring from his mouth so he couldn’t even speak. He just kept staring at me. I had no idea who he was, so it was honestly quite frustrating.”
He probably kept staring at Seo Yuseong until the very end to make sure Seo Yuseong was really alive. He’d tried so desperately to save us, and yet I’d spent all this time not even knowing who he was. I could hardly believe this was actually happening.
“And when he handed over the status window to me, he said, ‘I might not have much time left. I might die soon‘.”
[The system persona wishes for SEO YUTAE’s death.]
If his words were true, then even the intense hostility the system’s persona had shown toward me became understandable. For goodness’ sake, how many parents in the world could possibly look kindly upon those who survived by sacrificing their own child’s life?
To them, I was a sinner. Even if it had been Han Seungbeom’s own choice, the fact remains that we are alive because of his sacrifice.
I felt utter despair. The same crushing sense of hopelessness I’d felt when I first heard that Seo Yuseong had died came flooding back like a wave, but this time, I couldn’t even grieve to my heart’s content. The guilt that had been steadily growing inside me seemed to whisper, ‘You don’t deserve to.‘
“Did he say anything else?”
In response to my question, Seo Yuseong began with, “Well, after he showed me the bell the cat had on…….”. He then paused, putting a finger to his chin and casting his eyes down, as if retracing his memories. A moment later, as if he’d quickly found the memory he was looking for, he continued.
“Thank goodness you’re safe. I was really anxious, I didn’t know if this would actually work either.”
It was a gentle and timid way of speaking, full of youthful awkwardness, completely out of character for the usually blunt Seo Yuseong. I instinctively realized he was reciting Han Seungbeom’s words word for word, and pressed my lips tightly shut.
“Please take good care of Dad.”
“…….”
“…Because I don’t think Dad can live without you.”
Those words made my heart feel like it was breaking.
I had found so much comfort and happiness in that child, and yet he seemed to have weighed himself against Seo Yuseong on a scale and decided, on his own, that Seo Yuseong’s survival was more worthwhile. It was as if, deep down, Han Seungbeom believed there wasn’t even a possibility that he could ever be that important to someone.
What pained me most was that even in his very last moments, he was thinking of me, not himself. What was I, that he would so willingly throw away his life, without the slightest hesitation, just for my sake? Or was it simply because no one else had ever given him that kind of love?
‘Why in the world…….’
I had just begun to feel whole again, thinking I’d finally mended my deepest wound, but then, as if to mock me, a great void suddenly tore open inside me. How cruel, that fate would give me one thing to hold close, only to take something else away.
I held my breath with clenched fists, but Seo Yuseong didn’t seem inclined to dwell on what had already been said; he moved straight on to the next part of the story.
“But the problem started from then on.”
“Problem?”
“Around the time about 70% of the system’s ownership had transferred from Han Seungbeom to me, it suddenly started malfunctioning.”
As Seo Yuseong spoke and raised one hand, countless red windows materialized above it, flooding the sky. At the same time, an ear-piercing alarm blared—so sharp and jarring it felt like it might tear through my eardrums.
[Penalty has been imposed due to unauthorized transfer of status window ownership!]
[If you fail to conceal the fact that you’re alive before one week has passed after Seo Yutae completes his final objective, you will die.]
“This is why, even though I haven’t died, I still couldn’t appear before you, hyung.”
I stared, dazed, at the text within the status window.
“This, what in the…….”
Han Seungbeom sacrificed himself so that Seo Yuseong could stay by my side. Yet, didn’t this render all his efforts completely futile? It felt as if the system intended to destroy everything that had been gained at the cost of her son’s life.
It would probably have been the perfect revenge.
Believing Seo Yuseong was dead, I eventually abandoned my will to live. I don’t know if that was her intention, but that’s what it led to.
‘Then, was it Han Seungbeom who revived me? Even in that condition?’
Even if, because of what she did, outcomes beyond anything she could have imagined were to happen once more.
As I tightly shut my eyes at the hopelessly tangled situation, a chill flickered across Seo Yuseong’s face. It was an expression I had never seen from him before.
“She’s such a foolish woman. It’s not like doing all that will bring her son back to life, and yet she keeps getting in the way of everything…….”
As soon as I took it in, an ominous feeling settled in my chest. I quickly asked another question to divert his attention.
“So if I end up going back to my original body, then what happens to Han Seungbeom’s body? You still haven’t properly answered that.”
“There’s a high chance he’ll die.”
“…….”
“Since this is my first time attempting a soul transfer, I can’t say for certain. But most likely, Han Seungbeom’s death will be perceived as a sudden death caused by heart or brain failure. That would be the most natural explanation, after all.”
Seo Yuseong gave a quick and straightforward answer, barely taking a moment to think it over. It was far too horrifying an answer to be delivered with such a calm face, yet he seemed entirely unaware of that fact.
“Do you really think I’d be happy about that?”
As I spoke with my face buried in my hands, Seo Yuseong stared at me for a moment, then tilted his head.
“…I don’t understand why you’re reacting so sensitively, hyung. It’s not like we can undo any of this, so shouldn’t we take the most efficient course of action? Han Seungbeom’s soul is already destroyed. What’s the point of keeping just his body alive?”
“You don’t want Han Seungbeom to die either, do you? He’s a child who died because of us. This isn’t something we can just brush off in the name of efficiency.”
“I don’t particularly want that to happen, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to waste time dwelling on something that’s already done.”
When I put on a deliberately sorrowful expression in response to his answer, Seo Yuseong shifted his gaze slightly downward, then, with that same doll-like, expressionless face, muttered, “…I don’t know. It’s hard.”
His behavior stemmed from a congenital issue with brain function, so it wasn’t something that could be completely changed through effort. He might be able to pretend to empathize on the surface, but in the end, he would never truly understand it deep down.
“…Would you hate me if I said I don’t feel anything?”
In Seo Yuseong’s world, I was the only one who existed, so it was true that he didn’t feel much toward anyone else. Because I knew that, I couldn’t bring myself to harshly reprimand him. Besides, I wasn’t even sure I was in any position to judge him right now.
‘Please! Get a hold of yourself, Seo Yutae.’
As I clenched my fists while my mind grew more and more tangled, Seo Yuseong quietly spoke.
“I don’t intend to treat you as a different person just because your shell has changed, hyung, but I need Seo Yutae. Someone who can be recognized as my family by everyone in this world, someone whose presence by my side is simply a given.”
“…….”
“So, hyung, give up.”
The moment I heard his raw, honest words—that he needed Seo Yutae—all the arguments I had been about to make seemed to fade into nothing.
Damn it, is he acting like this just because I’m his ‘younger brother’ now?
Maybe it was because I’d finally met him again after going through such deep loss and longing, but even if he tried to stab me with a knife, I think I’d still find him endearing. I deliberately hardened my expression and turned my head to avoid showing it, but Seo Yuseong’s gaze tenaciously followed me.
And soon after, I saw a faint smile appear on Seo Yuseong’s face.
“No matter what I do, you can’t hate me, can you, hyung? You won’t be able to abandon me either.”
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Translator’s Corner:
Seo Yuseong, I’m unhappy with you right now…..
If anyone wondering, we still have 33 chapters for the main story. Although I’m sorry the update will probably be slow for a while …. they cut down the old tree (20+ years old, basically always there since the early of my childhood memory) in front of my house, and I’m just so upset and mad about it that I’m just not in the mood to do anything……
Like at this point, I’m just … mad at everyone? But I mad at myself the most for not being able to stop it. But it’s really … sad to see how everyone let go of things easily. I guess I’m cursed to be left all alone and be the only one who hold onto memories ….. seeing the house I grew up in turned into something unrecognizable (and everything changed in the worse way) really maddening ….. what’s stopping God for making people hire me so I can move out permanently, for good …. this place just made me sick T_T
On another note, I remember telling you guys I read “Reset Idol” (literal full title would be something like “An Idol Who’s Used Up All Resets”). Here’s my final review, don’t read it. I still love Jeong Chanyang, he’s my baby and he deserves the world, but after reading 766 chapters, I truly advised you guys just don’t spend your time and effort reading it. I think the author thought they’re so smart and evil with the plot twist (revealed after 760 chapters, mind you), BUT IT REALLY SUCKS. LIKE, WORST REVEAL I READ IN THIS DECADE. I DON’T EVEN HATE MANAGER KIM PLOT DRAGGING THIS MUCH. It’s not even unreliable narrator, it’s literally the readers got scammed. I also came to dislike the MC so much (Jeong Chanyang is not the MC). Idk if he’s the victim or all, I hate how everything turned out in that story T_T (which was a pity tbh it started off as good. I used to really enjoy it before the author decided to pull of the plot twists)
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