Rival x Me

I'm Dan. Lee Dan. A not-so-popular K-pop idol. Shouldn't I be dead by now? I thought the same thing.

[The system is loading.]

Before my eyes materialized a transparent dialog box. What nonsense was this? I frantically shook my head, trying to dispel the apparition, but it remained stubbornly in place.

[New user identified. User ID Lee Dan, twenty-two years old, member of the K-pop group Wizardy.] A mechanical voice, reminiscent of Google Assistant, echoed in my mind as the dialog box transformed.

"What the hell?" I exclaimed, startled into jumping off the bed.

[Sorry! That word is not in my system. Would you like to enter its meaning?]

"What's going on?" I muttered to myself, my voice echoing in the silence of the room.

Surely that mechanical voice is coming from inside my head. Then what is this dialog box that turns in the direction that my eyes turn?

I blinked, and the transparent dialog box flickered before me as if responding to my unspoken query. A new message appeared, its text glowing with an ethereal light.

[You have been chosen to live a new life. Please conform to the system from now on. Clear the way for a new life by removing past mistakes. If you want to get rid of your old character, please unlock the OOC feature first.]

My mind reeled, struggling to process the absurdity of the situation. I was dead, wasn't I? Or at least I should have been. How was I back here, in my room, interacting with a mysterious dialog box that seemed to have a life of its own?

I reached out my hand, tentatively touching the dialog box. It was as if I was brushing against a thin veil of energy, the sensation both strange and intriguing.

"OOC feature?" I murmured, repeating the unfamiliar term. What did it mean? Could it be the key to unlocking the secrets of my newfound existence?

[OOC stands for Out of Character! What the hell!]

my god! I am speechless. Is this Google Assistant stealing my words? This system, or whatever it was, was completely out of control. It was like arguing with a malfunctioning robot. Could this be Google Assistant playing some kind of strange prank on me?

A sudden realization struck me. My previous life had been shattered by a single, grave error. Kang In Woo! Why couldn't I recall anything about that fateful moment? If I had been granted a second chance, should I not seize it?

Wait a minute, I hadn't killed Kang In Woo yet, had I? A sense of dread crept over me.

"What year is it?" I inquired, directing my question at the enigmatic dialogue box, even though I felt like a raving lunatic. The system, seemingly undeterred by my outburst, launched into another round of self-praise.

[Currently, the year is 2022. Would you like a more detailed explanation?]

Oh, thanks god! It is not 2023 yet.

"Have you kept full details for so long and split this nonsense?" I screamed loudly.

[You didn't ask me first. What the hell!]

"Stop saying, what the hell."

[WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!!]

The system's blatant disregard for my request left me utterly flabbergasted.

"Listen here," I said firmly, attempting to regain some semblance of composure. "I've had enough of your inane ramblings. Answer my questions properly, or I'll find a way to silence you once and for all."

The system fell silent for a moment as if processing my words. Then, the dialog box flickered and a new message appeared.

[Please specify your inquiry.]

"Alright," I said, taking a deep breath. "First, tell me everything you know about my past life."

The dialog box buzzed with activity, and lines of text began to scroll across the screen. I read them avidly, my heart pounding in my chest.

As I delved deeper into my past, a sense of dread washed over me. The memories came flooding back, the guilt and regret overwhelming me. I had made a terrible mistake, one that had ruined my life and the life of another.

But even in the system why doesn't it tell how I killed In Woo and where, when did it happen?

I closed my eyes, tears welling up in my eyes. I couldn't believe I had forgotten such a crucial part of my past. It was as if someone had erased it from my mind.

"Why did I forget?" I whispered to myself.

The system remained silent, but I could feel its presence, a watchful observer in my mind.

"Tell me how did I kill Kang In Woo?" I asked.

[Please first complete your tasks. Then the memory will unlock.]

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!!! HOW CAN SOMEONE LOCK MY OWN MEMORY???????

"Alright, so what kind of tasks do I have to complete? Give me the full description you mentioned," I demanded, my voice laced with frustration.

[To unlock the OOC feature, you must first accumulate points by completing tasks provided by the system. 

The OOC feature will become available once you have earned a total of 1000 points. 

Before reaching that threshold, any actions that deviate from your established character will result in deductions from your starting score. 

If your score drops to zero, your new life will abruptly end.

Additionally, the points you gather can be used to unlock new items and memories.]

I only have myself to blame for this damn OCC. Oh God, if I had behaved like a good person in my past life, this would not have happened.

"Tell me more about this OOC feature," I said, my voice firm.

The dialog box flickered, and a new message appeared.

[The OOC feature allows you to step outside of your predetermined character. This can be useful for avoiding certain plot points or making different choices that may lead to a different outcome.]

I read the message carefully, my mind racing. Could this be the key to changing my fate? Could I use this feature to prevent myself from making the same mistakes again?

I felt a spark of hope ignite within me. Maybe, just maybe, I could finally have a chance to live a happy and fulfilling life.