Death Progress Bar [Taekook]
Prologue
In a room, a body slumped over a half-shredded book
Kim Taehyung
*Gritting his teeth*
A revenge story… and it ends before the revenge even starts? Who writes this garbage?!
He hurls the book toward the shredder. The machine hums, chomps it to pieces.
Kim Taehyung
*Muttering*
If that were me, I’d burn those brothers to the ground…
The next day. Screeching tires. Darkness.
Somewhere unfamiliar. A hospital bed. Beeping monitors.
Kim Taehyung
*Eyes fluttering open*
…I’m alive?
Kim Taehyung
*sits up, sees his reflection in a mirror. Younger. Different*
Kim Taehyung
This isn’t… me?
A knock at the door. A nurse peeks in.
Someone
Nurse:
Kim Taehyung, your father’s funeral is tomorrow. Your brothers will be picking you up.
Kim Taehyung
*frozen*
Brothers?
His memory clicks. The novel. The torment. The death.
Kim Taehyung
*Heart skip a beat*
Kim Taehyung
*Horrified*
No way. This—this Kim Taehyung? The one from that stupid book?
Images flash: Five cold-eyed brothers. Raised fists. A body on the floor.
Kim Taehyung
*Clutching sheets*
Oh, hell no. I’m not dying again.
Kim Taehyung
*Pauses, breathes in*
Kim Taehyung
*Firm*
Let’s eliminate my brothers’ hatred, my goal is to keep my life! ( • ̀ω•́ )੭ ✧´-
Disclaimer : It's a slow burn romance story, The MCs will develop their feelings with time.
A tint of Action+Comedy+A little romance
Our MC is dumb... So don't blame him in the end..( ▔•з•▔ )
Inheritance
When Taehyung opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a soft, wide, wooden bed, wearing cotton pajamas and holding a cucumber pillow in his arms.
Kim Taehyung
[Where is this? It doesn’t look like a hospital and certainly not like hell either.] ಠ_ಠ
He blinked in confusion, raising a hand to rub his forehead.
Kim Taehyung
[Wasn’t I hit by a truck that ran a red light while he was pursuing a thief? With speed of the truck, there was almost no possibility of survival, so what is going on?]
Someone
<You were reborn.>
A crisp mechanical voice suddenly sounded inside his head, making Taehyung sit up in alarm. He looked around vigilantly
Kim Taehyung
Who said that? (o_o)
TaTa
<Me, your golden finger and savior. You can call me TaTa.>
Kim Taehyung
Meaning ‘death by laughter’?
TaTa
<…Meaning ‘Little Death’. My Korean is quite standard, thank you.>
Taehyung stopped looking around and finally decided that the voice was really speaking directly in his brain. He tried to knock on his head.
TaTa
<Stop it, it’s like calling and hanging up.>
At this point, Taehyung determined that he really was reborn and definitely not in his own body. He used to be a handsome, long-legged man with eight-pack abs, but this body was “round as pearls and smooth as jade”—white, fat and round, with the mass of flesh instead of arms and legs. When he breathed, his pajamas almost burst, when he sat down, pants tightly clung to his legs.
Kim Taehyung
[…In my whole life, I was never so “magnificent”!]
Kim Taehyung
[I might as well have died.] (┯_┯)
TaTa clearly perceived what he was thinking and asked without any pity
TaTa
<What’s more important, your life or your weight?>
Taehyung lay back on the bed and closed his eyes with a serene expression.
Kim Taehyung
…Weight can be lost, but if you lose your life, it’s the end. You wouldn’t be able to eat delicious food or enjoy playing mahjong.
Taehyung exhaled, thinking about the feeling of smooth mahjong tiles under his fingers. Then he opened his eyes, got out of bed and finished dressing.
Kim Taehyung
Tell me then, what is happening?
His words were followed by silence. Just as Taehyung started to suspect that all this was a hallucination that appeared before death, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his brain, and a lot of confused memories and pictures poured in.
After half an hour, Taehyung lay back on the bed once again and calmly closed his eyes.
TaTa
<…You can’t do this! You are a public servant, you should be full of righteousness and fervor!>
Kim Taehyung
*Began to snore*
TaTa
<Waah, police uncle, you can’t do this, waah waah…>
Kim Taehyung
*Endured* (´△｀)
TaTa
<Waah waah waah, waah waah waah… >
Taehyung couldn’t tolerate it any longer. He once again got out of bed and dressed, asking with an unfriendly expression
Kim Taehyung
So the novel I read before my death is the origin of your existence? You transported me into a world inside a book?
TaTa
*Stopped crying and replied obediently*
<Yeah>
Kim Taehyung
Am I really inside a book right now?
Kim Taehyung
Then can I get out of here? (´･Ω･｀)
TaTa
<If you go out, you’ll never come back alive.>
*Stating facts*
Kim Taehyung
*This time it's his turn to fell silent.*
TaTa
<Because…>
*Hesitated for two seconds, then enunciated clearly*
<When you are in trouble, you should find the police uncle!>
Kim Taehyung
👉A Honest Police Officer in previous life
Kim Taehyung
[Actually, what you said makes perfect sense.] (ಠ_ಠ)
Taehyung, having nothing to say in reply, walked into the bathroom connected to his bedroom and stood in front of the mirror.
His appearance was both familiar and strange. Familiar, because the face closely resembled his own, strange because of the body shape—he looked exactly as he did when he was younger, there was even an identical little mole on his nose; it just felt weird because his body was several times larger.
Kim Taehyung
[Fortunately, my appearance hasn’t changed. It feels less disturbing this way.]
Kim Taehyung
*Sighed deeply, then washed his face and brushed his teeth.*
Kim Taehyung
[According to the memory provided by TaTa, I am also called Taehyung now and was about to turn eighteen. ‘He’ is the protagonist of a novel that should make the readers feel good by taking rightful revenge, called “Death Progress Bar”. Unfortunately, its plot was mostly depressing and just when the protagonist was about to begin his revenge, it was dropped.]
Kim Taehyung
[There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. TaTa took a lot of trouble to let me be reborn, it definitely had something it needed my help with.]
TaTa
*Displayed two things resembling progress bars inside Taehyung's mind, one active and one grayed out.*
TaTa
<These are called ‘death progress bars’, the one above showing ‘998’ is yours. Once it hits 999, it will be filled up, then your current body will face death and even I wouldn’t be able to save you—I’m bound to you and I would disappear together with you. What you need to do is to empty it and let us keep on living.>
Kim Taehyung
👉The guy who had a slight OCD
hadn’t shown immediate interest in the connection between this progress bar and his own life, but instead asked with an extremely disgusted expression
Kim Taehyung
999? Can’t you round it up to 1000, like the one below? ┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘
TaTa voice, which had been somewhat serious, suddenly become heated
TaTa
<You devil! That progress bar belongs to my Darling, I wouldn’t give it to you!>
Taehyung’s mind was shaken by the force of this passionate cry.
Kim Taehyung
Stop fooling around and focus on what matters!
TaTa
<…Before the progress bar below yours reaches 1000 points, I need you to find its owner and help him to save his life by emptying his progress bar while keeping your own life.>
TaTa
*Tone became serious again. It begged earnestly in a pitiful voice*
<Will you help me? I, I can reward you, and ensure your safety.> (._.)
With all this said, what was Taehyung supposed to do? Of course, he could only endure his obsessive-compulsive disorder and nod seriously.
Kim Taehyung
[I got a brand-new life. Even though I may still lose it at any time, there was also a crybaby self-proclaimed ‘golden finger’ in my mind and a matter of finding the other person with a progress bar, but it is a life anyway. I can still touch the mahjong tiles many more times.]
Kim Taehyung
[It is my gain anyway.]
TaTa
*cheered*
<Wow, I knew that my family’s TaeTae is the best.>
Kim Taehyung
👉The one who was mistaken for a girl countless times because of this nickname
After finishing exchanging information and sorting out the memory in his brain, Taehyung finally stepped out of the door.
‘Taehyung’s’ stallion father, called Kim Junghyun, was a business genius who built a huge business empire from scratch. After ‘Taehyung’ was born, he moved overseas with him and focused on expanding his company.
His funeral ended yesterday, and today his lawyer was going to announce his last will. The only person who was going to be present during the reading of the will was Taehyung, his five brothers weren’t invited. This is what Kim Junghyun wished for because he hadn’t intended to leave even a cent for his other sons.
While they were all his children, Kim Junghyun treated his sons in quite a different way. He was partial towards Taehyung, his youngest son, and Taehyung’s existence had never been revealed to the public. The other five sons all lived with their mothers, gathering together only on New Year’s Eve. Even though the outside world has heard of the five outstanding young men, their family relationship with Kim Junghyun wasn’t known.
Kim Taehyung
[They were all his sons. How could Kim Junghyun be so biased?]
Taehyung flipped through the memory of the original ‘Taehyung’ and the information given by TaTa, completely unable to understand Kim Junghyun’s behavior.
TaTa
<Probably because your appearance is the best?>
*Flattered him shamelessly* ˶⚈Ɛ⚈˵
Kim Taehyung
*He looked at his pig-like stomach and pig-like legs, deciding to end this topic and stop looking for abuse*
While they chatted, Kim Junghyun’s lawyer had arrived. After a brief greeting, he began to read the long list of Kim Junghyun’s possessions and businesses that Taehyung inherited.
It went in one ear and out the other—Taehyung used this time to discuss the progress bar in his mind with TaTa.
Kim Taehyung
<How can I empty it?>
TaTa
<If the lethal factors disappear, the progress bar will decrease by itself.>
Kim Taehyung
*Fell into deep thought*
Kim Taehyung
[In the plot of the novel, the original ‘Taehyung’ was tortured by his brothers, which means the danger of death came from all five of them. As for the reason why they weren’t willing to meet with ‘Taehyung’…]
*His eyes moved to the documents in lawyer’s hands and he cursed Kim Junghyun in his heart.*
Kim Taehyung
[How could the children who were treated indifferently or even outright ignored by their father like their brother who was favored? Furthermore, the circumstances were much more complex, as the money interests were involved.]
Kim Taehyung
[Kim Junghyun’s decision to snub his elder sons and leave all his inheritance to the youngest… Did he feel that 'Taehyung' wasn’t hated enough and wanted to make him die faster!?]
Cha Joon (Lawyer)
…With Maria Cordero Manor, this is all of the real estates. In addition, Mr. Kim decided that you will inherit all the shares of the Daesung Corporation. Since you haven’t graduated from the university yet, the company will be managed by the Deputy Chairman of the Board, Kang Daniel, with your supervision. This is the entire content of the will. If there are no problems, please sign here.
At last, the lawyer finished reading the will and put several documents in front of Taehyung.
Taehyung returned to reality. Glancing at the progress bar that had reached 998, he decisively pushed the document back.
Kim Taehyung
*Said firmly*
I don’t want these things.
Kim Taehyung
[If I takes it, the progress bar will be filled completely and I will die.]
Cha Joon (Lawyer)
*Raised his hand and rubbed his ears, suspecting that he had misheard*
Kim Taehyung
I don’t want anything that my brothers haven’t gotten.
*Got up, his childish face full of stubbornness. His expression became tense and full of grief*
What dad did was wrong, I don’t want those things. Divide it into five parts and give them to my brothers
Kim Taehyung
(Yeah Childish, as he is in a body of 18 year old fatso)
Cha Joon (Lawyer)
*Stunned*
However, Young Master Kim, your brothers already have their own successful careers. Getting the inheritance wouldn’t make a difference for them, but you still haven’t come of age, that’s…
Kim Taehyung
[How can it make no difference, it makes a big difference!]
Kim Taehyung
*Acting skills suddendly awakened. He shouted loudly*
Enough!
Cha Joon (Lawyer)
*Is so surprised that he shut up and gave Taehyung a funny look*
Kim Taehyung
My brothers could struggle by themselves, I can do it as well.
*slumped, uttering sadly*
Dad always said that my brothers are his pride, and I want my father and brothers to be proud of me too… Please go back, I’m tired.
Following that, he turned around and hauled his fat body back to the room on the second floor. After slamming the door shut he stopped his act and asked with a nervous feeling in the pit of the stomach
Kim Taehyung
TaTa, how was my performance? (●´ω｀●)
TaTa
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
*expressed its approval with applause*
Kim Taehyung
Thank you for your support, thank you for your support.
*thanked him with a bashful expression. Then he rubbed his hands expectantly*
I rejected the inheritance, my progress bar should have decreased a little, right?
TaTa
*Also felt some expectations*
<Definitely>
Kim Taehyung
*Looked at the progress bar*
TaTa
*Looked at the progress bar*
Kim Taehyung
*Paled*
What’s going on? Why hasn’t it decreased?
Kim Taehyung
[It even rose a little, from 998 to 998.5!]
TaTa
*screamed*
<I don’t know!>
Golden finger - means cheat code
Running Away
Taehyung was pacing nervously around the room.
TaTa was so anxious that it began to gnaw on its metaphorical nails.
TaTa
<Maybe you should accept the inheritance after all>
*Suggested*
Kim Taehyung
*Completely rejected its proposal*
In the story, when the brothers learned ‘Taehyung’ inherited everything their hearts turned completely cold and they started their abuse! If I accepted it, the progress bar wouldn’t rise just by half a point!
Both of them paused and looked at the door in unison.
Someone
Butler :
Young master, the eldest young master is calling.
Kim Taehyung
*Brows furrowed and he whispered*
The murderer no. 1 is on the phone, should I answer it or not?
TaTa
*Voice trembled*
<Would it really make a difference?>
With only 0.5 points left until filling up the progress bar, there really isn’t any room for error.
Kim Taehyung
*Hesitated*
Will I die immediately after the progress bar is filled?
Kim Taehyung
*Eyes brightened*
TaTa
*Sounded as if it was going to cry*
<But you’ll lose control of your body and watch yourself go to your death as the story progresses.>
Kim Taehyung
[This is way scarier than immediate death!]
Taehyung felt he was about to go insane. He scanned the room, then approached the desk and pulled out the utility knife inserted in a penholder, ejecting the blade and drawing it across his wrist.
Blood started to flow.
TaTa
*Instantly became mad*
<Ah, ah, what are you doing!>
Kim Taehyung
I’m saving myself, of course. This phone call can’t be answered; if I pick it up and say the wrong thing, increasing my brother’s enmity, then everything will be over.
Conversely, in the face of imminent crisis, Taehyung calmed down instead. After cutting his wrist deeper, he quickly searched for all the documents and cash of the original. Then he picked up the cucumber pillow on the bed and went to the bathroom to fill the bathtub with water.
TaTa
*Greatly alarmed by his actions*
<Why are turning the water on?>
Cutting your wrist and filling the bath with hot water, isn’t this a standard suicide setup?
Taehyung has already got in the bathtub. Withstanding the dizziness caused by blood loss, he carefully unstitched the part of the cucumber pillow, putting all the documents and cash into it.
Kim Taehyung
*Lay back, holding the pillow and closing his eyes*
It’s a retreat in order to advance, it will buy some time… This place is too dangerous to stay in, we have to find an opportunity to slip away.
The youngest of the five brothers in the family was nine years older than the original ‘Taehyung’. All of them have already made successful careers with the support of their mothers and they pretended to dote on ‘Taehyung’. Kim Junghyun was gradually deceived by this illusion, inadvertently allowing them to put a lot of traps and snares around Kim Junghyun and ‘Taehyung’. The current Taehyung was powerless and lacked connections, it was impossible for him to win; still, his top priority was simply saving his life.
The water in the bathtub was soon red with blood. If TaTa was human, its face would be completely pale.
TaTa
*Quavering voice*
<Tae, TaeTae…>
Kim Taehyung
Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.
*Consoled*
Hearing the faint sound of the opening door, his heart loosened. After making TaTa promise to help him hold on to the cucumber pillow, he felt reassured and let go of his consciousness.
The smell of disinfectant filled his nose. Taehyung opened his eyes and looked drowsily at a tall figure sitting beside the bed.
TaTa
<The pillow is in your arms. After the news of your attempted suicide spread, the progress bar decreased to 997. The person sitting beside you is Kim Namjoon, the eldest son of the Kim family.>
Taehyung reassured himself, his arms tightening around the pillow. He looked at the man beside the bed
Kim Taehyung
*Weakly*
Namjoon Hyung
The man turned his head. His long and narrow eyes, similar to those of Kim Junghyun’s, were full of disapproval and worry.
Kim Namjoon
*Gently*
Taehyung-ah, why?
Kim Taehyung
[Kim Junghyun’s genes were very good; all of his sons were very handsome, with only the little 'fatty Taehyung' being the odd one out. Kim Namjoon was Kim Junghyun’s eldest son and he resembled their father strongly. Clear eyes under straight eyebrows, thin lips, straight nose—with his refined features and calm temperament, he was the very definition of a handsome mature man. In addition to 'Taehyung', he was the only child allowed to take the Kim Junghyun’s surname and also the brother who supposedly loved 'Taehyung' the most.]
Taehyung looked away from him, secretly pinched himself under the quilt to get a sour nose and red eyes
Kim Taehyung
*Whispered*
I know that none of you likes me.
*Looked away from Namjoon*
Kim Taehyung
*Secretly pinched himself under the quilt to get a sour nose and red eyes*
After those words, the air became tense.
Namjoon did not speak, the gentleness in his eyes diminished slightly. His look became thoughtful and scrutinizing, as if trying to judge whether Taehyung’s feelings were feigned.
TaTa
<998 points! Wah, TaeTae!>
*Screamed in panic*
Taehyung’s eyelashes trembled and the tears gathered in his eyes have flowed down. His lips tightening, he turned back to Namjoon
Kim Taehyung
Hyung… If, if there is a next life, then I hope I would become the older brother of all of you… Then I would be able to repay you, return everything I owe to you…
Kim Namjoon
Taehyung-ah
*Pulled his hand out from Taehyung’s grip*
Kim Namjoon
*Put Taehyung’s hand back on the bed*
Don’t talk nonsense, your elder brothers will always be your elder brothers.
TaTa
<998.5! It has risen again! Waah, TaeTae, don’t die!>
Kim Taehyung
[What an impregnable defense! This older brother is much more difficult to defeat than I expected.]
Taehyung knew things went south. He decisively abandoned the idea of softening Namjoon with words and closed his eyes pretending to be exhausted
Kim Taehyung
*Whispering*
Hyung, I’m tired…
Fortunately, the progress bar did not rise again. Namjoon covered him with the blanket and left the ward.
Over the next two days, Taehyung’s eldest brother came several times. The absent brothers also made a lot of calls. Taehyung remained completely silent, neither speaking nor answering the phone. He stayed in the ward all day and just looked out of the window like a puppet who had lost his soul.
During this time, Taehyung tried to hurt himself again, this time with a fruit knife. The nurse found out and told Namjoon about it. Namjoon, like a normal older brother, became worried and angry and scolded Taehyung harshly.
Kim Taehyung
*Pinched his thigh and cried*
Kim Namjoon
Taehyung-ah
*Helpless*
Kim Namjoon
*Gently*
Tell me, what is wrong with you? Look, you even lost some weight.
Namjoon looked at this smile and the emotions on his face suddenly faded away, leaving only expressionless, unfathomable mask.
This was the first time Namjoon showed this expression to Taehyung. Taehyung stopped smiling, lowered his head and hugged the pillow tightly. His heart was full of vigilance—here it comes, Namjoon is going to tear off his mask of kindness.
Kim Taehyung
[Missing several meals was worth it.]
Kim Taehyung
*Managed to smile at him*
[This was what I wanted to hear]
Kim Namjoon
Taehyung-ah, dad’s lawyer called me today and said that the inheritance had been divided up as you wished, into five parts, without your part.
*Said abruptly, his tone vague, missing its earlier gentleness*
Taehyung looked up at him, and there was no smile on his face—he didn’t force it out this time.
Kim Taehyung
I told you, I would repay my brothers everything I owe them.
Kim Namjoon
*Looked at him keenly*
The change in the distribution of inheritance requires your signature.
Kim Taehyung
*Nodded*
I will sign it.
Silence fell once again. Namjoon did not say anything more, turned around and left the room.
After dinner that day, Namjoon brought over several documents. Taehyung did not read them, he signed them directly and then gathered the blanket around himself.
Namjoon gathered the documents, then stood beside the bed for a moment.
Kim Taehyung
I just want to make my brothers happy.
*Hugging his last trump card—the cucumber pillow*
Kim Namjoon
*Eyes swept over the blood that had dried up on its surface*
Why do you hold it all the time?
Kim Taehyung
*Heart skipped a beat*
Kim Taehyung
*Pinched his thigh frantically, looking back at Namjoon with reddened eyes and saying in a barely audible voice*
This is the last gift I have gotten from my brothers… I can’t lose it, if I lose it… it would be completely gone.
TaTa applauded hard in Taehyung’s brain, praising his quick thinking and acting skills.
Namjoon apparently did not expect to hear such an answer. He stared at him for a few seconds and frowned, suddenly unable to look directly into those eyes full of trust and dependence. He turned his head slightly
Kim Namjoon
You should rest. Your second brother will arrive tomorrow, he has already boarded the plane.
Kim Taehyung
[That’s really a bad news.]
Taehyung was so dejected that he hung his head down, burying his face in the quilt.
Namjoon took a step forward and hesitated. He turned back and gently touched Taehyung’s hair, the look in his eyes changing briefly. Then, for some unknown reason, his expression became cold. He turned around to leave.
TaTa
*Voice was a little weak*
<I’ve felt like on a roller coaster just now, the progress bar first dropped to 900, then suddenly rose to 950, scared me to death.>
Kim Taehyung
It’s down to 950?
*Surprised*
Kim Taehyung
*Pleased with himself*
Now then, the problem of inheritance was resolved, so it’s time to run away.
TaTa
*Puzzled*
<Run away? Why? You haven’t even met with your other brothers yet.>
Kim Taehyung
*Voice was placid*
I only have a margin of error of 49 points. Do you think it would be enough if I say the wrong thing to those murderous people?
TaTa
*Heart was full of misgivings*
<What if after discovering you ran away their killing intent skyrockets?>
Kim Taehyung
Don’t worry
*Confident tone*
Kim Taehyung
*Checked the documents and cash in his pillow*
In order to empty the progress bar, I have to reduce the lethal factors. Distance from the brothers should also be considered a lethal factor. What if I hide in a place where my brothers won’t be able to find me? Do you still think the progress bar will be filled up?
Of course, if they’re unable to find him, the five brothers will be unhappy, but even if they decide to kill their younger brother directly… If their target is missing, they won’t be able to either make anyy plans or start implementing them. Immediate danger was a key part of the lethal factors. As long as the progress bar wasn’t filling up and his brothers were far away, Taehyung would be able to slowly decide on his long-term course of action. It would be different from the current dangerous situation, where he had no freedom of action an could only adapt to circumstances.
TaTa
*Raised its thumb and squealed*
<TaeTae is so smart, dumb blondes will love you!>
Kim Taehyung
*Imitating the handwriting of the original, he left a message*
“Without me, my brothers will be happier. TaeTae hopes the brothers will be happy.”
Then he asked TaTa to help him avoid the people in the hospital and holding the cucumber pillow, he silently slipped out during the night.
More than a ten hours later, Taehyung stepped onto the soil of B City, China. He was still wearing hospital clothes, and he was still carrying the cucumber pillow in his arms. That and a little bit of money left over after buying a plane ticked were his only possessions.
Kim Taehyung
I hate rich people who have the habit of having credit cards instead of hard cash.
*Face was full of tears, cursing the previous owner of his body.*
TaTa
*Suddenly panicked*
<We are done for, your progress bar started its rollercoaster ride again—your brothers must have found out you disappeared. Waah, TaeTae, I’m scared!>
Taehyung’s ‘chrysanthemum’ tightened. He stared at the progress bar, which was going up and down crazily, with wide eyes.
980… 990… 930… 990… Progress bar fluctuated madly, finally stopping at 910.
Taehyung let out a long sigh of relief and sat down on the ground outside the airport.
TaTa
<It seems that distance really is one of the lethal factors.>
*Voice relaxed*
<TaeTae, your life has been saved for the time being. What should we do next?>
Kim Taehyung
*Looked over his meager belongings, his expression full of vicissitudes of life*
First, let’s find a job to support ourselves…
Taehyung’s ‘chrysanthemum’ tightened – I just had to leave it in ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°).
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