#14

An ambiguous sense of camaraderie has formed.

The emotions these guys show me are mostly 《trust》 and 《faith.》 And the emotions I send to them are 《responsibility.》

It's kind of like the emotions I felt 300 years ago when I was thrown into the Grayland Plateau to take the 3rd Circle promotion exam.

Back when I led my comrades to fight the "Witch of the Gray Waterfall" on the Grayland Plateau. I brought everyone back alive without a single casualty, and I received the title of the Grand Master of the time.

In other words, it meant "having too much of a meddlesome attitude."

Because I somehow managed to save everyone and bring them back, the highest number of 3rd Circle promotions in history was achieved.

Anyway, after that incident, those who passed the exam with me began to revere me. They became united with trust and faith, sending me looks bordering on respect.

But these guys, it's a bit ambiguous to say that it's "respect."

From them, instead of 《respect,》 there was a stronger sense of 《mystery,》 and even beyond that, I could faintly catch a glimpse of 《affection.》

Anyway, to sum it up, these dungeon rabbits. They're seriously disgusting.

DAY 2 OF THE MUSIC VIDEO SHOOT

Since today’s focus is on individual shots, there aren’t many group performances.

I changed into the three different outfits I wore yesterday, and filmed shots that would be inserted between the performances, either solo or with the group.

I woke up early, took a long walk around the neighborhood, and gathered as much mana as I could while it was still dawn.

Thanks to that, my condition today is relatively good.

I refused the sedative that Gyuhyung offered me and instead took the (빅하스)  "Big House" drink that Director Gong Seokho brought.

[Is this also a sedative...?]

I cast a suspicious glance at the unfamiliar drink, and Director Gong's eyebrows furrowed.

I didn't even need to focus on his emotions to hear his thoughts, as if his inner voice was speaking to me.

Something like, "There was an accident, and now this idiot is making a fuss...?"

[No, it actually has the opposite effect. You'll be full of energy after drinking it.]

It didn't seem like a lie, so I drank it. But damn.

Another reason to try to make it in this damned world has come up.

The taste is crazy.

Fueled by two bottles of Big House, I finished all my individual shoots and sat in a corner of the studio, catching my breath.

It's better than yesterday, but the fear that Kang Ichan's body remembers is truly overwhelming.

Though there’s no trace of Kang Ichan left anywhere in this body, it seems that the original owner's habits are somehow still remembered.

Or maybe, it’s the heart that remembers.

It feels as if someone is squeezing this heart with their hand.

“Whew—”

I let out a long sigh and wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.

It was then.

“You speak first.”

“How, how about you try it first?”

Somewhere to my left, I could feel familiar emotions swirling around.

Along with a shy voice.

I glanced to the side, where two young women were bumping each other's shoulders, bickering, until they suddenly froze in place.

It seemed like they were embarrassed to make eye contact with me.

‘Ha, this is certainly a feeling I haven’t experienced in a while.’

That’s definitely it.

The whirlwind of emotions that arose when I, a genius with an extraordinarily beautiful appearance, passed the 1st-circle promotion exam as the top student.

The 《admiration》 directed at me made my palms itch and my face flush. At that time, I didn’t know how to respond to such emotions, and I was confused, but eventually, it became a part of my everyday life. Over the course of 300 years, 《admiration》 grew so much that it became 《idolization》.

“Excuse me.”

While I was lost in those old thoughts, the young women approached.

They were very shy, their cheeks turning red.

For someone like Jesquière, such attention is just part of daily life. But for the rookie idol singer, Kang Ichan, it's probably a first-time experience of excitement.

My palms should be itching, and my face should be burning.

Damn, that feeling of excitement was long forgotten, more than 300 years ago.

"Pardon?"

I tried my best to act surprised, to pretend to be flustered, but I failed miserably.

With an indifferent expression, I turned to the women and shot them a blunt look, as if asking if they had any business with me.

‘Damn, I shouldn't be acting like this.’

The idol singers I had observed through Media Acquisition always smiled brightly and beautifully, without exception.

As I was debating whether I should smile now, one of the women handed me a canned coffee.

"Here... Please drink this and take care."

"......?"

I stared at the canned coffee the woman handed me, perplexed.

Could this... be a tribute?

Back in my days as a grand wizard, I was accustomed to receiving tributes from small nations here and there. But is there such a thing as tribute in this world?

No, more importantly, should Kang Ichan be receiving tributes?

Is she really giving this to someone like me?

Could it be charity because I'm pitiful?

For a moment, my mind became a whirlpool of thoughts.

In the midst of that, the woman continued speaking.

"You were amazing yesterday, but today... you were truly the best."

From their outfits, it seems like they're staff from the studio.

Another woman chimed in.

"I actually liked yesterday more. You were absolutely amazing. Your dance moves were top-notch."

Then, they even started to sing in unison.

"Your voice is so great too."

Ha, it's a tribute.

In the morning, PD Pyo called and said that the music video we filmed yesterday was pretty good, and it looks like he wasn't lying.

Well, I gave it my all during the shoot, so it was only natural.

It felt surprisingly good.

My lips involuntarily curled up into a smile.

"Thank you."

As I expressed my gratitude for the compliment, the woman handed me the can of coffee. Then, she let out a loud "Kyaa!" and ran off.

"I'll drink it well."

I shouted toward her back, and she waved her hand frantically, letting out another loud squeal.

"Ha, look at that."

For a moment, I felt a strange sensation.

It was about the mana in this world.

Until now, it had been timid, gently following and brushing past me, but suddenly, it stirred.

"What? Mana... collects like this too?"

* * *

The schedule for the music video, album jacket, and concept photo re-shoots is finally over.

It was a grueling 4-day marathon.

The results will only be clear after the editing is done, but it feels like it's going pretty well.

It looks like I’ll finally be able to swap out that damn music video.

Just thinking about it made me feel good, and I burned with enthusiasm for practicing the track <Promise>.

How did I burn with enthusiasm, you ask?

It means that I'm now even receiving vocal training.

Not only am I taking dance lessons, but also vocal training.

What does this mean? It means that Producer Pyo Cheonhee is putting effort into me. Turns out, they weren’t wrong when they said they have an excellent eye for gems.

[Why didn't I recognize you until now? Jaewon wasn’t the only gem in L.I.T., huh.]

Though it stung a bit to be lumped together with the drugged-up rabbit, well, it's better than not being noticed at all, so I decided to let it slide.

Anyway, that's why I accepted vocal training, and surprise, surprise.

It's actually incredibly fun.

The music of this world is so diverse, and the rhythms are anything but ordinary.

Being the greatest artist and art enthusiast of Armania, I quickly found myself immersed in the music of this world.

Especially this song, <Promise>, is the best.

You, who have become as distant as a star. You, shining from afar.

I can't reach you. I can't be with you.

But remember. The promise of that day.

The promise of the day when I was you, and you were me.

Breaking through the foggy dawn,

I’ll find you. I’ll reach you. I promise.

Promise.

It’s supposed to be a slower tempo track with urban-style EDM or something like that, but I don’t really know about that.

What I do know is that the melody is incredibly captivating, and it’s a song that’s a pleasure to sing.

"Okay. Good job."

The vocal trainer, Myeongji ssaem, clapped her hands with a big smile.

"How should I put it?"

I considered using my heart's aura, but decided against it.

This person, completely indifferent to others' feelings, was just too blunt for that.

"You have a clear tone and a wide vocal range, but your volume is lacking, which makes the pitch unstable, right?"

Well, that's because the core strength is unstable. I'm working on strengthening it through exercise.

"And you couldn't really convey the emotion of the lyrics either."

Well, that's because this guy's life is just all gloomy...

"Not to mention, you're not even capable of rapping."

Isn't that something you're born with? I thought. Seeing how easily Siu and Hanjoon talk, it’s no joke.

"I thought you were useless…." 

Wow, this guy's being too harsh. "Useless"—is that something you'd say to a nineteen-year-old, a kid?

"But now, you're perfect."

Wow, perfect?

I was seriously empathizing with Kang Ichan, and his every word had been bothering me, but the sudden praise left me speechless.

"Ichan-ah, let's become a team that shines even brighter live. Okay?"

Myeongji's eyes sparkled as they shone.

The emotions that started at Stage 1 of my mind’s aura—《anticipation》 and 《determination》—shifted as I triggered Stage 2, turning into a mix of 《exhilaration》, 《new discovery》, and 《overflowing joy》.

I briefly thought about activating Stage 3, but then I shook my head.

If I activated Stage 3, I could read the other person's inner thoughts completely, but the drawback was the immense energy consumption. 

Plus, depending on the person, there could be a deafening noise to bear. Myeongji ssaem seemed to be one of those cases.

In that case, it’s better not to know. I quickly turned off my power.

For the next few minutes, Myeongji continued to speak with a highly energized face, expressing her ambitions. Finally, the lesson ended.

"Let's practice Promise and the other songs we've done today, and meet again next time?"

I was too tired to answer, so I just nodded.

Myeongji, waving her hand and saying "See you on Wednesday," was about to leave the room.

"Ah, wait."

She suddenly turned around.

"Did you guys see the NewTube?"

NewTube? Did it already start?

"You were really cute. And cool, too?"