translation by mourningmoor
Free busking performance.
It was an event held right next to the market we were at, in the shopping center.
It seemed like anyone could apply to perform.
Each team was given 15 minutes.
Including a short talk, it was just enough time to perform about three songs.
Right now, I needed to gather as much power as possible, even if it was just a small amount.
“You’ve already surpassed the 9th Circle.”
“But I’m still not back to my old self.”
I needed enough power to open a dimensional gate.
I had to become strong enough to protect all my people.
Since I had no idea when that old wizard would strike from an unexpected angle, I needed to build up enough strength to move this world with just a flick of my finger.
Once I reached a certain level, my magic power started rising at an insane rate. If I worked hard, maybe I could reach my goal even sooner.
For that, I needed Yoo Noah’s cooperation.
“Let’s do this together.”
Bringing this guy in would make it more effective. I was going to use ARCHE’s popularity in the U.S. to our advantage.
“While busking, you and we will go live on N Live at the same time.”
“I get what you’re aiming for, but I’m on sabbatical right now. On vacation.”
“You’re really going to do this to your business partner?”
Yoo Noah’s brows furrowed slightly.
“You only call me your business partner at times like this.”
Yeah, that just means I’m desperate. So just do it with us already.
“Sunbaenim. Let’s do it. Okay?”
In the end, Yoo Noah raised both hands in surrender.
We couldn’t contact all the members who were scattered around the shopping center, so we just grabbed the maknae, who was the closest.
Then, we went up to the plaza and signed up for the busking performance.
We asked Yoo Noah’s manager and Kim Chanyeong to run N Live simultaneously on two accounts. Meanwhile, Jaewon spread the news about our busking performance on SNS.
Not long after, we went up on stage, carrying the guitar that Gyuhyung had hurriedly prepared, and started our performance with calm expressions.
N Live quickly racked up an incredible number of viewers, spreading far and wide.
As if proving ARCHE’s popularity in the U.S., fans nearby started gathering at the venue.
What was surprising was that quite a few of them were our fans.
With our concert just five days away, fans who couldn’t get tickets moved quickly upon hearing that we were busking in a busy downtown plaza.
For those who had only just seen us for the first time while out shopping today, the sight must have been quite unusual.
Why? What’s going on? Are those Asian guys famous?
Murmuring among themselves, people gathered around and soon got immersed in our music.
The shopping center staff in charge of the busking event were no different.
ARCHE’s Yoo Noah, and L.I.T’s Kang Ichan and Kim Jaewon were putting on a busking performance.
For those who knew what that meant, it was a big deal. For those who didn’t, it was still a huge spectacle.
Before we even finished our first song, the plaza was packed with people.
The N Live comment section was already going wild.
Wow. The top idols of our country are holding a joint performance right there. This is insane. Why am I not there?
I’m actually jealous of the people in Chicago ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Seeing Ichan with their own eyes must be amazing.
Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be an impromptu busking session as fan service? Did they really not rehearse? They’re way too good.
It was the obvious reaction.
Yoo Noah and we were completely in sync, as if we had always been in the same team.
And unexpectedly, the maknae and Yoo Noah’s vocal combination sounded really good together.
When we finished the three songs and stood up, the plaza erupted with cheers.
PD Jeon Soo-oh, who was quick on his feet, was already capturing the moment on camera.
At some point, the rest of the members had arrived and were clapping excitedly.
That was when Gyuhyung approached us.
“The shopping mall organizers are asking if we can do one more performance.”
“One more?”
“Yeah. They recognized us and are asking if L.I.T can do a full-stage performance.”
That was exactly what I wanted.
If it meant I could gather more mana, I’d do it three or four more times.
Nodding, I gestured for the other members to come quickly.
Then, the members, carrying a bunch of shopping bags, made their way onto the stage.
Their outfits, makeup, and hairstyles weren’t particularly flashy.
But they still shone so brightly that it felt like they had a halo around them.
All the effort we had put into becoming the best idols had paid off.
And yet, despite their skills, there was no arrogance in their expressions or attitudes, making them always likable.
It was no different here in the U.S.
Yoo Noah stepped aside, and soon, the intro to <Hades> began playing.
On stage, we were no longer just ordinary young men.
As idols, we unleashed our dazzling presence, delivering a flawless performance.
Thunderous applause erupted, and at the same time, the N Live comment section exploded.
Amid the overwhelming flood of mana, I felt my magic power replenishing, gradually erasing my sense of unease.
This was it. When you’re anxious, you work harder and build the skills to erase that anxiety. Just like how the only way to get rid of stage fright is through practice.
It was a small stage, but it was enough to shake off my unease.
And unexpectedly, there was a particular individual in the audience that made the moment even more of a sensation.
* * *
Superstar’s Idol
It was a slightly embarrassing article title.
The global teen star, Anne Hayden, just so happened to be at the Chicago shopping center where we performed, and she watched our busking performance with her friend.
After watching our stage, she immediately declared herself a fan.
Through her SNS, the name ‘L.I.T,’ our perfect performance, and the intense heat of that day spread far and wide.
Two hours after Anne Hayden declared her fandom, Natalie Grace also revealed through SNS that she was a fan of L.I.T.
She had been a hot topic for some time in Korea due to her sudden silence, and when she announced her intention to divorce Timothy Gordon, she stirred up even more buzz.
With someone like her suddenly revealing that she was a fan, it was only natural that people’s attention focused on us.
And then, another person—world-renowned singer and actor Sam McGuire—said that the musician he wanted to collaborate with the most was us, and things exploded.
Just who exactly was L.I.T for Anne Hayden, the idol of teenagers, Natalie Grace, everyone’s sweetheart, and Sam McGuire, known as ‘the voice blessed by God,’ to be praising us?
The American broadcasting and music industries were in an uproar.
Because of that, articles about us poured out, calling us ‘Superstar’s Idol.’
It was a good thing.
Around that time, an LA broadcasting station aired a short documentary titled <L.I.T Captivates America>.
It was exciting news not only for American fans but also for Korean fans.
It finally felt like L.I.T’s true value was being recognized, and it was like a festival atmosphere.
I really knew our kids would make it big ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└ ㅇㅇ They were different from the start. ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└ Our kids had god-tier skills and charm. But just because they came from a mid-sized company, they were constantly ignored ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Are you watching, you major agencies?
Wow, thinking about it again makes me emotional. When it first aired, everyone ignored them, calling them nobodies.
└ I actually became a fan through . Seriously, even back then, our kids were amazing, but they didn’t get much screen time.
└ But later on, they got the most screen time. sniff Our babies worked so hard, seriously. ㅠㅠ
But isn’t it crazy? Other groups work for years and can’t achieve this, but they did it in just three years?
└ That just proves how insanely talented they are. They shine so brightly that you’d have to be blind not to notice, ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
└ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Right. Their glow is finally being recognized.
Did you see that? Blade is finally being acknowledged as a major agency.
└ ㅇㅇ I saw the article. They made a ton of money. Now the industry has to bow to our kids.
└ Blade’s rise was largely thanks to HS’s downfall. Jang Myungwoo took bribes from Jung Yoobin’s father and treated Ichan terribly. Then he tried to pin everything on Director Kim Chanyeong.
└ ㅇㅇ HS’s artist fandoms are in complete chaos. Many are leaving. Some are switching to L.I.T now.
└ Ahh, I really respect our Ichan. He knew everything, yet he still brought Kim Chanyeong and Kim Wooyoung in. This is all thanks to him.
Anyway, I’m so jealous of Americans. Right now, L.I.T belongs to the U.S., not us. When will we see them again? ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└ Exactly. We can’t even see their shadows.
└ ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ But let’s be patient. They make sure to open N Live regularly so we don’t feel left out.
└ Right. And they even show us their daily lives in the U.S. through their content. There are no idols more loving than them ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Just like that, half of the U.S. tour flew by.
As the Seattle tour ended and the LA tour approached, Blade Entertainment announced L.I.T’s next tour plans.
After the five-city North American tour concluded at the end of May, there would be a two-month break before resuming in August. They would then tour two cities in South America, two cities in Europe, and Osaka, Japan, before finishing with concerts in Busan and Seoul.
“Wow, Blade really knows how to make us emotional.”
Upon reading the article, Juhee let out a cheer.
She then put even more effort into creating L.I.T-related content.
Now that L.I.T was moving as top-tier artists, their fandom, Filament, also had to mature.
For the first time, she initiated a donation drive.
Everyone, did you know? Kang Leader, who won first place on Survival: Music Genius, donated his 100 million won prize to Habitat for Humanity, an international organization that builds wooden houses for people without homes.
As fans of such an amazing artist, let’s plant trees.
Each tree costs 10,000 won. Please join us in funding this.
To start, I’m planting 100 trees.
The tree-planting donation movement Juhee started quickly grew in scale within a few days.
In the end, L.I.T’s name once again appeared in the news unintentionally.
Like Artist, Like Fans: L.I.T and Filament Pioneer a New Fandom Culture.