#22

Idols in this world each have a "worldview" that they use in their activities.

Of course, it's not necessary to create a "worldview," but if you have one, it's easier to unfold the story and capture the character, so they say.

Still, though.

Dimensional travel and being a wizard, huh.

I wonder if I got caught, I froze in surprise for a moment, holding my breath quietly.

But as soon as I heard the next words from PD Pyo, I realized my concern was unfounded.

“The other guys seemed to turn into smoke and solidify into clear characters, making it likely they’d settle into the world seamlessly, you know?”

PD Pyo tapped the Enter key on his laptop, and a whole wall of worldview-related materials appeared on the conference room screen.

“But you? You have no distinct traits. You can’t act. You didn’t really have any noticeable charm, you know?”

Well, since Kang Ichan was exactly that kind of person, I silently nodded and slowly began reading the worldview.

L.I.T's worldview = Dimensional travel.

When human greed reached its limit, the angry supreme deity decided to... destroy the blue star 'Spherecron'. ...The five men opened the path of light (LIT = Lightning In Thunder) and escaped Spherecron, reaching Earth. Earth, a blue star similar to Spherecron...

A sigh escaped through my lips.

What kind of childish story is this?

So, that's why the team's name is L.I.T? Lightning In Thunder?

L.I.T's worldview = Dimensional travel.

When human greed reached its limit, the angry supreme deity decided to... destroy the blue star 'Spherecron'. ...The five men opened the path of light (LIT = Lightning In Thunder) and escaped Spherecron, reaching Earth. Earth, a blue star similar to Spherecron...

A sigh escaped through my lips.

What kind of childish story is this.

So, that's why the team's name is L.I.T? Lightning In Thunder?

Through Language Purification, it means thunder and lightning.

So, it’s like lightning striking down to this land. Well, something like that...

Do you really know? Or do you not?

For a moment, my head became confused.

Still, my eyes continued to take in the information.

<Character Descriptions>

Jaewon (Kim Jaewon): The sacred gardener of the Spherecron temple. Just before its explosion, he escaped while taking the "Seed of Souls." He later plants the "Seed of Souls" on Earth, striving to protect Earth as it heads toward its own destruction, much like Spherecron.

Siu (Yoon Siu): The spirit master of Spherecron and Jaewon’s friend. He escaped Spherecron just before its explosion with Jaewon. He helps Jaewon protect the "Seed of Souls."

Roa (Park Roa): The administrator of Spherecron. He accidentally witnesses Jaewon taking the "Seed of Souls" and follows him, eventually arriving on Earth.

Hanjoon (Han Junyoung): The warrior of Spherecron. Jaewon’s older brother, who accompanies the children on their journey to protect Jaewon and Siu.

Ichan (Kang Ichan): The magician of Spherecron. A 5th Circle black mage, he agreed to receive part of the "Seed of Souls" and opened the path of light for dimensional travel.

Wait a minute. A 5th Circle black mage?

What kind of nonsense is this?

"...So you're basically just a tool for dimensional travel? A mage who opens the door? I guess because you’re a bit gloomy, I just went with the whole black mage thing," PD Pyo Cheonhee explained non-stop about the world-building.

I shot him a cold stare.

For just a brief moment, Pyo Cheonhee flinched and stopped talking.

"…So, in the music video, the scene where you act was just about opening the dimensional door," PD Pyo Cheonhee continued.

"That's wrong."

Without taking my eyes off him, I slowly stood up.

"…W-what’s wrong?"

A sense of 《tension》 and 《bewilderment》 radiated from PD Pyo Cheonhee.

The others gathered in the meeting room were just as stunned.

"The dimensional door can't be opened with a 5th circle."

"…Really?"

PD Pyo Cheonhee swallowed dryly and stared at me silently.

"Then, what level does it open at?"

Such ignorant people who didn't even know such basic facts.

With a cold expression, I scanned the faces of everyone in the meeting room before quietly speaking up.

"9th circle."

A moment of silence filled the meeting room.

《Awe》

Seeing through the thoughts of PD Pyo, I slyly curled the corner of my lip upward.

Raising it just one more step, I could sense the feeling in his mind: 《This guy... Why does he seem so cool even when he's spouting nonsense?》

Yeah, it would seem cool. No matter what nonsense I say, it'll come off as cool.

Now that the mana of this world has started to move towards me, people will instinctively feel awe towards me.

And that's something I can't control, nor can others just brush off.

The logic of mana works like that.

Of course, it would only apply to those who feel favorably towards me. Those who hate me will feel not awe, but fear.

For now, everyone gathered in this room, without exception, feels 《awe》.

Well, except for Han Junyoung, who's distracted by secretly playing a game.

"You need at least the 9th circle to open a dimensional gate. It's not something easy."

The people who were looking at me with serious faces. Some of them were even jotting down my words in their notebooks.

"And I'm not a black mage. I'm a light mage."

"Th-that's right, I think."

Manager Kim Hyerim nodded, almost in a trance, as she responded.

Hyerim was one of the people who had been diligently writing down what I said.

For a moment, the 《awe》 around me wavered, and everyone's gaze shifted to Hyerim.

Feeling very nervous, she stammered as she continued speaking.

"R-Right now... looking at Kang Ichan, light magic fits his image better than black magic. The colors match, and the energy he gives off does too."

This time, the PR team leader, Jang Yujin, chimed in.

"I think the same."

Jang Yujin, with her cheeks slightly flushed, carefully looked at me.

"From the current SNS and community reactions, it seems that among the members, Ichan is getting the most attention."

She then tapped on her laptop and brought up the analysis from the PR team, displaying it on the wall where the world-building materials were.

"I think we should shift the position to expose Ichan more from now on."

Following her, A&R team leader Park Jiwoo added her input.

"How about giving Ichan the lead dancer or lead vocal position in the next song? Or maybe both would work.”

"Exactly. He's been standing out in both dance and vocals" 

Agreed choreographer Ji Youngjun.

With the exception of Director Gong Seokho and Director Yang Jaecheol, everyone had chimed in, taking their turns.

As I watched the scene unfold, PD Pyo eventually let out a hollow laugh.

"This guy..."

He then stared at me quietly.

"How did you manage to stay so quiet for those 17 months?"

Before the accident, Kang Ichan was colorless, flavorless, scentless.

Director Gong Seokho had said that. It seemed like Producer Pyo wanted to say the same thing.

But it was a phrase I didn’t want to hear twice.

For this great body to be colorless, flavorless, and scentless—it was impossible.

"So, you don't like it?"

It might have come off as a bit arrogant.

Right now, Producer Pyo probably saw me as nothing more than a nineteen-year-old boy.

But this man gave a slightly different answer.

"No, I like it."

Even without any hint of emotion, I could clearly read Producer Pyo's thoughts.

"Very much."

It wasn’t to the point where hearts were drawn in his eyes, but his gaze conveyed a deep affection toward me.

Of course, it's not affection in an emotional sense.

It's the kind of anticipation created by Pyo Cheonhee's animal instincts, the music god, hitmaker, and genius producer, who is known for his keen sense.

"We'll have to see more, but right now, you're at a level where you could stand at the forefront."

Right now, Producer Pyo Cheonhee views me as a newly discovered 'gem.' The way he looks at me with eyes shining brightly reminds me of the gaze my first mentor had when they discovered me.

"I know this may sound harsh, but I'm actually glad the accident happened, and that you lost your memory."

[I'm sorry to say this, but I'm actually glad that the accident happened and your parents passed away.]

Is he seriously throwing the same line?

My Master. I remember you being so shocked when I surpassed you after seven years.

Well, whatever. If I’m going to live in this world, I guess I have to play along with these people, so let’s just go with it for now.

"Yes. I also think it's a relief that I lost my memory."

I shrugged and flopped back down into my seat with a nonchalant expression.

"I really don’t want to remember how much of a worthless human I must've been to deserve this kind of treatment."

Flustered by my words, PD Pyo waved his hand dismissively.

"No, it wasn't like that. You had your own..."

"Well, it's no use trying to clean it up now after you’ve already said everything."

It was a grumpy remark, but I said it with just a hint of playful sarcasm.

PD Pyo awkwardly scratched his head, and the others in the room awkwardly chuckled.

"But, PD-nim,"

The tone shifted slightly.

"It seems like the main point of today’s meeting is missing."

They called this early meeting, gathered everyone here, and all we're talking about is the "worldview"?

"I understand well what activities we need to do and what the CEO expects from me."

The people gathered in this room seem more focused on placing me and the members of L.I.T. on a bigger stage.

That’s because it’ll ultimately determine the fate of the company they’re all a part of.

Of course, I do not, not understand that.

I, too, had once put in all my effort to bring the guild I belonged to the top spot in Parapara.

"I'll do my best as soon as the company gives me the opportunity."

But now, I'm not the same person I was back then.

I’m no longer part of a guild, and there’s no guild I need to protect.

"To do that, there's one thing you absolutely have to do."

"What... are you talking about?"

"A promise to prevent the incident that happened in front of the dorm today from happening again."

If there's anything I need to protect in this world, it's only myself.

"At the very least, you should ensure our safety."

And maybe the members of L.I.T, who consider me their leader.