translation by mourningmoor
In the pitch-black stage, faint movements could be felt.
Eighteen shadows quietly moved into position.
As the figures diligently found their places and formed their line-up, soft murmurs spread among the audience.
At that moment, bright lights illuminated the stage, and the powerful intro of an EDM track began to play.
It was ARECHE by ARCHE.
Fans of the three idol groups, who filled the venue, let out a unified cheer.
On the bright stage, the LED screen was painted red, and an extravagant group dance unfolded.
Then, beams of red lasers shot straight down from the ceiling lights.
Wearing slim-fit white suits paired with black ribbon ties, MuteSeven stepped out of the group dance and began singing:
Worn-out gazes lift me up, rushing forward. (All the way to the end)
Colors of light dance seductively, as if tempting. (tempting moment)
Don’t stop me, don’t block me. I’ll run beyond that line.
Over the horizon.
The LED screen turned a bright yellow, and the vertically falling lasers shifted to a shade of orange.
With that, MuteSeven melted back into the group choreography, and Möbius burst forward. Dressed sharply in wine-colored suits, Möbius roamed the stage, exuding their usual concept of seductive charisma.
I’m falling for you. This is an inevitable fate. (my destiny)
Look into my heart, it’s chaos time filled with you.
Don’t say it’s not, because I’m running toward you now.
Over the rainbow.
And soon, the stage was enveloped in a bright blue light, evoking the clarity of dawn just before sunrise.
L.I.T, who had been standing back-to-back with Möbius, turned and surged forward.
Dressed in glittering black suits with chokers adorning their necks, L.I.T exuded a more dreamlike aura than ever before.
Moreover, they showcased a restrained yet alluring gaze—something coy yet sexy, unlike anything they had ever revealed before.
When they tilted their head slightly and lowered their gaze, piercing screams erupted from every corner of the audience. The faint smile they offered in response to the cheers was utterly captivating.
You want me too, don’t you? Your heart says it all.
Shaking, trembling, electrified—it’s a side of me I’ve never known.
Invite you. Into my world. I’ll trap you inside.
Over the new moon.
And then, the three teams intermingled, transitioning into the chorus with synchronized choreography.
Despite being distinct groups, their collaboration showcased a semblance of precise teamwork, with moments of near-perfect synchronization shining through.
However, as the groups blended together, it became evident which team held the upper hand in skill and performance.
Then came the dance break.
The highlight of the evening began.
In the original song, the dance break lasts a fleeting 10 seconds, but these rookie idols drastically trimmed the vocal sections, cleverly rearranging the interlude to create an extended dance break sequence.
The audience erupted into wild cheers the moment it started.
This was because MuteSeven had opened the dance break with a dazzling display of technical skill.
True to their reputation for acrobatic performances, MuteSeven delivered a dynamic showcase. Their stage radiated raw, animalistic masculinity, captivating everyone in attendance.
The Muses, screaming at the top of their lungs, shouted the names of their oppas, nearly fainting from excitement.
Then, it was Möbius’s turn. Their fan club, Mövings, picked up the baton of cheers, roaring in unison.
The sultry and seductive stage, fitting for a group of "sexy idols," turned the pre-recording site into a searing hot frenzy.
But when L.I.T's performance began, all the previous acts were completely forgotten.
This was something else entirely—the way they moved their bodies was on a completely different level.
From the movements of their upper and lower bodies, the tilt of their necks, the flow of their fingers, the placement of their toes, even down to the angle of their gazes—everything was flawless.
It felt as though three separate entities had fused into one seamless organism.
Roa moved with an ethereal lightness that made his body seem weightless. Jaewon struck powerfully, charging forward with force. Ichan was smooth, exuding a subtle sophistication that elevated the performance.
The three unique styles of dance flowed together as one, creating a breathtaking unity that sent chills down the audience’s spines.
And one more thing.
On L.I.T's performance stage, a strange light shimmered faintly.
At first, one might think it was just an illusion. Was it because they used different lighting than the other teams? Or was it L.I.T's own radiance? Amidst the intense blue stage backdrop and the piercing laser beams, something sparkled as it fluttered through the air.
It made the stage look intensely dreamlike, evoking the illusion that one had truly landed on the moon.
Perhaps it was being captivated by that peculiar light. Even the Mövings, stirred by L.I.T's performance, let out deafening cheers. Some Muses also screamed so loudly it felt like their voices could tear the air.
Even the members of MuteSeven and Möbius, waiting backstage, couldn’t help but be entranced.
And then, Kim Jeongsoo leaned into Junhee’s ear and whispered in a barely audible voice.
“We lost. L.I.T won by a landslide.”
* * *
There was no doubt that L.I.T won the dance break battle on the M-start stage with a landslide victory.
It wasn't just their dance skills, but the elegant dance break they showcased between the two groups that aimed to express sexy, L.I.T clearly stood out.
And most of the people there were captivated by L.I.T.
It was a perfect victory.
For the first time in a long while, I was completely immersed in the joy of victory.
My heart was pounding as if it was about to burst, and goosebumps ran down my spine.
That night, drenched in thrilling joy, I was able to sweetly fall into sleep, which I had delayed for two days.
But the end was extremely unpleasant.
Around dawn, a terrible nightmare came to me.
Drenched in sweat, I jolted awake from my sleep and immediately looked up at the window.
It was still before the sun had risen.
“Ha, damn. What kind of unlucky dream is this...?”
Goosebumps ran all over my body.
The memory I had forgotten was creeping back, consuming my mind.
[At last, we meet. Sorcerer of Light.]
Grayland Plateau, it was the exact moment I faced the Demon King.
I couldn't remember anything else. He had a very beautiful body, ash-colored hair, and blood-red eyes.
His voice was dark but sweet, his gaze was cruel yet deep.
And the "mental encroachment" that quickly penetrated my mind.
The Demon King's signature "mental magic" was being displayed with dazzling flair.
But there was no way his "mental encroachment" would work on me.
Cornered, the Demon King began babbling nonsense.
[You, who alone possess the noble light. You cannot defeat me.]
[No, that’s not true. I’m going to win.]
[If I were you, instead of fighting me, I would join hands with you.]
The voices of Raeren and Salimandra, who had been guarding my sides, didn’t seem to hear the Demon King's words. He must have used telepathy, one of his mental magic spells.
[I actually quite like you.]
Yes, even the Demon King, who had lived for two thousand years, had said that he liked me. A true idol. An idol of radiant light.
[Yeah, I like myself too. But what can I do? I don’t like you. So, let’s just go. Don’t waste time.]
With that, I opened a portal.
I shoved the weakened Demon King into the portal and then threw myself in after him.
[Great Wizard!]
I think I heard Salimandra’s panicked voice briefly. And then, darkness enveloped the entire world. Until that point, it seemed the Demon King and I were still connected through ‘telepathy.’
I could hear the Demon King's voice, filled with despair.
[Choosing to vanish with me... how foolish.]
[For the prosperity of Armania, I too must cease to exist in this world, just like you. Farewell, Demon King.]
As soon as I finished saying those words, I was engulfed in white light. The very same light that brought me to Kang Ichan.
That’s when the dream ended.
However, it was too vivid to just be a dream, and the sensations I felt that day kept resurfacing sharply.
For a brief moment, there was a connection between my mind and the Demon King’s.
It was made possible because our ‘mental encroachment’ and my ‘sense of presence’ were both simultaneously directed towards each other.
And what I felt from the Demon King at that time was...
《Endless emptiness》, 《Deep sighs》, 《Intense loneliness》, 《Terrifying eternity》...
It was unsettling. It gave me chills.
It was because it was so similar to me.
Kicking off the blanket, I immediately went out for my morning exercise.
It was to clear my mind and empty out the clutter.
* * *
Failing to clear my mind, I came up with another hypothesis.
Come to think of it, since coming to this world, I’ve constantly been forming hypotheses. It might seem pathetic, but it was something I couldn’t avoid.
This place is that unfamiliar to me.
There’s no way around it but to keep figuring out what’s right and what’s wrong.
And so, I came up with one hypothesis.
This time, I really hope that this hypothesis is wrong.
“Ichan-ssi, are you tired?”
The makeup artist, who had been carefully applying my eye makeup with a fine brush, suddenly paused.
“Should I bring you a bottle of Big House if you’re feeling sleepy?”
It’s not that I’m sleepy. It’s just that this situation is annoying.
But, well, if they’re offering Big House, I have no intention of turning it down.
“I wouldn’t refuse if you offer it.”
“Alright. Drink a bottle of Big House, and relax your brow a bit. You’ll get wrinkles. If you’re sleepy, don’t hold back, just sleep.”
With a bright smile, the makeup artist opened the Big House bottle and handed it to me.
Now that I think about it, I must have been furrowing my brow the whole time since I woke up from that nightmare.
I nodded as I took the Big House.
“My apologies.”
“Oh, there’s no need to apologize to me. You’re too kind, Ichan-ssi. I was just wondering if Ichan-ssi was tired or worried about something. When you’re frowning like this, when the camera zooms in later, your forehead wrinkles will be obvious. And then...”
The makeup artist, who always had something to say, chuckled and resumed applying the brush.
As I listened to her endless chatter, my mind circled back to the hypothesis I had come up with.
If I passed through the dimensional portal and didn’t disappear, then what if the Demon King didn’t disappear either and still exists in this world?
If I entered Kang Ichan’s body, what if that guy has taken over someone else’s body?
That would be a real mess.
Even as I was getting my makeup done, heading toward MBS for the final stage, my head was filled with that one thought.
What if Demon King Daimon still exists in this world?
Should I just turn a blind eye and live on? Or should I track him down and deal with him first?
No, how on earth would I even find that bastard in this vast world?
For now, I’d have to find him first before deciding whether to turn a blind eye or deal with him.
Honestly, it felt like I’d thought through every possible scenario in a short amount of time. But, in the end, it was all for nothing.
An unexpected guest showed up at the L.I.T. waiting room.