translation by mourningmoor
Amidst the roaring applause, the red lights that had been pouring down dimmed.
The reaction was overwhelming.
I held my breath, surrounded by the dense waves of mana.
Come to think of it, this was the first time since the Golden Disc Awards that we had such a stage.
The number of audience members was nowhere near that of an awards ceremony, but the concentration of mana was incredibly high.
The audience seemed slightly older than the typical idol fanbase, but their sincerity in pouring their hearts into the stage was unmatched.
It was a satisfying performance.
The reaction was satisfying.
Having absorbed such a high concentration of mana, I focused it into my core and circulated my magical energy. My breathing quickly stabilized.
The results were good too.
We scored significantly higher than the teams that performed before us, so instead of returning to the waiting room, we stayed by the stage.
Next was a vocalist with incredible singing skills, but the stage setup was slightly lacking, so the score fell short. Still, it was an impressive performance.
Then came Min Jungwook, the star of Eternal Legend.
With his handsome face, incredible physique, explosive vocal power, rich emotion, and the addition of a children’s choir, Min Jungwook, as always, delivered a performance that struck a chord with everyone.
I could see most of the audience tearing up.
“We lost.”
Hanjoon’s voice quietly reached my ears.
Jaewon nodded in fervent agreement.
“Yeah. We lost.”
As Hanjoon and Jaewon had predicted, we lost. But the fact that we lost by just 2 points against the formidable Min Jungwook became a significant talking point.
After finishing the recording for Eternal Legend, we realized one important thing.
“That was really fun.”
Those were Roa’s words as soon as we returned to the dorm.
The kid, whose ears had turned red earlier, had been silent but was clearly extremely excited. Once he started talking, he wouldn’t stop, chattering noisily.
Jaewon enthusiastically agreed with Roa.
“Yeah. It was really fun. The stage is still the best.”
There was no disagreement with Jaewon’s words.
The kids had realized that the stage was the best.
That singing and dancing on stage was the most thrilling.
They all chimed in, saying variety shows were fun, but nothing could compare to the stage.
I felt the same way.
I was happiest when singing and dancing on stage.
Somehow, even though I was bound by the constraints of being L.I.T, on stage, I felt free.
Moreover, when the chemistry between the kids and me clicked perfectly, it felt like my adrenaline was at its peak.
Add to that the high concentration and volume of mana, and it was beyond words.
I couldn’t wait to get back on stage.
“By the way, Kang Ichan. How did you come up with this stage?”
“Right. This stage was your idea, Ichan. It was really amazing.”
Hanjoon’s words were echoed by Siu.
As the kids said, I was in charge of planning this stage.
From song selection and arrangement to the theme and atmosphere of the stage, I decided everything. Combined with Director Gong Seokho’s perfectly matched choreography, it created a breathtakingly beautiful stage.
It wasn’t smooth sailing from the start.
I had a lot of concerns even at the song selection stage.
The stage where we could show a new side of ourselves with a song that wasn’t ours happened to be Eternal Legend, and the episode we were appearing in featured the national singer Lim Cheol.
First of all, there were too many performers.
This put us at a disadvantage in song selection. We were scheduled to perform last.
Because we were newcomers.
And the remaining songs were clearly the ones that hadn’t been chosen for a reason.
The songs with a sophisticated vibe or strong impact had all been taken, leaving only gloomy ballads.
We had to create a fantastic performance with these songs, so I agonized over it.
Then, one thing came to mind.
It was around the time I had become a Grand Mage, about ten years ago.
A minor demon sealed in the “Valley of Deep Sorrow” had awakened and thrown the world into chaos.
The demon’s method of seducing people was the “incubus.”
An incubus that secretly infiltrates dreams and slowly devours souls.
The incubus, heartbreakingly beautiful, was unrealistically stunning even at the moment of its demise.
That’s why I chose In the Dream.
The viewers of Eternal Legend, slightly removed from the typical idol fanbase. I wanted to infiltrate their hearts like an incubus and steal them away.
And I used a little, just a little, magic.
I lowered the temperature of the venue by about 4 degrees and created an eerie light that couldn’t possibly be made with stage lighting.
As if they were truly in a dream, as if they had truly met an incubus.
It infiltrated their minds.
Thanks to that, I was able to gather a high concentration of mana.
“The stage was… pretty good, huh? Seeing Hanjoon’s face?”
Not just the other kids, but even Hanjoon, who’s usually stingy with compliments, was so excited his nostrils were flaring. The members’ reactions were beyond expectations.
“Pretty good? Is that all? It was really good.”
So excited, he unabashedly grabbed my shoulders with both hands.
It was an action unimaginable from the usual Hanjoon.
“I loved it. It was freaking amazing.”
After getting all excited and raising his voice, he seemed a bit embarrassed himself.
Hanjoon, quickly composing himself, coughed a couple of times and subtly stepped back.
“Ah, let’s work hard on preparing for the stage from now on. Comeback is just around the corner.”
After catching their breath at the dorm for a while, the kids headed back to the company without hesitation.
They were determined to focus on practice for a satisfying stage.
* * *
March 1st, exactly two weeks until the comeback.
I heard that the concept photos for the digital single would be released today.
That means our photos will be plastered on the walls next to the company entrance and in the lobby again.
The amount of practice has increased, and so has the intensity.
Since it’s a digital single this time, it’s good that we can focus on one song.
No need to worry about first-week sales or numbers, which is nice.
Then Roa came into the practice room carrying a black plastic bag.
It seems Roa, who lost the ice cream bet earlier, had gone to the convenience store.
“Hyung, on my way back from the convenience store, I saw our concept photos are already up.”
“Really? In the lobby too?”
Hanjoon, who was stretching, asked, and Roa nodded.
“Yes. And the event for Ichan hyung’s birthday is in full swing.”
“Birthday event?”
I looked up from reviewing the practice video we had just filmed.
“Yeah. Hyung’s birthday is March 3rd, right? The café next to the company is covered in your photos.”
What are you talking about? My photos in a café?
“They must have opened an event café. Wow, Ichan hyung’s popularity is insane.”
Jaewon gave a thumbs up.
A birthday event? I didn’t know they did that.
Actually, I hadn’t been outside the company for almost ten days.
Even when I did go out, it was from the parking lot to the filming set and back to the parking lot, then to the 3rd-floor practice room or workroom. That was the extent of my movement.
There was just that much work.
Preparing for L.I.T’s digital single Cotton Candy, Dinaple’s full album, and even Ga Yuna’s solo song.
Ah, yesterday we also shot the poster for Hotel Ohana. Recorded narration too. And we had to film a promotional video for Idol Olympics.
We were slicing and dicing every 24 hours.
Because I had reduced the frequency of using time-expansion magic.
As time went on, I realized Yoo Noah was right.
No matter how much mana pours in, if the body holding the magical energy is weak, it’s useless.
Even if the mana becomes more abundant and I can use more magic, if my body can’t keep up, it’s all for nothing.
It meant I needed to strengthen my body as much as possible now.
So I minimized the use of magical energy.
Especially the mind-reading and time-expansion magic, which consume a lot of magical energy, were reduced to the absolute minimum.
Instead, physical time was being drained.
Naturally, I couldn’t return to the dorm, and naturally, I didn’t realize my birthday was approaching.
In two days, it would be my birthday.
Mine and Kang Ichan’s birthday. March 3rd.
“What’s an event café?”
I hadn’t been checking the fan café properly lately.
Roa checks the fan café and SNS situation daily and briefs us, so that’s about it.
“Around a celebrity’s birthday, the inside and outside of a café are covered with their photos, and if you buy an event set, they give out goods to celebrate the celebrity’s birthday…”
“Goods? You mean our official goods?”
Roa, who had been answering like an AI, corrected me.
“No. Fans make the goods themselves. During the event period, even the paper cups have the celebrity’s face on them…”
This time, Jaewon covered Roa’s mouth.
“Seeing is believing.”
Then he pulled my arm.
“Let’s go see for ourselves.”
Roa nodded so hard it looked like his head might fall off.
“It’s good to go out a bit, hyungnim. You haven’t seen sunlight in a while.”
Yeah, I hadn’t seen sunlight. I was too busy to even go out for morning exercise.
Eventually, pretending to be reluctant, I was dragged by the maknae line into the elevator.
“Look, hyung. Our poster is even in the elevator.”
Roa said with a bright smile.
“Yeah.”
The concept photos turned out quite well.
L.I.T, dressed in fresh casual styles, holding colorful pastel cotton candy.
Roa playfully bringing the cotton candy to his lips, Jaewon with his thumb to his lips as if he’s already taken a bite, Siu holding the cotton candy with both hands and smiling brightly, Hanjoon hesitating whether to eat the cotton candy, and me examining the cotton candy as if analyzing it.
It was a fun concept photo.
And our hair colors had returned to what they were at debut.
Pink hair and mint hair.
Definitely eye-catching.
“Are you going out like that?”
These kids, aren’t they getting too lax just because it’s in front of the company?
“Shouldn’t you wear hats? What if fans swarm us?”
Roa gave a sly smile.
“Hyung, don’t worry. Filaments are on another level of consideration.”
I wondered what he meant.
But as soon as we stepped out of the company entrance, I understood.
As we appeared at the entrance, shouts came from everywhere.
“Kyaha, it’s Ichan!”
“Roa!”
“Jjan!”
Roa, with his eyes curved into a smile, waved slightly, and the noise grew louder.
“Hyung, the fans don’t cross a certain line.”
It was true. They shouted and took photos but didn’t approach.
“A new rule was added to the fan café.”
He showed me the fan café rules on his phone.
Additional Rules:
Visiting the company is fine, but don’t do anything that would make the members uncomfortable.
The area near the company or dorm is the members’ private space. Do not approach within 3 meters of the members.
If you spot a sasaeng fan, report them immediately. Also, reflect daily on whether you yourself are a sasaeng.
When did these rules come into place?
It was slightly surprising, but also very grateful. Very much so.
After winning the rookie awards, even going to the convenience store near the company was a hassle.
The company told me to ask the road manager, but I couldn’t bother him with every little errand.
Every time I went to the convenience store, I dressed almost in disguise, but fans still recognized me and swarmed from all directions.
It’s nice to be loved, but it was really burdensome.
But they should at least let me live a basic life.
Seeing them create these rules and follow them themselves was truly touching.
That’s why the corners of my mouth turned up.
“Ah, this hyung seems to be in a good mood. Seeing the corners of your mouth rise.”
“Yeah. It feels good.”
I waved to the fans and carefully moved forward.
Shutters clicked everywhere, and louder cheers followed.
Hearing foreign languages mixed in, it seemed there were international fans too.
I wasn’t dressed up, but I allowed them to take photos.
I felt I should at least provide some fan service this way.
“Hyung, that’s the café.”
Roa pointed to the café with his finger.
Then, the fans who realized our destination made way for us.
It was almost like parting the waters with magic to create a path.
It felt strange. Seeing this kind of magic.
Bowing gratefully to the fans, we headed straight into the event café.
Fans inside ordering drinks, sitting and drinking coffee, all shouted but didn’t approach.
At most, they exchanged a few words.
“Happy birthday, Kang Ichan.”
“Thank you.”
“All three of you are so handsome.”
“Thank you.”
“Gracias.”
Somehow, my chest felt warm, and a sense of debt washed over me like a tide.
After ordering five event sets, I looked back outside the café.
Everyone was busy flashing their cameras towards the inside of the café.
“Excuse me, owner.”
When I called the café owner, who was busy making coffee, he immediately came over.
“Please add 100 event sets to the bill.”
“Huh?”
“I saw about forty people outside. Please give one to each after we leave. And to those who come later.”
Then I handed my card to the owner.
“And give one more to everyone inside the café.”
The café erupted in cheers as if it might lift off.
Outside, fans craned their necks, asking, “What’s going on?”
We quickly moved back to the company with our event sets.
Before entering the company, I turned to the fans and said,
“Thank you, Filaments, for the event. Please go to the café now and get a set each. It’s a gift.”
Then, an enormous cheer filled the street in front of the company.