translation by mourningmoor
That filthy bastard.
I barely held back the curse that was about to slip out and forced a smile.
"Yeah, thanks to you."
There were too many eyes watching.
Moreover, given Jung Yoobin's background, it was a situation where any rash move could easily backfire on me.
After all, he thinks my memories are twisted, and he’s using that as an excuse to spin all sorts of lies.
So, I decided to wait and see.
Lies are ultimately a noose you tie around your own neck.
Eventually, the lies you weave will come back to strangle you.
That’s just how the world works.
"How have you been?"
"Yeah. I decided to go back to my roots and start over. We trusted and relied too much on Wooyoung…"
Oh, so now you’re selling out Kim Wooyoung?
So, you’re saying that Kim Wooyoung was entirely at fault, and you guys were just blindly following him, right?
"But I’m really glad you didn’t get hurt much and that your team is doing well."
Is that really the case? It sounds like you’re just saying what you think I want to hear.
I activated the first stage of Mind Reading to probe Jung Yoobin’s thoughts.
But still, nothing came through.
‘Then, second stage.’
Still nothing.
It worked just fine when we first met.
"Thanks for worrying about me."
So, I need to address one thing here.
"Jung Yoobin. Do you happen to know ARCHE?"
"ARCHE?"
"Yeah."
The fact that Mind Reading, which worked before, isn’t working now means something’s wrong.
If he were under the Demon King’s control like Yoo Noah, it would make sense that I can’t read his mind. But an ordinary human shouldn’t be able to block my Mind Reading.
Ultimately, it means there’s some force blocking me from Jung Yoobin.
The most likely possibility is that it’s related to the Demon King.
"Is there anyone in Korea who doesn’t know ARCHE?"
Not the answer I was hoping for.
But it was enough time to observe his expression.
"Not just knowing about them. Are you close with Yoo Noah, the sunbaenim?"
For a brief moment, Jung Yoobin was at a loss for words.
He seemed to be racking his brain, wondering why I was asking him this.
Yeah, Jung Yoobin is that kind of bastard.
The first time we met in the Music City hallway, I caught a glimpse of his mind for a brief moment.
From what I remember, this guy was a high-level idiot. But at the same time, he hated revealing his true self in front of others.
He was the kind of person who thrived on hiding behind someone else and doing dirty work. And the puppet he chose was Kim Wooyoung.
This kind of person would never reveal their true nature to an enemy.
But at the same time, his desire to show off is strong, so he wouldn’t hide it if he were close with ARCHE.
"No, I respect him as a sunbaenim, but I don’t know him personally. Yoo Noah sunbaenim is famous for not mingling with other singers."
Everyone says this. Yoo Noah doesn’t mingle with other singers. But he’s close with you, so you’re one of the chosen ones. I’m jealous.
For a moment, a flicker of "envy" crossed Jung Yoobin’s face.
"But why are you asking that?"
Jung Yoobin’s eyes glinted with wariness as he asked.
"Well. You two seem like a good match (very similar). I was wondering if you’d like me to introduce you."
Jung Yoobin’s narrow eyes narrowed even further.
If, by any chance, this bastard is actually connected to Yoo Noah, this would be a sufficient warning. It’s a message telling him not to act up while hiding behind Yoo Noah.
Just then.
"Yoobin-ah."
A woman called out to Jung Yoobin cheerfully.
Jung Yoobin turned his head toward the voice with a bright smile.
Naturally, my and Kim Jeongsoo’s gazes followed.
And my expression grew even colder than before.
Aki, the one who broke Siu’s finger, had appeared before my eyes.
* * *
Surprisingly, Jung Yoobin and Aki knew each other.
No, more than that, Aki, who was supposed to be reflecting on her actions, was appearing as a panelist on the station’s special program. I couldn’t believe what was happening.
I was so disgusted that anger surged to the top of my head.
But the more that happened, the calmer my mind needed to be. That’s my principle.
I haven’t lived 318 years for nothing.
Moreover, Aki, that woman, had been targeting me relentlessly, so I had to stay sharp.
I lost count of how many times I had to pick up the mic, even though I didn’t have the right to speak in the discussion.
The topic at hand was the characterization of idols.
It was about how idols, in particular, are forced into specific characters.
Because of this, idol agencies are busy building worldviews, and concepts are centered around storytelling based on those worldviews.
Aki was passionately arguing about the side effects of idol characterization. Then, she called my name again.
"Kang Ichan?"
I, who had been quietly listening, picked up the mic.
"Yes."
The panelists’ attention turned to me.
I had already answered Aki’s sharp questions several times.
"The importance of an idol’s character can’t be overstated. It becomes their selling point. But when young idols have to act out characters completely different from their real selves, it must be exhausting, right?"
So, Aki is trying to say that idols are rotten on the inside, despite their outward appearances. That everything they show is an act.
Of course, that’s true in some cases. Jung Yoobin is a prime example.
"Do you think Kang Ichan’s current image is also an act?"
Well, it is an act.
A 318-year-old Grand Mage pretending to be a 20-year-old idol.
"It’s hard to speak for all idols. Nothing is 100%. I’ll limit my answer to my team."
From the start, Aki had been deliberately throwing difficult, sensitive questions at me. Questions that could easily land me in hot water if I slipped up.
This question was no different.
That’s why I limited my answer to my team. To avoid targeting other idols.
"Building a worldview isn’t about creating an idol’s character, as others have mentioned. It’s about creating a playground where idols and fandoms can interact and have fun together."
The other idols nodded in agreement.
"In L.I.T’s worldview, my role is a mage, but I don’t actually look like a mage, right?"
This time, laughter broke out. Kim Jeongsoo, sitting next to me, also giggled.
"And I don’t look like a mage on stage either."
"So, are you saying that your stage persona is your true self? That you’re that cool and amazing?"
"Do I look cool and amazing? Thank you for seeing me that way."
I thanked her first, even though her compliment was laced with malice. Aki’s face stiffened.
"Of course, my stage persona isn’t my true self either. I’m performing as an idol singer. I’m acting according to the music."
"So, it’s still acting, right?"
Aki sneered and looked around at the panelists with a triumphant expression.
"Ultimately, characters are created based on what’s seen on stage or in music videos, and fans who only chase those characters end up disappointed by the real person. There’s a huge gap."
"No, that’s not what I meant."
I countered Aki’s words.
"I’ve heard that in the past, people would define an idol’s character based solely on their stage persona. But it’s harder to do that these days."
Even though I wasn’t a panelist, I found myself jumping into the discussion again.
No, this is ultimately a fight between me and Aki.
"Take us, for example. We communicate with our fans in various ways. Fans are watching us even off-stage. Our practice sessions, our childish fights over room assignments, our struggles with harsh diets."
As I went through each point, the panelists began nodding in agreement. The idols, in particular, nodded faster and faster.
"Even our bathroom cleaning sessions are shared with the world."
In this world, everything is shared—who talks to whom during music show finales, who’s close with whom.
"Idol characterization is no longer limited to the stage."
Then, Kim Jeongsoo suddenly chimed in.
"That’s right. Kang Ichan’s character… is 200% true to his real self. I can vouch for that."
The host picked up the mic. I thought he was going to stop Jeongsoo since he wasn’t a panelist, but he didn’t.
"Ichan’s character is quite diverse, but the Arctic Cat is popular, right? Cold and intellectual."
"Yes."
At the host’s words, Jeongsoo nodded with a smile.
"Seeing him today, I can definitely see it. Cold, intellectual, and very serious?"
Everyone nodded, but since I didn’t react, the host joked.
"It’s a compliment, so it’s okay to smile."
A compliment? Funny.
Arctic Cat—how far are they going to push this image, even on a public broadcast?
I didn’t feel like smiling, but I couldn’t afford to upset the broadcast staff, so I forced a smile.
Then, Jeongsoo waved his hand and stepped in again.
"He’s smiling a lot by his standards. This guy doesn’t usually smile much. That’s why Kang Ichan’s smile is considered a rare item."
"Kim Jeongsoo from Möbius, your character is the Golden Retriever, right? That seems spot on. Good job."
Jeongsoo’s meddling is reaching national treasure levels at this point. The host seems to have caught on too.
I didn’t feel like maintaining the forced smile anymore, so I drank the water in front of me.
Then, the host wrapped up the discussion topic.
"Let’s vote. Idols in the witness seats, if your character reflects your true self, press green. If not, press red."
* * *
It was a grueling filming session, as frustrating as it was.
But it wasn’t without its gains.
After I won the verbal spar with Aki, the idols on the panel started actively participating in the discussion.
Today’s idols are highly trained elites.
Speech, attitude, foreign languages, manners.
There’s nothing they haven’t been trained in.
Moreover, the idols invited here are the toughest of the tough, having survived countless competitions. Among them, the leaders of each group are the toughest of all.
When Aki directed her venom at such individuals, it was only natural that the atmosphere shifted.
After securing a victory in the third topic, "Idol Characterization," the idols began actively defending themselves in the following topics, eventually becoming the stars of the discussion.
What happened to Aki, you ask?
In short, she got wrecked.
* * *
On the way back to the dorm.
Lost in thought, I began piecing together the strange details.
Jung Yoobin, who harbors malice toward me—Mind Reading doesn’t work on him.
What about Aki?
Mind Reading didn’t work on her either.
I couldn’t get a single glimpse into Aki’s mind.
What’s the reason?
In this world, does having absolute malice toward me block Mind Reading? Or is there another reason?
My hypothesis was "Yoo Noah," but if that’s not it, then what?
An unpleasant sensation crawled up my spine.
I took out my phone, opened the messenger, and hesitated for a long time.
On the screen, the words "<2000-Year-Old Trash>" shone brightly.
What was the last message we exchanged?
2000-Year-Old Trash
Hoobaenim. Are you at the 3rd Circle yet? Eternal Legend was pretty good, right?
Piss off.
That was the last one. Piss off.
I let out a long sigh and, for the first time, sent a message to the Demon King first.
Are you free to talk?