Chapter 579
Chapter 579
“Whew.”
Ryu Gun-woo, also known as Keun-dal, pressed a hand against his thumping heart and opened his laptop in the hospital room.
It was only possible because his brother had stopped by the studio apartment on his way out and sent it via quick-service courier.
Even though he must have been busy preparing for the concert, he had taken the time to consider Gun-woo’s situation. Gun-woo felt both apologetic and grateful.
…Especially since he had been nothing but a burden lately.
If it had ended there, Keun-dal’s guilt might have deepened, but Park Moon-dae had added a casual remark afterward.
He had been given a job to do.
That was why Keun-dal was now diligently logging into his account on his laptop.
‘It’s been a while.’
To be honest, he had been consciously avoiding TeSTAR’s content recently.
Ever since his brother told him to find his own life—the life of Ryu Gun-woo—Moon-dae had abruptly stopped confiding in him about TeSTAR’s problems.
Even though he knew that wasn't the intention, it had felt as if he were being told they should no longer concern themselves with each other…
He had tried his best to follow that advice, spending money and time trying to do something on his own.
But it wasn't fun. Life had only become more numbing…
“…….”
No. If he kept thinking like this, he would only be a burden to his brother again.
‘Let’s cheer up!’
He took a deep, conscious breath, finished logging in, and accessed the concert streaming site.
He was about to naturally navigate to the payment page when a pop-up suddenly blocked the screen.
A newly added feature was flashing garishly.
[4K VR Streaming Support]
: Experience the heat of the venue more realistically than the front row!
“Huh?”
VR.
While it literally meant Virtual Reality, it was also used these days to refer to video viewing where one could see in a full 360-degree range.
And this was clearly the latter.
‘But I don’t have a device for that…’
Just as he was about to reflexively close the pop-up, it hit him.
‘Ah!’
He remembered!
Not long ago, the device his brother had sent as a birthday present was a VR headset!
At the time, he had felt sorry that he couldn't even bring himself to use it properly due to a strange sense of lethargy.
‘I want to try using it now.’
It wouldn't have mattered if it wasn't here, but surprisingly, that very item was inside the box his brother had sent!
“Wow!”
He carefully unboxed the item. The brand-new, white goggle-shaped device was sleek and shiny.
Perhaps…
‘Did Hyung recommend watching it in VR?’
A spark went off in his head.
‘My laptop’s performance… Ah! I think it’s possible.’
After checking his laptop’s specifications and the VR streaming requirements, he breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that it barely met the ultra-high-definition standards and connected it.
Watching the completion message pop up with satisfaction, he finished the trial fitting.
“Whoa.”
For some reason, his heart was racing in a different way now.
It was the excitement of enjoying something he loved in a new way.
Suddenly, he felt a surge of energy.
His hands moved busily as he quickly paid for the stream and began catching up on the TeSTAR content he had missed before the concert started.
‘Ah, there might be things I should watch first… Gasp, what is this?! Choices?’
And so, Keun-dal spent the next few hours fully immersed, even watching the tour promotion videos where the members were trapped in an endless loop of happy endings.
Finally, the time came.
[PM 05:45]
Tense and expectant, he twitched his hands inside the VR gear before finally clicking the now-active start button.
The browser window vanished, a loading screen appeared, and then…
Whoosh.
His field of vision transformed.
He was in the concert venue, fifteen minutes before the show.
“Whoa…!”
Inside the dark concert hall, where the sun was setting, light sources of all colors surged like waves.
It was the glow of the lightsticks.
The fact that the murmurs and ambient noise of the venue hadn't been filtered out actually enhanced the sense of realism. Keun-dal braved the slight dizziness and whipped his head around to look at his surroundings.
‘This is incredible…’
It was only sound and sight. But those two overwhelming senses tricked his other senses, making him feel as if he were actually there.
“Ah……”
For a moment, he felt a profound sense of excitement.
The feeling of being part of a crowd all waiting for the same thing.
It was pure thrill and anticipation.
The thing he had forgotten due to his lethargy suddenly reared its head and grew in his heart as if it had never left.
All from the scenery of this concert hall.
Ding!
[Hello, Loviewers! Did everyone manage to connect their lightsticks? ……Not yet? Then let’s do it step-by-step with us!]
On the massive electronic display in front, instructions for Bluetooth lightstick connection, concert introductions, and PPLs were shown in rotation.
Every time a member’s face appeared, cheers full of anticipation sliced through the air.
…And Keun-dal had already realized there was a TeSTAR lightstick in the box his brother brought, and he had already connected it!
The status was set to 'Streaming.'
Then, something interesting happened.
“Ohhh!”
Somehow, even within the VR view, the light of the lightstick he was shaking flashed like augmented reality.
To think such a thing… was possible!
‘They didn’t release a renewed version of the lightstick for nothing!’
He shook the lightstick excitedly. The options said he could also see other streamers shaking theirs, but he turned that off because it was too dizzying.
He endured the next ten minutes with a pounding heart, listening to a medley of various TeSTAR song instrumentals echoing through the venue.
And then.
Finally, without warning, the lights went out.
‘…!’
On the electronic displays that split to both sides, massive characters in the style of a black-and-white film appeared.
It was the countdown.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
Along with the voices of the audience echoing from all directions.
The numbers ended.
[Piiiiiiooooooo—!]
Following the cheers, a train whistle blared loudly, and a smooth announcement began to play.
It was Cha Yu-jin’s voice.
[This stop is Red Wonder, Red Wonder…….]
It ended with a low, clear tone.
[…Hotel.]
Snap.
Without warning, the lights on the stage flashed on.
‘Ah.’
It was a hotel lobby.
It looked familiar. It was the exact same location from the tour promotion 'choice' video Keun-dal had just watched.
And the moment the audience widened their gaze, they realized.
It wasn't just a lobby.
Utilizing even the ceiling of the stage, it was… a massive set that combined all sorts of hotel structures, including stairs, elevators, a cafe, and a suite.
It was designed to bring back vivid memories of every location shown in the promotion videos.
“Ah……”
Every element of the hotel from the videos had been perfectly implemented and sat upon the stage in reality.
AAAAAAAHHHH!!
And just as the cheers began to subside, figures appeared exquisitely from various spots on the set.
Behind the check-in counter, beside the lobby pillars, on the cafe chairs, inside the suite’s bathtub, in the elevator…
They were nonchalantly reading newspapers or checking the ledger on the counter.
It was TeSTAR.
Amidst an intro that exquisitely combined the sound of a train and a circus accordion, they skillfully leaped from the set and moved to the front of the stage.
And the moment they fell into formation.
[It’s now.]
An explosion of color erupted.
The version of <Hunting> rearranged for the tour promotion brilliantly opened the concert.
[The tables have turned
Today, you are the sheep]
Keun-dal almost reached for his smartphone in his excitement before remembering he was watching through VR.
His body swayed to the rhythm.
[(Run, Run!)
Circling round and round below the stage
Back to the start, Come on]
Amidst the power and heat, close-ups of the members were caught on the screen.
Including the one member who couldn't make it to the concert yesterday.
‘Hyung!’
Perfectly styled from head to toe.
Park Moon-dae looked exactly as he had yesterday.
But the light in his eyes was different.
As if he couldn't contain his peak condition, his gaze burned with a fierce, exploding vitality.
[Call up, it's hunting season]
Thump.
The sound from the speakers vibrating in his ears and the cheers of the audience mixed together, heightening the atmosphere to a thrilling peak. A sense of complete excitement, free of any lingering worries, settled over the venue.
In the middle of it all, instead of holding their formation for the ending, the members scattered.
They each returned to the spots on the stage set where they had started and vanished just as they had appeared.
However, the cheers did not end.
Because one person remained standing in his place with perfect composure.
Ding.
Kim Rae-bin, who had nonchalantly rung the bell at the counter, tilted his head expressionlessly.
[Welcome, again.]
The stage rotated.
“…!!”
The counter slid forward, and Kim Rae-bin, who had been standing behind it, vaulted over the counter and lunged toward the front of the field of vision.
Then, his solo song, which had garnered an incredible response, began to flow along with live band music.
[Dive into the hole
Into Wonderland
Manhole]
.
In a performance that connected to the opening as if it were a single song, Kim Rae-bin continued his performance by running across the entire stage set, leading dancers wearing rabbit masks.
True to its subtitle, "Overture," he went around triggering every impressive element of the set as if introducing them.
The onslaught of rap and performance rushed toward the ending without giving the audience a moment to breathe.
Tap, tap.
In the center of the stage, where the rabbit-masked dancers had all vanished.
Above Kim Rae-bin, who was walking backward with the sound of his dress shoes clicking, the spotlight cut out.
AAAAAAAHHHH!!!
The screams, sounding as if the venue might explode, echoed directly into his ears.
“Haaa……”
Keun-dal blinked.
Ten minutes had passed without him even realizing he was breathing.
‘W-What’s next??’
Having forgotten all his complex emotions, the concert surged toward him once again.
While the cheers were still echoing, the electronic display lit up instead of the darkened stage.
It was a VCR.
And here, Keun-dal experienced something different from the live audience.
‘Wait, what…?!’
His entire field of vision changed.
He was no longer sitting in the concert hall.
An elegantly colored hallway covered in classic, ornate woodwork and wallpaper.
He was… inside the VCR!
‘Whoa!?’
As he whipped his head around, a hotel corridor that split completely to both sides came into view.
Left and right.
The corridor, which seemed to be lined with rooms, had completely different atmospheres on each side.
To the right, beyond the softly glowing lamps, he could see the silhouettes of kind-looking hoteliers.
And… the left. Beneath a flickering, ominous red light stood dark silhouettes.
‘Gasp.’
He was busy turning his head to check both sides.
Ryu Cheong-woo’s low, smooth voice recited the narration.
[The rabbit hole. Where shall we go?]
Then, characters appeared on both sides like augmented reality.
[RED / WONDER]
[Let us know with your light.]
Huh?
The word ‘RED’ glowed red, and ‘WONDER’ glowed yellow.
[Please operate your lightsticks!]
“H-Heh.”
He raised his lightstick with trembling hands… but soon realized.
‘I… I can’t do it.’
Those who were streaming… had no voting rights.
No human rights…
“…….”
I should’ve gotten a ticket.
Swallowing his tears, he looked at both sides again with a pounding heart.
Red light and yellow light.
Which side would they choose?
Soon, the results were revealed.
[Loviewer’s choice]
Then, the current audience seating was shown before his eyes.
‘Whoa…’
The ratio of the audience waving red and yellow was clearly dominated by red, even at a glance.
It was decided.
[RED]
[HUNT]
With a mark that looked like a claw scratch, the video collapsed.
Then, a shout rang out from the stage.
[That’s ma sa---vior!!]
A protruding stage drenched in red.
Around Park Moon-dae, who held a headset mic, an intense metal-rock version of <Saviour> slammed into the venue.
“WAAAAAAAAGH!!”
Park Moon-dae’s first fansite master screamed until her throat was hoarse from the standing section.
The concert was a non-stop onslaught.
This concert, structured like an exploration of a hotel, was filled with all sorts of spectacles, just like a circus.
From the massive sets to all kinds of stage devices.
Of course, the best part was the choices made with the lightsticks.
‘This is so much fun, seriously!’
The song itself didn't change regardless of the choice. However, the atmosphere shifted completely just by having slightly different costumes and arrangements.
Watching that was so much fun!
‘Ha……!!’
To think they used the interactive VCRs to secure some time between stages and then filled that time so perfectly without a single gap.
The fansite master, who had come to today’s concert with half-anticipation and half-worry, felt a deep sense of joy spreading through her chest.
There was no need to worry.
‘Moon-dae is absolutely flying out there!’
She was even happier because she had watched yesterday’s concert in a near-delirious state.
‘The feeling is definitely different from yesterday.’
Of course, the other members had performed well yesterday too. But the sudden awareness of the void seemed to have prevented people from becoming fully immersed.
‘But this concert was made for total immersion.’
The choices existed for the sake of immersion.
So that one could be completely sucked into the concert without feeling like they were returning to reality in between.
She could feel that it had been designed with that intention from the start.
‘I heard they gave out concert streaming tickets to all of yesterday’s audience.’
She hoped they weren't just asking for refunds or waiting for the additional concert dates, but were watching today’s show as well. The fansite master muttered to herself as she looked back at the stage.
[Wish you call me like this—]
On stage, Lee Se-jin’s solo stage was passing its climax.
Using a large golden trolley with one hand, he showcased a brilliant stage through turns and movement.
It was the stage for the choice, ‘WONDER.’
‘I think this is better than the ‘RED’ I saw yesterday!?’
It seemed the members had chosen their solo songs however they wanted without restrictions.
Cha Yu-jin had even remade an old pop song, arranging it into a hip-hop style as he pleased and using it as a sample.
‘I thought he’d lost his mind.’
She had been appalled when choosing a different option from yesterday resulted in a different dance break, and now she watched the stage with her fists clenched.
It wasn't far off.
Now… it was his turn.
WAAAAAAAAGH!!
The previous stage ended amidst all sorts of cheers from people with hoarse voices. While cheering along, she swallowed hard at the tension tightening her heart.
The lights on the stage went out, and as the VCR began to play again, what appeared was…
Inside an empty elevator.
[RED / WONDER]
The choices between RED, leaping out of the elevator, and WONDER, staying inside the elevator, were split between contrasting colors.
And the fansite master already knew what stage would come from this choice.
‘Moon-dae…!’
It was Park Moon-dae’s solo stage.
This VCR had been given yesterday as well, but it had likely been a choice without meaning.
Because they had only played a video of the rehearsal stage being filmed as a test.
“…….”
Sensing the strangely quiet surroundings, she realized that others were feeling a similar tension.
In truth, Park Moon-dae’s absence hadn't faced massive criticism thanks to the circumstances involved, but because of those very circumstances, he had become a subject of subtly unpleasant curiosity.
Curiosity about what state Park Moon-dae was in.
It was a wonder about how he might have been affected by this absence and what his feelings were.
‘Then buy the stream and see for yourself!’
The fansite master had shouted that internally, but she knew there were definitely people sitting here with similar curiosities…
People focusing not on Park Moon-dae’s stage, but on his feelings and condition.
Even she was worried to some extent.
“…….”
However, while she was worried, she also trusted Park Moon-dae.
Based on everything he had done until now.
‘Let’s do this.’
In the meantime, on the VCR where the selection had ended, a single word dominated the screen.
[WONDER]
[BE HUNTED]
Then it was completely torn away and went dark.
Her heart pounded.
Tak.
Inside the quiet concert hall.
A single beam of light fell upon the black stage.
A rectangular stage apparatus suspended in the air, almost near the ceiling, caught the spotlight.
An elevator.
It seemed to descend slowly… before finally coming to a halt in the middle of the lobby.
Ding.
The doors opened, and a languid voice emerged.
[With me]
Park Moon-dae’s solo song had begun.