Chapter 350
Chapter 350
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 350
Chapter Title: Blanche's First Karaoke
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-Me: Hey hey hey – (Unread) -Me: Something wrong? – (Unread) As expected.
She's either deliberately ignoring my messages or in a situation where she can't check them.
The traces of the Cornerus Family had been completely wiped from El Academy.
"What's wrong?"
Noticing I was lost in thought, Marronier lowered her head to meet my eyes.
This wasn't polite either. I slipped my phone into my pocket and put on a friendly smile.
"Nothing. All done eating?"
"Yeah."
The tteokbokki bowl was more than half full.
She'd only eaten a couple of rice cakes and one fish cake before stopping, saying she was full.
That's why she never gains weight.
She pulled out a tissue and roughly wiped her mouth. Her makeup smeared off. Despite her great hair, she was so clumsy it made me want to laugh just watching.
"Hey, your makeup's smearing."
"Huh?"
"Wipe it that rough and, oh dear..."
An innocent face, like she had no idea what the problem was.
It was obvious she'd just learned makeup recently. She was sweating from the spice, tears forming, but she didn't even think to touch it up.
'Maybe because her original look is so ridiculously perfect.'
Even ruined makeup suited her magical skin.
No wonder she had that many fans.
If I were a girl, I'd be crying over the unfairness of the world.
"Done eating? Let's head out."
"Ah, yeah!"
Marronier jumped up in a hurry. After paying and stepping outside, she seemed a bit unsteady on her feet.
"The money... sorry. I'll exchange it and pay you back later for sure."
"Nah. Can't I treat a friend to some street food? When a foreigner comes to Korea, it's on the Koreans."
She blinked at me, listening, then let out a soft chuckle.
Even half-hiding her face, her fair skin drew blank stares from passersby.
"Then... come to France next time."
"Gotta eat the expensive stuff."
"...Expensive? Puhehe. I know lots of places. But I'd have to work harder on my disguise."
"Speaking of, you have a ton of fans."
As we chatted while walking to the next spot, the topic naturally turned to her fans.
Beautiful people always attract fans.
Singers, celebrities, MCs, comedians... even regular folks get hyped up if they're good-looking.
The Hunter Association's star and the Orc family's Seyoung had plenty of photo cafes. For a National Tree like Marronier, it was no surprise.
'Even in Korea.'
In any decent online community, pics of National Trees floating around was par for the course.
Considering this world's beauty standards were way higher than my old one... it was hard to grasp just how massive Blanche's popularity was.
Especially in her home country of France.
"That... I don't really get it. It just happened."
"People like you?"
"Yeah. No clue why."
Words that would make anyone else clutch their neck and faint.
Most pretty girls know they're pretty. It wasn't some act. The only one I knew who couldn't tell was the ultra-nerdy Star.
"...Even at press conferences, people asked for autographs before photos."
The more popular you are, the higher public support climbs.
I'd read somewhere that in one country, protests erupted to release a handsome guy from prison just because.
The more I saw, the clearer it was how much love France showered on Marronier.
To me, she was just one fearful, curious girl.
"You check the internet much? Lots of stuff about you."
"Nuh-uh."
She shook her head.
Then she pressed her hat down tight and sidled up to me to dodge the stares.
"Honestly, it's a bit burdensome."
Lightly, not clinging hard. Tentatively tugging at my elbow through my sleeve.
The hat hid her expression.
"And anyway, a National Tree doesn't have time to worry about that stuff."
"Not just ordinarily pretty—you're that pretty, so yeah, burdensome. Hateful."
"...You've never had that?"
I propped my chin and gazed at the sky, digging through old memories.
"Fan cafe... yeah, I had one."
After scrapping with Jeong Siwoo and my mask came off, my name and face hit the media plenty.
I couldn't stomach the praise posts, so I ignored them, but there were a fair number.
I even got a taste of celebrity life for a bit.
"But I was too busy to care."
A spark of shared understanding.
Marronier lifted her hat just for me and flashed a bright smile.
"Right?"
A genuine grin I hadn't seen much. Nearly dazed me.
I get why she has fans now.
"Maybe I'll check out your fan cafe starting today."
"......Huh?"
Couldn't resist the impulse—I patted her head, hat and all.
Flustered, Marronier froze in place and put both hands over her hat.
-Pat pat.
"Stop...! Urgh."
Her reaction was perfectly cute. She said stop, but Blanche's hands on her crown didn't even try to push mine away.
"We're here."
"...Huh?"
I lifted her hat a bit to let her look around.
Her finally visible face—cheeks faintly pink, eyes perfectly round.
Her wide pupils drank in the surroundings.
Kids pouring out the school gate, heading to stationery stores or snack shops.
Spinning backpacks as they playfully shoved each other. Or huddling over phones, giggling.
Turn left—high schoolers walking by, watching the kids, their classes already done early.
The alley corner where students from nearby schools all gathered.
A snapshot of the everyday life Marronier longed for most.
"......"
Her fists clenched tight. Her 'ah'-shaped mouth showed no sign of closing.
Her gaze, fixed only on me before, spread out. She reached out and asked,
"What's... that?"
"Taekwondo dojo. Lots of dual-income parents in Korea, so kids sign up for afternoon classes to match their commute."
"Then, that one?"
"Arcade. Snow Bros. Wow, I haven't seen that in forever."
She curiously pointed everywhere while scanning around.
Grabbing my wrist, Marronier dragged me to the middle of the sidewalk.
"Ah, this?"
"Playground... kinda. Fuji brand."
She asked about everything.
And lost all reservations in her actions.
"Siheon, this one!"
"No idea on that."
Her skirt swayed as she dashed in her loafers. Her skin, purer than the white fabric, drew eyes in the sunlight.
Hair tied to hide the color. Hat pulled down. She lifted it for me alone, then pointed the other way.
"That one!"
Where Marronier pointed—a coin karaoke joint.
I couldn't stop laughing. Her excitement had my shoulders bouncing too.
"Wanna go in?"
Her lips twitched uncontrollably at my suggestion.
Udada.
Like watching a hyena sprint at dawn.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Hoo, hoo.
The sound of blowing into the mic.
As I searched for a song, Marronier, sitting right next to me, tapped my shoulder.
"Look at this!"
Her hat off, blue hair swaying down to her waist.
What got that reaction? I turned to look at her.
"Jihyun heart Juho. Forever?"
"Oh, that?"
Turned out the graffiti on the wall caught her fancy.
Morally wrong, sure, but over time they pile up and set the vibe.
Some places even make it their sales gimmick.
This new karaoke spot seemed to be one.
When I explained, she got curious about the other scribbles too and started checking them out.
I held out a marker from the table.
"Wanna add one?"
"Huh?"
She pondered my offer, then shook her head.
"Later."
She put the pen back on the table.
I glanced around. The graffiti she'd read flitted by.
[Need guy. 010-xxxx-xxxx.] Skip that.
[Soundproof sucks lololol] [Next room quit banging you bastards]
Seemed like a spot haunted by tons of victims.
'Amen.'
Short prayer done. I fiddled with the remote to get back to actual singing.
Marronier, done with the graffiti, sat beside me, eyeing the remote curiously.
"First time?"
She nodded with an thrilled face—the most excited I'd seen on her lately.
"I'll show you the basics then."
I roughly explained the remote.
Skipping intro skips—just how to search foreign songs.
France songs probably existed. Not back in the day, but plenty of foreign tracks now.
I picked a decent one first, for her to hear.
-♪
The melody kicked in right away.
"Ah!"
Reacting to the tune, Marronier gently closed her eyelids and focused on the song.
"Got one to sing? Reserve it."
Unlike before when she knew zilch, nowadays I memorized a couple via the net.
Ended up at karaoke plenty in daily life.
Some songs like my old world, so with pitch and rhythm care, I could sing decent anywhere.
"Ahem."
Warmed my throat. First verse.
Not here to go wild, so a chill ballad.
My voice rode the gentle notes.
Wasn't a great singer. Rhythm a bit off.
Midway, I turned to Marronier.
-Sway, sway.
Her head rocked side to side. Left, right. Hair swished like a cat's tail each time.
Her long lashes stood out under softly shut lids.
She smiled gently. Melted into the melody.
Immersed even first listen—clear she loved music.
"Ah~♪ Aah~"
No lyrics known, but followed the tune.
Somehow made the song feel fuller.
Even my mediocre effort, she enjoyed to the max. She peeked open her eyes and met mine.
"Not reserving?"
Curious she'd skipped picking next.
"...When someone's singing, don't do other stuff. Sounds good. Keep going."
Objectively not great, yet she bobbed her shoulders enjoying it.
So earnest—felt wrong to stop. Belted louder.
──♬
My voice blended into her harmonies.
End hit like wrapping an epic concert.
Lingering in afterglow, dazed. She timidly clapped and grinned wide.
"Wooow~. Puhehe."
Clap clap clap. Three times, then remote up—found a song, hit start.
-Trill~
Acoustic guitar with gentle melody.
Marronier gripped the mic two-handed, gauged mic-to-mouth distance, stared straight at me.
"Hmm."
Cute little snort. Like, 'listen up.'
Then—an enchanting timbre melody burst forth.
"Les rêves des amoureux sont comme le bon vin (Lovers' dreams are like fine wine.)"
Gentle, melting into my ear.
Heavenly voice echoed the room full.
Goosebumps from first line alone. Rubbed my arms unwittingly.
Just a quiet French mutter.
Nothing like the Blanche voice I knew.
"L'espoir est un plat bien trop vite consommé (Hope is a dish consumed too quickly.)"
Her voice bounced playfully.
Graceful and cute.
Uniquely beautiful, like a tiny fairy perched on my shoulder, whispering in my ear.
The mic clutched tight, her floating happy smile—enough to daze anyone watching.
'Ah.'
Finally got it.
OST from some animated movie.
That gorgeous end credits tune. Just different singer, but pulls the same feel.
Her eyes crinkled slightly, winking at me.
"Laissez-moi vous émerveiller et prendre mon envol (Let me amaze you and take flight.)"
No idea the meaning. Felt comforted anyway.
Blessed, mysteriously joyful.
Unconsciously nodding along.
Marronier tilted her head, resting it on my shoulder—mic still gripped.
No trace of shyness, fully relaxed into the song.
One emotional, whispered line.
"Nous allons enfin nous régaler (Finally, we'll feast.)"
Setting the table for a new life.
"Je suis heureux à l'idée de ce nouveau destin (Happy at the thought of this new fate.)"
A voice I'd record and cherish forever—my heart swelled stuffy, hands clapping on instinct.
I knew she sang well. But through the mic... the emotion hit different.
"Le festin est sur mon chemin..."
A feast lies on my path.
With the lingering melody, Marronier lowered the mic and glanced up at me.
Only then noticing how close we'd gotten?
Eyes wide in brief surprise, but seizing the moment? She whispered with a puzzled look.
"Ça va? (How was that?)"
That gorgeous voice murmuring exotic words.
Focused on translations before, missed her raw timbre—nearly froze solid.
I get why people fall for one song.
Her flushed cheeks looked so squishy. I stretched one with my hand.
"Eh, hey?! What're you doing?!"
Yeah, that's Blanche.
Hands off, she clutched her cheeks with both, pouting up at me.
"Sang great. Wanna hear it forever."
Sincere praise.
Her face blanked a sec, then she ducked her head.
Hair under the hat poked up like cat ears.
Ears beet red.