Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Ducarion!
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Holy Knight Ducarion.
A legendary figure who needs no introduction.
He sacrificed himself alongside his comrades to seal one of the demons from the Abyss, Arhelac.
His heroic saga will be recorded for generations to come, and surely many will follow in his footsteps.
Yeah.
'Do I really need to open this box?'
The Prism concert was in full swing, but I couldn't focus at all.
Right in front of me sat Pandora's Box, weighing a hefty 213kg.
Should I open it?
I glanced over at Maria.
"Wow! Wooow! I get why Hela's scouting idols now!"
"My ears huuurt!"
Maria was waving her light stick enthusiastically, while Reneah sat crammed in her seat with headphones on.
The sound was so loud it was overwhelming for an elf, but she was still bobbing to the rhythm, so it wasn't all bad.
Anyway.
'If I open this box... Maria's gonna get hurt.'
That's definitely Ducarion in there.
Seeing it up close in person confirmed it.
Ducarion was emanating holy power, and among the others, his shone the brightest.
"Heh-hep! Heh-hep! Seo! Ha! Jin!"
"......"
Watching her cheer so innocently made me crave a smoke.
"P-President?"
Kim Yang, sitting beside me, tilted her head, noticing something off.
"N-Not fun?"
"No, it's fun."
"Th-Then?"
"......Never mind."
I'd tell her later, after everything wrapped up.
Kim Yang still looked puzzled by my answer but didn't pry further.
Meanwhile, the concert was heading into its finale.
"Everyone—! The past nine years with Prism have been like a dream!"
Seo Hajeen stepped forward, gripping the mic.
"Sure, we're leaving the name Prism behind for now! But our journeys as individuals aren't ending anywhere!"
Seo Hajeen choked up.
Even if she had her complaints about idol life, her feelings for the fans who loved her were genuine.
The audience knew it too, and soon the seats were a sea of tears.
"This song today! It's one we all wrote together, pouring our hearts out to you. We'd be grateful if you enjoy it!"
Tears streaming down her face, Seo Hajeen bowed deeply, and the other members bowed energetically alongside her.
"We love you, everyone! Thank you so much for everything!"
On the screen overhead, the new song's title appeared.
[At the End of a Smile]
- It's been so long together, I don't know what to call it.
- I'll blame the trembling at the end of my words on the wind.
- Right now, I just want to be remembered beautifully.
Listening to the song that followed, I felt a bit lighter-hearted about coming here.
'I knew it was a goodbye concert, but I didn't expect this vibe.'
Everyone was crying like it was a funeral, yet they smiled as they listened to the idols' song.
- Say goodbye with a smile.
- Hello and farewell.
- We'll leave ourselves somewhere in between.
- Someday.
- If we meet again like a miracle.
- I'll say it's been a while with this smile today.
"Waaah!"
"Ack?! Don't grab me!"
For some reason, the grandma was overcome with emotion just like everyone else, tugging at my clothes and sobbing.
It wasn't weird to cry.
Hardly anyone here wasn't.
- Farewell!
- I'm smiling.
- So you smile too.
- At the end of a smile.
- So we can remember today fondly.
The stage ended with their finale pose.
For a moment, cheers erupted alongside floods of tears.
And so, today.
The idol group Prism disbanded.
"Waaah! So saaaad!"
"Waaaah! My eyes are tearing up!"
"H-Hey. C-Calm down."
After the show, on the way out of the dome.
Reneah and Maria were bawling their hearts out.
They'd completely forgotten why we'd come and just enjoyed the concert to the fullest.
"Anyone'd think you were die-hard fans."
"President has no romance!"
"Right! How can you not feel this sadness!?"
"Sigh, Kim Yang. I'm stepping out for a smoke. Take the kids to the waiting room."
"W-Waiting room?"
"We have a meeting with Seo Hajeen."
They were probably busy with goodbyes and reminiscing among themselves right now, but business was business.
Kim Yang nodded and led the two little ones toward the waiting room.
Meanwhile, I pretended to head to the smoking area outside but veered toward where Spectrum was gathered.
They were waiting by the back door, apparently to greet the Prism members as they left.
Among them, the mountain of a man was easy to spot.
I approached Kim Deokgu, who had his business smile plastered on.
"Deokgu? That you, Deokgu?"
"Heh-hep!? Y-You—."
"Yes, it's me. Kim Juseon of Meracle."
He looked flustered as I smiled and greeted him. He clearly hadn't expected to run into me here.
"Wh-What are you— Heh-hep! Doing here?"
"Haha, you know why."
I leaned in to whisper, but his protruding belly kept me at a distance.
I ended up murmuring awkwardly in a low voice.
"Here for Seo Hajeen's rank assessment."
"......!"
"Yes, exactly. She's signed with us. Deokgu, mind having a quick chat?"
"Heh-hep! H-Heh-hep!"
Kim Deokgu followed excitedly behind me.
We found a nearby bench in a gazebo. There was an ashtray nearby, so smoking was allowed?
"Deokgu, mind if I light up?"
"Heh-hep! O-Of course!"
"You smoke too?"
"N-No! Heh-hep! Non-smoker."
His excitement had his voice straining.
"Fhew."
I took a drag, exhaled, and calmly laid out what I'd organized in my head.
"Deokgu, truth is, I didn't come for Seo Hajeen."
"Heh-hep?"
"Precisely, I came to investigate the holy power shining on her."
"......?!"
His face stiffened.
Complete shock.
Lived his whole life as a holy knight, huh.
Looks like he couldn't lie to save his life.
"Fhew. You get it now, right? Holy Knight Ducarion."
"Heh-hu—! Heh-hup!"
What came next was unexpected.
He bolted.
That massive body of his, running for all he was worth.
About five seconds.
"Haaak! Haaaak!"
He hadn't even run far before he was bent over, hands on knees, dry-heaving.
At that weight, even standing strains the joints, I'd heard. But enduring a three-hour idol concert? Definitely that unyielding holy knight spirit.
"No running. Let's talk."
"G-Go away! Heh-hep! I-I'm Kim Deokgu! N-Not Ducarion!"
"It's already out. We need you. Arhelac is right now—!"
"N-No! Hate it! Nooo—!"
The moment Arhelac's name dropped, Deokgu shoved my chest with both hands. His bulk nearly sent me flying backward.
"Eek?! Ducarion!"
"N-No! D-Don't call me! Heh-hep! I-I'm! Deokgu! Heh-hup!"
There was a raw desperation in Ducarion's tearful flight.
Maybe that's why.
His life, honor, even death.
I couldn't chase after a man who'd abandoned it all to run.
The waiting room.
Still basking in the afterglow of the final show, sniffles echoed here and there.
Finding Seo Hajeen was easy.
Reneah and Maria were grinning ear-to-ear with autographs from the members.
Kim Yang was chatting separately with a bespectacled man in a suit.
Looked like a Prism agency staffer.
'What's that about?'
Seemed important; he spotted me and came right over.
"G-Gimme money."
"......Why again."
"D-Dealt with biz. Ex-Extra pay."
"Never said work through the weekend."
"G-Gimme money."
"Gangster? I'll buy dinner on the way out, call it even."
Kim Yang nodded and withdrew her hand.
That's when Seo Hajeen noticed me and hurried over.
"Juseon, the staff said you figured something out."
"Ah, yeah......"
I glanced back at Reneah and Maria. They'd been so into the show, they'd forgotten our purpose.
Prism members trailed behind Seo Hajeen, suddenly surrounding us.
"Hi! They say our sister's got some amazing power!"
"For real? She's been through so much. A miracle wouldn't surprise me."
"Hajeen unnie can do anything!"
The strong scent of women's cosmetics hit me, nearly making me step back.
I could see exactly what kind of leader Seo Hajeen was in Prism—
"Ahem."
Right before spilling the truth, I hesitated and pulled out my business card case.
"Guess I should introduce myself first. We find your miracles. Hello, Kim Juseon, CEO of Meracle."
Couldn't drop bad news first.
Time to pitch.
A bit earlier, a few minutes before Kim Juseon arrived at the waiting room.
Kim Yang entered with Reneah and Maria.
'Crowded.'
Crowds were fine.
She danced at clubs often.
But lots of crying people? Awkward.
"Wow, wow."
"People who were far away just moments ago, right in front of us—."
Of course, Reneah and Maria seemed unfazed.
'We came to check holy power, right?'
Did they even check properly?
As the two got autographs from the welcoming Seo Hajeen, Kim Yang hung back a step.
With the boss gone, she had to stay sharp.
"Ahem, excuse me?"
A man approached.
Glasses, slight bald spot, but expensive suit.
'Allomang.'
Custom-tailored suit brand.
President would look good in one someday.
"You're Kim Yang, right? SNS influencer."
He knew her. Must be high up at Prism's agency, being here.
She nodded, and he handed over his card.
"Artist Division Head Choi Gilmun. We've been keeping an eye on your SNS."
"......"
Kim Yang glanced at the card and handed hers over, nonchalant.
President had made some for her when he did his.
"Marriage agency Meracle— Haha, too bad I'm married."
"......"
No big deal.
Just returned the gesture out of habit.
As she stayed silent, Choi Gilmun smiled and asked,
"Ever thought about debuting with us? Your dance shorts have such pretty lines. We're forming a new group—."
"No."
Answer was set, so no need to hear more.
"Not switching."
Her firm reply didn't faze him—years of experience. Choi Gilmun smiled on.
"You've got potential. A little pro training here, and you could go way bigger than—."
"Not going. Like my company."
"Urgh."
His experience told him too.
No swaying her.
"Got it. But if you change your mind or circumstances shift, give us a call."
Kim Yang frowned.
Change her mind?
Circumstances shift?
Like if Meracle went bust?
"You too."
"Pardon?"
"Come if you divorce."
"......"
Choi Gilmun laughed hollowly at the perfect counter.
Clunk.
The door opened, Kim Juseon entering.
Kim Yang scurried right back to him.
"G-Gimme money."
"......Why again."
"D-Dealt with biz. Ex-Extra pay."
"Never said work through the weekend."
She almost giggled at his exasperation.
"G-Gimme money."
"Gangster? I'll buy dinner on the way out, call it even."
Satisfied, Kim Yang nodded and pulled back her hand.