A Goddess's Karaoke Dream
Should I use the Seed of Music ability right now? I've only ever used my summoning on [Dark Lord] so far, and I don't know much about [Golden Melody Performer] anyway. Above all, neither Rijette nor Idaine— the two people I trust the most—are here with me. The rational, safe choice would be to hold off for now. Head home, talk it over with them, and decide step by step. That would be the logical decision.
But Min-su wasn't drawn to that option.
(Cooldown: 3 seconds)
His summoning ability, with its eternally long cooldown, had just reset. To maximize the gains, he needed to use it right now. And...
'Asking a constellation, "Can I summon another constellation?" feels... kinda awkward.'
Strictly speaking, Min-su was Rijette's honorary apostle, not her true apostle. The problem was that she didn't see it that way. Bringing up [Golden Melody Performer] with her wouldn't be easy.
Min-su quickly scanned his surroundings. Luckily, they were in the most secluded spot in the cafe's back corner, hidden behind a wall from prying eyes. No cafe staff or other customers could see them.
'Alright. Let's do this.'
It was only a six-hour summon at most. If anything went wrong, he could just cancel it midway.
"Constellation. Will you answer my summons?"
Min-su's hand began to glow.
* * *
*Poof!*
It felt like his blocked ears had suddenly popped open. A flood of sounds poured into the ears of the woman who had been surrounded by silence and stillness. People's breathing, the music echoing through the cafe, the whir of the blender grinding fruit, even the sound of Yu-bin dropping her straw in shock.
"I can... hear..."
The goddess shed tears without realizing it. It was a sensation she'd long forgotten—too long. For decades, centuries, she'd had to relive it only in her mind. The joy of reclaiming the precious sense of sound was beyond words.
'...She looks a bit like our constellation.'
Her appearance seemed a little younger than Rijette's. She looked freshly twenty, innocent and youthful. On the surface, she appeared no different from an ordinary human. But was this woman a goddess too?
'She's crying out of nowhere.'
Rijette hadn't cried. ...Or had she? Maybe that time with the ramyeon. Perhaps coming to Earth had been that moving for her.
"Thank you. Min-su, was it? I'll repay this debt someday."
The goddess beamed at Min-su through tear-streaked eyes. A promise of divine repayment for just one use of his ability? That was an incredibly favorable reward.
'I'd love to ask her to make me an honorary apostle too.'
He'd confirmed the immense power of [Dark Lord]'s authority. If he could gain [Golden Melody Performer]'s too, that would be great—but he'd learned that each god could grant the title only once. Even as divine repayment, asking for that much felt a bit shameless.
'I'll settle for some gear or items instead.'
Or she could answer his summons in a pinch and fight alongside him. Either way, it was a win.
"What? How did you do that?"
Meanwhile, Yu-bin—apostle of [Golden Melody Performer]—gaped, speechless. It was her first time meeting her face-to-face, but their connection let her know who it was. A constellation manifesting in reality. And so easily. Even seeing it with her own eyes, it was hard to believe.
"...So you can't leave my side?"
"Yeah. I tried it myself once, and if I get too far, it pulls me back."
The ability to summon a god into reality was staggeringly powerful—even constellations were awed by it—but it wasn't without limits. Summons lasted only six hours a day. Accounting for cooldowns, it wasn't that long. And since it was a summoning ability, the summoned constellation couldn't stray far from Min-su, just like any other summoner player's pet.
That meant they could enter the Tower together, but she had to stay by his side. Rijette was fine now in human form, exempt from the restriction, but summoning [Dark Lord] would yank her right back to him.
"Then..."
"Don't worry. If there's somewhere you want to go, I'll take you."
She was a goddess he'd summoned with his own power, so if she caused any trouble, he'd handle it. Besides, he was curious. Rijette had felt a special connection to Idaine due to traumatic memories of her past enslavement, leading to a big change at the Idaine Memorial Hall. So where would [Golden Melody Performer] want to go? What longing had made her speak of it as a "long-cherished wish"?
And so, following the goddess's desire, they ended up at...
"Coin karaoke?"
It was a small karaoke spot nearby.
'I figured she'd like music because of her constellation name... but karaoke? Really?'
He'd imagined a "performer" heading to an arts center for a grand concert. This was way more low-key than expected.
"Ahh."
But the sweet voice flowing from the mic she picked up was anything but modest. A melody of unearthly beauty, impossible for any voice in this world.
"...What is that voice."
Even Yu-bin, who'd worn her headset through all her training, took it off to savor the goddess's song. But what was that in her hand? Recording it?
As the goddess finished her song, Min-su muttered blankly.
"What did I just hear?"
Min-su, who had zero interest in music and always wondered why anyone paid to listen to boring tunes, felt a lingering resonance in his chest. Even without knowing the song or its context, something tugged at his heart.
"Our constellation's amazing, right?"
Yu-bin sidled up to Min-su and asked.
"...Yeah."
She really was a goddess of music. No matter how ordinary she seemed, a god was a god.
"...Time to head out."
People outside were peeking into their room, drawn by the faint leak of her voice. The song had attracted too much attention.
"Already?"
Drawing eyes wasn't ideal, but she'd only sung one song? Wasn't this her long-cherished wish? One song enough?
"...The seed is complete now."
The goddess's face, under their puzzled gazes, shone with satisfaction.
They left the karaoke bar, but plenty of summon time remained, so Min-su's group wandered the area. Before karaoke, she'd seemed tense, burdened by some grand mission. Now, she looked much lighter.
"I wanted to know what ordinary Earthlings enjoy."
Surprisingly, Yu-bin hadn't guided her constellation well.
"Uh, well, kids these days..."
Yu-bin floundered like she'd never hung out with friends before.
'Does she not have friends, despite how she looks?'
In the end, Min-su took over as tour guide.
"So... pull this, and I get it?"
"No, not there! That's rigged!"
"Not like that—do it like this, and... ah, it fell. ...Wanna try something else?"
From claw machines to...
"You take photos like this?"
"Yeah, girls your age probably do this a lot, right?"
"Ajusshi, move forward a bit. You're making my face look big."
...instant photo booths, to...
"Take this, killer slide!"
"Oof!"
"Looks like our Yu-bin's new to air hockey. Don't forget—if you lose this round, you call me oppa."
"Grr! Bring it!"
"Haha! Gotcha."
...the arcade.
'Feels like introducing Korean leisure culture to a foreigner.'
Min-su played host to the two women, and though it was half hospitality, he had fun too—more than he'd had in ages.
As the six-hour summon neared its end, they hit a nearby cozy restaurant.
"Thank you for today. I won't forget the debt I owe you."
"Nah, it was fun for me too."
'Maybe bring our constellation here next time.'
She'd probably love it.
"I never imagined Earth brimmed with such beautiful melodies. Experiencing it through Yu-bin indirectly is nothing compared to this. It's all thanks to you. This is a gift in gratitude."
Min-su received a sheet of music made of gold from the goddess.
'...Is this real gold?'
"A holy relic."
Holy! Re! Lic!
Among what apostles could receive from constellations—excluding authorities—it was the best. And he'd gotten one just for hanging out a bit!
'Maybe start a "Earth tour guide for constellations" business.'
He might score [Darkness] authorities or more relics. Seemed like a solid business model.
"Though our time was short, the precious moments here thanks to you are unforgettable. In the name of Silvia, I bless you."
Golden energy flowed from the goddess's hand, enveloping Min-su.
"May only bright days lie ahead."
As the summon time ended, the goddess vanished, returning to the heavens.
"Thanks for helping our constellation."
With her gone, Yu-bin stood and bowed to Min-su.
"...? Why aren't you calling me that? You lost earlier."
"...Grr! Thanks, oppa!"
"Good. You get it."
Her initial stiff demeanor had softened into familiarity after their fun.
After parting with Yu-bin, Min-su headed home. Even on the way, he unconsciously hummed the song the goddess had sung at karaoke. The memory was unforgettable—intensely so, looping endlessly in his mind.
As he grasped the doorknob to open the door, a question bubbled up.
Huh? But that song... what was it again?
It had to be an existing song from the karaoke machine, yet he couldn't recall it.
"Min-su! You're late! What kept you?"
But Rijette's voice as he opened the door chased the doubt away.
"Hurry up!"
"Coming!"
* * *
A vast hall built for concerts stood empty. No audience to appreciate music, no melodies to fill the space—just a void.
Only one figure stood on that stage.
"I finally did it."
[Golden Melody Performer], Silvia, smiled radiantly.
No more vibrant harmonies from Earth. No more fun Earthly delights. Back in this prison-like hall, yet her heart soared with joy.
"Now for the final stage. Just a little longer, Lucia. Soon, your music will echo across the universe."
Through her apostle's eyes, she'd seen it. Her voice's authority spreading via the internet. The seed's sprouting wasn't normal, but she didn't notice.