The World of Singing Idols -3-
Rave, one of the world's four major entertainment agencies, is famous worldwide and leads Terakanta's idol-first ideology.
And among the countless Rave branches scattered across the world, the Nobon Branch ranks among the very most successful.
Situated in the heart of Gakyo, the capital of Nobon, the branch boasted such majestic grandeur that even the nearby prime minister's residence looked shabby by comparison—a testament to just how much influence idols wielded in this world.
Inside the skyscraper, the building was packed not only with company employees, but also with countless idols and the various staff who supported them.
Dedicated spaces had been set aside for each idol and idol group. Naturally, the largest area belonged to Stella Heart, the idol group reigning at No. 1 in the rankings.
In fact, they had the entire top floor of the skyscraper to themselves.
Under normal circumstances, this area should have been quiet, since Stella Heart was on a break after releasing their album.
"Ahhh, seriously, what's the leader doing? We were finally getting a break, and now she's suddenly calling us in! I was supposed to hang out with my little sister today!!"
"Don't get so mad, Hwarin. I'm sure Mai had a reason for calling us in such a hurry."
"Right~ Right~!! What a grump~!! The leader must have had a reason for calling us, too!! Suzu's actually happy we all get to be together~!"
"What!? A grump!? You little blockhead! You got something else to say!?"
"Suzu said all she had to say~ Bleh!"
"Haha, girls. Don't fight—be nice to each other, okay?"
As if to break up the usual quiet, the three members—everyone except their leader, Seorin Mai—were gathered in the lounge of their private suite, chattering away.
They grumbled about Seorin Mai suddenly calling them in and bickered with one another, but none of them was genuinely angry or fighting.
They had been together ever since their trainee days, through all the way to the top of the idol world. By now, they were practically family.
Even this little squabble was nothing more than their usual carefree teasing and everyday banter.
And after they'd spent some time noisily catching up on everything they'd missed while apart—
"Ah, you're all here already. Sorry I'm late~"
At last, the one who had called the members in from their break arrived: Stella Heart's leader, Seorin Mai.
"You sure took your time."
"Hi, Mai~"
"Waaah!! It's the leader!!"
The moment the three noticed Mai come in, they turned to her and welcomed her in their own ways.
But as soon as they saw her, all three sensed something slightly different about her than usual.
'Huh? What's this? Has the leader's skin always been that glossy?'
'Mmm~ The mood's turned kind of mysteriously sultry and pink, hasn't it? From what I've read in steamy books, a change like this means... No way... Could it be... that kind of thing...? Kyaaa~♥'
'Oh? The leader's even prettier than before. Did she switch cosmetics? I should ask her what she's using later~'
But they only noticed that something was off.
Not one of them realized that a terrifying, incomprehensible change had taken place in Mai's very being.
All three simply thought that her appearance and the atmosphere around her had changed a little. Even close friends would find it rude to ask about something like that the moment they met, so they quickly changed the subject.
"So, leader. Why'd you suddenly call us in like this? I even canceled my plans to hang out with my little sister because of you!!"
The first to speak was Shenyang Hwarin, whose bold, fiery personality was a little more hotheaded than the other two.
After knowing each other for so long, she understood that Seorin Mai must have had a good reason to call them in so urgently.
She wasn't actually all that angry, either.
But because she had a fiery temper, even minor irritation showed on her face and in her actions right away.
Everyone knew that about her, so they took it in stride, as usual, without making an issue of it.
"Sorry, sorry~ But I had a reason. It's something you all know about, too."
"Huh? Something we know about? Suzu hasn't heard anything lately."
"Hmm... Then is it about them?"
The youngest, the blonde 'Jeong Suzuki,' knew nothing about it, being unfamiliar with this sort of thing. But the oldest member, the blue-haired 'Fang Aoko,' nodded as if she had a rough idea of what was going on.
"Ao eonni's right. It looks like those guys from Sunnyside, who've been quiet lately, have started making moves behind the scenes."
Seorin Mai set the laptop she had brought down on the table and turned the screen toward the others.
The screen displayed a collection of online posts and articles containing minor scandals, speculation, and malicious smears aimed at Stella Heart.
It also included a breakdown showing that hateful comments on Stella Heart-related posts had increased by over 50% recently, along with data showing a sudden surge in posts praising their rival group, Sunnyside, to an abnormal degree.
Even a five-year-old could see that someone was clearly manipulating public opinion.
"What the hell is this!? Those foreign bastards—I didn't think they'd go this far, but they really did it!!"
"Haa... Yeah. So it's finally come."
"Eh..? Wh-what's this...? Su-Suzu never said any of these things...! And they're saying Suzu talks funny...? Waaah!!"
Unlike the other three, who had been trained as idols and lived in the industry since childhood, Suzu had entered the business at a relatively late age, relying purely on her natural talent.
So this was the first time she had come face-to-face with such ugly behavior.
The other two, by contrast, reacted as though they had expected it.
Even in a society that worshiped idols, this was still a civilization of intelligent beings—with its light and darkness. There was no way the industry could be free of its sordid side.
No, if anything, since idols generated the energy that powered nations and served as the very embodiment of a country's stature and prestige,
a hideous swamp of conflict and covert power struggles that the public knew nothing about was constantly churning behind all that glitter.
And after a major incident in the past, when fierce competition and backroom schemes drove several famous idols to take their own lives, the Big Four companies and governments around the world had reached an unspoken agreement in recent years to keep things from spiraling too far out of control.
But those power struggles could flare up again at any time.
Just like now, when the group ranked No. 2 in the idol rankings—once regarded as no more than friendly rivals—had started plotting to seize the top spot.
"Yeah, that's right. I don't know whether this was Sunnyside's own decision or the will of Muse Entertainment behind them, but... they're the ones who crossed the line first."
'Hehe~ Idiots!'
In reality, every last bit of that information had been fabricated.
But it never even crossed the others' minds that their leader might be lying to them.
"Anyway, that's why I called you. I've already informed the higher-ups, and the company will handle the response. So during our break, we need to keep a low profile and avoid doing anything that could give them an excuse to criticize us. That's why I gathered everyone."
"Tch... Fine..."
"Phew... Can't be helped..."
"Waaah... Suzu's sad... People hate Suzu..."
At any rate, the three nodded, having accepted the reason for the emergency meeting.
And that also meant the faint unease and questions they had felt toward Seorin Mai had disappeared.
Seorin Mai noticed, and immediately made her move.
"Still, I could've handled this with a call or a text. Sorry for making you come all the way in when you were resting."
"No, you're right. This isn't really the kind of thing you talk about over the phone."
"Hwarin's right. It's a sensitive issue."
"Waaah..."
Aside from Suzu, who was still reeling from the hateful articles and comments, the other two nodded as if they understood Seorin Mai's decision.
Mai smiled as though grateful.
But that smile held the faintest hint of something ominous, too subtle for anyone else to notice.
"Thanks for understanding. To make it up to you, I brought a little gift."
She lifted the paper bag she had been carrying since entering the lounge.
With practiced, delicate hands, she began taking out the items inside one by one and setting them on the table.
"Ooh..."
"Wow..."
"Waaah!? What's this, leader!? Suzu's never seen anything like it!!"
What appeared before their eyes were lavish treats none of the three had ever seen before.
A subtle yet luxurious sweetness filled the air, and each treat was so intricate and beautiful that just looking at them made their mouths water.
They were that impressive.
Even Suzu, who had been so gloomy she was crying, immediately brightened up.
In a way, it was only natural.
These treats had been made by top-tier bakers from a distant galaxy, using techniques a civilization with technology at the level of the twenty-first century couldn't even begin to imitate.
They were so delicious, in fact, that Omega, a transcendent human, had even signed an exclusive supply contract for them for himself and his wives.
But the real star wasn't the treats.
"Here, before you eat, wet your whistles first."
Seorin Mai reached into the paper bag again and took out three glass bottles.
They were filled with a pure white liquid.
Milk.
"The treats are amazing, but the milk from this place is the real deal."
Gulp... "It just looks like regular milk, though?"
"If they serve it with treats like these, it must be something special..."
Hwarin and Aoko carefully accepted the bottles of milk, which still held a faint warmth.
They swallowed, looking ready to pounce on the desserts at any moment.
For an idol, sweets were as essential as water to a fish.
Meanwhile—
"I-I can't possibly savor these supreme sweets looking like this!! Sorry, leader!! Suzu's going to touch up her makeup first!!"
Strongly led by her own whims, Suzu shouted a completely unrelated excuse, sprang off the sofa, and dashed into the restroom at the back of the lounge.
"Hmm... Well, whatever. Anyway, enjoy~"
With a faintly regretful smile, Seorin Mai offered the milk and treats to the other two again.
"Ooh, then let's see..."
"Ufufu, thanks for the treat, Seorin."
Just as the two of them were about to open their milk bottles,
they didn't see it.
"It's milk extracted using a special method, you know... Lick♥"
The grotesque smile that appeared on Seorin Mai's lips.
Or the unidentified white liquid that dampened the area around her chest and slowly trickled down.