Chapter 49: The Event (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 49: The Event (2)
Inside the swaying bus on the way to the venue, I finally turned off my phone screen.
The memo app that had been open went dark. I didn't need to look at it anymore.
I’ve memorized it all.
I had finally finished my preparations. Before the event even started, I had perfectly familiarized myself with the names and appearances of all the characters we were going to sell. Now, I wouldn't be caught off guard by not knowing a name.
"We have to get off now."
"Yeah."
I followed Lee Seung-ah off the bus.
"Now, where should we—"
I started to ask where we were supposed to go, but before I could even finish the sentence, Seung-ah gestured with her eyes toward the front. Her fingertip pointed in one direction.
Following her lead, I saw groups of people carrying bulky gear heading toward a specific destination.
...Am I supposed to follow them?
After following the crowd in silence, we reached a vast plaza.
Oh. We really had arrived.
There are so many people, and it hasn't even started yet...
Cosplayers were walking everywhere across the plaza. It was a truly exotic sight. Since this was my first time experiencing something like this, I instinctively hesitated.
"By the way, you said you were meeting a friend here," I asked as I hurried to catch up with Seung-ah.
I’d heard it was a school friend she often went to events with. Apparently, they had even secured booth space right next to hers.
...I don't see anyone who looks like a friend, though.
She said they were supposed to meet near the entrance, but I didn't see anyone waiting. People were just rushing past, paying us little attention. Only a few guys glanced at Seung-ah as they walked by.
"She said she hasn't arrived yet. It'll take a little while."
Seung-ah, who had been tapping on her screen as if sending a text, shoved her phone into her pocket.
"Let's go inside and get changed first."
Seung-ah took the lead. Her steps were lighter than usual. Even though she tried to hide it, it was obvious she was excited.
*
"I'm changed."
When I stepped out of the dressing room after changing into the formal suit, Seung-ah was already putting her bags down in a corner.
"Come here and sit."
She pulled out a pouch and began laying out various supplies.
"Wait, do I really have to wear makeup—"
"Hey, shh...! Don't move."
"......"
I was forced to stay still under Seung-ah's stern command. Her hands moved busily, and the sensation of the brush spreading product across my face felt completely foreign.
...How much time had passed?
"...There... okay. Done."
Seung-ah leaned her upper body left and right to inspect her work.
"Hmm."
— "Am I... a bit of a genius?"
Her Mini-Me let out a huff of pride. It was a sound of pure satisfaction.
"Try standing up."
At those words, I was finally able to get to my feet.
"Well, it looks alright."
— "Fortunately, it doesn't look awkward... Hmm, is it because he got taller...?"
The Mini-Me nodded as if satisfied.
"Here, hang this around your neck too."
Finally, I put on the entry pass she handed me and picked up the tablet she’d made as a prop. The cosplay was complete.
"Take a look over there."
Seung-ah pointed toward the wall. It was made of polished steel, acting as a mirror so I could see my reflection reasonably well. There were too many people waiting for the actual restroom.
It looks decent enough.
I checked my appearance. Parted hair and a gray formal suit. She said the character was a "Teacher." True to those words, it was a standard, sharp suit fit. I could walk around like this and people might not even realize it was a cosplay.
In fact, I wondered if people would even recognize who I was supposed to be.
As I was checking myself out...
"Seung-ah!"
Someone called her from behind.
"You're finally here," Seung-ah grumbled as she looked at the two girls approaching. "Say hello. This is my brother who's helping out today."
"Hi."
I gave a light nod at Seung-ah's introduction.
"And these are my friends."
This was the first time I was being introduced to Seung-ah's friends.
"...Hello. I'm Jin Sujin."
"Hello. I'm Kim Da-bin. Um, I look forward to working with you today."
One had a brownish-gray short cut, and the other was a blonde with a ponytail. They say birds of a feather flock together; her friends were all quite hip.
"Yeah, nice to meet you."
As I accepted their greetings, the girl who introduced herself as Kim Da-bin scrutinized me.
"The cosplay quality is great. You're the Archive Teacher, right?"
"...How did you know?"
"Huh? Isn't it obvious just by looking?"
Kim Da-bin blinked as if puzzled by my question.
...So people know just by looking?
I was surprised she recognized it immediately, but it seemed the character was more distinct than I thought. I nodded, confirming she was right.
"Shall we go?"
Just as I thought it was time to move...
"Excuse me..."
A stranger spoke to me. It was a woman in cosplay.
"Yes?"
I wondered what was going on. As I expressed my confusion, she asked, "If it's okay, could I take a photo with you? You're cosplaying the Archive Teacher, right?"
"...Huh?"
My confusion grew. I hadn't expected a sudden request for a photo.
"It's always like this here," Seung-ah whispered, pulling my shoulder slightly. She explained that taking photos was a common occurrence. "You don't have to do it if you don't want to."
"...Really?"
So that's how it worked. In that case, there was no reason to refuse. She had gone out of her way to ask, and it wasn't a particularly difficult task.
"Sure, that's fine."
When I nodded, she stepped beside me and raised her camera.
...Should I strike a pose or something? As I was worrying about what to do...
— "You should just smile."
Seung-ah's Mini-Me put its fingertips to the corners of its mouth and lifted them slightly. I followed that advice and put on a smile. It was a bit awkward, but I didn't mind. I wasn't used to being the one photographed in a place like this.
— Click.
"Thank you...!"
She bowed her head and left, looking satisfied. This wasn't bad. It was actually quite an interesting experience.
"Then..."
Just as I was about to head on my way again...
"If you don't mind—"
Another person approached and held out their phone. It was another request for a photo.
"..."
Well. For some reason... as I took photos with people one by one... a crowd began to gather.
"—Oh, really?"
As I made small talk with those who approached me, I soon found myself chatting with other cosplayers nearby. Apparently, they were all Archive cosplayers too.
"..."
Seung-ah watched this blankly for a moment.
"...Should we get going?"
— "Seriously, he's a total magnet... Did I do his makeup too well...?"
The Mini-Me wore a grumpy expression, as if things were becoming a hassle.
"We have to change our clothes too. We need to get ready."
"Right, let's go."
I was planning to head inside anyway. I said goodbye to the group and moved on. Seung-ah quickened her pace, her movements suggesting she wanted to get inside before more people swarmed us.
"We're going to go change, so you go inside first."
"Okay."
I entered the event building alone. Since I had the status of a booth participant, I could enter before the event officially started.
Inside the quiet venue, only a few people were moving around busily. Watching them made me feel like I had become a staff member, which was a strange feeling.
Our booth is...
I checked the location I had received via text.
Here it is.
I arrived at the booth and sat down. As I was looking around to see what other stalls were like...
"You're Author Bebe, right?"
A man wearing a staff hat approached, pulling a cart full of packages.
"Ah, yes."
I nodded for now. Bebe was Seung-ah's pen name, if I recalled correctly.
"Could you sign here to confirm receipt?"
I scribbled my name on the screen.
"Thank you."
"Sure, keep up the good work."
I gave a small bow. He disappeared elsewhere before he even had time to accept the greeting. He seemed incredibly busy.
Why is there so much...?
Looking at the boxes placed on the floor, the amount of merch produced was substantial.
Can we even sell all of this?
She did draw well, and the quality was high, but the quantity was more than I expected. I doubted whether we could get through all of this today and tomorrow.
...I'm sure she'll handle it.
I stopped worrying. It wasn't my money, after all. I sat in the chair and relaxed. Since I had nothing to do until they arrived, I figured I'd watch some short-form videos while waiting.
Ding!
Just then, a notification popped up at the top of the screen.
— Lee Sol: What are you doing right now?
— Lee Sol: (Hamster emoticon with a question mark)
It was Lee Sol. It was the first time she had texted me at this hour on a weekend.
— Lee Seung-ho: I'm out.
— Lee Seung-ho: Why?
I sent a casual reply.
— Lee Sol: Out? Where?
For once, the reply came back instantly.
— Lee Seung-ho: Came to help my sister with an event.
— Lee Sol: An event with Seung-ah?
I blinked at the text. She was already calling her Seung-ah. Had they become that close already?
— Lee Seung-ho: An event selling anime art. She draws.
— Lee Sol: Really?
— Lee Sol: (Impressed hamster emoticon)
— Lee Seung-ho: What about you?
— Lee Sol: (Photo of a workbook and pencil on a desk.)
— Lee Sol: Studying!
— Lee Sol: I was going to ask you something I didn't know, but that's too bad.
— Lee Sol: (Hamster emoticon with a clenched fist.)
"She's working hard."
Seeing her studying since morning made me feel proud of her. Just as I was sending an emoticon telling her to hang in there...
"Oh..."
Seung-ah and her group, now in full cosplay, appeared. They let out exclamations of awe as they looked at the sales table.
They're all from the same game too.
They were the characters featured on the merch we were selling—all from the game Archive. As she had announced, Seung-ah was the mascot character, Arorong. Kim Da-bin had cat ears attached to her head and was cosplaying Kai'sa. Jin Sujin, who was already blonde, pulled off the maid character Doki perfectly.
"..."
The entry time was approaching. I put my phone in the inner pocket of my suit and stood up.
*
A little while ago——
Ji Nuri was scouting the event venue, humming to herself.
Wow, everyone's quality is so good...
Everywhere she looked, there were people who had put immense effort into their costumes. It was a true utopia where only people of her kind gathered.
There's still some time before it starts, but...
Entering early was the best way to buy the merch she wanted. She had already purchased a special pass for cosplaying and entered the dressing room without hesitation.
"Hmm~"
Ji Nuri pulled out the clothes she had brought. The cosplay she was doing today was the pink-haired protagonist girl from a band anime, chosen to match her performance. The character had shut-in tendencies.
She put on the pink tracksuit and the pink wig in order.
"Ugh."
The wig poked her eye slightly. The problem was trying to put it on too quickly. A tiny tear escaped.
"Ugh..."
As she was rubbing her eye, someone brushed past her. A girl with a somewhat familiar appearance.
Oh...
Ji Nuri blinked and turned her gaze. However, only the empty space where the person had been was visible.
"..."
Ji Nuri narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked toward the entrance.
...Just now...
She thought she had seen Lee Seung-ho's younger sister.
Nah.
She must have misseen.
"Hmm~ hmm-hmm~"
Ji Nuri hummed as she walked out of the dressing room.