Chapter 433
Chapter 433
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 433
Chapter Title: Lycoris (3)
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Lunatic Entertainment.
That was the name of the new company the Blood Alliance had established just for this project.
Of course, setting up an entertainment agency came with all sorts of stringent requirements, but for the Blood Alliance—which wielded both overwhelming power and limitless wealth—meeting them was hardly a challenge.
With unlimited funds poured in, Lunatic Entertainment had quickly taken on a convincingly professional appearance despite being newly founded.
Not only had they acquired an entire building with an attached café as their headquarters, but they had also aggressively scouted talent well-respected in the industry, luring them with exorbitant salaries.
"Hey, Park, did you hear? That team leader from Team 3 who quit recently jumped ship to some newbie agency..."
"No way? I was wondering why someone who's basically guaranteed an executive position in a few years would bail. And he went to some fledgling outfit? Did they at least make him president or something?"
"Turns out it's no ordinary startup. Word is, some massive corporation is backing it hard—the capital they've dumped in is astronomical. Not just Team Leader, but all the scouted staff got insane salary offers."
"Damn, even if the money's good, going to a place with such an uncertain future..."
Naturally, the news drew massive attention from industry insiders.
While entertainment companies popped up and vanished every year like clockwork, few threw around capital so lavishly and aggressively expanded like this one.
And Jin So-ran—the Blood Alliance's second-in-command and the project's mastermind—hadn't just thrown money at it during preparations.
'This project holds the future of all us vampires. With the Lord's permission already secured, there's no reason to hold back.'
For those with sick family members, she provided healing abilities and potions—mysteries money alone couldn't buy. For those with grudges, she mobilized power and connections to settle the score.
All to stoke loyalty among her recruits and ensure they'd give their all to the project.
Lycoris—the unprecedented idol group composed entirely of vampires—was the fruit of those tireless efforts.
📰 Breaking News Lunatic Entertainment's new girl group 'Lycoris' countdown to debut. 📰 Breaking News Vampire idols?! Netizens buzzing over girl group with all-vampire lineup set to storm the scene. 📰 Breaking News Lunatic Entertainment reveals Lycoris member profiles! This is demonic charm! With all preparations complete and debut just around the corner, the surprise press releases dropped as part of the hype predictably set the world abuzz—just as planned.
💬 Comments — Netizen123 What? Idols? Who? Vampires?? — TrollKing LOL, total BS. Not falling for it, GTFO. — Netizen123 No, for real? Why's this bait?? — AngryJoe Vampires are demons, right? And they're openly debuting as celebs?? Country's gone mad. — AngryJoe Exactly. End times. What are the Guardians and cops doing? Why aren't they hauling those things away? They'd braced for backlash, but the reactions weren't great overall.
Vampires' image had improved through various incidents, but deep-seated prejudices ran too strong to accept them as entertainers—symbols of the spotlight.
Griping on forums was routine; vicious insults flew at anyone even tangentially involved.
The silver lining? Their efforts hadn't been in vain—not all feedback was negative.
— VisualFan Whoa... but their visuals are insane. MV teaser on loop. Can't stop... — VisualFan Snapped out of a daze myself. Is this what they mean by fox bewitched?
>Nah, fox no—vampire yes. — MusicLover Visuals are one thing, but the song synergy? Teaser hook sucks you in despite being short. Full version when?? — RealTalk Think about it—nothing bad for us, right? We don't hang with celebs anyway. Vampire or not, if they look good, good enough? — RealTalk For real lol. Of course, a touch of subtle opinion-shaping had nudged things along.
But it was true—not everyone was against them.
"Hee-hee, nice... Like here too..."
Nahee—the maknae handling lead vocals and cuteness for Lycoris—lay sprawled on the dorm sofa, giggling at her smartphone.
Bad comments outnumbered good, but she mercilessly reported them without batting an eye.
'Eh, getting hate just for being vampires? Old news.'
Lycoris members were handpicked elites.
Mental fortitude factored heavily into selection, so despite her youth, Nahee shrugged off this much with ease.
"Nahee! You searching us again? Company said no peeking!"
"Ah!"
A scolding female voice snatched the phone from her hand.
Nahee flailed briefly from her prone position before slumping defeatedly.
Even as a Level 4 vampire, she hadn't sensed the theft—retrieving it under her own power against a determined foe was near impossible.
Yoon Seol—Lycoris's leader, main dancer, and sexy担当—sighed deeply, phone in hand.
'Dwelling on negativity does no good. Might seem fine now, but toxic memories pile up deep inside, waiting for a weak moment to erupt.'
Seol, well aware from experience, gazed worriedly at her naive maknae.
Like most debuting idols lately, Lycoris members were young.
Oldest Seol at just 22.
Maknae Nahee a mere middle-schooler—average late teens.
But that 'age' had a catch...
'Three of us five are returners with more experience than our Earth ages suggest, but Nahee's genuinely that young.'
It was based on Earth registry age, not lived experience.
The other high school returner vampire stuck strictly to company rules, avoiding public opinion. Yet curious Nahee couldn't resist—worrisome.
'Confiscate the phone...? But singling her out feels unfair... Ah! Perfect.'
A lightbulb flashed for Seol.
She eyed the sofa-clinging girl steadily.
"Keep it up, and I'll tell Manager Ha everything. About ignoring company guidelines."
"Eek! Manager Ha?!"
"Yeah, better hand this phone to him entirely. Borrow it when needed?"
Nahee's face filled with dread.
Manager Ha—whom Seol mentioned—was no ordinary man.
"Unnie! That's..."
The recent addition to Team Lycoris: 'Manager Ha'.
No one knew his real name.
He was just Manager Ha.
Even Lunatic Entertainment's president probably didn't know.
His position was that unique.
Unlike overworked staff amid debut frenzy, he did nothing.
Just endlessly snacked, leisurely observing.
Which only made him seem more extraordinary.
'Parachute hire much? No way he's a regular manager.'
Upper brass overseer or high-level ability user for threats—that's what Lycoris and Lunatic staff pegged him as.
No one dared treat him casually.
...His overwhelming presence made approaching him impossible anyway.
"I'll let this slide once. But next time? Straight to him, like I said."
"...Got it."
Nahee meekly nodded to Seol's threat.
No desire to irk that scary uncle over mere curiosity.
Seol bittersweetly smiled at her pouting, phone-returned maknae.
Still so childish for her age.
'Sending someone like him means they expect major trouble from our activities.'
Despite Heinz's blessing empowering them beyond before—even Seol at Level 6 couldn't gauge Manager Ha's depths.
She sighed, hoping for minimal chaos.
Time passed.
Finally, Lycoris's debut day dawned.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hmm, the real show begins."
Slicked-back hair, rugged masculine features, thick-tinted oversized sunglasses, and a bursting black suit.
Hari—intimidating at first glance—slowly stroked his chin.
Then surveyed the pre-showcase stage area.
Their media blitz paid off: packed crowd reflected Lycoris buzz.
'No surprise.'
The world's first vampire idol group!
Minds wary of danger, yet fatally drawn to verify that allure firsthand.
Entertainment reporters couldn't ignore such clickbait either.
'Not everyone's here for innocent curiosity, though.'
Hari closed his eyes, blanketing the area with his domain.
Senses exploded sans sight.
'As expected. Plenty displeased with this event.'
Amid bustle, he chuckled dryly from the VIP seats.
But stayed put.
Blood Alliance vampires, prepped meticulously, quietly neutralized suspects.
'Right—can't have Korea's night rulers fall for cheap tricks.'
From a middle-aged man with a priest-bomb backpack loitering near venue buildings, to a woman infiltrating as press, to lottery fans, hired stagehands, and venue staff.
Masses caught red-handed—direct plotters or unwitting pawns.
'Tch, this much hate for vampires?'
Hari grimaced, clicking his tongue.
Low-level threats, subdued before acting by vigilant vampires.
No major shadowy force—just grassroots sabotage.
To disrupt vampires entering the public eye.
'...This why?'
Just then, Hesperon surfaced gems from the info sea via Mechanized Eye: Kallikas.
Digging seized suspects' net histories revealed a secret forum.
— VictimAnon Eternal death to the bloodsucking monsters. — GrievingDad Time to join my daughter. Thanks for everything. I'll take at least one more parasite with me as payback. — VictimAnon Godspeed. — SoonToFollow Me too, shortly. A victims' community—family or friends lost to vampires.
Hearts sealed shut, cynical toward Blood Alliance heroics.
'...'
True, Blood Alliance's moderation stemmed from Heinz's reign.
Just a year ago, hardliners dominated; vampires were terror incarnate.
What use telling past victims 'we've changed'?
'...Regrettable, but nothing immediate we can do.'
No compromise with grudge-consumed souls—even self-destructive.
Small mercy: their flailing meant little.
Few awakeners among them anyway.
Blood Alliance ruled Korea's night undisputed.
Non-transcendent rabble couldn't derail their all-in event.
'Plus, I'm here for potential Reverse Heaven Society meddling.'
The showcase proceeded smoothly for ages.
Prior acts ended; time for Lycoris's debut track.
"Here we go."
The event's true pinnacle.
The moment to unveil Lycoris to the masses.
~♪
A gorgeous intro filled the venue.
Crafted by High Elf Harris of Elven Kingdom and friends—with personal instrumentation.
Its pinnacle of 'harmony' pierced listeners' hearts.
"Mm, this is..."
"Whoa, even the teaser preview blew me away, but..."
Emotions hijacked.
Melody so sweet, heavenly—recording method a mystery.
Consciousness locked on stage following the feeling.
Then, atop surging melodic waves, seductive, lethal voices layered in.
"...!"
"..."
Journalists hammering keyboards for quick uploads froze.
Social media live-tweeters' eyes glued to stage.
Skeptics' crossed arms slackened.
Like sirens luring sailors to doom?
Elven harmony + vampiric allure overwhelmed Earthlings sans sound resistance.
And simultaneously.
Lycoris's debut 'Amaryllis' dropped on streaming sites.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Unsurprisingly, the debut track exploded.
Even doubters silenced.
Amid skyrocketing metrics.
Lycoris rode the wave to...
"Look, real Lycoris! No joke. IRL way prettier."
"Shh! Idiot, shut it! Even the tiniest one could rip you apart barehanded!"
"Gah!"
They were at the broadcast station for a nationwide music show taping.
"...We don't rip people."
Nahee—the smallest—pouted softly at the blatant stares.
They'd whispered, but every ear here caught it.
Treated like escaped beasts, the fear tainting their words drew awkward smiles from Lycoris.
"Kahahat! This is fun! Been to stations before, but whoa? What's that? Neat!"
Manager Ha, eternally bubbly, remained oblivious as ever.