School Festival #9
School Festival #9
Dodging the kids who kept pestering me for an evaluation, I fled all the way to the waiting-room door.
"Phew."
My face is seriously burning up. Leona, Yu-ri—right now, looking them in the face is kind of embarrassing. I wasn't even like this when I saw Si-hoo's bare chest.
But I guess the vibe is just different. Anyway, that's a thing. With Si-hoo, I can do that kind of stuff without thinking twice, but that really is Si-hoo-only territory.
—Creeeak.
So anyway, I took a breather and went inside.
"Oh, Geun-cheol. You're here?"
"Yeah. I'm here."
Maybe she'd been resting inside—Si-hoo greeted me.
Looking around, a few other kids were here too.
"Hey, Si-hoo, what've you been doing here instead of coming?"
"Waiting for you, Geun-cheol. We have to be here anyway, right?"
"Heh-heh, true."
Guess she figured she'd wait here with me instead of heading to the seats.
"Anyway, you little punk. That was pretty something earlier, huh? Did you go and learn some Ascension martial arts?"
"Geun-cheol. That wasn't even thirty percent of my real skill."
"You're so goddamn full of it!"
So I sat down with Si-hoo and was picking at some snacks when Brian, riding the rhythm, came over and shouted.
"Whoa, Geun-cheol! How was it! Watashi no b-boy dance!"
"I thought you were a crazy psycho. Hey! What's with the helmet! Take it off!"
"No, noooo! I can't live without the helmet anymore! Dame desu, taking it off!"
The sight of this guy in his helmet was so ridiculous I tried to yank it off, but Brian pointed somewhere else and yelled.
"More importantly, over there! Mister Dragon over there! Chō-odoroita! Never imagined he was hiding that side of him! He's a musician too!"
"Right!"
Ryu was there!
"Hey! Ryu!"
I walked up to Ryu, who was sitting with his arms crossed, and acted all familiar. The guy averted his eyes and spat out:
"...Shut up."
"Shut up my ass, you armor bastard. You, punk. Nobody told you to bust out that cool-as-hell armor on stage."
"..."
"So that's what it was? You'd been wanting to show off your armor on stage sometime? Kya! That's awesome! You better thank me, Ryu!"
"I told you to shut the hell up! You Taliban bastard!"
His face went red in an instant.
"Heh-heh, why're you taking it out on me when you pulled that crap yourself. Ah, jeez, this suave motherfucker. The armor's badass."
"This bastard simply never listens...!"
As I kept complimenting his mana armor, he slowly began to smile. I'm telling you, this guy's easier to read than a picture book. Like I thought, he's definitely fantasized about a stage moment like that.
"Still, man. You got to show a cool side in front of your family. Maybe it turned out for the better? Your sister'll love it, won't she?"
"Whether my sister or anyone else likes it means nothing to me! Let go! I'm leaving!"
—Thwack.
Ryu smacked my hand away and trudged toward the door.
"Oh, right. Ryu."
"What."
"You know Ma O-hun? The guy with the wings. The whole Flügel thing."
"I have no interest in the likes of him."
"He says he wants to be your close friend. Can I give him your number?"
"Wh...what?! Don't you dare say that kind of crap, you lunatic!"
—Bam!
Ryu slammed the door shut and stormed out.
"Mister Dragon. No idea why he was sitting here in the first place. Anyway, Geun-cheol! Mun Min's rap was the absolute worst, wasn't it!"
"The worst on the planet, that crazy son of a bitch. Hey. Where's Mun Min."
"Went to the bathroom with Ken!"
"Tch."
Seriously, listening to Mun Min's godawful rapping made me want to kill him. That was the only thought in my head.
"So, Geun-cheol. You're heading out to sing soon, right?"
"Yep. Look forward to it. It won't be on the same level as Leona and Yu-ri's... stage, but I'll still show you something moving."
"Please just don't scream some weird war cry, Geun-cheol."
Si-hoo, arms crossed, said that like she was letting out a sigh.
"Gimme a break, man. Hey. When it comes to singing, I'm a specialist with genuine professional pride. I don't do stuff that hurts the audience."
"Why the hell do you have professional pride about that, of all things!"
"You wouldn't get it. My soul."
Musician's soul.
—Ding.
And so.
Little by little, my turn was coming up.
"Hm."
But thinking about it, everyone had put on something pretty decent. Si-hoo's performance went without saying. Ryu got a huge ovation. Even Brian totally hyped the crowd with that insane b-boy dance.
Ken, with that Japanese-style guitar... shamisen, I think, played it and gave everyone a fresh kind of fun. Mun Min was obviously the worst, but that guy's excluded by default from any comparison.
Leona and Yu-ri were just massive hits.
Anyway, the festival's practically flawless, so if I'm the one who bombs here, the picture gets weird.
"Heh."
But me.
I'm actually enjoying this.
I'm overflowing with confidence. This whole time, while training the Lion's Roar, my 'throat' has gotten way stronger. Reinforced vocal cords. With my heavenly singing blasting out from there, I'll move the entire audience to tears.
—Ding.
"Cadet Kim Geun-cheol!"
"Ah, yes!"
My turn's arrived.
"Let's go."
"Geun-cheol. Please don't do anything weird. Sing well. Kind of. I'm looking forward to it."
"Geez, seriously. I should've let this kid hear it once. Listen carefully. And don't cry. Alright, here I go?"
I walked right out onto the stage.
—Murmur, murmur.
A different view from what you feel in the seats. The moment I stepped onto the stage, all kinds of sounds flooded in. At the same time, I felt countless gazes. Right. All these people are waiting to hear my song.
—Thump, thump.
My heart's pounding.
If that's the case, meeting those expectations is human nature.
With my song, I'll capture all their hearts!
"A song from first-year Cadet Kim Geun-cheol! Really looking forward to it! Now, please introduce yourself!"
The upperclassman emcee looked at me and held out the mic, asking for an introduction. I gave a gentle nod, grabbed the mic, and quietly scanned the surroundings.
Over there, Leona and Yu-ri were watching me with their arms crossed. No, but their expressions... so solemn it was like Fist of the North Star. Back off. Yep, they're pumped with anticipation. They're probably planning to coldly evaluate my skills.
Now that I think about it, I have something to say to Leona.
How dare she make me participate in the talent show.
Gotta say something publicly right here.
"Hello. I'm first-year Kim Geun-cheol. I'm in the Warrior Class, and I'm decently confident with a sword and with singing."
"Ohhh! Is that so! Confident in singing! What song are you planning to perform?"
"It's 'Gashi' by Buzzum."
"Ah! 'Gashi' by Buzzum! A classic!"
A sorrowful love song.
There's nobody who doesn't know about a thorn that digs into your heart.
"Then, with that confidence, give us a few words! We'll start the song right after!"
"A few words, huh... Is it okay if I say something to a friend?"
"Of course!"
Then I'll say a few words to Leona.
"Ahem, then I'll use this opportunity to say something. First-year! Leona Kainus!"
Loud and strong.
I called Leona's name.
—...!
At that, Leona, who was in the audience, opened her eyes slightly wide and pointed at herself. Watching her, I kept going.
"Leona! I have something to say to you! Hear me out!"
At the same time, eyes started swarming toward Leona. And murmuring noises. Leona's already a celebrity. The moment you put that name in your mouth, the aggro's definitely pulled.
"...!"
As expected, Leona panicked and started looking around frantically. So, should I thank her now and publicly sing her praises? I don't know for sure, but if she hears my thanks in a spot where all this public attention's been dragged onto her, she's definitely gonna be embarrassed.
Her face'll go red, not knowing what to do.
Blame yourself for sending me onto this stage.
"I have a friend named Leona! The famous young lady of the Kainus Family! And at the start of the semester, this friend of mine did something for me!"
"J-just what could that be?"
While the MC was talking, Leona, seriously flustered, urgently raised both arms in an X-shape as if telling me to shut my mouth right this instant.
Looked frantic as hell.
That sight was pretty damn funny.
Like some monsterkin shooting X-rays.
"She shared her meal tickets with me when I was starving! Meal tickets! When I was starving without even money for food, she gave me her meal tickets! I was so grateful! Leona truly has a beautiful heart, like an angel!"
"Ohhh...! The young lady of the Kainus Family did such a thing!"
At that heartwarming story, the audience responded with "ohhh"s and looked at Leona, and Leona, even more at a loss, stomped her feet.
Yu-ri had already bolted a while ago.
Zero loyalty, that punk.
"So I'd like to say something to a friend like that! Leona!"
That was the moment I was about to say the next thing.
—Fwoosh!
A strange noise.
At the same time.
"Stop, first-year!!!"
A tremendously forceful voice erupted from the ceiling of the auditorium.
—Boom!
Something dropped right in front of me!
"What the?!"
What?
Did a light fall from above? For a split second, that's what I thought, but as the dust cleared, what I saw was none other than a person.
A person.
A man, at that, striking a cool landing pose like Iron Man or something.
"Put that mic down, right now...!"
A black-haired guy in a school uniform. Looking at his name tag, a second-year. Anyway, the guy with glasses, his eyes burning, his expression like a penitent about to burst into tears any second, stared at me and said that... What the hell. Who are you?
"A, a random bastard just dropped in! Who the hell are you?!"
Is this a dream?
A stranger just appeared out of nowhere before my eyes?
It was so surreal I couldn't feel any reality.
"I am the Student Council President! Second-year Park Hyun-min!"
But his self-introduction was enough to wake me right up.
"Student Council President?! You're...!"
This guy's the Student Council President?
"Then why're you suddenly in front of me?!"
And during the festival, at that!
"That's right! I am the Student Council President of the academy!"
"Uh, I got that part! But what, why! Why'd you suddenly show up!"
"That's because... I know what you're about to do!"
—Smack!
Standing right in front of me, he fixed me with a bloodshot gaze like he was about to burst into sobs and shouted with force.
What am I about to do?
"Y-you crazy?! What's wrong with you!"
"The crazy one is you, not me, first-year!!!"
Why's the craziest person here coming at me!
"I know perfectly well what's about to happen here starting now! Because this exact time last year, in this exact spot, I remember a certain student committing an irreversible transgression!"
"No, what kind of bull—!"
With a resolute expression.
—Trickle.
Hot tears streamed down as he spoke.
"You...! I'm certain you're thinking this! Right now, at this joyous festival, on this brightest of stages!"
On the stage?
"You're going to publicly confess to the girl you have in your heart!!!"
"Confess?!"
What the hell is he talking about!
I was just trying to embarrass Leona while thanking her!
"Think carefully! Nobody likes a public confession on festival day! No, it's beyond dislike—people hate it! I guarantee this! So stop, first-year!"
"No... I-I've got no intention of doing that kind of crap, what is this..."
"Don't bullshit me!!!!"
"Hurk?!"
This guy's a madman...!
"I, more than anyone, know it best! You've got a face that's blatantly shaped for a humiliating public confession! So stop! The festival must be halted immediately! Even if only to save a single student about to commit an irreversible transgression, this goddamned festival must be stopped right this instant...!"
A madman with a frightening intensity!!!
As the so-called Student Council President, weeping and muttering to himself in a frenzy like a maniac, broke down sobbing, chaos settled over the hall. Even the MC stood there mouth agape, eyes wide, and the audience seemed deeply thrown into confusion by the situation.
Should I be the one to take this bastard out?
I'd had no clue what nonsense he'd been spouting for a while now.
"Uh, excuse me? First, calm down a little. Public confession or whatever, I have zero intention of doing anything that absurd, so for now—"
"It must be stopped! This festival must be suspended! I don't want to see someone resembling me repeat the same mistake!!!"
"What?"
Wait.
Someone resembling me repeating the mistake?
Then that means, no way.
"Y-you. Don't tell me the person who did that public confession... is you, the Student Council President, yourself?"
Terror.
The moment I asked, barely suppressing that extreme abyssal dread you feel when you're face-to-face with the atrocious, brutal, heinously evil criminal who publicly confessed on stage during the festival.
"Ahh."
The man answered.
"Yes. That's me. I am the man who, last year, just like you—confessed publicly in that exact same spot...!"
"U, uwaaah! Uwaaaaaaaah!"
Goosebumps crawled all over me and a chill hit—I collapsed onto the spot with a thud and screamed like a child before I knew what I was doing.
"A, a Public-Confession Fiend!!!!"
Th-this guy was for real!
He actually confessed publicly on the festival stage!
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
I couldn't form a single thought anymore.
—Fwoosh!
With sheer terror spiking, I didn't even look back—I bolted off the stage on all fours like a dog...!
It's that guy!
That guy right there was the one!
That man right there was the insane psychopath who confessed publicly on the school festival stage in front of everybody!
"Ha, hahahahaha! Keuh-hahahahahahaha! Yes, yes! Run! Run and run again and keep running! Run to the very end! Better to run than to commit the transgression, I say!"
Behind me, as I fled toward the audience shrieking like a terrified child, that insane voice erupted.
"No one must ever confess on this stage! I have suffered too much pain all this time! I wanted to take it back! My transgression! But I stopped it! I saved one person who'd have suffered like me! Ahh, God! So please...! Grant this foolish sinner forgiveness...! Please wipe from my mind this never-ending hellish flashback...!"
"Huaaaaak!"
And a number of upperclassmen, weapons gripped, brushed past me and shouted bravely.
"Stop him, subdue him!"
"Subdue the Student Council President!"
"That bastard's having another seizure...!"
"Crazy Public-Confession Fiend fucker! We knew he'd been off for a few days!"
"God damn it, I can't suppress the fear...!"
"But we, with our experience, are the only ones who can stop him!"
"Only we, the Fear Suppression Unit, can stop that abyssal demon!"
"Ahh, must we enter that hell again? But if we don't!"
"The audience and the younger students here will suffer!"
"Protect the Student Council President's honor!"
"Soo-jin, you bitch! That's why I'm telling you, just accept his confession already!"
"Am I crazy?!"
Ahh.
Right.
The Lightning Team.
"Uwaah, uwaaaaaah!"
"Mommyyyyy!"
"Kyaaaaaaah!"
"A Public-Confession Fiendddd!"
Whether the heroes sortied or not, the auditorium was already a scene of chaos and pandemonium.
This supremely lawless, heinous criminal—guilty of the vilest of sins, a public confession on festival day—had the terror-stricken audience clutching their heads and screaming in fear.
"K-Kim Geun-cheol! Over here! We have to escape, right now!"
"Leona!"
The face I most wanted to see, Leona's!
"Save me!"
"Get a grip if you want to live! Grab my hand, now! Let's get out of here first!"
"Yeah!"
Saved!
As I grabbed Leona's hand and ran, I looked back.
—Boom!
"Uwaaaaaaah!"
"Aaaaaah!"
"He's too strongggg!"
"The Student Council President's too strongggg!"
The berserk Student Council President was sending the charging Lightning Team upperclassmen flying with his bare hands. Even the bravest of them couldn’t last three seconds—they were flung away, clothes ripped to shreds, stark naked.
"It must be stopped...! Ooooooh! It isn't too late even now! This insane festival must be halted immediately, I say! Uwaaaaaaah! If this festival goes on like this, something unknown is definitely going to go wrong! The festival must be stopped at once!!!"
Leaving the madman's cries behind, we escaped outside the auditorium.
"Kim Geun-cheol! I've remembered your name! Do not forget that I saved you! And never, ever repeat the transgression this foolish man committed!"
His voice, reverberating, was like the curse-laden last words left by the king of a doomed ancient kingdom... That voice will echo forever... For the king's soul, shackled to the ruined kingdom by the curse born of a demon's contract, will keep screaming endlessly!
Someone, anyone!
Someone, anyone, please break that foolish king's curse! The king revived his kingdom through a pact with a demon, but the price was to offer up the kingdom at its most brilliant moment!
Not a single cornerstone remains in the fallen kingdom, yet the king still screams, regretting his folly!
Now, Hero!
Set forth for the demon-cursed ruined kingdom! Go, free the fallen king's soul, and claim the treasures of the ancient royal house!
For it shall be the mightiest stake to drive into the Demon King's heart...!