The Nightingale Does Not Sing (4)
The Nightingale Does Not Sing (4)
Having thoroughly hunted in the Dungeon while using spirits to her heart's content, Orion exited the Dungeon with a refreshed expression for the first time in ages.
Her smile was so vibrant that even Ga-hee, another woman, was completely swept away by it.
"Ah— I really never imagined I'd feel like this in the city."
Kkeueung, Orion stretched languidly, flaunting her figure. At that ultra-powerful demi-human dynamite body that no Eastern physique could ever produce, Ga-hee let out a groan.
But soon after, another thought spread through her mind.
"......Orion?"
"Yes? Oh, Ga-hee-ssi worked hard too. Next time as well......."
"I have a favor to ask too."
"What is it? If it's Ga-hee-ssi's request, I'll do any—."
"Let's do idols."
"......Pardon?"
Having heard Ga-hee's words, Orion froze for a moment, using most of her brainpower to process what she'd just said.
Idols? What were idols again? Oh right, the job where you dance and sing. Just like her......
"N-No, I can't do that!"
In a very unladylike manner, Orion thought of her age and imagined herself dancing and singing in flashy outfits alongside Ga-hee.
......Suddenly, her stomach started to feel queasy. Orion covered her mouth like she had morning sickness and turned her head away.
But Ga-hee didn't give up.
"Equivalent exchange! Killing two birds with one stone! Anyway, we have to do idols!"
"Killing two birds with one stone doesn't mean that."
"Shut up! If you're the boss, don't take me to such a dangerous place! If you're gonna take me, take responsibility!"
"Take responsibility? What more do you want?"
"Ah, um... well, that's......."
Ga-hee paused at Dojin's words, feeling like she was getting pulled into his pace, then immediately targeted Orion and started pressuring her.
"Anyway, without me, Orion isn't much help, right?"
"Well, that's true......."
"I want to help Orion too. But I can't keep singing for you forever, can I? So learn from me."
"Learn? Singing?"
"Yeah. Learn to sing from me, and while you're at it, do some idol activities too. Then you can summon spirits even without me, right?"
"No, your spirit summoning is your Ability......."
"Be quiet!"
Ga-hee physically clamped Dojin's mouth shut, then looked at Orion. Fortunately, she seemed lost in thought from Ga-hee's proposal and hadn't heard a word.
Good. Thinking that, Ga-hee watched to see how Orion would respond. After pondering, Orion hesitated a bit before speaking to Ga-hee.
"......Really, could I summon spirits without Ga-hee-ssi's help?"
"Of course! In my opinion, you'd actually be even more popular!"
"Really? For real?"
"Of course, have you ever seen me lie?"
"......I haven't, no?"
Naturally, since they hadn't known each other long, the odds of lies being told and caught were low, but the situation flew by so fast she couldn't even think of that.
"See? It's settled then? Done deal. Tang tang tang bang. Orion's my comrade from now on! Nakama! Bestie idols!"
"N-Nakama? Bestie idols?"
It was a scene Deokgu would have loved, but Dojin, who had little exposure to 2D idols let alone 3D ones, just watched the two without much reaction.
Just like the past few days, Orion was dragged to the mansion today as well and pulled into the dressing room by Ganada(Hee) and the other two.
"Wow, as expected of a demi-human...... your skin is amazing."
"Boobs so deep and big. What size are these?"
"Hmm, hold on, I'll measure quick. 1... ABCDEFG... whoa— total Eroph, Eroph!"
Leaving the lively chatter from inside behind, Dojin returned to his room. Lately, he wasn't swinging his sword under the guise of training much.
No matter how much he exercised, it was hard to put strain on this body anyway, and not training didn't lead to muscle loss either.
Thus, he only moved his body in the Dungeon. He spent more than half the day just thinking about ways to swing his sword.
Huuu, Dojin, who had put his brain into ultra-focused meditation to contemplate the most perfect sword path, opened his eyes at the sound of footsteps caught by his sharpened senses.
"......Come in."
Hearing Dojin's voice, the visitor started to knock but opened the door and slipped in instead. Ga-hee, entering, looked slightly surprised as she asked Dojin.
"-A ghost? How'd you know before I even knocked?"
"From your footsteps."
"No way, are my footsteps that loud? I don't think so."
Ga-hee stomped on the floor a few times with thuds, then suddenly lifted her head to look at Dojin as if remembering why she'd come.
"Right. Dojin, wanna come down for a sec?"
"What's up?"
"Just follow me."
Dojin cautiously followed Ga-hee as she left the room, wondering why she wouldn't even explain and just told him to come along. He tried deducing on his own.
But figuring out a woman's fickle heart was impossible.
A moment later, arriving at the dressing room, Dojin looked at Ga-hee with an expression asking why she'd dragged him all the way here.
"Hehe, get excited— ta-da!"
Flung open with a bang, behind Ga-hee who energetically threw open the dressing room door, Orion appeared, fidgeting with a flushed face.
Her usual long, flowing hair that she let hang down was braided into cute twin tails. Compared to her overly revealing traditional elf attire, it was less so, but she was still in a frilly dress with plenty of exposure, completely opposite from her usual look.
Seeing Dojin, Orion flushed deeply in extreme tension and turned her head away. Then, slowly spinning in place, she danced lightly to show off her dress and twin tails.
"P-Pleased to meet you...... I'm the new idol, Orion......."
"......Orion, you okay?"
"I-I'm f-fine......."
She didn't look fine at all. Dojin used his Ability to read her thoughts. As expected, not normal.
—Die die die die spoon die die.......
For her honor and her life, Dojin pretended not to notice and turned his head away.
As he averted his eyes, Ga-hee, now changed clothes, stood next to Orion and struck a pose.
"Ta-da!"
"T-Ta-da......."
"How's this? From today, the two-member idol group, Muse!"
"It's Orion......."
"Bet you're falling for us, right? Boss? Oh no, with this much popularity......."
Ga-hee said that while hugging Orion and rubbing her cheek against Orion's.
Since she was rubbing bodies too...... relatively vicious Orion's chest jiggled, drawing eyes to the frills at her bust.
Seeing that, Dojin gave his honest impression.
"......Hmm, you two shouldn't stick together."
"What? Why?"
"Can't you tell just by looking?"
Dojin casually pointed at Orion's chest. Ga-hee hugged her own chest as if it were hers being pointed out and flushed.
Then muttered.
"......Men are all perverts."
"No, that's not why......."
"Whatever. My visuals don't lose anyway!"
Ga-hee said that while tilting her face up. With looks good enough to resolve to become an idol despite middling talent, she didn't lag much behind the elf Orion.
If Orion was a fantastical Western elf beauty, Ga-hee was a beauty full of Eastern charm.
Dojin, appraising their looks, nodded as if to say indeed.
"Then now for the most important part. Boss, sit there and watch."
"Most important?"
"Rehearsal!"
At Ga-hee's words, the dressing room instantly turned into a stage. Lights dimmed, a suddenly appeared backdrop sparkled, and pre-recorded accompaniment from a Magic Tool flowed out.
"Only for the boss!"
A live performance just for Dojin.
"Alright, here we go?"
Ga-hee started singing. With clumsy skill, Orion followed along.
Haak haak-.
Having finished the vigorous choreography and song rehearsal, Ga-hee, slightly sweaty, looked at Orion. Her singing was meh, but she was great at physical stuff.
Look, even now Orion hadn't broken a sweat. Ga-hee wiped her sweat, a bit envious.
"How was it?"
"How was it?"
Hmm, Dojin thought about his impressions of the performance. Honestly, nothing came to mind. From midway, his eyes were stolen by the flashy, intense choreography, leaving no room to think of anything else.
Just.
'Dancing with that size makes it like that, huh.'
Dojin, having realized that one fact, nodded and said it wasn't bad.
"It's good, but the singing......."
"Singing can't be helped. Still, she picked it up super fast, right?"
"Picked it up fast?"
"Yeah. After a few days of lessons, this level is impressive. No notes on her dancing at least? Adventurer thing?"
"......Yeah?"
"At this rate... she could master it in a month... what do you think......?"
Ga-hee looked at Dojin hesitantly. Dojin still didn't get what she wanted.
But he soon realized and groaned.
"A month......."
"Can't do it? It's about time to make a comeback, fans might forget our faces."
"You think she can master it in that time."
"Yeah! I'll make her master it no matter what! Somehow!"
"And you, Orion? What do you think?"
"......I."
Straightening her clothes for a moment, she avoided Dojin's gaze and spoke.
"Think it'd be okay."
"Then......."
In the end, hearing their resolve, Dojin promised a concert in a month.
"If you slack on Dungeon runs for performance prep, I cancel the show?"
"G-Got it! Got it, so!"
Don't worry. Ga-hee said that and shoved Dojin out of the room. The chased-out Dojin went straight to Deokgu and asked him to put a concert ad in the Newspaper......
'Who'd have thought they'd actually go through with the idol thing.'
Recalling his considerable self-loathing back then, she didn't seem to mind much herself. Was it forced by young Ga-hee's hot-bloodedness, or some other reason?
Dojin pondered that as he returned to his room and resumed meditation. Training was never enough.
Knock knock, Dojin, meditating in his room, opened his eyes at the knock on his door. No footsteps. The only one in this mansion who could come here without making noise......
"—Orion?"
"......You're really like a ghost."
Orion said that as she opened the door and entered. A slight smile played on her face, looking perfectly natural as if it were her default expression.
Still in the performance outfit from earlier, Orion quickly came in and sat right next to Dojin.
"What's up?"
"...Ga-hee-ssi said. That, entertaining to make the performance go well is part of an idol's job too......."
"......Her?"
Even though she hated the idea so much herself? That thought was brief; half-naked Orion approached.
"Leader......."
Thump thump, Orion's heartbeat reached even Dojin.
No need to say how tense she was.
"Earlier, you were just staring at my chest, right?"
"......Yeah."
"Don't just look......."
Squeeze.
Orion placed Dojin's hand on her chest. Soft sensation filled his palm.
"Now it's Leader's...... so, do whatever you want?"