Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Parallel Worlds and Idols (2)
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The black van that immediately comes to mind as the go-to ride for celebrities.
The door of the van, with its impossibly dark tinting that made it seem like you couldn't see inside at all, swung open. Out stepped Yerin, decked out in sunglasses and a mask.
Even with her face hidden, the star-quality aura radiating from her was unmistakable—she screamed celebrity.
"Mi-ra Owner really hasn't changed a bit...! As expected of our leader...!"
Passing by Yerin, who was joyfully grabbing Mi-ra Owner's hand after their long time apart, three women slowly emerged from the van.
Those must be... the other members of MooD:iN, right?
"Unnie, it's been forever."
"Our leader! Long time no see! Heh heh heh!"
"Mi-ra sunbae... have you been well?"
A serene beauty with a blonde ponytail.
An energetic stunner with short white hair.
And finally, a composed beauty with long black bangs.
All three MooD:iN members, excluding Yerin, called the Owner "leader."
The aura and energy each of them exuded created an overwhelmingly captivating presence.
They wore luxury outfits that looked like they cost hundreds of thousands—maybe even millions—of won, greeting Mi-ra Owner warmly.
In stark contrast, the Owner was dressed simply in a long-sleeved shirt, tight jeans, and a wool coat.
Yet far from being overshadowed, she shone the brightest among them.
It was clear: if they formed an idol group right then and there, Mi-ra Owner would claim the center spot without question.
I cautiously eavesdropped on Mi-ra Owner and her idol friends' conversation through the living room window.
"So, where's the trip to, Yerin?"
Mi-ra Owner welcomed the group warmly before asking Yerin about their destination.
"That's...! Still a secret!"
"...Huh?"
"I picked a place our leader will love, so get excited! Got it?"
Yerin grabbed Mi-ra Owner's hand, ramping up the anticipation like she was prepping a surprise.
"It's cold out here—shall we chat in the car?"
"Yeah. You guys go first."
"Okay!"
At Mi-ra Owner's naturally commanding voice, directing the members effortlessly, they all piled into the car without a peep.
Only after confirming everyone was aboard did she climb in herself.
Anyone could see she held the top spot in the hierarchy.
The kind of leadership that had global idols following her without question...
Soon enough, the black van let out a quiet exhaust note and pulled away.
"...Guess it's time for me to head out too?"
Mi-ra Owner had called Grandpa last night to ask him to watch me, but I had no intention of meekly spending the holiday cooped up with him.
With anomalies overflowing in this world, I'd decided to shadow her from afar and keep her safe.
"Lua. Sleep in this morning—don't stay up."
"...Sorry, Grandpa."
"Huh?"
Grandpa had just arrived, sorting bags of convenience store burgers, when I snatched one and flung open the window, launching into the air.
"I'm off to protect Mi-ra Owner!"
"Wha—hey? You rascal! What're you talking about?!"
"Sorry!"
As I spread my wings and took flight, Grandpa just stared in disbelief.
"You little punk! I'm here 'cause your granddaughter called—what am I supposed to do now?!"
His desperate shout rang out behind me, but I'd apologize sincerely later.
Maybe even give him a shoulder rub...
Choosing adventure over sneaking out for real, I flapped after the black van speeding down the highway from high above.
Maybe because it was still early dawn, the roads in Yongsan District were wide open, no traffic in sight.
"How've you been, Mi-ra?"
Focusing my hearing intently, I picked up the voices of Mi-ra Owner and the members chatting inside the car.
"Me? Opened a burger joint... Been getting by."
"Opened your own place? For real? We'll promote it for you later!"
"Nah, it's fine. It's doing better than expected... It's just a hobby, so too many customers would be a hassle."
"Really...? Well, how about we swing by sometime?"
"Sure. That much is okay."
After Mi-ra Owner's exchange with Yerin, a high-energy voice with slightly shaky Korean chimed in.
"The boss mentioned you last time? Said it'd be great if you came back."
"...Huh? The boss? After eight years, he still remembers me?"
"Of course. You set the bar so high, he complains the trainees now don't measure up."
"Arisa... I'm not an idol anymore."
"Aw, come on~ You're still our eternal leader! Millennium Idol Mi-ra!"
The member who'd just spoken was Arisa.
She matched the super high-energy white-haired one perfectly.
"Unnie, we're still waiting for you to come back."
Next, the calm member, Seol, quietly expressed her longing for Mi-ra Owner.
"...Seol?"
"You know MooD:iN without you isn't complete."
"No... I'm just a regular person now."
"The fans are waiting for you too."
"......"
Hearing that MooD:iN's original fans were still waiting for Mi-ra Owner was news to me.
Just how legendary was her past?
"Sunbae... It's time to move past that incident, don't you think?"
The last member's voice—probably Adella—filled the air, and the mood turned icy in an instant.
"Ah... S-sorry... I didn't mean to..."
Realizing her slip, Adella rushed to take it back.
"I-I... just... wasn't trying to say..."
"Adella."
"Y-yes! Yes! Mi-ra sunbae...!"
"It's okay now. Really."
Thankfully, Mi-ra Owner seemed forgiving of the faux pas.
"...It's time to let go of Luna too."
Her voice, laced with sorrow, softly murmured a name.
"...Luna?"
I had no idea who Luna was exactly, but she was surely tied to why Mi-ra Owner quit being an idol.
"S-so, does that mean you're rejoining us? We could perform together with Mi-ra sunbae..."
"Sorry, Adella. That's not possible. I've got this little happiness I need to look after lately."
Little happiness...
Was that about me?
"It's still early morning, so everyone catch a quick nap. The world tour must've been exhausting."
Mi-ra Owner smoothly suggested rest before the mood could sour further.
"Got it."
"Yes, unnie."
"Yeah! Leader!"
"...Okay."
Replies came in order from Yerin, Seol, Arisa, and Adella. Soon, soft snores filled the van.
As famous celebs, they must've been wiped from grueling schedules.
"...I'll step out for a bit, Luna."
Mi-ra Owner, who'd stayed awake longest, murmured to herself before joining the others in sleep.
Beyond the window she'd been gazing through, dawn was breaking, slowly lighting the world.
About an hour later, the van pulled up to a building.
【EM Entertainment Corp.】
"EM Entertainment?"
Flapping overhead, I widened my eyes at the familiar agency name.
"This is the label I was with before becoming a dragon...?"
EM Entertainment—one of the agencies dominating Korea's idol industry.
To my surprise, MooD:iN's secret destination was EM Entertainment's headquarters.
As the van slipped into the underground parking lot behind the building, I dove low and sneaked in quietly.
Clunk—the van's door slid open after parking. Mi-ra Owner and the members, just stirring from sleep, stepped out one by one.
"...This is EM Entertainment."
Mi-ra Owner spoke up, clearly remembering the place, as Yerin grabbed her wrist and led her off somewhere.
"Follow me, Yerin. Let's head to Building C."
"Huh? Building C? Why the trainee area...?"
"Just come on. I've got something to show you."
With the members dragging Mi-ra Owner along for the surprise, I stuck to the ceiling like a lizard, tailing them silently.
Since it was before business hours, the EM Entertainment halls were eerily quiet.
I'd thought they were off on a faraway trip, but it turned out to be tied to Mi-ra Owner's past.
Despite knowing I shouldn't, my curiosity about her history pulled me along.
"......"
Navigating the maze of corridors, we reached an elevator at the end of the hall.
Riding up with them would've blown my cover for sure, so I sent the elevator ahead alone.
Ding—the car carrying Mi-ra Owner and the members rose and stopped at 2F.
I bolted up the emergency stairs beside it to the same floor.
Climbing slowly from B4, my footsteps echoed, heightening the tension.
If they caught me following, Mi-ra Owner would be furious.
...But leaving her alone worried me, and her untold past gnawed at my curiosity.
"...Hm."
My tail swished, brushing the handrail briefly.
Thud-thud-thud—!
Sudden footsteps pounded down the stairs.
Assuming it was staff, I plastered myself to the ceiling and held my breath. A glimpse of the source entered my view.
"...An anomaly? Huh? It's just a little kid..."
The source of the noise was a girl about my age.
Why was she sprinting through these stairs so early?
"Hey... little one?"
I dropped to the floor and approached her.
Thud-thud-thud—!
"Huh...?"
But like we were playing tag, she bolted up the stairs away from me.
"Wait! Little one! Running like that on the stairs—you'll fall!"
Worried she'd trip and hurt herself, I chased after her frantically.
"Wh-what...?"
Considering my dragon speed, I should've caught her easily.
But weirdly, the gap wasn't closing—it was widening.
"Wait... Hah... Come on... together..."
How many flights had we climbed? I failed to close the distance.
Was that kid... an anomaly?
"Hah... eek..."
Panting harder than ever, I looked up at the girl, who seemed to be waiting.
"...Wh-what?"
Sharp yet drowsy eyes. Long, flowing hair.
She looked about my age.
I knew that face.
"Mi-ra Owner's... little sister?"
She was the spitting image of the girl in Mi-ra Owner's family photo.
"Wait! You!!"
The moment I realized who she was, the girl veered off, yanking open a sliding door beside the stairs and vanishing.
"Together!"
I flung open the door after her, revealing a hallway lined with idol practice rooms.
"Over there? Little one?"
I'd seen her enter through this door, but the hall was empty—no sign of her or anyone else.
"What was that...?"
Unable to make sense of it, I turned back to the stairs.
"...?"
Clunk—the wide-open stair door slammed shut and locked behind me.
"Ugh...!"
I'd followed Mi-ra Owner's sister here, only for the door to seal shut.
Did an anomaly lure me?
No matter how hard I shoved, the bizarre door wouldn't budge.
"Hello. I'm Mi-ra, cast as a trainee at EM Entertainment."
Mi-ra Owner's voice began echoing from a practice room at the end of the hall.