Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Our Eternal Season, Parallel World
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The night spent at the dorm passed without any particular incidents.
Lying in bed wearing a bathrobe and imitating a caterpillar.
Having an intimate meal with Mi-ra unnie, and so on...
When the long-awaited concert day finally arrived, we got up at 3 a.m.—a time that put so-called miracle mornings to shame.
Of course, since we'd gone straight to bed at 8 p.m. the night before, we weren't really tired at all.
"Mi-ra's here? Hi, Lua!"
We arrived at the meeting room on the fourth floor of EM Entertainment, our designated spot for the day, and Yerin greeted us energetically despite it being 4 a.m.
"It's super early—aren't you tired, Lua?"
"I'm fine! I went to bed early last night!"
After exchanging casual greetings and small talk, the rest of the members soon arrived at the meeting room, and we headed straight out to the concert venue.
"Here you go. AAA pass! Make sure you wear this around your neck at the venue, Lua!"
As the concert venue came into view through the window, Yerin hung an ID card lanyard around my neck.
"AAA pass...? What's this?"
"It's All Area Access—basically a ticket that lets you go anywhere in the venue."
"Whoa... Thank you!"
Mi-ra unnie had secured VIP seats for us, but I hadn't expected something this incredible.
"We've also assigned you a personal bodyguard, so stick with her when we're not around!"
"...Meow!"
A personal bodyguard on top of everything else...
I was always the one protecting others, so being on the receiving end felt strangely off.
Anyway.
The van seemed to be entering the venue's entrance... but then it headed even deeper inside.
We arrived at an employee-only parking lot with a cave-like atmosphere.
Staff members were hustling nonstop, pushing black equipment cases around, while people with earpieces barked orders into their radios.
So this is the area only insiders can access...?
Seeing the sheer effort going into building the stage made me realize that everywhere humans live is pretty much the same.
"Let's get out now."
After parking, we crossed the mechanically chilly parking lot, took an elevator, and headed to the backstage hallway.
"Lua, just relax in the VIP lounge for a bit."
"Meow!"
Now everyone had to prepare for the stage, so I naturally ended up resting in the VIP-exclusive lounge.
"...Ooh."
There was a sofa that wasn't overly luxurious but plenty comfy for lounging, along with snacks and simple foods for munching.
And apparently placed there just for us: MooD:iN's official light stick and a banner with their slogan.
Sounds of staff moving filtered in from beyond the door, and in the brief silences, the hum of the vents buzzed through.
...This is way too boring.
"She said as long as I have this necklace, I can go anywhere...?"
With just this ID card around my neck, I could roam wherever I wanted.
"Maybe I should take a quick look around?"
Deciding to do a bit of sightseeing, I cautiously creaked the door open.
"...Wha?"
And there, blocking my view like a black wall... no, it was a burly woman standing guard.
"...Who are you?"
"I'm your dedicated bodyguard."
She was built like a pro wrestler, but hearing she was the bodyguard made it click.
"Um... could I maybe walk around a little?"
"Anywhere but onstage is fine."
"Then... could you show me around just once?"
"Sure. No problem."
Better to tour with an insider who knows the layout than wander alone.
"Thank you!"
I asked the bodyguard to escort me, and off we went to explore backstage.
After a tour of backstage that felt both long and short, we returned to the hallway with the lounge.
"Oh? There you are, Lua!"
"Mi-ra unnie!"
I spotted Mi-ra unnie glancing around the VIP lounge hallway and ran straight into her arms with a pitter-patter.
"What have you been up to?"
"Me? I was chilling with a face mask and earpiece on."
She showed off the receiver and earpiece at her waist, then patted my head.
No makeup yet and still in casual clothes, but she already radiated pro vibes.
"What about you, Lua?"
"I went on a backstage tour with the bodyguard!"
"Our little Lua was bored, huh?"
"...Heehee."
The female bodyguard behind me exchanged a quick nod with Mi-ra unnie.
"If you're not sleepy, head to the exec lounge. The president's there—you can chat with her."
"Meow? I can do that?"
"I just had a quick talk with her myself."
Getting to converse with EM Entertainment's president?
Chatting with a billionaire sounded like a pretty valuable experience.
"Mi-ra! Dry rehearsal time!"
"Coming! See you before the show starts, Lua?"
"Meow!"
Mi-ra unnie vanished at Yerin's call, so I headed straight for the exec lounge.
"...Ahem."
I felt no tension on the way, but oddly, the female bodyguard cleared her throat nervously.
Knock knock—.
Not wanting to barge in rudely, I knocked politely, and a response came right away.
"Come in."
Creak—.
The president, who had been sitting there, widened her eyes at the sudden appearance of a dinosaur beauty.
"Hello! I'm Iru-a, Mi-ra unnie's cousin!"
"Oh? Mi-ra's cousin? Nice to meet you!"
I'd fabricated the cousin bit to explain our connection, and the president smiled, propping her chin on her hand.
"What brings our cute little dinosaur here?"
"I wanted to say hi!"
"Heehee... That's an interesting reason."
She scanned my appearance in an instant, narrowed her eyes as if appraising me, then pulled a business card from her patch pocket.
"...Any interest in debuting as an idol, Miss Lua?"
"Meow...? An idol?"
What was this sudden situation?
Interest in becoming an idol...?
"I don't plan on doing that. Sorry...!"
Getting street-cast—no, directly scouted by the president herself—was a huge honor, but I took the card and politely declined.
"...I see. Well, if you change your mind, give me a call. EM Enter is always looking for talent."
She seemed caught off guard by the refusal but let out a chuckle.
Glancing at the card I'd accepted out of courtesy, I noticed oddly that it lacked a name or phone number.
【EM Entertainment Corp.】
It was a fancy gold-embossed card with just the company name.
"You're here for MooD:iN's show, right?"
"Yes...! I came with Mi-ra unnie!"
"Heehee... Enjoy it. It's a fan concert born from the members' wishes after wrapping their world tour."
After our brief small talk and saying goodbye to the president, I pocketed the card and returned to the VIP lounge.
Now I just had to stay put and wait obediently.
"I'll wait outside the lounge. Call me if you need anything."
The female bodyguard didn't enter, so to kill the boredom, I lay on the sofa and took a short nap.
5:30 p.m.
Time had flowed by like water, bringing us right to showtime.
"Everyone ready?"
Backstage, leader Yerin gathered everyone at the center, boosting the morale of the members and dancers.
"No regrets—let's give it everything! One, two, three!"
"“““MooD:ON!!”””"
Mi-ra unnie and I joined in, pumping each other up.
"Mi-ra, we'll go on now, so get ready!"
"Got it!"
Yerin and the members hopped onto the lifts with bursting energy.
All traces of their earlier playfulness were gone; their faces were deadly serious.
A low rumble of music echoed from underground, mingled with fans' cheers.
"...Whew."
Hearing it, Mi-ra unnie took a deep breath, tension evident.
The heat was enough to rattle even a millennium idol like her.
"Unnie."
I gently hugged her, now even more stunning post-makeup.
"Pour your heart out with no regrets. I'll be watching."
".........."
...Surely, Luna would be watching this performance too.
"I'm heading to my seat now...!"
Mi-ra unnie stared blankly at my back as I followed the bodyguard.
Backstage felt swept by more emotions than ever.
"Whoa... It's so close...!"
VIP seats, incredibly near the stage.
I blinked at the tense stage shrouded in darkness.
"Oops—excuse me~."
Then another late-arriving VIP apologized and took the seat next to me.
He had a massive bald head like a crescent moon...
"...!?"
It was Crescent Baldy.
Running into the Management Bureau chief here? What kind of coincidence was this?
...Did he track me down to capture me all the way here?
"Hiss! Grr! Grrrr!"
As I growled, ready to bite, Crescent Baldy surrendered by pulling out a light stick and banner from his bag, waving them.
"Hold on~ I'm not here to tussle with you right now."
"...Hiss?"
"I'm not here as bureau chief—I'm just a VIP fan enjoying MooD:iN's concert."
It seemed genuine; gone was the suit, replaced by MooD:iN merch dangling everywhere.
Still a Crescent Baldy, though...
"Show's about to start, so behave, won't you, our cute little baby lizard?"
"...Hmph."
If we'd met outside, no mercy—but for Mi-ra unnie and the others' sake, I swallowed my anger and focused on the stage.
Rumble—! Majestic music swelled, and the massive screen onstage burst into a flashy opening.
The stage speakers thundered through my body, while intensifying spotlights dazzled the eyes.
"MooD:iN!! MooD:iN!! MooD:iN!!"
Crescent Baldy chanted along with the fans.
His frivolous light-stick waving made me doubt if this was really the chief.
As the music's intro built to a climax, suddenly the sound cut out.
——————!!
The four members ascended on lifts, revealing themselves onstage.
Deafening cheers swept the venue, sending shivers down spines.
"Wooooaaahhh!!"
Crescent Baldy's manic reaction was a bonus.
And so MooD:iN's show began.
Opening with orchestral flair, seamlessly shifting to dance beats.
Yerin, Seol, Arisa, Adella.
All sweet and kind sisters offstage, but now they were fierce beasts.
An overwhelming presence, like goddesses descended.
"Yaaah!! Arisa-chan's the best!!!"
Crescent Baldy, apparently an Arisa fan, screamed nonstop.
For my part, overwhelmed by the energy, I gawked in awe with wide eyes.
I'd never seen a concert in my whole life, but now I totally got why people do.
An hour felt like ten minutes in the epic performance, leading to the finale.
‘MooDies, do you all know why we scheduled this concert?’
Fans perked up at Yerin's voice through the speakers.
‘Those who know already know, but MooD:iN was originally a five-member group.’
As Yerin finished, all lights vanished, dreamy fog spreading across the stage.
"...Gulp."
Tension and anticipation silenced the venue, including me; all eyes fixed on the dim stage.
Flash—! Then, between massive screens flaring open, a woman in white strode forth.
Simply walking to center stage, yet radiating an aura that dominated all.
Bathed in halo-like spotlights, she reached skyward.
In the frozen tension, as if time halted.
"Close my eyes, where am I—"
Her lips parted, ethereal song filling the air.
That alone captivated everyone for the mysterious woman.
Her solo ended; members emerged from darkness to join her.
MooD:iN's final piece.
...Mi-ra unnie's halted time began flowing again.
To some, just a friendly collab stage.
But I knew.
...This was the stage where Mi-ra unnie's and her sister Luna's wishes came true.
"Our eternal season..., Parallel World—."
Yerin, Seol, Arisa, Adella.
And Mi-ra unnie at center, striking the ending pose with the final line.
"Wooooaaahhh!!!!"
I climbed onto my chair, waving my light stick like mad.
——————————————————!!!!!
Fans' roaring cheers drowned even my voice.
Amid the pouring applause and cheers, Mi-ra unnie took it all in with misty eyes.