Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Pulsating Moonlight
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As soon as the performance ended, Mi-ra unnie bowed to the audience and stepped off the stage without a hint of lingering regret.
She looked utterly refreshed, as if she'd poured everything into it, leaving no room for disappointment.
"Waaah... sniff..."
The crescent moon-headed freak was still overcome with emotion, tears—or whatever that liquid was—streaming down its face.
"... "
I shot it a disgusted look before fleeing from the audience seats to the VIP waiting room.
I couldn't stand being around that thing for even a second.
Something about it just triggered an instinctive revulsion.
Backstage, with the faint announcement echoing after the show,
"Unnie! Great job!"
"Lua!"
I rushed to unnie as she removed her mic pack and earpiece, throwing myself into her arms.
"You were amazing! The best!"
"Really?"
Unnie stroked my head and hoisted me up effortlessly.
That's when Yerin, having finished packing her gear, came over to cheer her on.
"Great work, Mi-ra...!"
"For real? I was so nervous..."
"That was you being nervous...?"
Even a ninth-year veteran idol would be blown away by the sheer presence she showed, and that was her nervous?
"Unnie, you were incredible! The fans around me loved it too!"
No matter what worries she had, I could vouch for it from my seat.
Mi-ra unnie's debut had been a resounding success.
"...Really? Hearing it from you puts my mind at ease."
"Ehehe..."
"Alright, time to recharge my energy. Nom..."
"Eep?! Unnie?!"
Unnie's lips latched onto my squishy cheek with a slurp.
"Mmmph... Gonna eat up Lua..."
"Eek!! I'm being eaten!!"
The weird sensation of my cheek stretching out had me shrieking—not quite a scream—as I flailed around.
Lately, it feels like unnie's been enjoying my cheeks a bit too much... Nah, must be my imagination.
Dragon getting its cheeks sucked...
Unlike the rushed morning commute, we took our time leaving the parking lot on the way home.
"Mind if we roll down the window and say hi to the fans on the way out?"
"Yeah, no problem."
With Yerin's okay, she opened the window and waved to the fans waiting outside.
"Kyaaah!! Yerin!! Over here!!"
"Kyaaah!!! Look this way! Here!!"
There were way more fans gathered than I'd expected for the exit.
Seol, Arisa, and Adella poked their heads out the small window too, and the fans went wild, snapping photos like crazy.
"Unnie, you don't wanna show your face?"
"I'm good."
Mi-ra unnie sat quietly, clearly not planning to.
Even though so many would recognize and cheer for her...
"Huh...? Lua?"
Heading home quietly felt like a missed opportunity, so I grabbed unnie's hand and pulled her to the window.
"Whoa! Whoa!! Thousand-Year Idol!!"
The moment Mi-ra unnie appeared, fans snapped pics and screamed in excitement.
"Great job!!! The show was awesome!!"
"Come back to MooD:iN!!!"
"Waaah!! Thousand-Year Idol!! Wooaaah!!"
The crescent moon-headed freak was mixed in, screeching obnoxiously, but Mi-ra unnie was undeniably loved by the fans.
"......... "
Unnie waved blankly, as if she couldn't believe the scene.
"...Meow?"
Maybe because I was peeking out alongside her.
Someone aimed a massive camera lens at me and snapped a shot.
"Eep!"
I wasn't here for the attention, so I yanked my head back and ducked below the window.
No way they got a clear shot, right?
I was in my dinosaur costume... Still, I didn't want my identity exposed publicly.
I just wanna quietly munch burgers without drawing eyes.
"Lua...? Whoa!"
To hide even lower, I slipped into Arisa's lap, farthest from the window.
"Uh... heh heh..."
Arisa let out a blissed-out laugh, like her dopamine levels were spiking from me burrowing into her.
Ignoring her fingers fiddling with the horn on my dino suit, we were out of the fan zone in under ten minutes.
"... "
Mi-ra unnie sat still, staring in disbelief.
"Ah...! Don't go, Lua...!"
Curious what she was thinking—and to act cute—I scooted back to her.
Bonus: Arisa's wistful sigh.
"...Lua?"
"Meow."
Climbing onto her lap, I made an adorable noise and guided unnie's arms around my waist.
"How was the stage?"
"Huh...? The stage?"
"Yeah, like... it was overflowing with energy, or brighter than you expected..."
"...It was just like a dream."
For Mi-ra unnie, today's stage was the moment her dream came true.
"...Like I came alive or something."
She moved her hands from my waist to gently stroke my head.
"Don't worry, I spotted you here and there."
"Weng? For real...? I thought you didn't see me since our eyes never met..."
"How could I miss a cute dino shining in the crowd?"
"Muu..."
Unnie stretched my cheek and chuckled.
"...Oh right! The boss gave me this!"
"Me...? Oh, you mean the EM Enter president."
Unnie reflexively reacted to 'boss' before correcting herself.
I pulled out the gold-plated business card from my dino suit pocket and showed it.
"...Huh?"
"Huh?!"
"...?"
"?"
"...?!"
Not just unnie—all the MooD:iN members' eyes went wide in shock.
Was it that big a deal?
To me, it was just a fancy gold-plated card with the entertainment company's name.
"Listen up, Lua. That card means the president really likes you."
"...Me? I just said hi briefly..."
Unnie gripped my hand with the card, warning me not to lose it, and explained.
"That's how I got cast."
"...?! For real!?"
It was that significant?
I thought it was just a polite exchange of rare cards.
Yerin chimed in with the details.
"If the president gave you that, it means he wants you in the new idol group they're prepping."
"...Me...?"
"Yep."
Idol...
Sadly, I had no plans to become one.
I don't love the spotlight, and it'd cut into my burger time with a busy schedule.
Most importantly, less time with Mi-ra unnie.
"Didn't expect you to get one too."
"Weng..."
Unnie ruffled my hair proudly.
Family genes...? Wait, we're not blood sisters.
Anyway.
"...But I told them I'm not doing idol."
"Huh? Really?"
Unnie was uncharacteristically surprised when I mentioned turning down the casting.
"He'd make you a star for sure. Why pass it up, Lua?"
Idol life was tempting, but I knew the grueling effort behind it.
"If I became an idol, I wouldn't have time with you anymore."
"......What're you saying. Geez..."
My honest feelings made her chuckle dryly before burying her face in my crown.
"...You like me that much?"
"Yes!"
"Enough to want to be together forever?"
"Forever!"
"For real...?"
"Totally! Ehehe..."
Her ticklish breath on my head made me giggle cutely.
"I wanna cuddle you toooo..."
"You have cats at home."
"Wuu... They avoid me..."
"'Cause you squeeze 'em too hard."
Arisa watched our sweet moment longingly, but Adella held her back with a smack of her lips.
Either way, Mi-ra unnie's successful stage debut was wrapped up.
She dominated it so intensely, it'd stick in everyone's minds. Even Luna watching from above would've been moved.
With that thought, I squeezed unnie's hand tight.
Riiiing—!
Just as the noisy van crossed the bridge, unnie's phone rang.
"Huh...? Grandpa?"
It was Grandpa calling.
"Grandkiddo. Lua there with you?"
"Yeah, she's right here."
"...Phew. Good. She bolted out three days ago saying she was seeing you, had me worried."
Grandpa must've been anxious about me suddenly leaving to follow unnie.
"...But why haven't you picked up till now?"
"Oh, had my phone off for the stage."
"Stage? Got it. Heading home now?"
"Yeah, on our way."
He'd called several times before.
Felt bad for worrying him.
"Get home safe."
"Yes, Grandpa."
Click. As the call ended, unnie stretched my cheeks.
"You little trouble lizard! Grandpa was so worried!"
"Meee?!"
"What if you couldn't reach me?!"
The warm vibe vanished; unnie scolded me sternly.
"H-Help!"
"Sorry, Lua. Can't stop Mi-ra when she's mad."
"Kyyy!!!"
Pleading with Yerin was useless; no one could halt unnie's wrath.
"Dumb lizard! No burgers when we get home!"
"B-Burgers!? Nooo! Sorry!!"
I wagged my tail frantically to apologize, but the burgers weren't coming back.
Trouble-making dumb dragon...
"Great job today, Mi-ra! Lua too! We're off!"
"Yeah! Everyone, good work!"
"Weng!"
The members dropped us off at Moonlight Villa.
After waving as the black van drove away, we finally headed inside.
"We're home, Grandpa."
"Meow!"
"Grandkiddo! Lua!"
Grandpa, who'd been watching TV drama on the sofa, jumped up to greet us as his granddaughter and dragon girl entered.
"Trouble!"
"Ow?! Why hit me!"
"Why? You just up and left! Worried me half to... Hmph! One more!"
"Peep?!"
Smacked on the head with the Tactical Filial Piety Hand, I chomped down on it and dangled.
"Trouble! Let go!"
"Grrr... Gah!"
"Fine! Let's settle this, you lizard!"
Low from losing burgers, I tussled with hyper Grandpa briefly.
Mi-ra unnie watched with a soft smile, heading to the kitchen slowly.
"Hey! Too slow, trouble!"
"Mrow!"
Grandpa toyed with me like a cat with a fishing rod using the Filial Hand.
Why's this... fun?
"...Mew."
Snatching it, I crawled on all fours.
Spitting out the dazed hand, I glanced up at Grandpa guiltily.
"Whew... You make me age twice as fast. Right?"
"Whine..."
He ruffled my hair roughly, picked up the dropped hand, and stored it in subspace.
...Subspace?
The hand has that function?
How's it work...?
My 2025 brain spun at 2071 tech.
"Cool, huh? Tech from modding an anomaly that opens portals."
"Portal? Ooo... Oh?"
Nodding at the sofa explanation... then froze.
Wait—that voice...?
"Crescent moon head...?! Why're you here...! Shaaak!!"
"Whoa whoa~, I came in politely through the window just now?"
Turning, there it was on the sofa, decked in MooD:iN merch.
"Polite...? Breaking in the window's polite?!!"
I lunged at the intruder, claws out.
"Oof. Gotta trim those nails~."
"Kyaa! Shaaak!!"
It blocked my head easily with one hand, smirking mockingly.
"Bureau Chief...?"
"Oh! Steel!! Took sudden leave—hiding here, eh?"
"What's the mission way out here?"
"Huh? Higher-ups ordered her capture, so here I am."
The freak finally revealed its intent, snapping its fingers.
"...!!"
Ting—!
A transparent barrier formed instantly; I backflipped away.
In less than 0.01 seconds.
The spot I'd stood compressed into a cubic prison.
"...Hm? You saw it coming?"
It tilted its head, surprised I'd dodged.
"Hold on, Chief! Taking Lua's different!"
"Huh? I explained nicely, but higher-ups think otherwise."
"Lua's not bad!"
"I know~. I know~. Steel, you get it, right~?"
Tension spiked as peace shattered.
Backing away from the freak, unnie pulled me behind her legs.
Grandpa's cold sweat hit the floor amid the suspense.
"Hmm~! Confirmed safe! Was gonna snag her if you charged. Let's keep it chill~!"
"...?"
"Little dragon miss? Nothing major, so how 'bout a quick Management Bureau tour with me~?"
The freak waved it off casually, eyes glinting ominously.