The stage performance of Team 2 was nothing short of perfection.
-The moment our hands are held together.
-Our story begins now.
-I’ll make you so high!
First, Park Yoo-jung excitedly kicked off the show, capturing the vibrant atmosphere.
Then came the synchronized dance of the other team members.
And…
-Let’s go together.
Na Han-na’s dance break was so dazzling it could remind one of breakdancing.
“Kyaaaahhh-!!”
“Waaaahhhh-!!”
“Let’s go together!”
The song’s title was [Energetic Start!]—the title track from the debut album of idol group Rolling One, and the audience erupted into a unified chant.
Team 2 seamlessly engaged the crowd, creating a stage akin to a university festival’s heated vibe.
With themes of youth, freedom, and hope, [Energetic Start!] showcased how perfectly Team 2 interpreted the song.
10,000 audience members enjoyed the performance as Team 2 danced and sang on top of that tremendous energy.
Could there be a more perfect stage?
However, what truly stood out in that flawless performance was…
-We are young!
-We are energetic!
-Let’s make all our wishes come true.
It was, of course, Yoo Seol.
Gone was the tension from when she had kneeled before me moments ago.
She appeared as if she was born to perform on this stage, blending effortlessly into the performance.
With dazzling dance moves and rich expressions, she captivated the audience of 10,000, igniting their hearts.
Whisper-, slide.
Who could deny that their synchronized moves were spot on like they had rehearsed hundreds of times?
In the seemingly monotonous choreography, Yoo Seol showcased her freedom through detailed expressions and subtle gestures.
It felt like her eyes were inviting us in the waiting room to dance alongside her, causing our Team 1 to involuntarily sway our shoulders.
‘This is insane.’
As the title implies, [Energetic Start!] signifies a new beginning.
But given the song’s light atmosphere, I initially thought it wasn’t suitable for the final competition.
Yet, Team 2’s performance was light yet free-flowing.
But that lightness stacked up…
Whooshhh-!
Creating waves so huge they could cover the entire venue.
Our Team 1, including me, watched in awe at Team 2’s performance.
And soon came what could be considered the highlight of the stage.
Tap.
“Eh?”
Right before Yoo Seol’s pre-chorus, the music abruptly cut off.
Our Team 1, mesmerized by Team 2’s stage, finally snapped back to reality and mumbled,
“…What’s going on?”
“Could it be a sound malfunction?”
“Oh no…!”
Such a thing had never happened before, especially at this critical moment.
On camera, Yoo Seol appeared flustered as she looked around.
Noticing it was a sound issue, the audience collectively voiced their discontent,
“Aaaahhh-!”
All were wondering why this had to happen now, when things were going so well.
The audience’s unified voice expressed their disappointment.
Before a giant wave… a massive dam had arisen, halting the flow.
Flow is essential, and stalling now could spell a dire crisis for the stage.
But…
Grin.
‘…She’s smiling despite the sound issue?’
Yoo Seol wiped the panic off her face and donned a mischievous grin.
And then…
-This is a new beginning-!
“……!!!!”
She continued the stage live without the music, as if confirming it was truly happening.
With just the microphone, Yoo Seol’s high notes soared, freezing me, our team, and 10,000 audience members.
“Late third octave….”
Lee Hye-jeong muttered beside me in disbelief, seeing Yoo Seol.
But it didn’t end there.
-I want to go with you-!!!
Yoo Seol’s voice climbed higher than the third octave.
Her notes seemed like they would reach the sky, piercing the hearts of those who listened.
“Fourth octave…!”
“Waaahhhh-!!!!”
Lee Hye-jeong’s astonishment burst forth along with the crowd’s cheers.
Yoo Seol’s pre-chorus shattered the dam that had halted the flow, generating even larger waves.
♪♬♪-!! ♬♬-!!!!
As if responding, the song flowed back into the air.
Team 2, as if they had been prepared, launched into the chorus.
-This is our start.
-Let’s go together, excitedly.
-This is energetic start!
“Waaaahhhh-!!!!”
“Kyaaaahhh-!!!!!!”
“Waaaahhhh-!!!”
Thanks to this, the audience’s cheers and applause grew even louder.
Team 2 embraced that energy, making themselves the rightful owners of the stage.
And that immense enthusiasm of the audience merged into the name Team 2…
-Come on, hold my hand.
With Yoo Seol’s ending pose, the stage concluded.
“Waaaahhhh-!!!!”
“Yoo Seol-!!!”
“Park Yoo-jung-!!!!”
“Na Han-na-!!!!”
“Encore-!!!!!”
“Encore!!!!”
“Kyaaaahhh-!!!!”
“Encore-!!!!”
Who could view this as a competition for idol trainees?
The endless encore from the audience felt like it was a concert for a globally renowned artist.
Team 2 waved at the audience, encouraging them to vote for them.
Finally, I managed to regain my composure after witnessing Yoo Seol’s wondrous expression soaking in the aftermath.
‘It wasn’t a sound malfunction…!’
I thought it must have been a sound issue since there were no problems in rehearsal.
But immediately after Yoo Seol’s pre-chorus, the chorus flowed in seamlessly, with Team 2’s other members accepting it without panic.
This couldn’t have been mere coincidence.
Team 2 must have conspired with the staff beforehand for this performance.
‘Did they insert a dramatic moment to counterbalance the lightness of the stage….’
Truly meticulous and hot…it was undeniably a stage that bore the mark of Yoo Seol.
I couldn’t help but marvel in astonishment.
Thanks to Team 2’s incredible, heated performance, Jamsil Indoor Stadium felt like a solo concert for Team 2.
“……”
“……”
Thanks to this, our Team 1 felt so overwhelmed that no one dared to speak first.
And through that silence, we were jolted awake by…
“Team 1! You need to head to the backstage now!”
…the staff’s voice reminding us that we were up next after that legendary performance.
“Let’s go….”
“Yeah….”
We stood up and headed backstage, ready to give our all like Team 2 did.
Just as they prepared perfectly for their stage, we would as well.
Yet, atmosphere and flow do matter.
“Yoo Seol-!!!”
“Encore-!!!!”
Even as we made our way backstage, the mighty voices of the audience sang…
It felt as if the winner of this competition was already decided to be Team 2, dampening our spirits.
“……”
“……”
Thus, our Team 1, including me, remained silent while moving.
The atmosphere turned awkward, and a foreboding feeling arose, fearing we might make mistakes on stage.
Then, at that moment…
“Ye-rin.”
“…Unnie.”
Lee Hye-jeong approached me, still frozen in anxiety, and gently ruffled my hair.
“You’re really nervous, huh?”
“…Yeah, a bit.”
“Team 2 really did amazing.”
“…That’s true.”
“But we’ll do even better.”
“…!”
Lee Hye-jeong’s expression was unwavering as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Is this the confidence of an audition star?
Perhaps it’s true that her strength shines even brighter on grander stages.
Thanks to that, I felt a little more at ease.
Just as I was about to nod and speak, she continued…
“And we will do even better moving forward.”
“…Huh?”
At that moment, confusion struck me.
This was Na Ah Ah’s final stage.
Yet, Lee Hye-jeong had just claimed we’d do even better “moving forward.”
What did that mean…?
“I actually thought there was no hope for Na Ah Ah this time. I was considering giving up and looking for another company where I could debut.”
“……”
“But right now, my goal isn’t to debut as an idol.”
“So….”
“It’s to debut with you.”
“…!”
With a warm, kind smile, Lee Hye-jeong held my hand.
“Ye-rin, thank you for sticking with me all this time. And if you don’t mind….”
In that moment, her eyes sparkled, and that light was solely directed at me.
“Can you allow me to stand by your side moving forward?”
Just then, a familiar notification sound from the status window rang.
[Would you like to make Lee Hye-jeong your subordinate? (Y/N)]
‘Yes….’
[Lee Hye-jeong’s trait has been newly added!]
“……”
I immediately opened Lee Hye-jeong’s status window.
And in Hye-jeong’s status, there was a familiar yet different trait added.
[Trait: Right Guardian Law (우호법) – You have received grace from that being and have become one with that being. You have decided to dedicate all of yourself to them: your abilities, your body, your emotions… all of it. On the day the skies of magic are realized, you will share all glory beneath their feet!]
[Trait Effect: My Sun, My Lord: When you are with someone who possesses the Sky Demon trait, all stats slightly increase! You gain additional effects when the Sky Demon uses skills! Your loyalty towards the Sky Demon greatly increases!]
Right Guardian Law (우호법).
What distinguished it from Seo Yoo-jin’s Left Guardian Law (좌호법) was that it enhanced loyalty instead of obsession toward me.
It suited the collected nature of Lee Hye-jeong perfectly.
Thus, I smiled and said to Hye-jeong,
“I’m the one who wishes to ask this of you. Please walk this path with me.”
Lee Hye-jeong smiled at my words and firmly clenched her fist.
“…Of course. To do that, we must perform well in this stage. …I will do my very best and make it happen.”
At this moment, a new oath was being formed.
Soon, Seo Yoo-jin, already possessing the Left Guardian Law trait, and the other team members approached us.
“What are you two doing?”
“Aren’t you going?”
Was it thanks to Lee Hye-jeong?
My tension eased, and I felt high-spirited.
Unable to hide this feeling, I declared to my team members,
“We should go, and eat the stage alive.”
“What? Hahaha!”
As I, their de facto leader, said this, the mood among my team members soared.
“Yeah! Let’s go!”
“Team 2 did well, but they can’t compete with us!”
“Let’s go! Just like Ye-rin said, let’s eat the stage alive!”
Thanks to that, the atmosphere that had been deflated revitalized, and our confidence surged back.
Now, it was our turn.
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