The heat didn’t cool down for a long time even after the stage of the Second Team, where Yoo Seol was, ended.
The audience, especially the fans cheering for the First Team, which included Ha Ye-rin…
“Alright, next up, let’s meet the First Team’s stage!”
Only after hearing Han Si-woo’s words did they finally regain their senses and remember who they had come here to support.
And soon they fell into worry.
“Ah….”
“What should we do…!”
The Second Team, including Yoo Seol, absolutely smashed the stage.
At this rate, the votes from the viewers watching the live broadcast of Na Ah Ah’s final competition would surely be swayed towards the members of the Second Team.
Adding to that, the Na Ah Ah production team hadn’t revealed the last rankings, so nobody knew how many votes separated Yoo Seol and Ha Ye-rin.
The First Team… among them, fans cheering for Ha Ye-rin were worried they might lose the win to Yoo Seol, while fans supporting the other members of the First Team worried that their favorite trainees might get overrun by the Second Team and fail to debut.
Fans who had been cheering for the Second Team from the beginning were still in a frenzy of excitement.
“Wow, damn… should’ve brought a cannon…”
“What are you talking about, bringing in cameras is prohibited, you know that.”
“No… but you should’ve sneaked one in. This is just…, wow…”
“Isn’t the victory for Ha Ye-rin? Seriously? The win is ours, Seol!”
“When Seol hit that high note during the sound accident, I got chills…”
“Seriously, it’s great I bought that 900,000 won underground ticket. I hesitated a lot.”
While one side was in despair, the other was intoxicated as if they had already won.
Bang.
“Whoa.”
“It’s a blackout?”
The lights on stage went out.
Unless there was a lighting accident, this blackout must have been the signal for the First Team’s performance to start.
In the darkness, the audience whispered, guessing what the First Team’s stage might be like.
“What was the First Team’s song again?”
“It was on the broadcast earlier. It’s ‘Hero and Demon King: The Tale of Light and Corruption’ by Jin News.”
“Oh, right. Damn, that cursed song got picked?!”
“This is so annoying! That spinning wheel must’ve been rigged!”
“That song couldn’t be saved even if Jin News’ dad came!”
Given the song, their whispers were far from positive.
Of all songs, to get that garbage song from Jin News…
In their minds, the image of Jin News’ prince on a white horse, dressed in a costume holding a staff, flashed.
“Damn it.”
Consequently, the First Team’s fans shook their heads.
They believed in the members of the First Team, including Ha Ye-rin, but… the song was just too awful.
“Please, I’m begging you, don’t stick too closely to the original concept!”
That fantasy warrior concept from Jin News was just, no.
They couldn’t change the already set song, so the fans fervently hoped for at least some change in the concept.
And with those prayers from the fans…
♪♪♪-!!
The intro for the First Team’s stage began to play.
A sound filled with gloom and despair.
This was just like the original song from Jin News.
An absolutely powerful demon against a pitiful hero.
From there stemmed the sense of despair.
However, the First Team had one thing slightly different…
“An ocarina…? And a gayageum? A geomungo?”
While the original song expressed its gloom through the unique noise of rock, the First Team utilized sorrowful traditional instruments.
♪♪♬-!!
This served to calm the aftertaste of the Second Team’s stage and left the audience feeling slightly choked up.
Han.
This was a traditional and representative emotion that stirred the hearts of Koreans.
Bang.
-A chilly wind brushes through my heart
-The world sinks deeper into darkness
The lights soon turned on, revealing Lee Hye-jeong.
The audience first admired Lee Hye-jeong’s sorrowful voice.
It was of such quality that it felt like watching a musical, rather than an idol stage.
The next thing the surprised fans noticed was her outfit.
“A hanbok? No… it’s not a hanbok…”
If one had to describe it, it was a fusion hanbok.
Lee Hye-jeong’s attire looked like something actors would wear in a fantasy historical drama.
Traditional instruments, Han, and fusion hanbok.
Through this, fans could decipher what concept the First Team was attempting.
It may not be the most popular among idol concepts, but it had consistent demand…
It was said to be very difficult and challenging to attempt but guaranteed success if done right…
Oriental style.
XX Division Headquarters, Gangwon Province.
After roll call, Sergeant Yoo Chang-seon lay leisurely on his bunk, reading a martial arts novel.
‘Sky Demon Rebirth, Ten Thousand Demons Bowing’
‘On the day I return to this world, all demons shall bow down and welcome me.’
‘That day shall be the day when the Demon Path reigns.’
“Wow… yeah. The Sky Demon should have this level of presence.”
When he thought of it, a true Sky Demon should be this profound.
“What was the last novel I read? A female Sky Demon? And an idol? They really went overboard. Luckily, this Sky Demon is a true one.”
Sergeant Yoo Chang-seon was delighted to have found a genuine Sky Demon after a long time as he happily continued reading his martial arts novel.
However, something soon interrupted his fun…
“Sergeant Yoo Chang-seon! Na Ah Ah is starting now!”
“Get the hell outta my way! The front seat in front of the TV is mine!”
It was the final episode of Na Ah Ah.
“Hey you, I told you to call out 5 minutes before it starts!”
“S-Sorry!”
“Whatever. Did our security team vote for Ha Ye-rin?”
Due to Sergeant Yoo Chang-seon, who had been a die-hard fan of Ha Ye-rin since the first episode of Na Ah Ah, it became a routine for team members to vote for Ha Ye-rin whenever they received their phones.
Some did like other participants like Yoo Seol or Seo Yoo-jin, but…
“Hey, show me the screen. Who’d you vote for?”
“W-Well…”
“What?! Yoo Seol? …Is this guy crazy? Assemble everyone in Training Hall A!”
“S-Sarge! Please don’t…”
If caught by Sergeant Yoo Chang-seon, they would be stripped of their soul, so they had no choice but to vote only for Ha Ye-rin.
Of course, even without his coercion, the most popular among the team members was Ha Ye-rin.
“Sergeant Yoo Chang-seon, isn’t Ha Ye-rin’s victory pretty much a sure thing today?”
“Of course, it is.”
The team members began watching Na Ah Ah, expecting Ha Ye-rin’s victory.
As the live broadcast began and they watched the group’s theme song, We are dreaming idol!, they sank into nostalgia…
“Wow… it’s been a while.”
“I fell for Ha Ye-rin because of this direct cam video.”
Then, as they watched the pre-recorded footage, they fell into worry…
“What’s going on? Why aren’t they announcing the rankings? …Are we gonna lose to Yoo Seol?”
“Isn’t that song from Jin News’ Hero and Demon King, which was played during the Anti-Demon Challenge? Why that song for the final…?”
After watching the Second Team’s stage, Energetic Start!, they…
“……”
“……”
Were at a loss for words as anxiety crept in.
After the Second Team’s stage ended, an oblivious team member exclaimed in awe.
“Wow… for real… it felt like watching a concert.”
“……”
“Yoo Seol, wow… she sings amazingly and is super pretty… isn’t she winning this?!”
To which…
“…shut up.”
“…Huh?”
“Shut up.”
“……”
Sergeant Yoo Chang-seon enforced a dictatorship of silence based on rank.
“…Everyone, shut up and support Ye-rin.”
“……”
The reason he reacted so sensitively was due to his genuine fear that Ha Ye-rin might actually lose.
Of course, he wasn’t doubting Ha Ye-rin.
But…
‘Yoo Seol… was she that good?’
The Second Team’s performance just now was at a level so perfect it even made die-hard fan Sergeant Yoo Chang-seon shudder.
Hence he waited nervously, hoping… Meanwhile, the cultural oppressed fans of Yoo Seol slyly observed Sergeant Yoo Chang-seon while watching the broadcast.
[Han Si-woo: Alright, next up, let’s meet the First Team’s stage!]
As the feelings of the team members intertwined, the stage of the First Team, which included Ha Ye-rin, began…
-A chilly wind brushes through my heart
-The world sinks deeper into darkness
“Oh oh…”
“It feels like Arirang.”
“It looks like the concept is Oriental.”
Upon seeing Lee Hye-jeong’s sorrowful voice and attire, the team members sensed something unusual.
Bang, bang.
Soon the lights switched on one by one, revealing the First Team members.
What was unique was they all wore pure white fusion hanboks.
However, everyone had distinct details that made them easy to differentiate, each overflowing with personality.
Snap, snap.
As the members started their sharp choreography, the slow, gloomy sound gradually sped up and became richer.
When Lee Hye-jeong first appeared, the stage that felt like a musical slowly turned into an idol stage.
The subtle shift in mood was captivating for the team members.
It was a perfect effect born from the First Team’s deliberate control of tempo.
-People are in fear
-Hope is fading away
-This world has no light left
-(Is that really so?)
It was a rather high note, yet Seo Yoo-jin flawlessly handled it, even adding in a short breaking.
Simultaneously, her gaze overwhelmed the audience.
As if proving why she was ranked just below Ha Ye-rin and Yoo Seol.
Moreover, other team members added harmonies, creating a sublime and dreamlike atmosphere.
“……”
“……”
The members stared in a trance at the scene.
While the previous Second Team’s stage felt light and pressed down the viewers with heat, the First Team’s stage kept everyone glued to their seats with its heavy atmosphere and dazzling dance moves from the start.
In complete contrast to the Second Team, which Yoo Seol was a part of.
But…
‘Still weak.’
The First Team’s stage still felt somewhat dull compared to the Second Team’s.
It had depth and weight but lacked a dramatic touch.
At that moment, Sergeant Yoo Chang-seon and the other team members were waiting for Ha Ye-rin’s turn to appear.
-Oh Lord, please grant me this chance just once-!
“……!”
Lee Hye-jeong shot out a high note as if to release her presence.
In an instant, every gaze was locked onto her precisely handled, pure, and clean high note.
Following her, Seo Yoo-jin joined in, adding her voice seamlessly.
-Please grant the strength to vanquish evil-!
Seo Yoo-jin, fluttering her long sleeves while heightening her note, reminded everyone of a fairy.
One by one, other members began to raise their hands, as if gathering strength and layering their voices together.
-Courage-!
At last, their sorrowful voices stirred the audience’s hearts, while the synchronized dance kept their eyes glued…
-For the final dance-!
“Crazy…!”
“Wow…!”
Just as they were getting high on emotion, along with Lee Hye-jeong’s bridge that rang out loudly filling the venue…
“……!”
“What…?”
The members, maintaining their formation with a spine-chilling precision, suddenly stopped all singing and movements.
Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap.
As if drawing their swords, they energetically extended their arms toward the back of the stage.
Instantly, the eastern-style, sorrowful, and beautiful sounds that had filled the venue disappeared…
Zing…!
“Ugh…!”
The synthesizer emitted a jarring and filthy noise, shattering the previous atmosphere.
And…
Dong, dong, dong, dong, dong.
Like sensing danger, a bell rang ominously, creating a frightening ambiance.
Bang, bang.
The bright light that had enveloped the other six dimmed, replaced by a somehow eerie red light illuminating the back of the stage.
And there…
“……”
A girl who had been hiding in darkness, unseen until now…
Was looking down arrogantly from the black throne, crossing her legs.
Then she rose, and…
“Wow…”
“……”
“No way… damn.”
The team members looked speechless, as if witnessing a scene from a myth.
A simple yet elegant black fusion hanbok; black hair that seemed to be the night sky itself; skin so white and pure it contrasted sharply.
With long legs, perfectly proportioned curves as if sculpted by the gods.
Black eye makeup and pupils tinted red like they were wearing circle lenses.
While the audience may not have known, Ha Ye-rin cast the Sky Demon Enchantment the moment the lights turned on.
The overwhelming sense of fatigue and decadence emanating from her caused people to bow their heads subtly from the sheer dominance.
“……”
“……”
What words could express the current Ha Ye-rin?
Queen of Na Ah Ah, Goddess of the Night, Succubus.
There were many, but Yoo Chang-seon, Ha Ye-rin’s fanatic, muttered to himself.
“C-Come on…?”
Sky Demon, they called her.
♬♬♪♬-!!!
Once Ha Ye-rin started to dance, the sound transitioned from an eastern style to electronic rock, completely altering the mood. The team members couldn’t tear their eyes away from Ha Ye-rin.
‘This stage is our victory. The moment Ye-rin makes her entrance, everyone, men or women, will surely be blown away!’
It was a moment when half a joke made during the First Team’s rehearsals was turning into reality.
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