Licorice (3)
Lunatic Entertainment.
That was the name of the newly established company the Blood Alliance had created for this project.
Of course, founding an entertainment company required meeting all sorts of complicated conditions, but for the Blood Alliance—which possessed both power and money—meeting them was hardly a difficult task.
With unlimited funds poured in, Lunatic Entertainment had taken on a believable appearance not long after its founding.
An entire building with an attached café had been secured as company headquarters, and talented individuals recognized to some degree within the industry had been scouted one after another in exchange for massive annual salaries.
“Park Hyeong, did you hear? I heard Team Leader 3, who quit a while back, transferred to a newborn entertainment company….”
“Really? No, I wondered why someone practically guaranteed an executive seat within a few years would quit. And the place he went to is just some startup? Did they offer him the president’s position or something?”
“But I heard this startup isn’t just any startup. Whether it’s because some conglomerate is determined to back it, the capital invested is astronomical. Apparently, they offered insane salaries not only to Team Leader 3 but to every single scouted employee.”
“Geez, no matter how much you love money… To a place with such an uncertain future….”
Naturally, the news couldn’t help but draw the industry’s attention.
Although entertainment companies appeared and disappeared every year in this business, there weren’t many that poured out capital so aggressively and expanded their influence this way.
Furthermore, Jin Soran—the Blood Alliance’s second-in-command and the originator of the project—had not simply thrown money around while pushing things forward.
*The future of all vampires hinges on this matter. Since I’ve already received the Lord’s permission, there’s no reason to hesitate further.*
To those with sick family members, she offered miracles difficult to access with money alone, such as healing abilities and potions. To those with grievous tales, she mobilized power and connections to resolve their grudges.
All to raise the loyalty of those in the same boat and make them devote themselves wholeheartedly to this project.
Licorice—an unprecedented idol group composed entirely of vampire members—was the fruit born from such immense efforts.
At the point when all preparations were complete and debut was imminent.
The surprise press release scattered as part of the promotion caused a social uproar, exactly as expected.
—Huh? Idols? Who? Vampires?
—LOL they’re lying. Not falling for it. GG.
└No, but this is real though? Why isn’t this bait??
—If they’re vampires, they’re Mines, right? And yet they’re openly popping out saying they’ll be celebrities?? This country has gone mad.
└Right? It’s the end of the world. What the hell are the Guardians and civil servants doing? Not arresting those things.
They had prepared to some extent, but the reactions were far from good.
Although the vampires’ image had improved through various incidents compared to before, the preconceptions embedded in them were too deeply rooted to tolerate a social status like that of celebrities—synonymous with the daylight world.
Venting complaints on community sites was ordinary, and raw abuse and curses were hurled at anyone directly or indirectly involved.
The small mercy was that, perhaps thanks to the efforts made thus far, not all the reactions were negative.
—Wow…; But their visuals are insane. Playing the MV teaser on repeat. Can’t escape…
└Me too, I spaced out watching before barely coming to my senses. Is this what they mean by being bewitched by a fox?
└Fox X Vampire O
└The visuals are one thing, but the synergy with the song is insane. The music in the teaser isn’t even long, but I’m hooked instantly. Want to hear the full version ASAP;;
—No, but if you think about it, isn’t there nothing bad in it for us? We won’t be hanging out with celebrities anyway, so whether they’re vampires or whatever, isn’t it a win as long as they look good?
└Real lol
Of course, there had been some influence—a very slight bit of opinion manipulation mixed in there.
Still, it was a fact that not everyone was negative.
“Heheh, like… press like here too….”
Lee Nahui—the lead vocalist and the youngest member in charge of cuteness for Licorice—lay sprawled on the dormitory sofa, giggling as she stared at the smartphone in her hand.
Of course, there was far more negative content than positive, but she simply reported such comments mercilessly without showing much reaction.
*Well, I’m used to getting cursed at just for being a vampire.*
The members of Licorice were all carefully selected talents.
Since mental fortitude took up a considerable portion of the evaluation criteria, she possessed the strength to brush off matters of this degree with composure unbefitting her young age.
“Nahui! Were you searching for us again? The company told you not to look at that stuff!”
“Ahh!”
Just then, along with a woman’s scolding voice, the smartphone slipped right out of Nahui’s hand.
She flailed toward the stolen phone while still lying face-down, but soon gave up and sagged limply into the sofa.
As could be seen from the fact that she, a Level 4 vampire, had it snatched away without sensing a thing, if the other party put their mind to it, reclaiming the item with her strength alone was nearly impossible.
Yun Seol—the main dancer, leader, and the one in charge of sexiness for Licorice—held the snatched phone in her hand and let out a deep sigh.
*There’s nothing good about continuously exposing yourself to such negative words. It might seem fine right now, but stimulating memories don’t disappear—they keep accumulating deep in your heart.*
And the moment your heart weakened due to some incident, they would target that gap and burst out all at once.
Yun Seol, who already knew that fact well through experience, gazed at the young youngest member with eyes full of worry.
As with idols debuting recently, the members of Licorice were not very old.
The oldest, Yun Seol, was only twenty-two.
On the other hand, the youngest, Nahui, was merely a middle schooler, so on average, they were in their late teens.
But there was a blind spot in this “age”….
*Three of us five are Returnees, so we have more experience than our registered age, but Nahui is truly just a child of that age.*
It lay in the fact that their ages had been calculated based on Earth years, not their actual experienced age.
Another high school member who had become a vampire on Earth was so earnest that she kept her distance from public opinion as the company instructed, so it was inevitable to worry that the youngest, Nahui, couldn’t overcome her curiosity.
*Should I just confiscate her phone… But doing that only to Nahui is a bit… Ah! Right, that would be a good way.*
At that moment, a good idea flashed through Yun Seol’s mind.
She gazed intently at the girl pressed into the sofa and slowly opened her mouth.
“If you keep doing that, I’ll tell Chief Ha everything. That you keep disobeying company guidelines.”
“Ugh! Chief Ha?”
“Yes, it would be better to entrust this phone to the chief entirely. You can ask for it back whenever you need it, right?”
At those words, Nahui’s face filled with dread.
It couldn’t be helped.
The figure called Chief Ha, coming from Yun Seol’s mouth, was absolutely no ordinary person.
“Unnie! That’s a bit….”
“Chief Ha,” who had recently joined Team Licorice.
No one knew his real name.
Chief Ha was simply Chief Ha.
Even the president of Lunatic Entertainment probably didn’t know.
That was how special a position he held.
Unlike the other employees, who were busy moving about day and night with debut close at hand, he did no work whatsoever.
He merely watched the situation leisurely while constantly eating something.
But that very thing made him appear all the more special.
*Even parachute appointments have their limits—there’s no way such a person is an ordinary manager.*
An overseer sent from above, or a high-level ability user prepared for danger.
That was what the executives and employees of Lunatic Entertainment, including Licorice, believed Chief Ha’s true identity to be.
Naturally, there was no one who could treat him comfortably.
…And in fact, they were so overwhelmed by his appearance and atmosphere that they didn’t dare speak to him casually.
“I’ll let it slide this once. But if you get caught again next time, I’ll really do exactly as I said. Okay?”
“…Okay.”
In the end, Nahui had no choice but to nod obediently to Yun Seol’s threat.
She had no desire to fall out of that scary man’s favor just to satisfy a curiosity.
Yun Seol returned the smartphone and smiled bitterly at Nahui, who pouted her lips.
Thinking that she was still young, just as her age suggested.
*The fact that they attached such a person to us from above… means they judged that we’d cause that much trouble during our activities.*
Even though the members of Licorice had grown stronger than before, having been granted the glorious blessing of Lord Hines.
Recalling Chief Ha’s level—which she dared not fathom even with the eyesight of someone who had reached Level 6—Yun Seol let out a sigh.
Thinking that she hoped no great commotion would arise.
So time passed.
Finally, the day of Licorice’s debut dawned.
***
“Hmm, so the real beginning is finally here.”
Hair neatly slicked back, a manly face with thick lines, large dark sunglasses, and a black suit that looked ready to burst.
Harley—dressed in a way that would make anyone cower the moment they faced him—slowly stroked his chin.
Then he slowly looked around the stage just before the debut showcase began.
As if rewarding all the effort put into stirring up the media, the densely packed seats demonstrated the attention that had been poured upon Licorice.
*Well, it can’t be helped.*
After all, it was the world’s first vampire idol group!
Even if their heads told them it might be dangerous, there was something in that fatal charm that made them want to see it for themselves, even at the risk.
As entertainment reporters, it must have been hard to give up on a topic expected to draw so many views.
*Of course, not everyone here came because of such admirable interest.*
Harley slowly closed his eyes and shrouded the surrounding area in his domain.
All senses except sight began to fluctuate violently.
*As expected. It seems there are more than one or two friends who dislike this event.*
While everyone was busy, he—sitting calmly in the staff seats—let out a short scoff.
But he didn’t move himself.
Because the Blood Alliance’s vampires, who had thoroughly prepared for this day, were secretly and swiftly eliminating those showing such suspicious behavior.
*Yes, guys who nominally rule Korea’s night shouldn’t fall for such shallow tricks.*
Starting from a middle-aged man wandering around the buildings near the venue with a bag containing homemade bombs, to a woman attempting to infiltrate internally using a business card identifying her as a reporter, to a stage manager in charge of the venue who had hired stagehands for the showcase preparations and audience members selected by lottery.
A pile of people were uncovered who had directly or indirectly plotted something or been used by someone without their knowledge.
*Tch, were vampires hated this much?*
Harley furrowed his brow and lightly clicked his tongue.
Each of their levels was not very high.
To the extent that they were all subdued by vampires keeping a close eye on the situation before they could even attempt anything.
That meant no powerful hidden force had intervened; it was something they had schemed on their own.
To obstruct this monumental event where vampires were trying to step into the world of the limelight.
*…Is this why?*
Just then, using [Machine Eye: Callikas], he found information in the sea of data that Hesperon could use.
It started with a secret community discovered while digging through the internet records of some of those they had subdued.
—Eternal death to the monsters who suck human blood.
—I think it’s time to go meet my daughter. Thank you all for everything this far. As repayment, I’ll make sure to take one more parasite with me.
└Good luck.
└I’ll follow soon.
A community of victims who had lost family or acquaintances to vampires.
A gathering of those whose hearts had completely closed off, having become cynical no matter what feats the Blood Alliance performed.
*…This is.*
Indeed, the Blood Alliance walking its current moderate path was entirely something that had happened after Hines took power.
Just a year ago, when the hardliners were the dominant faction, the Blood Alliance’s vampires were the very embodiment of fearsome Mines.
But what good would it do to insist to the victims of that time, "We are different now"?
"...It's a shame, but there's nothing to be done about it right now."
It couldn't be helped.
There was simply no compromising with those whose grudges had already surged to the very tops of their heads, gnawing away even at themselves.
Perhaps the only saving grace was that no matter how much they flailed, it held little meaning.
It mattered little how many Awakened ones were present in that gathering.
The Blood Alliance was the undisputed dominant force ruling the nights of the Republic of Korea.
There was no way those who weren't even Transcendents could sabotage an event that such people were conducting with their lives on the line.
"I'm here in part to prepare for any possible intervention by the Beoncheonhoe, after all."
Time passed as the showcase proceeded smoothly.
Finally, the preceding performance ended, and the time came to unveil the debut song.
"So it finally begins."
In truth, it was the most important part of today's event.
Because this very moment was when they would present Licorice's first stage to the public.
~♪
A beautiful prelude flowed through the event hall.
It was a song that High Elf Harris of the Elven Kingdom and his friends had poured all their energy into creating, and one they had even personally performed on the instruments.
The pinnacle of 'harmony' dwelling within that music pierced deep into the hearts of the listeners.
"Mmm, this is..."
"Hah, I thought even the pre-released teaser was incredible, but..."
Their emotions were swept away of their own accord.
A beautiful melody so enchanting that one questioned how they had possibly recorded it—a performance that could truly be called heavenly without exaggeration.
Following their emotions, their consciousness began sinking into the stage as well.
And the moment an enchanting, fatal, beautiful voice layered itself over the waves of melody rushing like a storm.
"......!"
"......"
The reporters' hands, which had been frantically typing away to file their articles even a moment sooner, came to a halt.
The eyes of those secretly moving their fingers to live-stream on social media fixed upon the stage.
Strength quietly drained from the bodies of those who had stood with arms crossed from beginning to end, their minds filled with prejudice.
Could the song of the Sirens said to have led sailors to their deaths upon the sea have been like this?
The synergy between the harmony-laden music of the elves and the enchantment-laced voice of the vampire was more than enough to utterly captivate the minds of Earthlings, who possessed no meaningful resistance to sound techniques.
And at that same moment,
Licorice's debut song, 'Amaryllis,' was released on music and video sites.
***
Needless to say, the reaction to the debut song was tremendously explosive.
To the extent that even those who had been waiting to see just how good they were couldn't bring themselves to open their mouths.
Every indicator was tracing a steep upward trajectory.
Riding that wave of popularity, Licorice...
"Look, it's really Licorice, right? This is insane. They're way prettier in person?"
"Shh! Idiot, please shut up! Even the smallest girl over there could tear you to pieces with her bare hands!"
"Gasp!"
They had come to the broadcasting station to film a terrestrial music program broadcast nationwide.
"...I don't tear people apart."
At the surrounding gazes that blatantly treated them with apprehension, the smallest girl, Inahui, pouted her lips and muttered under her breath.
They might have whispered quietly among themselves, but none of those present failed to hear those words.
As if looking at a beast that had escaped its cage—the Licorice members gave awkward smiles at the blatant fear embedded in those words.
"Kahahahat! Well, this is interesting, isn't it? To think I'd actually come all the way to a broadcasting station! Ooh? What's that? It looks fascinating!"
Of course, Manager Ha, ever brimming with energy, thought nothing of it.