Chương 47: Performance

Ch 47 - Performance The two girls and Evan exchanged glances for a moment before Yeon-ah suddenly hurried over and grabbed his arm.

"There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere!" she said in an overly sweet voice. Evan had half a mind to pull her hand off him. How did he get dragged into this ridiculous situation when he had only gone out looking for food? Of course, this had to happen. It was just his luck... The two girls narrowed their eyes at him before leaning toward each other and whispering. They clearly weren't trying very hard to keep their voices down, especially since Evan could hear them perfectly.

"Boyfriend?"

"He looks so plain."

"There's no way Yeon-ah would date someone like that."

"No chance at all." The two girls clicked their tongues in unison before walking away. Evan nearly choked on his own indignation. What was wrong with being plain?! Not everyone could be drop-dead gorgeous, okay?! This was exactly why he hated beautiful people and anyone who judged others based solely on their appearance!

"Sorry about that," Yeon-ah said, finally releasing her hold on him once the two girls were out of sight.

"What are you doing out here this late at night?" Evan asked. Unlike him, who was just an ordinary Awakener wandering around in search of dinner, Yeon-ah was a famous idol. Her fans were probably already filling the city after hearing about her upcoming performance, meaning she couldn't exactly walk around unnoticed.

"Why are you out here?" Yeon-ah asked instead.

"I'm trying to find somewhere to eat."

"Can't you just eat at the hotel's restaurant?"

"I wanted to stretch my legs." Yeon-ah crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Evan asked.

"Don't think I'm here following you. Not everything revolves around you." The moment the words left his mouth, Evan regretted them. Nice going, idiot. Some thoughts were supposed to stay inside your head. He blamed his empty stomach for making him so irritable. Right on cue, his stomach let out a loud growl, as if agreeing with the excuse. Yeon-ah blinked, then smiled faintly.

"If you're hungry, I know a good place to eat," she said before turning and walking away. Evan remained where he stood.

"Are you not going to follow me?" she called out. He hesitated, wondering if he should ignore her and continue toward the Vietnamese restaurant he had already picked. That was probably the smarter choice, yet after a moment, Evan sighed and followed her anyway. The two of them walked through a maze of alleys, winding farther from the main street with every turn.

Evan lazily wondered if she was leading him into some secluded corner where a group of criminals would suddenly jump out and rob him, but considering the person guiding him was a famous idol, that seemed rather unlikely. Eventually, they stopped in front of a small restaurant hidden down a narrow side alley between older buildings. Its sign hung above the entrance, barely noticeable beneath the bright lights of the surrounding shops. The storefront was cramped, with only a few tables visible through the window.

Yeon-ah opened the door and stepped inside.

"I'm home." Evan frowned and followed her inside, where he was greeted by a worn but cozy restaurant. A man in his late forties, dressed in a striped shirt and loose dark pants, was wiping down one of the tables. Fine lines framed his face, and years spent working in the restaurant had left him with a slight stoop.

"Yeon-ah!" The old man beamed and opened his arms. She walked over and hugged him, while Evan watched the heartwarming father-and-daughter reunion. After a moment, Yeon-ah's father turned toward him and squinted slightly.

"And who's this?"

"Oh, he's a friend of mine! He said he was hungry, so I thought he could eat at our restaurant," Yeon-ah explained. The man offered his hand to Evan.

"I'm Lim Seong-jin. Yeon-ah's father and the owner of this restaurant. It's nice to meet you." Evan accepted the handshake and introduced himself as well.

"A friend, huh? It's been a while since Yeon-ah brought a friend back home," Seong-jin said. Seeing the suspicious look on the older man's face, Evan could already guess what he was thinking. He desperately wanted to make one thing clear: he wasn't interested in any woman, okay? Or men! He was a proud and happy single! Yeon-ah slapped Seong-jin lightly on the arm.

"Seriously, Father. You have a starving customer standing right in front of you, and you're busy glaring at him. Do I have to be the one cooking?"

"No, no, no. You sit down. I'll cook something good for you!" Seong-jin said, gently pushing his daughter toward a seat before hurrying back into the small kitchen. Evan sat down at a nearby empty table and raised an eyebrow.

"So you dragged me here to promote your father's restaurant?"

"I'm not lying when I say it's good. Though I suppose I'm probably a little biased," Yeon-ah admitted. From behind the counter, Evan heard the sharp hiss of meat hitting a hot pan, followed by the rhythmic clatter of metal utensils against the cooking surface. While waiting, he took in the restaurant's slightly outdated interior. It was a humble place, far removed from the luxurious establishments he associated with Nova Terra's elite.

It was hard to believe that the father of one of the city's most popular idols spent his days running a place like this. It wasn't long before Seong-jin returned carrying two bowls. A mountain of warm rice sat beneath glossy slices of grilled beef, with vegetables and sesame seeds scattered across the top. Alongside the main dish were several small plates of side dishes.

"Father! Where's your food?" Yeon-ah asked.

"I already ate! You two eat!" Seong-jin said, waving his hand before walking over to the small beverage cooler to grab a couple of bottled drinks. Despite her pursed lips, Yeon-ah followed Seong-jin's instructions and started eating. Evan soon did the same, taking his first bite. The food wasn't anything extraordinary. It was much simpler than what the expensive restaurants in the Inner Districts served, but it was a decent meal.

After days of eating in the wilderness while dealing with Redcaps, something warm and properly cooked was good enough. A few bites later, Evan happened to glance at Yeon-ah and nearly did a double take. Her gentle appearance was completely at odds with the speed at which she ate. Her chopsticks flashed as food disappeared one bite after another, as if someone would snatch her plate away if she slowed down for even a second. Evan paused mid-bite. This text was taken from Royal Road.

Help the author by reading the original version there.... When was the last time she ate? He was sure she hadn't eaten like this back in the Wildlands. Had she only been holding back because the cameras were rolling? Across the table, Seong-jin simply laughed, apparently finding nothing unusual about the scene.... So this is normal. Though Evan himself was a fast eater, the speed at which Yeon-ah devoured her food was still jaw-dropping.

Even so, Evan decided there were some questions he didn't need answered and quietly finished his meal. The two washed everything down with chilled drinks. Afterward, Yeon-ah stood and began gathering the empty dishes. Ignoring Seong-jin's protests, she carried them into the kitchen and started washing them herself. Evan wondered if he should offer to help before reminding himself that he was a paying customer. More importantly, he'd been tricked into coming here in the first place. Nope. He'd done enough.

He leaned back in his chair and waited. From his seat, he couldn't help overhearing the conversation between father and daughter.

"How did Into the Frontier go? You didn't get hurt, did you?" Seong-jin asked.

"It was fun. We went camping and even roasted deer meat," Yeon-ah replied.

"That's good... You'll be performing at the stadium soon, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then you should head back and get some proper rest. They gave you a room at that expensive hotel, didn't they? I'm sure the bed there is much more comfortable than sleeping here." The father and daughter continued talking while Evan finished his drink. Once Yeon-ah was done helping around the restaurant, the two left together and began making their way back through the narrow alleys toward the hotel. As they walked, Evan glanced at her.

"Why didn't you insist on staying? You're only here for a little while before leaving your father again."

"You were eavesdropping?" Yeon-ah gave him an accusing glare. Evan shrugged.

"Can't blame me when your place is that small." She rolled her eyes before letting out a sigh.

"You heard what he said. He wanted me to sleep at the hotel. Besides, I'm already breaking the rules by sneaking out like this. My manager won't be happy if I spend the night outside." Was that how things normally worked for idols? Evan wasn't sure. His only knowledge came from the occasional idol novels he'd picked up whenever he needed a break from fantasy, and he had no idea how much of those stories actually reflected reality.

For all he knew, sneaking out like this could have been enough to earn Yeon-ah a serious lecture from her manager.

"If you're going to break a rule, why only go halfway?" Evan said.

"Are you seriously encouraging me to cause trouble and annoy my manager?"

"Maybe." He still remembered the way Morgan had treated him for being an F-rank. Too bad she was a civilian. Otherwise, he might have challenged her to a match already. Yeon-ah chuckled.

"Don't joke about that. Ms. Morgan is terrifying when she's angry." The two headed back toward the hotel, but just before reaching the entrance, Evan stopped and gestured for Yeon-ah to go ahead. The last thing he needed was for someone to see them arriving together and start spreading rumors. While waiting outside, Evan scrolled through the news until a headline caught his attention: Enforcement Division Assures Public as Hunt for Escaped A-rank Criminal Continues.

The featured image showed the fugitive, a man with dark yellow eyes and wild hair. Evan wasn't sure whether he should be concerned or impressed. Escaping a prison designed to hold Awakeners couldn't have been easy. He only hoped Ryusei was actually tracking the criminal instead of wasting his time cursing random kids to cover up the government's dirty secrets. After giving Yeon-ah several minutes' head start, Evan returned to his room and spent the rest of the evening playing games on his phone.

The next morning, Evan lounged in bed until boredom drove him to the gym. Stellaris' performance wasn't until evening, leaving him with nothing else planned. At this point, Evan had stopped denying how much Reid had rubbed off on him. The old Evan would have spent the entire day rotting in bed, but now skipping a workout somehow felt wrong. A Demon Hunter's craziness really was contagious. The hotel's gym was packed with modern equipment, which Evan made full use of.

Hiroto soon joined him, and the two trained together. A few other guests came and went, shooting bewildered glances at them as they pushed through one exercise after another. Afterward, they headed to a nearby Outer Zone Security Post training ground for a light sparring session. Hiroto's relentless dedication had paid off. His mana control had improved by leaps and bounds, almost unrecognizable from before. Seeing Hiroto grow stronger, Evan could only hope his investment would pay off.

The sooner Hiroto became a powerful, loyal follower who actually listened to him, the better. They continued sparring until afternoon, when Carmen finally dragged them away for a shopping trip. As they followed her into yet another store with their hands full of shopping bags, Evan asked, "How are things between you and Reika? She hasn't been bullying you again, has she?" Hiroto shook his head.

"No, but she has been trying to talk to me more."

"You do know that's probably because your parents told her to, right?" Evan said. Hiroto gave a small nod.

"Maybe. But it's still progress, isn't it?"

"I guess." Later that evening, the students boarded their bus to the stadium. Although the concert was still a couple of hours away, traffic had already slowed to a crawl as countless vehicles converged on the venue. The stadium's floodlights illuminated the massive structure against the darkening sky, while enormous Stellaris and Into the Frontier banners hung from its outer walls. The roads were packed with fans carrying glow sticks, while security directed traffic and food stalls lined the sidewalks.

Even from inside the bus, Evan could hear the buzz of thousands of voices. After getting off, the students followed their instructors through an entrance and were escorted to a reserved section near the front. From there, they had a clear view of the massive stage below. Evan ended up near Hiroto, Carmen, and Reika. Carmen positioned herself between the siblings, conveniently keeping Evan out of their awkward standoff, while he took the aisle. As he settled in, a familiar figure caught his eye.

Darius was making his way through the rows. The man noticed him as well and smiled, raising a hand in greeting.

"We meet again! Surprised to see me?"

"A little," Evan admitted.

"Thought I would remain at the mine forever?" Darius laughed.

"How cruel. Even a government dog needs a break once in a while, and what better way to spend it than attending a show as big as this?" He grinned and patted Evan on the shoulder.

"I hope you enjoy the performance, kid. It'll be something you won't forget." Evan wasn't entirely convinced, but he simply nodded as Darius walked away, whistling to himself. With several hours left before Stellaris took the stage, Evan dragged Hiroto into a multiplayer game to pass the time. One match turned into another, and before they knew it, the lights dimmed around the venue. The moment everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived. The field and stands plunged into darkness.

For a brief moment, thousands of people fell silent. Then the giant screens above the stage flickered to life. A montage from Into the Frontier played across the displays, showing the students exploring the wilderness, fighting monsters, and surviving the Frontier Field Exercise. Cheers rose whenever Stellaris appeared on screen, growing louder with each familiar scene. When the video ended, the screens faded to black.

A deep bass note rumbled through the arena as beams swept across the stage and Stellaris' newest song began. The center platform rose, revealing three figures. A deafening roar followed as they appeared in matching Frontier-themed outfits. As the music swelled, the three launched into their performance. Yeon-ah's powerful voice rang through the venue while Olivia and Ines moved in perfect sync, their contrasting styles captivating everyone in attendance.

Soon, thousands of voices joined them, singing along to the chorus. Fans raised their glow sticks and chanted Stellaris' name as the three members stepped forward, smiling and waving to the crowd.

"Hello, everyone!" Yeon-ah called, her voice echoing throughout the stadium.

"We are Stellaris!" The audience shouted their names in return.

"It's amazing to see so many people here today," Olivia said.

"Thank you all for coming to celebrate the conclusion of Into the Frontier with us."

"We've been following the students' journey from the very beginning," Ines added with a grin.

"And honestly, fighting monsters in the Wildlands looks a lot harder than anything we do up here." Laughter spread through the stands.

"But today isn't just about looking back," Yeon-ah continued.

"It's about celebrating everyone who took part in this adventure, from the students who braved the Wildlands to all of you who supported them along the way." She lifted her microphone as the opening beat of the next song began to play.

"So... are you ready?" The giant displays flashed with streaks of light before revealing the title of Stellaris' next song. Then, they suddenly flickered, and the music abruptly cut out. Confused murmurs spread through the audience. Evan frowned. A technical failure? At an event of this scale? Someone backstage was about to have a very bad day. The members of Stellaris exchanged uncertain glances as a lone figure casually walked onto the stage.

"Test, test. One, two, three." Darius tapped the headset microphone at his cheek before flashing the audience an easy smile.

"Sorry for the interruption, everyone. To be honest, I've never been much of a concert person." Boos rang out from every direction, but Darius paid them no mind.

"So... how about we change things up instead?" He snapped his fingers. A dark barrier burst into existence high above the stadium before rapidly descending, sealing the entire venue beneath a massive black dome.

"Let's play a little game." Darius then reached toward his face as though grasping an invisible mask. As he pulled it away, his appearance unraveled. His warm brown eyes shifted to a piercing dark yellow, the healthy tan of his skin faded, and his neatly groomed appearance gave way to a mane of wild black hair. A wide grin spread across his face.

"My game," said Victor Osborn, the escaped A-rank criminal.