Chapter 38: The Techniques of an Idol Who Never Fails

While we were talking, an announcement came over the speakers.

[The villain has regained their memory.]

[The villain's victory is drawing near.]

"What, what is this?"

Hwang Saegil muttered to himself, and the other members were also greatly flustered.

[Before the villain's victory, if you can discover the abilities of all members, including the villain, Firstlight, you can save the Earth.]

[Currently, one hero's ability has been revealed.]

It was referring to An Juwon, who was revealed to be the 'kind scientist.'

As soon as the announcement started, Min Jihoo hurriedly brought the 'science club exclusive' box.

"Say any number, quickly, to open it."

"0130?"

"0731."

"Jiho, have you already tried 0920?"

Everyone started with their own birthdays. Still, these guys, who seemed to dislike each other, knew everyone else's birthdays by heart. They all hated it when others forgot their birthdays, so they were the type who remembered others' birthdays. Looking at this, it seemed they had more in common than they thought...

Of course, I remember too.

Min Jihoo tried all seven birthdays in sequence, but the box didn't open. Then, Shin Jiwon said urgently,

"Minjo, try 2043."

It was the date when Firstlight Company started. Upon hearing this, the members seemed to agree, exclaiming, "Ah," and Min Jihoo quickly entered the password 2043.

The lock immediately opened.

Min Jihoo took out various scientific experiment tools from the box and opened the envelope on top.

"June 30, 2023. To Juwon. Juwon, it's me, Jihoo. I'm writing this letter because there's an experimental result you need to know. Of course, I still believe in science, but lately, I've started to think that Seonjae might be right. That the Earth will be destroyed in 20 years. More than anything, wasn't today's event really strange? Is there really such a thing as a prophet? What do you think?"

After reading it, Park Seonjae, who was attached to my arm, asked me,

"Am I a prophet?"

"Seems like it."

"Having a precognitive ability is scary, isn't it?"

"No, you're already too much of a coward even without that."

"Really? Then I'm lucky."

At this, Shin Jiwon, who was watching from behind, said,

"The content isn't warm, but it sounds really warm."

"No, our hyung is warm."

Ah, as expected of someone I raised... If I say that, Park Seonjae's parents will be surprised by the little I've seen.

[Currently, two heroes' abilities have been revealed.]

At that moment, an announcement came over the speakers, and I patted Park Seonjae's back.

"Anyway, Maknae can't be the villain."

Shin Jiwon scolded me,

"Hyung, if you're going to do this, just adopt him."

"I want to, but Maknae's parents will be sad. Anyway, we don't have much time left."

An Juwon agreed,

"Let's look for places we haven't been. We haven't been to the infirmary and the band room."

Hwang Saegil, hearing this, spoke up.

"Then, the hyungs go to the band room, and the rest go to the infirmary."

Hwang Saegil gestured for me and An Juwon to go with him and said to Min Jihoo,

"Come with us. At least you're not afraid of the human anatomy model."

"Okay."

After Min Jihoo came over, I glanced at the others.

"Ah, Han Hyoseok feels creepy..."

Han Hyoseok, surprised, asked,

"Why me?"

"Not... just a feeling. You're the most meticulous among us, but you didn't check the plaster casts while searching the art room..."

"That's too much of a stretch."

"Right?"

I think so too.

"Still, should we check together?"

Han Hyoseok, though bewildered, nodded.

"Sure, why not."

I gestured to Shin Jiwon.

"Then, Jiwon, come here. We need someone who can assess the situation well."

We split into two teams and headed to the infirmary and the band room.

There was nothing special in the band room. Fortunately, it was the least scary place we had been to so far.

Park Seonjae, excited, ran to the microphone stand. Since the microphone wasn't real, he held a walkie-talkie.

"Even if the Earth is destroyed, we still need to sing. Any requests?"

"I have one. Sing 'I Know Too.'"

"Ah, right. Hyung, you're a fan of Junhee senior."

The first idol group I admired, who performed classical music, was 'Big Blue,' which debuted in 2012. 'I Know Too' isn't their representative song, but it's my favorite.

An Juwon said over the walkie-talkie,

-Yeah, Seonjae. Sing. It's a bit scary here.

-I'm also scared...

Shin Jiwon's voice came from the side. It seems the infirmary is really scary.

While Han Hyoseok and I searched the band room, Park Seonjae started singing 'I Know Too.' Big Blue, a boy group with a summer concept, often sang summer songs. 'I Know Too' is about first love and is also a summer song.

"Perfect life, love began, my summer, where did it go! I know, this is first love. I know, this is the beginning of trials!"

The power of music is amazing.

The rain and thunder that had made me shiver all day turned into a refreshing summer rain with Park Seonjae's clear voice.

The dark spaces that had been scary became places worth visiting, perhaps because the song about a boy who only knew playing in the sea was affecting the listeners.

While Park Seonjae was singing, Han Hyoseok asked me,

"Hyung, have you met the Big Blue seniors at the broadcasting station?"

"No, not yet."

The members of Big Blue were discharged last year and the year before, but I haven't met them at the broadcasting station yet. Han Hyoseok continued,

"We've met them a few times."

"Really? How were they?"

"They were incredibly cool with their ease. We're still so rushed."

"Right."

I'll meet them someday. Thinking about it makes me nervous.

While talking with Han Hyoseok, I checked my remaining lifespan with the barcode reader again.

[15 years 124 days 17 hours 43 minutes 01 seconds]

My lifespan keeps decreasing, but the others' don't...

I took the walkie-talkie from Park Seonjae after he finished singing and whispered to Han Hyoseok,

"I might be a healer or have an ability that nullifies others' abilities, so my lifespan decreases every time the villain uses their ability."

At that moment, an announcement came over the speakers again.

[Currently, three heroes' abilities have been revealed.]

Shin Jiwon said,

-Hold on... Saegil hyung might be a time traveler. Not just similar, but definitely!

-Me? Why?

-Because the villain might be listening, I'll tell you later.

[Currently, four heroes' abilities have been revealed.]

After the announcement, Shin Jiwon said,

-PD, sorry. We faked it. No evidence.

-Oh, that's it? Wow, cheaters...

Since there was no time, they faked it to deceive the production team. An Juwon said,

-There's another lock here.

-Juwon hyung, I'll try 0000 again, so look for more clues quickly!

As Min Jihoo said this, Han Hyoseok suddenly ran out of the band room. Park Seonjae and I followed.

"Hyungs! Hyoseok is running away!"

-What? Which direction?

"Uh... uh! The science room! We'll go catch him!"

While Park Seonjae was talking, I ran to where Han Hyoseok was. When I entered the annex, Han Hyoseok turned and left, closing the door.

"What are you doing?"

"Sorry, it's for the broadcast."

The door didn't open, as if it was locked from the outside.

"Wow, this..."

So, because my ability doesn't work, he locked me in. I never imagined Han Hyoseok would do something like this.

"Wow... the broadcast will be interesting."

I muttered and looked outside through the glass on the door. Park Seonjae was urgently calling the other members.

"Hyungs! It's bad! Han Hyoseok locked Hyung in the annex!"

-What? Hyoseok?

-Wow, I didn't think Han Hyoseok would...

Then, the members who were in the infirmary on the first floor quickly ran over and caught Han Hyoseok. They also physically prevented him from using his ability. Ultimately, everything ends in a power struggle, very much like these members.

Meanwhile, Park Seonjae unlocked the annex door.

As soon as I came out, I counted the members and asked Hwang Saegil,

"Where's Min Jihoo?"

"Uh? The infirmary... Oh."

The villain didn't say there was only one.

Before I finished my question, Shin Jiwon ran back to the infirmary. Then, Shin Jiwon's voice came over the walkie-talkie.

-Wow... Min Jihoo.

"Why?"

-While we were catching Han Hyoseok, he opened the lock.

"And?"

-Look at the window.

The members looked at the infirmary window and saw Min Jihoo tearing up the letter and scattering it in the rain, laughing maniacally.

"Jiho... he's a mad scientist, alright."

An Juwon's comment was echoed by Hwang Saegil.

"Right. The madman of the science club..."

[Currently, one villain's ability has been revealed.]

[Since no more heroes' abilities can be revealed, the villains win.]

[Everyone in Firstlight, well done.]

[The Earth is destroyed.]

"...Han Hyoseok and Min Jihoo were a team."

The members nodded at An Juwon's words. How they discovered their abilities and knew they were villains will be revealed when we ask or watch the broadcast.

Then, Shin Jiwon, who had returned, said,

"But, we can travel through time again, right?"

Hwang Saegil replied,

"We can only do it twice. Once we travel through time, we can't come back."

"But... my ability might also be time-related."

"Ah, really?"

"Yeah... but why is Hyung so surprised?"

"No... this is how it connects. I didn't know either."

I only suggested traveling through time again, but I didn't know it would connect like this.

When the filming ended, Han Hyoseok asked,

"Is it the concept for the next regular album?"

"Yeah."

"What is it?"

I answered,

"Have you heard that I'm preparing a remix of 'The King' in case you perform at the VMC Awards?"

The original song of Kukseon-a. The first song performed by all participants and the only performance by the debut group.

'The King.'

Park Seonjae asked,

"Ah, that's the medieval fantasy remix? Is that the concept for the next album?"

"..."

Wow, he got it right away, so I can't even dodge the question.

Since I couldn't answer immediately, the members guessed and nodded. I asked,

"How did you know?"

Park Seonjae said,

"Hyung... that hyung, in places where hyung isn't, he really praises hyung. He was praising the