TRPM 400

chapter 400

Not only the students from our class but all the students attending the retreat participated enthusiastically in the recreation activities.

The main attraction was the “One Chicken Per Person” prize—it was that enticing.

“Hehe~. If a student has already gone, please sit down. Let’s give the chance to other classmates,” the host announced.

However, our class wasn’t exactly in a favorable position.

We had kids like me, Elliot, and Lee Doo-min whose physical abilities were far beyond the normal student level, but because the host restricted each student to participate only once, it ironically put us at a disadvantage.

Our class simply had fewer members.

‘Thanks to me, Elliot, and Lee Doo-min returning first with first-place finishes, the score itself isn’t bad…’

Besides, some challenges required more than just physical ability—they demanded reflexes, intelligence, or luck—so the performance of our class wasn’t poor.

No, it was actually good.

At this point, with only the talent show and cheering points left, our class was in first place.

“…Phew! Good work, everyone!”

“Now it’s up to the four of you going to sing.”

Even though we were in first place, it was still possible for another class to overtake us at any moment.

To be precise…

“500 points will be awarded to the class that wins the talent show!”

“Waaah!”

“Waaah!”

“……”

Because the host generously promised a large number of points for the final round, even the class with the lowest score could potentially take first place if they performed well.

‘Yeah, that figures.’

Everything we had done so far was essentially nullified.

Anyway.

“……”

“……”

Our class fell silent upon hearing the unwelcome news.

“We all knew this might happen, right? So just cheer! The four of us will handle winning the talent show!”

Ryu Ah-young said this to us, whose spirits had dropped.

It was disappointing, but of course, we couldn’t stop cheering.

At that moment:

“Is this Class 1?”

A staff member from the retreat approached us and asked.

“Please have Kang Ga-ram, Ryu Ah-young, and Lee Ha-eun ready to sing immediately.”

“Ugh… we’re first?”

As the staff called out their names, the three showed signs of nervousness.

They had practiced well until now, but with the talent show about to start, the nerves were finally setting in.

“Go on.”

“Ah… okay… Hoo… ha…”

“Uh… I think I forgot the lyrics…”

“If I start singing, I’ll remember them. Let’s go quickly!”

Watching the three move toward the front of the auditorium with the staff, I quietly took out my digital camera from the pocket space.

I had been asked to record it.

“Huh? Why the camera all of a sudden?”

“I was asked by Ga-ram’s parents and Ha-eun’s parents to record their daughters singing.”

I floated the camera in the air as I explained.

Lee Ha-eun’s parents often met with me and had asked casually, while Kang Ga-ram’s parents seemed a bit hesitant due to me being an artist, offering a large fee for the recording.

Of course, I didn’t accept any money.

It felt strange to take payment just for recording a friend singing.

“…Just to be clear…”

Elena asked as she looked at the camera floating in the air.

“Are you going to record me singing as well?”

“Yes. I also received a request from your side through Arthur.”

Elena closed her mouth at my words.

Receiving a request through Arthur meant it came from the UK—so essentially, Elena’s family in England had asked for it.

“Hehe… haha…”

While Elena stayed silent, Elliot couldn’t hold back his laughter.

“What? Elliot, why are you laughing?”

“Ha… it’s obvious how your recorded performance will be used.”

Of course, the family would likely gather together and watch it. When we were younger, videos we were recorded in were always used that way, Elliot explained.

‘Hmm… she’ll probably be embarrassed.’

At least with a video, the effect of Elena’s spirit magic wouldn’t carry over, so the enhanced quality of her voice wouldn’t be heard. To viewers, she would sound like she was just singing normally.

‘But I wonder about that side.’

I glanced toward the direction of the class that had come to provoke us earlier.

There was a mutant among them working as an active idol. Would that mutant’s mind-manipulating ability work through the video?

If it’s just manipulating through magic, it likely wouldn’t, but if it spreads via certain frequencies or waveforms, it could affect people even through a video.

Since the mutant was working as an idol, the latter seemed more likely.

“Let’s begin.”

At Jin Cheon-ha’s signal, the host introduced our class and the songs they would sing.

At the same time… I covered my ears.

Not only me, but all the students in our class did the same.

‘It’s not that the three can’t sing…’

They were just too loud.

To prevent ear pain, we covered our ears.

After their performance, the three returned to their seats and glared at us.

“Good job.”

“…That’s all you’re going to say?”

“So mean…”

“Sorry…”

We had to apologize because their glare almost emitted literal hostility.

Of course, we covered our ears because we didn’t want to listen, but their singing was quite decent.

Compared to the other classes’ performances that followed, theirs was definitely superior.

‘The other classes seemed to realize their singing wasn’t enough, so they tried to make up for it with dance…’

Even so, up to this point, no performance had received as strong a reaction as our class’s.

…Not yet.

“The talent show is approaching its final stages. Next up… Oh, it seems this school even has an active idol among its students?”

The student from Siren’s mutant group delivered a truly overwhelming performance.

There was no other way to describe it.

‘…Is this what an idol is?’

Although some mind-control effects were included, that wasn’t even the main factor.

Beautiful and cute looks, a voice that soothed just by listening, and vocal ability worthy of a professional singer. On top of that, they executed choreography skillfully, captivating everyone’s attention.

Elena froze as she watched.

‘Elena is losing on all fronts.’

She might have felt pride when teachers put her last in the lineup, thinking she should close the recreation event. She hadn’t neglected practice, but deep inside, she might have felt she was the best.

But the reality shattered that pride. Facing an active singer, there was no way to win.

“…Thank you!”

“Waaah…!”

“Whoosh…!”

“Encore! Encore!”

Watching the performance, the song ended quickly. Naturally, many students cheered.

There were even encore requests, something that hadn’t happened in any previous performance.

“No….”

“Encore! Encore!”

“Encore! Encore!”

“Encore! Encore!”

Someone began shouting for an encore, and soon everyone joined in.

The mutant on stage looked at the host. The host appeared slightly flustered but signaled to accommodate the requests if possible.

“All right! But we need to prepare a different track, so please wait a moment!”

The mutant said this and stepped off the stage to applause, likely to hand over the music file to the staff playing the background music.

“…Elena, are you okay?”

During this brief commotion, I asked her.

“……”

Elena turned carefully to look at me and…

“…What should I do…?”

“Huh?”

“I… I’m up next… How am I supposed to sing after such an overwhelming performance?”

Her eyes glistened slightly with tears.

With her arrogance broken, she was now worried. Understandable—anyone would be anxious singing after such a dominant performance.

‘…But I think this is the first time I’ve seen her cry.’

Usually composed, sometimes revealing her psycho side, Elena was still just a high school girl. It wasn’t strange for her to shed tears out of frustration.

“It’s okay, Elena. You sing well too, so no one will criticize you.”

I said this and signaled Ryu Ah-young nearby. I wanted her to wipe Elena’s tears.

‘Why? You could do it.’

‘If I, a boy, do it here, it’ll look weird.’

Honestly, comforting her was a little risky.

‘Uh… true, Ha-eun would go overboard.’

Ryu Ah-young understood the signal, took out her handkerchief, and gently wiped Elena’s tears.

“Elena. Just go for it.”

…Huh?

I thought it was a comforting gesture, but what does she mean by that?

“…Huh?”

Elena looked confused at Ryu Ah-young’s words.

“When you practiced singing, you controlled your spirit magic so it wouldn’t affect those around you, right?”

A new track started, and the mutant’s singing could be heard. Using the sound as a backdrop, Ryu Ah-young smiled wickedly and told Elena:

“Now, don’t control it—use all your power while singing.”

…Makes sense.

Without spirit magic, Elena’s singing is merely above-average for a student. With spirit magic, it surpasses normal students. Using her magic to the fullest… what kind of song would emerge?

‘But it’s more like gambling.’

Considering everyone fell asleep last time Elena sang in the room, it’s unpredictable what might happen this time.

“The choice is yours.”

Ryu Ah-young said, and Lee Ha-eun added:

“Don’t worry about anyone else getting hurt! I’ll set up a barrier!”

Then Kang Ga-ram added:

“Do you need stage effects? I think I can manage something with magic.”

After the three who had just sung spoke, Elena found courage.

“…Yes. I’ll give my best performance.”

…It sounded like a scene from a youth drama, but I looked at Elena.

As I had noticed before…

‘She’s triggering her psycho side.’

Elena’s usual demeanor is just an act. The expression she showed at that moment looked…

‘Like she was excited at being able to legally do something crazy.’

Not only I, but Elliot also saw her face, sighed, and shook his head. He signaled to me: she’s unstoppable.