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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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Royale Vegas.
Even within the upper Platinum district, it was practically the only area where citizens of all classes could freely mingle.
Some even called it the heart of Neon City.
Its distinct characteristics set it apart.
Normally, the shielding membrane covering the city’s ceiling was transparent, directly reflecting the sky above.
But here, the city’s shielding membrane always projected the image of a night sky.
Black and blue hues gracefully blanketed the heavens.
It exuded a dark and subtle atmosphere no matter the time.
In short, it was the perfect place to lose track of time.
Perhaps that’s why it was teeming with casinos and luxury hotels.
Consequently, the place was overflowing with people seeking gambling or sightseeing.
And lastly, it was also famous for housing Neon City’s largest performance dome.
A sigh escaped my lips involuntarily.
“….Huu.”
Why am I here?
“Kyaaaaaaaaah!!”
“Take me, Oppa!!”
“Unnie, I love you!!”
I just wanted to go home.
Inside the Royale Vegas performance dome.
On stage, numerous singers, dance teams, and even eccentrics took turns showcasing their talents.
《Our next act is someone super hot from the Lower District! Five vocal cords! Introducing the rookie of one-man a cappella!》
Oh, this is quite something.
A man appeared on the stage.
He began to sing, and strangely, although he sang with one mouth, five distinct voices emerged.
I couldn’t physically comprehend how that was possible. Truly amazing. It’s like he had a stereo system implanted in his body.
There are all sorts of people in this world.
I checked the pamphlet I received upon entry.
As I’d confirmed earlier, Andrea, whom we were waiting for, was the final act.
Well, as the most famous singer in Neon City, it was a fitting position for her.
…But what good is it?
I already want to go home.
Andrea being the last act meant I had no choice but to endure the performances until the very end.
The dome was packed with people.
The heat was almost unbearable.
Thankfully, I was in the VIP section.
It wasn’t as crowded as I’d imagined.
However, being in the VIP section meant I could feel the stares directed at me from all around, which was a bit uncomfortable.
Perhaps this is why Catherine styled me before entering the concert hall.
I discreetly glanced at Catherine, who was sitting next to me.
“…….”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I fixed my gaze forward again.
….Wait.
Why is she staring at me instead of the performance?
The moment I turned my head, I met Catherine’s intense gaze.
I was startled, but thankfully, I managed to turn my head back calmly without showing it.
The stares from others were nothing.
This was the real pressure.
Catherine’s gaze was several times more intense than anyone else’s.
[I report that the human ‘Catherine’ has been continuously observing the human ‘Lee Shiun’ since the beginning of the performance.]
…Thanks for letting me know.
When is the final performance going to start?
I prayed for time to pass quickly.
《You’ve waited long enough! Neon City’s walking dream! The shining solo artist! A living legend! The idol of all young people!》
Oh, here she comes finally.
《Andrea Rose!!》
A woman walked out from the back of the stage.
At first glance, she appeared to be covered in blood.
Her long, crimson hair, dyed a vibrant red, flowed down past her knees.
The pointed ears protruding from the sides of her long hair revealed her elven heritage.
As in the past, she was still short.
I recalled the time when Drek, a dwarf, was incredibly surprised that she was shorter than him.
For the record, Drek is 2 meters tall thanks to implant surgery.
…I think he just wanted to tease her.
You haven’t changed a bit, Andrea.
With the arrival of the person I’d been waiting for, I rested my chin on my hand and focused on the stage.
Andrea Rose.
A companion of the protagonist, even appearing in the game.
She had singing as a side job, but now it seemed more accurate to say her main job was singing and her side job was mercenary work.
She had simply become incredibly famous.
If I had to choose the most famous and recognizable person among our companions, it would undoubtedly be Andrea.
It’s not like Catherine, Drek, or I have other side jobs that would make us famous.
We (though I’m a bit less known) were only recognizable within the mercenary industry.
Andrea’s clear and beautiful voice resonated throughout the dome.
A microphone was unnecessary.
Perhaps thanks to the high-performance voice amplification cyberware Drek had installed, her voice carried its original quality.
Her singing skills were beyond words.
It was the first time I’d heard her perform in a while, but her skills were still top-notch.
Honestly, it was enjoyable.
Even though I loved staying home, I thought it wouldn’t be bad to come out and enjoy a concert like this occasionally.
As I was enjoying the music, I happened to make eye contact with Andrea, who was singing on stage.
Was it a coincidence?
Considering my seat in the VIP section, it might not have been.
After all, it was she who gave Catherine and me VIP tickets to see her performance.
Andrea suddenly grinned.
She was already smiling, but this smile felt different.
A sudden sense of unease sent shivers down my spine.
As if on cue, the musical accompaniment flowed, and she paused her singing.
Then, she blew a kiss in my direction.
“Chu.”
Her fan service intensified the reactions of the people sitting around me in the VIP section.
If she had only directed her fan service towards the VIP section, the overall atmosphere of the dome would have turned cold.
But Andrea then blew kisses to the other audience members as well.
…It must be my imagination.
It was probably just normal fan service.
Surely, it was just my imagination that I thought we made eye contact.
Crack.
What was that sound?
Suddenly, I heard something breaking.
I turned my head towards the source of the sound.
Coincidentally, it was the direction where Catherine was sitting.
Catherine, who had been staring only at me until just now, was now fixated on the stage with an even more intense gaze.
Her clenched jaw was a bonus.
The armrest of the chair Catherine was gripping was already shattered, seemingly unable to serve its purpose.
…Noona, my precious gold.
Why are you being so scary again?
More than before,
I wished for this moment to end quickly.
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“I’m just kidding, kidding! Can’t I even joke?”
Andrea said with a laugh.
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