Pardo looked at Vill-V's eager expression, then at the "terrifying" discs on the floor, hugging Can and trembling, "I-I don't think... we should? We'll, we'll die, won't we? We'll definitely be silenced, right?!"
But her protest was clearly ineffective. Vill-V had already picked up a disc and was excitedly heading towards the playback device.
So, under Pardo's nervous yet slightly excited gaze, Vill-V, with the exhilaration of discovering a new continent, inserted the disc—with its sensational title and shocking cover: "Kevin, Otto, and Welt: Unspeakable Secrets!"—into the playback device.
"Buzz—"
The device started, the massive screen lit up, and a burst of strong, pop-idol-style electronic music instantly filled the entire room!
Immediately after, the image suddenly became clear!
The first things that came into view were constantly flashing multicolored stage lights and virtual sequins raining down everywhere.
Then, a tall figure, both familiar and strange, appeared in the center of the stage!
It was Kevin.
But... it was definitely not the Kevin they knew!
The former Flame-Chaser of Deliverance was now wearing an extremely gorgeous, predominantly pink and white idol outfit with a fluffy miniskirt, the hem adorned with sparkling ribbons and bows.
His signature white hair was tied into twin tails, bouncing vigorously with the rhythm of the music.
That handsome face, usually covered in frost, was actually sporting delicate stage makeup, with sparkling rhinestones pasted near the corners of his eyes!
What was even more jaw-dropping was that he was dancing to the music—a vibrant, even slightly playful idol dance—with standard movements, but his expression... well, it was a bizarre state of stiffness, as he tried hard to produce a sweet smile but was betrayed by his inherently cold nature!
"Hiss—!"
Pardo gasped sharply, and Can, the fat cat in her arms, let out a "Meow-aow" and covered its eyes with its paws.
"Whoa!!!"
Vill-V let out an exclamation, not of horror, but of pure, fervent excitement, like an artist witnessing a subversive masterpiece. "This, this is simply... the aesthetic of 'contrast' beyond imagination! Kevin! I never knew you had this kind of 'potential'! Hahahaha!"
Just then, two figures slid onto the screen from the sides of the stage, beginning to dance backup for "Kevin Idol" in the center.
On the left was a golden-haired man with a brilliant smile, and on the right was a deep brown-haired man wearing glasses.
They were also wearing similar pink performance outfits, their movements perfectly synchronized, striving to highlight the "protagonist" in the center position.
Just as the dance entered the climax, "Kevin Idol" on the screen suddenly made a clumsy heart shape toward the camera, and then stiffly threw a... flying kiss!
"Pfft—!"
Vill-V was laughing so hard she bent over, pounding the nearby cushion. "I Can't, I Can't take it! A flying kiss! Kevin's flying kiss! I'm dying, hahaha!"
Pardo was completely petrified, feeling her entire worldview shatter and reassemble itself right then.
The commotion in the entertainment room was too loud, finally attracting others.
"Hmm? Vill-V, Pardo, are you watching something interesting? It sounds so lively?"
Elysia's cheerful voice came from the doorway, and she poked her head in curiously.
Then, her gaze fixed on the huge screen, specifically on Kevin, who was wearing a pink fluffy skirt and throwing a flying kiss.
"..."
The slightly playful smile that was always on Elysia's face instantly froze.
Her pink eyes blinked, and then blinked again, as if confirming whether she was experiencing some kind of mass hallucination.
"Elysia, why did you stop..."
Su's gentle voice sounded behind her, and he also walked to the doorway.
Then, the eyes of this usually composed Flame-Chaser, which were perpetually closed, suddenly... no, violently trembled!
The calm expression on his face, which usually suggested he had seen through the world, instantly shattered, replaced by an extreme shock, causing him to nearly lose his stable footing!
"What... is... this?"
Elysia finally found her voice, her tone full of disbelief. She pointed at the screen, "Kevin... uh... changed careers?"
"Hahahaha!"
Vill-V barely managed to stop laughing, but seeing their reactions made her burst out again, tears nearly streaming down her face. "Did you see that? Did you see that! This is the infinite possibility of art! I never expected Kevin, this ice block face, dressed up like this... Pfft, hahahaha... he's quite 'unique'! No, no, there are more treasures waiting for us to unearth!"
Completely ignoring Pardo, who was nearly soul-shocked, and Elysia and Su, whose worldviews had been impacted, she swiftly pulled out another disc she had just seen—"Overbearing Kalpas: Where Can Shy Kosma Run!"—and replaced the currently playing "Kevin Idol Saga" with lightning speed.
The screen flashed!
The previous dynamic music disappeared, replaced by a pink filter full of ambiguous tension and lingering background music.
On screen, Kalpas, who seemed to still be emitting unextinguished sparks of fire, cornered Kosma against the wall in a highly oppressive "Kabedon" pose.
Kosma's usually expressionless face was now sporting a suspicious blush, his eyes darting away, his lower lip slightly bitten, displaying a "shy" appearance of wanting to resist but being powerless (or perhaps half-willing?).
Then, Kalpas on the screen, using his voice that should have been full of violence, spoke the line—in a deliberately lowered tone that still couldn't hide its inherent roughness—that was enough to give goosebumps to everyone in the know:
"Little Wildcat, where do you think you're running off to?"
The air in the entertainment room instantly dropped to absolute zero, more thoroughly frozen than Kevin's ice.
A dead silence.
Following that—
"Pfft—! Hahahahahahaha!!!"
Vill-V erupted in laughter ten times more exaggerated than before, practically rolling on the floor and clapping her hands forcefully. "Genius! The person who made this is absolutely a Genius! 'Little Wildcat'! Kalpas called Kosma 'Little Wildcat'! Hahaha! I Can't breathe! Help me!"
Pardo had completely retreated into the corner, desperately covering her head with a cushion and whimpering in despair: "It's over, it's over... I didn't see anything... I don't know anything..."
Elysia's expression had changed from shock to one of being unable to laugh or cry. She looked at the extremely discordant scene on the screen, then at Vill-V, who was laughing until she was breathless, momentarily unsure how to comment.
Su silently... closed his eyes again, as if this could block out the mentally polluting information, mumbling softly (perhaps reciting rites for his recently destroyed cognition).
However, the climax of this farce arrived, accompanied by the entrance of the true protagonist!
"What... are you all... gathered here... watching?!"
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