Chapter 901: Hey, where is this? Yes. This is Newniverse. (1)

“Hoh.”

“As expected of our TF team.”

We admired the email reply from the TF team together with the younger members.

“This is good, you know? The title, WAVE.”

“It’s insane. Seriously.”

All we had done was send over a rough concept and a few simple ideas, and a full-fledged proposal had materialized in an instant.

It really made you think—people with high salaries earned them for a reason.

After going through the impressive plan, we set it aside for now.

“Biju, let’s talk about this again later.”

“Yes. Sounds good.”

It wasn’t something we needed to start working on immediately.

Strictly speaking, the song we were planning to sing together had only been worked on casually during a single day off.

Now it was time to get back to our main job.

“Hello! We’re NewBlack!”

“Hello!”

We greeted the staff passing by as we walked down the broadcasting station hallway.

Today was Thursday.

The day we would finally perform “White Night” on a music show for the first time.

“Oh—hello!”

“Hello!”

Every time we greeted someone, the K-net staff bowed hurriedly, looking flustered.

But something felt off.

“This is strange.”

Ri Hyuk whispered as he watched them stepping back nervously.

“The reaction is completely different from usual.”

“Yeah.”

We had risen high, sure—but we were still known as “national idols,” a friendly title.

Meaning the staff usually treated us warmly and casually.

So this was strange.

It hadn’t been like this last year.

“What is it?”

We tilted our heads as we walked to the waiting room.

Their gazes carried an odd mix of excessive politeness and unspoken fear.

“?”

“??”

The answer came soon enough.

Someone knocked.

“Come in~”

We thought it might be a schedule change.

But the person who entered wasn’t a staff member or PD.

“Haha! Hello there.”

“...?”

We stood up and greeted him.

“Hello, Director!”

K-net’s production director, Lee Hansu, smiled kindly.

“Yes, it’s been a while. I think I saw you recently, Wooju...”

We had met him at Lemon Entertainment’s new headquarters opening party.

And before that, when he was a judge on the hip-hop audition program Next Mission.

Back then, Wooju had subtly hinted something about a contestant named Bang Yochan.

Their manager, Mingi, asked on their behalf.

“What brings you here...?”

“Ah.”

The director chuckled.

“I heard NewBlack was here, so I came by to say hello!”

“...Just to say hello?”

It was the first time someone at director level had come just for that.

As they smiled politely, exchanging glances of “Why is he here?”—

Director Lee turned to Wooju.

“Wooju.”

“Yes?”

“I heard there was some discomfort because of our program last time. I even sent flowers wishing you a speedy recovery, but I wanted to talk in person...”

“Recovery?”

“I heard you had a high fever.”

Ah. Right. That was the story.

Wooju recalled the rumor Seokhwan had mentioned.

—Apparently people are saying you got so angry you got sick.

The rumor had evolved into an actual illness.

If people laid out a stage for you to be “sick,” wasn’t it only polite to act the part?

Wiping burger sauce from his lips, Wooju placed a hand on his forehead and gave a faint smile.

“It wasn’t anything serious.”

“I heard our staff were troubled because of that contestant. We’ll make sure nothing like that happens again.”

“It really wasn’t a big deal...”

“NewBlack and K-net are partners going forward, aren’t we? There’s no such thing as a small issue! Hahaha!”

They all laughed together.

‘He’s here because of ratings.’

‘Definitely ratings.’

It seemed he had come to make sure they wouldn’t suddenly refuse to appear on K-net programs.

“Is everything comfortable in your waiting room today?”

“Yes, yes.”

Jiho nodded repeatedly, still holding a half-eaten burger.

They wanted to finish breakfast—but the director kept talking.

‘He’s not leaving?!’

‘Seriously...’

They couldn’t just keep eating in front of him, so they sat there smiling awkwardly.

If it had been a PD, it wouldn’t be this uncomfortable.

But once it got to CP level and above, things changed.

Not because of hierarchy—but because they were much older.

And—

“Haha! That’s exactly right.”

“I completely agree, Director!”

When someone of that rank appeared, staff always followed like a school of fish behind a shark.

Which meant—

They were now stuck, under the attention of K-net’s top executives, staring at their abandoned burgers.

“...Um.”

Mingi stepped in, pretending to check the time.

“I think it’s almost time for our dry rehearsal. We should change outfits...”

“Ah! Of course.”

The director said they’d talk again and finally left.

As the others followed him out, Junghyun muttered while chewing.

“Phew. I was worried the burgers would get cold.”

“Same.”

Thankfully, they were still warm.

As Jiho picked vegetables out of his burger, Ri Hyuk poked Wooju.

“This is all your fault.”

“Why is it my fault?”

“That... incident.”

He knew what he meant.

The CP who had been removed after taking bribes.

Jiho flinched.

“Do you think people from PBS or TBC will come bother us too...?”

“......”

“......”

A bad feeling passed through them.

Wooju whispered defensively.

“I didn’t even do anything. I just... mentioned that there was such a contestant.”

He was innocent.

But the others didn’t seem convinced.

“......”

“......”

Just then—

Knock knock.

They looked toward the door, burgers still in hand.

The door opened slightly.

Their eyes met with a junior idol group.

“Hello—”

“Ah!”

The boy group members and their manager panicked.

“You’re eating! We’ll come back later!”

“Sorry!”

“It’s fine—”

Before they could finish, the manager pushed them away and fled.

“...That looked familiar.”

“Yeah.”

They realized at the same time.

That cautious, terrified attitude—

Like dealing with a notoriously temperamental celebrity.

“Why...?”

Even juniors had always been fairly comfortable around them.

But something had changed.

The younger members slowly turned to Wooju.

He shook his head.

“No.”

“....”

“No. This is definitely not because of me.”

Meanwhile, the rookie group Enix had run away.

“Hyung, why did we run?”

“Why are we running?”

“Well...”

Their manager lowered his voice.

“I wasn’t sure at first, but... you know that burned-up scandal guy? The national traitor?”

“Bang Yochan?”

“I don’t know the details, but the program’s CP got replaced right after.”

No further explanation was needed.

They imagined it.

Wooju fanning himself like a noblewoman—

And K-net executives bowing before him.

Gulp.

The members swallowed.

“Anyway... better be careful.”

“Yes...”

In an industry where rumors spread faster than the wind—

The story had evolved into:

“Sun Wooju got the CP fired.”

Normally, people would laugh it off.

But this was NewBlack.

—An idol got selected as a national Olympic representative!

—No way.

—Apparently Wooju said, “Wait, that actually worked?”

—...Wait, really?

With NewBlack, everything somehow felt plausible.

“Wow...”

Just then—

“Oh, hello!”

A staff member in a hoodie passed by.

They greeted him politely.

“...What?”

One member frowned.

“Something seemed sad about him.”

“Huh?”

“His walk looked... sad.”

They didn’t know.

That somewhere nearby—

“Ugh...”

The sound of someone undoing a disguise echoed quietly.

Someone silently screaming:

“My friendly image...!”

At K-net’s Sangam headquarters—

Souffle fans lined up, patting their full stomachs.

“...I keep thinking something.”

“What?”

“Being a fan is getting ridiculously easy.”

“!”

Everyone agreed.

“True.”

“Seriously...”

Better recording times.

Kinder staff.

Constant gifts of food and merchandise.

It was practically luxury fandom life.

‘That mozzarella corn dog was amazing...’

They tried to hide how satisfied they were.

‘Act tired.’

‘We’re struggling too...’

Other fandoms looked exhausted.

Souffle fans... glowed.

“Wow, they look so well-fed.”

“They’re always eating something.”

But despite the envy, the mood toward them was positive.

Because of recent events—

—Good job taking down chart manipulation!

“Please enter!”

Inside the studio, fans checked their light sticks.

They cheered for other artists while waiting.

Then—

[They’ve returned as sexy villains!]

[Cause you’re a villain~♪ No need to fear anything~♬ It’s NewBlack’s “White Night”!]

Cheers exploded.

‘It’s starting!’

The stage began.

Electric guitar roared.

Bodies moved smoothly.

The performance began with Biju.

Fans shouted the chant.

‘This feeling is so good.’

NewBlack always felt like a dream team.

Top-tier idols gathered together.

“Wow...”

“They’re insane today.”

Even other fandoms were impressed.

Free-spirited fashion.

Glittering makeup.

Villain-like stage presence.

And—

‘They’re in their fifth year now, right?’

Jiho tore off his choker and hit the high notes.

Wooju moved like firing a gun.

The choreography wasn’t overly dense.

But—

There was something special.

Rookie intensity mixed with veteran ease.

‘This is amazing...’

After the performance—

[This week’s winner is...!]

[Congratulations! NewBlack’s “White Night”!]

Of course, they won.

Encore live began.

“Wow...”

“This is incredible...”

Their live performance was heaven.

Clear vocals.

Breathing.

Raw energy like a rock festival.

Even difficult rap parts were performed live.

Other fans stayed to watch.

—This is who we are.

NewBlack smiled confidently.

Souffle fans beamed.

‘So good.’

They proved themselves every time.

Second week of comeback.

First week of music shows.

[???: We’re here to collect]

(Photo of Wooju reaching out)

Hand over the trophy.

—Y-yes sir

—LOL

—Their stages are insane this time

—Encore is heavenly

—Legend: I’m legally changing my name to NewBlack

They swept trophies effortlessly.

And—

“Ahhh...”

“So many...”

Applications to attend skyrocketed.

—When will we ever see NewBlack live again?!

Even other fandoms applied just to watch.

Vocals. Dance. Rap.

NewBlack had become a league of their own.

—Why can’t I get selectedㅠㅠㅠ

—Please let me inㅠㅠㅠ

—Lottery tickets, seriously

Fans who got in smiled proudly.

‘I saw it.’

But then—

A special group appeared.

[Congratulations!]

You have been selected as guests for the New Universe Driver’s License special shoot!

Even concert attendees were jealous.

Though—

‘They won’t make us do anything weird, right?’

‘We’re fans... it should be fine.’

‘My nickname is LabSlave... they won’t say that out loud, right?’

Whether it would be a blessing or a curse—

No one knew yet.