Chapter 908: Hey, where is this? Yes. This is Newniverse. (8)

“Hoooo....”

“Whaaa....”

Souffle’s eyes sparkled like stars.

Their gazes were dazed, as if they had just experienced something transcendent.

I checked the rearview mirror and asked,

“It was good, right?”

“Yes....”

“That was seriously the best spicy braised chicken I’ve ever had.”

Lunch had been dakdoritang, eaten together with Biju’s team.

Cooked in a huge iron pot over a roaring flame, the place was famous—and the fans’ reactions proved it.

“The meat was so tender... I usually don’t like the skin, but even that was delicious.”

“The broth was sweet and spicy....”

“That was a life-changing dish.”

I smiled at the blissful Souffle.

Then—

Tap.

A raindrop hit the windshield.

“Huh...?”

At first it was just one drop, then more began to fall.

And then—

Patter—!

Rain poured down suddenly.

The warm sunlight vanished, replaced by a chill inside the car.

“Wait, the rain....”

I turned on the wipers and asked,

“Could someone check the weather forecast?”

“Yes.”

“It definitely said no rain today....”

I glanced at the side mirror—Biju’s car and the staff vehicles were still behind us.

Meanwhile, the fan beside me checked her phone.

“There’s no rain in the forecast.”

“Right?”

A call came from the staff immediately.

They told us to head straight to the filming location.

And sure enough—

“...It’s chaos.”

At the campsite set, staff hurriedly covered equipment with tarps and raised tents.

I handed umbrellas to the fans.

“Take one each for now.”

“Yes.”

“You can keep them. Ri Hyuk prepared them as gifts.”

“Wow, these are rare....”

They were traditional-pattern umbrellas from a collaboration with the National Museum back when we released Goblin.

As Souffle happily opened their colorful umbrellas, I got out of the car and ran to Producer Gu Jaeyoung.

“PD!”

“Oh, Wooju.”

Under a temporary tent, about twenty fans were gathered.

“Hello!”

“Hello...!”

After greeting them, I stepped aside with the PD.

The others joined one by one.

Jiho looked around.

“This feels like a strategy meeting. I’ll go lift the mood with the fans.”

“Okay.”

He gestured to Junghyun.

“Hyung, come with me.”

“I’ve been waiting.”

The two of them ran off cheerfully.

Meanwhile, Co-Director Oh Taejun was busy coordinating staff.

Biju stared at the rainy sky.

“It was so clear earlier... and now this?”

Ri Hyuk looked just as stunned.

“I even checked the weather this morning. I follow the meteorology channel on MyTube....”

Everyone was caught off guard.

Especially—

“Junghyun even did a rain ritual yesterday... how could this happen....”

As I said that—

Biju sighed.

“Hyung... he forgot. He got too focused on driving practice.”

“Ah.”

I nodded, watching Junghyun scratching the back of his head sheepishly in front of the fans.

“That happens.”

At least he drove them safely.

Then the PDs and writers joined us.

Ri Hyuk asked,

“Can we still film?”

“We probably can... but....”

Oh Taejun adjusted his cap.

“If it stops soon, maybe. But it doesn’t look like it will.”

We had planned mostly outdoor content.

But—

“I think we should find an indoor location.”

I suggested.

“If the rain continues, the temperature will drop. Staff and fans could get sick.”

“That’s true.”

Filming in the forest like this wasn’t realistic.

Now we needed alternatives.

“Map.”

“Here.”

Ri Hyuk unfolded a local map.

The staff spoke up.

“We prepared backup locations.”

They marked several spots.

“Places that can hold around twenty fans plus staff.”

“School gym or village hall.”

“Village hall would be better.”

Schools were in session.

A sudden disruption wouldn’t be appropriate.

“Let’s try contacting them.”

Calls were made.

Then—

“...?”

“...??”

Everyone returned with strange expressions.

“We contacted five village halls....”

“And?”

“They all told us to come.”

“...What?”

“At first they complained—said we couldn’t just show up. Then we mentioned NewBlack... and they immediately agreed.”

“....”

“....”

The staff looked stunned.

“This never happens....”

“Usually we get rejected ten times before one yes....”

Biju smiled.

“Probably because of that countryside show we did.”

“Ah! That’s it!”

That experience had paid off.

“Alright.”

The PD clapped.

“Let’s decide.”

We chose the best location.

Then I suggested,

“We should do something extra. Maybe a performance for the villagers.”

“Good idea.”

Plans formed quickly.

We also personally called the other village heads to thank them.

Then I returned to the fans.

“Everyone! Quick announcement!”

We explained the location change.

They understood.

“Let’s move!”

Staff packed up.

I wiped sweat from my forehead.

“Whew.”

The PD handed me a handkerchief.

“Overwhelming, right?”

“Completely.”

As a guest, I would’ve just watched.

But now we were involved directly.

“Still—not bad.”

“What?”

“Unexpected situations like this... they make things more interesting.”

He smiled, picking up a camera.

“...Since when were you filming?”

He grinned.

“I’ve got a good feeling about this.”

A true variety producer.

At the village hall—

“It’s huge.”

“Seriously big.”

Souffle blinked.

This wasn’t what they imagined.

The building was massive.

They watched Wooju chatting cutely with the village head.

They whispered.

“...He was kind of cool.”

“Agreed.”

Not just on stage.

They remembered Junghyun’s words.

“Capture it on broadcast.”

They smiled.

Inside—

“Please come upstairs!”

They removed their shoes and went up.

“Wow.”

The floor was warm.

Everyone sat together.

Silence.

“....”

“....”

Then laughter.

Wooju cleared his throat.

“Unexpected, right?”

“Yes!”

“We prepared a lot... but things changed.”

Jiho asked,

“Where’s the banner?”

“It was too big....”

So—

They wrote letters on A4 paper.

“Here’s your banner.”

[♥ Welcome Souffle ♥]

A messy banner.

Everyone laughed and cheered loudly.

“Woooo!”

“Looks great!”

The members hid their faces shyly.

Wooju said,

“We really wanted to treat you well....”

“It’s okay!”

“This is better!”

And it was.

Sitting this close—

It felt unreal.

“Still—we’ll do everything we planned.”

“Woooo!”

They stood.

Biju looked around.

Junghyun explained,

“We’ll perform Midnight Sun.”

“Gasp!”

“But our choreography uses a lot of space....”

They adjusted quickly.

Experienced performers.

Then—

The PD said,

“You are now watching a world-class group perform... in a village hall.”

Laughter.

The music started.

No lights.

Just speakers.

But—

It felt incredible.

So close.

Fans screamed.

“Woooooah!”

A humble stage—

But the performers were:

– Grammy-nominated

– National idols

– Multi-award winners

It was surreal.

Souffle waved their lightsticks.

“Woooo!”

An unforgettable opening.

At the same time—

Dogs barked loudly.

Villagers stepped outside.

“What’s going on?”

Then—

They saw it.

The village hall—

Glowing like a lighthouse.

“Good heavens... what is that...?”

A brilliant light.

The second floor shone brightly in the rain.