NOVEL NEXT Chapter 229
There was a sense of unease that everything I gained from the Status Window would vanish once it disappeared.
But what’s happening?
Whisper-
My body feels light.
My hands… and my legs stretch gracefully and smoothly.
-I’m your star
-Even if I disappear in front of you, I will forever remain a star
My voice is refreshing.
Even without putting much effort into my vocal cords, my voice effortlessly soars.
And above all…
‘…It’s beautiful.’
…The world looks so bright.
What could this mean?
The faces of the fans looking at me… their gestures, voices, and small smiles…
Sparkle like a galaxy embroidered in the sky.
‘Ah.’
Suddenly, my heart swells with emotion.
Was the world always this beautiful?
The more I watch, the more my eyes fill with ecstasy.
But it’s strange.
“Waaaah-!!”
Not just me… even the eyes of our fans watching the stage begin to fill with ecstasy.
Grin.
Even the eyes of the members performing with me start to fill with something.
I could immediately tell what it was.
‘Sky Demon Martial Arts 1st Skill: Sky Demon Enchantment.’
But I’m not using any skill right now?
Can I even describe my current state as enchanting?
Me, the members, and the fans…
We’re not being enchanted by a skill…
We genuinely connect and enjoy each other’s presence.
In this joy, my movements become more nimble.
Is it just me?
Whoosh-
It feels like an indescribable, mystical cloud is wrapping around me.
I realized what this was too.
‘Sky Demon Skill 2nd Skill: Sky Demon Moon Shadow Step.’
Even without using it, it automatically manifested, allowing me to dominate the stage.
That’s when I understood.
Sky Demon Enchantment, Sky Demon Moon Shadow Step.
These are no longer just my skills… they’ve become a part of me.
And this is not just mine.
Whisper-, Whoosh-!
Yoo Seol, Lee Hye-jeong, Na Han-na, Park Yoo-jung, Seo Yoo-jin.
The blood, sweat, and deep connection we’ve all shared…
-We will forever remain in your heart
-We are eternal stars!
“Waaaah-!”
“Kyah-!”
We moved on stage more joyfully than anyone…
More beautifully than anyone.
‘I’m happy, I’m delighted.’
When I focus on the stage, there are moments when I can communicate with the members without saying a word.
‘It’s insane.’
‘Our rhythm is perfect today.’
‘You all look so amazing!’
It’s the same even now.
Without making a sound…
We match our movements and fill our parts.
As our hearts connect, the members’ thoughts reach me.
But today, that’s not all.
‘You guys are the best, Rookies!’
‘I love Ha Ye-rin.’
‘Always fighting!’
‘How are you all so good?’
‘I’ll love you forever.’
“……!”
Not only from the members…, but even the hearts of our fans cheering us on reach me…
I hear their voices.
Their voices that cheer and love us.
That overflowing affection fills my body, heart, and soul.
And I…
-Remember we are rookies
-A star that won’t disappear even if I fade away
I return that overflowing affection to the fans.
At this moment, we are giving and receiving love to each other abundantly…
We are happier than anyone.
‘Ahh….’
Being the best idol is a very subjective expression.
Ranking, records, performances, etc.
Everyone’s perception of the best varies.
But here’s how I see it.
To genuinely connect with fans.
To be showered with overflowing love and reciprocate that love.
To create unforgettable memories together.
To spread bright light into this world.
Isn’t that the true essence of being the best idol?
At this moment, making fans the happiest…
In this moment, the happiest I and the members are.
Aren’t we the best idols, no matter what anyone says?
It was at that moment.
Ding.
Rustle-
The Status Window, which had been twisting and fading away, flickered like a final spark before appearing right in front of me.
[Quest Complete: Become the Best Idol.]
[Rewards will be provided later.]
And just like that, the Status Window seemed to really signal the end…
[Thank you for your hard work.]
Boom.
With the last phrase, it vanished completely.
‘Status Window.’
No matter how much I called inside, it no longer appeared.
The Status Window that had always been with me since I was born as Ha Ye-rin had disappeared.
It felt like parting with an old friend, bringing about a sense of loss while I also…
“Waaaah-!”
“Rookies-!!!!”
This stage too had come to an end.
Gasp, Gasp…
“……”
As the stage finished, the members, wrapped in the deep cheers of the fans, stood frozen like statues.
The commonality was the satisfied smiles on all their faces.
Only…
“…Unni! Are you crying?”
“Ye-rin!”
“Ah…”
I was the only one shedding a single tear.
Seeing the flustered members approach, I flashed a genuinely happy smile and told them.
“We will give our best until the very last stage.”
“……!”
The Status Window is gone, but the concert isn’t over yet.
And…
Whoosh-.
The world is still beautiful, and I’m happy.
I wanted to finish the concert to the best of my abilities without ruining this feeling.
Perhaps sensing my feelings, the members nodded and smiled.
“Yeah…!”
“Of course.”
Now, all that remains are Rookies’ second album “Graduation” tracks and the title track “Eternal Rookies.”
Without a break, we began our final stage.
I’m happy, I’m delighted.
But that’s not the end.
My body feels light.
As if I’m performing on stage in a dream.
In “Meteor,” we appeared as if we awakened, and that energy continued through the next stages.
Even though these were tracks that weren’t capturing much attention…
“Waaaah-!”
“I love you-!!”
The fans cheered just by watching us, enjoying every moment.
After the last performance of the tracks from the second album “Graduation” ended…
“……”
“……”
…All that remains is Rookies’ final activity song and title track “Eternal Rookies.”
Thump.
I feel something welling up in my chest, but I somehow held back.
I couldn’t take away the joy of the concert from the fans with unnecessary tears.
This was something discussed beforehand among the members…
♪♬♬-!
We started the stage without even a moment to spare for any tears.
“Phew…”
Though we had to be careful due to the continuous performances… luckily, “Eternal Rookies” isn’t an intense song, so we had ample time to breathe.
Thud.
“Ye-rin, let’s all gather and sing together.”
“…Sure.”
Since it was the last, we skipped the dance and gathered as members….
Grabbed hands.
We tried to sing while holding hands.
But perhaps I couldn’t hold it in.
“…Huh.”
Our youngest, Seo Yoo-jin, who was in charge of the intro for “Eternal Rookies,” ended up crying and couldn’t sing her part.
♪♩♩-!
The accompaniment was already flowing, and in this bewilderment, we hurriedly comforted the sobbing Yoo-jin.
“Ugh…”
“Yoo-jin…”
While everyone was flustered, I was the first to collect myself.
‘It happened like this during the showcase too.’
Like that time, I quickly ran in to fill Yoo-jin’s vacant spot.
But there were others who stepped up before I could.
-Time to graduate
-Now, it’s time for us to part ways
“……!”
It was the fans.
As Yoo-jin cried, immediately, the concert hall was filled with the fans’ singing voices, freezing me in place.
The other members were the same, and ultimately, as members lost their parts one by one, the fans stepped in.
-But this isn’t the end
The calm yet massive voices of the fans surged like a pink wave that symbolizes Rookies.
-Just as every parting has a reunion
-Just as spring blooms again
“Haah…”
“Sniff…”
In the face of that overwhelming scene…
Like during the showcase, the members began to cry one by one.
…But I held back.
‘Don’t cry…, absolutely not.’
How happy of a moment this is…
I didn’t want to spoil this feeling with tears.
Hoping to finish the last concert happily, I struggled to hold back my tears…
-Rookies in your mind
…And sang with the fans.
As I sang, one by one, the other members began to join me, shedding tears.
-What matters is you
-What matters is the heart
Is it an illusion?
The cloud that enveloped me and the members earlier now feels as if it is covering the entire concert hall.
What a beautiful harmony this is.
15,000 people.
The notes, singing styles, and even voices of this massive crowd resonating together…
It sounded to me like the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard.
But everything has an end.
When the sun sets, night falls.
When winter comes, flowers wilt.
-Eternal Rookies
-As long as you do not forget me
-Rookies will remain in your heart forever
The final song of the concert, “Eternal Rookies,” came to a close.
“Ah…”
“……”
Even though the song ended, the cheers didn’t resound.
Everyone here—fans, staff, and members—was lost in reverie.
And in that moment of silence, the final VCR appeared on the screen.
[Hello, I am Ha Ye-rin from Brotherhood Planning.]
The extended version of the VCR that captured Rookies’ last journey, which was shown during the showcase.
The content of the VCR seemed to stamp that this was truly the end…
Sniff-
Hiccup-
Soon, cries erupted from the audience.
“Wahhh…!”
“Don’t go…!”
With that solemn atmosphere, the VCR ended…
One by one, we Rookies members took the mic to give our final comments to the fans.
This time, unlike before, there was no script.
We just had to say what we truly wanted to express to our fans.
“…Really…, sniff… so…, so thankful… sniff…”
Yoo-jin cried.
Through her tears… babbling…
She sincerely expressed her gratitude to the fans.
“…I met such wonderful people in Rookies.”
Park Yoo-jung started calmly but ended up crying.
Removing her mask, she bowed her head, looking like a lost child as she struggled to finish her statement.
“Thank you so much for loving us…”
Na Han-na was already a mess of tears.
Though she always looked half asleep with her eyes half-closed…
At the last moment, she shed tears like a faucet, her eyes wide open.
“I was happy to meet such wonderful people.”
To my surprise, Lee Hye-jeong didn’t cry much.
But her eyes, red like a ripe persimmon, and the few hot tears…
Conveyed all her feelings to the fans.
“Haah… really….”
Thud.
Yoo Seol seemed unable to keep her balance and collapsed on the floor, curling up and crying.
“Really…, sniff… I never imagined I would stand in such a place… sniff… Thanks to the fans, staff, and members…”
Even Na Ah Ah, who was always logical and composed, cried like a little girl in the final moment.
And now it was my turn.
Among the members, I was the only one not crying.
In fact, I felt like I would burst into tears as emotions swelled in my chest…
‘Try not to cry as much as possible.’
I desperately held back.
It wasn’t too hard.
I’ve never been good at expressing emotions, whether laughing or crying.
Originally, that’s how Ha Ye-rin was.
Someone who couldn’t express emotions… couldn’t laugh or cry.
At least nowadays, I can laugh better…
So, I decided to smile at the final moment.
‘I smiled when I won in Na Ah Ah, right?’
That time, I smiled happily as I delivered my final message.
It’s the same now.
Though I’m obviously sad about Rookies disbanding, I’m just as happy.
I’m happy that so many people are watching and loving me.
So I decided to end it with a smile…
I grabbed the mic.
But the moment I held it…
‘That name, which appeared like a comet and shook the entertainment world for a year—Rookies!’
‘The winner is… Ha Ye-rin from Brotherhood Planning!’
‘The title track of Rookies’ much-anticipated 1st album is [Secret Girl].’
‘Rookies is just a group that will fail soon anyway.’
‘I will protect Rookies.’
‘I want to stay in Rookies.’
‘I love you, Rookies.’
……
Ah…
Thud.
Ahh…
Drip-, Thud.
…I tried not to cry.
“Don’t cry-!”
“Ha Ye-rin-!!”
Hotter tears than ever before poured from my eyes.
Normally, people cry when they’re sad.
I thought the other members were crying because they were sad about Rookies disbanding.
Of course, I’m sad about Rookies disbanding too.
But the reason I’m crying right now isn’t out of sadness.
“……I learned so much during my time in Rookies.”
…That it’s possible to cry even from extreme happiness.
…That if it weren’t for Rookies, I would have never known this.
I realized that.
“……I’m leaving with wonderful people and precious memories.”
Rookies weren’t just a simple year-long project group for me.
It wasn’t just a line on my resume.
Rookies were the milestone and light that taught me the beauty of the world.
“I want to thank and love everyone who’s here.”
How could I not love?
All the members by my side, the staff supporting us from below, and all the fans who filled this place.
Everyone here is lovable.
“I look forward to the day we can meet and be happy again in another form.”
Bow.
I buried my tear-streaked face down as low as I could.
“Thank you for everything, this has been Rookies.”
The Rookies concert ended just like that.
The day after the first schedule of the Rookies concert.
The second day of the concert dawned.
Ha Ye-rin and the members conducted the concert even more cheerfully and brightly than the first day…
Yoo Chang-seon, a fan of Ha Ye-rin, broke into his savings account to get tickets, managing to participate in the concert on the second day as well.
At the very last moment of the concert, everyone’s faces were filled with joy rather than regret.
Thus, they ended the concert without any lingering feelings.
Rookies declared their complete disbandment.