Chapter 72: The Audition, the Editing, and the Aura

The evil spirit, which the Demon God conveniently named ‘Audition,’ began its contest song.

– Stop everything from now on. Everyone freeze

You must not leave this stage. Don’t be nervous looking at me before you

For I am freer on stage

Audition brought out a song by a certain famous idol.

A stage focused on vocals with only light movements. It proceeded with the song, paying attention to high-note vocalization—

The Demon God, listening quietly, was seized by a shudder.

Just like when he encountered the outstanding masterpieces of the three spirits in the abandoned practice room in Hongdae,

No, it was a shock beyond that.

“Does he not sing too poorly—”

It was at a level where it was miserable to listen with open ears.

Not just the high notes, but every register was problematic.

The vocalization was unstable, and the rhythm was wild.

The Demon God looked back at the audience.

Even the petty spirits who had been cheering until a moment ago had shut their mouths.

– Ah, just a moment.

And, as if reading the atmosphere, Audition raised one hand after finishing the song.

As expected, silence reigned everywhere.

“Evil spirit, until just now, I was calling you ‘Audition’ in my heart. I considered ‘Participant,’ but that was uncertain.”

– Is that so? I am indeed a former audition participant.

“It matters not. From now on, I shall call you ‘Eliminated-at-Light-Speed.’”

– Whaaat!

It seemed to have properly struck a nerve.

The dark red energy forming the shape of Eliminated-at-Light-Speed wavered.

– Eliminated at light speed? My elimination was all because of manipulation!

The Demon God scoffed.

“So? What is your status of passing now?”

Manipulation, my foot.

It was absolutely not a passing level.

Common sensically or Demon God-ically, this was definitely an elimination.

However.

– I, I’ll just go one more time!

“?”

Absurd words came out of Eliminated-at-Light-Speed’s mouth.

“What? Even with my limited knowledge, I have seen things on YouTube. Since when can a participant go again just because they want to?”

Looking up idol videos, one often encounters audition videos as well.

It wasn’t something you could do again just because you wanted to.

– No? Here, it’s possible.

Eliminated-at-Light-Speed’s opinion seemed different.

And there was a basis for it.

– Because, I am a participant and at the same time the organizer.

“Oh.”

The Demon God nodded.

It wasn’t a wrong statement.

Since the organizer was indeed the evil spirit.

But if he is both organizer and participant, that means—

“Eliminated-at-Light-Speed. Are you perhaps designating yourself as the ‘pre-selected winner’?”

– Kuhahaha! Of course! I won’t forget the grudge of being pushed out by those pre-selected bastards!

It seems human audition programs also have various circumstances.

“No… With your singing skills, pre-selected or not, elimination at light speed is correct…”

The Demon God shook his head.

Regardless of whether there were pre-selected winners in the actual audition Eliminated-at-Light-Speed participated in, it was absolutely impossible with those singing skills.

– This time, it won’t be elimination at light speed. Lofty being soon to be devoured by me, feel it. My Authority.

The Demon God did not let his guard down even though Eliminated-at-Light-Speed’s singing skills were a mess.

Since it was an evil spirit stronger than ‘Miser,’ he guessed there would be a second Authority.

‘He knows I’m a lofty being.’

Rather, with a sense of indignation, he awaited Eliminated-at-Light-Speed’s Authority.

– My Authority, [Correction]. Resurrect my song.

The moment Eliminated-at-Light-Speed declared the Authority, a room appeared above the left side of the stage.

A nameplate reading ‘Sound Adjustment Room’ was attached there….

– Listen. Again.

And Eliminated-at-Light-Speed’s song began for the second time.

– Stop everything from now on. Everyone freeze

You must not leave this stage. Don’t be nervous looking at me before you

For I am freer on stage

The light movements hadn’t changed.

However, the vocals had definitely changed.

Based on stable pitch and rhythm, it perfectly handled even the high-note range, and even emotional expression that wasn’t there before came alive richly.

“What kind of correction goes this far.”

The Demon God was dumbfounded, but

Anyway, within this space, it was the best Authority.

It wasn’t just adjusting the pitch a little; it was practically applying hair, makeup, and costume to the song!

‘Is it akin to this body majestically managing sleep and appetite as a Great Commander?’

To have to fight that song.

The Demon God calculated his chances of winning inwardly.

“!”

Eliminated-at-Light-Speed’s evil energy fluctuated again.

A third Authority was activating.

‘There’s even a third? He is indeed a formidable fellow.’

Since he calls himself an audition participant, he isn’t an ancient evil spirit.

He was the strongest evil spirit encountered in the human world.

He couldn’t hear the name of this Authority because Eliminated-at-Light-Speed was singing.

But a room appeared on the upper right of the stage, and a nameplate was attached there.

A nameplate reading Video Editing Room.

The evil spirit’s third Authority, [Editing], activated.

A moment later.

“This is?”

Instantly, a certain memory video flowed in—.

[Fade In]

An audition participant bowing his head sorrowfully.

Eliminated-at-Light-Speed in life.

Participant number 18.

It happened occasionally.

Cases where someone had excellent capabilities but didn’t stand out in the audition and was eliminated.

Some later lead their own groups and shine, but many are buried and disappear as is.

Eliminated-at-Light-Speed in the video was such a participant.

Eliminated-at-Light-Speed shedding tears from behind while looking at the pre-selected winner.

Eliminated-at-Light-Speed suffering because his screen time was edited out even in a good performance.

Thus, elimination came.

Eliminated-at-Light-Speed collapsing from exhaustion in front of a ruined performance hall while going down to his hometown lonely.

‘If only I had been given a fair chance…’

[Fade Out]

The video ended with a sorrowful line.

The petty spirits, entranced by the advantageously manipulated and edited memory, screamed.

– Not knowing that, I…

– We! Let’s give him our votes!

– 18, 18, win!

The Demon God frowned at the sight.

Weren’t those guys just making sounds like kiiii, kueeee until a moment ago? How moved are they?

Even at the sad story, the Demon God’s heart didn’t waver an inch.

Because he saw through that this was [Edited], that is, a manipulated memory.

Isn’t the editing too shoddy to dare deceive this body?

Looking closely, one could tell.

The memory video was stitched together clumsily.

For example, if you look closely at the background of the scenes proceeding in chronological order, the time indicated by the clock differs.

This was a phenomenon caused by forcibly stitching together independent scenes.

And the participant pointed out as the pre-selected winner was practicing hard in the background of every scene in the video.

The one actually sitting was Eliminated-at-Light-Speed in life, number 18.

‘Such editing level. The level of fan-tubes is much higher.’

The Demon God clicked his tongue.

However, there seemed to be a reason for making such a video.

‘Did the petty spirits say they would give votes earlier?’

Sure enough.

When Eliminated-at-Light-Speed finished the song.

Dadadada—

Structures with switches rose in front of the petty spirits.

Silver cylinders with red switches on top, often seen in variety shows.

‘Votes’ referred to that.

[Place your hands in front]

An announcement flowed from the Authority [Audition].

[Thank you for the audience’s careful consideration.]

[Please press.]

Click, clack, click.

They press the switches noisily from all over.

And the tallying didn’t take long.

[Out of a total of 100 audience members]

It means there are a hundred petty spirits gathered here.

[Acquired a total of 99 votes! Number 18, rises to 1st place in one go!]

99 votes.

99 out of 100 votes means everyone pressed except for one spacing-out petty spirit.

– Phew—

Eliminated-at-Light-Speed let out a long sigh.

It was a sigh filled with the fatigue of giving his all.

“Having sung with correction? Is that sigh not shameless?”

Eliminated-at-Light-Speed flinched for a moment, but soon regained his momentum.

– This is also skill!

“Ugh. Truly lackluster.”

The Demon God frowned.

With bottom-tier skills, a persecution complex about pre-selected winners, yet using every despicable trick available himself.

– …….

However, under the structure of an audition, [Correction] and [Editing] were indeed powerful Authorities.

Eliminated-at-Light-Speed possessed those two.

– What will you do? How about dropping out even now?

That’s why he’s smirking and saying such things.

“Shh.”

– ?

“Shut up for a moment.”

– !

The Demon God closed his eyes and sank deep within.

Current Authorities possessed: [Aura], [Familiar], [Spiritual Feast], [Deep Sleep Inducement], [Appetite Control].

The only Authority usable on stage was [Aura].

Of course, the rank of his aura had risen significantly as he had broken chains in the meantime.

But would that alone be enough?

“It is my turn.”

It is enough.

Because the Demon God has another secret weapon.

The Demon God slowly ascended upwards.

Loosening his throat with ‘Wor, wor, worship.’

Eliminated-at-Light-Speed glared at the Demon God and retreated to the side of the stage, but he paid it no mind.

The same went for the Sound Adjustment Room and Editing Room that hadn’t disappeared yet.

They could help Eliminated-at-Light-Speed, but they weren’t at a level to invade the Demon God’s song.

The Demon God completely immersed himself in the song.

“Come to think of it, this is the first time singing the full song alone.”

Experiencing something new.

The Demon God recalled the members not present here and substituted himself into each part of the song.

It is possible.

Even though he had never sung the full song alone, they had always breathed together on stage.

“Idolatrize.”

At the Demon God’s incantation, a faint synth sound flowed onto the stage.

And, the Demon God unleashed all his aura.

The aura of a lofty being.

Darkness deeper than the deep night bloomed, overflowing onto the stage, and soon reached the audience seats, enveloping the petty spirits.

The demonic nature emitted by that aura presented intense fear and endless ominousness, enough to make one unable to withstand their own existence.

– G-guuu— Guaaa—

– Scary, want to run away…

– Stop. Please stop. I was wrong…

Amidst the petty spirits exposed to the aura being driven to the brink of existential dissolution.

“I can feel you, the one and only.”

The Demon God’s song began.

“When I saw you in the lightless sky, I became a comet and headed towards you.”

Passing through the section where Tae-young reliably takes over the demonic voice, and Yoon-seo reduces its weight.

“Finally burning myself into deeper darkness, I went to you.”

Passing through the section where Ha-gyeom enriches emotions with his outstanding vocal skills.

“Decided the path while burning. Leaving no fear behind.”

Developing the song past even Ji-ho’s rap section, which penetrates coolly and sharply.

In all those sections, the voice full of demonic nature was digesting the song with his own feeling.

Overlapping himself and the members in the Demon God’s mind, the song continued without flaws.

No, it was magnificent.

The Demon God’s ominous voice was singing the entire song of worship.

– …….

All petty spirits fell into silence.

It was a completely different silence from when Eliminated-at-Light-Speed sang messily at first.

It was a natural concentration before a masterpiece,

Submission naturally offered before a demonic aura,

Absorption sinking into a voice imbued with aura,

Above all, it was the reaction of an audience shocked by the stage of an active idol who had continued performing until now.

Not vocals forcibly created by plastering with correction, but true vocals trained through stages and practice.

Not a story squeezed out by cutting and pasting with editing, but an aura flowing from existence itself.

“Idolatrize you”

The Demon God’s secret weapon.

Vocals and experience honed through stages, lessons, and practice.

“Despite appearances, I am an active idol, you see.”

Hmph, the Demon God laughed softly.

He trusted the time spent as Pantheon and entered the contest, so how would it be.

Voting began.