“Hoh.”
Watching the boy purify a lingering spirit, The Star Hated by All smiled.
“Surprised that crown’s still intact.”
The Crown of Abrilah gleamed atop the boy’s head.
It was channeling magic into the boy’s body, guiding him to use spells that purified the lingering spirits.
The Crown of Abrilah was an artifact-class relic forged in another dimension.
Its powers ranged from summoning beings from other realms, banishing targets to another world, or even calling down meteors from alien skies.
To use something like that for spirit purification—how unexpected.
“Rest in peace,” the boy prayed with clasped hands toward the spot where the spirit had vanished.
“You’re quite capable,” The Star Hated by All remarked, watching the boy.
“With that much power, you don’t really need to purify them one by one, do you?”
“Huh?”
The boy looked startled.
“Wait… is that how it works?”
Scratching the back of his head in confusion, the boy looked flustered.
The Star Hated by All chuckled.
“Well, of course… Even with that crown, he’s still just a fledgling.”
Reincarnations don’t retain memories of past lives.
Their powers rarely carry over, either.
But this boy was different.
In his past life, he was Abrilah—the prince of another world.
If one’s former self had been powerful, it wasn’t uncommon for those memories to awaken after reincarnation.
The boy likely realized who he was the moment he touched a Fragment of the Star.
The Star Hated by All was convinced of it.
After all, The Star Hated by All could see it—
A boy with blond hair, peeking out from behind the boy, warily glaring at him.
That is—
The boy’s constellation, The Traveler from Asteroid B-612.
“By the way, what’s your name?” the man asked.
The boy answered with a bright smile.
“Jeong Noeul!”
“I remember now. He was once a creation of mine. A comrade.”
He’d heard the name from a Bluetooth earbud case.
Practicing during the day, sneaking out at night to guide spirits to rest—was that what he’d been doing?
“Alright then, Jeong Noeul. If you’d like, I can teach you a few techniques,” said The Star Hated by All.
“Techniques…?”
“I am a shaman, you see. One who communicates with the unseen. That takes a few tricks. For example…”
The Star Hated by All closed his eyes and murmured.
“O spirits, leave behind not even a gaze.”
Sss―
As he whispered, a sharp wind swept past.
There was no need for the power of kotodama (spirit-words), but he chanted anyway as a demonstration.
Moments later, lingering spirits began to drift toward The Star Hated by All.
Groook—
Grrruuuuh—
They groaned, writhing in their resentment.
“Aah…”
Jeong Noeul shrank back, overwhelmed with guilt as he watched the spirits.
“What are you hesitating for? I’ve gathered all the lingering spirits in this area. You need to guide them to rest, don’t you?”
The Star Hated by All instructed.
“Close your eyes and focus. Open your heart.”
“Open… my heart…?”
“Magic is governed by the heart. Only those with righteous hearts can use holy magic.
To open your heart means creating a passage for magic to let them in.
Think of how you’ve done this so far.
As you purified spirits, you accepted their memories from when they were alive, didn’t you?
This time, you’ll do it with many at once.”
Then, The Star Hated by All narrowed his eyes.
“But be warned—your mind might not withstand it. Are you prepared for that?”
“…I see.”
Jeong Noeul looked up at the floating spirits and muttered.
“No need to worry, kind shaman!”
He shouted confidently, then closed his eyes.
The Crown of Abrilah glowed.
Drawn by the light, the spirits gathered around Jeong Noeul.
Smiling, Jeong Noeul looked at The Star Hated by All and murmured,
“My heart… exists to soothe all these souls.”
Paaaah!
The spirits surged into Jeong Noeul’s body.
He stood motionless with his eyes closed.
The glow from Abrilah’s crown flared even brighter.
The Star Hated by All watched him proudly.
<Hello, mister. Long time no see.>
Beside him, The Traveler from Asteroid B-612 appeared.
<…Well, you do look kind of cool now.>
“That’s obvious. But still, I’m surprised you showed up. Isn’t that a restricted ability for you?”
<It is. But I’m a special case. The Savior Who Is One and All appointed me to watch over Noeul. So I’m granted a bit more authority than other constellations.
Heard you’d show up on CYB. Didn’t think we’d meet here. Will you draw me a sheep?>
“I don’t know how to draw such fluffy, pale animals. But more than that—I didn’t expect you to be here.”
The Star Hated by All smiled with his arms crossed.
“I never imagined Abrilah would reincarnate as a human… much less that you would be with him.”
<Is that so strange?>
“Of course it is. You’re the one who killed him—the prince of another world.”
<Yeah. Abrilah was killed by me… and my previous contractor.
But I’m also the one who asked The Savior Who Is One and All to let him reincarnate.>
The Traveler from Asteroid B-612 watched Jeong Noeul writhe in pain as he took in the spirits’ memories.
Then he smiled.
<So that life… I’m responsible for it now.>
This season’s CYB male idol division 3rd preliminary round—The Entrance Exam—was receiving far more attention than last season.
The reason: it was being held in Jeju Island.
Ever since the final Gate closed, the political world had been fiercely debating the cost of purifying contaminated zones.
Jeju had suffered the worst monster-related devastation in the country.
The budget for purification was no joke, and disputes over allocation were ongoing.
In such times, a commemorative concert in Jeju?
It was a strategic move sure to spark discussion—not just in the entertainment industry, but across society.
Online communities buzzed not only with posts about CYB and its contestants, but also with socially charged discourse.
News article comment sections were ablaze.
Before the concert, Chae-ya was in the waiting room, resting after finishing makeup.
She was browsing through comments on a viral article.
The comment demographics showed a rare spectacle—no gender or age group dominating, all fiercely arguing.
“We should cut the Jeju purification budget. The whole ‘magi corrupts humans’ thing is just government brainwashing. All those taxes are going into the president’s pocket. Look at the lack of progress.”
‘Feels like mold is growing on every word they type…’
She continued reading.
“Old men drunk-commenting like they’re pissing on someone’s fence lolol”
“And you? Ever cared about the taxes your parents pay?”
“Ugh now I smell pee;;”
“I support CYB. These Entrance Exams always invited locals. Holding it in Jeju is meaningful.”
“22222”
“It’s all a conspiracy.”
“Stop with the stench!!”
“I’ve rebooted Neobus like fifty times just to see Han Iro…”
“I’m gonna watch the live broadcast!! I’ll murder my oppa and take the remote ^~^”
“Expose the government’s corruption in the Jeju purification efforts!”
“You’re overdoing it.”
“But Aiden being the general mentor this season is unexpected. I thought he was done with showbiz…”
“It’s a circus…”
Chae-ya sighed bitterly.
Clack.
The waiting room door opened, and in came Aiden, freshly finished with his makeup.
Chae-ya jumped up.
“Hello, sir!” she said with a deep 90-degree bow.
Aiden waved his hand dismissively.
“Relax, relax. Don’t be so stiff.”
‘Says the guy who’s the biggest stickler of them all.’
Once, Chae-ya admired Aiden.
Understandable—he had been a member of the famous Codess.
As the eldest, he helped raise the group to become Korea’s top boy band.
Though he never had the spotlight like Rowen, he played a pivotal role.
But what Chae-ya saw firsthand was a man who wore a casual veteran’s mask, yet coldly calculated gain and loss.
A petty man who couldn’t stand others’ mistakes—
Someone who’d remember even a single slip-up from a junior and quietly ruin their career over time.
Aiden’s return as CYB’s general mentor was part of his strategy to launch a new agency.
That much was fine—just business.
But the dark rumors… were endless.
“You’re doing CYB vocal training this season? Seriously, stay away if you can…”
“You don’t take crap from higher-ups, right? Then watch out for Aiden.”
“…That guy’s seriously creepy.”
Those were the warnings Chae-ya heard from seniors.
‘I didn’t want to deal with this…’
She bit her lip, remembering the agency director who forced her into the CYB panel.
“They say it’s noisy because we’re doing this concert in Jeju… You know?” Aiden asked, checking his makeup.
“Yes, lots of chatter lately,” she replied.
“People are weird.
We’re just trying to do some good—why the fuss?
Maybe I’ve been in showbiz too long, but I can’t understand ordinary folks.”
“I think the political conspiracy theories are a bit much too,” she answered, though Aiden’s elitism and mockery rubbed her the wrong way.
‘Everyone’s an ordinary person… what even is that?’
A wave of nausea.
‘He wasn’t always like this… right?’
She wanted to believe that.
Showbiz doesn’t let you survive with just fake charm.
Eventually, your true self is exposed.
‘Power changes people…’
She’d seen it happen—
Peers from previous seasons who became twisted after debuting.
‘What about this season’s contestants…?’
She checked the time.
“Aiden-sunbae.”
Chae-ya spoke up.
“It’s almost time to head out.”
“Hey, Ryu Eunyul.”
Ha-min nudged me.
“You nervous?”
I forced a reply.
“…How could I not be nervous…?”
I wanted to shove my hand down my throat and vomit out all the tension.
The concert had just begun.
“God-given spotlight! Count Your Blessings! I’m Aiden, this season’s general mentor.”
Ha-min and I sat slumped in the waiting room chairs, watching the monitors.
I wanted to rip off the chain around my neck.
Jeong Noeul and Kim Jungho stared tensely at the broadcast.
Only Madojin stood motionless, expressionless.
Aiden explained that the 3rd prelims would be judged by audience response, voting, and the mentors’ scores.
He didn’t forget to mention the Jeju locals affected by the S-rank Gate—both the victims and the survivors.
“Alright, enough talk—let’s begin.
First up…”
Aiden paused with a smirk.
“Give them a big hand!”
…It’s starting.
Straightening my posture, I waited.
“H.I.R.!”
Pinky schpiel: So from here on out I will be paying for the individual chapters and translating. This novel doesn’t tickle my fancy so I’m only doing this because it was requested. If you enjoy this novel and have some extra cash, don’t forget to throw me a couple bucks when you can just so I’m not going out of pocket for this venture.
Little Pink Starfish 
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