Before the Final Stage began, Min Heejae participated in an interview.
“You’ve won many piano competitions in elementary school. What made you decide to pursue being an idol instead of a pianist?”
Without hesitation, Heejae answered the mentor’s question:
“I’m good at piano, but I don’t believe we need to make what we’re good at into our dream. I’d rather chase something I’m not good at.”
“I see. Then…”
Nodding, the mentor continued.
“If the younger Min Heejae saw who you are today… what do you think he would say?”
Heejae paused briefly before answering.
“Hmm… If the younger me saw the current me…”
He smiled faintly.
“…He’d probably say, ‘You still find so many things difficult, huh?’”
“There are so many difficult things.”
As a child, Heejae often thought that.
Waking up early in the morning and going to bed early at night—difficult. Reading aloud from the language textbook in front of classmates—difficult. Asking the kids playing outside to let him join—difficult.
Making new friends every year—difficult. Answering who his best friend was—also difficult.
Above all, the hardest thing was holding back tears.
Because everything that felt difficult… also felt scary.
So whenever he faced something hard, he cried.
Eventually, Heejae began focusing only on the things that came easily.
Piano came easily.
Though his parents forced him into lessons, Heejae ended up winning national piano competitions in no time.
“…There’s something I want to ask.”
After winning his first piano competition, a judge approached him.
“That was a phenomenal performance. Unbelievable for a child your age. So I became curious. What were you thinking as you played?”
Heejae tilted his head.
“I’m not really sure…”
Then smiled.
“…I just played with a light heart.”
The judge looked startled, then chuckled and nodded.
“You’re undeniably a genius.”
“…What’s a genius?”
“Someone who makes hard things look easy.”
The man patted Heejae’s head and asked,
“Would you like to learn piano properly from me?”
Learn piano properly? What did that mean?
Curious, Heejae started studying under the man.
He called him “Teacher” and often played the old grand piano in the teacher’s home.
Playing piano was, still, easy.
But there was someone in that house who wasn’t so easy to deal with.
“Stop playing that and come hang out with me?”
“Do you really like those boring songs?”
“Hey, just say something, anything, please?”
Every time Heejae played the piano, that child would pester him.
“You smell really lonely.”
She’d sniff at him and say.
“Don’t say I smell…!”
Heejae would tear up and shout, and she’d giggle and run away.
She said she wanted to be an idol.
With a proud expression—like showing off a treasured secret—she’d let him hear her songs. They felt impossibly difficult.
Running around and singing? Too hard. Sitting at a piano and playing? Easy.
Using your voice as an instrument? Too hard. Pressing finely tuned keys? Easy.
“…Do you think singing and dancing like that is easy?”
Heejae asked her once.
“It’s not,” she answered. “But I can keep doing it until it becomes easy.”
After hearing that, Heejae thought:
“Then you must be a genius.”
Because geniuses are the ones who make hard things look easy.
She was sure to become an idol.
But she passed away before that dream could come true.
Too young.
At her funeral, surrounded by sobs and wailing, Heejae thought the sound of everyone crying… almost sounded like music.
A dirge.
A song for the dead.
Heejae found it impossibly difficult.
But he thought he could do it.
Not easily—but he could keep playing until it became easy.
“Did I love her?”
He asked himself, later.
“No, probably not.”
He was too young to understand love.
“Can I pray for her peace?”
He asked again.
“No… I don’t think I can.”
He didn’t want to believe someone who died so young could rest in peace.
And so today—
“This isn’t born of love. Nor is it something noble like a prayer.”
Walking down the long hallway toward the stage, Heejae thought:
“This is simply mourning.”
He would keep playing until it became easy.
A dirge, for her.
After watching Madojin’s performance on the monitor, Han Iro and I took a short break.
“Eunyul hyung! I’ve been looking all over for you!”
Jeong Noeul appeared.
“…You were looking for me?”
I asked, and he nodded vigorously.
“Yeah! Heejae hyung’s performance is coming up soon. I wanted to watch it with you. But…”
He glanced at Han Iro.
“…I didn’t think you’d be with Iro hyung.”
“What’s with that look? Like I’m some barnacle stuck to Eunyul?”
Han Iro frowned.
“No, no! I used to think that, but not anymore! I just meant it was surprising, that’s all.”
“Oh? So you used to think that?”
Han Iro stood up.
“Well then, why don’t you two enjoy Heejae’s performance together? I’ll get lost so I’m not in the way.”
“Hey…”
I grabbed his sleeve.
“Stop acting like a jealous comic book character. It’s way too convincing.”
“Oh, really? Was it that obvious?”
He chuckled.
“Anyway, I do need to go. I’ve got something to take care of.”
“Like what?”
“Well…”
He looked away, making a complicated face.
“…I’m meeting someone.”
Meeting someone?
Before I could ask more, he gave a clumsy smile and walked out the door.
“Phew…”
Jeong Noeul plopped down beside me.
“Good thing Iro hyung left.”
“Don’t you hate him a bit too much? Do we really have to watch this just the two of us?”
“No, no. I like Iro hyung now. I just hate when he nags me to eat my vegetables.”
He grinned.
“The reason I wanted to watch with just you is because of…”
The Ten Kings of the Underworld.
Noeul wanted to watch Heejae’s performance with someone who knew about them.
If Han Iro—who didn’t know—was there, things would’ve been awkward.
I also preferred to watch the performance with the Ten Kings present.
That’s why…
I’d been saving the final use of my artifact, Burning Devil’s Eye.
“Shall we go then?”
Noeul stood up.
“Go where?”
“Where else? To the stage.”
“How are we supposed to get to the stage?”
“Through a secret passage, of course!”
…Was he serious?
There were staff and security everywhere—and he wanted to sneak into the stage area?
And what the heck is a secret passage…
“Don’t worry, hyung. Just trust me!”
Noeul raised his hand and summoned Abrilah’s Crown.
“Let’s make our own entrance!”
“Wait, so you didn’t find a secret passage, you’re making one?”
He touched the wall.
Zzzzt—
A shimmer of light—then a person-sized hole appeared.
“How’s that? Pretty secret-passage-y, right? We’ll use these to avoid attention and move through.”
“…You’re getting really good at using that power.”
“I’ve gotten used to it! I can open locked doors now too. I don’t even have to wait for water to boil when I make ramen.”
“…Wow, what a talent.”
I sighed.
“Fine. Let’s go. Lead the way.”
Thanks to Noeul creating the most efficient path as we moved, getting around was surprisingly easy.
But the “good spot” he promised?
…Didn’t seem that good.
We arrived at a balcony, made for stage decoration.
It had a railing, but it didn’t look sturdy—decorative, not functional.
“…Noeul.”
Crouched down, gripping the railing, I said:
“Did I mention I have a fear of heights?”
“You did?”
He tilted his head.
“Then this is the perfect time to overcome it!”
“Yeah, like it’s that easy!”
“Don’t worry, hyung.”
He patted my back.
“If you fall, I’ll save you.”
“…Haa.”
I forced my shaky legs to stand.
Below, the two MCs were introducing Min Heejae.
“Next up is contestant Min Heejae!”
“Yes! He’s especially well known for his talent in producing.”
Hearing their voices, I muttered under my breath:
“Activate: Burning Devil’s Eye.”
Fwoooosh—
Red light flooded my vision.
It felt unpleasant. Maybe because I hadn’t used it in a while.
The Burning Devil’s Eye allowed me to see the world from a demon’s perspective—its hidden side.
Above the heads of the audience, small flames danced.
I’d seen this same view during the second round.
And more importantly…
<Been a while, hasn’t it, Instrument?>
Perched on the balcony railing was the Ten Kings of the Underworld.
<You just noticed me? I’ve been nearby for a while. Even poked your nose earlier.>
“…Hello. Long time no see.”
<Mm-hmm.>
The King smiled brightly.
<You’re really scared of heights, huh? You reek of fear.>
“Can you please stop saying I smell…?”
I pouted.
“Hyung, noona.”
Noeul spoke up.
“I think the performance’s about to start.”
We held our breath.
“Next up, Min Heejae’s chosen performance piece is…”
One MC announced the title:
“Change the World” by Girls Edition!
“Oho…”
Noeul grinned.
“Heejae hyung went with an old girl group song, huh?”
I nodded.
I knew—because I’d recorded the chorus—that this was the song.
And I also knew why Heejae chose this specific track.
<It’s my favorite song.>
It was the favorite song of the Ten Kings of the Underworld.
<Heejae’s such a sweetheart.>
The King smiled.
<Well then, shall we enjoy the show?>
And with that, they stood on the railing—
And took off, soaring toward the stage.
<…A dirge, just for me.>
Little Pink Starfish 
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