Some people may already know that they are master and disciple, but compared to Kwon Je-in’s countless fans, they are just a tiny minority.

In the first place, Kwon Je-in was famously known for not accepting disciples.

There was even a string teacher who had boldly claimed that Kwon Je-in would never stand on the Eun Gwang High school grounds — only to have to perform a full prostration three times while moving from the school gate to the club hall.

So when he suddenly announced that a certain student was his first disciple, everyone couldn’t help but be shocked.

Soon, murmurs spread throughout the tea house, sometimes even screams were heard.

Some frantically manipulated their devices, spreading the news they had just learned.

“Did Kwon Rena know he was going to reveal it here?”

I glanced at Kwon Rena.

She stood there with wide eyes, not blinking once.

Kwon Je-in had one hand, the one not holding the microphone, wrapped around Kwon Rena’s shoulder. If he hadn’t held her like that, she probably would have collapsed already.

Even in that situation, Kwon Je-in resolutely expressed his thoughts.

“Rena’s interpretation is always fresh and surprising. While I was only looking at the sea wall that overwhelmed me, Rena was seeing a wider scene. I am glad to share that perspective with you all through the same piece, but with a different appreciation.”

He spoke so much that I wondered if Kwon Je-in usually talked that much.

Normally, he was silent and Jared Lee often took the microphone to add a few words, but today was different.

His affection for his first disciple was clearly conveyed to the audience.

Kwon Rena, nervous, only repeated “Thank you” like a parrot several times.

There was an encore request, but looking at Kwon Rena, it was obvious she was no longer able to perform.

Even after the two left the stage, the atmosphere remained unsettled.

“Performing on stage in a situation like this is a good experience.”

Dokgo Miro, waiting for his turn, said.

Dokgo Miro was dressed in an idol-like stage outfit.

Although she had already successfully debuted as an idol and realized her dream, the outfit expressed her intention to keep standing on stage in the future.

But the audience was still immersed in the shock left by Kwon Je-in and seemed to have almost forgotten Dokgo Miro’s presence.

Of course, Dokgo Miro’s fans were holding various cheering tools, waiting.

“Will you be okay?”

Cheongho, observing the mood of the audience, asked.

Cheongho was wearing the outfit of a Taehogwon master.

Since Han-i did not yet have a master qualification, it was an outfit representing a hopeful future goal.

However, Cheongho was the founder of Taehogwon, so maybe it was fair to call it a “future me” outfit.

“Of course. Han-i is watching!”

Responding to Cheongho’s question if she would be okay, Dokgo Miro smiled brightly.

When Mok Wooram, in charge of the sound, gave a signal, the lights went off, and she climbed the stage in the darkness.

As she sang the first line of her debut song “Maze Echoes” a cappella in the dark, the confused audience’s gaze slowly turned to the stage.

When the accompaniment started, the spotlight turned on, shining fully on Dokgo Miro.

Her waiting fans almost reflexively screamed and raised device cameras following the official Maze Echoes cheering method.

Dokgo Miro started the performance, acknowledging each lens directed at her.

‘Compared to her usual stage, the space is narrow, but she used that to her advantage.’

A narrow stage makes it difficult to have backup dancers and limits choreography movement.

But that meant all eyes were on Dokgo Miro, and with less intense dancing, she could sing more steadily.

She finished the performance mixing key choreography with an ad-lib sung at a higher pitch than the original.

When the stage ended, even the audience murmuring about Kwon Je-in’s shock gave enthusiastic applause.

In the following interview, Dokgo Miro skillfully captivated the audience.

During the interview hosted by Guseulbi and Ong Gildong, she wore and rotated several headbands, hats, and accessories as fan service, posing for photos.

That day, senior siblings from Class 0, Jung Haesu and Jung Haeon, were also present, both staring at Dokgo Miro with mouths tightly shut the whole time.

“The next song will probably be the one that made many of you here today know me. Without that song, I might not even be here. Well, even if I am here, I might be under the stage rather than on it.”

At Dokgo Miro’s explanation, those unfamiliar with her showed doubtful expressions, but our classmates and fans immediately knew which song she meant.

Especially fans deeply immersed like the Jung siblings wore expressions as if their throat tightened.

Dokgo Miro always cited that song as the biggest turning point in her life in every interview.

It was the song that saved her when she faced elimination from the playlist and had to fight a death match.

“You all wanted to hear Rena’s encore, but you couldn’t, so listen to it with me on this stage!”

The next song was a busking version of the playlist mission song, accompanied by Kwon Rena and Mok Wooram.

Meanwhile, the slightly calmer Kwon Rena awkwardly smiled and took her place backstage with Mok Wooram.

This song had been re-recorded in a studio and released as a music track, but many fans complained it didn’t capture the feeling of the busking.

Some even personally extracted the audio from the busking video.

‘The accompaniment being done by Kwon Rena and Mok Wooram, and singing at Eun Gwang High is what gives it the feeling — so it would be difficult to reproduce it in a studio.’

Back then, Dokgo Miro wasn’t very famous, and the busking was unannounced, so only a few people gathered.

With our classmates as staff, there were barely twenty people.

Only that small number heard the live performance that day, but today the gymnasium chosen as the tea house was packed, and outside in front of the holographic screen, even more people than here had gathered.

Soon the accompaniment started first, and the lighting subtly changed.

Compared to the colorful and varied tones in Maze Echoes, this song was very plain.

‘With only piano and violin, it’s natural to feel this way. Plus, this song has no choreography. Still, there’s Dokgo Miro’s singing.’

That day, Dokgo Miro survived by public choice with only her voice.

She reproduced what she had put into the song that day.

Kwon Rena’s violin skills had improved a lot since then, and Dokgo Miro’s vocals had also grown.

So I thought it would feel very different, but Dokgo Miro perfectly understood which part of the song fans were drawn to and recreated it.

Waaaaah!

When the song ended, everyone stood up and applauded.

Some fans cried their eyes out, probably remembering how Dokgo Miro barely survived the death match, got involved in the broadcasting station incident, and then lost to Yerae Hoon and was eliminated.

It was a song choice worthy of tears from fans.

“My close friend always wanted to hear this song live. Glad it worked out.”

Hwang Ji-ho, dressed in party clothes fit for the heir of a large corporation, said.

He wore a tuxedo decorated with real gold, giving off the impression that he was the future head of the company.

Putting the outfit aside, hearing those words reminded me that Cheongho was there as Han-i at that time but didn’t hear the song.

Cheongho applauded with a bright expression, like one Han-i would have made if he had heard Dokgo Miro’s song back then.

After the festival ended, our class gathered at the now empty tea house for an after-party.

Our classmates were still wearing their “future me” outfits.

“Everyone worked hard!”

Kim Yuri, our class’s capable leader, gave a short toast.

Today, Kim Yuri’s outfit was like a “beach café owner,” bright and flashy beachwear with an apron on top.

Kim Yuri seemed eager to try many things but chose one outfit after much deliberation.

She picked something comfortable since she would be running the tea house.

‘Being a café owner is something anyone can do if they set their mind to it, but running a beach café might be a bit difficult.’

Her control abilities had improved a lot, and going near the sea was no problem anymore, but staying there constantly was a whole different level.

If she stayed by the beach, higher beings attached to Kim Yuri would get excited and make noise, and who knows how much trouble they would cause with the seawater.

“I didn’t expect so many customers... let’s do something else next year.”

“Maybe just going on trips like the seniors in the Golden Feast class! With Teacher Ham Geun-hyung too.”

When Teacher Ham Geun-hyung’s name came up, some of the kids looked gloomy.

Our class’s homeroom teacher was currently absent.

He had immediately left after receiving news of trouble near Hongcheon.

The previous incident during the picnic was also related, and as the demon world scenario drew closer, the situation in Gangwon-do was clearly worsening.

“Don’t be sad, kids. Even if Teacher Ham Geun-hyung isn’t here, I’m here.”

Yong Jegun, dressed in his usual suit, answered the unasked question.

For the “future me” concept, Yong Jegun didn’t hesitate to wear his usual school clothes.

Looks like he intends to keep bothering students and other teachers at Eun Gwang High in the future as well.

Though he dyed his usually black hair cyan, showing his identity openly and planning to have fun with it.

Though it was unfortunate Teacher Ham Geun-hyung was absent, our classmates had many things they wanted to talk about regarding today’s festival, so they kept chatting nonstop.

Even Jin Jeongmuk, who usually spoke little, added quite a few words.

“The seniors who found Daru didn’t spare their praise. We ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) thank them.”

“Ah, those seniors from that sect... they were amazing...”

“But isn’t he wearing the exact same clothes as back then?”

“No, he isn’t.”

Jin Jeongmuk was also wearing martial arts attire like when he found Daru.

Though not the same clothes, Maeng Hyo-don seemed to think it looked exactly the same.

Jin Jeongmuk answered very seriously.

“The young master will become a living legend of the Jeolheukpoongrim sect, a legendary swordsman surpassing the Black Forest’s Blade. With that meaning, I embroidered the symbol representing the sect’s leader on the back and belt.”

“What a shame. It could’ve been a great phrase if only you left out one word...!”

I wasn’t the only one who found the dark swordsman’s word choice unfortunate.

Several kids, led by Mingrin, sincerely nodded in regret.

Jin Jeongmuk didn’t mind and explained the origin of the clothes and his ambition.

Apparently, there is an embroidery allowed only to the sect leader within Jeolheukpoongrim, and Jin Jeongmuk revealed he specially got permission to wear it for this event.

As the chatter from the classmates died down and night deepened, the pure white tiger dressed in white martial arts clothes tapped my shoulder.

“What is it?”

“Jeokho is standing by the window.”

I turned my head at the quiet voice.

I couldn’t see him, but Jeokho with closed red eyes must be standing there.

Today, Jeokho had one more task besides dating Ungnyeo.

‘He must have come back after watching over the Gyedok.’

After glancing once at Sawol Seyum happily chatting about the festival, I looked toward the window.

I’ll have to stay and listen after the after-party ends.