GIJS

Chapter 198 Starry Sea

The music video, which began in a dark blue forest, transitioned from dusty, fiery wilderness to a refreshing beach. Every time the flesh-colored hues shimmered amidst the green spray, the corners of Yeonji and Yumin's mouths lifted in delight.

"Phew—."

"Yeonji, I think I'm going to have a nosebleed."

"Unnie, I think my nose tastes like blood too..."

Despite being a music video that seemed to cram in everything fans loved, the narrative of 'hunting' solidly guided the visuals throughout.

Members who used daggers in the forest and Magnum pistols and ropes in the wilderness now wielded hunting spears, mercilessly piercing the hearts of their fans.

The music video, packed with killing parts from start to finish, concluded with the search for the final piece of the puzzle among the sandbars. Although the music ended at that point, the video included an outro to conclude the narrative.

Finally, the gathered pieces led the members to an unknown space. There, amidst flames rising like the sun's surface, awaited the mythical creature, Zhuque, from Eastern mythology.

The seven members, lined up, aimed their Magnum pistols at the enormous, fiery being.

Bang—!!

With the scene of firing bullets as the climax, the music video for "Hunting Time" concluded.

"Phew—."

Yeonji and Yumin exhaled the breath they had been holding and simultaneously grabbed their smartphones. While a muggle's experience ends when the video does, a fan's experience starts at that moment. The video was over, and now it was time to share their thoughts with fellow fans.

It took Yeonji and Yumin over 10 minutes to watch the 4-minute music video, replaying the same segments repeatedly. Consequently, SNS and fan communities were already filled with discussions about the "Hunting Time" music video.

["Hunting Time" Paradise Scenes Collection.gif (Warning: Spoiler)] [Ahhhh I'm losing it, watching for the third time] [0:00 ~ 4:18 This part is the real highlight] [So trueㅠㅠㅠㅠ The above comment totally resonates] [I can't miss a single moment] [How is it that it's so cool, pretty, sexy, and charming from start to finish? What even are these kids??????] [Sigh, they've gone black-haired again··· It's really driving me crazy] [Magnum Loading Fire Point Dance GIF (Warning: Heart Attack)] [That dance point is so well doneㅠㅠㅠㅠ It's insane] [The shot where he fires and looks at Gunja is more dangerous than the bullets themselves, damn] [Damn, last time was sword wounds, now it's gun wounds?? Is that the case, Gunja???] [Freaking out] [Is this really directed by Siwoo?] [Look at how fierce the kids' faces are;;; It's truly perfect]

Of course, not all reactions were praise. While all fans were of 7IN, some expressed disappointment with certain parts of the video.

["LOL but why does it end with a mobile game ad?"] [Yeah, I was a bit stunned there too] ["Collect the pieces of the puzzle and hunt Zhuque! Bonus cards for daily check-ins x 100"] [LOL] [At least the graphics were good, so it wasn't a total letdown] [Actually, I liked the Zhuque part···] [Huh? Why? Are you a mobile game enthusiast?] [No, not really. I just thought the concept of hunting was a bit off because I've been really into animal protection lately and have been involved in related activities. I hoped they wouldn't film a video about hunting animals.] [Oh, I thought I was the only one who felt that way after seeing the teaser.] [Yeah, but when the video actually came out, it ended up being more like hunting in a mobile game or online game, so it eased my mind—] [I hadn't thought of it that way;; I guess I feel a bit better now] [Our Siwoo always laughs, but he's actually quite deep]

Various reactions and gif compilations continued, but ultimately, fans' discussions converged on one point.

So, fans attending today's concert will actually see that performance from the music video live, right?

[Ahhhhhh I'm so jealous of the people who got tickets] [Seriously, the ones who got tickets are so enviable, the most enviable in the world] [Why do I always fail at booking ticketsㅠㅠㅠ] [I also want to see it··· I can shake the light stick well too··· I'm a versatile fan who can do fan chants, tear up, and everything······] [Versatile fan LOL, what a useful talent] [It's sure to be incredibly cool and sexy in person, right?? Please, those who got tickets, share detailed reviews like a well-seasoned soy crabㅠㅠㅠ]

Seeing the fans' reactions, Yeonji and Yumin felt a sense of pride.

"Success in booking the concert tickets was the best thing I did in 2023, Yeonji."

"For me, it was the second best thing, unnie."

"Huh? Then what was the first?"

"Going hiking with my parents··· Hehe."

The time until the concert began was never boring. The "Hunting Time" music video remained fresh, no matter how many times it was watched.

Every re-watch revealed new hidden elements. Sharing these discoveries on SNS and interacting with fans was a joy known only to dedicated fans.

After savoring and enjoying the 4-minute music video nearly a hundred times, the time had arrived. After touching up their hair, Yeonji and Yumin finally left for the concert venue.

Thanks to a stroke of luck, they managed to book pretty good seats. Although ticket prices soared to 600,000-700,000 won towards the end, the two had no intention of selling their tickets at any price.

As they settled into their seats, they were sure their decision was right.

Soon, Gunja and the boys would be on that stage!

When the concert start time arrived, MC Jeong Hae-jin took the stage to offer a polite greeting. Having been with 7IN since "Ayuksi," Jeong Hae-jin was now a highly favored actor within the 7IN fanbase.

"Thank you for waiting so long, everyone!"

"Waaaaa—!!"

"There will be no competitions, no scores today. Just three hours dedicated solely to Chillins and their fans! The first solo concert of 7IN, '7 Pieces,' starts now—!!"

"Waaa—!!"

With a brief and straightforward greeting, Jeong Hae-jin kicked off the concert. As all the lights dimmed, 25,000 fans simultaneously raised their light sticks, creating a spectacular scene.

Yeonji and Yumin were among them. They held up the light sticks shaped like traditional calligraphy brushes, which had become a symbol of 7IN, high in the air, shouting out their favorite member's and the group's names.

The excitement naturally reached beyond the stage and into the backstage. Although it was the first performance of their first solo concert, there was no excessive nervousness.

The crowd was nearly three times as large as at the finals of the "Dynasty" competition, but the emotions that captivated the boys were not tension but awe.

"Did you see the audience camera?"

"It was insane... I had chills all over my body."

"It's more than just chills. I don't even know how to describe it..."

"All these people came to see us."

"Haha, and they overcame so much competition to be here~"

"...It feels like a dream..."

"Yeah, Yuchan. It feels like just yesterday when Gunja, you, and I formed the Avengers... I never imagined we'd end up like this."

"But what's Gunja doing right now?"

At Hyun-su's words, everyone looked over at Gunja. He was glued to the monitor showing the audience, not showing any signs of moving.

Above the heads of the audience, who swayed like the night sea, thousands and tens of thousands of stars shone. It was magnificent. It was so grand that the term "magnificent" felt inadequate.

One of the regrets in modern times is the dark night sky. Unlike the clear Milky Way visible in the night skies of Joseon, modern night skies are often obscured by light pollution and various forms of environmental pollution, making it difficult to see stars.

But at this moment, Gunja was able to fully enjoy the starry sea spread out before him.

"I was wondering where all those stars had gone, but they were all gathered here!"

What was even more touching was that each star was a light cheering for Gunja and his friends.

It was a scene that could make one cry. Of course, since they had to sing loudly soon, they swallowed their tears, but it seemed like all the members were thinking the same thing.

"We... we don't deserve such immense love."

All the members nodded in agreement with Gunja's words. Even the usually taciturn Inhyuk seemed to be moved at this moment, rubbing his nose and quietly speaking up.

"I'm glad we became idols."

"Right? Being an idol is so much better than being in a gang."

"Haha—."

Taewoong's joke at the right moment lightened the mood. Thanks to that, the members, who had managed to hold back their tears, gathered their hands together.

"Let's do well!"

"Okay, just like we practiced!"

Soon, the staff's signal came. It was time for the 7IN members to take the stage and meet their fans. The audience continued to wait for them with grand cheers.

In response to the overwhelming support, the members' images appeared on the huge LED backdrop.

Waaa—...

Before the cheers had even subsided, the members, as if teleporting from the LED screen, suddenly appeared on stage.

"——!!"

"Guys—!!"

Amidst the thick smoke, their appearance was almost magical, like performing a spell. At the same time, the cheerful sounds of traditional Korean instruments burst from the speakers.

Although it was a different version from the original song, all the fans recognized this prelude. It was the competition song "Goryeok Nansin," which had won 7IN the championship by defeating the senior group Velocé in the finals of "Dynasty."

We are strange beings,

With strength hidden in our bodies!

A whale overturning a chaotic world,

A shaman summoning spirits!

As soon as the first chorus began, the enormous Sky Dome was instantly heated up. With the boys' lead, 25,000 voices followed. The amplified voices, like the power of strength, shook the concert hall.

In keeping with the grand atmosphere of the concert hall, Hyun-su presented an even more majestic and powerful arrangement of "Goryeok Nansin." The state-of-the-art sound system perfectly conveyed the meticulously arranged audio.

Moreover, the performance was different from before.

Unlike the previous stage, which was centered around trampolines, this stage featured wire actions and aerial swings.

As a result, the boys' movements seemed completely free from gravity. Every time the flying boys came close to the fans, explosive cheers erupted from the audience.

Waaa—!!

Hyun-su's jump mishap in "Dynasty," and the members' quick reflexes to catch him, were now incorporated into the stage setup.
Hyun-su, who had fallen from the air as if the wire had snapped, was comfortably caught in the arms of Gunja, Taewoong, and Inhyuk. While fans' hearts skipped a beat at that moment, they cheered loudly again upon seeing Hyun-su continuing the verse with a playful demeanor.

"Waaa—."

"You scared us—!!"

"So cute—..."

From the very first stage, the fans were thrilled by the innovative arrangement and performance variations. However, the concert had only just begun.