Why Is Everyone in This Dating Sim Trying to Kill Me?!

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: The Festival Must Go On (1)

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The massive speakers installed at the front vibrated the very air, thrumming against their chests.

Flashes and streaks of light burst forth from above!

Brilliant lights shot down from the sky.

Then music began to play, and the atmosphere steadily intensified.

People who had been playing in the sea or relaxing gradually gathered at the performance stage.

"The lineup for this festival is no joke."

"Right? Almost all the top-tier celebrities are here, aren't they? And look at the stage setup. How much money did they pour into this?"

"Oh, man, see that over there? That's a super-large holographic projector."

"Holy crap, that's insane… They said this would be the biggest festival in recent memory, and they weren't kidding."

Unmistakable anticipation sparkled in the eyes of the gathered crowd.

And behind the stage, the celebrities scheduled to perform were arriving one by one.

It was just as the festival was about to begin.

"...What did you say? So, you're saying a monster wave is going to occur here, right now? Is that what you're telling me?"

Seo Ayun asked, her face aghast, as if she couldn't believe it.

"Yes."

Shin Sehee nodded, her expression calm.

"H-how could that be...? We've been conducting safety inspections almost excessively for the past six months..."

"It's a monster wave where the gate explodes the moment it forms. We only just found out about it ourselves."

At Shin Sehee's words, Seo Ayun bit her lip.

"...Why today, of all days?"

It was like a bolt from the blue, just as the opening ceremony was about to begin.

The words felt so sudden, so out of the blue.

However, there was no way she could disbelieve them.

The girl before her was Cheonhwa.

Shin Sehee herself.

How could she possibly ignore her?

Utopia was the hottest party produced by the Velvet Hunter Academy recently.

In fact, rumors even circulated that she was the one pulling the strings behind Utopia.

'If we stop the festival now, the losses...'

Her vision went dark as she thought of the money already spent, the compensation she'd have to pay back, and all the various additional costs that would simply vanish.

However, Seo Ayun, who had been in the industry for a long time, quickly began to rack her brain.

'But if there are casualties here, that would be even more terrible...'

More than just terrible, it would be a disaster.

It would likely be a terrible nightmare that would end her career.

Money could be earned back and repaid, but a fallen position could not be restored.

In that sense, it was fortunate that they learned of the disaster before the festival officially began.

The VIP ticket she had sent to the director truly ended up saving her skin.

'Yes, clinging to the festival now would be foolish. I need to quickly identify evacuation routes and request cooperation from the guards.'

Having made her decision, Seo Ayun bowed deeply to Shin Sehee and spoke in a stiff voice.

"Then I will halt the festival immediately. Thank you so much for informing us before an irreversible catastrophe could occur."

Shin Sehee looked down at her and grinned.

Then she opened her mouth, her voice unhurried.

"...Excuse me, what would you do if you could continue the festival right now?"

At Shin Sehee's words, Seo Ayun's eyes widened.

"Pardon? What do you mean?"

* * *

Thump— Thump— Thump—

Silence.

The blaring music and drumbeats abruptly ceased.

And then...

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENG—!!!!!

Suddenly, an alarm that instantly heightened vigilance blared, and crimson lights flashed.

"...W-what is it?"

"Uh, wait! That sound...?"

At that, the expressions of those who initially hadn't grasped the situation slowly hardened.

"This is an alert sound... And a Class 1 one, at that."

"C-crazy, what do we do?! I came here to play today, I didn't bring anything!"

"...We're screwed. Monsters are suddenly appearing here?"

"W-where are the hunters?"

It was a sound that no one living in the Gate Era could fail to recognize.

A Class 1 emergency alert.

When this sound was heard, everyone's tension immediately rose.

It meant there was a high probability of human-attacking monsters appearing at this very location.

It meant they should immediately go home and lock their doors, or somehow find a way to survive, armed with weapons.

However, as everyone was in swimsuits in a wide-open area, there was no suitable place to take cover.

"...Surely, this isn't part of the festival event, is it?"

One person blurted out such a thought.

"What kind of insane nonsense is that?! Using an emergency alert as a festival event? They'd be ruined immediately!"

An emergency alert was precisely that.

A sound that words like 'joke' or 'prank' dared not intrude upon.

"Uh, well, I-I just said it on the off chance, you know."

"Stop talking nonsense and get ready to evacuate. There should be guards here too."

People hardened their expressions, appearing flustered, yet they maintained a surprisingly calm demeanor amidst the chaos.

Because everyone living in the Gate Era received thorough education from a young age.

They knew that getting excited and acting wildly at a time like this would lead to losing their lives first.

"Calm down! It'll be fine! The Velvet Hunter Academy and the Hunter Management Bureau will be deploying soon."

And the high level of trust in their nation's hunters also played a part.

Even if they cursed them daily for slow responses or exaggerated abilities, they still showed unwavering faith in their nation's hunters.

This was possible because, even with S-rank and A-rank gates simultaneously erupting recently, the damage had not been significant.

Humm—

It was then.

A holographic projector in the sky illuminated the figure of a man.

"Oh, l-look over there!"

"What is it?!"

"Who is that...? He's damn handsome."

"He looks familiar... Wait a minute, isn't that Pitbull behind him?"

"Oh, it's true! Gukbap and Slit-Eyed Mastermind are behind him too! Then this person must be... Jin Yuha?!"

Jin Yuha, in revealing attire, with his hair swept back from his forehead, and makeup that gave him an unusual aura.

People who hadn't recognized him at first soon realized the projected man was Jin Yuha after seeing his party members standing behind him.

At that, the faces of the people, who had been gripped by anxiety, slowly brightened.

What kind of party was Utopia?

The hunter party whose stock had risen most significantly recently!

Initially swayed by various rumors, they gradually increased their presence,

and solidified their skills in the minds of people worldwide through YouTube videos, becoming a truly skilled party with overwhelming ongoing support.

Since the image of such a party was projected, it was no wonder they were so enthusiastic.

"Utopia!! The Utopia party was here!!"

"We're! We're saved!!!"

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!"

As everyone was bathed in relief, Jin Yuha, projected as a hologram, opened his mouth.

—Ah, hello, everyone.

"Wow... *Gasp*."

"...His body is insane. And that outfit is no joke..."

"What's with that voice...?"

"Wow, I watch Jin Yuha on YouTube every day, but seeing him in person like this is on a whole different level than in videos."

"Well, it is a 3D hologram, isn't it?"

Despite the current emergency, people slowly gaped at his shocking visuals.

"Oh... Wait, this is Jin Yuha? Isn't he that super handsome guy I tried to hit on earlier today, but failed?"

"...Now that you mention it, there was someone who looked like Kang Dohui behind him, but I thought, *Surely she wouldn't come to a place like this*, so I dismissed it..."

"That was actually true? We almost died then."

—I imagine you are all very confused by this sudden situation, but please bear with me for a moment.

However, contrary to his words, the people here were not confused at all.

They simply couldn't take their eyes off Jin Yuha's face.

—I want to inform you beforehand that this is a real situation, and it was unpredictable.

Fortunately, however, we were invited to the Haeundae Festival and happened to be staying here. So, please rest assured.

A voice that reassured the people.

However, everyone couldn't help but cock their heads at his next words.

—Therefore, I would like you all to continue the festival.

...?

What did that mean?

Continue the festival, when they should be evacuating immediately?

Did he mean they could handle all the monsters with their skills, so everyone should just relax?

Even for the Utopia party, it seemed like excessive confidence.

—The monsters currently arriving here are A-rank monsters, Blue Crabs. They move in groups and have a tendency to attack targets in swarms.

A-rank monsters swarming in.

The faces of those who imagined that scene turned a sickly pale.

—These creatures are sensitive to vibrations and sounds, and tend to avoid loud noises. Therefore, we require your cooperation.

The louder you continue the festival, the safer you will be, and the more we can focus the monsters on us.

Ah.

Only then did people understand Jin Yuha's words.

However, they then showed troubled expressions.

Continuing the festival.

Easier said than done, but how could they possibly do that?

To enjoy a festival when their lives were on the line?

Did they have to scream until their voices gave out?

It was then.

Fzzzzzzzt—!

Suddenly, the holographic projector turned off, and the darkened lights came back on.

The lights illuminated a single person standing in front of the installed stage.

The eyes of the people who turned their heads in that direction widened in surprise.

"...O-oh, it's Cheonhwa?!"

"Shin Sehee?! Why is Shin Sehee here...?"

"Oh, right! Shin Sehee is Utopia's operator, isn't she?!"

"She's not a combat class, so she stayed here!"

Enough information about the Utopia party had already spread, so people quickly understood the situation.

And at the same time, they felt relieved.

To think that Shin Sehee, who possessed powerful abilities, even if not quite on par with Kang Dohui or Jin Yuha, was here.

People felt even more at ease.

"Hello, everyone!"

Shin Sehee smiled brightly and waved her hand towards the crowd.

Then, still in her swimsuit, she playfully patted her chest.

"For now, I, Utopia's operator, will be protecting the safety of this place!"

WOOOOOOOOOOOAH—!!!!!

Given what Jin Yuha had just said and their profound relief, people let out a tremendous cheer.

"Hehehe, our party leader Jin Yuha asked you all to enjoy the festival here, didn't he? But you can't enjoy yourselves with nothing happening! That's why I'm here to be your commentator and host!"

Snap—!

As Shin Sehee snapped her fingers.

Once again, a holographic image was projected above the people's heads.

The image showed Jin Yuha in his swimsuit, drawing his weapon, along with the rest of the Utopia party.

From far away, the sight of massive monsters teeming and emerging from beneath the sea was also visible.

"...Huh?"

People wore bewildered expressions, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

"Alright, then. From now on... while cheering on the Utopia party's battle, shall we all have some exciting fun—?"

With those words, a massive beat reverberated,

Thump— Thump—Thump— Thump—!

and the Haeundae Beach Festival began anew.

Thump— Thump— Thump—