novelraw Chapter 81: Nobody Is Here!
Chapter 81: Nobody Is Here!
The echoes and vibrations of the neon celebration seeped through even the walls.
The energetic atmosphere and universal excitement enveloped the building like an impenetrable veil.
However, this did not apply to the one who had been hiding in the shadows the whole time.
"..." The faucet washed away all the bloodstains from the white sink and stopped running.
Mr. Nobody wiped the blood remaining on his lip with his finger and put his mask back on.
"...Hidden in the chaos is the element, waiting to strike like snakes."
Leaving the restroom, he found himself on the second floor of the concert hall, in the balcony area.
Passing by the show unfolding below, he kept smiling.
"...But I’m there too. Watching."
The corridors began to give way to one another. He walked through them in complete darkness and solitude.
Soon, he descended the stairs, and the sounds from the main stage grew even clearer.
He was right behind her.
"...Two nights have turned me into a nocturnal animal."
Soon, a door appeared before him with the gleaming inscription Artists’ Lounge.
He stood with his back to it, looking like a security guard, and held the black bracelet up to the electronic lock.
It took less than a minute to hack it.
"It’s a big city. I can’t be everywhere..."
Removing the bracelet from his wrist, he secured it directly above the door and stepped inside.
The room was just as dark. It was lit only by a small lamp that someone had forgotten to turn off.
The space was lined with mirrors, makeup kits, and wardrobes...
After turning off the only light source, he headed straight for one of the closets.
"...But they don’t know where I am."
He took off his mask again and reached for his hair.
A moment later, he plucked a single silver-tinged hair from his head.
He placed it on his own wrist and began rolling it, shaping it.
This continued until the ordinary hair took the form of a thin, razor-sharp blade as long as his forearm.
Taking a handle suitable for a dagger from his pocket, he fitted the blade into it.
Opening the closet door, he ran his finger along the dagger’s blade.
The sensation was indescribable.
The material wasn’t cold... It was exactly what he wanted it to be.
It was his will. His essence.
It was him.
"They think I’m hiding in the shadows..."
He climbed into the closet, clutching the dagger in his left hand. Closing the door behind him, he found himself in pitch darkness... Here, no one could see his terrifying smile.
"...But Nobody is the shadows."
...
"Give it up once again for the incredible Bengou!" Obeying the voice from backstage, the audience erupted in cheers and applause. "And now... the star of the night! Give a warm welcome to the wonderful Liliana!!!"
The crowd erupted with even greater excitement—on a completely different level.
"..." As she walked past the blue-haired girl, five people greeted her with very unfriendly glances.
It seemed that, as she passed by them, Liliana’s legs even began to buckle...
"Helloooo everyone!!!" As if nothing had happened, she jumped onto the stage and, striking a cute pose, greeted the audience in her energetic manner. "Are you ready?!!!"
"YEEESSSSS!!!"
...
A couple of minutes later, backstage.
"What the fuck?!!!" Sexy Bomb pinned a girl in a dark mask, with piercings and short black hair, against the wall. "How dare she do this?! You’re supposed to be her friend, so put that bitch in her place!"
"I-I..." She lowered her head. "I’ll handle it."
"In case you haven’t noticed, she’s been snagging all the best contracts for the past month, while we’re stuck sucking second-rate dick! Doesn’t look like you can do shit about it! Maybe you need to be put in your place too?!"
"I-I... G-go fuck yourself!" She shoved her in the chest. "You think it’s that fucking easy?! She starts trembling the moment I sit down next to her! How the fuck do you mess someone up for years and still pretend you’re their friend?!"
*Smack!* The sound of a slap echoed as it struck the dark-haired girl’s face.
"...I don’t give a fuck how." She grabbed her by the hair. "It’s just that if you can’t handle it, you’ll suffer way worse than that bitch... Forgot how you react to that stuff?"
The red-haired girl smirked and pulled out a small bag of black powder.
Just one glance at it brought tears to the other girl’s eyes, but her hand moved on its own, reaching for it.
"Enough, not here!" A man’s hand struck the one reaching for the bag. "Put that away, you idiot."
"Yeah..." Sexy Bomb obediently hid the bag of black powder.
"...You guys are fucking disgusting."
Super Marty looked at them with disgust and pushed them away from the door labeled Artists’ Lounge.
As he opened the door, a wave of harsh chemical smoke hit his nose and eyes.
Mega Muscle and Fire Alarm were sitting at tables with mirrors, using things similar to anti-seizure medication.
Their heads were tilted back, and their eyes were rolled upward. Pure pleasure was written all over their faces.
"...Fucking wasted again."
"Why are you so nervous? Did something happen?"
"Hey! Tell your dumb brute to stay outside!"
"But..."
"Don’t you fucking get it?! This fucking moron is already driving me insane!"
"Y-yes..." Sexy Bomb turned to the security guard, who barely fit through the doorway. "Alfredo, sweetie, wait here for now and don’t let anyone in. And have your guys guard the back exit... Tell anyone who comes that the meet-and-greet with the fans is postponed for now."
"..." The massive security guard nodded and closed the door behind them.
The entire band ended up in the Artists Room.’
Mega Muscle and Fire Alarm exchanged anxious glances because of the tense atmosphere. Pyrotechnics supplies lay on their tables.
The dark-haired girl moved to the far corner by the closet and watched quietly, biting her lip.
"Hey, sweetie..." Sexy Bomb walked up to Marty and ran her hand over his chest. "What’s wrong?"
"...I don’t know. Everything went to shit right from the start, when that fucking fan said..."
"Honey, that idiot’s just a troll who’s been reading too much tabloid trash. Alfredo beat the shit out of him for that."
"You didn’t see it? He was spitting blood and still grinning." Marty put his hand to his face. "And he was with Liliana. Could she really have..."
*Knock-knock* Knocking came from the back door from the closet.
"...Who the fuck did Alfredo hire, anyway? Why the fuck are these idiots taking so long..."
*Knock-knock*
Super Marty’s face began to betray his undisguised irritation.
"Sorry, honey, it’s probably just some crazy fan again. I’ll be right there..."
*Knock-knock*
"Alright, I’m fucking coming!"
After kissing Marty on the cheek—which made him turn away in disgust—Sexy Bomb headed for the door.
On her way, she shot a hateful glance at the dark-haired girl cowering in the corner. It meant only one thing: ’We’re not done with you yet.’
She opened the door.
...
"How strange..." After a moment, Sexy Bomb closed the door.
"What? Who’s there?" Marty asked irritably.
"No one... Nobody’s here."
"Nobody...?"
*Squad...* With a soft squeak, the closet door opened.
"You’re goddamn right..." a menacing, sardonic voice said.
"...?"
"...?"
"...?!!!"
"NOBODY REALLY IS HERE!!!"
The next moment, a silver blade plunged into Sexy Bomb’s back.