Kuluoluo Idol Agency

(Bai Ziye)

"Yes, it is indeed pure gold."

Metal weighed the loose gold in his hand and said, "I don't know how you got it, but if you want to exchange it for money, sell it to me. You can't easily sell gold without a certificate, can you?"

That makes sense.

"Then I'll have to trouble you."

"It's nothing. I'll weigh it when I get back and then give you a quote. Let's talk about the door first."

I drew an outline on the wall of my living room with a wire.

Metal began to explain his construction plan.

"Then we'll open a door between Ceruno's bedroom and your living room, and then partition Ceruno's bedroom, creating a passageway connecting the two living rooms. I'll seal the partition wall with two layers of metal plates, but the sound insulation will be poor. After that, I'll bring you some filler, putty, and wall paint... The wiring buried in the wall also needs to be rerouted, so it's not as simple as just making a hole."

"Won't the pipes you created with magic rust?"

Metal rolled his eyes at me and said, "Of course we'll use PVC pipes. I brought them with me. How can you do home renovations with just pure metal? Are you stupid?"

It's impossible to solve this with magic alone, and Ceruno's idea of "making a hole in the wall" is pure fantasy.

After finishing her morning run and showering, Ceruno asked, "Miss Metal, how long will it take to dig the hole?"

"It'll be quick, give me a day and I can get it done."

She's really versatile; she even knows how to do interior design.

I asked, "And the wages...?"

"Just charge for the materials later; I'll deduct it from these little gold nuggets."

Oh no, that means I'll have to pay for it?

Although those gold fragments weren't originally mine...

"Woof~"

The Golden called out and spat its bowl in front of me.

This means I need to prepare breakfast for it.

Metal rubbed his Doggy, then said to Ceruno, "I'll get started then. You'd better use your magic to isolate the construction site, otherwise it'll be a mess when you're cutting through the wall, which isn't good for the health of either the pet or the people."

"Oh, okay."

Ceruno held up the bubble of isolation.

I filled Golden with dog food, opened a can of food, and made some goat milk powder.

The Doggy started gobbling down its food, so I pinched its furry belly...

"Goldie, have you gotten fatter since you came to my house?"

"... Woof?"

"I've been so busy lately, I haven't had a chance to take you out for a walk. You've been staying home all day eating and sleeping, it's normal for you to gain weight."

Besides, I feed it really well; after all, it's a priceless dog, so I can't neglect it.

"Hmm..."

The Doggy only licked the goat's milk twice.

Then I stopped eating.

"That's it? You're not trying to lose weight, are you?"

"Woof!"

It called out loudly to express its affirmation.

"Then at least finish this meal, don't waste it... Starting next time, reduce your dog food and go for a morning run with Ceruno every day?"

"Woof~"

Given its exercise intensity when it was free-range on Nabu Island, running more than ten kilometers shouldn't be a problem.

"By the way, Ceruno, I have to go out today and might not be back until tonight."

"Oh, what's up?"

I knew she would ask me all the questions.

I replied, "I need to learn how to become a qualified agent."

Southern suburbs of Skyreach City, E6 area, Kuluoluo Idol Agency.

Talent scout Jolina's outfit was similar to yesterday's, except that she had changed her suit pants into a pencil skirt.

I am having a one-on-one conversation with her in her office.

"You are...?"

"Sikong Cai, you've already forgotten my name after only one day? I can't help but wonder how many women you approached yesterday and said the same lines as me?"

For some reason, my tone wasn't very polite.

"No, no, no, really not much. Your aura truly matches my definition of an idol. I guarantee that given time, you will become the world's most successful top idol!"

"Like Sirius?"

"Yes, just like Sirius ~"

I wasn't very excited, and even let out a disdainful snort.

"Hmph, are you sure it wasn't everyone else who ran away because of the desolate scenery around here? So I'm the only one who dared to set foot in this godforsaken place, and that's why you're saying this because you have no other choice?"

"How could that be? We're a veteran agency that has discovered top idols!"

However, faced with reality, her explanations proved to be utterly weak and ineffective.

The Kuluoluo Idol Agency is located in an old two-story bungalow with the word "Demolition" painted on the exterior wall in black paint. Not only are the facilities outdated, but there are no other employees besides Jolina.

Damn it, even a shell company knows to put in two or three employees to make it look legitimate.

"So, Ms. Jolina, as the current owner of a long-established agency, why do you also serve as a talent scout, receptionist, agent, assistant, and trainer?"

"... Do you really have to break through this barrier?"

She asked with a pained expression, but I wasn't about to be merciful.

"As an unlucky soul who was tricked into this position by your sweet talk, don't I have any right to know which agency I might be assigned to for military service?"

"Our company used to be..."

"I'm going back."

I had just stood up when Jolina, as if she had activated Trans-AM, sped around the desk at lightning speed, leaving afterimages, and grabbed my leg, begging for my attention.

"I'm not kidding! This firm Past be really famous..."

That's quite an ugly pose.

It seems this firm has indeed reached a critical juncture, facing a life-or-death situation and having no choice but to back down.

I knelt down in front of her and asked, "If I may ask, when did you become famous, around that time?"

Ten years ago...

Now I understand what happened.

"The old-generation ordinary idol agencies were completely crushed to pieces by the emerging magical girl idols, right?"

"That's right!"

"But unfortunately, ordinary idols are at a huge disadvantage compared to magical girl idols... So why don't you sign a magical girl?"

"... We didn't have that much money. When the generation changed, we were still pouring resources into our ordinary idols. By the time we realized it, we had already been abandoned by the times. Let alone signing magical girls, even our own idols couldn't stand the gap of being left behind by the tide of the times, and soon chose to retire."

As she spoke, Jolina knelt down in front of me, sighing sadly.

"In the end, only you were left?"

As you can see.

I asked, "Then what makes you think I can be the one to revive this firm?"

She obviously didn't know I was a magical girl.

But when I said that, she suddenly perked up again.

"There will be an audition and preliminary round for an idol selection this weekend at the newly built Skyreach City Greenfield Stadium. That will be our chance."

I think I know what she's talking about.

"... You mean that Supernova Idol Festival?"

"That's right!"

I reminded her, "But that talent show is only open to magical girls."

"I know."

A fervent light shone in her eyes.

"All I need to do is figure out a way to disguise you as a magical girl!"