Chapter 108

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The stage was still dark.

On the unlit stage, a mysterious and heavy bass sound, like a dull machine moving, echoed.

DOON DOON DOON DOON
DOON DOON DOON DOON

The majority of the fans had already listened to it many times while streaming, but the impact of hearing it on-site was different.

A sense of tension was created by the faster-than-expected tempo.

And on top of that, an electric sound was inserted.

Dvvvviiiiii-!

It was that lightning-like riff melody that had appeared in the trailer.

And as if startled by the thunder, the lights on the stage came on like a bolt of lightning.

Under the pale lighting without any yellow tint, a stage set like a back alley appearing in an SF game was revealed. However, school props like desks and blackboards were placed here and there as if they had been discarded.

The TeStar members were turned away, each looking in a different direction.

Cha Yujin slowly turned his head forward.

– Do not trust it
There is no justice
Oooohh….

The moment the low singing rap ended, the striking riff melody disappeared.

And in its place, Moombahton unfolded.

The first dance break, which was full of rhythm but just on the edge of not being too cheerful, began early.

It was a group choreography with a slightly mechanical feel, centered around Cha Yujin.

And the moment Cha Yujin disappeared behind the formation, the song began.

– Even looking back, I can’t tell
Umm
What on earth happened

– Target Target Target
GOT IT
As I run, as I snatch it

It was a completely different vocal melody from the trailer song.

The reason was unknown, but this sub-track, ‘Better Me’, had a composition that seemed to have only sampled the accompaniment from the trailer song.

However, this was a much trendier dance track that an idol group would release.

Thanks to that, the TeStar members were practically flying on the stage.

It was a composition that made one wonder if they even had time to breathe.

– This vivid feeling
(Can’t be erased, can’t be forgotten)
Even now, I know
(I got that CODE)

The moment they reached the pre-chorus, Kim Raebin’s and Big Sejin’s vocals spread as they crossed each other.

The two performed a somewhat violent pair choreography as if trying to snatch each other before parting.

And the second pre-chorus part.

As Park Moondae came forward, the electric sound from the trailer suddenly returned.

And even lyrics similar to the trailer flowed out.

– I will never die
Like I did before
I’m gonna keep ME
Alive-!

The high notes rose cleanly.

The vocal melody was completely different from the trailer, but the level of difficulty was undeniably certain.

And Park Moondae sang this high note continuously along with dynamic choreography while getting entangled with and pushing off other members.

Furthermore, with a somewhat sorrowful atmosphere.

‘Wow….’

Kim Raebin’s fan forgot to cheer and admired as if she were watching a competition program, but soon regained her senses and focused on the stage.

Finally, Kim Raebin appeared in the chorus!

Kim Raebin sang the chorus with a slightly gloomy look as if he were glaring.

– BUT,
It’s just confusing
Since when was it
I’m just confused
Umm
How far does it go

The chorus returned to Moombahton and was loosely woven with low-voiced vocals and sharp beats.

Then Ryu Chungwoo came out and took over the next chorus verse.

– Could be confusing
What I want
May be confused
Umm
How to do it

The lyrics and atmosphere were as if they were wandering, but they were somehow significant and abstract.

Thanks to the harmony of the stage, choreography, and costumes, the performance looked like wandering in a dystopian worldview rather than reality.

Consequently, the neon signs and devices that could have been distracting instead brought to life the slightly gloomy taste at the heart of the intense song.

– Take me and get that might

As soon as the melodic chorus ended, the second verse choreography along with Cha Yujin’s pungent rap became even more intense and complex.

– This distant feeling
(Trying to erase, trying to forget)
Still, I know
(I got that CODE)

As if climbing endlessly toward a point of explosion, components were continuously added to the accompaniment and the beat became increasingly intense.

And the moment the chorus was about to burst out after the bridge.

Instead of dropping, the song removed all accompaniment. And only that intense riff melody returned alone.

Dvvvviiiiii-!

And in a situation without even a beat, the final chorus burst out while competing solely with the riff melody.

– BUT,
It’s NOT confusing!
Who I am
I’m NOT confused
Oh!
The BETTER ME I’ll find

Park Moondae, who received Ryu Chungwoo’s vocal, even hit the final super-high note to capture the sound.

It was a vocal volume to the point where the AR couldn’t be heard properly.

‘Heol!’

The audience let out an internal cheer.

When listening to the digital track, it was fatiguing after a few listens because both the riff melody and the voice were sharp, but seeing it as a performance, it was incredibly dramatic.

Furthermore, the Moombahton that restarted immediately after stuck to the ears.

– BETTER ME

Big Sejin, who smiled brightly, popped out to the center for the final dance break.

And the accompaniment of the first dance break was rearranged.

As if the conflict had been resolved, a lighter and more cheerful atmosphere followed.

However, because the choreography became incredibly glamorous with more footwork segments, it was even more impressive in terms of difficulty and spectacle.

– BETTER ME

Only as the song was coming to an end did they sing the title that popped out as a rearranged hook once more, and the song concluded.

And the internal cheers immediately burst out externally.

“Waaaaah!!!”
“Eoh eoh!!”
“What do I do!!”

The sub-track stage, which seemed to shout that it was for performance, was an excellent composition that provided both the pleasure of watching and listening.

Even better was that they would repeat the recording, so they could see this stage a few more times in the future!

The TeStar members seemed to be out of breath from the song without any rest segments, as they stumbled and panted while waving and saying thank you.

Whether it was too hot, some members even slightly lifted their techwear accessories to fan themselves.

And not long after, Ryu Chungwoo spoke to the staff.

“Phew… hah, the next take… pardon? Like this?”

The TeStar members’ expressions brightened.

“Wow, they said we got it in one go!”

It was a declaration like a bolt from the blue.

‘No way!!’

Even the rehearsal had been finished in advance due to equipment checks, so that one stage was all the fans could see!

But naturally, there was no reversal. TeStar belatedly grasped the situation and tried to make excuses.

“Director, don’t you think we made a mistake with our voices on this one?”

“We didn’t see the camera!”

But it didn’t work at all. Consequently, they apologized, showed some aegyo or dances, and then disappeared.

“……”

Thus, the fans ended up leaving the recording studio just 20 minutes after entering.

What was held in their hands was only a cream bread from a famous restaurant and an Americano that they said TeStar had prepared.

‘…Kim Raebin!! Park Moondae!! Who told you to do so well!!’

Kim Raebin’s fan tore open the cream bread without even knowing with what thought she was saying such things.

It was delicious, which made her even angrier.

* * *

That evening, both the stage for TeStar’s sub-track and title track were finally aired for the first time.

Perhaps because the general manager had been fired and there had been many recent incidents, the company at least gave them time to sleep during activities.

Thanks to that, we were able to observe the reactions to the first stage in the dorm at midnight that day.

On WeTube and elsewhere, the title track naturally had more views, but when going into social media or communities, the reaction to the sub-track was almost equal.

I clicked on a post with over five hundred comments.

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[TeStar’s current sub-track]
: (Social media video link)
It just came out on MusicBOMB, and honestly, the stage reaction seems better than the title track.
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– This is really for performance.
– It’s intense.
– They’re seriously good;
– The title track is a much bigger win for the digital track, but I think I know why they chose this as the sub-track. It’s really much better when seen as a stage. LOL.
– Is this live?
└ Yeah, it’s completely live.
– It’s almost the same as lip-syncing. LOL. The AR in Park Moondae’s part is so obvious. It was like that during Idol Inc., too.
└ LOL. (Link to MR removal video)
– The performance is really good, but what on earth do the lyrics mean?
└ We don’t know either. But Kim Raebin is in the credits for the lyrics. He’ll come on W-Live a bit later and talk about it in detail. Come watch if you have time.
└ LOL. Post a summary.

There were mostly positive opinions. Occasionally there was aggro that tried to just throw things out, but those were the guys who always appeared.

Of course, among those comments, I also found the stories I had expected.

– Wow, Park Moondae hits his peak every time he goes blonde. LOL.
– Is that really Park Moondae with platinum blonde hair? Heol, the Park Moondae in my head is stuck at the Idol Inc. production presentation photo. What happened?
– Moondae is really handsome.
– No, Park Moondae suits it so perfectly it’s as if his hair really grows out blonde. What’s going on?
– I couldn’t watch Idol Inc. because of my exam. Is platinum blonde first place? With that face and singing like that, it’s only natural he took first place;;
└ He’s a guy who poured broadcasting water into his mouth by the water purifier. Don’t be fooled.

It was roughly like this.

‘It was worth it.’

Of course, reactions having doubts also popped up quickly, but they couldn’t develop further from there.

Because I had laid the groundwork by making the first move.

– Hmm. LOL. Change in appearance… I won’t say more.
└ They said they changed shops.
└ How do you know that?
└ It appeared in the comeback W-Live behind-the-scenes scene of them getting their hair done.
└ Aha, okay.
– If your face changes just by changing shops, I want to attend that shop too.
└ Surprisingly, it’s something that commonly happens to idols who wear stage makeup….
└ LOL. Who says so?
└ I know because the idol I support changed shops and was ruined.
└ Sorry;

Hmm, as expected, since a decent excuse was included, it was smoothed over moderately.

‘It was a relief that the company was about to change shops anyway.’

Thanks to that, I was able to raise my Appearance to A- without difficulty.

And as for why I chose Appearance… it was because Ryu Chungwoo, who was B+ recently, had gone up to A-.

…Since he had a hard time during Idol Inc., it seemed the aftermath of that disappearing was only being revealed now. Even to my eyes, the light in his eyes had improved.

Anyway, if things continued like this, I would be the only one left at B-rank and would become material for comparison posts with captured moments, so I invested now while the timing was right.

‘It was a good choice.’

Ah, the other point was put into Vocal, making it A+.

Because as I kept practicing the last chorus of that sub-track, I had a strong premonition that I would eventually lose my voice, so it couldn’t be helped.

‘It’s a bit of a shame, though.’

It was because I felt like I could raise Vocal naturally if I just waited a bit longer. But since the comeback was right around the corner, it couldn’t be helped.

‘I should save the one remaining point as planned.’

I shrugged my shoulders and turned off my smartphone. Since the schedule was to start at a time close to dawn tomorrow, I had to go to sleep immediately.

‘Let’s look into the title track reaction more tomorrow.’

And while waiting for the music broadcast the next day and checking the title track reaction, I heard peculiar news.

“You guys have a variety show filming scheduled for next week~”

“Oh~”
“Where is it?”
“I hate birds.”

Among the lukewarm reactions that hadn’t escaped the afterimage of , the manager gave a thumbs up.

“It’s a variety show where you ride horses and shoot arrows!!”

“……!”

At that moment, everyone’s gaze turned toward Ryu Chungwoo.