Chapter 155

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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What Gold 1’s agency was thinking was obvious.

‘Since they can’t take first place anyway, they’re deciding not to do it without making an impact.’

No matter how good a song that group brought now, taking first place was difficult.

Even if they made a decent impression with their debut song, that was only to the extent that it was popular among those interested in idols.

A male idol not from the Big 3 agencies. A state where public recognition was low.

It meant that there were far more people who wouldn’t even attempt to listen to their songs.

‘So it’s worth trying to set up a frame.’

These guys would benefit just by being linked to TeSTAR somehow.

While emphasizing that they were from the same , they would try their best to set up a rival challenger composition to TeSTAR with media play, saying it was similar to the composition at the time of VTIC and TeSTAR’s simultaneous activities.

It was a move worth making even if they received some glares and checks from TeSTAR’s fans.

Because they would receive defense in reverse as there were many people trying to scratch TeSTAR somehow.

Of course, if it turned out to be nothing special once opened, it would end in ridicule.

‘…It seems they have some confidence in the song.’

Starting from Choi Wongil until now, the skill of the agency was top-notch.

If only the higher-ups in my agency were as quick-witted, how good would that have been? But based on my experience so far, it was a hopeless expectation, so let’s be grateful for the current state where at least a payment bot was sitting there.

*Vrrr.*

At that moment, a pop-up appeared on the smartphone screen and it vibrated.

…As if they heard me talking about them, it was a message from Gold 1.

[Guys, our activities overlap!]

[Ahem, we will see you at music shows, sunbaenims.]

“…….”

The kid was… a decent guy though.

Even if he had vaguely noticed the situation turning, he probably wouldn’t have thought that it would even cause any damage to TeSTAR.

He would just feel a bit grateful and embarrassed.

‘I can’t ignore it anyway.’

TeSTAR’s social position was now far superior to Gold 1’s.

The moment someone among the TeSTAR members showed a sign of being uncomfortable with Gold 1, it seemed like that agency would excitedly and hurriedly attach an image of ‘discarding people after dividing ranks’.

‘Well, should I let it slide for this activity?’

Anyway, after this season passed, they would probably grab another appropriate group and go for a picture of winning. Because the narrative is pretty only after showing the taste of victory after raising the rank.

Furthermore, honestly… I was confident in TeSTAR’s new album.

‘It was made well.’

I don’t just mean the completeness, but I think we worked so that the charm as an idol activity was sufficient.

At least the reaction to the teaser released just now was extremely good as expected.

‘I think it’ll be a career high.’

I had a strong feeling.

I appropriately replied to Gold 1’s message that came up in the group chat room and predicted the results of this activity.

And a few days later.

Even before going into the first music show pre-recording, I heard the good news in the waiting room.

“850,000 copies?”

“Yeah! You guys hit the jackpot!”

We had already surpassed the initial sales (Chodong) of the previous album on the fourth day.

Roughly calculating the future sales based on the trend… it meant that the probability of the initial sales exceeding 1 million was extremely high.

‘It’s 1st tier.’

We had now really become a level that could be counted within the top four or five among domestic male idol groups.

It seemed like Big Sejin was about the only member whose thoughts reached that far, but the rest of the guys were also sufficiently happy.

“Oh my god……”

“I think that the overseas sales would have increased if I were to guess boldly! As the concept this time is very traditional, it would appeal to the existing K-pop preference layer……”

“The album is cool! That’s why!”

They became a state of collective monologue due to being a bit excited, but it soon flowed towards doing our best.

“Let’s digest the comeback stage wonderfully and show them why our album is selling a lot.”

“Ohhh!!”

“Those are excellent words~”

“I-I want to show a cool side…!”

They were full of motivation. It was a good atmosphere to come out now, ahead of the stage recording.

“Ah! TeSTAR is showing something today!”

“Let’s go!”

‘It’s almost become an official slogan.’

As the frequency increased, we also shouted the slogan that wasn’t even embarrassing anymore and went up to the recording site.

*Waaaaah!*

A familiar cheer was heard.

It was a music show pre-recording that felt like it had been a very long time.

* * *

‘This album is unusual.’

Park Moondae’s fansite master (home-ma) tried hard to calm her heart.

But it was hard to do so. The indicators were too good…!

‘What’s with the overseas volume!’

It was a scream of joy.

And the indicators were not just album sales.

After TeSTAR became quite a hot topic in overseas K-pop communities through an American talk show, the number of SNS followers of Park Moondae’s fansite master increased at a faster rate than usual.

Then, after this comeback, the number of shares attached to Park Moondae’s photos itself increased to almost double.

In various TeSTAR promotional contents on WeTube, English subtitles were attached by users, or the views of fans’ humor videos made in English jumped.

And above all…….

‘The music video views increased significantly…!’

It surpassed 10 million views in just 26 seconds.

It wasn’t yet at the level of a 1st-tier male idol of the same weight class domestically, but it was still encouraging.

Even the view increase rate was still considerable, as if word of mouth had spread. Along with that, the teaser views were also increasing.

‘I thought it would be like that.’

The fansite master, who recalled the music video for the title track of this album, ‘Present’, was filled with emotion.

‘It’s really the best.’

It was a pity that Ryu Chungwoo, not Park Moondae, was the center of the music video’s drama, but still, the music video itself came out so well.

‘Ryu Chungwoo will rise quite a bit this time??’

There was no need to compare the rankings between individuals now, but the fansite master prepared for the cheer while having such thoughts like a habit.

‘They’re coming up soon!’

On the light sticks seen here and there, long ribbons (daenggi) printed with the album cover pattern were tied in various shapes.

They were mini daenggis for light stick decorating parts that had been included as a pre-order benefit.

Since the light stick looked like a pure magic wand, it seemed like an ornament they had thought of to give a sense of unity with the song while cheering. It was very pretty.

‘This kind of thing is cute and good!’

But the fansite master’s thoughts, which were appropriately satisfied, vanished the moment TeSTAR came up to the stage.

TeSTAR was wearing suit-style costumes that took appropriate Hanbok elements from the chest ties (otgoreum) or patterns.

And fabric ornaments were tied to their wrists, necks, or earrings.

They were exactly the same daenggis that fans had tied to their light sticks.

“Ahhhhhh!”

‘Who is the stylist (codi)!’

She was really grateful.

Fortunately, as if there were a surplus of time or perhaps the shooting preparation was not yet complete, instead of plunging into the stage immediately, a light greeting comment came out.

[Everyone, was the music video okay…….]

“Ahhhh!!!”

“Yes!!”

“I love it!!”

[Haha, I see!]

[Shall we talk about the part we liked the most one by one, very briefly? Now, starting from our Chungwoo-hyung who brought it up~!]

TeSTAR, who came up to the stage, stalled for time by talking appropriately. As a year had passed since then, they looked much more skillful compared to the beginning of their debut.

‘They’re really cute…….’

While murmuring warmly, the fansite master could not take her eyes off Park Moondae.

Park Moondae’s hairstyle had changed, just as it had already appeared in the music video.

Thanks to the preparation, she held back an excessive scream.

‘It’s been so long since he had black hair…….’

The fansite master was intoxicated by the faint first memory at the time of the press conference.

Park Moondae’s black hair was quite longer than what he usually had. It wasn’t long hair, but it was long enough that he could slightly part his bangs to both sides, which brought out a subtle classical beauty.

‘Excellent…!’

The fansite master swallowed all sorts of excessive praise and waved the light stick at Park Moondae, who was waving back.

[Everyone, they say this black hair of Moondae came out after a lot of deliberation~ you know?]

[Please give us honest feedback.]

“좋아!!”

“너무 좋다고!!”

The fansite master couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted hard. Similar sounds came out from here and there.

Moondae, who was asking with an indifferent face like a Tibetan fox, gave a small smile at that reaction.

[Thank you.]

‘The best!!’

The fansite master wailed, saying this was the taste of coming to a public broadcast.

But today’s highlight had not even started yet.

The stage, that is.

[Are we going in?]

[Yes.]

TeSTAR, who exchanged signals with the staff, finished their hand greetings and quickly took their positions.

The members gathered in a semi-circle and crouched in a posture with both arms hanging down.

[…….]

On the stage set composed of pine trees and black and red fabric, the performance began.

*Tang-ta-dang, tang-tang-tang, ta-da-dang—*

The accompaniment that started with a kkwaenggwari and a drum started the song in an extremely modern structure along with the sound of modified traditional instruments.

It was trap hip-hop.

At that moment, the choreography unfolded as they straightened their legs from the floor.

It was a choreography that looked like a four-legged animal moving.

The moment they took a triangle formation along with that strange movement, the intro ended and Cha Yujin jumped out.

– Even if you struggle, so that you can’t avoid it

Setting out today, Present (행차), they are doing it

So that one more stroke can be drawn on the record

Setting out now, Present (행차), they are doing it

It was a song that pushed the taste of a rhythmical and groovy, symbolic K-pop idol dance song to the limit.

However, a very unusual taste was added because the sound was unique due to the use of traditional instruments.

– Approaching without a sound

Predator, sharp Claw

Scratching this night

Chaser, as certain

The certain vocal melodies that went in between were good to hear. They made the song rich by contrasting with the rap that made sharp sounds on purpose.

Above all, there was no time for the choreography to rest no matter what part they were doing.

‘Shouldn’t that be revised…?’

Looking at the part in Seon Ahyun’s part where they all lay on the floor and stood up by reaction, the fansite master thought reflexively.

But she soon forgot about it. Because even thinking about something else was a waste.

– Swallowing the world

Melting it hotly

A sound that makes the tip of the tongue ring

Ryu Chungwoo stood at the center of the formation that had returned to an arrow shape.

Along with the chorus, the tempo became significantly slow. And an overbearing, static choreography suppressed the atmosphere.

– Now, you have appeared

Warning and warning again

Approaching in a figure-eight

A slow, thrilling

– Me

Along with the drop, the accompaniment exploded.

– The day that finally arrived

Present (행차)

Finally here today

(never get away from me ye)

Park Moondae’s high notes and Kim Raebin’s low rap overlapped and passed by.

– Even if you bow your head, you can’t run away

Look closely now

A thrill follows you

Lee Sejin on the side came to the front and tilted his head.

A dance break unfolded.

– Present (행차)

Thanks to the unsparing addition of catchy beat melodies, the song stuck well to the ears even in the dance break section where only a single word was occasionally spat out.

But a dance break more spectacular than that caught the eye.

The choreography that moved the formation as if a giant animal was changing its posture gave a strange feeling in line with the sounds of the sogum and gayageum that sounded as if they were running.

‘Crazy.’

Because they had only seen parts of the choreography in the music video, the experience of watching the stage from beginning to end was the first for all fans.

The force was enormous.

Even as it entered the second half, vocal stunts were added.

– Strongly

Larger

My footsteps that arrive

As soon as Park Moondae in the bridge let out a super high note, the final dance break followed immediately.

– Present (행차)

‘Is Moondae even breathing?!’

The fansite master, who hadn’t known that they would even do this part live, was speechless with emotion and worry.

It was at a level where she was worried if they could continue to do this live in the future.

‘I see why this side is a pre-recording (sanok)!!’

The fansite master, who thought she realized the reason for recording the title track, not a sub-track, watched the stage with her mouth open.

But until the end, no mistake happened.

The moment the explosive dance break ended, the choreography was organized as if it were rewound and sucked in, and the formation was set.

Unlike the intro that was like a four-legged animal, it was an ending like a disciplined squad.

With Ryu Chungwoo, who stood in the middle, slightly nodding his head to the sound of a taepyeongso, the stage ended.

‘I love it so much!!’

“Waaaaah!!”

It was the first time since TeSTAR’s debut that they had made such a blatant performance song their solo title. The fans were excited and sent unsparing cheers.

[Phew… thank you!]

There was no disarray even in the recording that was conducted once more, saying it was ‘a pity’.

Especially, perhaps because Ryu Chungwoo, who has very good stamina, took charge of the chorus introduction and ending, it looked more stable.

‘I see why they gave him the center.’

Since Moondae’s screen time was also decent, the fansite master could nod her head without any ill feelings.

[Go back safely!]

[I hope you eat enough breakfast!]

After three shoots, TeSTAR finished the recording and left.

Perhaps because they were delayed at the beginning, they left quickly for the next team, so there was no separate ending comment time, but it was still enough.

Because the stage was so good!

‘Ah, the feeling is good!!’

Thinking that it would be good to go on like this, the fansite master put the yakgwa (honey cookie) she received as a snack into her mouth as she came out.

It tasted like honey!

I wish our Moondae’s future path also only tasted like honey!!

* * *

I got a feeling.

‘It’s far from tasting like honey.’

The moment I heard the chorus of Gold 1’s group’s title track that he sent, asking ‘please tell me how it feels’, I had a hunch.

This, the song was too good than I thought.