Chapter 23

===================

Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

The arrangement meeting was conducted under the leadership of Big Sejin. And it received quite a bit of screentime.

[Kwon Heeseung: It was a relief that Big Sejin Hyung-nim was the leader!]

[Ha Iljun: He is certainly a friend with leadership.]

Seeing that even such interviews of Gold 1 and 2 came out, it seemed the production team also intended to push Big Sejin’s leader position.

“Keuh, thank you everyone~”

“If you’re thankful, talk about me in the next interview.”

“Me too!”

“Ah, of course~”

And one participant, contrasting with the relaxed expression of Big Sejin, was looking at the screen in the living room.

I stole a glance at Choi Wongil.

“…….”

Choi Wongil, who had been silent even after coming to the gathering today, now had tension clearly written on his face.

Just how would the production team have edited Choi Wongil’s provocation toward me?

From my perspective, it was fine as long as it didn’t come out as if I were the one who provoked him. In fact, if it wasn’t that, I didn’t have much interest.

However, the editing once again flowed in an unexpected direction.

They had completely edited out Choi Wongil’s provocation altogether.

[The idea is good, but if we’re not careful, won’t it look like we’re mocking the original song?]

Furthermore, Big Sejin’s rebuttal to my words was also cut out.

Instead, Big Sejin’s appearance of seriously raising his head was inserted in that place.

[I’ve thought about it, and I think there’s a way… to go intensely while keeping the original song’s sentiment.]

And it was connected immediately as if I had suggested an opinion.

‘I guess they thought Choi Wongil wasn’t necessary for the story.’

In order to bring out the dramatic flow of the arrangement, they made the ambiguous provocation in the picture as if it didn’t happen.

‘Come to think of it, changing parts in the beginning also just passed by.’

Choi Wongil seemed relieved, but well, I’m not sure if it’s a situation to be so.

In the end, Choi Wongil didn’t receive even one proper cut until the end. He didn’t even appear properly in the interviews.

Probably because he often said unpleasant things about parts or the arrangement even in interviews, so there wasn’t much to use.

Anyway, such things didn’t matter, and the important thing was my editing.

Just then, Park Moondae on the screen was finishing his words with a faint smile.

[Let’s mix in horror.]

[…!!]

Then, they pulled and captured the surprised faces of the team members one by one in close-ups.

‘…It’s excessive.’

It was editing that made it look as if he had come up with the idea of the century.

Even more interviews came out.

[Ha Iljun: Wow! The moment (Moondae) said those words!]

[Kwon Heeseung: I thought, this is it.]

[Lee Sejin (A): That kind of thing is… talent.]

The words of the child actor Lee Sejin sounded somewhat bitter for some reason. However, it was more unbelievable that even this guy did such an interview.

Thanks to that, jokes and boos were rampant in the living room as they targeted each other with cringey interviews. Lee Sejin kept his mouth shut and stood firm, only looking at the screen though.

And as Big Sejin’s interview came out, everything turned into laughter.

[Big Sejin: Isn’t that Moondae guy really funny? (Explosive laughter) No, his expression is like a Tibetan fox, but ideas are exploding, it’s so funny, really!!]

With Big Sejin’s words in the background, cuts of ‘Park Moondae’ reacting to all sorts of situations were edited.

Seon Ahyun’s rank evaluation.

[I… I, I… when I was young, I met with an accident…….]

[What to do…….]

The mainstream opinion of feeling sorry passed by, but Park Moondae was zoomed in on.

“…….”

Even in my eyes, it’s composure itself.

And the subtitle that goes in.

[Park Moondae: (Nod)]

“Ah! That’s right!!”

“That guy was really like that! Euehahahat!!”

And the trainer’s harsh criticism scene.

[A comment like this is praise only if you receive it at a talent show on a school trip!]

[…….]

Among the team members who bowed their heads deeply and bit their lips, Park Moondae’s peaceful face alone was visible.

[Park Moondae: (Peace-ful)]

That’s right.

All sorts of situations where other participants were agitated.

Park Moondae alone had dead fish eyes.

“Heoheok!!”

“That face! It’s too funny!”

“…….”

Only then did I know my failure.

Because I was like that alone among the participants who were overacting as much as they could, it didn’t look calm, but really a bit… like there was a flaw in my mind.

‘It wasn’t something to curse at the production team for.’

While avoiding Big Sejin’s hand hitting my back as he apologized while laughing insanely, I reflected alone.

After that, the arrangement process proceeding smoothly appeared in the broadcast within a range that wouldn’t be a short spoiler.

[Big Sejin: we will pull it off!]

[Park Moondae: …Fighting.]

Just why I shouted fighting with no inspiration like that, I don’t know…….

And it wasn’t long before the stage started.

Even the team members who were saying all sorts of nonsense were quiet and focused on watching at this moment.

I looked at the face of ‘Park Moondae’ who had stage makeup on with a sense of unfamiliarity. To think I am that guy.

[Wooooo-.]

Soon, a sinister prelude flowed along with the intro choreography, and the performance unfolded in earnest.

And the shocked faces of other participants who were waiting began to be inserted every time a part changed. My goodness.

Fortunately, perhaps because effort was put into the editing, the feeling of the stage being cut abruptly was less.

‘Hmm.’

Anyway, the stage came out certainly well.

Especially, it was clearly visible that Seon Ahyun was flying around like a fish in water. It was to the point that Seon Ahyun looked like the main dancer instead of Big Sejin.

‘It seems Seon Ahyun’s rank will rise sharply.’

The next best visible thing was surely Big Sejin, and the rest also digested their parts well. Unexpectedly, Lee Sejin also used his expressions well, so he didn’t look awkward.

Although it seemed Choi Wongil lost a bit because the cuts felt distributed to Seon Ahyun due to the choreography when he came out to the center in the chorus.

And I… fortunately, the bridge part came out properly.

[Can’t You feel me?]

This one verse was replayed along with reactions two or three times.

‘…It’s almost become a round song?’

I was thankful, but at the same time, the intention was suspicious.

‘Aren’t they putting in the no-sense talented guy gimmick again.’

So when the trainers’ conversation was inserted as a reaction to the bridge part, I was looking at the screen with eyes full of suspicion.

[Mudie: That was originally Wongil’s part?]

[Jeok Taesong: Really?]

[Mudie: Yeah, since Wongil said he couldn’t do it, (Moondae) gave him his chorus part and also did the arrangement alone…… (did it).]

But to think they would bring this story to life here.

Furthermore, if you only heard the trainer’s conversation, it sounded as if I had shown kindness and exchanged parts with Choi Wongil.

Well, but result-wise, it was correct.

For Mudie, even an interview cut came out.

[Mudie: Moondae’s heart is unexpectedly soft.]

[Mudie: But, the song is strong!]

Thank you.

Even with the same character, ‘no-sense so it’s f*cking annoying’ was much better than ‘he has no sense but he’s a kind kid’.

If I avoid sudden death, it seemed I should send red ginseng or something as a repayment.

The stage ended with the enthusiastic reaction of the audience members shouting for an encore.

[Encore! Encore!]

And the appearance of the team members hugging and being happy also successfully broadcasted.

“We were awesome.”

“Honestly, even though it’s my stage, it was good even in my eyes.”

“Acknowledge.”

Along with the sound of meaningless applause, the conversation of the satisfied former team members echoed in the living room.

Since I watched focusing on myself, I only talked about my screentime, but in fact, if looked at broadly, the team members received screentime relatively evenly.

Thanks to that, the living room atmosphere could still be harmonious.

I don’t know for sure, but there are probably many participants whose houses are like funeral homes.

For example, Ryu Chungwoo’s team that came out after us… was at a level where I wanted to observe a moment of silence.

Let me pick out a few subtitles.

[Chose the best song choice?]

[H. O. W. E. V. E. R.]

[Team members who continue not to focus on practice]

[Leader Ryu Chungwoo’s struggle]

The finishing touch was Ryu Chungwoo’s interview, where he looked tired in anyone’s eyes.

[Ryu Chungwoo: …I have to pull it off.]

‘Wow, they really sent them away.’

Even though I already knew it wasn’t to that extent, it made me feel bad to watch.

Even the guys on our side were talking with compassion instinctively while watching, so that said everything.

“Hey, what should those guys do.”

“Chungwoo hyung did have a hard time. Heo, but still….”

To summarize roughly, it was a picture where Ryu Chungwoo, while having no skill but lots of complaints, took the rest of the team members and endured a time of suffering to complete the stage.

“Chungwoo has a good personality, but…. Wow, looking at it like this, he’s a saint.”

The monologue of Gold 1, who was feeling dubious, accurately explained the editing composition.

Anyway, the broadcast showed us easily winning over Ryu Chungwoo’s team.

[The score is… as many as 82 to 401!]

[Waaaaak!!]

It was a cut that looked well without any special corners.

As for the individual votes, it ended with a subtle editing that made one cheer for Ryu Chungwoo’s individual vote.

[Ryu Chungwoo: I think my shortcoming was great.]

[Park Jeongseop: Honestly, shouldn’t (the individual vote) be won.]

[Lee Dojun: The responsibility of the person who led the team….]

Well, it was clean and good that our team didn’t even mention the individual votes at all.

Whether on-site or on the broadcast, it was a complete victory for this team.

As the 3rd episode ended like that, former team members collapsed onto the floor and the sofa here and there.

“Wow… this drains my energy.”

“I thought I was going to die because I was nervous!”

“I-I was scared.”

Even Seon Ahyun added his words.

It seemed everyone had consumed their mental strength quite a bit.

Big Sejin lay on the sofa and said.

“Ah, it’s a bit of a late word, but… everyone really worked hard. Hey, looking at the broadcast, everyone was so good!”

“Big Sejin, you worked hard~”

“I’m glad it came out well.”

Gold 2 left such words with his eyes sparkling with expectation.

“Our reaction will be completely good, right?”

And as if someone had granted a wish, those words came true as they were.

* * *

The first reaction appeared as an index on Wetube.

The stage video of the team Park Moondae belonged to, , was ranked 9th in the real-time popular videos.

The comments were no joke.

– From the arrangement to the stage dominance, everything is insane

– Such a precious stage in the humble Mang-jusa;;

– Everyone, this is exactly the stock that will hit the jackpot.

– What? Vampire? Just wait, I’m driving the blood donation truck

– I organized the names! 0:12 Seon Ahyun, 0:21 Lee Sejin (B)… (See more)

– Octobers, debut just like this ㅠㅠ

– Looking at the preparation process, everyone was soft and friendly, so they were so cute ㅠㅠ Is the gap with the stage real?

Immediately after the broadcast ended, similar recommendation posts or review posts consecutively rose to the popular posts or were shared in the unit of ten thousand.

[Ajusa stage reinterpreting a girl group debut song]

[Participant team that made art with SoftSweet]

[Ajusa episode 2 where rank changes seem like they will be insane]

Even cases of coming into contact with through this stage and becoming viewers began to appear slowly.

– I saw that vampire concept stage, is it a new season of Ajusa?

– I thought it would fail, but what’s with the stage quality

– I’ve never liked idols, but how do I vote for this? ㅠㅠ

Perhaps because of that, posts saying they like this team as a group could be seen not unusually.

– It would be good if they debut as they are!

– I’m voting for the kids alternately ㅠㅠ Ah, why are they not already a group!

A few quick-footed hardcore K-pop reaction channels also moved.

They uploaded reactions comparing SoftSweet’s original song and October 31’s arranged version stage.

[WOW! It’s like, one of a kind. right?]

That video was uploaded again to the reaction translation channel with subtitles and continuously reproduced domestic and overseas inflow.

In this process, the frequency of mention of the team members in related communities such as SNS also increased overwhelmingly.

It was truly at the level of a tectonic shift.

The finishing touch happened as SoftSweet themselves posted a video reacting to this stage on Wetube.

[Ajusa’s topical stage! SoftSweet saw it personally? October 31’s ‘To a New World’ reaction video]

The members of SoftSweet, whose prime had passed and group activities had ended, were living at a position of SNS celebrities, except for one member who succeeded as an actress.

Among them, two members joined forces, hopped on the bandwagon, and opened a YouTube channel.

And they did not miss this topical content related to themselves.

Thus, all the members except for one member who was busy with an actress schedule sat together and watched October 31’s arrangement stage.

“Wow~”

“Ah, this is a difficult part.”

“One person for Yueun’s part, Mr. Seon Ahyun? You’re my stock from now on.”

“Oh~ The main vocal person says he’s our fan! Mr. Park… Moondae!”

“Thank you~”

The reaction started with ritual exclamations and led to reviews of details and then to praise for the participants.

“Ah! Dried flowers on the costumes!”

“They put them in according to each of our symbolic flowers. Wow…….”

“They are very delicate.”

Of course, when the bridge came out, they were all horrified together.

“They raised the key like this?!”

“It’s the original key!?”

“Wow, really cool…….”

“I guess he’s really our fan.”

And in the end, it ended with sobbing.

“Ah, no, why am I crying? Why am I crying?”

“Aah~ They did it so well, we must have been very touched.”

The members, who were fanning themselves with their hands while sobbing, slowly opened their mouths.

“We… received excessive love with a pleasant B-grade concept. But originally, the debut song was like this.”

After SoftSweet debuted as flower fairies, they rose sharply with the so-called ‘sickly cute’ concept.

So there was a meme that became famous on the internet at that time.

– From flower fairies to X with a flower on their head lol

It was the day they appeared on the stage wearing hairpins symbolizing each of their flowers.

Someone compared that capture photo with the photo of the first album stage and posted that comment.

“Actually, it’s true that we received more love and were active because you liked the… gap with the debut song, but still, a little… it was a pity.”

It was true that the song became more of a topic because that comment became famous.

They also had good feelings rather than bad memories of the sickly cute concept that brought their prime.

But even so, it wasn’t that they weren’t sad at all.

“We could have done various concepts too…….”

There was no one who wouldn’t be hurt by a subtle ridicule.

So they felt a great impression from the participants who approached their debut song, which had not received much attention publicly, seriously.

“Thank you really. For digesting SoftSweet’s… hmm, pure concept coolly!”

“Yes. Reinterpreting it was also so good. Vampire… if we have a chance! We really want to try it.”

The fact that the stage, which reinterpreted the original sentiment coolly without damaging it too much, was perfectly to their liking also increased the impression.

They finished their words with a slightly tearful voice.

“It was… really a cool stage. We’ll also all buy the stock!”

“October 31 fighting!!”

“Fighting~”

As capture shots of this video were posted on communities and SNS, the view count of October 31’s stage video once again rose sharply.

And before the 4th episode came out.

Individual fan cam videos of all team battles were released first.