Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Translator: Penny
Chapter 46
With Ryu Jaehee leading the charge, we had finally established our character concepts. But our work was far from over.
Immediately after our promotional activities ended, we faced the daunting task of preparing for the year-end music awards shows.
As rookies who had debuted this year, we only needed to perform one song and leave the stage. The real challenge lay in the special stages.
Thanks to our unexpected success as rookies, M Broadcast's Gayo Big Match event had secured a "Swap" stage with KICKS, while another public broadcaster's Gayo Festival had arranged a collaboration stage with Adora, all thanks to Kim Dobin's connections.
Music Daejeon, however, preferred to feature special stages with more established groups, so we only needed to perform our new song there.
The WAMA in Hong Kong was no different.
And then there was Seo Raon's stage featuring, which I was also involved in.
Even though my part was only 25 seconds long, I still needed to coordinate my movements with the other performers on stage, so I'd be called in for rehearsals several times before the event.
The featuring itself was straightforward—I could just perform as usual, so that wasn't the issue.
"But we can't take the 'KICKS' and 'Swap' stages lightly. We'll show them we crush them with skill."
This was a matter of the group's pride, and even more so, my own.
"Still, the thought of those guys using our songs for their stage makes me strangely pissed. If they perform a good song well, they'll naturally get praise. Why should my hard work be reduced to boosting those guys' image?"
As he spoke, his brow furrowing, Ryu Jaehee nodded vigorously in agreement beside him.
"Exactly! Isn't this way too unfair to us? Honestly, compared to 'One Chance,' 'Watch Out' is just plain awful."
"Yeah, I deliberately chose a terrible song. We're going to completely rearrange and overhaul it anyway, so it'll make for a stark contrast with the original."
He was determined to make sure that when people searched on YouTube, the Reve version would be the first result.
He wanted comments like, "Came here from the Reve version, but the original feels so bland ㅠ The arrangement is way better!"
He even imagined comments like, "You can't beat the original artist after all ᄉᄀ" on the other group's performance videos, and a blissful smile spread across his face.
"At times like this, Eden Hyung really feels reliable. It puts my mind at ease."
"Oh, so you're saying I'm usually unreliable?"
"No comment."
Kim Dobin quickly made an "X" with his fingers over his lips.
"But the problem is that KICKS' choreography is all about synchronized precision," Gyeon Hajun said cautiously, drawing everyone's attention to a single person.
Seo Yehyeon, now the center of attention, scratched his head awkwardly.
"Since Yoon Eden is arranging the music, we can probably rework the choreography too..."
"Even if we make small changes, we need to maintain the synchronized precision. We can't give the haters any ammunition to attack us with."
Gyeon Hajun spoke firmly, then placed both hands on Seo Yehyeon's shoulders.
"It's okay, Hyung. You can do this."
"Uh, uh-uh...?"
"Eden's busy, so I'll help you. You don't want to be considered worse than KICKS, do you?"
"No, of course I have to do it..."
A sharp glint flickered in Gyeon Hajun's usually calm brown eyes.
He's gone completely mad now that KICKS is involved, hasn't he, Gyeon Hajun?
"Great! This is a perfect opportunity for you two to practice together, break the ice, and all that."
Since it wasn't my problem, I just offered some encouraging words.
Wait a minute... what if teaching him completely ruins Gyeon Hajun's personality?
If Reve's only redeeming quality turned him into a second Seo Yehyeon, full of anger and resentment... Ugh, just imagining it is terrifying.
"Jun-a, if you're really struggling, send an SOS. As someone with experience, I'll give you some pointers."
"I know you're the busiest one here. How could I ask you for help?"
"Could you guys please stop creating such a warm and fuzzy atmosphere with me stuck in the middle?" Kim Dobin suddenly interrupted the cozy, harmonious mood.
"By the way, besides the KICKS and Swap stages, did you miss anything else important?"
"What could be more important than this?"
"How can you say such a thing?! We have to give our all for the collaboration with Adora Sunbaenims too!"
Since I trusted Kim Dobin would modify the first verse choreography we had to perform to make it less awkward for us, I didn't bother adding anything.
What could I say when he claimed he was working his hardest and going through so much trouble?
"Guess I'll have to push my body to its limits."
He sighed, then paused, turned to Kim Dobin, and added, "And make sure you don't overdo it yourself."
"Just so you know, Dobi, it's not that story. Don't misunderstand."
"I won't misunderstand anymore!"
Good enough.
[snow dream(크리스마스 기념곡)진짜레알정말로최종.mp3]
"Finally, it's done..."
I slumped back in my chair and muttered the words as soon as I finished saving the project file.
I didn't even have the energy to celebrate finishing the work properly.
Who would have thought that the 'Someday USB' I'd pulled with a Random Ticket wouldn't contain a single Christmas commemorative song I'd composed?
If it had, I could have coasted through this project.
I was a little disappointed in my past self for never thinking to create an alchemy-themed carol that could play every Christmas.
Yongcheol Hyung, who was slurping instant noodles behind me, spoke to me as I lay sprawled in my chair like a deflated balloon.
"Congratulations. So, can I have my studio back now?"
"No, I need to arrange KICKS' song now."
"Ugh, just buy the place upstairs and use it as your studio. You're making money now, how long are you going to keep squatting here?"
"I'm sorry, Hyung. I swear I'll only stay until this project is done."
As I spoke, waving the card between my fingers, Yongcheol Hyung smiled kindly, saying it was fine to stay as long as I needed since he didn't have any work lined up for a while anyway.
I weighed the cost of a new studio deposit against the price of the beef this guy was going to devour and gave up.
I need to get my own studio and move out soon.
Rubbing my dry eyelids, Yongcheol Hyung clicked his tongue.
"You're going to burn out if you keep this up. You know, coming into this world has an order, but leaving doesn't."
"I started exercising because I was worried I'd kick the bucket."
Truth be told, that damn System forced me into it. It added a "body management" category and crammed exercise into my Weekly Quests.
If it genuinely cared about my health, it would have swapped out that tasteless balsamic salad diet for proper home-cooked meals.
"Exercise? You'd be better off sleeping, you lunatic. Look at those dark circles under your eyes. Is your group's concept supposed to be ghosts who died from sleep deprivation?"
"We're going for a fresh, high teen vibe."
"High teen? Did you get stuck playing the ghost of a library nerd who studied himself to death trying to get into Harvard?"
"What kind of nerd would bleach his hair silver? Besides, once I finish the arrangement, I'll finally get some sleep."
"Just looking at you work, you'd think you were world-class, world-class."
Yongcheol Hyung shook his head, tossed a cup ramen into the air, caught it, and asked, "Hey, wanna grab some late-night ramen here? I heard those older guys at the dorm throw a fit if you even snack after dinner."
"I appreciate the thought, but I'll pass. I have a schedule tomorrow. If I eat ramen now and my face gets puffy, I'll catch hell tomorrow."
I yawned as I replied, and my phone, resting on the desk, buzzed briefly.
Ryu Jaehee - LOL Hyung
Ryu Jaehee - Did you see our first-week sales?
It was only after seeing Ryu Jaehee's message that I realized our album's first-week sales had been released.
Come to think of it, it had already been a week since our comeback. We'd been so busy that I hadn't even noticed the time passing.
How many copies?
[Ryu Jaehee - 60,000 copies!]
[Ryu Jaehee - Only 5,000 copies behind KICKS!]
"Aaaaaah!"
I leaped up from my chair, but my legs buckled, sending me staggering back into the seat.
"Ah, you scared me. What's wrong?"
"Our group's album sold 60,000 copies in its first week."
"Why are you making such a fuss? It's not even a million copies."
"You think this is just a fuss? We're doomed! Fuck, only 60,000 copies... Wait, what year is it?"
I checked the date on my phone before finally calming down. This was before the era of album inflation, when first-week sales weren't as crucial. The number was actually about right for the time.
At least we're a male idol group with a dedicated fanbase. Girl groups would probably sell half that, if even that.
Seeing that we were only 5,000 copies behind KICKS, I completely relaxed. This was normal for this era.
One Chance had climbed to the top of the Big Three charts, thanks to a chart vacuum and a music show boost.
The song's addictive hook had undoubtedly contributed to its mainstream appeal.
KICKS' Time's Up had held the top spot for three days before falling back to third place. It was a true three-day reign.
Before my regression, I had secretly begun to reevaluate Reve, impressed by how their comeback with this song had surpassed the performance of their junior group's previous promotions.
Even though they had perfectly recreated the stage from my bucket list, the image of our group that still lingered in my mind was of a team that barely showcased half of its potential—a group with terrible teamwork, lackluster songs, and no hope of ever achieving synchronized choreography.
That's why Seo Yehyeon, who had contributed so much to the group's disastrous image, was being pushed so hard in this episode.
What was I doing around this time before my regression?
Probably sitting on the practice room floor, listening to that incomprehensible song that never seemed to stick in my head, while preparing for our next doomed comeback. I was likely vowing to myself that one day I would perform my own song.
One thing's for sure: I wasn't this busy back then. Come to My Universe had flopped so badly that Reve didn't even get to perform at the Year-End Music Festival.
I was so free and idle that I could wander around Hongdae with my friends without anyone recognizing me.
Later, even when I rode the subway, no one paid me the slightest attention.
Of course, things changed after I rose to the Second Tier.
But around this time, I seem to recall some major incident happening in winter...
From my perspective, it felt like seven years ago. All I could remember was tearing my hair out in despair and screaming my lungs out, but I couldn't for the life of me recall what the actual event was.
Isn't there some System item that could help me recover my memories?
That damned System, which usually pops up uninvited and throws all sorts of restrictions at me, suddenly goes silent when I actually need it. After cursing it inwardly, I reached out to Yongcheol Hyung.
"Hyung, can I have some instant ramen?"
"Didn't you say you weren't eating it because it makes your face puffy?"
"I got hungry after yelling so much. I heard adding milk to ramen makes it less puffy. Should I grab some milk from the convenience store up ahead and mix it in?"
"Ugh, just hearing that makes me want to puke. Dude, just eat the ramen and drink the milk separately."
Yongcheol Hyung's disgust left me no choice. I poured hot water into the cup ramen and, after an agonizing wait, compromised by adding only half the seasoning packet instead of milk. The moment I shoved a mouthful of noodles into my mouth, a notification popped up:
Detected consumption of prohibited food during activity period.
Reason: High sodium content.
Original Intent Score -1
See? This bastard system only shows up with perfect timing when it's time to deduct my Original Intent Score.
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny