Chapter 57
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Dawn's Breakthrough
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There was less than a month left until the comprehensive evaluation performance.
In the pitch-black silence of the early dawn, the dormitory was deathly quiet.
Rustle—
The noise I made while getting ready to head out woke Woo-sik, who rubbed his eyes sleepily.
"What? It's already six?"
Woo-sik checked his phone as he asked groggily, assuming it was six since his roommate always went out for exercise at that time.
He couldn't believe his eyes.
"Huh? What? Four?"
It was only four in the morning.
"Sorry, sorry."
Even I thought it was too early to get up, so I apologized to him.
"Sleep more. Sleep tight."
I went over to his bed and gently pushed down Woo-sik, who was staring at me in surprise.
Then I slipped out of the room before I could make any more noise.
It was still before sunrise, deep in the darkest hours of dawn.
I usually got up early for workouts, but today I was out even earlier.
Might as well start with a warm-up.
After a quick stretch, I began my usual run.
***
"Whew, feels refreshing."
By the time I finished my morning workout, including the run, it was just shy of six.
As the first hints of dawn painted the sky in deep blue, I hurried along.
Most people were still deep in sleep at this hour, and the place I headed to was...
First time coming to the practice room this early, huh.
The individual practice room.
Lately, everyone had been focusing on team practices as units.
With unlimited time until the comprehensive evaluation? Hardly.
They were trying to sync up as much as possible within the deadline.
So it had become the norm to pour all free time into team sessions.
That was why, as the evaluation approached, booking individual practice rooms had gotten easier.
Of course, even outside evaluation season, the rooms were usually empty at six a.m.
"Ahem. Ahh."
I wiped the sweat from my brow meticulously with the towel I'd brought.
No telling what Yoon Jong-hoon and Song Ha-na would say if I caught a cold in this chilly dawn air.
I settled into the practice room and loosened up my throat.
"Condition's not bad."
Maybe because I'd just run, but my body felt great.
Even though I'd woken up earlier than usual, I wasn't tired at all.
Time to dive into practice.
I opened the lid of the practice room piano and pressed a low key.
"Aaaaaah—"
Matching the pitch, I ran through resonance and low-scale training.
I joined everyone for team practices too.
As the male lead, my breaks were shorter than most.
And I couldn't slack on individual practice amid all that, so only one option left.
Cut back on sleep.
That's why I got up even earlier for workouts and was following Huh Ji-woong's manual from this dawn hour.
People really do need proper management.
Consistent practice was key, but since entering evaluation season, I'd added diet control too.
My throat felt clearer than usual because of it.
Scaling felt less strenuous as a result.
"Scaling's good enough for now."
Thirty minutes had flown by on scales alone.
School start was approaching.
Time for number practice for the evaluation.
"This one's a good start for today."
I propped up the sheet music with notes and lyrics on the stand.
Among the numbers Damius sang for this evaluation, the one with the highest note.
"Huuup."
I took a deep breath, recalling Ji-woong's teachings.
Expand the lungs, press the diaphragm.
Just in case old bad habits crept in.
I consciously reminded myself of his lessons whenever I could.
Nearly three months had passed since returning to seventeen.
My lung capacity had definitely improved.
"Fuuu."
Right after regressing, even big inhales were tough, let alone holding them.
But now, I could feel the expanded lungs pressing the diaphragm clearly.
Was it the young body after all?
Physical progress was faster than expected, way beyond.
"This hotel is all yours.
Hmm—yeah, not bad. Easy."
Finally, I let the number flow.
The opening was a slow, spoken-singing part.
Even in the dawn quiet, the lyrics came out smooth, no hitches.
I'd done over an hour of low scales daily during team practices.
The payoff of sticking to low scales without high-note work.
My low-range delivery felt unrecognizably solid.
No trace of anxiety.
Singing it, the stability in lows was impressive.
Time to shift gears a bit.
"Just say you want to stay here.
Say you want to live."
Damius's seduction of Elpodi continued.
A natural smile escaped, as if Elpodi were right there.
A ticklish sensation rising from my toes.
Arms spread wide, like the confident, charismatic Count Damius.
With stability up, emotions came easier.
"This room too."
I pointed to one corner of the practice room with my finger.
Like Count Damius in a lavish hotel corridor.
"That room too."
Now the opposite corner.
As if opulent hotel doors shimmered before me.
"They're all open.
No key needed—just open the door."
Deep in immersion, I nailed the facial acting too, even unseen.
Alone in the room, I became one Damius.
No accompaniment, just from my mouth, but the sense of "singing" was fading.
Then came the number's peak, the highlight high note.
"Just open the door—and embrace me—!"
No tensing my drooping body.
No conscious "hit the high note."
Old habit of forcing the cords didn't emerge.
I pulled the high note clean through.
"Yeeeah—!"
The final "yeah" high note rang out clear and long.
Ah.
A slight dizziness hit as I finished.
"Haa. Haa."
Eyes wide, I panted.
I'd pushed my breath to the limit, it seemed.
But no sense of breath shortage in my head now.
"What was that? What's this feeling?"
Immersion aside, I touched my throat seriously.
A sensation never felt before regression or after.
No vibration in the cords on that high note.
Because the old habit of straining full-force didn't kick in?
I hadn't even thought about the high note.
Full Damius immersion made it happen naturally.
"Naturally" didn't mean luck.
It meant three months of nonstop training since regressing were paying off.
"Ji-woong ssaem was right."
All he'd drilled day and night: low-scale work.
Vocal training, but only lows—how's that improve highs?
Anyone might think that.
Sounded absurd at first listen.
But it was solid science.
Cords thicken and shorten for lows; thin and lengthen for highs.
Even in lows, cord shape changes.
But far less strain than highs.
Low scaling boosts cord elasticity and supporting strength.
Highs then ride that built-up bounce and power, less burden.
Of course, objectively, that note wasn't insanely high.
Push greedily, I could hit higher.
But not with this same feel.
Meaning my cords weren't fully formed yet.
Get cocky at a breakthrough, disaster looms.
Don't forget that sensation.
Stay calm. Calm.
Knowing that, I didn't foolishly blast highs in excitement.
Kept maximum composure, replaying the cord feel.
Keep blasting highs now, back to square one.
"This high-note feel uses up breath fast."
Elation brief, I sat, murmuring about the regret.
Lung capacity up plenty, but still short.
Remembered the dizziness on that long high.
"Breath control on highs..."
Opened phone notes, jotting what I'd felt.
Would ask Ji-woong all about it next lesson.
Cross one hurdle, the next appears.
Often feeling bigger, taller.
This was that moment.
First time nailing a true "high" with new feel—shortcomings hit instantly.
Maybe why Ji-woong never rushed highs.
Previous stage unfinished, many mountains left—might discourage.
No rushing.
Today's win proved post-regression growth.
Plus, still seventeen body.
Grow steady, one step sure.
First clean high—first thrill of release.
Heart raced just from that.
No settling now, not a fingernail's worth.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow—learn more, grow more.
"Call it here for today. Don't overexcite and strain the throat."
Stood, stretching.
"Ah, should've recorded that number. To show Teacher."
Regret.
Not perfect, but brag-worthy.
Might get scolded for the high, but evaluation number—Ji-woong couldn't complain much.
Wrapped earlier than planned.
Better talk to Ji-woong first than solo overdo; not late for proper high practice.
Lock in this sensation max.
Above all, keep condition till evaluation, no strain.
Came in workout clothes, quick rinse, uniform—planning post-practice shower.
Just past seven—hurry.
Left for dorm to shower and prep for school.
The once-dark sky now held a bright sun.
Warm late-spring morning sun greeted me, full of spring vibe.
Campus edging summer, pale greens budding everywhere.
Fresh dawn air rushed in on the path from practice room to dorm.
Feels good.
Was it like this sixteen years ago?
The comprehensive stage—I couldn't wait.