Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Is the Writer Omnipotent?
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On recording days for Mask Singer, the broadcasting station lobby was already buzzing with people early on.
They were all audience members attending the Mask Singer taping.
Half of the audience tickets were available on a first-come, first-served basis, while the other half were distributed via lottery.
These folks were the lucky winners of that effort and fortune.
"Who's performing today, I wonder?"
"I saw online that some amazing singers are coming out."
"Really?"
"Yeah, the current King of Singers has already defended their title three times. So the production team prepared some really top-notch singers for this."
"That sounds exciting!"
The audience members were already buzzing with anticipation.
But upon hearing those words, writer Lee Ji-yeon let out a deep sigh inwardly.
*Ugh, we tightened security so much, and yet the info leaked again this week.*
The most important thing in Mask Singer was fairness.
To maintain fairness, security had to be airtight.
If security was breached and word got out about one of the singers appearing...
And if that singer was a core member of a top-tier idol group with a massive fandom?
The fans would mobilize.
From that point on, rankings would be decided by popularity rather than skill.
That could shake the very foundation of Mask Singer.
That's why the production team was meticulous about security.
But since it was all done by people, they couldn't completely stop the occasional leaks.
*Still, we have to prevent the performers' info from getting out no matter what.*
To achieve that, they employed every trick in the book.
The performers' waiting rooms were all isolated from each other. Even fellow performers were assigned rooms so their paths wouldn't cross.
Bathrooms were installed inside each waiting room.
This was because in the past, performers had run into each other while using the external bathrooms.
Finally.
"Restricted access area."
As she turned the corner in the hallway, a burly man in a suit blocked her path.
Even though she'd seen his face several times before, they never let her pass without checking.
Turning that corner led to the performers' waiting rooms. On recording days, security personnel were stationed in front of every room, controlling all passersby.
To enter, you had to present your pre-issued access badge.
It didn't matter that she was a key staff member like writer Lee Ji-yeon.
She showed her badge and passed the security guard.
She walked a bit further inside and stopped in front of a waiting room.
The spot where the performer's name should be posted was blank.
They hadn't even done the first round yet, so not even pseudonyms were up.
Knock knock!
"Come in."
With permission granted, she opened the door and entered.
Inside was Tae-seong, wearing his mask.
"Here's your Americano."
"Oh, thank you. Sorry for asking you to do this. I should have gone myself."
"Absolutely not! If word gets out that you're in the station, it'll cause more trouble! We're the ones who should apologize—we're keeping you stuck here."
"Haha, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."
"It's the truth. Oh, and you can take off the mask now."
"Good timing—I was feeling stuffy anyway."
Tae-seong removed his mask.
His slightly sweat-dampened hair tousled as he did, giving off an inexplicable sexiness.
*Whoa... is this really the writer?*
In the 21st century, all sorts of people had become writers, reshaping the image of what a writer was.
But stereotypes lingered.
The writer archetype still evoked something rigid rather than refined.
Jeong Tae-seong was different.
*Handsome, great build, stylish, good manners. And he sings well too.*
"How much time until recording?"
"About an hour left. Want to rest?"
"I've got a bit of work to do."
As he answered, Tae-seong pulled out his laptop from his bag.
Lee Ji-yeon shook her head as she watched him open Word and start typing.
*He's diligent too.*
He really was an incredible writer.
* * *
"Hey, isn't that Gabriel?"
"Whoa! It really is Gabriel!"
"Gabriel's a panelist today?"
The audience erupted as one person took their seat at the panel table.
That person was none other than Gabriel.
He'd only appeared for three minutes on the popular YouTube show Otherworld Chef, but Gabriel's recognition was off the charts.
"Whoa... that halo effect is insane."
"Look, there's like light shining around his face as he walks in."
"Hand Ji-seok next to him looks like a squid now."
"The other panelists today have it rough."
The audience looked pityingly at the panelists seated next to Gabriel.
His neighbors included rising star Hand Ji-seok and idols holding down center positions in their groups.
They were all beauties, but none could compare to Gabriel's looks.
Above all, Gabriel exuded presence just by sitting there.
The audience's eyes were glued to him, drawn by his unique aura.
Was it just the audience?
Not at all.
*Whoa... how is he that handsome?*
*Insane...*
*Is he even human?*
The nearby panelists were just as awestruck by Gabriel.
Especially the female panelists—they couldn't tear their eyes away.
These women had seen countless handsome actors in their own entertainment careers.
But Gabriel was something else.
His good looks were secondary; he radiated an untouchable aura.
That's when one man approached him.
"Wow, Gabriel? Do you speak Korean? Korean."
It was Kim Sung-sik, one of Mask Singer's regular panelists.
Gabriel nodded at him.
"Yes, I do."
"Oho! You're good. Did you study Korean literature or something?"
He brushed off the tricky question with a smile.
"First time as a panelist?"
"My first time on broadcast."
"Ah! Really? Don't be too nervous. Being a panelist is no big deal—just say what you feel, and they'll edit it nicely."
"Thank you."
After that, Kim Sung-sik kept chatting to put Gabriel at ease.
Grateful for the attention, Gabriel gazed at the stage.
*It's almost time.*
Tae-seong would sing there soon.
He was already looking forward to it.
"Any favorite singers?"
"There's a singer whose name isn't well-known yet."
"A singer whose name isn't known? Pro or amateur?"
"He was a pro once."
"Huh? What does that mean?"
Gabriel smiled again.
That smile made it hard to pry further.
As the two conversed...
Recording began.
* * *
Tae-seong was third in line.
He was still waiting in his dressing room.
*What incredible focus.*
Lee Ji-yeon, watching him, couldn't help but admire Tae-seong's concentration.
*How many hours has it been already?*
Since his turn was later, Tae-seong's wait was long.
But he didn't waste it—he was writing.
And his focus was remarkable.
For two straight hours, his fingers never stopped.
He paused briefly now and then, perhaps hitting a snag, but his eyes stayed glued to the monitor.
*Could I write like that?*
She'd managed that kind of focus a few times, but only briefly.
*No way he does that every day, right?*
It was her first time seeing him write.
So she couldn't know if he maintained that level daily. But if he did...
*Nah, no way.*
No human could sustain that.
At least, no mere human.
-Writer, you're up next.
"Ah, yes."
She snapped out of it and replied to Shin PD's voice over the walkie-talkie.
When she looked at Tae-seong...
He was closing his laptop screen.
"My turn?"
"Yes, you'd better get ready."
"Got it."
Tae-seong stowed the monitor in his bag and put on his mask.
His moment had finally arrived.
* * *
[Two contestants advancing to Round 2 have been decided. Now it's time to find our third hero. Give a big round of applause to welcome our Round 3 performer!]
Clap clap clap!
Dazzling effects lit up two entrances.
[Descending from the sky to catch its prey! Golden Eagle!]
The Golden Eagle-masked contestant entered first.
Then, from the right entrance, another performer appeared.
[The bard who pens songs with exquisite emotion! Pen on White Paper!]
The two took center stage.
The MC stepped back, and silence fell.
The panelists began discussing the two performers among themselves.
"Golden Eagle's got some serious presence, huh?"
"Yeah. You can tell right away the production team prepped this one."
The veteran panelists had watched Mask Singer for years.
Even with the production team's security and traps, there were standard patterns.
For example, when filming an episode, eight performers were needed.
The team would slot two hidden masters worthy of challenging for King of Singers, and two trendy idols.
Of the remaining four, two would be celebs promoting recent movies, dramas, or albums.
The last two tended to be comedians or surprise guests to shock the viewers.
In Round 1's first and second matches, the singers who seemed King-worthy had already advanced in the first match.
That left one more.
The panelists pegged that as Golden Eagle.
Then the backing track started.
"Huh?"
"Isn't that song...?"
"It's Vibe, right?"
"Come Back to Me, I think?"
The panelists with music ties widened their eyes in surprise.
They knew how tough Vibe's Come Back to Me was, which was part of it.
But the bigger shock was...
*They think these two can handle a song like this?*
The key to a duet was chemistry between the singers.
That's why picking a song both could handle was crucial.
Basing it on one singer would tilt the competition heavily toward them.
Which wouldn't fit the contest format.
Choosing Come Back to Me as the challenge song meant both had the chops.
The intro ended, and the song began.
Pen on White Paper took the mic first.
[Whenever I start to forget...]
"Whoa..."
"That voice is art."
"He's nailing the emotion from the intro."
The intro was critical.
It was the first make-or-break moment deciding if you'd listen to the end.
Yet Pen on White Paper's voice drew listeners in completely.
*As expected of Tae-seong.*
A smile formed on Gabriel's lips as he listened.
It had been so long.
Since hearing Tae-seong sing.
*Not his peak-era voice. But that emotion, his understanding of the song—it's all still there.*
As the song progressed, the crowd fell deeper under his spell.
*Golden Eagle's no slouch either.*
What was even more impressive was Golden Eagle.
The audience was already captivated by Tae-seong's voice, but Golden Eagle picked it up seamlessly without breaking the mood.
Golden Eagle was a pro too.
The song built toward its climax.
In the high notes, neither faltered.
The panelists gasped in admiration at how they hit those highs while preserving the emotion.
"This is legendary."
"Who the hell are these two?"
"Any guesses?"
"I have a feeling about Golden Eagle, but this guy? No clue."
One panelist spoke up.
It was Yoo In-tae, the composer behind many hit songs.
"Ah, here it comes."
"How will they handle this part?"
The song reached the climax's edge.
The highlight of the original Come Back to Me.
[Come back to me.]
Their voices blended perfectly.
[Please come back~~]
A desperate cry for a departed lover echoed across the stage.