Chapter 116: 1st Competition: Competitive PT (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 116: 1st Competition: Competitive PT (1)
Healthy sportsmanship, a battle that warms the heart.
The beautiful narrative of friendship blooming within that struggle was supposed to be the selling point of this stage.
"Iwol-hyung."
"Yeah?"
"I don't know if this is the right way to put it, but..."
Kang Gi-yeon stopped me, picking his words carefully.
"It's fine, just say it."
"There’s absolutely zero motivation on your face."
I said it was fine, but suddenly it wasn't. My heart ached.
"Back during With List, your smiles were really natural. So why can't you do a 'motivated' expression?"
That’s because I practiced plenty of fake smiles at Hanpyeong Industry, but I never once had a reason to be motivated.
For Flowering, I channeled the mindset of an office worker heading home on a Friday night. For With List, I channeled an office worker leaving for vacation. But for this stage, I had no suitable memories to draw upon.
Regardless, this kid Kang Gi-yeon had a terrifying knack for seeing right through people.
"Is the difference that obvious?"
"Yes. It feels like the rest of us are playing in the league finals, but you’re the only one playing a friendly match."
"Well, that won't do."
The analogy hit so close to home it gave me goosebumps. Meanwhile, Lee Cheong-hyeon chimed in from the side.
"That’s strange. You’re usually so proactive when it comes to work."
For the record, I haven't been 'motivated' a single time since I started this idol business. I’ve just been driven by deadlines.
"...Maybe it's because he lacks a competitive streak?"
Even Park Ju-woo added a cautious comment.
"Hey, what’s with everyone ganging up on me?"
"It’s a very important issue. Hyung, you don't even have a dance line, so you have to at least cover for it with your facial expressions."
"Gi-yeon, I have feelings too, you know."
Despite my protests, the kids turned off the music and made me sit on the practice room floor.
"Was my expression really that bad?"
"It was bad, but, well..."
As expected, Kang Gi-yeon wasn't going to let it slide. If these punks were just doing this because they were tired of practicing, they were dead meat.
"It’s just weird no matter how much I think about it."
"What is?"
"Hyung, you exercise, you help out with company work, and all that. It’s not like you hate people, and you don't seem like the type to find things bothersome... so the fact that you have no motivation... how should I put it? It feels contradictory."
I keep telling you, I’m not working because I want to.
It was frustrating. But if I told them the System was breathing down my neck and I had no choice, I’d probably get penalized for 'leaking heavenly secrets.' I was already pissed off enough about the financial crisis.
"True. This hyung doesn't really have a competitive side. Whenever we bet on who goes to the convenience store, he always just volunteers to go."
"Do you guys spend your whole lives observing me?"
"I don't think we’re the ones who should be hearing that."
Lee Cheong-hyeon chuckled.
"How can a person live every moment competing? It’s exhausting. Forget it, let's just get back to practice."
"What about your motivated expression?"
"I'll just watch Choi Je-ho and copy him."
Wasn't that guy the standout in Spark when it came to facial acting?
I told Choi Je-ho to earn his keep and learned how to pull off an expression befitting a 'Center Emperor.' Fortunately, mimicking a face was a million times easier than picking up choreography.
After a period filled with issues like budget shortages, hate posts, and lackluster facial acting, the day of the 1st Competition finally dawned.
+
[SYSTEM] A work directive from the 'Person in Charge' has arrived.
▶ Assistant Manager Kim sure likes to make things difficult. Why do you keep doing exactly what I told you not to?
+
The System had been acting up since morning. It even went as far as showing me the Internal Regulation Violation manual again.
But I didn't care. You already took my money—which is everything to an office worker—so what else are you going to hold hostage? Didn't you tell me to make this team number one?
Since I’d already dipped into my own savings, I had nothing left to lose. Let’s go.
I stepped out of the car with grim determination. Immediately, I could feel an atmosphere far more heated than before.
As usual, I bowed deeply to the fans who had come for the 'commute' shots. As I lifted my head, I heard someone nearby mutter that my "performative acting" was over the top.
I had never once failed to give the fans a 90-degree bow. It was likely a fan of another group talking, but it was still awkward.
"Don't lose heart, my boys!"
Fortunately, I was able to shake off the unpleasant feeling thanks to the fans' cheers.
So, Song Min-il is making his fans suffer because he doesn't know how much they cherish him, huh?
I didn't understand it, nor did I have any intention of trying. I just hoped he’d realize that those who hurt others eventually get what’s coming to them.
With that, my boys, Spark, entered the studio with their heads held high.
The performance order for the 1st Competition was decided by drawing lots.
Since the program was called the Idol Dynasty Annals, couldn't they have done something more unique? It would have been fun if they’d at least played a game of Tuho or something.
And for a song-swap mission, why was the order random?
Usually, don't they pair the groups swapping songs back-to-back? The structure left much to be desired.
"Does anyone want to go up and draw a ball?"
"Such a task should naturally be handled by the elder of the house."
And so, I fully immersed myself in the program's concept. I even addressed our noble leader with the respectful title of 'Elder.'
Jeong Seong-bin, who had suddenly become an 'elder,' walked out lonely to draw the ball. Our turn was 5th.
"Wow, everyone looks so cool. Their outfits are really sophisticated too."
Lee Cheong-hyeon marveled from beside me. I chimed in as I looked at him.
"Should we go for a flashy concept next time too?"
"Like what, for example?"
"You know Madangnori, right? I'll wear a lion mask just for you."
"No, hyung. I like what we have now."
Lee Cheong-hyeon quickly looked away. Why do you even bother speaking if you're just going to get shut down, kid?
Unlike the Self-PR stages, from the 1st Competition onwards, every team could watch the other groups' performances from their own waiting rooms.
It was a relief not to have to worry about social cues while being busy enough just watching the stages.
The first turn went to Berion, who had shown a good performance last time.
Berion covered the title track of Sticky, a group with a 'lovable, sweet, male-friend-you-might-be-dating' concept.
However, the quality wasn't great this time.
I couldn't tell what the cause was. A lot had changed between the last filming and today.
Unlike the Self-PR stage, which was an internal evaluation, this time there was a large audience. Perhaps they had trouble putting their own color on a song that wasn't originally meant for them.
Did I misjudge who the rising stars were?
It was a bit disappointing. I guess my experience in the Hanpyeong Industry HR team really was useless.
On the other hand, Sticky, who came out third, actually did quite well. Sticky brought a romantic concept, confessing their love to a Berion song that was originally all about freshness.
After watching several stages in a row, something stood out.
"The seniors prepared a lot, didn't they?"
"Did you feel that too, hyung?"
Kang Gi-yeon asked back. Sticky's main vocal was now even pulling a bouquet of flowers out of thin air with a magic trick mid-song.
Even Berion was the same. Though I felt their ideas weren't as good as before, I could see they had paid attention to minor details like small gestures and face stickers.
I guess they did some monitoring after all.
Well, there was no way they wouldn't. Out of all the agencies here, none would be as short-staffed as UA.
Aside from the nerves between fandoms, there were various reactions to Awangsil.
One of the most prominent was the general evaluation of the entire program, including the six groups.
≫ Awangsil "Taster" Review
How should I put it... it's not super fun.
First of all, you can tell the kids are all walking on eggshells.
I get they don't want to be edited as villains,
but because of that, they feel too fake?
I think we can forget about group chemistry or friendships.
Gotta see the stages to know for sure.
≫ Is Awangsil live?
The audio sounds live.
└ Sounds live to me.
└ They promoted it saying they'd fight with their ranks stripped off, so it'd be hilarious if they lip-synced.
└ LOL that would be legendary levels of uncool.
While everyone else was saying "Let's get along!" and "I want to make good memories!", the dead-last Spark had docked points from every group except Berion. People must have been bewildered.
Since the reviews were trending this way, everyone must have sensed it.
That they had to deliver a proper stage to survive.
If the result was an overall increase in stage quality, I welcomed it. I was putting on a show to stand out, but if I was going to stand out, it was better to do it in a field of flowers.
"Yeah. The ideas are really fresh. I want to see the other seniors' stages soon too."
I answered Kang Gi-yeon with a smile.
And once Sticky on the screen finished their interview and exited...
『Are you all having fun? Thanks to your passionate support, the 1st Competition of the Idol Dynasty Annals is heading toward its second half. The next group is... the eldest brothers of the Idol Dynasty Annals! Parte, please come out!』
Parte, who was set to cover Spark's song, appeared in formation, wearing what looked like black capes.
At the same time, the kids who were getting their makeup touched up or checking their outfits rushed to gather in front of the monitor.
『As the rivals in the previous brackets were revealed, Parte's rival group was also automatically identified. What song has Parte prepared for the 1st Competition today?』
『We have...』
It had to be With List. There was no other song Spark had that Parte could pull off.
To begin with, Spark only had four songs. We had already performed our debut song for the Self-PR stage.
Two of the others were B-sides, and since those weren't meant for broadcast performances, we had poured all our effort into the digital tracks. Meaning, the vocal difficulty was hellish.
Because Jeong Seong-bin's range was as wide as the Pacific and Park Ju-woo's high notes pierced the heavens, the range of those B-sides fluctuated like Department Head Nam's moods.
If you lowered the key, you’d have to sing the intro from the bottom of a cave; if you sang it as is, you’d need to train under a waterfall. For a performance-focused group like Parte, they had no choice.
『We have prepared Spark's "With List"!』
See? I was right.
The moment Parte announced the song, I shot a glance at Kang Gi-yeon.
Before coming to work today, I had declared to him: "This is just a hunch, but if the Parte seniors pick With List, you won't make a single mistake today." The expression on his face as he looked back at me was bright.
With Yur's announcement that Parte's stage was beginning, the screen went dark.
Soon after, the lights came up along with amusement park background music that had been rearranged to sound as eerie as something from a horror game.
『I open my eyes and even the morning sun
Is perfect...
A day like today』
A whispering narration-like rap, modified from the intro, signaled the beginning.
『Yes, the day we've been waiting for』
"It looks like they changed all the lyrics to fit the concept, right?"
"Really. That must have taken so much work... they're amazing."
Jeong Seong-bin reacted to Kang Gi-yeon's words. Since he had done all the lyric modifications himself for the Self-PR stage, he seemed to realize exactly how much effort it took.
But Seong-bin, when the song introduction airs, it’s going to list a lyricist from MYTH. Our names, on the other hand, will be listed in full.
In other words, there was a high chance Jeong Seong-bin's comment would be broadcast as a high-level indirect diss. This was definitely going to fan the flames on the forums.
Parte's narrative-building was in full swing.
The original desire to play in With List had been transformed into a desperate prayer to save the world from evil.
With a large number of members plus backup dancers, there was a lot they could express through choreography.
『I beseech you, O God
Grant us just one miracle
Upon this land...』
Massive effects were layered behind the song.
It must have taken at least this much to drown out Lee Cheong-hyeon's top line. It was still a bit dull because they had shaved off all the highlights, but it wasn't a bad choice.
Glancing at the Spark kids, they were completely focused on the screen.
It was understandable to be overwhelmed by the scale. We had to stand on stage today with only the six of us.
But was there really a need to worry?
After seeing Parte's stage, I was certain.
We might lose the internet vote, but we would win the audience vote.