Chapter 145: 4th Competition: Final Results (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 145: 4th Competition: Final Results (1)
Live broadcasts require significantly more manpower and resources than pre-recordings.
True to form, the set was spinning at a dizzying pace. Everyone moved with disciplined precision.
The first turn went to Parte, who had taken first place overall in the 3rd Competition.
It was a wise choice. In a competition that relies on text-in votes, it’s advantageous to perform early and gather votes over a longer period.
Fitting for the finale, their stage was a lavish display, featuring members of a royal family vying for the throne.
Spark’s outfits for today consisted of clean white hanbok paired with deep turquoise vests.
To ensure they didn't look too plain, they added accents with intricate embroidery and norigae charms. Even if the concept was that of upright, incorruptible scholars, Spark was, after all, an idol group.
Based on my experience watching various survival programs, I’d noticed that groups rarely attempted Oriental-style stages for the finals, so I decided to gamble on that.
As expected, many groups had worn hanbok during the second and third rounds, but for the finale, uniforms were the dominant choice.
The audience and viewers had to watch six performances in one sitting today. I wanted to avoid overlapping concepts as much as possible, and I was glad to see we had succeeded.
“Your hair looks perfect. You can’t even tell.”
“Really?”
Kang Gi-yeon scanned my head from side to side before nodding.
I usually avoided wearing anything too flashy, but today was different.
First, to hide the surgical scars remaining above my ear, I had short hairpieces attached.
The stylist had worked incredibly hard to blend them naturally with my original hair.
And to prevent the hairpieces from flying off while dancing, I wore a silk headband over them.
‘Won’t I stand out too much if I wear this?’
‘We don’t know when or where the camera will zoom in for a close-up.’
‘I suppose so...’
As they say, leave medicine to the pharmacist and work to the experts. Thanks to her, I was able to wear a headband that even had soft gauze lined on the inside for comfort.
Because we prioritized aesthetics over historical accuracy, the knotted fabric trailed long down the back of my head, but since everyone said it looked good on me, I decided not to shorten it.
“Is Spark ready?”
“Yes!”
We answered in unison.
Spark’s concept for today was the Royal Historian.
The ones who record history in a place where everyone else dreams of seizing the throne.
And today, we would be the ones to rewrite the very definition of this program.
A video of Spark’s meeting was being projected onto the electronic display with VCR effects. On the live broadcast, the original edited footage was likely being aired.
『Spark, standby for entrance in five minutes!』
The assistant director’s voice crackled over the radio. Staff members hurried across the darkened stage. Watching the busy silhouettes, Director Han did a quick stretch.
‘I sure run into these kids often.’
Director Han briefly reminisced about the past.
From Jang Jun-hu’s music video shoot to People Who Drink Alcohol, Director Han had encountered Kim I-wol on set three times in a row.
While it wasn't unusual to see idols while working on music programs, there were always those who left a particularly strong impression.
To Director Han, Kim I-wol was one of those people.
When they first met, he thought the boy had a very bright and sociable personality.
Even when it wasn't his turn to film, he would come out to look after his members and busily try to help the passing staff with their work. The image was still vivid in the director's mind.
When they met on Drinking.People, the vibe was a bit different.
He was polite and calm, but Director Han had clearly seen the sharp glint in his eyes.
And unlike the other cast members who were stumbling around drunk, Kim I-wol finished his share cleanly and made a polite exit with a ninety-degree bow, remaining a gentleman until the very end.
That scene had been so impressive that he was quite pleased to see Kim I-wol and his teammates again on Idol Dynasty Annals.
Although he ended up being assigned to film a different group’s meetings, he heard plenty of interesting stories from Team 2, who had gone to film at UA.
Stories about how they conducted meetings like office workers, and how all the kids were incredibly sharp.
The writers, who were usually merciless with their evaluations because they had seen so many celebrities, were full of nothing but praise.
Until then, Spark had simply been a unique but nice rookie idol group to Director Han.
However, after the PD of Idol Dynasty Annals called an emergency meeting, Spark’s image changed slightly.
‘I heard a Spark member was assaulted?’
‘I heard it was PD Yu Han-su. Is that true?’
‘That crazy bastard finally caused a real mess. I knew he’d snap one day given the rumors.’
‘Still, how could he do something like that?’
The issue of a cast member’s injury due to a sudden accident.
The fallout was beyond words. The program’s name and Spark dominated the real-time trends on social media, and articles poured out.
‘Is Mr. I-wol okay?’
Director Han had asked. The PD replied with a sigh.
‘They say it’ll take eight weeks to fully recover.’
‘Ah...’
Since such an incident had occurred, a serious injury was expected, but hearing it directly made him feel even worse.
‘Then is Spark dropping out? Or are they going on without I-wol?’
‘They’ll probably drop out, won’t they? If it were just a simple injury, maybe, but if this happened because of a staff member they worked with, the members must be in shock. Besides, they’re all so young.’
The sound director spoke up with a look of regret. He was someone who had been keeping a close eye on Lee Cheong-hyeon, the member in charge of Spark’s composing and arranging, ever since the 2nd Competition.
‘But the thing is... ha.’
The PD ruffled his hair aggressively. He hesitated as if something was bothering him before finally speaking with difficulty.
‘I know I might sound like a psychopath saying this, okay? But it’s such a waste.’
‘What is?’
‘Their finale stage. I heard the plan from the Team 2 youngest. That stage is a condensed version of their entire narrative. If they don't show this, they just become kids who did a decent job and then dropped out midway.’
The lead writer, who had been glaring at the PD from the side, cut in.
‘Let’s be honest among ourselves. You’re just the one who thinks it’s a waste, PD-nim.’
Spark had an idea that even a music program PD would find wasteful to lose?
It was puzzling. Director Han knew well how many stubborn people worked in this industry.
However, as if to prove the lead writer’s words true, the PD began clutching his head with both hands.
‘Fine, it’s a waste! A total waste! Don't you think so too?’
‘Of course I do. That stage is basically the summary of Idol Dynasty Annals.’
‘That’s why I’m asking, Director Han.’
The PD’s gaze turned toward Director Han.
‘Would it be too much of an imposition to ask Spark to positively consider the finale stage?’
‘What kind of question is that? People really will call you a psychopath.’
No wonder he had called in the sound director and himself, who were usually far removed from the planning phase.
He knew Idol Dynasty Annals was performing better than expected. But shouldn't there be a line a human being doesn't cross?
Even on Drinking.People, Kim I-wol’s face would light up whenever he talked about his members. A guy who cherished and liked his members that much couldn't possibly have a bad relationship with them.
How must Spark be feeling now that Kim I-wol had suffered such an accident? As a matter of basic human decency, it was something they couldn't dare suggest.
‘I agree, that doesn't seem right.’
The sound director also waved his hand in dismissal.
Just as Director Han was about to get up, thinking the conversation was over, there was a knock, and the junior writer opened the door and entered.
‘PD-nim! Spark says they aren't dropping out!’
The PD cheered, while the lead writer and the rest of the room looked on in disbelief.
But the shock was brief.
Someone who had watched Spark from the sidelines for months muttered.
‘They’re really something else...’
Calling them "tenacious" felt almost like an insult, but Director Han couldn't deny the sentiment.
‘At the time, I was shocked just by the fact that Spark was pushing through with the appearance.’
But there were more surprises to come. Kim I-wol had shown up at the broadcasting station with a hat pulled low.
The production team, who initially thought he had just come to cheer on his members, were horrified when they saw Kim I-wol coming out for the rehearsal wearing a name tag.
Kim I-wol himself was perfectly composed. Even before the rehearsal began, he was smiling as usual, meticulously checking the sound and the entrance and exit paths for the backup dancers.
‘Since there’s an injured member, the stage quality probably won’t be what it used to be.’
Still, the will to stand on stage together was clearly conveyed. Director Han thought it was quite fresh and passionate.
Until the rehearsal actually started.
He should have expected it when he saw the large-scale backup dancers and various sets that were different from Spark’s previous stages.
There was no compromise for this fierce group—one where the members kept doing their jobs even when the eldest was hurt, and where the injured one still fulfilled his role.
‘Director Han, I know you’re good, but please make sure to capture Spark’s stage well this time.’
‘Spark’s?’
On the day Spark announced they wouldn't drop out, the PD had tapped Director Han on the shoulder after the meeting.
‘I’m counting on you.’
‘I mean, it’s my job, so of course I’ll do it well, but...’
Seeing Director Han’s lukewarm response, the PD said:
‘It’s because I think they’re really going to kill it. Let’s make a legendary stage.’
There was conviction in the PD’s eyes as he spoke.
Director Han didn't understand it then, but now that he had seen the plan, the camera work, the set, and the rehearsal, he knew.
He knew that Spark was capable of creating a truly magnificent stage.
For their finale stage, Spark chose Lee Cheong-hyeon’s self-composed song, Market Price Record.
Before any music began, Jeong Seong-bin walked out to the center of the stage.
Against the background noise of rustling paper, Jeong Seong-bin murmured.
『Someone came here to take the throne.』
He remembered seeing it in the planning proposal. A quote from the first volume of the Annals of King Taejo: “Taejo ascended the throne at Suchanggung Palace.”
Jeong Seong-bin’s steps turned back toward the members, who were standing in a line with their backs to the stage.
『This is a story containing
The many who have passed through this land.』
Jeong Seong-bin’s voice faded away.
The song began from there.
Among the members turning around one by one, Park Ju-woo, who had been walking out with his eyes covered by the back of his hand, swept his hand down.
Under the lights, Park Ju-woo’s eyes shimmered with a deep grey light.