Chapter 134
Chapter 134
First of all, as soon as the first day of the concert ended, a pop-up I had never seen before appeared.
[Successful Performance!]
You have moved the absolute majority of the audience!
: Heroic Trait Draw ☜ Click!
And an achievement was also completed.
It was the 'First Concert' achievement. Thanks to that, I leveled up for the first time in a while.
‘So it’s counted as a concert, not just a stage.’
It seemed that one-off stages and solo concerts were counted as different categories.
‘This is a win.’
My status window had been in a bit of a stagnant period, so having more ways to gain points like this made it easier to manage.
Between the long-awaited level-up and the trait draw, the concert was proving to be a great harvest in many ways.
‘…And it was fun, too.’
It wasn't exactly the kind of "fun" a normal person in modern society usually experiences, but it was definitely… an overwhelming sensation.
Even thinking back on it now, it was a dizzying moment.
All those lights, the voices, the heat, and the emotions…
“…….”
I was about to lose myself in the sentiment for a moment, but then I remembered what I had done at that time.
‘……I bawled my eyes out.’
…And then I remembered the phrase on the party hat I wore earlier.
‘Damn it.’
Since the party hats were custom-made, there were no spares, and since I couldn't exactly be uncooperative on W Live, I had no choice but to wear it.
‘I’m never crying again.’
That shitty "Crybaby King" title will belong to the bastard who made it next time.
“Moon-dae, you want a beer?”
“Yes.”
I took the beer can Ryu Cheong-woo handed me and took a gulp. It went down smooth.
“Everyone, you all worked so hard!”
“Whew, the promotions are just starting, but it feels like they’re already over~”
“Strictly speaking, we haven't even started yet. Our album release date is tomorrow.”
“…The music video hasn't been released yet either. Thirty minutes to go.”
“S-Should we watch it together before we sleep?”
“Sounds good!”
Everyone was clearly hyped up.
I might have to record another video in a bit.
‘It’s the first reaction to the music video, so it wouldn't hurt to film it.’
Instead of my old, cheap phone, I fiddled with my new, latest-model smartphone covered in a yellow puppy case.
…It was one of the gifts I received on my birthday.
The operating system was different from the phones I used to use, so it took some time to get used to, but I enjoyed the various features… and I was grateful.
However, after receiving the latest smartphone as a gift about seven times, I started breaking into a cold sweat.
‘There were three of this exact same model.’
I even made sure to show them on camera a few times to verify them, but smartphones weren't the end of it.
It felt like I had received every kind of electronic device and luxury item by category as gifts so far.
‘…They’re too expensive.’
My head spun just trying to calculate the total amount I’d have to pay back.
I couldn't let this continue. I was too busy to use them properly anyway.
If I couldn't even show myself using them, then receiving them was just for the fans' self-satisfaction.
‘It’s not like I can even sell them.’
If I got caught selling them, I’d probably be burned at the stake on the internet that very day.
And even if that weren't the case… I couldn't bring myself to sell gifts that were given to me to use.
‘I should probably post a notice asking them to stop.’
If I was the only one who refused to accept them, it would just make me a target for trolls, so I should bring it up to these guys once our settlements come in.
But not right now.
The atmosphere of this drinking session was such that if I brought it up, they’d probably just shout "Okay!" in the heat of the moment and regret it the next day.
“Aigo, how are our two twenty-year-olds doing? Do you like the beer?”
“It’s bitter.”
“There is no sweetness at all….”
“T-Then… h-how about this?”
Since it was the first time these guys were legally drinking, those who were already drinking their own stuff started chiming in with recommendations, and tasting reviews flew everywhere.
“I like this one!”
“T-Thank goodness…! B-But don't drink too much…… Whoa.”
‘What a mess.’
I gave up on the idea of a reaction video. We’d probably need three more years of experience before we could show this kind of state to the public.
“Moon-dae, do you have any recommendations~?”
“Just tell them to drink cider.”
“I don't want to!”
Fine, whatever. Keep drinking and pass out then.
I opened a new can of beer and, on a whim, spun the trait draw.
‘If it’s a Heroic Trait Draw, it’s at least B-grade, right?’
I hoped something useful would come out. It would be best if Bacchus came out again and got upgraded.
The now-familiar slot machine appeared, and the slots, mostly gold with occasional platinum spaces, began to spin rapidly.
[Mental King]
[Focus]
[Soft and Cute]
[No Further Detailed Explanation Needed (omitted)]
[In Need of Empathy]
[Bacchus]
[……]
Traits I felt like I’d seen before and phrases I prayed wouldn't be picked flickered past, and then, it stopped.
It was one of the few platinum spaces.
“……!”
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Along with confetti, an A-grade trait appeared.
[Trait: International Student (A)]
- I understand perfectly what you are saying.
: Foreign language acquisition ability +200%
What is this?
Where did this random job-seeker trait come from?
‘Increased foreign language acquisition ability?’
Why not just let me speak a whole language fluently? Is creating something from nothing impossible even for the status window?
‘…I wasted an A-grade.’
With a bitter smile, I was about to discard the newly drawn trait when I suddenly snapped out of it.
‘Wait.’
…Let’s think about the cases so far.
Immovable Heart. I discarded it as soon as it appeared, and then the past controversy broke out.
Tear Faucet. I discarded it as soon as it appeared, and then I bawled my eyes out at the concert…… Fuck.
Could it be that this thing throws me the traits I’ll need most at that specific time?
The ominous feeling I’d had since last time was starting to look very convincing.
“…Whew.”
Calm down. First, let’s deduce.
A situation where foreign language acquisition is necessary.
‘That can only be overseas expansion.’
Unless I was going to be kidnapped in the near future and sold to an overseas fishing boat, that was the only plausible future for an idol.
‘It is about time we tried a tour.’
Due to the nature of coming from a domestic audition program, TeSTAR's overseas fandom was weak compared to the domestic one, but it wasn't non-existent.
Once you gain popularity domestically, interest tends to naturally follow from overseas.
Moreover, the Onyx cover stage we did last time seemed to have become quite a hot topic among international K-pop fans.
‘I guess that’s their taste.’
I had sold data to foreigners using translators a few times before, and the groups that had a higher transaction rate than domestic ones were usually those with that kind of concept.
Dance songs with a heavy hip-hop base and intense performances.
‘TeSTAR isn't exactly a group that takes that as their main concept, though.’
Not everything follows the trends, but if we ever have to target overseas, it seemed okay to try that kind of song as a single title once or twice.
Anyway… back to the point, let’s go back to the assumption that this trait appeared because an overseas tour is scheduled within this year.
‘…Still, I don't think I’d need this kind of ability just for a tour.’
I can speak English at a college graduate level. It means I can handle light communication.
Besides, we already have a native speaker in our team. Cha Yu-jin…….
“Drink more!”
“Wait, Yu-jin, let’s stop there~”
“Y-You drank too much…!”
“…….”
Cha Yu-jin… is the only native speaker.
And the remaining one who studied abroad is Seon A-hyun.
The communication compatibility between the two is disastrous, to say the least.
‘This… won't do.’
I eventually decided to follow inductive reasoning.
Rather than going through what happened when I discarded Immovable Heart and Tear Faucet, it was better to just study foreign languages until I got my next trait if necessary.
Then I had to delete one of the three traits I already had… well, this was obvious.
[Trait: That sounds right (C) has been deleted!]
I haven't used this trait at all since my debut. It didn't even trigger when I was persuading the former General Manager or when I was advising Seon A-hyun to get counseling.
‘Since it has the lowest grade, it’s right to let this one go.’
It’s not like I’m walking a tightrope while doing group projects in a crazy survival individual match like during <Aju-sa> anymore.
I re-checked my organized status window.
[Name: Park Moon-dae (Ryu Gun-woo)]
Level: 16
Title: None
Vocal: A+
Dance: B
Appearance: A-
Star Quality: B
Traits: Infinite Potential, International Student (A), Bacchus 500 (B), Catchy Ear (A)
!Status Effect: Death if Not an Award
Remaining Points: 2
First, the dance stat, which had naturally grown from B- to B, caught my eye.
‘All that rolling around was worth it.’
It was a feat achieved through preparing for the year-end stages and the concert. Now, even if I stand next to an average guy, I’ll look like a pretty good dancer.
And with the 2 remaining points currently available… well, since I have one extra, I want to dump one into Vocals. Because the grade would change.
‘I want to see how much the sound changes once I enter S-rank.’
But it also seemed okay to put two points into Star Quality or Dance to make three A-grades.
‘What should I do?’
I pondered for a moment, then made up my mind after recalling one of the upcoming schedules.
‘This seems right.’
And the moment I distributed the points, someone tapped me on the back.
“Park Moon-dae, did you see this?”
“What is it?”
When I turned my head, Keun Se-jin held up his smartphone screen.
It was a new message in the Moon Rabbit group chat from the <Aju-sa> 3rd team match, which I hadn't seen in a long time.
[Ha Il-jun Hyung-nim: I heard the concert ended well! Congratulations (crying emoticon). Sorry I couldn't go even though you invited me!]
[Ha Il-jun Hyung-nim: Actually, I’m debuting in April! I couldn't go because I was preparing for the debut ㅠㅠ Please take good care of me from now on, TeSTAR sunbaenims! (bowing emoticon)]
Oh, Gold 1 is debuting.
But was there anything else to say besides congratulations? There didn't seem to be anything unusual.
“…Ah, wait. It scrolled up.”
Keun Se-jin checked my expression and then scrolled down his smartphone screen with his finger.
Then, a new message appeared.
[Ha Il-jun Hyung-nim: But Won-gil is also debuting in our team. If they ask about our relationship in interviews or something, would it be okay if we just say everything was resolved well?]
[Ha Il-jun Hyung-nim: Not that we’re close or anything, just that much!]
I see.
It seemed Choi Won-gil was also debuting in the same team.
Since the majority of TeSTAR members had experienced Choi Won-gil's trolling in <Aju-sa> and it was all broadcasted, it was certainly something that could come up in a nasty interview.
‘It’s understandable that Gold 1 is worried.’
Keun Se-jin shrugged.
“What do you think?”
What else? I didn't have any particular thoughts.
Gold 1 wasn't a stupid attention seeker, so he’d say exactly that much. That they resolved it well.
And considering Choi Won-gil apologized on the station stairs back then, it seemed he’d changed his mind enough not to say anything unnecessary.
“I don't care.”
“Really? Actually, me too. Then I’ll post it.”
Keun Se-jin smiled and posted a message in the group chat.
[Me: Gasp, Hyung-nim, your debut~ Congratulations! (sparkling eyes emoticon). That much is obviously fine for an interview~ It’s not like we fought or anything!]
“I’ll leave it at this. You should post a congratulatory message too~”
“Okay.”
“The others, well… they’ll post their congratulations once they snap out of it, right?”
“Probably.”
He meant Seon A-hyun and Kim Rae-bin. It was obvious.
They seemed too busy drinking and stopping Cha Yu-jin right now, so they’d do it on their own once they came to their senses later.
“M-Moon-dae! Do you want to drink too?!”
“…I’m fine.”
As soon as our eyes met, he talked to me like it was some PoXmon battle. Let’s avoid him.
In the end, I ended up joining that mess and even drinking wine, but anyway, I didn't think any particular problem would arise because of the current situation.
Until a few days later, right before our first comeback on a music broadcast, when I discovered that popular WeTube video.
=========================
[Choi Won-gil Recording 2]
=========================
Up to this point, it wasn't my business.
But when I pressed play, things changed.
It was just a recording with sound coming out of a black background without any video, but a conversation I’d heard somewhere came out.
“……??”
Hey, no way.
I scrolled down to the comments.
Someone had kindly added translated subtitles.
Why am I appearing here…?