Chapter 206
Chapter 206
TeSTAR’s teaser began with a steam locomotive chugging across a desolate field.
Hiss—!
The brass-colored train, its gears prominently displayed, drew closer to the screen at an angle. Then, as if being sucked in, the camera zoomed into one of the train’s windows.
[...]
The cabin was a fusion of classical mid-Joseon architecture and modern elements. Two passengers sat facing each other, wearing black and white dopo robes draped over their shoulders like coats. Beneath their outer robes, modern-style clothing with crisscrossing leather straps and buckles was visible.
Suddenly, the camera caught the face of the one in the white dopo. It was Seon A-hyun, his hair neatly swept back, looking down with a lowered gaze.
And across from him...
A figure holding an old newspaper with a large headline that read, 'Citizenship for Monsters? Preposterous!' lowered the paper.
It was the silver-haired Park Moon-dae.
Moon-dae raised his head and stared into the camera with an expressionless face. At that moment, the music kicked in.
[♬♩-♪♬ ♩ ♩ ♩]
As the rhythmic beat of drums and the shimmering cascade of wind chimes brought out a mysterious period-drama vibe, the video began to cut rapidly between scenes.
Keun Se-jin, wearing a monocle and flipping a gold coin, flashed a brief smirk. Then, Kim Rae-bin, dressed in a suit and holding a gas lamp, walked past a coal mine. Next was Bae Se-jin, his hair a light brown, peering at a strange, analog brass dashboard.
The moment Bae Se-jin looked out the window, the camera followed his gaze to show the train entering a bizarre city. The city, a chaotic tangle of traditional architecture and symbols of the Industrial Revolution, was shown briefly before the focus shifted back to the train racing across the rooftops.
And in the next instant...
The train derailed.
Screeeeeech!
As it collided with buildings, roof tiles rained down like autumn leaves. Golden dust and debris swirled through the air. From the wreckage, a foot wearing a combat boot kicked outward.
Bam!
The figure leaped from the debris and clung to the side of the train. Numerous metallic medals flashed brilliantly on his chest.
[Wow!]
Debris scattered behind Cha Yu-jin, who was grinning widely while hanging onto the train in a modified military uniform. The camera then followed the oldest and most tattered of the many bounty posters being sucked into the vortex of wreckage.
[100,000 Nyang]
Just as the identity of the dark figure in the poster became recognizable, the camera showing the screen shook as if struck by an external force and fell.
Static—!
The accompaniment stopped abruptly, sounding broken.
Against a shaky black background, Ryu Cheong-woo stood with a musket slung over his shoulder. He tilted his chin up, glaring down at the camera. His eyes glowed a piercing blue, just like in the poster.
[...]
The screen went black.
A voice rang out.
—no oh, no-oh no-oh
Thirsty, a time of craving...
A single line of melody.
Then, amidst the silence, the subtitles appeared.
[TeSTAR]
[Spring out]
Immediately after, the comment section began updating at a frantic pace, filled with question marks and crying emojis.
"Whew!"
Kim Rae-bin’s individual fan took a deep breath as she looked at the package that had just arrived.
Since TeSTAR was only releasing one title track for this promotion, there was no album, but T1 had made sure to sell plenty of related MD. What the fan had purchased were lightstick parts and... a concept photobook.
The website sold everything from bags to hats, but she had chosen these because she didn't want to be a total sucker who bought every single thing.
Those T1 bastards are really something.
She hadn't expected them to sell a photobook this seriously in place of an album. Naturally, she wanted to check the photobook first, but she had to remove the lightstick decorating parts that were sitting on top.
It’s so freaking cute, though!
The tiny golden gears and pocket watches connected to pipes were adorable. As she huffed while organizing them, her thoughts drifted back to the music video.
"It was insane."
She truly couldn't think of any other words.
The reaction had been explosive from the moment the teaser dropped. Part of it was the high production quality, but there was a bigger reason.
T1 had spent weeks misleading the media with vibes of a "refreshing spring carol," only for the teaser to deliver the intoxicating hit of a sci-fi fantasy world-building.
Still, there were far more people who were hyped than disappointed.
Even though it wasn't a full album and was a single that seemed like it would pass by as fan service, the fact that they poured so much capital into it made fans feel overwhelmed with emotion. Since T1 was famous for being a subsidiary of a wealthy conglomerate, few people worried about the cost.
Of course, that didn't mean there weren't trolls.
People who loved stirring up trouble immediately changed their tune, belittling the group as if they hadn't just been complaining that "public-friendly songs are boring" a moment ago.
However, all that talk died the moment the song was released.
— The sensation of today soaking in
Enjoy this moment, the gaze, the premonition
What’s up?
The real flavor (come out)
The song was a rhythmic, languid reggae track. It was clear that the performance would be emphasized with intense drops in the instrumental breaks and the bridge, but overall, it was very easy to listen to. It was the kind of song you could bob your head to while driving.
The only one with the skill to catch two rabbits at once is our fellow rabbit, Kim Rae-bin.
Kim Rae-bin’s fan made a pun that only worked because of the rhyme and continued unboxing the package. But in her head, the internet reactions she’d seen were flashing by.
The general public, who had been waiting for TeSTAR’s comeback for the first time after being drawn in by the reality program, had been bewildered since the teaser.
These people could be seen on social media, but the comment section of the actual WeTube video was swept away by a wave of international fans.
International fans who had been lured in by memes and ended up watching Idol Inc. had started commenting. This was possible because the story of "what happened in America" had circulated throughout the global K-pop fandom. Thanks to that, the music video achieved the feat of surpassing 30 million views within 24 hours.
Now, TeSTAR fans were starting to joke about getting a taste of being a top-tier group.
The tour schedule is going to get even longer...
Imagining a bleak future for her bank account, Kim Rae-bin’s fan finally succeeded in stripping the packaging off the photobook.
"Phew."
For the record, there were four copies. This was because those cunning capitalist pigs at T1 had used the same random photocard system they used for albums...
If Park Moon-dae had known, he might have stopped it, but since he was being ground down by a crazy schedule, he hadn't been able to oversee this part.
The fan clenched her fists.
Please, Kim Rae-bin!
She had already looked up descriptions of which photocards were available for each member. There were 14 types in total, two for each member. For Kim Rae-bin, one was a wink selfie, and the other was a behind-the-scenes shot from the MV wearing a suit and a gat hat.
I’d prefer the former.
This was because Kim Rae-bin didn't take selfies often.
[Hello! I am Kim Rae-bin. I thought of Loviewers while working, so I am posting this. (Photo)]
In the early days of their debut, he would post something like that on social media, only for the attached photo to be of his equipment. That should explain enough.
And... if Kim Rae-bin didn't come out, or rather, if he could come out along with someone else, there was one she really wanted.
Silver-haired Park Moon-dae...!
It was the first time Park Moon-dae had dyed his hair such a cool tone. Plus, the hairstyle—neatly trimmed and half-swept back—was magnificent!
The reaction had been so hot that "Moon-dae Silver Hair" had trended as a popular post and real-time keyword as soon as the teaser was released.
He definitely knows what he’s doing.
Ignoring the fact that most of the members who had dyed their hair or wore colored contacts were equally talked about, she nodded. Then, she vigorously began opening the photobooks.
I can't sell them for full price without the cards anyway! I only need one copy to be in good condition!
Checking the photocards was the priority. She boldly opened the first photobook and picked up the card that fell from the middle.
"...!"
The person in the photo was... Cha Yu-jin.
"Ugh."
She lamented the reality that it was neither Kim Rae-bin nor Park Moon-dae, but she quickly changed her mind.
Cha Yu-jin is a guaranteed trade!
It was obvious without even looking that there would be plenty of Cha Yu-jin fans frantically looking for trades. Besides, this music video outfit photocard of Cha Yu-jin turned out incredibly well.
Cha Yu-jin, leaning back with one foot up on a classic convertible and flashing a smirk, was glowing golden. It had a magical quality that made you want to scream and keep it forever.
"..."
Should I not sell it?
Even she, who didn't have any particular feelings for Cha Yu-jin, ended up clearing her throat and carefully tucking the photo away.
"Well... I mean, the others might show up in the remaining three books."
She made excuses to herself as she reached for the next photobook, but she couldn't shake the strong premonition that she wouldn't be selling that photocard.
Whatever, I'll just buy more.
More importantly, the question was whether they would appear on music shows in these exact music video outfits. Two days from now... no, since it had just passed midnight, the first music broadcast was tomorrow.
Thinking of the killer schedule of an idol's first week of promotions, she thought nonchalantly.
Hmm, they’re probably in the middle of final choreography practice right now.
Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as she expected.
At that same time, the members were huddled together in the practice room, looking worn out and exhausted, staring at a monitor.
"Okay... let's play it."
"Yes."
Having finished the insane schedule of the past month, they were only now filming their reaction video for the music video.