Chapter 242
Chapter 242
A few hours ago. Behind the scenes of the stage set up for TeSTAR’s non-face-to-face charity concert.
“Do you need some water?”
“I’m fine.”
Cheong-ryeo was used to the backstage environment.
From the modest local festivals back when ‘things weren’t going well’ to stadiums packed entirely with VTIC’s own staff.
He had repeatedly experienced every stage of the industry, and that familiarity had piled up in layers, forming deep strata within his inner self.
Because of this, the members of VTIC were also accustomed to their leader’s composure.
To that figure who seemed born for this job, never showing a hint of agitation or a clumsy response regardless of the situation.
As if it were contagious, they too had quickly become nonchalant after their debut.
“Wow, I’m actually kind of nervous.”
“I know, right? I guess this is the pressure of being a guest.”
“Exactly. You’re supposed to do even better when you’re at someone else’s party!”
VTIC chatted playfully in front of their own camera for a WeTube upload, waiting for Cheong-ryeo to jump in at the right moment as he usually did.
It was a sound judgment.
“Since it’s a meaningful project, I hope we can be of help to our TeSTAR juniors.”
“That’s right! Thank you for inviting us to such a great event, TeSTAR!”
The members smiled and waved at the camera, while Cheong-ryeo thought behind his smiling face.
‘No, this is a loss.’
To say such absurd things and actually mean them.
He had selected the members based solely on accident rates and performance quality, so it couldn't be helped, but not a single one of them was quick-witted enough to notice.
At this rate, they were likely to end up just doing all the work for someone else’s benefit.
‘If we do well, we’re suckers; if we do poorly, we’re has-beens.’
Top-tier seniors in the same industry appearing as guests for a brand-new junior’s concert, and even performing the juniors' songs.
Of course, he couldn't blame the members entirely.
‘I suppose the trap was just too well-disguised.’
Cheong-ryeo recalled the conversation during his visit to Park Moon-dae’s hospital room, which had led to this appearance.
Park Moon-dae’s first suggestion regarding the charity concert.
—How about we co-host it?
—I don’t know about that.
At that time, VTIC’s schedule was on the verge of becoming murderous.
They were preparing for a comeback as a full group.
After the massive success of Cheong-ryeo’s solo album, VTIC’s range of movement had become significantly freer.
It meant that the board of directors, who had been hesitant to release a domestic album for fear of VTIC’s decline becoming visible, had changed their tune.
Thanks to that, the album preparations gained momentum without Cheong-ryeo even having to pull any strings.
And like most idols at VTIC’s level, they were planning to tour overseas after a week of domestic music show appearances for the sake of appearances.
But to juggle stadium tour rehearsals and preparations for a new concert at the same time?
‘It’s impossible.’
There wouldn't even be time to sleep. Even now, just visiting Park Moon-dae’s hospital room had cut into Cheong-ryeo’s sleep.
If it was like this during the preparation period, there was no need to even mention what it would be like after the comeback. It was a decided future, embarrassing to even call it a prediction.
Cheong-ryeo had stated the facts.
—We’ll be in our promotion period, so we won’t have the time.
Park Moon-dae didn't seem particularly flustered.
—Then what about as guests?
—Hmm.
—The platforms will want to get a foot in the door anyway if they see potential for success.
Park Moon-dae’s explanation was clear.
He would sign an exclusive contract for the format of this charity concert with LeTi’s platform.
Then, as a gesture of goodwill and promotion, LeTi would have Cheong-ryeo—who happened to be friendly with Park Moon-dae—make an appearance.
—So you’re saying we just need to do any old stage and ride the coattails.
Cheong-ryeo knew at that moment.
‘You already knew, didn’t you?’
Knowing that a co-production was impossible given VTIC’s current schedule, Park Moon-dae had steered the discussion toward this setup.
Cheong-ryeo narrowed his eyes.
‘Using me as a guest… I see.’
And the request to just do "any old stage."
On the surface, it sounded like he was being considerate of a senior’s busy schedule, but in reality, it meant they could come even if they weren't at full strength.
While TeSTAR performed special stages they had trained for specifically for the concert, Cheong-ryeo would be performing a standard set alone.
It was a matter of weight class.
If things went wrong, Cheong-ryeo’s prestige would take a hit.
While perhaps not as much as if Park Moon-dae had guest-starred on a VTIC tour, it was still a risky move.
—What do you think?
However, flatly refusing was also a dangerous situation.
He hadn't forgotten.
‘The recording.’
The recording of the conversation during the kidnapping incident was likely in Park Moon-dae’s cloud storage.
Their main vocalist had already graced the social affairs section of the news once. The moment that recording leaked, it was safe to say VTIC’s career would be over.
However, Cheong-ryeo judged that the possibility of Park Moon-dae releasing the recording was slim.
‘It would turn into a mud-slinging fight.’
Park Moon-dae’s own activities would also be severely hindered. Therefore, for someone with missions remaining, it was a card that could never be played.
But… since Park Moon-dae’s immediate survival was at stake, he might try to threaten Cheong-ryeo by mentioning the recording as a bluff if pushed.
And at that moment, this friendly relationship would end in catastrophe.
Cheong-ryeo didn't want that either.
So, after a quick assessment, he smiled brightly.
—Alright. We’ll do the guest appearance.
—Then…
—Ah, I’m thinking of having all of VTIC come out.
—…!
—That’s fine, right? It’ll probably draw a bigger audience.
It was a crazy move.
If Cheong-ryeo appeared alone, even in the worst-case scenario, he could end it with minimal damage under the image of a ‘guest recruited through friendship.’
Park Moon-dae probably only thought that far regarding the worst-case scenario for Cheong-ryeo.
But Cheong-ryeo had no intention of letting his flesh be carved away so unilaterally.
—…….
Park Moon-dae was silent for a moment, but soon nodded calmly.
—Fine.
—Okay. Then let’s do that.
In other words, this was a gamble.
VTIC appearing carried the risk of taking a much bigger hit than Cheong-ryeo appearing alone.
But at the same time, the potential gain was greater. Because the two groups would be directly compared.
And since Cheong-ryeo knew the quality of VTIC’s performances, he calculated the odds clearly.
‘Over 70%.’
And he raised the stakes further.
—I think it would be fun if we swapped songs, too.
And while he was at it, wouldn't he be making sure Park Moon-dae’s numbers were met?
“…….”
Finishing his recollection, Cheong-ryeo smiled thinly.
In the end, it was a game he had put his own hand into.
It was only natural that the members had fallen for the idea that ‘the intent is good and it looks fun.’ That was how he had chosen the members, after all. Easy to handle.
However, their true power lay entirely in their craft.
Cheong-ryeo recalled Park Moon-dae’s condition again.
‘400,000 people, huh.’
Did he know what the daily viewership for their online concert last year was?
It was 610,000.
And that was only the number of paid viewers counted on this platform.
So, as long as VTIC’s group appearance was decided, there would be no problem with Park Moon-dae’s survival.
‘Though TeSTAR will have to endure some fandom leakage.’
But wasn't that something he had brought upon himself?
He couldn't take responsibility for Park Moon-dae’s future regrets.
‘Hmm, should I let him meet Kong-i?’
Thinking of his dog, Cheong-ryeo briefly pondered a way to offer comfort.
“Let’s go.”
“VTIC winning again today! Ah, Victorious~”
The tacky cheer the director had set for them at debut slipped out of a member’s mouth like a joke.
Despite so many restarts, somehow that was the one thing that never changed. Perhaps it was because he hadn't bothered to try and change it.
Because he always wanted to win.
“10 seconds to VCR end!”
Watching the stage structures open before his eyes, Cheong-ryeo felt a strange prickle crawl up his spine.
It had been so long that it felt foreign.
The sensation of taking a risk and running toward an uncertain result.
It was the spirit of challenge.
[Ah.]
A short test tone through the in-ear monitor.
And the stage began.
The moment VTIC walked onto the stage and leisurely took their positions.
The comments were flooded with all sorts of question marks, exclamation points, and exclamations, being replaced so fast there was no time to read them.
It wasn't just the comments here.
People who saw real-time reactions on SNS and other platforms were horrified and rushed to log into the TeSTAR concert.
And the pop-up notification the platform sent to those who subscribed to VTIC at just the right time made countless people click in confusion.
[VTIC has appeared!]
The VTIC logo, even made into an emoticon, was attached to the front of the pop-up notification.
And in that moment of chaos, VTIC began their performance.
Wiiiing— Wiiiing— Wiiiiiiing!
Along with the sound of a siren, low drums began to ring out like formal applause.
Rough, fast, and intense percussion and brass instruments that heightened the tension.
And the iconic riff melody that lay beneath.
It was TeSTAR’s representative song, Haengcha.
However, the elegant Oriental feel that Haengcha possessed had vanished without a trace.
In its place, technical electronic sounds and an orchestra raced over a heavy trap beat.
And dressed in black harnesses and gloves over fitted suits, VTIC interpreted the choreography of Haengcha in a faster, more modern way.
—The procession, is passing. Today—.
So that you cannot escape even if you struggle
He arrives. The procession, is passing.
The rap became slower and groovier, skillfully supporting the performance.
The space for choreography that symbolized a giant beast had disappeared. Instead, it was covered by a disciplined group dance with an authoritative feel, like a special forces unit in formation.
As if they were capturing the beast.
And then came the salute-like gesture and the rising bass.
—Now, he has appeared, warning after warning
Approaching in a figure-eight, slow and thrilling
I, I, I, I
—Take off
The tempo of the rap changed. It poured out as if running, inciting aggression. And then the chorus.
—The day that finally arrived, Haengcha!
Oh, Oh, Oh…….
The accompaniment dropped suddenly at a different moment than the original song.
—Never get away from me Yeah
A languid wave choreography full of intimidation. And then back to the disciplined, fast group dance.
In front of dancers holding flags moving like standard-bearers, VTIC pushed the stage blocking to its limit, driving forward like madmen.
They no longer had a main vocalist.
But they crushed the absence of a vocal with rap and performance.
Regardless of any absence, they made the viewers hold their breath in awe.
The comment window had slowed down before anyone knew it. A state of extreme focus made them forget the act of 'clapping' via comments.
Amidst red and blue lasers and a riff melody that had become lower and more magnificent, VTIC ran wild.
And the introduction to the second verse was skipped along with the performance. The accompaniment jumped straight to where the bridge of Haengcha should have been.
The members paused momentarily and turned around to take their formation.
But, instead of the promised melody, a familiar rap chorus came in.
—San-gun
Their claws are hella sharp
Readily tear you apart
You can’t catch me like that
No, you can’t.
And the iconic choreography using the hands and waist.
It was one of their representative songs, San-gun.
The melody and bass were woven together contextually, and San-gun grew louder and louder.
As the most symbolic traditional wind instrument reference of the song was added.
—Make me a Boss
That’s it, just like that
VTIC had linked the two songs using ‘beast’ as the keyword and pulled the ‘traditional style’ keyword toward themselves.
As if to show who did it first.
As if they had completely rearranged Haengcha to free it from being a mere imitation.
And the attempt was extremely convincing.
The public and VTIC fans, excited by the appearance of a massive hit song, reacted enthusiastically to San-gun devouring Haengcha and dominating the latter half.
The moment a stage became interesting, it gained all the persuasiveness in the world.
—San-gun
Their claws are hella sharp
Let me prove it
An explosive final dance break.
And with VTIC taking a four-man formation amidst giant flags, the stage ended.
But the comments endlessly poured out their impressions.
VTIC caught their breath, waved to the exiting dancers, and smiled at the camera.
And sitting on chairs the staff had quietly brought out, they even engaged in a bit of talk.
[Thank you for choosing a good option, everyone!]
[It was really fun~]
They were going to appear regardless of whether option 1 was chosen, but they clapped nonchalantly and praised the concert’s planning intent.
Of course, they didn't forget to joke.
[Ah, come to think of it! We’re also in the middle of a concert~]
[If anyone is interested, please come see us! Haha!]
People wailed in the comments.
And the few fans who did have tickets also wailed beneath the surface.
The atmosphere had completely shifted.
Aside from comments like ‘They’re really trying hard to beat their juniors lol,’ no posts belittling VTIC could be found for the moment.
It meant that even antis couldn't drag this stage down without some serious mental gymnastics.
And Park Moon-dae was watching all of this from backstage.
If it had been an actual live performance, the screams would have been deafening.
I shoved a water bottle into my mouth.
Scary bastards.
‘It really turned into a situation where I called in a tiger.’
Of course, I intend to skin it well and dry it for use.
‘I can’t let the momentum stay with them.’
TeSTAR’s next stage was also right around the corner.