Chapter 307
Chapter 307
The composition camp began immediately.
The task: rearrange a segment of the boss theme BGM for the sequel to Section 127, keeping it under 60 seconds.
“Wow, why are game songs so addictive?”
“I think it’s because the sections repeat so much.”
Since their lives weren't on the line, the members opened their composition programs while chatting idly to set the mood.
Ever since their debut, when they were marketed as a self-producing group, the agency had given them basic training on how to use composition software as a formality, so everyone knew the fundamentals.
The problem was that after three years of neglect, those basics weren't worth much.
“Ummm.”
“Why is this sequence here? Someone tell me!”
“F-first… the top note…”
It’s a disaster.
I looked down at my laptop screen.
I knew I had to sample the original sound and organize it, but… I didn't have a proper, established method mastered.
—Moon-dae, do you happen to know how to import this?
—…Let’s just watch a basic lecture first.
That’s right. To put it bluntly, we were total amateurs.
Everyone knew it, but no one had gone out of their way to study harder than necessary before coming here.
That wouldn't fit the purpose.
This was supposed to be a hobby.
“Ahem, sorry, but this is….”
“It’s a drum machine group!”
“…Thanks.”
I watched Kim Rae-bin. Even as he manipulated his laptop at high speed without blinking, he answered the questions from those around him with total sincerity.
Then, he would get sucked back into his laptop again.
The chaotic environment actually prevented him from having the leisure to agonize over the composition.
This is good.
I also moved my mouse and started layering a decent bassline.
A while later.
“Three hours are up! Okay, let’s play them for each other~”
“Whoo!!”
Since everyone except Kim Rae-bin was on a similar level, and these were three-hour works, we took turns playing the songs without much pressure.
And as expected, the quality was a mess… but surprisingly creative messes began to emerge.
“Hahaha!”
“This is cool!”
“Yeah, it’s awesome!”
Raw sounds that hadn't been mixed at all exploded through the Bluetooth speaker.
It was a good thing we were in a mountain cabin. If we were at a resort, we would have been kicked out.
I shook my head as I listened to Cha Yu-jin’s insanely aggressive arrangement.
“Hyung, how is it?”
“Uh, it sounds like thunder.”
“Hehe.”
It wasn't a compliment, but he liked it, so that was that. Turning my head, I saw Kim Rae-bin’s pupils trembling. He looked flustered.
Still, it was easy to give feedback.
Instead of useless thoughts like whether it was presumptuous to speak up to someone more skilled, he could advise and talk freely.
As Seon A-hyun’s song—the next one in line—played, Kim Rae-bin, sitting next to him, finally opened his mouth.
“W-what do you think…?”
“Well….”
Furthermore, he was supposed to say only good things.
The pressure to answer honestly was offset once more by that rule.
Kim Rae-bin seriously played the sound a few times, appearing to put his soul into squeezing out a compliment.
“The harmony is thicker than the original, so it sounds soft and beautiful…!”
I bet. The original was 8-bit.
“I see…. T-thank you.”
Still, coming from an expert, the praise made Seon A-hyun’s face brighten.
“Right, it feels more like a protagonist than a boss. That’s our A-hyun~”
“…It’s easy on the ears.”
It really felt like a school club. Kim Rae-bin tentatively added more.
“That is true. The guitar sounds good, so it might be even more beautiful if you increase the volume slightly.”
Look at that. Now he even wants to polish it up for them.
It seemed certain that he had escaped the pressure of evaluation for now. Praising even these beginners' arrangements would surely build his confidence.
And before long, it was time to play Kim Rae-bin’s song.
We had intentionally placed it in the middle rather than at the very beginning or end.
“Oh~ Rae-bin~”
“Yes. I will play it now.”
Kim Rae-bin manipulated the mouse with a slightly excited expression.
Then, notes woven as densely as a spiderweb began to flow out.
“…!”
It wasn't in a pop song format.
It had a sleek structure closer to New Age.
By skillfully arranging the short segments from when it was a BGM, the original essence of 'background' and 'theme' was faithfully preserved.
However, the resolution of the song was different.
…To think it could sound like this.
It felt like he had extracted the essence of the song that lingers in the human ear and mind, implementing it ideally.
And after the first 30 seconds, a different element blended in, and the song soared.
“…!”
“This is our song! Right?”
He had sampled and mixed in his own rap part signature from the collaboration OST we made, ‘Bonus Book.’
A minor key that sounded somewhat sorrowful dropped like water droplets onto the spiderweb-like structure.
It matched the character’s narrative perfectly, and the thrill of the song’s progression was excellent.
“Whoa~”
“Rae-bin, this is so good??”
Yeah. It was good.
It wasn't exactly a pop song you’d sell to the public, but the track was good enough for me to use expressions like 'spiderweb' to describe it.
And even though we agreed to give only positive feedback, there was sincerity in the gestures and voices.
“This is great to listen to!”
Kim Rae-bin seemed a bit flustered by the pouring admiration, but he also looked a bit choked up.
I gave a short evaluation.
No other words were needed.
“It sounds more like the original than the original.”
“…!!”
Kim Rae-bin snapped his head up. I nodded.
“…Thank you.”
I could hear his voice trembling, but I didn't bother pointing it out.
Even after the one-minute arrangement finished playing, Kim Rae-bin stared at his laptop screen, stroking the touchpad.
We left him alone for a moment.
And by the time Kim Rae-bin snapped out of it, it was the next person's turn—which was practically a public execution.
“Mmm~ Next is Moon-dae!”
That was me.
I sighed inwardly, but I was the one who volunteered for this hell.
Let’s get this over with quickly.
I pressed play.
Woooong.
Well, since drones were the symbol of this character, I emphasized the electronic sounds to make it sound like an ominous noise.
And I added that… complicatedly named instrument effect that sounds like static.
The people around me nodded.
“It’s not bad?”
Is that so? I don't need pity.
Listening to this right after a perfect professional track felt like a total fluke.
My ‘Catchy Ear’ felt like it was screaming.
I crossed my arms without much emotion, but Kim Rae-bin, sitting opposite me, raised his hand.
“The elements are interesting, and your sense for modifying the melody seems ingenious…!”
“I know, right? Moon-dae must have a knack for this.”
Even Kim Rae-bin is giving me lip service… Wait.
I looked at his face.
Kim Rae-bin had the same focused expression as when he was checking the theme on the TV earlier.
“…?”
Is he serious?
He even came over to my laptop and checked the notes I’d placed.
Then he clenched his fist.
As if he wanted to grab the mouse.
“Hyung! If it’s not an intrusion, could I just… slightly….”
“Sure.”
Kim Rae-bin looked up at me with a dazed expression.
“It’s better for me if you polish it.”
A smile spread across his face as if he couldn't control it.
For a guy who usually looked intimidating, it was a remarkably bright expression.
And so, the first day of the composition camp turned into a lecture on arrangement by Kim Rae-bin.
—Since there are many rough and strong sounds among the VSTs you used, if you adjust the levels here….
—WOW!
Kim Rae-bin excitedly gave advice to highlight the strengths of the members' arrangements, and the members had quite a bit of fun fixing their songs.
As for my song… well, Kim Rae-bin practically performed surgery on it.
The fascinating thing was that he kept the original vibe.
—The ideas you used in the arrangement were excellent, and because the direction was clear, it progressed quickly!
In other words, it meant I couldn't recognize the imbalances that he could fix easily.
…Well, whatever. As long as he’s satisfied.
After Kim Rae-bin fixed all seven theme songs into his own versions, he ate a satisfying dinner and ended the camp for the day.
And now, it was dawn.
“Hmm.”
Since I woke up on my own before the alarm went off, I figured I’d check today’s schedule in advance.
I stepped over the members sprawled out on the floor and sat at the kitchen table.
I ran a hand through my hair.
Today….
I planned to pick a children's song and an idol title track and combine them.
Of course, I’d pick an idol track from a formidable junior group so that we absolutely couldn't use it officially.
And if there’s time, since Ryu Cheong-woo even brought hiking boots…
“?”
Just then, the guy who had spread his blanket and was sleeping near the kitchen opened his eyes.
It was Kim Rae-bin.
“Go back to sleep.”
“No, I am fine….”
He forced himself up and sat across from me.
“I… I really wanted to express my gratitude.”
Now?
“It might be that my self-consciousness is bloated, but I feel that you all were very considerate so that I could recover my capabilities in composition….”
“It wasn't consideration.”
I leaned my head back.
The words I should have said a few days ago when I confiscated his laptop finally came out.
“We needed to start taking up composition as a hobby anyway. It’s abnormal to dump the entire burden of music production on one person when there are seven members.”
“…….”
“So, it’s fine even if you quit because you don't want to compose. None of us were doing it anyway.”
However, Kim Rae-bin spoke with difficulty.
“But, many people are expecting it. The company staff and the AR team also said they were waiting for my songs.”
“Because you’re afraid those people will be disappointed if you can't write?”
Kim Rae-bin hesitated. That meant yes.
I suppressed a sigh.
“Rae-bin. You’re good at performing and you’re good at rapping, so why do you act like you’re only good at one thing?”
“…!”
“If you write songs because it’s fun, that’s great. If you don't, this group will keep running one way or another even if we change methods. We can just buy songs.”
Kim Rae-bin looked up.
“Of course, it’s true that you make impossibly good songs, and we’re receiving huge help thanks to you. We should be grateful for that.”
I continued calmly.
“But it’s not a mistake if you don't do it, and we won't fail. Let’s never forget that there are other options.”
“Yes.”
Kim Rae-bin bowed his head and answered while clenching both hands tightly.
“I won't forget.”
There was a hint of moisture in that answer, but there was also a definite sense of relief.
He really was under a lot of pressure.
It didn't hit home when he was consistently making good songs, but once he slipped up, he got scared.
The worry that his reputation would be shattered and that he would cause immense damage to the team.
Come to think of it, it was the same when he was edited maliciously on Idol Inc.
I remembered how he had completely shrunk back during the second team match and accepted feedback unconditionally.
…Could that have been the cause?
Well, it’s not something I can figure out through mere speculation right now, so I’ll move on.
Anyway, since I said this after he made a good song again and escaped some of that feeling of helplessness, he should be able to breathe a little easier.
I waited until Kim Rae-bin calmed down.
After wiping his face briefly with his shirt, he spoke again in a resolved, low voice.
“Um… however, may I say just one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
Let’s see.
I expected something like, ‘With the members’ current composition skills, my absence would be very fatal.’
But Kim Rae-bin spoke seriously.
“Since all the members are participating together in the production of the albums and activities, I think the expression that I am unilaterally providing help is excessive…!”
He really is consistent.
“Sure.”
I chuckled and uncrossed my arms.
“Thanks.”
“Not at all.”
Kim Rae-bin answered firmly.
Beyond him, I could see the veranda where the sun was rising and light was streaming in. It felt like it was pushing away the darkness.
Did it go well?
And then, a golden-shining cylinder….
Hmm.
[Large 150,000, Small 70,000]
[Cash Price]
I spoke without thinking.
“Want a drink?”
Kim Rae-bin followed my gaze and checked the ginseng wine. Then he shouted with a bright expression.
“Yes! I will pour it for you.”
“…?”
I thought he’d say no.
But Kim Rae-bin had a puzzled look.
“Pardon? My grandmother said ginseng wine is good for the mind and body….”
“…Your grandmother?”
“Yes!”
Right. She’s absolutely correct. At 6:30 AM, while everyone else was asleep, I drank ginseng wine with Kim Rae-bin.
The alcohol, which I hadn't had in a long time, wasn't as thrilling as I remembered, but it tasted good.
“I-is there something bothering you?”
“No, it’s just… I feel like the arrangement has changed.”
I ignored Bae Se-jin’s words when he woke up in the morning. There was no evidence.
Instead, after making do with rice balls for breakfast, just as I was about to proceed with the next schedule.
One of the guys who was happily replaying the songs we made yesterday spoke up.
“Hmm… Rae-bin. Instead of not releasing these at all, why don't we try uploading them to the internet? It feels like a waste for only us to hear them.”
“…! To TeSTAR’s social media accounts?”
The whole point of doing this was to prevent that.
…I was originally going to do this after the camp ended on the last day.
Since the topic came up, shall we proceed?
I naturally moved to the next step.
“Let’s just create a WeTube account and upload them. We just won't use our names.”
“Ah, right.”
“Yeah, that’ll work!”
Bae Se-jin shouted, looking even more excited, and quickly created an account. He was doing well.
I went over the steps in my head.
Camp Phase 1.
And the next phase.
The no-label verification.
“Ahem, wait a second~ Why don't we start by picking the images for the screen?”
…However, this would turn into a verification on a much larger scale than I had anticipated.