Chapter 583
Chapter 583
What is the Cleopatra Game?
It’s a competition where participants shout the nonsensical phrase, "Hello, Cleopatra, the world's best potato chip," at increasingly higher pitches.
That’s right. Not necessarily higher notes, but higher sounds.
Meaning, there’s no set scale.
"However, strictly speaking, one can find the closest corresponding scale to match an accompaniment, and since it possesses rhythm, I believe it holds musical merit..."
"I get it, you're right. Rae-bin."
...Or so he says.
I suppose if someone with perfect pitch is playing, even this game can become musical.
Especially if everyone involved works in the music industry.
"Hey, Hyung-nim. I don't think that sound was even a semitone higher than the last."
"What are you talking about! That sound you made after Ryu Cheong-woo sounded like a stuck pig, and that passed!"
"But I was a high-pitched pig! You’re a Cleopatra who can’t hit the high notes! You’re doomed, I tell you!"
"...Is that so? Bring the piano! I'm doing it again!"
"Ohhhhh!"
So, I guess this is how we ended up like this...
I watched the two namesakes—Lee Se-jin and Bae Se-jin—viciously attacking each other, while Cha Yu-jin clapped and cheered, and Kim Rae-bin and Seon A-hyun hurriedly moved the electric piano into the living room.
It felt like a scene from a movie where they bring out the guillotine in the middle of a high-stakes gamble.
Haha. What a mess.
"The, the piano is here...!"
"Oooooh!"
From that point on, under Kim Rae-bin’s leadership, it turned into a full-blown hyper-fixation festival where everyone shouted "Cleopatra" in sync with the keyboard notes.
‘I should be filming this and uploading it.’
At this point, it was top-tier content.
Just look at those faces full of passion and sincerity, and Kim Rae-bin’s face, which had turned solemn in response.
"Yes. If you are asking for my judgment... it is a success!"
"Ooooohhh!"
"See!"
I thought Bae Se-jin was actually going to strangle Keun Se-jin.
Amidst the failures and successes, a whirlwind of joy and sorrow swept through the room.
"Cha Yu-jin, fail!"
"Nooooooo!"
For the record, we were in a hotel suite.
We had agreed to gather in one room once a week during the tour to stay together, and today was that day.
‘I’m glad I asked for an isolated place with good soundproofing...’
TeSTAR almost trended for a noise complaint controversy. No, if the soundproofing hadn't been good, they wouldn't have been able to go this far and would have been more subdued and mindful of their surroundings.
‘In that sense... well, they’re having fun, so it’s fine.’
Of course, the outcome of this game would be the same either way.
"Next is Moon-dae! If he succeeds here, Moon-dae-moondae is the final winner... Will the Idol Inc. Rank 1 also win the Cleopatra Game? The result is...!"
I opened my mouth.
And without much emotion, I recited that ridiculous phrase.
At a pitch corresponding to a high E (E5).
"...!"
The moment I finished the phrase with the final word, "chip."
"...Su-success!"
"Oooooh!"
"Congratulations, Moon-dae Hyung!"
A roar of enthusiastic support erupted.
Yes. This was the inevitable conclusion.
No matter which way you sliced it, I would be the last one standing.
‘Phew.’
I shrugged my shoulders.
If they didn't expect this when playing a game against the main vocal...
"Huh? Anyone here who didn't expect Moon-dae to win?"
"..."
"But is anyone curious about how high Moon-dae can actually go?"
Snap!
Fists and hands shot up everywhere.
Their eyes were sparkling. It was honestly a bit much.
"Moon-dae Hyung still has more in him, I know it!"
"Exactly. He can definitely go higher. I stake the name Moon-dae-moondae on it!"
I’m the one doing it, so why are you staking my name?
"Mhm...! Me too!"
And why are you agreeing to it?
Of course, it wasn't that I couldn't go higher.
‘Whatever, I don’t care anymore.’
I shook my head and sat cross-legged on the carpet.
"Challenge accepted."
"Oooooh!"
While Ryu Cheong-woo filmed me and Kim Rae-bin at the keyboard with his smartphone...
I eventually reached nearly the end of the portable keyboard, emitting a severe high pitch that sounded like something a dolphin would make.
"Eeyaaaaah!"
"The Loviewers seriously need to see this!! This is practically a circus act!"
"A-amazing!! The sound reached all the way here..."
Well, if they’re happy, that’s all that matters.
I shook my head with a smirk.
"What's the winner's prize?"
"Huh? There's no such thing."
"..."
At least pay me for my part-time work as a clown.
Resigned to my fate, I watched Ryu Cheong-woo do some light editing on the video.
"Include the part where Kim Rae-bin failed!"
"Then please include the scene where Cha Yu-jin failed as well!"
Now those two were bickering.
Regardless, while chewing on the steaks we ordered from room service, we finally uploaded the video to the group’s social media account.
Mm, the dynamic K-pop idol world is as consistent as ever. However...
I briefly took in the reactions of the fans who were enjoying the post, then narrowed my eyes as I watched the number of shares and likes skyrocket.
‘It really has increased.’
Recently, the number of followers on TeSTAR’s account had grown noticeably. The rate of change was steeper than during our active promotion periods.
The same went for the share and like counts.
‘I heard the TeSTAR tour was getting famous.’
It wasn't just a small rumor circulating among fans; it had a heavy, tangible reality to it.
This wasn't a temporary spike in recognition from a one-time stunt. We were truly solidifying our position and receiving substantial recognition.
I rubbed my chin.
‘...After the encore concert, should we schedule an additional tour in English-speaking regions?’
With a larger venue size, that is.
Even if it’s a bit of a stretch... something stadium-sized.
If we then appeared on famous programs in Europe or the US for verification purposes, it would serve as a signal to the stubborn higher-ups.
A signal that TeSTAR is at a level worthy of receiving a Cultural Merit Award.
‘I don’t particularly like it since it borders on flunkeyism.’
But it was valuable enough to exploit.
"Hmm."
I smiled and rubbed the back of my neck.
I hadn't realized.
I didn't expect that beyond successfully resolving the unexpected crisis brought by the tour, it would return such results that exceeded my expectations.
Perhaps... I’ve been slowly learning over the past few years.
That the occurrence of unpredictable situations isn't necessarily a bad thing.
‘But let’s not let our guard down.’
I stood up refreshed.
Once the upload was finished, the others were also relaxing and hanging out separately, doing whatever they wanted.
Of course, they still paid attention to each other.
Like Ryu Cheong-woo striking up a conversation with Kim Rae-bin, who was still fiddling with the keyboard.
"What are you doing, Rae-bin?"
"Ah, I was estimating Moon-dae Hyung’s vocal range based on the note he succeeded with."
Hmm.
Originally, I could hit up to a high G (G5), but looking at what Kim Rae-bin was pressing now...
"Here."
High A (A5).
My range had increased by a whole tone.
"Wow, it increased that much?"
"Yes!"
For the record, my lower range had also dropped by a whole tone and a semitone.
I saw Kim Rae-bin’s eyes shining as he looked at me with all sorts of expectation and excitement.
"I see. Moon-dae is truly amazing."
"He is!"
"..."
It’s a bit much.
"Your vocal range has changed! No, it has widened! A richer and more expressive sound, regardless of chest voice or head voice, faithfully covers everything from the lows to the highs..."
"I get it. Thanks."
"Yes! Please listen! If I were to mark the note you just produced on a musical staff..."
"..."
I heard "Yes!" three times.
I decided to just let Kim Rae-bin enjoy himself.
‘It’ll be good if it helps with composing...’
I was satisfied that the tour was proceeding smoothly.
To be honest, I had expected it since I sang at the Seoul concert.
That the quality of my singing had changed somehow.
Originally, the growth of skill is like a staircase.
It was just rare to experience it so directly since I usually raised my skills by 'spending' stats with the help of the status window.
I quietly speculated.
‘The turning point was...’
The solo stage.
The moment I sang Winter Night, that strange sensation and immersion where I focused entirely on the song must have directly influenced my growth.
This was also a fact verified by those around me.
It was a text I checked as soon as the concert ended.
The one from Keun-dal, Ryu Gun-woo.
‘I’m glad he cheered up.’
He had apologized seriously and multiple times, saying he was deeply sorry for causing trouble.
But he didn't seem discouraged or scared anymore.
And he had become a bit more honest.
When I suggested we go hiking together during the next break, this was the reply I got.
It was a good sign.
Since then, I’ve been in constant contact with Keun-dal. We talk about all sorts of trivial things, and sometimes I tell him about problems that crop up during the tour.
And also about his life.
He said he was considering quitting his job after properly settling the issues he caused while he was absent without leave.
I didn't stop him.
Because I knew it wasn't a job he had aimed for, but one he had studied doggedly for only because the system forced a status effect on him.
‘He has plenty of money, so why suffer through civil complaints and old-fashioned bosses?’
If he cashed out all his stock investments, he could live comfortably for the rest of his life without ever getting a job.
Even if that weren't the case, he could spend as much time as he wanted looking for something he actually wanted to do without worrying about his livelihood, so there was no pressure.
Still, I replied cautiously, saying something like, "There won't be any big problems if you resign, but think about whether you'll feel it's a waste of the effort you put into passing the exam."
I checked the text I sent once more, then smiled and closed my smartphone.
Thinking it was a good day with nothing particular to worry about.
However, that evening.
Keun Se-jin slunk over and whispered to me as we were all lying in the living room like we were camping.
"Moon-dae-moondae, did you hear?"
What.
"You know those two who filmed our variety shows. The PD who filmed the Carrot Coin and the distress situation... and the Idol Inc. writer."
How could I not know?
"I know, so what."
And then, a completely unexpected statement dropped.
"They’re going into business together."
"...!?"
The PD’s variety show team and the Idol Inc. writer, Ryu Seo-rin, had recently joined the same company and were looking to create a program together.
‘This guy, he said he keeps in touch with the PD.’
Keun Se-jin consistently sends gifts every holiday to the industry contacts he’s gotten numbers from, and he checks the news to make sure he contacts them whenever there’s something to congratulate them on.
As a result, it seemed he naturally received this news via text from the PD during their conversations.
"This definitely feels like they’re going to contact us, right? Ugh, I’m already worried about how much those two are going to mess with our members again, worried~"
"..."
Since TeSTAR had connections with both the PD and the writer and had contributed significantly to their careers, Keun Se-jin seemed certain they would reach out to work together again.
Well, that’s probably why the PD hinted at the news to him in the first place.
The problem was...
"Do you know about this?"
"What is it, Moon-dae-moondae?"
"Se-jin Hyung is going to be filming a drama."
"...!?"
Keun Se-jin, whose expression went blank for a moment, soon covered his face with one hand.
"Ah, aaaaaah..."
Bae Se-jin’s filming for the next season of Doll Hunter was just around the corner.
The filming period, which was squeezed in between tour dates, was two months.
Just balancing the concerts and filming would be a killer schedule, but adding a hellish variety show created by that soul-sucking PD and writer duo on top of that?
‘He’ll spend his whole life on a plane.’
He’d be lucky if he didn't collapse.
But if we turned down that variety show, we’d have to wait about six months for the next opportunity, and by then, the synergy with our current global momentum would be gone.
"..."
"...What do we do?"
It looked like I had one more thing to talk to Keun-dal about.
But a few days later.
The PD, whom we finally met via a video conference on a laptop, shouted cheerfully as if there were no obstacles at all.
That’s right. The PD and the writer, whose schedules didn't allow them to fly all the way to the US, were on a video call with TeSTAR.
And the PD stated the solution he had come up with without hesitation.
"..."
I turned my head.
"Hyung, by any chance, the filming location...?"
Bae Se-jin spoke with a reluctant face.
"...It’s a snowy mountain in Gangwon-do."
"...!!"
A snowy mountain.
In this winter... a snowy mountain.
‘This won’t do.’
I hurriedly spoke up.
"If it’s a mountain in Gangwon-do, the members have already been there several times..."
...I was about to say that because it’s a familiar place, our reactions would lack freshness.
Anyway, I gave a brief explanation.
‘No need to mention Kim Rae-bin’s slump.’
I just said we stayed together to focus on lyrics and composition without any other complicated schedules.
"The Starry Melody account also started then."
At the variety PD’s exclamation, Kim Rae-bin also nodded vigorously with a flushed face.
And Ryu Seo-rin curled her lips into a smile.
"..."
"Pardon?"
"Pardon?"
That kind of thing... as a variety show?
‘That sounds incredibly boring.’
There’s no stimulation.
I looked at her while hiding my thought that she might have lost her touch, but Ryu Cheong-woo was already speaking calmly as if he found it difficult.
"Ah... we’ve already finished all the songs for the next album."
It was a polite way of saying "don't talk nonsense."
No, in the first place, why would you make a variety show out of creating the next album? It would either be incredibly boring, or the quality of the album would be ruined in an attempt to make it fun.
Ryu Seo-rin tapped her lips with a pen on the screen.
"...?"
"..."
On the adjacent screen, the PD gave a standing ovation.
You crazy people.
But that wasn't the end.
"Pardon?"
"..."
Hell had arrived.