Chapter 50
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Keyword Music Rose Special (3)
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“The first team to perform…!”
After a brief pause, the MC held up a paper toward the camera and shouted.
“It’s Black Dice!”
The Black Dice members sitting across from us rose from their seats with ambiguous expressions.
‘Ha….’
I squeezed my eyes shut.
That meant we’d be the very last to go.
Suddenly, I recalled what Eun Hae-sol had said in the practice room last time.
‘The stage scale was no joke.’
Honestly, I felt daunted.
Since we’d be performing right after Black Dice, there was no avoiding comparisons.
If we followed their massive stage…
‘I’m a little worried our performance might look empty by comparison.’
I shook my head vigorously.
‘Don’t think about it. Win or lose, the important thing is to deliver a stage with no regrets.’
Just then, Hwang Tae-seok, who had been greeting the guests, turned his head toward me. He slyly lifted one corner of his mouth and turned away.
‘Whatever.’
As I glared at the back of Hwang Tae-seok’s head and cursed him inwardly, the MC’s voice came from beside me.
“Alright! While we wait for Black Dice’s performance, why don’t we chat among ourselves?”
“That’s right. We have some singers appearing on Keyword Music for the first time today.”
With Black Dice gone, the studio turned to the guests’ personal talent time in earnest.
If the next stage setup took a long time, they filled the screen with the guests’ talents to keep the audience from getting bored.
The MCs turned toward the guest seats and looked at us.
“Our Manwol’s Boys friends just debuted not long ago.”
“We’d love to see your dance skills. I heard you can do 2x speed dance?”
“Yes!”
We all answered energetically.
A 2x speed dance—the kind of personal talent often seen on idol variety shows.
From what I’d seen on variety shows, there were usually two patterns.
Either nailing the choreography perfectly at high speed to grab attention, or botching it hilariously for laughs.
Of course, we planned to go dead serious, no laughs.
Cha Jae-hyun spoke up.
“We’ll show you our debut song [Blue Sky Below] as a 2x speed dance!”
As members stood up one by one, Song Yu-bin, who couldn’t join due to his leg injury, watched us with a regretful expression.
We took our positions in the center of the studio, and expectant gazes poured in from the guests.
“Wow, I’m looking forward to this.”
“They already seem like they’ll do great.”
Amid everyone’s cheers, we exploded into motion as the song began.
The faster tempo was tough, but we could still handle the choreography.
The first verse ended with our moves perfectly synced.
Soon, cheers erupted from the MCs.
“Wowww!”
“How can you match so perfectly at that speed?”
The guests gaped at us in astonishment.
As we caught our breath and headed back to our seats, the MC asked with sparkling eyes.
“By any chance, can you do a 3x speed dance too?”
“Huh?”
The script had only called for 2x speed.
“3x speed dance?”
“We’ve never tried 3x speed, so we’re not sure how it’ll turn out…”
At the MC’s sudden suggestion, we all exchanged flustered glances, but a signal came from production that the track was ready.
No choice.
“We’ll give it a try.”
We nodded to each other, reformed our positions, and stood ready.
“Alright! Here we go—3x speed dance!”
The moment the intro blared from the speakers, my first thought was…
‘This is insane?’
Before I could even process it, it was already time to switch formations.
I glanced around—members were whipping their arms with straight faces.
Even in the chaos, seeing them nail the moves perfectly, I couldn’t help but think they were amazing.
The MCs and guests reacted with admiration.
“Everyone! Don’t stop!”
“It’s like watching a video at 3x speed, right?”
After all that turmoil, we finished the 3x speed dance.
We passed the thumbs-upping MCs and sat down.
Then, one of the guests asked.
“What was the title of that song just now?”
As I sat.
“It’s our debut song, [Blue Sky Below].”
“The song is so good. I think I’m becoming a fan starting today. For real.”
“Really? Thank you.”
Just then, the screen showed Black Dice’s stage fully set.
The MC, receiving a cue from production, shouted loudly.
“Black Dice’s performance—starting right now!”
Applause rang out as the lights brightened.
The moment the stage came into view, I unwittingly let out a short breath.
“Whew…”
This was too much.
* * *
I stepped into the broadcasting station hall where Keyword Music was held.
I’d applied for audience tickets on the official Keyword Music website last week and luckily got selected as a 20-something evaluator for standing room.
It was my first time at Keyword Music as an evaluator, so my heart pounded for some reason.
After taking my assigned spot, I looked around. It was bustling before the show started.
How much time passed like that? The stage screen lit up with the MCs’ faces.
I rested my chin on my hand and focused on the screen.
[Hello. I’m MC Nana of Keyword Music Show.]
[I’m MC Seo-bin.]
[So! What stages themed around today’s keyword will we see? You’re all dying to know, right?]
[Yes. Today’s keyword is the rose—symbol of love and beauty!]
Roses this time, huh.
Amid swelling anticipation, the first performer took the stage.
“Hello. We’re Big Monster.”
“The stage we prepared today is Senior Yoo Jung-hoon’s [Red Rose].”
Amid audience applause, Big Monster’s performance began.
The sweet vocals that followed matched the sound perfectly from the track.
‘Mm. Good.’
Various stages followed. With only top-tier singers appearing, the performance quality was insane.
To think so many concepts could stem from the rose theme…
Impressive.
As I watched, entranced, I realized only two stages remained.
‘The rest are all idol performances.’
I’d heard of Black Dice but hadn’t listened much.
Who were Manwol’s Boys?
I vaguely recalled seeing something titled ‘First Love Group’ in YouTube recommendations…
Then the stage screen lit up.
[Alright! While we wait for Black Dice’s performance, why don’t we chat among ourselves?]
[That’s right. We have some singers appearing on Keyword Music for the first time today.]
With stage setup taking time, the guests’ personal talent segment unfolded to keep waiting audiences engaged.
[Our Manwol’s Boys friends just debuted not long ago.]
[We’d love to see your dance skills. I heard you can do 2x speed dance?]
[We’ll show you our debut song [Blue Sky Below] as a 2x speed dance!]
I was watching the screen without much expectation when Manwol’s Boys’ 2x speed dance began.
‘Whoa.’
Even at the accelerated speed, their moves synced perfectly like the original choreography. I couldn’t help but gasp.
I sat there dazed after their quick dance ended.
‘I wanted to see more. Too bad.’
Then.
[By any chance, can you do a 3x speed dance too?]
3x speed?
That’d be even faster than what they just did…
‘Is that possible?’
The Manwol’s Boys members looked flustered, glancing at each other.
[3x speed dance?]
[We’ve never tried 3x speed, so we’re not sure how it’ll turn out…]
[We’ll give it a try.]
‘They’re actually doing it?’
Half-doubting if 3x speed was feasible, I stared at the screen.
Soon, the intro played.
“Whoa.”
Murmurs erupted from the audience at the ridiculous speed.
Manwol’s Boys’ dance began.
[Oh? Ooooh!]
[Amazing! They’re nailing it even now!]
“Hahaha.”
Laughter burst out at the sight of Manwol’s Boys members flailing their arms like robots.
‘They’re cute.’
[What was the title of that song just now?]
[It’s our debut song, [Blue Sky Below].]
[The song is so good. I think I’m becoming a fan starting today. For real.]
I nodded at that.
‘I’d become a fan too.’
In that brief moment, Manwol’s Boys’ performance left a strong impact on me.
I didn’t usually watch idol stages, but now I got the thrill of perfectly synced group choreography.
‘I should listen to it again on the way home.’
Then the stage lights brightened.
Black Dice appeared on stage, all in all-black suits adorned with flashy accessories.
Nearby audience members who seemed to be Black Dice fans screamed.
“One, two, three. Hello. We’re Black Dice.”
The crowd went wild.
‘They’re popular.’
Amid the cheers, the member who seemed to be the leader spoke.
“The song we’re performing today is Green City’s.”
I was surprised by the unexpected choice.
Green City was an overseas rock band—not well-known in our country. Only real music fans would know them.
‘I thought they’d do something more mainstream, but it’s pretty niche.’
The center member gave the start signal, and the stage lights dimmed.
After a few seconds of silence, faint lighting revealed one member.
- Thud, thud.
The footsteps stopped.
The member at the front blew on the rose in his palm, and petals fell one by one to the floor.
- Boom.
Soon, backup dancers filled the stage, parting left and right. Amid the grand atmosphere, Black Dice members strode out.
As Black Dice appeared, the backup dancers knelt in a line one by one.
‘How many are there?’
Then the lights behind the stage came on, revealing a massive rose prop.
Red lighting hit the rose, filling the hall with a blaring siren.
- Weeoooweeoooweee
The backup dancers began snapping their joints in perfect unison.
No way…
‘Zombies?’
Black Dice’s choreography unfolded in the center, arms swinging like commands.
So the concept was zombie king?
“Wow…”
I stuck out my tongue.
It reeked of pure capitalism.