Chapter 51
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Keyword Music Rose Special (4)
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Inside the studio.
Black Dice’s performance appeared on the monitor screen. Gaudy lighting, flashy choreography from the numerous backup dancers, and a massive rose prop creating a grand atmosphere.
Throughout Black Dice’s stage, gasps of admiration came from the guests.
‘So this is what they mean by a big production.’
Black Dice’s choreography itself consisted of simple moves.
They probably hadn’t spent much time memorizing it.
And yet, the overwhelming presence on Black Dice’s stage was absurd…
Probably thanks to the huge set and the swarm of backup dancers.
‘They’ve packed the stage solid with backup dancers.’
Now I understood why Hwang Tae-seok had strutted off smirking at us.
As expected…
DIEN had invested more in Black Dice’s stage than ours.
Of course, I hadn’t imagined the gap would be this wide.
I couldn’t exactly blame DIEN’s choice.
A senior group like Black Dice with years under their belt versus us rookies who’d just debuted.
If word got out that our stages were on par, it’d shake Black Dice to the core.
‘Still, this feels a bit much.’
I swallowed a rising sigh and refocused on the screen.
‘Their concept’s cleverly done, though.’
The wilted, mottled colors of the roses, tied seamlessly into the zombies’ skin tones.
‘Whose idea was that?’
Lost in thought, then—
Boom—
A thunderous sound rang out, and Seo I-jin’s dance break solo kicked in.
Countless hands from the zombie-costumed backup dancers enveloped and then scattered from Seo I-jin’s body.
He dashed to the front of the stage and started popping and locking to the beat.
‘Okay, that’s pretty cool.’
As Seo I-jin’s dance break ended, the lights cut out all at once.
On the pitch-black stage, where nothing was visible.
Footsteps echoed.
-Thud, thud.
A single light flicked on in the darkness, and someone emerged center stage. Hwang Tae-seok, draped in a luxurious cape, strode out with regal steps.
For a moment, I nearly burst out laughing in disbelief.
‘So Seo I-jin handles all the tough moves, and Hwang Tae-seok gets the kingly close-up shots?’
Hwang Tae-seok reached the front, raised his index finger high, and lazily flicked his arm around.
Song Yu-bin let out a small sigh beside me.
Everyone was probably thinking the same thing.
‘Couldn’t they put in a little more effort?’
If he’s the zombie king, he should point commandingly at the air like leading an army.
Instead, Hwang Tae-seok was flailing his finger like he was browsing a market stall.
His pathetic gesture made my head drop involuntarily.
‘No one pointed that out even during the actual stage?’
I get it, though.
Anyone who knew Hwang Tae-seok’s temper wouldn’t dare critique his choreography.
What pissed me off most right now…
‘He did all that and still acted like he was schooling us?’
Hwang Tae-seok’s dancing was laughably bad.
His singing was the worst.
‘He’s flat the whole time.’
He’d gotten a relatively easy vocal part compared to the others, but he couldn’t hit a single note.
Suddenly, I recalled what he’d said to us in the waiting room.
‘Rookies have it rough. They get trashed no matter what. Next time, just plaster on a thick face and beg for heavy AR!’
And he sang like that while saying that crap to us.
It was just absurd.
-Weeeeng
Sirens blared, and the backup dancers swarmed around Black Dice as the stage ended.
The MCs and guests erupted in cheers the second it wrapped.
“Whoa, that was insane.”
“So Black Dice turned wilted roses into zombies!”
The guests’ reactions poured in after watching Black Dice.
I barely managed a smile, forcing the corners of my mouth up, when the MC turned to us.
“How about Manwol’s Boys? What’d you think of your seniors’ stage?”
“We really learned a lot watching it.”
I meant it.
…Aside from Hwang Tae-seok’s part.
‘Now that Black Dice is done, it’s our turn.’
As if reading my mind, the MC fired off the next question at warp speed.
“Alright, next up are Manwol’s Boys… You guys nervous at all?”
“Honestly, yeah, a lot. But we’ll nail it.”
“You boys can do it. Fighting!”
“We’ll make it awesome.”
Click—
With everyone’s cheers behind us, we left the studio.
Tension etched the members’ faces as we walked the broadcast station hallway.
It was a different kind of nerves from heading to our debut stage.
That’s when I noticed Song Yu-bin limping along on his injured ankle.
“Yu-bin. Ankle okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll tough it out.”
“Alright, don’t push too hard. Loosen up a few moves depending on how it feels. Got it?”
I patted his back a few times without a word and kept walking.
With little time left until the main Keyword Music stage, my heart was racing.
‘It’s fine. Just like we practiced.’
The moment I stepped forward—
“Gasp.”
A sharp intake of breath came from beside me.
‘What?’
I turned toward the sound. Eun Hae-sol stood there, clutching his chest with one hand.
Hyperventilating again?
“Eun Hae-sol!”
The members stopped, staring at him worriedly.
“What? What’s wrong?”
Everyone was pretty thrown.
As I frantically scanned for help, Eun Hae-sol spoke urgently.
“I’m okay.”
His breathing steadied, and he lifted his head.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I’m really fine.”
“Can you make it on stage?”
Eun Hae-sol’s head slowly dropped.
Did even he doubt himself?
“Eun Hae-sol. Collapsing on stage would be a total disaster. If you can’t, say so now.”
“No. I can do it.”
“You’re really okay?”
Then, his head slowly lifted.
Finally, he met my eyes straight on.
“I’m definitely getting on that stage.”
His gaze burned with unyielding determination to make it happen.
“…Alright. Let’s go.”
Unease flickered across everyone’s faces as they looked at him, but they started walking anyway. No choice.
The stage was starting soon; nothing else to do.
No idea why the hyperventilation hit now, but we had to trust Eun Hae-sol for the moment.
I furrowed my brow watching members supporting Song Yu-bin and checking on Eun Hae-sol.
‘We’ve got two patients in the team, seriously.’
The members, prepped, entered the hall in unison.
We waited backstage for a bit.
“…….”
The members nodded at one another. No need for words; everyone knew.
We were in crisis.
Still, we had to take the stage. And give it our all for a great show.
“Staying injury-free matters more than nailing it. You all get that, right?”
“Yeah. Let’s finish our stage safe and sound.”
A staff voice called out then.
“Please head up to the stage now!”
Right before climbing, I clenched my fist.
“Let’s go.”
As we ascended the stairs, I prayed.
Please, let us get through without a hitch.
Cheers erupted from the audience as we took the stage.
“Two, three. I’ll be your shining moon. Hello, we are Manwol’s Boys.”
After greeting the crowd, the members formed up.
‘Starting any second now.’
In that heart-pounding moment, I turned away and muttered under my breath, too quiet for anyone to hear.
“Use item.”
* * *
“Woooo!”
Manwol’s Boys took the stage.
I clapped from my seat in the audience, scanning each member.
‘Check out those stage outfits.’
Each one wore something different, like circus performers.
One of them grabbed the mic.
“Hello. The song we’ll be performing today is Uriel’s [Rose-Tinted Circus].”
I paused.
‘They’re doing that one?’
I knew Uriel’s [Rose-Tinted Circus]. The dark, twisted fairy tale concept had blown up back then.
And Uriel…
‘I remember them disbanding over some insane rumor.’
Even I, who didn’t follow idols closely, knew about Uriel’s scandal. It was that notorious.
People had gone full witch hunt on the group.
Stressed out by rumors and hate, Uriel had no choice but to disband.
Too late, the truth came out—the rumors were fake—but Uriel was already forgotten.
Their songs hadn’t been heard anywhere since…
‘Been a while. Uriel track.’
The member with the mic continued.
“Like the title says, expect a circus spectacle. As you can see, our outfits are all different, right?”
The audience replied in unison.
“Yes.”
“We’ll introduce our roles. First, I’m Cha Jae-hyun, playing the musician.”
Applause followed.
The next member took the mic.
“I’m Jeong Eun-ho, the dancer. Enjoy the stage.”
The mic passed on.
“I’m Baek Si-woo, the magician. Have fun with the show!”
Introductions kept going.
“I’m Eun Hae-sol, the acrobat. Thank you.”
Finally, the last member took the mic, voice low.
“Hello. I’m Song Yu-bin, the clown.”
With all intros done, Manwol’s Boys formed up.
They signaled okay, and the stage lights began to dim slowly.
I held my breath in the darkness, eyes on the stage.
‘Finally, the last performance.’
Maybe because Black Dice’s stage just before was so explosive.
I felt bad for Manwol’s Boys; theirs might get compared too harshly.
Pop—
The lights blazed on.
And Manwol’s Boys on stage came into view, one by one.