Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: My Heart Will Break
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“I think it would look better on you anyway, Seonbae-nim. I'll wear something else.”
Seol-ah was gripping my arm tightly, as if warning me not to step in. Her quick response made me think of all the forced smiles the members must have endured.
“Right? Even you guys can see it looks better on me, can't you?”
Ji-yoo glanced at my arm, still held by Seol-ah, and scoffed. I couldn't believe I was meeting someone this crazy in person.
“Thanks, I guess? So, which agency are you with?”
“We're Answer, from JD Enter.”
“Ah, JD….”
She let out another unpleasant scoff.
“And you, the manager?”
“...”
“If you don't know this industry, don't act up. You could be gone in an instant, you get me?”
Ha. She's really crossing the line, isn't she?
[Name: Ji-yoo (Age 21)]
Vocal: 61/71
Dance: 62/75
Rap: 32/65
It was so absurd that I laughed instead of getting angry.
Her vocal and dance levels were barely scraping 60. There wasn't even any sign she'd tried to improve her skills. If she had truly worked hard, her stats would be closer to her potential limit.
Does she not realize she only succeeded thanks to a good team and a big push from her agency?
“…What are you smirking at? Looking at you, you probably became a manager just so you could debut yourself.”
[Trait 'Charisma Lv2' has been activated.]
A heated aura emanated from my body.
“These days, any Tom, Dick, or Harry…”
“Manager-nim!”
Seol-ah stepped between us, glaring at me. Her eyes were filled with complex emotions.
Right. I have to hold back.
It wouldn't affect me, but there was no need to make enemies for the members. Besides, that clueless girl would be the one feeling embarrassed soon enough.
On the way to the profile photoshoot, the members didn't say a single word. The mood was heavy, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy they had just moments before, even on empty stomachs.
This couldn't have been the only unfair thing they'd experienced. If I were to dig into it, I'm sure there were all sorts of incidents.
“…They're just one of the groups you'll soon crush. This anger will be good fuel for you.”
“...”
This was the only comfort I could offer them right now.
[Group Trait 'Unyielding Mindset (B)' activates.]
“And she can't even sing for shit.”
As Seul-bi grumbled, suddenly filled with energy, Seol-ah shot her a sharp look.
“Still, let's try to be nice about it, okay?”
“But it's true. All she knows how to do is show off her body.”
“For real. Her dancing is clumsy, too. And her face is all plastic.”
Even Yi-na, who usually followed Seol-ah's lead, started complaining.
It seemed the 'Unyielding Mindset (B)' trait was giving them a surge of energy. Oh Ro-si, who was still new, remained restless, though.
I stopped the car.
“Why?”
“I'm going to get some coffee.”
“Ah! I'll go get it!”
Ro-si shot up from her seat.
She must have hated this heavy atmosphere.
“There are things for the artists to do, and things for the manager to do.”
I came back with iced Americanos for everyone.
Seul-bi, who had her eyes closed, sat bolt upright.
“…Iced Americano?”
I nodded once again at Seul-bi's ability to distinguish between hot and iced coffee by scent alone.
“Have one, each of you. How are you going to take profile pictures with no energy? They say drinking something cold lowers stress hormones.”
“…Manager-nim. Don't you know we haven't had a single drop of water since yesterday to reduce bloating? Are you trying to mess with us…?”
Seol-ah grumbled, looking even more drained.
“You can edit your figures, but you can't edit a natural smile and aura. And coffee has a diuretic effect, so it'll help you look slimmer. Don't worry.”
“Huh? Really?”
The members sipped their coffees. The rich, full-bodied aroma filled the car.
[Group Trait 'Unyielding Mindset (B)' interacts with the high-quality coffee.]
[A large amount of Answer's stress is relieved.]
“…I feel a little better.”
At Seul-bi's words, Ro-si gave a faint smile.
“Are you sure it's okay?”
Seol-ah asked, her expression much brighter after drinking her coffee.
“Whenever I drink coffee, I have to go to the bathroom right away. The fact that it makes my mouth feel dry is probably proof that it's flushing out water, right?”
The members, as if gaining enlightenment from past memories, drank their coffee happily. The atmosphere improved a lot. That's how you get good pictures.
Soon, the members' profile photoshoot began.
“Let's start with the self-confident concept. Pose like you're the queen of the industry.”
“Yes! Please make us look pretty, Director-nim!”
The members' vitality had returned.
Watching the members during their shoot, I started planning for the future.
The traits that appeared after their awakenings.
Seol-ah 'Iron Lungs (B)'
Ro-si 'Transformation (B)'
Seul-bi 'Gourmand (C)'
Yi-na 'Messenger (C)'
I can use these to build each member's individual fandom, and ultimately, put Answer at the top.
I need to start studying so I can promote and train them according to their traits. And I'll buy whatever I can with points.
Even aside from succeeding in the quest, I want to see them crush those fools as soon as possible.
***
The song was finished.
But that alone wasn't satisfying. The incident at the shop had been a major stimulus, and I wanted to create a perfect song of my own, complete with lyrics.
A perfect song where the emotions I wanted to convey in the composition were carried over into the lyrics.
“Oppa, what are you looking at?”
“A book that'll help us?”
I studied in my spare time for less than ten days.
For me, who already knew the basics of lyric writing, the tips shared by famous lyricists brought great enlightenment. It was like how mastering an advanced sword technique requires insight more than physical training.
It's different from poetry or novels.
Rhythm and rhyme are important.
Lyric Writing skill has increased by +1.
Lyric Writing: 74+1
It's not about just saying anything. You need key words that can resonate with the public.
Lyric Writing skill has increased by +2.
Lyric Writing: 75+2
Like composing, lyric writing is more appealing when it has a narrative structure with a beginning, development, turn, and conclusion. Create the protagonist's narrative with imagery from a single location.
Lyric Writing skill has increased by +3.
Lyric Writing: 77+3
With each realization, my lyric writing skills upgraded. A score of 80 was a respectable level for a lyricist. I began to translate my insights into lyrics.
And so, for the first time in all my lives, my very own song was complete. It was a retro disco-pop track with a strong 80s vibe, featuring a powerful kick and damping that gave it a three-dimensional feel, as if the drums and vocals were right in front of you.
With this genre and this level of quality, wouldn't I be able to make CEO Park Jae-yong concede deep down? I'm going to win this blind test.
I played the finished song for the Isa-nim first. Watching her lips part as she listened with her eyes closed, I was certain of its popular appeal.
“…Did you really do this all by yourself, Min-jun?”
“You saw me making it yourself.”
“…It's so good. This is going to be your song.”
The Isa-nim wasn't stingy with praise, but she wasn't overly generous either. For her to say this much meant the emotion and 'money chords' I'd aimed for had definitely come through.
“I'd like to bring Seol-ah in to record the guide track. Would that be okay?”
“A humming guide?”
“No. I wrote lyrics to match the mood, too.”
When I handed her the sheet music, the Isa-nim's eyes widened in shock.
The Isa-nim, who had an exceptional talent for lyric writing herself, recognized the build-up and release in the lyrics as they escalated with the melody.
“…This is really going to be a hit.”
I moved on to the next step: recording the guide. The blind test was purely an evaluation of the song, but I was confident mine would be chosen.
“There's something I need you to do, Seol-ah. It's your song, after all.”
“Our new single?”
“It's more likely to be an album than a single.”
“It was an album, not a single?”
In truth, nothing was confirmed yet. But the moment my song was chosen, I planned to argue strongly for it. A special concept that would highlight the charms of each and every member. I was certain the album would be a success.
We went to the studio. I handed Seol-ah the sheet music with the lyrics. Having studied classical voice and piano, Seol-ah could grasp the general flow just from the score.
Seol-ah looked back and forth between me and the sheet music, a bit bewildered.
“It's true, I wrote it.”
“What?”
Seol-ah's eyes went wide.
“Just listen to it first.”
I played the audio file, which was composed of dozens of tracks. Seol-ah looked surprised at how skillfully I handled the equipment.
The intro began, with automation on the drum and synthesizer filters making the muffled music gradually clearer, evoking the image of a thick, soundproof door opening into a club.
“It's a narrative about struggling to appear bright amidst sorrow and longing. The verse is wistful, the bridge should be performed with a Mixolydian scale to act happy, and the chorus needs to explode powerfully to release the build-up.”
Seol-ah's gaze returned to the sheet music.
“…You made this, Manager-nim?”
“I'm not one to lie, am I?”
“The lyrics too?”
I gave a simple nod.
♩=120 F#m Bm E A D Bm
*The night begins again*
*But time is short*
*My shoes will soon break*
*My heart will break*
*Time is ticking away*
*Tick tock, tick tock*
*You, smiling at me*
*Time will never come back*
*You, smiling at me*
*My heart is waiting for you*
*Tick tock, tick tock*
*My shoes are starting to crack*
*Before the shoes break*
*My love is waiting for you*
*In this brief darkness*
*Hold me*
*My heart is beating for you*
*From this long wait*
*Save me*
*Tick tock, tick tock.*
*My heart is starting to crack*
*Before I break my heart*
*Dance for me.*
*Dance with you all night*
*You, smiling at me*
*Time will never come back*
*You, smiling at me*
*My heart is waiting for you*
♩=120 F#m Bm E A D Bm
Swallowing hard, Seol-ah stared at the sheet music with an even more serious expression. She must have been fitting the lyrics to the mood of the song playing.
The escalating melody reached the climax, where it would explode with high-note vocals.
♪♬
*My heart is beating for you.*
*From this long wait*
*Save me.*
*My love is waiting for you.*
*In this brief darkness*
*Hold me close.*
♪♬
As Seol-ah confirmed the explosive vocal line, the corners of her eyes trembled.
Drip. Drop.
The sheet music Seol-ah had tossed onto the table was now smudged with large teardrops. She covered her face with both hands, trying to hold back her sobs.
The sight made my own throat tighten. Seol-ah needed time to let herself be moved without reservation.
“…I'm going to use the restroom.”
“...”
Seol-ah couldn't even answer, her shoulders just shook.
I left the studio and headed to the restroom.
I completely understood how Seol-ah felt.
Answer had almost faded away without ever getting to show off their skills, stuck with a concept that didn't suit them. She must have been picturing themselves becoming just another one of the countless stars that fizzled out before they could ever truly shine. All the sorrow that had built up over time must have exploded at once.
To be told that a song she instinctively knew would be a massive hit was theirs—the uncontrollable joy must have brought on these intense emotions.
[Seol-ah's favorability and trust in you increase by +5.]
Favorability 71+5
Trust 73+5
A smile spread across my face as I looked at my reflection in the restroom mirror.