Chapter 121
Chapter 121
[Seo Cha-gyeom: The electric sound is different.]
[......?]
The playful atmosphere in the studio was dyed with confusion.
Juha, too, sighed with a blank expression.
"Huh."
They'd expected a scene where someone stood up against injustice, sure, but this was something... on a totally different note.
[Seo Cha-gyeom: The effectors used on the electric guitar for the first and second verses are different. The difference is subtle, but if you listen again after hearing what I said, you'll notice it.]
It was like watching the school's top student push up their glasses and point out an error.
His serious tone caused the production team to scramble to put on headphones and check the song.
[The production team checking the song in a fluster......]
[(1st verse vs 2nd verse comparison footage)]
[It really is... different!]
'Huh? For real?'
I'd streamed this song hundreds of times before. I'd felt the chorus in the first and second verses sounded subtly different.
But I'd simply chalked it up to a listener's different mindset approaching the first verse versus the second and brushed it aside.......
Using this chance to listen again, the electric guitar sound in the second verse really did feel like it had a sharper metallic ring than the first verse.
―Wait really, it was like that?
―Huh I thought everyone knew lol
―Wow their ears are insanely sharp, how did they catch that immediately
―Confession, I really didn't know
Meanwhile, on screen, Han Neuti subtly sidled up next to Seo Cha-gyeom and backed him up.
[Han Neuti: And in the first appearance of 'Aiming', the hi-hat beat is different between the first and second verses, so that part you just said was the second verse is actually the first verse.]
When even Han Neuti seriously presented evidence, the MC seemed to lose all words and nervously fidgeted with the cue cards.
[.......]
An awkward silence briefly floated through the studio.
Juha covered their mouth with both hands, like the weepy monkey meme.
'......Isn't this variety show totally wrecked?'
Honestly... it was cool though.
Just how much practice had they done to accurately pinpoint such a subtle detail after hearing only a few bars in that kind of chaotic environment?
But as a variety show moment, it was a total failure.
What the production team wanted wasn't a logical rebuttal like that, but probably a scene of blind stubbornness without reason, or a burst of whining complaints.
―If I were on the production team, I'd have immediately changed the correct answer direction, yelled "That's correct~", handed over the Korean beef, and handled it
―Honestly, this is cathartic
―You really underestimated our kids' sincerity, didn't you?
―Right, why are you pranking the babies ㅠㅠ
Just as fans were starting to clamor over the smoothly crashing variety show, the MC threw the cue cards on the floor and shouted.
[MC Yeonsu: Argh! That's why I said let's not trick them!]
The members noticeably stiffened up again at the MC's bold reaction to save the variety segment.
Of course, it was all the power of the captions.
[Members: (Did we do something wrong......?)]
[MC Yeonsu: This was actually a variety training session, you see.]
[Members (Variety Lv1): (Shocked)]
―They've committed the variety taboo of 'taking it too seriously'
―Ah no... Kids, you didn't do anything wrong!!!
―I.was.really.surprised
―Just looking at their faces makes me laugh, so it's okay if you're not good at variety, don't be intimidated, you guys are definitely not a no-fun group
[The awkward MC attempts a reconciliatory gesture]
[MC Yeonsu: But if you knew, you should've said so earlier! Why are you speaking up only after all the Korean beef is gone!]
[Casting blame!]
'No, you guys cornered them first and now you're...'
What do you expect from variety newbies!
Juha secretly fumed inside and made up their mind to side with the members no matter what was said.
And at that moment, Seo Cha-gyeom cautiously opened his mouth.
[Seo Cha-gyeom: Ah, that's.......]
In that instant.
Out of nowhere, flower petal CG fluttered across the screen from somewhere, and romantic BGM started playing.
[Seo Cha-gyeom: Because I really wanted the appearance ticket.......]
"Huh?"
A puzzled sound slipped out of Juha's mouth.
'......The appearance ticket?'
On the screen, footage passed showing the production team covering their mouths as if they had just heard a confession.
[The studio swept by a handsome man's confession]
[......(Moved)]
The MC also asked back as if it was a completely unexpected statement.
[MC Yeonsu: You're saying you wanted this measly piece of paper?]
[Members: (Nodding)]
[MC Yeonsu: More than Korean beef?]
[Members: (Nodding)]
Before now, the appearance ticket on Idol Comprehensive Review had been nothing more than a bait item pretending to be a prize.
The reaction of the idol, who would be happy thinking it was a real prize before realizing its true identity and forcing a smile, was the quiet humor point.
Fans who knew this were slightly taken aback.
―No guys, you're first-place singers, why are you like this
―You mean an Idol Comprehensive Review appearance ticket? Not a Grammy award?
―When was this recorded? Was it back when they didn't know their chart results?...
Unlike the fans who were somewhat bewildered by the members' sincerest desire for the appearance ticket.
From the perspective of the production team creating the program, it seemed they took this situation differently.
[For them to think this highly of our program...... (Tears welling up)]
[I could give you a hundred HAZERD appearance tickets ㅠㅠ]
The sight of the production team genuinely pleased and touched.
Then, fans who had been watching with their fan hearts slowly began to understand the production team's position too.
―I mean, if they're this sincere about an appearance ticket, from the production team's side that is touching lol lol lol
―How is a mere variety segment's narrative this solid?
―The production team might've felt secretly disappointed ㅠㅠ But in the first place, you guys only ever cast popular idols who wouldn't miss you... ㅠㅠ
―Until now I only stanned major groups... I'd only ever see the production team begging on their knees for a guest appearance, so this is a new flavor...
At some point, one idol who received an appearance ticket was seen tearing it to shreds right in front of the production team's eyes.
And that memory that surfaced in fans' minds greatly helped them understand what the production team must be feeling right now.
Though no one mentioned it out loud since it could start fanwars.
[MC Yeonsu: Our production team says they will give you everything—canned goods set, fruit set, and even the Korean beef set! Have you fallen hard for HAZERD? Right?]
And after the recording ended, footage of the members truly receiving Korean beef and thanking the production team was inserted as archive material.
[(REC)]
[Baek Gyeonwoo: We will eat it deliciously.]
[Kim Yuri: Please invite us again next time!]
[Seo Cha-gyeom: I'll learn how to be better at variety before I come back then.]
The broadcast continued and wrapped up in a heartwarming atmosphere all the way through.
Juha, having finished watching, thought to themselves.
'......Did I just watch a variety show, right.'
And then they placed a hand over their chest as if saluting.
'But why did it make my heart ache like this.'
Really, it did.
Honestly, to say it was funny was hard. The only thing confirmed for sure was the fact that HAZERD still had a long way to go in terms of variety sense.
But from this broadcast, they'd gained something far more precious than that.
―Why, my heart stings so much
―I momentarily forgot Sorasum is a tiny company because the kids do so well
―It wasn't that they weren't landing variety spots, they couldn't...?
―First time stanning a mid-tier idol, is it always this heartbreaking?
The sight of them getting ecstatic and despondent over a cable variety show appearance ticket could have solidified the image of a 'mid-tier idol', potentially erecting a barrier for some people.
However, this time the timing played a favorable role.
―ㅠㅠㅠSo the first-place win was something truly, truly preciousㅠㅠ
―Yeah, I'll send you to tier 1, I'll make all kinds of shows beg on their knees for you to appear
―They must have been really anxious at a small company after going through that major incident, thank you for achieving good results, truly
―It makes me wanna kill all those jerks who said Sanho only walked an easy path again. Does this look like an easy path to you jerks lol
It gave narrative weight to the 'terrestrial number 1' result that had otherwise seemed achieved so easily.
[What a rookie from a small company wanted more than Korean beef]
It was a cable variety show appearance ticket...
(Attachment: Article regarding the hardships of mid-tier idols who struggle to even appear on small-scale variety shows)
And they recorded a terrestrial TV music show win just 10 days after debut
Come watch the encore live that went real-time trending once more
Comments
―The gap between major and mid-tier is trending wider and wider lately, so seeing a mid-tier idol do well makes me feel proud and wanna support them for no reason
―Not a fan but I hope these guys keep doing well
―I guess it really is hard for mid-tier to hit big, the fact that I'm surprised that face and those skills made it big is lol lol lol
Also, the serious explanation about the random play dance got its own spotlight.
Not as a scene that wrecked the variety show, but as proof emphasizing HAZERD's practice hours and sincerity toward their songs.
A short-form video on NeoTube made by some idol channel editing just this scene titled 'Production Team vs Today's Idols' gained huge traction, with comments saying they felt refreshed.
―Point to watch: Seo Cha-gyeom attacking Han Neuti the moment they try to speak
―This isn't just refreshing, you have to watch the later scene for it to be complete
―Han Neuti is so goddamn sexy, I swear fans are being mass-produced
―They're on a whole different level from all those other idols who don't even know the lyrics if it's not their part. They accurately recognize it as their own song, singing each note, each sound preciously. That's what professionalism is.
└If you love these kids, let's not tear down other idols ㅠㅠ
└I'm not a HAZERD fan.
└Ah okay... Sorry for the mistake.
* * *
[Rankings have been updated.]
[Current ranking of 'HAZERD': (17)th]
"......."
What in the world kind of timing was this?
Looking at the System notification that had popped up before my eyes, I held onto the blanket I was just about to pull over myself and blankly stared for a moment.
Then I came to my senses and checked my phone.
[February 1st (Sun) 12:00 AM]
'No way.'
Does it update on the 1st of every month?
'Isn't that a little too... System-like?'
It was timing as precise as a machine.
I'd vaguely been waiting thinking it would only settle on the day promotions ended or when some big event happened.
No, anyway, the ranking is important so let's check.
'17th, huh.'
Seems like it's a ranking only including boy groups. There's no way that ranking number would come out if girl groups were included.
As I was pondering which teams could be above us, another question naturally arose.
'What's the standard.'
The internet is overflowing with indexes that rank by mention amounts, but when it comes to whether they're reliable...@(....) Well, I'm not sure.
First of all, the gap between active idols and inactive idols is bound to be huge, and rankings often go up if you cause a scandal and your mention counts increase.
I pondered for a moment before recalling something as I looked at the System.
'AWER ranking.'
I asked just on the off chance, and the System really responded.
[Current ranking of 'AWER': (5)th]
I was more surprised that it actually showed up than by the 5th-place result.......
Well, I did expect them to be around 5th place anyway.
'So there is objectivity to it.'
Because truthfully, only about four or five teams come to mind right now as being a level above AWER.
Let's check just a few more teams.
[Current ranking of 'Hyner': (30)th]
[Current ranking of 'Giddeun': (15)th]
[Current ranking of 'Deplote(DEF)': (1)st]
[Current ranking of 'Nible': (3)rd]
Deplote, Nible, AWER—all of them were under Mary.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say Mary held over half of the boy group industry.
I had a hunch who 2nd and 4th might be, but I didn't feel curious anymore.
Because the standard of the 'top' that the System had set as the objective was suddenly vividly clear to me now.
'It means we need to be at least at the level of Deplote for this to end.'
......Suddenly, my chest felt stifled.
Whatever. While the System had popped up, let's settle some stuff I'd been putting off.
<Start Line> achievement completed!
—Achieved number 1 on a music show with the members.
[A new save point slot has been added as the achievement reward.]
The in-fighting between individual fanbases had somewhat self-moderated, and the variety show I'd been worried about had turned out decently.
Above all else, since I'd even achieved first place on a music show, this was the perfect timing to use a save point.
'I'm lying down, I've put my phone down.......'
After finally reviewing my physical state, I thought.
'Use save point.'
[Saving in progress.......]
"......."
[Save complete.]
"......."
I shot up in bed.
Then, I repeatedly clenched and unclenched my fist, testing it.
"......What the."
Why was I perfectly fine this time?
Normally, every time I saved a save point, all my strength would leave me and then come back, leaving a tingling numbness throughout my body for a few seconds right after.
I'd picked up on it after experiencing it directly a few times, and thought I definitely had to prepare in advance next time.
......I felt like I'd been messed with. It also felt unjust.
'Never mind.'
Let's move on, because if I grumble more I'll look like someone itching for punishment.
More importantly, there should be a hint now.......
[Currently, you have (0) available hints.]
"......."
There's no hint?