Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: 19. Nine Beggars Clan × Bandits (2)
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After asking the Bandits members a few questions,
I reached the conclusion that I needed to sue Lamang too.
Our CEO was one thing, but that Lamang CEO bastard wasn't human either.
From what I could see, they weren't even settling accounts properly.
These soulless guys were just taking whatever they were given.
The Heavenly Demon sighed.
"Indeed... Now I see why fandoms call agencies the root of all evil. Even the Heavenly Demon Cult can't compare."
An entertainment agency getting treated worse than a demonic cult.
Well, Lamang definitely had issues.
I didn't need to take responsibility for the Bandits just because I was starting an agency.
But since they might join Heavenly Demon Sect later, I had to make them prepare hardcore for this collab stage.
"What does 'refreshing concept' mean to each of you?"
When I asked, Jaha was the first to raise her hand, as expected.
Jaha answered brightly.
"School uniforms! I want to wear school uniforms, school uniforms!"
I had to admit that school uniforms were essential for a refreshing concept.
But...
The Alliance Leader muttered awkwardly.
"School uniforms? I'm twenty-six..."
"I'm twenty-eight."
Woochi's eyes clouded over.
It was inevitable that each group's leader was the oldest.
Plus, Nine Beggars Clan and Bandits were sixth-year idols.
Even Jaha, who was a minor at debut, was twenty-three now...
Normally, school uniform concepts were something to knock out early in their careers.
But Nine Beggars Clan and Bandits had missed that window because their CEOs pushed the wuxia concept.
Doing school uniforms now wouldn't fit the wuxia worldview they'd built up.
And the vibe would be totally different from fresh rookie idols in uniforms versus our guys.
"How about a baseball team concept?"
The next idea came from Zoro.
"We're wuxia idols, so a sports team would fit the concept somewhat."
It wasn't a bad idea.
But Jaha interrupted, clearly displeased with something.
"But why baseball? Tennis club feels more refreshing, right?"
"Huh? For wuxia and sports, shouldn't it be kendo club?"
"I like volleyball."
"I'm for basketball. Our numbers fit perfectly."
"...We said refreshing concept, so why are we picking sports teams?"
That's when Dang Sa-cheon let out a big sigh and shook his head.
"You all don't get it. Refreshing, summer, sports. The only club that hits all three is swim team."
"No way we can wear swimsuits on stage! And it's not like you're wearing them!"
When Jaha pointed that out, Dang Sa-cheon shot back indignantly.
"Who said anything about speedos for the seniors? Obviously rash guards!"
"Rash guards feel stuffy to me."
"We've done strip shows, so speedos are fine."
Strip show?
Oh, from their Sexy Buddha activities.
Though it was just taking off jackets.
...Weren't they wearing just vests underneath?
It was shocking in many ways.
Jaha gazed wistfully at Woochi and said.
"Hyung, I loved the Sexy Buddha stage."
"Jaha, you're a good kid."
Woochi grabbed Jaha's hand tightly, moved.
Come to think of it, Jaha had originally suggested doing a strip show to EDM sutra beats with wooden fish for a Baek Na-han concept stage.
I'd thought it was a joke, but she really liked that concept and came up with it.
Then Taiji, who had been quiet, cautiously spoke up.
"Shorts and Hawaiian shirts seem safe?"
Still hung up on swimsuits?
Guys, this isn't the time to discuss your swimsuit preferences.
But their preferred swimsuit styles... might be useful somewhere, so I'd remember.
The Alliance Leader, chin in hand as if pondering, finally spoke.
"School uniforms or sports teams... Anyway, you want that youthful movie vibe."
"Oh, yeah? I was thinking high school days naturally."
"Refreshing means youth and friendship, right?"
Amid this heated back-and-forth,
The Heavenly Demon stood with arms crossed, eyes closed, silent.
Well... Having lived in the Central Plains, he probably knew nothing about refreshing concepts.
Did he even know what school uniforms were?
Noticing the Heavenly Demon's silence—since the Alliance Leader hated anyone feeling left out—he asked gently.
"Heavenly Demon-nim, do you have no opinion?"
"Hmm."
The Heavenly Demon let out a low groan and slowly opened his eyes.
"I know nothing of 'refreshing,' but..."
It was admirable he was trying to give an opinion despite that.
As I watched, he fiddled with his phone and showed something.
"...What is this?"
"A movie that impressed me recently."
"This is..."
It was a poster for a pretty niche B-movie.
The moment I saw it, I knew what he meant.
The Heavenly Demon spoke gravely.
"Arahan vs. Mount Hua High. A youth film set in high school where they compete in martial arts. If we use this as the concept, we get both wuxia and school uniforms. Plus, the uniforms in the movie are old-style. They'll suit us even at our age!"
...I'd forgotten again.
The Heavenly Demon was serious about being an idol.
That was an old movie—did he stumble on it by chance?
Or did he research it?
Either way, I'd have felt bad not asking.
"Oh, I know that movie too!"
"I've seen it. But isn't it far from refreshing...?"
"We take the 'martial arts school' concept and fill the story with youth and friendship."
"For youth and friendship, it's fighting and making up. Movie's Arahan vs. Mount Hua High? Then we do Bandits vs. Nine Beggars Clan—"
"No, hyung! That's too cliché!"
"Plus, rivalry means 6 vs. 4, right? Numbers don't match. We'll look like bullies."
A martial arts school backdrop to catch both school uniforms and wuxia—solid idea.
This collab wasn't a formal release; it was just an MV for N-Tube.
The real stage would be at year-end awards.
Aim the stage for awards, and drop some teaser in the MV...
"Guys."
I called softly, and the eleven pairs of eyes turned to me from their heated debate.
I looked steadily at Na-han and said.
"How about salvation narrative instead of rivalry?"
* * *
The Nine Beggars Clan and Bandits collaboration song,
[All Heaven's Flowery Rain] was released.
Unusually, the lyrics dropped first.
The Beggar Clan Disciples and Cops fandoms both lost it.
It was healing lyrics neither group had ever shown.
Get up
How long you gonna sleep?
What's not working?
I'll do it with you
Get up, get up, first
Run
How far you going?
What's worrying you?
I'm right here
Run, run, just a bit
Even a short run
Will make you feel better quick
Half the things you worry about
Won't even happen
Even if it rains
It's okay, okay, it'll stop soon
I'll take it with you
Even if rain all day
Even if rain every day
It'll stop someday
Worries stay worries
All heaven's flowery rain, wow wow wow
All heaven's flowery rain, wow wow wow
(Repeat section)
They say miracles don't come easy
But we've already met
Miracles are closer than you think
Instead of doubting
Enjoy the now
Dance with a smile
Even if you fall
Get up again
Anytime's fine
The "All heaven's flowery rain wow wow wow" chorus was killer.
But lyrics this wholesome were unprecedented.
Fans used to Nokrim's sutra EDM remixes or Nine Beggars Clan's "no nose" or "no tongue" brutal lyrics fell into chaos.
[Refreshing... it fits... but why does it fit?]
[Lyrics too normal... makes me uneasy...]
"All heaven's flowery rain wow wow wow" is normal?]
[Chorus addictive AF without even hearing it]
[These bastards... how batshit is the video gonna be?]
No way their artists would release something this straight.
Beggar Clan Disciples and Cops tensed up, waiting for midnight release.
And at midnight.
They hit play on '[Nine Beggars Clan × Bandits] [All Heaven's Flowery Rain] MV' from Nine Beggars Clan's account with trembling fingers.
Opening was safe.
Refreshing piano melody, blue sky.
Green outdoor tennis court.
Camera panned up from legs of member lying there.
School uniforms.
[Those school uniforms?]
[Crazy, said refreshing and actually put them in uniforms]
[Debut rookies didn't get uniforms, but sixth-years do—love it or hate it?]
[Our kids in school uniforms not wuxia outfits—cognitive dissonance]
[School uniforms, is this allowed ffs drooling]
Old-style uniforms weren't flashy like modern ones, but the pale gray had basic charm.
Face covered by book, but hair length ruled out Heavenly Demon.
[But... that says 'Secret Manual'?]
[Refreshing but can't drop wuxia lololol]
Yes. The book over the face.
Huge clumsy "Secret Manual" on it—bad omen.
Shadow fell over the lying member; camera caught another.
Jaha in school uniform too.
Tennis bag on back.
Subtitle popped up beside Jaha.
-Student Council President cum Tennis Club Captain cum Chairman's Son Jaha
'...?'
Subtitle flew by so fast, fans had no reaction.
Jaha bent down, lifted the secret manual, and the song started.
Under it, peacefully sleeping Baek Na-han.
Subtitle again.
-Baek Snow Han
[WTF??]
[What are these subtitles lololol]
After Jaha's super long intro, this felt half-assed.
Sunlight poured on Baek Na-han's face, but he didn't wake.
Jaha peered at him, gestured, and others appeared.
-Not Kim Deok-man, Woochi
-Popular Idol Trainee Zoro
[? What's Kim Deok-man?]
[You beggar? Woochi's real name Kim Deok-man]
[?? Real name separate??]
[Beggar Clan Disciples can't grasp stage vs real names, just leave]
[Future dreams?]
[ㅠㅠ Future dream popular idol trainee ㅠㅠ tears ffs]
Jaha, Woochi, Zoro failed to wake Na-han, peeked at manual, consulted.
Next scene: Zoro hoisted Na-han and ran.
First stop with Na-han: library.
Familiar silhouette by window.
Long hair flowing softly, turned—Heavenly Demon in glasses.
-Class Topper Wi Hwa-jin
[...Huh?]
[Almost drooled at glasses long-hair guy but class topper snapped me out]
[Heavenly Demon too much]
Pushing up glasses, Heavenly Demon scanned Na-han details, pointed out window.
Outside: blond-dyed hair, Gucci tee instead of uniform top—member's back.
Next, front view: Jeilgeom.
-Grade Repeater Jeilgeom
[Others had good ones, why grade repeater for Alliance Leader? lolol]
[Not future dream lol]
[World's most diligent-looking thug]
[Opposite of their image? lolol]
[Alliance Leader blond first time, why his fans quiet?]
[Blond Alliance Leader sent them all to nirvana I think]
Jeilgeom blew gum bubble, pointed somewhere.
Followed to Namgung Jun in discipline armband.
-Discipline Chief Namgung Jun
[Obv switched with Alliance Leader]
[Stole the armband lolol]
[Acting so awkward clunky lololol]
[Discipline chief, take out piercings lololol]
Namgung Jun took manual, made super awkward serious face, led members away.
En route, Lupin doing basketball noticed, approached; subtitle 'Basketball Ace Lupin'.
Namgung Jun brought them to original tennis court.
Heavenly Demon there, unnecessarily adjusting non-slipping glasses, waiting.
Jeilgeom entered last, grabbed someone's nape—thick horn-rim glasses, shirt buttoned to neck: Lee Taiji.
-Nerd Lee Taiji
[Nerd? Shirt about to burst from muscles]
[Nerd with eyebrow scar lololol]
[Nerd hiding strength lolololol]
Lee Taiji fiddled with horn-rims, peered at Na-han, nodded to all.
Then chorus.
The infamous 'All heaven's flowery rain wow wow wow'.
Jaha followed manual motions; behind, members mimicked in group choreo.
Buildup for this part obvious.
All holding bubble guns, water guns, pinwheels, cotton candy.
Jaha rubbed sleepy eyes mid-motion; members followed en masse—adorably chaotic.
[If this is paradise rock, Nine Beggars Clan and Bandits are rock band]
[Don't let guard down yet, wuxia idols]
[No Na-han sleeping in back lololololol]
[Flower vase backdrop, and MV flower vase for real lololol]
Then lyrics hit, sudden downpour.
Cotton candy soaked gone, bubbles popped by rain.
Members dazed, huddled under tent.
Worried glances at still-sleeping Na-han.
Resolved, back into rain.
Danced to chorus; raindrops froze midair, then spectacle.
Soon, raindrops rose backward.
[Whoa how'd they do that]
[CG insane]
[Kichi's budget...?]
[Just rewind?]
[No look at choreo, not rewind]
Soaked members smiled bright, danced; perfect sync moment.
Caught Na-han's hand twitch—end.
[...Not refreshing bait?]
[Not batshit?]
[Guys... seems real refreshing concept]
[They can do refreshing? Wuxia idols??]
[Don't relax yet more video]
Thought end, but black screen then members did chorus once more.
Bonus for sleeping Na-han? Him center.
But before chorus end, others blasted bubbles and water guns at him.
Soaked Na-han bowed "I'll stop now" and ran off chasing—end.
[Did Baek Na-han just 'speak'?]
[Miracles don't come easy but we saw it]
[Undeniable refreshing]
[Nine Beggars Clan refreshing how far you come
@9P1B_cider_where
(Will self-harm if Nine Beggars Clan does refreshing)
Yeah self-harm]
Thus [All Heaven's Flowery Rain] ended, causing massive buzz.
* * *
[Nine Beggars Clan Baek Na-han, "I'll Stop Now" Remark]
[Baek Na-han Says "I'll Stop Now" After 6 Years on Air]
[Nine Beggars Clan Baek Na-han Breaks Under Bullying... "I'll Stop Now"]
-Wtf these articles? Thought Baek Na-han quit Nine Beggars Clan lololol
-But did Baek Na-han really speak? CG or dub?
-Sus dub, no way Baek Na-han speaks;
Scanning entertainment news as usual, I couldn't help but furrow my brow.
'One word from Na-han... this much impact...?'
Nokrim collab vid hit 100M views instantly with refreshing + Na-han marketing.
Problem started here.
"Hey, Manager Park. CEO Sa inside?"
Lamang CEO Woo Gi-deok strutted into Kichi HQ.
And made an absurd demand.
"Hand over this collab vid to Lamang account, nicely."