Chapter 170
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 170
Waaaaah!
The cheering gradually faded into the distance, and before my eyes could even adjust to the light, the spotlight illuminating me died out.
Swoosh...
At that moment, the sound of crashing waves filled the air.
Splash, splash...
Simultaneously, the VCR began to play.
【How did I get this far?】
Then, Kang Yi-chae’s low, husky voice began the narration. It was a quote from a famous SF movie based on a novel.
【Everyone wondered how we did it.】
Swoosh...
On the VCR, close-up shots of the members wearing the same outfits as the stage appeared. Though the details varied slightly, we were all wearing black spandex T-shirts that clung tightly to our frames, with webbing harnesses connected by buckles crossing over our shoulders and beneath our chests.
【And I told them... I never saved anything for the swim back.1)】
I looked down at the floor and wiped my mouth.
The tight black turtleneck was a bit bothersome. To match the song while ensuring it didn't hinder the intense choreography, we had decided on techwear with minimal ornamentation.
I had specifically requested a short-sleeved version.
So that my faint scars would be clearly visible.
【Some laughed, some worried, telling us there was a limit.】
The sharp, staccato sound of a viola rang out. The low register of the alternative rock track began to build in intensity.
I visualized the blocking I had memorized.
The moment I heard the plucked viola string—the promised signal—I moved.
Walk straight forward, then five steps to the right—.
【But there is one thing they do not know.】
—Then two more steps forward.
In the VCR, the waves grew more violent until they filled the entire screen.
Crash!
Lightning struck, and a single star rose over the sea in the dark of night.
I walked slowly through the darkness.
Standing behind the backup dancers who were already in position, I briefly rubbed my eyes.
And finally, I recited the last line along with Kang Yi-chae.
【There’s no gene for fate.2)】
There is no gene that determines one's destiny.
Boom, boom-boom!
Was there ever a more fitting phrase for this moment?
Lightning pierced the ocean, followed by a heavy roar of thunder. Every time the sound of the ferocious waves swept across the stage, the backup dancers moved in unison. Like a tide.
Right on cue, the title of the song appeared on the screen.
【Stardust】
The song, composed with the motif of a movie suggesting that humans were once part of the stars, even had a title that fit perfectly.
K-boom!
As a piercing spotlight hit me, the backup dancers split to the left and right, and the camera rushed toward me from the center.
【Black waves crash over me
My heart races wildly
Am I suffocating?】
Waaaaah!
Strangely, the surrounding sounds felt muffled, and I could barely even hear my own voice.
It felt as if I were underwater.
【I’m gasping for air, the water’s rising
I feel like I’m going crazy with fear
Are we at the end?】
I suddenly remembered how much Kang Yi-chae had hated giving me these lyrics.
Even though I hadn't thought much of it at the time.
Thinking back to that moment made the corners of my mouth twitch upward.
【What are you talking about?】
Along with that, a bizarre sensation swallowed me whole.
Perhaps I had overexerted myself over the past few days; a feverish heat spread through my body, making me feel slightly dizzy, and my voice was a bit raspy and cracked from endless practice.
And yet, I knew.
【Hear this Thunder!】
That this would be the best performance I had ever given.
Crash!
As I swung my arm wide, white lightning flashed on the VCR behind me in time with the beat, followed by another roar of thunder.
In that instant, my ears popped open, and the sound came rushing back in.
【A spark ignites in my heart
I will risk it all
I’ve put everything on the line from the start
The point of no return】
The sharp, edgy tone of Kim Seong-hyeon’s voice—sharper than I’d ever heard it—sent chills running down my spine.
At the very front, Jeong Da-jun was dancing with fierce, fearless abandon.
【Hear the thunder in my heart
We aren’t drifting, we’re surging
We never saved anything to go back
We can never return to the beginning】
Feeling the thick sweat dripping down, I turned my body back just as—
【Whatever you call this moment
Riot, Fate, Stardust
I don’t care what you call it
The result is already decided】
Kang Yi-chae, wearing a calm expression, stepped forward with the light at his back.
【When there is darkness, there is light
Lord, Please give us faith】
It was fascinating to see a guy who probably only believed in Cheong-beom and himself rapping those kinds of lyrics with that kind of expression.
Seong Ji-won, who had been waiting for his part beside me, glanced at me once before striding forward.
【Stardust
The night sea is embroidered with stars】
As Seong Ji-won’s clear voice soared into the high notes, the stage effects exploded brilliantly.
【I’ve fought through the darkness for this moment】
And then,
Boom!
Crash! Boom!
To simulate lightning striking the waves, the stage repeatedly flashed blindingly white as if to burn everything away before plunging into total darkness.
【We are becoming Stardust】
Scattered lights, so bright they turned my vision white, decorated the space. I didn't stop dancing, but my eyelashes trembled.
When I thought about the audience, the fans, and probably my brother watching this performance right now—.
【I’ve put everything on the line
Don’t be afraid, move forward
We never saved anything to go back】
I snapped back to full alertness.
So, even as I bit the inside of my cheek, I maintained a confident smirk on the outside.
【We aren’t lost, we’re moving forward
We never saved anything to go back
We can never return to the beginning】
As the members slowly gathered in the center, the sound of screaming reached my ears.
Swoosh...
We locked eyes and slowly headed toward the stairs installed at the back.
Swoosh...
White confetti fluttered down from the ceiling like snow.
【Toward the light】
The song was racing toward its conclusion.
【All the way to the end
Even if we don’t know what lies ahead】
I tilted my head back and roughly swept back my sweat-soaked hair.
One by one, the members took their seats on the stairs according to their positions.
After climbing to the very top alone, I spun around and beckoned toward the camera with a flick of my finger.
The roar of the crowd, incomparable to any other stage, vibrated through me, and I twisted my lips into a smirk.
See, didn't I tell you?
【We are becoming stardust】
That this would be my best stage yet.
K-boom!
.
.
.
"Haa... haa..."
As the stage ended, I found myself gasping for air.
My hands were trembling, and I felt like I was losing control of myself. The lights went out, plunging everything into darkness, and the audience's applause filtered through my in-ears.
My heart was thumping so hard it felt like it would pop out of my chest. As I headed backstage to calm down, every staff member I passed had something to say.
"That was incredible! That stage was seriously insane!"
"I literally got goosebumps. I wish I could have seen it from the front!"
"Seo Ho-yun, you were practically flying out there!"
Leaving behind the members who were stealing glances at me while holding their towels, I grabbed a staff member's arm and asked.
"Is the voting over?"
"Pardon?"
"The voting."
The staff member looked slightly flustered but quickly updated me on the situation.
I missed a few words in the noisy atmosphere, but I could easily infer the gist of it.
Voting closes in thirty minutes; the interim results show us neck-and-neck with High Five.
"Thank you."
I bowed my head in thanks and approached the members.
"—Hyung."
Jeong Da-jun, who had been so energetic on stage, was now wiping away sweat while cautiously watching my reaction.
"Get some rest, Jeong Da-jun."
My head was clear, but my emotions were so heightened that I felt like I was floating.
Second place is a certainty.
But the only thing I needed was first.
The key was how well the stage I’d set up had worked, and how much the public's interest and votes would influence the outcome.
"Seo Ho-yun, drink some water."
"Yeah, thanks."
[Voting is now closed!]
We returned to the waiting room to await the results. Only silence circulated among the members.
After a bit more time had passed since the voting closed, a staff member's voice rang out.
"The Dawn, let's head up!"
"Okay."
As we slowly climbed back onto the stage, the fandoms of each group waved their lightsticks and screamed.
Even though they knew I wouldn't care much, Kim Seong-hyeon and Seong Ji-won stood in front, slightly shielding me from view.
"And now, we will announce the results!"
I wasn't as nervous as I expected.
"5th place, Verci!"
The group names appeared first on the screen installed behind the stage, followed by the voice of the MC, Ha Seo-yeon.
"—3rd place, TEW!!"
Applause followed along with their acceptance speeches, and now only two remained.
High Five and The Dawn.
I felt Jeong Da-jun press close to my side.
"Now, only 1st and 2nd place remain. Before the announcement, we will first reveal the total scores for both groups."
With MC Ha Seo-yeon’s smooth smile, suspenseful BGM filled the Live Hall.
"The total score for 2nd place is 29,200 points. And the 1st place winner, who received 12,590 live votes for a total of 30,430 points, is—!!"
I felt the spotlights, which had been scattering chaotically in all directions, suddenly converge on me.
"—Congratulations—!!"
Pop!
"—The Dawn!!"
Brilliant paper cannons exploded, and confetti drifted down like petals.
A roar of cheers erupted, loud enough to make my ears ring.
A thrill shot up my spine to the very top of my head.
An overwhelming sense of relief crashed over me along with the electric pleasure of victory.
"...Ah."
A point difference that I couldn't have overcome otherwise.
A first-place finish achieved only after selling out my family history.
It worked.
Regardless, I had clung on tooth and nail and achieved exactly what I wanted.
"...Ahaha."
My face was directed forward, but my hands repeatedly clenched and unclenched into fists to feel the reality of it.
Pushing back the stray conscience that tried to crawl back into my heart, I smiled brightly.
Just then,
Ding
[Quest □□!]
[You have cla□med □□ of Shining Star Season 2!]
[......]
[......]
[......]
[......]
[—....]
[E R R O R]
[──Apart from the game, some of the Player's confidential information has been leaked.]
[Settlement of rewards is delayed.]
[Processing—....]
The system window flickered wildly as if something had gone wrong, then showed a "Processing" message with an ellipsis that moved slowly, showing no further reaction.
Is it because I revealed my family history first?
Normally, a massive increase in Vocal stats should have been granted as a reward.
That's fine.
I had wanted to experiment with penalties anyway, so things seemed to be working out well enough.
Deciding to think about the details later, I brushed the paper flowers off my head.
Then, I took a step toward the members.
"Kim Seong-hyeon, you—."
But I couldn't finish my sentence.
Suddenly, Jeong Da-jun, who was standing next to me, pulled me into a hug and began to wail.
"Hyung, hic, Ho-yun hyung..."
"......"
Tears were streaming down his face like something out of a cartoon.
"Hyung, we... hic... Waaaaah..."
Since I had a rough idea of why he was crying, I just hugged him back and ruffled his hair.
"I thought you said you were an adult, Jeong Da-jun."
"That's... hic... ugh..."
I didn't know why my mood was improving just because Jeong Da-jun was crying, but I let out a chuckle and brought up what I had said after the 1st Competition of Shining Star Season 2.
"How was it? Didn't I tell you I'd put you on a rollercoaster to 1st place?"
At that, the maknae began to pour out tears as if someone had turned on a faucet.
I was slightly flustered, but there was no one else to dump him on to comfort him. Beside him, Seong Ji-won was also bowing his head and crying. And behind him, Kim Seong-hyeon.
Is everyone crying?
Just in case, I checked Kang Yi-chae, but he was just staring straight ahead with an expressionless face.
"Stop crying, seriously."
Once Jeong Da-jun had calmed down enough to pull away while sniffling, the members of High Five approached to offer handshakes.
It was a standard courtesy performed in front of the cameras between winners and losers.
Kang Yeon-hu, who had been wearing a natural smile, made a slightly peculiar expression when he stood before me and extended his hand.
"Ho-yun, good work."
I took his hand.
"Thanks."
At my casual reply, Kang Yeon-hu furrowed his brows for a moment before bursting into laughter.
As the chaotic atmosphere settled, it was time for the winners to give their speeches.
Seeing Kim Seong-hyeon, who had shed just as many tears as Jeong Da-jun, looking like he wouldn't even be able to open his mouth, I took the microphone first.
"—Hello."
The lights felt exceptionally bright today.
"I'm Seo Ho-yun of The Dawn."
Everyone's eyes converged on me, and I put on an even more brazen smile.
A position reached by grinding through a narrative.
It was time to give the speech that everyone wanted, the one that met their expectations.
*
1) Quoted from the movie Gattaca (1997).
2) Quoted from the movie Gattaca (1997).