Chapter 258
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 258
Dodger Stadium, LA.
The finals of the RIX Cup were being held here today.
As much as they had sharpened their blades in preparation, the event was being broadcast live not only on the IRIX website but also on Nutube.
[I quit IRIX because just looking at it made my stomach turn, but The Dawn is making me watch this...]
[I’m watching secretly at work, and people are suddenly coming up to me all excited, asking if I like IRIX now.]
[Look at this Noeul being a total salary Lupin.
Secretly_watching_on_phone_using_a_mirror.jpg
└ LOL, the fact that everyone is watching in secret is killing me ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅠ]
The RIX Cup finals opening was scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM, LA time. In Korea, it was the time when students on break were sleeping in, and office workers were busy working while pondering their lunch menus.
The office-worker Noeuls skillfully watched the live broadcast in secret using their phones and mirrors, while the students watched with relaxed hearts.
[Sightings posted today;;]
[Their hair, makeup, and styling are legendary.
The Dawn’s styling might divide tastes among Noeuls, but it never fails. ㅋㅋㅋ I heard even the hair salon staff followed them there this time.
└ Yeah ㅋㅋㅋㅋ I’m so grateful.
└└ I think it’s just that the kids’ faces are doing all the work...]
While they chatted with anticipation on SNS, Dodger Stadium finally went dark. RIX Cup characters appeared from all directions via CG, unleashing their skills.
[Whoa, what’s with this scale? As expected of the States.]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ This is insane ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Holy crap, that’s cool. I’m even more excited for The Dawn’s performance now, damn.]
The ground seemed to shatter and scatter as a dark night street descended upon Dodger Stadium.
[What is this, what is this, what is this?]
[Is it starting now? Is The Dawn coming out??]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Look at the foreigners cheering ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Their reactions are great ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Whoa, there are going to be so many reaction videos uploaded this time ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Thanks to the variety shows The Dawn had recently appeared in, their international recognition had skyrocketed.
The Noeuls felt a surge of pride as they watched the multilingual chat scroll by without a break during the live broadcast.
Just as the Hangul signs, which had been emitting only pure white light, began to flicker with noise, a narration flowed out.
【Hello? Are you there?】
The signs, the only things lighting up the pitch-black night, flickered and were enveloped in neon light as the world transformed.
【Are we connected?】
Pop!
Multi-colored smoke scattered in all directions, and a massive screen wall opened to reveal six motorcycles.
[Wow, they’re seriously so good at this.]
[What the;;; They must have spent a fortune...]
[Wait?? Is this an awards ceremony?? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
The camera angles shifted as they followed the motorcycles branching out in all directions, showcasing a flashy motor show.
Before long, the motorcycles gathered in the center of the stage, circling around before lining up in a row to face each other.
Then, the floor between them opened, and a lift rose.
【Do you wanna be connected?】
A man sat on a motorcycle wearing a helmet, dressed in lace-up boots that reached his ankles, tight leather pants, and blue techwear over a black rash guard, with red gloves on his hands.
Simultaneously, the motorcycles standing in a row slowly disappeared beneath the stage.
And then, the solo sprint began.
[Whoa, it really looks like he’s racing.]
[Incredible;;;]
Colorful neon signs flashed by, and darkness swallowed the path he had traveled.
Screeeech—!
The motorcycle came to a halt with a harsh drift and the sound of skidding tires.
The man, standing as if defying the darkness, finally pulled off his helmet.
The camera zoomed in for a close-up.
[HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
Kim Seong-hyeon had appeared.
The screen was filled with Kim Seong-hyeon, helmet resting on the motorcycle, running a hand through his disheveled hair and looking on with an indifferent gaze.
[Is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy is he crazy]
[Yeah, with this physique and this concept, if it’s not Main Dancer Seong-hyeon, then who could it be? Totally agree.]
[Did they plate LA in gold? Damn, the kids’ visuals are at their peak.]
[Seong-hyeon Oppa, I’m actually starting to get angry right now.
Come back to Korea immediately.]
As Kim Seong-hyeon stepped off the motorcycle, the word ‘Connected’ appeared on the screen behind him, and the song’s intro began.
The moment Kim Seong-hyeon, walking boldly toward the darkness, stepped into the camera’s angle—
【Then you need to come to my field.】
The screen transitioned with the sound of something cracking.
Along with that, the sound of metal clashing mixed into the melody, and Kang Yi-chae appeared, wearing a red jacket and heavy-looking shoes covered in chains.
Approaching the audience, Kang Yi-chae knelt on one knee and raised a handheld microphone.
【Finally, the boring time is passing
I like watching you go wild
Step into the ring as I intended】
As if to prove it was live—
[Aaaaaaaah!]
Even the clinking of his accessories could be heard through the microphone.
[The Dawn is singing live!!!!!!]
[All you bastards who said they couldn't sing live, get over here!!]
[To everyone who said it was a recording, show yourselves right now.
You can even hear the chains clinking ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
The Noeuls, witnessing the vivid live performance, couldn't contain their excitement.
【Chase me if you can
Shift gears and floor the pedal
(Yeah, this is my race!)
The first one to let go loses】
Next was Jeong Da-jun’s turn.
Jeong Da-jun, who stepped forward while brushing back his platinum-blonde hair—now closer to silver—stared directly into the camera, delivering a performance that blurred the lines between rap and song.
【Can you follow me?】
He then mimicked tapping the camera before making a motion to tilt the angle upward.
[What the, when did our Puppy get so cool?]
[This is insane, our doggy has become a superstar. I’m going crazy... ah... why am I at work? Why am I not in America?]
The screen flipped, and through a VCR, a breathtaking Cyberpunk world filled with fluorescent lights unfolded, looking down from a high altitude.
【Are we connected?】
Among those buildings stood Seong Ji-won.
Perched on a rooftop railing, he let the corners of his mouth curl up ever so slightly.
【Don’t be afraid
No need to look back
I can be your guide】
The rough, racing atmosphere turned grand in an instant.
As his elegant and pure voice filled Dodger Stadium, Seo Ho-yun appeared in a biker jacket with orange patches and took Seong Ji-won’s hand.
【Don’t hesitate
Just move forward
I will never leave your side】
Pulling Seong Ji-won to his feet, Seo Ho-yun took over the song.
Just as the melody reached its peak, Seong Ji-won, who had been providing harmonies from the side, let his vocal volume explode, pulling the note as high as it could go.
[Insane... wow...........]
[Hey, is Seong Ji-won for real?? Is this live for real??]
[Look at Seong Ji-won and Seo Ho-yun’s relaxed expressions ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ They’re acting like this is a piece of cake, damn ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
They didn't just eat up the studio version; they completely dominated it.
At the moment of the climax, the camera zoomed in on Seo Ho-yun’s lips.
【Ready to be connected?】
When the screen returned, all the CG had vanished, and multi-colored neon lights converged on the center of the stage.
Finally gathered as a whole, The Dawn began a dance break centered around Kim Seong-hyeon.
[What is Kim Seong-hyeon doing right now? This dance break is insane, for real. He and Jeong Da-jun are possessed right now.]
[LOL ㅋㅋㅋㅋ The kids are seriously out for blood.]
With Kim Seong-hyeon in the lead, dancing with disciplined power and control, the members moved like a wave. Without a single slip-up, the intense choreography fell perfectly into place as the beat grew faster.
【You’re praying to the wrong one, Umm Hmm
You should be praying to me, Damn
That’s my favorite part】
Kang Yi-chae, his voice a tone higher than usual, stepped forward with a smirk.
【Handle me if you can】
He then ruffled his hair and swung his arm toward the camera.
Simultaneously, the field of vision spun around, the dark night street descended once more, and the image of a police car rapidly approaching with sirens blaring appeared before all the lights went thump and cut out.
[Wow, that was such a rush!!!!!!!!!]
Soon, each team advancing to the RIX Cup finals was introduced and the games began in earnest, but the heated excitement of the Noeuls showed no signs of cooling down.
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Seriously, seeing them prove their live vocals all the way in America makes everyone shut their mouths ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Ah, this is so refreshing.]
[There’s never a dull day when you stan The Dawn, damn. When people try to force a controversy, the Noeuls go in and suppress it, and The Dawn proves themselves with talent. Ah, this is so much fun.]
[Ha... the kids are really the best... I’m so, so proud of them.]
Doing well is boring if it’s just "regular" doing well.
You need a bit of controversy as the MSG to make the resulting "cider" taste twice as sweet.
Not long after the RIX Cup opening stage ended, videos titled "The Dawn Pissed Off by Lip-sync Controversy" began to flood Nutube.
* * *
“The Dawn! You were totally sexy and cool!”
“Thank you, thank you….”
“The reaction was amazing! The live vocals too!”
“Ah, thank you.”
Having successfully finished the performance, Kim Seong-hyeon felt a strangely lingering aftertaste.
Even though it had clearly been a perfect performance.
As they moved backstage, foreign staff and IRIX officials showered them with praise, but Kim Seong-hyeon, who was terrible at English, could only say "Thank you."
He watched Seo Ho-yun from a distance, who was fluently offering his thanks.
‘Why did he insist on switching to handheld mics?’
It was the first thing Seo Ho-yun had pushed for during rehearsals.
Considering the dance break, it definitely would have been better without handheld mics.
‘Seo Ho-yun, could it be… the live vocal controversy….’
Did he start the fire himself?
He thought it might be an over-the-top suspicion, but then he remembered Seo Ho-yun’s past track record.
Kim Seong-hyeon’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Then, his eyes met directly with Seo Ho-yun’s, who was turning his head while wiping sweat from his forehead.
Seo Ho-yun curled his lips into a smile.
“Babe, good job?”
The busy staff members paused, whispering, “Babe?”, “That’s so sweet!”
Before Kim Seong-hyeon could say a word, Seo Ho-yun just waved his hand and leaned his weight on the shoulder of the youngest member walking ahead of him, joking around.
‘Crazy bastard….’
…But well…….
‘If it’s Seo Ho-yun, I guess it’s possible.’
Already accustomed to Seo Ho-yun’s antics, Kim Seong-hyeon brushed the suspicion aside as if it were nothing and followed behind the members.