Chapter 323
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 323
News spread through Nutube and Tick-Tock that The Dawn’s first-ever countdown live was about to begin.
[Our boys are doing a countdown live... I remember when it was a given they’d be broadcasting from a folding table in a dorm with walls cracked like spiderwebs.]
[Holy crap, my heart is already racing. I’m so hyped.]
A countdown live was a broadcast held an hour before a music video release, allowing idols to communicate with fans, briefly introduce the album, and wait for the premiere together.
The members of The Dawn appeared on screen, surrounded by traditional buildings with elegant tiled roofs.
“Hello! We are the rising sun, The Dawn!”
They were all dressed in durumagi—traditional overcoats—in a variety of beautiful, vibrant colors.
The broadcast began with a member introduction, which the Noeuls already knew by heart, followed by a brief overview of the album and some small talk about what they had been up to during their hiatus.
[My babies...]
“—I bought that ice cream specifically for you, Ho-yun hyung, but you didn't even touch it!”
“You bought mint chocolate. And then you ate it yourself anyway.”
“Oh, right. Hyung, you’re anti-mint-choco. Didn't you say you'd rather brush your teeth while eating chocolate? Anyway, I wasn't the one who finished it.”
[They haven't changed a bit...]
“Huh? Then who ate the one in the fridge?”
“I did. Why? None of you were going to eat it anyway.”
“That gave me goosebumps. Seong-hyeon hyung sounded exactly like Ho-yun hyung just now.”
“Watch what you say. Think before you speak.”
[Do you guys even plan on promoting the album?]
[LOL look at Kim Seong-hyeon’s face, he’s so disgusted.]
[They really are the same as ever, haha. Our Deongings bickering is the best.]
Seo Ho-yun, Kim Seong-hyeon, and Jeong Da-jun, who were snapping at each other over a single tub of mint chocolate ice cream, finally settled down under Seong Ji-won’s mediation—or rather, his chilling smile.
The casual conversation continued for a while longer.
As it neared 6:00 PM, they wrapped up.
“There are only three minutes left until the countdown. This has been The Dawn. Bye!”
The live ended with the members waving goodbye.
[The boys seemed to be in a great mood today!]
[I know!!! They were so cute.]
[I’m shaking so much, but they looked so relaxed. Ugh, I bet they’ve already seen the whole MV, those lucky punks.]
The number of viewers dropped sharply as the live ended. Simultaneously, the staff moved busily to prepare for the music video reaction shoot.
Lee Ji-hyeon, who was checking the situation from behind the cameras, also logged onto Nutube.
“Oh, it’s starting!”
Amidst the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, Jeong Da-jun was shown focused on something atop a fan-shaped pavilion in the middle of a pond. Beside him, Kang Yi-chae lay sprawled out on his side.
Both were wearing modernized hanbok designed for ease of movement.
《Lantern parades continue across the country...》
Kang Yi-chae, who had been scrolling through his phone with a languid expression, smirked after reading an article. He sat up abruptly, grabbed Jeong Da-jun’s chin, and inspected his face from various angles.
“Let’s see... Your features are clean and harmonious, and your eyes are clear. This is the face of a future king...”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Jeong Da-jun’s eyes widened.
Just then—
“Pay no mind to such flattery. It is not to be trusted.”
“Ah.”
Seong Ji-won, who was climbing up to the pavilion, barked out a rebuke while glaring at Kang Yi-chae. He pushed Yi-chae aside, pulled a piece of colored paper from his robe, and held it out to Da-jun.
“Why not write down a wish instead? They say things come true if you believe in them.”
The colored paper reflected in Da-jun’s eyes. The screen zoomed in closer and closer until it began to swirl, pulling the viewer in.
【Perhaps looking up at the same moon
I retrace the dawn we spent together】
The scene shifted as the music began. The melody of traditional instruments was layered over a heavy synthesizer beat.
Jeong Da-jun, now in a pale blue t-shirt and white shorts, stood by a window watching the setting sun.
The faint daytime moon gradually drew closer, and this time, Kim Seong-hyeon appeared.
【I wonder how you’re feeling right now
It’s a restless night, worrying about that】
As Kim Seong-hyeon raised an arm to shield his face from the piercing sunlight, a shadow fell over him. Through his blurred, backlit vision, he saw Seo Ho-yun looking down with an expressionless face, blocking the light with an open fan.
The camera then swept past numerous buildings, cutting through the darkness to reach a river as wide as the sea.
The members of The Dawn were there. Holding softly glowing lanterns, they walked along the riverbank.
【Even if I’m just a small dot to you
I’ll gladly give you everything I have
Even if I can’t reach that coastline
Even if I look like a fading star】
Kang Yi-chae rested an arm on the shoulder of a hesitating Jeong Da-jun, delivering his rap with the calm cadence of a poem.
Da-jun looked at him and smiled, seemingly reassured.
【Because waiting is what I do best】
Seong Ji-won gazed up at the moon, which had grown even larger. His long, trembling eyelashes seemed to represent the desperation of the wish he had placed in his lantern.
【I send my heart upon a flower
Like a rainbow floating adrift】
At that moment, the building tension exploded. Led by a pair dance between Kim Seong-hyeon and Kang Yi-chae, the full group choreography began.
Seo Ho-yun lunged forward from between the two. As he snapped open the fan in his right hand, the fans of the other members and the backup dancers unfurled like a spreading ripple.
【Within the wishes spreading like ripples
Within the emotions surging like waves
May my lantern ride my regrets far away】
The riverbank appeared again.
A gentle smile played on Seo Ho-yun’s lips as he set his lantern afloat on the water.
The lights, carrying their respective prayers, slowly drifted away with the current.
【I send my heart upon a flower
Like a rainbow floating adrift】
Before long, hundreds, then thousands of lanterns gathered.
【Even in the faded morning
Even within the parade of flickering lights
Our days will be dazzling】
The camera zoomed in on a lotus lantern containing Da-jun’s wish.
‘I hope everyone is happy.’
【In the not-so-distant future
We will meet again】
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been watching him quietly, turned his head toward the other members. His gaze lingered on each one until it reached Seo Ho-yun, who was already looking back at him.
With a smirk, Seong-hyeon walked over to Ho-yun, patted him on the back, and kept walking.
【In the not-so-distant future
Because we will meet again】
The sight of Jeong Da-jun playing around and splashing water in the background while the others shouted in surprise gradually receded into a small dot. Over the sparkling lanterns, the title appeared: ‘The Dawn – Yeondeunghoe (Lantern Festival).’
Just when it seemed the music video was over—
“Ahem, no. It’s not that things come true because you believe. I believe in myself, the one who will make them come true.”
Seo Ho-yun appeared in the fan-shaped pavilion, tossing off his durumagi.
At those words, Kim Seong-hyeon, who was crunching on a piece of traditional taffy, clicked his tongue.
“Aren't you just so full of yourself?”
“Naturally.”
Having watched the music video to the very end, Lee Ji-hyeon’s lips curled up in a confident smile.
* * *
《The Boy Group Spreading the ‘Beauty’ of Korea! Lantern Sales Skyrocket!》
《The Dawn Snipes at Antis with Lyrics for ‘Keep Our Distance’?!》
《‘Lantern Festival’ is Purely for Domestic Consumption; International Fans Turn Their Backs, Saying ‘We Don’t Understand the Context’》
《The Reason Foreigners are Going Crazy Over The Dawn’s New Song! ‘It’s All in Korean?!’》
Only a few hours had passed since the music video’s release, but Nutube was already flooded with videos about The Dawn.
[The way they weave modern elements with Korean tradition is truly stunning!]
[This puts an end to the talk about K-pop only aiming for Westernization. The racist haters need to shut up.]
The Noeuls were also pleasantly surprised by the positive reception among international fans, especially since the lyrics were entirely in Korean.
[Title: Wait, were we actually being gatekept?
Setting aside the idiots talking about Westernization...
I was so pissed off when the cyber wreckers were attacking Seo Ho-yun for not doing 'Pop-Pop' for two weeks, or when people were picking fights over the trainees. I was just headbanging in frustration, wondering if those things were even worth a fight.
But thinking about it now...
Were we...
Actually being heavily gatekept because they were scared of us?
└ That’s exactly what I’m saying!!!!!!
The number of psychos suddenly increased like crazy.
└ For real;;; I’m actually taken aback right now.
└ Just look at the Trending Videos list, it’s all The Dawn...]
[Title: I think I know why The Dawn is so popular overseas.
They say international fans have relatively high loyalty.
Apparently, they send letters to radio stations every time asking them to play the songs.
They were basically ready to praise whatever song came out.
└ Oh my god...
I suddenly love international fans.
I want to play the song that makes me your prisoner lol;]
[Usually, when it’s easy-listening, the 'impact-obsessed' trolls come out and complain that it lacks punch, but I don't see them this time. Maybe because the song is so addictive? It’s seriously so good. Kang Yi-chae is a genius.
└ Yeah, Kang Yi-chae plagiarized.
└└ Looks like your brain plagiarized a worm’s brain.
└└ Plagiarism troll, GTFO.
└└ Yeah, yeah, The Dawn’s Kang Yi-chae plagiarized the song that civilian Kang Yi-chae wrote as a hobby. They reached an amicable settlement.
└└ Settling with himself in the mirror, LMAO.]
The reaction to the digital tracks released the day after the music video was equally explosive. People who listened to the B-sides of the full album Wish couldn't help but marvel.
[Did Kang Yi-chae go train under a waterfall or something???]
The quality was exceptionally high.
[I like the B-sides even more than the title track... No, I get why 'Lantern Festival' is the title, but the B-sides are insane. Why are they so sophisticated? This is totally my vibe.]
[The boys' voices fit the songs perfectly.]
Among the B-sides, the song "Dive" received the most enthusiastic response.
【Within these cracked moments of time
Without even stopping to weigh the odds
I just wish you’d speak to me honestly】
The trendy melody and fast-paced beat were layered with hauntingly melancholic vocals that stuck to the listeners' ears.
【Can you be together? or not?
The words I spat out recklessly stick to me like the summer heat
Like a lotus flower that has lost its breath
Let us dive till the end
Until we rise to the surface of the sea to breathe
Because we can’t stay trapped in loneliness forever】
The moment Seong Ji-won’s high note soared—
【Let us dive till the end
Until we rise to the surface of the sea to breathe】
Seo Ho-yun’s husky, mid-to-low range voice cut in, creating a perfect harmony.
The Dawn had always been known for having great B-sides, but every song in the Wish album was strong enough to be a title track.
[What does Kang Yi-chae even think about on a daily basis to write stuff like this?]
[The way it subtly contrasts with 'Lantern Festival' is so cool... It feels like seeing things from a side perspective. The narrative is insane...]
[This could have been a double title track... It looks like this whole album will be hard as hell to sing, though. I’m so excited for the live performance...]
[I love how well they suit the refreshing concept too... I’m gonna die when I see the comeback show.]
[The Dawn Special: They suck at singing live, but the post-processing is so good that fans push the 'talented' (puke) narrative lol. This is just the audio director being an artist.]
[Looking forward to Jeong Da-jun flailing around like he did in 'Fantasy Reincarnation' ^^ I wonder if the camera director will catch it well??]
Despite the positive reactions, the controversy over their skills hadn't died down. Even though they knew these posts were just from people trying to keep them in check, some Noeuls still felt their blood boil.
However, the veteran fans who had followed The Dawn since the very beginning weren't worried.
They had firm faith in their idols.
[I’ll kill you with the live vocals, damn it.]
They believed the group would do better than anyone else.
*
The day of the scheduled comeback show.
“The Dawn! Get ready!”
“Over here!! The props are here!”
The urgent voices of the staff running back and forth leaked into the waiting room.
Seo Ho-yun, who glanced toward the door, was scolded by the makeup artist.
As he closed his eyes again, he felt the ticklish sensation of the brush.
“You really have a face that looks like it’s never known a day of hardship.”
“Is that so?”
Seo Ho-yun’s lips quirked up as if he’d heard something amusing.
Kim Seong-hyeon nudged him from the side.
“Hey, let’s try it once with the props.”
After finishing their wardrobe check, The Dawn practiced the choreography for the title track in a corner of the waiting room. Each member was given a fan decorated with elaborate embroidery and jewels to match their outfits.
Perhaps because of the decorations, the fans felt quite stiff.
“Ho-yun hyung, what are you doing?”
Jeong Da-jun asked as Seo Ho-yun suddenly stopped moving.
“This is a bit tight.”
“Oh. Try opening it again.”
Snap.
“See, it works fine. Just put some strength into it.”
“Hmm.”
Seo Ho-yun repeatedly practiced snapping the fan open. He brushed back a few strands of hair that had fallen onto his forehead, only to be scolded by the hairstylist and forced to have it fixed again.
“Everyone, let’s work hard. Just like usual.”
As the time to take the stage approached, Kim Seong-hyeon spoke while scanning the members as they put on their microphones. It was a standard remark, but it clearly alluded to the recent controversies.
The other members, who caught the meaning instantly, simply smiled.
Jeong Da-jun raised his right hand high.
“What happens if we do worse than usual?”
“What do you mean, what happens? We just go eat dinner.”
“I like that you’re still making sure we get fed.”
“And after that, you get a one-on-one meeting with me!”
“The ultimate punishment where I have to be locked in the practice room with Ji-won hyung for 48 hours...?!”
Leaving the members to their banter, Seo Ho-yun stepped out of the waiting room first.
He kept gripping and unfurling the fan, but it still didn't feel right.
‘It’s a bit unstable.’
Well, it should be fine.
There were no spares anyway, so it wasn't like he could change it.
Seo Ho-yun walked forward with a calm stride.