Chapter 351
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 351
[What the hell, what do you mean "last"?]
Ever since the teaser for "Level S2" dropped, all sorts of speculations regarding Seo Ho-yun’s final line had been running rampant.
[The album title is Last Round.
Doesn't that mean they’ve finished all their preparations and are about to drive in the final wedge?
Isn't this basically a declaration of war saying they’re going to take the Grand Prize?]
[Seo Ho-yun is so damn cool.
Seriously, he’s saying he’s going to devour everything. My heart is full seeing how much the Seo Ho-yun who used to be such a klutz back in Second Chance has grown.]
[Idols care so much about their image, so would that even make sense? lolololololol... but damn... lol... looking back at the old Seo Ho-yun who used to lose his temper with zero filters, I’d totally accept it even if he narrated, "I'm taking the Grand Prize with this."]
└ I miss the "no-brakes" Shas era when he was calling out Today lollll]
While the actual meaning behind the words "This is our last" remained unknown, their intent was clear from the fact that they were making their third comeback within a single year.
And there was no way the fans wouldn't notice. Although they had a powerful rival in High Five, The Dawn's songs had always exceeded expectations, and their fandom was currently growing exponentially. Even the timing was perfect—not too close to the awards ceremonies, yet not too far.
As the highlight medley followed, "happy circuits" naturally began to fire and spin wildly in the minds of the Noeuls.
[I only heard a tiny bit of "Level S2" but it's already a legend!!! This is insane!!!!]
[I was so nervous during the teaser, but hearing the highlight medley makes me so hyped for this Last Round album T_T]
[I was ready to forgive them even if it was just a repackage of everything so far... but how do they bring new songs every single time... their manners are top-tier, how can I not love them....]
The title track, "Level S2," was a medium-tempo hip-hop song with a unique sense of rhythm and an addictive hook.
[Wow, the guys from Second Chance are coming back with a song like this.]
[But the more I listen, the more it feels like they’re throwing away their own color to go for a more mainstream sound, so I’m not sure..]
[Isn't that a bit much based on just a few seconds? Who looks for "mainstream appeal" in boy groups these days anyway?]
[Whatever, I’m just gonna trust Kang Yi-chae.
To be honest, it doesn't feel like he suppressed himself completely to make this... Personally, I love that they’re releasing a song that’ll actually work on the public. It feels very "idol-like."]
└ True. Kang Yi-chae’s specialty: sneakily tucking his own tastes in by splitting the beats brilliantly in the middle...
└└ It’s like a parent chopping up carrots so small a kid who hates them can’t see them.
└└ What a metaphor lollll]
Naturally, the Noeuls' attention shifted to the song that was about to be released.
[Isn't the way they pronounce "Level S2" so sexy... I was listening in the living room with my family and got so startled I hurried to put on my earphones.]
└ lollll please just listen to it proudly.]
[But why "Level S2"? The title is so unique it caught me off guard for a second.]
[Since S2 is used to mean "love," it’s probably a love song.]
└ I’m just guessing based on the concept photos, teaser, and highlight medley... but the vibe is strangely cold, so maybe they’re going for a "bad boy" concept?
S2... pretending it’s love, but it’s not real love...
└ Holy shit, an idol daring to be a bad boy...
I’m literally drooling....
└└ You’re always drooling, I think your salivary glands are broken.
└ lolololol damn lololol]
And a few days later, the music video was released.
[The MV is out!!!]
Fans quickly accessed Nutube to find the fresh video that had only been uploaded moments ago.
【THE DAWN - ‘Level S2’ Official Music Video】
Clicking it with pounding hearts, they were met with a vast desert dyed in the bluish-gray of dawn.
[Oh, the beginning is similar to the teaser.]
The faint sound of "Our Brilliant Dawn" drifted from somewhere, and the camera quickly panned over someone’s footprints that hadn't been erased yet.
【You promised on the day the Milky Way poured down】
In front of the entrance of a neon-pink semicircular arcade building labeled "Level S2," a man in a red jumper stood.
[That’s probably Seo Ho-yun, right? Since his face was the only one not shown in the teaser.]
Following him as he stepped through the glass doors, the dark interior was revealed.
Passing by various game machines, brushing past Kang Yi-chae, and moving past Jeong Da-jun, who stood frozen holding a giant toy gun. Then, veering behind Seong Ji-won, who sat in a chair gripping a controller, and walking past Kim Seong-hyeon, who stood before a claw machine. Kim Seong-hyeon’s eyes rolled over his shoulder to follow the man.
【How can I live without you?】
Suddenly, the man’s footsteps stopped in front of a game machine. Taking a small coin from his pocket, he dropped it into the coin slot without a moment's hesitation.
【I will always—】
Click.
The music stopped abruptly.
Broken characters flickered onto the static-filled CRT monitor of the game machine.
【 WARNING 】
【—…THE D■■N IS COMING】
【T■E DA■N ■S CO■ING】
【TH■ ■AWN I■ COMI■G】
【THE DA■N IS CO■ING—…】
As the man’s black loafers gave the machine a light kick,
【THE DAWN IS COMING !】
All the lights flickered on at once.
Simultaneously, the screens of every game machine moved chaotically before displaying the same phrase in unison.
【LEVEL S2】
Noise completely covered the letters, and when it vanished, Jeong Da-jun, who had been frozen the whole time, appeared. Wearing a headband and a loose anorak, he blinked a few times as if coming to life, then took a crouching start position and lunged toward the game screen.
【Stop buzzing off my head!】
Immediately, the scene shifted to the rooftop of a tall building under the blazing sun. In a different outfit—a black turtleneck and a bulletproof vest—Jeong Da-jun lay flat on the floor, aiming a gun somewhere with a mischievous expression.
【Don't think too hard, it's my round】
Between boyhood and manhood, his unique voice—not too thin, yet refined—opened the song. The intense beat and mysterious tempo meshed together, making the track even more distinctive.
Slowly closing one eye, Jeong Da-jun aimed at a target marked "S2" on the building across from him.
The moment he pulled the trigger with his right index finger,
【Blow away your complicated worries
In this dawn, leave everything to me】
Crash!
The bullet, moving in slow motion, embedded itself in a window. Inside, the corners of Kang Yi-chae’s mouth curled up.
【Ah, it feels like this isn't a game
Even if it feels real, just look the other way】
Turning his face nonchalantly, Kang Yi-chae strolled leisurely down a hallway lined with ornate chandeliers. The people lined up around him took a step back and gave him a disciplined salute.
【Don't worry my love
Throw it all away and just hold me tight】
Soon reaching the end of the hall lined with murals, Kang Yi-chae grabbed a mannequin placed in the center and began to waltz.
【Stop the useless talk
Just tell me you love me for a bit
Difficult words aren't needed tonight】
Their shadows swayed as if surrounding the murals.
【Just whisper to me endlessly】
With the thumping beat, the silhouette gradually zoomed in, and the camera angle was sucked into a mirror within a famous painting.
There, countless circular mirrors were arranged. Seong Ji-won, sitting on an antique chair with his legs crossed, tilted his head to the side.
【But let's keep it under level S2
So I can split these letters before it gets too deep】
The mirrors rotating around Seong Ji-won reflected nothing.
【Don't ask, just come out and dance with me, Babe
I'll tell you I love you tomorrow too, probably】
As Seong Ji-won stood up with a deep smile, the mirrors all fell outward and shattered into pieces. Then, the floor he stood on folded inward, and the scene flipped like a turning page to reveal a damp, dirty street. Kim Seong-hyeon, wearing a leather rider jacket, leaned slightly against a motorcycle parked on the side of the street.
【Stop the wordplay, I just wanna dance
Before things get too serious at the end
Don't ask, just come out and dance with me, Babe】
Kim Seong-hyeon’s low bass contrasted with Seong Ji-won’s previous clear voice, further heightening the immersion of the song.
【Like it's our last time
Because the dawn belongs entirely to us】
Frowning slightly, Kim Seong-hyeon soon started the motorcycle and turned on the headlight. The brilliant beam of light transformed into the light of a projector, and the scenery changed.
In a small, old movie theater with prominent red seats, Seo Ho-yun was alone.
【I, who spun around like I was broken
Your color, the only one among the grays】
The cold-looking man in a dark navy suit sat expressionless, resting his chin on his hand. On the screen, footage of The Dawn laughing and chatting played.
Just then, water began to leak onto the floor from somewhere. However, Seo Ho-yun stared straight ahead as if he knew nothing.
【Let's keep it under Level S2
Before I find meaning among the numbers】
Rumble, crash!
【Let's not call it love
Before I fall for cliché words】
The water that had been slowly filling the floor was suddenly at his ankles. Soon, the theater doors burst open, and a torrent of water rushed in, engulfing Seo Ho-yun. Bubbles escaped from his mouth as he was submerged in the dark water.
Vrrrrm. Vrrrrm.
The song continued to play, but it wasn't transmitted properly because it was blocked by water on all sides.
One by one, the sight of the other members sinking with their eyes closed alternated with the scene of Seo Ho-yun.
Just as everyone was sinking into the ultimate darkness, Seo Ho-yun’s closed eyelids snapped open.
"—Cough, cough...!"
Seo Ho-yun was back in the arcade.
Only the water dripping from his red jumper and the liquid he coughed up indicated that what had just happened wasn't a dream.
Clutching his head as if he had a headache, Seo Ho-yun stood up unsteadily and looked around. Only colorful lights sparkled; the members were motionless, and the game machines weren't working at all. It was exactly the same state as when he first entered the place.
Seo Ho-yun swept back his wet bangs.
【.......】
Then, twisting his red lips into a smirk, he found a bottle of champagne that had appeared out of nowhere, grabbed it, shook it, and—
【It's Dawn!】
—popped it toward the ceiling.
Foam sprayed everywhere, and Kim Seong-hyeon, the first to be hit, flinched and stepped back.
Following him, Seong Ji-won, Kang Yi-chae, and Jeong Da-jun woke up and regained their vitality.
【Don't ask, just come out and dance with me, Babe
Like it's our last time
Because the dawn belongs entirely to us】
The scenery changed. Outside the arcade building, Seo Ho-yun and Seong Ji-won playfully held hands and spun around in a dance, while Kang Yi-chae gave Jeong Da-jun a vigorous push in a cart. Kim Seong-hyeon stood to the side, watching the members while drinking a beverage garnished with a cactus.
【Throw it all away and just grab my waist
Just remember, keep it under level S2】
The youngest, taking a Polaroid out of his pants pocket, shouted to his older brothers with a bright smile. After setting the timer, he ran to where everyone was gathered. Not long after they struck a pose, the flash went off.
【Let's keep it under level S2!
Because the dawn belongs entirely to us】
The flash went off once more, and the arcade lost its light again.
Static—
Static—
Instead, only the water-soaked machines remained, emitting a chilling noise.
While the screen reversed as if retracing footsteps, a Polaroid photo blown by the wind stuck to the screen. Slanted writing, as if scribbled in a hurry, was visible.
[You said it's love!]
On the flipped side, another sentence was written. This time, it was in a neat script.
[What did you expect?]
Encrypted numbers filled the pitch-black screen.
【—…121 101 115】
【105 032 108 111 118 101 032 121 111 117 032 097 115 032 097 108 119 097 121 115—….】
And the moment the title was finally stamped on, the Noeuls were frozen by a thrill that swept through their entire bodies, from their toes to their throats.
【 Level S2 】
The Dawn had returned.