Chapter 4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 4
"Let’s scrap the concept."
"What?!"
The manager jumped at my words the moment I returned. His reactions were so good that I figured he’d be useful as a planted audience member later on.
I tried to remember the manager’s name but gave up. My mind was already drifting toward the broadcast, and I turned my gaze away from him.
"Let's do it over. I can't do this song."
"Hey, are you crazy? What’s with this sudden tantrum? Don't you realize you just joined the group?"
"Manager, think about it again. Can we really succeed with this?"
"That’s… that’s… of course we can!"
He didn't sound convincing at all.
"Pop-pop-pop! Yum-yum-yum like an apple!"
I looked at the hesitating manager with pity. I take back what I said about him being a good audience member. If he were a subordinate under me, I would have fired him on the spot.
He was incompetent in the sense that he kept pushing forward without grasping reality.
"I don't know about you, Manager, but I have zero confidence in this. So, scrap it."
"Are you kidding me right now?"
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been listening in silence, suddenly stood up and grabbed my shoulder. This was a frequent occurrence… but that didn't mean it felt good.
"What the hell is wrong with you, coming in here and pulling this shit? Are you praying for our downfall?"
"Why?"
"What do you mean 'why'? We already finished discussing everything while you were gone. If you're the new guy, just stay quiet. Don't ruin everything."
Kim Seong-hyeon certainly had a temper.
Being threatened was never pleasant, but someone with a bit of fire in them was better than someone who had given up. I looked Kim Seong-hyeon in the eye.
"Have you listened to the songs ranked 1st to 40th on the music charts?"
"What?"
"Actually, let's just talk about the idol songs that managed to chart. It’s incredibly difficult. Have you even listened to them?"
"What kind of nonsense is this?"
I looked at Kim Seong-hyeon, who still hadn't grasped the situation. His youthful face was huffing and puffing, unable to swallow his anger.
"Trends change and pour out every single day. Now, it’s not just about songs that work within South Korea; we have to expand globally. To do that, big agencies spend a fortune to bring in songs from the US or the UK."
"……."
"Or, they get them from genius composers here at home."
"So, what’s your point?"
He was impatient. I clicked my tongue.
"Do you really think our song will be among them? Do you think a song that goes 'Pineapple' this and 'Pineapple' that can even make it onto the charts?"
Kim Seong-hyeon was left speechless.
"Doing this is a waste of money. And a waste of time."
I brushed Kim Seong-hyeon’s hand off me.
Everyone was staring at the floor with gloomy faces. Naturally, they had to accept reality.
As the CEO said, idol activities cost more money than one might think. To perform on a music show even once, the costs for makeup, hair, styling, and labor are astronomical. That was true even for a nugu idol group like The Dawn.
But to promote with a song like this? It was simply throwing money away.
Knowing the reality of the situation, Kim Seong-hyeon couldn't argue back and instead clenched his fists tight.
"Then do we even have a better option? We don't. That's why we're just doing it."
"Just doing it isn't enough."
I cut him off flatly.
"We have to be damn good."
That was the truth. For an idol, just maintaining mediocre results wasn't enough. If I wanted to reach the status of a first-tier idol, I needed to start with a massive bang.
Jeong Da-jun, the maknae who had been shrinking back, asked hesitantly.
"Ho-yun hyung, but it’s not like you have a solution either…."
"Me?"
"If what you're saying is true, doesn't that mean we should scrap this concept and get another song? But how are we supposed to get a song like that? Even the CEO has given up on us now…."
As if I wouldn't have a way.
Before answering him directly, I pulled up a chair and sat down. Unintentionally, since everyone else was sitting on the practice room floor, I ended up looking down on them. I quite liked the look of it.
"Don't you think it's a waste, guys?"
"What?"
"The time you spend in this practice room. The days you spend leaning on an uncertain future."
Their eyes wavered. I had never been an idol, nor had I ever understood them, but after participating in survival programs for years, I could pretend to know their psychology better than anyone. I intentionally spoke harshly.
"Other kids are going to university to study, or they're working at companies or part-time jobs to earn money. But you guys are just draining the money of your families and the company."
"Seo Ho-yun."
Surprisingly, it was Seong Ji-won, who looked the most gentle, who gave a low warning. I looked at him.
"I know you're anxious too, but don't talk so recklessly. Saying things like that doesn't gain us anything."
I etched Seong Ji-won’s personality trait into my mind. Seeing such a calm guy get angry suggested he had some family history. Rather than reflecting on my words, the anxiety he mentioned surged within me, so I raised my hand.
"Listen."
"……?"
"I'm saying let's not live like that."
"What?"
"Look back. What were you all thinking when you first walked into this practice room, when you joined this agency?"
"……."
"You probably wanted to be idols who earn billions and buy an apartment for your parents, or idols who fans go wild for just by reaching out a hand, or idols whose every word makes the headlines."
I must have hit the nail on the head because everyone fell silent. It wasn't that I didn't understand. It was a natural human desire.
"But right now, what are we doing? Are we just going to waste our time here singing a song about the CEO’s orchard?"
"That’s…."
"You hate it, don't you? You can't do it, right?"
Hmm, good. Everyone is confused.
Sensing the right moment, I lowered the corners of my eyebrows, sighed, and let some sweet words slip in.
Of course, I didn't forget to pause for a beat.
"…It’s because I feel bad for you. I might have spoken harshly earlier about wasting money and time… but it feels like a waste of your talent."
Oops, I should have said 'our' instead of 'your.'
Well, whatever.
"Trust me. Let's scrap the concept. We can start over. I'll make sure the sweat you've shed in this practice room shines on stage."
Everyone wavered. The manager seemed to be wondering when Seo Ho-yun had become such a silver-tongued orator.
And I decided to drive the final nail in.
"And, Jeong Da-jun."
"Ye-yes?"
"When did I ever say I didn't have a way?"
I'm not the kind of person who talks nonsense without a plan.
[You're quite confident, aren't you?]
Of course.
The system window popped up with a chime. I glanced at it.
It’s not a rule violation for me to overturn all of this, right?
[Do as you please! Unknown Idol Tycoon respects the player's freedom.]
Respect, my foot… You were trying to ruin me with those dialogue options earlier.
"What is the way?"
"There's only one way, obviously."
Everyone was staring at me with wide eyes. It was only natural for their attention to be drawn to a newcomer who had just turned everything upside down and was speaking with such confidence.
"Coming back with a good song."
I replied, adjusting my posture to look arrogant but not too boastful.
The foundation of success is a good song.
"I'll get a song from Blue Tiger."
"From Blue Tiger?!"
Everyone jumped to their feet.
Blue Tiger. It wasn't an exaggeration to say they were one of the most prominent composers in South Korea. From ballads to idols, they covered all genres, and they were famous for being incredibly picky.
That was why even large agencies poured money in, and singers or idols had to personally visit and beg just to get a single song from Blue Tiger. That was how much of a guaranteed hit they were.
"If it's Blue Tiger, even Black Call, with Ju Woo-seong senior, got a song from them and it was a huge hit."
"And even the Ballad Emperor, Hyeon-seong… Man, if it's Blue Tiger, it's a guaranteed success."
The maknae Jeong Da-jun and the manager were ecstatic, but the rest of the members frowned instead. As I’ve said, I preferred the ones who were more grounded in reality.
"What… I wondered what kind of nonsense you were going to spout, but in the end, it really is just nonsense?"
"Um, I see what you're thinking. But Blue Tiger only gives songs to big agencies. And only to people who are already huge…. How are we supposed to get one?"
Right, I knew this reaction was coming.
Even considering reality, it made sense. How could a half-baked idol group that hadn't even promoted properly after debuting get a song from the famous Blue Tiger?
But, I say it again, I am Seo Ho-yun.
"I can get it."
"Where on earth does this confidence come from?"
"Are you still feeling sick somewhere?"
Thinking this was a joke, the atmosphere in the practice room began to turn hostile.
But I wasn't joking. Once again, I spoke clearly, syllable by syllable.
"I will definitely bring it. I promise."
"……."
Silence fell over the practice room. Everyone looked fed up. They seemed confused, overwhelmed by my confidence, wondering if I was the greatest liar in history or if I could actually pull it off.
I didn't miss that silence.
"I'm going to make you guys… no, our group, The Dawn, successful."
I have a way.
The air in the practice room shifted strangely. The loose, despondent faces now showed a hint of expectation and hope, along with clear wariness.
Good. I liked this competitive dynamic. It was much better than that wilted green onion look they had earlier.
I curled the corners of my mouth into a smirk.
"Just trust me this once."
I'll make sure you're fed.
Naturally, the rest of the reactions were cold. To be precise, they seemed half-doubting.
But well, it didn't matter to me. I was going to make it happen anyway. I held up three fingers.
"Just wait three days."
"Are you really going to get a song from Blue Tiger?"
Kim Seong-hyeon questioned me. I ignored him on purpose.
"I recommend you guys practice your basics…. If you don't want to trust me, then go ahead and practice 'Pineapple.' I'm not doing it."
And then I threw out words that completely dampened their morale. Honestly, even if it hurt their feelings, I didn't want them to waste their time.
Fortunately, those words seemed to work as everyone started glancing at each other.
"I… I'll try trusting Ho-yun hyung."
"Kang Yi-chae!"
"Just, well…. Since things have already turned out like this, I figure it wouldn't be bad to see how far this goes."
Kang Yi-chae smiled and sided with me. Looking at him, it seemed I was just an excuse and he simply didn't want to do 'Pineapple' either. I had just lit the fuse.
I nodded, looked around, and made eye contact with the manager.
"Manager."
"Ho-ho-yun."
"Have the contract ready. Let's talk again."
I was the one in power here. Since an idol being shoehorned back into a comeback would normally have to walk on eggshells, the manager looked bewildered.
Not my problem.
"See you in three days."
I gave them a light farewell and walked out. As I walked down the hallway, the system window popped up with a chime.
[Sudden Quest Arrived:
'Let's Get a Comeback Song!'
You've spouted some unbelievable nonsense!
Let's see if it was just a bluff or not.
Upon Success: +10 Charm.
Upon Failure: Decrease in Awareness, must perform as center wearing a pineapple costume.]
"…You're really enjoying this."
I muttered sourly as I walked out.
Since I didn't want to wear a pineapple costume as a failure penalty… I quickened my pace.