Chapter 424
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 424
“…Whew.”
The night had deepened, reaching that hour when everyone winds down their day and looks toward tomorrow.
An office worker—a Noeul who had been stanning The Dawn for years with Kang Yi-chae as her bias—was staring at her laptop with her arms crossed.
The reason for her scowl was simple: her real life was already shitty enough. She didn't want to force herself to feel stressed while watching the idols she followed to find happiness—though, of course, falling for them had been an accident she couldn't avoid.
‘…I guess I have cooled off a bit lately.’
She gripped her mouse, lost in thought.
A Nutube window was open on her screen.
【NerdyFreak – Garage ft. Ichae Kang】
The new song from the world-renowned rock band, NerdyFreak.
It was a track that had become the talk of the town because Kang Yi-chae had participated in writing, composing, and even featured on it.
‘Does this even make sense?’
Normally, she would have been the first to dive in, but in her current state of mind, she was hesitant, fearing she might fall into an even deeper slump.
If the song was bad…
If this was just some forced result pushed by WH Entertainment…
And if the public poured criticism on him because of it—…
She hesitated, already fearing a backlash that might not even exist yet.
‘…Ah, whatever. I don’t know.’
She squeezed her eyes shut, opened them, and clicked her finger.
The music video, which she expected to be flashy, was unexpectedly in a low-resolution home video format.
The angle looked as if the camera had been tossed onto the floor. In the center of the frame was a dark garage cluttered with guitars, liquor bottles, albums, and worn-out LPs. A shabby light flickered above the mess.
The vocalist of NerdyFreak appeared, walking with a staggered gait as if drunk. He stumbled toward an electric piano and reached out cautiously.
【One day Tisiphone came to me and said
Because you killed the true you, you shall face Judgment Day
It was when I was crawling on the floor, drunk on alcohol】
Along with a dreamlike melody, a voice like a crashing storm echoed out.
‘The tempo is… on the slower side.’
It was a BPM often used in orchestras, one that could easily feel dark and heavy.
【Among people who only look at me the way they want
I spat out nonsense like a god who sees all
A snake crawls up the ankle shoved into a shoe that doesn't fit】
Then, the guitarist slinked up behind the vocalist, slung his instrument over his shoulder, and calmly added his notes.
【It’s a lie to say there’s no fear, dread, or hesitation
But I plug the cord back in and turn on the amp】
The tempo picked up, joined by a passionately chasing violin melody.
Even amidst the feast of unfamiliar melodies, the office worker could feel that unique presence she had loved for so long.
【I just keep pressing the keys in this garage
Until that flickering light bulb burns out
I step on the pedal to the beat of my heart
To the rhythm I know best】
This was definitely a song crafted by Kang Yi-chae.
The wildly swirling beats that defied prediction, the sophisticated yet refreshing—yet strangely gloomy—atmosphere that felt like it was pulling the listener to the bottom of the ocean; it all screamed his name.
【I just keep singing in this garage
Until the neighbors come find me to complain about the noise】
The melodies, which had been clashing ominously, gradually shifted into a divine harmony, echoing grandly alongside a brilliant chorus.
【The wind and rain blow, but I tap my feet to the radio
Because I know how to dance even in the thunder】
“Ah, damn it…”
Cooled off? Yeah, right.
She could recognize the traces of Kang Yi-chae even in such unfamiliar music.
Feeling pathetically choked up, she pressed her palms against her eyes and then quickly looked back at the laptop. She hadn't expected Kang Yi-chae to appear in the music video, but since it was her first time watching, she wanted to take in every single frame.
Just as she was debating whether to rewind, the background shifted, and a figure appeared.
In that moment, the office worker’s world went silent.
In the muffled space, only Kang Yi-chae sparkled with color as he carelessly ran a hand through his messy hair.
The moment the horizon reflected on the screen, glowing red as it moved past the deep blue dawn toward morning—
【—…】
Kang Yi-chae tilted his head slightly, a playful smile playing on his lips.
Only then did sound flood back to her.
【That’s right, maybe we’ll repeat the same mistakes】
Simultaneously, Kang Yi-chae’s rap began. It was clearly audible, and in Korean.
【But the moment the dawn breaks in the distance
We’ll talk until the sun rises
We can slow down the time, aren’t we?】
Kang Yi-chae, who had reached his hand toward the sky, made a pulling gesture downward, his eyes curving into crescents.
【If you’re still scared, take my hand
In the place we know best
I’ll shout until you’re sick of it and laugh】
The office worker, listening intently to the lyrics, felt the tip of her nose begin to sting.
【That the dawn belongs entirely to us】
The screen had already cut back to NerdyFreak, but her mind was filled only with Kang Yi-chae.
【—I just keep singing in this garage
Until that flickering light bulb burns out
Until that God finally gives me a round of applause】
As she sat there dazed, surrendering herself to the song, the sound of wind spread through the music, mixed with a faint crackle of static.
【The wind and rain blow, but I tap my feet to the radio】
Then, the scene shifted back to Kang Yi-chae, leaning forward mischievously.
The profound yet passionate violin performance reached its climax, and—
【Because I know how to dance even in the thunder】
Everything went quiet in an instant. Only a familiar voice and a pure piano tone echoed together before the video came to an end.
Staring at the now-black laptop monitor, the office worker wiped her nose with her index finger and went to a portal site.
As if possessed, she spent a long time searching for Kang Yi-chae and "Garage." Eventually, she stumbled upon an article summarizing a phone interview NerdyFreak had done with an American radio station.
< (Omitted) …Because we filmed it in a rush, it boasts the worst quality of any music video we’ve ever released. - Some members hadn't even sobered up from the previous night's drinks during filming. - But this style suits us best. NerdyFreak is a band formed by college friends humming songs in a garage. Rather than proving something, we just want to have fun, and if we can shake someone’s heart in the process, we couldn't be more satisfied… >
Below that was a question from the radio host, laden with negative nuances, asking if they had worked on it because they received a massive payout from WH Entertainment.
< …NerdyFreak has a strong identity. Do you really think an outsider who suddenly popped up could represent us by throwing something together half-heartedly? He is a professional. I respect him… (Omitted) >
The office worker gulped.
The "outsider" here clearly referred to Kang Yi-chae.
< …To be honest, everyone was worried when he said he would feature in Korean. But no one could stop him. >
She read every single word.
< How could you stop a romantic who wanted to include the word ‘Dawn’ for the ones he loves? >
After a long silence, the office worker clenched and unclenched her trembling hands. With a glimmer of hope, she looked up the Hot 100 chart.
She scrolled tentatively, carefully passing the album covers of foreign artists, until one name struck her vision clearly.
【Garage – NerdyFreak & Ichae Kang】
—No. 19.
Seeing the result with the green "up" arrow next to it, the office worker finally collapsed onto her desk and wailed.
*
[............?]
[What...? What is happening right now?]
The news of NerdyFreak and Kang Yi-chae’s collaboration "Garage" entering the Billboard charts didn't spread first through WH Entertainment or The Dawn, but through Nutube accounts that translate foreign pop songs.
<The Dawn’s Ichae, Composed Song Debuts at #19 on Billboard>
<Yeah~ That Billboard song you’re listening to right now was made by a Korean idol – NerdyFreak Garage>
<The Korean Idol a Billboard Singer Begged for a Song>
Not just Noeuls, but the general public reacted fervently.
[I listened out of curiosity and got goosebumps. It’s absolutely enchanting and beautiful..]
[I feel like the sentiments of ‘the moment the dawn breaks in the distance’ and ‘the dawn belongs entirely to us’ were captured perfectly in the sound.]
[It’s amazing how the song feels like light—shimmering and brilliant.]
[Kang Yi-chae??? Is that the same Ichae from The Dawn I know?
└ Yeah lololol
└ Omg for real???]
[Black Call is on Billboard right now too, both sides are doing so much for national prestige ㄷㄷ]
[My hobby is running while listening to the Hot 100, and I was so shocked when Korean suddenly popped out of a NerdyFreak song that I had to look it up lolol]
Some even dug into the past to find out how the two ended up collaborating.
<Was the Kang Yi-chae X NerdyFreak collab already foretold?>
<The Dawn, the K-POP stars who were the first to collab with IRIX—a connection made through a game?>
<The Dawn song NerdyFreak said they were obsessed with: Connected>
As immense interest shifted toward "Connected," the joint project between IRIX and The Dawn, a post briefly uploaded to NerdyFreak’s guitarist’s SNS became another hot topic.
[Title: Did you see the Starstagram story the NerdyFreak guitarist just posted?
Someone asked why they released the collab, and he posted the question with the comment:
“Because I lost to that bastard at IRIX” LMAO
└ Is he crazy lolololol
└ lololol I knew he was obsessed with IRIX but still lolol
└ lolol calling him ‘that bastard’ makes them seem like real-life best friends, it’s hilarious lolol]
However, the soaring attention soon began to shift toward criticism of Kang Yi-chae and NerdyFreak.
[They definitely got paid by WH tsk tsk. It’s obviously fake, who believes this lol. If you’re gonna do media play, do it right..]
[NerdyFreak is suffering.. K-pop got smeared on a rock band I liked. This is so annoying, f*ck.]
[It’s obvious the company did it for him.
└ Go listen to all of The Dawn’s B-sides. I knew it was Kang Yi-chae the moment I heard the beat.
└ Sure you did. The company probably made the B-sides too, and Kang Yi-chae just took the credit lol.]
[It’s so different from NerdyFreak’s usual songs, I’m disappointed. It ruined the whole vibe.
└ NerdyFreak said it’s the music that represents them best, though.]
At the time, amidst the flood of negative comments, the Noeuls were simply dazed.
[Wait.. so... it’s true that Ichae went to the US and even lived with NerdyFreak?]
[I heard the news and went back to sleep thinking it was a dream.... No, but this is real?.. lol.. lol..]
[I’m sorry, but is this a movie... synopsis... a prank... or something?]
Fans who couldn't believe it even after seeing news articles and Nutube videos accessed the Hot 100 with plenty of doubt. And when they saw their idol’s name proudly engraved in English next to NerdyFreak, they were struck as if by lightning.
[My husband did it again.]
[Ah, I love Kang Yi-chae so much, this is insane.]
[Title: People were complaining so much that WH abandoned The Dawn...
Look at them pushing them with a Billboard star just because they’re a big company lol.
You have to hand it to that fandom, their pity-party game is top-tier~
└ lololol Oops! You caught us ^^ Just trying out a little pity party.
└ Noeuls’ hearts have been so huuuurt lately~~ ㅠ
└ Billboard? I don’t know much about it, but I heard Ichae is the first K-pop idol to enter the top ranks as a composer..
└ Oh my, I don’t know much about foreign charts because they’re hard ㅜ but I heard he’s going to be invited to a famous program soon~ Well.. I just want Ichae to be healthy, but still, haha~
└ lololol f*ck, that tone is so infuriating lolol
└ God, this fandom is seriously something else lolololol]
To the Noeuls, who were in full festival mode, even attacks laced with malice didn't work at all.
[I just wish they’d do a live broadcast once.]
[You WH bastards, start rowing while the tide is in!]
Just as everyone was waiting with one heart for The Dawn to show themselves—
【THE DAWN√ has started a LIVE: Hello】
An alarm rang in the middle of the day, a time when most were busy with their social lives.
However, it was a live broadcast that absolutely could not be missed.
As everyone rushed in, Kang Yi-chae appeared on the screen, his face pressed way too close to the camera.
After adjusting the angle with a blank expression, Kang Yi-chae slowly backed away once the setup was ready, a small smile tugging at his lips.
[ICHAE!!!!!!!!!!!]
Behind him, glimpses of the other members holding microphones and instruments could be seen.
Kang Yi-chae pulled out a pair of sunglasses that had been hanging from his collar and put them on.
“I have a lot I want to say, but…”
Kang Yi-chae slung a guitar strap over his shoulder, a mischievous look on his face.
“Shall we start with a serenade of love first?”