Chapter 113
Chapter 113
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Ark Angels Teaser
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rumors were quietly circulating in the entertainment industry.
Some wealthy tycoon had acquired a struggling entertainment company on the brink of financial collapse.
And this company was preparing an idol group where every single member was a Mutant.
Moreover, each one of them was exceptionally talented, and the speed of their album production and music video filming was absurdly fast, meaning their debut was just around the corner.
Everyone scoffed at the idea.
It sounded like nothing more than an urban legend.
It takes at least a year—often on a yearly scale—to train an idol group.
Even with talented trainees, it takes a minimum of two years to debut them.
Yet, they were claiming to debut an entire idol group in just a few months?
With Mutants who hadn't even gone through trainee periods?
To industry insiders, it was utterly ridiculous.
And even if they did debut, that was another problem. This wasn't your average industry.
The idol scene was already a red ocean. It wasn't a place for newcomers to barge into carelessly.
Top-tier idols monopolized most of the popularity and revenue, while mediocre ones vanished without a trace after debuting, which was commonplace.
Sure, being Mutants could generate buzz and attract fans. But... how long could unprepared idols sustain that popularity without even a trainee period?
Trainees who debut as idols have put in grueling effort to showcase something uniquely their own.
So... what could the public expect from idols debuting without any such preparation?
Just the label of "Mutant" wouldn't be enough to survive in this cutthroat industry.
Everyone thought that way.
Until the teaser dropped and the members' visuals were revealed.
* * *
[Anyone here into idols?]
Does anyone know RuneL Entertainment?
-Why them?
-Most of their artists just terminated contracts and left, right?
-Yeah, lol. They're basically half-bankrupt. Why bring them up now?
-They're apparently debuting new idols... a five-member girl group?
-Huh? Five members? Do they even have the money for that?
[What's this?]
Ark Angels, a five-member girl group debuting?
Article just dropped, yeah;;
All of them are Mutants?
????
No way, one or two is one thing, but all five are Mutants?
-Yeah, check the article link I posted lol.
[Five Angel-type Mutants...?]
Weren't there only supposed to be one Angel-type Mutant in existence?
How did five pop up out of nowhere?
Did the Third Mutation happen or something?
-I'm seriously baffled;;
-No clue what's going on.
[Looked into the new girl group debuting.]
My connection in the agency biz says rumors were floating around there too.
RuneL was low on funds, but some rich tycoon suddenly acquired them?
-An individual?
-Not impossible, but for RuneL's scale, is that even feasible?
-Maybe some Middle Eastern oil baron?
-Circumstances point that way...?
[What the hell are these girls?]
Wonder if the Director knows about this.
Five Angel-type Mutants—maybe they came from overseas?
-No idea...
-For now, wait for the teaser? But as Mutants, their visuals have to be insane, so I'm hyped.
-Fr real lol. Can other girl groups handle it? These days, overwhelming visuals alone get you in.
[New girl group teaser video dropped.]
Holy shit lol, they're all Angel-type Mutants for real lololol.
Their visuals are straight-up divine.
Wings and halos, what even lololol.
-Wait;; does that mean the angel from the unified religions is in there?
-No way;;
[But these girls seem kinda next-level?]
Teaser was short, but their dance lines and vocals... why so good?
Vocals could be AR or post-production, but the dancing is no joke?
-Perfect sync in formation dancing, been ages since I saw that lol.
-Beyond that, the girls overall aren't average;;
[So when's the MV release?]
Suddenly hooked.
All their faces are my type anyway.
But their names being angel names is hilarious lol.
-Makes sense since they're Angel-type Mutants.
-Group name's Ark Angels lololol.
[After MV release, they're doing debut showcase right away?]
But they rented a dome stadium.
Insane? How rich do you have to be?
-Normally, would a dome stadium rent out for a rookie girl group's debut showcase?
-No precedent.
-If you throw insane money at it, maybe, but can they recoup?
-Impossible; who would pay to see a brand-new girl group? Especially in a dome—tickets would be pricey.
* * *
I checked the teaser that had just dropped on my smartphone.
RuneL Entertainment's five-member girl group, Ark Angels.
...The group name was pretty straightforward.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
They were essentially former demons turned angels, so wouldn't Ark Demons have been more fitting?
Well... whatever. Angels were Yahweh's domain, not mine.
Anyway, the teaser looked solid.
Their debut showcase was at some dome stadium, and since Han-gyeol asked me to come, I figured I'd go.
Thinking about it, she'd put a lot of work into this... and since it was a friend's project, I should show up at least once.
This time, though, unlike my usual self, I planned to go as low-key as possible, suppressing my presence entirely.
All eyes needed to be on Ark Angels.
It was different from Tae-hoon's time. Back then, my presence alone could sway the movie's box office.
But now, if I stepped out and stole the spotlight, the actual debuting group's recognition would suffer.
That had to be avoided.
I messaged Han-gyeol right after watching the teaser.
-Why.
"Saw the teaser just now."
-How was it?
"Not bad? Visuals are overwhelming right off the bat, and the dancing and singing are solid too. If you generate some buzz, plenty of fans will stan them?"
-Glad to hear.
"But a dome stadium? You could've just rented some department store hall or something."
-They're gonna spread wings and perform. Gotta be a dome for it to look good.
"Ah...."
Fair point. Angel-type Mutants with wings—if they wanted to leave a strong impression, nothing beat flying around.
They could deliver superhuman performances without lifts or rigs, so leaning into that strength was bound to win popularity.
"Oh, but communities are buzzing about how five Angel-type Mutants suddenly appeared outta nowhere. What's the plan?"
-Just say they came from overseas.
"...Ah, got it."
-If anyone digs too deep into their origins, we'll just come clean.
"You cool with that? Won't it make life annoying?"
-Touching me is a one-way ticket to hell. Who's gonna try? I might've worried before the Middle East airstrikes... but now? Who cares. If God wants to try idols, then idols it is.
She had a point. If Yahweh's will pointed to idols, then idols it was.
"Shame."
-...What?
"You as an idol would've been fun to watch."
-You're talking crazy, you bastard.
"Just saying. So, should I call you CEO now?"
-There's already a CEO. I'm just funding it.
"Ah."
-Better to leave the hassle to them. If I meddle amateurishly, we'd be lucky not to crash and burn.
"Fair. Anyway... want me to promo on a broadcast later? Since they're Angel-type Mutants, Mutant Management Bureau channel?"
-Not bad. After the showcase, I'll send them over.
"Sounds good?"
-Oh, and call Tae-hoon just in case. They're pretty good at games? It'll be fun.
"You had them play games?"
-Fans feel closer when celebs play games.
"Ah, true... Kinda feels familiar when idols play the same games as me. But they're good? Then why call Tae-hoon? He destroys peripherals when he plays."
-That's why. See how heavenly beings stack up against him—build that gamer image.
"Nice. Got it, see you at their debut."
-Okay. Oh, and this time, tone down your presence as much as possible.
"Was planning to."
-Thanks.
Right after hanging up with Han-gyeol, I called my sister for the first time in a while.
She'd been learning all sorts of things from Jin-ha lately and came home late, so she wasn't back yet.
-...Why, sis.
"Hey, you free this weekend?"
-Sudden? Weekend... yeah, probably.
"You like girl groups?"
-Girl groups? Outta nowhere?
"Han-gyeol acquired an entertainment company and is debuting a new one. Wanna go to the showcase together?"
-...Han-gyeol unnie? Girl groups?
"God's will screamed idols?"
-What even...? Okay, talk when I get home.
"Yep. When you coming?"
-Heading back now.
"Hurry."
And so, I gave Seo-ah, who came home, a rough rundown of Ark Angels' origins.
"That's wild."
"You think so too?"
"No, idols are basically idols—worshipping images? And God pushing idol worship? What the...."
Exactly. Even I thought it was absurd.