A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 247

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Regression Manual for an Idol Who Lost Their Original Intentions Chapter 247

“Why is DTB suddenly coming up here?”

I asked with a displeased expression while scanning the participant recruitment notice with my eyes.

Looking at the most prominently displayed announcement date, there was exactly one week left until the application deadline.

What exactly is the correlation between a slump and DTB? I didn’t think that appearing on DTB would immediately overcome my slump.

However, Jiwon hyung seemed to have a different perspective.

“Originally, times like this are when it’s best to clear your head and freely do the music you wanted to do.”

Jiwon hyung, who had placed his arm on my shoulder and pulled me in like a headlock, roughly tousled my hair with his hands.

“Forget about public appeal and musicality, whether you get help from a producer or make beats alone, I’m telling you to go enjoy freedom without responsibility, man.”

Freedom without responsibility.

“I don’t really do composition and producing out of a sense of responsibility…”

I stopped mid-sentence. If the obsession that I had to succeed with my songs and the guilt I felt toward the members during [Attention] activities stemmed from a sense of responsibility I wasn’t even aware of.

Then I did want to enjoy freedom with that sense of responsibility set aside, at least once.

“If it’s your group’s music, you can’t do everything entirely in the direction you want, but in a hip-hop survival where you stand alone, you’re the only one holding the key.”

Of course, I know that even in a hip-hop survival, I can’t just freely do whatever I want. It’s a ‘survival’ before it’s ‘hip-hop,’ and ultimately it’s broadcasting.

I have to calculate how I’ll appear in front of the camera.

Especially since I don’t know how every word I say as an idol rapper who receives attention will be distorted and edited.

But as Jiwon hyung said, temporarily setting aside the title of Rev’s leader and just performing the stage I want as a single rapper didn’t seem too bad.

“And anyway, from the main competition onwards, producers are attached, so even if you can’t compose due to your slump, it doesn’t matter at all. As long as you can rap, it’s okay.”

Jiwon hyung, who had patted my forearm a couple times encouragingly with the hand around my shoulder, released his arm.

“Hyung, are you also appearing as a producer on DTB this season?”

I remember Yongcheol hyung appearing as a producer and judge in season 4, but I can’t remember about Jiwon hyung at all.

But perhaps feeling guilty about something, Jiwon hyung, who seemed to have misunderstood my innocent curiosity, scratched the back of his head awkwardly and nodded, then added like an excuse.

“It’s not like I’m telling you to appear because you’re a guaranteed ratings booster. Anyway, since season 3 was a huge hit, at least until season 5 should be guaranteed success, right?”

Even before regression, season 4 exploded with potential and that popularity continued into season 5. In other words, it’s a season that will create issues even without me appearing.

There’s no need for Jiwon hyung to use me as ratings bait. He’s not that kind of person anyway.

“Hey, and do you know who else is there as a producer besides me?”

Jiwon hyung whispered in a lowered voice as if revealing top secret information.

“D.I. is there, D.I. And BQ9. They’re on different teams since their labels are different.”

Since I knew Yongcheol hyung appeared as a producer in season 4 before regression, it wasn’t particularly surprising. If he appeared when he was runner-up, he’d naturally appear now as the winner.

“Whoa, really?”

But I pretended to be surprised out of courtesy.

“How about it, don’t you want to try it once?”

“It’s not something I can decide on my own. I need to ask the members first and get permission from the agency.”

My opinion was the most important anyway, but I still needed to get permission as a matter of procedure.

“But hyung, if I say I want to participate, do I get a free pass straight to the first round audition without needing the application process?”

If my memory is correct, according to what I looked up before, you had to film a rap video and upload it to the website to apply, so can I skip that annoying procedure?

“No way? Let’s do it fair and square from the bottom. If you only rely on such privileges, you’ll go bald.”

Jiwon hyung giggled while saying a phrase that would be in the top 10 favorite English phrases among rappers.

I nodded while looking at Jiwon hyung’s hair, which seemed to be getting thinner after having 100 strands pulled for drug testing. I must never get involved in drug incidents, not even in passing.

After finishing the meeting with Jiwon hyung, I returned to the dormitory, gathered the members, and held Rev’s 552nd meeting.

Since meetings hadn’t been held for a while due to my poor condition, it was truly a meeting after a long time.

“So he suggested I try participating in DTB once, what do you all think?”

Kim Dobin, who was an avid viewer of DTB season 3, shouted his approval as soon as I finished speaking, but Ryu Jaehee, who had watched DTB together with Kim Dobin, remained silent with a serious and grave expression.

Ryu Jaehee’s reaction being like that is a bit unsettling.

“If you want to participate, trying it once wouldn’t be bad, right? It might help overcome your slump. There’s still a lot of time until the next activity anyway.”

Seo Yehyeon’s reaction was positive. It clearly showed his hope that I would quickly overcome my slump, as if he missed my nagging.

“You were envious when watching season 3 too. Go do the stage you wanted to do. Even if you appear on DTB and win, you won’t stop being Rev’s leader.”

Gyeon Hajun also supported me.

With three members casting approval votes, Ryu Jaehee, who had been alone with a serious expression, created a heavy atmosphere and opened his mouth.

“But honestly, from Wnet’s perspective, hyung is the best source for evil editing. You need to be prepared to have your image damaged and receive criticism.”

“Ah, right. It was Wnet.”

Seo Yehyeon let out an exclamation mixed with lamentation. Wnet, which airs DTB, was famous for its devilish editing.

Just in the last season where Yongcheol hyung appeared, how many evil edits had I heard about?

“They’ll definitely try to extract ratings through evil editing, and it’s obvious that hyung, who will be the biggest issue whether good or bad, will be that target. I’m a bit worried about that point.”

Since I was fully aware of that point, it wouldn’t be a problem.

“I know amazingly well how to avoid evil editing. Don’t worry, youngest. There’s no way my image will become unlikable because of this DTB.”

When I said this with a grin, Ryu Jaehee’s complexion became even worse.

“The fact that hyung is so confident makes me even more anxious.”

“So, don’t go?”

When I asked while resting my chin on my hand, Ryu Jaehee shook his head.

“If hyung is going, what can I do? I’ll support you as much as possible for now, and when hyung becomes a victim of evil editing, I’ll have no choice but to find a way to prove it’s evil editing without making lengthy explanations.”

As expected, Rev’s problem solver Ryu Jaehee. He was truly reliable and trustworthy.

The agency welcomed my DTB appearance with open arms, apparently judging that the benefits far outweighed the losses.

“Don’t I need to film this professionally? Is it okay to just film casually with a phone like this?”

“I’m trying to do it from the bottom, why? I need to start at the same point as others so when I counter diss raps, I can confidently say I also came up from the bottom just like you guys.”

I uploaded a freestyle rap video with a simple self-introduction to the application section of the Wnet DTB website.

A few days after the DTB participant recruitment period ended, a text message arrived.

[[Web transmission] Drop The Beat Season 4 First Round Audition Venue and Time Information] 10:11 AM

“Oh, did you pass?”

“For applications, they’ll probably accept everyone, anticipating even those who submit applications but won’t show up. Instead, they’ll drop them en masse in the first round audition.”

I replied indifferently to Kim Dobin, who was sitting by my head as I lay sprawled on the sofa, looking at the audition pass text together.

“Hyung, since you’re going to get attention for being an idol anyway, why don’t you wear stage costumes to the first round audition!”

“Didn’t you say the exact same thing when I was doing that featuring stage before?”

“With a hip-hop meta concept, a fresh idol crushing the surrounding rappers who looked down on him…!”

“You, man, looking at my face, can you really say ‘fresh idol’?”

When I asked while frowning, Kim Dobin scratched his cheek and asked back.

“Get heavy makeup at the salon, and for clothes, wouldn’t a beret and suspender pants be enough?”

“Wow, just imagining it is horrifying.”

What kind of looks am I supposed to get from the rappers swarming around during waiting time, Doby?

* * *

And on the day of the first round audition.

“Puhahahaha!”

“Ah, stop laughing!”

“Oh, you’re totally an idol, hyung.”

When I snapped at Seo Yehyeon, who couldn’t stop laughing, this time Kim Dobin gave me a thumbs up and got on my nerves.

A loose-fitting denim jacket and sleeveless top, beret, choker.

It was an outfit that didn’t suit DTB at all, fresh beyond belief. Instead of my usual hip piercings, heart-shaped piercings were stuck in my earlobes.

My plan to go in neighborhood stroll fashion with bare feet dragging three-stripe slippers and crush them with freestyle rap…!

“Even so, wearing a tracksuit to appear on broadcast is a bit much, Eden.”

The stylist scolded me while readjusting my crooked beret. It was my fault for picking out clothes to wear the night before.

I had thrown a tracksuit with the trademark three stripes matched top and bottom on the bed, planning to wear it, but Ryu Jaehee took a picture and sent it to the stylist. I wondered why he was taking pictures, but there was a reason for everything.

Thanks to this, I, who had planned to just get simple hair and makeup done before going to the first preliminary round, was summoned by our stylist in charge and forced to change into this outfit.

This situation was a nightmare itself.

“Noona, do I really have to reinforce the prejudice that idols must have fresh and refreshing concepts by appearing on broadcast looking like this? Just let me wear a formal suit instead! We’ve done quite a bit of activities in formal suits!”

The Stylist Noona, accustomed to my blood-curdling cries, responded by asking me to please inform her of the next schedule in advance.

I absolutely won’t tell her. Even if I have to drive my own car alone, I won’t tell the agency and will go by myself.

That damn powerful and cute meta that Kim Dobin mentioned – one first preliminary round today is enough!

“Wow, I definitely have to watch the live broadcast when this airs.”

Seo Yehyeon muttered while wiping away tears that had formed from laughing too hard with the back of his hand.

Like that, regardless of my will, I became a sparkling idol and arrived at the location where the first preliminary round filming was taking place.

I held onto hope until the very end and grabbed Manager Hyung.

“Hyung, it’s not too late even now, so please quickly get my training clothes and cleansing tissues-“

“Applicants, please gather over here!”

The booming cry of a staff member cut off my urgent request to Manager Hyung.

Having arrived at exactly the right time, I eventually gave up on changing clothes and removing makeup and trudged over to the staff.

It’s fine if I don’t get attention in the first preliminary round and only start getting attention from the second preliminary round, so please just edit me out completely.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————