A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 95

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Regression Guide for Idols Who Lost Their Initial Intentions Episode 95

Kim Dobin looked back and forth between Ryu Jaehee and me with a horrified expression, stammering his words.

“Sp-spirits are even affecting Eden Hyung…? Was the CEO’s will toward the universe worldview that strong? Shouldn’t we perform an exorcism?”

“Hey you, I told you to stop being interested in shamanism. Just live watching anime and manga like you always have.”

At my scolding, Kim Dobin quietly stuffed only rolled omelet into his mouth.

“Ah, everyone should listen to what people have to say until the end! Who are you making into the CEO’s junior here?”

“I never made you into a junior. I was just suspecting spirit possession.”

“Right, youngest. No one said you were the CEO’s junior. We also keep our boundaries.”

Ryu Jaehee, who seemed terribly disgusted at being misunderstood as bringing the CEO’s opinions directly, grumbled and banged on the dining table.

Of course, after that he received Gyeon Hajun’s sharp glare and quietly lowered his hand under the table.

“So, what were you trying to say?”

“How about we remove ‘transcending time and space’ from the detective concept that transcends time and space to catch criminals, and only adopt the detective concept? But add a phantom thief concept to it as well.”

“So a phantom thief and detective? But isn’t it weird if a detective is also a phantom thief? Stealing something yourself and then finding it yourself?”

“I really want to cry every time Hyung does this.”

At Kim Dobin’s words, which made me wonder if he even thought before speaking, Ryu Jaehee lamented and dry-washed his face.

Before the youngest actually started crying, I quickly sent a signal that I understood the speaker’s intention very well.

“So what you’re saying now is to split the concept half and half between detective and phantom thief, right? Like Sherlock Holmes versus Arsène Lupin?”

“Yes, exactly that! Wow, after listening to Doby Hyung’s stupid comments, hearing that core summary finally puts my mind at ease.”

Kim Dobin’s remarks must have been quite frustrating, as Ryu Jaehee nodded his head vigorously.

Kim Dobin opened his mouth wide and looked back at me.

“Whoa, Sherlock Holmes and Arsène Lupin coming from Eden Hyung’s mouth. It’s like character breaking and worldview destruction and all that…”

“Where is there anyone here who doesn’t know Sherlock Holmes?”

Does he think Sherlock Holmes is as otaku-ish as the Japanese anime and manga he watches? When I asked while raising my eyebrows, Kim Dobin scratched his cheek and replied.

“Sherlock Holmes is mainstream, but Arsène Lupin is relatively minor, isn’t it? It targets otaku tastes.”

“What are you talking about? I had the complete collection at home when I was young.”

“Gasp, Eden Hyung actually read books.”

“What exactly do you think of me?”

I rubbed my throbbing forehead and sighed.

Do I really look like I would have avoided books that much? Of course, until high school I was much closer to games than books.

“But wouldn’t it be too chaotic if we split two concepts at once? It might be better to unify with just one, either phantom thief or detective.”

“One phantom thief and four detectives would work too. Anyway, if we’re going with detectives, it should be a concept about catching criminals.”

“How about a five-member phantom thief group?”

“Five people swarming together to steal one treasure doesn’t have any style.”

“That seems like a weird point to focus on.”

“We’re not deciding on the concept here anyway, so let’s just move on. Talk about that later in the concept meeting.”

Right now this wasn’t a concept meeting, but a process of getting inspiration for songs.

The details could be decided after the title track was confirmed. And for that, I first needed to create the title track.

“Anyway, we got school uniform concept ballad, phantom thief and detective, and more. Keep going. It’s still not enough.”

“Police and thieves?”

“I won’t say anything even if you just throw out random ideas this time. Just throw out whatever.”

“Since Hyung says that, I’m suddenly scared and can’t think of anything. Just get angry and ask if I’m joking around instead.”

“Right, if you want to release part 2, keep not thinking and joking around like that. What would happen if I can’t overcome my slump? We’d have to sing songs the CEO brought us as our title track.”

At my nonchalant words, the members became much more urgent and competed to pour out opinions.

It seemed they didn’t want to recreate our debut song.

“How about hanbok fusion oriental style? Mixing it with traditional Korean music. For example, a fusion of traditional music and hip hop?”

“That’s good too.”

“A musical concept would be good too, wouldn’t it? Like the perspective of extras looking at the protagonist?”

“Oh, good idea.”

“Retro style?”

“Retro style is good.”

“Game characters! Superpowers! Villains and heroes!”

“Yeah, that’s right, good job, good job.”

“Wow, Hyung seems like someone who consumed subculture just for this day.”

Several years’ worth of activity concepts came pouring out all at once.

Later, if ideas don’t come out even when I rack my brains like this time, just what came out today would be enough to help.

While mulling over what the members said in my head, I suddenly stood up from my seat while eating.

“Fuck, the slump is over.”

[Profanity detected.]

[Initial Intentions –2]

Fuck it! I almost regressed because I nearly collapsed on the path to tier 1 due to this damn slump!

Since I had even imagined regressing back to debut days by becoming a 15-year veteran idol who still couldn’t reach tier 1 before retirement and thus couldn’t meet the condition of 30 million fans, the –2 Initial Intentions points and the pain were nothing compared to overcoming the slump.

I threw aside the meal and everything else and immediately ran to the studio.

Even the members I found unreliable have days when they’re this helpful!

* * *

‘If it’s not 100%, it’s meaningless.’

Sitting in the studio, I tapped the edge of the synthesizer keyboard with my fingers and fell into thought.

There were a total of two songs as title track candidates.

An electropop completed with intense beats and minimal sources, and a dance genre song that handled the chorus with drum beats and a brass section.

Both were songs completed based on Ryu Jaehee’s opinions.

Sorry to Kim Dobin, but subculture didn’t help much in overcoming this slump.

Still, villains and heroes or game characters seemed like they could be used as themes for conceptual songs later.

The songs completed after overcoming the long slump were much better quality than all the practice songs I’d scribbled since the slump began, but whether they could surpass … well.

‘5% is lacking, just 5%.’

I threw in everything I wanted to do as G1 advised, but it still wasn’t satisfying.

A similar level to the previous song was unacceptable. I absolutely had to surpass it.

I hadn’t suffered through a slump just to do things half-heartedly.

So this time, instead of trying to do everything alone, I decided to get some help.

“Hyung, could you handle the arrangement for me?”

At my sudden request, Lee Jiwon, who replied he’d decide after listening once, took the USB containing my work from me.

Lee Jiwon, who had been nodding his head while wearing headphones, took them off after 6 minutes and nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Oh, looks like you overcame the slump well? I like the song. What’s the allowable range for arrangement?”

“As long as my original remains, it’s okay.”

“Well, there doesn’t seem to be much that needs touching anyway. I’ll work on it trying not to mess with your style as much as possible.”

“Oh, I’d be grateful if you did that.”

When I replied cheekily and bowed my head, Lee Jiwon chuckled and patted my shoulder, then handed me the USB.

“And here, the song you requested.”

“Thank you. The friend discount was so touching.”

“What are you getting touched about? I’m going to work you hard for the amount I discounted.”

“Yes, please work me to your heart’s content.”

Thanks to Lee Jiwon’s friend discount, I was able to get Lee Jiwon’s work within the budget the agency set.

Still, LnL spent more money than I expected. Well, they used to buy even trash songs for 3 million, 3.5 million won in the early days.

I don’t know how much more the CEO will make my stomach churn in the concept meeting, but I decided to think of it as financial therapy received in advance.

A week later, the arranged song Lee Jiwon sent me not only filled the lacking 5% but added another 5% on top of that.

“Wow, this is crazy. This hyung’s skills are definitely insane.”

I praised G1’s blessing while listening to the song that had become a total of 105%.

Four songs I had worked on in advance before the slump, two title track candidates this time, one song I got from Lee Jiwon, and one song I got from Sangyeol Hyung – a total of eight songs had been gathered.

By the way, Sangyeol Hyung took full price without any friend discount. Still, since he hadn’t yet risen to become a hit song factory like before my regression, he was cheaper than G1.

‘Now there are two songs left.’

I felt relieved thinking of the CEO who had unusually been boasting loudly, telling us to trust only him.

He’ll probably manage to get those two songs somehow. As long as they weren’t terribly awful songs on the level of Black Soul, it wouldn’t matter if we put them on the album.

It’s okay as long as they don’t become the title track.

But if he starts insisting that we should make those the title track, then that’s when the war begins.

Now I can’t even use shamanism anymore, so I wondered what I could use to confuse the CEO.

“Hey, Jun, thanks.”

“Suddenly?”

Gyeon Hajun, who chuckled at the unexpected thanks, closed his book and asked.

Since I was lying down, I couldn’t nod my head, so I turned it sideways as a positive response instead.

“I finally remembered what your advice was.”

“Are you confessing that you had forgotten it before?”

“Hey, you didn’t really care much anyway. And it’s fine as long as I remembered it now.”

I replied cheekily and added one more sentiment.

“Sometimes getting help from people around you doesn’t seem so bad.”

Ryu Jaehee, who opened the door and came in, discovered me sprawled on his bed and grumbled.

“If you’re going to do this, just move Hyung’s bed here. Doby Hyung too – you both have your own rooms but you’re always in this room.”

“What can I do when my roommate is awkward?”

Seo Yehyeon and I were currently in a very subtle relationship.

We still don’t feel completely good about each other, but it’s not to the point where we can’t stand the sight of each other like before.

It’s not to the point where we’d open our hearts to each other, but we understand each other to some extent.

So I was just waiting for the day we could switch rooms quickly. And preferably, I hoped to get a private room this time.

Oh right, as Ryu Jaehee predicted, Kim Dobin had been coming to this room constantly after a month and a half, saying he felt lonely and sad living alone.

If that was the case, I wondered why he insisted on keeping his room instead of just giving it to me for 100,000 won and a solo song.

After hearing my sincere answer, Ryu Jaehee let out a deep sigh and shook his head.

“Why are you and Yehyeon Hyung so extreme with people? Either fighting or being awkward. Can’t you find a middle ground?”

“Wouldn’t it be stranger to be friends after fighting like that?”

Only politicians fight fiercely in front and are friendly behind the scenes, man.

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