Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 152

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

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Chapter 152.

“Man, getting you in was seriously a pain.”

Just before recording 【Dear My Diva】.
A cafe in the SWC Broadcasting Station Lobby.
Prism Homma was chatting with a friend who worked at SWC.

“Why? You didn’t say anything like that last time.”

Was it because there were more applicants since this was the finals?

“No. Apparently the roster was already almost completely decided. The fact that you’re here today is only because someone who was originally supposed to come got sick and couldn’t make it, so I barely managed to squeeze you in.”
“Huh? The roster was already mostly decided?”
“Yeah, apparently so.”

Prism Homma’s friend looked slightly uncomfortable.
That discomfort spread to Prism Homma as well.

“Is that usually how it works?”

Prism Homma’s friend glanced around cautiously before lowering their voice.

“Not normally. I made a point of mentioning it early, but even so…”
“Then why is it like this?”
“I don’t know. But Dear My Diva’s PD doesn’t exactly have a great reputation anyway, you know?”
“Really? In what way?”
“I don’t know. Anyway… I’m just saying it was very difficult to get you in. Got it?”

Prism Homma felt uneasy.
Could this somehow end up being a disadvantage for our girl?

“Got it…”
“My mom wanted to come here too, but I turned her down and got you in instead. Seriously.”

Wait, your mother wanted this?
Prism Homma was taken aback.

“Why would Mother want this…?”
“I don’t know. Your mom liked our girl’s ‘Falling Petals’ too. When I said it wouldn’t work because a friend asked first, I became an unfilial daughter.”
“Oh wow.”

My girl had that kind of impact?
I knew she’d been getting decent reactions from middle-aged audiences, but…
This was the first time I’d felt it in real life.
Our Yun Chung, become a superstar…!

“Beef later, Sara. I need to head in now. You should get in line too.”
“Yeah, yeah. Thanks.”

Yun Chung…
You’re going to be okay, right?
Prism Homma clutched her racing heart, anxiety gnawing at her, and joined the entrance queue.

***

“Wow, that was truly an incredible performance. I couldn’t believe she was a rookie just one month into her debut. That was ‘Without U’ by Da-hwin from Enliven. A song that truly touched the heart—so deeply sorrowful. Wouldn’t you agree, Dan-ha?”
“Ah, yes. Her voice was really impressive.”
“Oh, I just saw Dan-ha’s eyes light up. That’s the look of someone coveting talent.”
“…”
“You’re not denying it! Our Dan-ha really is ambitious. Coveting talent from other agencies, no less. Ha ha.”

The anxiety only grew deeper.
The second stage that had just unfolded belonged to Da-hwin, her strongest rival.
To be honest, most StillBlue fans didn’t deny that Da-hwin could sing well.
She could, after all.
But!
Our girl sang better!
That was the pride of StillBlue fans.
It was the strength that allowed StillBlue fans to endure despite all the backlash and reverse virality.
But this recent performance…
Prism Homma’s K-pop ears, honed through eleven years of idol fandom, were telling her the truth.
A song selection that perfectly captured Korean sensibility from start to finish, and…

‘Bringing Shin Won as a featured artist to the finals was way too much of a cheat code…’

A guest so famous that everyone knew who she was.
And it wasn’t just Da-hwin.
The previous stage had also featured an incredibly powerful guest.
The first stage brought out Lil Jay K, the hottest rapper right now.

“And then Shin Won came as a featured artist. He sang so poignantly that I found myself tearing up.”

Da-hwin had brought along Shin Won, the most sought-after ballad singer.

‘Why does everyone have such incredible connections….’

My girl doesn’t seem to have that kind of network.
What do I do.
She’s only close with female idols.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
Da-hwin had even changed her vocal technique.

‘Moment, you relentless bastards…. You changed the girl’s vocal technique for a one-off stage?’

Prism Homma had been a regular audience member for Dear My Diva, so she’d watched Da-hwin’s performances consistently.
This stage’s Da-hwin was noticeably different from before.
Where she’d sung brightly and plainly before, this time she was incredibly melancholic… with so much technique woven in.
Rather than an idol’s vocal style, it resembled the technique of a ballad singer.

‘If she suddenly changes her vocal technique like that…. Especially switching to one that uses her voice so intensely, her throat will suffer tremendously.’

Even though it’s not my own artist, I’m this worried.
Da-hwin’s fans must be heartbroken.
Prism Home Ma, a K-pop philanthropist, sighed in sympathy.
Moment was already notorious among idol fans for a reason.
They were a major agency, but one that showed absolutely no respect for their artists.
When you looked at Moment, it was painfully obvious they treated their idols like profit-generating parts.
They debuted new artists every year, and if the response wasn’t there, they just abandoned them.
If Colors was the “damn” in “don’t go under, you damn bastards”…
Then Moment was the “bastard” in “What’s the ghost doing? Why isn’t it catching that bastard?”
The level of malice was simply different.
For the sake of the idols’ happiness and welfare, it would be best if such an agency just collapsed.
Prism Home Ma briefly prayed for Moment’s destruction, then lifted her head.
But that’s beside the point.
Now it’s our girl’s turn.

“Alright! Now let me introduce someone who’s receiving everyone’s high expectations. An original idol who was also Dan-ha’s first producing discovery, right? We’re really looking forward to this too. Isn’t that right, Dan-ha?”
“…Producing discovery?”
“Ha-ha. My apologies. Our girl isn’t familiar with that term. I meant Dan-ha’s talent.”
“Ah.”

Dan-ha’s expression brightened noticeably.

“Yes. I personally have great respect for—ah, no. I greatly respect her voice.”

What the hell is she even saying?

“Ha-ha. Yes. It’s none other than Yun Chung from StillBlue! Let’s listen together to ‘The Night the Account Broke Down,’ performed by Yun Chung!”

?!
Prism Home Ma’s hand, which had been waving the slogan enthusiastically, froze.
‘The Night the Account Broke Down’? That Janna Night I know?
It seemed Prism Home Ma wasn’t the only one caught off guard by the unexpected song choice.
Looking around, everyone wore the same bewildered expression.
Was it because it was an obscure song?
No. Anyone with some age would know it.
But that song was over 15 years old, and on top of that…

‘Isn’t that rock…?’

While not the most mainstream genre in South Korea, anyone who’d heard a decent amount of music knew “Midnight Janna.”
The original artist was DashDash, a band revered as a national treasure….
And the song itself was an undeniable masterpiece.
But….

‘It’s precisely because of that—no one dares to touch this song.’

It was an incredibly difficult piece….
Rock as a genre was punishing for anyone without exceptional vocal prowess.
Moreover, DashDash’s songs were said to be something only that band’s vocalist could truly deliver.
Overwhelmingly powerful vocal strength paired with a crystalline, pristine tone.
Yet somehow radiating an eerie, unsettling atmosphere.
They were practically called the final ghost of alternative rock.
Prism Homma’s head began to bow with worry.
However.
As the stage setup progressed.
The audience began to stir with anticipation.

“Wait… is that guitar player Park Ki-hun from DashDash?”

?!
At the words from beside her, Prism Homma’s head snapped up immediately.

“Yeah, it’s them. The whole DashDash is here…? Except the vocalist?”

What?
The audience member next to her alternated between searching on their phone and looking at the stage.
Then nodded with certainty.

“DashDash barely appears on broadcasts anymore… Did they come to help with Yun Chung’s performance? I thought they hated idols. This is insane. How much money did Colors spend on this?”
“Right? Aren’t rock bands and idols naturally at odds?”

Excuse me.
Colors is surprisingly the type of company that doesn’t spend money on things like that.
They have plenty of money, but they’re not the type to spend it as freely as you’d think.
Our Colors is really quite frugal when it comes to those things, you know?
Prism Home Ma swallowed down the surge of emotion welling up inside and examined the stage once more.
Seeing such familiar faces, it really did seem like DashDash.
Then.
Yun Chung climbed onto the stage and could be seen conversing with the band members, fine-tuning something with them.
Truly with such ease.
The way she adjusted everything without a hint of nervousness, laughing leisurely with these senior artists, was truly….
Prism Home Ma simply pressed both hands tightly to her chest.

‘Plus, today’s hair and makeup…! This is definitely going to be legendary…!’

During “Falling Petals,” she had worn a white feathered dress that cascaded down to her knees, generating enormous buzz.
The costume itself was already famous, but it had been absolutely perfect on Yun Chung.
Among fans, that day’s Yun Chung had been so much like a swan that they called her “Swan Chung.”
But today was….
As if hinting at a completely different stage presence, she wore a jet-black feathered asymmetrical dress.
Adorned with a black feathered tiara.
With deep smoky makeup and even gray-tinted contact lenses—something she rarely wore—completing the look.
Gripping a black standing microphone tightly.
As Yun Chung nodded, the drummer behind her struck two sticks together to begin the count.
Along with the crisp sound of sticks colliding,

In that small flaw as well
A heart that has come to a halt

The song begins.

Everything has stopped
Yet thoughts race ever faster

A song rearranged with a far more desolate atmosphere than the original.
The opening, begun softly with eyes cast downward,
carried a completely different feeling from DashDash, called the last ghost of alternative rock.
Where that side creates an atmosphere brimming with deep sorrow and resentment….

This night
your hand winding
my spring anew

This side had come closer to one grasping for something.
For instance… Moment.

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

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