The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 11

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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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The Former Idol’s Hard Carry in an Indie Band
Chapter 11
“No, it really is an anime song!”
“Hey, if you’re going to argue back, Cha Seoha, use your instrument.”
Heo Junseong threw my own words right back at me.
Something about hearing a kid say that got under my skin.
“Oh! Now that I think about it, you don’t have an instrument, do you? You can’t argue back?”
“Ha-ha-ha!”
“Huh-huh-huh!”
“The guitar wins!”
“It won!”
The audience reacted strongly to Junseong’s comment.
“I have my voice, don’t I? I can just speak?”
“Ooh-ooh-ooh!”
“Nice! That’s cool!”
“The vocalist rules!”
“The vocalist wins!”
The brief banter continued a while longer, and we finished introducing the band members properly.
Heo Junseong had the most lines, but ironically, Kim Jihoo drew the biggest cheers during the introductions.
The charmer’s got his fans, clearly.
Only the final song remained.
Unlike the others, this one was chosen with a clear intention, so we had to nail it.
During the performance, I noticed quite a few people filming us.
This next song had to end up somewhere online—had to.
That was the only way I could guarantee playing this fun stage again with Kang Min.
“So for our final song, we’d like to present <Thanks God>, and with that, we’ll be taking our leave.”
The audience’s anticipation and reluctance hung heavy as the pre-recorded drum track burst out.
While waiting for my part through the intro, a thought struck me.
It felt like our meeting was fate, but fate doesn’t always arrive all at once, does it?
I’d need to increase our opportunities.
“We’re playing here again next week—actually, every week—so please come see us again!”
The audience erupted in cheers at that.
But Heo Junseong, Lee Doyoung, and Kim Jihoo had a completely different reaction.
“Hey! Who decided that!!”
* * *
“Thank you!”
After finishing the last song, we did an encore with <Climb On>, our opening track.
The students in the front asked for photos and wanted our SNS handles.
I obliged them naturally enough.
Lee Doyoung and Kim Jihoo posed awkwardly for pictures.
And surprisingly, Heo Junseong was quiet.
Well, maybe it wasn’t so surprising in this situation.
Playing it cool, affecting composure.
Once the fan service wrapped up, the others started packing the equipment.
Being a vocalist has its advantages—less to tear down.
“Ha….”
Heo Junseong sighed while coiling cables.
“What’s wrong?”
“I want to do it again.”
“Ha, sounds like you had fun.”
“And I want to do better.”
Soon enough, we’d all be better at this.
Lee Doyoung chimed in after Junseong’s wistful remark.
“I wish I’d played better.”
“You played well though, what are you talking about?”
The moment Lee Doyoung finished, Kim Jihoo encouraged him.
“You nailed it, Doyoung. And Junseong too.”
“What’s gotten into you? Complimenting people left and right?”
“People worth praising get praised. The problem is there aren’t many of those.”
“Ouch, that’s harsh.”
“Thanks, Jihoo. I guess the hunger doesn’t go away though. You were all amazing today—you, Junseong, and Seoha. But I still don’t think I’ve caught up to your level.”
“Hey, Doyoung, you ran out on stage and played that bass part beautifully earlier—why are you worried? Just keep doing it like that. You were great!”
“That was only possible because Seoha helped me.”
Lee Doyoung looked at me as he said it.
Even after I’d thrown him into the deep end without warning, he didn’t complain and recognized my intention. I was grateful for that.
“That’s right—we were able to do well because Cha Seoha designed the stage really well.”
Of course Kim Jihoo would analyze even this moment.
“You picked the songs knowing Heo Junseong and Lee Doyoung would grow this much, didn’t you? Same with how you staged the performance.”
“Well, I won’t deny it.”
“Wow…. Kim Jihoo, you see all that?”
“Jihoo really is impressive.”
“What I’m saying is we should listen to Cha Seoha and put on even better shows from here on out.”
“From here on out.”
Kim Jihoo’s the type who, if something doesn’t appeal to him, would walk away from the band without a backward glance.
But he’d just said “from here on out.”
“Right, let’s do our best again next time!”
“Yeah! I’ll practice way more before then!”
“Whatever.”
I’m glad they enjoyed the performance.
It might not be much for me, but it was a sudden, intense experience for them.
Still, I was grateful they kept up with me, proud they’d delivered so well.
“Yeah, let’s do even better next time!”
Before the performance started, they’d been visibly nervous, unable to calm their shaking hands.
I’d told them it wasn’t nervousness but excitement, but honestly, I wasn’t sure myself.
But seeing them this happy now—
It really had been excitement after all.
* * *
We rented the busking equipment from Hyun’s Resonance.
Manager Jang Deokchul lent us the gear free of charge when he heard we were busking.
I’m accumulating a lot of debts to repay.
“Thanks for letting us use it.”
“How’d the performance go?”
“Pretty well.”
“Yeah? You all look happy—must’ve gone well.”
The others were still buzzing, chattering about what songs they wanted to do next.
They were probably all picturing the audience they’d seen today.
“If you’re planning to perform again, come rent from me. I’m not using this stuff anyway, so use it however you like.”
“Thank you. I’ll bring you something delicious next time.”
“That’s enough, just work hard.”
A veteran genuinely helping rookies with such pure intentions.
I was grateful, but I wondered how much he was enjoying watching us grow.
I’d have to develop further and give him more entertainment.
“So, are you all heading home now?”
“No, we’re going to grab burgers up ahead.”
“Ah, the place right there. Eat well and get home safe.”
“Yes, goodbye.”
“Oh, by the way—are you not recruiting more members?”
“More members? What do you mean?”
“Oh, never mind. Get home safely.”
“Um, yes. Goodbye.”
* * *
After they left, Jang Deokchul fell into thought.
How could they improve that much already?
When Heo Junseong first walked in, he seemed slightly above average for a high schooler.
But in the recent busking performance, he’d displayed the star quality you’d expect from seasoned professionals.
He had a tendency to be a bit showy, but that was exactly what a band’s guitarist needed.
Lee Doyoung would become an excellent artist.
He understood how to put meaning into every single note, and he knew how to think things through.
His confidence seemed a bit lacking, but that was actually caution.
Just as he chose the right words carefully, he was seeking the right expression for each part.
As time went on, that hesitation would shrink, and when it did, Lee Doyoung would become a monster.
Kim Jihoo’s experience barely needed mention.
Lee Doyoung and Heo Junseong were talented, but they weren’t at his level yet.
And standing at the center of it all was Cha Seoha.
In Jang Deokchul’s mind, this high school band would one day leave a bold mark on Korea’s music scene, but they weren’t complete yet.
Not without a drummer.
As he pondered this, someone opened the door to Hyun’s Resonance and entered.
“Oh, you’re back?”
“Yes.”
“How was it?”
“Where are they right now?”
* * *
If it weren’t for Heo Junseong, I’d be eating something else.
“Doyoung, did you order the cola as zero cola?”
“No?”
“……Mm.”
Cha Seoha let out a short sigh, but everyone had worked hard today, so he let it slide without comment.
Lee Doyoung, Kim Jihoo, and Heo Junseong wolfed down their burgers while continuing to talk about the day’s performance.
They praised each other, pointed out what could have gone better, and made promises to do even better next time.
After a while of conversation, something came up.
“Man, I want to do it again.”
“Doyoung, that was your first real performance, right?”
“Yeah, I had no idea it’d be this fun.”
“You feeling more confident?”
“Thanks to you guys.”
In that “thanks to you guys,” there were countless scenes compressed.
When we first decided to form a band, when I showed them great songs.
All the practice sessions we had together, and today when he pulled me to center stage for the performance.
Every single one of those moments flashed through his mind, and he could savor the joy he felt now, the confidence he’d reclaimed.
“Heo Junseong, you’ve performed before, right?”
“No.”
“What? You busked before.”
“That’s not a real performance! This is a real performance! I was reborn today as someone who’s actually performed!”
“Hey, come on…. You’re embarrassing us. Keep your voice down.”
A pose straight out of a comic, with a voice to match.
Kim Jihoo was genuinely mortified by Junseong.
“Now I get it. I was so focused on just playing that I didn’t know what synchronizing with the others meant.”
“Yeah, that’s how you grow bit by bit.”
The band members were learning a lot from today’s performance.
Objectively, there was still much room for improvement, but this was enough for now.
We were still an unfinished band, and there was only growth ahead.
Today’s successful memory would become the fuel that drives us forward.
“Hey, Cha Seoha, shouldn’t we start looking for a drummer soon? The sound felt a bit thin without one.”
“You have someone in mind this time?”
“Someone in mind….”
Only one person came to mind for Cha Seoha.
But I had no idea where to find Kang Min or how to approach him.
If only I knew what he was doing and where he was now.
At the very least, if he were still in school, it’d be easier, but from what I remember, he’d dropped out.
For now, there was no way forward.
I’d have to think this through carefully.
“Not yet. But Doyoung.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you going to finish all those fries?”
“Yeah, want some?”
“No, that’s not it…. Just eat plenty.”
I thought our long day would end like this.
“Excuse me.”
Until someone suddenly approached and spoke to me.
“You are….”
My heart nearly leaped out of my chest in shock.
The burger in my mouth suddenly felt hard to swallow, but I needed to stay calm.
“…Who are you?”
“Oh, I was watching your performance earlier.”
“Ah, I see. Hello.”
Right now, I don’t know Kang Min.
I have to pretend I don’t.
But this was my mistake.
“‘Who are you’? Cha Seoha, you….”
“Seoha, that’s not cool.”
“We picked this guy as our leader?”
The three of them reacted strangely.
“It’s Kang Min!”
Did these guys already know Kang Min?

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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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