The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 115

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

The Former Idol Does Hard Carry for the Indie Band
Episode 115
Indie bands had their limits.
In a music industry that ran on the backs of massive systems, no matter how tightly indie bands banded together, nothing was going to come of it.
Of course, this wasn’t about us at Oktatop.
It was about all the other bands out there.
The flourishing of the band scene.
To make that happen, we needed the Maruru Band more than anything.
They weren’t just some outfit we’d throw a hand to.
They were a band that would carry forward our will, indebted to our help.
A skilled band with genuine love for the scene.
Distruction would likely find itself in that same position down the line, but for now, the band we’d be working with was Maruru.
Our single “Monster” eventually hit number one on the Lemon Chart.
“Wow! Insane! Hey! We really hit number one!”
“Did this actually work?”
“Seo Ha… you’re seriously brilliant.”
The moment we clinched first, the guys were running through the practice room, shouting their lungs out.
We’d shattered through every barrier and seized that number one spot.
I had a feeling this particular first-place finish, born from a trend, wouldn’t last long.
But this was plenty.
What I wanted was to showcase the power that trends wield.
And to prove that we held that power.
That’s what I wanted to demonstrate.
Of course, not to the general public.
-Are you thinking about the proposal I mentioned last time?
I texted Do Min Hyun from the Maruru Band.
So was I trying to prove it to the Maruru Band?
Not that either.
The representative of the company that the Maruru Band belonged to had to know.
-Want to meet up for a bit?
And the reply came back.
“Hey, you guys throw a little party or something. I’m heading out for a bit.”
“Where are you going?”
“To plan what’s next.”
The guys all had that look of wondering what I was up to now.
I left that question hanging and slipped out of the practice room.
* * *
Do Min Hyun and Cha Seo Ha took their seats again at that quiet cafe where they’d met before.
“I saw you hit number one on the chart today. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. It’s all thanks to viral marketing, you know.”
In Seo Ha’s relaxed admission to viral marketing, Do Min Hyun felt an unbridgeable awe.
What he offered wasn’t false modesty or arrogance—it was sincerity.
It was bewildering how an indie band that had just hit number one could carry themselves like that.
Wasn’t it the norm for bands to light up with pride and boast about how their music and authenticity had made it happen?
“Anyway, have you given thought to the performance I mentioned before?”
“Ah, well…”
“You haven’t thought about it, have you?”
Do Min Hyun flinched at Seo Ha’s blunt follow-through.
“That’s fine. Just because a kid ten years younger tells you to do something doesn’t mean your company contract falls apart.”
“Right, actually I haven’t told the other members yet.”
“Then let’s start from now.”
“From now?”
Unlike last time, Do Min Hyun didn’t push back against what Seo Ha was saying.
“We only hit number one a moment ago, but honestly, there have been plenty of companies wanting to sign us for quite a while now.”
“I’d imagine so.”
“Actually, talent agencies are keeping an eye on us, and if it’s not a formal contract, they’re scrambling to get involved in any way they can.”
In fact, Jo Hyun Seop was still dealing with the flood of calls from agencies trying to reach out.
Formal contracts, of course.
But if not that, there were plenty of companies suggesting project collaborations to consider.
The fact that contact attempts were coming through the latter route was significant.
It was evidence that agencies saw money in even a short-term project if it involved Oktatop.
“So talk to your company. Tell them we’re doing a show together.”
“Maruru and Oktatop?”
“Well, a few other bands will probably come too. I’ll make sure Maruru gets a generous slot, so go tell your company. That manager you mentioned last time—just let him know.”
Faced with Seo Ha’s straightforward proposal, Do Min Hyun needed a moment to think.
Why is he doing this for us? That was the thought.
It didn’t seem like he was about to ask for money or something outrageous like that.
“Why are you giving us this kind of opportunity?”
“We need to grow the band scene.”
And Do Min Hyun’s mind went blank.
He’d been certain this was the guy who’d wrecked the Hongdae scene.
But he was someone who knew how to run harder for the scene than anyone else.
Do Min Hyun was genuinely reflecting on his careless words from before.
“How should I repay you for this?”
“Just prepare the performance well and come. The company will say yes.”
Do Min Hyun’s fist, clasped beneath the table, tightened.
It was a complicated mix of feelings he couldn’t quite name.
He felt a bit of wounded pride at receiving help from this boy barely past adolescence.
He was ashamed of his past.
And yet he knew this was an opportunity he had to seize.
Just hours ago, he’d turned thirty and spent the afternoon in bed, drowning in depression.
And then there was Seo Ha, charging forward without pause.
Those two images collided, and he was reminded again of his own pathetic state.
He came to the conclusion that it was time to cast it all aside and run alongside him.
“Understood. I’ll talk to the company.”
“Good. You made the right call.”
With that, Seo Ha laid out the rough outlines of the concert planning for Do Min Hyun.
The two of them rose from their seats, promising to meet again soon.
“Say, Seo Ha.”
“Yes?”
Do Min Hyun hesitated for a moment.
“Thank you for giving us this chance.”
Do Min Hyun offered his thanks with a low bow.
And Seo Ha gave him a smile.
“Not at all. Let’s do this well together.”
“Yes!”
At Do Min Hyun’s heartfelt greeting, Seo Ha felt something stir within him.
In him, he caught a glimpse of the earnest passion of youth chasing a dream.
* * *
“Hey, you crazy bastards—have you been drinking?”
The scene I walked back into the practice room to was absolutely ridiculous.
A few beer cans lay crumpled about.
Chicken was scattered here and there.
Over in the corner, a burger wrapper sat crumpled up.
Heo Jun Sung and Kang Min were sprawled out on the floor.
Kim Ji Hu and Lee Do Young were having an animated conversation, barely holding their senses.
“Oh, you’re back, Seo Ha?”
“Where were you?”
“Just out front for a bit. Anyway, these two got drunk off this?”
Looking around, all they’d managed to drink so far was five 500-milliliter beer cans.
“They each had one can and passed out.”
These kids drinking without a responsible adult around—I’d have to give them a proper talking-to someday soon.
Still, they seemed to be in a pretty good mood.
They’d hit number one and were throwing their own little drinking party out of excitement.
The more you look at them, the more adorable these guys are.
* * *
From that day on, we threw ourselves into concert preparations.
The chart number one wouldn’t last long.
And as summer approached, attention would scatter across various festivals.
We decided to hold the concert sometime between now—while our popularity held in the fading spring—and the height of summer when festivals began.
That middle stretch was our window.
We chose a venue bigger than anywhere we’d ever held a concert before.
The rental fee would be steep, but that didn’t matter.
Because…
“Insane… is this really happening?”
“Hey, I think we actually made it.”
“…I’m really glad I didn’t go into medicine.”
“Whoa… is this really true…?”
It was the day the music source revenue came in.
Each of the guys had over ten million won deposited in their accounts.
And naturally, the amount I received was far greater.
Music source revenue from America, YouTube revenue from the music video.
Domestic streaming and download revenue.
All the activity we’d been putting out was finally starting to show significant financial returns.
“An Out and In franchise opening isn’t far off.”
No one responded to Heo Jun Sung’s nonsense.
But I believed that as long as we put our minds to it, we could achieve even the most absurd of goals.
As long as we were together.
Booking the venue proved surprisingly easy through one of Jang Deok Chul’s connections.
And this time, too, we were planning to line up plenty of guests.
We could easily fill an hour or two with just our own catalog.
But what we wanted wasn’t just our solo concert—it was the flourishing of the band scene itself.
Kang Min and Lee Do Young reached out to prospective guests, while Kim Ji Hu and I mapped out the entire concert structure.
I told Heo Jun Sung to get out of the way since he’d only be a distraction.
Our first concert after hitting number one on the Lemon Chart with “Monster.”
I was curious just how exciting this one would be.
I was genuinely looking forward to it.
* * *
“So those kids said they wanted to do a concert together?”
“Yes.”
IK Entertainment.
Since the Maruru Band was essentially sitting idle, Do Min Hyun had barely shown her face at the company.
Returning to the office for the first time in a while, Do Min Hyun delivered Seo Ha’s proposal to the manager the moment she saw him.
Oktatop was holding their own concert, and several bands were being invited as guests—Maruru was one of them.
“Though they said since they’re an indie band, it might be hard to match our payment…”
“Oh, no worries. Don’t worry about it and just go. Actually, the rep was just saying the other day how we should try to get involved with those Oktatop kids since they’re doing well lately—this worked out perfectly.”
The company would agree to it.
That’s what Seo Ha had said.
And true to his word, the company gave its blessing without much objection, sending a chill down Do Min Hyun’s spine.
“Payment’s taken care of. Since you’ll be getting exposure out there, we’ll call it even.”
“Understood. Thank you so much.”
“And you probably won’t get a stylist or hair and makeup support.”
“That’s fine with us!”
The company had no intention of supporting the Maruru Band.
The manager did see potential in Maruru, of course.
But he couldn’t make that call on his own.
So the Maruru Band, just as Seo Ha predicted, got the company’s approval.
And they accepted the concert invitation.
This was the last chance for the Maruru Band.
With such a hard-won opportunity in hand, they were determined to give it their all.
And that effort was the preparation stage that would soon overturn the landscape of Korean music.

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