The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 25

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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 Is Hard-Carrying the Indie Band
Episode 25
“Watashi ga kita!”
A few days after asking Kang Min to arrange something, all the members gathered in the rehearsal room.
Kang Min, the last to arrive, burst in with theatrical fanfare.
Seeing that confidence, it looks like he pulled it off.
“You get it?”
“Omae e, watashi ga…. Was it Shinjitera?”
Isn’t this just giving up on being Korean entirely?
And besides, I’ve never spoken Japanese like that.
“Speak so people can actually understand you. What are you even saying?”
Heo Junseong shot back with sarcasm.
“Kekeke, kami no koe ga kikoedena!!?”
“Wow, this guy’s voice is way too high.”
“Really, Min…what do we do with him.”
“Somebody beat some sense into him.”
“What is he even trying to say?”
I can’t handle this anymore either.
That lunatic’s only getting worse—how am I supposed to manage this going forward?
“Haha! I got us a gig—and it’s the opening stage!”
“Wait, seriously? Opening? How’d you manage that?”
“Well, rookies usually get the opening slot. The main stage is for bands with experience. Opening’s actually the worst spot there is.”
“Anyway, nice work. You really came through.”
In my past life, that would’ve been our small dream. No—it was an enormous dream back then.
The fact that I could achieve it so easily in this life felt hollow in a way, but still, our first single promotional stage had gained new meaning.
A single titled “Before the OCTOP.”
We were finally getting to promote on the stage of our dreams from that past life.
“Alright, let’s practice hard!”
“Let’s do it!”
Our setlist was just three songs in total.
<Rendezvous>, <Your Time>.
And <Cruise!!>—the most popular track from our release.
We’d considered doing a cover, but decided to stake everything on just our own skills.
The performance rehearsals went smoothly.
We ironed out most of the individual weak points that could’ve been problems, and the overall sound was tight.
It wasn’t just ensemble playing either.
We practiced every day as if we were on stage, imagining the actual performance.
Down to exactly when to move at certain parts, how to play, and the timing of big body movements in sync with the music.
And it wasn’t limited to just the rehearsal room.
Every week we performed our songs at Banwol Park, and it was excellent practice.
And we didn’t forget this either.
“We’re performing at Hongdae Main Hall for the year-end show, so please come see us!”
It’s always better when more people watch, right?
The power of broadcast was remarkable—these days, hundreds of people were showing up to watch our busking.
Sure, the buzz would fade in time, but there was no doubt that some of them would become fans of band culture from this experience.
Anyway, we’d prepared thoroughly in every way, and thanks to frequent practice, we had a performance polished and ready.
Time passed faithfully until year-end, and the day of Band Slam had arrived.
My heart wouldn’t stop racing.
“Hey, Cha Seoha—you nervous?”
“Huh? No, it’s nothing.”
“What is it? Your expression looks weird.”
I brushed off Heo Junseong’s question, but truth is, I was a bit nervous.
It wasn’t the performance itself making me shake.
Band Slam was our first dream in the past life—the one I’d stolen away from them.
Just thinking that I could realize it again made it impossible to settle down.
“This is…anticipation.”
“All that talk about anticipation…just don’t mess up the song.”
“Why worry about something pointless?”
This trembling—I hadn’t felt it since the first time I sang in front of Kim Jihoo.
That’s how we gathered in front of Hongdae Main Hall, instruments in hand.
“Man, it’s been so long since I’ve been here.”
Kang Min seemed to be reminiscing about the past.
“Lee Doyoung, you nervous? Look at him, he’s totally freaked out!”
“No, no! This is excitement!”
“Why are there so many excited people on this team?”
“It’s because of Cha Seoha.”
“Cha Seoha’s excited too?”
“Jerusalem?”
“Huh?”
“What?”
“…?”
“Come on, stop spouting nonsense and let’s go in.”
* * *
The damp atmosphere of an underground venue washed over us.
A completely different feeling from the clean broadcast studio stage.
Though I hadn’t been here often, somehow it felt like I’d found the real thing.
One team was in the middle of rehearsal on the stage.
A few other teams sat in the audience section, waiting their turn.
I didn’t recognize any of them, but I noticed quite a few people exchanging greetings with Kang Min.
Kang Min really is a celebrity of the indie scene.
“Don’t get scared.”
From beside me came Heo Junseong’s muttering.
“I’m not scared.”
Kim Jihoo answered him.
“Don’t let yourself lose confidence…!”
“Seriously, stop muttering to yourself all the time. It’s annoying.”
From all that rambling, it was clear Heo Junseong was the nervous one.
We exchanged light greetings with the other bands passing by and headed toward the console.
“Nam Dohun!”
“Oh, Min, you made it. Is this OCTOP?”
“Yeah, guys, say hello—this is Nam Dohun, the organizer.”
“Hello!”
I and my friends bowed at Kang Min’s introduction.
“Nice to meet you. You’re up for rehearsal right after this team finishes. Just wait until they’re done and then you can head up.”
“Understood.”
We took our seats in the remaining audience spots and waited our turn.
The band rehearsing now looked pretty experienced.
They were good.
The vocalist had real skill, and the instruments blended comfortably together.
And the music they played had a vibe that was soothing yet gripping.
There was real depth to what they were playing.
It felt sad that a band this good wasn’t getting recognized.
“Hey, Kang Min, long time?”
“Hi, it’s been almost a year, hasn’t it?”
“Yeah, we haven’t seen each other since last year’s Band Slam.”
“Oh, was that really the last time? It has been forever.”
Kang Min greeted the acquaintances sitting around him warmly.
They caught up and joked around.
There were plenty of people trashing us in the band community, and no doubt some of these people had contributed to that.
But what can you do? You can’t worry about every little thing like that while trying to stay active.
If they smile in front of you, they’re a colleague.
Wait, isn’t that too much of an idol mentality?
Maybe strong-ego band players just don’t care much what others think.
I don’t know everything about the band scene, after all.
“Thank you for your performance. OCTOP, please stand by.”
At the organizer’s call, we stood up from our seats.
* * *
Rehearsals at band collective shows run pretty long.
Each team needs time to set up their equipment and tune.
After rehearsal, we decided to grab food nearby.
“Don’t you ever get tired of hamburgers?”
“How could I possibly get tired of this health food?”
“Health food?”
“Bread, vegetables, meat, cheese. That’s all healthy food.”
Hearing Heo Junseong’s twisted logic, I didn’t feel like arguing back.
“Ugh, I can’t wait to perform.”
Lee Doyoung collapsed onto the table as he said it.
“That reaction seems like somewhere between fear and excitement.”
“Yeah, I’m really looking forward to it. But at the same time I’m scared I’ll mess up.”
“After rehearsal, all my nerves went away. Did you see how people reacted to my guitar playing? Did you see? Hey, Kim Jihoo, did you see?”
“I didn’t.”
“You didn’t see that? Pathetic.”
“Yeah, yeah. Go ahead and enjoy yourself.”
I saw it during rehearsal too.
Plenty of people were reacting with surprise, and many were watching us with various expressions.
I’m excited too, just like these guys.
When we first formed, Lee Doyoung’s skills were way behind, and Heo Junseong didn’t know how to read the room.
Of course Kim Jihoo was frustrated about it.
If we’d gotten on this stage with that level of skill, we probably would’ve embarrassed ourselves and come back down, but now it’s different.
I couldn’t wait to show how much we’d grown compared to back then.
On that dark and brilliant stage, filled with nothing but the real deal.
* * *
Thirty minutes before audience entry.
Long lines of people stretched in front of Hongdae Main Hall.
Some had brought CDs to get autographed by their favorite artists.
Others had brought guitars hoping to get them signed too.
“Ah, thirty minutes left.”
“I can’t wait to see them.”
“Is this your first Band Slam?”
“Yeah, I just got into the indie scene and this is my first actual live show.”
“Wow, your first show is Band Slam? Is that a curse or a blessing?”
The fans waiting for the concert held their racing hearts close and waited for the time to enter.
“But that’s weird.”
“What is?”
“I’ve been coming for three years and there are way more people today.”
“Oh yeah? So usually fewer come?”
“I’d say at least twice as many as last year.”
“Wait, is there a band boom happening?”
“That might be a stretch though.”
“Yeah, fair point.”
Two years ago, Band Slam had about 150 attendees; last year around 200.
This year, significantly more people were waiting than that.
“Well, more people is always good.”
“But will everyone even fit inside?”
“Ah, I don’t think they will…”
For whatever reason, the existing fans were just confused by the unexpected surge in numbers.
* * *
Once the audience had finished entering, the curtain finally rose on Band Slam.
The seats were packed so tightly no one could move, and anticipation and excitement hung in the air.
Music poured through for a while, and amid it, the murmur of the crowd echoed through the venue.
Then the music faded and the lights dimmed.
And then OCTOP took the stage.
“Woaaah!”
“It’s OCTOP!”
“You’re so cool!”
“So handsome!”
The moment the audience saw OCTOP’s faces, cheers poured down like rain.
Since we still needed to set up the instruments, Cha Seoha grabbed the mic and started his talk.
“Hello, we’re OCTOP.”
“Woaaah!”
“Wow, does Band Slam usually get this many people? This is incredible!”
Cha Seoha swept his gaze across the audience with ease.
There was no trace of nervousness.
Instead, his face was filled with a relaxed smile.
“So, this should be fun today. Everyone grabbed some food on the way, right?”
“Yeah!”
“No!”
“Oh no, what were you thinking coming here without eating? We’re about to jump around a lot.”
“Hahahaha!”
“You’re gonna be so hungry. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Yeah!”
“We’re fine!”
“Well, we had hamburgers earlier, you see? That guy there’s obsessed with hamburgers—the one holding the guitar.”
Cha Seoha pointed at Heo Junseong as he spoke.
“Hey! What’s wrong with hamburgers!”
Heo Junseong shouted back without a mic.
“Hahahaha!”
“See? He gets all worked up when you diss hamburgers. Weird guy.”
“Hahahaha!”
Usually when you ask a rookie to talk on stage, they give some generic spiel—describing the next song, introducing the band, that kind of thing.
But Cha Seoha was radiating a level of composure that didn’t make sense.
He wasn’t just mechanically delivering lines; he was genuinely connecting with the audience.
And then the instrument setup finished.
“Everyone ready?”
OCTOP exchanged a look between them.
“We just released a single! If you like what you see today, search for the title and listen to it!”
“Yeah!”
Buoyed by the audience’s response, Cha Seoha shouted back into the mic.
“OCTOP! Let’s go! Cruise!!”
Kang Min’s cymbal rang out four times, strong and clear, and the first song began.

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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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