The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 51

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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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A Former Idol in an Indie Band Carries Hard
Episode 51
Less than an hour after Oktop’s showcase ended, an article went live.
「Band Oktop’s Regular Album Showcase for ‘After the OKTOP’ Concludes Successfully.」
This evening (the 12th) at 7 p.m., Oktop’s showcase celebrating the release of their regular album ‘After the OKTOP’ at the Main Hall in Hongdae concluded successfully.
This was their first move since releasing the regular album After the OKTOP on the 7th, and fans who had waited for their comeback gathered at the venue, creating a heated atmosphere.
Today, Oktop opened with a powerful performance of ‘Awaken,’ the title track from their regular album.
During the showcase, the band’s vocalist Cha Seo Ha (19) offered a roundabout clarification regarding recent bundled sales controversies surrounding Oktop and issues related to idol bands.
He said, “We apologize for the smaller venue size since we prepared everything ourselves without a label,” and “Let’s meet on a bigger stage next time,” which naturally became a confident declaration of Oktop’s independent status.
Meanwhile, all tracks from Oktop’s regular album After the OKTOP are currently available on various music streaming sites.
Entertainment Today Reporter Lee Geun Ho
[email protected]
“Hey, what’s this? An article about us dropped?”
“Is this for real?”
After finishing the concert, we stopped by the Practice Room briefly to check equipment for tomorrow’s performance.
While there, Heo Jun Sung spotted the article first, and everyone immediately started scrolling through their phones.
Since it came with on-site photos, there must have been a reporter at the venue.
“Wow, are we actually becoming somebody? They’re writing articles about us?”
“So there really was a reporter at the venue.”
“It’s surreal, honestly.”
Personally, I didn’t think one article was such a big deal, but I could understand why it might be thrilling from their perspective.
But it’s too early to get excited.
This is only the beginning.
Meaningful as it is, the showcase won’t play a major role in the history we’re about to write.
* * *
The album release and showcase were over.
So what comes next for Oktop?
The immediate priority is appearing on two broadcasts scheduled for this week.
Those are the only short-term goals we have.
Once those broadcasts air, public opinion about us will improve further.
We can’t build our position any more through public opinion alone, so now we need to win through direct action.
What should we do to make that happen?
My mind filled once again with countless possibilities.
Good opportunities will probably keep finding us, and I’ll pick the best path among them.
Or I could forge my own path.
For now, I just needed to handle what was right in front of us.
– Oktop Artist Waiting Room
The waiting room at KSB Broadcasting Station.
Before the album’s release, we received word from Jo Hyun Seop about program appearance requests.
Today was the filming day for one of the two shows we’d selected: ‘Jo Hyun Woo’s Gift Box.’
The program, which airs every Thursday at 11 p.m., is a late-night talk music show that features three to five artist teams per episode with performances and interviews.
Aside from this broadcast, we’d also been contacted about other talk variety shows and observation variety programs, but we decided to save those for later.
Right now, we just needed to nail the stage in front of us.
We arrived at the broadcasting station around 9 a.m., unpacked our equipment, and immediately checked the cue sheet posted next to the door.
“Our rehearsal slot is last, and our actual performance is second… Wait, what’s this?”
We checked the lineup of artists appearing with us today.
“What is it?”
“The lineup’s weird.”
“Who are they?”
Everyone clustered around the cue sheet, checking the lineup.
“Isn’t it obvious that we’re way out of our league here?”
“Wow… we really need to bring our A-game, huh?”
“Maybe we shouldn’t have done this.”
“Is this… is this the reality of broadcast entertainment?”
Today’s lineup had four teams total.
Besides Oktop, they were all groups with significant credentials in the current entertainment industry.
A veteran middle-aged solo artist with decades of experience, last season’s champion from a famous hip-hop audition along with his label mates.
And another team was a male solo artist whose albums always charted.
Someone called a natural disaster in the music world.
It felt like this was shaping up to be a legendary episode.
And somehow, Oktop was in the middle of it all.
“Did they deliberately cast us just to watch us struggle?”
“Even if you think about it, it seems cruel…”
Seeing the guys complaining, CEO Jo Hyun Seop spoke on behalf of the production team.
“That’s not it. Jo Hyun Woo did the casting himself.”
“Oh really? Then…”
“Well, I guess that’s possible.”
“Right, it doesn’t seem like he had bad intentions. You think the same way, right Min?”
“Yeah, yeah. I agree.”
As that conversation was happening, the waiting room door opened.
“Wow, you’re here early?”
It was Jo Hyun Woo, who was hosting today’s broadcast.
“You must be working hard from early on.”
“Nah, someone’s gotta look after you guys. Who else would?”
Jo Hyun Seop’s tone suggested reluctance, but his expression was brighter than ever.
“Hello.”
“Hey, you’re all putting in work from the morning.”
“Not at all.”
“Did you all check out today’s lineup?”
“Yes, but… isn’t it true that we’re way too inexperienced? Everyone else is so accomplished.”
Jo Hyun Woo smiled and answered Kim Ji Hu’s question.
“Is that so? I specially cast you for today’s stage because I thought you’d like it.”
“Us?”
“Yeah, you guys love overcoming difficult situations, don’t you?”
The guys exchanged knowing glances at Jo Hyun Woo’s words.
Right. Whether the challenge is public opinion or famous singers—what does it matter?
We just do our job and show what we can do.
Just do your best.
“And if it’s you guys, you’ll do great. If I thought you’d be outmatched, I wouldn’t have cast you in the first place.”
“Thank you so much. We’ll do our best.”
“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”
Jo Hyun Woo gave his genuine support and left the waiting room to prepare for the broadcast.
“I’m suddenly getting all the dopamine. Is that weird?”
The moment Jo Hyun Woo left, Heo Jun Sung muttered with unbridled excitement.
“Yeah man, that’s normal! That’s totally normal, Jun Sung!!!”
“Ha-ha! Excellent! I’ll show them a stage so incredible with this guitar playing that the other teams won’t even know what hit them!”
“Absolutely! I’m in too! Ha-ha-ha!”
“Man, you crazy bastards are loud as hell…”
“Ji Hu, we’re at a broadcasting station… maybe watch your language?”
It was the same pattern every time, getting repetitive by now, but the way they naturally got hyped like this was proof that all their tension had completely melted away.
Seeing them bicker back and forth like that, my mind eased.
No matter how impressive the people next to us are, we won’t be outmatched.
Today, on this stage, I’m going to prove it.
Overcoming difficult situations is Oktop’s specialty, after all.
* * *
The late-night talk music programs traditionally scheduled by KSB Broadcasting operate under the principle of keeping the lineup undisclosed from the general audience.
‘Jo Hyun Woo’s Gift Box’ was no exception, and the reason was to prevent fan mobs from gathering.
Moreover, that attitude reflected confidence that no matter what guest appeared, the broadcast would deliver quality performances.
As a result, singers who appeared on that broadcast carried a common frame: they were musically talented.
Naturally, that wasn’t merely a frame.
It was established fact.
Oktop’s rehearsal slot was scheduled to be the very last one.
While waiting, we sat in the audience seats and watched the previous teams’ rehearsals.
“Wow, they’re seasoned.”
“Right, they must have done broadcast rehearsals so many times. Everyone’s incredibly skilled.”
All three other teams prepared their actions and executed them perfectly before the production team even gave instructions.
The kind of smooth movements that come from doing this more than once or twice.
And despite rehearsing at half-power, their exceptional talent still shone through.
“This won’t be easy.”
“Yeah, I can’t really picture us doing better than those people.”
The guys started complaining.
Their anxiety wasn’t entirely unfounded.
It’s not like we had no advantages over the teams before us.
But there was one weapon we didn’t have.
A mega hit song.
A song that’s been loved for over a decade, or that spent more than two months at number one on the charts.
Or a song that won an audition program for someone.
We didn’t have any of that.
No matter how much ‘Rendezvous’ had put us at the center of attention, it didn’t compare to those kinds of careers.
These idiots were getting worried every time those songs came up.
“Hey, you stupid bastards.”
“What? Stupid?”
“Huh? Did I just hear you right?”
“Why are you all so scared? We have our own weapon, don’t we?”
“Our own weapon?”
They just couldn’t see it because the competition was so overwhelming. We had our own weapon too.
These fools didn’t even know they were it.
I needed to snap them back to attention.
* * *
Oktop took the stage for their rehearsal, and this time two of the singers who’d finished their rehearsals sat in the audience.
The veteran middle-aged solo artist and the male solo singer whose albums always chart.
The two of them stayed to watch Oktop’s rehearsal and chatted.
“Thank you for watching my rehearsal.”
“Never mind that, the new song’s good.”
“Oh, the composer Min Sang Hoon gave us a really great track.”
“Min Sang Hoon? Is he still writing?”
“Yes, he had a burnout not long ago and took some time off, but he’s made his comeback recently.”
“Ha-ha, interesting. That guy told me once he’d never make music again.”
“Ha-ha, I begged him really hard for a song.”
While they passed the time with their private chat, a cue came from the production team.
“Beginning Oktop Sound Check.”
The two singers’ idle talk stopped.
Oktop’s rehearsal officially began, and the two watching them began to focus on Oktop’s one and only weapon.

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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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