The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 54

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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 Leading an Indie Band
Episode 54
What came from Lee Do Young’s mouth was an answer no one had anticipated.
“We have to go.”
“What are you talking about, Do Young?”
“I want to ask him directly. Why he did that to my brother. But right now, I can’t. I want us to create a position where we can talk to that producer as equals, and have that conversation.”
Lee Do Young is a brave one.
Rather than avoid the person who had driven his brother to death, he wanted to face him.
That won’t bring his brother back, but he must have things he wants to ask.
Of course, Producer Lee Jong Myung didn’t directly cause it, so there’s no realistic way to punish him.
Lee Do Young’s plan has its naive aspects.
Audition program participants and producers can never occupy equal positions.
But…
‘Is this why I regressed? To settle a debt to Do Young?’
I had confidence in my ability to create a situation where Producer Lee Jong Myung would have no choice but to answer.
“But if we appear on his broadcast, couldn’t we end up looking bad too? And if we do well there, doesn’t that just help him?”
Heo Jun Sung, of all people, made a fair point.
“Wouldn’t it be better if you just arranged a meeting between Do Young and that guy, the way you’ve been doing things so far?”
Of course, I could do it the way Jun Sung suggested.
Though I’d need to think it through.
But would Do Young’s pain disappear just because I helped unilaterally?
We have to do this ourselves.
Because we’re a band.
“To that producer, we’re too small to matter. We have to go on that program.”
“Huh?”
Heo Jun Sung tilted his head in confusion.
“A stone thrown from outside can’t cross a wall, but a bomb that detonates inside shatters the fortress. We’re going in to demolish that wall.”
Kim Ji Hu stood up, clapping his hands.
“Let’s do it. Everything you’re saying is right, Cha Seo Ha.”
Kang Min slapped his knee.
“Crazy genius Cha Seo Ha!! Let’s go!”
And Heo Jun Sung, still looking dazed.
“We’re the stones?”
“No, you idiot, that’s not what—”
And Lee Do Young offered a faint smile.
“Thanks, guys.”
I’d been thinking that once Oktop became famous and made the rounds on broadcast, we’d eventually face this situation.
I’d expected it to come when we were further along, but events accelerated faster than I’d predicted.
Yes, if we were going to face it anyway, better to get it over with quickly.
“Thanks, but let’s really do this audition program.”
“Okay! Let’s go and maybe make it to the finals or something, and ask him directly!”
Kim Ji Hu and Kang Min, having confirmed Lee Do Young’s smile, answered once more with absolute clarity.
“But wait—are we really the stones? What’s the bomb? I didn’t catch that.”
“You just shut up and eat your hamburger.”
“Why, what is it anyway?”
* * *
We’d decided to enter the audition program, and since everyone had worked hard that day, we all went home and got proper rest.
I planned to relay the decision to CEO Jo Hyun Seop the next day when I met him.
It worked out well since we needed to use the Studio anyway.
“Hello, CEO.”
“Oh, you’re here early? The team before you is still using it. Wait about thirty minutes.”
“Yes, I came early because there’s something I wanted to tell you.”
“What is it?”
I sat down beside the CEO and glanced slightly toward the part-time employee staring intently at me.
“Ah, Min Ji, you should step out for a bit.”
“Ugh, why?”
“Now, now—embargo.”
Hmm…
Only after the part-timer left did I get to the main point.
“We’re thinking of entering that audition program you mentioned before.”
“You’re going to go on that?”
CEO Jo Hyun Seop looked startled.
“Seo Ha, I wouldn’t mind other broadcasts, but that one is a bit…”
“Why?”
“That guy loves to manipulate through editing. The more material he has to work with—like with you all—the worse it gets.”
“I don’t mind.”
“No, you need to listen to me. Most audition-style programs accept submissions—they don’t actively recruit like this. Why do you think that is?”
“He’s planning to toy with us on broadcast from the start, right?”
“Exactly. Sharp as always. So if you know that, why are you trying to go? Your image will take a hit. You’re just starting to recover from all that criticism.”
“We’ll write a new story. Don’t you know what we’re like?”
“Hah… you really are…”
“Let him throw us to the bottom. We’ll survive it.”
How would this adult perceive my answer?
Would it look like the recklessness of an immature high schooler?
Or like the unwavering confidence of a young manga protagonist?
CEO Jo Hyun Seop, having watched us closest, probably wasn’t looking at us with speculative eyes like that.
“You have another plan.”
Sharp as ever.
“Well, to some extent.”
“Even so, I’m quite worried about this one.”
I didn’t respond to that.
There was no need to explain further.
I just wanted him to approve our appearance.
We sat staring at each other in silence for about thirty seconds.
“Fine, I concede. But you really need to be careful. Don’t do anything too flashy—compete purely on music.”
“Don’t worry. These kids are precious to me too.”
“Good to hear that. I’ll pass the word along.”
“Thank you.”
It seemed like the conversation was ending.
“But Seo Ha.”
“Yes?”
“Couldn’t you share your plans with me sometimes? Worrying about you lot is aging me by the day.”
“Ah, I see. I’m sorry.”
The CEO’s expression brightened at my apology.
Did he think I meant I’d start sharing my thoughts?
“Good—give me at least a heads-up from now on.”
“Actually, that’s not what I meant. I’m sorry, but I probably won’t be telling you in the future either.”
“You little—”
* * *
Jo Hyun Woo’s Gift Box finally aired.
The performance video clip from that episode was uploaded to the official YouTube channel.
The public was showing diverse reactions.
-Wow, these crazy kids released an album and now look at them. The performance was insane?
-The performance level was insane. I’m so jealous of everyone who was there ㅠㅠ
-Seriously though, aren’t they all super handsome…? You’re telling me these aren’t idols? Not assembled by a company? Come on;;;
└They officially announced it on the broadcast!
└I know, I just said that because it doesn’t feel real
└ㅇㅎ! ㅇㅋ!
-I just watched the broadcast and even with such a generation gap compared to the other guests, they didn’t seem inexperienced at all
-Since they’re a real band, their stage presence is crazy
-I’ve been listening to other band music because of Oktop lately and there are actually some really good songs
-I’ve been acting weird about Heo Jun Sung lately… that crazy expression he makes while playing is so good
└You have excellent taste
└Seriously Heo Jun Sung is insane? He’s giving 200% energy
└Guitarists need a little swagger in bands anyway
-Why did Kim Ji Hu have so little camera time today…
└Same thought ㅡㅡ Give him more screen time
-It feels like yesterday when Oktop was introducing themselves as a nameless band at Banwol Park in their early days. Why are they on broadcast already?
└Are you an early fan?
└Yeah, I saw them when they were busking with about 10 people there
└What’s Banwol Park?
└It’s where Oktop does their busking performances
└Really, they still do it?
└Yes, every week
The comment section on the YouTube video was pristine.
This was the expected response, as it had always been.
The unexpected reaction was emerging, naturally, in the band community forums.
-Wow, Oktop is seriously killing it. Kang Min really picked his team well
-Honestly, aren’t they the number one band right now? Sure, they lack experience compared to individual members, but their music is incredible, their playing is incredible, and they’re even good-looking
└True, Cha Seo Ha and Kang Min seem a bit more seasoned while the rest have a fresher vibe, but they’re definitely skilled
-After watching the broadcast, I’m pretty sure they’re not idols?
└Yeah they said they’re not
└I didn’t think they were from the start
└They said they’re not so why were people cursing at them before?
-Maybe it’s because I love rock, but I can’t be objective—weren’t Oktop the best performers today?
└That’s how it looked to me too
└Honestly everyone else seemed mediocre
└Only Oktop looked like they were really trying
└No way, you crazy bastards, come on. Those other teams all have careers over 10 years even if we’re being generous
-Is this the same gallery that was roasting Oktop a while ago?
└It’s funny how the vibe changed lmao
└All the old posts got deleted now
└Wow, they’re almost all gone
The forum that clearly had been used not long ago to mock and criticize Oktop.
That very place was now acknowledging them.
What was interesting was that there was almost no mention of whether Oktop was an idol or not.
This was proof that most people no longer cared whether Oktop was an idol or not.
Through multiple broadcasts and the album they’d released, people had learned they were the real deal.
Among the comments, some were even saying they would have acknowledged Oktop even if they were idols.
Though such opinions didn’t garner much agreement.
This kind of reaction wasn’t surprising, really.
Whenever Oktop trended on YouTube or community forums, things always got heated one way or another.
The biggest difference from before was that media outlets became far more active.
「Oktop sheds ‘idol’ label, proves indie’s might in Jo Hyun Woo’s Gift Box.」
Overwhelming live performance even among veterans… “We are an indie band,” identity officially established.
The star of last night’s broadcast of KSB’s signature late-night music program Jo Hyun Woo’s Gift Box was undeniably the band Oktop.
Though the broadcast featured numerous seasoned musicians, it was Oktop’s unwavering live performance that captivated both the studio audience and viewers.
Until now, Oktop had faced suspicion from some quarters—given their striking appearance and unusually frequent broadcast exposure—of being an “idol band manufactured by an agency,” drawing sharp scrutiny from the indie scene. But the musical completeness they demonstrated that night was enough to put all those doubts to rest.
Particularly during the interview segment in the middle of the performance, the members laid bare their identity.
During conversation with host Jo Hyun Woo, vocalist Cha Seo Ha (19) officially stated “We have no agency” and “We are an indie band,” directly countering the long-standing misunderstandings surrounding them.
Meanwhile, Jo Hyun Woo’s Gift Box airs every Thursday night at 10 p.m. on KSB, and Oktop’s album After the OKTOP can be enjoyed on all major music streaming platforms.
Entertainment correspondent Eo Tae Seon
[email protected]
Articles like this had also been reported after Oktop’s showcase, but this time the volume was different.
Following their first appearance on public broadcast, the number of articles about Oktop and Jo Hyun Woo’s Gift Box was pouring in endlessly.
“The PD really has an eye for talent.”
“Eye, nothing—anyone can see it.”
K-Net’s Entertainment Division.
Producer Lee Jong Myung was spending time with the writer he worked with, sipping coffee after a program production meeting.
In the meantime, he came across the flood of articles about Oktop.
Oktop was becoming increasingly famous.
It was an excellent trajectory.
Oktop had expressed their intention to participate in the competition program through Jo Hyun Seop.
If the contestants were already celebrities, there would be plenty to work with on the broadcast.
An indie band covered this frequently by the media meant Oktop’s current popularity needed no explanation.
“PD, that’s not even the half of it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look at this. Oktop right now—it’s serious.”

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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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