The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 67

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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 Idol from My Past Life Carries the Indie Band
Chapter 67
The chorus of the song.
Kang Min’s drum, which had been promised in eight beats, began to weave in an unplanned Poly Rhythm.
In an instant, everyone turned to look at Kang Min.
‘Min, why are you suddenly doing that?’
‘No, I should play as we agreed.’
‘What? Why is he suddenly acting like that?’
The other musicians, unable to follow the path of Kang Min’s thoughts, were bewildered.
But Kang Min paid no mind and showcased a rhythmic performance that wasn’t part of the plan.
The pattern had changed, but the song’s atmosphere didn’t stray too far.
An unplanned rhythm.
An unplanned Crash Cymbal.
An unplanned Ghost Note.
What wasn’t planned went beyond just the performance.
Every sound Kang Min poured out was thick with dissatisfaction, irritation, and anger.
Originally, they’d intended to create a cynical atmosphere from beginning to end, but unexpected emotion seeped in during the final chorus.
No—it wasn’t just a touch of emotion. The anger emanating from Kang Min’s drum was consuming everything.
Not just the other instruments or Im Hyun Taek’s vocal.
But the judges, the production staff, and the other performers too.
Kang Min let his long hair fly wildly as he focused entirely on his own emotions.
And so the chorus infused with Kang Min’s improvised outburst came to an end.
Then, just as originally planned, the sound of every instrument and voice fell silent.
A quiet that felt as though the world itself had stopped.
…….
And then, moments later, at precisely the right moment, every instrument began playing simultaneously, and the long, extended Outro commenced.
Past the cynical section at the start, the Outro exploded in an instant.
The main melody that Dampa had created.
And Choi Woo Young’s synthesizer following it in Unison.
Im Min Ju’s sixteenth-note Fingering.
And Kang Min’s drum, which should have been played in eight beats according to plan.
Im Hyun Taek’s plan was to carry the Outro for nearly two minutes with the composition described above.
A spectacle of performance from each instrument, creating the impression of being pulled into somewhere distant.
In this Outro where the other instruments were tangled together, Kang Min unleashed energy nearly akin to a solo.
Beyond structured rhythm, a continuous barrage of Freestyle strikes followed.
At a pace almost like marching, he briefly fractured the Snare and struck the Crash Cymbal loudly.
Kang Min’s movements grew even more intense.
He used his whole body to play the drum, radiating heat.
Despite the passage of such a long section, the energy from Kang Min and the other musicians didn’t fade—it only grew stronger.
The other musicians were bewildered at first, but they were gradually being consumed by Kang Min’s force.
“What kind of solo is that…….”
Park Chul Hwan, who had a background as a drummer, was at a loss for words.
They had been given merely six hours.
The fact that he’d prepared such a solo in that time defied all logic.
“He’s really incredibly skilled.”
“Yes, when you compare Kang Min with all the other performers, the difference in ability is just too great.”
“It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t.”
The other judges were also deeply absorbed in Kang Min’s performance.
Beyond the skill itself, some indescribable emotion he radiated was felt so viscerally it was almost overwhelming.
An emotion that wasn’t quite pleasant.
But the ability to convey such things through performance alone was not something just anyone could do.
It felt like viewing a work of art.
Whether or not Kang Min was aware of the judges’ sentiments, he was entirely absorbed in his own performance.
This was no longer a stage that maintained the meaning of ensemble performance.
Kang Min was right now smashing everything that had tormented him with his drum sticks.
A haven where he could exist at ease.
A life making music freely in that place.
He just wanted to live making the music he wanted to make, but he couldn’t understand why everyone else insisted on tormenting him.
He wanted to destroy it all.
The grip on his hands holding the sticks tightened more and more.
Eventually, his left stick snapped.
But the performance didn’t stop.
It had been improvisation anyway.
If there were no sticks, then his feet.
The frequency of the Snare diminished, and this time the kick drum began to accelerate the pace.
“Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!”
In the final stretch, Kang Min let out a cry bordering on a scream, pouring out everything he had like a madman.
Thus, the Ensemble Performance of the arranged version of “Super Gravity” prepared by the third team concluded with perfect preparation and a small incident.
And an unexpected turn of events.
* * *
Immediately after the third team’s stage.
In the Waiting Room where their stage was being watched, it was absolute chaos.
“Whoa!! Kang Min, you madman!”
“Man…. Is that really someone playing?”
“He was just the best, wasn’t he? Best of everyone who went today.”
“Today? What do you mean today? Best of all the previous rounds combined.”
“Right, I agree. Seriously, it’s ridiculous.”
“A DMC Champion really is different.”
Everyone on the third team performed their role well.
But immediately after the stage ended, only Kang Min was being discussed.
It would take some time to even recall the other performers.
The judging takes place after all performances are complete, and the rankings are announced on a screen in the Waiting Room.
After completing the main performance, the third team took the stage.
Before the judges’ deliberation, they picked up microphones to share their impressions.
“Well done. You all worked hard.”
Shin Myung Chul from Bullyangopa offered encouraging words while clapping with genuine emotion.
And then came the interview about the production work.
“Who did the overall producing?”
“I did.”
Im Hyun Taek answered confidently.
“Good. The Outro at the end was remarkably long—was that also your idea?”
“Yes, it was.”
“I see…. Good.”
Shin Myung Chul made a note of something and ended his questioning.
Next, Jung Hyuk from Seoul 1977 picked up the microphone.
“The Outro riff was excellent—did you compose that as well?”
“No, this friend created that.”
Im Hyun Taek indicated Dampa and answered on his behalf.
And then came Park Chul Hwan’s question.
“The drum work from the final chorus through the Outro was fantastic. You created that yourself, didn’t you, Kang Min?”
Kang Min’s performance had been Freestyle.
Originally it was a part reflecting Im Hyun Taek’s suggestions.
But ultimately, what was shown was purely Kang Min’s idea.
“Yes, I did it myself.”
Kang Min answered without much expression.
“Yes, I thought so. That kind of composition can’t be arranged by someone else. Really well done.”
After a few more confirmation questions, the third team returned to the Waiting Room, and the judges began their formal deliberations.
One member of a band performed well, another didn’t.
The overall ensemble was good, but there were people who didn’t stand out.
There was so much to consider that the judging took quite a while.
And then the deliberation on the final team proceeded.
“How was the third team?”
“Their individual skills were good, but…….”
“The overall ensemble was a bit ambiguous, wasn’t it?”
“It’s hard to explain this in words because it’s more of a feeling, but it seems like their quarrel from earlier had an impact.”
“From a distance it looked like a good stage, but up close, they were all turning away from each other.”
“Good. Let’s reorganize the scores.”
* * *
The third team returned to the Waiting Room.
“Woohoo!!”
“You did great! Seriously awesome! The best!”
“Hey…. Choi Woo Young, are you insane? You played amazingly.”
“Of course Kang Min is Kang Min, right?”
“Yeah, honestly, out of all eighteen people, he played the best.”
The team was greeted by numerous cheers and applause from those who had watched the stage from the Waiting Room.
“Oh…. Everyone’s praising Min.”
Lee Do Young reacted to the praise for Kang Min coming from the surroundings.
“Honestly, it’s deserved. He played the best.”
Kim Ji Hu’s reaction was one of not being particularly surprised.
“I should give Kang Min the highest praise…….”
What was Heo Jun Sung trying to do, exactly?
I just hope he doesn’t do something weird.
“Eh? Kang Min-kun! Wow, that was totally subarashi! Yattabai itchiban desu ne!”
Oh, this crazy bastard.
“Ha, that’s so embarrassing…….”
You could read everything from Kim Ji Hu’s expression with his eyes squeezed shut.
Why is this guy my friend? That kind of sentiment…….
And then came Kang Min’s response.
“Eh? Watashi ga?”
For a moment, the thought crossed my mind of whether I should just start a new band right now.
Why is Heo Jun Sung’s voice so loud anyway?
Murmurs didn’t stop coming from other places either.
Those around Dampa, unlike his usually loud demeanor, praised his focused appearance as cool.
Choi Woo Young’s acquaintances said his skills had improved even more since they last saw him.
Im Hyun Taek was also receiving various compliments, but he showed little reaction.
For some reason, his expression looked sullen.
Indeed, what had happened?
Soon after, with a guide from the production staff to pay attention, the announcement of the 3rd Round Session Battle rankings was imminent.
All eighteen teams advance to the Finals in two weeks.
In that Finals stage, a judge is assigned as a producer to prepare together.
And based on today’s competition rankings, teams are given the opportunity to choose a judge first.
The top four teams can choose their judge.
And the judges cannot refuse that choice.
After that, eight teams can choose their judge, but judges can refuse them.
Then the remaining six teams have no choice.
A judge must select them.
And the rankings were announced.
1. Maruru Band
2. That Town Comic Book Cafe
…….
7. Optop
8. Destruction
…….
10. Odyssey
11. Damjang Party
…….
18. Jo Sung Hoon Band
Optop’s ranking remained at seventh place.
* * *
The judge selection would proceed in order of ranking.
Before that, a brief break was given.
“I’m sorry.”
Kang Min apologized to us.
The fact that he wasn’t using strange speech like “Gomen…!” suggested he was really quite sorry.
“No way! That was subarashi, I’m telling you?”
“Yeah, Min. You really did great. Don’t apologize so much.”
“Right. Your individual score was perfect.”
In fact, Kang Min’s individual score was fifty out of fifty, the highest score recorded by only him among all participants.
“The team score being poor isn’t entirely your fault.”
“No, it’s my fault.”
Kang Min, with a somewhat gloomy expression, explained the details of what had happened.
And those details were far more shocking than I’d expected.

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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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