The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 71

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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 Carrying the Indie Band
Chapter 71
The producer’s involvement in preparing for the Main Stage Round 1 was minimal.
At most, he offered advice on tightening the details of songs the participants brought or guided the arrangement direction when needed.
There simply wasn’t time, and besides, the production team had made it clear that serious intervention would begin only after the Top 9 was decided.
Yet Park Chul Hwan, one of the judges, found himself increasingly worried.
All the contestants prepared their stages diligently, and time passed faithfully.
The day of the Main Stage Round 1 had arrived.
Park Chul Hwan was watching Oktop running through their rehearsal on stage.
“At this rate…….”
Oktop’s stage was painfully ordinary.
Of course, it was a good song.
The piece Oktop had prepared was “No Pain No Fly” from the Jo Hyun Woo Band.
Straightforward Korean rock, fundamentally.
The kind of music you’d appropriately call modern rock or alternative rock.
It was quite an exciting number, but Oktop’s rehearsal didn’t seem to capture that energy particularly well.
The arrangement was definitely livelier than the original, but that was all there was to it.
If you rated the song overall, it was maybe an A+.
There was no way they could beat Destruction with that.
The piece Park Chul Hwan had reviewed from Destruction earlier was an S-tier composition.
For Oktop to win against Destruction, they’d clearly need something else entirely.
But there was no sign of that something right now.
And so Oktop finished their rehearsal and came down from the stage.
“You’re really going with that?”
“Yes, it should be fine.”
“Sigh…….”
Park Chul Hwan couldn’t shake the feeling that they’d undersold themselves, no matter how true it was that the real competition started in the next round.
“Please don’t worry too much. The actual stage will be different.”
“Different how?”
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t see how it would be different.
What exactly were they planning to do differently on that bland stage?
Park Chul Hwan couldn’t conjure any promising image of it—he had a strong feeling this round would be Oktop’s last.
Oktop headed back to the waiting room after finishing their rehearsal.
Park Chul Hwan was already sure their run on this show would end here….
But why, then.
Why did the sight of their retreating figures feel so monumentally large?
* * *
The Annex 2nd Floor Studio at K-Net Broadcasting Station.
A stage elaborately decorated and an audience packed in front of it.
It was just before the first Main Stage round began.
And standing on stage was Yu Hwan, a singer active as a singer-songwriter.
An artist who had collaborated with countless singers at a young age, producing an incalculable amount of work.
He possessed not only excellent musical skill but also a warm, appealing appearance, and today he was joining the program as its main stage host.
“Hello, I’m Yu Hwan, the host for the Main Stage rounds. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
“Woooooo!!”
The audience poured applause and cheers in Yu Hwan’s direction.
“Thank you. Today’s stage features a total of eighteen teams competing in one-on-one matchups. You all have Voting Remote Controls distributed beforehand, and you just need to vote for the team you prefer.”
After introducing the first team to take the stage, Yu Hwan exited toward the backstage area.
* * *
The four producers were seated in a special raised stand installed at the rear upper section of the audience.
The early rounds of Main Stage Round 1 were flowing quite entertainingly.
The Maruru Band defeated Odyssey handily and claimed victory.
Odyssey suffered a devastating loss, but given their opponent, they bowed with genuine respect.
The Maruru Band, in turn, was moved by Odyssey’s sincere performance.
Damjang Party advanced to the next round with an unexpected showing.
And over two more rounds, disappointing defeats and glorious victories became tangled together.
So four rounds proceeded in total, followed by a brief stage check and rest period.
“Sir, your expression has looked troubled since earlier?”
Shin Myung Chul from Bullyang Yangpa asked Park Chul Hwan.
“Hmm…….”
“What’s on your mind?”
“Oh, it’s just that those Oktop kids seem to have prepared their stage too carelessly.”
“Pardon?”
“What do you mean?”
“Seriously?”
All the producers looked startled and pressed him for clarification.
It was possible Oktop might not perform well on stage.
Even the most skilled person makes mistakes sometimes.
But Oktop-level kids cutting corners from the preparation phase?
That simply didn’t add up.
“Wow, that’s a problem then. Our kids put in enormous preparation.”
Those were the words of Shin Myung Chul, who managed Destruction.
“I know. I’m pretty sure this round is the end for Oktop.”
“Ah, I see. That’s unfortunate. We’ll just have to do our best anyway.”
“I was hoping to see more from those kids.”
“Destruction’s a good band too, so they’ll do well going forward.”
While the judges continued discussing Oktop and Destruction, the next round began.
It was the Jo Sung Hoon Band’s turn.
* * *
The Jo Sung Hoon Band’s opponent was quite formidable.
The vote count: 62 to 238.
A crushing defeat.
But the Jo Sung Hoon Band harbored no regrets.
In truth, they’d come mainly hoping to have a good experience and try something new.
Simply reaching this point felt like a miracle.
“Jo Sung Hoon Band, you’ve worked hard. Would you share your thoughts?”
At Shin Myung Chul’s words, Jo Sung Hoon spoke into the microphone.
“We’re still far from perfect, but just being able to come this far felt like a miracle in itself.”
His voice carried no tension or tremor.
Rather, he spoke with a tone brimming with happiness and excitement.
The members standing beside him felt the same.
“We’re truly grateful to everyone! To the producers here, to all of you in the audience, and to the amazing band we just faced!”
The opposing team responded to Jo Sung Hoon’s sincerity with a respectful bow.
“And most of all, we’re so grateful to Oktop, and especially to Cha Seo Ha, for making it possible for us to come this far!”
Suddenly, a stir rippled through the production team.
The judges felt it too.
“Wait, why is Cha Seo Ha’s name coming up?”
“Oh, because he wrote all our songs. Of course we added our own touches, but he laid down most of the foundation.”
“…….”
The judges exchanged glances with one another.
As if saying, ‘I see now….’
And so the Jo Sung Hoon Band made a dignified exit, leaving behind the trace of Cha Seo Ha on the stage.
For them, every moment of this journey would linger as a cherished memory.
* * *
“Man, this broadcast is going to be all about Cha Seo Ha.”
After hearing what the Jo Sung Hoon Band had to say, the production team began moving busily.
Right now they were busy preparing the narrative arc between Oktop and Destruction.
And they were also taking into account the fact that the Maruru Band subtly disliked Oktop.
Oktop, disliked by two powerhouse teams.
And yet, as it turned out, they were helping the weakest team.
It was proof that no matter how lacking a band’s skill, an excellent producer could push them to who knew what heights.
“Where exactly should we fit this…….”
“Let me find some of the scenes with the Jo Sung Hoon Band.”
Oktop’s airtime kept growing.
If their segment became too large, it would be awkward for broadcast purposes, yet it was too good a story to abandon.
The production team continued happily wrestling with this dilemma.
Now, if Oktop just performed well on today’s stage and beat Destruction, they’d have a complete manga-style narrative arc.
But the production team expected they wouldn’t make it that far.
All the producers had watched Oktop and Destruction’s rehearsals today.
The outcome had already been decided from that point onward.
“Ugh, how should we even structure this story…….”
“Should we make Oktop look like the bad guys?”
“No, we don’t have enough material for that.”
“Ugh, if only those kids had given a better performance…….”
“Did they get lazy at the end?”
“Their abilities only go so far. They’re just high school kids.”
“Ah, fair point.”
The production team already expected Oktop’s defeat.
Because of that, they couldn’t even figure out which direction to take Oktop’s narrative.
* * *
“Wow, it’s so hot.”
“But honestly, this is seriously fun, isn’t it?”
During every break after a stage, conversation never died down in the audience.
With only carefully selected bands performing, every team put on a high-level show.
The audience members who came as judge participants were satisfied with the quality performances.
And they were carrying special anticipation for the next matchup.
“Oh wow, Destruction’s facing Oktop.”
“So did those two make peace?”
Most of today’s audience were people with a genuine interest in the band scene.
So they were already familiar with the relationship between Destruction and Oktop.
More than any other matchup, they were looking forward to this one.
And then, at last, Destruction appeared on stage.
“Whoa, what!”
“Waaaaaah!! Wow! What—why are they so cool!”
“Wow, amazing—what is this, really!”
Destruction had come fully prepared.
All the members wore dark-toned clothing and black thin headbands for unified styling.
Acquaintances they’d hired in advance stood backstage holding enormous flags.
The performance hadn’t even started yet, but you could already feel how much care had gone into the stage.
Im Hyun Taek held the microphone and stood perfectly centered on stage, his gaze fixed firmly to the left.
His eyes burned with intensity.
In his line of sight lay nothing but the hunger for victory.
After a moment, the standby signal dropped.
The song began with the drummer’s sharp, powerful fill-in.
From the start, the song unfolded in dark tones.
Even at first listen, it carried strong symphonic rock qualities.
The orchestral sound inserted via Backing Track blended elegantly with Jung Bo Un’s guitar.
A bass line that slid in with sensuous technique.
And a majestic drum progression played out in long intervals.
Before this flood of sound, Im Hyun Taek swung his arms wide, using his whole body as if conducting a rock version of an orchestra.
Im Hyun Taek executed his performance with flawless movements.
He was completely absorbed in this song that hung in the air like darkness itself.
Destruction, veterans of the band scene for over eight years.
Whether their opponent was Oktop or anyone else, they were ready to destroy like their name suggested.
And soon Im Hyun Taek’s voice began to dissolve into their epic music.
The fruit of over eight years—the very essence of Destruction’s art, carefully layered—was now poised to surge forward into the world with full force.

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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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