The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 78

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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’s Indie Band Carries Hard
Episode 78
In the car heading home after signing the contract.
“Oh, that’s right. Seo Ha.”
The director broke the silence.
“Yes?”
“I had meetings with a few agencies before we came in for our meeting.”
“Oh, I see. What did they say?”
Before we came in for our meeting, the director had met with several agencies.
It was something I’d asked him to do.
“There were about five agencies in contact with broadcasting stations. TK Enter, YNC, The Musically, and so on….”
“Hmm, I see….”
“There wasn’t a single company actually related to bands.”
It wasn’t just a matter of being related to the industry or not.
There were companies that operated like criminal dens, hitting trainees, and companies that dragged artists over to forcibly remake them as idols against their will.
I had no desire to go to any of them.
If we won this broadcast, we’d have to sign with one of those companies.
But our first objective isn’t winning.
It’s demanding the truth from Lee Jong Myung.
That’s the goal.
If we win, we’ll definitely gain prize money, fame, and other things.
But we’ll also suffer losses.
We’d have to move as the agency directs, and we’d be forced to make music we don’t want to make.
Kang Min had once said he wanted to sign with an agency after we had the power to move autonomously.
After winning an audition program, autonomous movement in contract negotiations is unimaginable.
For now, we need to move toward the goal we set from the beginning.
Whether we win the program or not is secondary.
There are three rounds left, including the final.
Within that time, we need to build Lee Do Young’s narrative well and maintain Oktatop’s position.
Earlier, what I extracted from my conversation with Lee Jong Myung was two things.
One was that we’d write our own song for the next round.
And the other was confirming that Lee Jong Myung wasn’t checking us.
Though of course, I couldn’t know his deeper intentions.
What I could tell from that brief conversation was that what mattered to him right now was simply getting good footage from this broadcast.
He couldn’t even imagine that we might be plotting something.
That’s what I’d expected anyway.
He was a man in his forties.
And we were just a group of high school students.
It was natural that he wouldn’t even consider us a threat.
* * *
Episode 4 of Who’s The Real aired.
The most notable point in that episode was that Oktatop performed with a Michael Jackson song and confidently earned their pass.
And the controversy over Lee Do Young’s abilities that the judge Jung Hyuk had mentioned was also clearly highlighted.
And at the end of the broadcast, the preview for the next episode was revealed.
-“Hey! You’re not drumming right?”
-“Huh? What did I—?”
In the preview that was released, the tension between Kang Min and Im Hyun Taek appeared briefly in editing.
The public who encountered that information unleashed another wave of heated reactions.
First, talk about whether Oktatop passed or not.
-Lol knew they’d pass? They were seriously awesome
-Dancing and passing? This is basically reality TV, not watching anymore
-IMO the playing was like 30 points, the dance was 70 points. But they passed? Isn’t this favoritism toward Oktatop? This is crazy
-Lol that outfit suited them so well
-But did you see Park Chul Hwan pointing and making that expression like ‘He’s wearing the right outfit, what’s he gonna do about it? ㅋㅋ’? That’s rock? Just looking cool
-I’m a real rock fan and being honest, I think you should score for star quality too. Oktatop had to pass
-Honestly Park Chul Hwan couldn’t fail them. They were told to wear an outfit that suited them and they literally nailed the stage? If you fail them after that, you lose your credentials as a judge
Oktatop’s pass was only hot within the band community.
Meanwhile, the general public didn’t mention much about Oktatop passing.
It was natural that Oktatop would pass—good at music, good at dancing, good-looking.
But with the controversy over Lee Do Young’s abilities, both sides were heated.
-But like why is Lee Do Young even there? Swapping members would be better lol
└He’s good-looking
└Oh right
└Good-looking? I’m convinced
-But Lee Do Young isn’t bad, it’s just everyone else is so good
└The bad thing about bass is that it doesn’t show
└Dude you—
└The sound doesn’t come out!
└Why doesn’t that four-string guitar make a sound?
└Respect for minorities please
-If Lee Do Young doesn’t prove himself, it’ll be hard for Oktatop to climb higher?
It was true that Lee Do Young stood out relatively less.
In Round 1, Kim Ji Hu and Heo Jun Sung showed excellent performances.
Cha Seo Ha showcased an impressive performance in Round 2.
Kang Min had solid fundamentals and the title of DMC champion, so even without showing anything special, his ability was proven enough.
Moreover, what would be said about Kang Min was set to be properly shown in the next episode.
Just as the preview had shown.
-Hey, looks like Kang Min and Im Hyun Taek got into it
-Dude gimme the next episode I’m about to lose my mind
-They’re not gonna physically fight, right?
-Heard their relationship was never good
└Yeah, I heard they beat each other up back in the day?
└Really?
└Heard they threw fists after a concert afterparty
└Stop spreading baseless rumors, that never happened
-Lol this is a band ㅂ I wanna see them fight already
-But what kind of mission makes them be in the practice room together?
There was also quite a bit of talk about the other contestants.
Maruru Band, Distruction, Dam Jang Party, Jo Sung Hoon Band, Odyssey, and so on.
Each band’s fans rooted for their beloved bands.
And they were satisfied with the well-made broadcast and showing positive reactions.
And the reactions didn’t come from the public alone.
「Proving the mainstream: Who’s The Real Episode 4 sets new record of 4.2% viewership rating. Oktatop’s star potential proven, epic confrontation with Distruction predicted……」
Who’s The Real on K-Net channel renewed its relevance with each episode. The fourth episode that aired featured overwhelming performances and unpredictable developments that pleased viewers’ eyes and ears, continuing its unstoppable upward trend.
In the previous third episode, Oktatop clearly proved their star potential by covering a Michael Jackson song, and in this episode they confidently seized victory while wearing the “outfit that suited them” that judge Park Chul Hwan had mentioned.
…….
At the end of the broadcast, a scene of Oktatop’s Kang Min and Distruction’s Im Hyun Taek confronting each other briefly appeared, raising expectations for the next episode.
Meanwhile, Who’s The Real airs every Thursday at 11 PM on K-Net.
Entertainment correspondent An Na Eun
[email protected]
Besides this, talk about Oktatop and Who’s The Real poured out endlessly.
The broadcast was riding on Oktatop’s back and achieving quite good results.
* * *
“Congratulations! The semifinal contestants have been decided!”
Broadcasting continued, and Oktatop advanced to the semifinal.
Dam Jang Party was eliminated in this round, and the survivors included Oktatop and Maruru Band.
“You worked hard!”
“You worked hard too.”
“Hey, let’s go in and get some rest quick…….”
Heo Jun Sung started whining while hanging on Kang Min’s shoulder.
“Aw man, that’s heavy.”
For the nth time, we were put in the situation of learning a song in a matter of days and then performing it.
Oktatop, worn out from exhaustion, wanted to finish the interview quickly and head home.
“Oktatop!”
Then one of the production staff approached urgently.
“Yes?”
“The director called for you. Come this way.”
We followed the staff’s direction, but unable to predict what he wanted to say, we exchanged glances nervously as we headed to the director’s office.
* * *
We sat on the sofa in the director’s office.
Lee Jong Myung handed us refreshments.
“Congratulations. I just heard the results. Now you’ve got the semifinal and the final left.”
My friends seemed completely tense in this awkward, heavy atmosphere.
“Seo Ha, you said last time that you had a separate song for the semifinal?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“That’s good. I was thinking it’d be perfect to put in Do Young’s growth in the semifinal.”
Lee Jong Myung reclined comfortably on the sofa.
“This might be a heavier topic, but Do Young.”
“Yes?”
“I looked into it a bit, and I found there’s a painful wound.”
My heart sank at that moment.
He’s bringing it up first.
“The malicious commenters were too harsh. Driving a person to that extent—I really can’t understand it.”
Under the table, Lee Do Young’s clenched fist was visible.
His hand trembling slightly.
The others were also doing their best to maintain composure.
“So I’d like for you to properly show what your brother’s unfinished music was.”
Lee Jong Myung was someone who believed he bore no fault.
Or was he thinking we didn’t know whether this demonic editing was something he’d ordered?
I couldn’t know the full picture, but what was certain was that right now, this man felt no guilt.
“So how about we film a scene of you remembering your brother? What do you think?”
Lee Do Young hung his head low, and Lee Jong Myung softened his tone.
“I’m not forcing you. The grief of losing family is heavy. If it feels like we’re exploiting that, I won’t push.”
I felt a despicable sincerity from him.
Despicable human.
“But Do Young. In my view, your brother would want this too. Your younger brother carrying on the dream he couldn’t fulfill in life. Is there anything more noble and beautiful than that?”
Lee Jong Myung took a sip of his coffee.
“This isn’t just a music problem—it’s the continuation and inheritance of consciousness. It’s your chance to prove yourself and take revenge on the malicious commenters who drove your brother to death.”
I found Lee Jong Myung nauseating, speaking such cruel words to my dear friend without hesitation.
I wanted to hit him right then.
But since Lee Do Young couldn’t speak, I could only answer calmly on his behalf.
“Director. We’ll discuss this among ourselves and give you an answer later. Our friend seems to be struggling right now.”
“Oh, I see. I guess I was the only one talking. I’m sorry. Think it over and tell me.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Sorry for calling you out suddenly, but let’s think about this in a positive way. The broadcasting station is planning to invest a lot of budget in Oktatop’s performance.”
“Yes, we’ll consider it thoroughly and give you an answer.”
And so we left the director’s office, leaving behind an unexpected situation.

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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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