The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 94

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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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Former Idol Carries Indie Band
Chapter 94
Postponing broadcast appearances to prepare for album release and a concert.
If these two plans go well, we’ll draw bigger attention than we ever would from TV.
All the tracks are finished now; what remains is creating the supplementary content.
Our album this time has six tracks.
It’s a mini album.
Though the track count is smaller than a full release, we’re going with a double title format and planning to shoot two Music Videos.
One I planned to edit from footage Jo Sung Hoon shot when we went to Incheon.
The other, I was thinking of casting an actress.
“Time to pay the debt.”
“Hey, I’m seriously swamped.”
During lunch break at school, I met Moon Ga Young in front of the campus store.
She’d been so busy lately that seeing her at school was rare—you could count the days on one hand.
“I know, you’re shooting a drama, right?”
“Yeah, an OTT deal, and it’s a pretty big production, so it’s chaotic. I have to leave early today for another shoot.”
I already knew all of this.
Moon Ga Young would shoot this drama and briefly become a global star.
Of course, afterward she’d come back to Korea saying she wanted to do music, and her career would take a temporary hit.
That’s how it went in the original timeline.
“I thought you’d ask me to perform with you sooner.”
“Why?”
“Okdap’s famous now. Do you really need me? If you’d used me back when you were more amateur, it would’ve been easier to build buzz.”
“No, I think now is the perfect timing.”
“Ugh… I’m really busy right now.”
“You promised. You said you’d appear in our Music Video.”
“That’s true, but…”
Moon Ga Young looked genuinely torn.
Last year she’d definitely said she needed to appear in our Music Video to feel at peace about it.
“How can it not work? Now is really a crucial time for us.”
It has to be now.
Soon her market value is going to skyrocket.
“You really…”
Moon Ga Young’s internal conflict deepened.
Since it was only a verbal promise, she could have simply refused.
But seeing her hesitate like this, it seemed like she still wanted to appear in our Music Video.
“I don’t know why it has to be now, but okay. I’ll try to adjust my schedule. When are you planning to shoot?”
“One day.”
“You don’t have a storyboard yet?”
“Of course I do. What are you talking about?”
I handed her the bundle of papers I’d been holding.
“Wait, that was the storyboard? Let me see.”
Moon Ga Young checked it.
In about ten seconds, no more.
“That’s it?”
“Yeah. Doesn’t look too hard, right?”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier? I can do this no problem. I’ll talk to the company. Wait for my word.”
“Thanks.”
“Oh, before that, can you send me the location and shooting schedule all sorted out?”
“Of course.”
That was how Moon Ga Young agreed to appear in our Music Video.
* * *
While preparing the album, we threw ourselves into concert preparations too.
Today was a meeting before the concert.
The meeting was held at Okdap’s rehearsal space.
The participants: Jo Sung Hoon from the Jo Sung Hoon Band.
Choi Woo Young from Odyssey.
Dampa from Dampa Party.
Im Hyun Taek from Destruction.
And us, Okdap.
The concert we wanted to hold, turning down countless variety show appearances, was a combined concert featuring the “Who’s The Real” cast.
It was a plan only possible because we were an indie band community.
Unlike Moon Ga Young, who had to check with her company first and relay everything back—no unnecessary procedures like that.
If we wanted to do it, we’d do it. If not, we wouldn’t.
We were holding a concert driven by that pure spirit.
Today’s meeting would cover performance order, direction, and guest compensation.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Seo Ha, and I’ll be facilitating today’s meeting. How have you all been?”
“Well, thanks for asking.”
“It’s been a while.”
After a brief catch-up, I got straight to business.
“Before we start concert prep, I want to discuss guest compensation first.”
It’s best to settle money matters early.
“We’re all students, so unfortunately we can only offer 200,000 won per team.”
Everyone here had made it to the Main Round.
Since the broadcast ended, their market value must have risen considerably.
Neither I nor the others knew the going rate for bands with this level of fame, so I’d thrown out 200,000 won.
Realistically, they probably got paid more for events and performances like this.
After hearing me out, Choi Woo Young from Odyssey raised his hand.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Didn’t we decide not to take any payment?”
“What?”
All eyes turned to Im Hyun Taek.
He opened his mouth, looking embarrassed.
“Well, this isn’t some corporate event, so what’s with the money…”
Jo Sung Hoon elaborated on Im Hyun Taek’s vague deflection.
“He said that when people in the scene help each other, money’s the last thing to bring up—if money starts flowing too early, this whole scene falls apart.”
Im Hyun Taek is old-fashioned, small-minded, and emotional.
But I have to give him credit for how much he loves the scene.
That’s exactly why I invited him to this concert.
Anyone who loves the scene deserves to be here with us.
Personality clashes or differing philosophies don’t matter.
Those differences narrow naturally through conversation and musical exchange over time.
And his attitude toward us has changed a lot since the broadcast.
The fact that he hit Kang Min still doesn’t sit right with me, though.
“We feel bad about it, so we’re not taking payment. The other teams can take theirs, but not us.”
Im Hyun Taek absolutely refused payment for his team.
I’d quietly let slide the thing about messing with Kang Min’s sheet music.
This refusal was his apology for it.
Either way, all the bands decided they wouldn’t take payment.
And we began discussing concert details.
How to structure the overall setlist.
Which bands would get what lighting, what stage direction each would have.
Every team threw themselves into it passionately.
It felt romantic somehow.
Pouring this much time and passion into a stage that pays nothing.
Back in my past life, when I was an idol, every single challenge had to go through company approval.
The freedom to collaborate or feature was utterly unthinkable.
And here, a single word makes it happen.
Isn’t this what a real artist’s movement looks like?
* * *
The concert was locked in for December 27th, Friday, at 7 p.m.
We uploaded the Poster to Okdap’s official SNS and shared it across our personal accounts too.
Naturally, the guest bands also shared the Poster to ramp up promotion.
The concert Poster titled “Aftersong” contained all the basic information.
But what became the real draw was the guest list.
-Guest
-Destruction
-Odyssey
-Dampa Party
-Jo Sung Hoon Band
The Poster on the official SNS drew quite a lot of comments.
-How’d you get everyone together lol?
-Destructioooooon?????
-Did Kang Min and Im Hyun Taek make up?
-Okdap’s insane this concert is finally happening been missing them at Banwol Park lately ㅠㅠ
-That’s the whole Who’s The Real Main Round cast
-Aren’t those people performing at Bandslam right after?
-If I go to Aftersong this day then Bandslam the next I’m set for year-end
-Destruction has a show the Saturday right before this
People were building their own excitement.
A lot of the buzz centered on Okdap and Destruction.
Things between them and us weren’t bad at all.
Kang Min seemed to have made peace with Im Hyun Taek—they chatted comfortably now.
And I didn’t dislike them either.
I’d confirmed their sincerity.
Swamped with busy days like that, we took the college entrance exam.
Kim Ji Hu said he got what he studied for.
Lee Do Young said he performed below his usual level, but didn’t seem too bothered.
He’d already declared he was dedicating himself fully to music now.
Kang Min didn’t need to take the exam at all.
As for me and Heo Jun Sung—let’s not go there.
Study isn’t everything in life, you know?
There’s probably no creature on earth with more free time than a high schooler who just finished the college entrance exam.
Liberated from every constraint, a completely free person.
Floating through all that excess time, one day we met up with Jo Sung Hoon and Moon Ga Young.
A studio in Mullae-dong.
The studio, which looked like a residential house, was already prepped by Jo Sung Hoon—all the set dressing was done.
“Ah, Seo Ha’s here?”
“Hello. Oh, this is Moon Ga Young. She’s an actress… you know her, right?”
“Of course I do. Nice to meet you. I’m Jo Sung Hoon, directing today’s shoot.”
“I’m Moon Ga Young. Hi.”
Moon Ga Young, a school friend, and Jo Sung Hoon, a music collaborator—both close to me.
The way they were awkward with each other was pretty funny.
Originally it shouldn’t have been, but Moon Ga Young’s company had okayed her guest appearance.
The reasons: we’re high schoolers, and we’ve shown a good image on the broadcast with strong buzz.
We haven’t appeared on air, so there’s novelty, and our musicianship is outstanding—it’s a win-win for both sides.
And apparently Moon Ga Young made a strong pitch too.
We were just grateful they saw it favorably.
“Well then, shall we start shooting right away?”
“Sure.”
The studio was a two-story house layout.
Jo Sung Hoon had set the whole thing up to feel like an American residential home.
We each headed to our positions.
I stood in the center of the stairs.
Lee Do Young stood in front of the fireplace.
Heo Jun Sung stood behind the sofa.
Kang Min stood in front of a small door on the second floor.
Kim Ji Hu stood inside that room.
We just had to stand in our spots expressionless and still.
Moon Ga Young was the one who’d have her hands full.
Jo Sung Hoon would have it even worse.
This Music Video had to be shot in One Take.
Everyone approached the shoot without unnecessary distraction.
We, who had to stand expressionless, obviously couldn’t think of anything else.
Jo Sung Hoon also seemed distraction-free, focused on the camera work.
Moon Ga Young was doing great.
But one thought kept pressing into my head, enough to make my mind feel like it’d split.
Once this video drops, how will the world see us?
That future was so intriguing I wanted time to fast-forward.

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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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