translation by mourningmoor
<Please give a heartfelt word to Kang Ichan.>
True to his cautious nature, Roa quietly looked at the questionnaire and then smiled brightly.
―Hyungnim. Do I even need to say it? To me, no, to all of us members, you are truly the best leader. And to me, you are an excellent role model. I’ve been thinking a lot while I was sidelined for a week due to my knee injury.
His slightly flushed face and trembling voice revealed his sincerity.
―We are a team, and if even one person falls behind, it’s no longer L.I.T, as you always say, Hyungnim. Those words are deeply engraved in my bones. Your wish to go all the way without leaving anyone behind—we will make it happen. Fighting.
Goosebumps rose all over my body at Roa’s words.
“Kheu. That’s so cool. Our kids.”
Juhee, moved to the brink of tears, shook her head and shouted, “Bravo.”
“If you all feel that way, then I’ll stay with you until the end too. Kids.”
And then she quickly uploaded the video.
* * *
<Survival, Music Genius> After the final round ended, we attended the broadcast station’s dinner gathering.
The station director had specially invited all the former members of L.I.T and even PD Pyo Cheonhee. The funny thing was that Go Dajin, who had already been eliminated in the 3rd round, was also invited.
In the end, this meant that the influence of the SS Group was at play here.
Before entering the dinner venue, I asked PD Pyo one more time.
[You really have no intention of accepting the SS Group’s offer, right?]
[I said no, right? Why do you keep doubting me?]
[Well, it’s because you’re the icon of ambition, PD-nim.]
At my words, PD Pyo let out a deep sigh.
[Yeah. I am the icon of ambition. Do you know what my biggest ambition is? To raise the most famous idol group in the world. One that matches my musical world, my musical color. Through my own power.]
PD Pyo was serious.
This is why the icon of ambition is scary. It makes you think about going up against even the biggest corporations.
[I thought I’d never get to do it in my lifetime, but you guys showed me it’s possible. I’ll achieve my dream my way, through my own strength.]
[Hmm. You’ll achieve it, PD-nim? That’s my dream, and I’ll achieve it my way, through my own strength.]
At that, PD Pyo clicked his tongue.
Then he quickly changed his tone.
[Supporting that is my dream too.]
It was also a declaration that he would fully back me up.
Then the battles ahead would be worth fighting.
[Alright. Then, PD-nim, just drag out the conversation as long as possible and end it with a “smiling refusal.”]
[My answer today is… I’m still thinking about it. I need to discuss it with my artists too. That should be enough, right?]
[That’s perfect.]
[Okay.]
And now, PD Pyo is talking with a smiling face to the investment director of the SS Group’s Korean branch.
“Thank you for thinking so highly of us. We’ll consider it. It’s not just my company, and I need to discuss it with our members too.”
“It’s just an investment. Do you really need to think about it that much?”
“Even if it’s just an investment, if it brings changes to our management, then we need to think carefully. I’m a cautious person by nature.”
After exchanging a glance with PD Pyo, who was playing his role perfectly, I looked at our members.
Our members were sitting at a table with Yoon Jooeon and Lee Nayoung, deepening their musical knowledge.
At this rate, Yoon Jooeon and Lee Nayoung might even offer to give us songs. Especially lyricist Lee Nayoung, who was sitting with Hanjoon and Siu, giving a passionate lecture about idol music and hip-hop lyrics.
Her excited voice could be heard from here.
“Ichan-ssi, you should be sitting over there.”
It was Seo Hanul.
“Huh?”
“Since the members are over there, shouldn’t you be there too?”
“What are you talking about? I’m a Survival contestant and today’s winner, right? My seat is here. Next to the 2nd place, in front of the 3rd place.”
At that, Seo Hanul and Ahn Moonseok laughed.
While participating in the competition, I had unknowingly built friendships with these people.
I used to think negatively about forming bonds with people in this industry, but my perspective has changed a bit.
To face the giant that is the SS Group, we’ll need a lot of allies.
In this strange world where mana emanates from people, there’s no weapon as powerful as people themselves.
The owner of the magic circle probably needed people for the same reason.
“Moonseok hyung, I heard you’re signing with Melody Ent this time?”
It seemed Sniper Seokwoo’s manager had taken a liking to Ahn Moonseok. He even called Seokhwa to ask about Moonseok, and eventually made a contract offer.
“Yeah. Seokwoo probably put in a good word for me.”
Seokwoo, who was unfortunately eliminated in the 4th round, had such a good personality that he got along well with all the other contestants. I benefited from that too.
“What about you, Hanul hyung? What are you going to do?”
Before coming to the dinner, Seo Hanul had a brief meeting with PD Pyo at the broadcasting station. Seo Hanul, who came in 2nd place in Season 2, received a contract offer from PD Pyo, just as I had predicted.
So I asked, but his answer was a bit unexpected.
“Ichan-ssi, I’m two years older than you.”
“I know.”
“Isn’t it a bit late to become an idol?”
“An idol?”
At that, Ahn Moonseok also widened his eyes in surprise.
“An idol?”
“Yes. An idol.”
Seo Hanul nodded with a serious expression.
“If my dream has changed after seeing you, would you laugh?”
Twenty-two years old and an idol. No, an idol trainee.
It’s not too late. But it’s not impossible either.
I’ve heard of cases like that before.
Since Seo Hanul has built some recognition through <Survival, Music Genius>, if he trains well, he might be able to debut a bit earlier.
“If it’s a joke, it’s funny. If you’re serious, it’s not funny at all.”
“I’m serious. I really want to do it. I want to create stages with stories that come alive, like your stages, Ichan-ssi.”
Then, with a flushed face, he started talking excitedly about my stages.
He had apparently watched all of L.I.T’s stages from debut to now, explaining each stage concept one by one. It was clear he had done a lot of research.
“I want to be a part of that kind of stage.”
Seo Hanul. Twenty-two years old. 179cm tall with a slim, lean build.
He’s not the handsome type, but he has a friendly, warm appearance with a small face that looks good on camera.
I’ve already acknowledged his musicality, and with training, his dancing could improve. Watching his second stage in the final round, there’s definitely potential. The slight stiffness can be fixed with practice.
Seo Hanul as an idol? I hadn’t thought of it before, but it’s not a bad idea.
“I’m in favor.”
It seems like it could work. It might even be fun.
When I threw my support behind him, Seo Hanul’s face showed a hint of excitement but quickly turned sullen.
“But PD Pyo Cheonhee said it’s difficult to recruit idol trainees. He suggested I join as a composer trainee like Go Dajin hyungnim and release solo albums.”
That sounds like PD Pyo.
A twenty-two-year-old idol trainee? That’s a tough sell. It’s a shame, though.
“He probably wants to put you in front of the public right away. Our PD-nim is a bit greedy.”
Singer-songwriter Seo Hanul can be put to use immediately, but idols are a different story. They need training, and there’s no telling how long that will take. If the training period drags on, the recognition he’s built up might fade.
He’ll be forgotten by the public.
PD Pyo doesn’t want to take that risk.
“I understand what PD-nim meant. I’m worried about that too.”
Seo Hanul seems to be torn between reality and his dream.
Now that he’s just stepped out of obscurity and gained recognition, the safe route would be to prepare a single album and step in front of the public.
If that’s the concern, it’s worth thinking about.
It’s a hundred times better than being oblivious to reality and chasing only dreams.
“Then you just need to become an idol without being forgotten by the public.”
That’s why I’m here to help.
I see enough star potential in Seo Hanul.
Passion, ambition, a spirit of challenge, and a sense of reality.
If nurtured well, Blade Entertainment could create another star.
If that happens, it’ll be easier to stand up to the SS Group.
“In that case, there’s a way…”
“There’s a way?”
Seo Hanul, who had been sullen, widened his eyes and perked up at my words.
“It’s not official yet, but it will be soon.”
This is information I got after reading the TVH variety department head’s mind earlier.
I was curious about what intentions TVH had in getting close to PD Pyo, wondering if they were like the SS Group.
But I got an unexpected piece of information.
《Well, if I’ve laid the groundwork this much, you two can handle the investment. I’ll just get what I want.》
《First, we need to lay the groundwork well to establish Kang Ichan as a producer. We’ll need some help from PD Pyo Cheonhee too.》
.
It’s a global idol training program that TVH aired two years ago.
Though it sent several people to their graves with its devilish editing, it was hugely popular, and all its participants succeeded as idols.
“There will be an audition for an idol training program soon.”
An announcement will probably be made soon.
Then, people dreaming of becoming idols will flock to it.
“Let’s aim for that.”
* * *
The next day, L.I.T’s promotion schedule was updated again.
The remaining tracks, excluding the ones already revealed, were announced with changed dates.
Each character was colored differently, making the album’s color palette even more vivid.
And three days later in the evening, an N Live notification popped up, exciting the Filaments.
The N Live ended very quickly. But it was enough to get the fandom buzzing.
While Roa, who had returned from his injury, gave a brief greeting, the members standing in the official lineup kept nodding, looking at him with pride.
Seeing them in comfortable training pants and T-shirts, it seemed they were in the middle of practice.
After finishing the greeting, Ichan took over the mic.
―The reason we’re doing this surprise live is because we have an important announcement.
At Ichan’s words, the other members went “Oh―” and let out a gasp.
Then they looked at each other and laughed.
―We’ve finally released our first full album. To express our gratitude to the fans who made this meaningful time possible, we’ve prepared a gift.
Then Jaewon took over the mic.
―From now, a quiz.
This time, Hanjoon held up a large photo and asked.
―Where is this place?
Then Siu and Roa shouted.
―Tomorrow at 2 PM, a reverse fan meeting will be held at the location in the photo. Please come. Don’t forget your fan club membership card.