NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 50
Chapter 50. Daylight (6)
A few hours before the mentor evaluation.
“Hyung, I have something to say.”
“To me?”
“The third chorus is difficult for you, right?”
“……”
“Do you want to switch with me?”
At Hajin’s suggestion, Gong Seok hesitated. The third chorus that followed immediately after the dance break was indeed a tough part for him. However, there were clear issues between simply finding it difficult and Hajin asking to switch.
‘Why is he asking to switch? Does he think I can’t handle the chorus properly? Well, it’s true that I feel breathless and my stamina fails me around that part. But still, I want to fulfill my role till the end. Hajin’s part? Where is Hajin’s part? Ah, the ad-lib. Although the ad-lib line is high-pitched, I can handle it…’
Hajin, watching Gong Seok lost in thought, cut in decisively.
“The ad-lib line is too hard for me. It’s a bit too high for me.”
“Ah, really?”
“It’s not difficult if only you and I switch places for that part. I’d rather sing the chorus while you handle the ad-lib.”
Hajin made it clear that it wasn’t that Gong Seok couldn’t handle it, but that he found it difficult himself and suggested a plausible alternative. Gong Seok nodded without thinking too long. Yeah, that’s fine! Hajin, you must have it rough.
“It’s no big deal. Shall we practice then?”
“Sure!”
Hajin smiled along with the brightly speaking Gong Seok. Since he decided to dominate the beginning anyway, a developed result from the mid-evaluation was necessary. With hints already verified by Lee Doha, a future top ten copyright producer, it would be foolish not to try.
Moreover, considering that Gong Seok would benefit from the ad-lib part where he could fully showcase his vocal range rather than the fast-breathing chorus, Hajin decided to switch parts without any guilt or hesitation.
The result, needless to say, was successful.
“Hajin is… overwhelming.”
Regardless of the number of parts, no one could deny that Hajin was the one leading the stage. A Team’s emotional and refreshing concept performance of Daylight transformed into a powerful and refreshing appearance with Hajin’s solid vocal strength, overwhelming volume, and unique, clear high-pitched singing style.
‘It feels like an animation OST.’
Someone watching the stage thought. Like the opening of a boy’s comic, B Team’s Daylight provided an exhilarating thrill. And as the song neared its end, the final verse approached.
Hajin, who started the first verse, stood in the center. Once again, he performed the choreography in reverse so that all the trainees behind him could be seen, smiling as if he was pleased to meet them.
Hello, ‘me’.
Nice to finally meet you.
“…Ah.”
And when Hajin slowly walked backward and finished the ending with his partner behind him, Ria realized the subtle nuance she had felt.
“…Met another me.”
It wasn’t introducing himself as “Hello, I am OOO.” but greeting another ‘me’ that he finally met. The entire direction emphasizing the pair concept during the stage seemed to be for this. Admiring the interpretation of the song, Ria had to acknowledge Taeil’s words about how interesting B Team’s stage was.
“It’s exactly the kind of stage you like.”
“Right?”
“You intentionally wrote the lyrics like that, didn’t you? Kind of with a purpose.”
“Does it matter what I intended? It’s their song now. Their interpretation is the original.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Taeil finished writing his evaluation and put down his pen. Although it might be a trivial nuance difference to some, that tiny difference creates a worldview, a narrative, and changes the direction. And the details created by that small difference were extremely, extremely important, at least in Miro.
The performances of those who found hidden stories in his songs made Taeil feel proud every time he watched them. Taeil grabbed the microphone with a joyful heart.
“To be honest, I had a lot of thoughts after making this song. I wondered if we should just use it ourselves.”
“Did it feel too good to give away after making it?”
“Yeah, it felt too good to give away. Our fourth member sang it so well. But after seeing this performance today…”
“……”
“I’m really glad we gave it away. Thank you for making it into a great song.”
“Thank you!”
The sincere compliment from the original composer to the trainees who had just finished their stage had the power to double their exhausted lung capacity. B Team’s trainees bowed deeply, expressing their gratitude loudly. Taeil saw Hajin, who stood calmly with his hands neatly folded, listening to the feedback in the center.
‘Ah… I thought I’d be showing favoritism if I mentioned it more, so I was just going to skip it.’
But with such a performance, it seemed like not mentioning it would be reverse discrimination. Eventually, after all the mentors’ evaluations were finished, just before B Team left the stage, Taeil grabbed the microphone again.
“Hajin.”
“Yes?”
“You were a bit greedy, huh?”
At those words, Hajin answered with his characteristic bright smile, looking a bit embarrassed. And that was a stronger scene than any other detailed explanation.
“Yes, everyone please return to your seats. The results of the first mission will be announced shortly.”
The scoring process that would decide their fate began.
* * *
Recording was paused for the scoring process, and a short break was given to the cast. While the others were heading back to their accommodations, chattering about their expected results, I went in the opposite direction and found Ji Suho standing on one side of the filming set.
“Oh, Hajin. Why aren’t you going to the waiting room?”
“Park Jaeyoung, is he okay?”
“Uh? Ah, he was really surprised. He’s getting an IV and resting now. We got the message.”
Ji Suho, who had decided to drop the formalities with me, nodded and patted my shoulder, telling me not to worry. Despite Ji Suho’s reassurance, I couldn’t easily feel relieved.
Then Ji Suho, looking around cautiously, added in a careful tone.
“But he might have to leave the survival show.”
“…Why? Because he couldn’t participate in the mission?”
“That too, but… His parents were really shocked by his collapse today. Anyway, this is still under discussion, so don’t worry too much and focus on the recording.”
At that moment, I felt a sudden jolt.
[Mission Quest!]
: I gave you a chance. Take it.
Penalty for failure: Mental Care System destroyed -1000000000000000000000000000000%
The red window continued to blink. Park Jaeyoung suddenly collapsing.
“Hajin?”
“…Please let me know if you hear from Jaeyoung.”
Leaving only that response, I quickly exited the filming set. I felt a sudden, inexplicable nausea.
‘This damn…’
I wanted to grab the system window by the collar right away, but there were too many people around. Suppressing my anger, I entered a restroom at the far end of the floor where people rarely went and locked the door.
I glared at the still blinking damn system window.
“Is it you? Did you do this?”
The system window that blinked annoyingly gave no response. But I wasn’t going to back down easily.
“Hey, talk like you did before. Did you chicken out and run? I’m asking if it was you who made Jaeyoung like that.”
Then, as if sighing in frustration, the system window sparked a few times, and letters appeared and disappeared like errors. Soon, the rude message I had seen earlier appeared again.
[Does it matter?]
[What matters is, thanks to Jaeyoung dropping out, you got noticed.]
“I would have done fine without this crap.”
[Haha, really?]
“Who are you? You’re not the system, are you? Are you that guy from before?”
[I don’t know what you’re talking about. What do you know about this ‘system’ anyway?]
My precious system couldn’t possibly be this rude. With my neck tingling from the anger pulling at the back of my head, I tried my best to stay calm.
“Fine, whatever. Why Jaeyoung? What did he do wrong? That kid worked his butt off to improve from 19th place. Who are you to make him drop out?”
[Hahahahahahaha.]
“What’s so funny, you jerk.”
[Hahaha, still so naive.]
The letters stopped momentarily, and simultaneously, the new restroom lights flickered before going out.
[Hajin.]
“…What, you bastard.”
[Don’t worry about others. Focus on yourself.]
When the frantic flickering stopped and the lights brightened, I was standing at the center of the studio where recording was in progress.
“What’s happening?”
“Hajin, why are you acting strange? Are you sick?”
“……”
What’s this? Regression? Did I just regress? In sudden fear, I quickly looked around. No, this wasn’t regression…
“Now, we’ll announce the results of the first mission of Miro Maze, Daylight! Let’s reveal the results of the two teams!”
…I had come to the future. And it was clear who was behind this.
[Why? Should I have sent you back a couple of days instead?]
I thought it could only rewind, but it can fast-forward too? Desperately trying to hide my trembling hands, I clasped them behind my back.
“Miro Maze, first mission Daylight! Which team won the first mission? Let’s see the results!”
What’s this bastard’s intention? What does it want to say? While I kept glaring at the system and thinking, the electronic board alternately lit up the profile pictures of A Team and B Team. This would definitely drag on for
more than 5 minutes.
[Really? Then let’s ‘fast forward’ that too.]
What?
And the studio flickered again. It felt like less than three seconds, and the result was displayed on the board with a bang.
“Yes, with a total score of 472 points to 486 points, Feather Rank wins! Congratulations!”
“No way!”
“Oh my god, we won! We won!”
Despite the joyous voices of the others around me, I couldn’t relax. The red system window flashed several more times, its graphics breaking as if about to tear apart, and ominously reappeared before my eyes.
[Hajin, do you really think you would have won without this ‘chance’?]
And another blink. The electronic board now displayed the individual scores and results of the battle participants.
And another blink.
‘…What?’
“…Trainee Han Sungwoo won the battle with a score of 93.15, ahead of trainee Kang Hajin by 0.16 points. Congratulations.”
[I told you, Hajin.]
[Focus on yourself.]
I lost?