Translator: Chamber

  Editor: Illidan

  “I heard that Nael has been really grinding her gears for this.”


  “Really? But isn’t Eunha better? Her songs are better anyway.”


  “No way. There’s the size of their companies as well. Wouldn’t Nael have more investment this time? I think she would be better.”


  While the host did his presentation, a couple talked about today’s stages.

  ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’ had many stages that weren’t possible to do in KS TV’s other program, the Music Count. As GNB Entertainment, the company Nael belonged to, promoted her appearance in this program a lot, and the fact that her rival, Eunha, was appearing on the program as well, people were focused on their performances.

  “Huh? Oppa, it’s about to start.”


  When the host smiled while looking at his script, the woman slightly tapped on her boyfriend’s arms. The couple sat up.

  “Thanks for waiting. I guess I should introduce the first singer to shine on ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’s first stage. She’s known as the guitar girl.”


  “Ooooh!”


  (T/N: Guitar = Eunha, and Eunha = guitar.)

  When the audience found out the first in line was one of the people they wanted, they erupted in cheers.

  “I actually had a look at the rehearsal today, and there’s nothing that needs to be said about this. The other singers actually became a lot nervous after seeing her rehearsal.”


  “Hahahaha.”


  “It will be an even more special stage as there is a special guest this time. I shall not make you wait any longer! First up, Eunha!”


  “Oooooooh!”


  The lights that shone down on the audience faded out.

  The spotlight shone down on the left of the stage, showing a lady along with a grand piano. The lady with the eyes closed slowly put her hands on the piano and started playing the piano softly.

  Seeing the lady through the screen, some of the audience became shocked.

  “Th, that person, she’s Gye… Gye HyoMin!”


  “Whoa! That pianist?”


  “Whoaaaa!”


  (T/N: I’m surprised people in the audience know a classical musician….)

  The special guest that the host mentioned was none other than the world-class pianist Gye HyoMin.

  Although many of the guests in ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’ were actors, other singers, and people like that, none of them were world-class like Gye HyoMin.

  As though to tease those shocked people, Gye HyoMin’s hands smoothly glided atop the keys. Her left hand forcefully pressed on the bass so as to heighten the atmosphere.

  “a… a….”


  “What the heck….”


  The intro was less than 20 seconds long.

  However, everyone here was already mesmerized by her playing.

  Gye HyoMin played both the high notes and low notes and set the foundation for Kim JiMin’s singing.

  “The unforgettable memories – when I walk down that road – I remember you under the sunshine –”


  The spotlight turned on, showing Kim JiMin.

  “Whaaaa!!!!”


  She smoothly received the mood tossed to her by Gye HyoMin and sent it in the audience’s direction. Gye HyoMin’s piano along with Kim JiMin’s singing charmed the audience in one go.

  When the piano and Kim JiMin’s duet was over, the double bass, the cello, and the violin started breathing vitality into the song.

  KangYoon was watching as all this happened on the stage from the back.

  ‘Just a little more…’


  Kim JiMin’s and Gye HyoMin’s notes created a white light with something inside it, and when the Orchestra chimed in as well, the ‘something’ within the white light became stronger and stronger.

  Now, they were just entering the chorus. KangYoon became somewhat greedy after seeing signs of silver light.

  “The autumn with the falling leaves –”


  The song entered the chorus.

  Along with that, a grand timpani sound rang out and the lights all brightened up. At the same time, the 50 people in the orchestra appeared.

  “Whaaa!”


  No one imagined that there would be an entire orchestra behind the grand piano. Some people had their doubts while listening to the song, but no one imagined that there would be so many people.

  “My memories blur with the cold wind — but I will remember — the time with you –”


  Yoo NaYoon, who watched Kim JiMin’s performance through a monitor from the waiting room, became absent-minded with surprise, fluster and many other emotions intermixed.

  “…That’s unreal…”


  Her president told her that Kim JiMin would not receive as much support as she does in GNB Entertainment and told her not to worry.

  However, it seemed like their predictions were completely wrong.

  An entire orchestra and a world-class pianist? This was like bringing an adult into a kid’s fight.

  “…Wow, World is putting full effort into this.”


  Even Yoo NaYoon’s manager exclaimed out loud.

  “……”


  However, he turned around to Yoo NaYoon and smiled.

  “But she’s not better than my Nael, right?”


  “Oppa.”


  She shook her head.

  “I can’t win against that. Forget the orchestra. Isn’t Gye HyoMin too overpowered?”


  “…..”


  The manager became silent.

  He thought that it was absurd that someone invited Gye HyoMin. He couldn’t even begin to imagine how much money World Entertainment put into preparing this program. Although GNB Entertainment used a lot of money to hire dancers, well the scene in front of him was…


  In no time, Kim JiMin’s singing reached its peak.

  The strings created a beautiful harmony and Gye HyoMin’s piano danced on top of it gracefully.

  “Your fragrance — the nostalgic streetlight — I – still remember –”


  Gye HyoMin’s piano and the orchestra firmly supported Kim JiMin’s singing. She felt as though she was on top of an unshakable rock.

  Kim JiMin was immersed in her own singing as well. Her husky voice filled the stage and the piano embraced her voice.

  “I remember —”


  After the peak, Kim JiMin’s voice slowly faded out along with the orchestra.

  The piano was left solo and eventually, it faded out as well.

  Like that, Kim JiMin’s song was over.

  “Thank you.”


  “…….”


  “…….”


  The lights turned off and only a faint spotlight reminded the audience of the stage just now. However, they all sat there dumbfounded. They felt rather disappointed that it ended so early.

  However,

  “Waaaaaaaaa!”


  “Eunha! JiMin! Ah, I don’t know anymore! You’re the best!”


  “Eunha! Eunha!”


  Loud cheers erupted from the audience.

  “Thank you!”


  Kim JiMin thanked the audience again and finished the stage after giving the orchestra conductor and Gye HyoMin a hug.

  ***

  Kim JiMin’s stage was over, but KangYoon wasn’t able to take his eyes off the stage.

  ‘What was that?’


  He still couldn’t forget about Kim JiMin’s song just now.

  After the first verse, beautiful silver light started spreading out and the silver light wrapped everyone.

  The incident came after that.

  The notes that Kim JiMin and the instruments created had a change. The notes that Kim JiMin and the instruments made were absorbed into the silver light. Then, the silver light started turning gold from the rim.

  KangYoon’s heart thumped loudly in expectation of the golden light he only saw from the world’s best pop singer, Samuel.

  ‘If they sang a little more…’


  The gold rim around the silver light only lasted for a brief moment. However, just that brief moment made the audience erupt into cheers for a long time. It had left behind an enormous lingering image.

  While he fell into thought, the evaluation of the stage was beginning on the stage.

  – The 450 hurdle! It’s past that already! 460, 470, just how high will it rise!?

  The number of votes from the people that liked Kim JiMin’s stage was rising, but KangYoon couldn’t care less about the number. The host’s excited voice could not make him exit his thoughts.

  – Fiiiiiiive Hundreeeeeeed! It’s over five hundred! Eunha is setting a record! 501, 502… 510!

  The number on the screen rose endlessly.

  This was a record since the program’s founding, but now that KangYoon was given the assignment of looking into the gold light, it wasn’t of much interest.

  ‘…How can I create a completely gold stage?’
-

  520! Wow! How is this friggin’ possible!? Ah, sorry, please edit that out…


  “Hahaha.”


  Along with the laugh from the audience, the count started slowing down. The number went beyond 540, then 550.

  1, 2, 3…, and 4 – it stopped there.

  The final count was 1 less than the maximum total of 555 – 554-

  Five hundred and fifty-four! This is a record since the founding of Birth of the Masterpiece! 554! Please give a round of applause for Eunha again!-

  Oooooh!

  Along with loud cheers, the audience started shouting Eunha again, but KangYoon still couldn’t hide his disappointment about the gold light.

  ***

  “Dance Revolution? It’s not a pilot program. So it’s like an event program for Thanksgiving.”


  Lee HyunJi frowned while reading the report that manager Kim DaeHyun gave her. The only team with dancers among the four teams of World Entertainment was Eddios.

  Lee HyunJi was already very scary when she was nice, but when she frowned, manager Kim DaeHyun became nervous.

  “When’s the recording?”


  “It’s on the 10th of September.”


  “The tenth, huh. Let’s see, where’s the schedule…”


  Just as Lee HyunJi was about to open a document on her computer, Yoo JungMin, who was listening to the conversation, abruptly stood up and spoke in a loud voice.

  “Jennie has a shoot in Hongcheon, and Ris and JooYeon have a schedule in DLE as well. SeoYu has an interview and a photoshoot with a women’s magazine. Also…”


  “Does MinAh have a schedule?”


  “Miss MinAh… uhm, doesn’t have anything for that day.”


  “Okay, thanks.”


  Lee HyunJi turned around to manager Kim DaeHyun from the Yoo JungMin, whose face was turning red.

  “I’ll have to talk to the president about it, but I’m considering sending MinAh alone on this program. What do you think, manager DaeHyun?”


  “I think that’s a good idea as well. I don’t think we’ll get anything off it if all of Eddios goes there. It’s also harsh on their schedule as well…”


  “Okay then. First, contact producer Han TaeYoung and ask if it’s alright to send MinAh alone. He won’t reject us. MinAh’s popularity and her dance skills are both perfect for this program.”


  MinAh played a vital role in Eddios’s comeback album. Moreover, in regard to dancing, the public view was that she was threatening JooAh’s position. Unless the producer was an idiot, there was no way he would reject her.

  Though, if he does, then MinAh could just have something else scheduled for her.

  “Okay.”


  “And next?”


  “Regarding the producer matter you told me last time, I talked about it with producer Oh and……”


  Manager Kim DaeHyun continued his report nervously.

  ***

  “I’ve never seen such a dramatic chart in my life. 554 out of 555! I’m not sure who this one person is, but I have to say you’re amazing. You’ve brought face to our program.”


  “Hahahaha.”


  “I wonder just who can break Miss Eunha’s record, but I think this next stage will be able to. She debuted at the same time as Eunha, a friend, and a rival! Personally, I looked forward to this stage the most. There’s no need to wait anymore, is there? Please welcome, Nael!”


  Along with the host’s introduction, the lights shone not on the stage, but at the center of the audience seats. At the front was Nael, and behind her were 30 dancers.

  “Waaaa!”


  Yoo NaYoon was wearing a white one-piece dress, while the dancers were wearing black military clothes to completely compliment her. Along with their appearance came grand music and they stepped onto the stage. The audience cheered when they saw a lot of people doing a performance.

  “Perhaps we are—-!”


  (T/N: Is it me or are the songs in this novel all about romance…)

  Yoo NaYoon, standing at the center of the stage, shouted strongly. Along with that, the lights on the stage shone brightly as the dancers all raised their hands in unison. They caught the attention of the audience with clear-cut dancing.

  “I couldn’t fly and cried but you –”


  This song, titled ‘Flying the Night Skies’, was completely different from the original. Yoo NaYoon stretched out her crisp voice which tickled the ears of the audience. The impact from the live band added more power to the dance and a stage with both splendid singing and dancing played out in front of the audience.

  Behind the stage, Kim JiMin exclaimed several times as she watched.

  “Wow, sir, NaYoon is amazing. She’s good at singing AND dancing…”


  “Yeah. It seems like she’s prepared a lot for this.”


  KangYoon was very surprised when he saw Yoo NaYoon’s stage as well.

  Although he had seen her rehearsal stage, what she was showing right now was completely different from the rehearsal. Unlike the rehearsal where they only checked the basic movement lines, the 30 people all dancing in unison created a splendid performance, while Yoo NaYoon’s voice mesmerized the audience.

  However, even while looking at such an exceptional performance, KangYoon could be at leisure.

  ‘To think there would come a day I can stay calm while looking at silver…’


  He chuckled when he thought that he could watch his opponent’s silver music with leisure.

  The dancing of the dancers, the music, and Yoo NaYoon’s voice created a strong silver light. However, it was unlike Kim JiMin’s performance in regards to the fact that there were no gold rims around the silver light and that the silver was a result of the mix of every note, rather than a single note.

  Meanwhile, Kim JiMin became worried.

  “Sir. Am… I going to lose? I’ll lose if she gets 555 votes, hehe”


  When Kim JiMin spoke awkwardly, KangYoon chuckled and patted her hair.

  “Who cares?”


  “I don’t want to lose though…”


  “Hahaha.”


  Seeing Kim JiMin nervous even after getting 554 votes, KangYoon shrugged his shoulders.

  “Love is a beautiful dream — grab my hand – to your heart”


  The stage was reaching its peak.

  Yoo NaYoon burst out all of her potential in her voice and the music became more powerful. The drums rolled around powerfully, and the bass added into the atmosphere.”


  And then…


  “The beautiful dream — the dream of you and me —”


  Along with Yoo NaYoon’s high voice, the psychedelic lights and the moving lights flashed magnificently. Nael did a wave at the center of the stage, which was the cherry on top.

  “Waaaa—!”


  With the dancers supporting her back, her slightly lacking performance became more magnificent.

  “The dream — of you —”


  The psychedelic lights flashed and two of the dancers suddenly lifted Yoo NaYoon up.

  Along with that, Nael’s stage finished.

  “Whaaaaaa–!”


  Her stage that pleased both the eyes and the ears finished and she stood at the center of the stage to count the votes. Next to her was Kim JiMin, who was first place with 554 votes.

  The host stood between the two.

  “I’ve been hosting Birth of the Masterpiece for 14 weeks now, but this was the first time that I have been so nervous. To think that two such young girls created awesome stages like this… Regardless of the result, please give a round of applause to the two singers.”


  The audience all applauded before the host asked some questions to the two girls. It was mostly about how they prepared for the stage as well as what difficulties they had.

  After a brief conversation, the results came in.

  “Nael’s votes. 100 votes, 200, 300…”


  400 passed by in a flash as well and it soon became the hurdle number, 450. The people started exclaiming as well. 460, 470…


  “Fiiiive Hundreeed! Is today the day of the youngest ones? Looks like Birth of the Masterpiece will have higher standards in the future!”


  Leaving behind the host’s excited voice, the number went past 510. Then…


  “Five hundred and thirteeeeeen! Ah, it’s 513. Today’s victor is Miss Eunha!”


  Along with a fanfare sound effect, confetti burst out on the stage.

  Kim JiMin was unable to hide her joy and surprise and hugged Nael.

  “Congratulations.”


  “Thanks, you did well too.”


  “Tch, I wanted to win this time.”


  “Sorry, and thanks.”


  Kim JiMin patted Yoo NaYoon’s back after seeing that she was disappointed.

  Despite what she said, Yoo NaYoon was slightly tearing up.

  ***

  The Birth of the Masterpiece that Kim JiMin and Nael appeared in became a huge rumor on the internet. The appearance of the pianist Gye HyoMin and the 30 dancers became common knowledge and that episode of ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’ became a hot topic before it was even aired-

  The best rivalry battle-

  Eunha, Nael. A glimpse into the future of female singers!-

  Just forget everything and watch the episode-

  Pianist Gye HyoMin vs 30 warriors, the result?

  It also became known that the girls hugged each other regardless of the result, creating a warm atmosphere, and that raised the people’s expectations even further. Some people spread rumors that Nael cried in frustration and whatnot, but most people despised such comments and they were buried immediately.

  KangYoon and Lee HyunJi smiled as they had a look at the articles with so many clickbait-y titles.

  “To think it would be such a hot topic before it’s even aired… looks like the results are good.”


  Lee HyunJi was satisfied to see this.

  The last of Kim JiMin’s activities was Birth of the Masterpiece, and it ended on such a good note so she wished for nothing more. Gye HyoMin wanted help on her recital rather than financial compensation. KangYoon accepted it saying that he would do his best after they had the right conditions.

  KangYoon also felt good since everything went well.

  “With that, it will be easier for her next album as well. This episode will have a big influence on her future activities.”


  “If rumors alone can have that much effect… Well, the recording from the audience should be managed by the TV station, and the problem is GNB then. I think they thought the same things as us… investing so much into this. Although they shouldn’t have made losses with this, I don’t know what they would do in the future.”


  KangYoon shook his head after hearing Lee HyunJi’s words.

  “Both GNB and we will meet a lot in the future. This matter couldn’t be helped for both of us. It’s not like we aimed for this to happen, so they shouldn’t nag at us with this. Unless the president there is a short-minded person.”


  “President Han YoungSook isn’t that generous though…”


  “Is that the case? Do you know her?”


  “I do. I’ve met her several times in the past. You keep forgetting, but I was once the president at MG Entertainment.”


  KangYoon nodded his head.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t notice.”


  “If you are, then please reduce the amount of work for me. I’m feeling exhausted these days.”


  “I’m sorry, but that’s not happening.”


  “Haaa, and here I thought I could be freer.”


  KangYoon passed Lee HyunJi’s joke and switched topics.

  “Dance Revolution, huh? Does MinAh have anything to say about this?”


  “Yes. She’s someone who will participate as long as it’s dance-related. She’s has a gift for it after all.”


  “You’re right. You told me she was practicing, right?”


  “Yes. She visited me and told me she’ll be in Lunas. She told me that she’ll stay there to practice for the morning.”


  KangYoon took the papers about Dance Revolution that Yoo JungMin had printed and headed to the practice room in Lunas.

  In the practice room was Jung MinAh, practicing dynamic dance moves by herself.

  “Can I excuse you for a second?”


  When KangYoon opened the door, Jung MinAh’s expression became a lot brighter.

  “Ahjussi?”


  “Hi, it’s been a while.”


  Jung MinAh drank the bottle of water that KangYoon handed to her and turned off the music.

  As they had their respective schedules until now, they didn’t get to meet that often. Jung MinAh was happy to see him after all this time.

  KangYoon asked her if anything happened recently and talked about the Dance Revolution.

  “…There will be a duel between two teams?”


  “Yeah. The teams will be split into blue and white, and there will be 7 rounds. What’s interesting is that the participants will be the ones to vote.”


  “Then they can just vote on their own team, though.”


  “This is just a TV show. The objective is naturally viewership and fun. It doesn’t matter who wins. I want you to take this lightly as well.”


  “Ah, really? And here I was wondering if I should call SanHyuk-oppa again.”


  KangYoon shrugged his shoulders.

  “Such performance should be reserved for your solo album or for important events. You’ll ruin your body, you know?”


  “…Tch.”


  When Jung MinAh pouted, KangYoon patted her head.

  “There’s no need to ruin your body for such a program. It will be fine to show off just a little.”


  Jung MinAh said she understood as she brushed KangYoon’s handoff.

  “Okay, but please stop touching my head…”


  “Ah, sorry about that. Did that displease you?”


  “It’s not that, but it’s like you’re treating me like a kid. I’m not that young, you know…”


  “What? You little brat.”


  KangYoon rustled her hair several times as he found this absurd. Jung MinAh shook her head.

  “Don’t do it!”


  “Hahahaha.”


  Playing around with Jung MinAh, KangYoon laughed heartily.

  ‘Dammit, I’m not a kid anymore. It can’t stay like this!’


  Meanwhile, she was thinking about something else entirely.