WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

[ Translation - Aren ]

I'm a Reporter, Please let me get off the Stage

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Chapter 20

<Dance-off> was a show filled with street dancers.

Up until now there had been a women's, mixed gender, and men's series, with the female series being the best-received of the three.

……On the other hand, the mixed gender one had failed miserably due to quite predictable issues.

However, since most of the previous episodes had been a success, this program could be called very stable.

Seo Haedun seemed to have planned to ride on the fame of the previous successful episodes, but there was a significant hurdle he would have to face.

Seo Haedun was an ‘idol’.

Looking at the usual participants of this program, they came from quite diverse backgrounds. Backup dancers, street dancers, and choreographers.

Basically what they all had in common was that they were all people whose job was being a ‘dancer’.

They all shared stories of the joys and sorrows of being a backup dancer, living in complete obscurity, and the hardships of living on almost no income.

The narrative that stood out in particular was of them being overshadowed by ‘celebrities’. It was almost a basic requirement on the show.

The show’s tagline even was ‘The Shadows can finally Shine’......

Introducing an idol into that kind of show?

Honestly…… this would only lead to backlash.

<Dance-off> and <Ultimate Idol> were programs from the same broadcasting station.

As such, it was probably possible to pull Seo Haedun out at an appropriate time with proper coordination.

At the bottom of the exclusive article there was another line.

<‘Dance-off Season 4’ is currently holding auditions to great acclaim.>

……Though they had likely already pre-arranged the cast, they would still go through the motions.

First, I should probably go to the audition venue and see the situation for myself.

* * *

Finding the audition venue wasn't that difficult.

The press conference for <Dance-off Season 2> had been held at the actual audition site back then.

I had been working on-site at that time.

Entering the Lobby I approached a woman who appeared to be the writer.

[Writer Park Jiyang : Network Level 9]

Oh, she had a higher network level than me.

1 level difference should still be fine right?

“Yuyoung-ssi from WEEKANIZ?”

As expected of a writer for a music program, she recognized Ahn Yuyoung right away.

However, my head started feeling a bit dizzy and dazed.

Get a grip, she was just one level higher.

“I had something to discuss regarding Haedun's appearance in the show. I'd like to speak with the Producer.”

“Ah…… Please, tell me. I will pass it on to the main writer and Producer.”

Wait, she was an assistant writer and yet had a Network Level of 9?

Then the main writer and Producer had to be at least level 9 or higher……

Would I faint as soon as I met them?

“Alright, please wait a moment.”

Wasn’t there some type of item in the shop that could raise my Network Level?

[<Fashionista> : Increases Network Level by 5 upon wearing! Semi-permanent item. However, prolonged use drastically reduces stamina, so don't overuse it! - 60 Points]

Buying that would make me completely broke.

Oh well…… Let’s just become a stylish broke person then.

[Item purchase complete]

As that pop-up window appeared, something landed in my hand.

It was a rectangular pair of horn-rimmed glasses with slightly larger lenses.

When I put them on, another pop-up appeared.

[Current Network Level : 13]

As my level increased, a message notification sound came from the assistant writer’s phone.

“Erm…… Just a moment, the Producer just arrived on set, so I’ll go ask them.”

“Oh, okay.”

Was that a coincidence?

As my Network Level rose, the Producer suddenly appeared on set. Meeting Producer Kim Youngjin and Hyun Jiwoo earlier must have been a real miracle.

Or maybe there was just something wrong with this world.

If my Network Level wasn’t enough, the situation would twist itself in such a way that I wouldn’t be able to meet certain people. Conversely, if my level was high enough, I would be able to naturally meet them.

Relying solely on my stamina and sheer willpower wasn’t the best strategy in the long run.

“The Producer is inside.”

“Thank you.”

I adjusted the horn-rimmed glasses and followed the assistant writer.

* * *

“You’re going to appear on <Ultimate Idol>?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

[Producer Yang Cheoldae : Network Level 13]

Was it because we were now of the same level?

That guy got quite the attitude.

He didn’t look to be older than his early thirties…… perhaps he was just drunk on his prior success.

It seemed that the Producer had come out to watch the studio being set up. The chaotic situation actually worked in my favor.

“Why did you cast an idol for this show?”

“Haha, why is an idol asking questions like a reporter?”

Woops!

“That’s probably just your imagination. Anyway, Mr. Producer, you intentionally leaked the article about Haedun’s participation, didn’t you?”

“Indeed. So what?”

“Please reconsider his participation. I’m asking you this as our group’s leader.”

“Haedun agreed to participate though?”

That naive brat……

“……Let me talk to Haedun about this.”

“No, I can’t let you do that. Haedun is essential for this season.”

“You want to use him as bait, huh?”

“Ah, don’t worry. He won’t be on the show for long.”

“……What do you mean?”

Producer Yang laughed as he saw my bewildered expression.

“Why are you so surprised when it was you who brought this up first? For someone who’s so quick-witted, your reactions are quite honest.”

<Dance-off> was a competition show, so viewer’s votes and evaluations made by judges were part of it.

So when he was saying that someone ‘won’t stay long on the show’ that would be……

‘Blatant manipulation, isn’t it……?’

The show went strong even up until its fourth season, which must have really inflated their confidence.

I knew that these broadcasting stations were utterly corrupt, but experiencing it myself sure made my blood boil.

……But now wasn’t the time to be aggressive. I had to be a bit more diplomatic……

“Mr. Producer, even if this is off the record and Haedun Hyung is just a powerless participant, this is blatant manipulation.”

“……?”

Wait, I didn’t actually say that out loud, did I?

“……Chae Ire?”

“Hello. Long time no see, Mr. Producer. Haha.”

Next to me was Chae Ire, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

Producer Yang seemed to immediately recognize him.

I couldn’t say I knew who he was, so what kind of relationship did those two have?

“We’re going to appear on <Ultimate Idol>, so retract that article. I mean, now that we’ve heard this, we can’t possibly stay silent, right?”

“And now you’re threatening a Producer. I know what you’re counting on, but it won’t be easy.”

“This isn’t a threat, but a deal. Isn’t that right, Yuyoung Hyung?”

“Huh? Erm, yeah. That’s right.”

And what would that thing be we were counting on?

Those two were intensely glaring at each other.

Would they not let me join in on their conversation?

Producer Yang was acting as if he was thinking about it, touching his chin, before he spoke.

“Alright then. Since <Dance-off> airs three weeks before <Ultimate Idol>, I’ll eliminate Haedun before the first episode of <Ultimate Idol>. Deal?”

“……”

“It seems like you guys are worried about Haedun appearing on another show by himself. Isn’t that right?”

[Your Eloquence has slightly decreased! Your move has been read by the other party ㅠ.ㅠ]

Damn it, three weeks……

Even if I hadn’t talked to him, Haedun would have been eliminated around that time anyway.

This had been my mistake. I shouldn’t have come here.

I couldn’t outsmart these cunning broadcasting people.

If I was still a reporter instead of an idol, this would have been a lot easier……

As I left the studio, I took off the glasses.

My vision blurred for a moment which led to me almost stumbling.

“……Hyung, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine…… Wait, who are you really?”

“What do you mean? I’m just an idol that came down to this broadcasting station.”

Chae Ire shrugged nonchalantly as he gave me that shameless answer.

“What’s that thing you’re counting on, Producer Yang was talking about?”

“Hyung~ did you forget?”

“……Yeah. I forgot.”

“My dad runs a steel business and has some connections in the broadcasting industry. It’s nothing shady, so don’t make such a scary face.”

“Ah, okay……”

……Was he really scared though?

I tried to compose myself as Chae Ire and I left the broadcasting station.

Anyway, these glasses were so high-maintenance……

My vision blurred as if I was looking through mist.

Using those things frequently would definitely cause problems.

These damn broadcasting people, someday I would become a top-tier idol and get my revenge on them.

I took my phone and typed a new message.

This would be my final notice to Seo Haedun.

If he didn’t respond to that, well.

I would just have to confront him in person.

* * *

“Hyung, I made a few things. Want to listen?”

Back at the dorm, Baek Gyeom brought me some good news.

I had given Baek Gyeom the task of creating the top line of our comeback single, and he had done it.

For an idol single, coming up with a catchy chorus melody was half the battle.

Of course, the overall quality of such songs wouldn’t be a match to songs composed by renowned composers from around the world.

To be honest, it was similar in all artistic fields.

K-pop idol music was more of an industry than an art form.

Very rarely a genius might appear out of nowhere, but generally brilliant ideas and the like no longer came from just one person’s shining intellect.

Instead they came from pooling small flashes of brilliance from many people, hired with lots of money, together.

It wasn’t that unusual for more than 20 lyricists to work on a single three-minute song.

So, ultimately, it all came down to money.

The greater the investment, the greater the profit, and the more fans.

In our current situation, WEEKANIZ lacked bullets to shoot in that sense.

Ah, of course, there were plenty of extremely unsuccessful idol groups in Korea that released one or two singles over a year or two before disappearing without a trace.

So one could say that WEEKANIZ, who were now in their fifth year as a group, had passed that first hurdle.

However, the activities they did were more about ‘surviving’ rather than ‘growing’.

The members had to be very exhausted by now.

So, our strategy had to change.

Creating a song that seemed inexplicable when one listened to it first but had an endlessly driving beat, the kind that ‘smelled like money’, wasn’t realistic for us.

So what was the alternative? Going for something catchy.

As long as the hook was good, everything was possible.

“How is it? You can be honest.”

“It’s good. The chord progression is smooth and not too flashy. That’s a good thing.”

“Hyung, you know how to read chords?”

“Just the basics. That’s why I can say I like this top line.”

Baek Gyeom’s expression brightened considerably.

This wasn't just mere flattery. The melody was definitely good.

The issue now was how much I could flesh it out.

“Hey, how about doing this kind of melody?”

I hummed a simple melody.

Baek Gyeom’s face lit up.

“Wow, this is really good. Did you come up with that on the spot?”

“It just popped into my head. What do you think?”

“It’s really good. Wait, hum it again. I need to figure out the chords.”

By the way, it sure was nice seeing Baek Gyeom smiling so brightly without complaining about anything. He should have been like that sooner.

“Hyung, but how are you going to find a sound engineer? Do you know anyone?”

“Just trust me.”

“Wow, impressive. Super cool.”

It seemed like Baek Gyeom was pretty excited about getting to work again after such a long time. Thanks to that, I even managed to convince him to bring up the demo songs he had made that were laying dormant in his folder again.

I opened my phone contacts.

[Composer Dojun]

He was the composer who worked on that hugely successful game OST.

[Composer Dojun : Network Level 8]

His network level was the same as mine. It probably wasn’t this high originally. It must have shot up after his OST became a hit.

―Ah, Yuyoung-ssi. What’s the matter?

“Hello, Mr. Composer. I wanted to propose a collaboration with one of our members.”

―Oh, can you send me a demo?

“I’d rather play it to you in person. I have some ideas in mind.”

As I said that, I hummed the melody I had shared with Baek Gyeom earlier in my head.

The melody I had hummed wasn’t just some ordinary one.

In 2022, just a year from now, it would become the hit single of an incredibly successful boy group.

“I think it’ll work out well. I have a good feeling about it.”

Seo Haedun.

You can’t keep ignoring me forever.

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