Raising a Neglected Singer-Songwriter - Chapter 12



Only Krnovel

Episode 12. The Wolf Boy (1)

[Number 99 Ordinary Trainee]

[Lee Dong Ha]

I lifted my clothes and checked the large sticker stuck to my chest again.

The same stickers are stuck on the chests of boys who are dressed in white and have nervous faces.

There aren’t many kids who are written as regular trainees like me, and most of them have something or other written on them, so I guess that means they have an agency.

“hello!”

“hello.”

It was a new experience to greet each other with a smile, scan each other, and judge each other.

Not bad.

I don’t have a narrow-minded mindset that only rock is music and anything that isn’t rock is trash.

Of course, I have the mindset that rock is the best, but there’s a fine line between being proud and being narrow-minded.

I’ve seen too many people who have high self-esteem but become blind and deaf, which narrows their perspective.

It’s bustling.

After time slip, while some time passes, I use TV, the internet, and my cell phone.

I saw and studied a lot of things.

I think these kids, like me right before time slip, are running towards their dreams, and they dream of becoming idols because of the flow of the times.

If I were a normal twenty-year-old in this era, wouldn’t I have also probably dreamed of becoming an idol?

That’s what music is, after all.

If you ask, would Beethoven have composed something like an original symphony if he had been born in the present age?

I would say no.

Music is ultimately completed by the listener, and doesn’t that mean that music is ultimately completed according to the flow of the times?

If you look at it that way, Beethoven could also be considered a popular musician of his time.

However, that doesn’t mean that I’ve time-slipped to the 21st century and will change my career path to become an idol.

“Get ready.”

The businesslike voice added just a hint of tension.

My nagging is clearly different from other nagging kids.

It’s easy to guess that this guy named Ahn PD is up to something.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Rather, it turned out well.

I’m heading towards my goal.

PD Ahn for his own purpose.

Since you show your intentions so openly, I feel better about my actions.

While I was thinking and observing the people, the children who had been waiting in line behind the stage entered the stage one by one.

It’s easy to say it’s behind the stage, but to be precise, it’s the entrance facing the stage. It’s right to say it’s behind the cameras, which are positioned in great numbers. It’s not a structure where you can’t see inside, but one where you can see inside.

One by one, they went up to the large, stepped stage that resembled a large auditorium and sat down on any chair.

Every time that happens, we respond to each other, clap our hands, and are surprised.

You can feel the desperation as they struggle to get even one reaction captured on camera.

I didn’t really feel anything.

They are just running towards their own goals.

I guess I have to do what I have to do to achieve my goals.

“Number 99. Enter.”

grow.

As we walked, a reaction distinctly different from before filled the auditorium.

The first noise was from the children who had taken their seats.

The confusion is palpable.

You might be wondering why a homeless person came up here saying he’s an idol.

I sat down in the one remaining chair and just looked straight ahead.

A bright smile can be seen on the face of the man named Ahn PD.

That guy.

It keeps waking up the little child inside me.

* * *

“Is this all?”

“……sorry.”

The three boys who finished the level test stage bowed their heads at the cold words of the judges.

“No, this isn’t a school play, right? I thought it was some elementary school play. No. It’s worse than that from what I’ve seen.”

When one person criticizes.

Another person who took over the mic.

“Nam Kyung Woo, a trainee?”

“yes.”

“You said your strong point is vocals, right?”

“yes…….”

“If I had to name a strength, it would be that I’m pretty good at it. That’s not a strength. I understand that you said that vocals are your strength because they’re better than dancing, but I can’t even enunciate. I don’t even know my own height, so my voice cracks and sounds hoarse… … Ha. That’s enough.”

“I will work hard… … .”

A contestant shedding tears.

It wasn’t just him who cried, several people were already shedding tears during the judges’ comments after the performance.

When the three or five performers or perform alone on stage, the judges, as if they had made a promise, start to shower them with harsh criticism.

Of course, it’s not like that for everyone… …but is it okay to say it’s like that for almost everyone?

Thanks to that, the little child inside me keeps waking up and whispering.

‘You saw Youngpil hyung anyway. You can just go and talk to him after the show. Just make a scene like this!’

No, don’t do that… Dong-ha. But that’s not it.

Whether it’s rock or idol, we’ll all eventually meet when we do music.

You need to come to your senses.

“Um… … Still, it was nice to see them working hard. Compared to how nervous they were, since the three of them are from the same agency, they must have practiced a lot, and their chemistry was good. And trainee Nam Kyung-woo, in my opinion, when he uses his voice. Not, making a sound… … .”

“Hey, that’s not it. I think Commissioner Hong is saying this because he doesn’t know much. That thing you keep saying good things about is definitely not for the children.”

“Ah… … That’s not it.”

“No, it’s not like that. I get really upset when you keep pretending to be nice all by yourself.”

Youngpil, the only one who encourages the children, is being criticized by the internal judges.

It’s been like that throughout the stage evaluation, so now I feel bad seeing him lower his head and shake his head slightly.

That’s how the little child inside me grew up.

‘Tell them it’s like a dog! Your band members are getting screwed, you’re just going to watch? All for the one, one for the all! The band is one!’

Ha… … I’m not like the Three Musketeers or D’Artagnan.

The little child inside me has grown too much to just let it go.

And if you think about it, it’s not like the little kid is saying anything wrong, right?

The primary goal is to meet Youngpil’s older brother.

And having a conversation.

So, wouldn’t it be okay if I just made Youngpil hyung take interest in me?

“The last trainee’s stage will begin right away.”

At the host’s shout, he took the guitar out of its case and went up on stage.

“Is the amplifier connected?”

I wanted to shut the mouths of those people who only spew out harsh criticism, whether they are idols or not.

* * *

“……what?”

“Trainee Lee Dong Ha?”

“Is it because you’re a private trainee? Your style is difficult.”

The judges each say something, perhaps taking advantage of the trainee’s sudden preparation to play the guitar, who was the last to come up on stage.

―Style is off-limits. I repeat, do not mention style.

PD Ahn Chi-seop’s directing delivered through In Ear.

The judges nodded slightly, without making a sound.

-Scratch it. There are many things to scratch besides style.

When PD Ahn Chi-seop gave his direction again, vocal trainer Hwang Yu-ra, who usually held the mic, opened the door first this time as well.

“Trainee Lee Dong Ha?”

“yes.”

“Your specialties are playing the guitar and singing?”

“yes.”

“But since this is an idol audition, isn’t playing the guitar a bit strange? What do you think?”

“I don’t really think about it.”

“… …What did you say?”

“I don’t really think about it. Can’t someone who plays the guitar be an idol?”

At that time, PD Ahn Chi-seop’s voice was transmitted through Hwang Yu-ra’s ear.

– That’s just his style, so don’t panic. If he gets pushed back, he’ll just broadcast it as it is.

In that short directing, Hwang Yu-ra quickly caught her spirit heading to the other side of the universe.

How much experience have you gained at broadcasting stations and how many idols have shed tears as Teacher Tiger? You can’t panic here.

“I’m saying this because if you’re going to play the guitar and sing, it seems like it would be more appropriate for you to appear on a show next door rather than being an idol.”

“I was planning to go there. When I tried to apply, they said the preliminary round was over.”

“Ah… … , really? You’re such a unique friend?”

“… … .”

The last 99 trainees with no answers.

It’s not like I kept my mouth shut because I was discouraged or had nothing to say like other trainees.

Just don’t answer.

Why, there is something like that.

Kids who don’t answer when adults ask them questions and act like slobs for no reason.

Hwang Yu-ra realized.

That kid, that’s not normal.

Idols are public goods whose images are consumed.

Public goods should present themselves in a beautiful and pure form.

But look at that little bastard answering with that little tail.

This is absolutely not the attitude of a trainee who wants to become an idol.

‘Either he’s crazy or he’s pretending to be crazy to become famous.’

I figured that out, and at the same time, I figured out PD Ahn Chi-seop’s intentions. Food from a broadcasting station doesn’t just fill your stomach. If you eat a lot of food from a broadcasting station, you’ll develop a sense you didn’t have before.

‘I’m trying to draw as much aggro as possible. I’ll go with you even if I look a little different.’

Hwang Yu-ra opened her mouth again.

“Super Musician. Ah, PD-nim, please take care of this.”

PD Ahn Chi-seop smiled broadly at Hwang Yu-ra’s words and drew a circle above his head offstage.

We understood each other.

Again, Hwang Yu-ra looked at trainee number 99 on stage.

“Whether they’re super musicians or idols that I choose, it doesn’t matter, since it’s an audition program, you all wanted to participate, right?”

“Yes. What.”

It’s a short answer, but it definitely shows the quirkiness of trainee number 99.

Even the challenging gaze visible beyond the speech and long hair.

Accordingly, Hwang Yu-ra’s tone of speech also became more aggressive.

“Then you should do well, but don’t you think our trainee number 99 is too weird? Are you just going out on any broadcast to cause trouble and get a camera shot?”

“Think whatever you want.”

A formidable trainee.

This picture is completely out of place for an idol audition where only gentle lambs participate. It is more suitable for a super musician who can express his or her individuality.

So, Ahn Chi-seop, who was under the stage, secretly cheered.

That’s why Super Musician was able to gather so much aggro in the early days.

The individuality of the participants.

And the expression of individuality and the clash of individuality with individuality.

Idol trainees who have to think about their public image will never come up with pictures like that even if they are told to.

An Chi-seop, who thought he had chosen the picture he wanted, quickly opened his mouth.

-Okay. Now that we’re connected, let’s listen to some music.

If you go any further, the picture will become more ruined.

The judges will be offended, and then the guy can’t just kick the stage without doing anything.

“… … I’ll be looking forward to it. How well you do.”

Hwang Yu-ra was appropriately absent.

And then trainee number 99 checked the position of the stand mic one more time, and then without saying anything, he swung the pick over the guitar connected to the amplifier.

The song suddenly starts like that, and so does the guitar.

“… … Oh. You play the guitar pretty well too?”

As soon as it started, PD Ahn Chi-seop was in awe under the stage.

Several of the judges sat up straight, their backs bouncing.

Jang Pil-seong, a talented vocalist in an active indie band.

Hong Young-pil, who was bowing his head in the far corner.

Two people reacted first.

And the vocals started after an impressive guitar intro.

It’s clean.

Despite being an introduction, the vocals are refreshing and continue to flow.

Even Kim Yun-seok, who had been lying half-lying on his chair in a relaxed posture the whole time, straightened his back and leaned closer to the judges’ table.

The rest of the judges, including Hwang Yu-ra, who was slightly offended and crossed her arms after picking out the picture.

PD Ahn Chi-seop swallowed dry saliva and looked around.

Everyone’s tired expression from the filming that continued until the last contestant disappeared, and everyone, regardless of whether they were a boy or a young man, was looking at the man on the stage.

Everyone who was busy doing their own thing regardless of the stage situation let go and looked at trainee number 99 on stage.

‘I never asked you to shoot a pin light… … ?’

When An Chi-seop blinks, his dark and narrow vision becomes brighter than before.

It’s a mistake.

A very momentary illusion.

It wasn’t a level test stage for a skinny, out-of-home dog.

That was a performance by a real musician.

no.

More precisely.

It was a performance of a level that only a top star with the charisma to captivate everyone at once could show.

Incredibly.