Chapter 110
Paul Ryan.
The vocalist of the legendary American band, Fighters.
True to his title as the last remaining rockstar of this era, he is an icon of the times who causes all sorts of incidents and accidents whenever he appears.
And such a song of his was currently playing on a TV show.
The surprising thing wasn't just that.
Paul Ryan was famous for never appearing on broadcasts. Moreover, it was Paul Ryan passionately singing Fighters' biggest hit song, 'Run Away', on broadcast.
It was a rare and magnificent scene that could never be seen outside of a concert.
Except that Paul Ryan was currently wearing an alligator mask.
And if that broadcast wasn't The Masked Singer.
"That. What is it, is it okay to wear a mask and sing your own song?"
"Since it's allowed... isn't that why he did it?"
"No, if it's like this, the purpose of this program..."
"Is this America...? The land of freedom...?"
The community's reaction was just as unusual as the chaotic situation in the Weirs' dorm.
-Is that really Paul Ryan himself? They didn't just play the track, right? Is it real? Wow! Paul suddenly appears on this kind of variety show?
-More than that, he sings his own song in a competition?
-Nah, it couldn't be him himself. Didn't they bring in a vocal mimic?
└Do you think there's anyone besides Paul Ryan who can sing that song exactly the same?
└That... that's true, but...
-He wore a mask to hide his identity, but singing his own song like this is too blatantly against the program's purpose, isn't it?
└Hey friend, why so serious?
└It's just Paul Ryan being 'Paul Ryan'
└Right, no problem at all. Absolutely.
An explosive reaction unlike any stage before.
Although there were occasionally people talking about fairness.
The overwhelming majority of responses were that broadcast rules meant nothing in front of the name 'Paul Ryan'.
At that time, a goosebump-inducing, rough, and powerful voice came through the speakers.
The expressions of the audience present were already filled with astonishment.
"Woaah..."
"Crazy."
High notes endlessly rising as if he had been hiding his power until now.
Setting aside all doubts about his identity, the Alligator's song had a power that pulled people in.
"This song is my song. Don't sing it carelessly anywhere else... It feels like he's saying this."
Just like Park Han-hwi said, the Alligator's stage was one that firmly implanted in the public's mind who the owner of this song was until the very end.
Like that, the Alligator's shocking stage ended.
The chaotic atmosphere of the scene was captured as it was on the screen.
[I just can't come to my senses.]
[I agree...]
Then, the panelists who began to come to their senses started opening their mouths one by one.
[How can we describe this stage?]
[I'll just not say anything.]
[Words really don't come easy.]
[Can be expressed in just one word. It was amazing.]
Amazing singing ability. Amazing stage.
Unable to find any other expression, everyone just repeated these same words.
[Wait. Still, I think we should say this...]
Then one panelist sent a sharp glance and continued speaking.
[Could it be that Paul Ryan himself came out here?]
And when the words that no one had spoken were brought up, the noisy scene's noise suddenly disappeared, and silence lingered.
[Actually, I'm curious about that too.]
[Are you saying he sang his own song?]
[That's a bit of a foul...]
[Has there ever been a case like this before?]
With the suddenly raised suspicion, the panelists began adding their opinions one by one, turning the broadcast into a debate hall in an instant.
"Yeah, singing his own song was too much."
"This will be a bit controversial."
"I'm not saying this because I don't think Eugene hyung can get 1st place... but it's a bit cheap."
"Then we should have sung a Weirs song too!"
"That's not it..."
With the members chattering around me, my mind also became confused in an instant.
"But, would Paul Ryan even care about that?"
"If it's Paul Ryan... he wouldn't care."
"That famous quote comes to mind."
When a host on a foreign broadcast asked about the reason for making music, the words Paul Ryan answered.
It was so shocking that even I knew about it.
'It's all for the money. Coming out on this trashy program is all for the money too. So when you leave, buy the fucking Fighters albums and t-shirts, you sons of bitches.'
Surprisingly, it was true that he said those lines directly on broadcast.
There were even rumors that fans liked Paul Ryan even more after hearing these words...
"Hehe... The stage is all over, so I can watch it now too, right? But did some accident happen?"
At that time, a voice came from next to me.
"Kang Ah-jin!"
"No! Put the blindfold back on right now!"
"I already saw it! I don't want to! It's suffocating!"
"Wait a moment Ah-jin. Let's calmly think... As if! Everyone grab an arm and a leg!"
"Uwaaaak!"
The dorm turned into a mess due to Kang Ah-jin's escape.
'Guys... this is my room...'
While I was blankly watching the previously clean hotel room getting messed up in real-time.
The host's voice, which seemed to organize all this chaos, was heard.
[The identities of the three finalists will be revealed soon. Who will be the winner. And who their identity will be... please wait a moment!]
***
'Waiting isn't easy either.'
Was this how fans felt waiting for the results during the former National Idol days.
Only now did I feel like I understood the feelings of fans who got stomach cramps from mid-show commercials and "revealed in 60 seconds" teasers.
As I waited for the results announcement that seemed like it would proceed quickly, right around the time I was slowly getting exhausted.
Finally, all the preparations seemed to be done, as the three participants reappeared on stage.
[Alright. Now, The Masked Singer. We will announce the results of the final championship stage.]
"Woaah. It's starting!"
"Please 1st place. Please 1st place."
"Eugene hyung..."
[First. We will announce the participant who took 3rd place. The Masked Singer... The final 3rd place in the final round is... Alien!]
"Uwah! We avoided 3rd place."
"Now it's either 1st or 2nd!"
"What a relief!"
The one who took 3rd place was the participant who showed the first stage, Alien.
Wearing a flashy pink full-body suit, the Alien slowly walked out to the front of the podium.
[Then we will now reveal the identity of the Alien who took 3rd place. The identity of the Alien is!]
Along with the host's commentary, the Alien lifted the mask that covered his face with both arms.
[It's Lil X!]
Waaaaaaaah-
The person who appeared after taking off the Alien mask was, as everyone expected, the rising rookie singer Lil X.
[Nice to meet you everyone!]
[Lil X. You showed a really good stage, but unfortunately you took 3rd place. How do you feel right now?]
[Singing wearing a mask wasn't easy, but it was an enjoyable stage. And the other two people's stages were so excellent that I'm not too disappointed.]
[That's right. Black Cat and Alligator's stages were also really excellent. By any chance, do you have some idea about the identities of those two?]
[Hmm, first I have no idea about Black Cat. And for the Alligator... if it's the person I know, today's broadcast will be quite interesting.]
[Yes, thank you for the interview. Congratulations on 3rd place Lil X!]
[Thank you!]
"Ooh! They're progressing quickly."
"Are they announcing 1st place now?"
"I'm nervous..."
As Lil X's interview wrapped up.
Finally, the time for the 1st place announcement came.
[Alright. Now finally... we are ahead of the 1st place announcement. What does everyone think the result will be?]
I don't know, just hurry up-
Just announce it!-
[Haha. It seems everyone has a lot of expectations. Now, without wasting time, we will announce it right away.]
"Wow! The results are coming out!"
"What! I'm not mentally prepared yet."
"Everyone try to be quiet!"
"Ugh..."
At that moment when the tension reached its peak.
From the host's mouth, the protagonist of 1st place was finally called.
[1st place is. The Alligator!]
"Uh..."
"Ah, what a shame..."
1st place was decided as the Alligator. And naturally, Black Cat took 2nd place.
The members let out sighs of disappointment at the announcement, but quickly came to their senses and spoke.
"It's okay."
"Yeah, it's actually better."
"Right! 2nd place is still good!"
"But if it's like this, Eugene hyung is always 2nd... mmmph!"
"What are you talking about!"
"Hey Kang Ah-jin! Come to think of it, didn't we lose because you watched the broadcast?"
"No! I didn't watch that stage... wait! Eugene hyung's interview! He's doing an interview!"
Looking at the screen at Kang Ah-jin's desperate shout.
Black Cat, who took 2nd place, was finally about to reveal his identity.
"Uwaaaa the mask is finally coming off!"
"The reaction better be good..."
"Please!"
[Now! We will reveal the identity of Black Cat who took 2nd place.]
Amidst the members' expectations and worries, Black Cat's identity was finally revealed.
[That identity is, a member of Asia's rising boy band Weirs. And former American Idol runner-up, Eugene Kim!]
"Ooh. They introduced Weirs too!"
"Awesome!"
Along with the host's introduction, Eugene Kim's face, having taken off the Black Cat mask, entered the screen.
And.
Waaaaaaaaaah-
The cheering sound of the audience was heard.
At the reaction, which was rather hotter than Lil X's just a moment ago, the members and I let out a sigh of relief.
[Oh! The reaction is hot. Eugene Kim! Following American Idol, you've become a runner-up on The Masked Singer as well. How do you feel?]
[Actually, if you include the audition in Korea, this is my third runner-up.]
"Keuk..."
"Who dares to make a laughing sound!"
"No, at this rate Eugene hyung will get a runner-up jinx!"
"It's okay. At least it's not Weirs."
"Wow. Rin hyung, that was too cruel of a comment just now."
[Although I couldn't get 1st place, I am very thankful for the fact that many people cheered for me.]
[Then are you not disappointed at all?]
[That is...]
At the host's leading question, Eugene Kim looked at the Alligator next to him once and answered.
[No comment.]
[Ah... I understand too. It's hard to answer when there's such a scary creature next to you.]
"Hah! He should have just said he would have won if it wasn't for him singing his own song."
"Still, we don't know if the Alligator is really Paul Ryan yet."
"Come on, I'm telling you it's certain."
After the host's questions continued a few more times like that.
[From what I heard, the group Eugene Kim belongs to, Weirs, will be actively promoting in the US in the future, is that correct?]
[Yes, we planned US activities starting from this album.]
[I hope there will be good results.]
[Thank you.]
Finally, even calling out Weirs' name, the interview wrapped up warmly.
And.
[Now, then. Lastly, we will reveal the identity of the 1st place...]
[Hey, stop dragging out the time.]
Even before the host's commentary finished, the Alligator snatched the host's microphone.
"W-what is it?"
"Is it a hidden camera..."
When everyone was flustered by the Alligator's sudden action.
[I thought I was going to die of frustration.]
The Alligator threw off the mask he was wearing in one go.
And the Alligator's bare face was revealed.
"As expected."
"It is Paul Ryan."
On the screen, Paul Ryan was standing with his signature arrogant expression.
[Yapping away, why are you chatting so much with a loser while leaving the winner alone.]
He started pouring out bombshell statements as soon as he took off his mask.
"Wow..."
"Rin hyung, did I hear that correctly just now?"
"Probably...?"
[W-wait a moment! Ladies and gentlemen, the Masked Singer winner is Paul Ryan!]
Fortunately, the host who came to his senses stopped Paul Ryan and continued the show.
[Um, Mr. Ryan. Could you tell us about your winning speech?]
[Speech? Isn't it obvious that I won?]
Waaaaaaaaah-
Ryan! Ryan!-
At Paul Ryan's arrogant answer, the audience rather cheered.
A rockstar who constantly caused controversies over attitude problems since his debut, but eventually silenced all controversies with his skill.
That was Paul Ryan.
However.
[Mr. Paul Ryan. I will ask just one question.]
One of the panelists in the judging panel, who had been quiet until now, suddenly interrupted the winner's interview.
[A question. But who are you?]
[I'm Ricky Jackson.]
[Ah, that moron who criticized our album for being commercial back then?]
[I don't know about moron, but it is true that I said your 7th album was commercial.]
[Alright, ask away. What kind of bullshit are you trying to say this time?]
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold due to the nerve war between the panelist and Paul Ryan.
The man who introduced himself as Ricky Jackson continued speaking steadfastly despite Paul Ryan's cold reaction.
[Why did you sing Fighters' song on the final stage?]
[Because my music is the greatest music in the world. Got a problem?]
[Of course there is a problem. By you singing your own song, people easily knew your identity. As a result, they didn't vote for the Alligator, but voted for Paul Ryan. This was a disadvantageous final for the other participants.]
Ricky Jackson's words ended. And on Paul Ryan's face, which had maintained his signature arrogant expression all along, a streak of anger was added.
[Are you saying I would have lost if I sang a different song?]
[Who knows.]
As if his role was now over, Ricky Jackson lightly answered Paul Ryan's question with a shrug and sent a signal to the host.
Then, the host who had been only watching for the mood tried to start the broadcast again, but.
[Now, everyone...]
[Wait. Hey kid. Yeah, you. You, whatever your name is, Weirs or Wiggs or something.]
Suddenly Paul Ryan looked at Eugene Kim who was standing quietly next to him and spoke.
[Kid, you answer. If I had sung a different song, could you have beaten me?]
The spark that suddenly flew to Eugene Kim who was staying quiet.
Despite the host's dissuasion, Paul Ryan was quietly gazing at Eugene Kim and waiting for an answer.
"Wow. What in the world is going on."
"Why is he suddenly dragging Eugene hyung in."
"Eugene, just say you could have won!"
"Then it seems like it'll really be a big mess."
"It seems like it's already a mess right now..."
The现场 atmosphere that exploded like a volcano in an instant.
As if everyone had been waiting only for Paul Ryan's eccentric behavior, the audience cheered as soon as Paul Ryan's words ended.
And when everyone's eyes turned to Eugene Kim.
[I don't think I would have won.]
As Eugene Kim calmly looked into Paul Ryan's eyes and answered, the heated现场 atmosphere calmed down a bit.
[Hey, Ricky Jackson, did you hear? He says I would have won?]
And when Paul Ryan nodded as if it was obvious at Eugene Kim's answer and was about to speak to the panelists again.
[But...]
Eugene Kim's low voice was heard again,
[If it's Eugene Kim versus Paul Ryan, I would lose. But if it's Weirs versus Fighters, I think we would win.]