‘Wa—hun? Hundred million??’
Kang Rojun was staring down so hard at his phone he nearly swore out loud. Money he had never heard of, never seen before in his life—numbers—were displayed on the screen.
It was definitely in the hundreds of millions.
No matter how many times he counted, the result was the same. In Kang Rojun’s bank account, beyond ten million, there was money breathing there that made you gasp “hundred million.” And not just one hundred million, either. Four hundred million.
‘Four hundred million… This four hundred million is my money. This is insane.’
Even while looking at money in the hundreds of millions, it didn’t quite feel real. Of course, he already knew where it had come from. Various lyric-writing fees, appearance fees, or perhaps the manuscript fee from Netflix Japan for “A Bizarre World.” He had also heard from “Culture Drawer” a few days ago that the manuscript fee would be deposited soon.
So Kang Rojun had been looking forward to it quite a bit.
But now that hundreds of millions had actually been stamped into his bank account, he felt dazed rather than happy. Sihu, noticing Kang Rojun like that, spoke to him.
“Rojun? What is it? Did something happen?”
It did. I have hundreds of millions, no less. Answering inwardly, Kang Rojun did not tell the members the truth. The more sparing one was with words, the better relationships were maintained.
“No. It’s nothing. I just saw an article.”
Rojun roughly glossed over the conversation, lowered his phone, and turned his gaze out the window. Only then did the corners of his mouth begin to twitch. Of course they did.
‘And there’s still more money coming in, isn’t there??’
Because the money in the hundreds of millions he had now wasn’t the end. The lyric-writing fees would keep coming in like a pension, and there was also the recently contracted film “Blood Hunt.” His appearance fee for being cast as an actor couldn’t be ignored, either. For now, his side jobs other than his main occupation as a writer were earning him more money.
But if “Vanguard” debuted, things would be different.
First of all, Kang Rojun’s “Greenbi” had been included among “Vanguard’s” debut songs.
‘They said if it becomes a hit, a few hundred million is nothing.’
There wasn’t only music streaming revenue, but album sales revenue too. On top of that, there were “Vanguard’s” own appearance fees, advertising revenue, and many others. Usually, idols receive their settlements only after all the money the company invested during their early trainee period has been recouped. If the recoupment period drags on, it can take years.
But “Vanguard” had not gone through a trainee period.
Which meant only the money spent on the debut album needed to be deducted.
In other words, it was obvious their settlement would come faster than any other idol group in Korea.
Before he knew it, the smile on Kang Rojun’s lips had deepened.
‘Money isn’t everything, but when I think about my past self—damn, this is just great.’
He was imagining beyond hundreds of millions, all the way up to hundreds of billions.
Afterward.
“Vanguard,” having arrived at the company, first held meetings with several departments, starting with the A&R team and then the management team. The atmosphere was clearly different from before. Their fighting spirit had been high even before, but was it because things had taken shape now? The employees’ enthusiasm had risen several times over.
In any case, the “Vanguard” members spent the longest time in the meeting with the A&R team.
“Once the guides for your debut songs are out, you’ll practice and then begin recording.”
The A&R team informed them what kind of schedule “Vanguard” would be handling from here on. If one summarized only the key points, it would proceed through practice, song recording, more practice, skin care and various other maintenance, wrapping up song recording, choreography practice, jacket photo shoot, and group choreography practice.
There was a mountain of things to do.
However, the “Vanguard” members were just as passionate as the GN Entertainment employees. They had heard Gocheok Dome. It would have been stranger not to be excited.
Meanwhile, Director Kim Gibaek was nowhere to be seen today.
That was because he had gone straight to Gocheok Dome with a few members of the A&R team. Since the showcase had been confirmed for Gocheok Dome, the first thing to do was make a deal.
“Hello, this is GN Entertainment. We contacted you earlier.”
“Yes, hello.”
“First—would it be possible to take a look inside the dome stadium?”
“Of course.”
Director Kim Gibaek and the GN Entertainment team checked the inside of Gocheok Dome, a venue with more than twenty thousand seats. At present, it was a baseball stadium, but.
‘I’ve been here a few times, but—it really is enormous. We’ll have to start construction the moment the showcase date is confirmed.’
In this vast space, a stage would be built and a concert venue completed. Judging by the size alone, the construction period, even if shortened, would take a month or two. Soon, Director Kim Gibaek completed the “Vanguard” showcase-plus-concert stage in his mind.
“……”
Gorgeous and explosive. No, violent cheers and screams rang in his ears. Amid those tens of thousands of screams, the “Vanguard” members stood onstage.
‘It’ll be an unprecedented debut stage in every sense.’
Like this, while everyone was out of their minds with busyness, a week melted away. In the meantime, guide recordings for “Vanguard’s” debut songs, “Greenbi,” “Windveil,” and “Flying Bell,” were completed. This time, Kang Rojun did not involve himself in the guide recordings, and the completed guide tracks were distributed to the members.
Meanwhile, the internet was overflowing with various articles. Naturally, there were articles related to “Vanguard.”
《“Vanguard” NewTube Surpasses 4.5 Million Subscribers / Photos》
《[Star Talk] Idols Announcing Debuts or Comebacks One After Another as the New Year Begins, “Vanguard” Still Quiet》
《Is “Vanguard’s” Debut Date Still Not Here… Fans Cry Out as GN Entertainment Remains Silent》
There was also plenty of news about other idols.
《“Polaris” Comeback Teaser Drops, Teaser Video Surpasses 100,000 Views Immediately After Release》
《Big Star Entertainment: “‘Neos’ Comeback Will Be Moved Up”》
《[Big Issue] Idol Hit Song Maker Composer “Pinion” Teams Up with Big Star Entertainment This Time》
《Soon-to-Return “Neos,” Is “Pinion’s” Song the Title Track?》
Kang Rojun, who had just finished his daily mission, focused on “Big Star Entertainment” among the various articles as he left the gym. Because they included the familiar composer “Pinion.”
“Whether he’s Indian or Pinion, he went to Big Star.”
Thinking that, time-wise, he must have gone over as soon as GN Entertainment rejected him, Rojun laughed softly.
‘18 points, 28 points. Somehow they sound like curses put together. Even combined they don’t pass 50 points, but well, do your best.’
It wasn’t as if he had any particular ill feelings. It was nothing more and nothing less than a small point of interest. Then, after checking his coins, Rojun headed not to the studio alone this time, but to the practice room.
As soon as he arrived at the practice room, he started with stat enhancement.
Then, he began with choreography and rap review, practicing by watching videos and copying them. About an hour later, Rojun, panting as he caught his breath, stood close to the mirror.
He was checking the condition of his face.
“Mm, okay.”
His visuals were still absurdly powerful, and after lifting his phone, he played a song.
-♬♪
The guide vocalist’s voice sang the lyrics Rojun had written to the melody Rojun had composed. It was “Greenbi,” a song whose guide recording had already been completed. At first, Kang Rojun listened to the song quietly.
Then.
“Phew—”
After taking a light breath, he tried singing “Greenbi.” This was before he had learned the vocals for “Greenbi.” In other words, he sang with the skill created by the combination of Kang Rojun’s pure singing ability and his increased stats. From the first verse to the second verse. He even handled all the other members’ parts. Since Rojun was the one who had made “Greenbi,” it was easier than other songs.
After singing the song two or three times, Kang Rojun reached a conclusion.
‘Whoa—I’m good. Now I’m at a level where no one can say I fall behind most idols.’
Kang Rojun’s “Singing Ability” stat had already passed 70 points. He had felt it even when it was in the 60s, but his pitch, tone, rhythm, breathing, and the like already felt like they were beyond the basics.
‘I’m not certain, but from this range on, I feel like I should be comparing myself to the upper ranks among idols and singers in singing ability.’
From 60 to 70 points in stats felt like enough to rank in the upper to very top tier among trainees. However, there were plenty of idol main vocalists out there who were known to sing well. He had to step over all of them and, further beyond that, press down even the upper ranks of the professionals.
‘My basic skill is improving too, and if I keep raising my stats and then run learning on top of that… it’s more than possible. Beyond Korea, all the way to the world.’
Kang Rojun’s gradually growing basic skill and knowledge, along with his stat scores, would continue to rise. With just that much, given time, he would become able to compare himself to legendary idol main vocalists, but Kang Rojun had one more decisive move.
Learning run through “AI Automation.”
If all his abilities were organically connected and combined, an idol main vocalist or two would be nothing.
Like that, after “Greenbi,” Kang Rojun continued his experiments with the debut songs “Windveil” and “Flying Bell.”
‘Is it because I wrote the lyrics? They roll right off my tongue.’
After repeating practice until he was satisfied, Rojun picked up his phone. It was to learn the vocals for “Greenbi,” “Windveil,” and “Flying Bell.” Now that his goal was set, learning was not an option for Kang Rojun, but a necessity.
-Swipe.
Starting with “Greenbi.”
-[AI analyzing…… Analysis complete!]
He completed learning for all three songs, including “Windveil” and “Flying Bell.” The stinging sensation in his wrist came three times in a row. One would think he would be used to it by now, but Rojun still disliked this faint pain.
-[Applying…… Application complete!]
Perhaps because Kang Rojun had written the lyrics for all the songs, the coin cost was definitely cheap. “Greenbi” was the cheapest. All three songs together cost around 55 coins. Then Kang Rojun once again sang the debut songs he had finished learning, one by one.
-♬♪
Since they were dance songs with rap added in, Kang Rojun’s breathing grew ragged, but.
“Ready for sortie.”
His deepened smile was filled with intense confidence.
After finishing his morning work as it was, Rojun met up with the members and headed to the cafeteria. They had spent the whole morning receiving vocal lessons from the trainer and practicing the debut songs.
“Ha… I’m doomed.”
“You too? Me too. You heard we’re going to take a test before the official recording with the producer sitting in soon, right??”
“I heard. That’s why I’m saying I’m doomed.”
“Did everyone get chewed out like crazy?”
“Sihu hyung, you didn’t?”
“I did. Hard.”
They looked deeply depressed. Well, they were learning new songs, so it was only natural. Soon, they turned their gazes to Kang Rojun.
“Rojun hyung, what about you? Are you really okay doing it alone?”
Kang Rojun shrugged.
“Well, more or less??”
Sihu, waving his hand, cut in.
“Hey, hey. Who are we worrying about? This is Rojun.”
“Ah—right. Hyung, you’re Rojun hyung, aren’t you? Haven’t you already perfectly copied all the songs??”
The members asked this and that, then once again let out groans of despair, and Kang Rojun recalled something he had briefly forgotten.
‘Ah—right, there was a pre-recording test, wasn’t there?’
Meanwhile, at a large media company.
The entertainment department office was reminiscent of a bustling marketplace. There were quite a few empty seats, but even with only dozens of reporters holding their posts, the media company office was noisy. Reporters loudly taking phone calls, reporters pounding madly on their keyboards, reporters arguing in raised voices, and so on.
The New Year had begun, and there were always many issues around this timing, so it was even more chaotic.
Among those entertainment reporters, one female reporter stood out. Her bobbed hair was somehow disheveled, giving the impression she hadn’t gone home in days. The female reporter was in the middle of hammering at her keyboard, and beside her came a male reporter with a towel around his neck, brushing his teeth with one hand.
“What’re you writing?”
With her eyes fixed on the monitor, the female reporter answered in a curt tone.
“‘Vanguard.’”
“Huh?? Did you pick up some news on ‘Vanguard’??”
“No. GN is keeping things so top secret that not even a speck is coming out. I’m just writing because ‘Vanguard’s’ official Instagram account opened.”
“‘Vanguard’ opened an Instagram?! That’d make for some good hooking! Ah, damn it, I’m a little late.”
“Then you can follow up with some abusive traffic bait, sunbae.”
“Nah. More importantly, what’s the reaction to ‘Vanguard’s’ Instagram like?”
“What’s there to say? It’s hot. It opened ten minutes ago, and followers are pouring in like crazy.”
The reporter, who had somehow already accessed “Vanguard’s” SNS on his phone, whistled.
“Kya—‘Vanguard’s’ firepower is killer. Are these really guys who haven’t even debuted yet?? There aren’t many photos yet. But wow… Rojun’s visuals are seriously insane. How is someone born with a face like this??”
“Sunbae, you haven’t seen Rojun in person, right? I saw him at the production presentation for ‘Rental Lover,’ and in real life he’s just a god.”
“Now that I think of it, I’ve been hearing news about Rojun as a writer or lyricist and all that, but on the acting side, he’s been quiet since ‘Rental Lover,’ hasn’t he? GN is doing sloppy work. How can they let a terrifying face like that sit idle?”
It was then.
“Hey, hey! Some bait on ‘Vanguard’s’ Rojun just dropped!!”
A fat reporter in the back seat sprang up and shouted. Thanks to that, the male and female reporters who had been talking looked at each other’s faces, then quickly opened the internet. Sure enough, an article about Kang Rojun was on the main page of the search portal.
《[Exclusive] “Vanguard’s” Rojun Confirmed to Appear as an Actor in “A Bizarre World,” Which He Wrote Himself… Making His Japan Debut as an Actor First》
It was the first celebratory salvo from GN Entertainment, which had plenty to announce.