GN Entertainment, known as one of the top three entertainment companies in the country. And Ha Seohwan, the CEO of GN Entertainment. Having spent decades in the entertainment industry, CEO Ha Seohwan had been through every hardship imaginable, and just as many celebrities had passed through his hands.
Those who sang well, danced well, acted brilliantly, overflowed with wit, had decent talent or potential, radiated energy, and so on.
The list would be endless.
Perhaps because of that, CEO Ha Seohwan had gradually grown numb. When you kept seeing people who were good, it became nothing special. Even when someone else was similarly talented, you became indifferent. Human greed knew no end, and CEO Ha Seohwan was no different. After seeing only exceptional talents, he had grown bored; his expectations had risen, but for roughly the past ten years, there had been nothing that truly satisfied him.
And yet that ironclad fortress had just crumbled.
-♬♪
Kang Rojun’s vocals filled the recording studio to the point that they seemed ready to shatter it. High notes so intense the veins in his neck stood out. They bewitched the ears of everyone listening. It was rough, but not at all unpleasant. On the contrary, it made something ecstatic boil over inside them. CEO Ha Seohwan watched Rojun inside the recording booth, then slowly looked down at the goosebumps on his own forearm.
“······”
Then he smiled faintly.
‘My body is reacting before anything else.’
How long had he been waiting for this moment?
‘I thought I’d never experience something like this again in my life··· but I was wrong.’
At that moment, CEO Ha Seohwan’s dulled emotions caught fire once more. Fighting spirit. His fighting spirit, which had grown somewhat lax, began to blaze again. Ferocity. Right now, Rojun’s vocals were giving the listeners an explosive thrill.
‘The other kids are good too. They’re more than enough to devour most others. But Rojun has already gone beyond that level.’
CEO Ha Seohwan judged that Kang Rojun had surpassed the realm of ordinary humans. At the very least, in the decades he had spent in the entertainment industry, he had never seen destructive power on that level, and the other staff members in the recording studio felt the same.
‘My God······’
‘H-he practiced that on his own??’
‘A vocal that strikes the ears··· and stops you in place. That’s right. If you’re the main vocal, you need to be that overwhelming.’
‘Incredible. The outstanding vocalists I’ve seen wouldn’t even be able to present their business cards before him.’
They might not have been at CEO Ha Seohwan’s level, but they were all veterans who had rolled around the entertainment industry for years. Even in their eyes, Kang Rojun was an anomalous species itself. Meanwhile, Department Head Kim Gibaek, whose eyes had grown wide just like the staff’s, thought.
‘He’s unbelievable, isn’t he?? And he’s even improved since “Geubaekpeu.”’
While admiring him purely, he did not forget to praise the other members as well.
‘Dogyeong’s rap brings out the mood of the song and balances it, while Kangmin firmly supports the middle. Then Sihoo, the lead vocal, heats up the atmosphere. After that, Rojun goes bang. They all blend well, and the pieces fit perfectly.’
One person alone could grab the group by the collar and drag it forward. However, there were limits. A group could become a topic thanks to one standout member, but the reality was that the entire group could not rise that way. Only one member’s face would become known, and in the end, that group would vanish without a sound.
‘Even an awl needs a handle to put its strength to proper use.’
“Vanguard” currently had popularity for each individual member, but if that too failed to harmonize, interest would eventually cool. Department Head Kim Gibaek had seen countless groups like that. Of course, the outstanding member would somehow survive, but if the group rose as a whole, the impact would multiply several times over.
The current Kang Rojun was like that.
‘That kid is already powerful on his own. But if he gets the wings called “Vanguard”··· conquering Korea would be nothing, and then they’d move on to the world.’
If Rojun was the roof of “Vanguard,” then Sihoo, Kangmin, and Dogyeong were the pillars. The members did not get greedy and did what they had to do, and thanks to the stage laid beneath him, Kang Rojun could run wild as he pleased.
Around then, the “Vanguard” members entered the second verse of “Greenbi.”
The producer, who had been listening seriously, let out a hollow laugh.
‘······The parts of the song fit the members like a glove. He arranged it unbelievably well, that kid Rojun. Didn’t they say it hadn’t been long since he started composing??’
Before long, the song that had been ringing out cut off abruptly. The members inside the booth took off their headphones, and Kang Rojun did the same. Then he cast his gaze outside the booth. At some point, the expressions of the dozens of staff members had changed in a strange way.
‘What’s with that atmosphere? I think we did pretty well.’
Just as the members were also cautiously gauging the mood—
-Clap, clap, clap.
Among the dazed staff, Department Head Kim Gibaek, wearing a feeble smile, was the first to bring his hands together. His drained voice came as a bonus.
“Nice—”
Only then did the other staff come to their senses.
-Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!
They joined Department Head Kim Gibaek in applauding. CEO Ha Seohwan, unseen from the members’ line of sight, uncrossed his arms and quietly left the recording studio. In the hallway, his female secretary was waiting.
“You’re finished already?”
“No, not yet.”
“Then why······ Were you perhaps somewhat disappointed?”
CEO Ha Seohwan shook his head as he began walking.
“The opposite. My body is itching so badly I can hardly stand it.”
“Pardon?”
“I need to get to work, so that ‘Vanguard’ can truly run wild.”
CEO Ha Seohwan moved farther away just like that, and inside the recording studio, the producer was giving moderate direction. Then the producer entered the booth where the members were. Taking off the hat he had been wearing, he murmured to Rojun.
“When we do the official recording for ‘Greenbi,’ Rojun, you should participate in the producing too. There must be a certain vibe you had in mind when you composed and wrote the lyrics. Right?”
“Yes, I did write it with that in mind.”
“Okay. Not when you’re recording your own parts, but when the members are doing theirs, Rojun will participate in the producing too. Don’t go easy on them. Direct them cruelly.”
Cruelly? That’s actually my specialty. Kang Rojun laughed inwardly and nodded, and the producer turned his gaze to Sihoo before continuing.
“You too, Sihoo. Participate in the producing when we record ‘Windveil.’ As for Senior Song’s song, he’ll take care of that himself.”
Sihoo, stiff with tension, answered with difficulty.
“Y-yes!!”
“Then let’s move right on to the next song.”
Then—
-♬♪
The next song rang through the recording studio.
Afterward.
Having finished the test recording, Kang Rojun and the members left the studio while receiving high praise from the staff. They had started in the morning, but before they knew it, it was around lunchtime. The “Vanguard” members headed straight to the cafeteria, and Kang Rojun checked his phone even as he walked down the hallway.
Because he had felt it vibrate earlier.
As soon as he saw the phone screen, he smiled faintly.
‘Oh—’
The reason was simple.
-[You have completed the hidden mission “First Recording with the Members!” As a gift, 10 coins have been awarded.]
-[You have completed the hidden mission “I Composed It and I Sang It!” As a gift, 15 coins have been awarded.]
Because the “AI Simulation” app had sent him two gifts. Already feeling uplifted after receiving heaps of praise from the staff, his mood rose even further. Soon, the “Vanguard” members arrived at the cafeteria, filled their stomachs with heaping bowls of rice, and then scattered to their respective places.
Kang Rojun went straight to the gym.
Because he had not been able to complete his daily mission due to the test recording that had started in the morning. By the time Rojun finished his mission and headed to the workroom, GN Entertainment’s in-house choreography team was gradually completing “Vanguard’s” choreography. “Greenbi” was already done, and the other songs were in their final stages.
“Good. Let’s make the video for ‘Greenbi’ first.”
Once the choreography was completed, the in-house choreography team immediately turned the finished routine into a video, and that choreography video would soon be delivered to the “Vanguard” members. From there began a feast of practice. Individual practice, group practice, and with the in-house choreography team—in other words, joint practice with the backup dancers, and so on and so forth.
During the process of matching their movements, the finalized choreography could sometimes be changed. Because once they actually danced it, it might not have the feeling they had imagined.
Then, a few days later, confirmed news arrived for the members.
“Next Monday. Official recording begins.”
On Monday the 25th, after the weekend, the official recording would start with “Greenbi.” At this, not only Kang Rojun, but all the “Vanguard” members put even more effort into vocal practice. Rojun, having reduced his personal schedule, stayed in the workroom from morning until lunchtime, and afterward, he matched the debut songs with the members in the practice room until late.
-♬♪
Department Head Kim Gibaek, watching that, had this impression.
‘Definitely—maybe because they’ve been doing this together since “Geubaekpeu,” their teamwork is good.’
The weekend passed quickly. On Sunday, the day before the official recording, all the members left work early to manage their condition. The next time “Vanguard” gathered in the recording studio was early Monday morning. The positions were slightly different from the test recording.
Sihoo, Kangmin, and Dogyeong, wearing headphones, were inside the recording booth. Only Kang Rojun was together with the producing team, seated in front of the equipment.
The producer, today wearing a different-colored hat pulled low, smiled as he looked at Rojun.
“It’s your first time producing, right?”
“Yes.”
“Rojun, you only need to participate in directing the vocal recording. We’ll handle the session recording, mixing, and the rest.”
Even after that, the hat-wearing producer explained today’s recording in a professional tone. At the end, he even added a piece of advice that it would be tough.
“Don’t be moderately satisfied. Like I told you during the test recording, judge them cruelly. Don’t worry about how much time it takes. Let’s just try it first. Once you do, you’ll get a rough feel for it.”
Today’s recording would ultimately become “Vanguard’s” debut album. That was why they usually invested a great deal of time into vocal recording, and the singer also poured heart and soul into it.
Then Kang Rojun looked at the members inside the booth.
‘This setup feels awkward.’
Laughter kept threatening to escape, but he somehow held it in. They told him to be cruel, so he had to be solemn. Soon, the producer signaled the start to the members.
“‘Greenbi,’ we’ll go with Dogyeong first.”
-♬♪
The song played. Since Dogyeong always had an unruffled, indifferent air, he started his rap without making any mistakes. It didn’t sound like there was any major issue, but Kang Rojun was not satisfied.
‘I’d like the tone to be a little lower.’
The producer spoke to Rojun with his eyes. How is it? Not good? Okay? Kang Rojun caught on and answered.
“I’d like him to do it again.”
As if telling him to spread his dreams as much as he wanted, the producer gestured toward the members inside the booth.
“The feeling that comes to mind, the sense, the style, anything that catches or bothers you. Whatever it is, just say it comfortably to the members. Don’t filter it.”
The producing team watched Kang Rojun as if they were observing an entertaining spectacle, and Rojun gave his first direction to Dogyeong beyond the glass wall. It was short and clear.
“Again.”
Dogyeong accepted it more comfortably than expected.
“Yeah.”
The same part played once more.
-♬♪
Dogyeong opened his mouth. At some point, Kang Rojun had picked up the notebook and pen placed within arm’s reach, and he cut the song off again.
“Again. Lower your tone more than you think you should.”
“Yeah.”
Like that, on the third, fourth, and fifth tries, an OK finally came from Kang Rojun’s mouth. Thirty minutes had been spent on just the first part. The hat-wearing producer watching from beside him chuckled.
‘What the hell? He was a little dazed at the start, but his producing form is good too. Did he instinctively figure out how to proceed? Just as I heard, he’s overflowing with talent. Scary, scary.’
At the same time, he realized that today’s recording would not end easily, and in fact, Kang Rojun spent three hours on Dogyeong’s opening rap part alone. He directed simply, or sometimes Rojun personally demonstrated the rap. Sihoo and Kangmin inside the booth had already come out and were sitting on the sofa, and the surrounding producing team continued to marvel as they watched Rojun.
‘They said he’s the visual center and an all-rounder, right? He’s good at rap too??’
Eventually—
“Yeah, that’s good. I think you just need to keep paying attention to the parts I mentioned.”
Dogyeong’s part ended. The fatigue settled over Dogyeong’s blunt expression as he barely took off the headphones. But this was not the end. The next members remained, and after the individual recordings, they had to move on to the group recording. Rojun was looking down with great seriousness at the notebook he had densely filled with notes, while Dogyeong, with the face of someone who had escaped from prison, held his hand out to Kangmin.
“Touch.”
Kangmin let out a faint breath and entered the prison. Meanwhile, Sihoo, sitting on the sofa, whispered to Dogyeong beside him.
“How is it?”
Dogyeong shook his head and let out a dry groan.
“Rojun hyung has zero mercy right now.”
Regardless, Kangmin’s recording continued. Before the work was even finished, the producer briefly cut off the session.
“Let’s eat first. Food.”
At some point, it had gone well past noon and was heading toward two o’clock. The producing team left the recording studio in twos and threes, and Kang Rojun and the members followed behind them. However, the members could not speak to Rojun.
“······”
Because Kang Rojun was looking down seriously at the notebook where he had written his directions. His steps were slow too, so Rojun was at the very back. Then, as if he had finished organizing his thoughts—
‘Producing is more fun than I expected.’
It was when Rojun raised his head.
-Bzzzz.
-Bzzzz.
The phone in his pocket vibrated several times. He casually took it out to check it, and his eyes widened quite a bit.
‘Oh? A second awakening?’