U Hanseok PD asked again, wondering if he had misheard.
“...Finished what?”
It was a peculiar expression. The right blend of shock and absurdity? Even as Gang Rojun evaluated U Hanseok PD’s face,
‘He’s really surprised. Well, I guess he would be.’
he answered again as calmly as possible.
“The Japanese lyrics.”
“......”
After staring fixedly at Rojun’s face for a few seconds, U Hanseok PD checked again.
“...So you’re saying you wrote Japanese lyrics for ‘Survival 100’ too?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”
What the hell is this ridiculously handsome villain talking about? U Hanseok PD’s brain came to a slight halt, but he somehow continued speaking.
“Hoo— I’m going to need an explanation.”
“So, um, it started as simple curiosity.”
Recalling the past, Rojun recited an appropriate story.
“After receiving the song ‘Survival 100’ and thinking about the lyrics, Japanese lyrics occurred to me. I thought I might be able to do it. Then I talked it over with No. 58 and decided.”
Gang Rojun explained only the essentials.
“‘Survival 100’ became the theme song for ‘Geubaekpeu,’ and ‘Geubaekpeu’ is popular in Japan too, isn’t it? I thought it might help. So while I was at it, I wrote Japanese lyrics as well.”
He answered as if it were nothing at all, and U Hanseok PD, whose lips were gradually spreading into a smile, let out an exclamation tinged with disbelief.
“While you were at it?”
“Yes. While I was at it.”
No. 1 spoke of writing Japanese lyrics as if it were easier than picking his nose. For something he had done in passing, the scale of the work was too large. Rojun was speaking lightly, but writing lyrics in Japanese was by no means something one could do as easily as picking one’s nose.
On top of that.
‘......Can this kid see inside my head or what?’
U Hanseok PD had been sizing up the Japanese side as well. That made it all the more chilling. Just as he was about to start building things up, Gang Rojun had appeared with a ta-da. “Produce” had been a taste, and “Survival 100” was the real thing. U Hanseok PD had been thinking of releasing “Survival 100,” which had been confirmed as the theme song of “Geubaekpeu” a few days ago, not only domestically but in Japan too.
However, the Japanese release had been planned for a little later.
But Gang Rojun had already brought Japanese lyrics?
Goosebumps rising thickly over him, U Hanseok PD looked around, then leaned in close to Rojun and lowered his voice.
“Who knows about this?”
“Just me and No. 58.”
“Then for now, let’s keep it to the three of us, including me.”
The atmosphere seemed rather strange. Scratching his chin, Gang Rojun asked,
“Did I do something unnecessary?”
U Hanseok PD shook his head as if to ask what nonsense he was talking about.
“No, you did well. Why?”
“No, your expression, PD-nim, is a little...”
“It’s sudden, isn’t it? I’m surprised, that’s why. If someone suddenly says they’ve brought Japanese lyrics, who reacts with, ‘Ah, I see’?”
“I suppose so.”
“Mm. Actually, I was also gauging a Japanese release for ‘Survival 100.’ Not right away, though.”
“That’s a relief.”
“No. 1, you didn’t happen to see through my thoughts and do this, did you?”
“You caught me?”
“Huh?”
“I’m joking.”
Letting out a chuckle, U Hanseok PD changed the subject.
“First— send me what you wrote.”
“Yes.”
Holding up his phone, Gang Rojun immediately sent the lyric files to U Hanseok PD, and in U Hanseok PD’s eyes, as he felt the vibration, he could clearly see files in two versions. Korean and Japanese lyrics. Soon, Gang Rojun added an explanation.
“I attached translations to the Japanese lyrics too, just in case.”
“Wait, you finished this amount of work in just a few days?”
“Yes.”
Whether he had merely made it look decent or not would be something to check later, but for now, U Hanseok PD was astounded that he had produced this level of results in such a short time.
‘He should be out of his mind practicing for the fourth evaluation, so when the hell did he do all this?’
Still, because U Hanseok PD had been watching Gang Rojun all this time, the shock did not last long. He had already known that No. 1 was a monster. Then U Hanseok PD lowered his phone and continued speaking.
“I’ll check both versions. If I look them over and think they’re good, we’ll go with them as is. If both the composition and lyrics are confirmed, Song Minggeun-nim has agreed to handle the recording work for ‘Survival 100.’ Hm— but before we start in earnest, we need to record a guide.”
U Hanseok PD patted Rojun on the shoulder.
“If it comes to that, would you like to do the guide recordings for both the Korean and Japanese versions, No. 1?”
Me? In that brief moment, Rojun’s mind began turning. Meanwhile, U Hanseok PD spoke again.
“For the Korean version, anyone would be fine, but for the Japanese version, wouldn’t it be better if you did it yourself, No. 1? You wrote the lyrics, and your Japanese is at a native level. Then you might as well do both. Your vocals are killer too.”
He wasn’t wrong. A guide was literally a preliminary recording, so it was lighter than the main recording, but of course the Japanese version should be done by someone fluent in Japanese. Rojun wondered what the harm would be.
‘They said I’d be standing onstage with “Survival 100” later anyway, didn’t they?’
The future plan for “Survival 100,” which had been selected as the theme song, was not an evaluation, but something that would remove the survival-show atmosphere and present the viewers with a performance.
‘Then I can check the choreography later, and it wouldn’t hurt to learn the vocals in advance.’
In the end, he would be using it anyway, so he concluded that he might as well run “AI Automation” in advance and learn it. Around then, U Hanseok PD cut in again.
“Think about it. It’s just a guide, so there’s no need to take it too seriously. You’ll need time to get familiar with the song too, so let’s talk again after the fourth evaluation.”
Gang Rojun murmured that there was no need for that.
“I’ll do the guide recording. Ah, if my lyrics are confirmed, that is.”
Once again, U Hanseok PD’s eyes widened slightly.
“Are you okay with that?”
“Yes. It isn’t difficult.”
It smelled of villainy.
“Haha, all right. Then if the lyrics for ‘Survival 100’ are confirmed, No. 1 will do the guide recordings for both versions.”
U Hanseok PD whispered with a satisfied expression.
“Let’s sweep not only Korea, but Japan’s Oricon chart too.”
At that moment.
—Bzzzz.
—Bzzzz.
Rojun felt a vibration near his wrist, but held off on checking it for now. It was a notification from “AI Simulation.” Gang Rojun did not see it, but its contents were as follows.
—[You have completed the sudden title mission “Complete the Japanese Lyrics!” As a gift, 50 coins have been awarded.]
U Hanseok PD, who had no way of knowing this, said something that had suddenly occurred to him.
“By the way, No. 1, with your current level, you could write, compose lyrics, and even act in Japanese, couldn’t you?”
Gang Rojun smiled.
“Probably.”
Of course, the same went for English.
Afterward.
Having finished his conversation with Gang Rojun, U Hanseok PD called No. 26 over while Rojun was there. A few minutes later, No. 26 appeared expressionlessly. Soon, U Hanseok PD received the information on Group 2, Team A. The rap they would be evaluated on, the concept, the staging, and so on.
“Our Group 2, Team A will be evaluated with a self-written rap.”
After hearing about the self-written rap “Small Fry,” U Hanseok PD glanced at Gang Rojun.
‘A self-written rap, huh— it’d probably be better to go with something familiar. Since a self-written rap has to be learned from the beginning, isn’t the hurdle high?’
But his opponent was that No. 1. Wondering if he was worrying for nothing, U Hanseok PD offered them an appropriate encouragement and sent Rojun and No. 26 back. Next, U Hanseok PD began calling in the participants team by team. It was to check the fourth evaluation information for every team, and the very last team was No. 58 and No. 71’s Group 1, Team A.
“Hello, PD-nim.”
Of No. 58 and No. 71, who first bowed in greeting, the one who opened his mouth was No. 58, wearing a slightly cautious expression.
“......Our Group 2, Team A has decided to do a self-written rap.”
U Hanseok immediately thought of Rojun.
‘Then both teams are doing self-written raps. This is getting interesting. Is it going to become a self-written rap showdown?’
Then No. 58 recited the title of the rap.
“The title is ‘Witch.’”
“...‘Witch’?”
“Yes.”
U Hanseok PD, his expression turning serious, called No. 58 aside and whispered.
“Will that be all right?”
The reason was simple. “Witch” was a rap that U Hanseok knew too.
“No. 1 wrote the lyrics for that self-written rap, didn’t he?”
“Witch” was also Gang Rojun’s first work as a lyricist. But baby-perm No. 58 nodded calmly.
“Yes. It’s all right. I already told No. 1.”
“And what did he say?”
“He said he didn’t care. The moment he handed over the lyrics, they simply belonged to ‘Witch.’”
“......If both of you are fine with it, then there’s no problem.”
Murmuring this, U Hanseok PD thought No. 58 had made up his mind to challenge No. 1.
‘He has the gentlest face, but I guess that’s not what he’s like on the inside. Has his fighting spirit been sharpened?’
It was not meant in a negative sense.
For growth, discomfort had to accompany it, and in this “Geubaekpeu,” the source of every participant’s discomfort was the villain, No. 1. A rising desire to compete was a positive sign.
‘In any case, it won’t be long before “No. 1 the lyricist” is revealed.’
About an hour later.
—♬♪
The melody of rap spread across the grand stage that had been set up. The participants had begun rehearsals team by team. Here, the handling was taken on by other staff members, and U Hanseok PD, the overall supervisor, stepped away for a moment. Around noon, he moved to a meeting room inside the campus.
Waiting for U Hanseok PD in the medium-sized meeting room were—
“Hello, PD-nim.”
“Good to meet you, General Director-nim.”
—General Director Tom Cavill and the Netflix Japan team. U Hanseok PD shook hands with them and, with an interpreter present, they began their conversation. U Hanseok started first.
“It’s been a while. This is the first time we’ve met since the launch-related meeting for ‘Geubaekpeu,’ isn’t it?”
“That’s right. As you know, PD-nim, ‘Geubaekpeu’ is extremely popular in Japan.”
“Yes. I’ve been monitoring it, but seeing it from here and feeling it on-site in Japan must be completely different. But your visit to Korea this time was rather sudden.”
“It’s partly because of ‘Geubaekpeu,’ but there’s another matter as well.”
“I see. More importantly, how is the performance in Japan coming along?”
“We’re preparing it as decided in advance.”
In truth, the performance in Japan that U Hanseok PD had hinted at had been planned jointly with Netflix Japan.
“When the time comes, we’ll begin promotion in Japan.”
As they then discussed the future plans for “Geubaekpeu,” General Director Tom Cavill, running a hand through his yellow curls, asked with some difficulty,
“By any chance— would it be possible to see ‘No. 1’?”
“Mm. He’s in the middle of rehearsals right now, so that might be a little difficult.”
“......I see.”
Looking at their obvious disappointment, U Hanseok PD raised the corners of his lips.
“If you have time, would you like to watch tomorrow’s fourth evaluation filming? You should be able to attend as part of the audience.”
The eyes of everyone on the Netflix Japan team, including General Director Tom Cavill, filled completely with anticipation.
“Oh! We would appreciate that.”
The next day, Tuesday.
From dawn, for some reason, there were many mentions of “Geubaekpeu” online. It felt like people were talking about it more than usual. And with good reason.
[“Geubaekpeu,” Fourth Evaluation Recording Including Live Audience Starts Today]
Today was the day of the fourth evaluation, which included the “Geubaekpeu” audience event that had heated up the press and public opinion for days. Looking at the articles, even the reporters seemed full of desire to attend, and all over various communities, there were wails from those who had failed to win audience seats.
Had about two hours passed like that?
The sun had risen, but it was still very early, around six o’clock. Near the “Geubaekpeu” campus in Paju, a woman was riding in a taxi. She had won a seat in the audience, so she was filled with anticipation.
‘Hoo— I’m finally going to see it! Ah, I’m nervous. I think I came way too early, but it’s fine. I should line up in advance.’
Around then, the taxi driver spoke to the woman.
“There are a lot of calls heading that way today— is there some kind of festival over there?”
“Pardon?”
“A lot of people are going to the place you’re headed. Even though it’s so early.”
“Ah—”
The woman sensed it.
‘There are already people like me there!’
She had thought she would be first, but that had been a hasty judgment. If the taxi driver was right, quite a few people had already arrived at the “Geubaekpeu” campus. The woman grew anxious, and roughly ten minutes later, she got out of the taxi. She had no choice but to gape immediately.
“......Wow— this is insane.”
At that moment, an exclamation came from inside the taxi stopped behind her. The taxi driver, too, had seen through the open passenger-side window the same sight the woman had seen.
“Oh my— it really is a festival. It’s packed with people!”
In front of the “Geubaekpeu” campus, there was already a sea of people.
The woman who had gotten out of the taxi could only gape. At a glance, dozens— no, hundreds of people had gathered in front of the “Geubaekpeu” campus. It was hard to tell whether a line had formed or not.
‘A-are you kidding me??! What time is it right now, and they’ve already gathered this early??!!’