Chapter 267

After having in-depth conversations with the members, Pantheion ultimately confirmed our appearance on Legendary Singer . We also decided that the performance for Legendary Singer would be entirely entrusted to the members from start to finish. This meant that during the program’s run, I would not give the members more advice or intervention than necessary.

‘It’s been a long time since I stood on a stage directed by someone else.’

I also decided to hand over as many parts to the other members as possible.

Didn’t every song have a unique atmosphere that only its original creator could bring out? All of Prism’s songs were made by my own hands, from start to finish, so if I took up too much of the stage, there was a risk that the public would point out my connection to Seo Yutae.

Taking a step back from the Legendary Singer program, I instead spent my time fully dedicating my energy to the year-end stage and our next activities.

[I’m not really into idols, so I don’t usually watch year-end performances, but I keep replaying Pantheion’s performance at least once a day. The way they used the screen to create scenes like famous classic paintings is insanely satisfying.]

└ You’ve got to see their performance on SI stage, it’s really legendary, just watch it once please ㅠㅠ

[Han Seungbeom’s stage planning skills are seriously crazy. The mythology concept wasn’t even something he wanted, but he pulled it off perfectly.]

└ Whoa, Han Seungbeom did all of this himself and not the company? amazing

└ In the behind-the-scenes content, Seungbeom was filmed directing the stage from start to finish. As someone who knows how hard he worked, losing sleep just to give fans a great performance, I find this really upsetting. You don’t know anything, but you’re out here spreading baseless rumors. And why do you keep laughing like an idiot? You must have gotten shot in the brain.

└ Ah, why did you get angrier and angrier toward the end? Like your anger was on a gradient

└ It’s super funny when Han Seungbeom’s fans have these random bursts of anger in NeoTube comments

└ This just proves how well the Captain did~

The year-end stage and Pantheion’s new comeback, which I directed, received positive reviews both in terms of topicality and quality.

While the members were pleased with the positive responses to those performances, they also appeared to be feeling burdened. It was an issue similar to how Lee Danbi had yet to surpass the rap he had performed with Lee Chise’s help.

In fact, the performances Pantheion needed to be wary of on Legendary Singer were not limited to just Prism or Raize.

‘They have to surpass every performances we’ve presented to the public with my direction so far, by any means.’

The performance quality that the public inherently expected from Pantheion had become too high compared to the members’ experience. Since Legendary Singer was ultimately a competition we were entering under Pantheion ‘s name, this issue was unavoidable.

It felt like I had unintentionally become the members’ final boss, and it left me feeling uneasy.

“So, our Jack finally pulled it off, huh? This uncle knew it from the moment he grabbed your hair and wouldn’t let go. Then, you completely surrendered to the kids? Cough ! Heuh, ack … hahaha!”

“…Yeah.”

Whether he understood my feelings or not, when I gave him a rough overview of my conversation with Lee Hwayoung, Lee Chise burst into laughter over the phone, even gagging from laughing too hard. To him, it was just someone else’s problem.

“Ahahahah! Ah, hyung, why do I find it so funny when you get all restless because of the kids? It’s not like you’re tiptoeing around, afraid of stepping on baby chicks. Hyung, as expected, the real way to beat you is to bring in kids who are much younger and weaker. Kang Hyukwoo really missed the boat on this one.”

‘It’s not funny, f**k.’

I stared at my cell phone with dead eyes, then glanced at the end call button.

“…….”

My patience was slowly wearing thin.

But Lee Chise, who picked up on my mood like a ghost, hurriedly started talking again, preventing me from hanging up.

“Aren’t you worried?”

“What.”

“I know it’s not really my place to say this, but honestly, I thought you’d hold your ground until the end and refuse, hyung. To be fair, going straight into a program without even getting a break after your comeback is a lot to ask, and it’s understandable that you worry about the public’s reaction. So I was already thinking that if you decided to decline the offer, we’d just have to find something else.”

“…To be honest, I am worried. But the kids said they didn’t want to avoid it…….”

“Hyung, you totally sound like a parent who just sat through a PowerPoint presentation from their child convincing them why they should move out. Sniff, you’re proud of their growth, but at the same time, you feel empty inside, and when you think about the hardships they’ll face, you’re worried beyond words…….”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, I’m hanging up.”

“Ahhh, aaaah! I won’t do it! I won’t tease you! If you hang up, I’ll keep calling until you pick up.”

“…Hah, anyway, you guys better do it properly too. The kids are serious about this.”

“Yes yes, you’re telling me to give the kids thorough feedback, right? Got it. But still, this is work. We would do it properly even if you didn’t say anything. Are you on your way to the set after finishing your individual schedule? I’ll see you soon?”

“Yeah. When are you guys coming?”

“Of course, the great sunbaenims arrive last, ahahaha! Our hubaenim, it must be killing you to start all over as a rookie again, right?”

“…….”

I calmly closed my eyes and turned off my phone.

Shortly after getting out of the car, I headed to the floor where the Legendary Singer waiting rooms were located. As I wandered down the hallway searching for Pantheion’s waiting room, I suddenly felt something thud against my back.

“Aaak!”

It was a man who looked like he weighed about 20kg more than Han Seungbeom.

It seemed like he had slipped after stepping on spilled water on the floor.

‘Ah, I’m screwed.’

As that thought peacefully crossed my mind and I stumbled forward, about to fall, someone grabbed my forearm, steadying me before I could hit the floor. Then, he pulled me toward his side.

“Goodness, if you’re wandering around like this, all skin and bones, of course you’re going to fall.”

And though the words themselves were in standard Korean, the voice I heard from behind carried a subtle mix of dialect accent.

When I turned my head to thank him, my eyes landed on a man whose professionally styled hair, outfit, and camera-ready makeup practically screamed, ‘ I’m a celebrity! ‘

‘…What was his name again?’

It was a bit of a problem that I couldn’t remember his name, but at least I knew what he did.

‘The center of Raize.’

Even after taking in his wine-colored hair, barely tied at the ends, his thick aegyo-sal 1 , and his moderately sun-kissed skin, I still couldn’t recall his name. In the end, I simply gave a small bow in greeting.

“Thank you, sunbaenim.”

‘Being a junior is convenient since you don’t have to call your senior by name.’

“…….”

Then, without letting go of my arm or even blinking, he stared down at my face. Just as I tilted my head slightly, a little puzzled, he flashed a bright smile as if nothing had happened and spoke.

“…Ah, you must be Seungbeom-ssi. Han Seungbeom from Pantheion.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

He was someone who always showed a smiling face in front of the camera, earning him a likable image across all ages. But for some reason, I had always felt uneasy whenever I saw him. Maybe it was the way he had that sly glint in his eyes while smiling brightly as if he had no ulterior motives—it was just unsettling.

‘How did he grow up to be so sly?’

“Hello, sunbaenim! I’m …… from Raize, a rookie debuting this time. I entered this industry because I admire Prism-sunbaenims! Please take good care of me!”

“Sunbaenim, may I ask for your autograph? Ah, by any chance, do you remember my name? It’s ……!”

“Yutae-sunbaenim, hello! This time, my name…….”

When he visited Prism’s waiting room to greet us during his rookie days, he didn’t seem this unreadable. Where did that appropriately cute vibe go? He had changed so much it was almost off-putting.

‘His appearance has changed a lot ……. and his dialect has faded a lot too.’

He had grown much bigger compared to when I first met him, completely losing his boyish look and now having the build of a fully grown man with thick bones and muscles.

‘Is he just barely over 180 cm?’

Anyway, his height didn’t seem much different from Han Seungbeom’s, but in person, the difference in build was significant, making him seem much bigger than Han Seungbeom.

‘He definitely looked quite small when he was next to Prism.’

Wait, if he looks small next to the Prism members, then doesn’t that mean the difference between me and Prism is like a child and an adult now? My brain, still refusing to accept Han Seungbeom’s physique, started throbbing as if in rejection.

‘They’re obviously going to crack up when they see the broadcast, so let’s not stand next to those bastards.’

With that resolve, I took a few steps back and bowed once again.

“Then, since it’s not my turn yet, I’ll be going now so I don’t disrupt the filming.”

Even though I blatantly hinted that I wanted to leave, he didn’t go along with it at all and just kept holding onto my arm. Then, as the members beside him nudged him and gave him a “ Hey, what’s up with you? ” look, he suddenly spoke to me.

“I heard that Prism-sunbaenims said they wouldn’t appear on this program unless Pantheion was part of the cast. Do you have some kind of personal relationship with them?”

‘Ha…….’

As expected, the rumor that Prism had requested Pantheion’s appearance seemed to have spread like wildfire. Since it was difficult to either confirm or deny it, I decided to evade the question with a vague response.

“I’m not sure. I wasn’t even aware of that kind of talk.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“…You don’t have to answer that.”

He didn’t look like he believed me. Just as I was wondering why he even asked if he wasn’t going to listen to my answer, he spoke again, wearing that suspicious smile.

“Well then, I guess I should have high expectations. Since Seungbeom-ssi is so famous for his great stage presence, it seems that even Prism-sunbaenims wanted to see you perform too.”

To be honest, guys with this kind of twisted personality need to be handled delicately, but frankly, I had no motivation to do so. In the first place, I never had the energy to care about anyone who wasn’t a Prism member, a Pantheion member, or Choi Jeokhyeon.

In short, it just meant that I couldn’t be bothered anymore.

“We’ll also try our best not to lose. It seems like the sunbaenims are really fond of you guys.”

“Yes.”

After a moment of blankly standing there at his words, which seemed to carry a lot of hidden meaning, I ended the conversation with a short reply, and his eyebrow twitched slightly.

Well, whether he likes it or not, I’m leaving.

***

At last, the filming of Legendary Singer began. The cast appeared in order of their seniority, and then the studio lights went completely dark.

And as Prism’s debut song started playing, the screen at the center of the stage began flashing through dazzling moments of Prism’s journey so far, along with interviews from the show’s cast.

[“Prism, they’ve won the Daesang again!”]

[“I want to be like Prism-sunbaenims. Isn’t this the dream of every male idol?”]

“Wow … this is seriously amazing.”

“Do you think we could ever be like that too?”

As the juniors watched it with admiration, the screen’s light went out once more, plunging the studio into complete darkness.

[“Yes, we are PRISM.”]

And at the moment when the familiar slogan, repeated countless times over the years, echoed through the speakers, a single beam of light descended onto the pitch-black stage, and the members of Prism appeared.

“Whoaaaa!”

“It’s Prism-sunbaenims!”

Amidst the deafening cheers of the juniors, strangely enough, I found myself unable to do anything. I knew I should be clapping along, but my body wouldn’t move, as if it had turned to stone.

‘Why am I like this?’

While I was feeling a strange discomfort with myself, Jay’s expression from Pantheion’s showcase day suddenly surfaced in my mind.

‘…Ah, so this is how he felt.’

Right now, I was just like Jay back then.

As I became aware of it and unconsciously averted my gaze, I caught sight of Jay on the screen.

He was staring intently at something; not at the camera, but somewhere else. Wondering what had captured his attention so completely, I turned to look at Jay himself, and our eyes immediately met.

“…….”

From the moment he stepped on stage, he had been looking only at me.

As if he were telling me that the place I belonged wasn’t here , but beside them .

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Translator’s Corner:

Here comes my baby

I can’t find the exact irl male idol group that fits Prism in this situation … like, honestly, most of male idols always singling out a member rather than a whole group for their “role model”, like the popular choice is GD, Kai, Taemin … at most they said they’re fan of Bigbang (half of industry) or SHINee (Hoshi and 101 other idols) … and now in the 5th gen, those male rookies even answered with NCT members like Jaehyun when asked of their idol … they really went from centers of each group to the prettiest member ….. can’t blame them …

But anyway, it would be more easier to imagine if you shift to the girlgroups. It’s like how 9 out of 10 girlgroups will answer SNSD when asked which group they admired. You can imagine Prism as SNSD in this case, where everyone is wanting to follow their footsteps and saying they want to become idol after watching them.

But explaining this all really makes me feel bitter … Yutae deserves to be there as Prism too T_T He needs to know that a lot of kids admired and loved him T_T In the perfect world, Yutae of Prism is there, and Han Seungbeom of Pantheion is the kid he’s looking after …. ARGH WHY THIS HAS TO BE A FANTASY POSSESION STORY. LET ME JUST ISEKAI THERE BEFORE INCHAN INJURY HAPPENED. I’LL CHANGE THE WHOLE PLOT TO A HEARTWARMING NO TEARS EASY WIN EVERYONE HAPPY ALL THE TIME STORY!!!

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