Holy Idol

Chapter 10: If I Sing Like That, I’ll Be Edited As An Evil Person And In Exchange, You’ll Give Me More Screen Time?

Proofreader: Gandy

At first glance, it sounds like a good deal, but it’s absolutely not favorable for a long run. Even the most popular stars fade away if they get evil editing.

(T/N: Evil Editing: An editing style where they paint a person as the evil/nasty/bad person on the show or program)

And you’re saying you want to do evil editing to Yeonwoo, who just got his name known?

His image was originally bad so if you’ll do that kind of editing to him, people might think that Yeonwoo really is a bad person.

It’s a fatal matter for idols. However, because of what CEO Im has said, Jongwoo has no choice but to accept it.

“Aye, Of course. By the way, PD-nim.”

-I thought that this manager would allow it. Aren’t you smart? A hot topic is the best. They have five members! If Yeonwoo becomes a hot topic, they will also rise up. You know that, right?

“Yes, PD-nim. By the way……”

-Yeah, sure. Why?

“For the ‘Sing Survival’ participant, I originally submitted two of our vocalist, KC and Taein.”

-Oh, really?

“So including these two, can all three of them participate?”

-…

The only thing that Jongwoo can do in the midst of this, is to insert another member with Yeonwoo to refine the group’s image as much as possible.

However, as if showing his dislike for the bundle, Kim Moorok PD quickly became quiet.

Jongwoo tapped his foot on the floor nervously.

Jongwoo persuaded as gently as he could.

“If he undergoes evil editing, the other members’ image might also deteriorate. The kids are just making their name known, isn’t that too much? Don’t you think so? PD-nim, our submarine idols are still struggling to reach the surface, it’s too heartless to let them sink again. Don’t you think so?”

After a minute or so of awkwardness, Kim Moorok PD opened his mouth and let out,

“Aah……”

-That’s true. Alright.

“Thank you!”

-But three is too many.

“!”

-Yeonwoo and one more member. Let’s go with two.

He said ‘Let’s’, but you have to understand it as ‘You have to’.

Jongwoo laughed heartily, knowing that this is Kim Moorok PD’s last compromise.

“Aye, Of course, of course!”

Many aspiring celebrities are okay being evil edited as long as they can show their face on TV.

Just recently, he became a hot topic. Yeonwoo will play the role of the villain, but if he could endure it some more, the situation can be flipped.

-Alright, then I’ll send you the detailed schedule through email, so check it out.

“Yes. Please go on.”

Since there’s already a schedule, does that mean that the other participant already confirmed?

Jongwoo thought that it was odd, but Kim Moorok PD hung up the phone without giving him the chance to ask questions.

He stared at the air and nodded, took away his phone from his ear, sighed and returned to his seat.

***

Rembrary, who has practiced the group dance as usual, is spending his time in front of the vocal trainer singing a song, it was difficult to tell whether it’s training or a performance.

“Isn’t it weird? I should be getting tired of listening to the same song. Why do I not get tired of listening to the song you sing?”

The vocal trainer seemed to be hooked with Rembrary’s singing which unconsciously contained divine power.

Rembrary was in control of it in his own way, but he couldn’t completely block the mingling of his divine power when he sang.

However, the divine power is weak so he thought it would be okay. Is it because his ear is so sharp that he can feel the small amount of divine power?

‘Maybe I should be careful’

Rembrary clicked his tongue recalling with the system here called ‘recording’ and ‘internet’.

Right now, he’s dancing and lip-syncing while following the real Woo Yeonwoo’s recording. But for the next album, Rembrary heard that he also needs to participate in the recording.

He’s worried that his divine power might get included in the recording.

‘I do not think it is going to be included, but just in case’

Even if it doesn’t get included, what if he sings with a little divine power mixed in and heals people in a group?

This is a world where information travels quickly, so rumors will spread.

I am worried about that happening.

“Woo Yeonwoo?”

Then the vocal trainer snapped his finger and nagged.

“It’s true that I’m really into your singing, but won’t it be obvious that you are singing crudely?”

“I’m sorry”

Just like that, Rembrary was practicing singing again.

The door opened and Jongwoo came in.

When Yeonwoo glanced at him, Jongwoo waved his hand to signal him to continue practicing, then he sat down on a chair.

He only stood up when the song ended and gathered the members.

“What’s happening?”

“What, do we have a schedule?”

When all the members gathered up, Jongwoo said to Rembrary.

“Do you remember what I briefly talked about a few months ago? About the Sing Survival Program.”

Hyegyul asked with his eyes wide open.

“Crazy! Did we get it?!”

“Yeah.”

The members buzzed happily at Jongwoo’s word.

The leader Jungseo and Hyegyul who’s in charge with dancing gave congratulations to KC and Taein.  It’s because Jongwoo has said that he recommended the two of them since the program is a singing competition.

“Yeah. But Yeonwoo’s the one who will go.”

Because of what Jongwoo awkwardly said, the atmosphere became weird.

From the perspective of Jungseo and Hyegyul, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Taein, KC or Yeonwoo that will go. But regret can be seen in Taein’s and KC’s eyes, Taein and KC’s expressions are crumpled.

“Are you sure?”

KC covered his cheeks with both hands and asked like it was something ridiculous.

“Yeah.”

Jongwoo calmly answered, then he looked at Rembrary’s eyes.

Rembrary wasn’t even speaking because he couldn’t understand what they’re talking about.

“What is Sing Survival?”

When Jongwoo looked at him, Rembrary quickly asked a question.

And over the course of 30 minutes, Jongwoo explained the concept of reality program, entertainment program, survival program, and singing competition program.

It’s not the exact meaning, but it’s the meaning that works for most people.

Rembrary understood with difficulty, then he nodded his head.

‘So it’s a mix of singing and competition that has almost no script and with impromptu play.’

When Rembrary seemed to have understood, this time, Jongwoo alternately looked at Taein and KC.

“Yeonwoo is not going alone.”

KC and Taein, who were only looking down at the floor with a sullen look on their faces, finally looked up.

“And?”

“Don’t tell me, only one of us gets to go as well?”

“Yeah.”

At the words of Jongwoo, the atmosphere changed again.

This time, KC and Taein looked at each other awkwardly.

Idol group is a team, but at the same time, it’s also individual.

A group’s fate flows similar to a community, but once it disbands, you will eventually need to find your own bowl of rice. In order to find your own bowl of rice, you have to increase your popularity while you’re still in the group.

Saying that there are two people but only one bowl of rice, they both have no choice but to act shamelessly.

Taein asked, dissatisfied.

“But, aren’t you pushing Yeonwoo too much? He doesn’t even remember anything, what if he makes a slip of the tongue on the show?”

“I’m not pushing him, it’s the PD there that told me to bring him.”

“…”

Jongwoo presented a music sheet to the disappointed KC and Taein.

“This is the assigned song.”

“Assigned song?”

“Why an assigned song all of a sudden?”

“Yeonwoo is a hot topic so he gets to go, but the two of you are the designated vocals. I’m going to send who’s better between the two of you. Get ready.”

***

That night, KC and Taein did not go back to their dorm to practice the assigned song. Only Rembrary, Jungseo and Hyegyul returned.

“Since there are two people missing, the dorm looks much wider.”

“Do you like it when KC and Taein are not here?”

“Isn’t the space occupied per person different.”

Rembrary muttered proudly, then he went to the refrigerator, and tried to take out bread but was caught by Jungseo.

“You can’t. I told you, you need to lose 3 kilograms.”

“In my opinion, I’m in the best condition right now.”

“That’s your opinion.”

Rembrary, whose bread was taken by Jungseo, received a shock and drooped down on the sofa.

Inside the cramped dorm, there is no place to be alone even when you receive a shock.

However, for some reason, the Jungseo who only speaks when necessary or when he needs to explain something, approached Rembrary first.

“Yeonwoo.”

“What is wrong?”

As Rembrary raised his head, Jungseo took a glance at Hyegyul.

Hyegyul was busy playing games on his cellphone. Only when Jungseo noticed that Hyegyul didn’t seem to be interested in their conversation, did he lowered his voice and spoke.

“Just in case you want to say something. Tell me as soon as possible if Taein bullies you.”

“Taein-ie?”

“Yeah.”

Jungseo did not speak that long, but Rembrary understands what he’s worried about.

Taein was a young man who showed hostility from the time Rembrary entered this body. Apparently it has been like that even before Rembrary entered.

However, recently, as Rembrary’s singing has captivated the vocal trainer, Taein became even sharper. Since he’s the lead vocal of the group, he seemed wary that the position may overlap.

Hyehyul, who they thought was only playing with his phone, intervened.

“That hyung wasn’t originally like that. It’s because our unknown time is getting longer so he became even more poisonous.”

Then he immediately asked Jungseo.

“But hyung, is your mother okay?”

“Yeah. She’s a lot more stable now.”

And so the two of them began to talk about stories that only they knew, and Rembrary took out his phone and searched the internet alone.

It became his daily routine to write down words he doesn’t understand and searched for it in his free time. Then Rembrary recalled the holy object from yesterday, so he waited for the conversation of the two to cut off for a while before asking.

“About the Catholic Church that I went to yesterday. I did not meet the priest there.”

“Priest? Are you talking about the Father?”

“Yeah. I did not see the Father. What do I need to do to meet him?”

(T/N: The Priest and Father here is the same, it’s just the Rembrary used the word 신관, a more formal or old way of saying priest. I had to differentiate them so I’m using Priest and Father. But they’re the same.)

“I don’t know since I don’t go to church.”

“Okay…”

“Hyung, is it because you lost your memories? Why are you talking about religion these days?”

Because he’s a religious person from another world. He smiles belovently, hiding the truth.

***

The Next Day

The singing contest between KC and Taein took place in front of the members and vocal trainer.

Rembrary watched the two sing in wonder.

Unlike the title track of Wild Animal, which is awkward due to the mixture of strange and unfamiliar sounds, the song Taein and Kathy are singing now was clean and easy to listen to.

In addition, it was amazing that the two people sang the same song with completely different feelings.

Taein sang the song with passion, while KC  seems to sing with roughness, but it was very cool.

After listening to them sing, Jongwoo and the vocal trainer went to another room to exchange opinions for a while.

Rembrary looked closely at the nervous Taein, and thought that it would be good for the group’s atmosphere if Taein got selected.

However, Jongwoo chose KC.

“You both sang well. But since it’s a reality survival, I thought it would be better to send KC who has a strong character.”

Taein looked angry, but he did not show it in front of Jongwoo and the vocal trainer.

Jongwoo studied Taein’s expression and informed KC and Rembrary of the ‘Sing Survival’ schedule that arrived last night.

They were supposed to meet once before the start of the recording, but the date was unexpectedly early.

“The budget is already decided, and the studio setting is also set.”

Although some of the spaces are empty, the majority of the participant’s names are already listed. Of course, Rembrary didn’t recognize any of the participants’ names.

However, KC, who was flipping through the papers, suddenly let out a gasp. When he looked at him, KC showed a strange expression to Rembrary.

“What’s wrong with you?”

When he asked with a puzzled look, KC glanced at Jongwoo and asked.

“This person who will also participate. He’s a senior who has a bad relationship with you. Will you be okay?”

“Who is that?”

“When we were rookies, this person said to you. ‘If you’re going to sing that way, just give up…”

***