Chapter 1003: It Was Beautiful From Far Away.. (15)

Lately, every Friday night, a certain commercial slogan kept coming to mind.

“You worked hard. Now go enjoy yourself!”

Friday nights meant New Universe and Mission Singer.

After working hard from Monday through Thursday, Friday night felt like a reward popping up with a cheerful ta-da!

“Huh? There’s a commercial like that?”

“Jiho, you don’t know it?”

“Nope.”

The older members looked at the youngest warmly, thinking how young he was, only for him to reply,

“That’s because I’m not old like you hyungs.”

“Junghyun.”

“Should we handle him?”

“Aaaagh...!”

While the sound of the youngest member being tickled echoed through the room, I watched the TV with warm eyes.

Onscreen, we were grilling meat while receiving instruction from a massive Black chef.

Sunken eyes.

Dark circles.

Limply dragging bodies.

『Three straight hours of grilling meat...』

Under tragic classical music, our suffering selves appeared on screen, making me laugh automatically.

Ri Hyuk stroked his chin.

“They say tragedy up close becomes comedy from afar... and honestly, now that I’m watching it from a distance, it really is funny.”

“Seriously. Watching it now, it’s hilarious.”

Our pitiful selves repeatedly failing Chef Bobby Ross’s approval test because we still hadn’t mastered proper grilling technique.

Onscreen, Jiho desperately presented a steak he had grilled with every ounce of effort he possessed.

Chef Bobby Ross took a bite and flexed his forearm.

[Disqualified. This flavor still hasn’t reached my pectoral muscles.]

“Aaaagh...!”

The youngest member collapsed to the floor clutching his hair while the chef and staff burst out laughing.

We laughed just as hard.

“They edited this really well.”

“Honestly, it came out better than expected.”

Jiho spoke regretfully.

“But I’m a liiittle disappointed. If they’d included Overcooked, the reaction would’ve totally exploded...”

“Yeah, that part’s unfortunate, but it couldn’t be helped.”

Overcooked.

The English track we were currently preparing.

Unfortunately, the story behind the song—born while learning how to grill meat from Chef Bobby Ross—couldn’t be included yet.

To maximize impact, it needed to be revealed closer to the actual release date, and there was still some time left before then.

So when the release date for Overcooked got closer, New Universe planned to quietly reveal it later like a hidden post-credit scene.

『The Birth of NewBlack’s New Song !』

A song that had originally started as exhausted English gibberish we hummed while half-dead somehow turned into a masterpiece.

I really was curious how people would react.

But...

that could wait a little longer.

Right now, enjoying ourselves came first.

“Pwahahaha!”

“Kyaahahaha!”

Just like Episode 1, Episode 2 of the New Universe gourmet special received an overwhelmingly positive response from viewers.

The moment the broadcast ended, entertainment portals exploded.

“NewBlack Gourmet Special — Members Collapse Under Chef Bobby Ross’s Endless ‘No’”

“‘World’s No.1 Barista’ Raul Silva Praises Ri Hyuk’s Talent: ‘If only his stomach could tolerate coffee, he would’ve become an incredible barista.’”

“Goblin Restaurant Opening Soon... Three Key Viewing Points?”

Not to mention the real-time trending searches and skyrocketing portal video views.

The members and I danced around joyfully.

“NewBlack hit another jackpot~”

“We totally exploded~~”

Junghyun and I were doing celebratory partner dances and clapping together when—

“Ri Hyuk. You dance too!”

“I have a competition tomorrow. And...”

“?”

“Look at this.”

Ri Hyuk, who had been lightly swaying along from the sofa, handed us his tablet.

“‘Goblin Restaurant’ Reservation Applications Close Early — 1.37 Million Applicants”

Still mid-dance, I slowly sank to the floor.

“Ughhh...”

“It really... became huge...”

I could already imagine customers crashing toward Goblin Restaurant like tidal waves.

It was a wonderful kind of huge success.

But somehow, the meaning of “jackpot” suddenly sounded like something TeenSpirit would say.

“When something blows up, it means your workload becomes fucking enormous. It’s the kind of pain that feels like someone smashing your head open with a gourd. Hurts, doesn’t it? But you deserve it.”

“Huu...”

“Huuuu...”

The members and I sighed deeply while staring into the distance.

The attention toward New Universe was great, but receiving this much interest already felt overwhelmingly burdensome.

With moist eyes, Biju spoke.

“It feels like going on stage before fully memorizing the choreography.”

“It feels like forgetting to buy souvenirs overseas and then running into Madam Kim Deoksun. Actually, why am I always the one expected to buy gifts?”

“My dad says the one who likes the other side more is the one who loses, hyung.”

“That’s a wise saying.”

“But after saying that, my dad raised chicken prices. He thought chicken lovers would just accept it if he raised prices once, and then the business totally tanked.”

“I didn’t need to know that part...”

We cried dramatically while spewing complete nonsense.

Then we overcame it.

“It’s okay!”

I declared confidently.

“Future Me will somehow figure it out!”

“!”

The members looked impressed.

“What an incredible mindset...!”

“Let’s enjoy it. Future Us are the ones who’ll suffer anyway.”

“Not trying to nitpick, but I’d appreciate it if you remembered that ‘future’ is only a few days away.”

Ignoring Ri Hyuk’s words, I turned away from reality.

Then I switched the TV to TBC.

It was still commercial break, but my phone was already going crazy.

[Who do you think will win today?]

Mask King Sun Wooju (Seo Ri Hyuk)

Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk (Sun Wooju)

Communities were running polls over who would win between Ri Hyuk and me.

Even the real-time Twitter trends were dominated by Mission Singer.

The youngest member scrolled through his phone.

“Judging by the polls, Ri Hyuk hyung definitely has the advantage. Feels about seventy-thirty.”

“But the cheering atmosphere is pretty even.”

Netizens were already fighting in the comments.

“Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk better winㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ”

“Honestly Mask King Sun Wooju is overrated ㅇㅈ?”

“Mask King Sun Wooju keeps trying too hard to act cool”

“Comedy King Sun Wooju OUT ㄱㄱㄱ”

Ri Hyuk laughed at the insults toward Mask King Sun Wooju while I groaned quietly.

“Hm hm.”

“Urgh...”

Then the attacks shifted.

“That crane is so arrogantㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Mask King Sun Wooju teach him a lesson!”

“Seo Ri Hyuk looks too weak to beat anyone”

“I wanna smack that beakㅋㅋ so annoying”

This time I laughed while Ri Hyuk trembled.

Junghyun asked,

“So in this situation... whose victory is this supposed to be?”

“......”

Objectively speaking...

it was a fight where nobody actually won.

Ri Hyuk and I sadly looked away from the youngest member’s phone just as the broadcast finally began.

[There has never been a competition like this before! Trust only your voice, trust only yourself, and compete! Mission~]

[Singer~!!]

While online cheering wars erupted everywhere—

the underlings also began displaying support messages through LED banner apps on their phones.

“Mask King Sun Wooju! Fighting!”

“Go Mask King! Defeat Sweet Potato Moth!”

Jiho and Junghyun cheered for Ri Hyuk while condemning me, making me pout.

Thankfully, however, I still had one ally.

“Go Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk.”

“As expected, Biju...”

“I hope you lose by the narrowest margin possible so your face reveal happens quickly!”

“......”

Was that support? Or an insult?

Listening to the confusing encouragement, we watched the live broadcast of Mission Singer.

The first stage was the finals to determine who would advance to the King Match.

[Yes! This is the Round 3 Finals!]

[Luxury Supporting Actor Braised Quail Eggs VS Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk...! Who will emerge victorious? Let’s find out now!]

The stage began alongside the MC’s booming voice.

“Boooooo!”

“Boooo!”

Listening to the underlings boo me, I instinctively curled inward and hugged myself.

Lonely.

Sad.

What a cruel world...

all I did was work hard, and yet I was getting booed.

“It’s okay, hyung.”

Biju placed a hand on my shoulder and whispered,

“I’ll always be on your side.”

“Biju...!”

Then, just as the Crane on the screen lifted the microphone and began singing—

“I’m always on your...”

Biju stopped speaking after hearing my song.

The smile that usually bloomed across his face like a flower slowly faded away.

“Biju?”

Sliiide—

As the song reached its climax, his smile vanished even further.

“......Biju?”

Biju, who had been displaying [Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk♥] on his phone banner app, quietly lowered his phone and crab-walked sideways.

Plop.

He sat down between Jiho and Junghyun and threw an arm around each of them.

“Go Mask King Sun Wooju.”

“You made the right choice, hyung! Let’s diss Wooju hyung together!”

Ri Hyuk clutched his stomach laughing with complete satisfaction while I merely smiled sadly.

Since the 2010s, music competition programs had exploded endlessly across broadcasting networks.

Shows featuring elite singers displaying incredible vocal ability, or ordinary people performing duets with celebrities, were no longer rare formats.

There were so many nowadays that viewers had started reacting with, Another one of these?

And yet, broadcasting stations kept launching them for a reason.

“If people sing and compete, you’re guaranteed baseline ratings.”

And—

because they still couldn’t forget the explosive popularity those programs once had during their golden age.

“Whoa! Cha Woohyun and Yoon Chanhyuk are competing?!”

“Did you watch yesterday’s episode? It was insane.”

“Are the judges tone-deaf? How did they give that guy those scores?”

There was once a time when matchups on singing programs became nationwide conversation topics.

But by 2018, that sort of thing had mostly disappeared.

At most, people talked about a popular clip on MyTube.

Even TBC’s hit variety show Mission Singer wasn’t much different.

The last truly legendary contestant had appeared nearly two years ago. Nowadays, regardless of who won, viewers mostly just went, Oh, I guess they won.

At least—

until Mask King Sun Wooju appeared.

“Hello! I’m Mask King Sun Wooju!”

He appeared under NewBlack Ri Hyuk’s real name, Wooju, causing chaos immediately before displaying once-in-a-generation talent.

Naturally, ratings exploded.

Honestly, if things had stopped there, it probably would’ve simply become a major trending topic.

“Then Sun Wooju himself showed up too.”

“Seriously...”

Broadcasting insiders watching the mischievously dancing Crane on television clicked their tongues.

“What kind of ratings do you think Mission Singer gets now?”

“If things go really well? Maybe even into the twenty-percent range. There’s no competing drama in this timeslot either.”

“At this point, every TV that’s turned on is probably showing this.”

Even the pub they themselves were drinking beer in was currently broadcasting Mission Singer.

At full volume.

People gulped down beer with greasy fingers from eating fried chicken, watching like they were at a live soccer match.

“This is crazy...”

The broadcasting insiders were amazed.

‘Is he seriously a PR genius?’

Regular viewers were busy admiring the singers’ vocal talent.

But the industry people focused on something entirely different.

The strategy that had turned Mission Singer into a nationwide phenomenon resembling the World Cup.

‘He appeared under the name Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk and created a NewBlack vs NewBlack rivalry... then promoted it through MyTube content using Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk...’

Wooju personally stepped forward as a promoter for the younger member he adored.

Back when Ri Hyuk first appeared, Mission Singer had simply been moderately hot.

Now it had become a blazing national sensation.

“But isn’t that kind of a result-based argument?”

One of the broadcasting insiders picked up a chicken wing.

“No matter how good the strategy is, it means nothing if you can’t actually make it to the finals. This only works because the skill level backs it up.”

“That’s true...”

“Watching the Crane sing, it feels like Sun Wooju was absolutely confident he’d make it all the way to the King Match.”

The others nodded in agreement.

‘True.’

‘More than strategy, this is really the kind of buzz created through sheer talent.’

For a moment, they found themselves impressed by Sun Wooju’s confidence that no matter who appeared, he’d still make it to the King Match.

“And then, after all that, he probably planned to narrowly lose to Seo Ri Hyuk in the finals—”

Just as someone was about to say that—

the insane Crane in Round 3 lifted the microphone and started singing.

“Uh...”

“Uhhh...”

The voice thundered through the speakers.

Gasps of “Whoa...” spread throughout the room as everyone watching blinked.

‘Did he come here to win?’

‘Was he never planning to lose?’

Until last week, it had clearly felt like he came to help his younger member.

But now Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk was singing the real competition stage without holding back whatsoever.

“Holy shitㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Why is he so good??”

“I can literally see Ri Hyuk’s heart burning awayㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“That autumn song choice is insane... I’m smiling but my dad’s literally sniffling beside me”

“Now I get why Seo Ri Hyuk was waryㅋㅋㅋ Wooju is evolving in real time”

“Fr”

Viewers grew restless.

“Seriously, Ri Hyuk needs to catch Wooju quickly or it’s over. The guy improved again in such a short time.”

“Exactly.”

“Damn. Those notes stab right under your chin like a dagger.”

The Crane crushed Braised Quail Eggs by an overwhelming margin.

Then finally, the two-shot viewers had waited an entire week for appeared on screen.

[Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk VS Mask King Sun Wooju]

Viewers’ hearts pounded wildly.

‘Holy crap...’

‘Now the real game starts!’

The first performance was the challenger Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk singing Satellite.

Everyone swallowed nervously while watching as, beneath calm blue lighting, the Crane mask lifted the microphone.

“Toward autumn,

my youth dies beautifully like a flower.”

At Wooju’s voice softly reciting the famous poetic line, appreciative sighs erupted everywhere.

And once the performance truly began, the reactions only intensified.

Wooju completely dominated the stage with his lonely voice.

“Ah, fuck.”

“Hyung... please calm down, hyung.”

“Damn... he wrecked the charts again.”

The handsome boys living downstairs from NewBlack huddled together in despair.

“Practice... let’s go practice.”

“One more set.”

“Come on, persimmon tree.”

“I’m a rapper, whyyyy...!”

“Shut up, you’re the mascot.”

The vocalists of Street Boys, who had been lifting dumbbells moments earlier, dragged their human emotional-support mascot toward the practice room.

Every time Sun Wooju’s low voice echoed through the soft guitar melody, groans spread throughout the entertainment industry.

‘Stop raising the idol industry average, Sun Wooju...’

‘Seniors... please let the rest of us survive too...’

‘My neck hurts and now I want barbecue.’

While everyone listened to Sun Wooju singing and muttered What even is this world...

“......”

“......”

Even the TNT members squatting in their practice room drinking chocolate milk slowly let it dribble from their mouths.

The youngest member, Seok Jihoon, stared at his phone.

“Our chart ranking’s probably dropping three spots.”

“Why three?”

“Two Wooju hyung songs and one Ri Hyuk song.”

“B-but three spots isn’t that bad~”

Leader Gu Sunwoong laughed awkwardly.

But Han Taehyun shook his head like they still understood nothing.

“No. Not three.”

“?”

“I know that hyung. It won’t end with three.”

Considering nobody even knew Night Sea existed yet, it was a terrifyingly accurate prediction.

Meanwhile, Wooju continued raising the pitch higher and higher.

At the end of loneliness,

I will wait for you,

wandering,

in your shining form.

The Crane shining beneath dazzling stage lights truly embodied youth itself.

As the climax arrived—the song bidding farewell to departed youth—the audience reactions filled the screen.

Middle-aged audience members crying.

Couples gasping in admiration.

One woman covering her mouth with both hands.

Viewers watching from home wore identical expressions as they began typing comments.

“I seriously have no idea who wins the King Match today”

“Wasn’t Wooju supposed to come help Ri Hyukㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“He did come to help his younger member ㅇㅇ He just sucks at controlling his own strengthㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Ah... if I voted right now I think I’d vote Wooju”

“Well yeah, Ri Hyuk hasn’t performed yet (nod nod)”

Then—

the Crane bowed politely to the audience and stepped down.

At the same time, the Mask King ascended the stage with his cape fluttering dramatically.

Sun Wooju’s spectacular performance had finally ended.

Now it was time for the King to answer.

Everyone waited curiously to hear what song he had prepared.

Then—

a bright and cheerful intro began playing.

“Hm...?”

“Wait, isn’t that...? A drama OST?”

It was a popular drama OST originally sung by Cha Woohyun in the early 2000s.

A song that began gently and brightly before swelling emotionally.

“?”

“??”

Viewers who expected an overwhelmingly powerful song were instantly blindsided.

‘Can he really win with that? I mean, I like it, but...’

It sounded like the upbeat ending song of a concert.

It wasn’t an easy song, but compared to Wooju’s explosive high-note performance moments earlier, the song choice felt relatively weak.

That was what everyone thought.

Then—

What kind of day awaits me today?

What kind of things will happen?

Yesterday was difficult,

but today might be different.

A refreshing voice filled with excitement.

And the moment Ri Hyuk, wearing the sunflower mask, began climbing into the high notes—

everyone changed their minds.

“Whoaㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“He’s just bulldozing it through raw physical specsㅋㅋ insane”

“As expected, if you sing well enough, song choice stops mattering”

“No but why is he SO good”

The ratings kept climbing higher and higher.

On the stage his oldest member had prepared for him with everything he had—

Seo Ri Hyuk unleashed every ounce of his talent.

At least today,

I can do anything.

Look at the blue sky

spread out before me.

Stretching one hand far outward, Seo Ri Hyuk released a dazzlingly refreshing voice.

“We passed twenty percent ratings!”

“Twenty-one percent!”

“Twenty-two...!”

Inside TBC’s control room, employees shouted out the constantly updating peak ratings in excitement.

Saunas.

Company dinners.

Bars.

Train station waiting rooms.

The entire country was watching the same screen.

And inside Lemon Entertainment’s headquarters, a certain five-member group laughed happily while enjoying the reactions.

“Ri Hyuk, do you see these reactions? Hyung is introducing your vocal skills to the world...!”

“Stop yelling directly into my ear!”

“How is it? Hm? How is it?”

Wooju laughed noisily while proudly bragging, I’m the one who made you famous!

Watching the oldest member acting smug, Seo Ri Hyuk scratched his cheek.

Then he smiled faintly.

“......Well, thanks.”

A small smile settled onto Seo Ri Hyuk’s lips.

He truly was grateful.

After the legendary battle between the two singers finally concluded—

it was time to determine the new Mask King.

[Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk — 46]

[Mask King Sun Wooju — 54]

The vote difference was unbelievably narrow, drawing gasps everywhere.

Just as viewers on TV cried out, “Run it back fifty-fifty...!”

Seo Ri Hyuk received the necklace from Korea’s Top Rapper Seo Ri Hyuk and ascended to the throne as the new Mask King.

[Yes! Together with the title Korea’s Top Rapper that I received from Seo Ri Hyuk, I have once again ascended as king of the music industry! Starting today, I am both Korea’s Top Rapper and Mask King Sun Wooju—!]

The sunflower mask laughed noisily while imitating someone.

Then Mask King Sun Wooju pointed toward the screen.

[If there are challengers, I welcome them anytime. This Mask King Sun Wooju is always waiting for challengers. Kyaaaruruk!]

Normally, it would’ve just been a throwaway variety show joke.

But—

‘Oh ho.’

‘Ohhhh... strongest in the music industry?’

Among the people currently watching TV—

there were some very special individuals.

People who normally wouldn’t have cared at all.

“Long time since I’ve watched performances from the younger generation.”

Because of Sun Wooju’s absurdly effective provocation and publicity—

certain legendary singers had turned on their televisions for the first time in ages.

‘Hmm.’

‘Ri Hyuk is good.’

The ballad singers The Moon and Yeon.

“Oh my, the kid’s adorable.”

“It’s been a while since someone this talented appeared...”

Rock legends Choi Yujin and Baek Siyeon.

The eyes of Korea’s greatest vocalists began shining brightly.

To them, Seo Ri Hyuk’s words sounded something like this:

“I hereby declare before this gathering! Seniors! I am the strongest under heaven in this music world! Kuhahaha!”

A truly arrogant laugh.

“If there are any old masters who wish to challenge me, come forth!”

A rising martial prodigy who had swept through the supreme music tournament was beckoning toward the masters of the previous generation.

The greatest vocalists in Korea smiled faintly.

“Hohoho... the spirit of youth is pleasing indeed.”

“Youth!”

“My heart burns once more!”

As the eccentric masters of the previous generation slowly stirred from their long silence—

one especially terrifying existence finally began to move.

The hidden master whose appearance alone could turn music programs into bloodbaths.

“Hmmm.”

The strongest ballad singer.

Cha Woohyun quietly opened his eyes while practicing vocal resonance inside his studio.

On the phone screen before him, a junior singer beckoned challengers forward.

‘This should be entertaining.’

The strongest figure in the music industry slowly rose to his feet.

Masters awakening one after another.

‘Perhaps it’s time for an expedition.’

‘Youngsters these days sure know how to have fun! Hahaha!’

‘Strongest, huh... perhaps it’s time I paid a visit.’

Originally, it would’ve simply become a mildly popular event and ended there.

But—

“Kyaaaruruk! Everyone! Look at this! Isn’t our Ri Hyuk amazing? Our kid is number one in the world!”

Because of the oldest member’s loving publicity campaign—

NewBlack’s main vocalist ended up attracting attention he absolutely should not have received.