Devil’s Music

Snap and Neminem sat down next to Geon and naturally, Shizuka took a seat among the girls.

Though not as popular as Geon, Shizuka was also an active star, and it goes without saying that Snap and Neminem were legends, which left Jin-yeon and Yun-jung clamming up, utterly fascinated by the stars.

After a brief chat with Geon, Snap ordered food and drinks for Shizuka and Neminem, then stared intently at the two girls.

“You don’t seem like ordinary folks; you must be beauties to be actors, being Asian and all?”

Not understanding Snap’s words, the two girls stiffened as they saw Snap speaking to them.

Their bodies tensed as if cracking like rocks, and Geon, seeing this, translated for them, causing Jin-yeon to timidly say,

“We, actually, we do music too.”

Geon’s eyes lit up.

“Really? Both of you are musicians? Ah, so you came to visit Juilliard?”

Seeing their reaction, Geon realized they were in a position where they couldn’t confidently say they were musicians because people preparing to debut without formal music education often find it difficult to claim they are musicians.

Geon relayed Jin-yeon’s words to his friends, who were all surprised and looked at the two girls. Neminem, holding a hamburger, asked with interest,

“What kind of music do you do?”

It was simple enough English that Yun-jung understood without needing Geon’s translation and replied in a timid voice,

“Da, dance music......”

“Oh? Dance music? Where, in Korea?”

“Yes, yes...... sure......”

“Oh, really? Hey Kay, weren’t you recently listening to some Korean dance music because of that song 'Wind'? Maybe they can help?”

Geon laughed as he took Neminem's words,

“Haha, maybe?”

Though he said this, everyone thought it unlikely that these newcomers could be of any help.

Moreover, Neminem's last remark was too long and fast, so the two girls didn’t catch it. After Geon roughly translated it as a greeting, everyone resumed their meal and lively conversation.

Neminem and Snap had been at Fantagio for the past few days working on music, and Shizuka was pleased to have her own practice area in the shared underground practice space.

Everyone was laughing and chatting, but Yun-jung and Jin-yeon, feeling out of place, just turned their heads toward whoever was speaking.

Though Geon was the center of attention, he was concerned about the two girls and came over with a beer.

“Shall we toast?”

Yun-jung and Jin-yeon quickly offered their bottles, and with a clink, Geon blew into his bottle, downing half of it in one go. Yun-jung looked at him in amazement and said softly,

“Brother, you really drink well.”

“Haha, it’s because I’m with someone, so I drink better.”

“I’m surprised because it’s different from the image I heard about you.”

“Really? Hehe. What’s my image like?”

Jin-yeon joined in, flapping her hands like wings.

“Brother, you have the image of an angel, not drinking, not smoking, even helping the passing beggars, something like that?”

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At Jin-yeon’s words, Geon burst into laughter, took another sip of beer, and replied,

“I don’t smoke, I drink a bit, and I haven’t really helped passing beggars, haha.”

As Jin-yeon lost herself in Geon’s laughing face, Yun-jung said,

“Brother, you can speak informally with us, we’re much younger.”

Geon thought of Ji-ee, a neighbor back in Korea. He nodded, smiling as he looked around at these sibling-like kids.

“Okay, good. I’ll speak comfortably. You said you do dance music, right? Have you debuted?”

Yun-jung nodded slightly.

“Yes, we debuted a few months ago, haven’t hit it big yet, still building our recognition.”

“Recognition? How do you do that, live or radio?”

“No, like on variety shows.”

“Huh? Why increase a singer’s recognition through variety shows?”

Unfamiliar with the situation in Korea, having worked there briefly and filmed a variety show in Nepal at Yeong-seok’s request, Geon looked genuinely puzzled, prompting Yun-jung to say with a sorrowful look,

“In Korea, musicians struggle to make a living without doing variety shows. Unless you have a few mega-hit songs, most musicians do variety shows, and rookies like us need to get known on them, or we can’t even get gigs.”

“Gigs? What

kind of gigs?”

“Like, university festivals or local events.”

“Huh? You mean live performances at local festivals?”

“No, brother, being invited as a guest performer at university festivals or local festivals.”

“Oh…… I see. But wouldn’t it be better to improve your music rather than attending those festivals?”

“Sigh…… Korea isn’t like that, brother......”

Geon, who studied and worked abroad, couldn’t understand the Korean system. The disconnect between their views on why musicians must do variety shows and why it becomes a means of survival rather than an option led to a lengthy conversation between Geon and the two girls. After listening to Yun-jung’s calm explanations, Geon leaned his chin on his hand and said,

“So, you’re saying that to make it as a singer in Korea, you have to do variety shows, even if you have talent?”

Yun-jung paused, then replied,

“Even talented people do it, but most do. The higher your recognition, the more gigs you get.”

“So...... you do variety shows to get gigs, and the main income is from these gigs?”

“That’s right......”

“That must be hard, traveling around the provinces.”

“It’s tough even to sleep two hours a day, often in the car.”

“Wow...... What about meals?”

“We eat things like kimbap or tteokbokki in the car.”

“Wow, that’s tough. Korea is a tough place for singers.”

“It’s only at the beginning. Once you build some recognition and your income stabilizes, it gets easier.”

“How does it get easier?”

“You can choose which events to go to...... and more variety shows invite you.”

“So, the cycle of doing variety shows to get gigs doesn’t change?”

“That’s right...... Only singers from the 90s can live on music royalties alone; for people like us, it’s not enough, and idols have a short lifespan, so after gaining popularity, you have to branch into acting to keep working in entertainment.”

“Acting? Musicians turn to acting?”

“Yes, many long-loved idols switch to acting. There are some who don’t, but they are very few. Usually, once their popularity fades, they live off the money they’ve saved by starting businesses or shops.”

“Hmm...... It seems like the environment forces you to give up your dreams......”

Yun-jung’s face fell a bit, and Jin-yeon also looked sadder. Seeing this, Geon brightened up and clapped his hands.

“Let’s not talk about such sad things! Let’s drink more, a friend of mine said that drinking doubles the joy when you’re happy, doubles the sorrow when you’re sad, but halves the sorrow when you’re with good people, so let’s drink!”

“Ho ho, that’s a wise saying. Yes, let’s drink!”

“Cheers!!”

Yun-jung and Jin-yeon cherished every second among the stars, something they had only dreamed of from afar.

The drinking session went on until late, and Geon dropped the girls off at their hotel with his car. They waved until his car was out of sight, Yun-jung drunkenly slinging her arm around Jin-yeon.

“Hehe, Jin-yeon~ Kay brother is really cool, isn’t he? *hic*”

“Hehehe, yep, the best. Today was the best day of my life, let’s go inside~!”

The two, uplifted by the night’s events, collapsed onto the hotel bed. Luckily, the club-going older girls hadn’t returned yet, allowing them to fall asleep maintaining their good mood.

The next morning, Team Leader Lee from Fantagio rang the hotel room bell early. Despite pressing the bell repeatedly, there was no response, so he called an employee for the master key.

Since he was the one who booked the room, the employee verified this and opened the door with the master key. Team Leader Lee crinkled his nose as he entered the room.

“Ugh!! The smell of alcohol! How much did they drink to pass out like this!”

Seeing Soo-jung, Yun-hyun, and So-ah sprawled on the living room floor without having changed their clothes, he opened the door to Yun-jung and Jin-yeon’s room.

Luckily, they were at least dressed in pajamas, and he banged on the door, shouting,

“Wake up!! Fantagio called!”

Soo-jung, looking like she might vomit, ran to the bathroom. After a long bout of noisy retching, she came out looking somewhat refreshed and touched her parched face.

“What did he say, Team Leader?”

“Good grief, what were you all up to yesterday?”

“We went to a club......”

“Dammit, I told you to stay put. Get everyone up and ready now, shall I call Director Lim and show him how you all look?”

The mention of Director Lim instantly got Yun-hyun and

So-ah scrambling to get ready.

Soo-jung, also fearful of Director Lim, quickly washed her face as Team Leader Lee pounded on Yun-jung and Jin-yeon’s door.

“Yun-jung, Jin-yeon, get up and get ready!”

As Team Leader Lee was shouting, the two were already awake and jumped out of bed to start washing up.

Fortunately, the suite had three sinks, so the five women didn’t take long to get ready. Dressed in their prettiest clothes, they gathered in the living room as Team Leader Lee was on the phone.

“I’ve booked a hair salon, so go down and get in the car. A staff member is waiting downstairs.”

The idols went to a Korean-run hair salon nearby, where they spent three hours getting their hair and makeup done to cover up their worn-out appearances.

Still smelling of alcohol, Soo-jung bought breath spray and sprayed it into the idols' mouths. Just then, Team Leader Lee arrived at the salon.

Seeing the idols transformed into fresh and beautiful appearances, he checked his watch with satisfaction.

“Good, we’re not late. Let’s go.”

As they boarded a Japanese-made van waiting in front of the salon, Team Leader Lee looked at the demurely waiting idols and instructed,

“Listen up. The permission from Fantagio is for a ‘tour.’ Our goal, the Kay floor, is not open to the public, nor are the spaces of Snap Dog and Neminem, only the basement, first floor lobby, and rooftop lounge are available. The basement has sound spaces designed for other musicians, so focus there, according to Fantagio’s instructions.”

He looked at Soo-jung with a serious gaze.

“But we all know our real goal, right? Stretch the tour as long as possible, ask about everything you see, even down to how many toilets there are and where they’re located.

If we don’t run into Kay, we’ll switch to another plan. Then you’ll all be stuck waiting in the U.S. for a while longer, me included.

So today’s goal is to extend the time until we meet Kay. After that, Soo-jung will take over, so follow her directions.”

“Yes, Team Leader~”

As the idols chorused their response, Team Leader Lee surveyed them and eyed the red brick building of Fantagio growing distant, his eyes gleaming.

>

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