Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 11

There was a time when beast-idols were all the rage.

 

I didn’t remember exactly which team started the trend, but I vividly remembered the name of the group that benefited most from it.

 

Eleven.

 

A male idol group consisting of eleven members with incredible physiques. Riding the trend perfectly, they swept the digital music charts and music show first-place trophies almost immediately after debuting. They weren’t even from one of the major entertainment companies, yet I remember it feeling as though the entire country belonged to Eleven, to the point where people wondered if any other group could possibly stop their momentum.

 

They were so popular that even middle schoolers and even elementary school kids were obsessed with them. Heartbreakingly, their peak was quite short compared to their unconventional debut, but because Eleven’s performance style was so different from other idols at the time, people still talked about them to this day. There wasn’t a single trainee who didn’t know this song.

 

Although they faced criticism that all their songs sounded the same, they had a powerful fandom. It was inevitable; true to the term beast-idols, they would rip their shirts open on stage and splash water on themselves during concerts. They were a group that constantly and passionately appealed their differences from other idols.

 

Not a single one of the eleven members lacked physical presence; every one of them was tall, muscular, and consistently delivered explosive, high-powered performances.

 

Which meant…

 

‘It doesn’t really suit me.’

 

I wasn’t particularly tall or muscular, so it was a style that definitely didn’t fit me. If I had been tricked by No. 123 into taking the center position, the stage would have lost its shine.

 

Eleven left behind many hits, but the most unconventional and powerful of them all was ‘Punch’. Speaking objectively, it wasn’t a song that someone like me—with a below-average build—could pull off. It was much more appropriate for someone like Joo Wooyoung or… right, Trainee No. 141, the guy with the best physique in our Slave class.

 

Sure enough, as the intro started, No. 141 charged forward.

 

-I stare blankly, then turn away.

Boom!

-I can’t even dare to try, so I lower my head without knowing.

Boom! Boom!

-It looks impossible. So I sink down.

 

His low voice blending into the deep drum bass that resonated through my chest didn’t sound bad at all. He wasn’t exactly a great singer, but the sheer force radiating from his superior physique had a way of drawing the eye. 

 

To begin with, unless you were main-vocal material, singing completely live was bound to be overwhelming, and because the choreography itself demanded so much physical strength, there had to be some compromises. That was exactly why we alternated between the good singers and the so-so ones.

 

-BABY, you’re blocking my view.

HEAVY, it looks too heavy to lift.

I KNOW, I knew it would be a hard road.

But it looks even higher than I thought.

It feels like I can never cross it.

 

‘No. 123 is surprisingly stable. Wait, why is he so good at singing?’

 

-But there’s definitely another way.

Even if it’s invisible, even if we can’t lift it, even if it looks uncrossable, the Lee Unha Team always finds a way.

 

‘Wait? Why did he change the lyrics? It was supposed to be ‘Eleven’.’

 

And then,

 

-Clench your fists and strike out.

PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!!

 

The chorus timing. 

 

While it was true there was no such thing as a song that didn’t equire singing ability, in this song, the main vocal only had a major part toward the end. Everything else focused almost entirely on the choreography and performance, so the judges were undoubtedly paying close attention to those aspects.

 

-Clench your fists and strike out.

PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!!

 

‘This part is important.’

 

Half a step, a full step, a full step, pause, then half a step. Turn sideways, performance.

 

I immediately grabbed No. 141’s arm. The trainee on the other side was likely doing the same. We kept pulling at No. 141, but he shook us off and finally threw a punch toward the camera.

 

-Clench your fists and strike out.

PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!!

 

Several more people swarmed him and grabbed his arms, but again, No. 141 shook them all off and threw a punch toward the judges. He said he had learned boxing as a kid, and his jabs really were something else. He looked like he could easily take down a goblin even if he were dropped into that other world. If he were sold, he’d probably be sold as a gladiator slave, not an experimental subject like me.

 

-Clench your fists and strike out.

PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!!

 

‘Good. The reaction isn’t bad.’

 

-PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!!!!

 

‘The reaction is great. It’s working.’

 

-PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!!!!

 

‘I’m sure of it.’

 

I didn’t know if it was because the previous stages had been such a mess, but the judges’ reactions looked promising. The group choreography we created by cutting out all the original Krump-style moves was drawing a good response. Smiles were blooming on the judges’ faces, and they looked genuinely intrigued. Some were even bobbing to the rhythm.

 

Of course, because it was intense, the sound of the teammates’ heavy breathing was audible, but due to the song’s atmosphere and concept, it started to feel intentional. Even the teammates who were too busy performing to think seemed to have vaguely noticed that fact.

 

One of the judges, Benok, was even clapping along to the beat. Of course, if you asked if this was a stage that could truly thrill a pro idol like him, the answer would be no—but because he knew the circumstances behind the stage, he seemed to be giving a more enthusiastic reaction to show his support.

 

‘I guess they feel bad for us, too.’

 

Support was powerful. Even as they were running out of strength, the trainees heard Benok’s clapping and threw their punches with even more intensity. 

 

Of course, I was no different in playing along with the atmosphere. Though I was gasping for air, I kept up with the choreography. Glancing around to time it, I began preparing for my upcoming part. After a brief nod and eye contact with No. 123, we changed the formation, and I moved to the center. 

 

Passing through the human tunnel made by my teammates, I threw quick jabs.

 

-BABY, one step forward. HEAVY, a heavy fist.

I KNOW, it’s easy now.

Yeah, it looks weaker than I thought.

It feels like I can easily break it apart.

 

At that moment, No. 123 reached out slightly, and I tapped his palm with my fist. Seeing that, No. 141 also reached out, and I tapped his palm as well. Given my physique, the punches might have looked a bit cute, but to stay true to the Resistance concept, I wore a serious expression and swung my fists.

 

I briefly considered using the Siren’s Voice, but I chose to save my mana for later.

 

After passing through the tunnel, I stood ahead and twirled my finger.

 

‘Since it’s become my signature.’

 

Naturally, I also activated my skill.

 

[Succubus Eyes: D-Rank]

 

It would be more taxing on my stamina, but having seen the effect once already, I couldn’t afford to skip it. For a brief moment, I felt the camera immediately lock onto me.

 

Yeah, you’ve all seen the view count already, haven’t you? I put my finger out knowing that.’

 

Maybe because I was on stage, I could feel the atmosphere reaching a fever pitch. The song was heading toward its climax. The main vocal, who hadn’t had much presence so far, was preparing as if he was going to grind his teeth to show the results of his separate practice. The other teammates were also ready to decorate the stage with their synchronized moves.

 

No. 123 formed and then broke a human chain. Then, spinning around, the center No. 141 returned to the middle, and the main vocal, No. 89, showed off his sufficient—though lacking—vocal skills, as if begging for attention.

 

It might have been a bit much to say we’d become one, but I was certain we were putting on a genuinely good performance. The fact that the usually quiet No. 141 had become overly excited was proof of that.

 

‘Wait… he looks a bit too excited.’

 

“Uwah!!”

 

He wasn’t becoming a beast-idol; he was becoming a literal beast. 

 

If I had to choose whether that was good or bad, I’d definitely lean toward good, but it was still starting to worry me. Still, passion on stage wasn’t a bad thing. Since No. 141 was filling in the lack of power from the other members by himself, I judged that his wildness might actually be helpful.

 

-Clench your fists and strike out.

PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!!

(Chorus)

 

-Clench your fists and strike out.

PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!!

(Chorus again)

 

Half a step, a step, a step—now for the ending. Once again, I subtly grabbed No. 141’s arm.

 

-PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!!!!

 

‘Good. Good.’

 

-PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!!!!!

 

And so, just when I thought everything was perfect…

 

‘Wait… huh?’

 

The over-excited No. 141 threw his punch a step faster than we had agreed. In a normal situation, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but because I was holding his arm tightly, I was yanked forward.

 

‘Eh?’

 

I must have looked like a paper doll.

 

‘Uh? Uh… wait?’

 

-PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!!!!!

 

I knew our luck was too good. I thought everything was going well… But come to think of it, had anything ever gone smoothly for me?

 

CRASH!!!

 

My face slammed directly into the floor. I squeezed my eyes shut, but the pain hit instantly. Following that, a panicked voice reached me.

 

“Ah! Un… Unha!”

 

‘No. 123, you bastard, focus!’

 

After shooting him a glare, I sprang back up as if nothing had happened, struck the ending pose, and spat out the last lyric.

 

-PUNCH. PUN. FUN. PUNCH!

 

I shot a sharp look directly into the camera.

 

‘Done… it’s done. Whew… at least I finished it.’

 

“Let’s take a short break here!”

 

At least the broadcasting station people had some conscience. Even before the judges could give their evaluations, the medical team rushed onto the stage. I wondered if they were really necessary, but…

 

“Un… Unha… your forehead… you’re bleeding.”

 

“Huh? Oh, I am?”

 

It seemed my condition was more serious than I thought. No. 123 was looking at my face with a look of utter helplessness. Once the medical team arrived, they began examining the wound on my forehead and my eyes. Since they saw me fall head-first, they were probably checking for symptoms of a concussion.

 

‘This is nothing.’

 

After finishing the basic first aid, the medical team gave a thumbs-up sign. I also signaled that I was fine. As I turned my head, I saw the messy state of my teammates.

 

‘The atmosphere… is ruined.’

 

No. 123, who had pushed for me to be center, was glaring with intense fury at No. 141, who had ruined the ending. 

 

Meanwhile, the massive No. 141 was sobbing as if he had lost his entire country.

 

“Waaaah… u-waaaaah….”

 

He was making a sound like a literal beast wailing.

 

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… Unha….”

 

“Ah… no, it’s….”

 

‘Stop crying. We still have to finish the broadcast.’