Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 123

Lee Unha

 

It might have been a gamble, but I once thought [Kingdom]’s arrival might actually be a boon for <The World> and <Fantasia>. At least, that was what I’d thought.

 

“……”

“…….”

 

I’d believed that about two weeks ago. I definitely thought so.

 

[Rookie Boy Group: Kingdom]

[First-week Sales: 684,323 copies]

[YouTube Views: 71.05 million]

[Short-form Performance Views: 54.24 million]

[Portal Site Trend Search Volume: 3rd]

[Jamon Music Chart Rank: Peak 5th]

[M-Countdown: 1st Place]

 

I certainly thought that… right up until I saw these metrics.

 

‘Does this even make sense?’

 

“…….”

 

‘No, how on earth… can they hit such a massive home run right out of the gate?’

 

“…….”

 

‘Was I… just being stupid? Did I underestimate Crown’s infrastructure and sheer power? Is their distribution and promotion network really that effective? Did I mess up? Did I make a mistake here?’

 

“…….”

 

I regretted not persuading Joo Wooyoung to cancel the quest. True, the quest never specified a deadline for completion, but an uneasy thought had begun to grow—that maybe we’d never catch up to Kingdom, no matter how much time passed.

 

‘Even if they’re a rookie from a major agency, does a first-week sales figure of 680,000 copies make any sense? At this rate, aren’t they going to end up on Billboard?’

 

The other metrics, I could understand. But those 680,000 copies in the first week triggered a genuine sense of crisis. It was natural for the NewTube views to be high since the music video was uploaded to [Crown]’s official account, and I could understand the high search traffic.

 

They’d also filmed challenge videos with numerous senior artists, so the Shorts view count wasn’t surprising either. But for a rookie to sell 680,000 copies in their first week was simply beyond my comprehension. It was even more baffling considering how little time they had to promote.

 

Unlike previous groups that would spend a long time exposing trainees before debut, this was a surprise debut executed at lightning speed. Kingdom’s final product certainly wasn’t sloppy, but for a group hastily assembled just to counter Fantasia…

 

‘How could they possibly have sold 680,000 copies?’

 

I simply couldn’t believe it. I was forced to realize that the power of a major agency was even greater than I had imagined. Only a few months ago, Crown had been drowning in controversy, but did they still have such loyal fans? No, did fans loyal to an agency even exist? Did Crown actually have fans like that? They weren’t exactly known for that kind of legacy.

 

I couldn’t understand it for the life of me… but making excuses at this point was meaningless. Just like that person over there.

 

“Those bastards definitely inflated the album sales….”

 

‘Director Oh… why are you down here again?

 

“Those sons of bitches definitely bulk-bought the albums! Huh?! They absolutely manipulated the numbers! Isn’t this chart manipulation?! Right?!”

 

‘Okay, I get it, so stop coming down to the practice room. Just do nothing, like you usually do….’

 

“Am I wrong?! Team Leader Jung?!”

 

“Ah… yes, Director Oh… I suppose it’s… possible….”

 

“It’s not just ‘possible,’ it is album pushing! If this isn’t pushing, then what is?! Does it make any sense for a crappy album like that to sell 680,000 copies?!”

 

‘I heard you. Now please go scream in your own office.’

 

Of course, it wasn’t entirely a bad thing that he cared. My prediction that [Kingdom]’s appearance might be a boon for <Fantasia> had turned out to be somewhat true. In fact, the entire company was on emergency alert. I had no idea how the other departments besides Planning and Management were doing, but whenever I went upstairs, the atmosphere was so chilling that I could tell all of <The World> was in crisis mode.

 

Seeing employees literally running through the halls already proved it. I was finally being shared information I hadn’t been able to hear before, and some members had to have their styles adjusted. Matters in realms I didn’t know or couldn’t see were surely undergoing constant revision. The guys who used to slack off were working, and the guys who used to fight were joining forces.

 

‘The Planning Headquarters and….’

 

“…….”

 

‘The Marketing Headquarters….’

 

The fact that they formed a temporary alliance was proof enough. Of course, it was strictly a temporary alliance. Director Oh still seemed to harbor a grudge against Planning, and they still engaged in power struggles occasionally. However, at the very least, Director Oh seemed to hate the external enemy more than the internal one.

 

His reaction was extreme—even by my standards.

 

‘Even so, you shouldn’t come to the practice room every single day. Even if today is the final check….’

 

“This is nothing! It’s all album pushing! Is it okay to do this just because you’re a major agency?! Does cheating and crushing others solve everything?!! Those arrogant bastards see us as total pushovers! Those bastards!! Artist Lee Unha!!”

 

“Ye… yes? Director.”

 

“If you don’t take those bastards down, prepare to be stripped of your leader position! Got it?!! Do you understand?!”

 

‘I told you, you don’t have the authority to do that.’

 

“Huh?! If we don’t make it, we all die together!”

 

“Ah… haha… yes….”

 

“I told you, didn’t I?! I had a drink with the CEO and the head of Business Operations! I made them agree to print one million copies of Fantasia’s album!”

 

“Yes… yes. You did mention that… yes….”

 

“We are going to sell every single one this time. I’m going to hit 1 million in the first week and make those arrogant bastards cry! Just trust me and follow my lead! Got it?!”

 

“Ye… yes… Director….”

 

“Fan management, whatever! You don’t have to worry about any of that! I’ll make sure we hit one million copies! We’re not looking back anymore! Damn it—we’re charging straight ahead! Understood?!”

 

‘You’re the only one not looking back.’

 

“…….”

 

‘You’re the one looking too far forward.’

 

Honestly, I couldn’t tell if those words were a bluff or not. Our first meeting was the absolute worst, and to be honest, I still didn’t trust Director Oh. Sure, he’d gone from calling me ‘Lee Unha, Lee Unha’ to ‘Artist Lee Unha’, but was that really enough to change my first impression of him? I knew people had different sides to them, but…

 

‘For all I know, he could still be doing all of this just for himself.’

 

To be honest, that kind of enthusiasm…

 

‘A bit uncomfortable….’

 

Personally, I definitely felt more at ease with Director Gu. He seemed to be sharpening his own blade as well, but he did it quietly. Team Leader Jung, who was assisting Director Oh, finally spoke up right when I was thinking, ‘Please, just leave.’

 

“Um, Director Oh. It’s time to… head back up….”

 

“Ah? Ah… ahem… ahem… What, is it that time already? Anyway, good job with the evaluation today… ahem… Hey! No, Artist Lee Unha. Come here.”

 

“Pardon? Ah… yes.”

 

“Take this, treat the members to something good to eat today, and make sure you’re all ready for tomorrow’s showcase. Got it?!”

 

“Ah. Th-thank you.”

 

“…….”

 

‘Wait, is he actually a good person?’

 

“…….”

 

He was pulling a wad of cash out of a heavy wallet. Of course, I wasn’t planning on celebrating right before the showcase like he’d suggested, but my opinion of him still went up by about a millimeter. I figured giving us pocket money despite us having a corporate card was just this old-school guy’s way of expressing himself.

 

“…….”

 

Ever since Kingdom debuted, Director Oh had completely changed his attitude. He clenched his fist with determination, so I answered him with an awkward smile. Right afterward, Director Gu, who had been quietly watching the entire farce from the sidelines, finally spoke.

 

“Well done, Fantasia.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“You’ve prepared well. I’m proud of all of you.”

 

“Ah, th-thank you, Director Gu.”

 

It was his evaluation after watching our final rehearsal—the last inspection before the showcase.

 

‘He’s not usually the type to come all the way down here, either.’

 

It seemed the gravity of the situation made him feel he had to show his face. He didn’t want to ride the same elevator as Director Oh, as he lingered for quite a while before finally leaving the practice room.

 

‘I wouldn’t want to ride with him either.’

 

After that, the officials I hadn’t met properly yet and the officials I was sick of seeing all left. The choreography teachers and vocal coaches all left after offering words of encouragement. Effectively, the preparations for the showcase were complete.

 

Which meant, tomorrow was….

 

“Debut.”

 

Yes, it meant the long-awaited debut of <Fantasia>. Perhaps because the people who had swarmed the room for the evaluation or check had all left at once, the practice room felt unusually quiet.

 

Yes, incredibly quiet.

 

“Let’s do it five more times, for the last time.”

 

When I spoke up, the members stood up once again. We had been syncing up since morning, and it would be normal to hold back for fear of injury, but everyone followed my lead without a word of complaint.

 

I was sure they were all remembering the final stage of Idol Classism. They surely remembered that live performance where they thought they’d done enough and worked hard, but ultimately failed to show everything.

 

I could feel the grit in them. Despite repeating the same routine two or three more times in silence, no one opened their mouth; they just kept practicing. Eventually, while we were slumped on the floor, exhausted… someone muttered:

 

“It’s our debut.”

 

Those simple words seemed to make the room fall even quieter.

 

‘Is everyone feeling a bit sentimental?’

 

It really had been a long road. I thought it would all be over once Idol Classism ended, but that wasn’t the reality. Living in a dorm, practically living in the practice room, dealing with minor troubles with the company and resolving them—the process was quite long.

 

Naturally, everyone had a lot on their minds. And moreover…. [Kingdom] must be weighing on their minds. No, it must be weighing heavily on them.

 

Kim Taeyeol, at least, made that obvious.

 

“We… we won’t lose, right?”

 

He muttered that in an atmosphere that called for a heart-to-heart.

 

“I think it’s better to focus on our stage rather than winning or losing.”

 

“B-but still….”

 

“I’m anxious too. About the mood inside the company, the public opinion among the fans, and how we somehow ended up as rivals.”

 

“…….”

 

“Still, what we have to do remains the same. Don’t overthink it.”

 

“…….”

 

“Focus on what we can do.”

 

I speak the principled words somewhat maturely—well, very maturely—like a true leader of <Fantasia>.

 

“Unha is so mature.”

 

That was what they told me… but actually, I wasn’t calm at all.

 

‘I’m just pretending to be mature.’

 

“…….”

 

‘You think I’m not angry?’

 

[Crown] and [Kingdom]—these bastards were really pissing me off. I had been trying to deal with this as rationally and maturely as possible, but… But maybe everyone had a little Director Oh living inside them after all.

 

‘We, our members, worked hard to get here….’

 

“…….”

 

To be honest… I really wanted to crush those bastards.