Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols Chapter 473 - The Result (2)

What determines ‘public appeal’?

 

There probably wasn’t just one answer, but people tended to say the same things.

 

— A flow that never gets old no matter how many times you listen to it

— Simple and intuitive lyrics

— An easy-to-sing-along-to melody

— Memorable choreography

— That addictively catchy feeling

 

It took quite a while to find a phrase that could summarize all of these. Descriptions like ‘simple but never boring’ or ‘easy yet memorable’ carried a strange sense of contradiction—maybe not as bizarre as a warm iced Americano, but still like kimchi stew made oddly sweet with too much sugar.

 

So, I condensed all these opinions into one category: the ‘Get out of my head!’ song. A song that lingered while you eat or while you lie down to sleep was the kind of song that inevitably ended up on people’s playlists. 

 

However, despite its practical power, public appeal often hit the wall of prejudice. It was frequently dismissed as purely commercial, and even within the realm of popular music, it was often looked down upon as ‘music only kids like’.

 

If you don’t satisfy the majority, you lose marketability and profitability. But if artistic quality drops, not only do you fail to meet existing consumers’ expectations, you also become prey for people waiting eagerly for an excuse to tear you apart.

 

There were many rabbits to catch, and we couldn’t afford to miss a single one. And in that situation, Spark decided to throw out a full-length album.

 

While Lee Cheonghyeon worked himself to the bone writing songs, I did my best to assist him—as much as a beginner composer could—and pushed Choi Jeho and Kang Kiyeon to their limits. Through everyone’s shared suffering, a result resembling the ‘standard of a hit song’ was born.

 

A quality that would satisfy fans. Content that was easy to approach yet fun to enjoy. Dreamer satisfied these two requirements. At the same time, it was lower in tone, heavier, and focused a bit more on musicality than the title track coming out today.

 

Dreamer was a kind of shield—evidence that Spark could show such diverse colors within a single album.

 

And the title track had to be more public-friendly and more aurally and visually intense than any other song on the album.

 

Storyline? Nice to have, but not essential. As long as you can imprint a single scene, a single movement, a single image.

 

More important than beautiful lyrics were words that matched the music, combinations of sounds that lodged themselves in your ears. Strip away every unnecessary element and leave only the core.

 

Because with ‘Dreamer’ already there, we could prove that neither Spark nor UA lacked ability.

 

So, what were we going to do with this song that ‘blatantly pursues simple addictiveness’?

 

“Alight MV was uploaded successfully!”

 

We were going to make money shamelessly. Dear heavens, please forgive us for becoming idols who do not fight fair.

 

***

 

Lee Soohoon was quite displeased. The trouble started when a classmate passing by said, ‘Hey, your brother made a comeback!’ leading Soohoon to look up Spark’s new music video.

 

A house clearly made of rotten wood. Smoke that looked hazardous to health and a dusty study.

He disliked everything, from the poorly maintained rugs to the sofa that was no different from rags, the warped floorboards, and the dim lamps.

 

They dunked a person in a fountain and pulled them out, and made them run across uneven ground tangled with tree roots.

 

Every single element irritated Lee Soohoon. There wasn’t one thing he liked.

 

‘Are they going to call this ‘vintage’ too?’

 

He let out a hollow laugh. He felt as though the hamster printed on one of the T-shirts in his closet was mocking him. Even getting splashed with soda beneath flashy multi-colored mirror balls wouldn’t have irritated him this much.

 

‘I specifically made a request to prevent exactly this.’

 

Lee Soohoon glared at the white-haired man on his phone screen. The man whose name was Park Joowoo wasn’t in a much better state. Not only was he hanging from the ceiling, but he also exposed his bare eyes to UV light and crouched in a posture that couldn’t possibly be good for his waist.

 

Still, this wasn’t right. He felt a burning sensation in his chest.

 

Agitated, Lee Soohoon returned to the dorm unusually early today. Then, from 5:30 onward, he sat on his bed staring at his phone. When his roommate asked what he was doing, Lee Soohoon replied:

 

“Waiting for a music video.”

 

Fortunately, the video that had him so anxious was only for a ‘pre-release track’. After several searches, he learned that a ‘pre-release’ meant releasing other content ahead of the main content that received the bulk of the investment. He felt a small sense of relief.

 

His father had said that Spark didn’t seem to skimp on money at their concert. He said it was loud and boisterous, but the people around them looked like they enjoyed it. He mentioned that Lee Cheonghyeon looked excited, and Lee Soohoon, who watched the concert video later, agreed with his father’s opinion.

 

So, he believed that the video coming out today would be a work more befitting of Lee Cheonghyeon. As soon as the clock hit the hour, Lee Soohoon entered the official MeTube channel.

 

He saw the new video that had just been uploaded. A short word was written in white cursive against a black background.

 

『Alight』

 

It was an image at the complete opposite pole of the splendor Lee Soohoon had hoped for.

 

When he clicked the video, a small noise tickled his ears. He heard a clicking sound.

 

A blurry grey object gradually began to take shape beyond the background. Every time a sound was heard, a tiny spark flew.

 

『hold on

I need something to swallow』

 

The moment the sparks flashed three times, a pure white fire ignited.

 

The embers spread in an instant, swallowing the surrounding darkness. Over the burning black background, papers covered in writing showered down. They became kindling, increasing the size of the flames.

 

The face of the person who came to burn the papers filled the screen. Flames flickered in his black eyes.

 

Lee Soohoon remembered these eyes. They were the eyes of Kim Iwol, which had disappeared behind a car window on the day of the festival.

 

Long, thin eyelashes like brushstrokes from a fountain pen slowly lowered over those eyes.

 

『Because alone

I cannot burn』

 

Color was layered onto the black-and-white screen. Music as intense as the flames surrounding Kim Iwol and the mountain of papers slammed into his ears.

 

『The longing does not die out

The thirst does not fade』

 

When the scene showing all six members dancing appeared, their clothes changed.

 

Kim Iwol, who had been wearing a white shirt with a brooch and a black coat, changed into a leather jacket adorned with hanging straps. Underneath the jacket…

 

‘What is that?’

 

…there was nothing except something embroidered that was far too transparent to be called fabric. Every time he moved his body, greyish shadows were cast, but that was all.

 

Everyone’s clothes were similar. Only minor details, like the length of the jackets or the presence of buttons, differed.

 

The smooth surface of the leather and the semi-transparent cloth that felt soft even without touching it glowed, following the owner’s movements as they danced in their combat boots.

 

The flowing light made the movements look like a single line. The wet hair and fingers encased in leather gloves gave off a sharp, disciplined impression.

 

『Not enough heat

Pick it up and swallow it』

 

The man with light purple hair wearing goggles was in a slightly better state.

 

Was he called Choi Jeho? Lee Soohoon remembered Lee Cheonghyeon showing him photos and introducing everyone in detail.

 

Choi Jeho was at least wearing a shirt under his jacket. However, the shirt buttons were still only halfway fastened. The embroidery was even more extravagant.

 

『Turn up the temperature』

 

The man seemed like the center of the group. It was exactly as Lee Cheonghyeon had described him. The man’s aura changed every second, much like his hair which flickered between purple and blue depending on the angle.

 

The presence of the music grew even larger in time with the thumping beat. Every instrument clamored loudly, and the tempo raced forward as if sprinting.

 

Whenever the members turned, there came slow whistling sounds; when they flicked their shoulders or hands quickly, rapid guitar riffs; when they stepped, drumbeats pounded all the way into Lee Soohoon’s head.

 

The sight of Lee Cheonghyeon with his zipper only halfway up was more unfamiliar than during Hideout, when he wore clothes with holes. The long, flashy earrings were also a combination Lee Soohoon had never seen on Lee Cheonghyeon. The saffron-shaped embroidery covering his upper body and neck looked as if it were one with him.

 

Whether it was overwhelming or confusing, Lee Soohoon’s thoughts were a total jumble. Even amidst that, Lee Soohoon thought that the red highlights scattered through Lee Cheonghyeon’s black hair looked like the sparks he had seen at the beginning of the video.

 

The music didn’t stop. With destructive power, it grabbed Lee Soohoon and pinned him to the spot.

 

『Become a great fire

That swallows the world』

 

The camera zoomed in on someone with green hair. It was the member Lee Suhoon had worked especially hard to memorize.

 

‘…Kang Kiyeon.’

 

The only friend Lee Cheonghyeon had in the group.

 

『Melt it all』

 

It wasn’t calm; it was loud and chaotic. Yet, he couldn’t stop listening.

 

It didn’t have a story like Dreamer, and it was a simple composition where each member was highlighted just when you might forget them.

 

And yet, he found himself waiting for the next part.

 

『When the soul

Glows deep blue

Without leaving anything behind』

 

The high notes produced as the two people Lee Cheonghyeon had excitedly introduced as good singers appeared on screen in turn…

 

『Let it』

 

The gesture and smile Kang Kiyeon directed straight ahead, unable to overcome the racing sense of speed and mixing together…

 

『burn』

 

It exploded with a ‘bang’.

 

『Open a new era』

 

Plain black three-piece suits and leather setups intersected ceaselessly. Buttons fastened to the top of the neck, glossy gloves covering the backs of the hands and reaching the wrists, and black socks filling the gap between the shoes and the hem of the pants contrasted with the flung-open jackets, amplifying a strange sensation.

 

『Until I become ash

Burn』

 

『me』

 

Silver accessories constricting various parts of their bodies shone white. Chains swayed in waves.

 

『Set alight』

 

Intense flames swallowed everything.

 

Lee Soohoon slowly took off his earphones. Then, he sat dazed for a long while.

 

‘What did I just listen to?’

 

He thought the word ‘impulse’ was the best fit for his current emotion. Lee Soohoon felt a strong longing to keep doing something.

 

A dance that made him want to watch the movements again.

 

Vivid, clear voices.

 

Scenes that passed by too quickly, creating a desire to look at them more closely.

 

Lee Soohoon put his earphones back in. He pressed the play button once more.

 

The MV ran a second time, then a third. Even then, it wasn’t enough.

 

It had gone beyond simply replaying it in his mind—he had begun repeatedly seeking out a specific thing.

 

The addiction had begun.