Chapter 67 - What on Earth Is This Person

“The fourth session of 'The Idol', Newstarz has finally recaptured 1st place!”

Hearing the MC's announcement, Baek Hyeon-woo clenched his fists tightly.

As expected, Newstarz took 1st place.

It was thanks to him guiding them to choose the song with 90% affinity.

“As I mentioned earlier, the vocalist's voice suited the song very well. The members' voices also blended well in the parts they sang together.”

“If we were to evaluate based on how well they performed the mission song, they were certainly the most outstanding.”

“I think it was a performance that was not lacking for taking 1st place. You did very well.”

The judges also sent their praise to Newstarz.

Meanwhile, the 2nd place spot went to N.A.N, who passably performed a difficult song. Choux-pop was 3rd place, with a large gap from 2nd.

“Ah, I think this was the worst performance we've had so far. What was the problem?”

“I guess we chose the mission song badly.”

After all the recording was over, Seong Hae-won grumbled, and Joo Ga-hee retorted from the side in a chilly voice.

It was a tone that criticized the leader, Seong Hae-won, who had chosen the mission song, but Seong Hae-won didn't seem to care much.

“Ah, Hyeon-woo-ssi.”

Seong Hae-won, who had come down from the stage, approached Baek Hyeon-woo.

“What was that signal you were sending earlier?”

“A signal?”

“I saw it all.”

Seong Hae-won spread her five fingers and waved her hand.

“I'm not sure what you mean. Didn't you see it wrong?”

“Ayy, there's no way I saw wrong when I was watching you so intently, Hyeon-woo-ssi. I was watching you the whole time, from when you popped out of the corner.”

Just as Seong Hae-won said that and was about to touch Baek Hyeon-woo's arm.

Suddenly, an arm that extended from the side blocked Seong Hae-won's hand.

“Hae-won-ah, can you stop hitting on our manager?”

“Huh?”

As Kim So-yeong stepped in between her and Baek Hyeon-woo, Seong Hae-won narrowed her eyes and smiled.

“Oh my, is Prince So-yeong-nim protecting Hyeon-woo-ssi? How reassuring.”

“Seong Hae-won.”

Following Kim So-yeong, Seo Na-eun also cut in.

Laura, Kanade, and Yoo Jeong-ah also came closer and surrounded Baek Hyeon-woo.

“Stop bothering someone else's manager. Our Manager-nim is a busy person.”

“Wow, what is this? You guys are really fun...”

At that moment, Team Leader Jeong Do-woon grabbed Seong Hae-won's shoulder.

“Seong Hae-won, let's go.”

“Team Leader, what's wrong?”

“It's an order from the Director. To not needlessly create trouble with other agencies.”

It seemed Seong Soo-ho had ordered Jeong Do-woon to watch Seong Hae-won.

“Sigh, I guess I'll just have to go today. See you next time, Hyeon-woo-ssi.”

Seong Hae-won waved at Baek Hyeon-woo and left, and the Newstarz members continued to glare at Seong Hae-won.

Watching them, Joo Ga-hee muttered briefly.

“Look at them being ridiculous...”

Spitting that out, Joo Ga-hee immediately tried to leave, but Baek Hyeon-woo spoke to her departing back.

“Joo Ga-hee, your condition doesn't seem very good today.”

“What?”

As a result of checking with the status window, Joo Ga-hee's Body Condition and Mental Condition were both poor today.

After the judges' evaluation was over, her Mental Condition had dropped below 50%.

On top of that, she was also in a state of having a migraine, just like when he saw her at the broadcasting station before.

“It'll be good to go in and rest well. With a comfortable mind.”

“Stop your useless meddling. Because you're fucking annoying.”

Despite Baek Hyeon-woo's advice, Joo Ga-hee only got annoyed and left.

“Oppa, why are you giving advice like that to that traitor?”

Laura asked Baek Hyeon-woo with a dumbfounded expression.

“When it wouldn't be enough even if we tormented her and made her condition drop.”

“It's just, I've grown attached from seeing her all the time.”

As Baek Hyeon-woo answered nonchalantly, Seo Na-eun made a serious expression.

“Manager-nim, don't tell me you like Joo Ga-hee's type...”

“Not at all, so don't worry.”

At that moment, Kim So-yeong said with an awkward smile.

“But Hyeon-woo oppa, I think that saying such warm words to her will actually become an act that torments Joo Ga-hee even more.”

“You think so...?”

Then again, it's true that Joo Ga-hee gets incredibly annoyed every time he speaks to her.

“Well… enough about other groups.”

Baek Hyeon-woo spoke to the members.

“Since we recaptured 1st place after so long, let's go eat something delicious. I'll treat, in celebration of becoming a team leader.”

He got a good result in his first showdown after being promoted to team leader.

This is a proud moment for Baek Hyeon-woo as well.

So today, he wanted to be soaked in this good feeling together with the members.

“Wow, how cool!”

“That's our Hyeon-woo oppa!”

The newly acquired ability, he can test it tomorrow by trying out all sorts of songs.

The worries about the new song, he could start on those tomorrow.

……

[Jeong-wook: Hyung, we're having a song camp this time, please come and give us some advice.]

One afternoon.

Seol Woo-myeong, who was resting in his residence on the second floor of the company, let out a sigh after receiving a message from a junior producer.

‘A song camp.’

A song camp means that for a certain period, several composers gather and compose jointly, as if at a training camp.

It's a system for creating many songs in a short period of time by dividing the work among each other.

The track maker creates the instrumental, the top-liner puts on the melody... if they exchange opinions and proceed with the work at the same time, an entire album can come out in just a few days.

Originally, when you thought of a composer, it was easy to imagine a person cooped up in their room alone, devoting themselves to composition.

However, these days, a system where many people collaborate to mass-produce songs in a short period of time has established itself.

In large agencies especially, there are many cases where they hold their own song camps to efficiently produce the necessary songs for their affiliated singers as quickly as possible.

That's why if you look at recently released songs, you can often find cases where there are five or six composers.

However, Seol Woo-myeong did not particularly like this song camp system.

[Seol Woo-myeong: Sorry, but I don't think I can make it. Good luck.]

After sending the reply, Seol Woo-myeong threw his phone into a corner.

A reply from his junior came right away, but he did not pick up the phone again.

‘A song camp is nothing more than a factory that produces soulless songs.’

A soul cannot be contained in a song that is made like an industrial product mass-produced in a factory.

That was Seol Woo-myeong's conviction.

It's difficult for a creator's individuality to be contained in a song made by several people.

Even if you can make a passably commercial song or a song richly filled with various ideas, you cannot create a song with a charm that is one-of-a-kind in the world.

For that reason, Seol Woo-myeong had a sense of repulsion for the song camp system itself.

‘Although some people say that song camps will actually extend a composer's lifespan.’

In any field, there is a limit to a creator's creativity.

No matter how much of a genius creator you are, it's not easy to maintain creativity for over 10 years.

However, there are also people who argue that if you work while borrowing other people's creativity through a song camp, you can extend your lifespan as a composer...

His junior probably invited Seol Woo-myeong while thinking of such a story.

Saying that if he encounters various people's creativity at the song camp, he might be able to escape his slump.

‘I'm grateful for his consideration, but he's barking up the wrong tree.’

The reason Seol Woo-myeong can't work is not because his creativity is depleted.

It's just that he can't work properly because his physical condition is poor.

His head is also dazed, he's sensitive to every little thing, and he can't even sleep properly, so there's no way he can do creative work properly.

‘Something like a song camp can't be a cure for my slump.’

In fact, he had also tried medical treatment.

When he went to the hospital, they prescribed him depression medication, but there was no real effect, and he just got indigestion.

It seemed it wasn't an illness that could be cured with medicine.

“Hm…?”

At that moment, the intercom rang.

It was the intercom connected to the first-floor office.

“CEO, a guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

“He said he came on an introduction from PD Seo Dong-cheol-nim...”

“Ah, that's right.”

Seol Woo-myeong belatedly remembered.

At the request of PD Seo Dong-cheol, to whom he was greatly indebted, he was scheduled to meet someone from an agency.

He had already revealed to Seo Dong-cheol that he was in a state where he couldn't compose these days.

However, Seo Dong-cheol had said it didn't matter and asked him to just meet him once.

Saying that it might be a good stimulus for Seol Woo-myeong.

“Tsk, it can't be helped.”

To Seol Woo-myeong, Seo Dong-cheol was like a savior.

Because the Seol Woo-myeong of today exists thanks to being used on Seo Dong-cheol's audition program, 'Infinite Produce'.

'Come on', which was the theme song for 'Infinite Produce', is Seol Woo-myeong's biggest hit, and even now, a large sum in royalties is deposited every month.

Since he wouldn't have been able to achieve such success without Seo Dong-cheol... he could grant a request to meet someone once.

“Tell them to wait. I'll be down.”

He rarely lets outsiders into the second floor, which has his personal work studio and residence.

He handles almost all his meetings on the first floor.

When Seol Woo-myeong straightened his clothes and went down to the first floor, a young man with a neat appearance was sitting in the guest area.

“Hello. I am Team Leader Baek Hyeon-woo, in charge of manager duties at Haram Entertainment.”

“I'm Seol Woo-myeong.”

Seol Woo-myeong received the business card and sat in the seat opposite him.

“You seem young, but to be a team leader already, it seems you started your life as a manager early.”

“Actually, it hasn't even been half a year since I started my life as a manager.”

“Huh? Not even half a year?”

It was unexpected.

Because he knew that you originally have to struggle in the field for about 5 years to get the team leader title.

It would be 3 years at the earliest, so how on earth did he get the team leader title in less than half a year.

‘It seems there was a reason he said it might be a good stimulus.’

Recalling his conversation with Seo Dong-cheol, Seol Woo-myeong began to speak.

“I'm telling you in advance, but I am not composing these days.”

“Yes, I heard.”

“So if you've come because you want to commission a song, it would be better for you to just leave. Because it's a waste of time.”

Of course, a team-leader-level manager probably wouldn't come to a composer to commission a song.

Because that's a job for a producer or the A&R team.

Still, he said it in advance just in case. This was also a kind of consideration.

“Actually, we do need a song right now.”

However, Baek Hyeon-woo said it while maintaining a composed expression.

“The group I'm in charge of has to release a new song now, but a bit of a problem arose with the publishing company the A&R team had commissioned.”

“Really? Where is it?”

“It's Artion Publishing.”

“Ah, that place…”

Seol Woo-myeong nodded. He had an inkling.

“That must be a headache. I hope you find a new publisher quickly.”

“However, it's because I don't want to commission it just anywhere.”

Baek Hyeon-woo said in a calm voice.

“This new song is extremely important for our group. It is no exaggeration to say that whether or not we can take a leap forward to become a truly popular group depends on this new song.”

“Hmm…”

“So, I don't want to be satisfied with just a decent-level song.”

Hearing Baek Hyeon-woo's words, Seol Woo-myeong crossed his arms and nodded.

“What kind of song do you want?”

“The genre is not that important. As long as it's a genre suitable for a 5-member group to perform.”

Baek Hyeon-woo said calmly.

“However, I would like it to be a song that has both public appeal and completeness.”

“Haha…”

Laughter flowed from Seol Woo-myeong's mouth.

“That's not an easy thing to ask for.”

“I know. However, it's because I don't want to compromise.”

“Don't want to compromise...?”

“I don't want to bring them a song that's just at the level of 'This should be good enough'.”

Baek Hyeon-woo said in a clear voice.

“I want to bring them the best song, one with a proper soul in it.”

“……”

Seol Woo-myeong was silent for a moment.

And he let out a sigh.

“That's good.”

Wanting to have them sing the best song, one with a soul in it, without compromising with a merely decent song.

From Seol Woo-myeong's perspective, this was a sufficiently appealing story.

Seol Woo-myeong also wanted to make a song for someone who desired such a thing, if possible.

“It's a shame that I'm in a state where I can't make that kind of song for you.”

“……”

“I'm sorry, Team Leader Baek.”

Saying that, Seol Woo-myeong stood up from his seat.

He hoped that a person with such sincerity wouldn't waste meaningless time on a has-been like himself.

“I'll introduce you to a few juniors I know. They're all skilled guys, and if I ask, they'll prioritize the work...”

“CEO.”

Right at that moment.

Baek Hyeon-woo said in a calm voice.

“Your breathing is too fast.”

“What?”

What was he talking about all of a sudden?

As Seol Woo-myeong stared blankly, Baek Hyeon-woo threw a question.

“By any chance, is your head usually dazed or heavy?”

“……!”

Seol Woo-myeong flinched in surprise.

He had never told Seo Dong-cheol such a thing, so how on earth did he see through him.

“It seems you can't sleep well... and your senses are probably keen. Have you by any chance become sensitive to even small stimuli?”

“H-how did you...”

“As I thought.”

Baek Hyeon-woo nodded.

“You're doing the creative activity of composing, but if you have such symptoms, you probably can't work properly.”

“Ah, no, Team Leader Baek, look here.”

Flustered, Seol Woo-myeong asked again.

“How did you figure that out?”

“I can tell just by looking.”

“You can tell just by looking?”

“Yes, for example… excuse me for a moment.”

Baek Hyeon-woo suddenly reached out his hand.

And he touched the side of Seol Woo-myeong's neck.

“This place, the scalene muscle on the side of the neck.”

“Hwaaargh!”

An intense sensation spreading from the neck to the entire upper body...!

Seol Woo-myeong screamed at the unexpected pain.

“A place like this is clearly rigid.”

“Uwaaargh...!”

It hurt so much.

But strangely, it was a refreshing sensation.

It was a sensation as if something that had been tightly blocked was being completely cleared out in one go.

“CEO? What's wrong?”

The office employee rushed in, surprised.

“Wh-What are you doing to the CEO right now?!”

The employee screamed.

Because it looked as if he were strangling Seol Woo-myeong's neck, the atmosphere was as if she was about to call the police right away.

“N-No, it's okay! It's fine!”

“C-CEO, but...”

“I said it's okay! Go and get back to work!”

As Baek Hyeon-woo took his hands off, Seol Woo-myeong caught his breath while panting.

His neck was still tingling, but strangely, it felt like his upper body had become lighter.

“Team Leader Baek, what did you just do?”

It was like some kind of acupressure, but it was a truly tremendous stimulation.

Was the 'stimulus' that Seo Dong-cheol mentioned by any chance this kind of stimulus?

“CEO, you used to sing in the past, right?”

“Yes? I was active as a singer for a short time, but...”

Seol Woo-myeong had been active as a singer-songwriter in the past.

He had released up to a 2nd album, but it wasn't a big hit, so now he is only composing.

“At that time, you probably mainly did diaphragmatic breathing. However, it seems you're now doing thoracic breathing.”

“Uh… that's true.”

When singing, diaphragmatic breathing is advantageous, but thoracic breathing is certainly more comfortable.

Now that he no longer sings, he was mainly breathing using his rib cage.

“In my view, it seems to be a problem with your breathing.”

“A problem with thoracic breathing?”

“Thoracic breathing is merely a partial phenomenon. Right now, there is an imbalance in your body, CEO, and because of that, a problem has arisen with your breathing. That's why the uncomfortable state is continuing.”

That was a story he had never heard no matter what hospital he went to.

Because all this time at the hospital, they would just run various tests, say there was nothing particularly wrong, and only prescribe things like depression medication.

“However, you don't have to worry. I will solve it for you.”

“Y-You'll solve it?”

“Yes, CEO.”

In front of Seol Woo-myeong, who was looking at him with trembling eyes, Baek Hyeon-woo asserted in a voice filled with conviction.

“Every time you sat in front of your desk, you probably couldn't concentrate and couldn't do anything, but I will solve all of it for you.”

What on earth kind of person did PD Seo Dong-cheol send?

Seol Woo-myeong swallowed his saliva in anticipation and tension.