While Spark was preparing the stage, Polo headed to the prepared MC desk. At last, it was the final turn.

Rumors about Spark’s live performance were widespread among the staff.

“Mr. Polo, you probably haven’t seen them since your promotion periods didn’t overlap! Whenever there’s a music show, people flock to watch Spark’s rehearsals.”

“You’ve heard their live radio performances? You have to see them on stage too.”

“The impact is different when you see the whole thing directly without camera switching. There’s a reason camera directors particularly adore them.”

After hearing all that, Polo had even looked up videos himself. On the radio, they sounded like innocent freshman boys, but when they did their main job, it was like an all-star match of fiery young sports stars.

It wasn’t easy to maintain a group’s color. Judging by the outfits alone, Spark seemed intent on maintaining their usual tone today as well.

On the other hand...

Polo looked at the junior groups and smiled, raising the corners of his mouth. It was a habit formed over years of idol activities, often appearing in frustrating situations.

He recalled the conversation he had with Hellas Yur in the waiting room a little while ago when just the two of them remained.

“Don’t the kids’ outfits look different from usual?”

“Do they?”

“The feeling is totally different. It’s not like Spark in the last season......”

When Polo said up to here, Hellas Yur had laughed awkwardly.

“Wow.”

He couldn’t help but admire. This was the moment he realized why the company had so readily passed on the offer for him to be a new program MC.

“How much did they say they spent?”

Even if there was no one around, Polo never forgot that there were always ears listening.

Likewise, Hellas Yur, who had worked in the entertainment market for many years, answered concisely.

“Enough to protect their reputation.”

“They’ll be pouring endlessly into a bottomless pit.”

“It’s not like their skills are severely lacking.”

“That’s only when not comparing them to that side.”

“I already said as much... but they didn’t really listen. As always.”

Objectively, Parte’s skills were not bad. Just surviving the trainee period at a major agency and making it into a debut lineup guaranteed a certain level of ability.

But put them next to Spark, and the situation changed.

A unique group that had both skills and results, yet didn’t have a massive fandom, but received love calls from broadcasters and thrived high, making it hard to say only a small niche loved them.

Because it was hard to define exactly “what tier” they were, Spark became a frequent subject of debate across various communities.

≫ They sing this well so why haven’t they blown up?

└ Isn’t Spark already successful? They debuted last year and even won a rookie award

└ For their skill level, it’s true they haven’t blown up enough

└ Idols don’t succeed on skill aloneㅠ Still, judging by how much variety work they get, it feels like a solid mid-tier hit?!

≫ There are people who think Spark hasn’t blown up

For a small/medium agency, aren’t they totally successful??

There are even members shooting solo commercials, and I heard Kim Iwol is shooting another drama

└ It’s kinda.... the sentiment that if only their agency wasn’t UA, they would have done even better......

└ I agree with the comment aboveㅋㅋ If they were at a different agency and passed break-even point just six months after debut? They company would have gone all-in on these guys

└ Even if they stress fans out by being bad at their job, seeing them take feedback quickly and work hard, I won’t say anything but.... it is still such a shame

Even arguing over whether a single group was successful was noisy enough, what would happen once there was a comparison group?

The leader of the second tier, right on the brink of the first tier: Parte ahead in results, Spark ahead in popularity and recognition. At this point, the clash between the two fandoms was predestined.

≫ What I really don’t get about Squiddles is this:

How can a group that’s never even held a concert be considered top tier...?

Other groups all go on world tours meanwhile that group hasn’t even done a single overseas concert

└ Exactlyㅋㅋ At the very least, shouldn’t you release enough albums to fill a concert setlist before claiming anything...?

└ Leaving everything aside, just looking at MV views, the weight class is different, so it’s funny they act like that... If they have eyes, they should know

└ Just looking at how it’s divided Parte-Allover-Log // Spark-Verion during Idol Annals of the Dynasty already gives the answer,, Our kids don’t even mention you guys

≫ Don’t fight cowardly with fabrication, let’s talk facts only

Are you so proud of doing a cost-effective concert singing 17 songs where 30% were cover songs and unit stages + following seniors to overseas concerts as guests + chasing family festivals to attract overseas fans, compared to a world tour done with their own money???

└ Take Song Minil out and people wouldn’t even know who the other members are, yet you say “overwhelming recognition” ㅇㅈㄹ

└ Spark debuted last year and had five comebacks in a year, when would they be able to hold a concertㅋㅋ Do you think Spark takes 4–5 month breaks like you guys?

└ Funny how you stay silent about losing money because you couldn’t fill seats even after handing out free ticketsㅋㅋㅋ Hurry up and paste that old comment about how overseas tours aren’t for making money but for building name recognition—that’s your specialty, right?

└└ How can one stab with a dagger like this without a single curse word

This kind of thing was commonplace in the market, so Polo would normally shrug it off. But he hadn’t expected the company itself to want to keep throwing fuel on the fire.

Having a leader who was gentle yet strict about work, Polo knew: his hyung didn’t like this situation either.

“What do we do? Should I say I don’t want to do it now and find a substitute? Should I find one to cover your part too?”

“It’s fine. I already drew a line saying I won’t take sides.”

“As expected of hyung.”

Smiling, Polo relaxed his posture. Then he spoke in a small voice into his brother’s ear.

“There’s no manipulation, right? If there is, leaving aside not wanting to get involved, I can’t do this job.”

“.......”

“To me, working without shame is more important than everyone doing well together.”

He didn’t want to pretend not to know while knowing. Polo always wanted to be upright.

Seeing the honest look on his dongsaeng’s face, Hellas Yur smiled.

“If that were the case, I would have told you before the company made the offer to you.”

“True, hyung isn’t the type to just watch that happen.”

That was how their conversation in the waiting room ended. Greeting junior groups who came by to say hello, Polo gauged how much their blessed juniors could live up to the company’s expectations.

And now, back to the present.

Spark, targeted by MYTH for interfering with Parte’s one-top narrative, on the stage...

“......?”

......Was not there. Under the dimmed lights, only one person’s silhouette was visible.

“It’s not.... a solo stage, is it?”

The spot where Spark had been sitting was completely empty.

Turning at the sound of the spotlight turning on, he saw multiple figures overlapping in a line belatedly.

The person standing at the very front wore a mask with no chin part. Rather than a design brought exactly from the past, it was a shape that naturally melted into the stage.

Spark had chosen “With List” as the song for the first stage. As for the reason for selection, they said it contained their aspirations for this Idol Annals of the Dynasty.

An unexpected Korean traditional music-style lyrical accompaniment played out, different from the description that it was the album’s title track.

The lead member stepped forward in time with the music. Other members only spread out widely on the stage, not coming forward or showing any other movements. Soft lines danced over the light footsteps of the masked member.

The choreography to the accompaniment without lyrics was fluent yet elegant. Traditional movements and sophisticated actions mixed exquisitely to direct a beautiful picture. When the opened fan covered the white mask, yellow light cast a sunset-like shadow.

“Is he a major?”

There was no awkwardness in the masked figure’s dance. This wasn’t a half-baked imitation.

Occasionally among idols, there were cases where they majored in dance of a different genre. This member seemed to be such a case.

Every time he turned, the outer coat made of light and thin two-layered fabric spread in a circle. The wide sleeves were reminiscent of clouds in the evening sky.

Was this the interlude, or the part with lyrics? If the latter, what kind of lyrics would come next? The deep immersion only heightened the curiosity.

And the moment the song stopped.

Fire rose from Kang Giyeon’s fingertips as he threw off the mask. The pure white mask, perhaps made of paper, disappeared like magic in an instant without even leaving ash.

“Ready to have some perfect fun?”

Kang Giyeon, revealing his face, laughed heartily.

A sound like fireworks launching rang out, and with a loud bang, the stage was engulfed in a rain of sparkling lights. It looked as though embers were flying across the display.

The song shifted back into a familiar K-pop style. However, percussion instruments inserted between the music and instruments giving variation revealed an oriental feel. It sounded like a fireworks festival opening were heard from afar.

It was hard to tear your eyes away from the group choreography of the members, who carved paths like an ink wash painting. Lights reminiscent of glowing embers settled over their white hanbok and orange durumagi.

“The impact is different when you see the whole thing directly.”

When else would you use the saying “seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times” if not at times like this.

Every movement assumed “how it will look.” From the perspective of someone who had danced longer and done dozens of times more monitoring, Polo could tell.

Parte thought they could win by imitation?

Impossible. While one side copied, this team would bring out something else; what chance would they have?

After the music concluded, Kang Giyeon smiled at the center of the gathering members.

When he hit his palm with the fan, the bamboo ribs folded neatly with a snapping sound. Kang Giyeon blew on the tip of the fan as if extinguishing a candle. Cheers erupted from the cast seats.

Spark’s indoor version of Nak hwa nori placed second. Setting aside the fact that I was a Spark member myself, I honestly thought it was a solid stage, but...

“We’re voting for Blider sunbaenims, since we’re really looking forward to their new challenge!”

“I choose Terkit sunbaenims, we learned a lot from watching them!”

....Everyone had good broadcast sense. In Season 1, people were way too honest, but this time, everyone was carefully reading the room and carried an air of not being easily pushed around.

From a broadcast perspective, this was more entertaining, so I was satisfied. Winning here wouldn’t even get us a behind-the-scenes video anyway.

Beside me, Kang Giyeon kept rubbing his chest in relief. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) He seemed overwhelmed after successfully pulling off the fire-ignition trick without a mistake. Jeong Seongbin, who had taught him the fire-starting skill, looked proud as he massaged his dongsaeng’s shoulders.

After the rankings were decided, groups chose other groups to swap songs with for the 1st competition. While Terkit, who took 1st place, picked Blider, who had promoted around the same time, heralding a fiery rivalry between peers, it became our turn.

“Spark, which group would you like to compete with?”

Mr. Hellas Yur kindly held out the microphone.

At that moment. A loud voice was heard from somewhere.

“Wait a moment!”

One of Ond’s members was raising his hand high.

“Sorry, but could you give us one chance to appeal?!”

It was an intense courtship. While we stood there, not knowing where to put ourselves, the sunbaenims personally stepped forward toward us.