"That’s surprising."

"Indeed···. To think Producer Raon’s song wouldn’t even make it to the final round."

"CEO!"

Along with Raon’s sharp voice, a vicious glare that could be felt even without looking stabbed repeatedly into the side of Sanghyeok’s head.

"It was a joke."

"I told you! You’re not a person who suits jokes! And the reason my song got dropped was absolutely not because the quality was lacking, but rather···." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Yes."

"Are you listening?"

"Of course."

"Haah··· you seriously get more irritating by the day."

Letting out a sigh as if she were frustrated, Raon began laying out a long, heartfelt string of excuses about why her song had failed to remain in the running.

While giving suitable reactions to Raon’s words, Sanghyeok was, inside his head, thinking over the result of the meeting that had just ended.

5:5.

The two candidate songs that had taken first and second place in the first vote had been put into the final round for another vote, and the result had come out to an exact 5:5 split.

'To think they were Lucas’s and Miss Shinyu’s songs.'

Looking back afterward, it seemed Raon had known those two songs were works by Lucas and Geum Shinyu, but Sanghyeok’s musical knowledge was not at that level, so once he found out their identities, he had been genuinely shocked.

And that made ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) sense, because even to Sanghyeok’s ears, those two songs had been the best among the candidates.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I’m still thinking about it. This is important."

"It is. If I were in your position, I think my head would hurt too."

Raon answered with a nod, as if she agreed with Sanghyeok’s words.

Certainly, Sanghyeok’s situation right now was awkward.

'It’s right for me to have the final say, but this is difficult.'

Now that the vote had ended in a 5:5 tie, the selection of the title track depended on Sanghyeok’s choice.

Originally, he had intended to decide the title track according to the vote results, but in a situation like this, where opinions were split exactly down the middle, making the choice was the role of the CEO.

If Sanghyeok had been a figurehead president, he might have pushed that responsibility off onto Producer Raon or some other staff member.

But because he believed that passing the choice onto someone else in this kind of situation was not the right thing to do, Sanghyeok had no choice but to deliberate again and again.

"Lucas’s song, 'Trace'—from the first moment I heard it, I thought that if we went with this, there would be no problem with the next album."

"You did?"

"Yes. I think it was actually because I’m me that I could think that."

Normally, when it came to music, Sanghyeok did not consider it his area of expertise, so he almost never made confident statements.

But right now, that was exactly why he could be sure.

'It’s safest to use myself as the standard for the public’s musical taste.'

There were works that failed commercially even while receiving critical praise and glowing reviews from experts.

[What even is Eunice’s new song this time?]

"It thought it’d just be another upbeat song like before, but this feels really unfamiliar."

⤷ It’s not unfamiliar, it’s bad.

⤷ Why don’t they just do what they’re good at? Why are they suddenly bringing out something weird?

⤷ Ah, the agency seriously has no fucking sense. They put out this kind of song on an important album.

⤷ If they release something like this, only the real fans will stream it. Who else is going to listen?

⤷ I don’t get why idols build up seniority and then suddenly grow an ego and start expressing themselves through the album.

⤷ fr just do what you’re good at

For example, the boy group Eunice that had made a comeback a year earlier had been a major male idol group from Logic, not one of the Big 3 agencies, after quite a long time.

Unlike boy groups from the other major agencies, they had used freshness and casual charm to exploit a gap in the blood-splattered battlefield that was the male idol fandom, and they had been one of the hidden contributors that let Logic rise to just below the Big 3.

But the evaluations of Eunice’s first full-length album had split to extremes.

Within the industry and among experts, people had said it was something they had prepared with full intent, and it had stirred up everyone’s anticipation, but the public’s reaction to Eunice’s full album had been icy in the complete opposite direction.

'That gap is exactly what matters.'

Sanghyeok thought the reason was a failure to control the gap between artistry and popularity.

No matter how meaningful, fresh, and distinctive something was compared to what had been shown before, did it mean anything if the public could not accept it?

Of course, there were artistic films and literary works that had been made from the start without commerciality in mind.

But idols were not like that.

No matter how much fancy language you dressed it up with, in the end it was commerce.

Idols were things born for commerce, so it was essential that they at least meet the public’s minimum expectations.

In that sense, the fact that it had worked on Sanghyeok, whose musical sense was almost at the level of an ordinary person, meant that even if tastes could differ, it could work with the public.

"Miss Shinyu’s song was a little difficult."

"That’s how I felt too. It feels like maybe she put in too much effort and tried to cram too much into it?"

On the other hand, when Geum Shinyu’s "Pirate," the other song that had remained until the final round, was first played, it had given Sanghyeok a lot of difficulty.

Rather than being bad, it was too fast and complicated, like standing aboard a precarious pirate ship on a stormy sea.

You could immediately feel what it was trying to do, but there was definitely a sense that it was a little excessive.

However—

-The hook keeps lingering in my ears.

If it had only been excessive, there was no way it would have beaten out the other songs and remained until the final round.

'It’s strangely addictive.'

The chorus of the song had made the staff vote for "Pirate," making them completely forget the song’s weaknesses—that it was a little difficult and complicated.

That part alone was so addictive and appealing that even after the meeting ended, it remained and circled around in Sanghyeok’s head.

To the point where he thought that trusting in the chorus alone and making it the title track might be acceptable.

"If Lucas’s song is highly complete and stable overall, then conversely, Miss Shinyu’s song has slightly lower completion but explosive appeal."

"Yes, they’re songs with completely different feels, so honestly, I think either one could work as the next album’s title track."

Just as Raon said, it was a situation where the choice was difficult enough that either song would be fine.

It was better than having no options at all, but because it felt like regret would remain no matter which one he chose, it was not easy.

'Their strengths and weaknesses are too opposite.'

Of course, they said it would improve once arrangement and vocals were added, but Lucas’s song was definitely not the kind of song that would show tremendous explosive force from the start.

By contrast, Geum Shinyu’s song could flop if things went wrong, but it showed high potential, enough that its explosive chorus was something worth expecting.

As Sanghyeok was agonizing over which of the two to choose, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind like lightning.

"Producer Raon."

"Yes?"

"Is it impossible to combine the songs?"

"Combine the songs?"

In a way, it was an idea born from ignorance about music, but Sanghyeok reached the conclusion of asking what it would be like to combine the two.

"···Wait. If we use Lucas’s 'Trace' as the skeleton, and only combine in Shinyu’s 'Pirate' for the hook, and make the connecting parts new···."

When Raon first heard Sanghyeok’s words, she frowned as if to say, What kind of nonsense is that, but then, as if something had occurred to her, she started muttering to herself.

And seeing that, Sanghyeok became certain once more.

"Take Lucas’s song and Geum Shinyu’s song, and with Producer Raon joining in as well, make them into one song."

"Me?"

"Yes. You."

"Do you know how hard it is to combine two completely different songs?! Aren’t you saying that way too easily?"

"That’s fine. Originally, the CEO is the one who talks easily, and the employees are the ones who suffer."

At Sanghyeok’s words, one of Raon’s hands trembled while the other rose on its own to clutch the back of her head.

But Sanghyeok was dignified.

After all, this decision absolutely had not come from a horrific thought that, unlike Sanghyeok, who received only a fixed salary no matter how well Iam performed, he ought to work Raon harder since, thanks to the incentive clause in her contract, she was likely looking at a pretty fat bonus this year.

***

"Why is the cafe signup quiz so hard?"

"It’s true, the Sajomo signup quiz is hard."

"How am I supposed to know the name of Liu Bei’s subordinate who was riding in the same carriage as Liu Zhang when Liu Zhang left the castle and surrendered to Liu Bei?!"

"It was Jian Yong. That was the scene from Kongming of the Three Kingdoms episode 89. Why can’t you remember that?"

"They all have beards, so it’s hard to tell who’s who!"

Tsk, tsk.

At Lee Jia’s grumbling, I clicked my tongue before I knew it.

Lee Jia, whose talent had shown enough that I had even recommended Jia as a new member for the Sajomo cafe, but who had gotten 57 out of 100 on the signup quiz and failed.

It had been an unfortunate failure, just 3 points short of the passing cutoff of 60, so the moment we met today, Jia grabbed onto me and started complaining about the difficulty of the questions.

But from where I stood, Lee Jia’s grumbling was not justified.

How can you not tell Jian Yong, Sun Qian, and Mi Zhu apart?

Jian Yong had a slightly warm impression, almost like the man next door, while Sun Qian had a sharp look that slightly reminded you of the actor who played Cao Cao.

As for Mi Zhu, that actor had the exact feel of a classic scholar-official, so failing to tell them apart was a pretty serious problem.

"You can’t even tell colors apart, though."

"What? Sion, are you colorblind?"

"How am I supposed to tell that apart!"

"This is way easier, okay? Coral and peach are obviously different colors."

Just as I was about to lecture Lee Jia one more time on how Jian Yong, Sun Qian, and Mi Zhu each looked, Yunkyung cut in.

Looking at me, Yunkyung started scolding me, saying that someone who could not even tell colors apart had no business distinguishing that sort of thing.

"This is coral! This is peach!"

"···Aren’t they the same thing?"

"How are they the same?! I told you this morning to bring me the coral-colored one, and you brought the peach-colored one, so now I can’t even fix my makeup today!"

"···That’s the same thing."

"What did you say?"

"This isn’t the time for this, Yunkyung."

"There you go changing the subject again!"

Yunkyung, who had gotten sharper lately, noticed one of my secret techniques—changing the topic—and tried to call me out on it, but this truly was not the time to be arguing about whether a color was coral or peach.

The Idol Athletic Championships.

It was time to gather with the members and prepare our strategy for the filming of that variety program, which was now two weeks away.

-This year’s Idol Athletic Championships will divide even members of the same group into Blue Team and White Team so they can face off like a real sports day. Part 1 will be male idols, and Part 2 female idols. This time, we specially planned it around the theme of a rookie girl group showdown···.

After hearing the rules for this year’s Idol Athletic Championships, which had been sent to the company a few days earlier, I could not hide my excitement.

The Idol Athletic Championships, where normally members of the same group belonged to one team, had changed the rules so that now each group would be split in half internally and compete against itself.

This was truly a rule change heaven had sent down for me.

-That loser’s acting up again.

Seo Ryujin-scrub, who always ignored me and called me a loser.

-Lee Sion really needs to get put in her place!

E Gahyeon, who technically was younger than me but kept throwing age around.

-It’s only natural you can’t bring this choreography to life. I’m better than you.

Ryu Wuss, who looked down on me because Ayeon danced just a tiny little bit better than I did.

The chance to discipline those three legally was a devil’s temptation I absolutely could not resist.

"Sion-chan, Yunkyung-chan, everyone says we’re starting the meeting now!"

"Got it."

"You can’t cause trouble today! Producer Raon even ordered Yuri to keep watch over you personally."

"Got it, Yuri."

"What, why are you saying my name so warmly! That’s scary!"

"Yuri, though you once stood against me through your wicked banditry, now we’re on the same team, so we truly have to join forces."

"Huh?"

"Even Liu Bei once joined hands with Jerry Sun Quan to face the traitorous Cao Cao. For the sake of a greater evil, I can forgive even you for stealing my pudding."

"Sion!"

While I was briefly considering how to really put the so-called Seo Ryujin Trio in their place, Yuri, who had been over on the other side, came to tell us it was time to gather.

When I answered Yuri with affection, Yuri looked so startled and flustered it was obvious, but after hearing my true feelings, Yuri seemed to understand right away.

Im Yunkyung and Kurosawa Yuri.

They were the members who were on Blue Team with me in this year’s Idol Athletic Championships.

'It would’ve been nice if Shinyu had been there.'

Originally, I had planned to bring Shinyu too, but unfortunately, because of the title-track work, Shinyu had no choice but to miss this year’s Idol Athletic Championships.

Still, Yunkyung and Yuri were enough to make it worth trying.

Seo Ryujin and Ryu Ayeon were fairly strong, but the other side had Lee Gahyeon, who was a pretty heavy burden, so I guess it more or less balanced out.

"Sion, hurry up! Everyone’s picking events right now!"

"Okay."

Anyway, when I followed Yuri to where the other girl groups were gathered, Kaella, who had arrived first, waved at me and urged me to hurry over.

The small gym the broadcasting station had arranged today for practice for the Athletic Championships.

Besides VYNNIA and LYNX, whom I had gotten tied to through Three Kingdoms—

"What event are you entering, Sion?"

"Do they have boxing?"

"Why would that be in a sports day?!"

"Shame."

—DARE; ON was there too, with Suyeon, who was excited because we were on the same team again after a long time.

"Hello, we’re You Nine! Please take care of us!"

And besides that, there were junior groups politely greeting me and the others.

"We’re the seniors···?"

"This feels so awkward, Captain!"

Maybe because this time the Athletic Championships were being made only with rookie girl groups that had debuted this year, unlike before, Iam and LYNX were, surprisingly, the most senior groups gathered here.

It was surprising enough that there had been this many girl groups debuting this year, but to think there were already this many juniors calling us seniors.

'It’s been a while.'

All this time, whenever I went on music shows or variety shows, I had only dealt with people senior to me, so now that I was in the position of being the eldest, a very nostalgic feeling awakened inside me.

-Company!!! Attention!

An Army company commander who stood on the platform and projected a booming voice before more than a hundred soldiers, and if I had been given maybe twenty more years, a flawless commander-in-chief who would have achieved reunification, the wish of our people.

"Everyone, attention!"

After looking around at the other cast members and confirming there was no one here senior to me, I immediately shouted and drew everyone’s attention.

At that, the gazes of all the members gathered in the gym turned to me.

Everyone seemed startled by the sudden shout and was murmuring among themselves.

I had looked up past broadcasts after it was decided I’d be appearing on the Idol Athletic Championships.

'It was disappointing.'

I remembered feeling very disappointed by how, in that warm, friendly atmosphere, even when mistakes happened, they all just laughed them off, and rather than giving it their all, the cast had seemed like they were playing arcade games in a relaxed mood.

Since ancient times, when it came to sports days, whether Blue Team died or White Team died, one side had to end up the loser, didn’t it?

"From this point on, I will inform you of Operation Name: Soviet, for the destruction of White Team!"

It was time to return as Captain Lee Sion.