Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 361



Only Noblemtl

Episode 361

Run-through rehearsal.

To put it simply, it is like real-life practice.

No matter what unexpected situation arises, it continues without stopping, just like a real concert.

This allows us to identify problems that could not be identified through piece rehearsals.

‘There’s only one stage left.’

Seongpil checked his watch anxiously. Then, as if even looking at the watch was a waste of time, he immediately turned his eyes back to the stage.

A stage with a perfect setting was visible.

The innermost, horizontally long Stage A. The center of the stage is a protruding stage extending in a straight line, Stage B.

Seongpil’s location was right in front of the B stage, one of the seats that fans most wanted to sit in.

The members walk out onto the raised stage using the bridge part of ‘Purple Tulip’.

They waved and blew kisses to the audience with bright smiles. Behind them, backup dancers followed.

Finally, the Girls’ League and the backup dancers came to the end of the B stage, in front of Sungpil. Then, they lined up and showed off the highlight performance of ‘Purple Tulip’.

The cheerful yet hazy melody lingered in Seongpil’s ears for a long time.

[Thank you so much for coming, everyone! See you again next time, next time!]

The guitarist of the band ‘Debbie’ pulled hard on the strings, and then the performance that declared the festival’s end began.

The Girls’ League members waved their hands in all directions of the audience to the splendid band music.

Afterwards, they lined up with the backup dancers, held hands, and bowed. After greeting each other, they went back to the A stage through the B stage.

The Girls’ League approached the band members one by one to introduce them to the band ‘Debbie’. When it was their turn, each band member played a solo on their own instrument.

‘End of B Party introduction and thank you remarks.’

B-party refers to the extra performers at a concert, such as dancers or a band.

As the B Party greetings ended, the stage slowly darkened. The members were seen going backstage against the backdrop of the low darkness.

Concert credits appeared on the center screen and iMacs on either side of the stage.

As if at the end of a movie, the surroundings were dark and only the names on the credits appeared in white.

‘It worked.’

I successfully completed the run-through rehearsal without any major mistakes.

He was happy. He was happy, but Sungpil was even happier that he had seen the full concert of the Girls’ League before anyone else in the world.

‘No, I’m not that happy.’

To say that I am happy is not enough.

I was happy.

Seongpil bit his lips hard out of habit. It was to keep himself from crying, but his efforts to keep from crying were in vain as he burst into laughter mixed with sobs.

‘No. Don’t cry.’

Seongpil still has a mission left.

All the credits went up.

But the fluorescent lights for the audience to exit did not turn on. No, they did turn on, but they did so very slowly.

It was as if he was forcing the audience not to leave. Sungpil raised both his hands and shouted with all his might.

“Encore!”

Only his shouts echoed through the empty concert hall.

“Encore!”

yet again.

Then, the concert staff scattered here and there responded by stomping their feet.

“Encore!”

The screams are getting louder and louder.

Soon dozens of people were shouting the same words, at the same tempo, and expressing the same demands.

“Encore!”

The lighting fixture moves with a clicking sound.

The central screen, which had been turned off, and the iMacs on both sides light up and display images. The lights turn on one by one, illuminating the stage.

and.

[I can’t help it!]

Rika’s voice pierced through the concert hall.

[Encore!]

Clang, whew.

With the sound of wires pulling the lift, the Girls’ League jumped up from the stage floor.

The song ‘Biikyeonri’ from the regular album of Girls’ League resonated.

Seongpil waved the Girls’ League cheering stick wildly while shedding tears of joy.

Hong Gyu-heon is watching the scene from behind.

“Director Park, are you working or playing?”

“Maybe both. Leave it alone. It’s nice to see you happy.”

“What… … .”

Hong Gyu-heon looked at Seong-pil with a sly smile.

As Son Hye-bin said, Seong-pil looked truly happy.

“Then I guess I’ll just enjoy the last stage without thinking about anything.”

* * *

Rika stood in the middle of the audience, blankly staring at the Girls’ League’s cheering stick.

She moved the cheering stick around, then ran towards Seongpil as if she had made a great discovery.

“Director Park, come here!”

“I’m talking to President Cho right now.”

“I found something interesting!”

In the end, Seongpil went to see Rika’s discovery.

“Haha, don’t be surprised!”

Rika connected the Girls’ League cheering stick to the mobile app via Bluetooth.

The cheering stick glowed blue.

“Now, look! My great discovery!”

Rika stretched out her cheering stick forward. The light from the cheering stick that had left a certain range turned orange.

“Isn’t it amazing!”

“The color changes as the area changes.”

Rika was excited as she moved the cheering stick back and forth without even listening to Sungpil’s cool judgment.

Is it really that amazing that colors change on their own?

‘Most cheering sticks that come out these days are like that.’

When you connect to the app for that idol group and enter the concert hall, the color of your seat will automatically change.

So, even if the audience doesn’t do anything, the cheering stick changes color on its own to create the ocean and sunset, or even writes the members’ names.

In the old days, fans had to wave different colored glow sticks depending on the time.

Fan clubs would gather separately and even practice to impress their idols at concerts.

But these days, you can easily show emotion with just a Bluetooth cheering stick, so I have to say that the world has become a better place.

“Ms. Rika, is that so amazing?”

“Of course! The world is developing so quickly! Soon, we’ll even have flying cars!”

Jo Jin-man smiled like a father, then contacted the staff to take action.

Then, the cheering stick that Rika was holding began to shine brightly, emitting a variety of colorful lights. Rika became even more excited and couldn’t contain her excitement.

Seongpil and Jo Jinman left Rika behind as if they were letting their dog loose at a dog park and went towards the stage.

The other members were sitting at the end of the B stage, either because of the afterglow of the performance or because they were physically exhausted.

“Guys, I’m going to turn the camera on for a second, is that okay?”

“What are you filming again?”

Joara collapsed on the floor as if she was dying from exhaustion. Even though it was a place where dozens of people had likely stepped before, she didn’t feel any hesitation.

It’s that hard.

“No. You guys just stay still.”

Soon after, the cameraman came up on stage. The members looked at him with curiosity.

The cameraman held a Steadicam, a device that connected the camera to the body to minimize vibration.

“I’ll move.”

The camera circled around the members, jumped up and down, leaped backwards, and recreated all the movements that could happen at a concert.

Then, the image captured by the camera was displayed on the central screen and the iMac.

“Is what this person took on screen?”

“There’s someone else in charge of that. The photos taken by that person will be included in your concert CD.”

“CD?”

“It’s a concert in Seoul.”

Seongpil looked around the concert hall.

“It’s the first show, and it’s the show at the most iconic venue. If we sell the live CD, we should do the Seoul show.”

“Wow, what is it? So our first concert will be recorded forever?”

“yes.”

Joara wasn’t very happy. Neither were the other members.

Only Rika was running around the audience holding a cheering stick.

Seongpil smiled awkwardly.

‘I’m not in a position to be encouraged.’

The concert is just around the corner.

When there was a lot of time left until the concert, I felt more anticipation than nervousness.

But now the tension was much greater.

“Hey guys.”

Encouragement may not work, but I can’t just leave it like this.

Seongpil called the members affectionately.

“I’ve been to a lot of concerts. But it’s surprisingly rare to find a performance without any mistakes. There were always some flaws.”

Everyone perked up their ears.

Because hearing about other people’s failures is a pretty effective way to reduce anxiety.

“There was an idol who fell off his earbuds while dancing and stepped on them. There was an idol who started performing in the dark because he got the lighting wrong. There was an idol who stepped on the steam from the fog machine on the floor and slipped. There was an idol who came out without fastening his zipper and his pants fell down while he was dancing. There was an idol who couldn’t hear the music because he was so tired that he sang a completely different song. There was an idol who swallowed a bug while singing on an outdoor stage. There were so many mistakes like that.”

Seongpil told them all their names specifically. The members were surprised and relieved at the same time.

Even famous people make mistakes.

The members experienced many mistakes while doing fragment rehearsals before the run-through rehearsal today. They blamed their incompetence, memory, and talent.

But if even such famous people make mistakes in real life, it is not because they are lacking, but because it is natural…

“But are you guys going to do that too?”

Suddenly, Seongpil’s voice became stern.

In addition, his expression became so serious that it was almost sad.

“yes?”

“Are you guys going to do that too?”

Seongpil shouted at Baekseolha’s dumbfounded question.

As Baek Seol-ha shook her head, Seong-pil insisted strongly like a passionate professor standing at the podium.

“No, absolutely not. Do it as if this is your last concert. Your mistakes will be remembered forever in history! Stand with the determination to die and decorate it with the utmost splendidness. Do you understand?!”

silence.

A few seconds later, Jang Ha-yang burst into laughter.

“Even if you don’t say anything, it will happen.”

“What should I say again?”

Joara said, still lying on the floor.

“You’re doing well, sir.”

“Araya.”

At Jang Ha-yang’s soft call, Jo Ara corrected the rude remark she had just made.

“We told them not to worry.”

“Then Joara, will you pay a fine every time you make a mistake? Let’s give ten thousand won to the team leader.”

“Why me.”

“Isn’t that a small amount considering the amount you ripped off your team leader?”

“Hey, I didn’t steal that. The old man begged and pleaded for it, so I got it from him.”

Joara ran her hand gently through her hair as if it were silk.

“Well, I understand. To maintain a relationship with someone like me, you have to spend about 30,000 won a month.”

“Are you really cheap?”

Joara ran towards Shinareum and took a mount position. The two fought back and forth like that.

Seongpil looked at it as if it was cute, and finally turned his eyes to Baek Seol-ha.

Snow White had a determined expression.

‘Director Park didn’t really mean to encourage me not to make mistakes.’

Rather, it meant that it was okay to make mistakes. It was a humorous way of saying that.

However, Baekseol-ha didn’t want to make the same mistake. Even though many seniors made mistakes during concerts, she hoped that she wouldn’t make the same mistake.

I had absolutely no intention of using the encouragement Sungpil had just given me as a means of self-justification.

“Director.”

Baek Seol-ha was trying to express her iron will in words.

“Let’s punish Seol-Ha every time she makes a mistake.”

“……yes?”

“That’s a good idea.”

Jang Ha-yang agreed as if she had been waiting for it.

“uh?”

“That’s right. Since you’re the leader, you have to carry more of the burden than us.”

Shin A-reum, who subdued Jo A-ra by twisting her arm around her back, expressed her agreement.

“Real.”

Jo Ara, who was being crushed by Shin A-reum, expressed her agreement while breathing with difficulty.

“Uh, uh uh… … ?”

“Okay, so you decide?”

‘… …Why only me?’

Snow White couldn’t think, ‘I’m used to this kind of role,’ as she usually did.

I wanted to say something cool like the other members, but the opportunity flew away because of Sungpil’s prank.

“……lol.”

So I just laughed.

‘Because I am a leader.’

This cross can only be borne by oneself… … .

“Yes, of course.”

No, I can’t give up on nice words.

Snow White declared.

“Just impose a penalty or a fine or whatever. Because there can be no such thing as a mistake.”

“Then let’s set the penalty to be a 1% deduction from the profit distribution ratio.”

“Isn’t this really too much?!”

Currently, Baek Seol-ha has a contract with Seong-pil.

1. If the dome tour fails to attract 1 million viewers, the contract will be extended for 7 years under the same conditions (legally impossible).

2. 1% of the profit distribution will be deducted for each mistake made during the concert.

In that way, Snow White goes to the concert carrying a bigger burden than anyone else… … .

“Never!”

“Oh, Seol-ha, you’re not coming over as easily as I thought?”

“That’s right. If you just talk nicely, my sister would give you anything, even your liver or gallbladder. You also get easily swayed by the atmosphere.”

At the collaboration between Sungpil and Jang Ha-yang, Baek Seol-ha fell to the floor, clutching the back of her neck.

* * *

The ‘Ticketing That Wins in the End’ event, which was carried out with great passion by the members of the ‘Not Lonely Soviet Room’, achieved somewhat decent results.

There were two winners of the first day concert ticket sales that drove the people into despair.

“Maria, aren’t you thirsty?”

When Kim Chae-hyun held out a bottle of water, Kim Maria looked at it and smiled vaguely.

“are you okay…….”

Kim Chae-hyun grabbed Kim Maria’s wrist and forcibly gave her a bottle of water.

Kim Maria had been looking at the peddlers walking around the long line.

To be precise, the drinks in the mini cart that the peddler was pulling around.

“Maria.”

“Yes, yes.”

“If my sister gives it to me, I just take it.”

Kim Maria blushed slightly and drank some water. Kim Chae-hyun looked at her with pity.

‘The child is not used to receiving anything. Why is he like this?’

Are you having trouble fitting in with your friends because you’re small? Are you being bullied?

Kim Maria would treat even the smallest favor as if it were some great gift.

“Me, sister.”

Maria Kim took out the envelope she had been keeping crumpled up from her bosom. Inside it were tickets to the Girls’ League concert.

Maria Kim showed the ticket to Chaehyun Kim.

“Hey, is this real?”

I can’t even count how many times I’ve asked this.

Kim Maria couldn’t believe that she was the beneficiary of such great fortune.

Kim Chae-hyun accepted her ticket without showing any sign of annoyance and confirmed her seat.

‘This is absolutely ridiculous.’

Maria Kim’s seat was a standing seat facing the protruding stage. Assuming Maria Kim’s eyesight is 1.0 or higher, she is at a distance where she can see the pores of the Girls’ League.

‘If I had some free time, I could ask someone to take a selfie with my phone. I would never choose a position like this because of the competition. Is it beginner’s luck?’

Kim Chae-hyun looked at the seat number on the ticket with envy.

But there was a problem. Maria Kim was short.

If she couldn’t secure a spot, Maria Kim would be blocked by people and wouldn’t be able to see the face of the Girls’ League properly.

‘It would have been better for Maria to have been in economy class.’

I would have liked to switch places with Maria Kim. Not because I wanted Chaehyun Kim to get a better seat, but because I was purely worried about Maria Kim.

But I couldn’t say that.

Because Kim Chae-hyun’s seat was diagonally facing the stage on the second floor. No matter how you measure it, it is far inferior to Kim Maria’s seat.

“Yeah, that’s right. I’m still jealous when I see it again.”

“sorry…….”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying!”

Kim Chae-hyun hurriedly stroked Kim Maria’s hair and held her tightly in her arms.

“Maria, let’s enjoy today’s stage. Scream as loud as you can. Don’t think of it as a nuisance. Okay?”

“yes yes!”

The two began their boring wait again.

Entry time is 20 minutes later.

I had hoped for a miracle, that the performance preparations would be completed earlier than scheduled and I would be able to enter the venue early.

But it looked like the entrance would start on time.

“Oh, sis. Over there.”

“huh?”

Kim Maria pointed to the back of the line.

I could tell at a glance what Kim Maria was seeing and how flustered she was.

Hair that shone like gold in the sunset that covered half the sky. In addition, she had a slender and long body and pure white skin. There was a person who was like the stereotype of a Western beauty that we had seen so many times in the media.

“I am a foreigner.”

“I know.”

Kim Chae-hyeon felt proud as a citizen.

It is not uncommon for foreigners to attend K-pop concerts. However, most of them come from Asian countries. Perhaps due to accessibility, Japanese people in particular often attend Korean concerts.

‘I didn’t know you’d see a Westerner.’

The Westerner wasn’t just that woman.

Two muscular, bulky men surrounded her.

‘But are you the daughter of a wealthy family? Did you even get tickets for your bodyguards to come see it?’

* * *

“Plekhanov.”

Rosa, who was wearing too thin a winter outfit, sniffled as she spoke.

“Why, Rosa?”

“Isn’t Korea further south than Russia?”

“As far as I know, that’s true.”

“But why is the weather… … achwi!”

Rosa sneezed. She panicked and covered her face as her nose started to run.

The propagandist next to me handed me a tissue.

“Thank you, Mr. Propaganda Officer.”

“You should have checked the weather beforehand.”

“No, I thought it would be warm since it’s a country in the south! Who knew it would be no different from Moscow? If you knew, Mr. Propaganda, you should have told me!”

The propagandist took off his coat with a bitter smile. Rosa, who saw this, waved her hand in embarrassment.

“Oh, no, I didn’t ask for clothes… … .”

The propagandist draped his overcoat over Plekhanov’s shoulders. Plekhanov snorted.

“I don’t need this kind of thing.”

“Then you really die. Are you going to die before you can see the concert? You came out in a hurry in the morning, saying you were going to buy goods.”

The only clothes Plekhanov wore to Korea were a long-sleeved T-shirt and a thin coat. He was much more vulnerable to the cold than Rosa.

Yet Plekhanov showed no sign of coldness.

Perhaps, it was the Girls’ League concert-exclusive goods he was holding in his arms that were conveying warmth.

“Huh, this is nothing. I washed myself with cold water every day, rolled around in the snow, and lived even worse during my military service. This is just child’s play.”

“Mr. Plekhanov, you thought Korea would be warm too?”

“What do you think I am! I was a soldier! It’s natural to investigate the operation area! I really don’t care about this cold… …!”

Plekhanov shut his mouth tightly and blushed. Then he frowned and swallowed hard.

Rosa laughed heartily.

“Did you hold back a sneeze?”

“Think whatever you want.”

“By the way, I heard that you studied abroad in Korea, right? In Seoul?”

“Ah, Korea… … .”

Nostalgia appeared in the propagandist’s eyes.

“It was north of Seoul.”

“is it so?”

Rosa didn’t think much of it. She probably went to college in a city further north than Seoul.

“I’ve always wondered, what kind of job do you have? I heard you make a lot of money. Your major was… physics, I think?”

“Nuclear physics. My job is… … scientist? engineer? Something like that.”

“If you don’t want to teach me, just say no. A scientist? An engineer? What are you…?”

“Hello.”

The person behind them spoke up.

The man spoke to the propagandist with eyes full of curiosity, wondering if it was strange that a Westerner had come to see the Girls’ League’s performance.

“Do you know the Girls League?”

The propagandist answered with a haha.

“I should know.”

“… … ???”

The man exchanged a few words with the propagandist and then quickly ended the conversation with a fearful expression on his face.

Rosa and Plekhanov looked at the propagandist with admiration.

“As expected, educated people are different.”

“I saw you again, sir.”

“It’s nothing.”

At that moment, a loud shout came from the front row. At the same time, the line that had been stiff like a winter snake began to tremble.

Plekhanov’s eyes became serious.

“It’s started.”

He took the ticket out of his pocket and checked his seat again.

F seat.

After confirming his seat, he searched the Olympic Hall online and looked at the seating chart again.

“Next to the protruding stage.”

Plekhanov held the ticket to his chest.

“I finally get to see it.”

Plekhanov recited the name of the concert, clearly printed on the ticket.

“Girl’s League – Domino Theory in Seoul.”

* * *

Maria Kim entered the concert hall following the wave of people and her heart was pounding.

I think this is the first time in my life that I have felt so excited and happy.

A space where only happiness exists.

Nothing in the world can take away her happiness.

“Ugh… … .”

That happiness was shattered as soon as he arrived at his place.

Maria Kim was standing next to the protrusion. Of course, everyone was standing, but Maria Kim couldn’t even see the stage because of her height.

She stood on tiptoe.

There is no chin.

I tried to somehow change my perspective and break through the wall of people to secure a small gap.

No, it won’t work.

Kim Maria was on the verge of crying.

“Uh, over there… … .”

Maria Kim took the greatest courage of her life: she asked the person in front of her to move a little, just a little bit, to the side.

She held his tiny hand tightly and shook her shoulders.

“Over there, over there… … .”

Only then did the person in front look back.

He was a muscular Westerner, over 180 cm tall. When she saw his fierce expression, Maria Kim froze like a rat facing a snake.

Maria Kim naturally closed her eyes.

‘Oh, no. I’m sure I’ll get beaten like a dog on the day of the dogfight and then collapse… … .’

Maria Kim had never felt so resentful of her height.

I used to get teased by boys asking if I was an elementary school student, but since I actually looked like an elementary school student, it didn’t really bother me.

But it was quite unfair that he actually suffered damage because of his small stature.

‘My brother is big, so why am I small… … .’

Kim Maria couldn’t stand the thought of having to stay like this for over two hours without even seeing the faces of the Girls’ League.

I want to be held in your arms right now and be comforted.

But my brother is not here.

It wasn’t like I was coming to a strange place without my brother…

“Hello.”

A strange greeting was heard from ahead.

When Maria Kim slowly raised her head, a Western man with an elegant appearance was smiling at her.

Then, the Western woman next to him extended her hand with a kind smile.

The man said.

“from now on.”

The woman gently took Kim Maria’s hand and pulled her forward.

Kim Maria’s world has changed.

The view that had been obscured by the human wall opened up, and the stage where the Girls’ League would be set up was revealed beyond the metal fence.

Kim Maria felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. When she turned around, the Western woman was smiling.

“Oh, thank you… … .”

To Kim Maria’s gratitude, the man next to her said:

“They are the people. The people help each other.”

Kim Maria was moved to tears.

This is the first time I’ve felt so warmly treated by a stranger.

It’s almost like a lifesaver.

Although his speech is a bit strange, he is such a kind person that you might think he is an angel.

Kim Maria didn’t know how to express her gratitude. If her brother had taught her, she would have to bow her head until her joints were worn out.

As I tried to express my gratitude, however insufficient, the concert hall went dark.

And then the central screen, which had been silent until now, and the iMacs on either side of the stage began to light up.

Waaaa …

The deafening cries of the people burst out simultaneously as if by promise.

Kim Maria was startled by the immense heat.

An image appears on the stage screen.

The Girls’ League members were all smiling while wearing their respective costumes.

In the video, Snow White spoke kindly, like a children’s program host.

[Thank you for coming, everyone! Before we start the show, let’s learn some etiquette for a pleasant viewing experience.]

“Ah, here it comes.”

The propagandist chanted in rapture.

“The first domino falls… … .”

Girls’ League concert, start.