Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 802



Only Noblemtl

Episode 802

“Hell is beneath the sword. One step ahead is paradise. Noah, go forward. Cross the sea to the other side of the light.”

“It wasn’t just one step!”

“That’s Samurai Girls… … .”

This is the final stage.

“The enemy is at Honnoji Temple.”

“This is not the time to say this!”

“If you want to swallow poison, you have to swallow the plate too.”

“Is it poisonous?”

When they called for a meeting, Yubin clapped her hands and laughed as the two began to talk. For some reason, Rika joined in on their conversation with a sense of urgency.

“Hey, I’m jumping off the stage at Kiyomizu-dera!”

The laughter suddenly stopped.

When Sungpil raised the corners of his lips out of courtesy, Rika’s face turned red. How did Jang Ha-yang go through this hell hundreds of times?

“Just like Rika said.”

Seongpil became serious as if the comedy was over.

“You’ll need to be prepared for that. Tomoe-san is a first-class singer. It’ll be stressful to be on the same stage as her, but I have no choice.”

“No matter what, someone like me… … .”

“Then let me ask you something else, Noah. Are you saying it’s okay if I go out with another singer? If it’s a singer who ranks second on the charts?”

Noah was at a loss for words.

“That’s not what I meant… … .”

“And you? What do you think? Above all, this isn’t a competition. We’re just filming the program on the same day. We’re not even going up at the same time. I said something like, ‘If you want to swallow poison, you have to eat the plate,’ but you don’t have to feel too burdened.”

Seongpil’s story was justified.

Music talk programs aren’t really about ranking the participants. They just come out in order, talk, and sing songs.

But Noah couldn’t easily calm his anxiety. If he went on a program with a real vocalist…

‘The only talent that PD Yoon praised me for, my song, felt like it would be nothing… … .’

I’m scared.

No, that’s not true.

The reason why ‘Lotus’ is meaningful is not because it allowed Noah to show off his vocal skills. It is because it is the first work in which Noah demonstrated his artistry.

That’s why he was able to sing without feeling intimidated even when standing next to Rika and Erika, who shined much brighter than him.

Because while the ‘Lotus’ is flowing, her own world unfolds. Even Erica and Rika cannot get involved in it.

But sharing the stage with Tomoe meant clashing with a world bigger than Noah.

“But we can’t just send them out. We need a solution.”

“Is that Eri’s electric guitar for that… … .”

“That’s one of the countermeasures. But the real weapon against Tomoe is you, Noah.”

Noah’s ears perked up.

“me……?”

A real weapon to fight against Tomoe.

When Noah heard that, he felt like he had become a secret weapon. It felt very good.

Like anyone else, she loves being praised, especially when the person giving the praise is a top producer.

“Did I have a power that I didn’t know about? Ah, is that so… … .”

“The answer is that the Samurai Girls are going to be on a music talk show. The topics of conversation will be things like the behind-the-scenes stories of the production of Samurai Girls and ‘Sweet’ and ‘Lotus’. There’s a way to do that.”

“Oh, so it wasn’t me who had the power?”

“There is. There definitely will be.”

“What is that?”

“It’s your story.”

Musicians use music to evoke empathy in listeners. Listeners listen to music and relate their own experiences to it.

But there’s another way to make music enjoyable: by reminding us of the musician’s story.

Rather than simply listening to Nirvana’s music, it would be much more appealing to know and hear the story of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain.

Rather than just listening to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, it would be much more moving to listen to it knowing about his suffering and disabilities.

The songs of pop and rock stars who have made history gain their magic in this way.

The reason why music is still loved after so many years have passed and its novelty has faded is because the song is connected to the story itself.

The ultimate music pursued by Romantic composers.

A combination of narrative and song.

Ultimately, historical musicians are baptized into time.

“Noah, you said earlier. It seems like you finally have a place at Globe. I also got that feeling while listening to ‘Lotus.’ ‘Lotus’ is your story, right?”

“that.”

Noah was writhing in joy.

“Did you feel it… …?”

For a creator, it is an incomparable joy to know that his or her intention has reached the target.

The reason creators create is because they have faith that human individuals who would otherwise never be able to connect can reach each other.

Because I believe in the power of culture.

Noah felt that kind of elation and pride at Seongpil’s praise.

“Of course. But, not everyone will be like that. So let’s tell your story to everyone on the program. Let’s not just have a fun talk and end it, but let’s make it a stage to introduce yourself.”

“So… … you want me to tell you what I think about ‘Lotus’?”

“You have to go beyond that. You have to authentically express the entire process of retrieving the ‘lotus’ from your abyss.”

The media makes known the human individual named Noah.

That was a statement that directly exposed the modern cultural world where the narrative of human beings themselves became a commodity. It was also the reason why Girls’ League had built a strong fandom.

It was a claim that Sungpil, the producer of Girls’ League who has been building personalities as human beings beyond the characters of idols, could make naturally.

And Noah heard that.

“Is that… okay?”

I felt uncomfortable.

In the past, Yoon Sang-yeol thought this way. Sung-pil was obsessively destroying the producer’s ego from idols.

This is intertwined with Sungpil’s producing method and philosophy. He reveals the innermost part of the idol to the utmost extent and leaves no impurities inside.

Yoon Sang-yeol was the opposite.

As a producer, he projects his inflated ego onto idols without any hesitation. He sees idols as extremely like producers’ personas.

The globe was Yoon Sang-yeol’s persona.

And Noah is a member of Globe.

As Yoon Sang-yeol’s persona, she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable with Seong-pil’s proposal.

“Isn’t it right to approach it only through music?”

And Seongpil also felt the same emotions that Noah felt.

Seongpil instantly read Noah’s emotions from his eyes, expression, and tone of voice. Beyond that, he even saw the shadow behind Noah.

Yoon Sang-yeol.

“If you can’t convey it through music alone, isn’t it incomplete? In terms of idols, it’s like ‘speaking through the stage’… … .”

Noah sweat profusely as he looked at Seongpil and the people around him.

Yubin looked like, ‘What is he talking about?’ Rika was similar to Yubin.

Erica showed no sympathy for either side, as if both sides were right.

“Oh, was I wrong?”

“… … No. It’s not a question of whether it’s wrong or not.”

Seongpil emptied half of Rika’s orange juice cup.

“Ahh! What if you drink my juice mixed with saliva! You’re so shameless! Aren’t you nervous?”

“If that’s what you think, I can’t force you. Okay, let’s focus our future discussions on how to arrange ‘Lotus’.”

“Oh, no. Team Leader Park is a producer. Team Leader Park is right and I’m wrong.”

Seongpil was surprised.

The reason I was surprised was because when I heard Noah’s words, blood rushed to my head. Was it because I didn’t take Noah’s words at face value and instead took Yoon Sang-yeol’s words and added them to it?

‘How should I treat the globe… … .’

Even when Yang So-min came to see Seong-pil, and when Ji-yu ran away, I could clearly guess what Yoon Sang-yeol was doing.

Jiyu even personally taught Yoon Sang-yeol what he did.

And Noah’s words were a wedge. A wedge that made it clear what kind of situation Globe was in.

‘How can you say that you were wrong right away…?’

It’s been 4 years since I became an idol.

No, it’s been four years now, so it’s the fifth year.

However, Noah immediately changed his mind even though Seongpil agreed to it, just by looking at the signs around him.

Seongpil tried to comfort her as gently as possible.

“‘Lotus’ is your song, and if you don’t like what I suggest, you don’t have to follow it.”

“No. Team leader Park, the producer… … .”

Noah kept his mouth shut.

Seongpil’s expression was gentle. But those eyes, those wide-open eyes, reminded me of someone from the past.

In the past, Yoon Sang-yeol.

“……i get it.”

The expression he had on his face whenever he got scolded by Yoon Sang-yeol in the past. Noah nodded with a clear, yet somewhat weak smile.

“Thank you, Team Leader Park. For respecting me.”

* * *

dinner.

Himura came to the hotel where Seongpil was staying. The two went to the lounge bar and shared a drink.

“Congratulations on the success of Samurai Girls. Director Park succeeds in everything he touches.”

“I didn’t start it. It’s a team that Yubin gathered and formed, so please give the praise to Yubin.”

“I heard that, but wasn’t it possible because Director Park was the main character?”

Seongpil just smiled bitterly and didn’t answer. He knew that Himura’s purpose was to show off Seongpil rather than reveal the truth.

“By the way, it was a crucial moment. It created a new variable in a fight that was going evenly, so heaven help me.”

“Isn’t Tomoe-san still number one on the charts?”

“Yes. But this is, what should I say, a battle of possibilities. Should I say it is a fight to show one’s capabilities?”

From the Girls’ League to Bugbug, and then to Samurai Girls.

“It’s an infinite expansion of possibilities. Isn’t it? The birth of a musician is overly dependent on individual ability. The way a label makes money is like a genetic exploration company waiting for one out of 100 people to succeed. But the system creates idols… … .”

That’s not a coincidence, it’s fate.

“This flow from Girls’ League to Bugbug to Samurai Girls is a declaration. It is a declaration that symbolizes the infinite possibilities created by the system at the corporate level.”

Himura clinked glasses with Seongpil.

“The idol management headquarters will take another leap forward through collaboration with Garo Enter. Everyone knows that it is much more stable to produce idols than to create monsters like Seiko… … .”

“It’s not easy.”

Himura flinched.

Because I was in a good mood and drank the alcohol so quickly, I didn’t even notice that Sungpil’s mood was changing.

Himura’s long-winded tirade could have been interpreted to mean, “It’s easy to make an idol.”

It was no different from belittling the business that Seongpil had devoted his life to as an ‘easy job’.

“Ah, it’s not that it’s easy… … It’s… … .”

“I know.”

Seongpil smiled and emptied his glass. He ordered the drink straight and emptied it right away.

Himura carefully tried to examine his feelings.

‘Did I make a big mistake? You are really low-pressure.’

Himura wondered how to cheer Seongpil up.

Seongpil doesn’t have any interest in women, doesn’t like fancy drinking parties, and doesn’t like being treated with great care…

‘Come to think of it, what does this person like?’

I don’t like money, I don’t like women, and I’m not interested in fame.

Are you really a normal human being?

If it’s about Seongpil’s hobby that Himura knows about…

‘Idol… … .’

Should I invite an idol and… … show them a performance… …?

‘Oh, I guess I drank too much.’

Himura shook his head and ordered another drink on the rocks.

“Sir.”

“yes?”

“Samurai Girls will be on the same program as Tomoe-san.”

“Oh, I heard. It’s on ‘Ayumu’s Jukebox’.”

Ayumu is a female singer from the same era as Seiko.

Recently, Seiko got upset and asked why Ayumu’s iTube channel has over 1 million subscribers, but she can’t.

Unlike Seiko, who has only focused on being an artist, Ayumu has been active in variety shows and dramas, building a friendly image.

If Seiko received everyone’s praise as a song queen, Ayumu received everyone’s love as a song queen.

She has been running a program named after herself for a long time with her unique liveliness and friendliness. It seems that she even recently received the ‘Best Mother’ award.

‘I’m a little worried because there’s an urban legend that says that if you win that award, you’ll have an affair.’

Anyway, it is said that the Samurai Girls will meet Tomoe and Ayumu on their broadcast.

It’s not really something to worry about. It’s more like a music show with a talk show feel.

“Once that broadcast ends, the fight with Misato will also come to an end. I’m worried, but at the same time, I hope that day comes quickly.”

“… … Director.”

“yes.”

“There’s someone I used to work with.”

“… … ?”

A story with an unexpected context popped out. Himura shook his head again to shake off the alcohol.

“Yes, someone you worked with?”

“I really hated that guy. I still hate him now. But somehow, it felt like the balance was right.”

“Balance?”

“Yes. Like ice and fire, when they are together they become lukewarm water. We have achieved many things together.”

Did one of the founding fathers of Garo Enter betray and run away? This is the first time I’ve heard of this.

Himura’s interest suddenly arose.

“Just thinking about what that man has done makes my teeth chatter, and then thinking about what he has accomplished makes my emotions cool… … . Ice and water meshing together like gears… … .”

Seongpil has emptied more than five glasses straight.

“Let’s say I take over the company that person is in. So, all of a sudden, that person becomes my subordinate. Then, what should I do? Even if we stick together, it’s obvious that it’ll be a headache… … .”

“… … .”

Himura rolled the ice in his glass around.

“Director Park, do you like Romance of the Three Kingdoms?”

“I know the gist of it.”

“I really, really like it. I’ve played a lot of games since I was little. I like Romance of the Three Kingdoms much more than games that deal with the Warring States period, like Ambition of the New Emperor or Great Ambition. There’s a scene like this in there.”

Cao Cao captured Lu Bu.

Lu Bu is a warrior who is the enemy of all people and is called Lu Bu among people.

Cao Cao, who was very greedy for talent, was worried about whether to spare Lu Bu or kill him. He was worried even though he knew of his immoral and unfaithful behavior.

So Cao Cao asked Liu Bei.

Huang Suk, should we save Lu Bu or kill him?

“I thought to myself while reading that part. Why should I let that piece of trash live when he should be killed?”

“Yes, um, what did you say?”

“But after experiencing social life, I realized that there really are people like Yeo-po. People who you want to get your hands on, even if they are trash. Management studies don’t teach you how to deal with such people. The answer should be found in the humanities, such as history, philosophy, and literature.”

“Why did your intelligence suddenly increase? Until now, you were only looking at the women sitting over there… … .”

“I’m in Liu Bei’s place. If I were Liu Bei, what would I have said to Cao Cao… .”

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei said to Cao Cao:

You have to kill Lu Bu, he said.

“I would say this. It depends on your ability.”

“A vessel, so, if you can hold it, hold it?”

Himura nodded.

“Qin Shi Huang, who built the Great Wall, is truly amazing. Isn’t it proof that he completely took control of the vast China? In other words, the size of the vessel he could contain was limited to China. He gave up the vast world beyond the Great Wall. That was the size of the vessel of Qin Shi Huang, a man who was so huge that he could not contain the world.”

Himura said.

“Director Park, this is something you have to decide for yourself. To the Great Wall of China? Or to go beyond the Plus Ultra, to the farther world. Since ancient times, didn’t a man’s dignity begin with knowing his own worth? How… … .”

Himura asked with a smile on his face, clearly drunk.

“Are you going to hold me? Are you going to kill me?”

Seongpil thought seriously.

After emptying his glass again and thinking about it for several minutes, he opened his mouth.

“I am…….”

* * *

Seongpil woke up Himura, who was lying on the table bar, by shaking him.

“Sir, please wake up.”

“… … Director Park.”

Himura said with his head down.

“You should marry a man. Do you know why? If you marry a man, you can go to the baseball field together, play soccer together, and pick up girls together.”

Then suddenly he raised his head and waved to two women sitting a few seats away.

“Hey! You wanna play with us? I’ve got a ton of money! Bartender, shoot those girls the most expensive thing in the cupboard!”

“I’m sorry. This person has had too much to drink. I’m sorry.”

“If you drink together, it’s 50,000 yen! I live in a luxury mansion in Minato-ku! I even have two cars!”

“I think you’re crazy!”

Seongpil grabbed Himura and forcibly dragged him out. He continued to talk nonsense even as he was dragged away by Seongpil.

“I, I don’t want to fall asleep like this… … . I don’t want to… … .”

Finally, Himura started to cry.

“I want to stop… … .”

Himura seems to be under a lot of stress from his fight with Misato.

All they say is, ‘I want to put it down, I want to stop, I want to run away.’

It seems like I haven’t been able to sleep properly lately.

As a reaction to the enormous stress, he seemed to be engaging in a debaucherous lifestyle every night to maintain his mental balance. The recent scandal was an unconscious expression of that behavior.

Seongpil carried him on his back and took him down to the first floor of the hotel.

The Webex staff, who had been contacted in advance and were waiting, prepared a car. Sungpil almost threw Himura into the back seat. This was because Himura was holding on to Sungpil and would not let go.

“Yes, Director Park.”

“Okay, go in. I’ll see you later.”

“How can you live like that?”

Seongpil, who was about to close the door, hesitated. Himura was staring at him with her eyes wide open.

“How do you hold out… …?”

One wrong step and it’s all over.

You could spend your entire youth just trying to rebuild what you’ve already accomplished.

How can you be so calm in such a situation?

Himura was asking because he was genuinely curious.

I know the situation at Garo Enter.

“Isn’t there such a thing as fear…?”

“… … .”

Seongpil held the door and slowly closed it.

“There wasn’t any.”

Seongpil sent Himura off in the car and wandered around the first floor of the hotel. He kept putting his index and middle fingers to his lips and sighed.

“I want to ask… … .”

I want to ask Yoon Sang-yeol how he can be so confident.

Of course, Seongpil already knows the answer.

Although Yoon Sang-yeol from his previous life didn’t tell me the reason, I could guess with some probability.

‘Because I saw the answer.’

The correct answer that Yoon Sang-yeol saw was Jeong Ho-hwan of the past.

Yoon Sang-yeol has no hesitation in believing in and worshipping Jung Ho-hwan, who created Darkest, as if he were a god.

For Yoon Sang-yeol, Darkest is a realm of faith. It is an irrefutable belief and truth.

Coincidentally, the reason why Seongpil was able to move forward without collapsing was the same as Yoon Sangyeol.

‘I also saw the answer.’

The correct answer that Seongpil saw was the future Jeong Ho-hwan.

Yoon Sang-yeol’s Darkest is Chaos for Sung-pil.

The answer that Seongpil and Sangyeol Yoon saw was the same, just from different perspectives.

Seongpil squatted down, resting his hand on his forehead. He shook his carefully styled hair and jumped up. He headed toward a nearby convenience store without hesitation.

I entered the convenience store, my index and middle fingers in my pockets wiggling paranoidally.

“ah.”

There was Noah.

Seongpil froze as if he had seen a ghost. Noah smiled while holding the water in his arms.

“Isn’t that Team Leader Park? Have you been drinking? This is another precious sight.”

“Ah, Noah… … . Why… … ?”

“The fridge is out of bottled water. The hotel service is closing time, so I came out to buy some.”

“Yeah, yeah… … .”

“Why is Team Leader Park here?”

“Ah, I… … .”

Seongpil picked up the hangover cure from the counter and paid for it.

“I want to buy this… … .”

“Drinking too much is not good for you.”

“Yeah, right. Right… … .”

The two left the convenience store together. Seongpil snatched the bottle of water she was holding in her arms.

“I heard… … .”

“No. To me, it’s as light as a pink dumbbell.”

“… … I see. Thank you.”

A street swallowed up in the silence of the night.

No other noises could be heard except Noah’s chattering voice. The only other guests were the occasional car passing by on the road.

Seongpil looked ahead and glanced at Noah.

“I realized anew that Rika and Erika are different from me.”

“why?”

Seongpil was looking at the work of a producer who gave a different answer than he did.

“There was ‘Girls League X Bugbug Invasion!’ It was fun to watch. I heard Erica was like that too.”

“I’m glad you had fun.”

To Seongpil, the work looked like it had been coated with an unsuitable coating and seemed to be emitting light forcibly.

“But, you know. Erica said she sympathized with the Girls’ League while watching the broadcast.”

“You weren’t? I thought that would be the case since you’re a K-pop idol.”

“No. I empathized with Bugbug. I became a fan. Even in desperate situations, he fights and wins in the end. He’s a hero. Or, like the name suggests, he’s a pleasant bug, a new thing.”

Noah in his previous life was definitely different.

Under Sungpil’s protection, he had a personality that was a bit more assertive. That temperament was displayed, and he shouted for Globe’s reunion by not listening to what others said and pouring money into stocks.

Noah was a much happier child.

“Bugbug is me.”

At least he wasn’t a kid with hunched shoulders like this.

“The difference between me and you is that I overcame it in the end.”

Looking at that shabby sight, Seongpil made up his mind.

Yeah, I have to get it back.

certainly.

By acquiring Success Entertainment, Globe… … .

“Noah?”

Suddenly Noah stopped walking.

Seongpil turned around and looked at her.

Noah lowered his head and his thin shoulders shook.

“Team Leader Park. I need an answer.”

“huh……?”

“Some people feel sorry for a dog tied up in the yard, but I don’t. I need a home, food, and a leash.”

Noah raised his head.

“That makes me happier… … .”

I was crying.

“Team Leader Park… … .”

Noah put his hands together.

And he said with tears in his eyes.

In Japanese.

“Please give me the answer… … .”

Noah was giving in.

Towards something huge that dominates you.

In Seongpil’s mind, Noah was a star losing its light within the leash that Yoon Sangyeol had put on.

Seongpil wanted to release the leash and let the star shine again.

However, the star surrendered and handed the leash to Seongpil. In Seongpil’s opinion, it was as mean as anyone would show to Yoon Sangyeol.

“Please, tell me which way I should go… … .”

Only then did Seongpil realize.

“Please tell me… … .”

The Noah I knew.

“Please… … .”

It doesn’t exist anymore.

“okay.”

Seongpil grabbed the leash.

“okay.”

If that’s your idolism.

“Thank you for trusting me.”

Supporting.

“thank you.”

The role of the producer.