Rockstar Again - Chapter 77



Only Noblemtl

Episode 77. Beat it (4)

January 2, 2026.

TVK’s broadcasting station.

Gu Se-ryung, with his arms crossed, stared at the empty stage.

“It’s all over, so you’re not going?”

“Huh? Yeah… … I have to go.”

I tried to come to my senses at Hong Seon-ah’s words, but my steps didn’t move easily.

The first main competition stage was broadcast live after the group competition that lasted for a month in December.

The bands with somewhat old-fashioned names, Blue Porcelain and Kim Dong-hyun Band, were paired together, and the result was a landslide victory for Blue Porcelain.

A broadcast format where two teams compete against each other in two groups per week.

The songs of the two bands that came out in the latter half of the four teams were not even noticeable to my ears.

Because the stage of Blue Porcelain, which was the second to appear on stage, was so overwhelming.

In any audition or competition where viewer voting is involved, the results are not based on merit.

Fandom.

Topic.

Especially, in the case of the voting system of , where viewer votes account for half of the final score.

There is no way an indie band with an unfamiliar name could beat Blue Porcelain, which monopolized the topic of conversation throughout the entire month of December.

“How was it?”

The old man still had his eyes on the stage and asked Hong Seon-ah.

“yes?”

“I’m talking about the stage. How was it compared to the previous one?”

“Ah… … Yeah, it was good. It was also new and exciting.”

“Right? Isn’t it amazing?”

“Yes. I’m not the type to listen to rock music, and I like quiet music, but strangely enough, on the Blue Porcelain stage, I was shaking my head. It was like I was under some kind of hypnosis.”

Gu Seol-ryeong laughed at Hong Seon-ah’s words.

yes.

At this point, it’s more like a religious event than a stage.

I think almost half of the audience came here to see how good you are with my own eyes… … and within a minute of the start of the show, they were all shaking their heads.

When I see things like that, I feel that there is something more to Lee Dong-ha than just his outstanding musical ability.

Top of the top, charisma that can only be felt from the field.

A great head too.

On both stages, they performed existing songs with a racing atmosphere.

There is also a certain degree of immersion that is forced in the atmosphere and sound. One of the things that is important in a performance is how the song order is arranged.

This is especially true when it comes to competitions.

In fact, from the perspective of the Savior, there were some concerns.

The previous stage was shockingly good, so I wondered if it could surpass it. But somehow… … it’s a bit ambiguous to say it was better. But should I say it was a three-dimensional stage, rather than worse than before?

“Um… … It was good. It was good… … but something was different.”

“Ah… … I felt that too. Compared to before… … It’s a bit more harmonious?”

“That’s right. The other members’ skills have improved a bit. That’s why Lee Dong-ha didn’t run alone like he was doing a show. He gave him some space. So that the other members’ skills could show off.”

“Is that so?”

Gu Seol-ryeong turned her gaze from the stage and looked at Hong Seon-ah.

The big eyes grew even bigger.

“Is that so? Is this the end of the story? That’s ridiculous. That guy, Lee Dong-ha, is adjusting his skills to match the members’ skills. And he’s able to produce this level of quality.”

“Is that difficult?”

“It’s not just difficult. It’s ridiculous.”

“Aha. I don’t really know that much… …. But it’s kind of funny.”

“what?”

“Lee Dong Ha’s fans are bashing Vocal A. Dong Ha and NBD9’s antis are promoting Vocal A.”

At Hong Seon-ah’s words, Gu Se-ryeong crossed his arms and smiled strangely.

After a month of debate, the tentative conclusion was that Vocal A is not Lee Dong Ha.

I requested a vocal analysis of the two vocalists’ voices.

Even if a current vocalist analyzes it or something.

After all, people base their actions on facts rather than guesses.

The fact that has been made public is that, no matter what anyone says, he is currently staying overseas for a long period of time.

So, we can conclude that these two people are different vocalists and guitarists who appeared at the same time by a very low probability of coincidence.

The story that went on and on like that led to an absurd fight between Lee Dong-ha, who came from an idol audition, and Vocal A. The community’s battle of public opinion ended with Vocal A having the upper hand in skill.

At first glance, it seems understandable.

The label of idol lasts surprisingly long.

Even if it was an escape from an audition.

This is the irony of idols.

The more popular you become, the more you have to prove, especially your skills.

If you’re not an idol, you usually gain popularity by proving it with your skills, but this paradox has arisen because the idol field itself is close to being an industry.

In contrast, the label attached to Vocal A is that of a talented vocalist of an indie rock band with a covered face.

Anyway, that’s making things a bit funny.

Existing fans of Lee Dong-ha, as well as fans of NBD9 and Bitna Girls, who have strong ties with Lee Dong-ha, are attacking Vocal A with all their might.

For the past half a year, Dong Ha’s antis have been refusing to acknowledge him and are eager to bring him down. And the fans of existing idols, who are the enemies of NBD9, are supporting Vocal A.

He said, “He is a real rock vocalist with great talent, different from Lee Dong Ha.”

It is an action based on vested interests.

Raise vocal A to bring down the movement.

If we acknowledge Vocal A, it seems like Lee Dong Ha’s evaluation will be lowered, so we will not acknowledge Vocal A and will criticize him.

“He’s a great guy, my Dong-ha.”

“Well… … I admit it honestly. Even I, even with Lee Dong-ha, had no idea how to promote a rock band… … I didn’t have an answer. The fact that he created this situation himself… … I even wondered if Lee Dong-ha really had the god of music with him. When I said I would hide my identity, I wondered what he was going to do by diminishing even the few strengths he had. But who knew that would turn out to be a stroke of genius… … .”

Hong Seon-ah expressed her thoughts at length, which is unusual for her.

“A stroke of genius… … That’s right. Of course. Everything he does without thinking attracts people’s attention. But it’s all possible because he has the skills.”

“That’s right. Definitely.”

“Did you find out about that?”

Hong Seon-ah coughed a couple of times in vain at Gu Se-ryeong’s words.

“Yes. According to my US immigration records, I flew with my mother at least once or twice a year when I was seven. Is that what was known before?”

“Nothing else?”

“There was nothing special about Dong-ha’s side, but on the other side, regarding the executive director’s childhood accident… … there was a bit of a problem.”

“problem?”

“Yes. There is no record at all. I don’t doubt what the director said. But… … there is no record. So I couldn’t find anything about what happened to the person in the car. It’s as if… … there was no accident at all.”

“… … It must be you, brother. If you erased the records without a trace, so much so that even our Seon-ah couldn’t find them.”

“Yes. Assuming there was an accident, probably.”

The Savior’s eyebrows furrowed.

It makes an unknown sound every now and then while moving.

Chairman Yoon Tae-joo said that he was like that in the past, and that he had never been on an airplane.

There are many aspects of Chairman Yoon Tae-joo’s casual behavior that cannot be understood simply by interpreting it as a person who has no shame in asking Lee Dong-ha to move.

How is your relationship with the other two members?

That’s how the questions began.

There is a suspicion that there is something hidden from Lee Dong-ha.

As the question continued, it connected to Yoon Tae-joo’s old band days that he remembered, and to his older brother’s name, Lee Dong-ha, who used to shine.

But I can’t reveal it.

You could ask him directly, but then you would have to reveal that you remember the past.

The bigger thing is that I don’t even know what it is trying to reveal.

The shining older brother from 30 years ago and the current Lee Dong-ha are the same person?

If you interpret it that way, all the questions are answered, but it doesn’t make sense.

That’s realistically impossible.

“There must be something there, but I can’t ask and I can’t find out more… … ?”

“… … .”

“Hmm… … . The conclusion is the same again. Let’s just wait and see.”

“……yes.”

“What about the members? Did they go straight to the practice room?”

“That will happen.”

“Dong-ha, it’s hard being locked in, so I thought you’d throw a tantrum and say you don’t want to go back to the practice room, but you’re unexpected?”

“It seems like I found something to kill some time.”

* * *

After returning to the practice room after finishing the competition stage, Dongsik headed straight to the basement practice room again.

“You’ve grown a lot. Should I rest for a bit?”

At my words, the foolish bear just laughs.

“Not yet. It’s not enough.”

“… … Do as you wish. I don’t know anymore. Anyway, it’s gotten so long that I can’t even tell you not to do it.”

As he said that, Youngpil met his brother’s eyes as he followed behind Dongshik.

“Why? What? You don’t want to go, hyung?”

“… … Huh? Ah… … No. That’s not it… … .”

“Or what?”

As I pretend not to know, tears well up in Youngpil’s eyes.

I met my brothers in the future and found out for sure that Dong-sik and Young-pil are incredibly family-oriented.

In particular, Youngpil is terrible to his sister-in-law and the child.

It’s understandable to cry when someone like that can’t go home for over a month and can only see his family through video calls.

So, I threw the carrot at him.

“They’ll come tomorrow. My sister-in-law and Hong Dae-yoon.”

“……what?”

“Our junior Hong Dae-yoon doesn’t know what his older brother is doing, but his sister-in-law knows, right? That’s why I contacted him. He said he’s stuck in the practice room and he’s dying to see his sister-in-law and Dae-yoon. So he’s packing a lunch and coming. Tomorrow.”

“Dongha-ya… … .”

“Don’t cry. It’s all hormonal. It’s a sign of aging.”

“Dongha-ya… … Thank you… … .”

“Okay. Get down. I won’t stop you now. Honestly, if you keep stretching too much and stop practicing, I’ll be upset.”

As we end it so bluntly, Youngpil’s eyes light up.

I stared at the closed door for a long time, even after the backs of my brothers walking down disappeared inside the door.

“Shall we go up?”

It’s Taeju hyung.

This guy used to practice in the basement practice room, but he must have felt that I was getting the hang of it, so now he’s joining me in the recording studio.

Anyway, I can practice there too. I can practice and take care of my mental health. It’s better to go to the recording studio because Director Kwak comes and goes to do company work. So I’ll do both.

“go.”

I also have something fun to do now.

Unlike before when I felt like I was trapped, my steps are light.

* * *

It was… about four days ago, right?

To be honest, I do practice, but the reasons I practice are different from my hyungs’. I don’t have a reason to practice as hard as my hyungs.

All day long, holding the guitar and holding the microphone.

That only lasts for a day or two.

creation?

That sounds good.

Staying locked in, searching for musical inspiration, agonizing, and creating new songs.

But just because you’re stuck in it doesn’t mean inspiration will burst out like fireworks in your head.

People are not that simple.

It’s not that I’m stuck in a rut because I’m so inspired, but because I just have to be stuck in a rut. When I write songs, they turn out to be crappy songs. When I write lyrics, they’re just depressing lyrics…

Since only songs that reflect the creator’s depression are constantly being released, how can there be any songs that are worthy of being included in an album?

One day, Tae-ju hyung, who had been watching me like that for a long time, suddenly said,

-We… … are talking about the album.

-Our album?

-Uh. Aside from the album you’re preparing now. The one that got stranded before your debut.

-But? Why is that?

-If you’re bored, why don’t you try recording that?

―What are you going to do? You don’t have anything to write about. And it’s so old. It’s just a feeling from that time, and it’s not that it’s old because it’s the 21st century. What should I say… … It feels like I’m reading a diary from long ago… … ?

The creator’s capabilities expanded rapidly as he experienced incomprehensible things in a short period of time.

Creativity is ultimately the result of imagination and experience coming together.

That’s why the songs I wrote in the past no longer suffice.

It’s not that the song isn’t that good, it’s just that it’s not worth releasing now.

―Old things aren’t necessarily bad. They were the best they could be at the time.

That day, I spun around in my chair and looked at Tae-ju hyung.

I could see the passion in Taeju hyung’s eyes…

This album, which I have just finished working on, is 100% my own creation.

31 years ago, our ‘real’ first album, which was produced but never released to the world, was the child that Tae-joo hyung and I had together.

The lyrics were written entirely by Taeju hyung.

I did most of the composing, but it wasn’t all done by me. Taeju hyung polished up the rough parts.

To put it bluntly, I’m not the only parent.

What I’m saying is that if Tae-joo hyung says something like that, you have to listen to him.

– I know. It’s not a bad thing. But why record it? You can’t make it public, right?

-If you could make it public?

―… … After this competition, we’ll release… … our first album?

-No. If you can literally make it public, then what should I do? Do you want to record it?

That’s how it started.

While the bear and the flamingo were peeling garlic and catching it in the basement, Tae-joo and I had a secret hobby.