Chapter 67

Chapter 67

The song’s chorus.

Kang Min’s drums promised as 8 beat started containing unpromised polyrhythm.

In an instant everyone looked at Kang Min.

‘Min, suddenly why like that?’

‘No, have to play as promised.’

‘What, that guy suddenly why like that?’

Other players who couldn’t know the path of thought Kang Min chewing panicked.

Kang Min not caring presented rhythmical playing not in promise.

Only pattern changed not greatly deviating from the song’s atmosphere.

Unscheduled rhythm.

Unscheduled crash.

Unscheduled ghost note.

Not only playing unscheduled.

In all sounds Kang Min pouring dissatisfaction and irritation, anger fully mixed.

Originally wanted to direct cynical atmosphere from beginning to end but in last chorus unscheduled emotion mixed.

No, not degree a bit mixed Kang Min’s drums emitting anger swallowing everything.

Not only other instruments or Im Hyeontaek’s vocal.

Even judges and production team, other cast.

Kang Min fully scattering long hair and fully concentrating only on own emotion.

Like that the chorus with Kang Min’s sudden action added ended.

Then as originally promised all instruments and song’s sound stopped.

Brief stillness as if the world stopped.

...

And a little later at accurate timing all instruments simultaneously started playing and long long outro started.

Passing the cynical part of the front and outro momentarily exploding.

Main melody Dampa produced.

And Choi Wooyoung’s synth following forming unison with that.

Im Minju’s 16th note fingering.

And Kang Min’s drums that should be played as 8 beat originally.

Im Hyeontaek’s plan was taking the outro almost 2 minutes with above composition.

Showing off the feast of playing each instrument emits and direction as if sucked somewhere.

Kang Min emitted energy close to solo in this outro where other instruments fully tangled.

Beyond formalized rhythm free style consecutive hits continued.

Briefly splitting snare at speed close to marching and largely striking crash.

Kang Min’s movements became more intense.

Playing drums using whole body and emitting heat.

Despite very long section Kang Min and other players’ energy not extinguishing but gradually growing.

Other players panicked at first but gradually being eroded by Kang Min’s power.

“No what such solo...”

Drummer origin Park Cheolhwan to the degree clicking tongue.

Barely six hours given.

Preparing such solo within that time not making sense commonsensically.

“Really too well.”

“Yes, Kang Min that friend level difference too much even compared to all participants.”

“Not making sense, not making sense.”

Other judges also deeply immersing in Kang Min’s playing.

Skill also skill but some emotion he emits felt with whole body to the degree burdensome.

Not particularly pleasant unknown emotion.

But being able to convey such with only playing not something anyone can do.

Feeling as if seeing some art work.

Whether knowing or not such judges’ hearts Kang Min only immersing in own playing.

This stage that lost meaning as ensemble anymore.

Kang Min smashing all that tormented him until now with drumstick.

Nest where can exist with heart at ease.

Life of doing music comfortably there.

Just saying will do music wanting and live why everyone unable to not torment not understanding.

Wanted to smash all.

Strength gradually entering more in the hand gripping the stick.

In the end left stick broke.

But playing didn’t stop.

Anyway improvisation.

If no hand with foot.

Snare’s frequency reduced and this time kick started gaining speed.

“Uaaaaaa!!!!”

Entering the end eventually shouting sound close to scream and Kang Min crazily emitting all of himself.

Like that the third team’s prepared arranged version ensemble perfect preparation and small incident.

And containing unexpected development ended.

* * *

Right after 3rd team’s stage ended.

In the waiting room watching their stage literally a fuss arose.

“Waaaa!! Kang Min that crazy guy!”

“Wow... Person playing right?”

“Just did best? Did best among people who came out today.”

“Today? What today. Did best among all previous rounds combined.”

“Ah, acknowledge. Really absurd playing.”

“DMC champion different.”

Everyone belonging to 3rd team did own work well.

But what mentioned right after stage ended solely Kang Min.

Because to recall other people’s playing need a bit time degree.

Judging proceeds after all performances end and rank publicized with screen in waiting room.

3rd team who finished main performance and stood on stage.

Ahead of judging meeting judges picked up mic to convey impressions.

“Watched well. Everyone worked hard a lot.”

Shin Myeongcheol of Bulryang Onion clapping with emotion and conveying encouragement words.

And following interview about production process.

“Who did overall producing?”

“I did.”

Im Hyeontaek answered confidently.

“Good. Outro at the very back radically long similarly Hyeontaek’s idea?”

“Yes. So.”

“Oho... Good.”

Shin Myeongcheol finishing questions while memoing something.

This time Seoul 1977’s Jeong Hyeok picked up mic.

“Outro riff too good similarly Jeong Hyeok’s composition?”

“No, that this friend made.”

Im Hyeontaek pointing at Dampa and answering instead.

And following Park Cheolhwan’s question.

“Drums continuing from last chorus to outro too good. That Kang Min directly made right?”

Kang Min’s playing freestyle.

Originally part Im Hyeontaek’s opinion reflected.

But what shown result solely Kang Min’s idea.

“Yes, I did.”

Kang Min answered without particular expression.

“Yes, seemed so. Such composition not something done if someone arranges. Really watched well.”

Like that a few confirmation questions continued and after 3rd team returned to waiting room judges started full-scale judging.

Who of some band did well and who didn’t.

Overall harmony good but people not standing out also there.

Too many to consider so quite much time taken in judging.

And meeting about last team continued.

“How was 3rd team?”

“Individual skill good but...”

“Anyway overall harmony a bit ambiguous?”

“This feeling-like so hard to explain but anyway seems what these fought earlier influenced.”

“Looking from far good stage but looking closely stage where everyone ignoring each other.”

“Good. Let’s organize score again.”

* * *

3rd team returned to waiting room.

“Waaaa!!”

“Did well! Really best! Highest!”

“Hey... Choi Wooyoung crazy? Fucking well?”

“As expected Kang Min is Kang Min right?”

“Yeah, honestly did best among 18 people combined.”

Numerous cheers and applause of those watching the stage in waiting room welcomed them.

“Oh... Everyone praising Min.”

Lee Doyoung reacted to Kang Min’s praise heard around.

“Honestly worth praising. Did best.”

Kim Jihu reaction of not particularly surprised.

“Have to give highest praise to Kang Min...”

What on earth is Heo Junseong trying to do.

Hope not doing strange thing...

“Hee? Kang Min-kun! Wow, completely subarashii! Yappari ichiban desu ne!”

Ah that crazy guy really.

“Ha, fuck embarrassing...”

Kim Jihu’s heart with eyes tightly closed all readable.

Heart of why that thing my friend...

And following Kang Min’s reaction.

“Ee? Watashi ga?”

Briefly thought of whether should make band new even now.

On earth why Heo Junseong’s voice that big?

Stirring not stopping in other places too.

Around Dampa not sparing praise saying cool concentrating appearance unlike usual noisy appearance.

Choi Wooyoung’s acquaintances said skill increased more while not seeing.

Im Hyeontaek also receiving various praises but no particular reaction.

Somehow sullen expression.

As expected, did something happen.

Like that a little later with production team’s guide to concentrate 3rd round session battle’s rank disclosure imminent.

18 teams all go up to main round 2 weeks later.

That main round stage judges attach as producer and prepare together.

According to today’s contest rank opportunity to preferentially choose judges given.

Upper four teams can choose judges.

And judges can’t refuse that choice.

After that eight teams can choose judges but can be refused by judges.

After that remaining six teams no choice authority.

Judges have to pick.

And rank publicized.

1. Maruru Band

2. That Neighborhood Comic Room

...

7. Oktap

8. Destruction

...

10. Odyssey

11. Damjang Party

...

18. Jo Seonghun Band

Oktap’s rank stayed at 7th.

* * *

Judge choice decided to proceed in rank order.

Brief rest time given before that.

“Sorry.”

Kang Min apologized to us.

Seeing not strange tone like ‘Gomen...!’ that guy really a lot sorry.

“No! Subarashii!”

“Yeah, Min. Really did well. Don’t be too sorry.”

“Right. Individual score you alone full points.”

Actually Kang Min’s individual score 50 points out of 50 and highest score only he recorded among all participants.

“Team score not good not only your fault.”

“No, my fault right.”

Kang Min with a bit gloomy expression talked about the inside of the incident.

And that inside much more shocking than my thought.