Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Right after Oktap’s stage ended.

Seats already all organized but audience fully murmuring in not gone aftertaste.

“Ha, really fucking fun played.”

“I seem shouting like this after a long time. See throat all gone.”

“Wow, hot hot. Tremendously jumped.”

“Hey, what festival level?”

“No, those performance really fucking well didn’t know this degree.”

“Hope do again.”

“I really later if Oktap says doing performance will go all.”

Oktap’s stage using communication as main weapon very well worked on audience.

That same for other participants who encountered the stage with screen.

Damjang Party’s waiting room.

“Wow!!! This don’t know! If like this this really don’t know! Ah don’t know!”

Dampa ran around the waiting room with struggle close to riot.

“Wow, naturally thought will see match with musicality but just overwhelm with communication!”

“No, my words. Oktap quite strategic? Audience vote.”

From main round expert producer’s judging excluded and match decided with ordinary audience’s vote.

If only for victory have to obtain audience’s heart not producer.

And Oktap designed that.

“Destruction probably thought Oktap will see match with musicality?”

“Of course. I also if Oktap thought will see match with genre or musicality such.”

Oktap harmony good.

The unique youth vibe they emit also their weapon.

But most people feel Oktap’s main weapon the quality of music itself.

But Oktap in this round took care of musicality only to necessary degree and filled the rest all with communication with audience.

Reversal.

Whether this strategy that broke everyone’s expectation worked well will know after vote proceeds.

Dampa somehow seeming some possibility visible from Oktap.

* * *

Together with Oktap’s performance one round ended.

Oktap and Destruction standing on stage.

Between them host Yuhwan standing.

“Yes, watched both teams’ stage very well.”

Host whether deeply impressed by both teams’ stages tone one layer higher in not gone aftertaste.

“In my view seemed like performing swapping the weapons both teams usually have. Both teams satisfied with today’s stage?”

“Yes, satisfied.”

Im Hyeontaek answered first.

“Did without regret.”

Cha Seoha also answered calmly.

“Alright, ahead of such judging will hear producers’ evaluations.”

At Yuhwan’s words Park Cheolhwan first grabbed the mic.

“First send applause to Destruction who challenged symphonic rock.”

At Park Cheolhwan’s words applause also flowed from audience seats.

“Never easy genre. Song only people who contacted music itself long beyond rock genre can digest and seemed did that very well so very excellent.”

Park Cheolhwan after that looked at Oktap.

“And Oktap... Intentionally gently at rehearsal?”

At those words Cha Seoha answered.

“Please regard as reserved strength thank you.”

“Really... Briefly deceived. Didn’t even imagine would show such energy on stage. Despite still age much young very good stage where skill stands out.”

Following Park Cheolhwan’s impression Shin Myeongcheol also added.

Content similar.

Appreciation that Destruction’s musicality excellent and Oktap’s stage hot.

Shin Myeongcheol same as Park Cheolhwan not sparing praise saying both teams excellent.

And following Mirror 1977’s Jeong Hyeok producer grabbed the mic.

“Uh, both teams excellent. Since continued good stories in front I will pick regrettable points a bit...”

Jeong Hyeok judge’s sharp gaze first stuck to Destruction.

“Im Hyeontaek.”

“Yes.”

“Vocal seeming strength a lot falling as going back. Seem have to manage well a bit.”

“Yes, understood.”

Im Hyeontaek answered calmly without particular refutation.

Because practiced too much throat management worse than usual but thought not the degree greatly noticeable.

Im Hyeontaek only surprised at Jeong Hyeok judge’s sharpness catching that.

“And Oktap still bassist a bit regrettable. Other team members’ ability too high so relatively less matching feel.”

Following last judging again Jeong Hyeok producer picking on Lee Doyoung’s skill.

At those words Oktap same only nodding.

At such time proving with music right action rather than chattering with words.

After Jeong Hyeok producer Kim Hyeongtae producer also announced impression and now voting time approached.

“Alright, then now will start voting!”

Lighting started rotating and solemn music echoed in the studio.

“Please vote now to the real band liking, the real band thinking!”

Studio fully filled with tension.

Who wins producers also unable to guess.

And a little later.

Music and lighting subsided and Yuhwan grabbed the mic.

“Voting ended.”

Trembling moment.

Result publicized without delay, together with vote result the eliminated decided.

* * *

For our Destruction to beat Oktap had to show musicality superior to them.

Because Oktap’s main weapon musicality.

So gathered money little by little with part-time and brought next album title song bought with 2 million won.

Song purchased quite long ago so already ensemble well but still ensemble every day.

Also matched clothes and called friends and made shake flags behind the stage.

Flag production cost also quite spent.

Like that we well prepared excellent music and stage suiting that.

Like that today we wanted to press Oktap trying to steal band scene with popular music and solidify position as true rocker.

Because that the thing protecting this scene my home and hometown.

But why...

-Destruction: 92 votes

-Oktap: 208 votes

On earth why.

No matter what method we use can’t beat those guys.

“Congratulations! Oktap advanced to main round 2nd!”

Audience’s cheers and applause burst out but momentarily felt senses numb.

Momentarily all sounds heard muffled as if submerged in water.

“...Please speak.”

“...Prepared... Can do fun stage...”

Cha Seoha’s calm voice faintly heard.

Confirmed result again.

-Destruction: 92 votes

-Oktap: 208 votes

Overwhelming difference.

Concentrating on slowly returning reality sense and turned beside.

Cha Seoha still in the midst of saying victory’s impression.

“...Able to fun play with audience after a long time only joyful. Thank you.”

Too calm Cha Seoha’s voice.

Why that guy so calm?

Not good because beat us?

Ah, right...

“Yes, not visible well. Bottom-tier bands like Destruction.”

The words Kang Min said to me at the last fight sincere.

We stayed up a few nights and invested all money had to desperately beat Oktap.

Those guys not even caring about us.

Thinking carefully as long as I not first touching Oktap those guys not even giving interest to us.

What did I do until now?

Suddenly past memories started tangling in the head.

The thing of sniping Oktap on Band Slam stage.

The thing of badmouthing Oktap as idol band or something at drinking seats.

The thing of mocking Oktap daring to release album on band community.

The fight with Kang Min in the last contest.

Thought of shame at own actions arose.

“Destruction also really did well. Too regrettable but please one word of impression.”

At the host’s words my arm holding the mic gradually rose.

What words to say.

Turning head right Oktap only gazing front.

“Ah...”

Really not even caring about us.

Oktap only looking front and advancing.

And me only chasing their back.

We inevitably had no choice but to fall behind Oktap.

Because always standing behind them.

And organized these thoughts and tried containing into the mic.

“Too regrettable but seemed a seat that learned a lot.”

Momentarily emotion surged and felt like choking up but endured.

“Actually, recently thought music not going well. Just thought mood or because did music too long but now looking seems not that.”

Conveying containing truth audience clapped.

Momentarily throat choked organized again then continued words with clear voice.

“...The time I did music best not when doing music holding some purpose like now but when doing my music with pure heart.”

Again calm applause flowed.

“...Ahead I will continue singing at our place together with Destruction. Thank you.”

Following colleagues’ impressions continued and with our defeat the round ended.

Really...

Bitter and shameful stage.