Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 19

#19.

After finishing morning practice, the members headed to a nearby, unassuming restaurant for lunch.

Thanks to company funding, this was a place Kingdom trainees frequented.

It was close, the food was good, and the owner was generous, making it a favorite among the members.

Even Do-jae, who was used to the refined cuisine of royal chefs, considered it an excellent restaurant.

“Do-jae, what are you going to have?”

“I’ll have Tteokgalbi [grilled short rib patties].”

The fact that Tteokgalbi, a dish with royal origins, was on the menu was a definite plus for Do-jae.

“사장님! [Boss!] One Tteokgalbi, one Bulgogi [marinated beef], two Jeyuk [spicy pork], and two Kimchi Jjigaes [kimchi stews]!”

When Heung-min shouted the order, the owner, leaning halfway out of the kitchen, nodded.

“Just wait a bit. I’ll get it done quickly!”

“Give us a lot, a lot!”

When Woo-cheol emphasized “a lot” several times, the owner playfully retorted, “아이구 [Oh my], have you ever seen me give you a small amount?”

While waiting for the food, Do-jae habitually checked his phone messages.

[I’m about to eat. Have a delicious lunch too]

[Okay, I’ll contact you again after practice]

[Okay, fighting today too]

There was a reply to the message he had sent during the practice break.

Do-jae smiled softly, chose one of the emoticons he was now accustomed to using, and sent it.

Woo-cheol, who was next to him, glanced at Do-jae and asked, “Hyung [older brother/male friend], who are you always messaging like that? Could it be a girl…?”

“Park Woo-cheol. You only see what you want to see.”

“What? Isn’t it a… reasonable suspicion?”

“You didn’t just have to think about the word ‘reasonable,’ did you?”

“I did!”

Woo-cheol and Heung-min started bickering, and Do-jae chuckled as he put his phone in his pocket.

“But it’s true. Do-jae hyung is so popular. Even older girls come to me and ask about hyung.”

Woo-cheol, who was friendly with the female trainees at Kingdom Entertainment due to his outgoing personality, muttered.

Do-jae was someone who received attention not only from female trainees but also from male trainees.

A few months ago, after team evaluations were conducted like mid-term exams in front of all the trainees and employees, interest in him exploded.

However, Do-jae had no interest in such things.

Only a successful debut was on Do-jae’s mind.

‘A relationship… should only be with the selected 황자비 [Hwangjabi – Crown Princess].’

The imperial family had to set an example for the empire’s people, even when forming a family, and Do-jae, as a 황자 [Hwangja – Prince], could not have deep relationships with anyone other than the selected 황자비 [Hwangjabi – Crown Princess].

He wasn’t a 황자 [Hwangja – Prince] now, but because of that deeply rooted thought, Do-jae wasn’t very interested in the opposite sex.

“Do-jae isn’t interested anyway.”

At Heung-min’s words, Woo-cheol agreed, saying, “That’s true,” but still asked, “Then who are you always contacting like that? It seems like you do it every time.”

“My mother.”

“Huh?”

“Pay some attention to Do-jae, and try to be half as good as Do-jae.”

In fact, Heung-min had also been curious about Do-jae messaging someone at a similar time every day and had asked Do-jae the same question.

He himself had only found out recently, but Heung-min was only focused on teasing Woo-cheol.

“Wow… No way. You message your mother every day?”

“It’s a habit to send greetings…”

Do-jae had been sending morning and evening greetings every day since leaving the dorm.

‘I can’t visit her in person….’

Hye-kyung, who was awkward at first, seemed satisfied with her attentive son afterward.

He was a good son before, but he felt brighter than before.

Hye-kyung seemed to think it was because he had changed companies and was about to debut.

In fact, Hye-kyung was also brighter than before.

She had paid off most of her debts with the money Do-jae had given her and raised her deposit to pay less rent.

The new job she found was still difficult, but it was better than cleaning buildings before.

‘In the end, Songhwan didn’t say anything… I’m glad I made him quit.’

Do-jae thought quietly.

Woo-cheol shook his head at the word “greetings.”

Perhaps because they had been living together for a long time, he sometimes suspected that he was from Cheonghak-dong [a traditional village known for its adherence to old customs].

“If it were the Joseon Dynasty [Korean kingdom from 1392-1897], a 효자비 [Hyojabi – monument erected to honor filial piety] would have been erected.”

Do-jae flinched at Heung-min’s addition, but the food came out, and the conversation ended.

“Ah. I always thought it would be great if lunchtime was super long. Is everyone going to eat quickly today?”

Louie asked, taking a spoonful of Kimchi Jjigae.

Louie’s face, tone, and the red soup in the spoon were the epitome of disharmony.

But the members had become accustomed to such disharmony.

“Of course. I’m nervous.”

In response to Woo-cheol’s answer, Ki-joon took a sip of water and said a word.

“But eat slowly. You might get indigestion.”

Ki-joon, who was saying this, had a pale face as if he would get indigestion right away.

But Louie and Woo-cheol nodded.

Whether they showed it or not, it was clear that everyone’s lunchtime was filled with tension and anticipation.

‘I wonder what song will be the debut song….’

Do-jae put the simple yet sweet Tteokgalbi [grilled short rib patties] in his mouth and chewed, thinking.

It was the first “my song” he would have.

He wanted to hear it soon.

***

“Wow. Is this the first time everyone has come to the conference room this early?”

1:40 PM.

Seeing the members who had arrived 20 minutes early without using up all of their lunchtime, Team Leader Jung Hee-young exclaimed in admiration.

Assistant Manager Lee Jung-yeon, who was maintaining the conference room’s audio equipment, was also smiling as if the members were cute.

“I’m so curious! Team Leader, you’ve already heard them all.”

At Woo-cheol’s words, Team Leader Jung Hee-young nodded, saying, “That’s true.”

The number of attendees at today’s meeting reached fifteen.

From Vice President Jung Hyung-seok, who always attended when deciding on important matters, to Team Leader Kim Seok-cheol, Team Leader Jung Hee-young, and even newly added members.

Team 2 employees and exclusive trainers.

And Director Lee Jung-yeop, who is also the central composer of Kingdom, and the Planning Team 1 leader who raised Big Boyz.

Because they had arrived so early, the members had to get up and greet each time a new person came in.

However, the trouble of sitting and standing was nothing compared to their trembling hearts.

The meeting began when Vice President Jung Hyung-seok took his seat.

“As I mentioned, we have gathered here today to decide on the title song for our Kingdom’s next group debut album.”

Although she looked relaxed, Team Leader Jung Hee-young had also poured more than three years into the project.

She couldn’t help but look a little nervous.

“As you know, the title song affects the entire group concept, so I ask for careful evaluation.”

The method was to listen to all the candidate songs first, select the final candidate songs through voting, and then decide on the debut song through a meeting.

It was a day’s schedule, but because it was such an important matter, an answer might not come out right away.

“There are a total of five candidate songs, which our team has pre-selected based on concept and song quality.”

There was a mix of songs sent by external composers and songs written by the internal composer, Director Lee.

“First, we will listen to the candidate songs in a blind state without revealing the composer.”

Team Leader Jung Hee-young, who had finished the brief explanation, winked at Assistant Manager Lee Jung-yeon.

The words [NO.1, DELIGHT (tentative)] appeared on the screen, and the song flowed from the speakers.

Everyone in the conference room focused on the song.

쿵, 쿵, 쿵쿵― [onomatopoeia for a thumping beat]

The song, which started with a refreshing beat, was a cheerful dance song.

‘It’s good, but… it’s lacking.’

While practicing and studying composition for half a year, Do-jae delved into Korean songs.

The musical trends of this world were similar to the world Do-jae lived in, but they changed much faster.

In particular, idol music had to be popular and constantly attempt new concepts…….

This song felt like it was lacking in that area.

It was about the level of a follow-up song from a famous idol group.

Ki-joon also didn’t seem very satisfied, as he remained expressionless.

‘He’s always blunt, but if he likes something, the corners of his lips go up without him knowing….’

Do-jae thought, closed his eyes, and briefly considered the direction of the song’s revision.

After all, there weren’t many perfect songs from the beginning.

It was also a discerning eye to pick out songs that could become perfect through revision.

“Then next.”

Like that, until the next and the next song.

After listening to three songs in a row, Do-jae felt the excitement he had felt before the meeting begin to fade.

They were all good.

They were good, but they were somehow lacking.

‘Will it get better if I revise it?’

At least Do-jae’s answer was “no.”

‘Of course, my skills are still lacking… but I don’t know if more talented people will be able to grasp the direction of the arrangement.’

It seemed like he had no choice but to put his expectations on the remaining two songs.

[NO.4, I’m Different]

Soon, the fourth song title appeared on the screen.

Do-jae listened carefully to hear the next song.

탁, 탁, 탁. [onomatopoeia for a tapping sound]

started with the sound of drumsticks clashing.

The following drum sound suited the future bass and continued.

The cheerful and colorful sound rang around the ears.

It was a song that made you want to move your toes.

Louie, who was sitting to his right, was seen shaking his shoulders and riding the rhythm.

The melody of the following chorus was unique, but it quickly became ripe as it was repeated.

‘It’s just like the title.’

Something was different.

It was incomparably better than the three songs that came out before.

In the accelerating beat, Do-jae felt his heart beating fast.

The corners of Ki-joon’s lips were already slightly raised.

Team Leader Jung Hee-young, who was in front, felt that the atmosphere of the conference room, which had been stagnant as the candidate songs came out, was overturned at once.

She could know the opinions of the members and others without asking.

‘Is it unavoidable?’

Team Leader Jung Hee-young thought.

Songs 1, 2, and 3 were all songs sent to the company by external composers.

There were many people who sent songs, but there were not many talented composers among them, and most of them were new composers.

This was because Kingdom Entertainment’s position as an idol agency was low.

‘It’s only because Big Boyz is gaining popularity that even this level of song is coming in.’

As a result, no matter how much they picked, it was difficult to get a quality above medium-high.

For this reason, they also contacted famous composers to receive songs, but they also ended up giving good songs to famous idol groups first and then passing on the remaining songs to Kingdom.

The reason was that places that were doing well continued to do well, and places that were not doing well had no choice but to struggle.

‘If you’re lucky, a jackpot song will come out even among new composers, but.’

Large agencies often took those new composers.

So in the end, they had no choice but to borrow the power of the inside.

That was also the amazing potential of Kingdom Entertainment.

It was because there was Director Lee Jung-yeop, who was the best composer and hit maker in Korea.

And it was Director Lee Jung-yeop who composed .

‘The executive producer is Director Lee anyway, but I was trying to scout an external composer because it might be too much of the same color as Big Boyz… In the end, it’s Director Lee.’

Team Leader Jung Hee-young thought with admiration.

He even released a completely different song from Big Boyz to fit the concept.

After the 4th song ended, the 5th song was played in a slightly heightened atmosphere.

[NO.5 Dynamic (tentative)]

The members’ mouths opened at the same time as soon as they heard the fifth song, which started with an electronic piano performance.

‘This is……!’