Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 117

#117.

“It’s a shame I couldn’t watch Do-jae’s match. It’s practically the final.”

“How can the schedules overlap like this?”

This was the complaint before the match started, during a short break.

Heungmin and Woocheol were grumbling.

That was because they had to head over to the gymnasium for the futsal match.

Kijun, Kyuseong, and Louis were also deep in thought.

All three couldn’t just cheer for Do-jae’s match.

“Since you can’t cheer loudly at my match anyway, wouldn’t it be better to go to the futsal game?” Do-jae suggested, lightly massaging his fingertips as he looked at the three who were contemplating.

Archery definitely required a high level of concentration.

When concentrating, it was inevitable that the body would stiffen momentarily.

Moreover, he wasn’t used to archery in front of so many people, so he was more tense than usual.

The slight tingling in his fingertips was due to that.

“Aww. I want to cheer for futsal too, but I also want to watch hyung’s [older brother or male friend] match……,” Louis muttered, looking disappointed.

It wasn’t just any match, but a match against Jigu, the winner from last year.

The members wanted to give him strength from the sidelines.

“We might have to wait a bit when we get there, so it’s best to watch Do-jae’s match first.”

“That’s right. We’re just sad we can’t watch…. Hyungs and Louis can come after Do-jae hyung’s match. There are two of us going already.”

At Heungmin and Woocheol’s words, Kijun spoke as if he had decided something.

“I can’t send just you two, even if we have to wait. I’ll go with you, so Louis and Kyuseong can cheer for Do-jae.”

“Wow…….”

It wasn’t a ‘wow’ of admiration, but an exclamation of ‘that’s too much’.

It was obvious to anyone that he wasn’t going because he really wanted to cheer for them, but because he didn’t trust them enough to leave them alone.

Just then, the Big Boyz members passed by, cheering for Do-jae.

It seemed they were moving to the next gymnasium because Big Boyz were also participating in futsal.

Do-jae and Louis had naturally become close to the Big Boyz members because they shared the waiting room for award ceremonies and used the same building, even though their practice room floors were different.

“You looked good earlier! King Do-jae! Let’s go for first place!” Kedo shouted with slightly cheesy enthusiasm, followed by the Big Boyz members’ hip-shaking cheer dance.

Kijun shook his head.

If even the Big Boyz members were going to the futsal field, it seemed even more necessary for him to follow.

“Do well, Kang Do-jae!”

“Win, Kang Do-jae!”

Even Heungmin and Woocheol joined the Big Boyz members, circling around Do-jae and waving their arms.

“Kyaaak.”

“Euhahaha. What are you guys doing?”

Since there was no monitor relay unless it was during the match, the fan seats, where people were watching the members with binoculars, burst into laughter thanks to them.

Heungmin’s fan page master, who was holding a camera rolled up in his clothes, didn’t miss the sight and filmed it.

“Wow. What are they doing? Are they cheering for Kang Do-jae? Looks like Big Boyz and Most are close too.”

“They’re from the same company. Aish. Why is it so funny? What’s that dance? Doesn’t it look like they’re performing a ritual for Kang Do-jae?”

“Ah. I’m going crazy. It’s so funny. Look at Kang Do-jae’s expression.”

Do-jae stood silently, like a frozen statue, as if he wished this moment would pass quickly.

Like a storm, the cheering of the Big Boyz members, Woocheol, and Heungmin passed by.

Kijun said, “Do well,” and cheered for Do-jae one last time before leaving.

Watching them leave, there wasn’t even a tiny bit of tension left in Do-jae’s body.

***

“Now! It’s the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, each player will shoot seven arrows. But…. Ah…. Why did these members have to meet in the semi-finals?”

“These are the two players who set the highest records in the previous rounds. Doubless’s Jigu! MOST’s Kang Do-jae!”

“Wow. I don’t know what will happen. Last year’s winner and the rising powerhouse! Will it be Jigu’s second consecutive individual win, or will a new winner emerge! What do you think, commentator?”

“I think…….”

The commentary box was buzzing as Do-jae and Jigu’s match began.

Since there were no other matches in this gymnasium, all the spectators in the fan seats were also focused on archery.

The figures of Jigu and Do-jae preparing were shown on the large monitor in turn.

Cheers erupted from the fan seats each time.

Jigu and Do-jae were meeting for the first time, so they politely bowed and shook hands.

Jigu was someone who would always be in the top 10 in surveys like ‘Male idol you want as a boyfriend’.

He was good at singing and had a decent appearance with a round, gentle impression.

He looked like he had a good personality, but there was also a certain determination in his fleeting gaze.

After shaking hands and organizing his bow, Do-jae thought.

‘He’s not ordinary.’

He meant it in a good way.

Do-jae held his bow and watched Jigu’s first shot.

“Nine!”

From the first arrow, Jigu shot a 9.

Exclamations erupted here and there.

The archers, including Louis, knew how consistently Jigu shot his arrows.

The Doubless members were relieved, saying, “Ah. As expected. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Even Do-jae thought that Jigu had a really stable posture.

If last year was a manifestation of unexpected talent, this year he seemed to have prepared like a real player.

However, no matter who the opponent was, Do-jae just had to shoot his own arrows.

Do-jae took a breath and raised his bow.

Even over his loose-fitting gym clothes, Do-jae’s back muscles twitched, strongly revealing their presence.

It seemed like archery was done with the shoulders or arms, but in fact, the back muscles were just as important.

“…….”

The large monitor screen was filled with Do-jae’s profile as he focused on the target.

The commentators joked that he seemed so handsome that it would be okay if he wasn’t very good at archery.

In the tense moment, Do-jae’s arrow quickly cut through the air.

“Nine!”

Do-jae also scored 9 points.

Tie. Do-jae smiled lightly as he lowered his bow.

Louis and Kyuseong hugged each other in joy.

However, Do-jae wasn’t smiling simply because he had scored the same points.

‘I understand.’

Whether it was because he was getting used to the new bow or because he was completely relaxed, he felt a ‘feeling’ that he hadn’t felt during practice or previous matches.

It was the same feeling as when he shot in the Korean Empire.

“Wow! It’s a tie! It’s a tie. They’re evenly matched.”

“Amazing. Kang Do-jae’s posture just now…. He didn’t look like an amateur.”

The archery medalist who came out as a commentator couldn’t continue speaking.

To others, they both looked equally good, but to her, Do-jae’s posture of using his back was extraordinary.

“Was he a player with previous archery experience?”

“No. According to his profile here, this is his first time holding a bow this year.”

“It’s really amazing. Innate talent…. It can only be described as more than that.”

“Now, Jigu’s second arrow!”

As Jigu took his stance, the countdown began.

He couldn’t just let time pass; he had to shoot an arrow within 60 seconds.

Jigu stared at the very center of the target.

After watching Do-jae shoot his arrow a little while ago, his heart was a little shaken.

The spotlight Jigu received after winning the archery competition last year left quite a strong memory for him.

It was only about a day of broadcasting, but…….

It was the first time since his debut that Jigu received that much attention and praise as ‘Jigu himself’ rather than ‘Doubless Vocal’.

There wasn’t a single negative comment about archery.

His family, who watched the broadcast together because it was the Lunar New Year, were so happy.

He received calls from alumni, and after that day, his Twitter and Mystar followers increased exponentially.

It was also from then that he was ranked in the top 10 of ‘Boyfriend Idols’.

In the meantime, the group’s popularity had risen to some extent, but Jigu still wanted to receive the same spotlight as last year one more time.

But Do-jae was too formidable an opponent.

Jigu calmed his wavering heart and focused.

10, 9, 8…. He didn’t get impatient even as the time decreased.

Thwack, Jigu’s arrow hit the target.

“Ten!”

It was right in the center.

Jigu clenched his fist and rejoiced.

The Doubless members also raised their thumbs, saying, “Ooh.”

Do-jae smiled slightly, thinking that he was good as expected.

He was reminded of the time when he shot arrows with the eldest brother, the Crown Prince.

He was a brother who tried hard to comfort him when he was wandering.

He felt much better when he went outside to get some fresh air and shot arrows together, and then went to the riding stable to ride horses.

Although this place was indoors.

Do-jae focused and moved his hand.

“Ten!”

“Ah! What is this!”

Do-jae’s arrow also hit the very center.

But it wasn’t just the very center.

Smash. It was the sound of the camera lens attached to the target breaking.

“He completely! Completely hit the very center!”

“The camera lens is broken. This is the first time this has happened since ‘Castle’s Hanna two years ago!”

“Yes…. Ah, this is happening again. It’s really a-amazing!”

The commentary box blurted out in an excited voice.

As soon as it was confirmed that the camera lens was broken, the fan seats were in an uproar.

No matter how much footage there was, this kind of incident was bound to be broadcast.

The match was temporarily suspended, and the staff busily replaced the camera.

“This is going to be a really breathtaking match.”

“Yes. Both of them are tied with 9 points and 10 points right now. Four arrows left each. It’s a nail-biting match.”

“Ah- this isn’t just an idol sports competition; I’d believe it even if it was the Olympics.”

During the short waiting time, Jigu made eye contact with Do-jae.

The moment he made eye contact with his unusually dark eyes, Jigu knew that this match would not be easy, and in fact, that he would lose.

Someone might see hitting the lens once as luck.

Jigu sighed lowly.

It seemed like he wouldn’t be able to receive the same spotlight as last year.

But in a way, it seemed like not a bad situation.

After all, even if he won two consecutive championships without any surprises, people wouldn’t be as surprised as they were last year, and the broadcast wouldn’t highlight Jigu as much either.

Unless he was a HOH [Home of Hiphop] member, who was a 대상 [Daesang, Grand Prize] singer.

So this kind of tense, exciting match might be more helpful to Jigu.

‘I just have to play a great game.’

That’s what Do-jae and Jigu thought as they made eye contact.

Soon, Jigu’s arrow hit 10 points again.

And once again, Do-jae also scored 10 points.

The stadium gradually became quiet.

9, 10, 10, 9, 9, 8.

Stimulated by Do-jae, Jigu showed a level of performance that surprised himself.

It was his best score ever.

However, Do-jae, who had completely grasped the feeling, left a record that was unprecedented in ‘Ah-Chae-Dae’ [Idol Star Athletics Championships] history.

It was a record that seemed like it would never be broken even after many episodes.

The archery medalist who was watching stood up and said that Do-jae should be sent to the national team selection right now.

9, 10, 10, 9, 10, 10.

Do-jae, who advanced to the finals in that way, eventually broke one more camera lens in the finals and won the archery championship.

***

And at that time.

Heungmin and Woocheol, who were standing on the futsal field, froze when they saw their opponents.

“I think we’ve run into the wrong people.”

“Yeah. Totally.”