Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 122

A Different Level of Idol – Episode 122

#122

Sometimes, things like that happened.

Similar situations, the same places, identical people… These coincidences existed.

It was disorienting, blurring the lines between the Republic of Korea and the Korean Empire [a fictional alternate reality].

This was subtly different from the case of Do-jae and Kang Do-jae, whose lives, though starting from a similar point, diverged drastically due to their vastly different environments, shaping them into individuals with almost unrecognizable personalities.

Like their families.

‘Still, the fact that Kang Do-jae and I were pursuing the same dream is amazing, no matter how I think about it.’

The corrupt politician I saw on the news recently had committed similar acts of corruption in the Korean Empire and faced the consequences.

And just a few days ago, I learned that the famous *galbi-tang* [Korean short rib soup] restaurant Do-jae loved in the Korean Empire also existed in the Republic of Korea.

‘To think that a *galbi-tang* restaurant with such a long tradition would exist here too.’

After our schedule, Do-jae recommended it, and we went with the members. The taste was exactly the same.

In the Korean Empire, it was always food delivered from the palace, so I didn’t know if the owner of the restaurant was the same.

But knowing Do-jae had such a discerning palate, I could be sure the taste was identical.

‘And this song…’

It was a song that was popular in the Korean Empire as well.

Of course, it was even more popular in America, a different dimension altogether, than in the Korean Empire.

Because it was a pop song.

‘But Bear Jung composed this song?’

Something felt off.

Especially the fact that he added so many instruments and sound effects, arranging the rhythm in such an unconventional way compared to how Do-jae remembered it, was suspicious.

He could have composed the song like this from the beginning, but the fact that he took the difficult route when he could have easily made a conventional pop song was questionable.

It was even more perplexing when I considered Bear Jung’s usual style.

Do-jae quickly opened a browser and typed the name into the search bar.

‘Jacksoned… The person who wrote the same song in the Korean Empire had this name, I think.’

Do-jae’s smooth brow furrowed slightly.

“Is that right?”

Nothing came up in the search.

Do-jae’s fingers, which were typing other similar names on the keyboard, suddenly stopped.

It was because another memory surfaced.

Now, the singer’s name wasn’t important.

Do-jae had heard this song in the Republic of Korea as well.

***

Knock knock. At the sound of knocking on the door, Do-jae relaxed his expression and got up from his seat.

When he opened the door, Heung-min was standing there.

“Are you so busy writing lyrics that you’re out of your mind? You still have to eat.”

“That’s right, *hyung* [older brother or male friend]! Let’s eat first!”

Louis, who had called Do-jae a little while ago, was also urging him from the dining table.

“Ah. That’s not it…”

Looking at the table, all the members had already gathered and were sitting around it.

Seven chickens were on the table.

“What’s all this?”

“Ki-joon *hyung* said he got royalties and bought it!”

Gyu-sung answered excitedly.

“Ah, come to think of it, Do-jae *hyung*, didn’t you get some too? *Hyung*, you should buy dessert!”

At Woo-cheol’s words, Do-jae nodded.

Actually, I hadn’t checked my bank account, but if Ki-joon had received his royalties, Do-jae’s would have been deposited as well.

At first, ‘Kang Do-jae’s’ family was so poor that he needed a certain amount of money, but since food, clothing, and shelter were all taken care of in the dorm, he wasn’t thinking much about money.

It was similar to life in the palace.

It was luxurious but not extravagant, so there were no particular complaints.

However, he was organizing his bank account every month to send money so that his mother’s living expenses wouldn’t be insufficient.

If they gained popularity with this momentum until the next activity and received the settlement, Do-jae’s family wouldn’t be in such a difficult situation.

It was a fortunate thing.

“Let’s eat quickly!”

When Do-jae sat down at the table, the members hurriedly picked up the chicken they wanted.

“But… Is there one more chicken than there are people?”

At Do-jae’s puzzled question, Gyu-sung gave him a disappointing look.

Woo-cheol also said as if it was obvious.

“*Hyung*… Of course, it’s because one person can’t eat a whole chicken.”

“Ah.”

Do-jae quickly agreed and picked up the most basic fried chicken drumstick.

“How are the lyrics coming along? Do you think you’ll be able to write them well?”

After eating chicken in a combative manner for a while,

When he was half full, Ki-joon asked Do-jae.

“Ah… That’s…”

Do-jae hesitated for a moment.

Ki-joon felt embarrassed that he had asked, even though the song had only been completed a few hours ago.

“No. I don’t expect much since it’s just the beginning, but I’m just asking how it feels.”

However, that wasn’t the reason Do-jae hesitated.

I didn’t want to spoil the mood with bad news when everyone was excited and enjoying their chicken.

As the meal was coming to an end, Do-jae opened his mouth.

“Do you know this song?”

Do-jae turned on his phone and played the song.

The song was almost identical to the pop song he had heard in the Korean Empire.

It was a variation of Bear Jung’s song.

“Huh?”

“…Huh!”

Ki-joon and Heung-min reacted immediately.

Other members also looked like they would recognize it if they concentrated.

“Isn’t this a 2 Jackson song?”

“No. This is our title…”

“…?”

“…!”

It was Heung-min who identified it as a 2 Jackson song, and it was Ki-joon who revealed it was their title song.

The members, sensing something serious, widened their eyes and closed their mouths.

The friendly dinner party froze, and only silence filled the air.

‘Ah. 2 Jackson…!’

Do-jae sighed.

The singer who was active in America as ‘Jacksoend’ in the other world was active as ‘2 Jackson’ in this world.

Of course, no matter the name, the fact that he is the owner of this song doesn’t change.

The song was quite popular here as well, so much so that I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it right away.

It was a famous song that Heung-min and other members could immediately recognize.

“What is this…”

Ki-joon couldn’t continue speaking.

Woo-cheol asked as if he didn’t understand.

“Isn’t this just a 2 Jackson song? Why is this our title? Our title is a different song, right?”

Woo-cheol also sensed something was wrong, but he asked questions as if he didn’t want to believe it.

“The chord progression in the chorus is the same.”

“Yes.”

At Ki-joon’s words, Do-jae replied with a bitter expression.

“By putting a minor chord in offbeat before entering the chorus and speeding up the song overall, it’s hard to notice at first…”

In the end, the main chord progressions, which can be said to be the identity of the song, were all the same.

It was at the level of a remake song, not an original composition by Bear Jung.

“…I didn’t know at all.”

Ki-joon looked calm at first glance, but he swept back his hair as if he was greatly shocked.

The other members couldn’t say anything more.

It was their next activity song that they thought was perfect.

The members were surprised, but it was difficult to imagine the shock Ki-joon felt, having communicated with Bear Jung for nearly a month alongside Director Lee Jung-yeop and watching the song being made.

That was the same for Do-jae, but… he remained calm.

“How could you not know this… How could you not know this!”

Distress was evident in Ki-joon’s voice, as if he was falling into self-blame.

The expressions of the younger members darkened rapidly.

“*Hyung*…”

Heung-min looked at Ki-joon with a worried expression.

At other times, Ki-joon wouldn’t have shown such a heartbroken appearance in front of his younger siblings.

However, it was a shocking and embarrassing situation, especially considering how excited he had been.

He felt empty, and he was disappointed in himself for not noticing.

‘Did he really not know? I just liked the song so much… It’s not like I wanted to pretend I didn’t know, is it?’

Ki-joon was even questioning his own motives.

As if sensing Ki-joon’s inner turmoil, Do-jae said.

“The way the instruments are added is also different, so it’s natural to miss it unless you specifically pick out the chords. Not only me, but also Director Lee Jung-yeop. No one who heard the song recognized it.”

If 100 out of 100 people are ‘immediately hooked,’ that also means it’s that much more ‘familiar.’

I overlooked that point.

Kang Chang-sik used the expression ‘familiar,’ so Do-jae looked it up just in case.

If not…

‘Just thinking about it makes me shudder.’

Do-jae frowned for a moment.

He almost unleashed plagiarism into the world.

The number of people who have heard Bear Jung’s song so far isn’t that many.

However, the moment MOST’s music is released, thousands and tens of thousands of fans and the public will listen to the song.

Some of them would soon notice the similarity to 2 Jackson’s song.

That’s why things that go unnoticed internally become major problems as soon as they are released to the world.

It’s difficult to recognize at first, but if you analyze the chords, you’ll quickly find out it’s plagiarism.

Then, along with that, the suspicion would only snowball.

‘Of course, we can just explain that it’s not plagiarism, but simply a similar song and move on.’

It’s difficult to get plagiarism legally recognized, and the probability that 2 Jackson in the United States will sue MOST is virtually nonexistent.

That is why some composers and singers plagiarize foreign songs.

However, it wasn’t the end just because there was no legal problem.

MOST’s image would clearly hit rock bottom.

MOST was known for the members’ active participation in songwriting.

It didn’t matter that this song was technically Bear Jung’s.

It was obvious that people would assume that those who sang the song couldn’t have been ignorant of the plagiarism, and that they did it knowingly.

“…What is really going on.”

Heung-min sighed so loudly that his bangs moved.

The title song is a plagiarized song.

A major setback in the album preparation.

It was an unexpected blow.

The members were also shaken, like a car that suddenly stops, jolted by the impact of the recoil.

“Still, it’s a relief that we found out at this point.”

At Do-jae’s words, Louis hurriedly nodded.

Ki-joon also tried to calm his mind and said.

“Do-jae… If it wasn’t for you, I would have been in big trouble.”

In reality, it could only be said that they narrowly avoided disaster.

If they had continued to write lyrics, record, and practice choreography without knowing, and then the album came out…

Gyu-sung also carefully opened his mouth.

“Bear Jung. That person… He must have intended it, right?”

“He’ll deny it, but that’s right. If the melody is this similar.”

As Heung-min said, grinding his teeth, anger quickly flared in Gyu-sung’s eyes as well.

The way he was muttering ‘Bear bastard…’ was unusual.

If Bear Jung was in Korea, not the United States, he looked ready to go find him right away.

“What do we do now?”

Woo-cheol asked in a gloomy voice.

Ki-joon clenched his fist and said.

“We can’t use this song. I’ll contact the director first.”

“Yes. *Hyung*… Don’t be too heartbroken.”

Gyu-sung, who had been angry, said quietly to Ki-joon, who was getting up.

Ki-joon looked at Gyu-sung and his younger siblings, who were looking at him with worried eyes, and said.

“You guys don’t worry too much either. It’s a relief that we found out even now, as Do-jae said. There are other songs…”

Could they find a better song than this?

Honestly, even the members couldn’t be sure.

However, they couldn’t afford to dwell on regret.

It was MOST who was about to lose their reputation as artists.

It was something that couldn’t be done unless they were willing to sell their souls to the devil.

“Do-jae. I think you should go to the director with me. Bring your phone.”

Ki-joon, who had finished talking with Director Lee Jung-yeop, called Do-jae.

“Yes.”

Do-jae left the dorm with Ki-joon.