Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 177

177.

“Am I really seeing this?”

“Is this actually happening?”

One hour after the song’s release.

The members, still in the practice room, grabbed their phones to check the music charts.

They stared at the rankings, exchanging disbelieving glances, wondering if it was some kind of mistake.

“Guys! Congratulations!”

“Wow, ‘Beautifly’ is amazing! Congrats!”

“This is going to be a massive hit, right?!”

“Congrats, whee-!”

The sock trainer [a trainer specializing in dance socks] and backup dancers cheered loudly, some even whistling to congratulate the members.

“Seriously?!”

“Bro!”

Woochul and Louis hugged each other, spinning around the practice room in excitement.

“……”

Amidst the joyful chaos, Dojae quietly checked the rankings again.

He remembered the days right after their debut, when he’d obsessively checked the charts for “Hug Me” and “First Kiss.”

Back then, just cracking the top 100 felt like an unbelievable dream come true.

‘But… number one!’

Number one upon release.

It was hard to believe they’d reached such heights in only two years.

Of course, by now, MOST had built a strong enough fanbase to consistently land in the top 10 whenever they released new music.

From the start, MOST’s songs had generally performed well compared to other idol groups.

From the moment they began planning the group, the company, CEO Lee Jung-yeop, and Gijun had worked tirelessly to create songs that would appeal not only to their fans but also to the general public.

What makes a good song? What can truly touch people’s hearts?

With Dojae, who possessed an uncanny knack for understanding these things, contributing to the album production, it felt like having an unbeatable advantage.

If there was one song among MOST’s releases that leaned away from mainstream appeal, it would be “Rage.”

However, that wasn’t so much about missing the public’s taste as it was a deliberate choice to focus on powerful performance and intense musicality.

Even that song had initially gained traction overseas before eventually climbing to number one.

“Ha……”

Dojae let out a sigh, filled with a mix of relief and elation.

It’s impossible to perfectly predict what the public will embrace, and mainstream tastes are constantly evolving.

Therefore, Dojae believed that true mainstream appeal ultimately came down to ‘good songs’ that resonated with a wide audience, regardless of genre.

From that perspective, he was confident that “Beautifly” would be loved by many.

‘Even so, I never imagined it would debut at number one……’

Dojae thought, clutching his phone tightly.

It was the culmination of everything: MOST’s consistently good music, their dedicated fanbase, and their growing recognition.

“Hey, you guys!”

“Hyung, hyung!”

The Woochul and Louis tornado, still spinning wildly, eventually engulfed Dojae.

“Whoa!”

Dojae, lost in his thoughts, was suddenly swept off his feet by the two and landed on the floor.

Heungmin and Gijun had already been caught up in their celebratory whirlwind.

“Kyahaha!”

Louis laughed gleefully as they all piled on top of each other.

Heungmin and Gijun, having been dragged down by their younger members, didn’t seem upset at all; they were simply laughing.

It was too good a day to be angry.

“Ah, we’re totally killing it!”

At Woochul’s shout, Heungmin playfully nudged him.

“Don’t get a big head!”

“Ah, wait! Can’t we enjoy this for just one hour?!”

Heungmin relented, shouting, “Wow, it’s great to be killing it!”

The dancers burst into laughter.

“Yeah, you guys deserve to enjoy it.”

Even the sock trainer agreed, and Gijun’s expression completely relaxed.

Dojae smiled warmly, watching the happy members.

It wasn’t just him who was overjoyed, but also the members and staff who had poured their hearts into this project…….

That’s what made him even happier.

“Ah, Gyu-sung hyung should be here to celebrate with us.”

“Yeah…….”

Woochul, who had been rolling around on the practice room floor, muttered regretfully.

The other members also felt a pang of sadness when they thought of Gyu-sung.

But at the same time, they felt a sense of relief.

They hoped that this success would ease some of the burdens Gyu-sung had been carrying.

***

At that moment.

Gyu-sung, who had eaten lunch and slept for hours under the influence of his medication, reached for his phone.

“Did I really sleep this long…….”

Gyu-sung’s voice, as he muttered, sounded noticeably better than the day before.

Gyu-sung quickly opened the music streaming site.

He never imagined he’d have to miss two days of practice right before their comeback.

However, after his hospital visit yesterday.

He’d reluctantly agreed to rest, spurred by everyone’s concern, and his condition had improved dramatically.

As the saying goes, sleep is the best medicine. Dojae, who had returned from practice, insisted that Gyu-sung rest one more day.

Gyu-sung had initially wanted to argue that he felt better and should practice, but…….

After experiencing the positive change in his condition after just one day, he realized it was best to fully recover before performing on stage.

Gyu-sung instinctively touched the scarf around his neck and anxiously checked the music charts.

And.

Like the other members, he saw that “Beautifly” was proudly sitting at number one.

“N, number one?”

As Gyu-sung stammered in disbelief.

Notifications flooded his phone.

Messages from the members, all announcing their number one achievement.

***

[Gijun] Beautifly

(Photo)

-Filled with the joy of reaching number one, Gijun and Heungmin updated Tweety [Twitter] on behalf of the members.

Gijun posted a group photo taken during the music video shoot, simply captioned ‘Beautifly’.

It was a candid shot taken by Manager Lee Jung-yeon right before they changed out of their costumes after filming.

Perhaps because it captured the moment when the set was being cleaned up, the members looked relaxed and natural.

The fans meticulously examined the group photo, which showcased each member’s personality.

The members, flashing peace signs with comfortable expressions against a blue backdrop, looked happy and approachable.

[MIN] BEST! Always sincerely grateful for the love you send us! Thanks to you, I smiled today! Fly! Let’s fly higher!

(Photo)

Heungmin tweeted a message filled with gratitude to the fans who had helped them achieve a number one debut, along with an energetic selfie taken in the practice room earlier.

The number one spot, combined with the members’ tweets.

Sent the fans, already buzzing with excitement for the comeback stage, into a frenzy, and even attracted attention from other fandoms.

@ Beautifly – MOST – Listen.

http://koo.to/6hmoScbsT

by Watermelon

@ Number one ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’m so proud of MOST

@ The photo Rida [Gijun’s nickname] posted feels like a family ㅠㅠㅠ I’m happy, but why am I tearing up.. I wonder how happy the kids are right now ㅠㅠ

@ You don’t have to go to the Musée d’Orsay to see a masterpiece. This photo is a masterpiece

@ Monet would ask why they copied his painting ㅠㅠ

@ The clothes and hair are all so pretty, and even the natural light is amazing. Even the light is on MOST’s side, so reassuring!

@ MOST’s new song is so good;;

@ It’s kinda pop-like

@ I thought it was an insult lol

@ My bestie is a fan,,, can’t diss MOST,,

@ I knew Kang Dojae was handsome, but in this music video, he’s just a god himself

@ The kids’ music and faces are on point 

@ But Woochul’s part is so short.. The concept is good, but I wish they gave him a little more part ㅠㅠ

@ Dojae and Gyu-sung are having a vocal king competition in this song too. I hope they took care of their throats;;

@ Proof that this music video is really well-made: The speed at which the meme accounts are updating is insane

@ It’s annoying.. I wish Bigbo would put out songs like this too.. They’re going in a completely different direction from Bigbo..

@ I thought hitting number one was an overreaction, but after listening to the song, I’ve decided to accept it..

@ Someone please take Beautifly out of my ears

@ It’s a real paradise part @ Let’s jump into the white sea together~~~~ I love this part so much, I’m jumping into the sea and killing myself

@ What can’t they give us lol @ It’s unbelievable that the composer is Perriot. How could Perriot give a song to a Korean singer?

@ This song is easy to listen to, but it doesn’t seem easy to sing at all

@ I’m so jealous of MoST ㅅㅂ [Korean slang expressing frustration] When will our kids take off

@ Idol Maker Hwimin must be so jealous. Why did he even come out

@ Don’t grab Hwimin by the hair

@ Wasn’t that friend grabbing MOST by the hair? And you even used protective language, why are you coming here to self-inflict pain lol

@ Even if you write it like that, it’s all searchable;

@ Someone please hit me on the head. If I faint and wake up, it’ll be tomorrow’s stage time

***

In fact, there had been extensive discussions about where MOST’s comeback stage would be held.

Ultimately, what convinced Kingdom Entertainment to hold the stage as an internet live broadcast on ON TV was the proposal from MVS [a broadcasting station].

With Louis already working as an MC for MVS, and MVS having witnessed MOST’s soaring popularity after the airing of , they offered MOST a 7-minute stage time.

Allocating 7 minutes to a single team on a music show with numerous performers was an unprecedented offer.

From Kingdom’s perspective, it was crucial to maintain a strong relationship with the broadcasting station, not only for MOST but also for their other artists.

While they didn’t engage in backroom deals like New Entertainment, the relationship with the broadcasting station played a significant role in promoting their groups.

And with MOST’s popularity, the relationship with the broadcasting station was no longer a simple superior-subordinate dynamic.

Instead of being arrogant, it was important to nurture the relationship for a mutually beneficial outcome.

There was no reason to decline, so MOST accepted MVS’s proposal.

“Are you ready?! I think you can head out now…….”

“Yes, yes. We’re going. Guys! Let’s go!”

At the staff’s call, Jung Gil-joo checked on the members.

The members, having finished their preparations, stood up and headed for the waiting room exit.

They had been at the salon since dawn, rehearsed extensively, and pre-recorded two B-side tracks.

Yet, there was no sign of exhaustion on their faces.

“Ah, I’m nervous!”

Woochul tried to shake off his nerves by shouting loudly as he walked towards the entrance.

Now, all that remained was the live stage.

Only the most important performance was left.

Fortunately, the pre-recording had given them a feel for the stage.

“Let’s go quickly.”

Dojae gently guided Gyu-sung, who was still warming up his vocals in front of the mirror.

Gyu-sung, his eyes filled with nervous anticipation, followed Dojae.

The members hurried down the long hallway.

A deafening roar echoed through the once-silent surroundings.

“Kyaaaaaa!”

“MOST! MOST!”

As the pre-recorded footage began to play, the fans cheered wildly, watching MOST on stage.

After the VCRs of the two pre-recorded B-side tracks finished.

The members, dressed in pristine white suits, stood in a row, waiting for the instrumental track of “Beautifly” to begin.

And Gyu-sung, who was singing the intro, opened his mouth, holding the microphone lavishly customized with cubic zirconia.

―I got my light!

A mesmerizing voice that sent shivers down the spine soared through the venue.

―Life goes beautiful
you, like butterfly