Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 187

#187.

He was nineteen, just like Choi Rina.

With a handsome face, neat features, and a tall stature, he projected a warm and approachable image, making him popular among the participants.

This ‘first love senior’ vibe resonated with viewers, and his ranking was quite high, consistently within the top 10.

Like Choi Rina, he had cultivated his own dedicated fandom.

However, his skill level was where he differed from Choi Rina.

He clearly possessed a solid foundation and practiced diligently, but his actual performance often fell short.

Consequently, he received a C in the initial skill assessment.

This disparity between popularity and skill earned him a considerable number of detractors, rivaling his fanbase.

Given the nature of survival shows, fans of other participants frequently voiced their opinions, criticizing Yoon Seungjo for having ‘too much popularity compared to his skill level.’

The remaining 31 participants were those who had garnered a certain level of recognition.

Competition was inevitably intensifying, and to maintain their ranking…

To survive until the end and ultimately debut, it was crucial to showcase their true abilities.

However, this pressure seemed to exacerbate Yoon Seungjo’s nervousness.

“It’s hard to believe this is your first time recording. Let’s move on to the next part right away.”

“Yes, sunbaenim!” [Sunbaenim is a Korean term for a senior or mentor in a professional or academic setting.]

As Choi Rina’s song, lauded as the best among the participants, and the complimentary feedback from the admired sunbae, Dojae, filled the room in a friendly atmosphere,

Yoon Seungjo felt a mounting tension that threatened to overwhelm him.

He was typically relaxed and possessed a pleasant demeanor, but in crucial moments, he became excessively anxious.

This anxiety effectively undermined his skills, which were actually quite respectable.

‘At this rate… it’s better not to even dream of becoming a singer,’ Yoon Seungjo thought, critically evaluating himself.

The reason he had participated in the survival program was, in fact, to confront and overcome these very moments.

He reasoned that if he couldn’t manage the pressure of performing on the show, he would never be able to debut as a real singer.

Yoon Seungjo wiped the sweat from his pants.

But soon, sweat beaded on his skin again.

The excessive tension he experienced during important moments stemmed largely from his upbringing in an overly strict household.

‘But I really want to become a singer…’ he thought.

It was at that moment, as Yoon Seungjo squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them.

“Good job. Then next is…”

Choi Rina, having completed her recording, was exiting the booth.

Her teammates cast envious glances in her direction.

Dojae scanned the room for the next person to record.

Among them was Yoon Seungjo, who had been sweating profusely since their handshake.

Yoon Seungjo lowered his gaze, avoiding eye contact, fearing that Dojae might single him out.

“Seungjo-ssi?” [Ssi is a Korean honorific used to address someone politely.]

However.

The pleasant voice specifically called out Yoon Seungjo’s name.

“…Yes?”

Yoon Seungjo’s voice trembled slightly as he responded.

Dojae’s deep, dark eyes were fixed on Yoon Seungjo, conveying both softness and keen observation.

‘He’s far too nervous,’ Dojae thought.

Judging by his current state, recording seemed almost impossible.

However, that was precisely why Dojae had chosen Yoon Seungjo to follow Choi Rina.

‘The more time passes, the more his confidence will erode, and the more negative his thoughts will become.’

Prolonged exposure to a state of tension impairs clear thinking.

There’s a reason why people say it’s better to face the music sooner rather than later.

“Are you okay to go next, Seungjo-ssi?”

At Dojae’s question, Yoon Seungjo managed a barely perceptible nod.

Dojae made a conscious effort to treat Yoon Seungjo as normally as possible, just like the other participants.

He certainly didn’t want to exacerbate the situation by suggesting he wasn’t acting professionally.

However, showering him with pitying glances was equally counterproductive.

He understood that it would only further diminish Yoon Seungjo’s self-esteem.

This was a consideration that Dojae was uniquely positioned to make because he was ‘Lee Dojae’ and simultaneously possessed the memories of ‘Kang Dojae.’

In the past, ‘Kang Dojae’ had frequently been bullied by Songhwan and other trainees, leading him to become increasingly intimidated and unable to properly showcase his abilities.

However, what fueled ‘Kang Dojae’s’ intimidation at that time was not only the bullying itself but also the pitying gazes directed at him.

Eyes that offered only pity without practical assistance only served to drive him further into himself.

As Yoon Seungjo entered the booth, Dojae played the guide track for him first, just as he had for Choi Rina.

But Dojae went a step further, showing extra consideration to alleviate Yoon Seungjo’s tension.

He not only played the guide but also sang along himself.

“As mentioned in the guide, dance, dance with you—dance, dance with you—it would be good to approach it a little lighter as you go back.”

“…Ah, yes.”

It was only a brief verse, but his voice was captivating enough to make the waiting participants and Yoon Seungjo in the booth perk up their ears.

Yoon Seungjo took a deep breath while listening to Dojae’s explanation.

“Now, let’s sing comfortably since it’s the first time.”

As Dojae spoke and played the song, Yoon Seungjo sang into the microphone.

— dan, ce, da….

Yoon Seungjo, whose breath had become shallow due to tension, couldn’t even complete a single verse properly.

Dojae stopped the song and said in a casual tone.

“Your breathing is too shallow right now. Would you like to take another deep breath?”

Dojae didn’t explicitly say, ‘You’re nervous,’ but Yoon Seungjo understood that Dojae had recognized his tension (though it was hard not to) and was trying to be as supportive as possible.

He could also sense that Dojae wasn’t mocking or pitying his nervousness but was genuinely trying to guide him in the best possible direction.

“Yes.”

Yoon Seungjo nodded and sang the song again.

Of course, contrary to his hopes, the song didn’t go well.

‘It looks like I can do better than this when I watch the broadcast…’ he thought, frustrated.

Dojae allowed Yoon Seungjo to sing all of his parts without interruption for the time being.

“Hmm. It was better than the first time. But it still feels like your breathing is cut off? Let’s try one more time.”

“…Yes.”

Yoon Seungjo sang the song again.

Dojae pondered, maintaining a neutral expression.

‘How can I ease his tension even a little bit?’

Dojae wanted the participants, who had chosen the demanding path of survival to achieve their dreams, to be able to showcase their full potential, regardless of the outcome.

It was because he understood their desperate aspirations better than anyone else.

However, time was limited.

They needed to finish recording that day, and they couldn’t dedicate all their time solely to Yoon Seungjo.

The cameraman standing next to Dojae captured a close-up of Dojae’s face, revealing his thoughtful expression as he stood in front of the equipment.

The production team had somewhat anticipated that Yoon Seungjo would struggle in the recording studio.

From their perspective, the resulting tense atmosphere would be a compelling element to heighten the drama.

However, Dojae was managing the recording process more calmly and skillfully than they had expected.

Yoon Seungjo was also performing better than the production team had anticipated.

Nevertheless, Dojae wanted Yoon Seungjo to reveal more of his inherent abilities.

At that moment.

The recording studio door opened cautiously, and Rui, leading the way, peeked inside.

“Hello…”

They were the members who were scheduled to arrive after approximately half of the recording was completed.

However, Dojae had suggested to the production team and members via text message that it would be beneficial to film the members’ arrival at that time.

Neither the production team nor the members had any objections, and they arrived at the recording studio at the timing Dojae had indicated.

“Oh!”

Choi Rina, who was the first to spot Rui, jumped up from her seat.

Dojae paused the recording with a delighted expression.

“Just a moment, shall we step out and come back? Seungjo-ssi.”

Yoon Seungjo took off his headphones in a daze and emerged from the booth.

As the MOST members entered in a line, led by Rui, the other participants also greeted the members in a daze, adopting a posture that suggested they were about to bow deeply.

It was because they had never expected that all of MOST would visit the recording studio.

“Wow…”

Exclamations escaped the mouths of the participants who had ‘witnessed’ the entirety of MOST.

For them, who aspired to become successful idols, it was like a dream come true before their very eyes.

“We came to support the people who are singing Dojae’s song, but we’re not disturbing you, are we?”

At Heungmin’s question, the teammates all shook their heads.

With six teammates and the members joining in, the recording studio quickly became crowded.

“Okay, everyone, drink this while you do it!”

Woochul rummaged through his bag and placed something on the table.

It was the ion drink ‘Tareta,’ known as the official drink of [PPL means product placement].

“Thank you!”

“We’ll enjoy it!”

It was obvious to everyone that Woochul hadn’t purchased it himself but that it was a product placement, but the teammates greeted him politely.

“I feel more energized when I drink this.”

Woochul promoted it naturally, like an actor, and opened the lid himself and handed it to the participant in front of him.

The participant accepted the drink with a look of reverence.

Rui, who was also under the same product placement obligation, shook the transparent drink bottle and said, “This is really delicious!”

Actually, he had never tasted it before…

“I’ll also film you sitting down and talking for a while!”

At the words of the PD [PD stands for Production Director] in charge as he arranged the seats, the teammates and members sat down again.

The teammates sat huddled together on one side of the sofa, their eyes shining as they looked at the members.

The members simply smiled at the strange and awkward feeling.

It was a similar feeling to when rookie singers came to the waiting room to greet them on music shows (like they used to do).

We’re seniors.

There wasn’t anything specific they had to do as ‘seniors,’ but they felt strangely out of place.

Moreover, today was a situation where they had to offer unwavering support and advice as seniors.

It was both burdensome and a source of pride to be in that position.

“How’s the recording going?”

Heungmin, who had become accustomed to reality shows with others through , naturally initiated the conversation.

The teammates nodded and answered, “Yes!”

Of course, Yoon Seungjo, who had been sweating profusely in the booth until just moments ago, was unable to respond.

“Still, it’ll be okay since you’re recording with Dojae hyung [Hyung is a Korean term used by males to address older brothers or close male friends]… We’re really nervous and have a hard time when we record with our leader hyung here.”

Woochul said, attempting to make the participants feel comfortable, and subtly dissed Gijun.

Gijun frowned for a moment, but when he made eye contact with Choi Rina, he quickly relaxed his expression and spoke softly in his own way.

“Dojae tends to accept all opinions well… If there’s anything uncomfortable while recording, make sure to say it.”

At those words, Dojae smiled lightly and nodded.

“That’s right. A better song can be made when you all feel comfortable and show all your skills. It’s a song I made… but from the moment your voices are added, it’s also your song, so feel free to say anything about the song.”

When even Dojae said that, the participants admired him inwardly.

They could clearly sense that they were a team that had been working together for a long time, and they also perceived Dojae as a flexible and tolerant individual.

At that time, Yoon Seungjo, who had been looking uncomfortable all along, raised his hand.

“I…”

Instantly, everyone’s attention turned to Yoon Seungjo.

“Actually, I’m too nervous right now…”