Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 228

The members bowed deeply to those congratulating them, walking forward while offering their greetings.

Leading the way was the leader, Gijun.

Gijun’s face, as captured by the camera, was stiff with tension.

He looked ashen, like someone heading for punishment rather than receiving an award, and upon closer inspection, his gait seemed peculiar.

Behind him, Woocheol and Louis exchanged excited glances, grinning from ear to ear.

Following them, Gyuseong and Heungmin tried to calm their racing hearts, taking deep breaths.

Barely managing to move, Dojae trailed behind the others.

His mind was a tangled mess… no, it was simply blank, devoid of any thought.

Dojae was just as frozen as Gijun, but his posture was more elegant and confident than anyone else’s.

He never knew that the proper posture, ingrained in him through rigorous training since childhood, would be helpful in times like these.

Dojae raised his head and looked at the stage.

Gijun, who had just arrived, was waiting for the members.

“Congratulations.”

“Congrats!”

The presenters greeted the members and handed them a large trophy.

Gijun’s face turned even paler as he held the trophy.

Thankfully, no one noticed that he was on the verge of collapsing, thanks to the makeup and lighting.

Next to the completely out-of-it Gijun, Louis waved his hands wildly at the camera.

It was a gesture of unrestrained joy.

“Kyaaaa!”

“MOST!!!”

“Aaaah! What do we do!!!”

The fans screamed every time the members smiled or made the slightest movement.

The fans were just as unable to contain their joy.

Some fans were so moved by the members’ emotions that they shed tears.

Gyuseong’s eyes, as seen on the large screen, were already red-rimmed, and Heungmin was looking at the fan section, which was chanting their names, with an overwhelmed expression.

Dojae alternated his gaze between the members and the fan section.

A wave of emotions, rarely felt in everyday life, crashed violently into the hearts of Dojae and the members.

“We would like to ask for your acceptance speech.”

A presenter said in a small voice to the members who didn’t know what to do.

Even in a daze, the members instinctively found their places in a line.

Gijun, standing in front of the microphone, couldn’t speak for a moment.

Gulp.

Gijun’s Adam’s apple moved noticeably as he swallowed his emotions.

“Uh…”

“Kyaaaa!”

“Gijun-aaaa!”

The moment Gijun uttered his first word, “Uh.”

The fans went wild at the single syllable that sounded like a sigh.

Gijun felt his throat tighten again.

He had choked up like this when he received the Rookie Award because it was such an unexpected award, and because it was an award he had always wanted to receive as a singer.

And now, once again.

The award he had only dreamed of was in his hands.

This award contained all of Gijun’s teens and twenties.

“Thank you.”

Gijun barely managed to utter his thanks in a trembling voice.

Heungmin put his arm around Gijun’s shoulder.

With the support of his oldest colleague, Gijun was finally able to relax his stiff expression and raise the corners of his lips.

“I really… don’t know… what to say. Thank you, BEST [Name of their fandom].”

He felt pathetic for only being able to say thank you like a fool, but he really had nothing else to say.

He had already said all the prepared remarks when he received the previous award.

He really didn’t expect to win this time because just being nominated was a big deal.

“Thank you so much for allowing us to receive such a big award.”

Gijun’s eyes became moist.

Anticipating that tears would fall, Gijun took a step back and handed the microphone to Heungmin.

Under normal circumstances, Woocheol would have teased Gijun for being a crybaby, but he couldn’t.

Because Woocheol, who was standing at the very end, was already hugging Gyuseong and crying.

It was the biggest award.

There was enough time for all the members to take turns giving their acceptance speeches.

Heungmin, who had been teary-eyed from the moment he came up on stage but had become calmer while watching Gijun, showed composure by even mixing in jokes as he delivered his speech.

“Ah, really… as you can see from the fact that our leader can’t speak properly, we really didn’t expect to receive this award.”

The singers sitting in the audience chuckled lightly.

It was clear from the expressions on the MOST members’ faces that Heungmin’s words were genuine.

However, only the members didn’t know it, but many people had easily predicted this moment.

The saying that they deserved to receive the award.

That was perfect for the current MOST members.

That was also why even the HOH members, who were strong contenders, could sincerely congratulate them.

“Really… the reason we were able to receive this award is thanks to our members and our fans. It’s really like a dream… BEST!!! who made this moment and are sharing it with us!!! I really love you!!!”

A huge roar erupted from the fan section at Heungmin’s love confession.

Heungmin raised his arm and drew a large heart.

Gijun, Woocheol, and Gyuseong were all crying.

Heungmin had tried to keep the acceptance speech light so that the atmosphere wouldn’t get too heavy.

But his heart was heavier than anyone else’s.

Heungmin was not the best in any field among the Kingdom Entertainment trainees.

He was a dance member, but he was lacking compared to Big Boyz’s street-style main dancer.

He wasn’t as outstanding as Gijun in terms of rap or musicality.

He was just generally average, with skills that were just enough not to be a burden to the team.

He never dreamed that he would receive such a big award.

He had desires, but he didn’t think they were achievable.

At least, that was the case until the group MOST was formed.

After finishing his speech, Heungmin turned around and saw the crying members, and he finally burst into tears.

Louis hugged Heungmin and comforted him.

Even while being comforted by the youngest member, Heungmin sobbed without shame.

Gyuseong then continued the speech.

The fans were moved when Gyuseong’s face, completely wet with tears, was captured on the screen.

His face, like a steamed bun soaked in water, reminded them of Gyuseong’s early debut days.

“Hoo, thank you so, so much. Really… I didn’t even imagine it…”

He just wanted to sing.

Since he was a choir member mixed in with dozens of other children, Gyuseong had always done his best to sing in his place.

And now, he has grown into a singer with a unique tone that no one can imitate, an indispensable vocalist for MOST.

“Thank you, fans. Mom and Dad, who always believed in me and supported me… I love you… and… members, thank you for always being a pillar of support by my side… and… I… I’ll keep singing. As long as there’s someone listening, I’ll sing until I die.”

I will keep singing.

I will sing until I die.

Gijun and Heungmin’s eyes became even hotter with Gyuseong’s sincere and heartfelt words.

Gyuseong’s fans felt a sense of fullness that was almost painful.

“Gyuseong-ah!!!”

“Kim Gyuseong, I love you!!!”

Voices filled with emotion called out Gyuseong’s name from all directions.

Gyuseong turned around and looked at Woocheol and Dojae alternately.

Woocheol had been crying so much since he came on stage that he couldn’t even breathe.

Dojae, who had been uncharacteristically nervous and frozen, as if he couldn’t believe it, warmly took Gyuseong’s hand.

“Woocheol-ah.”

The members, including Gyuseong, calmed Woocheol down and pushed him on the back.

Woocheol barely managed to catch his breath and gripped the microphone tightly in his hand.

“Uh, this big award… Hoo-ee-ee-ee-ing.”

“Park Woocheol, don’t cry!!!”

“Woocheol, I love you!!!”

“Woocheol-ah!!!”

Most of the fans also started to cry because of Woocheol, who couldn’t finish his sentence and cried sadly again.

The members stood on either side of Woocheol, patting him on the back.

It was Woocheol who had recently received harsh criticism and condemnation on the internet.

He had worked hard for several years for this moment.

When the moment came when all the sweat and tears shone, he couldn’t help but think of the hardships he had suffered that day.

Knowing Woocheol’s heart, the members and fans could only look at Woocheol with more pity.

Even though the controversy had been resolved in a pleasant atmosphere, the feeling of walking on thin ice, that this could happen again at any time, could not be easily shaken off.

“It’s a happy day, Woocheol-ah…”

Dojae muttered with a tender voice, filled with pity, and Woocheol wiped his face roughly with the back of his hand and continued his acceptance speech.

“Hyungs [older brothers/male colleagues] who led me, a reckless person, to this point… Our maknae [youngest member] Louis who believed in me… sob… Thank you so much. Really… I couldn’t have come this far without the members.”

Woocheol sobbed as he let out the feelings inside him.

“I know that I’m very lacking. But thank you so much to the fans who love me without reservation.”

“No!!!”

“Park Woocheol is perfect!!!”

“Woocheol-ah!”

The fans shouted to convey their feelings to Woocheol.

Woocheol wiggled his nose and made a playful expression like his usual self.

“I don’t know how to repay you for receiving so much love… But please continue to love Park Woocheol and MOST!!!”

It was Woocheol-like to be a little brazen.

The faces of the members, who were supporting Woocheol with their hands on his shoulders, back, and waist, were filled with smiles.

As soon as Woocheol stepped away from the microphone, Louis quickly continued the speech.

“BEST!!!”

The fans cheered in response to Louis’ call.

“Thank you all so much!!! I’m so happy that my heart is beating really fast!”

Louis’ eyes sparkled as he looked at the camera and the audience with his hand on his chest.

It felt as if fairy dust that the fans were talking about was surrounding Louis.

Louis was a case who debuted and succeeded relatively easily among the members.

That’s not to say he didn’t work hard, but Louis always thought he was ‘lucky’.

Louis was delighted with the luck that had come to him.

And he wanted the members to fully enjoy this joy as much as he was.

“Thanks to the fans who made us receive this award… I’m happy enough right now. And our members… Hyungs [older brothers/male colleagues], don’t cry, because I’ll be upset if you cry… I hope you’ll always be happy like now.”

The hyungs’ [older brothers/male colleagues] lips spread into smiles again at Louis’ words.

“You’ll be with us forever, right?”

Realistically, the word ‘forever’ was too heavy.

But it was a word that only Louis could say.

The fans were heard shouting “Yes!” loudly in unison.

Louis teared up for a moment, then smiled brightly and waved his hands wildly.

Woocheol also waved his hand next to Louis.

Finally, it was Dojae’s turn.

Dojae had been looking at the members with a warmer gaze than anyone else while they were giving their acceptance speeches.

Dojae stood in front of the microphone, and Dojae’s face was zoomed in on the large screen.

“Kyaaaa!”

“Aaaah!”

Dojae’s face, slightly sweaty and moist with tears due to the hot lights and tension… his face alone created so many impressions that it could be called an ‘impression’.

Dojae looked at the numerous seats once and opened his mouth as if he had made a decision.

“I have something to confess today.”

The members and fans listened to Dojae’s words.