Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 231

#231.

An outdoor stage where white breaths puffed out with every exhale.

On stage, the MCs [Masters of Ceremony] and performers, their hands and feet red with cold, watched the live broadcast from Bosingak [a historic bell pavilion in Seoul].

And together, they shouted the countdown.

“5!”

“4!”

…“1!”

Dong-!

Dong-!

Fireworks soared into the sky above the stage along with the bell ringing, signaling midnight.

The MCs announced the new year in loud voices.

“Wow! The new year has begun!”

“Happy New Year to all the viewers watching!”

“Happy New Year!”

The performers on stage also exchanged New Year’s greetings with smiling faces.

The camera captured the performers in a full shot.

As soon as all the bell strikes were over and the Bosingak screen disappeared, the MC immediately introduced the next performance.

“Now, the next performance is even more special as it’s the first stage of the new year!”

The audience below the stage stirred at the MC’s words.

According to the leaked setlist, the star of the next performance was MOST.

Of course, MOST’s fans were in the indoor concert hall, but there were still quite a few people waiting for MOST’s performance.

“……Everyone seems to have already guessed it.”

The male MC, glancing at the staff below, timed his cue.

Since the stage wasn’t continuing live from the venue, it was necessary to switch screens at the exact timing.

The male MC paused for a beat, seemingly to build tension, and then introduced the next performance.

“The next performance is…. MOST!!!”

“Kyaaaaaa!”

“Waaaaaa!”

A tremendous roar echoed through the outdoor stage and the indoor concert hall simultaneously.

And along with the cheers, the video was broadcast on TVs and screens.

A golden dragon rushed onto the dark screen, like the night sky.

The appearance and movements were so sudden and threatening that one could only describe it as ‘rushing in.’

“Whoa.”

Those watching the video on the large screen were quite surprised.

A large dragon flitted across the screen against the backdrop of a grand sound utilizing traditional instruments.

You could feel the effort put into the CG [computer-generated] animation.

As the music escalated, the dragon’s movements quickened, and it began to draw something.

Soon, white letters appeared along the golden dragon’s trajectory.

MOST.

And then, a large, heavy bell sound reverberated.

“Kyaaaaaa!”

Once again, the fans’ cheers filled the concert hall… and the camera focused on the stage.

Dim lights dropped onto the dark stage.

Underneath them, the MOST members, wearing long black durumagi [traditional Korean overcoat] robes, stood with their backs turned.

A golden dragon was embroidered on the durumagi in sections, and as the members stood in a line, the dragon that had been flitting across the screen until just now was completed.

To the heavy beat of the drums, the camera captured the members standing tall, one by one.

Each time, the members turned around and showed off a short, flashy move, drawing swords from their waists.

“Crazy!”

“Aaaaaaak!”

As soon as Heungmin, spinning his sword quickly with one hand, was zoomed in on, gasps of astonishment erupted from the fan seats.

A stage known among fans as the ‘Tongyeong Battle.’

The costumes and atmosphere were reminiscent of that stage.

“Could it be that today…….”

The fans stared at the stage with their mouths open.

They vividly remembered Dojae performing a sword dance at the Tongyeong Battle.

And that ‘could it be’ was an idea that Dojae had presented during the awards ceremony stage meeting.

At the time, MOST had decorated the stage with a traditional atmosphere to match the Hansando Festival concept, and the response had been very positive.

However, unfortunately, it wasn’t a stage that was broadcast separately.

Dojae wanted to take this opportunity to showcase a more authentic Korean concept stage.

The fact that the stage was taking place right after the New Year’s bell-ringing ceremony also seemed to fit well with the concept.

“Kyaaaaaa!”

Finally, Dojae brandished his sword and stood facing forward.

His bright blonde hair swayed, creating a strange atmosphere.

As the six members glared at the camera with spirited expressions and postures, the intro to began.

The intro, mixed with the sounds of traditional percussion instruments, felt a bit heavier and more diverse than the original.

—Tension spreading through the air

The camera rotated and showed Woocheol standing behind Dojae.

Woocheol made a charismatic expression as he appeared.

—I can’t run away anymore

—I can’t let go

Kijun and Heungmin sang their parts, holding their swords diagonally.

Lui slipped out as if sliding between the swords gathered in an X shape.

“Kyaaak!”

At the same time as his flexible and quick movements, Lui didn’t miss the chance to make a playful expression while looking at the camera, causing screams to erupt from the fans’ mouths.

The members moved quickly and accurately.

The long durumagi robes fluttered 멋지게 [meotjige – stylishly/coolly] on the stage.

Before anyone knew it, the members turned around one by one, like dominoes, recreating the golden dragon.

It was the killing part [most captivating part] of .

Only Dojae, standing in the center, looked at the camera and sang his part.

—Your voice flowing down countless times,

I will catch it

It was an irresistible, charming tone.

His gaze was also captivating.

Tilting his head and waist back, the durumagi he was wearing slipped down his shoulders, hanging precariously.

—I’ll jump over it!

The members who had been turned around leaned back even more aggressively.

The scene was so captivating that the venue became even more heated.

Soon, Gyuseong’s high note exploded.

—Even if it shatters in the air-!!!

“Kyaaaaaa!”

“MOST!!!!”

“Aaaaaaak!”

As the members, who had been moving smoothly, jumped up powerfully, the cheers also exploded.

Dojae and Heungmin knelt down, and Lui, who had climbed onto their thighs, threw his sword backward and performed an aerial somersault in the air.

“Whoa!”

“Aaaaaaak!”

The sight of the sword and the person floating in the air in turn was even astonishing.

Those who were surprised and those who were relieved were mixed together.

Along with the interlude, Heungmin and Dojae’s sword dance continued.

There was a sense of precision in the movements of extending their arms, and the movements of turning around were smooth.

Even though they were holding model swords, the atmosphere of the two was as if they were holding real swords.

Their expressions were full of sharpness.

Heungmin and Dojae, who lightly leaped as if flying, crossed swords and returned to their positions, moving to the music.

Sweat droplets formed on their cheeks.

The two of them, and their swords, were moving like twins.

It was the result of hundreds of practices.

As the music escalated, Gyuseong and Woocheol, Kijun, and Lui (who had retrieved his sword) moved together behind the two.

The dazzling lines created by the six members with their swords were perfect for captivating the audience.

The drum sounds laid under the music also played a part in making the audience’s hearts beat even faster.

No one would have thought that , which had been filled with sophisticated sounds, would go so well with traditional colors until they heard it.

The interlude, which had been edited to be longer than usual, was coming to an end.

The members naturally put their swords down on one side of the stage and immediately continued with the second verse.

A stable live performance continued, making it hard to believe that it was a song after choreography that was exhausting just to watch.

—I will catch it, I’ll jump over it!

—Even if it shatters in the air-!!!

Gyuseong and Dojae’s voices echoed through the concert hall in succession.

The audience cheered at Dojae’s stable ad-libs [improvisational vocalizations].

The song was at its peak.

“Waaaaaa!”

As fireworks exploded, the members, who were standing tall, threw off the durumagi robes they were wearing.

Whirr, the durumagi robes fluttered in the air and fell to the floor with a thud… revealing the clothes the members were wearing underneath.

It was a top made directly using silk fabric used in hanboks [traditional Korean clothing].

“Wow, what’s with the outfits!”

They were 멋있었을 때도 멋있었지만 [meosiss-eoss-eul ttaedo meosiss-eossjiman – cool/stylish when they were wearing them], when they were wearing the durumagi robes, but they felt uniquely 멋있었을 때도 멋있었지만 [meosiss-eoss-eul ttaedo meosiss-eossjiman – cool/stylish when they were wearing them] even after taking them off.

Today’s outfits were worthy of being called the masterpiece of Chief Han, who had been in charge of MOST’s outfits for a long time.

After was .

It wasn’t a song well-known to the public, but it was chosen because it could continue the powerful atmosphere of while also delivering an energetic message for the new year.

It was also a song composed by Dojae.

—Stopping at the station called you

—The star you looked back on, the star that swallowed me

Every time the members moved, the red tops reflected the stage lights, changing into various colors.

The silk fabric was a see-through material.

Depending on the angle, the members’ skin was also faintly visible.

That appearance created a sexy yet restrained feeling.

Dozens of dancers wearing black clothes appeared on the stage.

And they danced with the members, creating a spectacle.

The members shouted in confident voices, as they had always done.

—Even if it shakes, even if it breaks

—We continue, Most must go!

It was the members’ ambition and determination.

And as if knowing the members’ hearts, the fans also cheered in unison.

—BEST must go!

Looking at the fans shouting the cheering chants, Dojae felt a surge of emotion as much as he was out of breath.

He’s been on stage so many times, he can’t even count anymore, but every time he breathes and feels together, he gets goosebumps.

‘Yeah, keep going.’

He wanted this moment to continue.

The members were clearly singing with the same heart.

Otherwise, there was no way they could put on a stage while pouring out all their energy like this.

The members, who had poured out enough energy to exhaust ordinary people… were still smiling.

The bright and hopeful intro of brightened before his eyes.

The members passionately sang the last song in a completely different atmosphere under the pouring bright lights.

***

It was after a stage that was more physically demanding than ever, so the members were sweating profusely.

Stylists hurriedly wiped the members’ sweat.

“Woong, can I get some water?”

At Dojae’s words, Woong quickly opened the water bottle and handed it to Dojae.

The other members were also drinking water and sports drinks to replenish their energy.

They were so exhausted that it was hard to even open a water bottle, but the members’ expressions were still bright.

It was because the first stage of the new year was quite successful.

On the stage, HOH, the last act of today’s awards ceremony, was in the middle of their performance.

“Let’s change clothes quickly!”

“5 minutes left!”

At the staff’s shouts, the members hurriedly changed their clothes.

Only the grand prize of this year’s last awards ceremony remained.