Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 9

#9.

After a brief warm-up, Louis confidently stepped forward.

Do-jae sat on a chair prepared at the back.

Only one of them would debut in Kingdom.

It was a sudden and unfortunate situation, but they had to accept it.

‘The problem is that they’re making us compete based on dancing ability….’

Frankly, he wasn’t confident he could beat anyone in dancing.

‘It’s a relief that my opponent is Louis, at least.’

Not because he was confident, but because Louis was a decent person.

He had some quirky and unconventional aspects, but the more you looked at him, the more charming he was.

His bright and unpretentious personality made him easy to get along with, and his exotic looks, like a fashion magazine model, made him a perfect fit as an idol member.

It was because it was Louis that this competition was meaningful.

‘Much better than fighting for a spot with pathetic guys like Song Hwan or Yoo Myung-woo.’

Do-jae quietly focused on Louis’s dance.

‘Worrying about it won’t change anything anyway.’

Do-jae was prepared to compete fairly and accept the results.

Then, Deputy Manager Lee Jung-yeon played the music.

It was a song Louis had chosen himself.

This audition was a format where they freely danced for three minutes to a song they were confident in.

The music began to flow from the large speakers.

Thump, thump, thump, thump—

The song that came out with the cheerful beat was a famous pop song mixed with funk sound and New Jack Swing style.

—Baby tonight, tonight, I am gonna show you off.

Louis entrusted himself to the rhythm and took steps forward.

To compensate for his height of just over 5’7” (170cm), Louis was wearing high-heeled boots.

They looked like they would be uncomfortable to walk in, but Louis’s footwork was as light as if he were barefoot.

Every time the mood of the song changed, from waves to locking [a style of funk dance], from locking to rhythmic steps, Louis freely moved his body and showed off his skills.

Do-jae watched Louis and admired him.

Louis was dancing with a joyful smile, without a hint of nervousness.

‘He really seems to enjoy dancing.’

“Oh, you can tell that dancing is his specialty.”

“I agree. He’s really good.”

Baek Jo-hee and the Planning Team 2 leader shared their thoughts in small voices.

If they had to find a flaw, it would be that he seemed to lack power.

Instead, he had the flexibility and lightness to compensate for it.

When the song ended, Louis took a deep breath.

Team Leader Kim Seok-cheol opened his mouth for the first time.

“Good job.”

Louis smiled brightly at Team Leader Kim Seok-cheol and bowed.

Louis and Do-jae.

Since they were the only two auditioning, it was immediately Do-jae’s turn.

While Deputy Manager Lee Jung-yeon was finding the song, Do-jae got up and warmed up.

“How was I? Did I do well?”

Louis, who had come to the back, quickly asked Do-jae.

“You did great. Your skills are really outstanding.”

Louis shrugged his shoulders at Do-jae’s sincere compliment.

“I did my best so that you wouldn’t regret it.”

“Me… regret?”

“For telling me to come to the audition. You were thinking of debuting with me, right? You don’t know me well…. I just attached myself to you, but still……”

He seemed reckless, but Louis was secretly concerned about that fact.

“I wasn’t necessarily thinking of debuting together……”

Do-jae, who hadn’t thought that far and just thought it would be nice to have someone to practice with, felt awkward.

‘Of course, it would be even better if we could debut together.’

If he knew that one of the reasons he decided to be with Louis was because of the name ‘Louis’…….

Louis would be quite disappointed.

Louis, who didn’t know anything, muttered in an impressed tone.

“Thank you, hyung [older brother or male friend]. Of course, you’ll get in, but……”

“There’s no such thing as ‘of course.’”

“You’re good at everything, enough to be chosen for the debut group in New.”

Do-jae chuckled and shook his head.

“Do-jae, are you ready?”

“Yes. I’m all set.”

After quickly answering Deputy Manager Lee Jung-yeon’s question, Do-jae put his hand on Louis’s shoulder, who was sitting in the chair.

“Kim Louis.”

“……?”

“I’ll do my best too.”

Louis, who had been looking up at Do-jae quietly, smiled and nodded.

“Hoo.”

Do-jae, standing in position, took a deep breath.

‘I learned something from Louis.’

He had been feeling a little resigned to the fact that they would make a final decision after seeing the dance.

But Louis seemed to think that Do-jae would get in anyway.

‘Certainly, Kang Do-jae was a good dancer. The problem is that I’m not Kang Do-jae.’

Nevertheless, even though he thought he would lose, Louis did his best to show a great dance.

For a great match.

That’s why Do-jae decided to do his best once again.

He didn’t want to disappoint Louis, Kang Do-jae who wasn’t here, or even himself.

A sense of responsibility settled heavily in his heart.

However, this responsibility was not like the heavy obligation of a royal that had been weighing down on his life for the past 20 years.

It was a very pleasant responsibility for his dream.

After a short prelude, the song Do-jae chose began in earnest.

—Look here!

At the same time, Do-jae stretched his arms up with all his might.

The eyes of the Kingdom Entertainment employees, who had been watching Do-jae with interest since the prelude began, shone sharply.

Do-jae’s song choice was Big Boyz’s debut song, ‘Love Virus.’

‘Love Virus’ was a song based on pop and R&B with variations of various genres.

—The emptiness of my heart, all in ruins. You can fix it.

The reason Do-jae chose this song was simple.

He was fascinated by the passion of the Big Boyz dancing to this song.

As it was their debut song, it was the most clumsy of Big Boyz’s performances, but even that clumsiness seemed to shine with passion.

Do-jae wanted to put that passion into his dance as well.

—Love, love, love virus.

In line with the repeated lyrics, Do-jae’s hands and legs accurately and powerfully cut through the air.

Power and precision.

It was a very impressive movement that showed both.

Even though the tempo of the song was getting faster and faster, Do-jae’s movements were unwavering.

It was something that could not have happened without some physical training.

Team Leader Kim Seok-cheol, who was watching Do-jae closely, muttered in a small voice.

“He really… must have practiced a lot.”

Team Leader Kim Seok-cheol was the manager of Big Boyz until their first album.

He was also the person who had seen the stage of ‘Love Virus’ the most, excluding the Big Boyz members.

But even to him, Do-jae’s dance was surprisingly good.

It was as if he had copied Big Boyz’s debut stage.

Perhaps because he was nervous, he didn’t seem to have much余裕 [emotional leeway], but that was all.

Even that nervousness felt like part of the performance, thanks to his natural face and atmosphere.

—Love, love, virus.

At the interlude, Do-jae closed his eyes and made a big turn in the air, just like Big Boyz’s main dancer had done.

It was a fast turn without any fear.

It was different from the precision he had shown before, and his flexibility and long body lines stood out.

—I’m starting again, look here!

The song ended with the same lyrics as the beginning.

At the same time, Do-jae stopped in the center and gasped for breath.

His heart was beating fast.

He could hear his heartbeat in his ears.

Sweat was beading on Do-jae’s white, straight forehead.

For the past week.

What Do-jae had been doing while holed up in his room was not simply watching Big Boyz’s videos.

Do-jae practiced dancing for the audition.

‘Anyway, if you’re an idol, you have to be able to sing and dance…. I’m sure I’ll have to dance at some point…….’

The original Kang Do-jae had decent dancing skills that he wouldn’t have needed to practice separately.

But Do-jae was not.

Even though it was Kang Do-jae’s body, it was uncertain whether Do-jae’s mind, which had never danced before, would be able to move his body properly.

So Do-jae practiced non-stop for a week.

Fortunately, Kang Do-jae’s body remembered a lot, and Do-jae quickly learned the dance.

Even so, he wasn’t very confident.

It was the first time.

He danced in front of other people, a dance he had never even properly danced alone.

It was actually very nerve-wracking.

At the same time, Do-jae enjoyed an unknown freedom in the gazes that stared at him intently.

‘I did another thing that a prince would never be able to do. If my father had seen it…….’

He might have collapsed, saying I was acting frivolously.

Then he might have been recorded forever as the prince who brought misfortune to the Korean Empire…….

Anyway, he realized one more thing while dancing in front of people for the first time.

He still wanted to be on stage as soon as possible.

Now, he wanted to be on stage not only singing but also dancing.

“Good job.”

Do-jae’s turn also ended with Team Leader Kim Seok-cheol’s words of appreciation, just like Louis’s.

The Kingdom employees, who had been talking among themselves for a while, asked Do-jae and Louis for their understanding.

“We…. We need to discuss it a little more, so could you wait outside?”

Do-jae and Louis nodded at the question from Planning Team 2 Leader Jung Hee-young and left the practice room.

***

In an empty conference room, the two waited for the results while drinking the drinks Deputy Manager Lee Jung-yeon had given them.

“Hyung. You’re a good dancer too.”

“…What.”

“Your dancing style seems to have changed from before……”

“Have you seen me dance before?”

“Of course. There was a dance evaluation before the song evaluation. I wanted to be friends with you since then!”

Since then.

While everyone else was only looking at Kang Do-jae’s shabby appearance, Louis seemed to have seen his skills.

“Ah…. What’s different from then?”

“Strength? The way you use your facial muscles is a little different too……”

Louis seemed to choose his words carefully and then gave an honest assessment.

“I thought you were much better at dancing than singing back then.”

That meant he thought his singing was better now.

Do-jae nodded, thinking that he had to work harder because it was an undeniable fact.

“It’s not that you were bad at all. You didn’t miss a single choreography, right? You were really good. It’s just that something feels different……”

Anyway, Louis had a strangely good sense.

“Hyung…. Even if you debut before me, you can’t pretend you don’t know me later.”

Do-jae shrugged his shoulders at Louis’s words, which sounded somehow weak.

“You might debut first. Here.”

Honestly, no one knew the results.

If Do-jae was better at singing and Louis was better at dancing…….

Neither of them knew who they needed more.

He was trying to empty his mind as much as possible and wait for the results.

Deputy Manager Lee Jung-yeon called the two of them again.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No. It’s okay.”

Do-jae replied to Planning Team 2 Leader’s words.

Waiting was natural since it would be a significant matter for them as well.

The vice president, who looked at Do-jae and Louis alternately, opened his mouth.

The vice president announced the results immediately without hesitation.

“Our decision is Kang Do-jae. Kim Louis, thank you for your hard work auditioning.”

“……!”

“Hyung. Congratulations.”

Louis’s eyes, who immediately offered his congratulations, were full of sincerity.

Of course, there was also a deep sense of regret.

‘It would have been better if I could have been with Louis…….’

Do-jae also felt regret.

He seemed to have grown fond of Louis, who was the only person he had made friends with in Korea.

However, it was also true that he was happy to hear the news of his acceptance because it was Kingdom, which he felt was like fate.

He was about to put his regrets aside and enjoy the joy of acceptance while receiving Louis’s congratulations.

Bang, a staff member opened the practice room door and came in.

“I, I, I’m sorry for coming in so suddenly. Vice President…. Team Leader…. Something terrible has happened!”

Planning Team 2 Leader Jung Hee-young couldn’t help but be flustered when the staff member urgently called for her.