Chapter 89

Reincarnation of the Rebellious Genius Composer - Chapter 89 (89/482)

Today was the day to determine the TOP 10, or rather, the TOP 11, and the stage was more spectacular than ever, unlike any previous competition.

This round of the selection was nicknamed the "Death Match."

As the name suggests, twenty participants would compete one-on-one according to the draw, and immediately after each performance, the eliminated and advancing participants would be decided.

Although the results of the day's selection were predetermined...

In survival audition programs, various interests and powerful forces like agencies and investors often intertwine, making it impossible to be entirely fair.

The fortunate part was that:

The participants who were slated for elimination performed with all their might, unaware of their fate. The pre-determined winners treated it as their debut stage, delivering performances that were nothing short of perfect.

No one had prepared half-heartedly.

Of course.

This included Kang Hajeon, a strong contender for the championship.

"Please make the surroundings completely dark..."

Even just before his turn, Kang Hajeon was still giving various requests to the lighting team.

"Raise the brightness of the spotlight a bit more..."

Despite his opponent, Yoo Haein, performing a folk song that had left a mark on the music industry, rearranged in a rock version, and dominating the atmosphere of the venue...

"Please, I appreciate it."

He seemed to pay no attention to it at all.

'What a guy...'

Park Jeonmu, watching Kang Hajeon, felt nothing but admiration. Usually, newcomers in this industry would be swept along by doing as their agency told them.

But.

Kang Hajeon was different. In the early stages, he had only received support from the company, and now he was preparing his performance on his own without any help from the company.

Wasn't he truly commendable?

Park Jeonmu had a particular fondness for Kang Hajeon for a good reason.

'He's really admirable...'

Just as he was looking at Kang Hajeon with a pleased smile,

"Kang Hajeon, participant!"

A staff member approached and called out loudly.

"Yes, I'm here."

"Yoo Haein's performance will end soon, so you need to get ready quickly."

Park Jeonmu patted Kang Hajeon's back firmly and replied,

"Yes, our Hajeon is going up now."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and the awkwardness was left to the two of them.

"Then, Kang Hajeon, let's go..."

"Yes, let's go..."

Kang Hajeon and the staff member exchanged a sheepish smile and immediately headed to the stage.

A moment later.

As Yoo Haein finished his performance, the staff quickly began changing the stage setup.

"Hey, be careful with the instruments!"

"Unplug the connected amplifiers first."

"Did you adjust the height of the standing microphone?"

The stage, which had been chaotic for a moment, was soon cleared of the instruments, leaving only a standing microphone.

Compared to Yoo Haein's performance, which had involved a full band, it felt sparse and empty.

'Kang Hajeon, you could have asked for a full band and some special effects...'

Park Jeonmu felt a bit disappointed with the stage setup for a moment.

The filming resumed,

The MC, receiving a signal from the staff, picked up the microphone again.

"Next, the participant who will perform in the Death Match is..."

He paused for a moment, then stretched out his right hand to point behind the stage.

"Kang Hajeon, who has returned from the loser's revival round!"

Kang Hajeon walked calmly to the standing microphone, his face wearing an unreadable expression.

On the day he was supposed to meet HS, he had been as nervous as a child on their first day of kindergarten...

But how about now?

Standing on the stage, surrounded by numerous cameras, he looked very calm and composed, even though the competition could make even the best performers nervous.

Was it composure or courage?

It was impossible to tell, but he hoped Kang Hajeon would do well.

'Hajeon, do your best!'

Soon.

Darkness descended on the stage, and a gentle melody began to play,

─ My heart, lost and without a place to go.

As Kang Hajeon began the first verse, the lights slowly illuminated his head.

'Wow...'

Was this the reason he had been chasing the lighting team around until the last moment?

The light shining straight down on his head cast a shadow over his face.

Although.

His facial features were not clearly visible, this somehow made him look even better.

The dark stage...

The faint light creating a silhouette, with his forehead and the bridge of his nose glinting mysteriously, created a magical atmosphere.

─ Today, I feel even more sorrowful.

His firm voice filled the venue with each movement of his thick lips.

─ My day is not yet over.

There was no performance, no elaborate production, not even a single change in lighting.

Only.

The stage, driven solely by the power of his voice, ended in darkness.

"..."

The venue, as if deeply engulfed by the darkness, remained in a profound silence, captivated by his voice.

"..."

The silence was so complete that even the sound of breathing was not allowed.

Clap, clap clap.

Gradually, applause began to fill the stage.

Clap, clap clap, clap clap clap-!

"This guy, really..."

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap-!

Soon, the studio, brightly lit again, echoed with thunderous applause.

Clap clap clap-!

Park Jeonmu, feeling that Kang Hajeon's performance was a challenge, did not want to hold back his praise.

Of course.

Since it was still filming, he gave a light applause and raised his thumb.

You've grown up well.

Yes.

You've really grown up well.

At this moment, Park Jeonmu felt nothing but pride and admiration for Kang Hajeon.

* * *

In the center of the stage, the MC and the two participants stood side by side.

"Yoo Haein vs. Kang Hajeon, the Death Match has ended! Both of you have delivered performances that are difficult to compare."

The MC glanced at the cue card and continued smoothly.

"Especially Kang Hajeon, who returned through the loser's revival round, must have had less preparation time than the other participants, yet you delivered a perfect performance. You must have practiced a lot, right?"

Kang Hajeon, who had tasted the bitterness of elimination before and worked extremely hard after that,

"Yes, given this miraculous opportunity, I practiced with all my might."

He could answer confidently, standing tall.

"Then, this might be a sensitive question, but do you expect to win?"

"I can't be certain, but I believe the results will follow the effort I put in."

The MC nodded in agreement and quickly shifted his gaze.

"Yoo Haein, do you expect to win this match and advance to the TOP 10?"

Yoo Haein, who had received the question, glanced at Kang Hajeon and picked up the microphone.

"Kang Hajeon delivered an excellent performance..."

He paused, carefully examining Kang Hajeon's face. It was like a masterpiece carved by a Greek sculptor over decades.

Not only that.

His confident and upright posture exuded a noble aura, as if he were the center of the world.

'A guy who relies on his looks...'

Yoo Haein did not like Kang Hajeon at all.

It might seem petty, but...

At least here, envying and being jealous of the "talented guy" was a natural emotion.

"I also delivered a performance without regrets, so I won't lose easily."

How had he struggled and climbed this far?

Yoo Haein repeatedly told himself that he would not lose, that he absolutely could not lose, with a fierce determination.

He then turned his head slightly towards Kang Hajeon. For some reason, the guy looked more composed than expected.

Even that made him feel irritated, so he closed his eyes tightly. When he opened them again...

"Now, let's reveal the winner of this Death Match and the participant who will advance to the TOP 10!"

Kang Hajeon must be the one who will be eliminated.

His performance was perfect, and the judges' reactions were good.

But why?

"The winner of this Death Match is-!"

Strangely, his palms kept getting wet with sweat, as if it were raining during the rainy season.

* * *

After the Death Match between Kang Hajeon and Yoo Haein, there was a short break to change the tape.

The winner of the Death Match, as expected, was Kang Hajeon, who was pre-determined to win.

"Yoo Haein did well, but Kang Hajeon was just too good."

"Kang Hajeon seems to have really sharpened his skills this time."

"His performance was so overwhelming throughout the song."

However, from the judges' reactions, it was clear that even without the predetermined outcome, the result would have been the same.

'Yes, he did well.'

Hyun Seung nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly.

They say that people grow through setbacks.

He didn't have the temperament to make a fuss like the other judges, and while Kang Hajeon's performance wasn't enough to captivate him, it clearly showed how much he had grown.

Most importantly, it reinforced his belief that Kang Hajeon could handle the summer hit song he was working on.

In a word, impressive?

Of course, his evaluation was simply, "Yes, well done."

At that moment,

Lee Young-a grabbed a staff member who had come up for a microphone check and asked,

"Is this the last Death Match?"

"Yes, it is."

"But even if it's a product placement..."

She rubbed her cheek against the coffee in front of her, complaining,

"The coffee is really bad. Really, it is."

The other judges, except for Hyun Seung, laughed lightly at her playful complaint.

"Is this something HS can eat?"

"I haven't tried it because I wear a helmet."

At this, Lee Young-a opened her mouth in surprise and said,

"Oh..."

Then, her eyes sparkled as if she had an opportunity.

"Then, take it off and drink during a break from filming."

"No, I can't."

"Your throat will get dry from talking so much."

"I'm fine."

"I can't be the only one drinking this bad coffee."

Lee Young-a insisted, holding out the straw.

"Come on, just one sip, okay?"

"Right, have a drink."

Kim Gwangjin and Won Jinseop chimed in.

Actually,

Hyun Seung wanted to drink coffee more than anyone else.

Swallow.

He usually drank coffee all day, but due to the helmet, he couldn't even drink water during filming, which was a real struggle.

His evaluations were already so concise that he was used to it, but otherwise, his throat would have been parched.

These people wouldn't take a picture of his face and spread it around, would they?

'Should I drink it?'

The straw seemed to be tempting him from behind the goggles.

'Should I not?'

Lee Young-a, noticing Hyun Seung's hesitation, pushed the straw almost to the goggles.

"Just a sip, please."

This was the first chance to see the real face of 'HS' behind the veil. Moreover, Lee Young-a was not the type to give up easily.

Finally,

Hyun Seung pretended to give in and took the coffee she offered.

"I'll drink it."

At that moment,

Not only the judges but also the staff member, who had finished the check and was about to leave, stopped in their tracks.

'Finally, the face...'

Lee Young-a turned her head to avoid looking too obvious but kept her eyes on Hyun Seung.

'Really going to take it off?'

Everyone's gaze was fixed on Hyun Seung at that moment.

─ Filming resumes!

Hyun Seung immediately put his hand down, which was about to remove the helmet.

"Ah, really-!"

Lee Young-a was frustrated by the timing.

And.

The final Death Match stage finally began.