LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 54
Chapter 54
On the first day, even while eating lunch, Seo Moon-gyeol was furiously drawing lines with a three-color pen in his choreography notebook. By the time he finished eating, he had completed the choreography.
I couldn’t forget the sight of Seo Moon-gyeol, who smelled of Cool Water cologne, tapping two dots on the last page and declaring it finished. That was real style and charisma.
The other trainees eating beside him, especially those in the dance position, watched the process with wary expressions.
As an outsider, I found it just a bit fascinating, but to those in the know, it must have been an astonishing feat.
“Can I see?”
“Sure.”
With his permission, I looked at the choreography notebook. Even though it was my first time seeing something like this, it was organized so neatly that I could understand it at a glance.
Over several pages, numerous stick figures were performing the choreography.
But these weren’t ordinary stick figures.
Even if I drew a person much smaller than a thumb, it would look like a scribble. However, when Seo Moon-gyeol drew it, it was animation art.
Like the soap carving he did in the one-minute PR video before, he seemed to have a talent for anything involving his hands.
This guy had everything except a normal ego.
Thanks to that, I could intuitively understand the dance just by looking at the pictures.
As I kept looking, I could envision the overall flow in my mind.
“Raon, do you understand what it is by looking at it?”
“Yeah, I totally get it.”
“Oh……”
Kyle and Jing Xiao, who were looking at it with me, had expressions that showed they didn’t understand at all.
How could they not understand this?
Anyway, it was fine since I understood.
As I flipped through the pages, reaching the last page where people were represented by letters to indicate their overall movements, a notification for choreography comprehension appeared.
[Choreography: Seo Moon-gyeol_17××××(Temporary) – Would you like to comprehend it?]
[Y/N]
‘Just by looking at the choreography notebook, I can comprehend it.’
Of course, I pressed Y.
[Choreography comprehension success!]
[Choreography: Seo Moon-gyeol_17××××(Temporary) – Registered in the choreography list.]
It had been a while since I comprehended something this easily.
It meant the choreography was simple enough for me to comprehend without straining my still pitiful intelligence and wisdom.
Seo Moon-gyeol composed the choreography with generally uncomplicated and straightforward movements.
He seemed to have particularly considered Jing Xiao, whose dance skills showed no signs of improvement, and Nagase Ritsu, who was just getting used to Korean-style choreography.
While experts might think, ‘Aren’t they getting it too easy?’, the general audience would react differently.
Because there were big, impactful moves scattered throughout that made it look impressive at a glance.
If the six of us matched our group dance correctly, it wouldn’t elicit a reaction like ‘That’s amazing,’ but at least a reaction of ‘That’s cool.’
After finalizing the choreography, Seo Moon-gyeol took charge of teaching Kyle and Jing Xiao, while I taught Nagase Ritsu and Daye.
Since the picture I drew wouldn’t be complete with just one or two people standing out, it was especially important for everyone to perform well together in the spirit of harmony.
During that process, I acquired a new skill.
[Acquired Active Skill 《Instilled Teaching Tailored to Level》.]
[Active Skill 《Instilled Teaching Tailored to Level》 – As someone who has had several students pass through your hands, starting from the leader of the underachievers, you’ve now accumulated considerable know-how as an educator. When teaching others, the learner’s intelligence, wisdom, and willpower increase slightly, and they follow your instructions well. However, the skill effect only applies to learners who have the will to learn. Fatigue accumulation increases slightly while using the skill. It’s a switch-type skill that you can turn on and off. (Current state: ON)]
It seemed like I finally got a decent skill… But isn’t this just a skill that uses up my fatigue for the benefit of others?
I channeled my frustration at the reality where the bear dances, but someone else takes the money into passionate teaching.
Fueled by my enthusiasm, the two achieved remarkable results.
“Ugh… On Raon, let’s stop… Huff, let’s take a break!”
“[Save me…]”
“Everyone, there’s a saying in Korea that the clean water at the top ensures the clean water at the bottom.”
I continued with a benevolent smile.
“And based on my experience, there has never been a superior who took a break when someone asked for it. So, I’ll follow that example.”
In short, I meant that I would also become murky water.
“Even if I don’t understand what you’re saying, I know this isn’t the right time to use that saying!”
“Oh, come on. Get up and let’s go through the second half again.”
“You take breaks in between!”
Well, if I didn’t rest at the right times, I might die from fatigue overload.
But that wasn’t the case for you guys, was it?
Besides, teaching you guys was already draining my fatigue rapidly, so you should stop complaining.
“From the sound of your voice, it seems like you can still do it. Start the second half, get up, one-two, one-two, hurrah!”
Even while sweating like it was raining, they got up and moved their bodies to the rhythm of my clapping.
The skill effect of them listening well seemed to really exist.
“Good, good, very good!”
On the other side, Seo Moon-gyeol was calmly working Kyle and Jing Xiao hard.
Though he usually seemed so relaxed that I worried about his life, he became quite strict when it came to the stage.
Before we went to have dinner after a grueling practice session, we had a meeting with the music director.
We weren’t arranging the music ourselves; we would convey our ideas, and the director would reflect our opinions in the arrangement.
Of course, there’s no way they would make trainees do everything from A to Z.
“…So I suggest proceeding like this towards the end.”
“That sounds good. Hmm, this is really good. Who suggested this first?”
“I did.”
“Smart thinking.”
“Thank you!”
Apparently, we were the last group. The music director, after saying he would deliver the arranged track by tomorrow, suddenly remembered something and quickly left.
“Are you that happy about getting praised? Why are you smiling like that?”
“Of course, it feels good. Wouldn’t it feel good?”
It wasn’t just the praise itself that made me feel good, but I didn’t bother explaining further.
After dinner, Jing Xiao and I had Seo Moon-gyeol review the rap lyrics we had written in the morning.
“Good job. Let’s go with this.”
I was doubtful if it was really good or if it was even okay to proceed like this. I didn’t bother to change it.
No matter how much I racked my brain, I wouldn’t be able to come up with rap lyrics that would hit me like a rubber mallet to the head.
Besides, it wasn’t that important right now.
We weren’t participating in a rap survival program demanding us to show them the money, after all.
Instead, we started practicing the rap immediately. We didn’t have time.
In front of my team members, I read the lyrics, trying to convince myself it was rap, but it was incredibly embarrassing.
I felt that dancing to “Catallena” for three minutes in front of an audience would be less embarrassing.
Seo Moon-gyeol, who listened to my rap with a serious expression as if wondering if we were hearing the same thing, opened his mouth.
“For now, you’re too stiff. It doesn’t seem like you’re nervous, though.”
“Right. I’m not nervous.”
“I’ve noticed this from before, but he really doesn’t get nervous.”
Daye chimed in.
“Don’t be shy. For a first-timer, you’re doing really well, so do it confidently.”
Saying I was doing well for the first time wasn’t particularly special, but it was one of the best compliments for a complete beginner.
Even if I didn’t know what was what, it made me feel proud, like ‘I must have some talent.’
I relaxed the muscles in my neck and face and straightened my shoulders.
When I repeated the same part in that state, Seo Moon-gyeol nodded lightly.
“Much better. Your diction is good, so I can clearly hear what you’re saying. And you didn’t intentionally lower your tone, right?”
“Yeah. I just did it naturally.”
[Seo Moon-gyeol is interested in you. Seo Moon-gyeol’s favorability +1. Current favorability +58]
His big, dark eyes between his sharp eyes seemed to sparkle for a moment.
It felt like the same look Kang Ji-woo had before he dragged me into the vocal lesson room last time. Am I imagining it?
“How about taking a rap lesson when you have time later?”
Fortunately, Seo Moon-gyeol said only this and started helping Jing Xiao with his rap, who was enviously watching me receive compliments.
“Xiao, your flow is good, but focus more on your pronunciation. Open your mouth wide, put strength in your tongue, and articulate clearly.”
“Got it.”
After diligently teaching two complete beginners for about 30 minutes, Seo Moon-gyeol put on his earphones and started writing his lyrics.
Thus, the first day flew by.
The second day wasn’t much different, dedicated to practice.
We stopped practicing in pairs and played the received track, practicing the choreography together.
“We look cool, right?”
“[Cool.]”
“Indeed?”
Honestly, it was more fun than preparing for the first competition in a bleak individual play team.
The system even recognized us as a group, like during the Hyesung class days.
……There was a time like that.
* * *
“I can’t do this anymore.”
We were doing well….
“Then don’t.”
We were doing well….
“Just don’t do it!”
Bang! Kyle slammed the practice room door and left.
The sound was so loud that even the camera director filming us from the corner flinched.
“What… What’s going on?”
A little later, in the tense atmosphere, Jing Xiao, with wide eyes, asked in formal speech, showing how startled he was.
“Yeah. What’s this about?”
Jing Xiao and I had no idea as we had just returned to the practice room after personal interviews.
Daye, hesitating, explained in a low voice.
“When you went for the interview, we tried to practice together, but Gyeol hyung and Kyle hyung started arguing about parts, and then suddenly….”
No, that’s absurd.
“Gyeol hyung isn’t the type to fight…?”
“Raon, are you saying Kyle hyung is the type to fight?”
I jumped at Daye’s words, which felt like a mine creeping up on me.
“No! That’s a complete misunderstanding. How could I say such a thing about someone? I hope you won’t misunderstand.”
“I see….”
“And to be honest, Gyeol hyung is one of the few people these days who genuinely practices the principle of possessionlessness. He would gladly give up a part if I asked for it, as long as I do well. So, it’s hard to believe they fought over parts. But if you say they did, I guess I have to believe it.”
“That….”
“But he doesn’t fight. Even if the world were to end tomorrow, he would peacefully read poetry without resolving grudges. Who would fight? He wouldn’t fight. I’d rather fight for him!”
“……”
“……”
[You have proven yourself to be a consistent person. People in the same space now understand your character. Charm +1]
I was losing my mind.