Chapter 41: Survival Entertainment Show - Unit (9)

Chapter 41: Survival Entertainment Show - Unit (9)

“Whoa. What is that?”

“Oh my gosh! That almost gave me a heart attack. Ah, that’s so scary!”

Around forty zombies swarmed in, conquering the broadcasting station’s hallway. Gasps of surprise and sharp intakes of breath echoed as we passed by. The VJ looked on with interest, and celebrities we happened to bump into were startled and stepped aside.

“It’s kind of like a horror parade. Like something you’d see in a haunted house.”

It was definitely a march that stood out in many ways.

"Team D, over here. Oh, this way..." A staff member opened the curtain backstage for us and stepped aside. We received unique attention as we entered.

“Wow... Who came up with this concept? It looks like it's going to be really fun this time,” Director Kim Shin-Sik commented with a hearty laugh backstage. Beside him, Producer Lee Won-Jae chimed in, "It’s not often that the director finds something this entertaining. You should take that as a high compliment!"

"Thank you!"

While we were talking with the director, the dancers took their positions on the stage.

“Now, the next stage!” The voice of announcer Jeong Gyu-Chan filled the air. He leaned back to look behind the stage and then exclaimed, “Wow, it’s total chaos back here! The next stage is Team D's, and just from what’s prepared, I can sense a legendary stage is about to start! Let's see what kind of stage they have prepared! Team D's performance, begin!”

The introduction video for Team D played, showcasing our initial awkward meeting two weeks ago, our journey of growing closer while living together, and clips of us dedicatedly practicing. The broadcast would likely feature more detailed scenes, offering a deeper insight into our preparation process.

"Team D, please move to the back of the set.”

A staff member with a flashlight in hand guided us to our entry point on the stage. As the music started, we could hear the dancers’ footsteps above us.

“We got this.”

“Let’s do well.”

“Whew, let’s do this.”

In the darkness beneath the stage, we bumped fists, bolstering each other's spirits. This performance wasn't just challenging; it required our absolute concentration. With so many people involved, a slight lapse in focus could lead to accidents.

As the intro concluded, we moved in sync toward the stage. After being stunned by the sight of zombies on stage, the audience burst into cheers at our entrance. We quickly took our positions, while the dancers executed their movements with precision. The choreography was tight and intricate, leaving no room for error.

Before we even started our part, there was a hard-hitting dance break, signaling the start of a performance that would be remembered long after the survival show concluded.

***

It was like a horror show that, despite being scary and making one shout, “What is this? This is scary!” They just couldn’t stop watching. The dancers weren’t just backing up the singers; each one of them twisted and trembled their bodies as if convulsing, embodying zombies.

“Wow, I love this kind of thing.”

It was fortunate for our team that a zombie-themed American show was popular at the time.

Some people trembled in fear, while others watched the aggressive zombies with excitement.

Then...

Bang! Bang!

“I’m watching.”

In fact, they weren’t sure if any of the Air Senior members were at this stage. The lighting was dimmed to create an eerie atmosphere, making it hard to recognize the faces of those who did not have lines.

The fans of Air Senior seemed to have given up their search. “We’ve passed the part where he would usually appear...”

It was more of a situation where they had no choice but to give up. Air Senior was a group specialized in vocals. If some of their members could dance well, they would have had more parts. Sadly, they couldn’t. Anyway, all the vocal parts of the first verse had been taken by other popular members. It was too dark to see well, and it was unlikely that a group that usually only sang would incorporate a rap...

“Huh...? Oh? Wook?”

“What?”

“Why is our Wook there?”

They had been longing to see Kim Jin-Wook, and now he had appeared. However, his fans were stunned for a while, unable to respond properly.

“...Ah! Jin-Wook!”

His fans seemed as if they were about to burst into tears at any moment. Their favorite idol was rapping—not singing or dancing but chanting a charismatic rap filled with such a deep, forceful tone!

For the fans of Air Senior, this was almost like the entrance of the main character. Kim Jin-Wook led the members of Team D, stood at the forefront, and walked toward the stage. His rap was delivered like a chant and carried such a strong presence that not only Air Senior's fans but also other audiences were exclaiming in admiration. He did quite well, no... exceptionally well!

"Did Jin-Wook used to rap?"

"I don't know, probably not. Wasn't everything he released before joining Air Senior a ballad?"

"Dang. He must be a genius. I think I'm about to cry." The fans wondered how Team D's members recognized Kim Jin-Wook's talent better than the agency that had been taking care of him for at least a year. This wasn’t just a rap that sounded like a narration. It was a real rap!

"Ugh!"

As Kim Jin-Wook's part came to an end, Air Senior's fans were almost in tears. While it was a bit disappointing to see someone who sang well rap, he displayed good enough skill to make up for the disappointment.

It was especially satisfying to see other members of Team D give strength to Kim Jin-Wook's part. Since Air Senior was a group with not much popularity, other members of Team D could have given Kim Jin-Wook fewer parts and increased their own without anyone complaining. However, they willingly assigned the pivotal part to Kim Jin-Wook and gave him a big role in the leading choreography.

After Kim Jin-Wook's part, the second dance break by Yoo On-Sae and Street Center's duo followed. In the first part, they presented a dance portraying an attack by a zombie horde, and in the dance break, they demonstrated a peculiar dance as if they had transformed into zombies.

From a lying down position, the three of them managed to stand up using the strength of their legs and waist alone, showcasing a stunt. Their arms and legs were twisted and bent strangely, visualizing zombies.

Already accustomed to the zombie horde, the audience cheered loudly at the intense dance of the three. Meanwhile, the fans of Chronos started to murmur, following the fans of Air Senior.

"Why isn't our Hyun-Woo in the dance break?"

Suh Hyun-Woo had been in charge of choreography in Chronos along with Lee Jin-Sung, but he did not appear in this dance part.

"No way, why isn't Hyun-Woo included? Are they crazy?"

"Are they jealous of the popular members?"

It was understandable that they thought like this. After all, some idols, especially popular ones, were sensitive about the distribution of parts when working in a new group. For his fans, regardless of how many vocal parts Suh Hyun-Woo had, it was unacceptable for a dance expert like him not to appear in a dance break.

'I'm waving the light stick out of courtesy, but... it was too disappointing.’

That was how the fans of Chronos were inwardly and outwardly expressing their disappointment when the long dance part concluded. When the strong beat that filled the venue disappeared, the stage went dark for a moment, and then bright light flowed in with blue lighting.

In the eerie smoke and still eerie atmosphere, two people came forward. They were Suh Hyun-Woo and Kim Jin-Wook.

1. In Korean culture, the term "oppa" (??) is commonly used by females to address or refer to an older male, especially one who is close to them, such as an older brother, friend, or boyfriend. It is a term of endearment and respect and is used to show affection and familiarity. ?