GIJS

Chapter 88 Hyung, is it the Chun Daerae, huh?

Boom, boom—.

The first movement, where he lifts the sword to his temple and aims it forward, is executed with both hands.

In sync with the rhythm of the large drum, seven swords carve diagonal lines through the air. The lines are drawn as precisely as if sketched with a pencil, with no deviation.

Waaaaaaa—.

The reaction was explosive as soon as the first movement began.

Is this an idol group or a martial arts demonstration? The members' swordsmanship had evolved to a level that would leave any martial arts team in awe.

After performing the first stage of A-Yuk-Si, "Moonlight," and the final stage, "Concept: Loyalty," the members of 7IN had become accustomed to incorporating Korean martial arts into their performances.

The concept of their mini-album is "Scholars Who Burst Out of Genre Paintings." To convey this concept, they prepared a sword dance for the "Intro" stage.

The swordsmanship practiced was "Jeokdok Sword," one of the most graceful and flashy sword techniques from Joseon's martial arts included in the "Muye Dobo Tongji."

The choreography for the "Intro" stage, based on this Jeokdok Sword technique and detailed by Yu-chan, a kendo expert, was enough to make fans' hearts race.

Papat, pacha—.

Even though the stage sword had a blunt end, the movements were as sharp as if slicing through the air. The swift footwork was more precise than during A-Yuk-Si.

On the floor, their energy was as strong as a tiger, but when they leapt into the air, they moved as gracefully as a cat. When they landed, tracing a vertical sword path, even Min Kang-hu couldn't help but be amazed.

'...It seems like they've been diligent about weight management...'

Despite the pout, one had to acknowledge it. Even after the audition ended, the 7IN members were still in "performance mode."

Those who dance daily understand. Gaining even 1 kg can make the feet feel heavy, and 2 kg can alter the dance lines. Many idols have disappointed fans by becoming lax after auditions.

However, 7IN was different. Even after completing a crazy schedule of four original stage performances in a short period, they had not neglected dance practice or body management.

Whooo—.

As the light fell on the raised sword, the blade glowed blue. Just like the blue and white blade, the members' movements were perfectly refined.

The direction of the sword's point, the shape of the hand holding the sword, the timing of foot movements, and even the breathing were all flawless.

From the perspective of the watching colleagues, admiration was inevitable.

"What's that...?"

"Are they really rookies?"

"The sword dance is truly unparalleled."

"This is insane..."

The audience's reactions were varied. Fans holding calligraphy brush-shaped light sticks were ecstatic, while fans of other teams with different light sticks were impressed.

"Wow..."

Even though there is a subtle sense of competition between fan communities, greatness is still recognized as greatness.

Seeing fans of other teams with their mouths agape in admiration, 7IN's fans felt a sense of pride. The cheering grew louder with each added movement.

Whooo—.

The aerial spins like figure skating and the subsequent diagonal slashes marked the end of the "Intro" group sword dance.

The next stage was the final A-Yuk-Si song, "Concept: Loyalty." This time, instead of the symbolic red hat of the high officials, they wore black hats decorated with mother-of-pearl.

Clack—.

With the sound of the mother-of-pearl decorations clashing and the grand rumble of the large drum, the flag with the character '忠' was raised, and fans raised their cheers as if waiting for this moment.

"Concept: Loyalty" is a song dedicated to loyalty to fans. Watching the seven scholars perform, the fans felt as if they had gained loyal retainers.

"...I, I also swear loyalty..."

Just as 7IN vowed loyalty to their fans, the fans vowed their loyalty in return. Seeing these talented, stunning, and sparkling kids emerge like this was incredible.

The fans were already prepared to give their hearts and wallets completely. In response to this dedication, the scholars danced gracefully on stage, tearing up the pre-recording set.

Boom, whooo—.

In the highlight of "Concept: Loyalty," the ceremonial movements using a hat shield and a mace were performed with a sword instead of a mace.

While they showcased the dazzling Jeokdok Sword in the "Intro," this time it was the more restrained military sword technique known as "Bonguk Sword" (本國劍). The members formed a large circle, wrapping mother-of-pearl cords around their left hands. The black hat became a shield, and the sword drawn from their left hip shone blue once again.

*Swish—.*

Despite repeating forward and backward movements, the circular formation remained intact. The beautiful choreography, honed through countless hours of practice, delighted the fans.

Every time they thrust the hat shield, the sound of the mother-of-pearl decorations clashing echoed in the ears. Fans, who had watched the final match video hundreds of times, noticed the updated choreography details, perfectly aligned movements, and the varied expressions of the members.

"Oh my, it's so great—."

It was thrilling to the point of screaming, but thinking about the hard work the members put in to create this performance made the heart ache. Even amidst sweating enough to dampen their hair, their unwavering focus was admirable.

For such members, the fans cheered even louder.

Waaaaa—.

The cheers, echoing as if shaking the ceiling lights, also energized the members.

Whooo, boom—!

The scholarenjoyed this time very much.

In fact, practice wasn't always fun. Even someone who loves dance and music like the scholarfaced struggles once it became a profession.

Repeating the same movements hundreds or thousands of times until perfection.

Staying in the practice room until the body ached with muscle and joint pain.

However, having experienced this magical moment, the scholar was willing to embrace all that pain.

Everywhere he looked, there were only people who liked him. It felt like all the light in the world was pouring onto him.

As he absorbed the intense choreography, he had the leisure to look around, and a smile naturally appeared on his face. It was a scene that was impossible not to smile at.

The members maintained their focus until the very end. Thanks to their rigorous practice, their stamina was still plentiful. Although Tae-woong and Hyun-su made minor mistakes, they were so insignificant that they were barely noticeable unless one was looking closely.

Whooo—.

In sync with the final rhythm, all the members struck their ending pose by stamping their right foot on the floor.

They had become quite accustomed to sending their gaze to the one-shot camera. Hyun-su and Si-woo even shot hearts at the camera, working hard as idols.

"I love you!"

"Ahaha, love you~"

Seeing the fans ecstatic over this, the scholar wiggled his fingers.

Someday... someday when his face becomes a little thicker, He'll have to act like that too.

"Thank you for your hard work!"

"Yes, thank you!"

The pre-recording stage was over. Tae-woong and Hyun-su immediately talked about their mistakes after coming off the stage, but even considering that, no team could match the quality of 7IN's performance. Even Favorite and Min Kang-hu had to acknowledge it.

"These kids are really good..."

Seeing it in person, the stage was even more impressive.

Min Kang-hu had seen countless oriental-style performances, but 7IN's performance was different.

The quality of the choreography, the harmony between the members, and the live vocals were all excellent, but most of all, Yu Gun-ja's presence shone.

How could he fit so perfectly into an oriental-style stage?

From his body movements to his facial features and expressions... Yu Gun-ja truly seemed like a scholarwho had stepped out of a history book. The absurd concept of "scholars from Joseon" made perfect sense.

Other artists who were part of the pre-recording also seemed captivated by the sight. The other female idol group members who had been shouting 7IN's name with their hands together were quite annoying.

"...So annoying..."

He wanted attention. He wanted to be loved. Exclusively him.

This intense desire for attention was Min Kang-hu's driving force. If he could be the protagonist, he would live in the practice room for a month.

He couldn't just be a bystander.

After the pre-recording, the live broadcast followed immediately. Unlike the pre-recording, the live broadcast didn't offer opportunities to correct mistakes or disasters.

Thus, newcomers could not help but be nervous. If they could handle their first live broadcast without any tension, they were no longer newcomers.

However, the 7IN members had experience with live broadcasts.

That too, performing two songs live consecutively on the A-Yuk-Si final stage, which had a viewership rating exceeding 20%.

In the waiting room of [M Planet], the seven scholars waited for their live performance with excited expressions.

"...Hoo, hoo—."

"Yu-chan, are you nervous?"

"...Y-yes, I am nervous..."

"Nervous?"

"...I'm thinking about what you said..."

"What did I say?"

"You mentioned... if there are four broadcasts in addition to live broadcasts..."

"Oh, right."

The scholarclapped his hands as if he had just remembered. He had said something like that to a highly nervous Yu-chan before the live broadcast.

"I must have said something absurd."

"...Well, hearing that made me feel less nervous..."

"Haha, is that so?"

The scholar laughed and lightly patted Yu-chan's back. The curse-like statements on Yu-chan's status window were no longer visible. At some point, Yu-chan had become able to showcase his abilities on stage without any curses.

"I'm glad I could help."

Looking at Yu-chan, the scholar thought once again that becoming an idol was the right decision.

It was good to make a profession out of singing and dancing. It was good to be the protagonist of the world. It was good to be able to repay the fans' love. It was good to align with precious colleagues.

Isn't it a truly wonderful job?

"Now, the scholars will be waiting for their stage."

"Yes."

Before they knew it, it was time for the scholars.

The members changed into costumes that matched the concept and adjusted their hair and makeup before heading to the backstage. The members of Favorite, who had just finished their stage, were coming off the stage.

"Hyung! Kang-hu hyung!"

"..."

"Thank you for your hard work."

"..."

"How was the live broadcast stage?"

The scholar asked cheerfully, but Min Kang-hu responded tersely.

"Go to hell."

"Excuse me?"

"Go to hell" (茫海).

He meant that the stage felt as vast as the boundless sea.

"F**k off."

"!"

"F**k off" (尊茫海).

He meant to approach this vast stage with respect and reverence.

"Yes, hyung, I will definitely do that."

"?"

"Thank you for the advice; it will help me find my way!"

"??"

The scholar hugged Min Kang-hu tightly.

"W-what's this!"

"Haha, don't be embarrassed."

Whether it was Joo Ha-sung, who gave the "concept-chung" idea, or Min Kang-hu, who offered warm advice. They might seem unpleasant on the surface, but they were truly warm and good-hearted people.

"You're also 'Chun Daerae' (春大來), aren't you?"

"What?"

"Chun Daerae means 'great spring is coming.' It refers to someone who appears cold like winter on the outside but is warm like spring on the inside."

"What nonsense..."

After hugging Min Kang-hu tightly until his ribs were about to break, the scholar went up to the stage. The stage was as vast as Min Kang-hu had said, but thanks to the advice, his heart wasn't trembling unusually.

***
Chun Dae-rae (춘대래) is a colloquial expression in Korean that refers to someone who is overly confident, arrogant, or acts superior, often without justification. It's a playful or sarcastic way to describe someone who might be full of themselves or acting high and mighty. The phrase can be used humorously or mockingly in conversations.