Damn Hunter Life Chapter 84
* * *
Right when The Heroes episode 9 filming had just ended.
Leader Woo Sae-geon sat at his desk, reviewing external documents for 10 successors by himself.
While pressing his tired eyes, he discovered a title quite different from the others among the papers.
<â—‹â—‹ Planning Proposal>
To Woo Sae-geon, this meant ‘unnecessary thing’ in other words.
A proposal requesting cooperation for external product development using successors as material. Since it had nothing to do with gates or citizen safety, it was worthless to him, so he just needed to curse out the company that sent it.
Therefore, this proposal was about to disappear into the trash like any other content proposal…
Suddenly Woo Sae-geon checked the company name that sent the proposal.
Then, struck by some whim, he read through the contents… and surprisingly, instead of throwing it away, he set it aside.
Then he called someone.
[“Yes. Leader-nim.”]
“Jin Seol-woon, come to the front of the office and take your work.”
Woo Sae-geon soon placed the document at the office doorway.
<We propose creating ‘The Heroes’ successors’ original song (cheer song).>
He knew the entertainment company that sent the proposal was Jin Seol-woon’s agency.
Dozens of minutes later, Jin Seol-woon sat on his home sofa wearing only a bathrobe, flipping through the document.
‘Just as the company informed me in advance.’
Jin Seol-woon had already received hints about this matter through his agency. For some reason, Woo Sae-geon had approved this original song project and completely handed over the authority to him.
Therefore, as long as it didn’t interfere with training and stage conquest, Jin Seol-woon could sing the original song…
And he could recruit other successors to join their names to this song.
‘Rather than singing alone, it would be better to bring in two or more people. Both for marketability and fan service.’
Jin Seol-woon tapped the back of his other hand with his index finger, pondering.
First, among the 9 successors, no one had professionally learned vocals. This meant Jin Seol-woon would have to compromise with ordinary people.
As long as they weren’t tone-deaf. With that as a prerequisite.
‘Naturally, the side that costs the least.’
Sa Ye-ho, who was already involved in broadcasting and likely familiar with sound equipment and recording, came to mind first.
‘One more person…’
Should one be female vocals? I should ask the composer about this part. Or…
Of course, whoever records the song together must also have a particularly good public image.
This is the very first cheer song and the successors’ theme song.
For example, someone like Gyeon Gang-hyeon, whose image is shaky and who only started functioning properly too late, would be problematic.
“……”
Even though the person to exclude first from the candidate list was clearly decided, Jin Seol-woon furrowed his brow and thought this way and that.
Soon he slammed the document down with a thud and stopped all thinking.
He decided to just move as his heart led him.
==
Me>Dog successor: Gyeon Gang-hyeon-ssi, you’re probably sleeping now. When you wake up in the morning, please meet with me. I have something to discuss.
==
* * *
Since some guy called me from early morning, I arrived at the training ground a bit early while yawning.
Jin Seol-woon was waiting. He told me such an unexpected story that I wondered if this guy had a dream or something.
“…Original song? Really?”
Ah, come to think of it, something like that was mentioned in the original work.
It just appeared very briefly in passing since it had nothing to do with the protagonist Ja Hyeong-woo.
—Ja Hyeong-woo was tone-deaf.
Only Ja Hyeong-woo’s useless TMI was mentioned and that was it. Whether the idol successor and broadcast streamer successor recorded a duet cheer song or not wasn’t Ja Hyeong-woo’s concern.
However, that was the original Ja Hyeong-woo’s situation, and right before my eyes was a cheer song project laid out plainly. Naturally, questions about the details sprouted vigorously.
“Woo Sae-geon approved that?”
The hot fan reaction and expanded fandom created by the fierce battles in stages. In such circumstances, it’s not surprising that Jin Seol-woon’s agency would propose creating a successor theme song.
But Woo Sae-geon agreeing to it is another matter entirely.
‘Since when did that guy care about fans? Or what, did Sa Ye-ho whine that he wanted to do it?’
I was in the midst of reasonable suspicion.
“Why are you beating around the bush?”
As if he disliked me having other thoughts, Jin Seol-woon tapped his finger in front of my eyes.
“I said I want Gyeon Gang-hyeon-ssi to sing with me. Are you thinking about it?”
In the empty morning training ground, Jin Seol-woon’s quiet voice echoed slightly as it overlapped.
Jin Seol-woon, sitting side by side on the bench, had somehow crossed the boundary that had been drawn straight between us. While leaning his upper body toward me as if overflowing.
‘Song practice, recording. Work that doesn’t require physical activity…’
Honestly, it’s interesting.
For me, who still has attitude controversies brewing, participating in a cheer song project that delivers hopeful messages would definitely benefit my image. Looking far ahead, it would help my life after retirement too.
However, I firmly shook my head.
“I don’t want to because it’s bothersome. I can’t do that kind of thing because it’s hard. I won’t do it. You do it yourself.”
I thought this left no room for hope. But this guy didn’t back down easily. He lightly grabbed my arm as I tried to get up.
As if he had peered into my pupils.
“You can sing. I noticed that time.”
“That time? …When we first met?”
The only time I might have sung in front of Jin Seol-woon… could it be when I hummed Innate’s title song a bit? What could he have noticed from that?
No wait, that’s his original song.
‘Then his standards would have been even more demanding.’
After thinking that far, Jin Seol-woon’s clear gaze came into view again.
My mouth instinctively attempted to evade.
“I’ve never learned to sing.”
“Your tone is good.”
I’m pretty sure in the original work, Sa Ye-ho and he completed it well together without me. There’s no problem with this work even without me.
“If Gyeon Gang-hyeon-ssi doesn’t do it, I won’t do it either.”
But wait, why am I being coerced right now?
“How old are you?”
A complaint burst from my mouth.
However, Jin Seol-woon responded rapid-fire as if he’d been waiting for exactly those words.
“I’m 20 years old. Still young enough to sing if I want to, and young enough to be a bit selfish since I’m younger than Gyeon Gang-hyeon-ssi.”
“This bastard…”
After being served back the words I’d said a few months ago, I had nothing to say. I lost this one. He caught me off guard.
“So will you do it or not?”
…There was no other way. I was worried this damn guy would tank the project saying he wouldn’t do it without me.
That was a few weeks ago, and between school faction fighting issues, hallucination gates, and The Heroes episode 10 filming, the project progressed steadily.
Then Innate’s agency composition team sent the completed song. We listened to the song with Jin Seol-woon and Sa Ye-ho in the talk show studio serving as a temporary practice room.
I thought it would be a cheerful atmosphere since it’s a cheer song, but focusing on successors engaged in fierce combat, it was a song with strong drums and electric accompaniment. I quite liked the strong beat.
“The lyrics are really simple.”
“That’s why they’ll resonate well with people.”
“You’re not saying they’re childish?”
“It’s professional.”
Jin Seol-woon professionally led practice, patiently answering whatever objections we two ordinary people, Sa Ye-ho and I, raised.
“Your company is attaching a vocal trainer for us?”
At that question, Jin Seol-woon pointed to his chest with his thumb.
“Here.”
Living life, you encounter all sorts of things. A person who wouldn’t be left out whether you picked visual idols or talented idols in Korea grabbed someone like me and taught vocal techniques.
“Sa Ye-ho-ssi, that note is right. Gyeon Gang-hyeon-ssi, just a little lower. Follow me.”
I thought he’d become a harsh drill instructor once he entered his specialty field, but Jin Seol-woon was surprisingly gentle. He was quite conscientious, not expecting much from ordinary people.
Well, since he was the one who dragged me in when I said I wouldn’t do it.
It felt strange. Jin Seol-woon and I dividing parts, and Jin Seol-woon listening in front when I sang.
Is it because I keep recognizing that he’s an idol?
Moreover, strangely, Jin Seol-woon would suddenly make random comments to me.
“I’ve been receiving training since elementary school.”
Personal stories he’d never tell Hunter School people.
“Did you want to become an idol since then?”
“Yes. I thought I had to become one. Haven’t you ever thought that way, Gyeon Gang-hyeon-ssi?”
“Me? Why?”
“…Never mind.”
One day, while Sa Ye-ho and I were bickering about whose rhythm was right, Jin Seol-woon was sitting on the sofa with crossed legs, gazing warmly.
I stopped the foot I was about to kick Sa Ye-ho with and turned around.
“What, is it amusing?”
“It’s not that… it’s refreshing.”
Jin Seol-woon didn’t add any explanation to his words, but those words about it being refreshing lingered long within me.
‘…It was comforting. Being able to recall something forgotten, even briefly.’
Thanks to Jin Seol-woon’s patience, surprisingly the three of us didn’t experience any conflicts. Even in important matters like part distribution.
Because among us existed a person who wanted to take as few parts as possible.
Yes, that’s me.
“Hey… is the ending really me?”
I threw the paper with lyrics and threw a tantrum.
Jin Seol-woon’s singing from the opposite side of the sofa cut off abruptly, then his usual gentle voice popped out.
“Gyeon Gang-hyeon-ssi’s part is already the smallest. You don’t want to do that either?”
“Uh, I just want to ride the bus…”
The ending verse that repeats the last section of the chorus once more. The part that decorates the song’s finale that I absolutely shouldn’t handle.
Wouldn’t Sa Ye-ho eagerly do it if I gave it to him? Since he’s an attention seeker.
“Is it okay for someone like me to handle the ending? Wouldn’t Ye-ho do it?”
Sa Ye-ho, who had been practicing noisily, suddenly shut his mouth tight.
Sa Ye-ho turning serious was quite frightening. Even Jin Seol-woon slowly turned to look at me. Two pairs of eyes precisely pierced into me.
“Why… why?”
Silence flowed. Did I say something I shouldn’t have?
While I was just staring blankly, Sa Ye-ho was the first to part his stiff lips.
“Don’t put yourself down.”
“What?”
The ridiculous words didn’t end there. Even Jin Seol-woon supported Sa Ye-ho’s words.
“Gyeon Gang-hyeon-ssi is also a member of the successors. You’re working hard at combat and training. People are gradually recognizing it too.”
“You’re not lacking being with us.”
Only then realizing the intent behind those words, I belatedly jumped up.
“No, you bastards, it’s not like that! I’m really just burdened by it…”
What, are they being generous? The more I mulled it over, the more absurd it became. Curses naturally came out.
“Look at these bastards’ narcissism.”
“That’s my charm.”
“I make a living off narcissism.”
Why do these guys match so well?
Ah, annoying. I turned around grumbling. Come to think of it, it seemed like a speech pattern I often used. Then do other people get this annoyed dealing with me?Â
…Then I’m doing well.
* * *
In the end, the problematic ending verse went to Sa Ye-ho. Because Gyeon Gang-hyeon stubbornly insisted he wouldn’t do it.
And as if truly satisfied with that result, Gyeon Gang-hyeon lightly brushed his shoulders clad in white traditional clothes.
Jin Seol-woon couldn’t take his eyes off that sight for a long time. It was because of a familiar sense of déjà vu.
He discovered himself in him. Himself from a few months ago.
His past self who turned away from his own heart and avoided singing, worried that bad public opinion might arise for Innate, who were like family, and the successors.
Who was it that made him come to his senses then?
“A young kid just wants to sing, and he can’t even do that?”
The person who was so confident back then, why is he trying to avoid it now?
He wanted to grab Gyeon Gang-hyeon’s shoulder right away and ask.
‘When I suggested doing a joint project, shouldn’t you have readily accepted? You should use me to improve Gyeon Gang-hyeon-ssi’s bad image. Gyeon Gang-hyeon-ssi is calculating enough to do that and more, or so I thought…’
I guess what Gyeon Gang-hyeon-ssi said back then was sincere.
The day you first came to my house, you said you didn’t want to cause me harm and that we shouldn’t be together in front of people.
Was that real too? Really, for my sake?
Jin Seol-woon’s gaze turned toward Gyeon Gang-hyeon.
He seemed to act carelessly, yet he was someone who disliked causing harm to others and tried to isolate himself alone.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
