After having the 'catchy ear' attribute that amplified the ability to recognize good songs, it seems that I have rarely failed in picking out the songs.

In that sense, the chorus of their title song that Gold 1 sent... was really good.

It was not just about the overall perfection or the artistic aspects. It was the kind of song that stuck to your head even after listening to it only once.

It was extremely appealing.

'Damn it.'

Of course, it was still impossible for TeStar to be pushed back in scores.

The only problem was that there were going to be people spouting nonsense about this.

'We're not in a situation to tolerate that right now.'

First... the current atmosphere of TeStar's latest album Tiger Hunter ('Chakhogapsa' (捉虎甲士)) was as follows.

First of all, the critic's rating on the most famous music review site in Korea was four stars. It was the first given four stars among rookie idols' releases this year.

The criticism that was added in the second half was that 'the workmanship is stifling, and the structure of the title song is typical'.

It was praised by the critics more than expected. That would naturally help the group's status.

Moreover, the overseas responses were apparent.

Music video views, album sales, and distinct results on global music sites led to love calls from overseas.

At the moment, we had scheduled performances on semi-major English-speaking talk shows and Japanese morning broadcasts.

Even though the song was far from the kinds of songs that were easy to listen to, the domestic music score was good.

'We're in fourth place now.'

According to the company, the influx of subscribers in the official fandom was accelerating faster than during the last album, which they must be greatly benefiting from.

So, to summarize all these indicators, this promotion was a golden opportunity to seize both the commercial and artistic value and have a stable flight to the top tier status.

In short, it meant that we were about to open the doors to the beginning of our prime.

However, imagine at this point, Gold 1's group, Golden Age, hung onto TeStar and even came out with a filthy good song.

'Some are obviously going to say that Golden Age's song is better, but TeStar won thanks to their fans.'

In short, it meant that the hype factor was lacking in the fans and the general public's recognition.

There was already a risk that the image TeStar has been trying to acquire with the reputation of a 'popular group that is appealing in all aspects' could be reduced to a 'male idol group with a big fandom'.

Our entry to the top tier was just around the corner so I didn't want us to get our ankles caught and stumble here.

'We hate to do the tour on a large scale.'

In order for me to avoid a sudden death due to the status abnormality, TeStar's momentum should not be lost until the next comeback.

'We need to make public opinion to keep thinking highly of TeStar's latest album.'

I came to a quick conclusion after pondering about it.

'The answer is overwhelming patriotism.'

TeStar should become the common denominator that made the domestic public proud. Just to the extent that didn't seem too artificial or overdone that would make people reject it.

I sighed briefly and belatedly replied to Gold 1's message. This was after several people had already replied.

I cleanly sent it without anything unnecessary in case their company wanted to make strange use of the messages.

Gold 1 just thanked me in response.

Gold 1 said a few words about being nervous and ended the conversation with a joke.

But an hour or two later, the group chatroom rang again.

Wow.

'That's not going to work.'

He might be sincere about it, but you wouldn't know how their company would use it.

Wouldn't it be perfect for them to follow it with 'Golden Age's new song that even their competitor TeStar, acknowledged'?

I quickly typed the message before the other guys could answer.

Right after that, I received a private message.

Did he intentionally not response?

And without the need for Keun Sejin to reply to fix the atmosphere, the frightened Gold 1's reply came right back.

'So, it was his company's suggestion.'

As I thought, those guys weren't ordinary.

In the first place, Gold 1 didn't seem to have any thoughts of keeping TeStar in check because the weight class was so different, but it seemed clear that he trusted his company.

'I'm envious.'

Especially when compared to this neighborhood.

I held back my sigh and called the company.

'I have to ask for the exact date.'

It was just... checking everything one by one wasn't the way this company worked.

* * *

The week after Park Moondae checked out Golden Age's title song.

A reaction video was uploaded on a large WeTube channel.

It was a channel famous for producing interesting reactions by directing unique situations, so there have been a lot of celebrity appearances recently.

However, it was also the first time that people in this field appeared.

It was the appearance of people who did Korean traditional music.

The video briefly introduces the artists' journeys with accompanying data material, and then begins with a simple question-and-answer session.

There were various reactions, but this was the comment emphasized in the video.

Then, the producers of the channel opened their laptops and had Korean traditional musicians watch a music video.

To be precise, it was a teaser.

Click.

Soon, the corresponding video was broadcast on a small screen.

It was the teaser for TeStar's new song.

And the Korean traditional musicians... began to laugh as Seon Ahyun's solo song came out.

Of course, except for the main instruments, the elements were very close to K-pop, but the musicians still enjoyed it quite a bit.

However, as Cha Yujin's solo song immediately followed, the reaction became slightly stronger.

The musicians of Korean traditional music enjoyed the first verse of each TeStar member's solo song.

With beautiful visuals that overflowed with the capital.

The reactions which were moderately polite at first, became stronger as they got more and more immersed in the video.

In particular, the most intense reaction erupted at the moment when the Korean traditional instruments of each solo song were piled up and created the title song.

And the moment Ryu Chungwoo appeared, they eventually became immersed in the story.

//TN: From the Korean legend of Cheoyong, the dragon king Yongwang's son who saved his human wife from the God of Sickness through singing and dancing.

Then the channel producers gave a bombshell of an announcement.

And TeStar members appeared from off the screen.

TeStar members appeared each at a time in pairs or by themselves and sat across from the musicians.

And a fun and warm appearance was created with the shocked Korean traditional musicians.

The friendliness and the laughter of the raw reactions that came from each of their confusion kept going for quite a while.

And at the end, they leaned toward a slightly touching and serious topic.

And the situation concluded with a little gag so that the lingering atmosphere wasn't too heavy.

//TN: He mispronounced the kkwaenggwari gong instrument

The musicians had confused expressions.

That was how the video ended.

And, of course, as soon as the video was uploaded, it quickly gained millions of views and became a popular video in Korea.

And it wasn't just that video.

TeStar performed in full-scale wearing hanbok on the WeTube channel specializing in choreography videos and appeared in public TV variety show previews playing traditional Korean musical instruments.

It was to emphasize the appealing elements of this album at a level that fit the content appropriately without seeming overdone.

After diligently laying the groundwork for the nuance of 'TeStar spreads knowledge about Korean traditional music'.

The agency started posting articles about TeStar's overseas schedule on the main portal site.

It was a bomb that was dropped just as Gold 1's group's first week of activity was barely starting.

The work was successful.

And anyway, by doing things just to this extent, there was no need to sit on a scary seat such as a 'symbolic group representing South Korea'.

Because VTIC was there.

However, not everything went as expected.

* * *

TeStar's first schedule for overseas shooting for these promotions.

The backstage, which would have usually been busy with various inspections, was in an urgent and anxious mess.

"Kim Raebin!"

"Are you okay??"

"I, I don't kno-..."

Kim Raebin, whose face was pale white, reached for his right foot and was hurriedly stopped. It was evident that he was in severe pain.

"Raebin-ah, don't touch your foot."

"Is there a medical kit?"

"Let me take a look!"

The staff hurriedly removed his shoes and carefully checked his condition.

The top of his foot was bleeding and visibly swollen.

'Damn it.'

I almost bit my tongue off.

//TN: About the album's name: Chakhogapsa or Tiger Hunter was a unit of hunters in the Goryeo and Joseon periods who used bows and arrows while horse-riding to hunt wild animals. They were employed by the royal government which made them very skilled. They hunt specifically tigers because being attacked by tigers was a regular concern for the farmers.