The Genius Idol is a Joseon Scholar - Chapter 6

From the moment he stepped inside, Gunja found it difficult to adapt.

It was an audition. Although he had never experienced it before, he had looked up its meaning, it seemed like a martial arts competition except that here they competed through their singing and dancing skills.

Undoubtedly, a fierce contest was about to unfold in the audition room. He needed to steel his resolve.

He gulped nervously, and with a determined look, he entered the audition room.

But what was this? As soon as he walked in, he couldn’t help but be in awe from that moment on.

…It’s a bit embarrassing.

For once, he had dressed as a scholar and was trying to maintain his dignity. However, he couldn’t help but be irritated by the “Oh” sounds that followed every gesture.

Was everyone really seeing a scholar for the first time? That couldn’t be the case.

But upon deeper reflection, he felt he had the answer.

Yes, it must be because he exuded the smell of a rookie.

Since he was hospitalized for a while, he had limited time to prepare for the audition. He approached it with determination, knowing that he had to give it his all despite his inexperience. However, it was impossible for these people not to notice his lack of skill.

In a competition like this, it must have been quite surprising to see someone so inexperienced stepping up. Taking the difference in skill levels into account, it was indeed a gracious act for them to pass him without any performance.

They were truly generous individuals. But at the same time, they were sharp.

Didn’t that mean they could see my inexperience at a glance?

While he was lost in thought, So Yejin spoke up.

“I’d like to see the skills of contestant Yu Gunja.”

It was the right thing to say a hundred, a thousand times.

No matter how much they favored beginners, it was unthinkable for Gunja to receive a passing grade without performing even once.

Dancing or singing, it didn’t matter; So Yejin just wanted to see something.

Certainly, his dancing was at a C-level, and his singing at a D-level.

Neither grade was something to boast about, but the dance grade was slightly higher. These were experts who could see through his skills with just a glance.

To receive high praise here, it would be more advantageous for him to pick dancing.

However.

“I will sing.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Gunja’s chose singing over dancing, he was not trying to be daring or anything. But trying to gain favorable judgments through deception right now wouldn’t change the essence of the matter

Moreover, when you think about it, isn’t this an incredible opportunity? To receive direct feedback from such experts.

While he had studied literature with his teacher, he had never learned singing or dancing.

Now was the time to figure out what the problem was. Honestly, he was still puzzled about why the singing section that he was quite confident in was rated as ‘D’.

The vocal trainer, Jang Minhyuk, clasped his hands together as if he were excited.

“Mr. Yu Gunja.”

“Yes.”

“Please enchant us once again this time.”

Enchant them? The moment he heard those words, something flashed through Gunja’s mind. Yes, there was no poetry quite like the one that could enchant someone.

While the long microphone stand was being set up, Gunja cleared his throat. Unlike his past life when he sang tirelessly, he had never sung with his current body. His vocal cords were also untrained.

Once he started to sing, his heart pounded. Would he run out of breath? His body wasn’t trained yet; he might also lack vocal control.

However, he stood in front of the audience and sang.

That was how Gunja portrayed the image of a singer he knew.

“I’m ready.”

“Thank you.”

Finally, all preparations were complete.

How long had it been since he sang in front of an audience?

Suddenly, memories of those days on the streets came back. Time and space might have changed, but the nervousness and excitement before singing were always the same.

Indeed, I’m happiest when I do this..

Suppressing the rising emotions, Gunja slowly began to sing.

“Beneath the moon’s soft light, paulownia leaves take flight, In frost’s embrace, chrysanthemums bloom golden and bright—”

As soon as the first verse began.

“…!?!”

Vocal trainer Young Eunchae, who had been sitting hunched over the entire time, suddenly shot up from her seat.

* * *

Composer Young Eunchae was one of the industry’s top “successful fans.”

She became a composer to gift songs to the singer she was a fan of and became a vocal coach to nurture a voice worth being a fan of.

Before going to sleep, it was a fixed routine for Young Eunchae to spend at least an hour scouring SoundCloud to find new talent.

However, finding a voice worth being a fan of was never easy.

Most of them imitated someone else, had awkward styles, or had many bad habits ingrained in their voices.

She had her senses on high alert even during this audition, but it didn’t seem easy to achieve her goal.

Most of the participants had similar voices and similar singing techniques.

In reality, it was somewhat inevitable. Many idol vocalists used standardized breathing, vocalization, and singing techniques. Those who looked up to them had no choice but to become more and more alike, like mass-produced goods.

But Yu Gunja was different.

The moment he opened his mouth and uttered the first syllable, Young Eunchae’s ears tingled and resonated.

What is this?

Honestly, she didn’t have high expectations.

She had been told by the PD to select participants based on entertainment value, and she had given a pass to the craziest person. But this was completely unexpected.

The dormant fan inside her suddenly woke up.

Her slouched shoulders straightened. Her insignificant calf muscles involuntarily tensed. After regaining her senses, she realized she was already standing upright.

“Uh, it’s Eunchae, I thought it was Lexie.”

Beside her, Jang Minhyuk made a lame joke, but it went unnoticed. Even Jang Minhyuk himself couldn’t close his mouth once Yu Gunja started singing.

‘But how do you score this? Out of 10 points… um, I don’t know. This voice is impossible to score.’

It was pure yet clear, gentle yet with a subtle power.

There were no unnecessary habits. Every little nuance, every detail, was solely focused on expressing the lyrics.

‘This is incredible. What is he doing here?’

Young Eunchae felt like taking Gunja to her studio immediately and locking him inside the recording booth. She had only heard a few lines, but inspiration was already pouring into her mind.

“The tower, reaching high into the boundless sky, A thousand wine cups pass, endless as time goes by—”

“Flowing waters, cold as a zither’s melodic rhyme, Plum blossoms waft their scent, like a bamboo flute’s chime—”

As the song continued, no one dared to interrupt.

Even Kim Seokhun PD stared blankly at Gunja, not taking his eyes off the monitor. His right eye displayed a heart, while his left eye showed a ‘?’ symbol. (money/Korean won)

Jang Minhyuk was equally surprised.

He had just thought of him as a stubborn conceptual artist, but watching him sing changed his perspective.

Could that be considered a gimmick?

“Wow, a real scholar has emerged.”

He couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Honestly, if you asked whether Gunja suited the role of an idol vocalist, he didn’t. Perhaps he could use this incredible style for a concept song with an Eastern influence.

However, he was already moved beyond measure to the point where it was impossible to judge him harshly.

Everyone was already enchanted by the song which was nothing like they’ve ever heard in  their lives.

So Yejin, who had asked Gunja to sing, couldn’t help but acknowledge his talent. Her own preference for Eastern themes added to her appreciation, even though she wasn’t particularly gifted in vocals.

So Yejin didn’t have outstanding vocal skills, but when she heard such a voice, she couldn’t help but imagine something. In her mind, a performance was unfolding against the backdrop of this voice.

“It seems like it could be interesting.”

So, with everyone holding their breath…

“On the morrow, when I bid you on your destined way, This unending yearning, like endless waves, will gently sway—.”

Gunja sang the last line with great care, bringing the song to an end.

Clap, clap, clap.

Starting with the utterly mesmerized Kim Seokhoon PD.

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

Everyone gathered in the audition room began to applaud generously.

* * *

“Whew.”

After successfully completing the song, the first emotion Gunja felt was a sense of relief.

It had been quite close.

He had barely managed to finish singing, and at one point, he almost lost the flow of the final emotion due to his lack of breath.

He still needed training. His body wasn’t accustomed to singing.

Just as he had to start over with lung capacity and diaphragm control, he needed to work on his newfound physical form.

After exhaling the finishing breath, he finally had the opportunity to look around.

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

Everyone was applauding him.

They’re truly warm-hearted people.

While it was undoubtedly applause in support of a beginner, it still deeply moved Gunja’s heart. When was the last time he had connected with an audience through song?

He lowered his head with profound gratitude. The applause didn’t stop until he raised his head.

Once the applause finally ceased, So Yejin spoke up. She was the one who had asked Gunja to sing, and she was here to evaluate his skills.

“Um, first of all…”

He wondered how harsh the criticism might be. He had already prepared himself. But he couldn’t help feeling a little nervous.

As he anxiously awaited the evaluation, trying to calm his racing heart…

“It’s amazing.”

“!”

It was an unexpected compliment right from the start.

Gunja had to exert all his effort to control the corners of his mouth from curling up. He was dressed as a scholar, so he couldn’t afford to be too elated.

But there was no helping the tingling sensation coursing through his entire body at So Yejin’s assessment.

This feels good.

Praise was truly a satisfying thing!

“I’m a dance trainer, so honestly, I don’t know much about singing. But I can definitely tell that the voice of contestant Yu Gunja, is precious.”

“…”

“It’s like a voice that paints a picture. I’ve been in this field for a long time, but voices like that are rare.”

“Thank you.”

“Throughout the song, I tried imagining a performance that would suit the song. It would have been even cooler with dancing, but that might have been too much to ask.”

Ah, maybe he should have added dancing as well.

He briefly regretted it, but Gunja quickly nodded. Singing alone left him breathless, and if he had added dancing, the song might have fallen apart.

First, he needed to work on his physical condition, and then he could incorporate dance as well. It wasn’t too late.

This time, Jang Minhyuk took the microphone. He also seemed to have a lot to say.

“It’s really amazing. I honestly thought a scholar from the Joseon era had crossed over.”

“!”

How could he have figured that out? He broke out in a cold sweat. It was truly incredible insight. He realized that he should never underestimate these trainers.

“What song is this? Did you use Hwang Jin-i’s poem ‘Bongbyeol Supanso Se Yang’ as the lyrics?”

“Yes.”

“I arranged it to fit the Gyeonggi folk song melody.”

“That’s right.”

“You’re not just good at singing; you’re smart too. This is the poem Hwang Jin-i recited when she was enchanted by So Seyang, right? You probably chose it because I told you to enchant us, Am I right?”

“You’re amazing.”

“Hehe, Eunchae, I’m just at this level too.”

Somewhat playfully, Jang Minhyuk, with a cheeky smile, continued with a slightly different expression.

“However, honestly speaking, it’s hard to see this performance as that of an idol vocalist.”

“…”

“Today was amazing, but in the future, you’ll need to learn vocal techniques that suit idol songs. Standing out on your own is good, but harmony with other members is also important.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Haha, relax your shoulders! I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”

Jang Minhyuk, the solo singer, despite his light tone, he possessed a deep knowledge and insight.

Thinking about the opportunity to learn from people like him in the future made Gunja feel confident and secure.

Next, Young Eunchae, the vocal coach, took the microphone. She had seemed disinterested just a while ago, but now she appeared full of energy. Did she have a lot of feedback to provide?

Young Eunchae, the vocal coach, stared at Gunja for a while and then chuckled softly before speaking.

“Hehe, Yu Gunja…”

“Yes?”

That laughter seemed somewhat ominous. What kind of feedback would she provide?

“I… want to lock you up in our studio.”

“What!?”

“And make you sing all day long…”

S-Studio? What’s that? She wants to lock me up in there! Could it be like a modern-day mentorship or something?

No, I don’t want to be locked up! I love singing, but being confined is not my thing!

“No, that won’t do!”

“···What?”

“I’m sorry!”

“Wait a moment…”

She’s terrifying! I need to get away quickly!

With a pale face, Gunja hurriedly descended from the stage.

“Oh, I almost forgot!”

As if he had forgotten something, he suddenly went back on stage and gave a 90-degree bow to the trainers.

“Thank you so much!”

After the stormy farewell, Jang Minhyuk chuckled as he watched Gunja leave.

“Heheh, Eunchae, looks like Gunja has a crush on you.”

“···.”

“What’s wrong? Are you disappointed?”

“···No···. Actually, I like it.”

“What? You like it?”

“I mean, I actually like it better this way.”

“Eun-chae, you’re scary!”

* * *

After finishing the audition, Gunja’s heart was filled with satisfaction.

He had passed all four judges. Even his singing, which he thought would receive a barrage of criticism, received quite a bit of praise, so he was satisfied.

They had even said that his voice was precious.

As he recalled those words, his heart began to itch again. Indeed, praise felt really good!

Moreover, good things didn’t just come from praise.

[You have earned the right to participate in the national audition <Idol Training Simulation>.]

[Mission complete!]

[You will receive 1 point as a reward.]

“Wow-.”

[Please select an item to invest your points in.]

As expected, Chang never broke a promise.

With a pounding heart, Gunja opened his status window. Now it’s time to increase his abilities with the reward he has earned.

————————————————————————-

Idk the number of hours I put into this chapter because I got distracted by hwang jin-i. haha. I hope ya’ll enjoy it.

I also wanted to share a quick update with you. I’ve recently taken on another project (it’s paid, yay!), which means I will be posting slower than I used to. If you’d like to request extra chapters, you can find me on Ko-fi.

Thank you~