Chapter 33 - Will You Have Some Free Time?

A waterside park near Haram Entertainment.

On a path built along the stream, there were people doing physical training, using a time when there were few people around.

“Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot.”

“Hah, hah, hah!”

“Hoo, hoo...!”

Seo Na-eun, Kim So-yeong, Laura, Kanade, Yoo Jeong-ah.

The five members of Newstarz were in the middle of a run under Baek Hyeon-woo's guidance.

However, it was clearly different from a light run for a hobby.

It was high-intensity training, to the point where all five of them were sweating profusely and in agony.

“From here, a full-out sprint to the tree ahead!”

“Ugh!”

“Haaargh...!”

Everyone screamed at Baek Hyeon-woo's voice.

However, in the end, all five of them squeezed out their last bit of strength and ran with all their might.

“Good, you can rest now.”

“Uwaaaaah...”

“I-I'm gonna die...”

Everyone collapsed onto the ground without even caring about getting dirt on their bodies.

Their tracksuits were disheveled and their hair was a mess, but they had no energy to spare to worry about their appearance.

Watching those members, Baek Hyeon-woo smiled.

“Still, all of you have gained a lot more stamina than at the beginning. Since you're working hard, the results are showing up right away.”

Ahead of the Night-Bomb Festival, Baek Hyeon-woo was training Newstarz's basic physical stamina.

To be precise, he was in the middle of raising their cardiopulmonary capacity through aerobic exercise.

When cardiopulmonary capacity improves, the body's oxygen concentration increases, and when the oxygen concentration increases, overall athletic ability improves.

The opposite phenomenon occurs from when athletic ability drops due to the increased carbon monoxide concentration from smoking cigarettes.

“So that you can show the best performance without getting tired until the very end when you're on stage, let's keep training like this.”

As a result of Baek Hyeon-woo checking using his ability, he saw that no matter how skilled a group was, the quality of their performance would drop toward the latter half of a song.

If you're running around on stage for several minutes while singing and dancing, you're bound to get out of breath.

To maintain the quality of the performance from beginning to end, there's no choice but to raise cardiopulmonary capacity as much as possible.

So that the reborn 5-member Newstarz could show the best stage at the Night-Bomb Festival, Baek Hyeon-woo was thoroughly training the members.

“M-Manager-nim, shouldn't we not be doing hell training like this every single day...”

“We run every other day. It's not every day.”

“On the days we don't run, you make us do other exercises!”

Kanade protested with a tearful face, but Baek Hyeon-woo didn't even bat an eye.

Rather, he maintained a cold expression and spoke.

“Seeing as how your voice is coming out just fine, it seems you still have some energy left? Shall we run a little more?”

“Ah, I think I'm going to die right now. I can't even speak. Ugh...”

Kanade immediately lay down on the ground and pretended to be a corpse.

However, contrary to Kanade, there was also someone who got up and showed her motivation.

“Hyeon-woo oppa, I can run a little more.”

“So-yeong-ah.”

Kim So-yeong's entire body was also soaked in sweat, but there was still strength in her gaze.

“Can you really do it?”

“Yes, I can.”

“If you force yourself to run, it's worse for your body.”

“I'm not forcing myself. I feel like I can run more.”

“……”

After the 'Idol Weekly' recording, Kim So-yeong began to show a more motivated side than before.

Especially when Baek Hyeon-woo told her to do something, she showed a very active and hardworking side.

What was encouraging was that her Mental Condition was continuously being maintained at a very high level.

Even now, if you looked at her status window, her Mental Condition had surpassed 90%.

“Alright, let's run a little more.”

“Yes!”

Of course, he couldn't let Kim So-yeong run alone.

Baek Hyeon-woo also had to run with her.

“Then I'll go run a little more with So-yeong, so the rest of you, keep resting.”

“Ah, then I'll run more too.”

As Baek Hyeon-woo was about to start with Kim So-yeong, the leader, Seo Na-eun, also raised her body.

“I can do more too.”

“Will you be okay?”

“Yes, I can.”

When the two in the older pair came out like that, the younger pair couldn't just stay still.

Yoo Jeong-ah and Laura also raised their heavy bodies and prepared to run.

“I'll run too.”

“Tsk, can't be helped.”

Feeling the unusual atmosphere, Kanade, who had been lying on the floor pretending to be dead, made a tearful face.

“Eeeh, this, is this an atmosphere where I have to run too...?”

“If you're tired, you can keep lying down.”

Baek Hyeon-woo looked down at Kanade and said calmly.

“You're tired to the point where you can't move anymore. Then it can't be helped.”

“Ugh...”

“Alright, then let's leave Kanade and start off by ourselves.”

Just as they were about to start running again by themselves, Kanade got up with a tearful face.

“W-Wait! Don't leave me behind!”

The other members laughed at the sight of the desperately speaking Kanade.

Watching that, Baek Hyeon-woo felt that the atmosphere had changed from before.

‘It's definitely become a friendlier atmosphere than when I first saw them.’

When Baek Hyeon-woo first started working as a manager, the Newstarz members were awkward with each other.

It wasn't that there was any particular discord, but even when they were together, they would keep their mouths shut and just look at their phones.

But now, things had changed a lot.

A clear goal was set, and as they worked hard together for that goal, sweating profusely... they opened their hearts to each other and developed a sense of camaraderie.

‘While maintaining this state, I have to improve their skills even more by the Night-Bomb Festival.’

Their basic stamina can be trained by doing aerobic exercise like this.

As for dance, if he corrects them while utilizing his ability, he can raise them to an even higher level.

However...

‘What should I do about the singing.’

He didn't need to particularly worry about the other parts.

However, the singing was still an element of anxiety.

‘It's true that the overall level has improved with Yoo Jeong-ah taking on the main vocalist role. But it's still not enough.’

If they appear at the Night-Bomb Festival, they're bound to be compared with Choux-pop.

Choux-pop is a group where the main vocalist Joo Ga-hee's vocal ability stands out, and the rest of the members' singing skills aren't bad either.

In Newstarz, Yoo Jeong-ah's Vocal is an A, but the rest are all on the average side, and if you take the average, they are inferior to Choux-pop.

‘I don't want to receive the evaluation that our singing skills are worse than Choux-pop's. I want to raise our singing skills somehow... but there's no suitable way.’

Baek Hyeon-woo's abilities are mainly related to the body's movements.

The Vocal skill is displayed on the status window, but it's only showing what their current skill level is.

It doesn't suggest a way to raise their vocal skills.

‘If I can't do it myself, I have to get help from someone else.’

Whose help should I get?

In the mind of Baek Hyeon-woo, who had been contemplating for a good while, the face of the person with the best vocal ability in Haram Entertainment came to mind.

***

“You're asking what needs to be done to improve their singing skills?”

Haram Entertainment CEO's Office.

CEO Baek Yeon-ah, who was sitting there, her eyes widened upon hearing Baek Hyeon-woo's words.

“What are you talking about, so out of the blue?”

“I was wondering if it's possible to raise Newstarz's vocal ability a bit more.”

“That's something you should consult the vocal trainer about.”

Newstarz also has a vocal trainer.

Like the dance trainer, he meets the members regularly and gives them lessons.

However, Baek Hyeon-woo didn't find that person very reliable.

The opinion of him among the members wasn't very good either.

“I thought it would be better to ask you, Aunt.”

Baek Hyeon-woo checked Baek Yeon-ah's status window.

Despite more than ten years having passed since she finished her life as a singer, Baek Yeon-ah's Vocal was A-rank.

During her active days, it was probably S-rank or SS-rank.

“Honestly, you sing better than most trainers, Aunt.”

“Sigh, what are you talking about, with someone who retired a long time ago.”

Baek Yeon-ah waved her hands telling him to stop, but she looked pleased.

“But I don't know much about the technical parts. When I was active, it was a time when that kind of knowledge wasn't very widespread in our country.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, the kids these days probably know more about the technical stuff. There's nothing I can teach.”

Then again... vocal training techniques have probably developed a lot over the years.

“If you don't like the current vocal trainer, how about you try talking with the academy So-yeong used to attend.”

“It seems it's difficult to schedule a time there.”

Until now, Kim So-yeong, as the main vocalist, had been receiving lessons separately at a vocal academy to cultivate her singing ability.

However, that place was somewhere many aspiring singers attended, so it was fully booked.

“And it also seems that it doesn't quite fit with what we're aiming for.”

“What is it that you're aiming for?”

“A level where a good match against Choux-pop is possible.”

“……”

Baek Yeon-ah was silent for a moment.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, I'm serious.”

“Phew…”

Letting out a sigh, Baek Yeon-ah scratched her head.

“Then getting help from Tae Jong-soo would be the best.”

“Tae Jong-soo?”

“He's a junior singer of mine who studied abroad in America. Honestly, as a singer, he didn't make it big, but as a vocal trainer, he's amazing.”

Baek Yeon-ah asked, looking at Baek Hyeon-woo's face.

“You know Lyeo-woo, right?”

“Of course I know her.”

“The one who gives that Lyeo-woo vocal training is Tae Jong-soo.”

“……!”

Lyeo-woo is an artist who enjoys the greatest popularity among female solo singers in Korea.

She has maintained her spot at the top for over ten years with her outstanding vocal ability.

At the news that he was that Lyeo-woo's vocal trainer, Baek Hyeon-woo felt intrigued.

“But there's one problem.”

“A problem?”

“That Tae Jong-soo kid, he originally doesn't train girl groups.”

Baek Yeon-ah made a disappointed expression.

“Because their physicals are lacking.”

“Physicals...”

“That Tae Jong-soo kid has a philosophy that a good song comes out only when the body's strength supports it. But he dislikes girl groups, saying that because of dieting, their bodies are frail and they lack stamina.”

“……”

As you can tell from the fact that opera singers generally have robust builds, physical condition has a not insignificant effect on vocal ability.

It's not that everyone with a good build sings well... but a female idol's physique is certainly a disadvantageous factor.

“But Lyeo-woo's build isn't on the large side either.”

“Unlike how she looks, I hear her stamina is amazing. And that her abdominal muscles are incredibly solid.”

“Then Newstarz should be fine too.”

“What?”

Baek Hyeon-woo said in a serious voice.

“I don't know what level of physical the person named Tae Jong-soo wants, but at least when it comes to stamina, I'm confident they're better than typical idols. I can also raise their muscular strength to the level he requires.”

The current Newstarz might not reach the level that Tae Jong-soo requires.

But it doesn't matter.

Right now, the members are in a state full of motivation, enough to endure any kind of hell training.

If Baek Hyeon-woo trains them using his abilities and knowledge, he will be able to raise them to the level that Tae Jong-soo expects.

“Phew… alright.”

In the end, Baek Yeon-ah yielded to Baek Hyeon-woo's enthusiasm.

“But I can't just call him right now and bluntly ask him to train our kids. I have to meet him, chat a bit, and then ask subtly.”

“Then may I ask you a favor?”

“Then you should come along too. You can explain the kids' condition well and try to persuade Tae Jong-soo.”

And so, Baek Hyeon-woo came to be going with Baek Yeon-ah to meet Tae Jong-soo.

***

However, when they personally visited Tae Jong-soo's office.

Before Baek Yeon-ah could even bring it up, a refusal came back at a frightening speed.

“I don't do it.”

The man with a large, bear-like physique said with a frown.

“I don't do girl group training. You know that too, Senior.”

“Jong-soo-ya, our kids are a little different.”

“They're Newstarz. I know.”

Tae Jong-soo spat out harsh remarks without hesitation, even in front of his senior, Baek Yeon-ah.

“I've seen them a few times, and they were really not good.”

“Um…”

“And the kid who was the main vocalist... she's a rapper style, not a vocal. Why did you make her the main vocalist? I think you probably made her the main vocalist because she had the biggest vocal volume, but it doesn't suit her aptitude. Change to another kid.”

Baek Yeon-ah made an awkward expression at Tae Jong-soo's harsh criticism.

However, Baek Hyeon-woo actually liked him even more.

Because he had grasped the situation with Kim So-yeong very accurately.

‘This guy is trustworthy.’

I want to ask this person for vocal training.

Thinking that, Baek Hyeon-woo opened his mouth.

“Mr. Tae, Newstarz has currently recruited a new main vocalist.”

“Ah, really?”

“As the new main vocalist came in, the overall balance improved drastically.”

In front of Tae Jong-soo, who was staring intently, Baek Hyeon-woo said in a calm voice.

“We are also in the middle of intensive training to build up their stamina. Now is the time when we need to raise the group's overall vocal quality, and we would like to receive your help, Mr. Tae.”

“Hmm...”

“For now, could you at least give them a test? If there are lacking parts, we will improve them.”

At Baek Hyeon-woo's enthusiastic voice, Tae Jong-soo showed a slightly wavering appearance.

However, he soon shook his head again.

“Even if I train them, they're still a girl group in the end, so how much of a difference would there be. Just exercising half-heartedly won't do.”

“We are not doing it that poorly. Rather...”

“And.”

Tae Jong-soo said in a chilly voice.

“My body hasn't been feeling well lately. So it seems it would be a bit difficult to look after your kids as well.”

“Jong-soo-ya, but at least just a test...”

“So you should get going too, Senior. Don't waste your time.”

Saying that, Tae Jong-soo raised his body from the sofa.

It was a sign of refusal, that he had no intention of talking any further.

However, right at that moment.

“The part about your body not feeling well, is that because your back hurts?”

“What?”

As he brought it up abruptly, Tae Jong-soo flinched.

“What did you just say?”

“Isn't your back hurting?”

Tae Jong-soo stared at Baek Hyeon-woo with an expression as if he had seen a ghost.

However, Baek Hyeon-woo maintained a composed expression.

Just as Tae Jong-soo could see through what kind of singer Kim So-yeong was just by looking at her... Baek Hyeon-woo could also see through what kind of condition Tae Jong-soo was in at a glance.

“If your back gets a little better, will you have some time to test our kids?”