[TS] Starting the Broadcast - Chapter 123

People tend to be obsessed with the word talent.

Talent (才能).

That which is commonly said to be given by heaven.

Everyone gathered at today's King of Masked Singer filming site witnessed it.

It was such a shocking scene that some people were still wondering if there were any tricks or manipulation involved.

"What method did you use?"

"Maybe they're incredibly good at impersonation? They imitated cartoon songs before too."

"Even so, it's not just at the level of impersonation. It's like a complete copy machine. You could go around scamming people with actor Go Yeon-woo's voice and no one would know."

Igloo and Elsa's stages proceeded consecutively and the winner was decided.

The loser, Igloo, even took off their mask.

Nevertheless, what was still being talked about were the shocking skills I had shown in round 1.

As my turn came and I went up on stage again, I felt intense gazes that seemed like they could pierce through the thick mask.

"Hey, aren't we pitiful? We already have so many difficult things, and now we might die of curiosity. I feel like my hair will fall out. Let's just reveal the gender, okay?"

I laugh at the sight of Kang Gura speaking in a pleading tone, as if he changed tactics.

It was a rare sight to see him, famous for his eccentric and direct way of speaking, taking such a humble attitude.

But that's that, and this is this.

The mystery of my gender, still undetermined, was a powerful weapon that could grab everyone's attention.

I planned to keep everyone confused until the final stage if possible.

'Shall I play a little trick?'

This much spice to make the program more interesting should be fine.

Originally, I was supposed to start the 2nd round song right away, but I asked for understanding from the MC Han Sung-joo and put down the microphone. Then I stepped forward holding a staff prop I had prepared in advance.

Intense gazes pouring from all directions.

I started performing rifle drill right there.

"Eh?"

"What are you doing now? It's cool, but."

Women were admiring my appearance as I wielded the staff with precision while fluttering my cape, but they tilted their heads not understanding the intention.

On the other hand, men jumped up from their seats in surprise.

"Rifle drill! Crazy! He is a man after all. I knew he was a man!"

"Wow... He really was a man."

"Ah, I thought it was a woman."

Kang Gura stood up confidently and even clapped his hands in approval.

Then he turned to the left and shouted at Yoo Jang-hyuk sitting diagonally behind him.

Telling him not to forget to bring wig props for next week's recording.

"Now, Mysterious Magician H's 2nd round stage... will begin!"

Han Sung-joo, who had been watching for timing, shouted quickly and disappeared off stage.

I put down the staff in front, grabbed the microphone, and positioned myself in the center of the stage.

The judges, who had just been in a playful mood, quickly banished it and looked at me with serious expressions.

"......"

-Remember me, remember me, remember me!

A woman's wistful voice announces the start of the song with an earnest wish.

Along with it, intense beats and sounds start to ring out.

Yoo Jang-hyuk and Oh Hyun-chul are the first to realize what song it is and make surprised expressions.

"This is rock."

"No, singing rock with such a sweet voice? And a female vocalist's song at that?"

No matter how good a voice is, there are cases where it doesn't suit certain songs or genres.

This was exactly that case.

The predominant thought in the expert judges' minds would be 'They must have rearranged it.'

But such complicated thoughts will completely fly out of their heads the moment I sing the first line of the song.

"Just like this, as we're all together, I row away from the day of departure and unfurl the sail of hope!"

Stand up-!

"Ugh!"

Celebrity judges stand up abruptly from their seats here and there.

Some even stagger in surprise.

Intense guitar sounds fill the gaps.

I continued singing while looking at the audience making blank expressions beyond the mask.

"Forgot. Forgetting. Not as easy as I thought. In the strong wind... my cheeks only grew colder."

"Insane!"

"Just who on earth is that person!?"

Until just now, most people were convinced it was a man after seeing the rifle drill, but what is this female voice... and husky voice completely different from round 1?

Especially Yoo Jung-hyuk, a long-time singer and expert, kept muttering to himself 'This doesn't make sense.'

It wasn't simply imitating, but belting out rough vocals as if it were his natural voice.

Then what was the voice in round 1?

I watched people's confused faces and spit out the next lyrics.

"Stopped! The moment... I met everyone. The sharp thorn that was stuck! In my heart... the pain disappears."

Berry Filter's Pianissimo.

Though it didn't gain as much popular appeal as Romantic Nyangi... it was a song I personally really liked.

A song with impressive powerful sound that refreshes even the heart, blending oriental melody and rock.

Plus beautiful lyrics, it was a song without a single flaw.

However, I see people unable to truly appreciate the song.

They seem to have had a mental breakdown from my transformation completely shattering their expectations.

Especially Kang Gura, who had been at the forefront with a confident attitude.

His protruding lower jaw looks like it might flow down following his wide open mouth.

"Just like this! Shouting 'I love you' into everyone's sleeping hearts, I'll forget the world... for a moment. Just like this! As we're all together, I row away from the day of departure and unfurl the sail of hope!"

-Remember me, remember me, remember me!

Dazzling guitar sounds.

And matching the powerful drum accompaniment, I fully show off the husky voice that no one imagined in round 1.

Actually, preparing for this 2nd round was much harder and took longer than the 3rd round.

No matter how much help the ability provides, you can't deceive the fundamentals.

Because my natural voice was close to a beautiful tone, creating a thick, scratchy voice was no easy task.

Constantly refining, modifying, suppressing.

Moreover, choosing a Berry Filter song that requires considerable singing skills, not just an ordinary song, with such a difficult-to-control voice, it's a completely thorny path.

'I can do it.'

It's the stage I've been looking forward to so much.

The times I worked hard for this day.

I show my presence once again as the 2nd verse begins.

"Stopped, the moment I met everyone... The sharp thorn that was stuck! In my heart, the pain disappears. Just like this! In everyone's sleeping hearts... I remember, engrave. I'll forget the world for a moment."

Exciting rhythm, pitch, song.

But the lyrics opposite to that heighten the emotion even more.

From ordinary judges clasping their hands together in passing glances, to people singing along, people pretending to play guitar, people jumping up and down, it was varied.

My song was binding all of them together as one.

It's fun.

I grit my teeth and spit out the rough voice once more.

"Just like this! As everyone is by my side, I row away from the day of departure and unfurl the sail of hope!"

I explode with tremendous volume that makes ears ring.

Surprise is evident on the faces of the celebrity judges.

But it's not enough.

I create an ad-lib line while belting out sharp high notes in falsetto that feel like they're piercing the heart.

Kang Gura and some celebrities sit back in their chairs with dumbfounded expressions, as if they've given up on analyzing.

I bow my head lightly to signal the end of the stage.

"Huh huh huh......"

"I have nothing more to say now."

Wooooah-!

Unlike the celebrity judges who look dejected, the ordinary judges stand up abruptly and give a standing ovation.

I bow my head a few more times in gratitude and moved to the waiting area behind the stage following the passage.

"Phew......"

I was really exhausted this time.

The preparation process was difficult, but this 2nd round was the hardest in actual performance too.

Of course, there's still the 3rd round left.

'But... the reaction was the best.'

It was a truly thrilling moment.

The applause pouring from all directions.

A faint singing voice is heard from across the passage.

Kim Yeon-ah's stage must have started.

"We need to go up again."

"Ah......"

I was lost in thought for a moment.

Following the security guard's guidance, I go through the passage again and up onto the stage.

Kim Yeon-ah, looking slightly tired as if she just finished her stage, was looking at me from the opposite side.

"The battle of the second pair in the 2nd round semi-finals has ended. Um... But before the evaluation, I have something to tell everyone."

It was unprecedented.

My performance in round 1 was so great that allowing a lot of time backfired.

Due to the current recording time being too delayed, they decided to give brief evaluations and not do talent shows this round for quick progress.

"No, how can that be? Do you want to see us go crazy as a group? Do you know how much we're hanging on that person now?"

"That's right! Then at least show us Magician H's talent show."

"Everyone, this is not a program for watching talent shows. Please calm down."

Despite the MC's efforts, not only the celebrity judges but also the ordinary side pour out boos.

In the end, I took the initiative and demonstrated rolling dance that had reached the level of mastery.

"Insane, insane! Look at those beautiful dance lines. Mina, that person must be from a girl group, right?"

"Um... But the gender hasn't been definitively decided yet."

"No, didn't you see the stage just now? It must be a woman."

"No, it's a man I tell you!"

The judges' seats become a battlefield once again.

Realizing that progress was impossible like this, Han Sung-joo quickly came to the center of the stage and shouted:

"Kim Yeon-ah or Magician H! The winner of this battle is! Right!"

Huge cheers poured over the stage.