[TS] Starting the Broadcast - Chapter 124

The King, The Clown Who Came Back Without Dying, was not in a good mood.

After an early dinner, he left the waiting room and headed to the King's seat upon hearing that the 3rd round competition was starting.

The King's seat, full of brilliant decorations and patterns.

How much effort had he put in to reach this place?

He sat in the chair.

And expected to hear cheers and feel people's attention.

"......"

Something was strange.

There were no cheers, and he could barely feel gazes looking his way.

It was puzzling.

Looking at the celebrity and civilian judges' seats, everyone's gaze was directed at the same place.

Magician H!

For reasons unknown, everyone was looking at him? Or her? No, they seemed taller than Han Sung-joo, so must be a man.

Anyway, everyone was looking that way.

What on earth had happened...

'I worked hard to prepare for consecutive wins too!'

For entertainers, public attention was like food.

The moment they stop receiving attention, they starve to death.

No matter who the opponent was, he would definitely win and keep this seat.

---

After winning round 2, the schedule proceeded tightly.

I was called to the stage right after having a rushed early dinner.

My opponent in round 3 was Elsa.

A strange tension of unknown identity flowed over the stage.

"Now then, we'll have a word from each. First, Mysterious Magician H!"

It was time to express aspirations while facing the current King.

Without much thought, I declared I would steal the King's seat to match my outfit's concept.

Then I felt like the King was glaring at me, not jokingly.

Hmm, he seems quite attached to that seat.

Anyway, Elsa also expressed her aspirations and the full-fledged 3rd round began.

The order was Elsa first, as she was from the 2nd pair.

"This way..."

From this round, we could wait right next to the stage instead of the waiting area behind.

I sat in a chair looking at the stage.

Elsa was swaying to the rhythm, her blue dress fluttering.

'This song is...'

The song Elsa chose was MA-IA's "Shouting for You."

It was a good strategy to finish round 3 with intense rock to leave a deep impression on the judges.

"Even though I'm still running like this... Instead of saying I must not get weak no matter what! Instead of saying I must not fall behind! Right at this moment, it's not the end! I'm walking my own path. Just shout it!"

Her singing skills were excellent too.

A husky voice in a high range that wasn't lacking in charm compared to the original singer.

The listeners started dancing with their shoulders to the cheerful rhythm.

"Slumped shoulders. My reflection in the mirror, how can it look so miserable..."

Emotion control that makes listeners anxious.

I unknowingly swallowed dry saliva from the tension.

She's really good.

As expected of a skilled performer who made it to round 3.

She skillfully draws people into her song while controlling the dynamics of her voice.

"Will there be an end? In my life that's just repetition... Why do worries come first again. Let's get stronger! Let's not turn our heads! Let's run looking far ahead!"

The highlight part of the song.

A strong volume that shakes the stage, unbelievable from that delicate body.

It was really intense.

I enjoyed the song to the end feeling as if swept up in a typhoon.

Wooooah-!

Though not a standing ovation, whistles sounded from here and there and it was chaotic.

Elsa bowed lightly and left her spot, and it was my turn.

Wooooah-!

Cheers erupted from all around even though I hadn't started singing yet.

Gazes full of anticipation pouring towards me.

I had to show a great performance to answer that.

Standing at the center of the stage, I closed my eyes and erased tension with a light sigh.

Nod-!

A light signal sent to the accompanists.

Gentle singing started to resound.

Not long after the accompaniment started, people guessed the identity of the song I would sing.

Because it was so famous... and well-known.

It was Sanggukwha's masterpiece "Don't Worry, My Dear."

-Da da ra da ran, da ra ra ran.

String instruments led by the violin gently started.

If Elsa tried to leave a deep impression with "intensity," I made a different choice.

It will gently seep into everyone's hearts.

Piano sounds, and a dark stage with all lights off.

Only a single spotlight remained shining above my head.

As the accompaniment that made hearts lonely was ending, I brought the microphone to my lips.

"My dear... don't worry about anything."

"...!"

"Ah!"

A heavy low tone that struck the heart.

In people's minds, I would have been pictured as a woman due to the round 2 song.

A shock that shook their thoughts!

It was the kind rarely seen even in ordinary men.

A solid low tone that felt heavy while staying low and unwavering!

"Let's all... sing together. All your sad memories, my dear. Bury them deep in your memories."

Singing that sounded like whispering right next to you.

And melancholy piano sounds followed closely behind.

People with sensitive emotions already had moist eyes.

"What we reminisced about... is as it passed. That's... the meaning."

This is not someone else's story.

Starting with me, it's the story of all listeners.

Because everyone has a past and wounds exist.

I want to sing a song that warmly comforts that.

"Tell the one who left... Say you kept good memories."

The sorrowful violin sound plays again.

Someone in the civilian judges' seats covers their face with both hands and lowers their head.

People biting their lips tightly are seen here and there.

I wonder what they are recalling?

Painful memories.

Now for the second verse... once again plunging people into shock.

"You... had too many sad things. You lost... your happiness."

A sincere song must be sung sincerely.

My natural voice without embellishment is revealed.

At that moment, lights turned on all at once brightly illuminating the stage.

"Ah!"

"As expected!"

Although it was clearly revealed to be a woman, there was no more arguing among the judges.

They were just listening to the song and looking at me with one heart and mind.

"All your painful memories, my dear. Shake them off as teardrops."

I closed my eyes.

Memories of a lifetime brush by.

Sometimes joyful, sometimes difficult.

Life is full of ups and downs.

There was no eternal joy, nor eternal sorrow.

"What will be remembered... is as it passed... That's the meaning."

The song headed towards the end.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw people's hands swaying as if riding waves.

I also took a few steps forward and told them:

"Let's all together! Talk... Let's say we lived life without regrets."

This is not a song I sing alone.

All together... a song we all sing!

Those who were sobbing.

Those who were nodding with closed eyes.

Everyone became one and started singing.

"What's forgotten is as it passed... That's the meaning. Let's all talk together. Let's say it was a life without regrets. Let's say we'll dream happy dreams."

All accompaniment fades.

On the quiet stage, the lights also flicker off leaving only one shining above me like at the beginning.

Giving everyone time to calm their hearts.

And when the sniffling sounds stop, I softly say the last line of the song, one thing I want to say for everyone:

"My dear, don't have any worries or concerns."

Wooooah-!

Applause and cheers that seemed to lift the set.

There was no distinction between civilians and celebrities.

Soon Han Sung-joo appeared and led Elsa, who had been waiting, onto the stage.

"Really... how should I describe this."

Han Sung-joo was at a loss for words, as this was his first such experience in years of MCing King of Masked Singer.

But soon he encouraged quick voting with a strong sense of professionalism.

Soon the voting ended and Elsa and I stood left and right with Han Sung-joo in the center.

"The 3rd round King candidate selection match has ended. Among these owners of outstanding singing skills, who will challenge The Clown... What do you think, Clown?"

Everyone's gaze turns to The Clown sitting in the King's seat wearing a golden mask.

"Ah... what can I say. I was just moved."

"That's a bit... both of them sang though."

Han Sung-joo said, looking at Elsa's reaction.

But there was no further response from The Clown.

He just wanted to feel the current afterglow.

"Yes! Lee Young-seok has raised his hand, do you have something you want to say?"

"There's endless things to say. It's been the most shocking experience while doing King of Masked Singer together so far. But if we delay more it'll get completely dark, so I'll just say the key points."

"Yes, please do."

"Actually, if we evaluate just based on skill, I think Elsa was a bit better. Starting from solid and unwavering vocals that rivaled the original... people next to me were dancing because it was so exciting."

Lee Young-seok said, pointing at Shim Bong-sun, Jang Yun-seok and others.

"Hey, how can you not dance when it's that exciting?"

"That's right. It's instinct."

Everyone nodded.

Certainly, Elsa's vocals were amazing.

She perfectly digested a song requiring tremendous skill to the point of reminding people of the original singer.

"However, Magician H's song was a bit rough and less refined... but rather, it felt more sincere because of that."

Elsa's brilliant technique and Magician H's warm sincerity.

Lee Young-seok left such an evaluation.

"The tone was completely different between verses 1 and 2, to the point of making me think two people were singing. Magician H is really a subject for research. How can such diverse sounds come from one person's body..."

Yoo Jang-hyuk shook his head as if still unable to believe it.

More evaluations continued after that.

Han Sung-joo cut them off harshly saying there was no more time, and delivered the final comment for candidate selection.

"The final person to challenge the King... will be revealed now!"

The lights move erratically, alternately shining on me and Elsa.

Meanwhile, the King rises from his seat to prepare the stage.

It felt like I could touch the empty golden throne if I just reached out.

At that moment, the lights flickered strongly.

Finally, the last person was decided.