6 A National's Idol
Nayon took a day to record her first single. She also needed to spend another week to record her full album. After that, she went for a week of intensive training so she could record her first Music Video. It was a busy week for her.
Nayon was glad for REC. She had been taught about performing. While she couldn't be considered as a real actress, it was enough for her MV. Master Rabbink even hired for a top movie producer to film her MV. The MV showed her charismatic side. Nayon needed 2 days to finish the filming.
For her debut, Master Rabbink had prepared a stage name, Red. The Rabbink said it was to follow the footstep of famous idols like Kon, UI, Cloud, Singer Monster, and many more. The other reason was that several idols had a similar name with Nayon.
Nayon somehow like the name. She felt the name was close to her, but she didn't know why.
The next was her debut stage. Master Rabbink didn't plan to make a common debut stage in a small auditorium. The Rabbink used the media to promote her debut. She was advertised in every entertainment channel. Whether it was online or through traditional channels. Her first stage would be in a music show the next day.
That night, Nayon couldn't sleep. She phoned her grandmother, her only relative in this world.
"Grandma..." She called.
"My dear Nayon. Why do you call this late night? Don't you have a debut tomorrow? People in the village couldn't wait to see your debut. The village elder even prepared to watch your debut together with the rest of villagers tomorrow."
"I am a bit nervous, grandma."
"You will be fine, my Dear Nayon. You are my pearl, your parent's pearl. Your grandma knows more than everyone how hard you train. Grandma will always be your fan."
"Thank you. Grandma."
They continued to talk in the phone.
Master Rabbink appeared behind Nayon. It smiled before it disappeared again.
The next day, a group of makeup artist had prepared to turn Nayon into a dream princess. An idol didn't only need to be good at singing, dancing, or performing. The profession was to sell a dream for young generations. Everything had to be perfect.
Nayon today was make up into a red princess. Her eyeshadows were decorated with bold red color while her lips were painted rose red. While her hair was styled with modern K-Country curly style. She was fascinated with the transformation. A beautiful body-fit red dress was prepared for showcasing her training result today.
She had practiced the performance yesterday in the company studio. Today performance was a recorded one. Most entertainment channel wouldn't allow a new idol to perform live.
She was taken by Legi Unnie to the studio. The biggest difference from her practice stage was that the stage had real properties on it.
The properties were fire launchers and flamethrowers. Her debut title was called Fire. Master Rabbink had said that it was a popular song from its home planet by a super famous boyband from its place.
Master Rabbink took the song and made the top composer modified it to suit the listener. All music from her album were all great. Master Rabbink said the other songs were the main track of popular singers in its home planet.
Nayon had never heard those songs before, it was modern music for K-Country. Perhaps a few generations ahead, but it had all the best from K-Music. The upbeat sing added with powerful rap.
Other than that, Master Rabbink also hired the best dance choreographers to create a solo dance for the music. The original dances were often for a group, so the choreographers need to modify those dances.
This past week Nayon had practiced the dances. She even danced in her sleep.
"Are you Red, the new idol from REC?" A man in casual clothe asked Nayon.
"Yes." Nayon didn't know, but she was already familiar with her stage name.
"Come here! We will film your performance now." He took Nayon to a property preparation. He installed some music equipment in Nayon's body.
"Do you want to sing for real?"
"I will try." Nayon knew that most new idol would be asked to lip-sync.
Yet, she wanted to sing and dance for real. Although she knew it was hard, she also had trained her physical stamina during the last 8 months in REC. Singing while dancing was still a problem for her. It was hard to keep the singing stable while dancing to an upbeat song.
Nayon was a bit nervous because of that. She could feel the cold air-conditioned room, and the hot from the bright lamp highlighted her stage. Nayon tried to relax her body by doing a breathing meditation.
While doing that, Nayon stood in the center of the stage with a group of male and female background dancers. The company had decided to avoid her fans on the recording today. She would appear to the public on her real live debut show.
She looked into those dancers. [I am used to be one of them.] She thought. If she didn't get the magic transformation, she might not be able to dance on stage like them. Even a background dancer was a dream for her.
Nayon looked back into the red high heels on her feet.
"Ready in 3… 2… 1… Camera Live." Her music started to play in the background.
"It's on fire."
"Fire fire fire fire."
"..."
"Cut!!!" The director shouted.
Nayon sing while dancing. She made a mistake. It was her first experience to be recorded for a TV.
"Cut! Practice first! I will give you 2 more chances if you keep failing you only need to dance." The producer's voice from the monitoring floor was broadcasted to her earphones. The producer already gave a huge advantage for Nayon because of REC. Other idols wouldn't be allowed 3 chances to take the song.
"Yes."
She tried to visualize her performance again. While some team re-prepared the stage. Some makeup artist repaired her makeup.
"Do you want my help? I can use my magic to automate your dancing and singing." Master Rabbink asked.
[No. I will try with my own power.]
"Ok. You can do it, dear Nayon." Master Rabbink got into the guardian's character again.
Nayon felt it was enough. She came to the starting position again and made the opening pose.
"Are you ready?" The producer asked again.
Nayon gave a thumb up. The background dancers came behind her again.
"Ready in 3… 2… 1… Camera Live." Once again, the camera director said the clue to start. Her music started to play in the background.
"It's on fire."
"Fire fire fire fire."
"…."
Nayon made her ending pose.
"Good! We got a recording. We will take a 5-minutes break. Makeup team prepares the performers! Stage director prepares your team to repair!" Nayon heard the producer command.
A professional team quickly prepared the stage. While a team of equipment was ensuring her equipment was correctly installed.
While those teams prepared, Nayon looked into the monitor. She saw the record of her performance. The debutant felt it was surreal. [Is that me? That looks like something I saw in the TV.]
After those teams did their job, Nayon came onto the stage again with the dancers.
"We will record again. Are you ready?"
Nayon gave another thumb up sign.
"We will start to record. Ready in 3… 2… 1… Camera Live."
Nayon once again posed for her performance.
She sang again. This time she tried to dance and sing better.
"Good!" The producer felt satisfied. This new idol wasn't hard to work with.
Nayon was waiting while watching her recording. The producer was discussing whether her performance good enough to be aired. If it wasn't her dance will be added with recorded music from her album.
It was an important moment for her. She felt very nervous.
"That is enough." The producer said.
"What is the result?" Nayon asked Legi Unnie.
"We will use your second performance, but using the singing from the first recording." Legi Unnie said.
Nayon nodded. While this meant that her performance wasn't stable enough, at least she could use her real performance.
"Red?" A young woman in glasses came near Nayon.
"Yes."
"Come with me! I will take to your waiting room."
"Oh! Could I take a minute?"
"Yes."
Nayon came to her background dancers.
"Here is a signed album from me. I am also used to be a background dancer during my trainee days." She gave her album to the dancers. She was used to be one of them, she even still didn't think of herself as an idol. She only just debuted, Nayon had decided to never change.
The dancers felt happy with this new debutant. She wasn't arrogant and even encouraged them.
Nayon led by the young woman to her waiting room. She got a special room because she was a REC idol. Nayon tried to visit the other waiting rooms. Those were her senior.
"Good Afternoon!" She entered one of the rooms.
"Good Afternoon!" A famous male singer was in the room.
"Here is my CD. It is nice to meet you." Nayon felt happy. She had seen this famous singer on the TV, but this time she managed to give her own album.
"Ah, I have heard about you. You are the first singer of the REC. Everybody is waiting for your debut."
"Thank you. I still need to learn from Hyung." Nayon felt a bit nervous with the expectation.
Master Rabbink didn't cut corners to promote. It even promoted in cinema, movie, Utube, and many more channels. Master Rabbink even paid many internet influencers to promote Nayon debut.
Her MV would be uploaded tonight after the performance was aired. It was unique, other idols would release their MV before they went into music programs. At the same time, it would mark the beginning of her music album put into the online market and streaming service.
Tomorrow would mark the beginning of her physical album sales. The company didn't plan a pre-order. However, several fans already waited near the music store to purchase the album.
Master Rabbink had ensured today's performance would be the main performance. The music program had agreed to return the exclusive debut stage of Nayon with a huge advertising during the last 4 shows.
Nayon came into several other idol rooms. She gave her album to some senior idols. Several idols exchanged their album since not everyone brought one. Some even took some photos together.
[This is unreal.] She thought.
"This is because of your hard work or this Rabbink didn't dare to debut you this soon." Master Rabbink floated next to her.
She opened the next room. Nayon knew who were inside. She had made an appointment last month.
"Nayon Unnie!" Nayon heard the familiar scream. She felt a bit nostalgic.
"Somsom!"
"Nayon Unnie!" Heyho and Kimha also called her. Other than them, the 3 other members of their girlband were also there. Nayon greeted them before continued her talk with her former trainee group.
"Finally, we will share a stage." Nayon smiled. "Unfortunately, I still can't perform live like a senior like you, girls."
"Unnie… Today is also our first time to perform live on TV." Somsom said.
Their girlband had moderate success. Somsom's beauty captured many young boys. Unfortunately, the Big 3 also launched their girlbands's albums near their debut. Another company even also debuted a similar girlgroup one week before.
That was the hard truth of music industry. Master Rabbink didn't control those child company. The Rabbink only protected Nayon's debut.
They continued their talk for 15 minutes. Nayon took a photo together with the group before she went into another waiting room. Red had been famous in the music industry because of her company. She had a huge expectation to pay.
The next room was someone who Nayon didn't believe. She had shared the same stage with her, but as a background dancer.
"Good Afternoon! Kon Unnie. I want to present my album to Unnie." Nayon came into the room after knocking it.
"Oh! Is this the new debuting idol Red?"
"Kon Unnie knows me?" Nayon didn't believe the idol queen knew her.
"Of course, everybody talks about you. You are even prettier than in the picture." Kon pointed to a fair face in the album cover.
Even Nayon only saw her album today. She painted her lips red like rose and even all her makeup was strong in red. It was a combination of beauty and strong.
They talked for a while. Nayon told her that she had danced for one of her performances. It was the important chance for her to perform before a huge audience.
The idol queen also shared some of her experiences. She didn't feel threatened by Red the next idol. Kon had moved from national boundary into the international stage.
Nayon returned to her own waiting room. She wouldn't need to perform today, but she needed to show when the MC interviews her and during the end of the show.
She waited for 2 hours while she read some news about her. Every K-Netizen talked about her debut stage. There were some who attacking her by saying she sells her body to REC CEO or people who said that she was fat and ugly.
However, she had also had supporting fans. They were very vocal in defending her.
"Do you feel happy with the support group?" Master Rabbink appeared next to Nayon.
"Yes. They are very supportive."
"Of course, they do. They are Master Rabbink flaming army. This internet battle was their specialty. Gwahahaha." Master Rabbink felt proud.
"Why is Everflame?" Nayon asked. Based on the news, some leader of her fans created a fans group named Everflame. They created this name because they would become forever fans who would light Red way to the top. However, Nayon knew her Rabbink Godfather was the one who made the name.
"It was a good name to fill with Red. You have read the reason in the internet." Master Rabbink said.
Nayon knew she couldn't ask the reason to the Rabbink when he said that.
"You should prepare. You will have an interview soon." Master Rabbink ate the snacks for performers. The snacks were cleaned in an instant.
"Knock… Knock… Knock…"
"Yes?"
"Miss Red, there is an interview for you."
Nayon came with the lady into the lobby. Many fans stood outside.
"Red!!!!!!!!!"
"That is Red!"
"She is very beautiful!"
Nayon felt it was all surreal. She smiled and waved her hand.
"Wow! Wow! We have our debutant here, and she has already had so many fans, Hyung." The MC quickly took the situation with an ice-breaking joke.
"Yes, I don't think I ever saw your group get this much love." The MCs joked with each other.
"Red fans, the Everflame please cheer for Red!!"
Her fans created a huge applaud for Red.
"Red, what do you think about your debut stage?"
"This is a dream come true, Hyung." Nayon smiled.
"What is your debut song is about?"
"It is about the encouragement to life one's life without worries and instead with joy. You should focus on the future since the past remains in the past."
"Ok! That is some deep meaning behind the music. You must be couldn't wait for her performance." The MC talked to the camera.
"Please wait it will come soon!" The other MC took the end.
Red and the MCs bowed to each other before taking a photo together. After that Red gave a small signing session with the fans. The moment was unique. A singer without a song on the store already had fans waiting for her signature.
Legi Unnie suddenly took Nayon when she felt it was enough.
"We are ready for your debut stage." She said. Nayon returned to her waiting room. She watched the music show broadcasted on the TV. Some idols were performing live.
Finally, it was her turn.
She saw a girl in a red body fit dress stood in the middle of the stage. Some dancers also stood on the back.
"Boom…" A flame appeared on the stage while her opening started to play.
"It's on fire."
"Fire fire fire fire."
"..."
Nayon enjoyed watching her show. She didn't believe the person on the TV was her. The same trainee who got her trainee contract terminated 8 months ago.
[Lv 0 Mission: Debut as an idol.]
[Mission Completed]
Nayon heard something in her head and a panel appeared, but she didn't know what is that.
"That is nothing. It is your wishes come true. You might want to check the internet to see the trending topic." Master Rabbink said.
Nayon saw #RedDebut hashtag trending in the social network. Other than that, Several hashtags like #REC1stIDol, #RedREC, #Red, and #Everflame also appeared on the top most used hashtags.
She felt really happy.
"You shouldn't read all the comments. We have a team to answer those fans. If you want to answer, you should tell the team to say on your behalf." Master Rabbink knew it would be hard to prevent Nayon to get closer to her fans.
Nayon returned home after showing her beautiful face during the closing ceremony. She would appear 4 more times during this week in several shows.
Other than that, she also needed to record more movie videos. Master Rabbink would launch all the songs in her album. It would create a non-stop promotion for her. She had to practice all the dance choreography. She barely had rest during this promotion period.
Nayon was waiting in front of a laptop. It was midnight. Her MV would appear tonight.
She saw her music video appeared.
"What is this?" She was confused. Her MV was trending in several countries at the same time.
However, her view count was frozen. Some smaller streaming sites even crashed. Too many people were searching for her music at the same time.
"What happened?"
"The website couldn't hold my clones. They all wanted to check your debut music video." Master Rabbink said.
[Clones?]
"Let's just consider those are my brothers! Gwahahaha." Master Rabbink also watched the MV in its smartphone.
Nayon couldn't sleep that night. She woke up and received a call from her grandmother. Her grandmother said that Nayon was very beautiful in the show yesterday. They talked for a bit while the staff gave Nayon skin treatment.
A while later Legi Unnie came. "Good Morning Nayon, we have a result for your music video."
"What is it?" Nayon was a bit nervous.
"There are a total 1 billion viewers from around the world in the first hours. This number kept increasing by the day. You are the first singer in Utube to break 10 billion streaming. You managed to achieve this in less than 6 hours. It was already a worldwide news. Everyone hears your song."
Nayon couldn't believe the news. It was more than her wild dreams.
"Erm... This Rabbink had over 10 billion brothers. All wanted to watch your music video. I have promoted your song in our personal chat group. Gwahahaha." Master Rabbink laughed.
This was what a Godfather with a large connection could do. Fairy Grandmother would only magically increase the view number. A Godfather would use its large connection and gave real viewers.
"You also top the local streaming service like Watermelon, Genuine, Bags, MoNet, and Never. Since you are the hourly top for 10 hours, your song had a 10 all-kill. You have also reached the daily top so your song obtained Certified All Kill. I believe you will soon reach perfect all kill when you reach the top of this week streaming."
Nayon couldn't believe everything that her manager said. Her song was that popular. She looked into Master Rabbink.
The Rabbink was smiling proudly.
"Everybody is talking about your debut. All top 10 trending online searches are about you. Our PR team is working non-stop to combat some haters. You should not worry about that. However, we had suggested your grandmother not to read online comments. You have also gathered some antis since you topped the chart in one night." Legi Unnie said that.
"Yes." Nayon felt really happy. Her debut could be considered as a huge success.
"Here is your schedule today. You will appear in some reality show this week. We have thought how to speak in the public. You have to maintain your star image. We want to make an idol who could become a dream for every people."
Nayon went to perform in the other music shows and appeared on some music reality show. She had become a household name in the country. Her music video had crashed multiple sites that week. The public was trying to find out who was the person who became the talk of the town.
Her promotion didn't end with that. After 1 week, she would have her first concert. It was her debut concert. While other idol had their debut concert first before the stage, she had a debut stage first.
Nayon felt nervous. This was the time she would perform on the stage.
3 hours before the show, she already came to the location to prepare. She had a rehearsal yesterday. Nayon even fall sick after the hard training, but Master Rabbink healed her again.
Nayon was in her limo when she arrived at the front gate. She saw her Everflame fans. They brought a huge fire banner and some torch-like light stick. That was her official light stick.
Nayon wanted to greet them.
"You can't." Legi Unnie stopped her. "It would be hard without proper security since we have a large number of fans here. You might even make some of your fans injured."
Nayon could only accept that. She didn't want to injure her fans.
Nayon stood on the stage. She would do the last checking.
"Test... Test... Test..." A technician gave her a microphone. She was given a private one by REC. It was the expensive one from Visual Technica. The mic would ensure her voice was clearly captured.
She tried to sing and dance. This would be her first time to perform live.
"Good. I think that is enough." A sound director set the sound system on the stage.
"We will need to check the special effect safety." A stage director came to Nayon. "You have to check the place where we put the flamethrower." The man pointed to some equipment on the stage.
"I will remember those places."
"Ok. Then we will wait for your stage."
Nayon checking the stage with the team. She also met with the background dancers and performed the last practice.
"What do you think of your debut concert?" Master Rabbink appeared next to Nayon in the waiting room. She was already prepared with a Red sexy dress.
"I am nervous."
"Your grandmother was also here. You will be able to meet here after the performance. You have to perform better for her."
"Yes." Nayon couldn't wait to perform.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Nayon could hear the scream.
"Now! Go the time to your concert is now! This Rabbink had helped to make a Magic for you. However, you have to get those fans with your own skill."
"Yes, I will."
Master Rabbink was alone in the waiting room. It looked into the monitor in the room.
"Let's welcome our only REEEEEEDD!" A famous MC named Grasshopper led the concert. It was a huge concert for a debut. Other idol would only dream to perform in such stage.
Nayon stood on the stage she moved into her starting pose. She stood with open leg and open arm while she bowed her head.
The song opening started to be played while Nayon could hear people screaming her stage name.
"Red!"
"Red!"
"..."
The fans screamed while Nayon started to sing.
"It's on fire."
"Fire fire fire fire."
"..."
That night was the beginning of Nayon career. She went to launch an album every 4 months. During those times, she also released the MV for the other songs in her Album. All her songs were commercial success. Master Rabbink said that those songs came from a far different planet that her planet. It was the birthplace of the Rabbink. Those songs were best hits.
Time moved like water on a river. During this time, Nayon managed to pay the REC her training fees. Her career was a big rise. She managed to pay her trainee debt 1 year after her debut.
After that, she managed to give her grandmother enough money for her old age. Nayon still remembered that time. Her grandmother brought her to her parent's graveyards. They cleaned the graveyards and sent a prayer for them.
"My beautiful Nayon, Grandma is proud of you."
[Lv 1 Mission: Give enough money for grandmother.]
[Mission Completed]
"Are you ready Nayon for the last sweep?" Master Rabbink appeared next to Nayon. The Rabbink woke Nayon from her reminiscing.
"Yes. I am."
Nayon had won several music awards during her career. Nevertheless, only this year she managed to sweep all awards at the same time. Her latest album received the top rank in every channel.
"Unnie, have you heard the next performers song?" A male MC asked before Nayon's performance.
"Of course, Ram. Her songs are sweeping all charts at this month. She changed the K-Music face." The female MC said.
"Red!"
"Red!"
"Red!"
The Everflame didn't stop their chant. The camera started to move from the MC to the stage.
"Please welcome the Nation's Idol! Red." Nayon finally got the title last month. It was started with some netizens wrote about the idol with could represent the K-Music. Some idols got some title, including Nayon. She finally got her title. The Nation's Idol.
"Red!"
"Kyaaaaaaaa!!!! Red!!!!"
"Red!"
Nayon started to move into her starting pose. Behind her, a big monitor background displayed big words of 'Red the Nation's Idol'.
Her opening music started to play.
"Phone bell rings like every other day."
"Please give me a break."
...
She performed and returned to her seat. She had changed into a party red long dress. The show was the biggest show in the music industry for K-Country.
Last year, Nayon only won the newcomer awards. While her song became a huge hit, but she still needed to give awards to a K-Music international superstar.
"The winner for the best song of the year."
The monitor started to show several famous K-Music faces. Nayon was one of them. Her biggest album last year was one them.
"Red with Cheer Up!"
Nayon smiled. She waved her hand. The camera started to show her face.
"Please welcome to the stage National's Idol Red." The male MC spoke while the female MC received Nayon.
Nayon gave a hug to the female MC and received her awards. Finally, she took the mic.
"First of all, I want to thank Everflame. Without you who support, I will never be here."
"For the grandmother who had raised me and supported me in my dream. For the people in the village, thank you."
"I also want to thank my guardian fairy for making my wishes come true."
"I am only a trainee without a contract when I came to REC. I want to thank all staff in REC. Without the training, cares, and support, I will not become an idol. The word idol means a lot to me. I want to give you the best performance to pay for your love."
"Thank you for loving me!"
[Lv 2 Mission: Get a clean sweep of all national music awards and the Nation's title.]
[Mission Completed]
---------
"The Prince saw her and fell in love with her."
