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-This is crazy, a board game;;;;
Fans’ SNS timelines were ablaze with the news of TeSTAR’s limited edition board game album. Comparisons of images suggested that the board game had the same appearance as the one in the teaser, causing reactions to intensify.
-Did they really use it as a prop in the MV?
-Is it a structure where you play using photocards? I can’t tell what it’s like. Does it include TeSTAR’s universe?
-They really know how to sell it, lol
-Wow, I need to have this for real
The excitement and anticipation were palpable, but not all reactions were positive.
The limited quantity was the issue. Even though a regular edition would be released later, there would surely be differences in the composition from the limited edition.
-Only 1,000 units?
A group that sells millions of albums?
-Are they not thinking about reselling? Scalpers are going to jump on this
-How can we even buy this for realㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-The agency is just like T1 with their tricks
-Of course, coming from a T1 subsidiary, it’s the same old storyㅋㅋㅋㅋ
As a result, Orbit Entertainment, TeSTAR’s new agency, started receiving criticism.
In truth, the rush to meet the schedule made it impossible to produce tens of thousands of units. However, there was a sense that this negative reaction was deliberately left unaddressed to temper the overly idealized view of the label.
Both the new company and the group were burdened by the overly sanctified atmosphere. Moreover, since the regular edition’s composition would not differ significantly from the limited edition, any dissatisfaction would soon dissipate.
Furthermore, since the focus was on TeSTAR’s comeback, fans couldn’t solely concentrate on criticizing the agency. For instance:
-Oh, the album is USB type
TeSTAR’s new album was not a CD but a USB.
And it was a standalone item. Just the album USB, a playbook box, and one photocard – a very simple composition.
-They’ll probably continue making albums on USBs for environmental reasons
-To be honest, the overproduction of albums does create a lot of waste ㅇㅇ
However, the inability to receive physical photos and lyric booklets made some people feel strangely disappointed.
In the era of online streaming dominance, buying albums had more significance as physical collectibles. Moreover, the limited number of items in the package somehow felt inadequate. Even if photos and lyrics were included as data in the USB, not being able to hold them in hand left people feeling a bit underwhelmed.
-So, there are three types of USBs…
-I wish they would at least show what the USBs look like
-It would be nice if it were like a doll or something
-They start pre-orders without properly informing us about anything. At least reveal some concept photos firstㅋㅋ
Thanks to the decent quality of the teaser and the enthusiasm for continuing the high-teen concept from the previous album, the voices of discontent were relatively quiet. But they did exist. There was a subtle, deflating atmosphere created by the voices of dissatisfaction.
Sigh…
In the end, the fans who cared tried to find more positive aspects. They spread the word about the unique content not typically included in regular CD albums, found on TeSTAR’s album pre-order page.
-The expanded version of the MV is included in this album. It seems like they attempted something bigger due to the USB format, and I’m already excited.
-There’s a caution about QR code readers! There must be something you read with a QR codeㅠㅠㅠ. It looks like they’ve prepared a lot.
But that was it. No more specific information about the album was released as the comeback date approached.
What are they thinking?? This left even Moondae’s first fan site manager (Homma) biting her nails.
Although a concept photo had been released once, it was a comfortable high-teen concept similar to the previous teaser. It was nice and pretty, but it lacked uniqueness. It felt too similar to the last album. Compared to the grand 30-minute teaser ‘Present,’ the cinematic trailer ‘Better me,’ and the movie-like ‘Promise’…
There was only one teaser, a USB album, and a simple composition…
The daunting term ‘cost-effectiveness’ couldn’t help but cross her mind.
-I never imagined they’d treat us like this at the new companyㅋ
-I feel so betrayed~~~ What were they doing? As expected, the gimmick only worked for the internals
-Will Shamstar now only promote for a week and then go on tour?
– Doesn’t the new title seem similar to the previous one, Pose? But even worse
Amidst the undercurrents, finally, the day of fate arrived, mixed with anxiety and anticipation. At midnight on the day of TeSTAR’s first comeback under the new company, the MV finally dropped.
“…Ha.”
[TeSTAR ‘Roll the Dice’ Official MV]
The fan site manager (Homma) took a deep breath. The title was ‘Roll the Dice,’ and the thumbnail also featured dice… How far are they going with this?
Is it really a full-on board game concept? It feels overdone and worrying… No! She brushed off unnecessary thoughts and clicked on the MV with trembling hands. Then….
“Huh?”
What appeared on the screen was… a wooden floor. The attic floor from the previous teaser. But TeSTAR, who had been sitting there, was gone. The focus was not on them. It was on the board game.
Tokens and cards were scattered on it. But unlike the teaser’s fleeting impression, it seemed more elaborate and realistic, like a building’s blueprint….
…A prison? A Maze?
At that moment. The camera zoomed in.
[You have my dice]
A low voice resonated in the dark vision. And then the screen returned.
-Doong…!
A long corridor stretched ahead. Built with stones of varying shades of gray, it looked like part of a massive underground dungeon. The camera briefly captured a huge rusty nameplate on the floor.
-Keep It Safe
The camera moved forward. Footsteps echoed, revealing lined-up iron doors on both sides. It felt like someone’s point of view.
A guard?
Then, the camera deviated again.
Whizz. It zoomed into one of the iron doors on the left and immediately approached the figure sitting on the floor inside. The figure was wearing a white outfit with a harness, reminiscent of a straitjacket or prisoner’s uniform, a stage costume.
As the figure slightly lowered its head, the fan site manager recognized it instantly. Eyes closed… black-haired Park Moondae.
Gasp…!
His slightly long bangs partially covered his eyes.
The moment the camera zoomed in on his pale face.
-Pipipipipipipipipi….
A small sound began to echo from somewhere. A noise like something being detected or activated by a machine. Then Park Moondae, eyes still closed, raised his hand. And brought it down somewhere.
Whack. The screen showed a surveillance camera bursting. Music then exploded.
[Your hand touches
And catches my tape]
A refreshingly bright mid-high tone.
The screen rose cheerfully, bursting through the dark room and ascending somewhere, eventually reaching an upper floor. And there, a beam of light shone down from a gridded iron ceiling.
The tempo picked up.
[The moment my heart beats
All my senses became slow]
In the beam of light, someone nimbly descended from the broken end of the iron grid. It was Ryu Chungwoo, wearing a tight leather suit.
Thud. A mischievous smile appeared on his face as he landed. With the drum beat mixed in, a slightly more rocking sound, and the heavy bass running.
[A thrilling contact
In your silent eyes
Looking for the sure answer]
When Ryu Chungwoo brought his hand to his ear, the cut changed to someone making the same gesture. It was Kim Raebin, wearing glasses.
[One choice
Yeah, take it all (one more)
Even if you let go of this tight grip]
Sitting in front of a dark monitor room, Kim Raebin looked like a hacker or staff member. But soon, with an expressionless face, he tilted his head as if he had no idea, then simply took an awl from his pocket and smashed the monitor.
Just before the monitor fizzled out, in the twisted perspective, Cha Eugene, in a prisoner’s uniform, looked at the camera and smiled, showing his fangs. And the monitor turned off, leaving silence.
[Let’s start, the chaos begins]
The pre-chorus bursts in with a low melody.
[Find the face
I don’t care what’s next]
Running through gray corridors, small rooms, mazes, monitor rooms, and other conceptual places, TeSTAR’s individual cuts connected seamlessly.
[Chaser, today too
Don’t stop your hand]
Just when it felt like the countless cuts, impressive but seemingly countless, couldn’t be discerned, someone’s hand interrupted it. It was a gloved hand.
[Figure out everything
Don’t be scared of what’s next]
The hand belonged to Lee Sejin. Wearing a navy uniform and drinking coffee, Lee Sejin smiled slightly. He then turned his head, looked at the broken monitor, grabbed a key, and hummed as he left the monitoring room.
[Chaser, tomorrow too
Don’t end the twist]
And the chorus.
[Just roll the dice]
A dance break. Like a video with edited cross-stage performances, the costumes and backgrounds changed naturally. From white prisoner uniforms to navy uniforms, then to leather suits.
“Wow.”
It must have taken countless takes… No, it seemed more effortful than running around, but rather thrilling and exciting. The fan site manager gulped and continued watching the video.
[Trust, take my side]
In the second verse, mixing story and choreography, the video returned to its original K-pop feel. A performance video full of symbols but intense. The storyline was fairly clear, thanks to the beginning.
Let’s see… Moondae and Cha Eugene are, um, prisoners? And Raebin and Chungwoo are thieves. Keun Sejin is a guard?
However, Bae Sejin and Seon Ahyeon appeared in various outfits during the performance, but it was hard to pinpoint a specific role.
[Yes, this Final round]
The bridge melody flowed. Suddenly, the fast-paced screen changed to a long take.
…Thud. It showed someone standing in front of a massive iron door. The camera soon turned half a circle, revealing the identity. It was Bae Sejin.
Oh, he’s also a thief! He was dressed similarly to Ryu Chungwoo.
As the fan site manager nodded in agreement.
-…….
Bae Sejin calmly stared at the iron door and reached for the lock pad next to it. He was holding a strange device that looked like a key, and the camera zoomed in on his gloved hand.
Vrrr. Suddenly, the hand flickered several times, turning into a gloved hand, a wounded hand, and back to a gloved hand.
“…!”
But it soon reverted to the gloved hand. And the moment he connected the key to the lock pad, a code input screen appeared.
[_____]
Oh!
Bae Sejin seemed to smile faintly.
-Thud!
With the sound of an impact, the screen vanished.
“…??”
[Just roll the dice
Trust, take my side]
There was no follow-up.
Instantly, the flashy performance video resumed. Enthralled by the performance, the fan site manager still had questions in her mind… but eventually, the performance won her over.
They’ll surely give a clue at the end…!
Indeed. The hint was given right after the song ended. But it wasn’t as she expected. Instead of Bae Sejin’s whereabouts, something else appeared on the darkened screen. A close-up shot of a beautiful face.
“…?”
It was… Seon Ahyeon in a navy uniform with blond hair. He looked straight at the camera and mouthed a few words.
-…Choose your side.
Soft string music began to play.
As the screen slowly darkened from top to bottom, Seon Ahyeon turned his head and started walking down the corridor. The same gray corridor from the beginning. A black baton swayed slightly at his waist. Looking perfect for subduing someone.
“…”
In the black screen, amid the soft strings, only the clear sound of military boots remained.
-Thud, thud, thud….
And then, letters appeared.
[Roll the Dice]
~Please enter the code
The last thing to appear was a blinking black box. The same one that appeared when Bae Sejin accessed the lock pad in the MV. And…
“…Ha!”
The fan site manager let out the breath she had been holding.
Crazy!
I was worried for nothing!
The quality was like a movie! It was a bit different from previous music videos, but it was bound to get a reaction.
International reactions will explode… She could already predict it.
The universe is a bit… but it was very grandiose. It seemed like a new universe! It was so over the top that it felt like a fan-made drama MV.
Is the board game related to that universe? Is playing it the key to understanding?
While she was racking her brain, suddenly, her SNS was flooded with personal messages.
What is it? Thinking it was just some fan talk, she clicked.
-The album product page is up, and the USB is the key from the MV
“…??”
-The key from the MV is the album USB!!
“…Whaaat??”
She screamed with her mouth wide open. Aaaah!!
And the next day.
Hurry! Hurry!
She frantically unboxed the album she had received. While carefully handling the USB, which was a prop from the music video, she hurriedly separated it and connected it to the computer, trying to access the folder. It was because…
It was set up so intriguingly!
There must be something in the expanded version of the MV! She had to see it!
Just click the video!
She could watch the MV expanded version….
“…!!”
However, what greeted her was not a video player.
[TeSTAR – Roll the Dice MV Expanded Version (Playable) Do you allow the app to make modifications on your device?]
An app?
At that moment, she realized.
“…”
Playable.
A game.
The MV expanded version… was a game!
these chs are commissioned if you would like your series to be translated you can contact us on discord
https://discord.gg/NjqvcWRvbD
Please Read At manhwa-freak.org First So We Can Continue To Update More Chapters….
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