Life’s Second Round in Epic Mode

Chapter 19 Exciting Vacation (Part 3)

The waiter skillfully used tongs to lift ice from the ice bucket and placed it into a glass. Then, with both hands, he politely filled the glass with a gentle sway.

Having been accustomed to watching the uniformed female servers in the 2030s clubs with their Dom Perignon and flourishing actions, it was hard for him to adapt to this raw, 90s-style waiter service. It was a tightrope walk between the classy hip vibe and the rustic rawness.

However, compared to the 2030s, it did feel quite empty without the fireworks on the bottles. Perhaps this was inevitable since it felt more like a hip club in Hongdae than Ares in Gangnam.

"Have a drink, Kim Gangmo."

The waiter, who was wearing a name tag of Kim Gangmo, a singer who had been gaining popularity recently due to sleepless nights, thanked them.

"Thank you, brother."

He filled a small shot glass halfway and emptied it with a swift turn of his face, following the Korean etiquette.

"Then please take care of us so we can have a good time."

"Yes, thank you."

When Yi Geon handed the waiter a 10,000 won tip, he couldn't help but bow his head without maintaining his expression.

'What's with these customers? Their pants are from Mariette Observer and their T-shirts are Armani, but their faces look plain. Are they from Orenjin? Why are they here if they're not the boss or at a rock cafe?'

The customers, each holding the latest Motorola and Ohsung Electronics mobile phones, were the most generous tippers recently.

They were obviously from wealthy families.

Yi Geon recalled his first life while looking at the bottles of alcohol in front of him.

"Ah, it's been a long time since I drank."

In his first life, the first time he drank alcohol was in his first year of middle school when he secretly drank his father's hidden deodeok liquor and almost broke his leg.

Compared to that, his second life had been relatively well-behaved. Surely his karma wouldn't be reduced just because he drank in high school.

'God? Hello?'

No response.

He couldn't figure out his karma, so he decided to have a drink.

Ah, good.

His first drink in his second life.

Wow!

Something Special.

He thought it was just cheap alcohol, but surprisingly, it was well-balanced.

It was a decent blended whiskey that could sell well even in 2030.

Why did it disappear?

The 90s had many new experiences, and this decent alcohol was one of them.

But these guys were already downing drinks.

"Hey, don't drink and drive a motorcycle. Give me all your keys. I'll call a taxi."

"Fine, I'm not a kid. Let's go dance instead."

Sang-du, Yi Geon, and their friends headed to the stage.

Despite being 1993, the sound and stage conditions were not bad.

Looking at the stage compared to the tightly packed tables, it was like Sangam World Cup Stadium.

It was wide and nice, completely in Sangam Stadium mode, like the hip zone on the second floor of Ares in Gangnam.

The difference from the club system in 2030 was that the dance stage was limited to the area near the DJ box, and there were no shiny stages with pole dance poles around the tables, only corridors.

Thus, the tables and stage were completely separated, creating a genuine club space for dancing rather than just a place to show off and pick up girls.

Right in front of the stage was the DJ booth.

A DJ with a bandana on his head mixed tracks on a raw, analog turntable.

By 2030, they would use launchpads and sliders instead.

Back then, of course, the music sources were digital FLAC files.

Now, the sound was raw analog, with a slight hint of noise.

Although the sound had aged significantly compared to lossless FLAC, it still had its charm.

The rhythm felt even more luxurious each time the needle scraped the LP.

Such a novel sensation for the ears, as the needle truly touched the analog LP.

The Newtro trend that emerged in the mid-2020s meshed with this sound, making it irresistible.

Most music was either mundane EDM, hip-hop, or dominated by melodic one-hit wonders.

Truth be told, the clubs of 2030 were stuck in a 20-year EDM clone mode.

Listening to such music made both the ears and body feel dry.

So, girls who just wanted to dance gravitated towards endless hip-hop zones.

But what about the club vibe in 1993?

Would it truly satisfy my refined ears?

Wow~

Mixing with raw LPs instead of digital DJ booths and synced Logic Pro tracks, was this the sensation?

My entire body felt recharged with refreshing ions, like it was drenched in a wet mist.

Yes, this was proper analog. This was the irreplaceable pleasure of listening to LPs.

My ears were indulging in the analog domain, which digital could never replicate.

The music sent thrilling sensations coursing through my body.

If the die-hard clubbers of 2030 were transported to 1993, they would be flying around like manic patients.

The DJ pumped up the atmosphere with his commentary.

"Now, let's get to the next exciting track.

Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Are you ready?"

"Yes~!"

"Let's get started. Next up is a fun song. Are you ready? Cheol-gu and Mi-yeon's 'Why.' Let's go."

Kooong~ Swoosh~

The sound effect signaling the start of the remix.

Following that, the first remix beat, a mix of samples and music, emerged.

Ba-rat-ba~

A refreshing and lively 90s-style city pop disco rhythm.

Everyone in the crowd lifted their hands, riding the upward rhythm.

Each person moved to show off that they were the life of the party in this area.

Rather than just looking at their phones and barely moving in a cramped club space, everyone had unique and enjoyable vibes.

After the raw LP track exploration and scratching, the main remix melody continued.

[Why did you~]

"Say Yeah!"

"Yeah!"

The crowd, in their own unique ways, followed the DJ's lead.

With clear verses that didn't tangle and hit the ears sharply, and the sweet female vocal melody that followed, the body naturally moved to the beat.

Accustomed only to EDM, the atmosphere of 1993’s Korean dance music was a delightful change of pace.

It was an entirely unfamiliar setting.

But, strangely enough, the analog LP vibe has the right groove, and it feels great.

[Why on earth ~.]

"You did it. Say Yeah!"

"Yeah!"

Then, the remix rapper's beat continues.

A DJ, with a cool voice layered over the music, takes charge.

It has a 1993 DJ vibe.

Creating an atmosphere with Korean pop music rather than EDM.

Wow, it feels great.

Yeah, this is the 1993 vibe.

Oh my.

Wow~ Raw turntable classic LP remix.

Wow~ Even the sound of the needle scratching the LP, I can feel the tingling sensation in my body.

No wonder the streets are overflowing with excited people. I can understand it physically.

The stage is flanked by expensive bass woofers, a vibrant club or rather a rock café with excellent sound.

Dolby sound is one thing they take very seriously and put their full effort into.

The Ares Club in Gangnam in 2030 can't keep up.

On top of that, a perfect mix of Euro pop singers and funky-style rap.

Is this the paradise of clubbers?

Yeah! 1993! It was great!

That's why everyone here is so excited.

There are people doing the Korean diamond step, similar to the shuffle dance that was popular until the 2030s.

Some people are offbeat, like balloon dolls, but no one cares.

Just dancing excitedly and laughing without a care.

Everyone is not paying attention to the person next to them, and if you do, you're a loser.

I'm so cool. My own world view.

Just enjoy yourself and don't worry about others.

That's the timeless momentum of clubs spanning from 1993 to 2030.

If you're self-conscious, you're a loser.

Dances are diverse; even a 30-something office worker in a necktie dancing awkwardly is not bothered by anyone.

If this were the Gangnam club model guest zone in 2030, where only handsome men and beautiful women are allowed, it'd be a different class.

But here, the atmosphere is cool, and no one cares about such things.

Yi Geon gets into the chaotic night atmosphere, and slightly moves his shoulders to dance.

Sang-du, Sang-il, and Jong-pal dominate the stage with their experienced dance moves.

Min-seok, having learned from somewhere, reveals his presence with an awkward rabbit dance.

Trying his best to dance the moves he practiced from watching AFN U.S. Forces Korea TV.

Min-seok looks quite awkward.

Seeing him, a girl in a miniskirt dancing next to him laughs brightly.

Then, her gaze scans his friends.

The male quality inspection mode.

Such a direct gaze is more prominent in 1993.

But why?

Why is Geon involved in this?

It's so unexpected.

"I think I have a good vibe with those queen bees over there."

But why is everyone so clingy on stage in 1993?

It's not even a VIP guest table with young moths.

Aren't they afraid of false accusations of sexual assault?

What's the unspoken approach route?

Should I just try talking to them?

In the clubs of 2030, women take the initiative to approach men, except in VVIP zones.

Approaching foreign women was a prevalent trend at the time.

Club owners also tended to prefer foreign women as MCs over Koreans.

In 2030, foreign women occupied 30% of the bustling streets of Seoul.

Especially on weekends, almost half of the crowd in the Hongdae area were foreign women, and the clubs in Gangnam were approaching 40%.

However, in 1993, such a phenomenon would seem unlikely, as it was an era when men and women had a different worldview.

As Yi Geon hesitated, unsure of the atmosphere in 1993, an unexpected miniskirt-wearing woman let out a hearty laugh.

When their eyes met, the answer became clear.

"Hey, Sang-il, I think they're interested in us over there."

"Really? Then try to charm them."

"Can I?"

Yi Geon, unfamiliar with the rules of 1993, asked Sang-il.

"Phew~ You're really timid, boss. Just watch me."

Sang-il let out a deep sigh and confidently walked over to the women, whispering something in one of their ears.

The woman burst into laughter and then wrapped her arm around Sang-il's.

'What.. what is this?'

Yi Geon, who had come from the year 2030, couldn't understand the situation at all.

Doing that in the wrong way could lead to severe consequences in his time.

What's with this 1993 worldview?

Having lived in a society where everyone was overly cautious, carefully calculating and measuring every word and gesture, the straightforward approach felt strange.

It was like being stuck in a congested single-lane road, only to suddenly find oneself on an 8-lane highway with no speed limit.

1993 was fantastic.

The Mad Max-like freedom was exhilarating!

"Geon, these ladies say they like us. Let's have fun together."

"Really? Uh... By any chance, is this a setup... No, it's 1993. Let's have fun together."

Yi Geon and his group began dancing in a circle with the women, following the customs of the 1993 clubs rather than the close, touchy-feely style of the 2030 clubs.

The fashionably dressed miniskirt-wearing women were a group of three, and they all danced quite well.

"Wow, you ladies are excellent at the diamond step dance."

"Ah."