A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 252

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Regression Manual for an Idol Who Lost Their Original Intentions Chapter 252

“Hey, isn’t this the real poison look?”

“Hyung, at this point, aren’t you just enjoying this?”

“Hey, youngest. Do you think I’d really wear this for fun? It’s all for fan service, even though I hate wearing it, I force myself to, okay?”

“For someone who claimed to hate wearing it, you were pretty active in giving opinions.”

“I told you it’s fan service. This brat doesn’t believe what people say.”

I grumbled while roughly messing up Ryu Jaehee’s hair as he looked at me with narrowed eyes.

Well, it was fun thinking about what kind of fashion I’d present to Yongcheol hyung and the other producers today for a fresh surprise.

After I made it to the second preliminary round, Yongcheol hyung cut off contact temporarily, saying I shouldn’t cause any noise. So I had no choice but to give him a surprise like this.

Today’s fashion was an open-collar shirt loose enough around the neck to slightly show my chest, paired with slacks.

Half-slicked hair and flashy bold earrings were today’s points.

“Jaehee, how is it? Does it catch attention? I worked out my upper body like crazy at the gym for today.”

“See? You are enjoying this.”

When I asked while fluttering my shirt, Ryu Jaehee shook his head.

“But hyung, aren’t you nervous? From the third preliminary round, you’ll be competing head-to-head with other rappers.”

“I don’t trust my skills.”

At my response, Ryu Jaehee looked at me not with a surprised expression, but like he’d heard some novel bullshit. What kind of image of me exists in that guy’s head?

Since I roughly knew what kind of person Ryu Jaehee thought I was, I added more to correct his misunderstanding.

“I trust the magnitude of my effort.”

My rap skills weren’t innate talent but skills achieved through bone-grinding effort and stubbornness.

I was just decent among idol rappers, just an ordinary guy among underground rappers, but how desperately had I lived to be evaluated as having skills that could stand shoulder to shoulder with top overground rappers?

Of course, about 50% of that stubbornness was occupied by my fault of falling for manipulation and cutting ties with my hyungs.

“So I don’t think I’ll lose.”

When I finished speaking with a grin, Ryu Jaehee’s expression became complicated.

“Hyung was a hard worker… I thought hyung was a genius. Anyway, do well. So I can think about the next outfit too.”

“Hey, you worry about everything. Anyway, I’m going.”

I said goodbye to Ryu Jaehee who had followed me to the salon and headed to the studio where the third preliminary filming was taking place.

The total number of contestants who made it to the third preliminary round was 54.

Seeing all the names contained on one page of the screen, I realized how drastically the number of participants had decreased from 7,000 through the first and second preliminary rounds.

“The ranking you’re seeing now is your second preliminary evaluation ranking.”

At the MC’s words, complaints and exclamations poured out from all directions.

Rap names were listed from 1st to 54th place. I clasped my hands and tilted my chin while looking at my name written at the very top, in 1st place.

My goodness, Hyeongjin made it too. I let out a small exclamation upon discovering the rap name ‘G-TE’ ranked at 22nd place.

“Fucking brutal. I’ve never even received high school grade rankings like this.”

The rapper sitting next to me frowned deeply and muttered. I glanced at the name tag on his shirt and looked back at the screen to see his rap name ranked at 47th place.

According to the idol junior I met in the first preliminary round, there were quite a few idol rappers besides us, but only two idol rappers made it to the third preliminary round: me and Revolution’s BT.

“This season, lower-ranked rappers will be given nomination priority and turn selection rights.”

Not only the higher-ranked rappers who were in a position to be nominated, but also the lower-ranked rappers who held nomination priority didn’t look particularly happy either.

It was a rule that only the spectators enjoyed.

“54th place, Yupi. Please nominate your one-on-one battle opponent.”

Yupi, who received nomination priority first and was handed the microphone, scanned the ranking table and opened his mouth.

“I will…”

Everyone’s gaze focused on Yupi as they sat in their chairs.

“Nominate 1st place, Yoon Eden.”

At my name coming from Yupi’s mouth, I straightened my body that had been leaning back in the chair.

Half of me had secretly wanted to face Yupi, who had received the most attention in the preliminaries, and half had hoped he would avoid nominating me, so I felt bittersweet when I was actually nominated.

“Good. Both of you, please move to the stage immediately.”

I headed to the stage where the one-on-one match would take place, with the interested gazes of the other rappers behind me.

“Oh, what? 1st place and 54th place? Why is the match like this?”

“Can this even be called gambling?”

“It might actually be a decent strategy, if he does well here, he can reverse everything in an instant.”

“He’ll definitely get attention. Yupi used his head well.”

I could hear the producers, who had apparently received word first and were sitting two per team on the sofa, chatting back and forth.

“Ah, Eden.”

As soon as I stood side by side with Yupi on stage, Yongcheol hyung spoke to me.

“Do you have any thoughts about buttoning up your clothes before we start? It’s a bit burdensome for us watching.”

“It’s fashion that somehow makes us avoid looking.”

Jiwon hyung also chimed in.

“I’d like to do that too if our producers find it burdensome, but this shirt only has this one button…”

I smiled awkwardly and fluttered the collar part.

“Is today a sexy concept?”

At Wonbaek’s question, I laughed and corrected him.

“Rather than sexy, it’s poison.”

There’s no reason I need to appeal my sexy side to you hyungs.

“Yupi, why did you choose Eden? Did you not see Eden’s stage?”

At the question from Gongchul, one of the producers, Yupi shook his head briefly.

“I saw it. I was on the same day as the second preliminary round, but in a later order.”

He paused briefly, then pulled up the corners of his mouth in a confident smile and continued.

“I chose him because I’m confident I can win.”

At his blatant provocation, I also smirked and brought the microphone to my lips.

“What should I do? I’m not confident about losing either.”

For a moment, Yupi’s and my gazes clashed in mid-air.

“Ooh, it’s already getting fierce.”

Watching us, Wonbaek pretended to rub his arms.

“Then Yupi has the right to choose the order. Yupi, will you go first or second?”

“I’ll choose to go second.”

Going second had the advantage of being remembered longer, but it also had the disadvantage of losing impact if the first performer was overwhelming.

However, knowing Yupi’s real skills, I roughly understood why Yupi chose to go second.

Then I should overwhelmingly dominate my opponent so that the impact of any reversal would be killed.

The beat started with Moltic’s starting signal. It was an unfamiliar beat, but overwhelming the beat was my specialty.

After my turn ended, Yupi, who had been riding the groove, picked up the microphone. When he reached the eighth bar of his verse, shock and interest crossed the producers’ faces.

I was used to this level of skill, but those who judged the second preliminary round would be seeing Yupi’s true skills for the first time.

As soon as the beat stopped, the producers poured out exclamations.

“What? What’s with Yupi? He’s completely different from the second preliminary round?”

“Ah, he was hiding his skills? That’s amazing.”

As I expected, Yupi’s surprising skills received attention. However, unlike the third preliminary round before my regression, the producers’ interest wasn’t focused solely on Yupi.

It seemed that making a strong impact by going first had an effect.

“How can we choose just one? This is driving me crazy, really.”

Groans erupted from here and there. I could almost see the PD clapping with emotion.

“We’ll announce the results.”

I stood with my hands behind my back and exhaled. Even for me, when it went like this, the results made me a bit nervous.

“It’s a tie.”

A tie came out here?

Since I hadn’t even expected a tie, I barely managed to close my mouth that was about to gape open. Then that means the second match would have to go with pure freestyle.

Yupi also seemed not to have known such a result would come, as he bit his lips tightly while keeping his hands neatly together.

“What, if it’s a tie, do we have to go to re-evaluation?”

“But it’s really too hard to choose. Doesn’t DTB have a super pass?”

“I actually like it. I get to see another stage.”

“Then let’s just switch the order this time.”

That meant this time it would be Yupi’s first attack, my second. We didn’t resume immediately but took a short break to catch our breath before filming started again.

As soon as the slate clapped, Moltic grabbed the microphone and shouted.

“DJ, drop the beat! Keep it real!”

A familiar beat rang out.

The beat I had made when I helped Jiwon hyung with beat-making and just told hyung to finish it and upload it under his name.

As soon as Yupi’s first attack ended, I split the rhythm and entered leisurely with a smile.

Where would you find someone who can’t match the rhythm to a beat they made themselves?

The result was already clear.

* * *

After finishing the second match, I waited with a humble attitude for the producers’ choice as they discussed the results with their team partners again.

“The result of this 1-on-1 match, Yoon Eden versus Yupi is…!”

I looked ahead with my lips pressed tightly together to appear tense.

“Congratulations, Yupi. You pass.”

I blinked at the name that came from AJA’s mouth.

Huh? I lost?

Me?

Yupi, who had been in the lowest tier with the least expectations, had targeted me, the top-tier super rookie, and showed a reversal of skill, displaying an excellent stage worthy of Season 4’s pre-regression winner, but it wasn’t to the extent of overwhelming me.

Of course, there might be individual differences in evaluation based on personal taste, but objectively speaking, this wasn’t a match I should have lost.

I wanted to raise an objection immediately, but since Dubnet could easily edit me as someone who couldn’t accept the judging results, I held back.

“Actually, both of you did so well in the second match that it was really difficult to choose. But I think Yupi showed a more intense image, that’s how I felt.”

Damn, should I have worn a crop top or something to be more intense too.

“Both of you did so well that I feel sorry to evaluate you, so any result leaves me with a lot of regret.”

BQ9 holding the microphone spoke calmly.

“Ah, this isn’t a rapper who should be eliminated here. Ah, this match is just… really…”

Moltic seemed quite regretful as he looked at me and kept trailing off his words.

Still, as a sign of good competition, I hugged Yupi and lightly bumped shoulders.

But inside, I was devastated. Could this possibly be that compulsive force, that thing?

As I came down from the stage, the production crew conducted an elimination interview.

“What do you think was the reason for your elimination?”

Hmm, a perfect question for malicious editing. I scratched my cheek and replied.

“Cleavage…?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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