Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 30

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 30.

“Team Four Season.”

Do Hee-young smiled brightly and gave us a light round of applause.

“Congratulations. You’re in first place. What stood out most about Team Four Season was how all four members displayed their charm evenly. Beyond that, you demonstrated excellent teamwork by compensating for each other’s shortcomings. If you continue to show this kind of mutual respect going forward, I’m confident you’ll achieve great results.”

After offering us her praise, Do Hee-young turned her attention to Team Love U.

“Team Love U. The disappointing result you achieved this time wasn’t because of a lack of talent or charm. Rather, the four of you didn’t create synergy together—instead, you produced a negative effect.”

Do Hee-young made eye contact with each of the four members individually.

“Your strategy was lacking. Rather than relying on one person or entrusting everything to them, you should have combined your strength to highlight each member’s charm. Yielding alone isn’t the greatest virtue. Sometimes, you need to step forward for your teammates. That’s true teamwork.”

Do Hee-young flipped to the next cue card.

“Team Four Season will receive a benefit in the next mission. Team Love U, please show us a better performance next time.”

At the word “benefit,” our four minds finally snapped back to reality.
Only then did it truly sink in.
Only then could we each let out strange exclamations of joy.

“Hehehehe.”
“I…! I…! I’m fifth…! Fifth place…!”
“I climbed five ranks! Me too!”
“Everyone worked so hard.”

We embraced each other.
It felt as though we’d been fully rewarded for those ten grueling days.

“Furthermore.”

At that moment, Do Hee-young wore a senior’s knowing smile.

“I will now announce the MVP of the second mission as selected by the judges.”

Oh.

“Before we proceed, I’m announcing the benefits for first place in the on-site voting and the MVP award.”

At Do Hee-young’s gesture, the screen on the large display spun and came to a stop.

‘Online Voting Benefit: 50,000 Votes’

“That’s insane.”

Gasps erupted from those around us.
Fifty thousand votes—there was no way this wouldn’t affect the rankings.
I could see Kim Geum’s face brighten noticeably.

“Now, let me announce this mission’s MVP. The MVP for this mission is….”

Do Hee-young paused for effect.

“Yun Chung.”
“…!”

Me?

“Congratulations. You’ve been selected as the second MVP.”

Cheers erupted as my team pulled me into an embrace.
With that sound, our team embraced me.

“Wow, that’s amazing!”

Didn’t she dislike me?
Wasn’t it something you disliked?

I heard that Yun Chung, as the oldest member of the team, helped out in all positions. Although she was in the lyricist position, she demonstrated excellent all-around skills, so she was selected as this mission’s MVP.

A smile finally broke through.
Right—I’d composed, choreographed alongside everyone, and racked my brain over the concept. I deserved this much.
Yeah, we composed it, choreographed it together, and came up with the concept by racking our brains—we deserve at least this much recognition.

“Congratulations, Yun Chung. But this isn’t over yet.”

That was when Do Hee-young dampened the celebration with her words.
She was right.
The main event was still ahead of us.

***

“I’m exhausted.”

By the time we finished announcing the live voting rankings, the clock had ticked past midnight, forcing production to halt.
More than half the girls here were minors, after all.

So we left, burning with curiosity about the final results.

“According to rumors, the top vote-getter received over 300,000 votes.”

Yeon Ju-hong said this while munching on grape-flavored gummies.
Why do you always have something in your mouth whenever I see you?

“Insane.”

At Kim Geum’s crude remark, I instinctively glanced around.
Hoping no fans’ ears were within earshot.

“Watch your mouth—”
“Oh, come on. It’s nothing serious.”

Honestly, this girl.
I tugged at Kim Geum’s ear.

“Just give up. That’s how she is.”

Ryu Bora had long since surrendered to the inevitable.

“It’s definitely 300,000. I heard the writers talking about it too.”
“And that’s not even counting bonus points—just pure votes.”
“Right.”

Seo Baek-young chimed in on Yeon Ju-hong’s words.

“But there’s no limit on how many times each person can vote, right?”
“You can vote for up to twelve trainees every day. However, only one vote per trainee per day.”
“The voting period was… two weeks?”
“Yes, yes.”
“So at least twenty thousand people voted for first place.”
“That’s insane.”

Twenty thousand votes.
Considering these were trainees who hadn’t even debuted yet, it was truly a staggering number.

“Wow, how does it feel to receive that many votes?”
“It feels good.”
“….”

Kim Geum and Yeon Ju-hong were still growling at each other.
It seemed Yeon Ju-hong still harbored some lingering resentment toward Kim Geum.
The trainees left work in small clusters.
In particular, our team and Team Bubble Gum moved together like one unified group as we headed out.

“Where did Team Love U go?”
“No idea. After Kim Ryeo-yu stormed off, they just scattered in all directions.”
“Yeah, I guess it makes sense. Having the three lowest-ranked members on the same team would definitely kill the mood.”

It was Lee Ju-seon who said that.

“How does it feel climbing five spots?”
“…Hmm.”

Kim Geum pressed down on Lee Ju-seon’s crown while asking.
Lee Ju-seon turned her head away, embarrassed.

“You saved us from a sinking ship, unnie.”
“…Goodness.”

Yeon Ju-hong chuckled and grinned.

“Still, I’m glad everyone received satisfying rankings.”
“I’m not just satisfied—I could bow a thousand times to the Colorists…”
“Ugh.”

I glanced over at Team Bubble Gum.
Seo Baek-young was managing her expression well, befitting the eldest, but she looked pleased.
Of course she would be—consecutive debut-eligible rankings.
What bothered me was, predictably, Ryu Bora.
She’d climbed one rank from last time, landing at fourth place.
It wasn’t a low ranking by any measure, yet she didn’t look happy at all.
Her eyes were identical to before the live voting announcement.
Spiritless, passionless, indifferent eyes.
She didn’t seem like a bad person, so why did she always wear that expression of finding everything tedious?
I recalled Ryu Bora, who always left the Practice Room late.
Ryu Bora, who worked so hard despite seeming reluctant about debuting.
I couldn’t understand it.

“Should we grab a celebration meal or something? Can’t we hit up the Convenience Store? I’m craving cheese tteokbokki.”

Yeon Ju-hong asked with sparkling eyes.

“What celebration? We’re going straight home to collapse and sleep.”
“Your face will swell tomorrow.”

Kim Geum and I rejected immediately.

“No, you unnie have to buy me short ribs.”
“Why should I buy them when Lee Ju-seon caused the trouble? Lee Ju-seon! You buy her the short ribs.”
“…Okay.”
“No, why are you taking that seriously, unnie?! You’re killing the mood?!”
“No, well….”

Lee Ju-seon fidgeted with her fingers.

“It’s true everyone suffered because of me.”

She had a point.
I didn’t say anything in response.
Either way….

“All’s well that ends well. Why are you still moping around?”

I wholeheartedly agreed with Kim Geum’s words.

“That’s right! Let’s do our cross! Yeon Ju-hong!”

Yeon Ju-hong raised her arm diagonally.

“Kim Geum!”

And Kim Geum linked her arm through hers, raising it as well,

“L-Lee Ju-seon!”

Even the Lee Ju-seon I’d counted on joined in.

“…Do we really have to?”

I couldn’t keep up with the teenagers’ energy and lowered my head.

“You really do!”
“…Yun Chung.”

Damn it.

“Team Four Season cross!”

Ugh.
The four of us giggled and kicked at each other in the dead of night.
In the end, we could only head home after buying Yeon Ju-hong cheese tteokbokki, sikhye, and grape jelly.

***

“Thank you for your patience.”

The same set as yesterday.
We stood before Do Hee-young once more.
Behind Do Hee-young, five chairs came into view.
Each chair bore a large number.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
The first-place chair was unusually grand, adorned with elaborate decorations.
…So only those ranked for debut rights could sit in these chairs.
The rest of us trainees would have to stand and look up at them.
It was a cruel system.

“To all our trainees participating in this journey to become Colors’ newest colors.”

The twelve trainees seemed calmer than yesterday, perhaps because they’d already shed their initial nervousness once.
Kim Geum, Yeon Ju-hong, Lee Ju-seon, and I stood in a line together.
It was clear that the other trainees had also grouped themselves by team.
Though Team Love U’s atmosphere didn’t look particularly good.

“We will now begin the first ranking announcement.”

Do Hee-young explained the voting method and how the tallies were calculated.
Just as Yeon Ju-hong had explained yesterday, voting had continued for two weeks.
Each person could cast one vote daily to up to twelve different people.
Of course, voting for only one trainee was also possible.
However, you couldn’t cast more than one vote per day to the same trainee.

“The total votes cast over two weeks are….”

2,130,108 votes.

“Two million, one hundred thirty thousand, one hundred and eight votes.”

As the screen changed, Do Hee-young spoke.

Two million votes.
At such an astronomical number, everyone’s jaws fell slack.

“The fifty-thousand-vote benefit from first place in the live voting and the MVP award will be tallied last. First, I will announce the rankings before these benefits are added. I’ll begin with eleventh place.”

11th Place
Park Ha-eun 61,234 votes

“Trainee Park Ha-eun, you’ve placed 11th. You’ve received a total of 61,234 votes.”

Park Ha-eun lowered her head deeply, as if she’d already sensed the lower ranking.
Without any special interview remarks, the next ranking was announced immediately.
Our Team Four Season squeezed each other’s hands tightly.
When we came here today, we’d promised to embrace each other unconditionally, no matter what ranking any of us received.
No consolation, no congratulations.

10th Place
Lee Gyeong-a 90,213 votes
9th Place
Shin Yu-hyeon 127,523 votes
8th Place
Lee Ju-seon 134,565 votes

When Lee Ju-seon’s name was called, we all embraced her tightly.
Lee Ju-seon wiped away tears with a bittersweet expression on her face.
After all, since her first on-site voting ranking had been 12th place, she seemed satisfied.

7th Place
Jo Hee-on 158,796 votes
6th Place
Yeon Ju-hong 183,452 votes

Yeon Ju-hong leaped to her feet the moment her name was called.
She looked genuinely delighted.
I thought she might burst into tears again, but her eyes merely glistened with moisture.
She seemed to have grown accustomed to these ranking announcements, having attended so many.
…It was clear she had been quietly worried the entire time that she might place twelfth.
Of course, having watched Yeon Ju-hong throughout this journey, I had never believed twelfth was possible.
I mentally reviewed the rankings we had seen so far.
There were overlaps with the on-site voting from the first mission.
Within the non-debut group, the rankings shifted slightly, but the roster of non-debut candidates remained consistent.
That meant the debut candidates were solidly established.
However, this ranking only reflected the votes cast when the first mission had aired.
The next ranking announcement would come after both the second and third missions had been broadcast.
Once the second mission aired, things would shift somewhat.

“From now on, you’re officially a debut candidate.”

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