Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 80

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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 80.

The voting tally was complete, and the trainees ascended onto the Stage.
Each carrying different emotions, different hopes, and different expectations.
All except one—Kim Ryeo-yu.

Wait, where did Kim Ryeo-yu go?
She really ran away, didn’t she?
An unprecedented escape lol lol lol lol lol
Still, if there’s even basic courtesy… shouldn’t she at least show up at the end out of apology to the fans who voted for her?
Not only did she ruin the stage, she’s ruining the entire broadcast atmosphere lol lol. How are the kids supposed to debut and smile..?

Do Hee-young deliberately made no mention of Kim Ryeo-yu.
As if the trainee Kim Ryeo-yu had never existed from the start.
As if the entire broadcast was erasing the existence of Kim Ryeo-yu.
It was also a request from Hong President.
Since things had come to this, he wanted to make a statement that the remaining trainees would suffer as little damage as possible.

“First. I’ll announce the lower ranks, from 11th to 8th place.”

The idea to quickly finish announcing the lower rankings came from Oh PD’s mind.
The lower-ranked trainees were predictable anyway.
Let’s focus on the top ranks.
So the lower rankings announced first were as follows.

11th place. Shin Yu-hyeon
10th place. Bang Su-in
9th place. Park Ha-eun

“And….”

Do Hee-young’s words trailed off for a moment.
The display screen showed the faces of Yeon Ju-hong and Lee Gyeong-a split side by side.
In the previous ranking announcement, Yeon Ju-hong had been in 8th place.
Because of that fact, Yeon Ju-hong stood with a more tense expression than ever before.
Desperately hoping it wouldn’t be.
If it’s 8th place, what do I do?

“8th place. Lee Gyeong-a.”

Ah.
Yeon Ju-hong squeezed her eyes shut, while Lee Gyeong-a smiled.

“Though we couldn’t walk this path together this time, Lee Gyeong-a has proven that she possesses more than enough capability to fill the demanding and difficult role of main vocalist in any group. I would like to give her my applause. Your journey is far from over. Please move forward with renewed strength. Lee Gyeong-a, please come forward and give our fans a final greeting.”

Despite Do Hee-young’s warm words, a peculiar smile lingered at the corners of Lee Gyeong-a’s lips.
She had already endured far too much pain from MEN and Colors.
Still, she wanted to offer this final farewell.
To the fans who had chosen her.

“While doing Make a New Color, I truly encountered so many walls. The wall of innate talent. The wall of my own limitations. The wall of effort. And the wall of the world itself.”

Every word she spoke carried weight and substance.
All the trainees understood exactly what Lee Gyeong-a was saying.

“But! There’s something I realized through this journey. That even if just one person supports me and walks alongside me through this thorny path, I truly… wouldn’t want to give up. Though I was lacking, I offer my heartfelt gratitude to all the Colorists who have colored me in until now. And to my juniors who will now begin their new journey of debut… I want to say thank you.”

Lee Gyeong-a turned around and called out to the trainees.

“Though we won’t stand on the same stage, we’re all equal colleagues below it! Let’s cheer each other on and see each other again! And when we do, let’s drop the formalities and just talk!”

It was a hearty, characteristic final farewell from Lee Gyeong-a.
The heavy burden that had weighed on the trainees’ shoulders.
Her words lifted that weight.
Most of all, the one who found the greatest comfort in these words was…

“Unnie… sniff…”

Yeon Ju-hong.
The relief of not being 8th place.
Yet the guilt that came from feeling that relief.

“Stop crying. The world isn’t ending.”

Yeon Ju-hong couldn’t respond, only embracing Lee Gyeong-a as she wept openly.
Lee Gyeong-a patted her comfortingly, then walked to the 8th place position and stood.
Her expression, if anything, looked somewhat relieved.

“Next, I will announce the trainees ranked 3rd and 4th. These trainees have confirmed their debut. They will become the next generation of Colors’ New Colors, embarking on their journey as a new rainbow.”

I deliberately postponed the announcement for the trainees ranked 5th, 6th, and 7th—those with a fifty-fifty chance of debuting or not debuting.
I knew those three would captivate the viewers the most.

“First, the 4th-ranked trainee. I will announce them now. This trainee has received support from the Colorists since the first episode of Make a New Color, earning recognition for their outstanding visuals and stable skills. Additionally, their approach to missions—always solving them harmoniously with the other trainees—garnered tremendous response. This trainee is….”

It’s Ryu Bora.
It’s definitely Ryu Bora.
At this point, isn’t Do Hee-young basically spoiling it?

“Trainee Ryu Bora. Congratulations. You will join Colors as our next generation New Color. Please come forward and share your thoughts.”

Ryu Bora stepped forward with a composed expression.
Yet a subtle surge of emotion was evident across her face.

“I am deeply grateful to all the Colorists who have supported me. Starting as a child actress, reaching this stage feels like a miracle. Until now, I approached you through acting and dialogue, but from now on, I will reach you through song and performance on stage. With a heart forever grateful to the Colorists who granted me this miracle and to my fellow trainees, I will remain the unchanging Bora.”

No one found fault with her polished remarks.
Everyone had expected Ryu Bora to debut anyway.

“Next, I will announce the 3rd-ranked trainee. This trainee has received support from the Colorists through outstanding dance skills and unwavering vocal ability. This trainee, who has even been praised as the spiritual pillar of the other trainees, is….”

Is it Yun Chung?
Is it Yun Chung??
No, they mentioned dance skills first.

“Trainee Seo Baek-young. Congratulations.”

Ah.
Seo Baek-young, who had been unable to open her eyes until now, collapsed the moment her name was called.

“Ah….”

Despite needing to move forward, Seo Baek-young couldn’t get up.
It had been an overwhelmingly tense moment.
Throughout her trainee days, everyone had told her that she would be the one to debut.
She’d heard so many times that if she didn’t debut, then who on earth would.
But once the program actually began.
She wavered.
She was painfully aware that skill alone wasn’t enough to debut.
Skill, and then charisma on top of it.
Hearing those words from the Judges Panel had wounded her.
In moments when I questioned whether I lacked charisma, whether I truly had no talent as an entertainer—

“Trainee Seo Baek-young. Please come forward and share your thoughts.”

I received my answer.

Oh, Baekyoung is cryingㅠㅠㅠㅠ He really never criesㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Don’t cry ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
I thought she’d obviously debut but… everyone in the world knows except Seo Baek..

“Actually….”

Seo Baek-young spoke, barely steadying her breath.

“I really… I don’t even know how many times I thought about this moment, or how desperately I wished for it… I doubted myself so much… and even in those moments. Even then, I… received unconditional support… from the Colorists… I really didn’t think I could do it. I will never disappoint those who believed in me even then. I will become Seo Baek-young who never loses her original resolve. Really… I don’t think words of gratitude alone can fully express what’s in my heart.”

Seo Baek-young, who always spoke so smoothly it made others envious.
But this time, her words were filled with overwhelming emotion.
Seo Baek-young stepped down.
Do Hee-young’s voice continued once more.

“I will now announce the 2nd and 7th place trainees.”

One would debut, and one would not.

“First, the 7th place trainee. Personally, watching this trainee has given me so much inspiration. She was one of the trainees whose ranking fluctuated the most. This trainee showed us that no matter the circumstances, she always approached the stage with boldness and brightness. Though we won’t be walking the same path together this time, I’m confident that we will see her shining on stage in the future.”

Uh… isn’t this a bit of a scarlet flag..?ㅠㅠ
└It might not be. The ones with big rank changes aren’t the top two
Oh my god, it’s Ju-seon
The rank changes are Lee Ju-seon with over 200 votes, damn it
Cruel world, we’ll absolutely protect our Ju-seon
Is it scarlet ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ The bright one..
Ah my mental state is breaking, how do I

“Lee Ju-seon, trainee.”

Ah god, Ju-seon…
Joo Seon Ah ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

She was Team Ipansapan’s first eliminated trainee.
Because of that, she became everyone’s most tender wound.
All of Team Ipansapan’s trainees rushed toward Lee Ju-seon.
They didn’t offer words of comfort.
They simply held her tight.

“First, I want to express my gratitude. Honestly… I never thought I could receive this much love. I’ve always accepted love as something natural—from my family, from my friends. But the love I receive from the Colorists transcends anything I could have imagined. It’s a love so precious I can’t take it for granted.”

Lee Ju-seon didn’t cry.
Because she didn’t think this was the end.

“I’m grateful to the Colorists who allowed me to receive such love. I promise to show you greater love in return for what I’ve received. And I wanted to thank the other trainees—those who helped me receive this love, who taught me how precious such love truly is. Thank you!”

It wasn’t Lee Ju-seon who cried, but the other trainees.
It wasn’t sadness that she was eliminated.
They resonated so deeply with what Lee Ju-seon felt in her heart.
They felt anew on this stage how thrilling it is to be loved.
And because of that, they couldn’t abandon this stage.

“Now, I’ll announce the 2nd place trainee. The 2nd place trainee is.”

Wow but they’re announcing it so quickly lolol
Wow already 2nd place?
They’re doing it like this..

“Kim Geum. Trainee Kim Geum.”

As expected, Kim Geum is in second place again…
Of course Kim Geum would take second…
Kim Geum probably knew she’d end up in second place
At this point, just change Kim Geum’s name from “second place fixture” to “Silver”

“Colorists, everyone!”

Kim Geum shouted with the loudest voice she could muster.

“Thank youuuu!”

Hahahahaha
Hahaha

“I love you! I’m Kim Geum! Absolutely! Together with all our Colorists! For life! I promise to love you unconditionally! That you’ve given me such an incredible ranking of second place…! I’m so incredibly grateful!”

After her brief yet concise remarks, a lengthy acceptance speech continued on.
But at Do Hee-young’s signal indicating time was running short, Kim Geum quickly stepped back.
Only the announcements for first, fifth, and sixth place remained.

“Now, let me announce first place.”

Do Hee-young held up a cue card for the first time, standing with a rigid expression.

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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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