The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut - Chapter 103

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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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The Gate Burst Open on My Debut Day (103)
We stopped by the shop for hair and makeup, then headed to the Filming Set.
Upon arriving at the Filming Set, we first greeted the Program production crew.
“Hello, I’m Kim Chowol from Guild.”
“I’m Okada Hiro.”
“I’m Kang Hae-soo. Thank you for having us today.”
I bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
The Main PD who received our greeting looked us over with a dissatisfied gaze, scanning from head to toe.
Then he turned to our Manager and jerked his chin upward as he spoke.
“Didn’t you hear?”
“Pardon?”
“I clearly told you to come in comfortable clothes.”
This was the first I’d heard of such instructions.
I stared blankly at the Manager.
The flustered Manager hastily began searching through the chat history he’d exchanged with the Staff Member.
“I apologize. I misunderstood—I thought ‘comfortable clothes’ meant to wear whatever we wanted. I’m truly sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. No need to apologize.”
The Main PD let out a snort of laughter. It was an unpleasant laugh.
“It’s just… a bit of a laughing matter, that’s all.”
“A laughing matter?”
The Manager seemed not to grasp the Main PD’s meaning, but I understood perfectly.
A laughing matter—or more precisely, a mockery.
Unlike other guests who came dressed casually, here we were as rookie Idols, not only failing to follow the dress code but arriving with professional hair and makeup done.
How pathetic we must look.
‘The Staff Member might have deliberately been vague with their words.’
Intentionally creating this exact situation.
I glanced at the Main PD, who was wearing that unpleasant smile.
Without hesitation, I stripped off the shirt I was wearing and tossed it aside.
The Manager’s eyes went wide with shock.
“Kim… Kim Chowol…?”
Fortunately, I’d worn a short-sleeved t-shirt underneath, or I would have ended up filming in my underwear.
I gave Okada and Kang Hae-soo a silent look.
Okada removed the shirt she’d been wearing under her knit sweater, and Kang Hae-soo took off his jacket and rolled up his long sleeves.
“Is this better?”
To anyone watching, it looked like we’d come overdressed and were hastily fixing it.
But it was still an improvement from before.
“Ah… yes, much better.”
The Main PD smacked his lips and nodded.
Just as we were nearly finished greeting the production crew and other Staff Members on set,
the other guests began arriving one by one.
“Hello there~!”
“It’s been so long! Everyone’s been doing well, right?”
They were entertainers serving as the main MCs for Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
We exchanged glances and approached the two main MCs without a word.
“Hello, sunbae. We’re rookie male idols from Guild appearing on the show today. I’m Kim Chowol.”
“Ah, Kim Chowol! I know, I know. I watched the final episode of IKE Dol too. Could you give me an autograph later? My daughter’s a huge fan.”
“Of course. It’s truly an honor.”
Fortunately, unlike the Main PD, the MC’s reaction was favorable.
When one MC acted familiar, the other MC added something meaningful.
“You know what? I voted for you.”
“Pardon?”
I was taken aback.
Even though the male idol industry primarily targets women in their twenties and thirties, there were certainly other fans out there.
But I never expected to encounter one so close.
“Would you like me to sign something for you…?”
“Haha! No, no. It’s kind of funny to say this after voting for you, but I’m not actually a fan of yours.”
“I’m sorry, what do you mean…?”
“You know Myung-ho?”
Myung-ho…?
The name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t immediately place who it was.
“How long has it been since filming ended? You’re already forgetting your teacher’s name?”
“Teacher…? Oh, the vocal teacher.”
Only then did I remember who the MC was referring to.
Park Myung-ho—the Vocal Trainer who appeared as a judge on EX-Grade K-POP Idol.
“I met Myung-ho on a variety show about five years ago….”
The MC suddenly began reminiscing about his first meeting with the Vocal Trainer.
His storytelling was so engaging that I found myself drawn in despite having no particular interest.
“How long are you planning to keep these kids around? If you keep this up, people will call us old-fashioned!”
The other MC’s interruption finally brought the seemingly endless story to an end.
“Anyway, Myung-ho and I are really close! I haven’t been following the show regularly, but I knew he was appearing as a judge on that program.”
After going in circles, we finally got to the main point.
“No news is good news, so I thought he was doing well with filming… Was it two days before the final episode aired? He suddenly called me.”
What did the Vocal Trainer calling have to do with voting for me?
As I was thinking that—
Something completely unexpected came out of the MC’s mouth.
“He asked if I had time that day, could I vote for a trainee named Kim Chowol.”
“I’m sorry…?”
So… the Vocal Trainer had contacted an acquaintance during the final live broadcast asking them to vote for me?
If it were another judge, maybe, but I couldn’t believe that the Vocal Trainer—who didn’t particularly like me—would make such a request.
“So I asked if that wasn’t favoritism, and whether it was even appropriate for a judge to ask someone to vote for a specific trainee. He said he couldn’t help it and apologized. Well, it wasn’t that difficult a favor, so I voted anyway.”
Kim Chowol shrugged as if he didn’t know the details either.
“Ask Myung-ho about it later. Why he was making those kinds of requests to people around him.”
“Yes… Thank you for voting for us.”
I bowed my head respectfully in gratitude.
The two Main PDs, who had been making idle chatter, left their seats first to prepare for filming.
“Let’s do our best with today’s shoot.”
I said this to Okada and Kang Hae-soo.
Both members nodded with determined expressions.
Filming began.
* * *
“Great to see you again! Come at us with the resolve to risk it all! Necessity is the Mother of Invention is back to set Saturday Afternoon ablaze!”
The MC handling the opening energized the atmosphere.
“Today we’ve come with a special project. Before we introduce the special guest everyone’s been curious about! Let me explain what this special project is all about!”
The MC began the explanation.
Normally, Necessity is the Mother of Invention is a program where five fixed cast members challenge missions that demand absurd physical feats.
Cast members who fail must perform penalties like wearing ridiculous makeup or drinking anchovy sauce.
Conversely, successful cast members receive rewards like department store gift certificates.
But this special project is different.
“Today it’s not individual matches but team battles! We have four teams—an entertainment industry team, an athlete team, an actor team, and an idol team. The team that accumulates the most points will claim victory and take home generous prizes!”
I glanced at the members of the other teams.
The athlete team consisted of a retired professional baseball player now active as an entertainer, while the actor team was composed entirely of performers famous for their action sequences.
The entertainment industry team were the regular cast members of Necessity is the Mother of Invention, so all familiar faces.
I could roughly guess what kind of narrative they had in mind when casting us.
The conspicuously weakest link among formidable competitors.
We’d give our all but struggle against the absurd difficulty.
After thrashing about, we’d fall apart in ridiculous fashion and provide laughs for the cast and viewers.
That wasn’t necessarily a bad outcome, but…
I pulled myself from my thoughts and turned my gaze toward the MC.
“So shall we introduce the special guests one by one? Starting with the athlete team!”
“Hello, I’m Yoon Hyun-seok.”
“I’m Kwak Ju-chan, junior to Hyun-seok.”
“I’m Park Min-soo, junior to Ju-chan! We’re all seniors and juniors from Korea High School!”
“What? You three coordinated your introductions?”
The MC burst into laughter at their sharp, athletic-style greeting.
Though they’d cleaned up their image while working as entertainers, they’d apparently had fierce temperaments during their active years.
No matter how much time had passed, having made their living through athletics, they wouldn’t be easy opponents.
Next came the actor team.
“Hello, I’m actor Park Ho-young.”
“I’m actor Seo Hyun-soo.”
“I’m actor Song Seung-min. Looking forward to working with you all today.”
The Athlete Team Members were on the younger side.
At most, mid-thirties?
Not that we had any room to talk, with two teenagers on our team, but still.
They were actors who frequently appeared in action films and dramas, renowned for performing their own stunts without relying on stunt doubles.
However, unfamiliar with variety shows, their words and movements carried an unmistakable awkwardness.
Finally, it was our Idol Industry team’s turn.
“Hello, I’m Kim Chowol from Guild! This is my first variety show appearance. I’d be grateful for your guidance and advice, seniors!”
“I-I’m Okada Hiro from Guild! I’ll do my best.”
“I’m Kang Hae-soo. Thank you for having us today.”
The MC and other guests gazed at us with warm, affectionate eyes.
“As expected of rookies, there’s something so fresh and charming about them!”
“This is the best! How old are you all?”
“I’m twenty this year, and Hiro and Hae-soo are eighteen.”
As I gestured toward Okada Hiro and Kang Hae-soo, the MC and guests widened their eyes in surprise.
As expected of entertainment professionals—their reactions were impeccable.
“Twenty is one thing, but eighteen? Are you still in high school? Your resident registration number would start with 3 in the second half, right?”
“Um… doesn’t everyone’s resident registration number start with 3 in the second half?”
“Wow, incredible! The MZ generation’s audacity is insane! No respect for elders whatsoever!”
I chimed in at just the right moment with a quip, and the MC burst into delighted laughter.
Under the MC’s lead, the guests were exchanging lively banter when—
“Wait… Kang Hae-soo?”
One of the Athlete Team Members pointed at Kang Hae-soo with a look of sudden recognition.
“I remember now! Haemun High School’s Kang Hae-soo! That’s you, right? Man, you had such a great arm—why’d you quit baseball?”
This was… a scenario I hadn’t anticipated.

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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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