The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut - Chapter 111

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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 (111)
The Day Lab CEO and team leaders who had dropped that bombshell on us filed out of the conference room.
My members and I were left alone in the conference room with only the camera for filming.
“Self-produced content….”
The members fell into serious contemplation.
They’d been gradually pushing self-produced content since we were EX-grade K-POP Idols—was all of this buildup for this moment?
“Let’s just try it.”
I adjusted the camera angle as I spoke.
The camera installed in the conference room was for self-produced content.
They were going to film us growing as self-produced idols and turn it into content, apparently.
Regardless, that wasn’t the important thing right now.
“They told us to do it, so what choice do we have? Let’s try first, and if it doesn’t work out, we can ask for help then.”
I looked around at my members as I spoke.
“Right.”
Yoo Sung answered first.
The other members nodded with serious expressions.
“Let’s start by listening to the songs.”
At least the company wasn’t completely without conscience.
Before leaving the conference room, the team leaders had given us a USB containing ten demo tracks.
We had to choose one title track and five B-sides from here.
‘If we don’t like any of them, we can make our own.’
The image of the CEO’s grinning face flashed through my mind, and my insides churned with frustration.
‘Does he think songs just materialize out of thin air?’
Right now, our team only had one member capable of composing.
I glanced at Seo Ijae.
To be honest, calling Seo Ijae a member capable of composing was a bit of a stretch.
‘He might be able to handle arrangements, but….’
I shook my head.
What mattered now wasn’t Seo Ijae—it was checking out the demo tracks.
“Ah, before we listen to the songs, let’s each think about what concept would work best.”
The company wanted us to become producers.
Decide on a concept, compose, arrange, write lyrics….
If we became the captain and navigator of the ship called Guild, they’d be the helmsman and engineer.
Captain and navigator—that’s what they called it, anyway.
I knew how much responsibility came with power and freedom.
The company had only one request.
To maintain conceptual unity.
Guild had consistently stuck with a hunter concept since we were EX-grade K-POP Idols.
The CEO asked us to be careful not to stray too far from that concept.
‘Easier said than done.’
I swallowed the sigh threatening to burst from my chest.
Our Guild’s concept was unique—perhaps too unique, and that was the problem.
Isn’t something unique better than something common?
That’s what someone says when they don’t understand.
The more distinctive a concept is, the harder it becomes to generate diverse variations from it.
And no matter how unique a concept may be, after repeating it once or twice, people tire of it quickly.
“Playing track one.”
For now, I decided to set aside my concerns about the concept.
I opened my laptop and clicked on the first demo track.
“….”
We listened to all ten demo tracks in succession without saying a word.
The moment the tenth demo track ended.
I slowly exhaled the breath I’d been holding.
“Not bad at all.”
“Yeah.”
“I think they’re pretty good too.”
Honestly, I’d expected them to throw together some hastily gathered tracks.
“But the vibe is completely different for each one.”
There was barely any overlap in genre or atmosphere among the tracks.
It felt like they’d prepared everything just in case, thinking “we’re not sure what you’ll like…”
It seemed they’d simply gathered whatever caught their ear and compiled all the decent tracks.
“Deciding on a concept might be a bit challenging.”
The other members nodded heavily at my words.
“Let’s think about the concept slowly. For now, let’s just pick the title track. Which song does everyone like the most?”
“I’ll go with four.”
“Me too, four.”
Jung Yoo-yeol and Okada answered first.
“I’ll take nine.”
“Same.”
“Nine is my choice as well.”
Next came the answers from Yoo Sung, Han Theo, and Kang Hae-soo.
I turned to Seo Ijae, who had been keeping his mouth firmly shut.
“What about you?”
“I’m going with… nine. What about you, Kim Chowol?”
“I prefer four.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, the choices had narrowed down to two.
Four and nine.
What was slightly amusing was that the two tracks had completely different atmospheres.
Track four: bright and cheerful synths with crisp guitar riffs layered over a light beat.
Track nine: in contrast, a heavy bass and trap beat with sharp synths added on top.
“It’s a shame. Both are so good.”
Okada said, her shoulders drooping slightly.
Everyone agreed in silence.
But we had to choose one. There could only be one title track.
“Thinking about our group’s concept, number nine is the right choice.”
“I agree.
Jung Yoo-yeol, who had advocated for number four, spoke up.
Okada, who had also chosen number four, nodded in agreement.
“So the title track is….”
That was when it happened.
A translucent status window suddenly appeared before my eyes.
[A new Main Quest has been unlocked.]
[Check Main Quest.]
A new Main Quest…?
[Main Quest: Nationwide Success
Success Reward: Gate Occurrence Postponed. (730 days)
Failure Penalty: Gate Occurrence.]
I narrowed my eyes.
[D-513 until Gate Occurrence]
The D-DAY counter that appeared after clearing the first Main Quest—a successful debut.
I’d wondered if seeing the D-DAY would prompt another quest.
But nationwide success? That’s far too vague.
‘It would be nice if there were clear criteria for judging success.’
I furrowed my brow, lost in thought.
Then it happened.
As if on cue, a new status window appeared before me.
[A Clear Road Map is provided to help you complete the Main Quest smoothly.]
[Check Clear Road Map.]
A Clear Road Map?
[Main Quest: Nationwide Success Clear Road Map
Enter the Top 10 of the music charts. (D-90)
Claim first place on a music broadcast. (D-120)
Win a Rookie Award. (D-150)
(Unlocked after achieving objective 3.)
You can earn rewards each time you achieve an objective.]
I blinked slowly.
‘Wow, this feature existed?’
But my amazement was short-lived, replaced by a sense of injustice.
‘I wish they’d given me this option during the last Main Quest too.’
Still, better late than never. I should think positively about this.
I steadied myself with a deep breath.
The moment I closed the Clear Road Map and tried to refocus on the meeting.
A new status window appeared again.
[The Clear Road Map has detected a risk that could hinder goal achievement.]
[Check the risk.]
It even tells me about risks?
If I have the Clear Road Map alone, wouldn’t I not need future foresight anymore?
I suppressed my excitement and checked the risks the Clear Road Map had discovered.
[Risk #1. ◾◾◾◾’s Debut (Risk Severity 2.5/5)
Risk #2. ◾◾◾’s Comeback (Risk Severity 3/5)
Hmm….
I stared intently at the pixelated sections, thinking.
‘So it doesn’t reveal everything after all.’
But just knowing how many risks there were and how dangerous they were felt like more than enough.
I organized the newly acquired information from the non-pixelated portions.
First, there’s a rookie idol group debuting around the same time as us.
The risk severity is 2.5 out of 5. Not high, but not low either.
I’ll need to keep monitoring and stay vigilant about newly debuting rookie idols.
And there’s also an idol group making a comeback around the same time.
I have no information about this group at all.
They could be a top-tier idol that sweeps the charts whenever they make a comeback, or they could be an idol that’s had mediocre results so far but is climbing up starting with this comeback.
‘I’ll check on the idols making comebacks too, but it’s so inefficient, and I don’t think worrying about it will change anything.’
How could I defeat these two groups that posed a threat to us and achieve the Clear Road Map’s goal?
It was while I was deep in thought.
“Kim Chowol?”
Seo Ijae called out to me with a worried expression.
“Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about something. What were we talking about?”
“We were choosing the title track. You need to pick between number 4 and number 9.”
“Oh, right. Hmm… I do like number 4, but thinking about the concept, number 9 seems….”
I couldn’t finish my sentence again.
My body felt weightless as my vision flipped upside down.
Future foresight had activated.
‘We will now announce this week’s Star Stage number one!’
Star Stage.
It was a music broadcast run on cable television.
All the idols who appeared on the music broadcast were crowded together on the stage.
Fortunately, our Guild was standing at the very front.
It meant we were a candidate for first place.
A male idol with an unfamiliar face stood a little distance away from us.
Another candidate for first place.
‘And now, the long-awaited first place goes to….’
The idol serving as MC for Star Stage glanced at the cue card and continued speaking.
‘…Congratulations! ◾◾◾◾!’
Confetti burst into the air, and the audience erupted in cheers.
I understood then.
That group was our first real threat.
A rookie idol group debuting around the same time as us.
‘Wait. We’re losing to a rookie idol group?’
Now that I thought about it, something felt off.
We currently had more buzz and recognition than any other rookie idol group out there.
We lost to them? How was that even possible?
‘Please share your thoughts!’
The MC handed over the trophy and microphone.
‘Honestly, we didn’t think we could win first place….’
The voice carried laughter, but it trembled slightly at the end.
‘To all our fans who’ve always believed in us, and to our members who stood by our side through the hardships….’
One of the members beside them sniffled and bowed their head.
Someone in the audience burst into tears.
I focused my attention.
I needed to understand how this rookie idol group had managed to surpass us.
‘…And finally, I want to thank everyone at LMH. Thank you so much for believing in us and running this entire journey with us until the end.’
My eyes snapped open.
LMH…?
In that instant, Yoo Sung—the former LMH trainee—flashed through my mind.
And the reason why Yoo Sung, who lacked nothing in dance, vocals, or visuals, never debuted.
‘He’s our uncle, Lee Myung-ho.’
‘Uncle and the manager said you were originally supposed to be the center of the group being launched.’
‘So I said I’d do it instead.’
I stared at the center of ◾◾◾◾, who was preparing for the encore stage.
It was you.
The parachute hire who stole Yoo Sung’s position.

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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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