The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut - Chapter 24

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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 (24)
The performance had ended.
We waited for the results in the Studio Behind Stage.
On the small screen, I could see the MC guiding the audience through the voting process.
[“Please press ‘Help Call’ for the Guild you think performed better!”]
In EX-Grade K-POP Idol, voting was called a “Help Call.”
It meant requesting help from your favorite Awakened One—in other words, a trainee.
The better the performance, the more Help Calls you could receive, and the more Help Calls you accumulated, the higher a Hunter’s ranking climbed in the system.
I sat in the studio chair, quietly observing as the audience cast their votes.
‘Can we win?’
The odds were fifty-fifty.
Actually, we might be at a disadvantage.
The Hunt the Stage performance had aired on Music Day, and the higher-ranked trainees, including Han Theo, had accumulated quite a few fans.
If many of those fans had come to watch today, the Kim Chowol Guild had no chance of winning.
However, the program was still in its early stages, and audience applications had been accepted before the Hunt the Stage performance aired, so there was still a possibility.
‘The performance wasn’t bad, at least.’
I recalled the stage where we’d given everything.
We’d practiced meticulously, paying attention to every detail—the volume of our voices, the movement of our fingertips—so that our center, Yoo Sung, would shine.
Even within the same team, once you leave, you become competitors, and no trainee would go to such lengths to make a rival stand out.
It was only possible because Okada Hiro and Seo Ijae listened to me so well.
Ju Gilhyung seemed somewhat dissatisfied, but there was nothing a trainee who’d lost the center position could do.
‘I also used the Copycat trait effectively.’
I checked my status window.
[Copycat trait is currently active.]
[Designated Ally: Okada Hiro]
[When your ally uses an ability, you can copy their ability.]
Yoo Sung had become my ally, and I could copy his ability, but I chose not to.
‘If I rashly copied such heavenly-tier stats in this performance… I have no idea what might happen later.’
If I had copied Yoo Sung’s ability during this stage, I could have gained fleeting popularity.
But the Copycat trait could only copy abilities while the ally was actively using them.
If Yoo Sung and I ended up on different teams in the next performance and I couldn’t use the Copycat trait, the fans who’d come to like me based on my skills would be shocked by my noticeably diminished performance.
‘If it ended with just shock, I’d be lucky.’
There was nothing more terrifying than a fan who turned their back.
Just thinking about the flood of ridicule and malicious comments that would pour in made my skin crawl.
[“Now for the results!”]
The voting ended, and a suspenseful sound effect echoed through the space.
The small screen split in two, and two numbers appeared.
Then the numbers, starting from zero, began climbing rapidly.
Yoo Sung’s fist, standing beside me, trembled slightly.
[“The winner of the final Guild versus Guild match is…!”]
The rapidly climbing numbers finally came to a halt.
My guild members and I held our breath.
[287:313]
It was an incredibly narrow margin.
[“…Congratulations, Kim Chowol Guild!”]
We actually did it….
I’d thought it was possible, but actually winning felt strange.
I beat Han Theo with these pathetic stats?
“Phew….”
Yoo Sung, standing beside me, seemed to finally release the tension he’d been holding and slowly sank to the ground.
“Brother, we won! We actually won!”
Okada rushed toward me, while Seo Ijae remained transfixed on the small screen—whether from shock or overwhelming emotion, I couldn’t tell.
Ju Gilhyung was happy about winning, but his expression was complicated, as if he didn’t quite approve of Yoo Sung being the one who secured the victory.
“Yeah, we won.”
I broke into a wide smile.
I’d thought losing was inevitable… but winning truly felt wonderful.
* * *
After all the Guild Versus matches concluded, a brief—or perhaps lengthy—vacation began.
Yoo Sung and I gathered our belongings from the Dormitory and headed down to the first floor of the Dormitory Building.
“Chowol hyung!”
Upon arriving at the First Floor Lobby, Okada, carrying a large bag, greeted me with a radiant smile.
“Hiro? You haven’t left yet?”
“I was waiting for you, hyung!”
“For me? Why?”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Okada suddenly clamped her mouth shut.
I panicked, wondering if I’d made some mistake.
“Oh? Ijae hyung is here too? What are you doing here?”
Seo Ijae, who had been standing beside Okada as if he were barely there, suddenly interjected.
“Let… me come.”
“Pardon? I didn’t quite catch that. What did you just say?”
His voice had been too quiet to hear.
I asked kindly, but Seo Ijae sealed his lips shut.
‘What is this about?’
Behind me, Yoo Sung, who had been observing Okada and Seo Ijae with indifference, finally spoke up.
“Hey.”
“Huh?”
“You really lack awareness in strange situations.”
Yoo Sung thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled something out.
It was a mobile phone.
Upon spotting the phone Yoo Sung had produced, both Okada and Seo Ijae’s eyes lit up.
“Okada and Seo Ijae… if you have anything you want to say, don’t hold back. If you don’t speak up, how would I know? This guy has no sense for these things.”
“What do you mean?”
Why was Yoo Sung saying I lacked sense in these situations?
Feeling a bit wronged, I pouted slightly.
Yoo Sung let out an exasperated snort.
“Exchange phone numbers, obviously.”
“Phone… oh.”
Right, exchanging numbers. After a successful team match, we usually did that.
I fumbled to retrieve my phone from the staff member.
We exchanged phones and swapped contact information.
“I’ll create a group chat!”
“Do whatever you want.”
As I nodded, Okada immediately created the group chat.
[Okada: (cat greeting emoji)]
[Okada: Created the chat room.]
[Okada: Using a translator.]
Her speaking and listening had improved significantly, but reading and writing still needed work.
[Seo Ijae: Looking forward to working with you.]
Seo Ijae replied immediately.
Yoo Sung just confirmed the chat was created and pocketed his phone.
[Hiro, thanks. Hyung, I look forward to working with you too.]
I sent a brief reply and put my phone away.
“Anything else to discuss? Everyone did great work. Get plenty of rest, and we’ll see you next week…”
I was feeling a bit impatient.
I wanted to get home quickly, rest up, and then rent a practice room starting tomorrow.
That’s when someone descended from the upper floor and began striding purposefully toward us.
“Ju Gilhyung…”
Yoo Sung muttered through gritted teeth.
Ju Gilhyung stopped directly in front of us as we huddled together chatting.
His cold gaze swept across our faces.
Yoo Sung’s expression grew increasingly hostile.
“Sung.”
I grabbed Yoo Sung’s shoulder and pulled him back.
Then I gestured with my chin toward the other trainees passing through the lobby.
Yoo Sung clicked his tongue and stepped back.
“Hyung, want to join our group chat?”
“What?”
Ju Gilhyung’s mouth fell open in surprise at my words.
“Yeah, we just created a group chat.”
“Wow, you really have no sense for… never mind.”
Ju Gilhyung let out a hollow laugh and brushed past us.
Since I’d only offered out of courtesy, I didn’t press the matter further.
Okada hesitated, glancing between Yoo Sung and me before opening her mouth.
“Um… it seems like he doesn’t really want to come.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Yoo Sung twisted one corner of his mouth upward as he spoke.
I narrowed my eyes and quietly watched Ju Gilhyung’s receding figure.
“Well then, I’ll head out first.”
I said goodbye to Yoo Sung, Okada, and Seo Ijae, then stepped outside the building.
I quickened my pace.
I couldn’t afford to lose sight of Ju Gilhyung as he moved away.
* * *
Ju Gilhyung walked ahead with long strides, leaving the Kim Chowol Guild behind where they were exchanging contact information.
‘What’s so great about them, those damn bastards…’
Ju Gilhyung grumbled inwardly, gnawing at his lower lip.
This, that, and everything else—nothing pleased him.
―Zing.
His phone vibrated, and Ju Gilhyung irritably checked the notification.
At the familiar name, Ju Gilhyung froze.
[Lee Hyun-ho]
The message was from Lee Hyun-ho, who was diligently preparing for his debut at LMH.
Ju Gilhyung hesitated for a moment before checking the message from Lee Hyun-ho.
[Lee Hyun-ho: You done?]
Ju Gilhyung debated whether to reply, but fearing the backlash if he didn’t, he simply responded.
[Yeah.]
[Why?]
[But I’ve got plans right now, so I’m busy.]
[If you have something to say, hit me up later.]
Ju Gilhyung lied and dodged the conversation.
But Lee Hyun-ho didn’t seem to care whether Ju Gilhyung was busy or not.
[Lee Hyun-ho: The guys said you ended up on the same team as Sung, is that right?]
Damn it….
Ju Gilhyung muttered quietly after reading the message.
“They already snitched? Those traitors….”
The “guys” Lee Hyun-ho was referring to were the other LMH trainees, excluding Yoo Sung and Ju Gilhyung.
[Lee Hyun-ho: But I heard something interesting.]
[Lee Hyun-ho: Sung was the center, right?]
[Lee Hyun-ho: I naturally thought you’d be the one.]
Ju Gilhyung couldn’t easily send a reply.
What was he supposed to say?
The Judging Panel told me to change it, so what could I do?
But Lee Hyun-ho would think Ju Gilhyung was making excuses.
“Ugh, seriously….”
While Ju Gilhyung struggled to respond, the next message arrived from Lee Hyun-ho.
[Lee Hyun-ho: If you don’t keep your promise, I can’t help it either.]
[Lee Hyun-ho: You know that, right?]
Ju Gilhyung exhaled deeply and slowly typed out a message.
[Yeah.]
[Don’t worry.]
[Next time for sure.]
After sending the message, Ju Gilhyung waited for Lee Hyun-ho’s reply.
But before Lee Hyun-ho could respond.
A shadow fell across Ju Gilhyung’s phone.
“Next time for sure, what?”
“Gasp…!”
Startled, Ju Gilhyung whipped his head around toward the voice.
Someone was peering over his shoulder at his phone from right behind him.
“You, you, you are…!”
The person looking at the phone was none other than Kim Chowol.
Panicked, Ju Gilhyung immediately tried to pocket his phone.
But Kim Chowol was faster.
“Ugh…!”
“Tell me.”
Kim Chowol gripped Ju Gilhyung’s arm firmly while speaking.
Ju Gilhyung tried to wrench his arm free, but Kim Chowol’s strength was greater than expected.
With one hand, Kim Chowol held Ju Gilhyung’s arm, and with the other, he snatched the phone from Ju Gilhyung’s grasp.
“What, what is this! Give it back right now!”
Kim Chowol easily dodged Ju Gilhyung’s lunge and scrolled through the messages exchanged between Ju Gilhyung and Lee Hyun-ho.
After reading all the messages, Kim Chowol pointed to the last message Ju Gilhyung had sent.
“Next time for sure—what exactly are you planning to do?”
Kim Chowol, who would only laugh even when openly cursed at, now fixed Ju Gilhyung with an icy, piercing gaze.

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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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