The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut - Chapter 34

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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 (34)
“Yoo Sung’s one minute…?”
The MC tilted his head, seemingly not grasping what I was saying.
I hastily added an explanation.
“I’d like Yoo Sung to appear in my PR video. Just one minute.”
“Ah, ah….”
The MC finally understood what I meant and nodded.
The MC seemed to ponder for a moment, then glanced at Jang Hyuk-soo, who was observing the situation from behind the trainees.
I understood.
This wasn’t a decision the MC could make unilaterally.
‘Honestly, it’s a gamble.’
I was asking not just for any one minute, but specifically for Yoo Sung’s one minute.
Everyone in the Auditorium—not just Jang Hyuk-soo—likely knew I was making an unreasonable demand to escape the situation.
And Jang Hyuk-soo had neither the need nor the reason to indulge my stubbornness.
‘Actually, there might be a reason.’
I tried to imagine what Jang Hyuk-soo was thinking right now.
Two conflicting selves were probably locked in fierce battle within him.
‘In over fifteen years of broadcasting, I’ve never seen a trainee make such ridiculous demands. There’s nothing to think about. Just tell them to stop spouting nonsense.’
‘But honestly, isn’t the situation unfair to Kim Chowol? He’s not some trainee with just a couple of balls—he’s the one with the most. If the trainee with the most balls steals someone else’s ball as a special reward, what will the viewers think?’
‘When did you start worrying about every little trainee’s circumstances? If viewer reactions are bad, that’s just how it goes. Don’t act like a rookie!’
‘But… it feels like such a waste to abandon Kim Chowol like this.’
After our silent exchange, the MC smiled and spoke.
“Very well.”
Done.
I clenched my fist inside.
“Kim Chowol has used the Sub Quest special reward, Trait Thief, to steal one minute from Yoo Sung!”
The moment the MC finished speaking, that tiresome fanfare sound effect blared from the speakers again.
―Pam-parra-bam! Pam-pam-pam pam-parra-bam!
The trainees, belatedly grasping the situation, began murmuring.
Voices erupted from various corners: “What? He can do that?”, “Wow, look at him escape. His evasion is insane.”
But I stared at the MC with an unabashed expression, as if nothing was wrong.
“Now we’ll begin planning the PR videos. Please fill out the proposal sheets we’re distributing and write what kind of PR video you’ll produce.”
A staff member distributed one proposal sheet to each trainee.
[PR Video Production Proposal
Name
Overview
Video Length
Budget
Main Content (Write in 15-second intervals)
Required Materials]
I was skimming through the proposal I’d already memorized so thoroughly that I could recite it backwards when I felt someone approaching from behind with heavy, deliberate strides.
Having waited for their arrival, I naturally turned my head and spoke to whoever was approaching.
“You’re here?”
The someone in question was none other than Yoo Sung.
The trainees who had been groaning over the proposal glanced at Yoo Sung and me, but I paid them no mind and slowly rose from my seat.
“Should we talk over there? There are too many people here.”
“….”
Yoo Sung, his brow furrowed, silently nodded in agreement.
I’d honestly expected him to grab me by the collar and demand what I was thinking, calling me insane.
Was he being mindful of the camera? Or was this the power of 100% trust?
Surprisingly, Yoo Sung followed me without resistance.
Yoo Sung and I settled into a corner of the Auditorium.
We were far enough from the other trainees and in a blind spot from the cameras, so we could talk freely.
“What exactly are you thinking?”
Ah… so he was just holding back because of the camera?
I sighed inwardly as I watched Yoo Sung glare at me as if he might tear me apart at any moment.
“Sung-i, it’s not like that….”
“Explain.”
“Huh?”
Yoo Sung clenched and unclenched his fists as if he were about to grab me by the collar.
“You need to explain so I can understand whether to help or not.”
But he seemed to calm down quickly, exhaling a deep breath before continuing.
“I need to know what scheme you’re cooking up this time… so I can decide whether to help or not.”
“Uh….”
What, what, what was he saying?
I was momentarily so flustered that I lost my words.
“Or are you really trying to screw me over?”
“No, no. Of course not. Sure, I’m doing this to survive… but it won’t hurt you at all.”
Yoo Sung nodded and stared at me with an expression that said ‘Now explain.’
No, no, no. Wait… isn’t this strange?
“…You’re not angry?”
“About what?”
“Well, I naturally expected you to be angry….”
It felt like just yesterday he’d grabbed me by the collar over forcing him to join the Guild.
“Why, do you want me to be angry?”
“No….”
“Am I the kind of person who’s always angry? Sure, I was annoyed… but I don’t not know you. You always have some kind of plan.”
“Well, um….”
Not exactly nothing.
I nodded with a bewildered expression.
‘The power of 100% trust is no joke.’
How could a person change so drastically in a complete reversal?
It’s a bit surprising, but it’s not a bad thing, so I suppose it doesn’t matter.
“First, tell me what rewards you received.”
“Two gold ones, one bronze. The gold ones are 1 minute and 15,000 won each. The bronze one is 15 seconds.”
“But since I brought one gold one… that means I have one 15,000 won and one 15 seconds.”
“Yeah.”
Yoo Sung seemed to trust me, but he appeared worried nonetheless, asking me with a slightly anxious expression.
“What are you going to do? I mean, what can you even do with this? Just 15,000 won and 15 seconds… combined with the 15 seconds you’re already getting, that’s only 30 seconds.”
“Hmm…”
“Hey, say something. If it seems impossible, you can just say it seems impossible.”
“No.”
After finishing my thoughts, I looked at Yoo Sung with a confident expression.
“It’s enough.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry. The money and time are both sufficient. Actually, shorter might even be better. Shorter videos go viral better than longer ones sometimes…”
I lightly patted Yoo Sung’s shoulder as he stared at me silently, his eyes asking for an explanation.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make you the star.”
Yoo Sung looked a bit uncertain, but thanks to the power of 100% trust, he soon nodded in agreement.
‘Yoo Sung is fine. The problem is… me.’
I stared blankly at the empty proposal document and swallowed a sigh.
‘I spoke confidently on purpose so he wouldn’t worry, but honestly, 1 minute is too short. I’m not a professional—I’m just an amateur too embarrassed to hand out business cards anywhere.’
I slowly rubbed my fingertips together, lost in thought.
‘Wait… didn’t I receive a trait selection right as a reward before?’
Belatedly remembering the Hidden Quest reward, I immediately checked my status window.
[You have cleared a Hidden Quest.]
[Hidden Quest: Be mentioned by people over 100,000 times.
*Includes nicknames and aliases.
*Online mentions on SNS, Community Sites, etc. are also counted.
Reward: 1 Trait Selection Right]
[Trait Selection Right
Description: You can select and obtain 1 out of 3 traits.]
I hadn’t planned to use it for a PR video, but this wasn’t a situation where I could afford to be picky.
‘Use trait selection right.’
As I used the trait selection right, three traits I could choose from appeared in a list, just like when I used the item selection right.
[Steel Mentality
Grade: B-
Description: You can maintain composure anytime, anywhere.]
[Keen Eye for Detail
Grade: C+
Description: You can quickly locate the camera’s position during filming.]
[Craftsmanship – Max Level
Grade: C
Description: You can skillfully perform any activity involving manual dexterity.]
After carefully reviewing all three traits, I clenched both fists and thought to myself.
‘There’s no such thing as a path with no escape, after all.’
Without hesitation, I selected one of the traits.
* * *
On a day just before episodes 3 and 4 aired.
A notice was posted on the EX-Grade K-POP Idol’s official SNS account announcing the upload of PR videos.
[Today’s the day the IKE Dol PR video drops, right?]
[MZ From 2 PM today!]
[But why are they uploading them in groups of 15 separately?]
[Probably because uploading all 100 at once is too much, so they’re splitting them up.]
[But doesn’t this create a fairness issue where some get uploaded earlier and others later?]
[There must be some criteria. They’ll probably reveal the details in a broadcast or behind-the-scenes later.]
The PR videos were uploaded in batches of 15, starting from rank 1 in the Dungeon Clear rankings, released six times total at one-hour intervals.
People continuously refreshed the EX-Grade K-POP Idol’s Official YouTube Channel, eagerly anticipating when their favorite trainee’s PR video would be released.
[It’s up!]
[What? Kim Chowol went up first?]
[Wow, but how long is Kim Chowol’s PR video? Do Survival Competition PR videos usually get this much screen time?]
Kim Chowol’s PR video was a total of 5 minutes and 15 seconds long.
The standard 15 seconds provided, plus three bonus segments of +1 minute, two of +30 seconds, and finally the 1 minute I’d taken from Yoo Sung.
Since Kang Hae-soo’s PR video, which was the second longest, came in under 3 minutes, Kim Chowol’s length was uniquely striking—whether for better or worse.
“No lol are you crazy for real? Alone for 5 minutes and it’s a mess. How does it even get like that?”
[Honestly, it’s a bit suspicious… Ahem, ahem!]
[Ah, Han Theo fans are here again to hate on Kim Chowol. Seriously, just leave.]
[It’s not hate, just stating facts? The second longest trainee is at 2 minutes 45 seconds, but Kim Chowol alone is over 5 minutes—isn’t that a bit problematic?]
[If it was really a problem, it wouldn’t have been uploaded in the first place. The fact that the PR video went up means Jang Hyuk-soo approved it anyway. How is that hate?]
The controversy over whether Kim Chowol’s PR video length was justified became a perfect opening for Han Theo fans who had been waiting for Kim Chowol to slip up.
Let’s watch the video first and then decide.
[What’s there to judge lol The video length alone is a scam]
I don’t even want to boost their view count;; If I were a different trainee, I honestly would’ve felt so unfair that I wouldn’t even be able to watch my own PR video.
Just as public opinion about Kim Chowol was deteriorating.
[?]
[??]
[Wait, everyone, just watch Kim Chowol’s PR video for a second]
[I said I don’t want to watch it, why are you like this]
[No, I’m not even a Kim Chowol fan, I was just curious, but…]
Comments from people who had quietly been watching Kim Chowol’s PR video began pouring in.
[Why is Yoo Sung in Kim Chowol’s PR video?]
[What? Yoo Sung?]
[What’s Yoo Sung doing in Kim Chowol’s PR video?]
Why is Yoo Sung in Kim Chowol’s PR video?
As people tilted their heads in confusion, someone watching Kim Chowol’s PR video left a comment.
[Uh… makeup?]

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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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