The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut - Chapter 36

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Gate Burst Open on My Debut Day (36)
The trait I selected with my trait selection right was none other than ‘Master-Level Dexterity’.
As an Idol, ‘Steel Mental Fortitude’ or ‘Keen Eye for Detail’ might have seemed more useful, but what I needed right now was Master-Level Dexterity.
[Master-Level Dexterity
Grade: C
Description: You can skillfully perform any activity that involves using your hands.]
This was because makeup fell under the category of ‘hand-based activities’ in the status window description.
‘The result was a complete success.’
After Yoo Sung’s PR video was released, public opinion flipped a complete 180 degrees.
[Wait, what? That special makeup thing was actually stage makeup?]
[When did Kim Chowol even learn how to do this?]
[But honestly, this is the best-looking Yoo Sung I’ve ever seen… if he performs on stage with this makeup, it’s going to be huge]
Yoo Sung’s fans, who had been gleefully criticizing Kim Chowol alongside Han Theo’s fanbase, completely reversed their stance.
This was because Yoo Sung’s PR video surpassed 100,000 views in just a single day.
Compared to Han Theo’s mere 30,000 views, it was a staggering difference.
The short, effortless-to-watch 30-second format played a major role in driving up the view count.
[“Something extraordinary is happening on an ordinary Idol Survival Audition Program.”]
As I scrolled through YouTube monitoring, I discovered a certain shorts video through the algorithm.
[“A trainee applies makeup to a fellow trainee. People are amazed by the skillful hand movements that rival a professional makeup artist. But the finished makeup was truly shocking.”]
It was a mass-produced shorts video spliced together from my PR video and Yoo Sung’s PR video.
[“The trainee’s fans expressed their frustration with the awkwardly applied makeup that was almost painful to watch. But when the trainee who received the makeup turned on the lighting, the situation changed once again.”]
The scene of Yoo Sung turning on the lights appeared.
Since I already knew everything about it, I quickly checked the comments.
[What? That twist was insane]
[Who is this guy? He’s incredibly handsome]
[Is this that EX-Grade K-POP Idol thing? The program Jang Hyuk-soo is doing?]
[Seriously, how did I not know about something this entertaining? I’m watching it right now]
[So what are those trainees’ names?]
[The one doing makeup – Kim Chowol, the one receiving makeup – Yoo Sung]
When I checked the shorts’ view count, it had already soared well past 200,000.
‘The rate at which the views are climbing is terrifying.’
Until now, no matter how much buzz something generated, it would only be mentioned briefly on certain SNS and Community Sites.
The Idol Survival Audition Program had become something only dedicated viewers watched.
But once it caught the YouTube algorithm, the scale of public attention and interest was on a completely different level.
‘My PR video’s view count isn’t bad either.’
While it didn’t match Yoo Sung’s 100,000, considering the video was over 5 minutes long, 60,000 views was more than respectable.
The fact that it surpassed 30,000 meant that even ordinary people with no interest in the broadcast had watched this video.
[Came here after watching that mass-produced shorts. Are you really an Idol trainee? Your makeup skills are incredible]
[I’m a student studying makeup and I feel the wall ㅠㅠ This is a real talent]
[Looking at how meticulous the basic skincare is… I guess you need to be this thorough to be an Idol]
[Seriously, I did basic skincare and makeup yesterday, and it literally didn’t break down until evening—it stayed so dewy the whole time. I’m obsessed.]
Scanning through the comments, I could confirm that not just my fans or regular viewers of the broadcast had watched the video—ordinary people had discovered it too.
It seemed the algorithm had favored not only Yoo Sung’s video but mine as well.
Since the video had only been uploaded recently, the view count would climb higher. Though probably not to the level of Yoo Sung’s video.
‘Wait… if things go like this…’
Could I actually clear the Hidden Quest?
“….”
But contrary to my hopes, no familiar notification chimed, and no translucent status window appeared.
“Right…. Well, it’s not urgent anyway.”
It might not even exist. After all, a Hidden Quest is something you don’t even know exists or not.
I shoved my phone into my pocket and slung my bag over my shoulder.
A short break had been granted to coincide with the airing of episodes 3 and 4.
Once this break ended, I’d be confined to the Filming Set and Dormitory again for a while, so I needed to rest properly without wasting time.
‘I feel bad toward Okada, but there’s no helping it.’
I felt a bit guilty about firmly declining Okada’s suggestion to watch episodes 3 and 4 together, but I’d decided to rest well during this break.
As I headed toward the Main Street to catch a taxi, I spotted someone standing nearby, anxiously staring at their phone.
“Huh, what? Yoo Sung?”
The person who had been distressing themselves while running their hands through their hair suddenly looked up.
It was indeed Yoo Sung.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well….”
“Is something troubling you?”
Yoo Sung clamped his mouth shut at my question.
But judging by his rapidly darting eyes and trembling lower lip, he seemed to be in quite a difficult situation.
“Tell me. I might be able to help.”
Yoo Sung was the type who absolutely hated owing favors to others.
Not out of consideration or altruism—he simply disliked the feeling of being indebted.
Usually, people like that can barely ask for help unless it’s from someone they’re truly close to and trust.
But I was someone who had achieved 100% trust with Yoo Sung.
“Sigh, it’s just….”
Yoo Sung exhaled heavily and began explaining the situation.
“I have nowhere to go.”
“What?”
“…I have nowhere to stay during the break.”
“How did that happen?”
There had been breaks before, and each time Yoo Sung had managed to return home without issue.
What could suddenly prevent him from going home?
“My family home is in the Provinces, so I usually stayed at my older brother’s place in Seoul….”
“Usually stayed?”
“My brother moved out.”
“What?”
I hadn’t even known Yoo Sung had an older brother.
And his brother… left home? If he’s older than Yoo Sung, he’d be in his early-to-mid twenties at least.
“How old is your brother that he just left home?”
“Twenty-five… Sigh, it’s complicated. He’s a civil servant originally. He’s just… eccentric.”
“Eccentric?”
“Yeah. Embarrassingly so…”
Just talking about his brother seemed to make Yoo Sung queasy—his hand flew to his mouth as if he might be sick.
“I got my phone back today and checked my messages. He said he’d left home and vacated his room… told me to figure things out on my own.”
Yoo Sung hesitantly showed me the text his brother had sent.
[Little brother. I’m setting out to chase the dream I’ve carried in my heart all this time. Adios. Let’s meet again if the chance comes up later.
By the way. I needed money, so I’ve vacated the room we were living in. You need to take care of your own path. If you’re thinking of quitting the Idol Industry and joining me, you’re welcome.]
What… is this?
Seeing my bewildered expression, Yoo Sung quickly turned off his phone screen and shoved it into his pocket.
“Anyway, I need to find somewhere to stay during this break, but I’m hesitant about motels because of security issues. Business hotels are a bit… financially burdensome.”
I stared at Yoo Sung’s troubled face for a moment, then blurted out without thinking.
“Want to come to my place?”
“What?”
“It’s an apartment and I live alone. If you’ve got nowhere else to go, come stay.”
“Hey, even so, that’s…”
“What’s the problem? Just come. I’ll buy you a meal or two, that’s all.”
Yoo Sung hesitated for a moment, glancing back and forth between me and the empty air, then let out a deep sigh before answering.
“Then… I’ll impose on you for just a few days.”
“Do as you like.”
I shrugged casually, brushing it off as nothing.
“Oh, but… can I ask you one thing I’m curious about?”
“What is it?”
“What’s this ‘dream you’ve carried in your heart all this time’ that your brother mentioned?”
Yoo Sung, who had been answering curtly, froze.
I’d only asked out of casual curiosity, but what kind of dream was it that made him react like this?
“If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to…”
“…rer.”
“Rer?”
What profession ends in “rer”?
Painter, writer, cartoonist, translator…
As various professions flashed through my mind, Yoo Sung, who had been hesitating, finally sighed in resignation and continued.
“Adventure… rer.”
“Adventure… what?”
“He wants to be an adventurer…”
I pressed my lips firmly shut.
A few minutes ago, I’d dismissed it without much thought—how eccentric could someone really be?—and now that casual attitude of mine felt painfully naive.
“Hey….”
“What.”
“Hang in there.”
“….”
At my words, Yoo Sung pressed his lips firmly shut.
In any case, at least he was alive—wasn’t that enough?
* * *
I offered Yoo Sung the guest room.
It was technically a guest room, but before my parents passed away, it had been the master bedroom.
Yoo Sung seemed slightly taken aback by how much larger it was than my own room as the homeowner, but he said nothing about it.
‘He’s not asking anything.’
It would be natural to wonder what circumstances led a twenty-year-old man to live alone in such a large house, but Yoo Sung seemed indifferent—whether out of lack of interest or consideration for me, I couldn’t tell.
“What should we eat while watching the broadcast? How about chicken? Chicken.”
“Sure.”
I ordered chicken and set out the dishes on the living room table.
Once everything was ready and I settled onto the sofa, my phone chimed as if on cue.
“Oh, it’s Hiro.”
Okada had sent a photo of herself making a V-sign in front of a small TV, apparently ready to watch the broadcast.
[Okada: All set.]
I chuckled and snapped a photo of the prepared chicken with the TV screen clearly visible, then sent it back.
[I’m all set too]
[Okada: ?]
[Okada: There’s someone next to you, hyung.]
Ah.
I glanced at the two small plates placed in front of the chicken and realized my mistake.
[It’s Sung-i]
[Sung-i had something come up, so she’s staying at our place during this break]
[Okada: What]
[Okada: This is a betrayal.]
[Okada: (crying cat emoji)]
I had nothing to say, so I just laughed.
[Sorry]
[Let’s definitely watch together next time]
Okada: T_T
Okada had mentioned that her home base was in Japan, so she rented her own place separately.
‘Next time I should just suggest we watch together.’
I left one final apology message for Okada and focused on the broadcast.
‘I wonder how everyone will react when they find out Yoo Sung and I are in the same Guild.’
My fans and Yoo Sung’s fans had grown somewhat distant from each other because of what happened during the PR video shoot.
In the end, it became a win-win for both Yoo Sung and me, but there was nothing I could do about Yoo Sung’s fans tearing into my fans like hawks before his PR video was released.
‘I wonder how Jang Hyuk-soo edited the footage of me and Yoo Sung.’
I was genuinely curious about that.
I let out a quiet chuckle and popped a piece of piping-hot chicken into my mouth.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————