The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut - Chapter 4

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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 (4)
“I’ll begin by evaluating your vocal stat.”
The vocal trainer gripping the microphone continued with a grave expression.
“Kim Chowol’s vocal stat is C-.”
As the vocal trainer finished speaking, my vocal stat appeared on the screen.
[Name: Kim Chowol
Age: 20]
[Basic Stats
Vocal: C-
Dance: ―
Appearance: ―
Charm: ―]
I received a stat one tier higher than my actual vocal stat of D+ shown in my stat window.
“Now I’ll evaluate your dance stat. Kim Chowol’s dance stat is D.”
My dance stat also received a rating one tier higher than my actual stat, just like my vocal evaluation.
‘C- and D. If they ranked me based on just these two stats… I’d probably land around 65th place?’
After finishing the vocal and dance evaluations, the judges huddled together and began discussing.
Appearance and charm stats were the most difficult categories for the judges to assess.
‘There’s no standard for this. No standard at all.’
Unless someone was extraordinarily handsome, appearance inevitably reflected personal preference.
The difference between B and D was negligible.
Depending on that day’s makeup and styling along with stage quality, stats often fluctuated by three tiers up or down.
“I’ll now evaluate your appearance stat. Kim Chowol’s appearance stat is A.”
Two tiers higher than my stat window’s B+?
I’d thought it would peak at around A- at best.
Though I’d received stat evaluations dozens of times, the A- I’d received in the previous round was my highest appearance stat ever.
‘That was when I performed well on stage.’
I’d delivered a flawless performance with an existing song.
Compared to the previous round, my vocal and dance stats had dropped about ten tiers, yet my appearance stat was rated even higher.
Something felt off.
As I’d noted earlier, appearance stats were heavily influenced by stage quality—in other words, by my other stats.
Unless someone was exceptionally handsome or ugly, appearance stats rose and fell with the other stats.
“Finally, I’ll evaluate your charm stat. Kim Chowol’s charm stat is….”
This time, Kim Junwoo took the microphone.
Though Kim Junwoo was the youngest among the judges, he possessed sharp insight and evaluated trainees’ abilities and talents with precision.
Kim Junwoo, who’d been staring at me intently, suddenly broke into a smile.
Against the smile attack of a professional idol with fifteen years of debut experience, I stiffened slightly.
“A+.”
What?
For a moment, I doubted my ears.
My charm stat was B when using the item, yet I received an A+ grade—four tiers higher.
“I will now announce Kim Chowol’s ranking. Kim Chowol’s ranking is… 19th place.”
“Thank you…!”
I bowed with a face full of emotion, then made my way to my seat.
In the first stat evaluation stage, I had placed 72nd.
The only things that changed were my charm stat and song selection, yet I climbed nearly fifty places.
‘No matter how difficult charm stats are to evaluate… does this even make sense?’
Because charm stat criteria were ambiguous, the judges’ subjectivity was more heavily reflected than in other categories.
I recalled Kim Junwoo’s evaluation of my performance.
Kim Junwoo said that while my singing and dancing were lacking, my stage presence was exceptionally captivating.
‘Could it be because my dancing and singing were so poor…?’
When you lack in too many areas, what you do well stands out all the more.
Regardless of the reason, what mattered was that I had placed 19th in the stat evaluation stage.
Seated, I mentally reviewed each trainee who would perform after me.
Only one trainee would receive a ranking higher than 19th.
‘If there are no surprises, my final ranking will be 20th place.’
I decided to relax and simply enjoy watching the remaining trainees’ performances.
“Next trainee, please come to the stage!”
The MC called out the next trainee in a bright, energetic voice.
The name of an entertainment company appeared on the large screen across from the Judge’s Seat.
[LMH Entertainment]
The judges and trainees began murmuring among themselves.
“LMH? LMH is coming out?”
“Why would trainees from one of the Big Three agencies be here? Aren’t there plenty of other places recruiting them?”
“I heard they recently confirmed their debut lineup and had many trainees leave… I guess these are those people.”
Five trainees took the stage.
The trainees from a Big Three agency looked different from the start—their styling was on another level.
Perfectly styled hair, bold makeup, and stage outfits tailored to their bodies.
They looked less like trainees and more like rookie male idols.
I scanned the faces of all five trainees.
They were all familiar faces.
“Wow, you’re all quite handsome. Should we expect great skills as well?”
The Dance Trainer spoke with sparkling eyes.
The five nervous trainees stiffened and answered with a sharp “Yes!”
Among the five trainees, I focused intently on one who stood out distinctly.
Long, lean limbs, a face as small as a fist, and sharp, delicate features.
‘Yoo Sung.’
Among these five, or even among the hundred trainees gathered here, he possessed one of the top three most striking faces and physiques.
Yoo Sung, who had been staring downward with a serious expression, suddenly lifted his head and looked toward me.
I met his blue-tinted eyes and thought to myself.
Through dozens of regressions, I had finally managed to define him in a single sentence.
‘A troublesome bastard.’
I flashed a smirk at Yoo Sung.
* * *
“Sung, would you like some water?”
“No.”
Yoo Sung curtly rejected the Youngest Trainee’s persistent offer, who kept pestering him from his side.
Another trainee dragged the Youngest Trainee away.
“If he’s thirsty, he’ll get water himself. Stop bothering him and come over here.”
“But….”
“Do you have no pride? The guy who wouldn’t even show up to practice because he couldn’t stand looking at our faces—what’s so great about him….”
The Youngest Trainee gazed at Yoo Sung with eyes full of reluctance, but Yoo Sung deliberately turned away, pretending not to notice.
‘I hear everything, you bastards.’
Huff.
Yoo Sung exhaled sharply, suppressing his irritation.
‘Why do I have to be in a place like this with these pathetic fools.’
Yoo Sung reflected on his own twisted life.
At sixteen, Yoo Sung had passed the LMH audition—one of the Big Three entertainment companies—beating out 500-to-1 competition.
Desperate to become an idol, Yoo Sung trained harder than anyone else and became an ace trainee who consistently ranked first in monthly evaluations.
Yoo Sung’s skills were exceptional, and his visuals were overwhelming.
Yoo Sung naturally assumed he would debut from LMH.
‘Damn it.’
The curse he’d barely suppressed kept threatening to spill from his lips.
“Hey, we need to head up now.”
A trainee snapped his fingers at Yoo Sung, who stood apart from the group.
‘Like I’m some dog being called.’
Yoo Sung swallowed his irritation and moved forward.
A trainee who had been glaring at Yoo Sung leaned in close to his ear and whispered softly.
“If you get in our way, we’ll kill you.”
Ha.
Yoo Sung stifled the hollow laugh that nearly escaped him.
Who’s getting in whose way?
The Youngest Trainee, who had been fidgeting beside him, approached Yoo Sung and whispered.
“Sung, don’t be too angry. I’m happy to be on stage with you.”
“Hey, you….”
Yoo Sung started to speak, frustrated, but closed his mouth instead.
‘Clueless fool. You know exactly what kind of people they are, so why do you keep cowering like that? It’s not like your skills are lacking.’
Sigh.
Yoo Sung let out a small sigh and turned his head sharply.
“Enough. Just get ready.”
“Yes!”
Yoo Sung and the trainees climbed onto the Stage.
I could see everyone murmuring in surprise.
It was the reaction I’d anticipated.
Most of the trainees here came from Small-to-Mid Entertainment Companies, after all.
But no matter how novel or astonishing it seemed, the moment we stepped onto the Stage, we all became competitors.
The trainees sitting across from us scrutinized the LMH trainees with calculating eyes.
Yoo Sung stood toward the back, avoiding attention, his gaze lowered.
That’s when I felt someone watching Yoo Sung intently.
‘What?’
Yoo Sung’s head snapped up, and he found himself staring into dark eyes fixed on him.
I couldn’t remember most other trainees’ performances, but I clearly remembered his Stage.
‘The guy who performed “Look at Me Now.”‘
After five years as a trainee, his dancing and singing were both terrible.
I couldn’t fathom how he’d managed to rank nineteenth.
‘What are you looking at?’
I shot him a glare with that exact meaning.
But he simply smiled at me.
I turned my gaze away and decided to focus on the Stage.
The Stage we’d prepared was “Burn Up” by Titan.
Titan—LMH’s representative third-generation boy group.
“Burn Up” was Titan’s second title track, and upon release, it had gained popularity only within the fanbase due to its enigmatic concept and demanding sound.
What seemed destined to remain only in fans’ memories, “Burn Up” achieved a viral resurgence at year-end performances through Titan’s inspired choreography and clean, refined arrangement.
“Ooh, ‘Burn Up.'”
“LMH certainly chose boldly.”
At the judges’ words, I couldn’t help but smirk.
‘Bold choice? More like a foolish one.’
When someone suggested “Burn Up” because we couldn’t afford to be underestimated despite our lacking skills, I’d abandoned all hope.
I focused on perfecting my assigned part rather than synchronizing with the other trainees.
After individual practice, we did coordinate our positions, but….
‘Whatever. It’s individual evaluation anyway, not a team assessment.’
I shook my head, recalling the trainees’ pitiful abilities.
As long as I perform well, that’s all that matters. Just me.
A subtle synth sound flowed through the speakers.
“Burn it all away.”
The Intro Trainee took center position.
The intro required natural facial expression and powerful vocals, but the trainee’s expressions felt awkward and his voice lacked force.
A intense EDM sound layered over the subtle synth.
The song’s atmosphere began to intensify.
“Burn it all away, everything. Burn Burn Burn.”
When the Youngest Trainee, who rapped with breathtaking skill, stepped into the center, the judges’ eyes gleamed with renewed interest.
He possessed the ability to handle the main rap, but took the sub-rap position due to the other trainees’ interference.
“Don’t you have the courage to set it all ablaze? Stop spouting nonsense.”
The pre-chorus just before the chorus.
Yoo Sung’s part.
Yoo Sung moved to center in sync with the choreography.
As the intense sound mellowed, Yoo Sung’s vocals shone brilliantly.
The judges’ expressions grew progressively brighter as they watched the Youngest Trainee and Yoo Sung’s parts.
Now Yoo Sung was to step back, and another trainee would take center stage.
Yoo Sung shifted his feet while mentally rehearsing the choreography.
“…!”
Startled, Yoo Sung halted his movement.
A trainee stood squarely in a spot that should have been empty.
The trainee who spotted Yoo Sung made a panicked expression and tried to rush back to his position, but it was already too late.
“Ugh!”
Their feet tangled, and both tumbled to the ground.

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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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