The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut - Chapter 53

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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 (53)
“Waaaahhhhh!”
My ears rang from the torrent of cheers pouring down.
I cooled my flushed face—feverish with excitement and adrenaline—against the back of my hand as I descended from the Stage.
“Everyone did great.”
I patted my teammates’ shoulders lightly and settled into a seat in the Studio Behind Stage.
On the small monitor, the MC was guiding the audience through the voting process.
In a Guild War, victory went to whichever Guild performed the same song better on Stage.
But then, how would success and failure be determined for a quest without a rival Guild to compare against?
The answer was simple.
‘Obviously, we’d be compared to the original version.’
On the small monitor, Winter Boys’ debut song Winter Boys was playing—their Stage performance.
I found myself glancing nervously at Seo Ijae.
Seo Ijae stared intently at the Winter Boys Stage, his expression unreadable.
[“Please press the help call for the Stage you think performed better!”]
Whether judging subjectively or objectively, our Stage was far superior to Winter Boys’ performance.
But it would be naive to assume everyone would vote for the Stage they genuinely thought was better.
‘The variable is… sabotage votes.’
Me, Han Theo, Yoo Sung.
Not just one or two top-ranked trainees—we had three gathered together.
Kang Hae-soo wasn’t ranked low either, and Seo Ijae’s recognition built through his time with Winter Boys couldn’t be ignored.
Audience members who favored other trainees would vote for Winter Boys to sabotage us.
“Chowol hyung.”
“Hm?”
Kang Hae-soo, who had been quietly clenching and unclenching his fists this whole time, asked carefully.
“Do you think we can succeed, hyung?”
If the original Winter Boys received more help calls, the quest would fail. Conversely, if the remake Diamond Dust received more help calls, the quest would succeed.
“Why, are you worried?”
“Yes. Regardless of how well we performed, I’ve heard there are always people trying to sabotage.”
“Did your seniors from the same Entertainment Agency tell you that?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I didn’t know who his seniors were, but they’d certainly educated him well.
Kang Hae-soo, being an athlete by background, seemed naturally inclined to respect his elders.
“Well… there will definitely be sabotage votes. In fact, there are teams that fail because of sabotage votes even though they performed as well as or better than the original.”
In earlier performances, I’d seen teams that matched or exceeded the original version fail to receive many votes.
Kang Hae-soo’s expression grew increasingly dark.
“But you don’t need to worry.”
I shrugged casually as I spoke.
Of course, I harbored the exact same concerns Kang Hae-soo did.
‘But those worries only matter when you’re ranked in the middle tier.’
The voting concluded, and a suspenseful sound effect reverberated through the venue.
[“We will now announce the results!”]
A small screen split into two halves, and two numbers appeared.
And the numbers starting from zero began climbing rapidly.
[“The Make one’s way team’s commission result is…!”]
The rapidly ascending numbers finally came to a halt.
[481:119]
It was nearly a five-fold difference.
[“…Success! Congratulations, Make one’s way!”]
See? I told you there was nothing to worry about.
With 1st, 2nd, and 4th place all on the same team, no matter how many votes were cast against us, it was nearly impossible to overcome our fans’ support.
And besides, our performance was embarrassingly superior by comparison.
It was the inevitable result.
“Hyung? Lee Jae hyung! Are you alright?”
Seo Ijae, who had kept his eyes tightly shut since the numbers began climbing, slowly slumped into his seat.
“Y-yeah… I’m, I’m fine. Just… the tension finally broke.”
Barely managing to sit in the chair, Seo Ijae clasped his trembling hands together and spoke.
“Actually… I thought we would fail.”
“Why?”
“…Because I’m the center.”
I wanted to say something—that it made no sense, that he shouldn’t talk like that—but I held my tongue.
Seo Ijae had mustered the courage to bare his heart, so I owed it to him to respect that vulnerability.
“But preparing this stage with you all taught me something. Singing and dancing with my teammates to a song I created… it’s truly a joyful thing.”
Seo Ijae’s eyes gleamed with brilliance.
Just as they had when he danced and sang on stage today.
“It’s all thanks to you all. That we could succeed today….”
“Lee Jae hyung.”
I placed my hand on Seo Ijae’s shoulder and gazed at his face with a serious expression.
“Did you enjoy today?”
“…Yeah.”
“Then let’s do it again next time.”
“Huh?”
“We can just perform again. With your song, Lee Jae hyung.”
Understanding what I meant, Seo Ijae sealed his lips shut.
Let’s perform together again next time.
Becoming an EX-Grade K-POP Idol is fine, but ideally at the Debut Showcase.
“I enjoyed performing on stage with your song too, Lee Jae hyung.”
“Yeah….”
“We’ll do it again. Understood?”
I stared at Seo Ijae, who remained silent like a clam, then rose to my feet.
‘Was the pace too fast?’
Seo Ijae’s self-esteem had plummeted into the abyss through repeated failures and disappointments.
For Seo Ijae, hope was not a driving force propelling him toward his dreams, but rather a shackle binding his ankles.
‘I thought I’d overcome it a bit with this success, but….’
No, I shouldn’t rush. It’s fine to take things slowly.
I swallowed my regret and turned away.
“Let’s go now.”
The filming wasn’t over yet.
I needed to return to the Waiting Room and watch the remaining teams perform.
Just as I sent the team members out and was about to follow them.
“Yeah, let’s do it again.”
Seo Ijae, standing behind me, whispered softly like breath dispersing into the cold winter air.
“Let’s do it again next time.”
Seo Ijae, who had quietly approached my side, spoke again with a smile I’d never seen before.
For a moment, as if struck by a bomb, I couldn’t think of anything.
‘What? He can smile like an Idol.’
I steadied my racing heart and playfully tapped Seo Ijae’s shoulder.
“…Sounds good. No takesies backsies.”
“Yeah.”
The third main Quest, ‘Resolve Request,’ was complete.
―Ding!
A translucent window appeared before my eyes along with the familiar notification sound.
[Universal Scheduler
Grade: A+
Description: Set a goal and complete the to-do list to achieve your designated objective.
*If you achieve the goal within the designated period, you can obtain a special reward.]
Oh, right.
The Universal Scheduler had a special reward.
[Current Goal: Master Diamond Dust’s choreography and vocals
Current Completion: 100%]
[You have achieved the goal within the designated period.]
I’d forgotten about it because it had been so long since I reached 100% completion.
What kind of reward would it be?
[Reward: 1 Item Selection Ticket (S) has been issued.
You can check it in your item inventory.]
I checked it half-heartedly, thinking it was another Item Selection Ticket.
‘Wait, wait….’
But I soon discovered an unfamiliar letter and my eyes widened.
Item Selection Ticket (S)?
Had they ever given me anything above A-grade before, whether it was a selection ticket or a draw ticket?
I traced through my memories slowly, but they were all B-Grade at best.
I’d never even seen an S-Grade, let alone an A-Grade….
‘This really is a special reward.’
My fingers itched to check what items I could select right away.
‘But I don’t know when or how I’ll need them, so I should save it for later.’
Besides, if I checked now, my hands might shake and I could make the wrong choice.
I stared at my trembling hands and whispered to myself.
Calm down, calm down. Kim Chowol….
“Hey, aren’t you coming?”
“…I’m coming.”
I followed Yoo Sung, who’d come looking for me, out of the Studio.
* * *
After filming wrapped, we were given a short break.
Yoo Sung, who’d become homeless during the last break, decided to stay at my place again this time.
“Hmm… want something to drink?”
Silence settled over the Kitchen.
I spoke to Yoo Sung and Okada, who were sitting in front of the dining table.
Yoo Sung waved his hand dismissively and leaned back against his chair.
“I’m good.”
“…I’m fine too.”
Okada, sitting across from me, spoke in a small, barely audible voice with her head bowed.
If I tried to explain why Okada was at my place when Yoo Sung was here, it would be quite a story.
After filming ended, as I left the Dormitory with Yoo Sung, I spotted Okada wandering around like a lost puppy.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Ah… hello, hyung….’
‘Huh? What’s wrong with you? Did something happen?’
Recalling Okada’s team’s performance on the Stage, I belatedly realized my mistake.
‘Okada’s team failed to complete the request.’
I’d thought that after talking with Jung Yoo-yeol, the atmosphere between team members might improve somewhat, but unfortunately, the emotional rift that had deepened once didn’t heal easily.
Jung Yoo-yeol never understood Okada and her teammates, and Okada, unable to adapt to the team atmosphere, couldn’t properly display her abilities.
‘Want to come to my place?’
‘Pardon?’
Remembering how Okada had clung to me earlier, insisting we watch broadcasts together, I found myself saying it without thinking.
‘Anyway, there’s no one waiting for you back at your Studio Apartment. I have a spare room, so don’t worry about it and come to my place. Ah, I’m not forcing you or anything….’
I fumbled through my explanation, flustered, but Okada, who’d been staring at me quietly, nodded.
‘So for now, I brought her along….’
I looked at Yoo Sung and Okada, both sitting at the dining table in quiet contemplation.
Yoo Sung seemed to have nothing on his mind, while Okada, conversely, appeared burdened by too many thoughts.
“Let’s go out.”
“What?”
“Huh?”
Unable to watch any longer, I pulled on my outer jacket and spoke.
“You two get dressed quickly. Let’s go.”
I picked up the outer jackets that Yoo Sung and Okada had discarded and handed them over.
“Go? At this hour?”
Yoo Sung checked the time and furrowed his brow.
It was currently two in the morning.
We’d eaten dinner around ten at night and spent considerable time cleaning up afterward, so the hour had grown quite late.
But it didn’t matter.
If anything, moving about at night or in the late hours before dawn was far more convenient than during the day.
Considering the notoriety of an EX-Grade K-POP Idol, there would certainly be people who recognized us.
“Where are we going?”
“Just get dressed first. It’s cold outside. Oh, and wear a hat and mask too. If you don’t have them, I’ll lend you mine.”
Yoo Sung grumbled as he accepted the hat and mask I offered and stepped outside.
Okada, equally confused about the situation, hastily put on a hat and mask and followed after him.
While Yoo Sung and Okada prepared, I used my phone to search for and organize our destination.
“I’ve called a taxi, so let’s hurry.”
“Hey, you should at least tell us where we’re going.”
Yoo Sung pressed the 1st Floor button in the elevator with a dissatisfied expression.
I fell silent for a moment, studying Yoo Sung intently.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, really.”
It amused me how he complained so openly yet still did as I asked.
But if I said that, he’d definitely get annoyed.
“Hongdae Entrance Station.”
“What?”
“We’re going to Hongdae Entrance Station.”
“Why?”
Yoo Sung and Okada tilted their heads in confusion.
But I had no intention of explaining in detail.
“You’ll understand once we get there.”
I hoped that Yoo Sung and Okada would feel the same sense of wonder I’d experienced when I first visited Hongdae Entrance Station.

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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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