The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut - Chapter 65

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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 (65)
The second ranking announcement had Yoo Sung in first place and Han Theo in second.
The results didn’t match my expectations, and I felt a bit flustered.
But I composed myself as much as possible and checked the help call counts for the top three.
‘This was really… decided by the thinnest of margins.’
Yoo Sung taking first, Han Theo taking second, and me taking third.
It was truly a matter of a single sheet of paper separating us.
I sank into serious contemplation.
Yoo Sung in first? It’s possible.
His visuals and skills are every bit as good as Han Theo’s.
‘The real problem is that Han Theo came in second.’
In every iteration I’ve experienced, Han Theo has never lost first place.
‘Well, actually, there was one time.’
After the final live broadcast stage of the previous iteration ended, at the final ranking announcement.
That time when I took first place for the first and last time….
‘I thought that if I took first place this time too, it would naturally be after the final live broadcast stage ended.’
I suppose I was harboring a somewhat arrogant belief that I was the only one who could steal first place from Han Theo.
Anyway, returning to the main point.
One might ask, ‘What’s the problem with Han Theo coming in second?’
In the dozens of iterations I’ve experienced, Han Theo has never once failed to be the Female PD’s pick.
‘In other words, Han Theo’s first place isn’t just first place.’
Han Theo’s first place was the result of his visuals, his skills, and Jang Hyuk-soo’s wholehearted push and editing.
‘Since Han Theo’s visuals and skills remain unchanged, if I’m looking for the cause….’
Has Jang Hyuk-soo’s affection for Han Theo changed?
That’s the only conclusion I can draw.
Of course, I might be overthinking this.
This ranking could just be an exception, and Han Theo might reclaim first place at the next announcement.
‘But… why do I keep getting this ominous feeling?’
I watched Han Theo offering his thanks to the fans while lost in thought.
My instincts, honed sharp through repeated iterations, were warning me of danger.
* * *
The ranking announcement held early in the morning had ended.
A total of forty trainees ranked from 61st to 100th immediately packed their things and left.
Some trainees accepted the results with composure as if they’d expected it, while others couldn’t compose themselves, weeping uncontrollably after the announcement ended.
I watched Ju Gilhyung’s retreating figure as he trudged along with his head hung low, then opened my mouth.
“Gilhyung.”
“Who… huh? Kim, Kim Chowol?”
Ju Gilhyung’s ranking was 65th.
I was sure he’d been around 40th at the first ranking announcement.
As the main antagonist in episodes 5 and 6, his ranking drop was inevitable.
I’m not sympathizing with him.
After all, he brought this on himself.
“I really wanted to be on the same team again… what a shame.”
I approached Ju Gilhyung with my eyebrows drooping dramatically.
His face screamed the thought: ‘What is this guy doing? Has he finally lost it?’
But I possessed the ability to never lose my smile, no matter the hardship or adversity.
I grinned widely and stretched both arms out to my sides.
Then, seizing the moment he let his guard down, I pulled him into a sudden embrace.
Ju Gilhyung recoiled in alarm.
“Th-this… what the hell are you doing, you creep…!”
“Hyung, don’t you see the camera over there?”
Fortunately, the distance was far enough that our conversation wouldn’t be picked up.
But Ju Gilhyung’s expression and the shape of his lips as he faced the camera would be captured perfectly.
“Did you tell him?”
Of course, my lips—turned away from the camera—wouldn’t be visible.
“Wh-what…?”
“I told you before. Tell him for me.”
My voice turned cold as a sharp blade, aimed at his throat.
“Don’t you dare pull any tricks on my broadcast.”
Ju Gilhyung’s shoulders trembled as he nodded frantically.
“Y-yes… th-then…!”
“Really?”
I narrowed my eyes and studied his expression slowly.
‘He’s lying.’
Well, I’d expected as much.
Ju Gilhyung wasn’t the type to obey blindly whenever someone gave him an order.
Besides, from his perspective, the LMH CEO’s nephew would be far more frightening than a mere trainee like me.
‘Still, that’s rather irritating.’
I released my grip around his back and grabbed his shoulders instead.
Then, without making it obvious, I applied pressure with my hands as I spoke.
“Hyung, live a good life.”
“Ugh…!”
“Don’t go around doing bad things just because you’re annoyed, alright? You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
“Y-yes, I got it! I mean… I understand…”
Ju Gilhyung twisted his body, trying to escape my grip.
I let him go without resistance.
“Then take care.”
Hopefully, I wouldn’t see him again.
I smiled gently and waved at Ju Gilhyung.
Ju Gilhyung rubbed his shoulder and shuffled out after the other trainees, hesitantly.
“What did you talk about with Ju Gilhyung?”
Yoo Sung, who had watched our entire exchange, casually approached and asked.
He was pretending not to care on the surface, but….
‘So he’s curious about what Ju Gilhyung and I discussed, huh?’
After confirming the camera was far enough away, I shrugged and answered.
“Just told him to live a good life.”
“What? Haha! What kind of conversation was that…. You’re really something, aren’t you?”
Yoo Sung burst into laughter and gave my shoulder a light pat with a relieved expression.
“That hurt.”
“Don’t be such a baby.”
Yeah, I was being a baby.
I chuckled and gently pushed Yoo Sung’s back as I spoke.
“Let’s grab lunch.”
* * *
After our late lunch, we gathered in the familiar Auditorium.
“It’s time to reveal the fourth Main Quest!”
The MC on the Podium addressed the trainees, now reduced from 100 to 60.
The large Screen behind the MC changed.
[The fourth Main Quest has arrived.]
[Main Quest: Real-World Experience]
It was a Main Quest just as difficult to understand as the third one had been—the commission resolution.
“I wonder what kind of real-world experience you trainees will undergo through this Main Quest?”
“That… a Stage performance?”
“Excellent answer!”
But was it really a good answer?
Having regressed over fifty times, I could guarantee that trainee’s response would be edited out.
“However, since you’re always performing on Stage! The ‘special’ real-world experience you trainees will have in this Main Quest is actually….”
The MC paused meaningfully.
“Self-produced content!”
Self-produced…?
Faced with this suddenly looming wall of self-production, the trainees couldn’t hide their bewilderment.
‘Self-production is definitely difficult.’
From the producing work of establishing the overall concept and theme of a song to songwriting, composition, arrangement, and choreography.
Self-produced Idols participate in nearly every step and actively voice their opinions.
Moreover, some processes go beyond merely offering opinions—they actively lead the way.
Yet even with several professional staff members attached, there are hardly any Idols who can perfectly handle such demanding work.
Most Idols have barely mastered dancing and singing.
‘That’s why Nexus succeeded and self-produced Idols flooded the market, but they all failed.’
Succeeding as a self-produced Idol was never an easy feat.
There was good reason why Nexus, now in their fifteenth year since debut, was still consistently discussed.
“From team composition to songwriting, lyrics, arrangements, and choreography! You trainees can do absolutely everything however you’d like!”
The trainees’ expressions darkened.
They understood that while freedom meant the ceiling could be high, the floor could plummet without limit.
Freedom inevitably came with responsibility.
“Ah, don’t worry too much! We’ll be providing sample tracks and reference audio you can use when composing! Now then, go ahead and form your teams freely!”
At the MC’s urging, the trainees rose from their seats hesitantly.
“Hey, Kim Chowol. We’re on the same team again, right?”
The first person to approach me was Yoo Sung, my fellow guild member.
“No. Let’s be on different teams this time.”
“What? Why?”
Yoo Sung furrowed his brow and asked again.
“Just… keep it quiet for now.”
When I gestured toward the camera with my chin, Yoo Sung lowered his voice and asked again.
“Why are you suddenly acting like this?”
“Think about our rankings.”
“Rankings?”
Yoo Sung was first, I was third.
‘When we were both at decent rankings, it didn’t matter….’
But if first and third place were constantly seen together, it would inevitably draw attention.
I didn’t want to become a ‘top-ranked trainee engaging in disgusting favoritism and harming other trainees.’
Of course, one could argue it was needless worry….
But I knew better than anyone how ruthless Jang Hyuk-soo was and how he could send a trainee he’d marked down into the abyss.
‘But would Yoo Sung understand my reasoning without a detailed explanation?’
I glanced at Yoo Sung with a worried expression.
Yoo Sung seemed to lack understanding of survival competition programs in general.
“Yeah. I get it. ‘That’ kind of thing, right?”
But contrary to my expectations, Yoo Sung nodded and replied.
He accepted it so easily that I was actually more confused.
“What kind of thing?”
“Never mind. I’m going to find teammates. You should go find some too. Dawdle around and you’ll end up alone.”
Yoo Sung pulled up one corner of his mouth in an irritating smile.
Who was worrying about whom here?
‘And… what exactly does he mean by ‘that’ kind of thing?’
I wanted to grab Yoo Sung right then and ask him.
But Yoo Sung was already conversing with another trainee.
‘Fine. I need to find teammates quickly too.’
Whether fortunately or unfortunately.
The moment I finished talking with Yoo Sung, a hyena-like trainee approached as if they’d been waiting.
Someone from behind draped a thin but toned arm across my shoulder.
“Chowol, we made a promise, didn’t we?”
A sweet voice burrowed into my ears.
Goosebumps prickled across the nape of my neck.
“Next time, let’s definitely be on the same team.”
Jung Yoo-yeol gazed at me with that soft, affectionate smile that drove fans wild.
“I’m sorry. Did we make such a promise? I don’t quite remember….”
When exactly had ‘we’ made any ‘promise’?
That wasn’t a promise—it was nothing more than a one-sided declaration.
I played dumb and feigned ignorance as best I could.
But Jung Yoo-yeol proved to be a more formidable opponent than I’d anticipated.
“Hmm? Really? That’s fine. I remember it, so it counts.”
Damn it.
Unilaterally rejecting Jung Yoo-yeol here would look strange too.
Was I really going to have to team up with Jung Yoo-yeol, who was essentially a time bomb?
“Team up with me.”
A familiar voice called out from behind Jung Yoo-yeol and me.
I turned to see Han Theo standing tall, his gaze fixed directly on me.
“Kim Chowol, let’s be teammates.”
And what are you doing here?
I barely managed to swallow the sigh threatening to burst out.

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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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