The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut - Chapter 79

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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 (79)
The performance had ended.
Han Theo stood on stage for a long while, gazing at the cheering audience.
“Let’s go.”
I grabbed Han Theo’s arm and pulled him down from the stage.
“Snap out of it.”
“Ah, yeah….”
Even after arriving at the Studio Behind Stage, Han Theo couldn’t easily regain focus.
I stared intently at Han Theo’s trembling hands.
The criteria for success or failure in this main Quest—the practical performance—was simple.
[“If you were satisfied with the trainees’ ‘practical performance,’ press the ‘success’ button. If you felt it was lacking, press the ‘failure’ button!”]
The MC’s face appeared on the small screen, explaining the voting method.
The audience members, their expressions serious, began voting by pressing their remote controls.
In that moment, Han Theo’s brow furrowed deeply as he sat on the studio sofa.
“Han Theo.”
“Huh?”
“Your brow.”
I poked Han Theo’s furrowed brow with my finger.
Han Theo’s eyes widened in surprise as he stared blankly at me.
Han Theo was simply frowning out of worry, but Jang Hyuk-soo and the public could interpret it differently.
“Are you worried?”
When I asked, Han Theo quietly nodded.
“Because of me… what if we fail?”
Well, it was a natural concern.
Han Theo was currently receiving public condemnation at an almost treasonous level due to various suspicions and controversies.
Even if I and the other team members were innocent, most people would likely avoid choosing a team that included Han Theo.
“If we fail, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
I playfully tapped Han Theo’s shoulder.
In truth, success or failure wasn’t as important as I’d thought.
What mattered was the process of preparing the performance and the quality of the stage itself.
“I don’t think we’ll fail, actually.”
“What?”
Han Theo looked at me with an expression of disbelief.
“Because a lot of your fans came today.”
I casually shrugged and gestured toward the small screen with my chin.
Just then, the screen showed an audience member holding Han Theo’s slogan, praying.
The public lumped Han Theo together with the Han Theo Fanbase and cursed them both.
Obsessed idol fanatics with no sense of judgment.
The fans said otherwise.
It wasn’t their fault—it was all because of malicious editing. As for the parachute hiring suspicions, they asked people to wait a little longer until an official statement was released.
However, no official statement was released, and the criticism directed at Han Theo and his fanbase grew increasingly fierce.
‘How could anyone possibly understand what Han Theo’s fans were feeling coming to watch today…?’
Han Theo squeezed his eyes shut, watching a fan pray desperately, and bit his lips hard.
[“We will now announce the results!”]
The voting had ended.
A small screen split in two, and two numbers appeared.
And the numbers starting from zero began climbing rapidly.
[“The results of the ‘Fate’ team’s practical training are…!”]
The rapidly climbing numbers finally stopped.
[321:279]
Upon seeing the result, I smiled quietly.
[“…Success! Congratulations, Fate!'”]
Okada sprang from her seat and rushed toward me.
“Success, we succeeded! We succeeded, hyung!”
“Yeah, we did succeed.”
“Wow, I was totally freaking out thinking we’d fail!”
Jung Yoo-yeol draped his arm across my shoulder as he spoke.
“It was close, but success is success. Right?”
“That’s right.”
I nodded with a broad smile.
But despite the smile on my face, my mind was occupied with different thoughts.
‘The score really is low.’
I’d thought we might be able to get 350 votes, but it seemed there were more people among the audience who disliked Han Theo than I’d anticipated.
“Really, what a relief….”
But Han Theo seemed to have let go of his tension simply because we had succeeded.
I exhaled deeply and watched Han Theo relax, lost in thought.
‘Now Han Theo and I are strangers.’
The stage performance had gone well, and whether Jang Hyuk-soo completely abandoned Han Theo or not had nothing to do with me anymore.
‘If anything, it’s better. If Han Theo gets abandoned, my chances of placing first increase.’
But the human heart is a peculiar thing.
There were times when I thought I’d do anything to end this tedious regression, yet when someone in distress appeared right before my eyes, I couldn’t turn away.
‘Could I help Han Theo?’
Without the ability to do so, having only good intentions would only ruin things.
I pondered carefully whether there was anything I could do for Han Theo.
“Ah, today’s performance was so fun! I want to do it again!”
As we exited after our turn, Jung Yoo-yeol suddenly exclaimed with regret.
‘Want to do it again…?’
A good idea flashed through my mind.
Following Han Theo out, I stopped in my tracks and fell into thought.
“Kim Chowol? What are you doing?”
I stood motionless with a grave expression, and Han Theo tilted his head curiously.
“Theo, you still have that, right?”
“That?”
“You know, the item you got from the Sub Quest.”
“An item? Oh….”
Han Theo nodded, belatedly grasping what I meant.
“Let’s use it now.”
“Now?”
Yes, now.
I nodded and recalled the item Han Theo had received as a special reward from the Sub Quest.
[Sub Quest Special Reward!
Item: One More Time!
You gain the opportunity to do something one more time]
* * *
People had been interpreting the Sub Quest special reward “One More Time” as an “elimination exemption pass.”
So everyone was secretly pleased that Han Theo, who as the unshakeable first-place contestant had no need to use an elimination exemption pass, had received the special reward.
‘But the situation has changed.’
Han Theo could likely make it to the final live broadcast stage, but….
If these suspicions and controversies weren’t resolved now, Han Theo’s debut couldn’t be guaranteed.
‘I need to use “One More Time” somehow to seize an opportunity for a comeback.’
I pondered how to use “One More Time” to completely reverse public opinion about Han Theo.
‘Using it as an elimination exemption pass is absolutely out of the question.’
Besides, there wasn’t even a situation where it would be useful.
In the current climate, if Han Theo used an elimination exemption pass to survive, it would be like cutting off his own lifeline.
‘Then where exactly should I use it?’
I drew inspiration from Jung Yoo-yeol’s words.
‘Ah, today’s stage was so fun! I want to do it again!’
It was to perform the stage “one more time.”
To “prove” Han Theo’s abilities in front of even more people through the stage.
―Knock, knock, knock.
Han Theo knocked on the office door with a tense expression.
I immediately shared my plan with Han Theo, and he answered that he’d do it right away.
But unfortunately, a stage wasn’t something you could simply ask to perform.
‘I need Jang Hyuk-soo’s permission.’
To begin with, “One More Time” probably wasn’t created with the intention of performing the stage “one more time.”
At most, the trainees would have thought of it as an elimination exemption pass or retaking a PR video once more.
“Come in.”
As I opened the door and entered, I saw Jang Hyuk-soo staring at his monitor with a serious expression.
As I followed Han Theo inside, Jang Hyuk-soo raised one eyebrow slightly.
“You said you wanted to see me?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the matter?”
As Han Theo and I approached, Jang Hyuk-soo turned off the monitor he’d been watching.
I stared at the screen as it went dark.
“I want to use ‘One More Time’—the special reward from the Sub Quest.”
“If you want to use it, just use it. What’s the problem?”
“I want to do a Stage.”
“A Stage?”
For the first time, a crack appeared in Jang Hyuk-soo’s perpetually composed expression.
“I want to do the fourth Main Quest Stage ‘One More Time.'”
Jang Hyuk-soo’s expression turned strange.
“Right now, of all times…?”
I immediately understood what Jang Hyuk-soo was thinking.
He was concerned that using ‘One More Time’ now could appear to the public as a loophole or unfair advantage.
“I mean I want to do the Main Quest itself one more time.”
I clarified, wedging myself between Han Theo and Jang Hyuk-soo.
“Not just our team’s Stage, but all the other teams’ Stages as well—one more time.”
“Huh.”
Jang Hyuk-soo furrowed his brow and let out a hollow laugh.
As if he’d never heard such a request in his entire life.
“What if we did it as an Outdoor Venue Stage?”
“What?”
I proposed an idea I’d prepared beforehand—something I knew would appeal to Jang Hyuk-soo.
“Our Program has more mainstream appeal compared to other Idol Survival Audition Programs. But the fact remains that it’s still a niche program watched only by those who seek it out.”
K-POP’s growing international influence stood in stark contrast to its declining domestic recognition.
There were many people in Korea who’d never even heard of Idols who were wildly popular overseas.
“If we planned an Outdoor Venue Stage in a guerrilla format, wouldn’t the general public take interest?”
Jang Hyuk-soo, who had been contemplating with a serious expression, looked at me and asked.
“A guerrilla Stage… is this trainee Kim Chowol’s idea?”
“No….”
“Yes, it is.”
Just as I hesitated to answer, Han Theo nodded and spoke up.
“Kim Chowol helped me. I’ve only been receiving help the whole time.”
“Quite the remarkable friendship.”
Jang Hyuk-soo glanced back and forth between Han Theo’s face and mine, speaking with a slight edge of sarcasm.
Han Theo seemed tense, but I felt oddly relieved.
‘The fact that Jang Hyuk-soo is deliberating means our proposal has merit.’
Jang Hyuk-soo, who had been contemplating with his eyes even closed, let out a deep sigh.
“Trainee Kim Chowol… you always make me think hard.”
Jang Hyuk-soo let out another hollow laugh, as if exasperated, and continued speaking.
“Well, that’s it then. A guerrilla stage.”
Perfect, this is exactly what I needed!
Jang Hyuk-soo, watching me rejoice inwardly, shifted his gaze toward Han Theo.
“Han Theo.”
“Yes.”
“I hold no ill will toward you. Understand?”
“Yes? Um… yes.”
Han Theo, not fully grasping Jang Hyuk-soo’s meaning, tilted his head in confusion as he answered.
At that, Jang Hyuk-soo regarded Han Theo with an expression as if he were observing some peculiar creature.
“Whether you’re genuinely kind or simply naive….”
“Yes?”
“Never mind. Just do your best.”
Jang Hyuk-soo waved his hand dismissively at both Han Theo and me as he continued.
“Now get going. I’m swamped with sudden work piling up.”
“Thank you so much!”
I grabbed Han Theo’s arm—still tilting his head in bewilderment—and pulled him out of the office.
“I need to tell the team members too.”
“Oh, right.”
Time was running short.
For Han Theo, the guerrilla stage mattered far more than today’s regular performance.
“Theo.”
“Hmm?”
“Let’s prove ourselves through skill.”
I gave Han Theo’s shoulder a light tap as I spoke.
Han Theo nodded with a serious expression and replied.
“Yeah.”

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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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