The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut - Chapter 86

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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 (86)
After the brief break ended, Yoo Sung, currently ranked first, began selecting teams in order.
Nexus and SILK VEIL.
As I’d anticipated, SILK VEIL was far more popular than Nexus.
I naturally chose Nexus.
It wasn’t about loyalty or anything like that, as I’d told Yoo Sung—I simply wanted to avoid plagiarism accusations.
“Kim Chowol, we’re on the same team again?”
Jung Yoo-yeol draped his arm across my shoulder as if we were decade-long friends and spoke.
I just laughed awkwardly.
“I look forward to working with you again.”
I would’ve been fine if we’d been on the same team last time, but why did he choose the exact same team as me again?
I barely managed to swallow the sigh threatening to escape.
The ones on my team this time were Yoo Sung and Jung Yoo-yeol—two people in total.
Okada, Han Theo, Seo Ijae, and Kang Hae-soo chose SILK VEIL’s song.
“Should we start with brief introductions?”
“Are introductions really necessary? We all know each other’s faces anyway.”
“Still, there might be someone we don’t know.”
We hadn’t formally appointed a leader, but the oldest trainee naturally took the helm.
I was fine with it.
For this final stage, I wanted to focus on the performance itself rather than leading the team.
“Kim Chowol, want to go first?”
The trainee acting as leader asked me first.
“I’m Kim Chowol. I’m twenty years old. I’m more confident in vocals than dancing.”
Starting with me, we went around introducing ourselves in turn.
With ten people, even keeping it brief took considerable time.
The trainee acting as leader was Park Jin-seok.
“You all know our concept, right?”
The trainees nodded.
The concept for the fifth main Quest “Debut” was heroes and villains.
‘Two teams that have become heroes and villains clash on stage….’
It was clichéd, but no concept sold better than this.
“The SILK VEIL seniors’ team are the heroes, and we’re the villains. Let’s think about what kind of villains would work best first. Does anyone have good ideas?”
Nexus had provided the song and choreography, but we had to handle the lyrics and arrangement ourselves.
The trainees fell into thought at Park Jin-seok’s question.
“But wouldn’t we be at a disadvantage?”
One trainee with a serious expression carefully raised their hand and continued.
“Well, usually when there are heroes and villains, people root for the hero over the villain, right? It feels like we’re fighting a losing battle from the start….”
It wasn’t wrong.
Usually, when there are heroes and villains, the villain is at a disadvantage, but….
‘If that’s all the thought you can muster, you might as well give up on being an idol. You certainly won’t be dreaming of self-produced idols.’
But the trainees, unaware of my thoughts, furrowed their brows and clamped their mouths shut.
A single phrase—that this was a losing battle from the start—had shattered their morale entirely.
Park Jin-seok, glancing around with an awkward expression, turned his attention toward me.
“So, what about you, Kim Chowol?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. I’m curious what you think.”
“Well….”
I already had a concrete concept in mind, but I paused deliberately, as if still thinking, to avoid suspicion.
“There are many kinds of villains, aren’t there? Some are trash you wouldn’t even want to associate with, but others become villains because of some cause or trauma. Don’t we all have at least one villain we actually like?”
The trainees nodded at my question, as if something had clicked into place.
“There are plenty of works where the villain is more compelling than the hero. Some are even centered entirely on the villain as the protagonist.”
Believing that heroes and villains could be divided into good and evil was far too naive.
“A lot of people are tired of flawless hero narratives. That’s why characters like dark heroes or anti-heroes are so beloved.”
The trainees, absorbed in my explanation, nodded along.
“So since I’ve already decided to become a villain, I want to become one that’s dangerous and captivating enough to shake even those who love heroes.”
“A dangerous and captivating villain….”
Park Jin-seok’s expression brightened considerably.
“I like it. I agree with Kim Chowol’s take. What do you all think?”
“I think it sounds good too.”
“Me as well!”
The gloomy atmosphere came alive in an instant.
“Then should we think about how to express a villain who’s dangerous but captivating?”
Once we had a direction, the meeting flowed naturally.
In less than an hour, we’d settled on a concrete concept, a rough draft of lyrics, and an arrangement direction.
“Good, I think the concept is solid enough….”
Park Jin-seok, his expression slightly tense, trailed off and scanned the nine trainees.
“…Should we decide on the center now?”
Center.
A reality I couldn’t avoid even if I wanted to was looming directly before me.
“First… who wants to be the center?”
The trainees cautiously raised their hands, stealing glances at one another.
My eyes met Yoo Sung’s.
Yoo Sung had his hand raised like the others.
Just from his gaze, I could tell roughly what he was thinking.
‘Kim Chowol.’
Yoo Sung’s gaze naturally drifted toward my raised hand.
‘Sorry, but I’m not backing down for you.’
I clenched my raised fist and smirked.
‘Just as I hoped.’
* * *
“This is a bit tricky, isn’t it?”
Park Jin-seok furrowed his brow and groaned.
“I didn’t expect so many people would want to be Center.”
The trainees who had raised their hands laughed awkwardly, their gazes shifting uncomfortably away.
‘Five people in total applied for Center, including Yoo Sung and me.’
The remaining five probably want to be Center too.
Well, except for Jung Yoo-yeol.
‘If Jung Yoo-yeol wanted to be Center, he would have raised his hand long ago.’
In any case, the other four besides Jung Yoo-yeol probably want to be Center as well.
They’re just not showing it because Yoo Sung and I are formidable competitors.
“What should I do…?”
Park Jin-seok glanced at me with pleading eyes.
Until the self-introductions, I thought it was just my imagination, but after going through the concept meeting, my suspicion had solidified into certainty.
Park Jin-seok, who had unexpectedly taken on the role of Leader, was relying on me.
“I don’t think Center is a position someone should volunteer for.”
Defeated by Park Jin-seok’s gaze, I finally spoke up.
“Then?”
“The person who fits it best should do it.”
I spoke decisively to the trainees who tilted their heads in confusion.
“Let’s vote.”
“Vote?”
“Let’s all try it first. We’ll all perform it, and then we’ll vote on who suits Center the best.”
The expressions of the five trainees who hadn’t raised their hands changed.
They seemed to want to agree with my suggestion, but they were hesitant to step forward because they were conscious of the other trainees’ reactions.
“I agree with Kim Chowol’s opinion.”
The first person to speak was Yoo Sung.
“Center should be done by whoever fits it best. Not by whoever wants to do it.”
“Hmm… Sung-i has a point.”
Park Jin-seok, who had been gauging the other trainees’ reactions, nodded and spoke.
“That sounds good. I’m for it.”
“I, I think that’s a good idea too!”
The trainees, who had only been watching each other’s reactions, began to speak up one by one.
“Then should we each practice the Center part today and meet again tomorrow morning? Oh, we can proceed with this on our own, right? If the Female PD finds out….”
Park Jin-seok was somewhat indecisive for a leader.
“I don’t think she’ll mind. Should I mention it to her if it becomes a concern?”
“Y, you think so?”
“Yes. The Female PD will like it too.”
So many people want to be Center that we’re deciding it by vote.
This is exactly the kind of interesting situation Jang Hyuk-soo would love.
“Then let’s each practice on our own today and meet around ten tomorrow morning. Does everyone agree?”
“Yes. Sounds good.”
The trainees rose from their seats and scattered in different directions.
Left alone, I stood motionless and checked the current time.
‘It’s 3 PM now.’
Nineteen hours remained until ten o’clock tomorrow.
“That’s plenty of time.”
I smirked and headed out of the Auditorium.
Nothing but practice, practice, and more practice!
* * *
I threw myself into the Practice Room.
Sprawled out in the middle of the empty, spacious Practice Room, I caught my breath.
“Huff, huff….”
My brutalized muscles screamed in agony, and my lungs and heart felt ready to burst.
“What… what time is it….”
I checked the clock hanging on the Practice Room wall.
I’d entered around 3 PM, but somehow it was already well past 9 in the evening.
‘Maybe I should rest for a bit.’
I hadn’t even eaten dinner, and my stomach was growling.
I closed my eyes for a moment, but within moments I jolted back up.
“I can’t afford to waste time like this.”
Even if I practiced for all nineteen hours straight, there was no guarantee I could beat Yoo Sung.
To increase my odds even slightly, I had to practice without sparing a single moment of rest.
“Take a break, yeah?”
That’s when I heard someone’s voice from behind me.
“Yoo Sung?”
I turned around to find Yoo Sung leaning against the wall, watching me.
“Drink this.”
Yoo Sung tossed something to me.
I caught it reflexively.
It was cold water, freshly dispensed from the Vending Machine.
“This….”
A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me.
What do you call this feeling? Déjà vu?
“Thanks. I’ll drink it gratefully.”
Yoo Sung watched me gulp down the water, then suddenly spoke.
“You’re really a strange guy.”
“Cough, w-wait, suddenly?”
Caught completely off guard by Yoo Sung’s blunt remark, I choked and the water went down my windpipe.
Yoo Sung watched me cough, then spoke again.
“Suggesting a vote back there like that.”
“Ah… that?”
“Did you see the faces of the trainees who raised their hands to be center? They looked absolutely disgusted.”
“Well… I can’t really argue with that.”
From the perspective of the trainees who’d mustered the courage to raise their hands, my proposal had only increased their competition, so there was no way their reaction could be positive.
“But there was no other choice.”
I finished the last of my water bottle and continued speaking as I crumpled the empty plastic with force.
“The center position should go to whoever is most suited for it.”
Center was far more complex and demanding than positions like main vocalist or main dancer.
Visual appeal was just the foundation—you had to back it up with vocal and dance skills too.
And above all, you needed the charisma to captivate the audience’s gaze.
Because center meant being the most radiant person on the Stage.
“I’m going to be center on this final Stage. No matter what.”
I would become a center that shone brighter than the stars themselves.

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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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