The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut - Chapter 96

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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 (96)
“Waaaaaah!”
The roar of the audience thundered through the Set Stage.
Drenched in sweat, Kim Chowol descended from the stage with support from the other trainees.
Eun Ha-su clutched her slogan tightly as emotion overwhelmed her, her body curling inward.
“Why is Kim Chowol so good…?”
One audience member sitting diagonally muttered in disbelief.
“It wasn’t for nothing that we decided to vote for the center.”
“The center is one thing, but he’s just genuinely skilled. I can’t even fathom how much he must have practiced.”
“He’s so good I’m at a loss for words. This is a true triumph of human effort.”
Audience members moved by Kim Chowol’s performance showered him with praise.
Curled up in her seat, Eun Ha-su nodded thoughtfully.
‘I knew his skills had improved, but I never imagined he’d be this good…!’
It wasn’t that Eun Ha-su had underestimated Kim Chowol. She was simply remembering his abilities from the stat evaluation.
Human growth brings tremendous emotion.
Even those who didn’t favor Kim Chowol were amazed—how much more so for Eun Ha-su, who supported him?
[What is your dream?]
Then a mid-show VCR began playing on the Large Screen at the Set Stage.
Eun Ha-su wiped away the tears gathering at her eyes and turned her gaze toward the screen.
The camera moved along the Hallway as if searching for someone.
Before long, the camera discovered a trainee drinking water at the Water Cooler.
It was Kim Chowol.
[“What is your dream?”]
Kim Chowol, who had been staring blankly at the camera for a moment, broke into a bright smile and answered.
[“To be an Idol.”]
Following Kim Chowol, the answers of other trainees flowed in succession.
[“An Idol.
“I want to debut!”
“Of course, to debut and become an Idol.”]
Once all the trainees’ answers concluded, the screen changed.
This time it wasn’t the Hallway, but the Practice Room.
A poignant background score that touched something deep within the heart resonated through the Set Stage.
[“I worked so hard. I really did work so hard.”
“This is driving me crazy. Why do I keep making the same mistake in the same place?”
“Can’t I just rest today? Just today….”]
Images of struggling trainees flashed rapidly across the screen.
The trainees’ unguarded sincerity captivated the audience immediately.
[“Let’s practice just a little bit more before we leave.”
“You can do it. Don’t give up.”
“One more time, let’s try just one more time.”]
The atmosphere shifted.
The somber background music transformed into something bright and hopeful, swelling with emotion.
No matter how difficult or painful, the trainees rose to their feet once more.
[“What is your dream?”
“To become an Idol.”]
To achieve the dream of becoming an Idol.
Eun Ha-su wiped her eyes, which stung from the slogan.
This VCR was like a training camp campfire—intentional staging that you couldn’t help but cry over, even knowing it was orchestrated.
“Can I do this well? A question I’ve asked countless times.”
Then the Large Screen behind the stage parted to both sides, and twenty trainees emerged.
They wore the costumes from the theme song stage performance, each holding a hand microphone.
“Now I can smile and say we’ve come this far.”
The trainees began forming groups of two or three.
The grouped trainees scattered across three zones: left, right, and the Central Protruding Stage.
‘This… he’s coming this way…!’
Like a gift, Kim Chowol walked toward the Central Protruding Stage right beside Eun Ha-su.
Kim Chowol was smiling brightly, waving to the audience.
“The days I cried aren’t shameful, because they were all us.”
The pre-chorus ended and the chorus began.
“Thank you for loving me, your heart brought us here.”
The trainees, who had been singing verse by verse, began singing in unison.
As the layered voices of the trainees resonated through the Set Stage, emotion swelled and overflowed.
A melody I’d heard before, lyrics nothing special.
Yet Eun Ha-su couldn’t tear her eyes away from Kim Chowol.
“Every moment I wanted to give up, you were there and I rose again.”
Kim Chowol slowly walked toward where Eun Ha-su stood.
Eun Ha-su had no presence of mind to unfurl her slogan.
Kim Chowol singing shone brilliantly like a star in the night sky.
‘Wh… what…?’
Then Kim Chowol and Eun Ha-su’s eyes met.
Kim Chowol’s eyes widened for a moment, then he smiled gently and sang.
“Thank you for loving me, truly.”
Ah…
Tears welled in Eun Ha-su’s eyes spilled down her cheeks.
“You called my name, with a trembling voice.”
“Did you know how much those words meant?”
Eun Ha-su watched Kim Chowol’s retreating back and whispered softly.
“You have to debut, Kim Chowol.”
You are my pride.
* * *
“Thank you so much for loving me. Your hearts brought us here.”
“Every time I wanted to give up, you were there, and I got back up. Thank you for loving me, truly.”
Jung Yoo-yeol’s explosive ad-lib soared so high it seemed to pierce through the ceiling.
“We could shine because you were our stage.”
“Thank you, I’m sorry, I love you—three words that aren’t enough.”
The bridge connecting the chorus to the final chorus had ended.
After circling the Protruding Stage, the trainees and I returned to the Central Stage.
“Thank you for loving me. I’ll remember this moment forever.”
The EX-Grade K-POP Idol’s final song, “This Far,” was nothing special—a mass-produced ballad in both melody and lyrics.
The lyrics in particular, more direct than anything else, felt almost childish, dividing opinions sharply.
But I loved this song.
“It’s not an ending, it’s a beginning. Every day we spent together was love. Thank you so much.”
I sang with all my sincerity.
If my dream of becoming an idol brought me here, then my fans were what kept me standing.
“Haa….”
“Hey, Kim Chowol!”
As I descended from the stage, the world spun around me.
Yoo Sung rushed over in alarm and steadied me.
“Are you okay? You did that before too….”
“I’m fine.”
After the HERETIC stage ended, I’d felt dizzy and Yoo Sung had to support me then as well.
At first, I thought it was just the tension releasing, but showing such an embarrassing state not once but twice—
“Are you hurt somewhere?”
Perhaps Yoo Sung’s suspicion was correct.
“I’m fine. I’ll be okay after resting a bit.”
Yoo Sung’s brow furrowed deeply at my answer, clearly unsatisfied.
But he said nothing.
Or rather, he couldn’t say anything.
The performances were over. Only the rankings remained.
No matter how much it hurt, I couldn’t rest.
‘I have to endure.’
I swallowed a sigh and sat on a folding chair in the Backstage.
“We will now announce the number of members debuting from EX-Grade K-POP and the group’s name!”
The MC, who had taken the stage, proceeded calmly with the broadcast.
The trainees huddled together in the Backstage held their breath, their faces taut with tension.
“At this very moment, it feels as though we can hear the heartbeats of the trainees below the stage reaching all the way up here.”
A heavy silence fell over the entire Set Stage.
“Trainees who have endured this long journey, and everyone who has stood by your side—please focus now.”
The background music gradually swelled, infusing the Set Stage with palpable tension.
“The number of members who will debut is….”
I gathered everyone’s attention with a brief pause, then spoke each word with deliberate emphasis.
“…There are six of them.”
Wow, gasp, insane.
Exclamations and sighs erupted from various corners of the Audience Seating.
“And the group’s name is….”
I smiled meaningfully.
“GUILD.”
“Waaaaaaah!”
With grand background music, the audience’s cheers resonated thunderously through the Set Stage.
Given how many outlandish group names had appeared so far, they would likely think this was decent enough.
‘The number of debut members and the group name haven’t changed.’
I gazed intently at the faces of the trainees in the Backstage.
They stood with tense expressions, their lips pressed firmly shut.
‘Status window.’
A translucent window materialized before my eyes.
[Sub Quest: Recruit Allies
Description: Recruit allies for a successful debut.
Ally Recruitment Progress (6/6)
Success Reward: Gate Occurrence Suspended (180 days)]
[1. Okada Hiro (Grade: B+)(Stats Viewable)
2. Yoo Sung (Grade: S-)(Stats Viewable)
3. Seo Ijae (Grade: B)(Stats Viewable)
4. Jung Yoo-yeol (Grade: A)(Stats Viewable)
5. Kang Hae-soo (Grade: A-)(Stats Viewable)
6. Han Theo (Grade: S)(Stats Viewable)]
From Yoo Sung to Han Theo.
I slowly took in each of my allies’ names.
They were all trainees who had both helped and received help from me during this round.
‘But reality is cruel.’
I narrowed my eyes and counted how many allies there were.
‘One, two, three, four, five, six….’
The number of allies was six.
Including myself, that made seven in total.
‘Among these seven, including me, at least one person will definitely be eliminated.’
We rose from our seats and moved toward the Protruding Stage.
Now we would simply stand on the Protruding Stage, and when our names were called, we would go to the Central Stage to share our thoughts, and that would be the end.
“Trainees, we’re moving now!”
My legs began to tremble, and cold sweat beaded on my forehead.
It felt as though a Gate could materialize before my eyes at any moment.
“Are you okay, hyung?”
Okada asked with a worried expression.
“I’m fine.”
In truth, I was far from fine, but I forced a smile and answered anyway.
As I stepped onto the Stage, the audience erupted in cheers.
When twenty trainees ascended onto the Protruding Stage, the MC resumed the proceedings.
“We will now announce the final debut members.”
We were almost there.
At the end of this breathless journey, with only one final step remaining before a new beginning could unfold.

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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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