The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol - Chapter 107

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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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Chapter 107
Recalling my past life, I was certain that Embrace had never faced any major controversy.
“It’s surprising that it’s already been eight months since our debut. It feels like we just debuted.”
“Right? It felt like just yesterday, but time really does fly.”
“I’ll do my best on today’s broadcast!”
“Doing your best? That’s really exciting to hear!”
Kang Jung-ho and Embrace exchanged several rounds of conversation.
Having extracted enough content, Kang Jung-ho smoothly transitioned to the next team, showcasing his seasoned MC skills.
“Next, we have a rookie group that’s been maintaining steady popularity with impressive momentum since their debut. Please introduce the Fault Team!”
The Fault Team’s concept was cuteness.
They wore pastel-toned outfits adorned with adorable accessories.
“Fault hop today!”
Following the leader’s chant, all the Fault Team members performed in-place jumps.
‘…?’
“We’ve loaded your hearts with laughter! We’re Fault!”
‘You guys don’t have a name worthy of mocking others.’
Watching the Fault Team’s bouncy antics, I had to admit they’d chosen a perfectly fitting name.
‘Isn’t it more like a clumsy hop than a fault hop?’
There was a lightness that suited clumsiness.
Recalling how those guys had started fights with poor grappling in the Music Show Waiting Room, I felt a burning determination to properly educate them on what today’s broadcast was about.
‘I absolutely have to win in the games today.’
Our team members’ eyes watching the Fault Team burned with the same intensity.
“Wow~ That greeting is quite cute!”
Kang Jung-ho skillfully received even that clumsy greeting.
Experienced MCs really weren’t something anyone could do.
After brief Q&A, the turn finally came to us.
“Finally, we have a monstrous rookie who’s been sweeping all awards and charts since debut, right? Please introduce yourselves!”
It was finally our turn.
“One, two, three!”
I steadied my breathing in sync with Kim Sun-yu’s count.
“We are shining stars! Hello, we’re Lucy Star Boys!”
As I finished the greeting with a 90-degree bow, Kang Jung-ho’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
“Wow… Is it because this team came from a survival show? The visuals are no joke. I can already hear the ratings going up!”
Honestly, our members’ visuals were second to none.
Since visuals were crucial in the idol industry, seeing well-groomed members made my shoulders naturally rise with pride.
“Thank you!”
I answered loudly and bowed once more.
“Lusbo just debuted, right? How does it feel?”
“It hasn’t even been two weeks since our debut, so it still doesn’t feel quite real.”
“I see. That makes sense. Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans?”
“Lumina, thank you so much for loving our song and supporting us!”
As befitted a seasoned professional, Kim Sun-yu answered the MC’s questions with practiced ease.
I too didn’t forget to send hearts toward the camera for the fans.
“Lumina, I love you!”
“Haha. There’s such a refreshing newbie charm about you—it’s wonderful to watch.”
It was when Kang Jung-ho flashed that booming laugh.
“Oh, we’re newbies too!”
“That’s right. We’re still fresh!”
Fault and Embrace surged forward from either side, unwilling to yield.
‘Look at these bastards.’
They were like vipers, constantly eyeing our airtime.
Variety shows truly operated on a different ecosystem than music broadcasts.
It was a ruthless world where the funniest, most eye-catching person got even a single extra second of screen time.
That’s why we had to compete to secure every possible frame of footage.
‘I can’t lose.’
The moment my competitive spirit ignited, a familiar alarm sounded and a translucent blue window appeared.
Ding.
[To secure your airtime, choose one of the following responses:]
A. What the hell! I’m screwed! These senior guys butted in and stole all my screen time!
B. Goo goo! Goo goo! But aren’t we the youngest newbies at only two weeks post-debut? We’re the freshest, right?
C. Kyaang>_< Silly boys~ With my adorable Si-woo's cuteness and freshness, how could you compete? I'm the most handsome and cutest, tehe (wink)
'Damn it. Why does this System always give me such garbage options?'
[If you don't choose within 3 seconds, the answer will be selected randomly.]
These choices were utterly impossible to adapt to.
[3… 2…]
"Goo goo! Goo goo!"
"…?"
Shock, bewilderment, and utter disbelief crashed down on me all at once from every direction.
"But aren't we the youngest newbies at only two weeks post-debut? We're the freshest, right?"
'…I really want to punch this System.'
Option A was basically admitting I was a trainee who curses on broadcast—I'd deserve to be eliminated.
Option C was a self-destructing comment that would turn the entire Fault and Embrace fandoms against me.
In addition to the controversy over his attitude, there are personality issues, but even the way he speaks with the consonant ‘ㅇ’ at the end of every word makes it seem like his tongue has been cut out.
This was something no human should ever say.
Forced to swallow my pride and choose Option B, my inner self was already screaming and coughing up blood.
"Pfahahaha! A baby newbie? Si-woo, with a face like that—cool and detached—how can you say goo goo!"
Kang Jung-ho clutched his stomach in laughter, and the members couldn't help but laugh in shock.
Meanwhile, the strained smiles and hardening expressions of Fault and Embrace were a sight to behold.
'…At least I secured my airtime in exchange for the humiliation, so that's something.'
"These new teams have such a different vibe from the start—I'm already excited. Well then, shall we begin today's game in earnest!"
"Wooooow!"
"Today we'll be playing a total of three games!"
Following Kang Jung-ho's seasoned commentary, the massive screen installed in the center of the Water Park lit up.
"After all the games conclude, the winning team will receive an exclusive solo performance opportunity for a new song during the broadcast ending!"
In that instant, the Group Members' eyes gleamed like ravenous beasts.
'A solo stage on a terrestrial broadcast variety show.'
That was equivalent to dropping a nuclear bomb on this week's broadcast ratings.
'We absolutely have to win this.'
"We really have to win!"
"Alright, let's do this!"
As the fervor intensified, the first game officially commenced.
"The first game is 【Act It Out】!"
Though a typical variety show segment, 【Act It Out】 was one of the Production Team's preferred mini-games because it guaranteed genuine laughter.
One representative from each team would come forward to express the given word, and the remaining teammates would guess it—the team with the highest score would win.
"Then, we'll start with the most senior team, Embrace!"
Following Kang Jung-ho's cue, the first contestant—Embrace, styled in their signature sexy concept—began their preparation.
As the starting bell chimed, an urgent BGM flowed through the Water Park's speakers.
[Given Word: Washing Machine]
'I wonder how they'll express this.'
The member representing Embrace showed rookie-level enthusiasm.
The moment they saw [Washing Machine], they unhesitatingly flexed their abs while delivering an intense wave motion.
'They're really committed to their concept, aren't they?'
Without abandoning their concept and holding nothing back, Embrace ultimately guessed six problems correctly before stepping down.
'That was a solid performance.'
I'd stake my eyebrows that the image of them flexing their abs to express a washing machine would definitely make the broadcast.
Next came Fault's turn, with their cute concept.
"Who from Fault will be explaining the given word?"
"I will."
Fault's leader with the red hair confidently walked over beside Kang Jung-ho.
"Wow…! If Gu Ji-hyuk, who started as a child actor, is participating, isn't that like a cheat code?"
Indeed.
Gu Ji-hyuk, Fault's leader, was a former child actor whose exceptional expressiveness made him a legitimate cheat code.
"I'm really looking forward to this. Then, let's start Fault Team!"
"Yes!"
As the starting bell rang, upbeat music flowed through the speakers.
Fault's first given word was [True Man].
Gu Ji-hyuk, conscious of the cute concept, initially kept his gestures quite restrained.
Whether he was channeling that brutal duality he'd shown in the Waiting Room into his acting, he was definitely playing coy.
Then, as if deciding it wouldn't work, he began revealing his true nature.
With the experience of a seasoned child actor, he delivered such precise expressions and movements that anyone could instantly recall the given word.
'Not bad.'
The moment Gu Ji-hyuk demonstrated the gestures and expressions matching the clues without hesitation, the Fault Team answered questions at an astonishing pace.
Thanks to the former child actor member's cheat code, the Fault Team secured eight correct answers, effectively sealing their victory.
"Wow, former child actors really are different! They're performing much better than expected?"
At Kang Jung-ho's exclamation, my brow naturally furrowed.
'Right. Their score is higher than I anticipated.'
For my team to win, we needed to answer at least nine questions within the time limit.
'This won't be easy.'
"Alright, last one! The current trend—Lusbo, are you ready?"
"…Yes!"
"Who will be the member explaining?"
'A member with expressive abilities that can match the former child actor…'
Looking around at my members, they all seemed overwhelmed and bewildered by the child actor's performance skills and high score.
"Who wants to go?"
"Does anyone want to volunteer?"
"Honestly, I'm not confident…."
Beyond the hesitant voices of my members, I heard the Production Staff whispering quietly from the corner.
"These guys just debuted. What can they even do?"
"Right. I don't have high expectations."
"If they perform poorly, we'll just edit it out and focus on Fault."
"Fault's going to dominate this game."
The moment I heard those words, something snapped inside my head.
"I'll do it!"
"…!"
My resolute declaration drew everyone's attention.
"Excellent! The Lucy Star Boys team will proceed with Cha Si-woo as the explaining member!"
I was stepping forward beside Kang Jung-ho.
"…Cut!"
At the Camera Director's call from behind, everyone's gaze shifted to the Director.
"We'll change the battery and continue!"
"Then we'll take about a ten-minute break before resuming. Anyone needing makeup touch-ups, feel free to go!"
"Yes!"
With the Production Team's announcement, a brief rest period descended upon the Filming Location.
'Perfect timing.'
"Um, I need to use the bathroom urgently. Can I go quickly?"
"Oh, of course. Si-woo, go ahead!"
After getting permission from the Production Team, I sprinted toward the Bathroom at one side of the Water Park.
Only after entering the empty third stall and locking the door did I catch my breath and call out to that entity.
'Hey.'
Ding!
The familiar alarm chimed, and an opaque blue window materialized before my eyes.
[Yes, Cha Si-woo. You called for me?]
'Let me use the Gacha System once.'
[Right away!]
A rectangular Gacha machine materialized in the air beside the System window with a flash.
'It's been a while.'
Colorful capsules drifted lazily inside the machine, defying gravity itself.
'I need something that can compete with a child actor.'
As I approached the Gacha machine, the familiar instruction text glimmered before me.
[One operation requires one coin.]
'I'll use one of my Silver Coins.'
The System window placed a gleaming silver coin into my palm.
'So I'll have three Silver Coins left after this?'
Thinking of my remaining coins, I gripped the silver coin tightly in my hand.
'Come through for me this time.'
I inserted the coin into the machine and spun the dial rapidly.
Click, click—!
The machine's interior trembled as the capsules began spinning like a tempest.
Thunk—!
The lower chute opened automatically, and a single capsule dropped out.
'…Wow! It's golden?'
[Congratulations! You've obtained an S-rank capsule.]
'There's an S-rank above A-rank?'
[Of course there is.]
An S-rank capsule, higher than A-rank, would surely contain something extraordinary.
The moment I opened the capsule with eager hands, brilliant golden light poured forth.
A noble ticket gleamed with golden radiance, hovering before my eyes.
As I grasped the ticket, the text became crystal clear.
"…!"

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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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