The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol - Chapter 15

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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 15
“We’re starting the theme song ‘Cheer me on’ stage filming.”
The massive stage was flooded with dazzling lights, as brilliant as stars scattered across a night sky.
An enormous screen and LED panels in a rainbow of colors blazed across the stage.
‘I’m the center.’
At my feet, I could see masking tape marked with the number 1.
The fact that I was standing at the very front—when I’d expected to be at the end of the A-Grade Section—felt surreal.
‘The problem is these guys.’
Standing beside me were Kim Sun-yu and Kang Chan, who had placed second and third in the center voting.
‘Let me check their stats.’
Ding.
[STAT WINDOW]
Kim Sun-yu (23)
Appearance: B
Singing: B-
Dancing: A-
Charisma: B-
Stamina: B-
Ability: ???
Special Trait: 5-year veteran idol debut experience
[STAT WINDOW]
Kang Chan (20)
Appearance: B+
Singing (Rap): C-
Dancing: A+
Charisma: C
Stamina: A-
Ability: ???
Special Trait: 2 million YouTube subscribers, Gwangan-ri dancer
‘Both guys flanking me have A+ and A- dancing stats.’
After the grade evaluation, I spent four days preparing the TX Net music broadcast stage with formations matched to our grades.
The opening performed by the A-Grade trainees started in a V-shape formation, with one person emerging from each side and spreading outward.
When I danced alone, it was fine, but once these two joined in, my dancing looked painfully inadequate by comparison.
‘Show me my stats.’
Ding.
[STAT WINDOW]
Cha Si-woo (20)
Appearance: A-
Singing: C+
Dancing: C (UP)
Charm: B+
Stamina: B+
Ability: ???
Status: A paparazzi who regressed five years into the past.
Remaining Stats: +2
Thanks to four nights of sleepless practice, my dancing stat had climbed up one tier.
But the gap between an A and a C grade was worlds apart.
‘There’s no way around it.’
It was time to use the stats I’d been putting off.
[Would you like to increase your stats?]
‘Yes.’
I agonized over whether to raise my singing stat or my dancing stat.
To survive among trainees with A+ and A- dancing stats in a position where direct comparison was inevitable, there was really only one way.
‘Raise everything in singing.’
Ding.
[Stat Window]
Cha Si-woo (20)
Appearance: A-
Singing: B (UP)
Dancing: C
Charm: B+
Stamina: B+
Ability: ???
Status: A paparazzi who regressed five years into the past.
[Stat application complete.]
‘Done.’
After deliberation, I’d made a strategic choice.
Even if I’d invested all my stats into dancing, I’d only climb from C to B-, nothing more.
Of course, I could earn recognition for significant improvement in dancing.
But the problem was that I couldn’t beat the guys next to me with a B- dancing stat.
‘Then I need to change my strategy.’
In Star picking5, where relatively more trainees danced well, my strategy was to establish my position through singing.
‘This way, my singing will rank among the top tier of A-grade.’
For idols, the vocal position was both important and rare.
Since my position would differ from the guys on either side, they couldn’t harshly compare me on dancing.
If they criticized my dancing, I could counter that their singing was lacking.
‘Most importantly, I can establish my position as a vocalist.’
The strategy was to capture viewers’ hearts early on by excelling distinctly in one area.
“We’re starting filming.”
The Camera Director spoke flatly.
“The stage is arranged in a V-shape, with B, C, D, and E-Grade trainees positioned behind the A-Grade trainees for filming in sequence.”
While the choreography remained largely unchanged, the Filming Studio crackled with tension—a hundred trainees ascending that stage was no small matter.
The stage’s opening naturally fell to the A-Grade trainees.
As the signature theme song of Star picking5, the PD and writers’ determination to actively promote the A-Grade trainees was unmistakable.
Conflict with the lower-grade trainees was inevitable under these circumstances.
‘Are they deliberately courting discord among the trainees?’
For the sake of dramatic television, it was entirely plausible.
“Once the A-Grade filming concludes, the B-Grade trainees waiting in the wings will rise on the lift.”
“Understood.”
“Then C, D, and E-Grade trainees will ascend in sequence, and finally we’ll capture all trainees together on stage for the finale.”
The lower-grade trainees’ expressions visibly hardened.
The E-Grade trainees wouldn’t appear until near the end of the first verse.
It was a brutal confirmation that lower grades meant significantly less camera time—a death knell for visibility.
Society was indeed merciless, indifferent to anything but value.
‘Higher grades receive preferential treatment everywhere—no exceptions.’
“Do you understand?”
“Yes!”
“Then let’s begin filming. Three…two…one…!”
The familiar instrumental accompaniment of “Cheer me on” poured through the speakers.
The lighting moved with dynamic fluidity, as if dancing, and my body responded instinctively.
I began the opening, eyes locked on the camera, moving in perfect rhythm.
As I hit my mark, the pre-positioned camera glided into position, tracking my every movement.
‘I’ve always been the one holding the camera.’
Being on the other side of the lens felt strange, yet my chest tingled with an unfamiliar thrill.
‘Something feels different.’
The moment the camera drew closer and captured my face in close-up—
I’ll seduce you.
The opening line I’d delivered thousands of times flowed from my lips as smoothly as if buttered, effortless and natural.
“…!”
The trainees flanking me flinched slightly.
My voice cut through the air with unwavering clarity and precision.
It carried the quality of a whisper that burrowed into the cracks of one’s heart—seductive, with vocal prowess that had visibly elevated.
A single lyric, yet every breath resonated with impact.
As the first phrase concluded, Kim Sun-yu and Kang Chan emerged from behind, moving to either side.
Every moment is filled with you.
The A-Grade trainees flowed outward in a V-formation as if they were a seasoned ensemble, each movement perfectly synchronized.
‘The A-Grade trainees truly excel. Their harmony is impeccable.’
Without a single misstep, they executed the formation with razor-sharp precision, launching into the choreography.
I wished this moment would last forever.
As the A-Grade trainees’ assigned section concluded, the camera pivoted toward the B-Grade trainees.
I danced to the beat of the backing track and exhaled a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, the first section had gone without a single mistake.
‘Who would have thought my singing stat improving to B would make such a noticeable difference in my actual ability?’
The gap between stat C and stat B was so pronounced that anyone could hear it—the improvement was tangible.
The filming, which had been progressing smoothly, moved into the highlight section of the first verse after completing the B-grade part.
The camera zoomed in on me once again.
Cheer me on in my shining days
The three-octave high note I’d practiced countless times ascended far more effortlessly than before.
“…!”
Each note resonated with an emotional depth, as if embracing all the effort I’d accumulated until now.
A thrilling, exhilarating sensation—one I’d never experienced before in my life—enveloped my entire body as my breath opened up.
My heart raced with the vibrant energy of my breathing and muscles seeming to cry out that I was truly alive.
I’ll give you everything, so choose me
Rua and Kim Sun-yu added harmonies, and the camera zoomed in on the C-grade section where the trainees were positioned on the lift.
The filming, which had been proceeding smoothly, came to a halt at the point where Yoo Ho-seung was being filmed.
“Cut!”
“I’m so sorry!”
The Camera Director nodded at Yoo Ho-seung’s apology for missing the choreography.
“Let’s film again.”
The familiar theme song “Cheer me on” echoed through the Filming Location once more.
“Cut!”
“I’m truly sorry!”
“Cut!”
“I’ll try again.”
Again.
“Your breath is—”
“Cut!”
“I apologize.”
“Again!!!”
Yoo Ho-seung’s face flushed crimson as he fumbled the lyrics.
‘He didn’t mess up this badly even during practice.’
It seemed he was far too nervous, likely because this was his first filming.
The Camera Director, his jaw covered in stubble, rubbed his beard with his hand.
“Even for a trainee, this is too much. How can you become an idol when you keep making mistakes on stage?”
Yoo Ho-seung’s face remained flushed crimson, and now his eyes began to redden.
“I’m sorry!”
‘At this rate, he’s going to cry.’
“This is why filming with amateurs is exhausting. We’ll resume filming starting with the A-grade trainees.”
“…Yes!”
The filming continued as the atmosphere on set grew increasingly frigid.
Nervous trainees made mistake after mistake, and filming came to a halt after just three hours.
“Let’s take a brief break and then continue with the Stage performance.”
“Yes!”
After hours of grueling filming, the nerves of the Staff Members and trainees had grown razor-sharp.
The atmosphere was as fragile as thin ice, punctuated by sighs echoing throughout the space.
While the Camera Director and PD in Charge stepped away for a cigarette break, the pent-up frustration finally erupted.
“They’re such a burden.”
“They can’t sing or dance worth a damn, but they waltz in here riding on their fame.”
Disgruntled murmurs spilled from the exhausted trainees.
“Must be nice being born an influencer just because your parents are well-off~”
“Better than a silver spoon—more like an influence spoon.”
‘Kids these days have no mercy.’
To anyone listening, it was unmistakably directed at Yoo Ho-seung.
“If you’re going to get a high grade you don’t deserve, at least perform well.”
Yoo Ho-seung, who had been heavily criticized during filming, suddenly flinched.
‘Is this okay? They said we’re taking a break, not that the cameras are off…’
The disgruntled voices grew louder.
When Yoo Ho-seung showed no reaction, the target shifted.
“They only push the A-Grade trainees anyway. Why are we even suffering?”
“Exactly. Must be nice being A-Grade. They get so much camera time they’ll have tons of broadcast footage.”
“We barely get any screen time, and they just film us carelessly—what is this?”
“If I were good-looking, I’d get a high grade too.”
The endless complaints transformed into sharp sarcasm directed squarely at the A-Grade trainees.
As envious glances and irritating remarks began to surface, some of the A-Grade trainees started to shift uncomfortably.
‘Compared to malicious comments online, this is almost cute.’
The gap between anonymous cruelty and face-to-face criticism was vast.
“Yawn.”
Four consecutive nights of practice and accumulated exhaustion made my eyes close involuntarily.
‘I’m dying of sleep. At this rate, I’ll die before even debuting as an idol. Let me rest for a moment.’
The moment I closed my eyes to catch a brief nap in the chair.
Ding.
[You are given a Choice Quest. Settle the disgruntled trainees and finish filming the Cheer me on Stage performance quickly.
Upon success, the filming will be completed within 30 minutes as a reward.
Upon failure, filming will continue for 24 hours.]
My drowsy eyes snapped wide open.
‘I’m dying of sleep and I have to do this filming for another 24 hours?’
After hearing the same song repeatedly, I was already experiencing auditory hallucinations of the theme song Cheer me on.
‘There’s no way I can do 24 hours of filming when I could finish in 30 minutes.’
As someone with an impatient Korean temperament, I absolutely despised inefficiency.
Work that could be done quickly should be finished as fast as possible.
‘Let me take action.’
I shot up from my chair and walked toward the cluster of grumbling voices.
“When you think about it, didn’t their agency lobby for them too?”
“Star Picking 4 had manipulation controversies—maybe they had insider influence?”
“It’s possible, right? I mean, we also….”
“Hey! Shh!”
Park Soo-gyeok and what appeared to be his agency’s group were chattering away excitedly.
‘You again?’
“What did you just say?”
The trainees from Harmony Entertainment who had been snickering suddenly turned around in unison.

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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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