The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol - Chapter 31

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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 31
When Rap Team 3 took the stage, the cheers that erupted were noticeably quieter than before.
‘Well, this is already the eighth performance. Even I would be exhausted from screaming every time.’
[Welcome, Rap Team 3! Team Representative, would you come out and introduce your team?]
Yu Hae-in continued the proceedings with unwavering high energy.
‘Impressive.’
A familiar face stepped forward on stage.
[One, two, three. Hello. We are the Strongman Team—the epitome of true men.]
It was Jin Young-hoon, my roommate from Room 207 and from the same entertainment agency as Seo Ha-yul.
[Oh my. With such strong men on the team, even your outfits stand out.]
The six men dressed in loose-fitting attire adorned themselves with dangling accessories around their necks and wrists.
‘Six children of darkness?’
[We chose clothes from the hottest brand right now and dressed in line with current trends to express our team’s color.]
[That’s great. Then would you also explain the song your Strongman Team chose?]
[The song our Strongman Team selected is ‘strong,’ one of the masterpieces of traditional hip-hop. We’ll show you what respectful hip-hop truly looks like by leveraging the strengths of old-school hip-hop.]
[Respectful hip-hop—that’s exciting. Let’s begin the Strongman Team’s ‘strong’ performance!]
Drop the Beat
The rapid, staccato drum kicks and snares struck the ears with intensity.
The 808 bass rumbled deep and heavy, vibrating through the entire body, while the low beat accelerated steadily.
Money is good
I love money
In this world, money makes everything possible
Money is the best
‘Why are the lyrics like that?’
The obsessed rapper’s rapid flow poured out relentlessly, as if gasping for breath while sprinting, filling the entire song with energy.
The melody was concise yet sharp, and electronic sounds wrapped around it irregularly, adding tension.
Compared to the grand composition, the rapping fell short.
‘Some of them mumbled their pronunciation so badly you couldn’t understand what they were saying.’
Just as my excitement waned when one of them butchered the lyrics, it happened.
Seo Ha-yul, who had been lingering at the edge of the formation, finally burst toward the center.
Don’t judge me by my appearance alone
I have a stronger inner core than anyone
Even if there are those who try to obstruct me
I’ll move forward for the sake of my dreams
[Wooooow!]
The expert-level rapping, like scratching an itch that had been bothering you, drew gasps of admiration from the audience seating area.
‘Of course! Seo Ha-yul is really good.’
At the climax, the drum line became complex, creating a sensation that made the heart race faster.
While Seo Ha-yul danced at the very back of the formation during group choreography, in Rap Team 3 he displayed dancing that stood out more than anyone else’s.
Finally, Rap Team 3’s performance came to an end.
[If you think Strongman Team showed respectable hip-hop, please press the button!]
The numbers displayed on the screen climbed rapidly before gradually slowing down.
Finally, the leading digit stopped at 3.
[Strongman Team’s voting results: 350 votes.]
[…Thank you.]
Seeing the modest vote count—neither high nor low—I found myself shaking my head.
‘Seo Ha-yul’s part was far too brief.’
The karmic consequence of someone inferior to Seo Ha-yul claiming the highlight and center position had rippled through the entire team’s vote count.
‘Still, true to form for the gray cat, he’s doing his job well in his own space.’
While the overall performance left something to be desired, Seo Ha-yul’s solid stage gave way to the next performance.
As the competition neared its end, the audience’s energy waned and the vote pool dwindled considerably.
‘The schedule has fallen this far behind?’
With limited voting available, the structure inherently disadvantaged teams performing later in the lineup.
‘In competitions like this, actually the very last slot is the worst position.’
Most viewers cast their one vote for their favorite team, then impulsively give their remaining vote to whichever team performs decently.
If it’s not their favorite team, they vote without hesitation, meaning teams performing later have far fewer chances to secure votes.
[Now we’re down to just two teams left.]
Of the hundred trainees who had filled the waiting room, only our team and Kim Sun-yu’s team remained.
[The next order is….]
‘Just avoid being last. Going before Kim Sun-yu gives us the advantage.’
[Dance Team 3!]
‘Damn. It looks like all the remaining votes are going to go there.’
I was troubled by the fact that a seasoned professional’s performance came right before mine.
“I’ll head out first.”
Kim Sun-yu, wearing a gentle smile, lightly placed his hand on my shoulder.
‘Is he messing with me?’
“Sure.”
I brushed his hand away with a professional smile.
“Haha.”
Kim Sun-yu, radiating composure, led Dance Team 3 out of the waiting room.
[Kyaaaaa!]
[Sun-yu!!!]
[Look over here just once!]
The moment Dance Team 3 took the stage, an ear-splitting roar erupted from the audience.
The spectators, whom I’d thought completely exhausted, came alive at Kim Sun-yu’s appearance.
[Wow, the cheers are truly incredible! Dance Team 3, please come to center stage and introduce yourselves.]
Kim Sun-yu, wearing a composed smile, led his members to the center of the stage and stopped.
[Three, two, one—hello! We are Favorite Team, hoping to become the National Director’s favorite idols.]
[That’s certainly a memorable team name. What song did Favorite Team select?]
[The song we chose is ‘Dreamlike’ by senior Mboy. We’ve arranged it to blend an ethereal feeling with intense performance, creating something unforgettable like a dream.]
The audience seating area stirred once more as another top-tier male idol’s song began.
[Ah, I see. This is a song by our junior Mboy. I personally love the track ‘Dreamlike’, so I’m really looking forward to this. Let’s watch the Favorite Team’s stage right now!]
The stage lights dimmed completely, and a violet haze of light flooded the entire space like mist.
On the background LED screen, rippling water beneath moonlight and stars scattered across the night sky drifted slowly.
Think of this as a dream
A space I created just for you
The song began in a low, whispered tone.
The dreamy interlude intensified, and as it transitioned into the chorus, the choreography spread out in slow, wave-like motions.
“…!”
Every gesture, every footstep—the razor-sharp synchronized dance was the very definition of idol perfection.
“They’re really good.”
“Right? Professional artists!”
Rua’s eyes burned with intensity as he watched the stage on the screen.
Through the speakers, a drum and bass thundered with bone-shaking force.
“Wow!”
Intense breathing and performance pushed forward relentlessly.
On stage, they aligned like soldiers and exploded in unison.
The audience erupted in gasps and applause mixed together.
As expected, Kim Sun-yu, who led the stage from the center with seasoned expertise, stood out the most.
‘How did someone with that kind of talent end up as a failed idol?’
As the fierce ‘Dreamlike’ track ended, the camera zoomed in on Kim Sun-yu striking the ending pose.
As Kim Sun-yu, breathing heavily, winked at the camera, the audience seating erupted in cheers once again.
‘I need to be more nervous about this.’
[If you thought the Favorite Team’s intense ‘Dreamlike’ stage was great, please vote right now!]
The numbers on the screen began climbing at the fastest rate of any performance so far.
It was because the textbook-perfect idol stage had arrived like rain to the exhausted audience, hitting exactly the right note.
[3…2…1 Voting is now closed!]
“Younger Sibling, I didn’t misread that number, did I?”
“I thought I was the one who misread it too.”
…603 votes.
An overwhelming vote count.
[The Favorite Team has received the most votes in the live voting so far and is currently in first place!]
[Wooooow!]
[Let’s ride this momentum and hear the Judge Panel’s evaluation as well.]
‘…There really won’t be many votes left after this, will there?’
As I was reeling from the Favorite Team’s unexpected results, a Staff Member opened the Waiting Room door.
“Alright, Vocal Team 2, let’s get ready to go up for the final stage.”
“Yes!”
While the Judge Panel’s evaluation was underway, we did one final check before going up.
“Let’s at least shout ‘Fighting’ together!”
Among the trainees whose nervous expressions were plain to see, only Rua wore a bright, carefree smile.
‘Does this guy not get nervous at all?’
“Alright, everyone gather in the center.”
When tension ran too high, moments like this could actually boost morale and ease the anxiety all at once.
I extended my hand forward first toward Vocal Team 2 gathered in a circle.
One by one, my teammates’ hands stacked on top of mine.
In that brief moment where our warmth transferred to one another, I felt my trembling heart gradually calm.
I could feel all six pairs of eyes turning toward me at once.
‘Right. This is something the Team Representative should say.’
“Vocal Team 2, you’ve all worked hard up to this point. Let’s just perform as we’ve practiced! We can do this!”
“We can do this!”
The moment the words left my mouth, our hands shot upward in unison.
A brief but intense heat radiated through the air.
Each face bore a resolute determination mixed with nervous excitement.
Just then, the waiting room screen showed Favorite Team descending from the stage.
[The final team remaining. Vocal Team 2, please come up to the stage!]
At Yu Hae-in’s call, we quickened our pace.
“Let’s show them what we’re made of on that stage!”
“Just don’t make any mistakes.”
“We’re going to take first place!”
As I climbed the metal stairs, the intense heat from the brilliant lights enveloped my body.
The moment I stopped on the stage, countless unfamiliar gazes spread before my eyes.
“Kyaaaaa!”
Facing the cheers from National Director audience members for the first time, my heart lurched momentarily.
“Siu!”
“Prince Rua!”
The sight of the audience clapping and cheering with bright smiles despite us having done nothing yet was peculiar.
Strangely, the corners of my mouth kept rising.
“Thank you for waiting so long. We present Vocal Team 2, who will show you our final performance. Please introduce your team.”
I took the microphone the Staff Member handed me.
“Hello everyone. We are….”
Ding.
The translucent blue window had appeared after a long time.
[Choose one of three answers to the question.]
A. Loyalty! We report! We are the First Love Team.
B. Thump thump >__<"
"…?"
Yu Hae-in's expression shifted as if he'd witnessed something he shouldn't have, but he quickly composed himself.
"Can you hear our heartbeat? The moment we saw the National Director for the first time, our hearts responded for the first time. We're a team experiencing first love with all of you!"
"…"
"…!"
A silence hung in the air for roughly three seconds.
'Did I just bomb?'

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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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