The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol - Chapter 52

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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 52
The sleek elevator descended rapidly once I pressed the Basement Level 1 button.
‘The ride quality is excellent.’
Ding.
As the elevator doors finally opened, a magnificent Music Studio came into view.
My jaw dropped at the sight of countless instruments displayed across the expansive space.
“Wow… this is a home, not a showroom, right?”
“Sure!”
“How many instruments are there exactly?”
“Hmm. I’ve never counted, but I have pretty much everything worth having.”
“Rua, you’re really serious about music.”
“Of course!”
From string instruments like violins and cellos to percussion and keyboard instruments like drums and pianos, the collection spanned an impressive spectrum of genres.
“I’ve never seen some of these instruments before in my life.”
Seo Ha-yul’s expression transformed in an instant, brimming with emotion.
‘Why does he look so happy?’
“Rua! This is a limited edition guitar! This is famous for being impossible to get even if you have the money!”
Seo Ha-yul approached the guitar with his eyes practically gleaming.
“Oh. Ha-yul, you know your instruments? Want to give it a try?”
“Really?”
“Haha! Of course.”
Seo Ha-yul carefully lifted the guitar and began plucking the strings tentatively.
Rua watched his every move with a pleased expression.
‘Why is someone like this pursuing an idol career?’
Honestly, he was nearly a musical genius.
I found myself curious about why someone with both money and talent would audition to be an idol.
“Rua.”
“Hmm? Si-woo. What is it?”
“Why are you trying to become an idol?”
“Just? Because it seems fun?”
Rua’s expression was bright, but his eyes seemed strangely hollow.
“Is it really just for fun?”
“That’s a secret for me too.”
Behind his cheerful smile, something hidden flickered into view.
‘Everyone has secrets they’d rather keep.’
“I understand.”
Suddenly Rua’s eyes widened, his pupils trembling with clarity.
“You’re not going to ask anymore?”
“You said it’s a secret. You must have your reasons.”
Rua’s expression gradually softened.
My hardened eye corners softened, and a quiet smile seeped into the corners of my mouth.
“Si-woo’s younger sibling really has such a cool personality.”
“Being cool is what makes it impressive, isn’t it?”
“Ha-ha. Anyway, it’s almost time for the broadcast to start.”
“Should we head back up?”
“Yes!”
As we moved toward the Elevator, I noticed Seo Ha-yul was still strumming his guitar absently.
“Seo Ha-yul.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s go now.”
“Ah… can’t I play guitar just a little bit longer?”
“No. The broadcast is starting soon.”
I led Seo Ha-yul, who gazed longingly at his guitar, back toward the Elevator.
☆☆☆
“Wow! So Lucinyeong went to a Cafe and watched Episode 7 together.”
Park Mo’s phone had the DalStagram app open.
A few days ago, when Park Mo learned that her favorite had created a DalStagram account, she began checking it every time a notification came through.
In the photos on her favorite’s account, Lucinyeong appeared with a bright, cheerful cat pose.
In the background visible on the TV screen, the broadcast scene from Star picking5 Episode 7 was displayed.
“I don’t know whose house it is, but it’s really nice.”
By the way, Lucinyeong was a nickname created by fans, taking one character each from the names of Rua, Cha Si-woo, and Seo Ha-yul.
The fans who liked the meaning—since “Luci” meant “shines” in Latin—actively promoted this nickname as they cheered for all three together.
‘Since “Luci” means “shines” in Latin, it’s a perfectly fitting name.’
The three people with opposite images naturally drew attention from the moment they appeared together.
Lucinyeong, each with different charms, showed exceptional synergy when together.
At first, Park Mo had been wary of Rua, who held the same vocal position as her favorite.
But the way Rua appeared on the broadcast showed a special friendship toward Cha Si-woo.
As the broadcast episodes progressed, Park Mo’s heart gradually melted away.
‘That Rua is in the same class as us. The look in his eyes when he sees Si-woo is different.’
What was funny was that other fans felt exactly the same way.
And so Rua was reevaluated, and finally Lucinyeong could be born.
Whether Lucinyeong knew how well the fans understood them or not, in any case, the combination of these three people who frequently gathered together was quite satisfying.
“By the way, our Si-woo created DalStagram less than a week ago, but is this follower count really right?”
Park Mo felt a subtle thrill seeing the number already surpassing 500,000.
‘I guess I picked the right favorite from the start.’
Satisfied, Park Mo slowly scrolled down through the DalStagram posts.
Though she saw the same photos dozens of times a day, each viewing gave her energy—it was like a vitamin for her these days.
As she scrolled to the end of the posts, she had reached the first post.
There, a verification photo with a billboard had received countless hearts.
“Sigh… if only I hadn’t worked overtime that day, I could have actually seen it in person.”
The fact that my favorite had visited near my home to take a verification photo weighed on my mind quite a bit.
If I hadn’t been passed out from exhaustion, I would have rushed out the moment I saw the notification that my favorite had appeared.
“Still, it’s nice to see that he knows how to genuinely thank his fans—it makes me like him even more because he has such a good heart.”
My favorite truly was someone to be proud of.
Above all, the main photo that appeared in the first DalStagram post was a picture of the digital billboard taken by Park Mo.
Park Mo felt satisfied that she had quickly submitted it when the fan cafe was collecting billboard photos.
The more I looked at my favorite’s photos, the less they bored me—instead, they had a mysterious charm that made my heart swell even more.
‘This is a real dopamine explosion.’
Park Mo, who had been savoring the joy while scrolling through the first post’s photos with a pleased expression, paused at one particular image.
“But honestly, the combination with Kim Sun-yu is unexpected.”
In the first ranking announcement broadcast, Kim Sun-yu, who hadn’t shown any particular competition, had been edited warmly embracing Cha Si-woo and aired on the show.
Kind Si-woo had even patted Kim Sun-yu on the back and gently comforted his senior.
‘Our Si-woo has this face and a good personality too…! Is he perhaps an angel?’
While Kim Sun-yu was an unexpected pairing since they had no prior connection, Park Mo had let it slide because it created a positive image for her favorite.
But the fact that they were close enough to meet privately and take verification photos together the very next day after the Competition Stage ended was quite unfamiliar.
“Did my favorite turn out to be an extrovert?”
At this sensitive moment with the resurrection ticket for eliminated contestants on the line, the fact that he deliberately posted a photo with Kim Sun-yu in his first post reinforced just how intimate their relationship was.
“Well, Kim Sun-yu is decent enough to be a fellow member.”
He was experienced and skilled, and above all, there were no controversies about his character.
If they were to be teammates together, it would only be a gain, never a loss.
The problem was the malicious commenters.
The moment Cha Si-woo openly showed his support for Kim Sun-yu, the malicious commenters from the Entertainment Company trainees on Kim Sun-yu’s team began attacking viciously.
“Whatever you guys say.”
Though it was annoying, Kim Sun-yu’s fanbase was far larger anyway.
Kim Sun-yu’s fanbase, who had been wary of Cha Si-woo, quickly shifted their stance and began moving to somehow connect the two of them together to gain support votes.
“Ugh. I don’t like it, but if our Si-woo likes him, what can I do.”
Thinking of her kind and gentle favorite who knew nothing of these behind-the-scenes dealings, Park Mo’s heart began racing.
“Let’s win this war today too.”
Park Mo quickly began typing as she watched the posts flooding in.
☆☆☆
“Everyone, it’s just one more week. How have you been?”
“Great!”
In contrast to Yu Hae-in’s harmless smile on the Stage, the trainees’ expressions were visibly tense.
“Today is finally the day the second ranking announcement ceremony begins!”
“Woooow!”
“Could you all take a look at the chairs in front of you?”
On the Stage, thirty chairs were arranged in a triangular formation, divided into five tiers.
Following the red carpet down the center aisle with one’s gaze, the topmost tier held a golden throne.
The throne, with its intricately carved patterns gleaming softly in the light, had the number 1 inscribed on it.
Looking down, the tier below held leather sofa chairs inscribed with the numbers 2 and 3, placed between the red carpet.
As the chairs descended, they became increasingly shabby, until the bottom tier held fifteen red plastic chairs arranged in a row.
‘They’re discriminating based on rankings through the chairs again.’
It was childish beyond measure, yet the visual effect was undeniably striking.
“Looking at these chairs, does anything stand out to you?”
‘Stop the discrimination!’
“There are more chairs than people!”
“Correct. We currently have twenty-five trainees total, but there are thirty chairs on the stage.”
Yu Hae-in was beginning the buildup for the eliminated contestants’ return.
“Through the voting that ended at midnight yesterday, the trainee from the Eliminated Team who received the most votes has earned the resurrection ticket.”
As a result, the Internet had been ablaze with heated keyboard battles all week long.
‘It really was intense.’
There were words too frightening to even speak aloud.
“So, who are the five trainees who maintained top-tier positions within their teams and earned the resurrection ticket?”
The lights cut out all at once, plunging the stage into darkness.
“Please welcome them with your applause!”
A deep drum sound echoed slowly from far beyond the speakers, pulsing like a heartbeat.
As the drums and strings intertwined, the tempo accelerated, and five silhouettes emerged from behind the stage.
“Waaaaaah!”
The camera relentlessly captured close-ups of the trainees’ genuine cheers as filming continued.
Finally, bright lights illuminated the stage, revealing familiar faces standing there.
“Through the National Directors’ votes, the trainees who ultimately survived from the Eliminated Team are Kim Sun-yu, Kang Chan, Park Soo-gyeok, Kim Ji-woo, and Hong Ryu-han!”
“
“Hyung!”
“No way!!!”
My eyes met with Kim Sun-yu’s, who was standing with a tense expression.
When I gave a subtle thumbs up, Kim Sun-yu offered a gentle smile.
‘Thank goodness.’
I had expected him to earn the resurrection ticket safely, but seeing it happen before my eyes brought a wave of relief.
‘I suppose that settles my debt.’
“Congratulations to all of you who survived with an overwhelming vote margin! Now, please move to your seats for the ranking announcement ceremony.”
The five trainees who had come down from the stage sat in a row in the empty chairs at the very back.
“Now that all thirty trainees are accounted for, we’ll officially begin the second ranking announcement ceremony for Star picking5.”
“As a reminder, twenty trainees were eliminated in the final 1v1 team battle mission, so you can simply listen to your ranking and move without worry.”
‘…Right, how comforting that must be.’
In stark contrast to Yu Hae-in’s words, the trainees’ expressions were rigid with tension.
Most of them had clenched fists, and their eyes betrayed a mixture of impatience and anxiety—you could see it just by turning your head slightly to the side.
Yu Hae-in picked up the microphone with a satisfied expression, the tension hanging thick in the air.
“First, we’ll announce the trainee who placed thirtieth. Interestingly, this is one of the trainees who survived the resurrection ticket.”
Boom…boom…boom…
A low bass reverberated slowly through the space.
The trainee sitting beside me swallowed hard at the sound that seemed to synchronize with a heartbeat.
‘I can’t seem to adapt to this atmosphere at all.’
With all eyes fixed on the trainees seated in the back seating area, Yu Hae-in picked up the cue card.
“The trainee who ranked 30th is Hong Ryu-han!”
“Wooooow.”
Hong Ryu-han, who had consistently survived the cutline with steady upward momentum, walked toward his chair with a composed expression.
As trainees were called one by one in order from the lowest rankings, a familiar name was announced just as the red plastic chairs filled completely with people.

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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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