The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol - Chapter 6

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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 6
“Yes. I’m an independent trainee without an affiliated entertainment agency.”
“Wow! It must have been incredibly difficult to participate as an independent trainee this time. That’s impressive.”
Everyone knew that independent trainees had been withdrawing due to the controversies and unfair editing from last year.
‘But can you really say something like that so openly in front of the cameras?’
“Ha ha. There’s nothing particularly impressive about it, really.”
“You have such a refreshing personality. Is there a particular reason you decided to participate?”
“I came to debut.”
“Si-woo, you’re so cool. I’m Jin Young-hoon, an 18-year-old trainee at Planet Entertainment. Would it be okay if I called you hyung?”
“Of course. Feel free to call me whatever’s comfortable.”
“Yes. Si-woo hyung, the guy standing in the back is also from the same agency as me.”
Jin Young-hoon pulled the gray-haired trainee from the back to the front.
“Ha-yul, you need to introduce yourself.”
“…Hello. I’m Seo Ha-yul, also 18 years old, from Planet Entertainment.”
“Nice to meet you. Seo Ha-yul, feel free to call me informally too.”
“…Okay.”
After the shy trainee, I exchanged brief greetings with the last remaining person.
Now that introductions were done, the truly important moment had arrived.
“Does anyone want to use the first floor bed?”
I naturally settled myself on the edge of the first floor bed.
In a new space, you have to properly establish your territory.
“I don’t… mind either way.”
“Me!”
“I prefer the second floor bed.”
With everyone’s different preferences, the bed assignments proceeded quickly without much friction.
Jin Young-hoon took the remaining first floor bed, and the gray-haired trainee climbed up to the bunk above mine.
“Have you all decided on songs for your self-introductions?”
“Yes. I’m planning to perform a senior artist’s stage.”
“…I had already thought of a song beforehand too.”
“What about you, Si-woo hyung?”
“Hmm, honestly, I’m still deciding.”
Until the filming tomorrow morning, I was given time to practice individually for the self-introduction rating evaluation.
‘But what song should I choose?’
I needed a song that would minimize my dancing while properly showcasing my vocal abilities.
‘Is there really no other option?’
While watching YouTube and practicing countless songs, I’d come across an oddly random track through the algorithm.
That song could cover up my dancing while still having solid mainstream appeal—it seemed like the best choice right now.
‘That’s it. I only have a day to prepare anyway, so let me stop overthinking and practice with this song.’
After making a quick decision, I got up from the bed.
Creak.
The old bed creaked with its characteristic groan.
Every trainee’s gaze snapped toward me in unison.
‘Damn.’
So much for slipping out quietly.
The moment I spotted the camera’s red recording light, a practiced corporate smile automatically bloomed across my face.
“I need to practice, so I’ll head to the Practice Room first. Everyone, fighting with your unpacking!”
“Yes! See you in a bit.”
“Good luck with practice!”
“…Sure.”
I acknowledged my Room 207 roommates’ farewells and quickly made my way to the Practice Room.
☆☆☆
‘I didn’t sleep a wink.’
By the time the sun rose, I’d been practicing my one-minute self-introduction evaluation until I was satisfied.
‘Well, it’s not like I haven’t pulled all-nighters before.’
An unfamiliar voice pierced through my haze.
“Cha Si-woo, trainee.”
“Yes!”
“Go into the Changing Room and change into the group outfit, please.”
“Understood.”
The Stylist handed me the clothes without ceremony.

In my hands fell Star picking’s signature outfit—a school uniform.
I thought it looked familiar, but upon closer inspection, it was the exact same uniform costume I’d worn last season.
‘…Is this a hidden camera prank?’
“Isn’t this the group outfit you wore last season?”
“Oh my, you have a good eye. That’s right.”
‘It’s not about having a good eye….’
The school uniform, embedded with gold patterns, was excessively flashy—the kind of burdensome visual you couldn’t forget once you’d seen it.
“But why…?”
“We decided to wear last year’s costumes for environmental protection purposes.”
The Stylist’s expression was too sincere to be a prank meant to tease the trainees.
‘Is this actually real?’
Seeing the camera’s red light only deepened my confusion.
“What a wonderful broadcast—thinking of the Earth and taking the lead in environmental protection.”
“Right? We’re quite thoughtful like that.”
‘I’d better keep my mouth shut.’
“Haha. Inspired by that noble cause, I’ll have to do my part for the environment too.”
“We just hope the viewers will appreciate our commitment to protecting the planet.”
I let the Stylist’s words go in one ear and out the other as I changed into the outfit.
‘This is going to get absolutely roasted online.’
Thinking about all the mockery that would follow—recycled stone, rehashed stone, environmental stone, dirt-spoon stone—my head was already pounding.
‘Should I just push forward with the environmental protection angle?’
I fastened the silver nameplate I’d been given to my chest.
The moment I stepped out of the Changing Room, the Makeup Artist rushed forward as if she’d been waiting.
“Cha Si-woo. Come this way for your makeup.”
“Yes.”
The makeup area was laid out like a factory, with chairs and mirrors spaced at regular intervals.
Countless trainees sat receiving makeup in the chaotic, noise-filled environment.
Receiving makeup for the first time in my life felt utterly unfamiliar.
When the brush grazed my cheek, the sensation of it gliding through the fine hairs tickled.
“Look down slightly under your eyes.”
“Okay.”
When the cosmetics touched my eyelids, her brushwork became noticeably more delicate.
After a few minutes, the brushing finally stopped.
Only after applying lip balm as a final touch was the makeup complete.
“Covering those dark circles really brightens your whole face.”
The reflection staring back at me in the mirror felt strangely unfamiliar and foreign.
“Don’t waste a handsome face like that—make sure to take good care of yourself from now on.”
“Thank you.”
I stood and bowed deeply to the satisfied Makeup Artist.
In professional life, proper greetings were absolutely essential.
“My, what a handsome trainee with such good manners.”
I offered the Makeup Artist a professional smile in return.
“Your makeup work gave me so much confidence. Thank you so much.”
When I delivered that professional line, she broke into a beaming smile.
After receiving the Makeup Artist’s encouragement, I followed the Staff Member’s guidance and moved on.
The Filming Location, with cameras installed throughout, had the Judge’s Seat set up on the Stage.
The Judge’s Seat, positioned where all participants could be seen at a glance, had nameplates and microphones arranged in place.
Below the Stage, chairs were lined up in a row for the trainees to sit.
With cameras installed at each section, the production team’s strong intention to capture the trainees’ reactions was evident.
‘From now on, I need to stay sharp and give good reactions.’
I took a seat in an empty chair nearby.
As the grand opening music began, Yu Hae-in, who was hosting, made his entrance.
“Welcome, all trainees participating in Star Picking 5 Survival.”
“Yes!”
The youthful, resonant cheer echoed through the Filming Location.
“Today we’ll be conducting grade evaluations through one-minute self-introductions. Show the national directors and judges your charm with everything you’ve got!”
“Woooow!”
The roar was so loud it felt like it would clear the earwax from my ears.
‘Youth is something else.’
“Then let’s begin by introducing the four judges who will be conducting today’s evaluation.”
A brisk piano melody filled the background.
“Our first judge is…!”
A clear, light flute melody followed, accompanied by delicate strings weaving in harmony.
“The queen of ballad singers, Park Chae-young!”
A woman with long, wavy hair walked confidently toward the center of the stage.
Park Chae-young, who appeared to have had her makeup done at a salon—evident from the layered foundation—stood at the center of the stage in a trendy yellow one-piece dress.
“Hello. Following last year, I’m Park Chae-young, and I’m honored to serve as a judge for this Star Picking 5 competition.”
“Wow!”
“It’s the Wasp instructor!”
Park Chae-young had earned the nickname “Wasp” because of her rich emotional expression and vocal tone, combined with an obsessive passion for music.
Dressed in yellow, she looked even more like a wasp.
Park Chae-young, wearing a gentle smile, moved toward the judge’s seat.
After that, renowned composers, choreographers, and dancers took turns introducing themselves as judges.
“The judges’ lineup is quite impressive!”
Once all the judges were seated, Yu Hae-in lifted his cue card.
“Trainees, we will now begin the official one-minute self-introduction evaluation process! The order will follow the sequence of those who passed the first audition during the preliminaries.”
‘Since I auditioned on the last day, I’ll probably be near the end.’
Following the staff member’s guidance, several trainees were called forward.
“First trainee, please come up to the stage!”
While adjusting my posture and clothing to account for the filming cameras, the first trainee to be evaluated took the stage.
The murmuring that had filled the space suddenly quieted like a receding wave.
The chaotic atmosphere fell silent, as if everyone had held their breath.
All eyes converged on the stage at once.
“Hello! I am…”
Between strands of flowing brown hair, a warm, gentle smile was visible.
At the sight of the first trainee’s perfectly defined silhouette, whispers began spreading through the crowd.
“Isn’t that… a senior from Luminous Stars?”
“Why is a senior here…?”
‘Interesting. An experienced hire?’
“I’m Kim Sun-yu, a 23-year-old trainee from Starlight Entertainment, participating in this competition.”
Even amid the murmuring, the first trainee held the microphone with confidence, his eye-smile particularly striking.
His clear eyes seemed unusually warm.
‘He looks incredibly kind.’
A participant with such a gentle, innocent appearance that you couldn’t imagine a harsh word coming from him.
A judge looked at Kim Sun-yu with a peculiar expression and picked up the microphone.
“Trainee Kim Sun-yu, you’ve already debuted once before, haven’t you?”
“Yes, that’s correct. I debuted five years ago as the youngest member of Luminous Stars.”
The filming location suddenly erupted in commotion.
“If you’ve already debuted as an idol, why are you participating in a survival competition?”
“Even after Luminous Stars disbanded, my dream and passion for being an idol remained. I applied to Star picking5 first because I wanted to challenge myself again.”
‘So he’s saying he ditched a failed group and started fresh.’
Luminous Stars was a five-member boy group that had been plagued by controversy since their debut—a complete failure.
‘I remember reading articles about how members kept causing scandals one after another until they finally disbanded.’
“Your passion and desperation are truly moving.”
“I agree. I think the challenge itself is admirable.”
“Thank you.”
“Then Kim Sun-yu, please begin your one-minute self-introduction.”
With the judges’ responses—clearly mindful of his existing fanbase—the brief Q&A session concluded.
A one-minute timer appeared on the large screen installed on the stage.
Intense music with a rapid beat thundered through the venue.
The backing track of a currently trending boy idol song flowed through the speakers.
The timer on the screen began counting down rapidly.
Kim Sun-yu, showing no sign of nervousness, flashed a gentle smile toward the camera.
I can’t help but fall for you
I want to be with you all day long
Kim Sun-yu sang the idol song smoothly, its addictive bridge and trendy backing track blending perfectly.
‘It feels so natural, as if it’s his own song.’
His clean vocal control and sharp, precise choreography radiated the distinctive composure and depth of an experienced idol.
‘He’s absolutely soaring on that stage.’
As he executed the rhythmic waves in perfect time and showcased the difficult choreography of the highlight section flawlessly, admiring gasps erupted throughout the venue.
‘Status window.’
[Yes.]
‘Show me Kim Sun-yu’s stats.’

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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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