The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol - Chapter 83

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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 83
“Performance is what matters in a company, isn’t it? Something stable guarantees demand and would look good for your career, wouldn’t it?”
Based on first impressions and behavior, Director Seo was the type to prioritize performance above all else.
So it was only natural that he wavered at the mention of profit and career advancement.
“Yes.”
“That’s right.”
“We want to go with a fresh concept too!”
The team members stepped up with their support once again.
“But all the songs we’ve already received are in the sexy genre. We don’t have much time, so how about we save the fresh concept for the next album and go with sexy for this one?”
The Division Director began his seasoned persuasion, refusing to back down.
“Even if we receive songs as quickly as possible, there are limits. It’s practically difficult to get a song you truly love in the first place.”
“…”
It was an irrefutable fact.
The schedules of famous composers were already booked solid for years to come.
“With the Year-End Awards Ceremony approaching, when would you even prepare a fresh song?”
Faced with this harsh reality, the members fell silent.
There simply wasn’t enough physical time to rush a composer and extract a song.
‘Is there another way to get a fresh concept song quickly?’
“I understand your opinions. But let’s face reality here.”
That was when the Division Director was about to drive his point home.
“I’m here!”
Rua stood up confidently from his seat.
“I can do a fresh song really well.”
Everyone’s attention turned toward Rua.
“Really?”
“Is it possible?”
Rua answered the barrage of questions with a strong voice.
“Yes. It’s possible. Actually, I could even make a song much better than this one.”
‘Rua might actually be able to pull it off.’
Throughout the Audition program, he had demonstrated arrangement skills superior to the original compositions.
I felt confident that someone like Rua could save us with a better song than this hopeless track.
The Division Director, who had been listening to the conversation, shook his head.
“No matter what, how could a song made by a trainee compare to one made by a professional?”
“I can do it!”
“Director, please believe in us just this once.”
“I’m confident we can do well.”
“That’s simply not possible.”
That was when it happened.
“I think the fresh concept sounds good, actually?”
It was Director Seo who stood against the Division Director’s firm stance.
With a reliable ally finally emerging from the upper echelons, the Staff Members in the conference room fell into disarray.
In reality, the two people who held actual decision-making power here were the Division Director and Director Seo.
And it seemed the Division Director wielded even greater influence between them.
Watching the Division Director’s evident discomfort at Director Seo’s intervention, I reassessed his nature once more.
I was beginning to understand what kind of person the Division Director was.
Once he fixated on something, he pushed it through to completion.
And he loved a bold gamble.
With the Division Director’s characteristics fresh in my mind, I spoke up boldly.
“What if our group established its direction as a self-produced idol group?”
“…!”
“Like Blue Live does. These days, self-produced groups are quite popular, aren’t they?”
“…Blue Live?”
The moment I mentioned the rival company that had maintained a deep rift with TX Entertainment for years, the Division Director visibly flinched.
That was the right move.
“When I think about it, our company doesn’t have any self-produced idols. I thought it might be good to have at least one.”
“Hmm….”
The Division Director’s previously harsh tone softened noticeably.
“Is that even possible?”
“Of course. Rua, how long would you need?”
I needed to lock this down quickly before the Division Director changed his mind.
“A week is plenty!”
Rua declared with absolute confidence.
“We’ll complete the best debut song possible within a week and bring it to you. So please listen to the song a week from now and make your decision then.”
I delivered the decisive blow for the Division Director’s consideration.
“We’re confident we can do better than Blue Live.”
“…!”
The Division Director flinched noticeably once more.
“…Ahem, very well. I’ll give you a week.”
The Division Director finally took a step back.
“But you’ll need to create a song better than the current one. If you fail, Cha Si-woo will take full responsibility.”
The current song was so terrible that we’d almost certainly win.
“Yes, I’m confident.”
“If I’m not impressed after hearing it a week from now, I’ll immediately proceed with the sexy concept song I selected for the debut.”
“Understood.”
Thanks to that terrible song, we now faced an extreme situation where we had to produce an original composition in just one week.
☆☆☆
The lengthy meeting finally came to an end.
The contract was already signed with a remarkable clause stating that if the artist won the Rookie Award this year, the company would fulfill the artist’s requested conditions.
There were some additional details remaining, but we decided to discuss those again after the song was completed.
“Well then, shall we have a meeting among ourselves now?”
The company’s official meeting had concluded, but for us, the real work was only just beginning.
We’d decided to launch our debut self-produced content right away.
‘At least the approval came through quickly.’
Gauging public sentiment, our fans were already eagerly anticipating our debut and the new content we’d be releasing.
While preparing our debut track, I’d been wondering how to repay their patience—and that’s when the idea for self-produced content struck me.
Thanks to the Division Director’s swift approval of the self-produced content proposal I’d casually floated during the meeting’s final moments, we could jump straight into filming.
‘It’s the best we can do given the circumstances.’
Considering our fans’ exhaustion from waiting, it was the optimal choice.
We could maintain our fanbase’s momentum while simultaneously preparing for our debut—it was truly killing two birds with one stone.
Fortunately, the company had agreed to provide editing support.
‘Being a major entertainment company and all, they should handle the editing competently.’
Since we were already in the same boat, they wouldn’t be foolish enough to sabotage us with poor editing—there was nothing to gain from it.
“Okay. But before that, there’s something I want to decide.”
It was Rua, raising his right hand high.
Thanks to the Survival Competition, the members were already accustomed to cameras, so their behavior in front of the lens remained exactly as it always was.
“What is it?”
“Let’s decide on our team leader!”
Rua’s cheerful voice echoed through the conference room like a bell.
‘Rua really is consistent.’
“Come to think of it, we don’t have a leader yet?”
Kim Sun-yu responded with a gentle smile.
“Yes.”
“Then, shall we decide on our team leader?”
“Yes!”
“Sounds good!”
The members reacted enthusiastically as the camera’s red light came on.
‘These guys still haven’t escaped the Survival Competition mindset, have they?’
It seemed like even after debuting, the flow of events remained identical to the competition.
“Is there anyone who wants to be the leader?”
At Kim Sun-yu’s question, I raised my right hand.
“Si-woo? Do you want to be the leader?”
‘Have I lost my mind to volunteer for that?’
“No.”
“Then…?”
“I’d like to make a recommendation.”
Suddenly, a peculiar tension filled the conference room.
“I recommend Kim Sun-yu as our leader!”
This was the way to quickly settle the matter and build consensus.
Since none of the members had shown particular ambition for the position, it was a viable approach.
“…Me?”
Kim Sun-yu’s eyes widened as he pointed at himself with his index finger.
“Yes. Honestly, Sun-yu has strong leadership and a real sense of responsibility as an older member. That’s why I think he’s the optimal leader for our team.”
From the very beginning, I had marked him as the leader without a shred of doubt.
“Ha! I’m glad you see it that way, Si-woo.”
“Me! What about me?!”
Rua suddenly jumped to his feet.
‘You… absolutely not.’
Imagining Rua as leader made my vision spin.
Incidents and accidents would surely pile up one after another, and I could already see myself and Kim Sun-yu cleaning up the mess afterward.
“Absolutely…!”
I swallowed my words hard, watching the camera’s red light come on.
“Huh?”
“Of course I support Rua as well, but he’s already an excellent producer for our team. Since he’s playing such an important role, I’m genuinely grateful. However, I think taking on the leader position would be too much of a burden for him.”
I gave a corporate-approved answer, mindful of the camera.
“HaHa! You’re really something, Si-woo!”
Rua laughed so hard he could barely breathe, and tears actually started forming in his eyes.
‘This guy’s definitely hamming it up because the camera’s rolling.’
Still, seeing both my seniors satisfied, I let out a relieved sigh.
“Si-woo, what about me?”
“Huh?”
When I turned my head to the right, I met the bright, eager eyes of Yoo Ho-seung sitting beside me.
‘…Should I live up to his expectations?’
“Ho-seung, you’re our team’s essential visual and you handle our SNS really well. I’m always grateful.”
“Hehe. I’ll work even harder!”
“Good.”
I didn’t know why, but as long as the maknae was happy, that was enough.
“Ahem!”
At the sound of a deliberate cough, I turned my head to the left this time.
My eyes met Kang Chan’s expressionless face as he continued coughing.
“Ahem, ahem! What about me?”
‘I got it, you punk.’
“Chan, you’re our team’s amazing main dancer. With you around, I feel completely confident about our choreography.”
Kang Chan’s ears turned bright red, apparently satisfied with my answer.
Really, navigating social life isn’t easy.
‘I don’t even know why I’m doing this.’
“Si-woo, lastly, what about me?”
‘Why are you doing this too?’
Looking at Seo Ha-yul’s hopeful eyes, I boldly ruffled his gray hair.
“Stop eating bread. We need to manage our weight if we’re going to debut.”
“Ah…Si-woo! Why won’t you compliment me too!”
“We’ve gotten a bit off track. Shall we get back to selecting our team leader?”
“Haha!”
“Hahaha!”
The team leader was decided in an atmosphere that felt considerably warmer than before.
Everyone seemed to share the same thought—Kim Sun-yu received all the votes, and our team leader was officially confirmed.
‘Thank goodness.’
The fact that I’d entrusted the leadership position to someone I could trust was incredibly reassuring.
“Thank you for voting me as team leader.”
Kim Sun-yu hadn’t expected this outcome, and a smile he couldn’t quite hide spread across his face.
“I won’t be a perfect leader, but I’ll do my best to make sure we discuss everything together and stick together no matter what happens.”
‘Among these members, there’s no one more suited to be leader than you.’
“And I’ll make sure to prioritize the team above all else. So let’s hang in there together and go the distance.”
True to form as the leader I’d had my eye on, even his acceptance speech carried the weight of genuine leadership.
“Woooow!”
“Sun-yu, we’re counting on you!”
“Sun-yu is the best!”
And so Kim Sun-yu was confirmed as our team leader, exactly as I’d hoped.
“Well then, shall we discuss the most important matter—our debut song?”
“Sounds good.”
By now, I’d grown accustomed to these meetings, whether I intended to or not.
☆☆☆
“Wow!”
“This is where we’ll be living?”
After finishing the meeting that had stretched late into the night, we arrived at our new home.
The scent of something unfamiliar and new tickled my nose.
The interior had been rushed to completion, and the distinctive smell of fresh wood and the lingering scent of wet paint still hung in the air.
The Dormitory was already equipped with cameras throughout for the documentary.
The Living Room had a more spacious layout than I’d expected.
With a sofa, a table, and a large TV mounted on one wall, the facilities were quite nice for a Dormitory housing debut-less rookie idols.
‘It’s nice having high recognition.’
Though we were rookies, the treatment was anything but.
“Wow…!”
“The Dormitory is really nice!”
My teammates marveled and gave enthusiastic reactions.
Having survived the Survival Competition, the learning effect was undeniable.
There were three Rooms in total, with doors lined up on both sides of the Corridor.
“Just so you’re aware, cameras are installed everywhere except the Bathroom. Please keep that in mind as you settle in.”
At the voice of the Buffet Manager standing in front of the Entrance, everyone’s attention focused on him.
The newly assigned Buffet Manager was a man in his thirties with about two years of experience.
‘I’ll figure out what kind of person he is once we’ve been around each other for a while.’
“Yes!”
“Understood!”
“Then, lastly, let me inform you about tomorrow’s schedule.”

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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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