Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Genius Idol's Entertainment Conquest Strategy
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The moment the first trainee emerged from behind the door, the sound of camera shutters erupted from every direction.
The rhythmic clicking did not cease for a single moment until the entire event reached its conclusion.
As they stepped onto the modest red carpet, the trainees carefully concealed their tension beneath practiced smiles and respectful bows.
Numerous fans had already gathered, holding up slogans and calling out the names of their preferred participants.
The trainees whose names echoed through the plaza looked around in surprise at the unexpected recognition.
Amidst the howling wind, the voices mostly favored those who had previously debuted or gained public visibility through other programs.
I wondered about the wisdom of requiring us to stand outdoors in early March wearing thin uniforms that offered no insulation.
The freezing cold was becoming increasingly difficult to endure.
I noticed one trainee who was beaming brightly and projecting gestures of affection toward the crowd with tireless energy.
While I struggled to manage my own discomfort, these young aspiring stars were demonstrating a remarkable professional spirit.
I reflected on whether my current body possessed a particularly low level of durability compared to the others.
I seemed to be sensitive to both extreme cold and heat, which filled me with a sense of dread for the future.
I resolved to invest my future points into my stamina statistics as soon as possible.
While I was preoccupied with these trivial thoughts, the initial groups of trainees had already occupied the highest level of the platform.
I eventually climbed to the second position on the left-hand tier of the structure.
Kim Jun-woo was waving with great enthusiasm to my left, while Ban Yo-han stood to my right with a faint and steady smile.
I lamented my misfortune at being positioned directly beside someone as visually striking as Yo-han.
I reflected that if I still possessed my original face, the misfortune would have belonged to those standing next to me instead.
It took a considerable amount of time for all one hundred trainees to find their designated positions.
The host finally confirmed that everyone was in place and gave the signal for our formal collective greeting.
The trainees bellowed their greeting with enough volume to pierce through the surrounding noise while bowing deeply.
The reporters responded with a renewed frenzy of camera shutters from the front lines.
Groups of fifteen trainees were subsequently guided toward the security fences by the production staff.
They began the process of distributing the paper gift bags they had been carrying.
The fans checked the labels and began to shout for the specific trainees they hoped to receive a gift from.
The fences trembled under the weight of the surging crowd as popular trainees like Oh Hyun-jin and Jing Xiao approached.
I maintained a neutral and professional expression to avoid any potential controversies regarding my personality.
I wrapped my arms around myself and shivered while attempting to tune out the surrounding chaos.
Kim Jun-woo eventually nudged me to indicate that it was time for our tier to move toward the fans.
I thanked him for the reminder while complaining quietly about the biting chill in the air.
He remarked that the sun felt warm, but I found little comfort in his optimistic assessment of the weather.
I wondered if the seasons of spring and autumn had simply vanished from this game world entirely.
As I descended the platform, Seo Moon-gyeol reached out and tapped my shoulder from the bottom tier.
He placed a warm hand warmer into my palm before I could even inquire about his intentions.
He informed me that there was no need to return the item to him.
I was deeply moved by his unexpected kindness and reflected that his personality was the polar opposite of Ban Yo-han.
I offered him a respectful bow of gratitude before continuing on my way.
Yo-han urged me to move faster from behind, claiming that I was obstructing the path of the others.
I noted with irritation that he was the final person in the line and could easily afford to wait a few moments.
I resolved to counter any future public praise of his personality with my own firsthand accounts of his behavior.
We followed the staff along the perimeter of the fence, offering greetings and handing out our gifts to the supporters.
Every time Yo-han approached a new section, the fans responded with a mixture of awe and curiosity regarding his appearance.
He managed to distribute his meager supply of gifts in a matter of mere seconds.
I felt a sense of fresh surprise rather than jealousy at how easily he commanded attention through his looks alone.
The reality of the situation served as a constant reminder that I was indeed living within a game world.
Most of the trainees in our group had already finished their distribution as I looked around the crowd.
I struggled to find a recipient for my final bag while Jun-woo still possessed two of his original six.
I felt a sincere desire to give my last gift to someone who had not yet received anything from the other trainees.
I recognized that these people had endured the extreme cold for us and deserved to leave with a small token of appreciation.
The majority of the fans near the fence were already clutching multiple bags from various participants.
I scanned the crowd with increasing speed as the staff began to call us back to the main platform.
I eventually spotted a woman who appeared exhausted and out of place among the more energetic fans.
I noticed that her hands were empty and realized that she was the ideal recipient for my final gift.
I raised the bag high and locked eyes with her to signal my intention.
She appeared surprised and pointed to herself in silent inquiry.
I ignored the impatient glares of the staff and nodded frantically to confirm her as my target.
I managed to complete the handoff just before I was escorted away from the fence.
We exchanged brief words of thanks before the interaction reached its inevitable conclusion.
The actual fan meeting concluded in approximately twenty minutes, a duration that felt far too short compared to the hours of preparation.
News articles regarding the event quickly began to flood the internet and social media platforms.
One reporter noted the presence of major agencies like True Entertainment and their prominent trainee, Oh Hyun-jin.
The coverage highlighted the inclusion of several idols who had previously debuted in other groups or programs.
The articles also emphasized the global theme of the season, noting the large number of foreign participants from various regions.
The reports concluded by mentioning the upcoming performance of the title track on the evening music broadcast.
Anticipation was building among the public regarding which trainee would secure the coveted final close-up shot of the performance.
The pre-recorded performance was uploaded to a popular video platform immediately after its television broadcast.
The public reaction to the quality of the song and the production was generally positive.
Users in the comment sections praised the selection of the center performer and compared the current season favorably to previous iterations.
One viewer inquired about the identity of a specific brown-haired trainee who reminded them of a baby deer.
Other users quickly identified him as Ban Yo-han and shared rumors of his exceptional academic record and past casting stories.
Some fans argued over who deserved the title of the season's top visual, citing names like Na Yun-jae and Seo Moon-gyeol.
A particular comment drew attention to a trainee with a wistful and melancholic gaze during the final moments of the song.
The user described the aura as unique and inquired about the name of the "wistful boy" at the end of the video.
Another user responded that the trainee was an independent participant named On Raon who had recently departed from a major agency.
A detailed review of the fan meeting in Sangam appeared on a popular community forum shortly after the event.
The author of the post shared her surprise at the high visual standard of the third season's trainees.
She listed several participants whose real-life appearances had left her gasping in admiration.
She noted that while On Raon had given her a gift, he had not initially stood out to her among the more physically imposing trainees.
However, she confessed that her perception changed entirely while watching the recorded performance at home.
She described him as a boy with an incredible screen presence and a gaze that felt profoundly moving.
She recalled his frozen ears and blue lips during their brief interaction, noting how pitiful and sincere he appeared in the cold.
The comments on her post questioned how she could find him "not memorable" while dedicating half of her review to his specific details.
A collection of handwritten letters from the trainees was also circulated online for the fans to enjoy.
The letter from On Raon was noted for its humble and slightly unconfident tone.
He thanked the fans for their support in the cold and promised to show significant growth throughout the program.
Fans remarked on the contrast between his adorable handwriting and his lack of self-assurance compared to the other participants.
The letters from the foreign trainees were also praised for their sincerity and unique charm.
Overall, the public was becoming increasingly invested in the personal stories and personalities of the new trainees.