Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Even as a Villain, I Want to Debut
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Finally, the day of the center selection battle had arrived.
"We're heading in!"
The signal came for us waiting outside the set, and we entered.
We took our seats by grade, each finding the spot with our name on it.
Looking around, every trainee had that hollowed-out, exhausted look.
...No wonder they're wiped out.
They'd finished their grade evaluations just a day ago and had to prep a performance right after. Being dead on their feet wasn't exactly surprising.
"Hello, trainees."
But that heavy vibe melted away the moment emcee Baek Do-ha stepped out.
The fatigue vanished, and everyone started reacting with full-on enthusiasm.
These guys have some serious mental stamina.
I had the same thought, but I was throwing myself into the reactions just as hard.
"What day is it today? Yes, the center selection battle we've all been waiting for."
Baek Do-ha smiled and kept the show rolling.
"Today, we'll decide the centers representing your grades. I can't wait to see who claims that spotlight."
He finished his line and turned to look at the trainee seats.
"Na Jae-hyun from B-grade."
"Yes?"
"Who do you think will take B-grade's center spot?"
His name called out of nowhere, Na Jae-hyun looked baffled but scanned the room for an answer.
"Uh..."
Our eyes met, and the corner of his mouth twitched up.
This guy's not about to...
"I predict Do Won-woo will snag the center."
The room's attention snapped to us in an instant.
I'd had a hunch when our eyes locked, but hearing my name for real sent a nervous flutter through me as I watched.
"Why's that?"
Na Jae-hyun continued.
"Well, Won-woo hyung just moved up to B-grade, so he might still feel like a stranger to everyone."
...Can't blame them.
The original B-graders had trained together in the same class and bonded. I'd only just promoted, so my only close connection was my roommate, Na Jae-hyun.
Maybe that's why he went full defense attorney, passionately laying out why I deserved center.
"Sharing a room with him, I've seen hyung every day. I know how hard he grinds."
Na Jae-hyun looked right at me.
"Even last night, he came back at dawn practicing for this."
"Oh, really?"
"He's grinding his teeth and gums to claim center. Looks pretty, but he's scary intense."
With all eyes on us, "oohs" rippled through the trainees.
I nearly covered my face on reflex. Grateful, sure, but why did it feel so embarrassing?
"Alright, let's hear from Do Won-woo. Who do you think takes center here?"
Someone worthy of center in this group...
No need to overthink it. I grabbed the mic and answered.
"I think Lee Hae-won."
"Ooh, why?"
Lee Hae-won next to me shot me wide-eyed bunny looks.
"Hae-won always stays late practicing with me. Jae-hyun vouched for my effort, but Hae-won matches it. That's why I see him as center."
I turned, and he wore a touched expression.
The C-graders nearby cheered us on with supportive gazes. Different grades now, but class comradeship lingered.
"Next up..."
Baek Do-ha turned for the next question.
His eyes landed on the A-grade section.
"Han I-jae from A-grade. Your pick for center?"
All eyes converged, and Han I-jae answered deadpan.
"Me."
Figured as much. Knew he'd say it straight.
The instant reply drew "wows" from around the room.
"Why's that?"
"I'm the best here."
Another unhesitating response.
Trainees murmured as he set the mic down, expressionless.
"...He's right."
"Yeah, can't argue."
Some might call it cocky, but it was undeniable. For top dog in A-grade, it was Han I-jae.
Anyone asked would've named him.
...But saying it himself is brutally honest.
Naming someone else could've bounced it back, letting them nominate him.
Han I-jae, though—no fakeness, no lies. He truly believed he was tops, so he picked himself.
Lots found that raw edge charming, but plenty resented it too.
In the story, his debut group bullied him partly for that.
Too blunt to butter up the parachute member, called out bad dancing as is—bam, group harassment.
With his skills, it's just 'arrogant' at worst. Not like Do Won-woo, who'd get slammed for overconfidence punching above his weight.
But things were different now.
In the original, he said it and got center. Here, with Do Won-woo's bad luck shifted over, who knew?
If he said that and bombed? Ultimate humiliation.
"We'll start with F-grade's center selection."
The announcement kicked off the battle.
F-grade first, as expected.
The F-graders on the far right mostly looked grim.
Even center got just 12 seconds in the signal song stage. For them, it was barely a chance to show face.
Wonder who'll get it.
Originally Do Won-woo, but my B-grade promo left it vacant.
Not even I, with novel knowledge, knew who'd fill it.
The selections began, called trainees hitting the stage in order.
Really hard to predict...
F-grade meant no standouts; everyone hovered at similar levels. Picking the least bad was key.
Grades need a solid center to shine.
Someone objectively representative. Trouble was, Do Won-woo's exit nuked their visual ace.
Now extras duked it out for it.
No one's really standing out yet.
Then the host called the next.
"Won Ji-an."
An F-grader stood at his name.
...Who was that again?
No way I'd remember. Won Ji-an never appeared in the novel—just a name on the roster, not even extra-worthy.
"Hello. Skills are F-grade, but my freshness is A-grade. Won Ji-an. Nice to meet you."
No novel info on him, but one thing was clear now.
...Major social anxiety.
His intro screamed bubbly energy, but he delivered it shaking like reading from a textbook, face beet red.
Blushing already. Can he even perform?
"Won Ji-an, care to give a quick intro to your performance?"
He gripped the mic, opening slow.
"It's a performance about how our youth can't be graded."
"Sounds great! Looking forward to Won Ji-an's show."
Under the lights pre-start, he struck his pose.
Music hit; he turned to face us.
"Huh?"
"What's that?"
He held a sketchbook—clearly prepped.
Flipping to the beat revealed pages with writing.
He pulled a pen from his pocket, bit it to uncap, and drew a line through the F-grade sticker on his tee.
F to A. Nice.
Not a perfect A, but it fit the message.
Dropping the book, he danced with a bright smile.
I'd worried about his shyness tanking it, but he nailed it.
Solid. Kinda cringey to me, but maybe just me.
Not skill-wise top-tier, but best so far compared to prior acts.
Matching the fresh beat, he flashed a zesty grin and tossed a finger heart.
Ending pose: finger to dimples, wink.
F-team center's his.
Obvious, no foresight needed. Strongest showing yet.
Good reactions from F and beyond confirmed it.
"Thank you."
Performance over, his face flushed right up.
Blasted it confidently, then snapped back to timid—fascinating contrast.
"Great job, Won Ji-an. Did you come up with and make that sketchbook bit solo?"
He bit his lip, nodding shyly.
"Drew it, cut paper, wrote it—all alone?"
"Y-Yes! Th-That's right!"
He stuttered in a fluster.
"Give him a hand, everyone."
Clutching the sketchbook, eyes squeezed shut, he bowed deep.
Amid applause, he straightened with a beaming smile. Joy pierced his shyness.
"Time to vote."
F-graders wrote names, dropped in the box.
Tally time—result as expected.
"Won Ji-an is F-grade's final center."
Obvious to all but him; tears welled as he walked onstage, overwhelmed.
"Thank you. Me as center? Never dreamed..."
Not performative; brutally low self-esteem?
Best performer, but can't see it objectively.
Then, a ping—system window popped.
System Identification...?
Blank on what it did, then I noticed the change.
A glowing blue panel floated by Won Ji-an onstage. My torso leaned forward instinctively.
What the...?
Brain raced.
Unlock let me see others' systems?
Only his showed—not others'. Probably targets system holders only.
Won Ji-an has a system too?
Thoughts flooded.
...Another possessor like me?