Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Even as a Villain, I Want to Debut
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The B-Grade Center preliminary began, with trainees taking the stage one by one in the order they were called, delivering their performances before stepping off.
You could definitely feel the quality of the performances improving as you moved up the ranks.
Everyone seemed to know exactly how to highlight their strengths.
But while the performance quality was rising, the energy on set was steadily dropping. The long recording session meant the trainees' reactions just couldn't match their earlier enthusiasm.
"Next, trainee Lee Hae-won."
In that atmosphere, Lee Hae-won's name was called.
"I'll be right back."
"Yeah, go show 'em everything you've got."
Lee Hae-won stood up and hopped in place a few times to shake off his nerves.
He soon took the stage, grabbed the mic, and greeted everyone loudly.
"Hello! I'm Lee Hae-won, the trainee who wants to be your happy virus!"
A bold, spirited introduction.
That's so Hae-won, I thought.
"What performance have you prepared for us?"
At the host's question, Lee Hae-won cleared his throat and spoke.
"Honestly, this is the first time in my life I've ever choreographed a performance."
Lee Hae-won continued with a bright smile.
"If I had to describe today's performance in one word, it'd be 'fire'. I'm Lee Hae-won, and today, I'm gonna burn this stage white-hot!"
Cheers erupted at his passionate declaration.
"Then, let's look forward to the fiery performance from trainee Lee Hae-won."
The lights dimmed, and just before the music started, Lee Hae-won spread his feet shoulder-width apart, clasped his hands together, and bowed his head.
Even that simple prep pose built an air of anticipation.
— ♩♪♫~
Lee Hae-won nodded to the beat flowing out. Then he sharply extended his arms and began stepping sharply.
He hadn't been training long, and this was his first time choreographing, but he pulled it off smoothly enough that it didn't seem like it.
The star really is a star.
For a moment, I could understand why Do Won-woo hated him in the novel.
Lee Hae-won might have the "hard worker" label after his name, but that was straight-up talent territory. No insane gift could produce growth like that.
"Whoa..."
"He filled the whole thing with just dance."
The choreography Lee Hae-won created was made up of fast, intricate steps.
There were so many small movements that his body never got a break, making it look tougher and more grueling than the others.
But Hae-won is powering through that brutal dance at full throttle...
Somehow, seeing him pour everything into an overwhelming routine felt more moving than a relaxed performance. It was because you could feel his desperation skin-deep.
For the final ending pose, Lee Hae-won spun and stomped the floor hard.
"Huff... huff... Thank you!"
Having finished, Lee Hae-won was panting like he might collapse.
After a brief silence, especially hot cheers poured from the trainee seats.
"Insane!"
"Whoa, why's he so good?"
"That power's no joke."
The exhausted trainees, worn out from the long shoot, snapped awake at Lee Hae-won's performance and reacted with fire.
It was the perfect stage to match his "fire" description.
Having burned white-hot like that, Lee Hae-won returned to the trainee seats.
"Good job."
I patted his shoulder in praise, and he grinned wide.
Honestly, it was a moment that gave me a lot to think about. Looking around, plenty of trainees seemed genuinely moved by the performance.
I'd gritted my teeth and prepared too, but I worried if I could deliver even more impact than that.
If it weren't for this damn system, I wouldn't be so obsessed with center.
This was life-or-death for me, so I couldn't help being desperate.
That's why I'd stayed in the practice room later than even Lee Hae-won yesterday.
I don't know how it'll go, but I don't want to think I've got zero chance.
Even if I wasn't born with his talent, even trapped in this villain's body burdened by misfortune...
I believe I have the power to change my own fate.
"Trainee Do Won-woo."
Then my name was called.
I let out a short breath and stood.
"Won-woo, fighting!"
With cheers from Lee Hae-won and the others behind me, I headed to the stage.
"Please give a short explanation of the performance you've prepared."
I recited the intro I'd prepared.
"The stage I'll show you today is a performance themed around butterflies."
"Oh, butterflies?"
"Yes. I was thinking about a theme everyone could relate to, and the story of a butterfly suddenly came to mind."
I continued, looking at the trainee seats.
"As you all probably know, butterflies are born as caterpillars without knowing they'll become butterflies. They crawl on the ground, then melt their bodies in a chrysalis to be reborn as butterflies."
The trainees listened intently with serious expressions.
"You might see me as wingless and lacking right now, but I've poured my wish to one day become a butterfly and fly into this performance."
In the serious mood, the host tossed in a playful jab.
"Trainee Do Won-woo, I did say short explanation..."
"Ah, sorry."
"No, no. Great, touching explanation. Now, let's look forward to the performance of trainee Do Won-woo, who will become a butterfly and fly."
I smiled back at the host's words and took center stage.
My tense breathing carried through the mic into my ears.
I couldn't help being nervous. This was my first time showing original choreography, not assigned moves.
"Do Won-woo, fighting!"
Lee Hae-won's cheer came from right across from me.
I smiled gratefully, then reset my expression.
Yeah, let's do this.
That's why I'd come here—to change this tiresome villain fate.
Before the music started.
In the middle of the stage, Do Won-woo crouched and draped an opaque cloth over his body. The long white fabric settled, enveloping him completely.
Murmurs rose at the unique start that set him apart from the others.
"What's that?"
"What’s he doing?"
"Ah, no way... chrysalis...?"
One trainee caught on and raised his voice.
"He said it was butterfly-themed, so is he expressing being inside a chrysalis like that?"
Exactly.
Do Won-woo was portraying the chrysalis stage before becoming a butterfly.
As the music began, Do Won-woo moved inside the cloth, like he was trying to break through something.
"Whoa, I never imagined he'd use that sound like this..."
As the music built, the dark movements under the cloth grew more intense.
Then, at the drop, Do Won-woo threw off the cloth and revealed himself. His striking visuals drew reflexive cheers from the trainee seats.
"Insane."
"Suddenly hitting us with that face...?"
Do Won-woo grabbed the upward-floating cloth and continued dancing.
It was a performance using the cloth.
"Whoa."
As Do Won-woo turned sideways, the white cloth trailed in a slow arc, fluttering like butterfly wings.
"It really looks like a butterfly."
Under the bright lights, the choreography visualized a butterfly taking flight.
Even small movements looked grand thanks to the cloth.
It was a smart choice, but cloth could easily look messy or cumbersome if mishandled. Yet it moved like an extension of his body.
A problem naturally solved by the luck boost from my "Fate Changer" title.
"Wow!"
More cheers burst from the trainee seats at the next part.
Do Won-woo bent his legs, dropped to his knees, and rose again.
...He can do that too?
Han I-jae, watching, raised an eyebrow slightly at the breaking move.
It was tough for a beginner, but my internal energy made it possible. Honestly, I'd practiced prepared to sacrifice a few knees.
For the final ending pose, Do Won-woo draped the cloth over both arms and leaned his body.
"Thank you."
After finishing, Do Won-woo bowed deeply, clutching the cloth in both hands.
A steady round of applause lingered from the trainee seats. The afterglow still hung in the air.
"Whoa, that was kinda touching..."
One trainee muttered.
"I got a little choked up watching."
"Honestly, me too."
Comparing a caterpillar's journey to becoming a butterfly to our own lives might seem like an obvious tearjerker.
But sometimes, that cliché hits harder than ever.
Everyone's dreamed at least once of becoming a butterfly and flying free.
In that sense, Do Won-woo's performance was more than enough to resonate with the trainees.
Back in the trainee seats after my stage, Lee Hae-won hit me with a high-five.
"Great job, Won-woo."
I sat, drenched in sweat, and he handed me a water bottle from beside me.
I chugged some water and gathered my thoughts.
"Honestly, I don't even know how I pulled it off. How'd it look to you?"
"It was good. Seriously the best."
Lee Hae-won's expression told me he meant it.
Fortunately, the other trainees' reactions seemed positive too.
At least this gives me a bit of a shot.
My strategy was to weave a story into the dance to tug at hearts even a little.
I didn't know if it worked, but for now, it was all I could hope for.
"Trainees, you all worked hard. Now, let's start the voting."
With the B-Grade Center preliminary over, ballot papers were handed out.
The sound of pens scratching paper tapped at my ears from beside me.
"Now, we'll tally the votes."
I'd steeled myself mentally.
Even if it's not what I want, keep a straight face, I told myself.
When Lee Hae-won and my faces appeared on the screen together, I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Whoaaa! It's you and me, Won-woo!"
Lee Hae-won shook my shoulder next to me, making a huge fuss.
So, in the end, Lee Hae-won and I made it to the final center candidates.
The protagonist and the villain side by side as center contenders. Unthinkable in the novel.
"The trainee who will be the B-Grade Center is!"
The host built suspense before announcing.
Ha...
I let out a wry chuckle at my own tension. Beside me, Lee Hae-won gripped my hand like he was praying, head bowed.
"Trainee Do Won-woo!"
The moment my name was called, I'd been ready to mask disappointment, but now I had to manage a different expression.
Lee Hae-won, who'd been praying with my hand in his, looked up at me.
A flicker of regret crossed his face, but his eyes shone with genuine congratulations.
"Congrats, Won-woo."
He patted my shoulder with a beaming smile.
Seeing that face stirred a twinge of guilt.
If it were me, could I congratulate him that purely, without a speck of envy?
Still, I was overjoyed.
Just knowing my fate was changing brought comfort.
I'd thought shining moments like the protagonist's might never come my way in life. People destined for stardom were set from birth, I'd believed.
But today... it feels like I'm the protagonist.
"Trainee Do Won-woo, as the new B-Grade Center, please share a word."
Before going up, staff had placed a paper crown and a "B-Grade Center" congratulatory ribbon on me.
As I went on stage like that, Lee Hae-won burst out laughing from below.
"Uh, first off, thank you."
I barely steadied the tilting paper crown and shared my thoughts.
"I've always dreamed of becoming a butterfly and flying at least once in life, and it feels like you all gave me the courage and wings to do it. I'm just grateful."
My eyes met Lee Hae-won's thumbs-up from across the way.
I nodded to him and added my final words.
"I'll grind hard so I never regret this choice. Thank you."
A thought suddenly struck me.
If I'm this happy, how much must Do Won-woo have longed for this moment?
Born into a villain's fate, yet believing even he could become a light in the world.
That's what drove him to work so hard.
...I'll change that fate for you.
He couldn't hear it, but that's what I conveyed.