Chapter 25
Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Even as a Villain, I Want to Debut
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the tense atmosphere, the trainees waited anxiously for the results.
Soon, the team names and scores appeared on the screen. If things had gone according to the original story, our team—who performed the horror keyword song [Crimson Hunger]—would have placed dead last...
"The team with the lowest score in the Keyword Group Battle is the Dark Heart team, who tackled the death keyword."
The results had changed.
Right beside us, I heard regretful sighs and words of comfort exchanged among them.
"Now, we'll announce the 3rd place team."
A team name popped up on the screen.
"The Summer Light team for the youth keyword takes 3rd place. Congratulations."
It was unexpected.
The Summer Light team was the one Lee Hae-won belonged to. In the original story, they would have taken 1st.
And for 4th place, Han I-jae's team was called. Han I-jae openly scowled, clearly unsatisfied with the result.
'Two 1st-place contenders pushed down to 3rd and 4th...'
Did that mean it was safe to assume our team was now a top contender for 1st?
I exchanged glances with my teammates. Kwon Hak-jin was even giving me a slight smile, looking a bit hopeful.
"Now, we'll reveal the two teams in the running for 1st place."
The screen soon split, showing our team and the opposing one side by side.
'Won Ji-an... and us?'
"The Velvet Soul team for the fate keyword and the Blood Love team for the horror keyword have been selected as 1st place candidates."
The MC's words barely finished before surprised reactions erupted from nearby.
"Huh?"
"It's us! Us!"
Kwon Hak-jin stared wide-eyed, looking back and forth between me and the other teammates.
Hyeon Si-woo wore the same expression, gazing up at the screen.
I'd predicted we might end up as 1st place candidates since our score seemed higher than expected, but actually seeing the results felt strange.
When we'd gotten this song, my only goal was to avoid last place. 1st place candidate? No way.
And then there was the unexpected rise of Won Ji-an's team to the same spot.
'Won Ji-an...'
Won Ji-an looked just as flustered, probably thinking the same thing. Our eyes met, and I quickly looked away.
"The winning team against their opponent will receive a benefit, and the team with the highest score overall—taking 1st place—gets a double benefit. Which team will claim that double benefit?"
The host's line signaled that the final reveal was coming soon.
At first, I just wanted to dodge last place, but now that things had turned out like this, greed started creeping in. Why not aim for the double benefit?
"And now, the 1st place team."
A long silence followed.
As expected, they announced it but didn't reveal right away.
Only after the cameras captured every trainee's reaction did they finally name the winner.
"1st place goes to..."
The host boomed.
"The Velvet Soul team for the fate keyword. Congratulations!"
As soon as 1st place was announced, cheers erupted from next to us.
It stung a little, but we applauded the winning team.
'Never thought Won Ji-an would take 1st.'
But their performance had been solid. That final bit probably stuck in everyone's minds.
'Jeong Hee-min's finally getting a good result.'
Jeong Hee-min, who always had that grumpy, dissatisfied cat look, was bouncing around like a kid for the first time.
Won Ji-an next to him looked overwhelmed, on the verge of tears.
"Good work, everyone."
Kwon Hak-jin scanned the team with a consoling tone, despite his own disappointment. I nodded back with an "it's fine" expression.
'It's a shame, but 2nd place is still a solid showing.'
With that thought, I glanced sideways.
The one person on my mind right now was Won Ji-an.
'Just who the hell is he?'
I wanted to know more about Won Ji-an, but for now, I held back.
After the Keyword Group Battle wrapped up, there was one more shoot before the dorm life ended.
It was the trendy four-cut photo booth session. Well, "four-cut photo" was just the name—the real purpose was something else.
'Ghost hidden camera prank.'
This was when the ghost prank debuted.
For reference, the original story described this as a new addition for the season.
So most trainees probably wouldn't see it coming.
But I knew. I even knew roughly how it played out.
A spirit photo appears in the group shot, and the moment someone spots it, a ghost jumps out from a hidden booth compartment to scare them. Pretty classic hidden cam stuff.
'I already know what's coming... Should I act surprised or not?'
I debated it. They'd prepared it to get reactions—if I didn't freak out, that'd be lame.
Before heading to the shoot, I tried practicing a startled face in the bathroom mirror.
'Hmm...'
No matter how I looked at it, it was off.
Just widening my eyes and dropping my jaw wouldn't fool anyone into thinking I was shocked.
It hit me just how impressive actors were.
'Forget forcing it.'
Acting unnaturally could make me look even weirder on camera.
So I decided to just be myself.
The trainees split into groups and headed to the photo booth one by one.
We waited for the team ahead of us to finish. An awkward silence hung over us the whole time.
They said the groups were random, but the lineup felt off no matter how I sliced it.
Kang In-hyeok, Han I-jae, me, and two extras. Mostly people who weren't close, so the awkwardness was inevitable.
"Um..."
Maybe I should say something while we wait.
I'm not the type to speak up first, but enduring this silence felt like torture.
"Uh..."
"Th..."
The moment I opened my mouth, Kang In-hyeok beat me to it—clearly thinking the same thing.
"You first."
"No, go ahead."
"It's nothing big."
I hate situations like this.
I shrugged and just said it.
"Has anyone here done a four-cut photo before?"
Kang In-hyeok and Han I-jae both turned to me. Their faces screamed "never."
The two sitting side by side exchanged looks, then turned back to me.
"You have, Won-woo?"
Me neither.
No way I'd done something like that.
"Looks like fewer people have tried it than I thought. I figured I was the only newbie."
"Well, I've never done it, but I know the gist. Seen it at Star-something-or-other."
As we chatted, one of the extra trainees chimed in.
"I've done it plenty."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'll show you how inside."
Time passed, and the team ahead finished, passing us by.
They tried to play it cool, but their faces looked like they'd seen a ghost—soulless.
I got it. They'd gone in clueless and gotten jumpscared by something they never saw coming.
'Still, that bad?'
Seeing their pale faces, I wondered if it was really that scary.
"Everyone looks exhausted."
Kang In-hyeok, oblivious, assumed they were just tired. No clue what was coming.
"Next group, please enter."
Our turn.
"First time doing four-cuts, but it feels kinda exciting."
Kang In-hyeok smiled faintly, looking forward to it.
Surprising. He looked like the type who'd hate this stuff.
"You can use these props here."
Before entering the booth, we picked out accessories.
I went safe with a cat headband. Kang In-hyeok pondered, then grabbed a halo.
"What about you, I-jae hyung?"
Han I-jae blankly rummaged through the props, looking lost.
"Want me to pick for you?"
"Huh? Sure..."
I thought about what'd suit him and picked up alien sunglasses.
"How about these?"
"Hand 'em over."
Based on his personality so far, I figured he'd hate it, but he put them on without a fuss.
He checked the wall mirror, then glanced at us.
"What do you think?"
"Uh, well..."
It kinda fit? Kinda didn't?
Right as I was about to suggest something else, Kang In-hyeok spoke up from behind.
"Looks good on you."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's a unique vibe I haven't seen from you before."
Kang In-hyeok's flat delivery got the others nodding along, saying it was good.
They weren't saying it, but I could hear the suppressed laughs in their voices.
"How about this too?"
Kang In-hyeok dug through the basket and pulled out an octopus hat.
Han I-jae, now sporting alien shades and an octopus hat, stared blankly at his reflection.
"Hmm."
It was comical enough to crack anyone up, but he kept a straight face from start to finish.
"Ready to go in?"
"Yeah."
Inside the booth was plain—a single photo machine in the cramped space.
'Who'd guess a ghost pops out here.'
Looking closely, there was a square door on the booth wall.
That's where the ghost would burst from soon. Knowing that, I tried to stay as far from it as possible.
"In-hyeok hyung."
"Yeah?"
"Mind standing here for a sec?"
He blinked blankly, then swapped spots.
Despite his tough look, he was the scaredy-cat type. For the best shot, put the jumpy one right by where the ghost appears.
Click.
The shutter sounds rang out in sequence, and the photo printed.
"Let's see."
We huddled around the output in the tight space.
"Looks good."
"Haha, yeah?"
Everyone was busy commenting on the pic, missing the ghost in the corner.
Finally, I had to point it out.
"What's this, though?"
I lowered my voice on purpose, pointing at the edge.
The chatter stopped dead. They'd all spotted the ghost and frozen.
"A-Aaaah!"
In that instant, Kang In-hyeok from the back lunged forward with a scream.
'Perfect timing.'
Looking back, a ghost-costumed staffer had thrust their upper body out the door, grabbing his ankle.
No way you wouldn't jump if you didn't know.
"Whoa, that scared me."
"Thought my heart was gonna drop out."
Amid the freaked-out trainees stood Han I-jae, octopus hat and all, staring blankly.
Kang In-hyeok had shoved past, knocking his shades askew.
"You okay, hyung?"
He'd bolted from the back straight to the front wall, pressing against it, face ghost-white.
'That scared?'
Embarrassed, he glanced around, then shuffled back to his spot.
"Shall we go?"
"...Yeah."
Heading back to the dorms after the shoot, we all looked at our four-cut photo and chatted.
It felt like we'd gotten a little closer today.