Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Even as a Villain, I Want to Debut
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The day of the first ranking announcement ceremony.
The trainees, back from their break, trickled into the set one by one.
They greeted everyone with smiles, but they all looked utterly drained somehow.
It was unavoidable. Some had been completely edited out, others twisted into villains, and a few exploited for buzz only to face backlash and indifference, pulling all-nighters staring at the ceiling.
'Is Jeong Hee-min okay?'
Contrary to my worries, Jeong Hee-min looked surprisingly fine as he entered the set.
"Hello. I'm trainee Jeong Hee-min, who may look like a robot on the outside but has a warm heart. Nice to meet you."
He shuffled to his seat with robotic steps. No matter how you sliced it, that greeting screamed agency-scripted.
Especially since his mouth kept twitching like he was having a spasm the whole time.
'Jeong Hee-min... At least he seems better off than I feared.'
I could guess the reason.
With the original plot derailed, Jeong Hee-min—who should've been the early target of hate—had dodged most of the bullets.
The arrows of criticism had shifted from him to Han I-jae instead.
Of course, Han I-jae was still catching flak, but it had somewhat buried the other stuff.
'Plus, he held his own as the idea guy in the keyword group battle round, diluting the negativity.'
Hyeon Si-woo arrived next.
He was smiling, but the shadow on his face was impossible to hide.
Again, unavoidable. A quick search meant stumbling on hate comments inevitably.
Hyeon Si-woo's public image was mostly positive elsewhere, but certain toxic communities were flooded with jabs calling him a "pity ploy peddler."
Normal folks found that crap uncomfortable and pushed back, offering some defense...
But having your car accident turned into hate fodder? Even the toughest mentality would crack.
'It's not just Hyeon Si-woo. The whole trainee vibe is dark.'
Bad edits and total cuts played a part, but above all...
'Today's when the dropouts get announced.'
This ranking ceremony would decide survivors and send others packing.
That moment, the last trainee entered.
'Han I-jae.'
The second Han I-jae stepped onto the stage, every head turned.
No need to ask—they were all dying to know.
He'd been absolutely roasted online, so curiosity about his state ran high. Especially for the usually arrogant Han I-jae.
"Hello. I'm trainee Han I-jae."
His greeting was curt.
Yet it shattered the room's morbid anticipation in an instant—he looked exactly like his usual self, astonishingly so.
No signs of distress or gloom from the hate.
'Yeah, that's his character.'
I clapped for Han I-jae, who strode in unfazed.
With all the trainees seated, the stage lights blazed. A familiar face appeared.
"Hello, trainees. How have you all been?"
Seeing the MC again after the long break hit like a reminder: this damn shoot was back on.
"From rank evaluations to signal song, and keyword group battles—your paths to stardom are filling up, page by page."
The host continued softly.
"But... not everyone can turn the page."
A collective sigh rippled from the trainee seats.
"Based on Dream Maker votes, rankings decide who survives and who gets cut."
Harsh reality, but unavoidable.
This world was cutthroat. Fall behind in priority, and you're discarded.
Even family and friends weren't exempt. Everyone ranked everyone else implicitly.
No matter how close or fun, they were all rivals.
Your rise meant their fall, and vice versa.
And raw talent guaranteed debut? Nope.
Connections and perks favored some trainees.
This world's rotten system was hammered into the show.
Yet the keyword it pushed was "dreams." That romantic bullshit for folks who saw beauty in this hellhole.
"Turning boys' dreams into reality—Dream Stage Season 2's first ranking announcement begins now!"
And so it kicked off. Sixty survivors total; 61st place and below were out.
"We'll start from 59th place."
Sighs echoed around me.
"59th place trainee: Lee Hyo-seop!"
Lee Hyo-seop, hands clasped in prayer, caught his breath and stood when his name rang out.
59th—barely scraping by, so his reaction made sense.
'A-grader, but votes didn't match his skills.'
Lee Hyo-seop. Second only to Han I-jae in pure talent among trainees. But screen time got slashed for some reason, tanking his rank.
Story-wise, he'd debut at final 6th.
He appeared as a debut member in the original, but no chat with me yet.
'His rise hits during the new song digital battle, so tough times ahead.'
After his statement, Lee Hyo-seop wobbled to his rank seat. Announcements resumed.
"Next ranking."
Names dropped one by one; the mood darkened.
Higher ranks bred more anxiety—denial that you'd hit that high.
'Wonder where I'll land.'
Frankly, dropout wasn't on my radar.
Not arrogance—objective reality. Reactions so far screamed safe zone.
For this first announcement only, though. Future? No complacency here.
"Announcing 28th place."
Already this far.
Around here, half the trainees seemed resigned.
Slim chance for 60th, but many had switched to "whatever" mode.
"Now, 24th place."
Familiar number.
Do Won-woo's original first-announcement rank.
Big question: where would I land now?
Fate altered, skills improved—surely not lower than original.
"24th place: Gu Yun-seong!"
Not me—another trainee.
'Rank shifted.'
Seeing someone else in "my" original spot felt weird.
Good weird, though. Meant I'd snagged higher.
"Next, 18th place."
Amid ongoing calls, a familiar name hit.
"18th place: Kwon Hak-jin!"
Kwon Hak-jin beamed, heading onstage.
High rank despite near-total edit-out.
'Keeps that smile after a total cut? Impressive.'
Kwon Hak-jin shared his thoughts onstage.
"Thank you, Dream Makers, for this high 18th place. I'll work harder and climb higher!"
Trainees filled seats one by one.
Few spots left now; faces grew gloomier as time ticked.
Hyeon Si-woo, at the end seat, hadn't budged.
'...He looks rough.'
Head down, staring at the floor. No one would call it good.
'Original rank: 10th.'
The infamous "normal soldier."
Debut-adjacent, but no room for complacency.
'First time I heard it, thought: what kinda term is that?'
Learning its meaning later? Couldn't relate back then—no survival show hyperfixation.
Now I got it. Why "normal soldier" existed.
"The 10th-place survivor... Congratulations, Hyeon Si-woo!"
His body lurched forward at the call.
As he stood, his face came into view.
Smiling, but anyone close knew it was fake.
'He probably came thinking this was his last shot...'
10th—looks good, feels shaky.
Climbable with luck, but one rival surge drops you from debut zone.
'Unavoidable anxiety about missing debut.'
Yet onstage, Hyeon Si-woo shone brightly.
"Thank you, Dream Makers, for your votes. I'll keep being the Hyeon Si-woo who repays your love and cheers. I love you."
He sat, head dropping again.
I got his feelings. Losing everything in a flash crash right before the light? I knew that despair.
Wanted to comfort him, but my name unpicked—could only watch.
"Now, announcing the top nine."
Prime time: top nine.
Tension thick as 9th dropped.
"9th place: Kang In-hyeok!"
My head snapped around.
'Kang In-hyeok's a beast.'
Original extra, nowhere near debut. Yet first ceremony: 9th.
Self-made fate rewrite from nothing? Respect.
'Shaky rank, but...'
Kang In-hyeok grinned, thrilled. Vowed higher climbs in his statement, then sat.
"8th place: Yoon Hyun-min!"
Next call.
'Yoon Hyun-min at 8th? Total curveball. Zero prediction.'
Fate's prank?
Trainee who'd never sniffed debut now top nine.
Whatever happened, he'd bear watching.
"Next..."
Top nine filled gradually.
Scary part: 5th announced, still no me.
'No way I'm 60th?'
Nah, impossible. Meant higher than expected...
Made sense? Nope.
A dry chuckle escaped.
Then, the big 4th.
"4th-place survivor: Congratulations, Han I-jae!"
'Han I-jae...?'
Already? Wild divergence from original.
Han I-jae, who vied for 1st with Lee Hae-won, now 4th. Blame the misfortune narrative shift.
'He's eating the hate I was supposed to get...'
Current flak? Cat interruptions mid-eval or near-shoelace fails—barely "misfortune" level.
Could tie shoes, not sway public opinion.
'Out of my hands now.'
Knew it, but seeing Han I-jae like this stung.
'Still, 4th amid this hate? Pretty solid.'
Future unknown. Ranks reflected pre-air votes.
Full villain stamp could tank him lower.
"...First off."
Han I-jae spoke onstage.
"I want to thank the Dream Makers who voted for me."
All eyes on him. Soft gasps nearby.
"Wow, impressive."
"Yeah... really is."
Sounded like praise for 4th, but layered with awe: How's he so chill amid the roast?
'...Will the misfortune stick to Han I-jae?'
No clue on transfer mechanics.
Sudden swap from Lee Hae-won—random, shocking pick.
Anyway, like Lee Hae-won self-escaped, Han I-jae could too.
'Show a hint of remorse, and sympathy kicks in. Overkill hate breeds backlash.'
Thought that watching his statement.
Please, drop the pride. Play pitiful. Best play: evoke pity.
Debut secured, this hate becomes epic backstory.
So please...
"I know what people are saying and thinking about me right now. And I know the supporters worrying for me."
Yes—keep going.
I prayed silently, hands clasped mentally.
Then Han I-jae's next words blindsided.
"To all my supporters: No need to worry. I won't be beaten by those people."
A silent scream escaped as he spoke calmly.
"Words from faceless internet mobs who fling hate easily hold no power. I want to show who I really am, right here in this real world."
He bowed.
"I'll keep proving it with my skills. Thank you."
Silence, then sparse claps.
"Cool."
"Uh... yeah."
Trainees fumbled, stunned.
'No surprise. That's Han I-jae.'
Not wrong.
Hate commenters weren't sane—common knowledge.
But this? Prime ammo. Mocking fodder for haters.
'Han I-jae...'
His ascending back looked precarious.
Sudden thought: He might not shake this misfortune easily.