Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Even as a Villain, I Want to Debut
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‘Being number one really is the best.’
The privilege of choosing a song and position first among all the trainees.
In a survival show like this, the stage you put on was pretty crucial, so snagging a good song first put you in a hugely advantageous spot.
For reference, the original Do Won-woo had picked [End of the Wind], a song with sky-high vocal difficulty. He'd ended up getting ridiculed for his lack of skill.
‘So, absolutely no way I'm picking that one.’
My stats had gone up a bit, sure, but I still wasn't at the level to tackle it.
The moment I started heading toward the song I'd planned on in advance...
“Hold on a second.”
The host's sudden words made me freeze mid-step.
The other trainees looked just as baffled.
‘What’s going on?’
The host smiled as he spoke.
“Before you all pick your songs, I have some special news to share.”
...What?
“There's one song here that hasn't been revealed yet.”
The trainees started murmuring.
“Another song?”
“Why keep it hidden?”
This wasn't in the original story.
Seemed like another change from the heightened freedom in the plot.
The host walked to the very end and pulled back the tent, revealing the hidden sign.
“What’s that?”
“Huh?”
“Never seen that before...”
The final sign the host unveiled read ‘Free Song’. What caught everyone's eye was that it was for a team of one—but included every position available.
So, rap, vocal, dance—they expected you to handle it all solo?
“I know it's surprising. This is the first-ever solo position stage introduced in Dream Stage Season 2.”
The host continued his explanation amid the confused atmosphere.
“The trainee who picks the solo song gets a special privilege: they can choose any free song they want.”
Hm, not bad having that kind of perk. But the next part was the issue.
“They'll also have to tackle all positions as an all-rounder.”
The trainees were thrown into even more confusion.
“All-rounder?”
“Rap, vocal, and dance all by themselves?”
Everyone seemed unsure if this was a good thing or not.
As skeptical reactions rippled through, the host pressed on.
“For reference, the solo picker's individual score will count toward evaluations in rap, vocal, and dance. And if they manage to take first place in every position, they'll get to claim three benefits at once.”
Exclamations of “Whoa” erupted around me.
“Three benefits? That's huge.”
“If you pull it off, it's game over.”
I thought the same.
One benefit? Maybe. But three? That could seriously shake up the rankings.
Still, it wasn't all upside. There was a trap they hadn't mentioned.
‘But if you come in last in every position, you get triple penalties too, right?’
That could mean a penalty bombardment and a brutal drop in the rankings.
Honestly, the odds of topping every position? No one knew. With on-site judges, their identities and criteria were a mystery.
That's what made it scary. A low-rank trainee could get booted by a single penalty, let alone three.
‘It's all or nothing.’
Pure gamble.
The spotlight of a debut solo stage was tempting, but unless you nailed it, you'd get flamed hard.
No one without top-tier skills and nerves of steel would touch it.
‘Well, one guy who might comes to mind...’
Who knew, though.
“Made your choice?”
“Yes, I have.”
I slowly made my way toward the sign.
As I headed for the last one, the trainees buzzed all at once.
“No way, solo song?”
“Whoa, Won-woo's really doing it?”
“Won-woo solo?”
The mood flipped the second I stood in front of the solo sign.
But it died down quick. I just moved to the next one over.
Purely for variety show entertainment. No way was I actually picking it.
“I'll take the vocal position for [Extra Syndrome].”
The title track from the vocal trio Full Name's third album, [Extra Syndrome].
The host and trainees all shot me surprised looks at my pick.
“That song?”
“Why?”
“So many options, and you go for that?”
Truth be told, [Extra Syndrome] was a tricky choice for a competition song.
That's why so many trainees wondered why the number one pick would go for it.
No high notes or flashy vocal techniques, no powerhouse dance, no rap-heavy hip-hop vibe.
It was a song meant for low-rankers with few options. No wonder they were baffled.
“Any special reason for picking this one?”
“Well...”
Plenty of reasons, actually.
For starters, it fit my vocal range perfectly.
Overall, it felt like the right song to showcase my skills.
Plus, concept-wise and musically, it had real buzz. It had charted for ages, after all—a fan favorite.
‘Lots of reasons, but...’
“I chose it because I love the message in the song.”
Why [Extra Syndrome] stuck around on the charts? Probably that unique emotional punch.
The song told the tale of an extra who never got their moment in the light.
So yeah, I figured I could sing it better than anyone.
“Alright, looking forward to Do Won-woo's [Extra Syndrome].”
The host finished up and scanned the trainees.
“Next up, number two, trainee Won Ji-an. Come on out and pick your song and position.”
Won Ji-an pushed through the crowd, his face set like he'd already decided.
He wouldn't pick the same song as me, right? That's what I thought as I watched. Then he flashed a meaningful smile.
‘No way...’
“I'll take the dance position for [Extra Syndrome].”
Murmurs broke out everywhere as Won Ji-an picked the same song.
Above his head floated the title ‘Do Won-woo's Friend’.
‘He didn't pick it just to follow me, did he?’
The thought hit me, but I shook it off quick.
‘As if.’
In a strategy-driven survival, no one would do that.
Won Ji-an just saw it as the best play too, probably.
“Any reason?”
Won Ji-an hesitated, then spoke.
“Well... I've improved my dancing a lot lately, but I haven't really shown it off properly. So I wanted to seize this chance to display my growth.”
The trainees started buzzing as he finished.
“Whoa, first and second place on the same team...”
“That's insane.”
A few even looked envious amid the stir.
It made sense. From their view, it felt unfair.
‘But what can you do if Won Ji-an wanted this song?’
I greeted him with a bright smile as he joined the team.
“Let's do great.”
“Yeah, fighting.”
Then the rest picked in order.
Number three, Lee Hae-won, went for [End of the Wind]. Vocal-only team, tough difficulty.
But I figured he'd nail it. I knew his skills better than anyone.
‘Wonder what Han I-jae will pick.’
Honestly, Han I-jae excelled at everything. Rap, vocal, dance—he crushed them all.
That's why Han I-jae was the first one I thought of for the solo. It suited his all-rounder vibe best.
‘But...’
I genuinely hoped he wouldn't pick it.
His current situation? Not great. The consensus was he only cared about himself.
Teaming up and showing teamwork would be the easiest way to counter that bad rep.
Everyone already knew he was skilled, so without something explosive, he wouldn't get a bigger reaction here.
Shining solo would just cement the ‘selfish lone wolf’ image.
Even if he blew everyone away, they'd probably say, ‘Then just go solo’.
‘Helping teammates and showing that side would flip his image. Problem is, Han I-jae doesn't play the calculation game.’
That was his personality.
Prove it with skill. Skilled people deserve the wins. That was his creed.
In the original, he'd despised high-rankers with subpar skills. Do Won-woo was one of them.
‘Something about him...’
Han I-jae was totally different from me, yet oddly similar in ways. That's why he stuck in my mind.
“I'll...”
Before picking, Han I-jae trailed off, seeming to deliberate.
Compared to his old confident, snap-decision style, this caution was new.
“Pick the solo song.”
...Of course.
‘That was the one thing I hoped he wouldn't.’
A choice I'd never make.
But then, Han I-jae always did things his way.
This was just him being him. I'd trust he'd handle it.
“Why the solo song?”
I was curious what he'd say. Knew he was brutally honest, but a little tact wouldn't hurt...
“Because I think I can win it all on my own.”
My mind blanked for a second.
“...Kidding. It's a free song, so I picked it. There was one I wanted to sing.”
Phew, good. A joke.
But Han I-jae had this knack for making jokes sound dead serious.
Me and the other trainees probably all bought it at first.
‘Wonder what song he's going for.’
As curiosity pulled my gaze to him, our eyes met.
He gave me a slight smile, then faced forward again.
‘Yeah, he'll be fine.’
The trainees continued picking in order.
Top rankers steered clear of [Extra Syndrome].
From their angle, it might not seem ideal for shining in survival.
A three-member group song, and not even single-position teams meant it could end up neither here nor there.
Those dead set on flexing their specialty went for tougher tracks.
‘But why'd I pick it, then?’
I had confidence.
We could remake it in our own color and deliver an even better stage.
‘Anyone else joining is fine, but I'd love Kang In-hyeok for rap.’
I prayed silently. Please let him join our team.
Won Ji-an gripped my shoulder, looking tense too—same hope.
“Trainee Kang In-hyeok. Pick your song and position.”
Kang In-hyeok scanned the teams, face deep in thought.
“The team I'm choosing is...”
He cut off and started walking somewhere.
“The rap position for [Extra Syndrome].”
He stopped right in front of me.