Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Even as a Villain, I Want to Debut
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On the way home, I leaned my head against the bus window and closed my eyes.
Though I was pretty worn out from trying to boost affinity that didn't even exist, I could confidently say I'd achieved meaningful results.
Just earning this title made the day well worth it.
'Let's see...'
It seemed like equipping a title gave a buff that boosted favorability with the protagonist and related people.
That could come in handy later.
'What's this last one, though? Telepathy function activated?'
I tilted my head and opened the description window.
Ah, got it.
Depending on the purpose, I could choose between Insight or Transmission.
The key limitations were that it could only be used once a day and, being beginner level, had a low success rate.
'Beginner level means only about a 25% success rate, huh.'
To get a higher grade, I'd need to acquire other titles...
Telepathy, of all things. It was wild what this system had, but if used in the right moments, it could be effective.
After all, there'd been plenty of times in life when I couldn't read someone's true intentions or get through to them.
'If I make good use of the system, maybe my second chance at life won't be so rough.'
I was starting to get used to the system that had felt so alien at first.
Time flew by, and the day of the first filming finally arrived.
I straightened my clothes in front of the mirror and saw myself trembling in a way that wasn't like me at all. Honestly, I hadn't been this nervous even on the day of my college entrance exam.
'...Not like me to be this tense.'
I reassured myself it was fine and stared straight into my reflection.
During preparations, I'd raised my Vocal stat from F to C-, and changed my song choice to one that played to Do Won-woo's strengths, so things wouldn't unfold like in the original story.
'From here on, it all depends on what I do.'
With all preparations complete, I opened the system window before heading out—to equip a new title.
The moment I pressed the button, light poured down, and the text above my head changed.
'Do Won-woo, friend of the protagonist.'
With this, my role shifted from villain to the protagonist's friend.
Being the protagonist's friend alone would let me coast along just fine.
I didn't know the full extent of the effects, but at least I wouldn't get bashed just for being the villain anymore.
'Alright, time to go.'
After equipping the title, I grabbed my carry-on and stepped out into the street.
The filming location was pretty far, so I had to head out early in the morning.
Unlike the other participants, I was independent with no agency, so no company car or anything like that was an option.
Well, I was used to it. I'd handled everything on my own up to now.
No practice room either—I'd danced and sung in a cramped semi-basement, so I could proudly say I'd done my best in tough conditions.
'Here we are.'
I got off the bus and headed to the marked building on the map.
Cameras were already set up at the entrance to film the trainees coming in. I awkwardly waved at them as I pulled my carry-on up the slope.
'It's finally starting.'
Filming began, and trainees entered the set one by one from the waiting area.
"FND Agency trainee entering!"
Not my turn yet. I glanced inside while thinking that. The set matched the novel's description perfectly.
The seats opposite the stage were divided by ranking, with debut seats elevated in a luxurious style to stand out from the regular ones.
'More debut seats now.'
For some reason, as the novel's freedom increased, the final debut lineup had expanded from seven to nine.
'Not bad for me. More debut spots is always better for contestants.'
I scanned the debut seats leisurely.
For the first filming, trainees chose seats freely, leaving few debut spots open.
'Lee Hae-won hasn't entered yet.'
As I thought that, a staff voice came from beside me.
"Trainee Do Won-woo, entering!"
My turn at last.
'...Honestly, I'm not mentally ready yet.'
It was ridiculous the more I thought about it—a guy who'd only cared about studying was now competing in an idol survival show.
But if I had one thing going for me, it was that I'd always come out on top in competitions.
Among so many people, I'd always claimed the highest rank.
"Hoo..."
After a deep breath, I walked into the set.
All the trainees looked up at the screen as I entered. True to his "insane visuals" trait, just my appearance drew everyone's attention.
"Hello. Independent trainee Do Won-woo here. Nice to meet you."
After the formal greeting, I looked up to hear murmurs.
"Whoa, insane."
"He's so handsome."
"Why's someone like that independent?"
Exactly the same lines as when Do Won-woo first appeared in the novel.
'Not a word out of place.'
As I quietly scanned the seats, standing trainees whispered.
"He's heading for first place."
"Yeah, totally."
"He has that aura."
I looked up to see the massive seat at the top.
The debut seat, differentiated from regular ones—and within that, the one reserved solely for the number one trainee.
In the original story, that's where Do Won-woo would sit.
Maybe because he was the villain, but he'd chosen the most hated, mocked actions.
'I never would've gone for that seat.'
Recalling the novel, Do Won-woo's debut had been impactful.
A handsome contestant exuding aura, taking the top seat and drawing all expectations.
But the moment he sang, expectations shattered, replaced by an image of overconfidence mismatched with skill, turning him into a laughingstock.
Maybe he just desperately wanted camera time, but that was his problem—others didn't have to indulge it.
To everyone, he just seemed out of touch with reality.
'So...'
"Huh?"
"Where's he going?"
"The last seat?"
I sat in the 100th place seat, the absolute bottom rank.
'With my skills, better to lower expectations from the start.'
Trainees murmured in surprise, but the screen showed the next contestant, quieting them.
'Lee Hae-won.'
True to the novel, the protagonist entered right after.
'The protagonist really is different.'
Just his walk shifted the atmosphere.
"Hello! I'm Lee Hae-won. Great to meet you all—let's fight on together!"
His bold, cheerful greeting drew cheers and applause.
His bright, friendly vibe won hearts instantly.
"Oh?"
Lee Hae-won met my eyes and pointed at me happily.
The camera followed.
"Ah, you're sitting there?"
This was new to the original story.
Meeting and befriending him before filming had altered the plot.
Normally, he'd say in an interview, "Living life, I've learned the middle is best," and take 50th place.
"How've you been?"
But unlike the original, he sat right next to me.
"Feels great running into you again!"
I was caught off guard by the sudden high-five but clapped hands with him.
"Thanks so much for that day. No idea what I'd have done without you."
Lee Hae-won smiled innocently.
'...No, even without me, you'd have handled it fine.'
Guilt pricked at deceiving someone so pure, but I had to survive too.
"I'm nervous."
"You are?"
"Yeah. Wanna hear my heartbeat?"
He made weird beatbox noises with his mouth.
'He's even more comfortable than last time.'
I'd worried the vibe might be awkward since this was only our second meeting...
But against expectations, he acted like we'd been friends forever.
'Must be the title.'
Equipping 'Protagonist's Friend' boosted favorability, explaining the excessive friendliness.
"Whoa."
"Wait, is that real?"
A major agency's logo appeared on the screen, buzzing the trainees.
'MLC'
A top Korean agency in the novel.
Everyone stood at the sight of a big agency trainee.
"Hello. I'm Han I-jae."
'Ah, there he is.'
Han I-jae, who took second place and debuted in the original.
Cold and curt, total opposite of the protagonist—but that's what made their chemistry popular.
"...Hmm."
Glancing at the seats briefly, Han I-jae slowly climbed the stairs.
In the silence, he kept ascending without pause.
'No way.'
Reaching the top step, he turned and sat.
"Wow."
"He took first place."
"Kinda figured he would."
Han I-jae sat in the top seat, ignoring all gazes and staring straight ahead.
A stance born of high pride.
'The top seat's changed owners.'
The one Do Won-woo would've taken.
But by changing fate, Han I-jae claimed it instead.
'So the future where Do Won-woo gets hated for that is gone.'
Seeing the story shift little by little gave hope.
Main characters I'd only seen in illustrations appeared one by one, each radiating an unbelievable presence for trainees.
"Whoa, everyone's amazing?"
Lee Hae-won said, nudging my elbow playfully.
"...You're amazing too."
"Me? Nah, gotta work hard."
Did he know? He'd beat these big agency stars to claim first.
Well, that twist was what hooked readers...
Flash.
All trainees seated, the program logo lit the screen.
The real start.