Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Even as a Villain, I Want to Debut
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Filming had wrapped up, and all the teams gathered on the set. They were there to hear the results of the on-site evaluation panel's votes.
'I wonder how it'll turn out.'
For reference, in the original story, the team that took first place was the one Lee Hyo-seop was on. But things might not go that way now. There were more variables this time than ever before.
From Yoon Hyun-min's antics, to the sudden solo position that popped up, and even the disastrously bad acting stage created by Lee Won-jun's survival.
'It's impossible to predict.'
"Alright, let's get to the announcements."
With that, the host began revealing the rankings, starting from the lower places excluding dead last.
The leader of the team that barely avoided last place clasped his hands together in relief. Then the mid-tier rankings were announced one by one.
"Now for the third-place team."
After a brief pause, the name of the third-place team appeared on the screen.
It was the team with Kwon Hak-jin and Jeong Hee-min. They seemed thrilled just to hit third, grabbing each other's hands and jumping up and down in place.
"Next, the second-place team."
Our team hadn't been called yet. Won Ji-an and Kang In-hyeok beside me both looked tense, their faces stiff.
The second-place team turned out to be the one Hyeon Si-woo was on.
'Which means first place is...'
There weren't many teams left now. The atmosphere grew heavy for no reason.
"No way we're last, right?"
"Nah, we won't be. We can't be."
Won Ji-an overreacted to my casual comment, sounding way too anxious.
"Alright, now for the first-place team. The team with the highest votes from the on-site evaluation panel is...!"
The team name flashed on the screen.
Everyone was shocked by the unexpected result.
'So Lee Hyo-seop's team took first, just like in the original.'
I'd thought Lee Won-jun's terrible performance might change things from the original plot, but apparently not.
Still, how did that stage win first? The other trainees didn't know how to react and just clapped awkwardly.
"Let's hear some comments from Lee Hyo-seop and Lee Won-jun, our first-place trainees."
Lee Hyo-seop hesitated for a moment.
"Uh, um. What should I even say?"
Setting aside Lee Won-jun, Lee Hyo-seop's skills alone made it a stage worthy of first place...
Even so, he clearly felt embarrassed about winning with this performance.
"Honestly, I wasn't satisfied with it myself, so I'm incredibly grateful for this undeserved score. I should've taken better care of Won-jun next to me, but I didn't, and that weighs on me."
Throughout his statement, Lee Won-jun kept his head bowed.
Was he about to cry again? At this point, it was hard to tell if he was the villain or just a pitiful character—he looked that pathetic.
"Lee Won-jun?"
Finally, Lee Won-jun lifted his head. His face was on the verge of tears.
"Last time, I dragged the team down, so I really tried to help this time... I'm so sorry to Hyo-seop hyung...!"
In the end, Lee Won-jun burst into tears.
Lee Hyo-seop next to him looked pale too—they both seemed mentally broken.
And so, our team ended up in a vague fourth place. It wasn't high, but at least we avoided last, so that was a relief.
"Unfortunately, the team with the lowest votes from the on-site evaluation panel is... the Happy Sunflower Team."
That made Yoon Hyun-min's team automatically dead last.
"Leader Yoon Hyun-min. Your team placed lowest in this battle—what are your thoughts right now?"
The host ruthlessly asked for comments from the last-place leader, and Yoon Hyun-min gave his own statement.
"It's all my fault. If I hadn't messed up, we wouldn't have ended up like this. I'm sorry to everyone."
Yoon Hyun-min bowed his head, pressing at the corners of his eyes in a show of holding back tears.
But from the side, it was comical—there weren't even any tears coming out.
'He's been doing this awful acting since the mid-evaluation—why bother?'
With acting skills that bad, he might've been better off performing [Dual Personality] with Lee Hyo-seop.
'Well, actually, coming last in a team battle doesn't matter much.'
It just bruised their pride—no penalties applied to team battles.
What mattered now were the individual score rankings about to be announced.
Penalties went to the lowest scorer in each position: rap, vocal, dance. Their scores would be deducted accordingly.
'If the whole team got penalized, at least you'd have people to share the mental damage with. But this? You take it all alone—it's bound to break you.'
The more I thought about it, the crueler the rule seemed.
"Now it's time for the individual scores, right?"
"Ah, I'm nervous."
"Forget benefits—I just hope we dodge the penalty."
The other trainees' anxious voices buzzed around.
In the midst of it, Han I-jae stood calmly, unfazed.
'If Han I-jae takes first in every position here, he'll snag all the benefits stacked.'
His misfortune arc seemed over anyway—maybe it was time for good results.
For some reason, I was more curious about his scores than mine.
"First up, the vocal position individual rankings."
Names started appearing on the leaderboard one by one.
For reference, I ended up in final sixth place for vocal.
'Considering how the original story roasted me for being tone-deaf, changing it to this is a miracle.'
In the story, the trainee who got last in vocal and took the penalty was Do Won-woo.
So with me avoiding last, someone else was taking the hit instead...
'Who will it be?'
Lee Won-jun? Or Yoon Hyun-min?
'Both possible, but I'd prefer Yoon Hyun-min.'
Lee Won-jun was bad at acting, but his vocals alone weren't that horrific.
So Yoon Hyun-min getting penalized felt right.
'He actually sucked, after all.'
Well, we'd find out soon enough who it was.
First, they announced the top vocal scorer.
"The trainee who earned the most votes in vocal, claiming the glorious benefit, is...!"
In the tense silence, a familiar name came from the host.
"Congratulations, Lee Hae-won!"
Lee Hae-won blinked wide-eyed, like he hadn't expected it.
"Me...?"
"Yeah, you. Congrats."
I smiled at him in acknowledgment of his hard work. Then my eyes met Yoon Hyun-min's group nearby.
'Now that's a face worth watching.'
Yoon Hyun-min forced a congratulatory smile, but it looked strained. He clearly thought the result was unfair.
From his perspective, his stomach must be churning. He'd schemed to steal parts, and still didn't get his way.
Even so, seeing Lee Hae-won take first despite all that was satisfying.
"Now, the trainee with the lowest vocal votes, who will receive the penalty."
Even knowing the team scores, individual ones were unpredictable.
Unlike before, where team scores summed individual ones, this time teams scored first, then individuals—high team didn't guarantee high personal.
'Lee Won-jun or Yoon Hyun-min? Or someone totally unexpected.'
As we waited, the host finally spoke.
"The trainee receiving the score deduction penalty in the next ranking announcement is..."
The heavy mood ahead of the reveal pressed down like a weight.
The trainees looked grim, especially the lower ranks—they had to be on edge.
A score deduction was a massive blow; one slip could mean elimination.
"Announcing now."
The last slot on the screen filled with a name.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
'Han I-jae?'
"Unfortunately, Han I-jae will receive the vocal position penalty."
I stared blankly at the screen, unable to process it.
"Whoa..."
"I-jae hyung got last?"
"No way."
The other trainees murmured in shock and confusion.
'This makes no sense.'
I'd considered someone unexpected, but not Han I-jae.
'Han I-jae in last?'
With Yoon Hyun-min's off-note blunder, and Han I-jae gets last?
I knew the panel's criteria were vague, but this was so bad it begged the question of whether they'd all gone deaf.
This was the 'on-site evaluation panel.' They'd heard Yoon Hyun-min's real voice live, without autotune.
'...And they still thought Yoon Hyun-min was better than Han I-jae?'
Impossible. No one with working ears could think that...
'Is Han I-jae okay?'
I turned to see—surprisingly, his expression was calm.
For a split second, I felt relieved, but then I noticed he was pretending or checked out—his eyes were unfocused.
Still, the host pressed for comments from the penalized trainee.
"Uh, first off..."
Han I-jae trailed off, struggling to continue.
He'd thought he'd proven himself, only to get this score on-site—it had to be shaking him.
"This was my first solo stage, and ending up like this... it's disappointing for me too."
Han I-jae gave a bitter smile and lowered the mic.
If his teammates were there, they'd comfort him, but as a solo, he stood alone without even that.
'It's not over yet. He could score high in dance or rap.'
Next, the dance benefit recipient was announced.
"Hyeon Si-woo! Congratulations!"
Hyeon Si-woo looked up in genuine surprise.
Everyone acknowledged it—he'd nailed it today.
Second was Kwon Hak-jin. He didn't get the benefit, but he hugged Hyeon Si-woo extra long, proud of his first place.
'Now for the dance penalty recipient.'
I hoped it wasn't Han I-jae again. Double penalties would be too harsh.
'...Anyone but Han I-jae.'
But that hope crumbled.
"Unfortunately, Han I-jae recorded the lowest score in dance, receiving the penalty."
Does this even make sense? The thought looped in my head.
Vocal and dance—both lowest? That meant double penalties...
"Ah, no way."
"This is too much."
"Two penalties..."
In the murmuring atmosphere, the host asked for comments from the last-place again.
Han I-jae stood silently for a while before lifting the mic. His statement was as flat and emotionless as before.
'...If he gets penalized in rap too, he's definitely gonna snap.'
The worst-case scenario played out in my mind.
And finally, it was time for the rap position announcements.
"Kang In-hyeok, who scored highest in rap, claims the benefit. Congratulations."
Kang In-hyeok gave a small smile as he shared his thoughts.
Mid-statement, his gaze turned our way.
"...And I think it was possible because our team leader Won-woo and the kind Ji-an guided us well."
I felt a bit embarrassed.
'I never said I was leader... but he earned it himself anyway.'
Still, not being a total failure of a leader was a relief.
After his comments, it was time to reveal the rap penalty recipient.
'No way Han I-jae got last in rap too.'
The other trainees seemed to hope the same for this final ranking.
But uneasy premonitions never lied.
"Unfortunately, Han I-jae recorded the lowest score in rap, receiving the penalty."
Han I-jae's name came up again.
'So... last in rap, vocal, and dance? All three?'
The host glanced at the production staff as if to ask if he really had to get comments again.
But the merciless staff answered with silence—keep going.
"Uh... Han I-jae. You got the lowest rap score and the penalty. Could you share your thoughts briefly?"
Heavy silence blanketed the set after the host's words.
Honestly, I was worried Han I-jae might explode. Given his usual personality, it wouldn't be out of character.
He could straight-up demand why he was last, if this made any sense. And it wouldn't even be weird if he did.
Anyone would agree these results were abnormal.
"......"
"......"
But Han I-jae said nothing.
"Um, Han I-jae?"
After the host's persistent prompting, Han I-jae finally spoke.
"I..."