Chapter 103
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 103
Chapter Title The Professors Son
The third ranking announcement where Karis von Walden shared his thoughts in Estonian.
Starting from that moment, unusual activity stirred among the overseas fandom, which had already been quite popular.
Among it, what stood out the most was the digging into Kariss past.
In Korea, its common to unearth the past histories of idols about to debut sooner rather than later.
Hunting down graduation photos or old SNS posts.
Idols with bad rumors get buried immediately or face public backlash, and those with excessively serious past mistakes might even withdraw.
But thats rareusually, fans are far more into childhood photos for their fanning.
Karis von Walden naturally held Estonian nationality, so he graduated from a school in Estonia.
However, domestic fans had no way to find out which school Karis had attended.
The basic info on Karis was only from the personal profile on the Idol Training Simulation homepage, which didnt mention any school.
Domestic fans faced another obstacle.
Estonias unfamiliar education system.
Unlike Koreas separate elementary, middle, and high schools, its grouped into basic schools and comprehensive schools.
Even if they wanted to find Kariss school, they didnt know the name, and investigating meant sifting through an unfamiliar system one by one.
Thanks to these hurdles, Kariss past remained tightly hidden.
But hardcore Kpop fans in Estonia itself moved first to gather info on his past.
They, too, encountered an unexpected result.
No matter how much they searched, not a single person claimed to have gone to the same school as Karis von Walden.
Is there really no one who went to school with Karis? What the heck happened?
His vibe is so unique that anyone in the same grade would definitely remember him.
Any chance we can find out the neighborhood he lived in? Searching every gymnasium might be a stretch.
If we knew the neighborhood, itd have been easy from the start. Sadly, we dont even know where he lived.
How about checking that idol program profile?
Already did, but it just says Estonia. No detailed info.
Oh, damn.
If we cant find the area or school, we gotta search by name. Kariss last name is pretty unique, so maybe well get something?
I heard its from an old Swedish noble family.
Even in our country, that last name is rare, so maybe start there?
Good idea! Ill ask around my friends.
Never thought Id be hunting down someones name with this much passion
Ill update if theres new info! Good luck everyone.
With no info on Kariss school or neighborhood, fans started a new search based on his name.
The surname von Walden was rare even in Estonia, and it would stand out quickly.
After investing time in the search, one person posted a promising lead.
My dad works at a university in Tallinn, and one of his fellow professors has the last name von Walden. So I asked if he knew Karis von Walden, and he said Karis is his son!
If thats true, Karis was born into a professors family?
Whoa, if his dads a professor, Karis must be super smart too.
Can you ask that professor about which school Karis graduated from?
But asking for personal info out of nowhere feels awkward.
I get that. It could be really rude.
Just knowing hes from a professor family is enough! Ah, but still sad we couldnt find school or grad photos
The story that Kariss father was a professor drew massive interest from Kpop fans.
Hearing professor naturally leads to assuming their kids are smart too.
This trend exploding overseas in realtime reached domestic fans as well.
With the final live broadcast approaching, tons of people scoured foreignlanguage communities for this precious intel.
To learn even a bit about Kariss practically nonexistent past, they fired up translators and left questions.
Any more stories about Karis?? Please, I beg you
Weve tried hard to find more, but sadly nothing else turned up. Just that the von Walden name is from an old Swedish noble family, and a professor with that surname said Karis is his son.
No school or grad photos at all?? Sorry for keep asking
We wanted those too, but no luck.
Thank you!!
This info spread further across domestic SNS platforms.
They never found the school or photos, but just the professor family fact alone let domestic fans spin wild imaginings.
Wait, so Skkings basically from a genius family? Somehow feels like he studied quietly in school, went home to read webnovels and webtoons, learned Korean, and fanned idols.
He learned Korean so well because hes smart at studying. Thought our Sma was a powerhouse, but hes a brainiac.
Wow, if his dads a prof, he mustve pushed studying hard. But on top of that, selfstudied Korean and idol practiceSkings too admirable
Seeing locals search that hard and find zilch makes me imagine how lonely his practice mustve beentears. Selfteaching Korean alone is tough, but songs and dance too? Total freak talent with insane grit.
Time to confiscate his passport for real.
Bro, shall we naturalize this guy?
Found itthink Sbernim goes to this uni photo
Only uni with a von Walden prof. Nearly died digging ДThis place is notoriously tough and elite in Estonia Dad teaching here must care about his kids education. So Sjanim studied while practicing idolsIm tearing up, guys.
Know lotsa prof family friends. They get nagged to study nonstop. Can guess how intense Sjanims life was.
Now it clicks why Smas mentally a rock.
For him, going to Korea wasnt a challengeit was inevitable. Chance to show what hed practiced?
Locals barely care about Kpop from what I sawmustve been hell
No choice nowmust debut him 1.
Thinking how he lived that hard then got bashed outta nowhere makes me shake All those idiots yapping hes rude or an ignorant foreign laborersue em all.
Fr, if I catch those crazy bitches, Ill beat em senseless. Fever delayed cuz of themstill salty Shouldve been 1 ages ago, not 3rd.
That visual effort king affinity max perfect past MUST 1.
But realistically, 1 possible?? Wasnt he 3rd?
photo 3rd announcement 2nd JYC 20k votes behind, 1st SHB 70k behind. Can flip in finals fr.
Whoa, gap smaller than thought??? Without fever, who knows? barely got fever but hit that, JYCSHB full fever for theirs.
So we GOTTA vote hard No clue how itll go!!
This phenomenon inspired overseas fans too.
The final live broadcast deciding Kariss debut.
Realtime votes there determine debut chances and rankings.
And the gap to 1 is razorthin.
Graduating Idol Training Simulation as dream 1 isnt pie in the sky anymore.
Korean time 430, cheer for Karis. Vote realtime Korean time too. Make sure he knows were cheering from behind
Aint we voting now?
Online till now. Finals live broadcastvote then. 4pm, memorize!
Setting alarm, telling friends. Thx!! XD
Koreans saying Karis MUST debut 1. Even they admit he deserves it. Lets help our best
Watched othersnot bias, no ones handsomer than Karis. Hows he not 1??
Hes foreign. They vote on more than looks? But his skills aint lacking.
Read bits on his past in communitymoved by his grit. Wanna support
If he debuts, come perform here? Hope so XD
1 debut? Totally possible!
This buzz continued while trainees prepped stages fiercely in the dorms.
Idol Training Simulation hit 7 nationwide ratings, rallying Korean idol fans like ages.
How would the story end?
What dazzling stages would greet the National Managers?
Whod be the new 7 idols born?
The awaited April 30th arrived.
For the final stage, the stylist team poured their souls into dressing the trainees.
Plus, like all survival shows, a theme song stage was planned.
The dressing room buzzed wildly, especially with live filmingcamera staff checked gear nonstop.
Rehearsal starts soon, so everyone stand by!
Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium, the final stage venue for Idol Training Simulation, was insanely vast.
I remembered being overwhelmed stepping in first time.
Now, awed gasps rose around me.
Wow, up here its even crazier.
Too huge!
National Managers filling this whole place.
No way.
Wed competed before threedigit crowds till now.
Max National Managers wed seen 500.
After 1st3rd rounds at that, suddenly performing for over 5,000.
Audience 10x jumpunreal for everyone.
First up Go team, second Jo. Go team this way, Jo team opposite.
Got it!
Stage so massive, performance spots and paths all differed.
After Go opens on center stage, during trainee process broadcast on screens, rush hairmakeupcostume touchups for main stage.
Lose focus even a sec, disaster.
Heading to first rehearsal, Chae Eungyu encouraged the team.
Stage suddenly this bigsuper nervous, right?
Yeah!
Wont fully get it hearing this, but I think enjoy the tension. Might shake prepping, but once filming starts and seats fill, mindset shifts. Keep body tense to avoid mistakes, but enjoy breathing with fansthats it.
We nodded solemnly.
Chae Eungyu smiled faintly, extending hand forward.
Alright, group fighting chant then rehearsal. One, two, three!
Aja aja!
Fighting!
We powered through rehearsal full of spirit.
Everyones got great eyes.
From center, I nailed my parts flawlessly, wrapping tempering.
But beyond prepping stage thoroughly, I had something more crucial.
The final hidden card deciding final live rankings.
Time to use the two Lucky Draw coins Id held back steadfastly till now.