Chapter 108
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 108
Chapter Title Aspiration for the Summit
It was a fairly familiar sight.
No, not just familiar it was a landscape I distinctly remembered seeing once before.
Yet why did the air feel so different, and the atmosphere caressing my skin feel so distinct?
Haa, haa.
I gazed at the audience seats rippling with countless lights.
Perhaps due to the lights wavering overhead, the fans support sticks twinkled like stars in the night sky.
And as if earplugs sealing my ears were slowly being peeled away, the cheers from the people filling the gymnasium rolled in like waves.
Waaaaah!
You guys are the best!
You did so gooood!
Even amid that tremendous roar, certain words rang out crystal clear.
Karis!
Look over here just once!
The voices of fans shouting my name with all their might, louder than anyone.
It was truly a bizarre sensation.
My name had clearly been Han Jihyuk since birth.
Yet now, being called Karis von Walden felt so utterly natural and something to take pride in.
I want to hear more.
A desire blazed hot inside me.
I wanted to hear the crowds cheers more.
I wanted to feel everyones eyes pinned on me.
I wanted to make them keep saying they wanted to see more.
You did well.
Chae Eungyu murmured softly from behind my back.
It almost got buried in the cheers resounding through the entire gymnasium, but my sharp hearing pinpointed Chae Eungyus voice exactly.
Its thanks to you, Karis. I was really able to enjoy the stage without a single regret.
Same for me.
Thank you. Sincerely.
Receiving his gratitude, I turned my gaze forward once more.
Thats when my eyes met those of a National Producer holding up a banner in the seats closest to the stage.
Karis, You Always Shine
Thats right.
Because I wanted to shine brightly forever.
Because I wanted to outshine everyone on stage, I had chosen the dream of becoming an idol.
Having let go of that dream long ago, I had picked it back up and thrown down the challenge to stand here once again.
Now, the once impossibly distant goal of debuting felt right within my grasp.
But something was strange.
My goal had clearly been to seize this second chance and achieve the debut dream I had failed before.
So why, even at this moment when that dream seemed on the verge of coming true, did I feel something missing?
I want to shine the brightest. From higher than anyone else.
The instant that thought crossed my mind, I let out a small smile.
Yeah, at some point, it had become that way.
Every time my ranking climbed higher.
The more National Producers cheered for me, the stronger that feeling grew.
I wanted to ascend that shining throne.
Not just achieve debut as a goal, but stand at the very top and fulfill my dream.
Right then.
Grand Quest Debut Within 365 Days linked quest has been generated. This linked quest can be refused.
No penalty occurs upon refusal, so rest assured.
Would you like to view the linked quest details?
The system window notified me of the linked quests activation.
Still wearing my smile, I stared at the golden system window.
Normally, with sudden quests, I couldnt guess the mission content at all.
But this time, I was certain I knew what this linked quest entailed.
Ill check.
The moment I accepted, the golden glow from the system window intensified.
And the wish Id harbored in my heart materialized as text.
Final Linked Quest Achieve 1 in Idol Training Simulation begins!
Will you accept the linked quest?
Linked Quest Reward Confirmation of Hidden Truth
Confirmation of Hidden Truth?
Cameras were still rolling, so I desperately held back any change in my expression.
Calming my shaken heart, I checked the original Grand Quest rewards.
Grand Quest Debut Within 365 Days
Reward Grand Quest Saga Forced Return Penalty Removal, Passive Skill Enhancement Unlock
A new clause had appeared that Id never seen before.
I already knew that completing the Grand Quest meant no forced summoning back into that wretched trash game.
It meant I could remain in the real world, possessing Karis von Waldens body.
But Passive Skill Enhancement Unlock was brand new to me.
Ive only ever strengthened passive skills through Lucky Draw shop rewards until now. Does this mean I can finally upgrade their tiers properly?
It went without saying an incredibly advantageous perk.
I stared back at Confirmation of Hidden Truth and thought rapidly.
It means theres yet another fact I dont know. But what could it be? No matter how I comb through my memories, nothing nags at me.
It was almost like the crown princes cheerful laughter echoed in my head.
As if egging me on to accept the quest if I was so curious.
Fine by me. Its what I wanted.
If Id truly only aimed for debut, I wouldnt have needed to account for variables every step and pour in my all.
In other words, at some point, Id been subconsciously nursing the desire to claim 1 on the final stage.
Even realistically speaking, the vote gap between me and 1 Song Hyeongbin was practically nonexistent.
Fever Time as a variable was gone.
The malicious accounts that had been a massive obstacle during the 3rd ranking announcement could no longer hound me.
Without hesitation, I told the system.
I accept.
Understood, Possessor. Final Linked Quest Achieve 1 in Idol Training Simulation has been registered as a quest. Good luck.
The moment I accepted the quest, the stage lights went dark.
The signal for the next team to prepare.
Everyone, good work!
No mistakesthank goodness!
Good job.
We linked arms and descended to backstage.
As I stepped off the stage, I gazed at the massive staircase set on the opposite side.
The glorious platform where debutconfirmed trainees would ascend.
At its center, a resplendent throne rose majestically.
So no one else can covet it.
Worship me even more.
Ill deliver a stage worthy of it.
Before the shock from the stage had even subsided, the practice saga for the next teams performance aired.
The team packed with highranking trainees had faced unexpected struggles.
This team was no exception.
How the hell does this step sequence even work?
Lets go slow one more time. Watch closelyleft foot forward first, then right foot back
From the moment the trainees first watched the choreography video, theyd noted that the fasttempo songs dance seemed incredibly tough.
And after actually trying it.
Everyone slammed into a wall with the utterly confusing shuffle steps.
Highest difficulty ever?
What do we do about this?
Bbut we can manage with practice!
Hashimoto Ken, the most upbeat personality in the team, desperately tried to pump up the energy, but the frustrationsoaked practice room vibe refused to shift.
In particular, leader Song Hyeongbins complexion was poor.
Song Hyeongbin Kinda like the whole team hit a collective mental breakdown? Haha.
Song Hyeongbin I thought I picked up choreography pretty quick, but even this was a bit tough for me. Still, if I dont get it first, the rest of the team suffers, so the pressure to somehow pull it off is pretty heavy.
If one team struggled to capture the choreographys essence, this team grappled with its speed.
Having to belt out the song while executing rapid footwork.
The trainees unanimously marveled that it was the highestdifficulty mission track in Idol Training Simulation.
It wasnt hyperbole to call it a reefthey were scraping by at a snails pace in learning the overall choreography.
And that flaw laid bare during midevaluation.
You all seem to kinda know how this choreography turns. But knowing it isnt dancing ittheres no sense youre actually performing it right. Just flopping your arms around isnt dancing, is it?
Ha Sangpils merciless critique stabbed as ruthlessly as ever.
The already deflated trainees morale plummeted further postevaluation.
But one person flipped the script.
Kang Siyoon I felt like we had no other options.
Kang Siyoon Were just slow on picking up the choreographyour team chemistry isnt the issue. So someone just needs to master it perfectly first and teach everyone else.
Kang Siyoon Thats why I pitched it to Hyeongbin hyung.
Kang Siyoon approached Song Hyeongbin with a proposal.
Hed pull allnighters if needed to nail part 2 choreography, so could Song Hyeongbin somehow handle part 1?
A straightforward strategy have the teams top two dancers master the moves ASAP and drill them into the otherssimple, but brutally staminasapping.
Song Hyeongbin Hearing Siyoon, I knew there was no other answer.
Song Hyeongbin And the way Siyoon said it, I could feel his insane determination Ah, it made me think I really need to snap to it and lead the members.
Realizing scant time remained until the final round, Song Hyeongbin accepted the idea.
What followed were scenes of the two trainees grinding nonstop, surviving on just 23 hours of catnaps per day.
While Kariss team had powered through adversity with Karis helping Chae Eungyu,
this team somehow conquered the alltime highestdifficulty choreography through Kang Siyoon and Song Hyeongbins teamwork.
Of course we know the hyungs are grinding, so we vowed not to lag behind.
We absolutely cant let that effort go to waste
While we crashed from exhaustion, Siyoon and Hyeongbin went sleepless. If I cant keep up now, I wont be able to face myself.
The rest of the team members stoked their fighting spirit, steeling themselves anew.
They threw themselves desperately at correcting the flaws called out in midevaluation.
National Producers watching the broadcast zeroed in on Kang Siyoon and Song Hyeongbins jawdropping stamina and tenacity.
Didnt realize Siyoon had such leadership and killer instincts too Feels like how Karis backed Hyeongbin last team, now Siyoons stepping up? True star chemistry
Karis Worry Counseling Center deputy chief suspected to be Kang Siyoon
Was worried Siyoon barely got screen time Such a good boy
HyeongbinSiyoon duo got sneaky good chemistry too lololol
At last, the second mission stage of the Idol Training Simulation finals was unveiled.