Chapter 11
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 11
Chapter Title Final Tier Evaluation
Time flew by quickly.
The judges gathered for the Idol Training Simulation final tier evaluation glanced curiously at the black curtains draped around the area.
The atmosphere feels super heavy.
Yeah. Its like were in a movie theater or something.
Whyd they even put up those curtains?
No idea. Havent heard anything.
Sia would know, right?
There were more than a few calls looking for Choi Sia, who was handling both judge and host duties.
But with her absent from the spot, none of it reached her ears.
True to the massive investment poured into the program, the filming studio rented by Idol Training Simulation was equipped with all sorts of facilities.
The venue for the final tier evaluation was a vast tiered auditorium rivaling a large movie theater.
The judges had assumed theyd just review footage of the trainees practice sessions to assign tiers.
But the announcement delivered by Choi Sia, who slowly took the central stage, contained something entirely different.
Hello, national administrators. Welcome to the final preliminary stage of Idol Training Simulation, the last hurdle before we enter the main rounds in earnest.
Applause leaked out from behind the blackout curtains at the back of the judges seats.
As everyone wore equally bewildered expressions, Choi Sia continued with a smile.
Right now, behind the judges seats, all the trainees wholl be evaluated today are gathered. That means everyone will watch each others performances together.
That must be insanely nervewracking.
I thought wed just watch videos.
Me too.
The production team set this up to be brutal.
A mix of curses and praise rained down on the production team for the plot twist.
And here, the direction Idol Training Simulation pursues comes into focus once more. As mentioned since the first orientation, we have our programs motto Cultivate idols who boast toptier skills in every aspect. The final tier evaluation will proceed under the same banner.
At Choi Sias raised hand, more curtains dropped from the ceiling.
Dark barriers that meticulously blocked the judges line of sight.
And right on cue, a massive screen rose from the floor.
Thats right. Trainees on stage wont be able to see you. All theyll face is pitch darkness. Watch who overcomes the psychological pressure of performing alone in this vast space best. Who can deliver 100 of their potential.
Wow, this is tougher than I thought.
Its not just pressureits real.
Judges, please evaluate based on the live feed broadcast on the screen. With that, well begin the final tier evaluation now.
The performance order was another contrivance by the production team.
Typically, it was set by tierlowest first or highest first.
But to amp up the tension and pressure, theyd introduced randomness into the sequence.
Next trainee. Underground 21, please take the stage.
The trainee whose name was on the ball Choi Sia drew would go up.
In other words, no one knew when their name would be called, regardless of tier.
They had to stay performanceready at all times.
Unaware of their turn, stepping onto a stage where theyd feel utterly alone in an enormous space.
It was a brutally harsh setup for trainees.
Knowing this well, the judges resolved to view the early performers with a bit more leniency.
Theyd surely be shaking from nerves.
Youre, youre gonna stay with me until the very end!
Oh man...
Pitch wavers like that just wreck their own mentality.
Such a shame.
But even with good intentions, the early slots butchered their stages miserably.
Not once or twice, but repeated flubs in the same parts left the judges feeling not just pity, but headaches.
We specifically warned them that part was tough...
Did your half do the same, Senior?
Thats a notorious hurdle for all trainees, right? Holding pitch is brutal.
Yeah, it is.
Vocal mistakes were at least understandable.
Challenging peaks hit while dancing and singing live.
But the dance judges, whod hammered home basics and drilled choreography mastery, felt like they were sinking into the abyss.
Come on... How many reps was that? And they still mess it up?
Bae Kangwoo and Ha Sangpil tore at their hair watching even Mainstreamtier trainees botch basics.
Thus, the first hour of the final tier evaluation dragged under a heavy mood.
Still, Tier 1 standouts occasionally delivered solid stages without major errors, injecting some oxygen.
Thats the best so far.
Yeah. Looks like tiers are sticking from the level test.
No standout tierups catching the eye yet.
Endless repeats of the same song naturally built fatigue.
Few brought fresh twists, and none showed explosive growth.
Around then, Choi Sia drew and announced a ball with one trainees name.
Next trainee. Karis von Walden, please take the stage.
At the name, the judges instinctively straightened up.
Especially Ha Sangpil, the dance expert whod critiqued him harshly in the last practice session, his eyes gleaming.
A sturdy figure ascended from below the stage.
As he struck his ready pose, Bae Kangwoo twirled his pen.
Lets see how much more hes practiced since then.
He recalled spotting Karis in the practice room late at night and giving him a quick oneonone.
Honestly, itd been just a few practical tips rather than full mechanics.
He was dying to know what changes a few days had wrought.
Starting now.
The intro, heard over 30 times already today, flowed from the speakers.
Karis von Walden crouched low, then slowly rose, extending both arms sideways.
The moment he lifted his bowed head forward.
...
Bae Kangwoo, eyes on the LED screen, paused his twirling pen.
He had exceptional memory.
Creating and teaching countless routines to idols had ingrained the habit of memorizing each persons traits vividly.
He spotted a stark change from Kariss level test expression.
The point theyd hammered home endlessly.
Dance isnt mere mimicryits infusing your unique charm to captivate the audience.
Whether from confidence or lyrical interpretation, as long as it felt magnetic, not bland.
In the pitchblack darkness
I can hear my breathing
Scary, afraid
I cant see a thing
The onelegged pivot that tripped so many.
A stance that crumbles without core strength in the pivot foot.
But Karis sailed through smoothly.
Not just the movepower rippled through his lines.
A subtle difference, but... it feels alive compared to the level test.
Bae Kangwoo traced the full lines while zeroing in on Kariss face.
What weapon could only Karis von Walden wield?
In their oneonone, hed planted a seed for the direction Karis suggested.
A charm no one else could copy.
Leveraging his innate visuals.
Alongside lines, dynamics, mechanics, expressions lit performances ablaze most effectively.
Charisma shone through the performers conveyance.
Karis had grasped Bae Kangwoos advice, honed it diligently.
But Ill savor this moment
Predictable outcomes are boring
Ill say it right here
The brightest is me
The awaited chorus loomed.
Nailing the intro was great, but the socalled killing part would test his charisma output.
Bae Kangwoo leaned forward, eyes glued to the screen.
Yes its the show time
The moment weve dreamed of
Shine your light on me
Ill go with you for sure
To higher places
Yes, Im the Winner!
Tempo held steady, flowing smooth.
Kariss dance, once fuzzy on pacing and dynamics, had leaped forward visibly.
Good, now the final key moment.
Flick the wrist to the beat, then face front, arms spreading up and down for the finisher.
Bae Kangwoo had woven in this appeal moment for the Idol Training Simulation viewers.
Lesspolished trainees lacked bandwidth for it.
Toptier few milked the 2second window with stellar acting.
Shine your light on me!
Karis von Walden nailed the point deadon.
Tilting his face slightly aside, he struck a textbookyetdevastating pose.
Oncehis left eyelid dropped in a crisp, cheeky wink.
Yes! Thats how you use it!
Bae Kangwoo blurted aloud without thinking.
A point choreo crafted anticipating the cameras single take.
Some trainees overdid expressions aware of it.
But Karis dialed in just the right flair.
...He wasnt this good just days ago.
Really? Hes crushing it now.
Seo Inhwan gaped at Ha Sangpils mutter.
Honestly, his technique isnt toptier yet.
Kangwoo, that isnt top technique?
Purely technical, sure, details need polish. But his expressiveness has skyrocketed. Its not copypaste of our choreoits grasping how to make moves cooler, what expressions add flavor. He nailed that.
Bae Kangwoo gave the rundown while watching through Kariss final dance break.
One more realization hit.
The current stage bred natural pressureno audience visible.
Like the level test, many crumbled under it, but Karis showed no waver.
If a kid brimming with that confidence arms up proper technique... itd be a sight.
Panting roughly into his ending pose, Karis von Walden bowed deeply, wrapping the evaluation.
Applause erupted from the judges seats.
Nice dance feel.
Face carries itlooks cool no matter what.
Singing was stable too.
No pitch slips in the sabi... Technique still lacks flair, but better than most. Chaehyun?
At Seo Inhwans question, vocal judge Baek Chaehyun nodded.
With polishing, he could shine big. Got my passion fired up after ages, Senior.
Yeah, yeah. Teach him right. His tones so smooth and pleasing.
Meanwhile, Ha Sangpil blinked at the screen.
Definitely didnt have that vibe when I judged him.
He was grinding practice late nights.
Kangwoo, you saw?
Passed by after my sessionlight on, checked, it was Karis.
As Bae Kangwoo casually dropped the sighting, Ha Sangpil and the others let out low impressed whistles.
Looking like noble royalty, but a practice bug too? Nonstop image flips.
...Shortterm glowup on dance feel. Cant deny talent.
Wow, Sangpilyou, who gets called harsher than megiving praise? Whats the world coming to?
I acknowledge whats due, Senior.
Poststage, trainees headed to the reveal room to check their final tier on screen.
After brief debate, the judges unanimously locked in Karis von Waldens tier.
Congratulations! Trainee Karis von Walden is Tier 1.
Bae Kangwoo watched Karis clench his fists at the result in the reveal room, a swell of quiet pride blooming larger in his heart.