Chapter 20
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 20
Chapter Title First Round Results
Im going insane from the tension again.
Please, please, we have to win...
What kind of benefit do you think well get?
The trainees murmurs melted into the air of the set.
Just a few hours ago, the space had been packed with spectators, but now only a cold wind blew through.
The chill seeped so deeply into their skin that everyone swallowed dryly in unison.
I scanned the trainees lined up by group.
The groups that sense defeat already look pale.
You cant know the results until theyre revealed.
You shouldnt get swept up in despair and defeat so easily.
These are the typical lines that instill false hope.
People on the sidelines can say things like that.
But those deeply entangled in the situation already know better than anyone.
Because theyve watched their superior rivals with their own eyes.
......
Haa.
The trainees drooping their heads to my right were prime examples.
Theyd performed the same song on the same stage, so it must have hit them hard.
The fact that they couldnt turn the tables with their own skills.
Idol Training Simulation. Everyone who safely completed the first round, you all did an amazing job. Sincerely.
Choi Sia, who had stepped onto the stage, gave a brief bow and began hosting.
Reflexive applause echoed through the venue.
The 300 National Managers who came to this event today voted with one precious vote each for the team they thought performed the best after watching your stages. Lets check right now which teams claimed the glory of victory out of those 300 votesand what benefits they earned!
A massive chart appeared on the large screen installed at the back of the set.
Detailed graphs dividing the eight mission songs into RedBlue teams.
Then, lets start with the results for the first group.
The trainees at the far end flinched for a moment.
Even from this distance, their desperate mutterings reached my ears.
Please, please.
I just want to make it to the second round at least. Please.
Just once. Just one time.
With unnecessarily grandiose sound effects, the vote counts for the Red and Blue teams were revealed.
It was a closer battle than expected, and surprised gasps leaked out from behind me.
Whoa, whats that vote difference?
143 to 157... Just 14 votes.
Gives me chills, seriously.
Even Park Sehan, who always grinned confidently, let out a short sigh from the tension.
With close results from the start, Hashimoto Ken and Heo Yubin were already shaking uncontrollably.
Kang Siyoon managed a smile, but anyone could tell he was nervous inside.
No need to tense up, Karis. Its fine. We did better than anyone, right? Yeah, we did great. Itll be okay. Dont freak out.
Who are you even talking to?
Im just chanting a spell to myself, so dont interrupt.
I shrugged at Kang Siyoon, who kept muttering to himself with a smile.
The pressure of the first round must have settled over him like a boulder.
The results for the other groups followed.
Among the earlier songs, the noteworthy one was the group with Song Hyeongbin.
An astonishing result. Out of the two teams covering BoLus Eul, the Blue Team takes the win. Thats the highest vote count so far. A whopping 254 votes.
Sweeping 254 out of 300 votesa result that crushed the opposing teams morale.
I applauded their victory while closely observing the trainees faces.
Some are just thrilled to win, but others know this isnt entirely good news.
The biggest point of the first round was that it was team voting, not individual voting.
In short, one standout popular member could secure victory in the matchup.
Meaning the team didnt win through collective strengthit was possible thanks to one individual.
A few who knew Song Hyeongbins overwhelming skill and fame wouldnt welcome this win at face value.
If the main broadcast edits everything around Song Hyeongbin, their own screen time will vanish.
The narrative was already perfectly set.
If the production team wanted to push Song Hyeongbin harder, they could credit the entire achievement to him. With new teammates this time, wed have to watch the broadcast to see how they played it.
Having to compete with a powerhouse like that already gave me a headache.
Next team. The results for the two teams that covered Perishy Boys Eul beautifullylets see them.
Our turn now.
From behind me, I heard Kang Siyoon mutter even louder.
Just let us win, please. I wont ask for anything else.
No! We should pray for a huge margin!
Heo Yubin, who had been trembling, grabbed Kang Siyoons arm in surprise.
Just winning is too basic!
Werent you just saying you were going crazy from nerves?
Thats why Im acting crazy and hoping for over 100 votes difference!
Taking advantage of the chaos, Hashimoto Ken sidled up next to me.
He nodded vigorously with sparkling eyes.
We will win for sure! Dont worry, us!
Yeah, thats the mindset.
If we win here, I give 30 dark chocolates to Karisnim!
3thirty?
My bag is full of chocolates!
I appreciated the sentiment, but thirty intensely flavored dark chocolates would numb my tongue.
I nodded with a casual smile and let it slide.
The flashing numbers stopped, and all the trainees gazes converged on the screen.
The moment I saw the number next to the Red Team.
......Huh.
An unconscious exclamation slipped from my lips.
It was only naturala number Id never seen before greeted me.
Red Team 268 Blue Team 32
This is way different from last time.
When I first challenged Idol Training Simulation, Id tasted defeat in the first round.
Not a close one or a landslide, just a plain loss.
For someone with that experience, a 236vote victory felt surreal.
Is this for real?
...Its real?
Insane.
The set, silent for a moment, soon filled with the trainees shocked murmurs.
As soon as the results appeared, Park Sehan was the first in our frozen team to snap out of it.
Wewe won! Guys, we won!
Unable to contain his excitement, Park Sehan spun around and hugged Oh Taeyoung, who stood there dazed.
Not to be outdone, Hashimoto Ken yanked Heo Yubins arm hard.
We won! We really won!
Ahhh.
Heo Yubin, unsure if this was a dream or reality, flopped around like a paper doll.
Still, he seemed pleasedhis mouth grinned wide.
Watching our group descend into chaos, I turned my head and smiled faintly.
Siyoons spell worked a bit, looks like.
...Yeah. Who knew it actually works.
Kang Siyoon wore a dumbfounded expression too.
The atmosphere screamed utter bewilderment.
I quietly extended my fist toward him.
Good work. We made it this far thanks to you, Siyoon.
Hahaha, dont hit me with finalslevel lines this early.
We lightly bumped fists.
Not over the top, not halfheartedjust right for celebration.
Good job. Congratulations!
Thanks. You all worked really hard.
The Blue Team, who had been clapping silently with grim faces, still offered congratulations.
With dozens of cameras rolling, every moment was being captured.
Showing broken spirits to the end after a loss would make them villain fodder.
Theyd all made rational choices.
Karis hyungnim! At this rate, arent we taking first in total votes? This is crazy. Huge win.
With all tension gone, Heo Yubin grinned and patted my shoulder.
Doubt it.
Really? We got a whopping 268 votes?
Heo Yubin pouted like he didnt get it, but fell silent before the next reveal.
Is 280 votes even possible?
The production team wouldnt rig it. It just means the skill gap was that huge.
That trainee Sehan hyung mentioned earlier?
Among the trainees receiving congrats everywhere, one unusually tall boy stood out.
Ji Yuncheol kept a stoic face as he bowed.
...Hyungnim. I hope we dont end up on the same team as that guy.
Same here. Maybe later, but right now? Wed get eaten alive.
I dont wanna meet him ever!
All groups results were out.
The winning teams for the first round are now confirmed. As the victors benefit, every trainee on those teams will receive 5,000 additional votes.
5,000 votes!
Please, just let us survive the first elimination.
A standard victors perk, practically.
With survival and elimination hinging on tiny margins, 5,000 votes were invaluable.
But what I awaited was something else.
Additionally, theres a special perk for the top three teams that received the most votes from the National Managers this round. Well reveal them now.
The large screen showed in order Ji Yuncheols team, ours, and Song Hyeongbins.
Please come up to the stage!
The 18 trainees stood behind Choi Sia.
Looking down from the highest spot in the set wasnt unpleasant.
The top three teams get special benefits. Before we reveal what they are! Everyone, right here, choose Yes or No.
Yes?
Right now?
Yes, right now.
Choi Sia smiled brightly.
Without any explanation, suddenly picking yes or no left everyone baffled.
To add a little Your choice here could bring massive advantages in the second round. Discuss with your teammates and pick one. You have 1 minute!
At the cue to consult, our group hurriedly formed a circle.
What the hell? Whats this all of a sudden? What do we pick?
Yeah. No prior info and they want us to choose...
Park Sehan and Oh Taeyoung hesitated to speak.
Heo Yubin had reverted to timid mode.
Hashimoto Ken seemed clueless about the context.
Kang Siyoon, at least with a clear head, spoke slowly.
In variety shows, usually when they do this without explaining, picking No turns out better. They give unknown choices, people pick Yes, and it backfires.
WWe have to think like that? But what if they predicted wed think that and twisted it the other way?
Everyone just gaped at Park Sehans words, frozen.
Seizing the moment, I cleared my throat and raised my hand.
I agree with Siyoon.
Karis, why?
In mind games, they dont twist the choice just once. Predict the opponents predictionthats the baseline. So, the production team wants us to pick Yes.
Honestly, in 5050 gambles like this, such theories are nonsense.
But I already knew the future.
I remembered which choice created the best conditions for me.
Skill, Master of Eloquence activates.
Persuasiveness slightly increases.
Right on cue, my skill message popped up.
Park Sehan, listening intently, nodded slowly.
So, youre saying we doubletwist it back to No?
Something like that.
Its 5050 anyway. I was taught to go with the first idea when clueless.
Oh Taeyoung chimed in perfectly timed.
Hearing that, Park Sehan scratched his head and sighed.
Yeah, no point debating without knowing the question. Lets just go with No decisively.
Sounds good!
Perfect.
Considering the second round and future public opinion, we had to drop Park Sehan here no matter what.
Sorry, but this is where we part. Cant run the race carrying dead weight.
As each teams leader declared their choice, Choi Sia smiled with her eyes and gestured.
All decisions are in. Now, well reveal the question!