Chapter 25
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 25
Chapter Title The Persistent Trainee
On the way running to the opposite end of the corridor, we passed by the central staircase.
Sounds of other cells excitedly tackling each other and ripping off name tags echoed from above and below, reaching all the way here.
For boys in the prime of their youth, brimming with vigor, tossing in a minigame that could devolve into total chaos in five minutes made this level of noise inevitable.
Just three more to rip, right?
I nodded at Kang Siyoons question, and he scanned the surroundings before pursing his lips.
Whats wrong?
Honestly, we only have three left, so ripping from whoevers still hanging on here would finish it.
Yeah.
Like I said earlier, it just feels like wed be ripping them too easily, and wed run out of screen time.
He had a point.
It was a bit funny hearing myself say it, but if they edited the footage so far for broadcast, it was obvious it would focus solely on Karis von Walden.
Id gone on a oneman rampage against five or six guys by myself.
Which meant Kang Siyoon and Heo Yubins screen time still hadnt been secured enough.
That was why I wanted him to rip the final three name tags himself.
I kept moving my feet, scouting for a suitable target.
Not someone too knocked out, but not overly hyper either.
A trainee who could put up just the right struggle for good footage.
Around the time we passed Cell 24.
A struggling noise came from up ahead.
Inside a cell.
As I headed toward the room where the sound originated, a trainee with his training top in absolute shreds stumbled out.
Judging by all his name tags already ripped off, hed lost to someone inside.
I stealthily peeked into Cell 23, where the door stood slightly ajar.
A shadow panting heavily came into view.
Siyoon.
Yeah?
That level of opponentthink you can get some good footage?
Kang Siyoon, whom Id observed to be incredibly perceptive so far, shot me a knowing look.
He seemed to quickly grasp that Id been scouting a proper matchup for him this time too.
Hey, man, Im not that hopeless at athletics, you know?
Really? I thought you lacked strength since you couldnt hold the door properly earlier.
Brothers, cut the banter! The guy inside noticed us coming!
Gazing back inside at Heo Yubins words, the figure leaning against the wall and catching his breath began to stir.
Siyoon, stick to the plan. Ill distract him and buy timeyou circle behind and take him down.
Dont hog the win all by yourself again.
Ill try my best to hold back.
Recalling the plan, I prepared to enter Cell 23.
But at that moment.
Come in already! Even like this, huff, Im nowhere near tired!
A fraillooking trainee staggered to his feet.
His breathing was ragged, belying his confident words.
Kang Siyoon exchanged glances with me and whispered.
Hey, Karis. Wrong target?
Yeah. Thought he had at least a little fight left.
Ah, seriously! Quit whispering and get in here! Or Ill come to you!
The mystery trainee issued a threat and charged toward us.
Hmm. He was definitely charging, but why did it look like he was running underwater?
I casually sidestepped and reached to lightly tap his back.
But before I could, Kang Siyoon grabbed both his arms on his own.
Oh. Ooh!
Kang Siyoon let out exclamations, his hands trembling slightly.
For a moment, I wondered if the resistance was fiercer than expected.
But he immediately looked at me and shook his head wistfully.
Wrong. Zero strength in his grip.
Nno! Im squeezing super hard right now!
Sorry, for real. I feel nothing.
No way!
The trainee wore a look of genuine shock.
He resembled a cat zapped by lightning, like a scene straight out of an emoticon.
Have to make do. Siyoon, send him off painlessly.
Got it. Ill make it as painless as possible.
Where exactly are you sending me? No, I wont go! I cant die!
Somehow, Kang Siyoon had already gotten swept up in Karis von Waldens unconscious manner of speaking.
As Kang Siyoon reached for his back with a pitying gaze, the trainee gritted his teeth and bellowed.
The moment you give up, its all overand if you dont give up, you never lose! I absolutely wont give up!
Huh?
This moment is my final fourth quarter!
I had no clue what line that was, but suddenly Kang Siyoons opponent tapped into some hidden reserve of strength and thrashed about.
Feeling the grip tighten in his hands, Kang Siyoon grinned and engaged in a battle of strength.
Nice! Whered you pick up a line like that?
Frfrom my life comic! Giving up isnt in my dictio!
Unfortunately for his spirited words, the trainees left foot slipped, and he lost his balance.
Seizing the moment his center of gravity crumbled, Kang Siyoon swiftly ripped off his two name tags, ending the showdown anticlimactically.
Good work!
Then Heo Yubin, whod been watching from the rear, jumped in and peeled off the last name tag on his back.
I peered closely at the name on the tag.
Yu... Minha?
Kang Siyoon frowned slightly upon seeing the name of the trainee hed ripped from.
A name Id heard and brushed off just yesterday.
Is this the rude trainee Baek Sihwa mentioned?
I stared at Yu Minha, brimming with questions.
The instant he was out, he completely deflated and sprawled across the floor.
...A kid who seriously spouts comic lines is supposed to be rude?
We hadnt exchanged much dialogue, but there was such a thing as people sense.
Especially after ten years living as a crown prince in the game, dealing with thousandsfrom nobles wearing masks to honest soldiers.
When it came to human insight, I wouldnt lose to anyone.
No matter how I looked at him, Yu Minha carried no villainous aura.
Id ponder this later.
I extended a hand to the collapsed Yu Minha.
You okay? Can you stand?
Huff, huff... Just lying like this a bit longer, and Ill be fine.
Lie down comfortably, then.
Yup!
Taking my words at face value, Yu Minha flipped over.
His sweatdrenched state somehow looked pitiful.
Ah, so close. I couldve won!
Good effort. How many name tags did you manage?
Five. If Id had just a little more stamina, I couldve ripped all of yours and won. Sigh, lost anyway.
Still absurdly short of eighteen.
Based on his condition and the state of the cell interior, his other cell members had likely already been eliminated.
To declare he could take us on 1 vs. 3 in such dire straits...
Was he insanely tenacious, or just plain dense? Hard to judge.
Yu Minha wiped the sweat beading on his forehead and flashed a bright smile.
Anyway, you guys are incredible. Not a single tag ripped off you so far?
Ahem. Weve got our ultimate weapon, Karis.
Ah, I saw you during the episode 1 group viewing! No wonder you look effortlessly handsome even in the morning. So jealous! Without makeup, I end up looking this wrecked. Hehe.
No, you flatter me. Youre, um. Um. Plenty fine yourself.
You totally telegraphed the hesitation.
I smiled awkwardly and scratched my head.
Even chatting like this, I dont get the rude vibe Baek Sihwa mentioned. What bad blood do those two have?
I couldnt presume to judge between strangers, so watching quietly was best.
Once his sweat had mostly cooled, Yu Minha stood and bowed his head.
Honored to have battled you! It was fun. Super bummed I couldnt hit eighteen tags, but thats on my shortcomings, so its fine!
Very positive, arent you.
I always try to live on the bright side. For the selfPR video, sure, picking my own theme would be ideal, but random themes sound fun too. A true idol shines in improvisation like this.
Yu Minha clenched his fist.
My life comics full of lines like that! Anyone can face sudden trials, but what matters is how you overcome them. And luck always follows hardship, so never lose hopekeep the passion burning and tackle every day with!
Achoo.
Heo Yubins sneeze slammed the brakes on Yu Minhas fervent vow.
Kang Siyoon, desperately stifling laughter, finally giggled and waved it off.
Whwhat a cool life youve lived.
You get it! Tackle everything with seriousness, live cool and without regretsthats my motto! Without passion, even doable things fall through, and weakly giving up just wastes the time were given.
Announcement, announcement. Name tag ripping has ended. Everyone, please gather in the main hall in 30 minutes. Announcement...
This time, the production announcement cut Yu Minha off again.
Seeing him slightly crestfallen, I offered a greeting.
Would be nice to chat again sometime.
Sounds great! Thanks for being so friendly right from our first meeting.
Yu Minha beamed and waved.
Unlike his nonstop fighting spirit chants, he came off remarkably puppylike.
On the way down to the main hall, Kang Siyoon muttered under his breath.
Didnt seem like a bad personality.
You thought so too? Matches what I felt.
Was muttering to myselfhowd you catch that?
You said it right next to me. Hows that muttering?
He mustve arrived at the same conclusion during our brief exchange.
Just kinda reminded me of you, all fired up with passion.
Whats that supposed to mean.
You know, you made a big deal about loving comics. Youre a total fantasy nerd, so your speech is fancy like thatthought you two were kinda similar
...It made sense when he put it that way.
I cleared my throat and chose my words carefully.
Ahem. Much as I love books, I dont go around reciting mottos like that.
Youre the one possessed by a character, talking all highclass.
...You win.
Heng. Karis aint so special.
The trainees gathered in the main hall were all battered wrecks.
Some had workout clothes completely twisted around, others had the very fabric for attaching name tags torn.
Starting to regret not going harder.
Brother, any harder and you mightve actually hurt someone.
I couldve ripped the fabric clean off too
Dont fire up your competitive streak in weird places, man.
Once everyone assembled, Judge Choi Sia took the stage.
How was the surprise name tag ripping morning mission? Everyone enjoy?
Mixed reactions rippled through.
Forced awake at 8 a.m. for body slamsfew would call it pure fun.
Cells that secured 18 name tags, come forward!
Including ours, nine cells stepped up.
Fewer than expected.
SelfPR videos are gonna be a straightup gamble.
The rest of the trainees, excluding those 27, would all draw random themes.
Only the lucky ones would survive.
The 27 successful trainees, head to the waiting room next to the hall and tell the staff your outfits and themes. The rest of you, over here for random draws.
Heo Yubin looked glum even before entering the waiting room.
Even a free theme feels daunting. No clue what to do...
You should play up your singing, Yubin.
Singing?
The basics of selfPR highlight what makes you stand out from the crowd. You sing way better than the others, so leaning into that should give you an edge.
Singing... singing...!
Pondering my words intently, Heo Yubins expression brightened slightly.
Thanks to you, brother, I think I get it now! Appreciate it.
Ask anytime.
By the way, what theme are you going with, brother?
I paused in front of the waiting room and slyly lifted the corner of my mouth.
Id decided long ago.
And episode 1 of Idol Training Simulation had made it crystal clear.
I will show myself.