Chapter 40
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 40
Chapter Title Ranking Ceremony Tension
The 48th place trainee was on the Red Team for this Rival Battle round.
Pyo Jihyun gave only a faint reaction as she watched the ranking announcement ceremony.
She hadnt even watched the main broadcast of Idol Training Simulation from the start, so she barely knew who was who.
That was why she kept refreshing her timeline while gauging her little sisters reactions.
At this rate, itll take over an hour just to get through the top 30.
Dont you have anyone youre rooting for?
I told you, just Ji Yooncheol. Hes bound to rank high no matter what.
Even when a trainee who ranked was on the same team as her favorite, she didnt show much interest.
At least when one trainee secured their survival, the camera finally turned toward Ji Yooncheol, restoring Pyo Jihyuns energy.
Ah, hes seriously insanely good. Sis, can you believe hes only 17? Want me to show you his old graduation photo? His face hasnt changed a bit.
People are already posting stuff like that everywhere. But isnt 17 just four years ago?
Enduring her sisters sharp glare, Pyo Jihyun shifted her gaze back to the screen. So far, Ji Yooncheols expression hadnt changed much.
But as one by one, survivors took their seats and shared tearful thoughts, his eyes seemed to subtly redden.
The fans, of course, didnt miss it. They flooded the feeds with captures and wailed.
Yoonkyung finally starting to crack
Photo JiYoonCheol realtime emotional shift. emojis
Even with that poker face, hes still a baby. Seeing his hyungs cry gets to him right away
Yooncheol didnt bawl at debut either, just held it in and let the tears flow
Omg imagining it has my heart pounding like crazy!!!!!
I wanna see him cry. Sorry Im such a bad noona
Whens the finale? I wanna see it soon
Pyo Jihyun wondered if theyd show Karis if any of his teammates survived.
But cruelly, the Red Team wasnt called until they broke into the top 30.
After the long wait, the moment trainee Oh Taeyoung locked in 28th place, Karis appeared briefly.
Choi Sia 28th place, trainee Oh Taeyoung. Your other teammates are still down thereany words for them?
Oh Taeyoung My friends and hyungs who led the lacking me from behindI know theyll all make it. Ill be waiting.
Oh Taeyoung bowed deeply, and the Red Team members all shot to their feet, giving him thunderous applause.
Karis von Walden, seated in the center, nodded approvingly several times with a pleased expression.
He looked every bit the stern crown prince.
Isnt that guy straightup CGI?
You like him that much? Didnt expect to stan him this fast.
Even when you said hes totally your type, sis I wasnt sold, but Karis? Hooked the second I saw him.
As rankings continued to drop one by one, the trainees eyed the dwindling empty seats and voiced their anxieties.
Will our spots still be open?
Rankings are getting too high now
Even the ones who absolutely deserve to survive are still sitting. Ugh, we have to get called now.
Ilang and Eun are almost fully intact down there.
Especially, the Blue Teamexpected to sweep high ranksand the Red Team members were still below stage.
With the extra 5,000 votes, everyone figured theyd all crack the top 20 at least.
20th place trainee. This one snagged the 1st round winner benefit, plus the top 3 teams benefits. And not from Blue Team, but Red Team.
What?
Isnt that their team?
One of them already got called?
Slightly unexpectedly, a name rose in that slot.
Congratulations! Securing 20th place survival is trainee Heo Yubin!
Did they call the wrong one?
Thought hed rank higher.
Yubin must be disappointed.
Whoa, I figured hed go higher too.
Pyo Jihyun, whod been dragging her feet about getting up earlier, was now heading to the kitchen for ice cream.
His names been popping up a lot.
Kariss roommate from the start. They were on the same team too. Friends raved about his singing, but 20th is lower than expected.
Viewers might call it disappointing, but Heo Yubin himself looked thrilled.
His moonround eyes at the callout stayed huge.
Only after hands from both sides shook him did he seem to register hed survived.
So tense hed beentrying to stand, he nearly pitched forward.
Careful, careful.
Huh.
Congrats!
Hha! Thank you! Thank you!
The adorable Japanese trainee received a roaring welcome.
Hashimoto Ken, at the Red Teams edge, shook hands with each member as he moved.
Karisnim! Come up quick! Were waiting!
Congratulations. Ill follow soon, so dont worry too much.
He even hugged Karis von Walden before ascending.
Talk about exploding popularity.
No, these KNet crazies better drop the behindthescenes ASAP. What the hell did Karis do to get them all reacting like that? Im dying of curiosity.
Both Heo Yubin and Hashimoto Ken.
It was clear they felt tremendous closeness to Karis von Walden.
He gives off this aura no one can approach easily. But maybe his real personalitys the total opposite?
Pyo Jihyun was meeting Karis for the first time today, but with every passing minute, her curiosity grew.
Top teams trainees started getting called one by one.
Before long, the first ranking ceremony had only the final 10 spots left.
Preview scenes coming up soon?
Pretty much any second now? Super curious about Kariss rank. Can he crack top 7?
Pyo Jihyun readjusted her seat.
Honestly, I thought Karis could aim for top 5? But those guys up top had solid core fandoms before this even started, so he got pushed to top 7 contender.
Famous before debuting?
Yeah. Song Hyeongbin and Park Sehan got trainee SNS accounts on Awake and blew up. Chae Eungyu debuted before, so old fans stuck around. Yooncheol had insane physique buzz from day one, they say.
Pyo Jihyun nodded.
Being foreign probably hurts a bit on domestic votes?
A tad behind overseas, yeah? But flipping it feels like just a matter of time.
Wanna see him shoot straight to number one.
This was where it got real.
Kariss rank mattered, and so did spotting his fated rivals for the cutthroat battles ahead.
Didnt plan on getting this immersed.
First ranking ceremony11 survival seats remain. Before announcing the final 51st place, well reveal whos closest to debut dreams. Now, meet the trainees claiming TOP 7 debut zone glory!
At Choi Sias shout, four lines slashed across the massive screen.
The split screen slowly spun the Idol Training Simulation logo.
Ah, Im more nervous watching than they are. Stop dragging it out and just announce already.
Pyo Jihyun jabbed the bottom of her soda ice cream, snorting.
TOP 7 candidates, reveal!
Cameras swept in from the left.
Sensing what was coming, Pyo Jihyun nodded as Kariss blond hair appeared, even mosaicked.
There it iseven blurred, blond stands out.
With Karis were his roommate and teammate Kang Siyoon, plus Yoo Minha.
Kang Siyoon next to him shared an awkward grin and fistbumped.
Four trainees, please come onstage.
Not even 1st or 2nd, and theyre hyping 7th like this? Legsll kill em laterhow long they dragging this?
Pyo Jihyun rarely watched survival shows, but she got her sisters frustration.
Already draggedout announcement, now parading candidates? Torture.
Mercifully, it moved quick.
10th place trainee Kang Siyoon!
Kang Siyoon, called first, showed zero disappointment.
Relieved instead, he hugged Karis and the others.
Didnt expect such a high rank from the start. Its all thanks to National Producers. I promise to keep growinggiving it my all!
Delivering a crisp, onpoint statement, he took varied congrats en route to his seat.
9th went to another trainee, spiking Pyo Jihyuns hopes higher.
Is he seriously debuting from the jump?
Next, 8th place. Oh, this trainee was a hot potato. Untouchable flashy visuals and physiquehe stole National Producers love in one go.
Choi Sias line clicked it instantly.
Congratulations, trainee Karis von Walden!
Ah.
Wow, climbed to 8th this time. Next week hes going higher, bet.
Hearing you talk amps my expectations naturally. Kinda bummed now.
But for real, Karis only has climbing left. Dont stress.
Taking the mic, Karis von Walden smiled faintly.
His slow words rolled out in a weighty baritone.
Getting here wasnt easy. Things to overcome, to prepare. I poured my soul into showing better. Seeing that effort reach National Producers makes me so happy.
Karis stepped his right foot back, bowing elegantly.
Somehow off yet graceful.
Hes eaten up by his concept. Or a real noble from somewhereor jumped from an anime.
Showing growth ahead is a given. Not mere growth, but becoming talent true to Idol Training Simulations waycarving my bones each moment. Ill ensure no regrets for those who voted me. Im ready. Confident. Thank you.
Unlike standard thanks, his words felt like oath and vow.
Weighted terms carried strange persuasion.
Every time I see him, I think this, sis.
Yeah?
Lines thatd sound so cringy from anyone else? Karis sells em. This too.
Pyo Jihyun nodded at her sisters words.
Somehow, every word rang with grounded confidence.
7th went naturally to Yoo Minha.
Teammate Park Sehan took 5th, 4th a frail trainee Baek Sihwa.
TOP 3, expected to drag, ended anticlimactically.
Exdebut Chae Eungyu at 3rd.
Sisters fave Ji Yooncheol at 2nd.
Song Hyeongbin, search results flooding, claimed 1st.
Now, final 51st place trainee.
With majors safe, tension was low.
Watching one lucky trainee scrape by, Pyo Jihyun started clearing the table.
Fun after ages.
Knew youd like it. Lets watch next week too.
Gotta scan for stannables.
That attitudes perfect. Spin up an account, youll be RT king.
Cut the weird talk and clear dishes.
She secretly buzzed inside.
What would Karis von Walden show in round 2?
Meanwhile, that very moment.
.
Things look messy over there.
A chill wind blew through the Idol Training Simulation set.