Chapter 41
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 41
Chapter Title Yearly Hit Song Showdown
Sweet rest is finally over.
Im already getting chills.
Ah, shouldve slept more.
Whats with these drawn curtains?
The day after the first ranking announcement ceremony.
As expected, the next filming for Idol Training Simulation kicked off right away.
The moment we entered the auditorium, our eyes landed on a massive black curtain.
It covered half the hall, clearly hiding some kind of setup behind it.
The trainees, sensing the next round was about to start, couldnt hide their tension.
HHyung! Im so scared!
Its only the second round, and youre still this scared, Yubin?
What if we get split up, hyung? Theyll probably reshuffle the cells once the next round starts! What do I do, hyung? What do I do?
Heo Yubin, clinging to my arm like a koala, was the perfect example.
Seeing him glance around with that abouttocry face stirred up old memories.
In Grand Quest Saga, Crown Prince Karis von Walden had two younger brothers to look after.
In the story, the youngest was doomed to die in a Demon Kings army infiltration operation.
Even with me, an outsider, possessing the body, he still lost his life at just eight years old.
The endless battles, strategies, and faction wars had made his story fade into the background.
Just like that time playing basketball by the Han River, memories of Grand Quest Saga flooded back crystal clear.
Yeah, that strange sense of déjà vu Id felt since first meeting Heo Yubin.
His cautious personality and the way he stuck to me like glue were exactly like Third Prince Ray von Walden.
Ray always calmed down when I said stuff like this.
I patted Heo Yubins back, sifting through the sharpened memories.
Fate doesnt snap so easily. No matter how anxious you feel right now, the gods are always watching over you. If theres a destiny you desperately wish for, it will surely come to pass. And Ill be right by your side, so dont worry.
Karis hyung!
If those words feel like grasping at clouds, heres one more thing. Our average ranking is well above par right now. And doesnt it click that the new round starts the very next day after the announcement?
Hes saying dont freak out too much since high ranks mean well probably get some advantages, Yubin.
Kang Siyoon had snuck up behind me and threw a wink.
I stole your line, Professor. That okay?
Whats with the sudden professor talk?
Your tone when comforting Yubin sounds just like a philosophy prof.
Sharp instincts, as always.
I cleared my throat, thinking of the old mentor whod taught me philosophy and anthropology in Grand Quest Saga.
Ahem. Anyway, like Siyoon said, high ranks mean were in a favorable spot.
I need my hyungs!
Ow. Yubin, ease up on the grip a bit.
I dont wanna get split up!
Once all the trainees had gathered in the auditorium, the staff pulled back the black curtain.
Revealing a gigantic structure that had been neatly concealed.
Panels stuck on it? And some numbers too.
Kang Siyoon squinted and stood on tiptoe.
I examined the panels attached to the front of the structure.
1990, 2000, 2010, 2020.
Beneath the four numbered panels was a single entrance big enough for people to pass through.
The format never changes.
Changes in participants.
Changes in rankings from the first announcement.
Changes in firstround results.
Compared to my first run in Idol Training Simulation, the developments had shifted a lot.
But one thing that never budged was the programs pacing and format.
Id felt it during the first round, and today confirmed it even more.
Hello, trainees. Hope you all rested well.
Choi Sia, in her usual semiformal attire, stepped up to the front of the auditorium.
The trainees shouted a lively Yes! but their eyes were glued to the structure.
Idol Training Simulation started with 96 people. Now, 51 remain. Once again, congrats to those who survived the first ranking announcement.
After the polite applause died down, Choi Sia picked up the mic again with a meaningful smile.
Now, for the next mission heading toward the second ranking announcement. Trainees, see that huge thing up front?
We see a wall!
Numbers with years on them too!
Thats right, a massive structure marked with years. So, what do these years and this structure mean?
I wanted to raise my hand and blurt out the answer, but barely held back.
The theme of the second round is Yearly Hit Song Showdown. Weve divided years that left a mark on Korean music history, and youll be evaluated on songs from those years. First item the year. Picking your year is simple.
At Choi Sias gesture, a staffer wheeled over a machine.
The touch screen on top spun with the Idol Training Simulation logo.
Youll come up one by one and touch this screen for a random year assignment. Then head through the door for your assigned year, check the mission songs for that era, and pick one. But note, the number of mission songs per year varies. And so does the headcount per song. If a songs spots are full, it autocloses.
Wait a sec.
Doesnt that make starting order way too important?
But even going first doesnt guarantee your preferred year.
Still, you might know a song from whatever year you get
The announcement sparked a flurry of confused chatter among the trainees.
Years assigned completely at random, regardless of order.
No clue what songs are in a year or max spots per song.
Even if you want a song, full roster means no dice.
I scanned the room with a faint smile.
All down to probability, so everyones bound to wobble mentally.
Choi Sia waited for the voices to settle.
Starting order is simple from the top rankers of the last announcement. One more thing. The group that got the firstround special benefit, come forward.
The five, including Ji Yooncheol, stepped up to the touch screen.
These five stay a team for the second round thanks to their special benefit. Team leader Lee Joohan will touch the screen, and the whole team gets autoassigned that year.
I glanced at Ji Yooncheol, silently staring at the screen from the end.
Good thing they got the special benefit instead. Teaming with him would have perks, but right now, Id just get devoured.
Until I can lean more on the systemaiming for round 3 or finalsno choice.
Now, lets kick off Round 2 Yearly Hit Song Showdown for real. No. 1, trainee Song Hyeongbin, youre up.
Song Hyeongbin flashed an awkward smile under everyones stares.
I watched intently as he touched the screen.
As expected, angled so we in the back cant peek.
The production teams ironclad nospoiler policy on assignments.
No point wasting energy on useless moves.
But unlike me, one trainee nearby was still buzzing with enthusiasm.
Karisnim! Karisnim!
Yu Minha, with his slightly curled bangs, called my name brightly.
What do you think? Which year looks best?
Honestly, 1990s Korean music isnt my forte.
Even if youve studied Kpop a ton, Karisnim, oldies would be tough. I was worried about landing the 90s too, but there are so many fun, catchy songs, so as long as we dont give up!
Yu Minha unleashed his signature rapidfire rap, only to get cut off by Hashimoto Ken appearing from the opposite side.
KKarisnim! I wanna be on your team too!
Nothing we can do but leave it to luck.
Ill be with Karis hyung!
Huh?
I whipped my head toward Heo Yubins sudden voice.
Still gripping my arm tight, he glared at Hashimoto Ken with blazing eyes.
Like sizing up a potential rival.
But the evercheery Hashimoto Ken just beamed and nodded.
Teaming with Yubin would be even better! Good friend. Friends make happy!
TThats not what I meant
Heo Yubins firedup mode deflated at the unexpected response.
Before his default anxious mode kicked back in, better tidy this up.
Id be thrilled to team up again with last rounds members.
Dont leave me out, Karisnim! I wanna be on your team this time too!
Sure. If Minha joins, its like having a million troops.
Man, being Mr. Popular must be rough.
Even the quiet Kang Siyoon whistled teasingly at me.
This vibe says Im getting ditched? Sad, Karis. We go way backfirst real talk and all.
I never said Id ditch you.
Little bros are always the scariest.
Kang Siyoon blinked exaggeratedly to rib me, stirring the crown prince instincts I kept buried.
I gritted my teeth and grinned.
You got it, Siyoon. Ive got plenty of people lining up even without you, so keep talking. Easy to cut loose.
WWhat?
Think hard about who loses out.
Ah, seriously. Total fumble on the brodiligence check.
As this nonsense banter flew back and forth, it was finally Yu Minhas turn.
Im off! Good luck, everyone!
Next up me.
I racked my brain for mission songs from last time, running scenarios.
Concepts this body could nail best right now.
Team size for the performance.
Even who else fate would ship with.
No. 8, trainee Karis von Walden. Come forward.
I stepped up to the machine calmly.
Touched the screen. About five seconds later, a year popped up.
2010
Great year.
Dodged the dreaded 1990s at least.
A year packed with Kpop landmark hitsnot a bad start.
Passed through the door into the 2010 mission song room, and an unexpected sight unfolded.
I let out a low groan.
Now, what to do here.