Chapter 45
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 45
Chapter Title Overcoming Indecision
Id seen Song Hyeongbins status window back during the level test.
That abnormality was visible even then Indecisive.
Other status ailments are hard to grasp just from their names.
Especially mine, Otherworldly BeingI had no idea what debuff it carried until it activated.
But Indecisive was crystal clear in its negative impact.
So this time, I just want to avoid hurting anyones feelings. I want to collect everyones opinions as best I can and relay them in the middle.
But you still want to put on a great stage. You want to take first place, right?
......Yeah. Howd you know?
He wanted a better performance.
But without upsetting the team members.
That made it hard for him to decide on anything.
The discord and hurt feelings you mentioned, hyungthey come from adjusting and changing opinions. Its inevitable when pushing toward something better.
I shrugged as I spoke, and Song Hyeongbin looked utterly shocked.
Yeah. With the bridge part we revised this time, something I want to change came up.
What part?
Herethis whole bridge turned into rap. But looking at the overall flow, theres a short rap section in the second verses latter half too. Thats Jaehoons part as subvocal 3. So
Turning the entire bridge into rap unintentionally overloaded the rap portions, right?
Song Hyeongbin nodded slightly.
A bitter smile tugged at his lips.
So I feel like shortening this bridge rap into a singing rap, or mixing in vocal parts, would be better. But saying that means cutting over half of Jaehoons rap he wrote. Rappings his specialty, so it might feel like taking that away from him. I just know Jaehoon wont take it well... I dont know what to do.
The Indecisive status ailment blinked even more intensely.
I closed my eyes briefly, staring at this blatantly obvious debuff.
Can I be honest with you?
Yeah.
Youre overthinking the negatives way too much, hyung. I know about the past conflict. But arent these team members totally different from back then?
......Youre right.
Anyone who pushes back against a better direction? Thats just their true nature. Your opinion wasnt the problem.
I leaned forward, speaking softly.
From watching trainee Park Jaehoon these past few days, did he seem like the type to react emotionally to your words?
......No. Jaehoons been great about following my lead.
Then the answers right there. Dont let old memories cloud your judgment.
Had I been too harsh?
But Song Hyeongbin looked relieved instead.
Yeah, I was overthinking it. Thanks, Karis. My head feels clearer now.
No big deal.
Thats why all the dongsaengs love you so much. They follow you so well.
I nearly burst out laughing.
So thats why hed been eyeing me and Heo Yubin like that all this time.
Song Hyeongbin gripped his water bottle tight and sighed.
Sorry, man. Didnt mean to show my weak side as the hyung.
Its nothing. Anyone could worry like that.
I should be someone you can rely on... Sorry.
The kid was barely 21, talking like hed lived a full life.
I shook my head lightly and stood up.
If past experiences are burned into your mind, its natural for judgment to blur like this. Especially under people who edit however they please. To avoid devilish editing mishaps, caution makes sense.
Thanks for saying that.
But definitely trust your current team members morethats what I want to emphasize.
Song Hyeongbin stood up after me.
His previously dim eyes now sparkled with life.
With intermediate evaluation tomorrow, I should bring it up first thing this morning. Plenty of time to prep, right? Wont burden Jaehoon too much
Switching to singing rap after lyrics are done shouldnt be too hard. And explaining the reason? Trainee Park Jaehoon will surely understand.
Yeah, no point worrying more. Thanks againand sorry for holding you up when you should be sleeping.
Gratitude and apologies kept coming.
I smirked at this unexpected side Id witnessed repeatedly.
Who couldve guessed the undefeated rankone from last round had this character?
See you in the morning then. Good night.
Yeah, sleep well. Thanks for listening.
Back in Cell 12, I finally hit the bed.
Glancing at my two snoring dongsaengs, I set my alarm for 630 a.m.
A grueling march in a few hours.
Fortunately, no one was late.
Idol Training Simulation normally starts morning practice filming at 10 a.m.
If trainees dont show by then, its tardinessverbal warning.
But Cell 10s leader, Song Hyeongbin, treasured practice time.
So the day before intermediate evaluation, hed suggested warming up by 9 a.m.
Everyone sleep okay?
Everything aches except that, Im good.
Im starving!
So sleepy......
I poked Heo Yubin, still lost in dreamland.
Yubin, up. Cameras are rolling.
Cameras....... I love cameras.
Means every move of yours is livestreamed to the National Managers.
Huh?!
Never fails.
Heo Yubin slapped his cheeks repeatedly, reviving with sparkling eyes.
Im awake now!
Hmm. That scenes definitely hitting the highlight reel.
Eek.
Song Hyeongbin, first in the practice room, gathered the team.
Id wondered how long hed stall before bringing up our dawn talk.
......For these reasons, I think tweaking the bridge part would be good. Jaehoon, what do you think?
Surprisingly, the meeting proceeded without delay.
Even as he spoke, faint anxiety lingered in Song Hyeongbins pupils.
He kept checking Park Jaehoons moodthe fidgety hamster vibe was real.
Id spoken so firmly hours ago, but if Jaehoon rebelled here... a bit worrying.
Thankfully, no disaster.
I felt the rap parts were too heavy during yesterdays practice too, so hearing you say it confirms it. Lets change it.
RReally?
Singing rap isnt that tough anyway. Ill give it a shot.
Good hes on board, but I flagged key points first.
How long to revise the parts? Intermediate evals tomorrowsure its okay swapping practiced sections?
No problem. Lyrics memorized, and were just cutting here, so it wont take long.
Confirm his agreement twice.
Id gauged Park Jaehoon wasnt that type, but better safe.
If things tanked tomorrow, he could blame Song Hyeongbins suggestion.
Insurance.
Okay, then lets burn it all today. Everyone cool?
Yes!
Good thing Stamina hit A.
Unused muscles throbbed painfully from repetition, but bearable.
Compared to 300 sword swings per move in training? Please.
No stragglers. Status cleared, so hyungs leaderships back.
A storm of a day passed, and the awaited intermediate evaluation arrived.
2010 class teams, huh. Looks like you all crammed hard without sleep.
Eyes say it all.
Judges for the three 2010 teams Baek Chaehyun and Ha Sangpil.
Ha Sangpil had ripped my dancing viciously before finals.
Expected eagle eyes on us.
Sure enough, he pointed to our team first.
Lets see. Hyeongbins leader, Karis center?
Yeah, I could tell from his gaze.
Fail to prove center presence? Hed unload.
But no such issue.
......Oho.
Huff, huff. Thank you!
We showed our prepared stage, bowing with ragged breaths.
I wiped forehead sweat, meeting Ha Sangpils shocked eyes.
Honestly? Never imagined this polish. Already at this level?
Team followed hardthat made it possible.
And you rearranged it too, right? Who did that?
MMe, sir!
Baek Chaehyun stammered beside him.
HHonestly, didnt expect full arrangement. Synth pop was genius. Keeps original vibe with killer paceperfect.
You redid the concept too? Costumes prepped? Insane.
I chimed in quietly after silence.
Team discussed lively, so concept fit arranged version easily. This direction okay?
Nothing to change here. Go with it.
I agree.
Yeah. Tighten formations a bitthats just time. Nail it by deadline.
Praise train rolled Song Hyeongbins lips curved up naturally.
Status ailment couldnt flare even if it wanted.
Good work!
Thank you!
Keep pushing. Need help, just say.
2010 mission songs intermediate evals wrapped smoothly.
Heading to central stairs from practice room.
Karis hyung, whats that up ahead?
Hm?
Heo Yubin pointed.
Huge crowd at the large practice room by central stairs.
Not just traineescamera staff, PDs rushing with papers.
What happened?
Drawn like moths, we neared stairs.
Crew urgently announced.
Sehan. Trainee Park Sehan inside?
Big trouble. Incident blew up.
Pause evalsgotta alert them first.
Announcement some Park Sehanrelated incident.
I backtracked dates in my head, eyes widening.
Right. Yesterday was episode 5 airdate.
Too busy practicing, missed live rank reveal.
Day after episode 5 aired. Park Sehan issue? Only one answer.
What about that team?
Gonna be chaos.
Sehan ranked 5th, right? And hes leader now?
Leader and center both, I think.
Dropout? Total disaster.
Park Sehans school violence scandal had gone public.