Chapter 65
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 65
Chapter Title Unexpected Team Formation
Idol Training Simulation stuck to the same concept from the very start.
A format where prediction and certainty were impossible.
A structure where luck, that uncertain factor, exerted a massive influence.
On top of that, theyd designed the format so higher ranks gained distinct advantages.
This third round was where the survival shows characteristics stood out most prominently.
Everyone could freely choose their desired song. There were no restrictions.
However, if you failed the game of chicken and got pushed out of that song, youd drop into an unknown one.
It was the kind of setup that let you taste heaven and hell in an instant.
Hey, whatre you gonna do?
Kang Siyoon, whod claimed the seat next to me for once, whispered very quietly.
Siyoon, which song sounded the best to you?
Honestly, Id need to hear them again to be sure, but my first impression? Deep house or RB.
Why those two?
Uh.
Kang Siyoon scratched his head and grinned at my question.
The song I did last time was super fresh and bright, right? So I wanted something with the opposite vibe this time. Sticking to the same concept too much might bore the fans.
That makes sense.
I deliberately tried not to show any surprise.
As expected, Kang Siyoon was quick on the uptake.
Hed chosen his songs with the exact same reasoning as me.
And honestly. Ah, never mind.
What is it that you start to say but then stop?
No, no. Feels like nows not the time to talk about it.
Kang Siyoon started to bring up something else but immediately cut himself off.
The way he brushed it off felt a bit suspicious.
Hm?
For a split second, I spotted the red alert popping up in front of me.
Something had flickered in Kang Siyoons Status Window before vanishing.
Status Ailment, Wilt activates.
Status Ailment, Wilt releases.
Kang Siyoons status ailment had triggered briefly, then cleared.
Wilt had only activated once before.
During Kang Siyoons level test performance.
Hed been cruising smoothly until, at some point, the ailment hit and he shook badly.
I hadnt seen it activate since then.
The trigger factors still a mystery.
From the flow of our conversation just now, it was clear hed been about to mention whatever caused the Wilt.
But since hed stopped, pinpointing the exact reason was impossible.
I shrugged and said,
Anyway, getting back to the point, I was thinking the same thing as you.
The same as me?
Yeah. To maximize our edge before the finale, we need to show as many sides as possible. So Im planning to pick a song with the opposite vibe from .
Whoa, hold up. You dont mean.
Kang Siyoons eyes widened like full moons.
Then, as if a hilarious idea had struck him, the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
Youre going with ?
Thats the plan, for now.
Dude, this is gonna be a total hit. Karis with a fresh concept? I couldnt resist that.
You have to resist, Siyoon.
Whether I reined him in or not, Kang Siyoon was already hyped, clapping his hands.
Who knew that wink practice we did way back would pay off like this! Dude, you gotta use the wink I taught you. No more just wiping your mouth all the time.
Tthat pose was purely unconscious.
Hehe. Well, anyway, hope we dont end up on the same team again this time.
Kang Siyoon fiddled with his paper, sounding a bit disappointed.
I gave a slight nod at his words.
The more I watch him, the clearer it isKang Siyoons judgments are sharp and coolheaded. Even though Im probably his closest friend right now, hes willing to pass on teaming up if it means pursuing his own strategy.
He stubbornly stuck to and executed the optimal path for the current situation.
That strategic mindset reminded me of General Ahenbauer from Grand Quest Saga, whod assisted with my tactical commands.
Ah, I cant decide between these two. Karis, between and , which do you think is better?
After agonizing, Kang Siyoon hit me with an SOS.
I thought back to my past memories.
Theres no guarantee the trainees choices will play out the same this time, but nothings more reliable than this.
Both songs had solid mass appeal.
The issue was the lineup hed perform with.
For some reason, feels better to me. Its got faster steps, which would suit you teaching the choreography, and the center position stands out more there too.
Hahaha, youre already assuming Ill snag center?
Youre not?
Nah, I absolutely will.
Kang Siyoon nodded with resolve.
Number eight, so I shouldnt get pushed out unless its crazy. Ah, hope I get grouped with some good ones.
Excluding me, who do you want?
Honestly, Id love to snag at least one main vocal. Yubin.
The odds of Heo Yubin picking are about the same as Earth getting destroyed today.
Yeah, figured.
There was no way Heo Yubin, who lacked confidence in dance, would tackle the ultrahigh difficulty of .
The trainees were given 30 minutes to rack their brains.
Once everyone had settled on their picks,
Then well begin the assignments now. Starting with number one, trainee Song Hyeongbin.
Instead of going from the bottom, they started blatantly from the top.
A brutal system that didnt even give lowrankers time to spin happy fantasies in the empty practice rooms.
Soon, it was my turn.
Number four, trainee Karis von Walden, please proceed.
I walked steadily to the synthpop genre practice room.
In my head, I kept replaying memories from the previous round.
Very few top trainees picked from the start last time. But this round has seen massive changes. The program formats the same, but trainee choices are wildly unpredictable.
In the end, nothing was certain.
I took a deep breath, gripped the doorknob.
And flung the door open without hesitation.
Oh.
Ah.
My eyes immediately met one trainees.
Chae Eungyu, whod been warming up alone in front of the practice room mirror, broke into a wide grin.
Karis! You picked this one too?
Yes.
Awesome! Dont just stand therecome on in.
This was unexpected.
Last round, Chae Eungyu had gone for the future EDM .
Even with other trainees in the room, I hadnt thought itd be him.
Chae Eungyu, sitting beside me, tapped the paper hed filled out.
You wanted from the start too, Karis?
After weighing everything, I decided it was the most rational choice.
Wild. The second I heard it, I knew I had to go for .
I kept staring at Chae Eungyus face, and he gave an awkward smile.
Doesnt really match my fresh image, huh?
No, thats not it. Honestly, I figured youd go for .
Yeah, thinking about the concepts Ive done, that fits better. But I wanted to break out a bit.
Chae Eungyus fist clenched lightly.
I want to prove I can handle a wider range of concepts too.
Ah, now I got why hed shifted gears like this.
Chae Eungyu mustve been closely watching public opinion. Hes the oldest among the remaining trainees, and with two neardebut experiences, hed be extra sensitive to perceptions.
In the end, everyone was thinking along similar lines.
With the finale approaching, show untapped sides to appeal your versatility to fans.
And fill in the gaps where public opinion saw weaknesses.
Theyd picked their thirdround songs focusing on those two ideas.
Teaming with Chae Eungyu, whos got topnotch leadership? No downside there.
Prioritizing a polished stage over a novel image was key.
Having a highstat guy like Chae Eungyu would be like having a million troops.
Of course, who knew what screen time shenanigans would pop up.
Who do you hope joins us?
Any specific trainees in mind, hyung?
I thought this song suited Hyeongbin, but looks like he went elsewhere. Hm, from whos left, gotta be Yubin.
I could feel Heo Yubins value rising by the day.
As Id said repeatedly, main vocal positions were incredibly rare.
Especially for trainees who needed to leave strong impressions each round, having a highnote specialist was a huge boon.
Yeah, he pairs perfectly with this.
But then, a trainee no one expected burst through the door.
Eungyu hyung! Sir Karis!
Yu Minha charged in like a puppy, arms wide, and tackled us in a hug.
Gah, ack! Minha? Let go a bit.
This is too good! Ive got a feeling our teams gonna crush it already!
Minha, that hurts. Dont pinch my flesh.
Eek, sorry!
Calming his excitement, Yu Minha beamed and grabbed our hands.
I seriously found this the most addictive. Choreo seems easy to pick up quick, and the rap parts look solid, so I locked it in right away!
I figured youd go for something with tough choreo, Minha.
Honestly, kept catching my eye, but the competition theres insane.
I nodded quietly.
Last time, had boasted an Avengerslevel roster.
Fifteen applicants for a sixperson song, leading to nine trainees getting bounced.
Wonder if itd repeat this time.
Weve got six slots, right? Half full already.
And all high ranks too!
Numbers 2, 4, and 5 had picked in quick succession.
I figured itd be a bit before the next one arrived.
Already this crowded, huh.
Even I, always careful with my expressions, was startled this time.
Number six, Baek Sihwa, had chosen too.
Sihwa, come on in. Lets do great again this time.
Yes.
Chae Eungyu welcomed Baek Sihwa with an energetic grin.
Yu Minha, always bursting with enthusiasm, seemed thrilled to see his friend.
Minha, same team again?
Yyeah! Totally! Third time in a row! So weird.
Yu Minha looked like he was hiding a hint of unease.
I bit my lip slightly, eyeing his faintly trembling pupils.
That ominous feeling was creeping back in.