Chapter 7
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 7
Chapter Title They Say Im Scary
I watched Kang Siyoon bow politely toward the judges.
He made it to the finals with me back then, and his stats were solid too.
It wasnt on purpose, but wed grown somewhat close while waiting around.
And given his ability scores, it was more than worth cultivating that friendship.
Id harbored a small wish that hed end up in this section.
May I start the performance?
Yes!
After wrapping up a brief selfintroduction, Kang Siyoon drew in a deep breath and adjusted the microphone.
As one of the last trainees to take the stage, the judges eyed him with subtle anticipation.
Honestly, with Vocal at B and Dance at A, the odds of him botching it were next to nothing.
!
I was probably wearing an expression much like the judges.
Kang Siyoons pitch held steady through the early parts, only to waver slightly in the chorus toward the end.
He startled at his own slipup, and his dance steps lurched offkilter.
In the midst of this unforeseen snag, the status ailment listed at the bottom of Kang Siyoons Status Window blinked red.
Status Ailment Intimidated Activated
Greatly increased chance of mistakes, greatly decreased confidence
So thats how status ailments kick in.
My own status ailment, Otherworldly Being Possessor, felt innate.
It came with possessing Karis von Waldens body, naturally nerfing my stats.
But Kang Siyoons, flaring up out of nowhere, was hitting his stage performance headon.
He somehow clung to his composure and powered through the routine, but anxiety lingered in his eyes.
Intimidated. True to the namepressure saps confidence and spikes the risk of errors.
No clue what triggered it, not yet.
I held off on overthinking it, content to observe as Kang Siyoon gasped for breath and called out Thank you!
Chances to dig deeper into the Status Window would come around again.
What do you think?
Hm?
As the judges huddled for discussion, someone murmured softly from behind me.
Turning around, I saw a trainee with prominent thick eyebrows flashing a bright smile.
Park Sehan, from the same agency as Song Hyeongbin.
Just curious what grade Karis figures that guyll pull.
Hm. My standards could differ quite a bit from what the judges have set.
Im just asking for your take. No need to overthink it.
Not entirely sure why he was tossing this quiz my way...
But the cameras wouldve caught him approaching me, so a response was nonnegotiable.
I mulled over my words for a beat before replying.
Watching the trainees whove gotten Underground so far, and those who just scraped into Tier 2 at the fringe of Mainstream... Id say Siyoons got what it takes to hit this level.
Oh, unexpected. Even with the pitch going off and the dance flubs?
A few of the Tier 2 kids messed up too. Strip that away, and Siyoons raw talent warrants a solid evaluation.
Hoo.
Park Sehan looked genuinely intrigued.
And the moment Kang Siyoon actually landed Tier 2, he clapped my back and shot me a thumbsup.
Youve got an eye for this, Karisno joke.
Not worth all the fuss, Id say
Nah, nah. I had him pegged for Underground lock. Shows you gotta poll different opinions.
I dipped my head slightly in acknowledgment of his praise.
In that moment, I sifted through old memories.
Park Sehan, Park Sehan...
The answer surfaced quick.
His future was set in stone anyway, so Id just keep it to a polite cutoff.
Meanwhile, Kang Siyoon dropped into the seat next to me, utterly spent.
Ha... Way too tense.
Still, joining Mainstreams a win.
Hahaha, truth be told, I thought Id tanked it. Like, Great, nameless from the jump. Total nailbiter to sneak through.
I glanced at Kang Siyoons Status Window again.
The Intimidated ailment had gone inactive, but he still gave off waves of unease.
I pondered my words, then opted for a subtle confidence boost.
You can see it that way if you want, but looking at the results, its the judges who handed down this grade. Means they rate your potential high. Forget dwelling on old slipsjust show them growth from here. No need to fret.
...Karis.
Hm?
Youre brutally onpoint.
Head slightly bowed, Kang Siyoon flashed the widest grin.
Thanksfeels like my heads clearing up a bit.
Just laying out the facts.
Keep hearing it, and that speech patterns starting to grow on me, dude.
I desperately waved him off as he mimicked my tone in that weird voice, and before I knew it, the Idol Training Simulation level test wrapped up entirely.
Cut! Great work, everyone!
Trainees, this way to the dorm building!
Watching 96 trainees file out of the set one by one was spectacle enough.
Shorter than the time it took to assemble at the buses, even.
Drained to the bone from backtoback filming, but downtime wasnt on the menu yet.
Everyone to the main hall to check your room assignments.
Roommates awaited right away.
I wheeled my featherlight carryon up to the massive panel.
Desperate to crash in their rooms ASAP, they shoved and jostled to peek first.
Hated getting tangled in the melee, so I hung back, chill, until I could check mine.
Karis von Walden Cell 31
Threetoaroom setup.
Landed near the tail end of the Cells.
Halfexpected it, but yeahdifferent assignment from my past life. With changed grades and character, it tracked. Still, probably not pure random some deliberate sorting criteria.
Couldve scoped my roommates here, but most had already bolted upstairs, so I hustled after.
Anything but thathope theyre tidy, at least.
Last Idol Training Simulation, my first batch of roommates spelled trouble from day one.
Tidiness brought me peace of mind, but those guys? Total freeforall slobs.
Clinging to hopes of vanilla normalcy, I reached Cell 31and a hugely familiar voice rang out.
Whyd you take so long? I was waiting.
...This for real?
Hahaha! You didnt check downstairs before coming up?
I let the carryon slip from my grip in my stupor, and Kang Siyoon cracked up hard.
Mustve sprinted to the auditorium straight off the bushis stuff was already unpacked.
Id asked for average at best, but nope.
Fate shoved me in the same room as the first guy Id bantered with in Karis von Waldens body.
So this is what they mean by fates cruel joke.
Three beds lined up, middle one open.
As I unpacked my scant gear, curiosity hit about the window beds owner.
Speaking of, wheres the other roommate? Shouldve beat me here.
Passed right on by, super casual.
Passed... just now?
I echoed his words.
He just shrugged with a sly grin, saying nothing more.
Whipping around to scan, I spotted the shape Id mistaken for luggage on entry.
The mystery lump under the white blanket twitched at my stare.
This show axes you without footage. Hiding under the covers for roommate intros? Come on.
Didnt have the full picture, but I sure as hell wasnt squandering this goldmine screen time.
I strode forward and yanked at the blanket.
I dont know.
Thats my line.
Zero read on what trainee this was.
Flashed on the troll characters from last Idol Training Simulationgot a twinge of dread.
Eek, eek.
Peeling back the dark blanket revealed a strikingly young, fresh face staring up.
Bangs hanging long enough to halfbury the eyes.
Fragile build that paled next to my bulk at a glance.
And the 55 tag pinned to the chest.
Undergroundgrade trainee, plain as day.
My gaze landed, and the Underground trainee shrank further, eyes wide with fright.
Hhhhello...
Pleased to meet you. Karis von Walden.
II know your name...
No. 55 bit their lip after my intro, peeking up just a touch.
But one look at my face, and their voice cracked into a whimper.
Yyoure scary.
Huh?
Thought Id misheard.
Lifetime first someone clocking scary on sight.
I turned to Kang Siyoon, whod watched the whole thing with gleaming interest.
Explanation required.
Aigoo, where to even start.
Kang Siyoon hopped off his bed and squatted next to me.
He eyed the Underground trainee with pity.
Mental was shaky from the jump when we met. Underground means no name tagbig psych blow, I guess. Bit standoffish with me too.
This blows past standoffish.
Told em the last roommate was you, and they lost it. Said you look straightup terrifying.
Do I... really come off that scary?
I asked, voice laced with bewilderment, and No. 55 nodded like their life depended on it.
I shut my eyes and let out a long sigh.
Just wanted normal.
Looked like Id have a ton to grill before the production crew summoned us.