Chapter 9
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 9
Chapter Title Grueling Cell Sessions
People generally know that idol survival shows follow a pretty similar blueprint.
Level tests, final evaluations, onsite rounds with team battles, and so on.
Idol Training Simulation looked like your standard survival program at first glance.
But once the lid was off, the detailed mechanics stood out as wildly unique in all sorts of ways.
A prime example was how they twisted the usual training sessionsinstead of grouping trainees by rank, like everyone else does.
The scene when I first heard the news is playing out exactly the same. Nothings changed at all.
The trainees who signed up for Idol Training Simulation probably came in with rough expectations too.
That this show would stick to the basics of idol survival.
But then they announce at the first facetoface that theyre stripping everyone of their names.
They say theyre splitting practice sessions not by rank, but by cells.
With variables popping off one after another, no wonder the young trainees mental states were crumbling.
Other survivals split sessions by rank for good reason.
When your survivals on the line, trainees cant help but compare themselves to others subconsciously.
Its as unchanging as the laws of nature.
So what happens when you mix boys with that instinctnot grouping them by skill level, but throwing toptiers in with the bottomdwellers?
Turn here on your right foot! Five, six, seven, and eight.
Huh, huff!
Too fast!
How are we supposed to keep up with that?
Two days had passed since we dove into cellbased practice sessions.
I wiped the sweat trickling down my neck, breathing heavily.
Around me, I heard not just simple panting, but agonized wails that went beyond.
The ones letting out those cries were mostly the Underground Tier 3 and 4 trainees.
The theme songs choreography already boasted a tight beat that was hard enough to follow.
And now they had to spectate the Mainstream trainees up front in real timetheir skills miles ahead.
As the choreography training dragged on, more and more people in the back of the practice room dropped to their knees, clutching their heads.
They were already Underground rank, forced to go by numbers instead of names.
Watching backs way more skilled than theirs? Their mentals were shattering even harder.
Naturally, the harsh critiques that always show up in survivals followed suit.
Shouldnt the Underground kids be more desperate? Anyone would think you got the higher ranks, slacking off like that.
You slip even a little here, and youre outout. You okay going home after just one stage? Is that why you showed up?
From the top. You calling that dancing right now?
Im starting to feel bad at this point. Feels like I made the choreo too hard and put you through hell.
The trainees shredded apart under the dizzying barrage from all directions.
It felt like they zeroed in on Underground ranks every time, but by day three, oneonone coaching kicked off.
And in those sessions, even Tier 1s couldnt dodge the sting.
Whats that move? Make it bigger, more lively. Read this lyric right now. The one standing at the end will be me alone! But your move screams youre already out.
Did I grade you wrong? I gave you Tier 1 with my own hands? With skills like this?
...Did you really just rehearse that one level test song a hundred times and call it a day? You cant do anything else?
Ha Sangpil, the dance specialist judge alongside Bae Kangwoo, machinegunned through each trainee with meticulous picks.
Even Song Hyeongbin, boasting those insane stats, couldnt slip his radar.
Of course, bullets rained on me too.
Karis. Karis... Didnt you hear something similar at the level test? No feeling in your dancing.
Thats right.
What youre showing me isnt dancing. Just motions. Dance needs to carry your unique charm. And amp that up to captivate the audiencethats the endgame. To be honest, Karis, you look maxed out just keeping up with the choreo. No room left to add your own flair.
Hearing that was par for the course.
Id barely dragged my originally disastrous Dance stat up to a Bgrade for this.
Still too early to outshine the level test performance without changing the Status Window.
Sure, it grated on my ears a bit.
But to craft a rocksolid growth arc for later edits? Moments like this needed humble acceptance.
Prime footage gold.
Beyond the cell group sessions, I dragged Kang Siyoon and Heo Yubin down to grind the theme song.
Heo Yubin, whod been quaking after watching the Mainstreams, was starting to regain some confidence in our trio practices.
Thats it, good job! Just move that leg fast like that. Way easier, right?
Its amazing, Siyoon hyung! I get it so well!
Of course, the source of that confidence was our eager teacherforhire, Kang Siyoon.
I knew he had a solid personality already, but spending this much closeup time was a first.
Looking out for others in a survival aint easy, yet here he was, doting on me and Heo Yubin.
Hmm. No matter how I look, somethings still missing.
Kang Siyoon, checking my dancing, stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes.
Youve improved tons since three days ago. Cleaner lines, more power. Hmm...
If theres still room to improve, where exactly?
Im trying to pin it down right now. Ah!
Kang Siyoons fingers snapped crisply.
His eyes sparkled brighter than usual, which honestly unnerved me.
Expression. Yeah, thats it. Karis, youre handsome as hellanyone can see that, right?
Heo Yubins head nodded furiously beside him, like a bobblehead doll.
Like the judges said, you gotta infuse your charm into the dance for max effect. With your killer visuals being straightup cheat codes, varying your expressions should naturally amp up the flavor.
So, utilize expressions.
Yeah. But dont overdo it. Wanna start light with a wink?
Fair point. Digesting highdifficulty choreo in this crown prince body had pushed expressions down the priority list.
Now that the moves were sinking in, time to level up.
Climb higher, yes, I am the winner.
Following Kang Siyoons advice, I tried winking with a point move during the chorus.
Id done it countless times as a trainee idol, so no sweat this time eitheror so I thought.
Huh?
Karis von Waldens facial muscles straightup ignored my brains commands.
No, not ignoredfullon rejecting them.
One eye didnt even close properly the lid just drooped halfshut.
What the hell.
As I panicked internally, Heo Yubinsitting on the practice room floor, staring updropped his water bottle.
KKKaris hyung. Whys Karis hyung glitching out just like me?
I... I dunno either. Why cant I wink?
Hyung cant do this! No one told you not to ruin that face like that? This is sacrilege against your facesacrilege!
CCalm down. First try, bound to happen. Karis, one more time.
Kang Siyoon replayed the highlight like it was no big deal.
But every followup attempt just had my facial muscles trembling like aspen leavesno proper wink.
By the end, Kang Siyoon cracked up seeing my opposite eyebrow shoot up comically.
Hahaha! Ah, I shouldnt laugh. That expression? Needed a photo.
...Spare me the blasphemy.
No, seriously, Karisyou had to see your own face. First time realizing your eyebrow could dance that freely.
Earlier his eyelid fluttered like crazy, now the eyebrow!
Im plenty embarrassed, so drop the playbyplay. Im begging you earnestly.
I stroked my cheeks, flushed with shame, and sighed.
This crown prince body never failed to underwhelm.
Makes sense. Back when I played Grand Quest Saga, Karis von Walden never once had a wink moment.
Why would the empires crown princeobligated to slay demon kingswink at anyone?
Siyoon.
Whoa, your tones super serious now.
You up for pulling an allnighter tonight?
For me? Staying up till dawns my routine lately, so no issue.
Then, care to help with my pathetic expression practice?
No time to blame Karis von Waldens bodily limits.
To shine in higher rounds later, better to steel myself and overcome than whine.
Plus, grinding persistently? Ive done tons. Familiar territory.
When I first dropped into Grand Quest Saga, adapting to the crown prince role was brutal.
Plenty of quitworthy moments, but I knew better than anyonestopping there meant no future vision.
Same deal now. Just roles reversed.
Grit my teeth, put in the work, and growth will come knocking.
Relentless practice resumed.
I struggled with winking at first too. Tip dont force your eye shut...
Kang Siyoon demonstrated personally, trying his best to guide me.
I etched the methods and moves into my brain, watching him.
Like my rookie trainee days.
Hypnotizing myself back to clueless newbie days, starting from zero step by step.
The clock on the personal practice room wall ticked toward 11 p.m.
Phew! Short break, then back at it?
Sounds good.
Wiping sweat pouring like rain, I flopped onto the floor.
My whole body burned hot.
Arms and legs ached fiercely from nonstop muscle use.
But that discomfort faded against the thrill of growing attuned to Karis von Waldens body.
Parts where my lines had died completely were gaining angles.
Facial muscles that flatout disobeyed at first were loosening bit by bit.
Gulping water down.
A golden effect bloomed, spawning the Status Window.
Congratulations! Possessor, you have adapted to Karis von Waldens physical abilities by over 70.
As a reward, Proficiency has been unlocked. From now on, using Karis von Waldens body will accumulate stat proficiencies.
As proficiency rises to rankset levels, Possessors ability scores will gradually increase.
Reach max proficiency without investing skill points, and stats will permanently rise.