Chapter 97
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 97
Chapter Title Loved Ones Behind the Curtain
After the minigame filming wrapped up, we boarded a bus and headed to a convention center near Seoul.
The unexpectedly massive venue drew reactions of surprise from all around.
Its huge!
With a place this big, there must be a ton of guests coming.
Who the heck are they inviting in such large numbers...?
National Managers, maybe?
The trainees entered the convention center and changed into their stage outfits in the waiting room prepared by the production crew.
The quality of the costumes was performanceready.
Even though wed already stood on a stage like this in the previous round, it felt fresh all over again, making me wonder just how serious they were about this minishowcase.
While changing into his pants, Chae Eungyu suddenly piped up as if remembering something.
Oh, right. This is the first time well get to see the kids from the other teams perform, isnt it?
Yeah, it is.
The midevaluation was in a different practice room, so we couldnt watch.
Wow, Ive been so focused on our own practice that the other teams completely slipped my mind.
Everyone nodded at Kwon Daehyuns words.
For the past few days, wed been nonstop perfecting our stage.
Id been so tunnelvisioned on practice that I hadnt even thought about the other teams progress.
This showcase would reveal just how much team synergy theyd built and the polish theyd achieved.
Even though its not a direct competition between the two teams, the trainees are bound to feel some rivalry subconsciously. Voting results will shift depending on which stage gets the bigger reaction from the live audience.
Maybe because of Chae Eungyus comment, we finished our remaining preparations with our spirits fired up.
The first slot is the team, and the second is ours. Therell be a black curtain on stage when you go up, but dont panicitll drop before the performance starts.
Got it!
Before the main showcase stages, all the trainees will come out for greetings, so line up in a row and wait.
Just as the staff said, we climbed onto a stage shrouded on all sides by blackout curtains.
This way, we cant even tell whos out there.
Kang Donghwis quiet mutter tickled my eardrum.
Heo Yubin swallowed dryly and started letting his imagination run wild.
What if theres no special guests and the front is totally empty? What if the judges set this up like the old ranking evaluation to test how calm we stay with no audience
If they really wanted to test us with no crowd, they wouldnt have bothered with the minigames, Yubin.
Bbut still! What if the production crew just did it for footage? If the curtain opens and no ones there, Id be terrified...
Of all the experiences in Idol Training Simulation, the underground ranking mustve been the toughest for Heo Yubin.
His one shot to escape the underground tierwhere he couldnt even use his real namewas the final ranking evaluation.
Hed had to nail the dance perfectly on that vast, empty stage with zero spectators.
That trauma mustve resurfaced, filling him with dread.
Chae Eungyu laughed and patted his back at his wail.
No way thatll happen, Yubin. If they wanted to test us, they wouldnt rent out a huge place like this. They couldve just used the dorm practice room or auditorium. Even for budget reasons, someones gotta be behind that curtain.
Rreally?
You bet.
His logical breakdown seemed to convince Heo Yubin somehow.
But when Yoo Minha tested the waters with a shout, the anxiety came rushing back.
Dear audience, can you hear me!
......
Silence was the only reply.
Heo Yubin grabbed his sameage friends hand and started sniffling.
What if no one really came? Im shaking!
Nah, this is 100 the production crew telling everyone to stay quiet. The shows about to start soon, so lets wait.
Aaah...
About 10 minutes later.
Once we got word that everything was set, the staff behind us began the countdown.
3, 2, 1. Dropping the curtain!
I already knew exactly what scenery awaited us.
But the other trainees, who couldnt possibly know the future, froze at the sight before them.
Hyeongbin!
Donghwi, were here!
Wheres our boy?
Yooncheol, over here, over here!
People endlessly waving at us from the audience as we stood on stage.
Adults calling our names over and over with eyes full of affection.
Once the curtain fully dropped, they all stood at once, giving thunderous applause while shouting more names.
......Ah.
This... this is totally unfair.
MMom!
Dad.
The trainees, momentarily stunned, began murmuring as if snapping out of a trance, one by one.
Then, recognizing the faces of family they hadnt seen in ages, they raised their voices.
......Its been forever.
Brother?
Even Chae Eungyu beside me was quietly tearing up.
He nodded toward his parents waving vigorously with both hands.
Work kept us apart so much. I started as a trainee young, so I barely spent time at home... Havent seen them together like this in forever.
Must feel special.
......Yeah.
Chae Eungyu wasnt the only one crying.
Some whod whispered their parents names now covered their mouths, shedding fat tears like baby chicks.
Right before the final live broadcastthis is the most mentally taxing time. No wonder the surprise family appearance brings tears automatically.
One trainee reacted the most explosively.
Keen!
Okāsan! Otōsan!
Hashimoto Ken stomped his feet like he might bolt forward any second.
Hed always had a puppyish vibe, but now he straightup evoked a Maltese wagging its tail wildly.
Kens parents came all the way from Japan! Howd they pull that off?
The production crews power exceeds our wildest dreams, Minha.
Feels like facing the final boss of another world!
Yoo Minha craned his neck around eagerly.
Then he pouted and poked my arm.
No parents for you, Karis brother?
Probably too tight on time to bring them from Estonia.
I was totally looking forward to it! Wondering where that superior genetics came from! Bet your folks are cool and gorgeoussuch a shame.
Parents... huh.
I gave a faint smile, repeating the unwelcome word in my head.
When the crown prince from Grand Quest Saga crossed into reality, Id used the system to tweak the worldline.
Id fabricated a plausible backstory for Karis von Walden, who never existed here.
Id filled in detailed info for a seamless profile.
Knowing von Walden evoked nobility in the real world, Id set him as a descendant of old Swedish aristocracy and built a family tree.
Based on that, the system assigned two real people as my parents.
My father, Fredrik von Walden, and mother, Freya von Walden.
Both professors at a university in Tallinnperfect excuse for not being available on short notice.
......Though itd be kinda hard to tear up in front of total strangers from my life.
I gave a wry smile, imagining the Estonian parents Id eventually face.
......Yeah, thatd be tough.
From the start, parents had always been hard to deal with in my life.
Not hard to deal withmore like zero good memories.
Most people tear up and get emotional facing their parents like the trainees around me.
Thats normal, with all the bonds built over years together.
But before I entered the gameback when I was Han JihyukId had a lousy relationship with mine.
Bet youre bummed your parents couldnt make it, Karis brother.
Geographys unavoidable, so Im fine.
Still, theyd wanna see you debut as an idol after coming all the way to Korea... Theyd be cheering hard!
Haha......
I brushed off Yoo Minhas words with a light laugh.
Yeah, thats how it should be.
Normal parents would support and push their kids dreams.
But all I remembered were curses and fingerpointing.
I shook my head to clear the dark thoughts before they took over.
Turning my gaze forward again, I spotted familiar faces in the distance.
Karis brother!
Looking sharp, our center!
Oh Taeyoung and Park Jaehoon, eliminated at the last ranking announcement, shouted my name loud.
I quickly pieced it together.
Trainees without family called friends or acquaintances instead.
Indeed, some tables had friends cheering wildly in place of family.
Unable to book Karis von Waldens Estonian friends, the crew mustve invited his Idol Training Simulation teammates.
I nodded thanks to Oh Taeyoung and Park Jaehoon.
A wave of hit me at their loyalty.
The mystery special guests for the showcase are none other than your family and friends. How does it feel seeing them from the stage, everyone?
Tears!
How can you spring this on us like that......
Everyone was on the verge of crying again.
I seized the moment and shared my thoughts calmly.
Im proud to show the stage weve prepared to the most precious people in our lives.
Karis, so cool!
As expected of our prince!
Even my nicknameturnedchant, prince, popped up among the trainees.
I whipped my head toward the voice and shot a glare.
They all burst into giggles like it was the funniest thing.
Then well kick off the showcase with the first stage from Group. Group, please step down for now.
As we took our positions, Heo Yubin whispered to me.
If Mom and Dad saw me only eating kimbap here, Id bawl.
Not gourmet buffet, but at least they get steaklucky.
Right! Hehe.
Heo Yubins tension seemed totally gone, thankfully.
I shot him a grin, then took a slow deep breath, waiting for the music to start.
Soon, well take an even bigger stage than this.
Vast stadium, dazzling lights.
The very platform where my first failure was etched.
The final round that would decide our fates was drawing near.