The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut Chapter 12
When I recruited Yoo Sung as a guild member, I checked the sub-quest.
[Sub-quest: Recruit Companions
Description: Recruit companions for a successful debut.
Companion Recruitment Status (0/6)
Success Reward: Gate occurrence postponed (180 days)]
Seeing that the ‘Companion Recruitment Status’ didn’t change even after creating a guild and recruiting a guild member, I had my doubts.
‘Does the ‘companion’ mentioned in the sub-quest not mean ‘guild member’?’
At the time, there was no way to solve the question, and because the main quest was urgent, I passed over it without thinking deeply.
But I didn’t know I would succeed in recruiting a companion so suddenly like this.
‘Confirm companions.’
As I thought inwardly, a status window appeared before my eyes.
[1. Okada Hiro (Status window confirmation available)
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After checking the status window, I immediately checked Okada’s stat window.
[Name: Okada Hiro
Age: 19]
[Basic Stats
Vocal: B+
Dance: A-
Appearance: B
Charm: C-]
[Companion recruitment condition ‘Achieve 100% Trust’ fulfilled, ‘Okada Hiro’ has become a companion.]
[Current trust of ‘Okada Hiro’ is 100%.]
Checking the last status window, I thought to myself.
‘Joining the guild wasn’t what was important.’
Because the sub-quest appeared right when the guild was created, I thought joining the guild was the condition to become a companion.
However, joining the guild and becoming a companion were completely different issues.
‘If 100% trust is the condition to become a companion, then it makes sense why Yoo Sung isn’t a companion.’
In the end, creating a guild for the sub-quest had become a meaningless endeavor, but I didn’t regret it.
‘Because it seems like a more interesting picture will come out than I thought… well, this isn’t important right now.’
Stopping my thoughts, I turned my head and looked at Okada.
“Thank you, Hiro.”
“Yes!”
When I expressed my gratitude, Okada smiled brightly with a flawless expression.
‘Then first… should I try a trait draw.’
I greatly benefited from the item draw during the stat evaluation stage.
I still don’t know well what traits are, but there’s a high chance they’ll be as helpful to me as items.
[Trait Draw Ticket
Description: Obtain 1 random trait.]
‘Use Trait Draw Ticket.’
Just like during the item draw, a colorful spinning wheel appeared before my eyes.
I couldn’t look closely during the item draw because I was distracted, but looking closely now, the rainbow and gold sections were narrow, and most were silver and bronze sections.
‘The Stat Growth Ticket was gold. And its rank was S.’
It seemed the color differed according to the rank.
Even before I could mentally prepare myself, the wheel began to spin on its own.
—Whirrr.
Looking at the spinning wheel, I prayed.
‘Please be gold, gold! Rainbow would be even better…’
However, the spinning wheel gradually slowed down and stopped on a bronze section.
[You have used the Trait Draw Ticket.]
[Acquired Trait: Copycat
Rank: B
Description: You can copy the abilities of a designated companion.
*You can only copy the abilities of the designated companion.
*You can only copy the abilities while the companion is using them.
*Currently designable companion: Okada Hiro]
A trait that copies another’s abilities, Copycat.
At first glance, it seemed like a cheat-like ability, but the activation conditions were tricky.
‘It’s a trait that can’t be used without a companion.’
You have to recruit a companion, and the recruited companion must have abilities worth copying.
Fortunately, Okada Hiro had higher vocal and dance stats than I did.
‘The fact that I can only copy when the companion is using their abilities is also a tricky condition.’
Because it meant that if it was an individual evaluation, or even a group evaluation but on a different team, you wouldn’t be able to copy the ability.
I fell into thought.
‘It should be fine for the 1st evaluation stage tomorrow.’
Since EX-Class K-POP Idol is an idol survival program with a unique concept, it used many unconventional evaluation methods.
The 1st evaluation stage also evaluated trainees in a manner that was unconventional if you call it unconventional, and cruel if you call it cruel.
‘To think the day would come when I’d be thankful for Jang Hyuksoo’s cruelty.’
Swallowing a scoff inwardly, I looked at Okada and said.
“Let’s practice just a little more and head in. The evaluation is tomorrow, we should sleep in the dorm.”
“Yes…”
Smiling contentedly at Okada, I thought to myself.
‘Designate companion.’
[The Copycat trait is activated.]
[Designated Companion: Okada Hiro]
[When the companion uses their abilities, you can copy the companion’s abilities.]
Good, good.
Looking at the status windows popping up one after another, I nodded inwardly.
—Ding!
Along with a notification sound, the final status window appeared before my eyes.
Reading the contents of the status window, I reflexively frowned.
‘What is this?’
It wasn’t bad for me, but it was a trait effect that didn’t seem particularly helpful either.
However, I quickly changed my mind.
‘No, wait. If it doesn’t seem helpful… I just have to make it helpful.’
I had to use even the trait effects that didn’t seem helpful to take 1st place.
How best to utilize the effect of the trait—a plan established itself in my head.
* * *
The morning of the 1st evaluation stage dawned.
The trainees gathered in the auditorium wearing the blue T-shirts and black training pants distributed on the first day.
There were a hundred cameras in the auditorium, and number stickers from 1 to 100 were attached on top of the cameras.
“Hello, trainees. Good morning!”
The MC said, standing on the podium.
“The 1st place trainee from the stat evaluation stage, please go to camera number 1. The 2nd place trainee, to camera number 2… Good. Don’t rush, please move slowly.”
The trainees, who didn’t know the evaluation method of the first evaluation stage, tilted their heads and followed the MC’s words.
I familiarly walked over and stood in front of the 20th camera.
The other trainees wandered around a bit but soon found their cameras and stood in front of them.
“Since everyone seems to be ready, I will explain the evaluation method for the first Main Quest.”
The trainees looked at the MC with tense expressions.
“Does everyone remember the first Main Quest you received after the stat evaluation stage?”
The large screen above the podium changed.
[The first Main Quest has arrived.]
[Main Quest: Theme Song Evaluation]
In EX-Class K-POP Idol, an ‘evaluation’ is called a ‘Main Quest’.
“The success of the Main Quest will be evaluated through three ‘waves’.”
“Waves?”
“What’s that?”
When the new term appeared, the trainees tilted their heads with questioning expressions.
The MC continued his explanation.
“The three waves mean three performances. You trainees will perform the theme song three times in a row.”
We have to perform that difficult song not once, not twice, but three times in a row.
“If you make a mistake during the performance, your evaluation will end right there. Your stats will be adjusted depending on which wave you were eliminated in, and your ranking will change according to your adjusted stats.”
If you make a mistake in the first Wave, it is regarded as a main quest failure, and all stats drop by one tier.
If you make a mistake midway through the second or third Wave, it is a main quest success, and stats are maintained.
If you do not make a mistake until the end of the third Wave, it is a main quest success, and all stats rise by one tier as a special reward.
Because it was all the information I knew, I nodded with a calm expression.
However, the other trainees’ expressions were not good, perhaps having received a considerable shock.
“We will monitor your performances in real-time through the cameras and microphones placed in front of you, and check if you make any mistakes.”
The judgment of whether a mistake was made or not is primarily checked by AI, and secondarily checked by the judges to make the final decision.
Because the AI technology was considerably sophisticated, the judgment was precise.
“Since it’s an evaluation of 100 people proceeding simultaneously, there might be cases where someone makes a mistake but isn’t noticed, or tries to gloss over it. But you don’t need to worry!”
As the MC finished speaking, the screen above the podium changed.
“Because we plan to inform you through the screen so that a trainee can immediately know whether they made a mistake or not!”
Numbers from 1 to 100 were written inside 100 square boxes.
They were all still white, but the colors would change depending on how they performed on stage.
“Did everyone understand? It’s fine if there are parts you don’t understand right away! Just remember this: ‘Finish the three performances without making a mistake’!”
Evaluating 100 people simultaneously wasn’t enough; they judged elimination in real-time and broadcasted it to all 100 trainees.
‘Cruel, so cruel.’
Letting out a hollow laugh inwardly, I thought.
The MC, who had completely blown apart the trainees’ mental states, smiled brightly and spoke.
“Alright, then we will begin the evaluation in about 5 minutes. Please get ready, everyone!”
Standing up, I glanced towards the back.
Yoo Sung was at the 22nd place spot, and Okada was at the 65th place spot.
Yoo Sung was looking straight ahead with a calm expression.
“What?”
Sensing my gaze, Yoo Sung spoke in a softer voice than usual.
It was obvious he was conscious of the camera.
“Fighting.”
“What?”
“Do well.”
After flashing a smirk and turning my head, I heard Yoo Sung’s flustered scoffing laugh.
But because he was conscious of the camera, he didn’t openly express his annoyance at me.
Next, I looked at Okada, who was much further back than Yoo Sung.
Sensing my gaze, Okada turned his head toward me.
‘Fighting.’
Because he was too far away for my voice to reach, I lightly pumped my fist.
Okada, with a tense expression, smiled awkwardly and nodded.
Nodding back at him, I turned my head toward the podium.
‘The preliminary work for editing is finished….’
Now I just need to perform well.
“From now on, we will begin the first Main Quest, the theme song evaluation! I hope all you trainees survive until the end of the three waves!”
[Boom, boom, boom…]
The intro of the theme song, HUNT THE STAGE, flowed out through the speakers.
The trainees all bent the elbows of their raised arms and covered their eyes so that their palms were visible.
‘Status window.’
I checked the trait section at the very bottom of the status window that appeared before my eyes.
[The Copycat trait is activated.]
[Designated Companion: Okada Hiro]
[When the companion uses their abilities, you can copy the companion’s abilities.]
Good.
Finishing the confirmation, I moved my hands in accordance with the theme song.
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