The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut Chapter 29

“Are you busy, PD-nim?”

 

In the dark office, someone walked in and flicked on the light.

 

Jang Hyuksoo, the main PD of EX-class K-POP Idol, who had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, spoke with a furrowed brow.

 

“Turn it off. It’s too bright.”

 

“Ah, I’m sorry…”

 

The junior PD quickly turned off the light and crept closer to Jang Hyuksoo’s side.

 

Letting out a deep sigh, Jang Hyuksoo clicked his mouse to wake up the computer.

 

“Is the editing going well?”

 

“No.”

 

“Uh… should I help? I’ll call all the juniors together.”

 

“Forget it. Why are you acting like a rookie? You know I set the initial editing points by myself.”

 

“Still…”

 

Despite his success as a main PD, Jang Hyuksoo’s perfectionist streak meant he handled the critical tasks alone. 

 

It was no exaggeration to say that he edited almost the entirety of the first and second episodes—the ones that determined the show’s success—by himself.

 

“Are there any promising trainees?”

 

The junior PD asked as he handed Jang Hyuksoo an iced americano he had bought from the franchise café in front of the office building.

 

Jang Hyuksoo gnawed irritably on his straw as he glared at the monitor.

 

“There are a few, but they’re lacking. Han Theo has the face and the skills, but his character is vague. The only character worth saving is someone like Yoo Sung…”

 

“Oh, really?”

 

The junior PD, who had been quietly listening to Jang Hyuksoo, asked in surprise.

 

Realizing the junior’s reaction was strange, Jang Hyuksoo frowned and asked, “Why? Is there a problem?”

 

“Ah, no… it’s not a problem. I just wondered if you weren’t considering, uh… Kim Chowol? That guy.”

 

“Kim Chowol?”

 

Narrowing his eyes, Jang Hyuksoo fell into thought.

 

“Ah, the trainee who wanted to change his song right before the stat evaluation stage?”

 

“Yes. You liked him quite a bit back then because his stage results were good. He was also the first one to step up when forming the guilds.”

 

“Well, I suppose so.” 

 

Jang Hyuksoo replied indifferently. 

 

Of course, it wasn’t that Jang Hyuksoo hadn’t thought about Kim Chowol. 

 

But with Kim Chowol, it was… how should he put it? From Jang Hyuksoo’s perspective, it was a bit…

 

“Isn’t he plain?” 

 

“Plain?” 

 

When the junior PD repeated the word with wide eyes, Jang Hyuksoo nodded and answered.

 

“He did well on the stat evaluation stage. But considering his training period, he wasn’t that good.”

 

Jang Hyuksoo clicked his mouse, quickly checking the parts where Kim Chowol appeared.

 

“From the stat evaluation stage to the theme song evaluation and the first evaluation… his looks, skills, and character aren’t bad, but nothing really sticks out.”

 

“That’s true, but….” 

 

The junior PD shut his mouth at Jang Hyuksoo’s firm attitude. 

 

He seemed to have more to say, but Jang Hyuksoo didn’t bother to pry. 

 

The junior PD probably knew it, too: in a survival program, it was harder to bring an ambiguous guy to life than a villain. 

 

‘If he were stupid and gave me a lot of material for juicy editing, I could use him for that, but…’

 

Whether Kim Chowol was clever or just naturally like that, he never did or said anything problematic.

 

“Okada is better than Kim Chowol.”

 

Jang Hyuksoo, who was scrolling back through the footage, stopped at the theme song evaluation stage. 

 

Okada Hiro’s face, dancing as if his body were breaking with a fierce expression, filled the screen. 

 

The image of Okada Hiro tearing up after ruining the stat evaluation stage was nowhere to be seen.

 

“During the photo meeting, they said he couldn’t adapt well in Korea because he couldn’t speak the language, right? I don’t know about his character yet, but the narrative is good.”

 

The junior PD nodded at Jang Hyuksoo’s words.

 

“That’s true. Having a foreign member is advantageous for global expansion. But PD-nim, do you know who Okada is close with?”

 

“…I know.”

 

After a brief pause, Jang Hyuksoo answered with a slightly troubled expression.

 

“He’s close with Kim Chowol. I don’t know how they became friends, though.”

 

“I checked into it, and Trainee Kim Chowol is incredibly good at Japanese. It seems he’s teaching him a lot of things.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

Jang Hyuksoo clicked the mouse to check the parts where Kim Chowol and Okada were together. 

 

In a way, everyone was a competitor except for themselves, yet the sight of Kim Chowol teaching things without hesitation and Okada Hiro nodding with sparkling eyes made for quite a good picture.

 

‘The moment I think he’s bland, he gives me material that’s this easy to use.’

 

Jang Hyuksoo thought as he tapped his fingers on the office desk.

 

Just as his contemplation was stretching out, the junior PD, who had settled into a seat to check the recorded footage, let out a gasp of surprise.

 

“Oh?”

 

“What now?”

 

“Ah, no. You know those cameras we installed in the practice rooms?”

 

“What about them?”

 

Jang Hyuksoo had installed small cameras in all the practice rooms to capture trainees who stayed late into the night. 

 

He hadn’t informed the trainees, fearing that if he put them in plain sight, they might force themselves to practice just for show.

 

Honestly, it could have been a moral issue, but Jang Hyuksoo didn’t care at all.

 

‘As long as I can catch even one more good scene, getting criticized is nothing.’ 

 

If given a binary choice—”Do you want to make a fun show and get criticized, or make a boring show and avoid criticism?”—nearly every PD would choose to make a fun show and get criticized. 

 

However, Jang Hyuksoo hadn’t expected much when he installed the cameras.

 

‘There were hardly any guys who actually practiced.’

 

The schedule for idol survival programs, including EX-class K-POP Idol, was grueling enough to break even a healthy adult man. 

 

Once the lessons and individual practice sessions that stretched from morning to night were over, every single one of them would return to the dorms and pass out as if they had collapsed, unable to even wash properly. 

 

Occasionally, there were trainees who stayed to practice until dawn, but in most cases, they would get exhausted and quit after a day or two.

 

“This is Trainee Kim Cho-wol’s late-night self-practice footage… I think you need to check this out?” 

 

At the junior PD’s words, Jang Hyuksoo pushed himself up from his leaning position.

 

Click, click.

 

Jang Hyuksoo’s eyes grew wider and wider as he clicked the mouse.

 

*    *    *

 

I postponed using the Trait Selection Ticket for later. 

 

There was still a bit of time left until the second evaluation. 

 

Of course, I’d use it if a necessary situation arose in the meantime.

 

‘I won’t be needing it right away, though.’ 

 

I was currently in the auditorium on the first floor of the dormitory. 

 

A hundred trainees were huddled together, sitting in order of their ranks and staring at the giant screen on the stage. 

 

Soon, the MC, dressed in casual clothes, stepped onto the platform.

 

“Thank you for waiting!”

 

The MC spoke toward the trainees with a bright smile.

 

“From now on, we will watch Episodes 1 and 2 of EX-class K-POP Idol together!”

 

At the MC’s words, the trainees gathered in the auditorium swallowed hard. 

 

Today was the long-awaited day for the premiere of EX-class K-POP Idol.

 

The premiere was being held as a special broadcast, airing Episodes 1 and 2 together. 

 

“Please note that all of your reactions today will be filmed separately and uploaded to the official YouTube channel! Well then, let’s watch right away!” 

 

As soon as the MC finished speaking, advertisements began to roll on the screen. 

 

The trainees, who had been staring at the screen with tense expressions, cried out in surprise.

 

“Whoa.”

 

“What’s that?”

 

“Isn’t that a chat window?”

 

Beside the broadcast screen showing advertisements, a chat feed was scrolling up at a rapid pace.

 

[Ah, finally] 

 

[I thought my neck would break from waiting] 

 

[Beer and chicken ready lol let’s gooo]

 

It was the raw, unedited reactions of the viewers. 

 

The trainees looked around in confusion, wondering if it was a broadcast accident, but the MC was simply smiling. 

 

Only then did the trainees realize this wasn’t an accident, but a staged production.

 

‘He’s ruthless.’

 

I clicked my tongue inwardly. 

 

Showing the viewer reactions directly to the trainees and then filming their reactions to upload to YouTube? It was an idea that would make even a devil weep.

 

‘I’ll have to manage my facial expressions carefully.’ 

 

Dozens of cameras were running without a break to capture even our most minute facial changes. 

 

I pretended to be appropriately surprised and focused on the screen. 

 

I didn’t need to pretend to be nervous, though.

 

Because I was actually nervous.

 

‘Who will be the PD’s pick for this round?’

 

Han Theo and Yoo Sung were almost certainties. 

 

I subtly glanced back at Yoo Sung and Okada. 

 

The two of them looked anxious, staring at the screen with tense expressions.

 

‘It doesn’t matter which of the two becomes the PD’s pick. As long as one of them does…’

 

There was no need to worry too much. 

 

I calmed myself and focused on the screen. 

 

Before long, the advertisements ended, and the main broadcast was beginning. 

 

[Finally starting!] 

 

[Focus, focus] 

 

[I’ve waited so long for today]

 

The screen turned black, and a loud, crashing sound erupted from the speakers. 

 

It wasn’t music; it was the sound of something breaking and collapsing, like the intro to a disaster movie.

 

[Huh? What’s this?] 

 

[Explosion sounds? I can hear sirens too] 

 

[A broadcast accident…?]

 

Like the viewers, the trainees looked around with flustered expressions. 

 

The sounds of things breaking, falling, heavy gunshots, and the sharp screams of people mixed together to heighten the tension. 

 

In the midst of the chaos from all the noises, a familiar yet strange, clear sound rang out.

 

[—Ding.]

 

And soon, a translucent window filled the entire screen.

 

[Congratulations! You have awakened.] 

 

[Check your grade right now!]

 

The translucent window that filled the screen gradually shrank, and someone’s back came into view. I knew who that was.

 

‘It’s our center, Han Theo.’

 

The protagonist of the opening was the center of the EX-class K-POP Idol theme song. Han Theo raised his hand and lightly touched the translucent window.

 

[Your grade is being measured.] 

 

[Congratulations! Your grade is EX-class.] 

 

[As an Awakener, please strive for world peace!]

 

The screen changed, showing Han Theo staring straight ahead with a solemn expression.

 

[—Thump, thump, thump…]

 

The familiar intro flowed out, and trainees began to appear behind Han Theo. 

 

Amidst the chat window full of question marks, one noticeable comment popped up.

 

[What is this? My cringe resistance is failing]

 

Mine too.

 

I answered the chat subconsciously as I subtly scratched the back of my neck.