The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut – Chapter 34

Author: rolypoly

“Trainee Yoo Sung’s 1 minute…?”

The MC tilted his head as if he didn’t understand what I was saying.

I quickly added an explanation.

“I’d like Trainee Yoo Sung to appear in my PR video. Just for one minute.”

“Ah…”

The MC finally realized what I meant and nodded.

He seemed to think for a moment, then glanced at Jang Hyuksoo, who was watching the situation from behind the trainees.

I understood.

It wasn’t a matter the MC could decide on his own.

‘Honestly, it’s a gamble.’

Asking for Yoo Sung’s minute instead of just a minute.

Not just Jang Hyuksoo, but probably everyone in the auditorium knew that I was making an unreasonable demand to escape the situation.

And there was no reason for Jang Hyuksoo to grant my request.

‘No, there might be a reason.’

I imagined what Jang Hyuksoo might be thinking right now.

Two opposing personas were likely fighting a fierce battle within him.

‘In my fifteen years of broadcasting, I’ve never seen a trainee make such a ridiculous demand. No need to think about it. Just tell him to shut up and stop talking nonsense.’

‘But honestly, the current situation is unfair for Kim Chowol, isn’t it? He’s not a trainee with one or two balls; if the trainee with the most balls uses a special reward to steal someone else’s ball, how will the viewers react?’

‘Since when did you care about a trainee’s circumstances? If the viewer reaction is bad, then that’s just that. Don’t act like a rookie!’

‘Still… it’s such a waste to throw Kim Chowol away like this, isn’t it?’

After finishing his silent dialogue with Jang Hyuksoo, the MC spoke with a grin.

“Very well.”

It worked.

I clenched my fist inwardly.

“Trainee Kim Chowol has used the sub-quest special reward, the ‘Thief Appears’ trait, to steal one minute from Trainee Yoo Sung!”

As soon as the MC finished, that tiresome fanfare effect burst from the speakers again.

—Ta-da! Da-da-da ta-da!

The trainees, catching on to the situation late, began to whisper among themselves.

From all around, voices drifted out: “What the, is that even allowed?” and “Whoa, look at him wriggling out of that. Insane dodge skills.”

However, I just looked at the MC with a brazen expression as if to ask what the problem was.

“Now, we will begin the PR video planning. Trainees, please fill out the planning forms being handed out and describe the PR video you wish to produce.”

The staff handed out a planning form to each trainee.

[PR Video Production Planning Form

Name:

Overview:

Video Length:

Budget:

Main Content (Written in 15-second increments):

Required Items:]

I was scanning the form—which was so familiar I had practically memorized it—when I felt someone approaching me with long strides from behind.

I had been waiting for him, so I naturally turned my head toward the newcomer.

“You’re here?”

The person was none other than Yoo Sung.

The trainees who were struggling over their planning forms glanced at Yoo Sung and me, but I ignored them and slowly stood up.

“Shall we talk over there? There are too many people here.”

“….”

Yoo Sung, looking at me with a furrowed brow, nodded silently.

Honestly, I thought he might grab me by the collar and ask if I was crazy or what I was thinking.

Was he conscious of the cameras? Or was it the power of 100% Trust?

Surprisingly, Yoo Sung followed me submissively.

Yoo Sung and I took a spot in a corner of the auditorium.

Since there was distance from the other trainees and it was a camera blind spot, we could talk comfortably.

“What on earth are you thinking?”

Ah… so he was just holding it in because he was conscious of the cameras?

I sighed inwardly as I looked at Yoo Sung, who looked ready to tear me apart.

“Sung-ah, it’s not like that….”

“Explain.”

“Huh?”

Yoo Sung clenched and unclenched his fists as if he were about to grab my collar any second.

“You have to explain it so I can understand.”

However, he seemed to calm down quickly, exhaling a deep breath as he continued.

“I need to know… what kind of plan you’re cooking up this time so I can decide whether to help or not.”

“Uh….”

Wh-wh-what is he talking about?

I was so flustered for a moment that I lost my words.

“Or did you really do that just to screw me over?”

“N-no. Of course not. It’s true I did it to survive… but it’s definitely not going to be bad for you.”

Yoo Sung nodded and stared at me with an expression that said, ‘Then explain it.’

No, no, no. Wait… isn’t this a bit strange?

“…You’re not mad?”

“About what.”

“No, I mean, I naturally thought you’d be angry….”

It felt like just yesterday that he grabbed me by the collar for forcing him into the guild.

“Why, do you want me to be mad?”

“No….”

“Am I someone who’s just angry every day? Of course I was annoyed… but it’s not like I don’t know you. You always have some sort of reason.”

“Well, yeah….”

It wasn’t like I didn’t have one.

I nodded with a dazed expression.

‘The power of 100% Trust is no joke.’

How could a person change 180 degrees like this?

It was a bit startling, but it wasn’t a bad thing, so it didn’t matter.

“First, tell me the rewards you received.”

“2 gold, 1 bronze. For gold, 1 minute and 15,000 won each. For bronze, 15 seconds.”

“But since I took one gold… you have one 15,000 won and one 15-second reward, right?”

“Yeah.”

Yoo Sung seemed to trust me, but he still looked a bit anxious as he asked.

“What are you going to do? No, what can you even do with this in the first place? Only 15,000 won and 15 seconds… including the basic 15 seconds, that’s 30 seconds total.”

“Hmm….”

“Hey, say something. If you don’t think it’ll work, it’s fine to just say so.”

“No.”

Having finished my thoughts, I looked at Yoo Sung with a confident expression.

“It’s more than enough.”

“What?”

“There’s no need to worry. We have enough money and time. In fact, the shorter the time, the better it might be. Short videos tend to go viral better than long ones….”

I lightly patted the shoulder of Yoo Sung, who was silently waiting for an explanation.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make you the protagonist.”

Yoo Sung looked a bit skeptical, but thanks to the power of 100% Reliability, he eventually nodded.

‘Yoo Sung isn’t the problem. The problem is… me.’

I stared blankly at the empty planning form and swallowed a sigh.

‘I spoke confidently on purpose so he wouldn’t worry, but honestly, one minute is too short. I’m not a pro; I’m an amateur who’d be embarrassed to show a business card anywhere.’

I fell into thought, slowly rubbing my fingertips together.

‘Ah, wait…. Didn’t I receive a trait selection ticket as a reward before?’

Belatedly recalling the hidden quest reward, I immediately checked the status window.

[You have cleared a hidden quest.]

[Hidden Quest: Be mentioned more than 100,000 times by people.

*Includes all pet names and nicknames.

*Online mentions on SNS, community sites, etc. are also tallied.

Reward: 1 Trait Selection Ticket]

[Trait Selection Ticket Description: You can select and acquire 1 of 3 traits.]

I hadn’t intended to use it for the PR video, but right now, I couldn’t afford to be picky.

‘Use Trait Selection Ticket.’

When I used the ticket, three traits appeared in a row, just like when I used the item selection ticket.

[Iron Mental

Grade: B-

Description: You can maintain your composure anytime, anywhere.]

[Sharp Eye

Grade: C+

Description: You can immediately find the camera’s position during filming.]

[Max Hand Dexterity

Grade: C

Description: You can skillfully perform any activity that involves using your hands.]

After slowly checking all three traits, I clenched my fists and thought.

‘I guess there really is a way out.’

I selected one trait without hesitation.

* * *

One day, ahead of the airing of episodes 3 and 4.

A PR video upload notice appeared on the official SNS account of EX-Class K-POP Idol.

[Today is the day the Ikeldol PR videos go up, right?]

[Yup, starting from 2 PM today!]

[But why are they uploading them in groups of 15 separately?]

[Isn’t it just because it’s too hard to upload 100 people at once?]

[But isn’t there an equity issue with some going up first and others later?]

[There must be a reason. They’ll probably reveal it later through a broadcast or behind-the-scenes?]

The PR videos were uploaded in six installments at one-hour intervals, in groups of 15 according to the dungeon clearing rankings.

People kept refreshing the official YouTube channel of EX-Class K-POP Idol, anticipating when the PR video of their favorite trainee would be uploaded.

[It’s up!]

[What? Kim Chowol’s came up first?]

[Whoa, but what’s with the length of Kim Chowol’s PR video? Do they usually give this much time for survival PR videos?]

Kim Chowol’s PR video was a total of 5 minutes and 15 seconds long.

It included the basic 15 seconds, three 1-minute rewards, two 30-second rewards, and finally, the 1 minute stolen from Yoo Sung.

Since the second-longest video, Kang Haesoo’s, was less than 3 minutes, it was an overwhelming length in both a good and bad sense.

[No way lol is he crazy? Seriously, 5 minutes all by himself? How did it end up like that?]

[To be honest, it’s a bit venomous… cough!]

[Oh, for real, Han Theo fans are here to unfairly hate on Kim Chowol again. Seriously, just get lost.]

[It’s not unfair hate, it’s just stating facts. The second longest trainee is 2 minutes 45 seconds, so isn’t it a bit problematic if Kim Chowol is over 5 minutes by himself?]

[If it were really a problem, it wouldn’t even have been uploaded. The fact that the PR video is up means Jang Hyuksoo approved it, so if this isn’t unfair hate, then what is?]

The controversy over whether the length of Kim Chowol’s PR video was fair or not became a perfect excuse for Han Theo’s fans, who had been waiting for Kim Chowol to slip up.

[Let’s just watch the video first and then judge.]

[Is there anything to judge lol even the length is a scam.]

[Fr, I don’t even want to give him a view;; if I were another trainee, I’d be so upset I wouldn’t even be able to watch my own PR video.]

Just as public opinion toward Kim Chowol was worsening.

[?]

[??]

[Wait, everyone, just look at Kim Chowol’s PR video for a second.]

[I said I don’t want to see it, why are you like this?]

[No, I’m not even a fan of Kim Chowol, I just watched it because I was curious, but…]

Comments from people who had been quietly watching Kim Chowol’s PR video began to pour in.

[Yoo Sung appears in Kim Chowol’s PR video?]

[What? Yoo Sung?]