The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol Chapter 31
Chapter 31
[Welcome, Rap Team 3! Would the team representative come forward and introduce the team?]
Even now, Yoo Haein was hosting the show with the same high energy.
‘He’s impressive.’
A familiar face stepped forward on stage.
[Two, three. Hello. We are the Strongman Team, the manliest of men.]
It was Jin Younghoon, Hayul Seo’s roommate in Room 207, and a trainee from the same agency.
[Oh-ho. Since you’re a team full of strong men, your outfits are quite something too.]
The six young men wore loose-fitting outfits adorned with dangling accessories around their necks and hands.
‘What are they, six children of darkness?’
[We’re wearing clothes from one of the hottest brands right now to express our team’s color in line with current trends.]
[Very nice. Could you also tell us about your song?]
[The song Strongman Team selected is”Strong,” one of the classic masterpieces of traditional hip-hop. We’ve highlighted the strengths of old-school hip-hop to show everyone what true respect-driven hip-hop is.]
[Respect-driven hip-hop… that sounds exciting. Let’s begin Strongman Team’s performance of “Strong!”]
Drop the Beat
Rapidly chopped drum kicks and snares slammed into the ears.
The deep, heavy 808 bass reverberated through the body, and the low beat gradually accelerated.
—
Money is good
I love money
It’s a world where money solves everything
Money is the best
—
‘What kind of lyrics are those?’
The rapper’s rapid flow, sounding obsessed with money, poured out without pause like someone sprinting breathlessly forward, filling the entire song with energy.
The melody was simple yet sharp, while erratic electronic sounds wound around it, adding tension.
Compared to the grand arrangement, the rap itself was disappointing.
‘Some of these guys slur their pronunciation so badly I can’t even tell what they’re saying.’
Just as the excitement started dying because one of them even forgot his lyrics…
Seo Hayul, who had been lingering at the far edge of the formation, finally surged into the center.
—
Don’t judge me by appearances
I have a stronger heart than anyone else
Even if people are trying to stop me
I’ll keep moving forward if it’s for my dream
—
[Wooooah!]
The audience burst into cheers at the skilled rap that felt like scratching an itch they’d desperately wanted relieved.
‘As expected! Seo Hayul is good.’
During the climax, the increasingly complex drum line made hearts race faster.
Even though Hayul usually danced at the very back whenever there were group choreographies, in Rap Team 3, he delivered the most eye-catching dancing of anyone.
At last, Rap Team 3’s performance came to an end.
[If you think Strongman Team successfully showed true respect-driven hip-hop, please press your voting buttons now!]
The numbers on the screen climbed rapidly before gradually slowing down.
Eventually, the leading digit stopped at 3.
[Strongman Team’s voting result is 350 votes.]
[…Thank you.]
Seeing the respectable yet unremarkable vote count made me shake my head instinctively.
‘Seo Hayul’s part was too small.’
The consequences of letting someone less skilled than Ha-yul take both the highlight sections and the center position had affected the team’s overall score.
‘Still, just like a gray cat, he quietly worked hard in his own place.’
There were lingering regrets overall, but the performances continued even after Ha-yul’s strong stage.
As the show neared its end, the audience grew increasingly exhausted, their cheers diminishing, and the vote counts became noticeably stingier.
‘It’s getting pushed back this far?’
Since votes were limited, later performances were naturally at a disadvantage.
‘In this kind of competition, being last is actually the worst position.’
After voting for their favorite trainee, many audience members would impulsively give their remaining vote to any team that performed even slightly well.
If it wasn’t their favorite team, they had no reservations about giving away that second vote, making it much harder for teams performing later to gain votes.
[Only two teams remain now.]
The waiting room that had once housed a hundred trainees now held only our team and Kim Sunyoo’s team.
[The next team is…]
‘Just don’t let us be last. We need to go before Kim Sunyoo.’
[Dance Team 3!]
‘Damn it. Whatever votes are left are probably all going to them.’
The fact that a seasoned professional’s team would perform right before ours left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“We’ll be going first.”
With a gentle smile, Kim Sunyoo lightly placed a hand on my shoulder.
‘Is he teasing me?’
“Yes.”
Maintaining a professional smile, I gently brushed his hand away.
“Ha ha ha.”
Still smiling leisurely, Kim Sunyoo led Dance Team 3 out of the waiting room.
[Kyaaaah!]
[Sunyoo!!!]
[Look over here just once!]
The moment Dance Team 3 stepped onto the stage, ear-splitting cheers erupted.
Audience members who had seemed completely exhausted suddenly came back to life at Kim Sunyoo’s appearance.
[Wow, the cheers are incredible! Please come to the center and introduce yourselves.]
Still smiling calmly, Kim Sunyoo led his teammates to the center of the stage.
[Three, two, one! Hello! We are the Favorite Team, and we want to become the favorite idols of our National Directors!]
[That’s certainly a team name no one will forget. What song did Favorite Team choose?]
[We chose “Dreamlike” by the senior group Mboy. We’ve rearranged it into an unforgettable dream by combining its dreamy atmosphere with powerful performance elements.]
The mention of another top-tier male idol group’s song caused another stir among the audience.
[Ah, a song by our juniors from Mboy. I personally love “Dreamlike” as well, so I’m looking forward to this. Let’s watch Favorite Team’s performance right now!]
The stage lights went dark as a purple glow spread like mist and filled the space.
The LED backdrop displayed moonlit waves and stars scattered across the night sky, drifting slowly across the screen.
—
Think of this as a dream
Because it’s a place made just for you
—
The song began in a low whisper-like tone.
As the dreamy instrumental built toward the chorus, the choreography spread outward like gentle waves.
“…!”
Every gesture and every step moved in perfect synchronization.
“That’s really good.”
“Exactly! Professional artist!”
Rua’s eyes were blazing as he focused on the performance playing on the screen.
The speakers thundered with bone-rattling drums and bass.
“Wow!”
Powerful breathing and performance drove relentlessly forward.
On stage, they stood arranged like a military unit before exploding in unison.
Gasps and applause erupted throughout the audience.
As expected, Kim Sunyoo’s experience as a center performer made him stand out the most.
‘How did someone with that much star power end up in a failed idol group?’
As the whirlwind performance of “Dreamlike” ended, the camera zoomed in on Kim Sunyoo striking the ending pose.
Breathing heavily, he winked at the camera, and the audience exploded once more.
‘I might need to start worrying.’
[If you enjoyed Favorite Team’s powerful performance of Dreamlike, please cast your vote now!]
The numbers on the screen climbed faster than for any previous performance.
The textbook idol stage had arrived like rain in a drought for the exhausted audience.
[3…2…1. Voting closed!]
“Siwoo, I’m not seeing things, right?”
“I thought I was seeing things too.”
…603 votes.
An overwhelming number.
[Favorite Team is now in first place for the on-site voting!]
[Wooooah!]
[Let’s keep this momentum going and hear the judges’ evaluations!]
‘…There can’t be many votes left now.’
While I was still processing Favorite Team’s unexpected results, a staff member opened the waiting room door.
“Alright, Vocal Team 2. Get ready for the final stage.”
“Yes!”
While the judges were giving their evaluations, we used the time to prepare ourselves one last time.
“Let’s do a team cheer!”
Among the visibly nervous trainees, only Rua wore a bright, carefree smile.
‘Is this guy not nervous at all?’
“Sounds good. Everyone, gather in the center.”
When people are too nervous, something like this can boost morale and ease tension.
I stretched out my hand first toward the gathered members of Vocal Team 2.
One by one, their hands stacked atop mine.
For that brief moment when we felt each other’s warmth, the nervous pounding in my chest seemed to calm.
I could feel six pairs of eyes focused on me.
‘Right. This is something the team leader should say.’
“Vocal Team 2, everyone worked hard. Let’s just do what we’ve practiced! We can do this!”
“We can do this!”
The moment the words ended, all our hands shot upward.
A brief but fiery energy spread through the air.
Their expressions carried a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
Right then, the screen in the waiting room showed Favorite Team leaving the stage.
[And now, the final remaining team. Vocal Team 2, please come to the stage!]
At Yoo Haein’s call, we quickly moved forward.
“Let’s show them what we’ve got on stage!”
“Just don’t make mistakes.”
“We’re taking first place!”
As we climbed the metal staircase, the heat of the stage lights wrapped around us.
Finally, when we stopped on stage, countless unfamiliar eyes stretched out before us.
“Kyaaaah!”
The cheers of the National Director’s audience made my chest tighten.
“Siwoooo!”
“Prince Rua!”
The sight of people applauding and cheering with bright smiles, despite us not having done anything yet, felt strange.
For some reason, the corners of my mouth kept rising.
“Thank you for waiting so long. Vocal Team 2, who will be giving the final performance, please introduce yourselves.”
I took the microphone from the staff member.
“Hello. We are–”
Ding.
A translucent blue window appeared for the first time in a while.
—
[Choose one of the following three responses.]
- Attention! Reporting in! We are First Love Team!
- Thump thump >_< Can you hear our hearts? The moment we first saw our National Directors, our hearts reacted for the very first time. We are First Love Team, who fell for all of you!
- Hey! Now that you’ve seen me in person, have you fallen for me? So? Wanna be mine? We are First Love Team.
—
‘What the hell? Are those lines for real?’
The quality of the dialogue options was absolutely atrocious.
‘Hey! Update your dialogue database already!’
In this day and age, saying something like that could genuinely get you into trouble.
[Choose within 3 seconds. If no choice is made, one will be selected automatically.]
So that’s why the system has been quiet lately.
I never expected it to hand me such a massive middle finger at the most important moment.
‘Being an idol really isn’t easy.’
I immediately clutched my chest.
“Thump thump >_<“
“…?”
Yoo Haein quickly fixed his expression after looking like he’d just witnessed something he wasn’t supposed to see.
“Can you hear our hearts? The moment we first saw our National Directors, our hearts reacted for the very first time. We are First Love Team, who fell for all of you!”
“…”
“…!”
For about three seconds, silence hung in the air.
‘Did I just ruin everything?’
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