The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol Chapter 37

Chapter 37

 

‘To think I’d actually be glad to see this eyesore again.’

After several seconds of being assaulted by blinding light, the system window finally returned to its usual translucent blue.

Ding.

[Mr. Cha Siwoo!]

‘You little punk!’

[I missed you. T_T]

‘Where the hell have you been?’

The system window repeatedly flashed its translucent blue panels as if trying to reassert its presence.

[As one of the penalty effects, I was forcibly shut down. If you had failed to receive the reward for this quest, we likely would never have met again.]

‘One of the penalty effects?’

Then the loan penalty wasn’t just a single punishment?

The fact that there were additional penalties beyond the forced repayment of the borrowed energy was more than a little confusing.

‘So the penalty is completely over now, right?’

[No. In fact, there are a total of three penalties associated with the loan.]

‘What? You should’ve told me that beforehand!’

[I couldn’t help it either.]

‘Then what’s the last one?’

[The final one… I don’t know.]

‘Want to die?’

[I really don’t know. Since it involves touching the user’s reverse scale, even I cannot predict what will happen.]

‘I take out one loan and have to pay the price three times.’

It was practically the behavior of a predatory loan shark.

‘I should avoid taking out loans whenever possible.’

[A wise decision.]

‘Since you’re finally back, let me see my status window.’

Ding.

 

— 

[Status Window]

Cha Siwoo (20)

Appearance: A-

Singing: B

Dance: C

Stage Presence: B+

Stamina: B+

Ability: ???

Status: Paparazzo who regressed five years into the past.

Fatigue: 0

— 

 

‘Looks like everything’s still here.’

It was a little disappointing that he hadn’t gained any stats as a quest reward.

Still, seeing the noisy little thing again felt strangely comforting despite how distracting it was.

[I’m touched. T_T]

‘From now on, when I call you, show up immediately.’

[Yes, sir!]

“Will the trainee candidates for first place in the first ranking announcement please come up to the stage now!”

While talking with the system, the rankings had somehow already reached first place.

The screen split into two windows, showing Yoo Hoseung and Kim Sunyoo.

‘The two I expected.’

The veteran-versus-influencer showdown had all the appeal of a bucket of popcorn.

“Both of you, how does it feel to be nominated for first place in the first ranking announcement? Kim Sunyoo trainee, why don’t we start with you?”

Taking the microphone from Yoo Haein, Kim Sunyoo turned toward the camera with a relaxed smile.

“Thank you to all the National Directors who supported me and helped me come this far. Since I wanted this so badly, I’ll continue to show my very best and repay your support with even greater effort!”

Applause erupted as he bowed toward the camera.

“Thank you for those inspiring words, Kim Sunyoo trainee. Next, Yoo Hoseung trainee, could you share your thoughts?”

After receiving the microphone, Yoo Hoseung’s face was visibly tense.

There was a slight stiffness in his expression.

“To be honest, I never expected to become a candidate for first place.”

His eyes remained steady as he swallowed nervously.

“It’s thanks to the love and support of the National Directors that someone like me was able to make it this far. I’ll work hard so I never disappoint you and continue to deserve this position. Thank you!”

‘This one’s running more on fan support than skill.’

As applause filled the hall, a deep bass note crawled across the floor through the speakers.

It sounded like a slow heartbeat rumbling in his ears.

Thump. Thump…

Then the strings began trembling faintly, almost too quietly to hear.

“The trainee taking first place in Star Picking 5’s first ranking announcement is…!”

The sound gradually intensified, becoming denser and denser.

“Congratulations. It’s Kim Sunyoo!”

The veteran had won.

A triumphant fanfare exploded through the hall.

BANG!

Shimmering confetti drifted slowly down across the stage.

“Kim Sunyoo trainee, please share your thoughts in first place!”

The relaxed smile he had worn moments earlier was gone.

Instead, clear tears gathered in his reddened eyes.

“Thank you… truly, from the bottom of my heart…”

Transparent tears rolled down his face under the spotlight.

“This rank is far too much for someone like me… Hic…”

The hand gripping the microphone trembled, and tears stained the back of the hand he used to wipe his eyes.

“Sniff… Thank you for supporting me and voting for me. Honestly, I was worried about whether I could ever receive fans’ love again… Thank you for believing in me and supporting me once more… Waaah!”

Slowly crumbling, Kim Sunyoo lowered his head and burst into tears.

Several trainees who had been applauding his heartfelt speech found their own eyes growing red.

“That was a truly moving speech. Kim Sunyoo trainee, who ranked first in Star Picking 5’s first ranking announcement, please proceed to the throne seat!”

As he wiped away tears with the back of his hand, the camera relentlessly followed him.

“Congratulations!”

“I knew Sunyoo hyung would take first place!”

“Woooo!”

With every step Kim Sunyoo took toward the throne, congratulations poured in from trainees standing and applauding.

Then he finally passed by Siwoo.

“Sunyoo hyung, congratulations.”

“…!”

Still crying hard enough to have snot running down his nose, Kim Sunyoo suddenly grabbed Siwoo and hugged him.

‘Ah… he’s going to get snot on my shoulder.’

Looking at the camera’s glowing red light, Siwoo gently patted his back.

That only made Kim Sunyoo cry harder.

“Waaahhh!”

“…Don’t cry.”

“Siwoo… Waaaah.”

‘Poor guy. He must’ve been through a lot.’

Only after several pats on the back did Kim Sunyoo finally calm down enough to sit on the throne.

Satisfied with capturing that emotional moment, the camera then turned its relentless attention toward Yoo Hoseung.

‘Hmm. This feels ominous.’

It seemed that the rivalry between first and second place was destined to become an editing storyline.

“Now that first place has been announced, we will reveal the final surviving trainee at rank fifty.”

Tense background music filled the speakers once more.

Only after an otherwise forgettable trainee was announced as rank fifty did Kim Sunyoo finally stop crying.

‘Come to think of it, Kim Sunyoo’s still pretty young.’

As the fiftieth-ranked trainee sat in the red plastic chair, the quintessential farewell song began playing through the speakers.

“To the fifty trainees who have been eliminated, thank you for all your hard work. We will continue cheering for your idol dreams! Please return home safely!”

The cruelly cheerful farewell left many trainees looking miserable.

Some cried openly.

Others wore expressions of pure dejection.

Watching the backs of the fifty departing trainees as they followed the staff’s instructions left a bitter taste in Siwoo’s mouth.

‘Gathering a bunch of kids this young and doing something this brutal…’

The world was cold.

But that didn’t mean anyone ever truly got used to that coldness.

Once all fifty eliminated trainees had left, the venue felt strangely empty.

‘Well, half of them disappeared all at once. No wonder.’

“Congratulations to the fifty trainees who survived! You’ve worked hard making it this far.”

“Yes!”

“To celebrate your survival, we’ll begin a mini-game right away!”

As though trying to lift the mood, a bright and cheerful version of the theme song “Cheer Me On” played through the speakers.

The trainees, now accustomed to giving reactions, cheered in all kinds of ways.

Pleased, Yoo Haein picked up his cue card.

“The mini-game we’ll be playing today is the Star Picking 5 Sports Festival!”

“Woooo!”

“The sports festival will consist of five mini-game events. Trainees who score highly will receive benefits for the next survival mission.”

“Really?!”

At the mention of benefits, the eyes of the trainees, many still red from crying, suddenly lit up with determination.

“Yes. You can look forward to it. Now, please go change into your athletic uniforms.”

 

☆☆☆

 

The trainees gathered in the auditorium wearing tracksuits emblazoned with the logo of a famous sports brand that anyone would recognize.

Apparently, thanks to the show’s growing popularity, they had secured sponsorship from a sportswear company this time.

Dressed head-to-toe in a blue Unidas tracksuit marked by its distinctive three-stripe design, Yoo Haein raised the microphone.

“It’s really comfortable. I guess that’s because it’s such functional clothing.”

As expected from a top-tier idol, even his product placement sounded natural.

‘Though it’s pretty funny seeing everyone dressed in blue.’

Since everyone wore the same outfit, facial comparisons became inevitable.

‘Whatever happens, I’m staying away from Yoo Hoseung.’

He had also intended to avoid Seo Hayul and Rua, but the two naturally drifted over beside him, making it impossible to brush them off in front of the cameras.

“Then let’s officially begin the Star Picking Sports Festival!”

A familiar indie song often heard at school sports days played as background music.

“Wow, I haven’t heard this song in forever.”

It felt like nostalgia itself was tickling his nose.

“This used to play during our elementary school sports days.”

Beside him, Seo Hayul nodded.

“Oh, you too? Same here!”

Rua clapped enthusiastically in agreement.

Looking around, the atmosphere had become considerably more cheerful.

‘Probably because everyone’s relieved they made the rankings.’

“Now, the first event of the sports festival is…!”

‘Whether they’re trying to stop us from overthinking by making us move around or simply trying to create screen time, I have no idea.’

Still, with benefits for the next mission on the line, he intended to take it seriously.

“An OX Quiz Game!”

“…Huh?”

The unexpected game instantly deflated his enthusiasm.

The trainees quickly masked their confusion and responded with enthusiastic cheers.

‘…Then why did they make us change into tracksuits?’

They needed to film the sponsor’s clothes, and an OX quiz was probably the cheapest game they could run with fifty trainees at once.

“See the white line in the middle? O is on the left, X is on the right. Let’s begin the first event… the OX Quiz!”

“Woooo!”

Large text appeared on the giant screen above the auditorium stage.

[If a person damages another’s reputation by stating false facts with the intent to defame them, they may be punished with imprisonment or confinement for up to one year, or a fine of up to 2 million won.]

“Huh?”

Caught off guard by the sudden legal question, the trainees immediately began panicking.

‘Seriously? Who thinks of putting legal questions into an idol survival show’s OX quiz?’

“Damn, what is this?”

“Just guess!”

Siwoo was probably the only trainee there who actually knew the answer.

“Alright, countdown begins. Five… Four… Three…”

He walked toward the X side.

“Huh? Siwoo Hyung, you’re choosing X?”

“Siwoo dongsaeng, let’s go together!”

Roughly ten trainees were already standing on the X side, and Seo Hayul and Rua followed after him.

“One… Time’s up! Freeze! No more moving!”