I’m Debuting With The Bias I Killed Chapter 18

Chapter 18

 

After finishing my stage and returning to my seat, I was greeted by one piece of good news.

[Danger Level: 83% (▼2%)]

‘It dropped by 2% because I did that well?’*

This number hit me much harder than the judges’ praise.

‘It’s going down.’

Just knowing that made me feel like I could breathe again.

I-yul swept across the stage as though he were finally getting everything he had been unable to get off his chest before. His movements were so uninhibited that it was hard to believe the arm he had injured was the same one.

Watching him was enough to make me nervous.

‘Please take care of your body.’

Every time he flicked his arm, I flinched, and every time he turned, I instinctively held my breath. Meanwhile, he himself looked completely exhilarated.

As praise poured down on him as though it were only natural, my own shoulders inexplicably puffed up with pride.

Joo-han and Han Sang-yoon also tore the stage apart, just as expected.

‘Those three are practically confirmed.’

Skill, star quality, presence.

The battle for the debut lineup was essentially a competition for the remaining two spots.

‘One of them absolutely has to be mine.’

“Okay, we’ll wrap up filming for the first mission stages!”

The moment those words fell, groans erupted from all over.

“Finally!”

“It’s over……”

Everyone’s posture collapsed as if all the tension had suddenly been released. Some trainees even lay flat on the floor. Considering the filming had gone on for nearly ten hours, it was only natural.

My back felt like it was about to snap too, but I maintained my posture as much as possible.

‘Wasn’t there someone who got into a controversy over their attitude because they did that?’

In reality, you had to assume the cameras were rolling until you left work.

But there was something I had briefly forgotten.

“Okay, trainees, change your clothes and gather immediately!”

…It wasn’t over.

Going home? Where had I gotten such a ridiculous hope?

‘Right. This is what an idol survival show should be like.’

The production crew seemed determined to get the absolute maximum use out of this expensive studio.

“We’ll begin the first Code Announcement Ceremony right away!”

“Wow, seriously…”

A few faces looked like their souls had left their bodies at the thought of the filming schedule being even more brutal than expected.

The trainees changed back into the group outfits they had worn for the signal song and gathered again.

The stage set had already been changed as well.

And then…

“We’re starting the long-awaited first Code Announcement Ceremony right now!”

The lights came on over the darkened stage, and exclamations erupted from all around at the same time.

“This is crazy.”

“Wow…”

Kang Se-jun had changed clothes again.

‘No wonder you couldn’t tell they filmed everything on the same day.’

This time, he was wearing a military-style uniform, clearly custom-made from the shoulder line all the way down to the fit around his waist.

‘The styling team really went all out.’

There was a reason Boys Code viewers had said, “I watch it just to see what the MC is wearing.”

“Wow, he’s seriously handsome.”

“I guess people like that become idols.”

Even as a man, I couldn’t help admiring his looks.

After receiving a signal from the production crew below the stage, he picked up the microphone.

“Yesterday, a colleague who was behind me could be ahead of me today.”

Doom-doom!

With a grand sound effect, the lights moved busily around before stopping in one place.

The five seats representing the debut lineup.

“Who will be the five people to make it into the first debut lineup?”

I could hear dry swallows being gulped down from all over.

“How are they going to announce it?”

“Please, even just staying in the middle would be…”

Kang Se-jun spoke with a smile.

“The Code Announcement Ceremony on Boys Code is a little special.”

‘They got a lot of complaints for being cruel.’

“You will be moving to new seats according to your new codes.”

“…Huh?”

“What does that mean?”

The screen behind him lit up.

“Starting with Code 20, you will come onto the stage in order and check your new code.”

An example video played.

Code 20 checked his result, and if he had become Code 12, he immediately moved to the Code 12 seat.

“Then the trainee who was originally in that seat will move again according to the rank they were pushed down to.”

“Whoa, wait.”

Only then did the trainees’ expressions begin to harden.

Simply put, the moment the rankings changed, it was a system where you immediately took and had your seat taken right before your eyes.

“…Holy shit.”

“That’s too much……”

Of course, a few guys laughed and said it sounded fun.

“If someone takes your seat, that’d really hurt your pride…”

“Either way, we’re either staying where we are or moving up from here, right?”

But that wasn’t the end.

Kang Se-jun tapped his chest.

“Not only the seats, but you’ll also replace your Code name tags yourselves.”

That was the greater humiliation.

“Whoa–”

“That’s too cruel, isn’t it?”

Some trainees squeezed their eyes shut tightly, as if they had sensed the future that was about to arrive.

‘Please, anything but the disaster of me having to tear I-yul’s name tag off.’

I really didn’t even want to imagine it.

“Now, Code 20 trainee. Please come up onto the stage first.”

“…Y-Yes!”

The electronic display lit up behind the trainee as he went up with a thoroughly stiff expression.

The first Code appeared, heavy with tension.

 

[Code 20 ▶ Code 18]

 

“Yes, Code 20 trainee. Congratulations! You’ve moved up two places and become Code 18.”

“Th-Thank you!”

His happiness lasted only a moment before Code 20’s expression became complicated.

“Now, please move to the Code 18 seat and replace your name tag.”

The two trainees appeared on the electronic display.

Code 18 bit his lip tightly, seemingly humiliated.

Code 20 couldn’t smile easily either.

Tug, tug

The name tags even seemed to have been deliberately made difficult to remove.

The more flustered Code 20 fiddled with his name tag, the more Code 18’s expression hardened.

‘They’re seriously vicious.’

It was so frustrating that I wanted to just rip it off for him.

“Don’t be too disappointed. This could be part of the process of moving to a higher rank.”

Kang Se-jun tried to lighten the mood, but…

 

[Code 18 ▶ Code 20]

 

“Ah…”

The atmosphere became even colder.

The rankings continued to flip after that.

The trainees’ expressions swung between heaven and hell.

Seventh and ninth place switched seats, and it automatically became time to announce Go Jae-seong’s code, as he was in sixth place.

From here on, it was essentially a battle for the debut lineup.

Go Jae-seong stood up from his seat.

‘Before my regression, he made it into the debut range without any trouble.’

I couldn’t let my guard down. After the midterm evaluation, Go Jae-seong had definitely grown another step.

Everyone focused on Kang Se-jun’s lips.

“Please reveal the final code for Code 6!”

 

[Code ??]

 

The number inside the question marks changed rapidly.

The best outcome was for him to remain at Code 6.

‘The way they’re dragging this out makes me uneasy…….’

 

[Code 6 ▶ Code 4]

 

And my instincts had been right.

“……!”

For an instant, it felt as though all the blood in my body had gone cold.

Go Jae-seong had taken my spot.

‘Should I be grateful that at least it wasn’t I-yul…?’

Exclamations erupted from all around.

Well, a trainee who hadn’t even been here for a month had suddenly entered the debut lineup. How could they not have found that irritating?

“Code 6 trainee, you have been selected as Code 4 after moving up two places, securing a spot in the debut lineup. How do you feel right now?”

Go Jae-seong opened his mouth with a face that looked as though he couldn’t believe it.

“It really feels like a dream that I’ve made it into the debut lineup…”

Having to watch that disgusting performance of his was painful.

Kang Se-jun explained the reason.

“The factors behind trainee Go Jae-seong’s rise were his ability to handle the stage and the completeness of his performance.”

‘So that was the difference.’

My producing skills were superior, but it meant that if you still asked whether Go Jae-seong or I should be put onstage, the answer would be Go Jae-seong.

It was frustrating, but right now, I had no choice but to admit it.

“Code 6, please move to the Code 4 seat.”

Go Jae-seong walked over.

“Congratulations!”

“Must be nice–”

Receiving congratulations from the other trainees, he stopped in front of me.

“Sorry, I’m going to take the name tag.”

Tug, tug.

It didn’t come off.

“This thing isn’t coming off easily…”

Tug.

Another failure.

‘This bastard is doing this on purpose.’

Actually, the moment Go Jae-seong’s code had been announced, I had already slightly peeled up one side of my name tag. Just enough that it would come off immediately if someone pulled it.

There was no way he hadn’t noticed. And yet he was deliberately dragging out the moment. So they could film me losing for as long as possible.

But there was no way viewers could know about Go Jae-seong’s nastiness.

“Got it!”

Chaaak!

When he finally pulled hard, he even staggered for a moment.

Our eyes met.

His eyes pretended to apologize, but his mouth was clearly smiling.

Who says you can’t spit in the face of someone who smiles at you?

I can.

At that moment, the camera moved closer toward us.

Without hesitation, I reached out.

“I’ll take my name tag properly too.”

“…?”

And without hesitation, I grabbed it and tore it off.

Rip!

With a crisp sound, the name tag came off far too easily.

“What?”

“It comes off easily?”

The temperature of the room subtly changed.

Until now, no trainee whose seat had been taken had ever personally torn off the other person’s name tag.

Go Jae-seong froze for a moment as well.

I lifted the name tag and smiled.

“I’ll take good care of it.”

And then…

“It comes off pretty easily, doesn’t it?”

I whispered that quietly as I passed Go Jae-seong.

Now it was my turn.

I went up onto the stage to check my final code.

 

[Code 4 ▶ Code 6]

 

“The final code for Code 4 is…… Code 6!”

Sixth place.

Right below the debut lineup, a frustratingly close rank that still didn’t quite reach it.

“It was a stage that properly showed the potential of Code 4. However, the biggest factor behind the drop in rank was that his overall skill level is still lacking.”

Perhaps because I had mentally prepared myself, it wasn’t a huge shock.

“Thank you.”

I bowed my head.

“There are still many things I lack, but I’ll definitely prove myself onstage.”

The rest of the announcement proceeded as expected.

The debut lineup trainees other than me maintained their rankings.

“Boys Code. The debut lineup that will open the first gateway has been decided!”

Lights came on beneath the chairs of the five debut lineup members.

The dazzling production and set made me let out a hollow laugh.

‘No wonder people said this was Nix’s first and last massive splurge.’

Honestly, it was a little tacky, but the trainees kept exclaiming in admiration.

“What is this?”

“Wow, they must’ve spent a ton of money.”

The cameras captured the faces of the five debut lineup members one by one.

At that moment, I felt a strange sensation.

‘I have to debut with Kang I-yul.’

Until now, I had had only one goal.

But when had it started?

A proposition separate from him surfaced in my mind.

‘I want to move up.’

I didn’t just want to survive.

I wanted to be recognized.

It was tiny, but unmistakable… the spark of that desire was burning.

It was a kind of thirst I had never experienced when I was a producer.

A desire that could only be harbored by someone who had stood onstage.