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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Mentor's Choice
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“Whose mentor will you take?”
“I…”
I pretended to hesitate, stalling for time while looking at the camera.
Broadcasts start with provocation and end with provocation.
Given PD O's personality, he'll probably cut here, so I should give him an editing point.
The more I create a stir like this, the more screen time I'm guaranteed.
“I won't take anyone's.”
“!”
PD O seemed genuinely surprised, his small eyes widening as much as they could.
“Why... why won't you take one? Not having a mentor puts you at a big disadvantage.”
However, PD O quickly composed himself and tried to persuade me.
“During missions, mentors help with arranging, choreographing, and training. You won't have any of those advantages. Are you saying you're willing to give all that up?”
PD O looked at me with a suspicious gaze, as if unable to comprehend.
“Trainee Yun Cheong, are you really that confident in your own abilities? Are you saying you don't need a mentor? Or, what, does it mean nothing unless it's the CEO?”
I instinctively knew.
This would definitely appear in huge subtitles.
Along with some ominous background music.
I could almost hear it already.
Subtitle: Trainee Yun Cheong rejects a mentor. Why?
I had to answer this well.
Because depending on my answer here, the direction of my character's editing would be set.
If I said I wasn't confident, I'd look like a weak-hearted fool.
If I said I was confident, I'd look like an arrogant trainee who disregards all senior idols.
The former would be a boring character, the latter a villain.
And I couldn't go for such a character from the start of the broadcast.
“That's not it at all. On the contrary, I believe mentors are truly important, which is why I decided I couldn't take a mentor away from another trainee.”
I tried my best to appear calm.
But I couldn't let my face harden.
“Then how do you plan to prepare for the competition alone? Without a mentor?”
Got it.
As soon as I heard PD O's question, I cheered inwardly.
It was the question I wanted.
“Instead of taking another trainee's mentor—”
I took a deep breath,
“I will create my own mentor.”
“...?”
and exhaled.
PD O looked at me with eyes that seemed to say, 'Is she out of her mind?'
I endured his unpleasant gaze and looked directly at the camera as I spoke.
“I will ask for help from the other trainees. I will make my colleagues, who have watched me all this time, my mentors.”
“!”
PD O looked at me with surprised eyes once again.
But this time, it was closer to positive surprise.
“I understand what you mean.”
“...Would that be alright?”
I deliberately sought PD O's permission.
People like PD O enjoy being asked for their permission like this.
Why?
Because if I insisted on doing things my way without asking for permission, he'd want to put me in my place.
That's how those types of people are.
They value 'authority.'
“Honestly, it's a bit perplexing, but...”
Sure enough, PD O's expression immediately softened.
“I don't think there's anything wrong with it. It might even be interesting. Right, Writer Kang?”
“I think it's fine too. Trainees often help each other in audition programs anyway. You could see this as just formalizing that.”
Writer Kang, the main scriptwriter, also nodded.
I let out a sigh of relief.
That's a relief.
“But then again,”
PD O chuckled slyly.
“So, Trainee Yun Cheong, are you confident that the other trainees will help you? This is a competition. And it's a bit awkward for me to say this myself... but the other trainees are currently naming you as a strong debut candidate.”
I remained silent.
Having these words broadcast was not good.
Being called a strong candidate was, of course, a pleasant thing to hear.
But if it went on air, it would have more disadvantages.
Why?
For two reasons.
First, I'd become a target of rivalry.
To put it nicely, a target of rivalry; to put it badly, an enemy to everyone.
Considering future votes, that was the worst direction to go.
Second, I'd become 'that person' who everyone thinks, 'Surely they'll make it, right? Someone else will vote for them. Let's vote for someone who needs it more.'
It's something that actually happens in many audition programs.
Even candidates who seemed absolutely safe and unlikely to be eliminated often get eliminated.
Why?
Precisely because of this.
I absolutely couldn't become a source of complacency, no matter what.
I suppressed the urge to cover PD O's mouth.
But at the same time, showing a lack of confidence by saying 'I don't think I can debut' wasn't a good option either.
People aren't attracted to those who lack confidence.
They might get sympathy votes at first.
But those are just sympathy votes.
It's not popularity.
The two are distinctly different.
“In this situation, will the other trainees really try to help Trainee Yun Cheong?”
It was a fair question.
But it was also a question I had anticipated.
“Yes.”
“!”
PD O and Writer Kang's eyes widened.
It seemed to be because I spoke much more resolutely than they expected.
“How can you be so sure?”
How can I be so sure, you ask?
...Well.
I hesitated for a moment before answering.
“It's not that I'm confident, but that I *believe* I *must* be confident.”
“You *must* be confident?”
PD O raised an eyebrow, as if surprised.
“Yes. Because—”
***
A small studio apartment.
On the television, the most popular idol audition survival program these days was playing.
It was 'Make a New Color'.
The third episode had just begun, but the response was incredibly fervent.
Awkward trainees showing their raw selves, and 'devil's editing' that barely managed not to cross the line.
But what was most important in an idol survival program, above all else—
“—was visuals and skill.”
A certain Colors fan, who had just opened a can of beer in the corner of her room, muttered.
Why did she refer to herself not as a fan of a specific idol group, but a fan of the agency 'Colors'?
In other words, a Col-duck.
She took a certain pride in the name Col-duck.
Why?
Because those Colors guys were good at their job?
No.
From a Col-duck's perspective, Colors was absolutely terrible at their job. They only knew how to squeeze their artists dry, not how to treat them well.
But.
“...When it came to spotting talent, they were uncanny.”
Honestly, she didn't know who Colors' casting director was, but that person deserved their full salary.
At least, that's what she thought.
Anyway.
To be honest, she had watched 'Make a New Color' without much expectation.
Because Colors already had too many idol groups.
She didn't particularly want to get into a new idol group.
Life was already too overwhelming and difficult for that.
After work, she felt like she'd collapse, and now a new idol group?
It was too mentally exhausting.
So why was she watching it, you ask?
“...Because it just *had* to air on Friday nights!”
Perfect for office workers to watch while unwinding with a beer after work!
She grumbled to herself as she watched the screen.
Honestly, she wasn't fond of Colors, but every single one of the kids was outstanding.
“This is why I can't quit Colors...”
She sighed deeply and drank her beer.
All twelve trainees were truly exceptional talents, without exception.
It was heartbreaking to think that any of them wouldn't debut.
But even among them, there was a best, someone who everyone could tell *had* to debut.
And that was the one on screen right now—
Production Team: You *must* be confident?
[Yun Cheong: Yes. Because...]
It was Yun Cheong.
Eight years of being a Colors fan told her everything she needed to know.
'Colors' specialty: visuals, charm, dancing, and main vocal...!'
She couldn't miss this!
However, talent and charm were different realms.
Up until now, she had been watching Yun Cheong with a purely objective thought, 'Oh, she's pretty good.'
Because she hadn't seen any particularly striking character traits from her yet.
But.
Now, something was beginning to stir her heart, little by little.
[Yun Cheong: This survival show isn't the end, you know.]
The trainees' characteristic lightly made-up face, her awkwardly styled black straight hair.
She looked young enough to be mistaken for a high school student, but she had said she was twenty.
[Yun Cheong: No matter who debuts, I don't think this is the end. In fact, this path isn't an easy one, is it? Sometimes it'll be a thorny path, and sometimes it'll be a flower path.]
Just listening to her calm tone of voice, she sounded like an adult who had lived a full life.
It was strange for a twenty-year-old's demeanor.
Yet, there was something compelling that made you nod along as you listened.
[Yun Cheong: Because we are the people who will walk this path together. We are destined to support each other and look out for each other.]
...The fan's heartstrings were slowly being tugged.
[Yun Cheong: Everyone wants to debut, of course. But I think everyone knows that debuting isn't something you do 'alone.']
Yun Cheong spoke straight and upright from beginning to end, her eyes clear.
[Yun Cheong: We are one group, and I don't just see the other trainees as rivals. I see them as my future members.]
Production Team: Her tone suggests she firmly believes she'll debut, doesn't it?
[Yun Cheong: Yes.]
Yun Cheong on the television was smiling truly radiantly.
[Yun Cheong: I believe everyone thinks that way. Because they all deserve to.]
And that smile was knocking on the heart of a certain Col-duck.
[Yun Cheong: That's why I want to make the other trainees my mentors. And I believe they will gladly help me.]
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