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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The Mission Begins
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In short, they were asking who she wanted to be on a team with.
Kim Ryeo-yu smiled brightly and immediately—
“I’ve always admired Baek-yeong Unnie.”
She pointed to Seo Baek-yeong.
Oohs and aahs could be heard.
I was impressed too.
She really goes for it, doesn't she?
“Excellent. Please go in now. Next, Yeon Ju-hong trainee!”
“Yes!”
Yeon Ju-hong answered, raising her right arm high.
This isn’t school, Ju-hong.
You don’t have to raise your hand…
“Which trainee do you want to compete against?”
“Ryeo-yu Unnie!”
“Oh, why?”
“Because she’s the highest-ranked in our position! My goal is always to aim for the top!”
Yeon Ju-hong was genuinely cheerful.
She was so bright that even though her words were challenging, they didn’t feel offensive at all.
“Seo Baek-yeong trainee, who do you want to compete against?”
“…I’m fine with anyone.”
“Oh, what does that mean?”
“Because I’ll win no matter who comes.”
“Whoa!”
Next to me, Kim Geum waved her hands around in a playful, teasing manner.
Yeon Ju-hong, excited, also waved her hands along.
At that, Seo Baek-yeong’s face turned red. She seemed embarrassed even after saying it herself.
Are you *just now* feeling embarrassed?
I’m embarrassed too.
Kim Geum was a character who certainly didn't lack confidence, but Seo Baek-yeong's confidence was on a completely different level.
She seemed a bit less confident in her vocals, but when it came to dancing, she exuded absolute certainty that no one could beat her.
I liked that kind of certainty.
Because people with self-confidence are attractive.
“Seo Baek-yeong trainee. As expected of Colors’ veteran, your confidence is incredible.”
“…A-and. Because all the trainees are outstanding… No, no matter who comes—”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s a bit late to sugarcoat it now.”
Do Hui-yeong chuckled and teased Seo Baek-yeong.
“I’ve watched Baek-yeong since she was little, and she’s… grown up so well. I’m very proud. Even though I didn’t do anything.”
“Right. You didn’t do anything for her.”
“What did you say?!”
“Ah, just kidding.”
The two seemed to have known each other for a long time, freely joking with each other.
“Colors is practically nothing without confidence. Not just me, but all our members have immense pride. I think other groups probably feel the same way.”
Do Hui-yeong looked at us with oddly affectionate eyes.
Was it a senior’s heart?
I was the sole breadwinner and only artist at my agency.
So, I had no juniors at the agency.
I’d heard talk of them training trainees, but I’d only ever seen them in passing.
So, I didn’t quite grasp how Do Hui-yeong felt.
Not just Do Hui-yeong, but when other celebrities talked about ‘juniors,’ it never quite resonated with me.
Because I didn’t have many close celebrity friends.
But now, I think I understood a little.
“Anyway, back to the main point.”
Do Hui-yeong cleared her throat, perhaps feeling awkward.
“Team Four Seasons won the last mission, right?”
“Yes!”
“We also informed you that the winning team would receive a benefit for the next mission. So, I’m going to announce that benefit now.”
Do Hui-yeong continued, looking at the four of us.
“Conveniently, Team Four Seasons has two members in the dance position: Yeon Ju-hong trainee and Lee Ju-seon trainee.”
No way, no way.
Somehow, I already knew what the benefit would be.
“Yes!”
“The two of you will become the leaders of your respective teams. The benefit for this evaluation is that you will directly pick your competing team members.”
I knew it.
I felt deflated.
I only have one team.
Same for Kim Geum.
It was a meaningless benefit for the two of us.
Kim Geum seemed to think the same, her shoulders slumping.
That was a rare sight. Kim Geum’s shoulders practically touched the sky, after all.
“Don’t be disappointed. Kim Geum trainee and Yun Cheong trainee. There’s a benefit for you two as well. I’ll tell you about it later.”
This is a patience test.
I finally nodded.
“Now, please take turns picking your team members. First, Yeon Ju-hong trainee, who is higher in rank.”
Yeon Ju-hong’s face was truly filled with ambition.
Sometimes, when she makes that face, she scares me a little.
“Ryeo-yu Unnie!”
Kim Ryeo-yu, as if she’d expected it, smirked and stood next to Yeon Ju-hong.
“I’ll choose… Su-in Unnie.”
Bang Su-in, ranked 12th.
I could tell Lee Ju-seon’s strategy.
“I’ll choose Baek-yeong Unnie!”
Truly ambition itself.
To gather only the most popular members from each position.
It could have been a disadvantageous choice, but Yeon Ju-hong chose the path of no compromise.
I liked that.
“Then, the last trainee, Shin Yu-hyeon, will join Lee Ju-seon trainee’s team.”
Once all the dance positions were set, all the teams were decided.
“Alright, now I’ll explain the competition rules in more detail. Everyone. What do you consider important in a mission?”
Everyone fell into thought at Do Hui-yeong’s question.
“…Teamwork?”
This was Seo Baek-yeong’s answer.
“Skill?”
This was Kim Geum.
“Practice?”
This was Yeon Ju-hong.
“Charm.”
This was Kim Ryeo-yu.
“Talent.”
Surprisingly, this was Ryu Bo-ra’s answer.
And my answer was—
“The song.”
That was it.
All the other trainees’ answers were correct too.
But those are important for debut or voting.
What’s important in the mission itself is the song quality.
Because a good song makes for a good stage.
“Everyone is correct. However, I’d like to give my vote to Yun Cheong trainee’s answer. Because the question was related to the ‘mission.’ If I had asked what was most important for an idol, I would have given a similar answer to the other trainees.”
Do Hui-yeong said that and then pointed to the television again.
Then, the screen changed—
“Hello, this is Danha from Beon-aessh.”
A man appeared.
…He was someone I knew well too.
No, he was someone everyone knew well.
“All your mission songs this time were composed by me.”
“!”
The trainees’ eyes widened.
Originally, Danha from Beon-aessh was famous for his composing and producing.
Though only two years into his career, he had released one single album and two mini-albums.
He participated in composing every song on each album.
The title tracks were solo compositions.
All of them were massive hits.
If you had to pick the most talked-about idol group at the moment, it would undoubtedly be Beon-aessh.
He had been active in composing since his trainee days, earning him a reputation as a genius.
“The songs I’m about to play for you were inspired by classic novels.”
Classic novels, huh.
It was a double-edged sword kind of theme.
If done well, it would be interesting and allow for much interpretation.
But it could also easily feel cliché or too difficult.
“I’ve prepared a total of five songs for you, so please choose the one you like best and create a stage for it.”
As Danha’s introduction ended, the competition songs began playing one after another.
And when the five songs finished, all of us were—
“Amazing.”
—dumbfounded.
“How was it, everyone? There are so many songs that are too good to only be used once, right?”
“Yes!”
Do Hui-yeong nodded, as if she understood our feelings.
Even I couldn’t help but nod along to the songs.
The five songs were each very different, yet catchy and unique.
Enough to make any agency with a desire for good music drool.
It was enough to pique my own interest, right then and there.
“So, the song of the team that wins ‘MVP of MVP’ among these songs will be included in the debut album.”
“!”
Debut album.
Just hearing the words made my heart flutter.
The other trainees seemed to feel the same, their faces more determined than before.
Right.
Debut really wasn’t that far off.
“Then, Yun Cheong trainee and Kim Geum trainee.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll give you the benefit I couldn’t give you earlier, now.”
“No way…!”
“That ‘no way’ is often exactly how it turns out. Yes, that’s right. I’ll give you priority song selection.”
I understood why Do Hui-yeong had been so confident earlier.
Priority song selection.
It was an incredible benefit.
The only problem was—
“I want to pick first!”
—the order.
“…”
Kim Geum…
Kim Geum had raised her hand ambitiously, but then Ryu Bo-ra pinched her.
“Ow!”
“Then, two trainees. We’ll have to decide who gets to choose first.”
“Hmm-hmm.”
Kim Geum tried to hide the burning fire in her eyes.
Because I was glaring at Kim Geum with soulless eyes too.
That girl.
If we debut together, I’ll have to fix that impatient personality of hers first.
“To be fair, decide with rock-paper-scissors.”
I nodded.
Thoughts of yielding?
None at all.
The bond as teammates was one thing, but competition was another.
Kim Geum seemed to feel the same, her eyes burning fiercely.
You’ll turn to ash at this rate, Geum.
“Rock!”
“Paper!”
“Scissors!”
Following the trainees’ shouts, we each threw our hands.
“Aaaargh!”
Whose scream was that?
Isn’t it obvious?
“No, Unnie, why are you so good at rock-paper-scissors?!”
It was Kim Geum’s scream.
Sorry, but Cotton Lump already tipped me off about what you’d pick in the article yesterday.
“I’m just a bit lucky.”
“Haa…”
Kim Geum grudgingly conceded and stepped back.
The other trainees patted Kim Geum’s shoulder.
“Alright, then Yun Cheong trainee.”
“Yes.”
“Which song will you choose?”
Danha had created a total of five songs.
1. Little Women
2. The Pendulum
3. Fingertip
4. 탄嘆 (Tan)
5. Medea
The vocal position trainees all looked at me with anxious eyes.
Of course.
Because the song I chose wouldn’t just be for me.
They would have to perform it too.
But kids, you’re very lucky.
“I’ll take ‘Fingertip’.”
Because I already knew which song was the winning song.
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