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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: The Results Are In
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Jo Hui-on's shoulders began to tremble noticeably.
With such a faint heart, how could she have done something so awful?
A bitter laugh escaped me.
"Just confess to PD O Baek-gyeong and the production team. Then I'll ask them not to air it. We'll just quietly cover it up and be done with it. Only you and Kim Ryeo-yu will leave the program."
"Cheong-ah, you're really funny."
Kim Ryeo-yu cut me off.
"It seems you're trying to claim Hui-on did something. Okay, I get that far. But why drag me into it? Was I there when you supposedly saw it?"
...What incredible nerve.
How could someone be so utterly despicable?
If Kim Ryeo-yu had just stayed quiet, she probably could have debuted without a hitch.
Both in her previous life and this one.
But Kim Ryeo-yu didn't do that either time.
In her previous life, she sprinkled peach peel powder into Yun Cheong's drink.
In this life, she sprinkled peanut powder on Yun Cheong's chicken breast.
The problem was that Yun Cheong's real allergy was to peaches.
I deliberately ate peach ice cream in front of Jo Hui-on.
One with an extremely low peach content.
Still, just in case, I even took allergy medication before eating the ice cream.
Because they said it would at least alleviate the symptoms.
I thought that would be enough to trick them while keeping myself safe.
However, there was an unexpected variable.
Yun Cheong's allergy was much more severe than I had anticipated.
Fortunately, it wasn't enough to ruin both my body and my voice like in my previous life, but my vocal cords became quite swollen.
That's why I had no choice but to spend two days in the hospital.
It was unforeseen, but even if I went back, I would still have eaten that ice cream.
If I hadn't, a greater disaster would have occurred.
'Didn't you know you had an allergy?'
'I didn't know it was this severe.'
'Your allergen level is Class 6. The level is very high. It's high even within that class. You could die if you're not careful. It's hard to believe you wouldn't know it was this serious.'
'...I'll be careful.'
I could only answer the doctor's question that way.
Because Yun Cheong had avoided peaches ever since she was very young.
To do such a thing to someone with such a severe allergy.
It truly could have been classified as attempted murder.
If I hadn't taken precautions.
Yet, they have such brazen faces.
I stared at Jo Hui-on once more.
"It's your choice, Hui-on."
Do you have even a shred of conscience?
***
The performances for each position had ended, and the vote counting was complete.
The trainees gathered in their respective team rooms.
The Vocal Position team was, of course, no exception.
In fact, the Vocal Position team still had unanswered questions.
Why Yun Cheong had suddenly disappeared, and how she had suddenly reappeared.
But no one showed it.
Everyone sat there as if nothing had happened.
No, rather, everyone looked relieved and happy.
"Everyone, you all went through a lot because of me."
But I couldn't do that.
Regardless of my circumstances, I had inconvenienced my teammates.
There was no excusing that.
"I'm sorry, everyone. It was such an important stage. And I caused trouble..."
"I figured you'd say something like that, our Cheong-ie."
But the one who cut me off was, surprisingly, Lee Gyeong-a.
"But seriously, don't think like that. You couldn't come because you were sick. Your physical condition wasn't a matter of your will; it was just bad luck."
"That's right."
Ryu Bo-ra agreed.
"There's something more important than that. Are you really okay now?"
"Yeah. The hospital confirmed everything. They said I'm really fine now."
"Then I don't care. And honestly, we did pretty well today."
"Tell me about it."
Lee Gyeong-a chuckled.
"Regardless of the results, I'm happiest that we created such a perfect stage."
"...Thank you, everyone. For understanding. I think we were able to do this well thanks to all of you."
"You worked hard, Cheong-ah. Honestly, just seeing you come was enough to make me want to bow."
"That's right. When Unnie appeared, it felt a bit like the protagonist of a drama showing up."
Why is she laughing so hard while saying that? This girl needs to stop watching so many dramas.
I felt awkward.
"Today, we were all the protagonists."
"Right. Anyway! We all worked so hard! Now let's just get past the hardest part and go back to the dorms to rest!"
As Lee Gyeong-a said that, she looked at Jo Hui-on.
"But Hui-on is unusually quiet today. Are you feeling sick?"
"Huh?"
Jo Hui-on was truly pale.
"Ah, you're quite the nervous type, too. It must be killing you to wait for the results, right?"
"Yes... Really. I feel like I'm going to die."
I glanced at Jo Hui-on.
You feel like you're dying, but it's not because of nerves.
It's because of guilt and anxiety.
I smiled as if nothing were wrong.
"Hui-on, you really worked hard. You did your best, so there will be good results."
"We'll all have good results."
"Ah, but when do the results come out? I want to stop doing this now."
Lee Gyeong-a said, cupping her cheeks with her hands.
At our urging, a writer handed over a cue card.
"First, we will announce each team's MVP here. And in real-time, each team's MVP will be presented to the audience. After all team MVPs have been announced, the MVP of MVP vote will be conducted. Of course, the MVP of MVP results will only be revealed on broadcast."
"Understood."
"Then, we will now announce the voting results for the Vocal Position team."
At the same time, the screen of the monitor in front of us changed.
Lee Gyeong-a - 3rd place [10 votes]
Yun Cheong - ?th place
Jo Hui-on - ?th place
Ryu Bo-ra - ?th place
First, Lee Gyeong-a's result appeared.
"10 votes..."
Lee Gyeong-a muttered with an embarrassed expression.
Her voice was filled with mixed emotions.
Relief that she wasn't 4th, and disappointment at only receiving ten votes out of a hundred.
Meanwhile, Jo Hui-on's expression grew darker.
Then, the screen flickered once more, and a part of it changed.
Jo Hui-on - 4th place [6 votes]
Ryu Bo-ra and I were confirmed as MVP candidates.
But I couldn't simply be happy.
It was also true that these two had worked just as hard as us.
Even Jo Hui-on, despite everything, had genuinely worked hard and given her all.
And Lee Gyeong-a, needless to say.
The very structure of teammates competing against each other is actually quite cruel.
Because now, the joy and sorrow are divided by the number of votes, for people who were cooperating with all their might just moments ago.
Given that situation, it naturally didn't feel important who came in 1st or 2nd.
Honestly, I felt like I would be truly happy even if Ryu Bo-ra got 1st place.
Yun Cheong - 1st place [45 votes]
Ryu Bo-ra - 2nd place [39 votes]
That's why this 1st place didn't make me purely happy.
I couldn't say anything and just froze.
For me, 1st place had always been the happiest thing.
A joyful achievement, entirely my own, without a hint of sadness.
But who knew that being a team would hold such immense meaning?
I wasn't happy at all. The 45 votes I received felt like a heavy burden of apology.
"Congratulations, Unnie. Truly. This is the first time I've ever been so happy about getting 2nd place."
So when Ryu Bo-ra hugged me tightly, I just burst into tears.
"Everyone... I'm so sorry..."
"No, what are you sorry for?! Just walk the path of Yun Cheong, the MVP of MVP."
"That's right. At this point, there's no other answer but to become the MVP of MVP. Let's crush it."
The other teammates also hugged me one by one. I think I just cried in their arms.
It felt like my tear ducts were broken.
No, I'm really not the type of person who cries so genuinely.
"You worked hard, Cheong-ah. I'm sorry and thank you."
It was even enough to make me tear up at Jo Hui-on's words.
***
"Each team's MVP, please come up to the stage. The MVP of MVP voting will now begin."
My sadness was truly fleeting.
PD O Baek-gyeong sent each team's MVP back onto the stage.
As I went up on stage with swollen eyes, I could hear the cheers of the crowd.
I forced a bright smile, worried my fans might be concerned.
Only then did I see the stage.
The others chosen as MVPs besides me.
For the Rap Position, it was, of course, Kim Geum.
For Dance Position B, it was Lee Ju-seon, who showed incredible improvement.
I saw Lee Ju-seon's performance belatedly, and honestly, I didn't even recognize her.
Her posture had changed completely to that extent.
I wonder if she'll show a significant rise in the next ranking announcement.
And for Dance Position A—
"Seo Baek-yeong trainee."
"Yes."
"How do you feel about becoming the MVP of Dance Position A, a truly formidable team?"
"The decision was made by a very narrow margin among the three of us. So I'm truly grateful for this position and still feel very humble."
"Nevertheless, congratulations. The results of your hard work are shining brightly."
Do Hui-yeong smiled broadly and congratulated her.
I also clapped softly.
Seo Baek-yeong glanced at me and chuckled.
Why is she giggling like that again?
Even though she spoke humbly, she must be absolutely thrilled.
"Alright, we've introduced each team's MVP to all the Colorists who came today. But it's not over yet. The MVP of MVP vote is still to come. Please choose one trainee among them who painted your hearts the brightest."
Along with Do Hui-yeong's announcement, the stage lights shone on us one by one.
This is nerve-wracking.
There wasn't a single person who wasn't formidable.
Because everyone had truly shown a stage beyond expectations today.
I had always been proud of myself throughout my life.
Of the name Baek Nok-ha, and the skills Baek Nok-ha possessed.
I believed that my rise to that position was solely due to my own abilities.
Because I worked harder than anyone else, and because I was more talented than anyone else.
But looking at it now, that wasn't the case.
I was just luckier.
I was just lucky enough to have a voice the public liked, and lucky enough that people enjoyed the songs I made.
Standing here, I truly rediscovered my beginner's mindset.
Or rather, I became humble.
"Alright, then, finally, before the vote. To each trainee, how do you anticipate the results? First, Yun Cheong trainee?"
"I absolutely want to come in 1st, even if it's just for my team. Please, please vote for me."
"...Yun Cheong trainee. You seem very desperate."
But humility is one thing.
I have to get 1st place today.
Unnie's in a bit of a hurry, kids.
"Kim Geum trainee?"
"Ah, well. For me... I know our Colorists will vote for me without me even needing to say anything. We've already, uh, communicated everything from heart to heart."
Oohs and aahs.
Laughter and cheers erupted from the audience.
Hmph.
I could see fans occasionally holding my slogan, cheering along.
I know what they mean, but I wish my fans would only cheer when I'm speaking.
That's just how I feel.
"Seo Baek-yeong trainee?"
"Candidate number 1, Seo Baek-yeong. If you vote for me, you won't regret..."
"Whoa, whoa. This isn't an election campaign."
"I will repay you with my performance! Please vote for me! I'm number 1, number 1!"
"...Lee Ju-seon trainee?"
"For me... just coming this far..."
"Oh?"
Lee Ju-seon seemed to step back, unlike the previous trainees, but—
"That's not enough! Since I've come this far, I hope you'll just make me the MVP of MVP!"
She wasn't.
Lee Ju-seon was just as desperate.
"Traitor!"
"Boo!"
"Everyone, quiet down!"
Indeed.
There wasn't a single person among these four who wasn't desperate.
So it wouldn't be strange no matter who became the MVP of MVP.
Still.
I want it, the MVP of MVP.
"Ah, the tally is complete."
Do Hui-yeong whispered briefly with the production staff, then nodded at us.
She then announced to the audience that the public filming had concluded, along with a closing remark.
The production staff guided the audience out.
From here on, this part would only be revealed on broadcast.
Of course, each team's MVP would now be heavily leaked as spoilers online.
But fake spoilers would also run rampant, so people would end up watching the broadcast just to find out what was real.
In the space left by the audience, other trainees entered.
Our team waved at me, showing their support.
Seeing their faces just made me more nervous.
"Then, I will announce the results. First, 4th place. This trainee received a total of 17 votes out of 100, placing 4th."
Do Hui-yeong said, looking at the cue card with the results.
4th place. Who could it be?
17 votes was still not a bad result for 4th place.
It also indicated how fierce the competition for the top ranks would be.
It's probably Lee Ju-seon, who has the lowest rank among them.
Lee Ju-seon already had a dark expression, as if she had already placed 4th.
"Kim Geum trainee from the Rap Position. She received a total of 17 votes."
!
Crazy.
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