Chapter 47
Yujin Kim's shocking Billboard #1 declaration.
While everyone was still in shock, the first to react was Ria, now in her 15th year of broadcasting career.
"Trainee Yujin Kim's resolve is truly impressive. Not as the judge representative of National Idol, but as a singer myself, Ria, I will cheer for trainee Yujin Kim's dream!"
At Ria's words, an explosive reaction poured out from the audience seats that had gone quiet.
Kyaaaaah!-
Yujinaaa!-
That's so cooool!!!-
Honestly, it was an outrageous statement for a trainee about to debut on an audition program to make.
But if it's Yujin Kim... it somehow felt like she might actually do it.
She was the owner of such an absurdly overpowered resume and abilities for someone debuting as an idol group member, that it felt too sincere to be dismissed as a passing remark.
After Yujin Kim's statement that raised expectations to the max, the next question came to me.
"Trainee Sunwoo Rin. How are you feeling right now?"
"For starters, I'm nervous... Hahaha, I didn't think I would be, but now that I'm actually standing here, I can feel my heart pounding."
"You don't look nervous at all on the outside, so that's unexpected."
She started with a simple question.
Ria nodded at my answer and then, her eyes lighting up, asked the next question.
"Trainee Sunwoo Rin has gone from being a regular contestant with no trainee experience to now being a candidate for 1st place in the final round. Until now, 2nd place was your highest result. Do you think 1st place today... is possible?"
1st place, huh.
It was a question I had expected, but the words I prepared didn't come out easily.
I took a light breath and answered with a smile.
"Just standing here together with Yujin is already a dream come true for me. I sincerely thank all the fans who have helped someone as lacking as me make it to this spot."
-Hyung, that's boring.
-Yeah, but this is the standard response.
I replied with an eye smile to Yujin Kim, who was looking at me with cold, dismissive eyes.
-...
Are you not managing your expressions? That face of yours... it's all being caught on camera right now, you know...?
"Trainee Sunwoo Rin, you've always shown a confident side. But perhaps because it's the finals today, you look noticeably more tense than usual."
Ria's words spoken with a smile sounded to my ears like, 'Why are you pretending to be so well-mannered unlike your usual self?' — did I mishear?
With Ria's pressuring gaze, the final question was thrown at me.
"Well then, trainee Sunwoo Rin, do you have any last words you'd like to say before the 1st place announcement?"
My first thought was, can't they just quickly announce 1st place?
But causing a legendary broadcast accident after saying that would make all the suffering I'd been through too much of a waste.
"After hearing what Yujin said earlier about Billboard #1, it was so shocking that I really struggled internally with what I should say."
At my words, I could see the fans in front of the stage bursting into laughter.
"So after much deliberation, I've also prepared a pledge."
"And what is that, trainee Sunwoo Rin?"
I answered confidently to Ria, who was looking at me with an expectant expression.
"I will make our team the world's strongest idol group."
"Um... strongest, not greatest? What's the difference?"
"Yes, starting with basic physical conditioning, I will systematically train everyone to a level where they can at least sufficiently protect themselves wherever they go."
"Uh... Oh! So you mean you'll work out hard, right?"
"Rather than exercise, it's counter-terrorism training as a foundation, along with various martial arts..."
"Alright! That was indeed a witty answer worthy of trainee Sunwoo Rin."
'No, I haven't finished talking yet...?'
For some reason, Ria hastily cut off my words and continued the show.
The fans' reaction wasn't bad either, so it was a bit disappointing. It was an answer I thought hard about... Was it weird somehow?
"Now, we've heard the spirited resolves of both contestants..."
Ria's words continued without a moment to catch a breath.
"As the tension continues to mount, we are now on the verge of the 1st place announcement. Just who will be the long-awaited protagonist of 'National Idol Season 2'..."
Is this the timing?
When everyone was looking at Ria's mouth with expressions of anxious anticipation, that phrase finally appeared in the final round.
"It will be revealed in 60 seconds."
Aaaaaaagh!-
Grrraaaagh!-
Strange sounds erupted from deep within their dantians from all over the concert hall.
"Haa..."
Hearing a sigh, I looked to the side and saw Yujin Kim collapsed onto her seat.
"It's because I have no stamina, stamina."
"Hyung... you're an idiot..."
As Yujin Kim answered weakly as if exhausted, the 60 seconds flowed by faster than expected.
"Now, get up."
"Ngh..."
"It'll be even harder than this after you debut, you know?"
"I'm your senior in singing, you know?"
"Still, I'm your senior in life, aren't I?"
Yujin Kim shook her head at my words, but took my hand and stood up from her seat.
The dwindling time had now entered the 10-second range.
Yujin Kim and I didn't utter the word "1st place" until all the time had passed.
Rather than greed for the 1st place spot, I felt strongly that I was looking at a colleague I would be working with from now on.
'You feel the same way, don't you?'
I couldn't know her inner thoughts, but Yujin Kim probably felt similar to me.
Time flowed quickly.
"Now, let's announce the protagonist of the long-awaited 1st place. That glorious position."
Looking like she was truly about to make the announcement now, Ria wore a resolute expression.
"The protagonist of 1st place is..."
After dragging it out to the very last moment, a single name finally fell from Ria's lips.
"Sunwoo Rin."
Pfft-
Confetti exploded the moment my name was called.
'They could have at least set this off while I was performing on stage earlier...'
Even in the midst of the chaos, this thought came to me first.
"Hyung, congratulations!"
After sharing a hug with Yujin Kim, who came to me first, I finally realized the identity of what was piercing my ears.
Waaaaaaaah!-
Cheers loud enough to deafen my ears rang out, and my thoughts, which had momentarily stopped, returned to normal.
'So... I'm 1st place?'
"Trainee Sunwoo Rin! Your 1st place speech, please!"
Ria's voice came through the cheers.
'Right, a speech. I need to give a speech.'
"Everyone... thank you so much."
After uttering a single sentence, I couldn't think of what to say next.
"You have family members here, right? Could you say a few words to your family first?"
At Ria's words, my grandmother and Min's faces appeared on the giant screen.
'Our Min, her face is all over the place because of me...'
It felt like a moment where I should be crying, but laughter kept bursting out instead.
"Min. And Grandma... We've really been through a lot, haven't we? From now on, we'll be happy. I truly... love you."
I saw my younger sibling bowing their head on the screen.
'You're not crying, are you?'
I don't know why, when I'm smiling, more and more people starting from the audience seats were shedding tears.
But I steadfastly continued my speech.
"I want to thank all the fans who have cheered me on. I mean it sincerely. I'm not sure if I'm worthy of 1st place, but I will always do my best to repay the love you've given me."
Applause poured out throughout the concert hall at my words.
Just when I thought everything was finally over.
"Now, before the speech ends, does everyone remember trainee Sunwoo Rin's self-introduction video?"
'No... wait a minute?'
At Ria's request, the fans who had been shedding tears in the audience suddenly started cheering.
'Hey Min...? Why are you screaming along too? You were definitely crying just a moment ago.'
"It seems like everyone wants it. Please show us a refreshing finale."
Looking at Ria speaking with a smile, I barely gathered my crumbling sanity, straightened the mic, and prepared for my final greeting.
'Well, if they ask, I have to do it.'
"For the last time as a trainee, I greet you."
I don't know why my 1st place closing speech turned out like this...
"Mission accomplished! A super soldier who appeared on National Idol to protect our precious national judges! Captain Korea. Sunwoo Rin here! Please continue to support us!!!"
So what if it remains as dark history later.
As long as everyone's having fun, that's what matters.
***
After I racked up 1 stack of dark history like that.
Yujin Kim's normal speech ended, and we were finally able to sit in the chairs on the stage.
The 1st place chair I was sitting in for the first time.
Without even properly feeling the sensation.
"Then now, let's announce the 7th place trainee who will seize the last chance to debut."
The warm atmosphere from just a moment ago turned frigid again.
There were 9 trainees remaining.
Among them, only one trainee could debut.
When the tense faces of the trainees were caught on camera.
"The single trainee who will take the 7th place spot. Who will claim 7th place... The protagonist is... one of three trainees."
Along with Ria's words, the faces of three trainees appeared on the screen.
Ahh-
Waaaah-
The sighs and cheers of the fans, divided between joy and sorrow, could be heard.
"The last 7th place trainee is. Trainee Shim Sungha, Trainee Boo Jiseok, Trainee Wi Cheonwoo. It's one of these three trainees."
The three trainees with stiff faces. And soon the screen panned to the families of the three candidates for 7th place.
At the sight of the families looking even more desperate than the parties involved, sighs erupted from the audience seats.
In particular, the scene of Shim Sungha's 10 younger siblings, their hands clasped tightly together in prayer, caught on camera was overwhelming.
Tension-building music played in the hall again. And when Wi Cheonwoo appeared with a detached expression, looking up at the sky.
"The 7th place trainee is. Trainee Shim Sungha... congratulations!"
The final debut member was Shim Sungha.
Taking on the center position in this final round must have played a big role.
Leaving their regrets behind, Wi Cheonwoo and Boo Jiseok shared hugs with Shim Sungha.
After exchanging greetings with the trainees, Shim Sungha was seen stumbling toward the stage, as if her legs had given out.
"Thank you so much... sob..."
Watching Shim Sungha give her speech through tears.
'Is it finally over?'
It was a full 3-hour live broadcast.
It was physically exhausting, but it was a mentally draining day.
'Please, just end it quickly.'
Whether everyone's earnest wishes were conveyed to Shim Sungha or not.
Shim Sungha, while tearful, quickly finished everything she had to say, and finally came up to the stage and sat in the 7th place chair.
When all 7 trainees had found their seats.
"Now, the long ranking announcement ceremony has come to an end. And what remains now is..."
The giant screen began to glow brilliantly, producing several letters.
National Idol Season 1 – Everygirl
'W-wait a minute.'
Now that I think about it, the name of the group born through National Idol Season 1 was 'Everygirl.'
Then could it be... our name debuting through Season 2 isn't 'Everyboy,' right?
Feeling a sudden sense of unease, I looked around at the other trainees, and I could see they all had frozen expressions, likely thinking the same thing as me.
'Please... please... anything but Everyboy...'
"We will now announce the group name!"
Ignoring our worries, Ria's words continued.
On the brightened screen, the letters '우리' (Uri) appeared, then disappeared.
Two sparkling words appeared and merged into one, revealing the group name.
'Weus?'
Our (우리) and us (우리) combined. Does it mean don't fight and stick together as fandoms?
'Whatever it is, it's better than Everyboy...'
While I was feeling relieved by the group name with its decent ring, Ria's words continued.
"The debut team of the newly formed 'National Idol Season 2'! The team name is Weus!"
Whether the fans in the audience also thought it wasn't a bad name, or whether they were just happy to debut, they sent enthusiastic applause and cheers.
"Congratulations on your debut, everyone in Weus!"
Right at the moment when everyone was intoxicated by the emotion of the word "debut."
-Goal achieved.
-Debut as an idol (1/1)
-You have achieved the goal. A reward will be given.
-The Trait Shop is now open.
Finally, the second reward after the status window was given to me.