Chapter 42 - 42

Chapter 42

There are seven trainees who started before me.

Even all seven of them are trainees with higher ranks than me.

A level that can be seen as being equal in terms of skill and recognition.

But the weight and presence that come from numbers are inevitable.

'I never thought that two people would be assigned in 2010.'

I stood in front of the door for a moment and looked at the scene unfolding before my eyes.

Below the song with five members on the far left was Song Hyeong-bin, who won first place in the first ranking announcement ceremony.

The mission song is a mega-hit song by a five-member boy group.

The 6-person song in the center is still empty.

And the last song on the far right, which was limited to 6 people, was chosen by a whopping 5 people.

The group of Song Hyeong-bin, who was in first place, and Ji Yoon-cheol, who received the first round special benefit, both came from 2010.

I was a little flustered by the unexpected situation, but soon I quickly organized my thoughts and considered several possibilities.

Since no one chose , I don't want to go either.

It is a song that has gained great popularity for its refreshing and cute atmosphere, but it is somewhat difficult for Karis von Walden, who is 185 cm tall, to sing it.

Of course, there are people who like images that don't fit, but with my current abilities, it's a burden.

The song's atmosphere and concept of chosen by Ji Yoon-cheol's group are top-notch.

Because the direct seniors of BoLu, who are currently the undisputed number one in the idol market, are the owners of this song, Melodic.

There's no big problem with choosing that song right here, but there's one thing that's bothering me.

'This is a gap created when one person was eliminated from the original group of six. Whether he can get in there and get along well with the other trainees? Also, whether he can receive friendly editing is close to a gamble.'

I don't want to create a scene where a rolling stone dislodges an entrenched stone.

And above all else,.

'I'm not a fool who would just pass by the presence of the number one.'

Song Hyeong-bin is still making a good impression so far.

Although he didn't show the perfect leader in the first round, the production team edited it to focus on the other uncooperative team members.

Song Hyeong-bin may try to prove his leadership again in this second round.

Or he may try to pass on the leadership.

'If you try to prove your leadership and respond accordingly, there won't be any friction during the editing process. If you give up on being a leader, you might actually get a chance to prove your leadership.'

In short, all the advantages are tilted toward Song Hyeong-bin.

The concept of the mission song is not bad. I have to see the completed composition to get a feel for it, but it is a song that would be good even if it were rearranged slightly from the original atmosphere.

As I made up my mind and slowly started to walk, I felt the eyes of the six people in the room fixate on me.

Some people might find it burdensome.

I rather enjoyed the tension and smiled.

As the crown prince of a country, he has long been accustomed to the envy of the people and the restraint of the nobles.

'Yes, pay more attention to my every action.'

I approached closer to .

Then, Song Hyeong-bin, who had been standing still with his hands clasped together, opened his eyes wide.

"Excuse me, are you really coming this way―?"

"Please take good care of me."

I held Song Hyeong-bin's hand and shook it briefly.

Judging from the sweat on his palms, this guy seemed to be quite nervous.

'It's refreshing.'

I barely had a chance to talk to Song Hyeong-bin last time.

We were never on the same team, and there was no time to build personal relationships.

So, through this handshake, I subtly realized something.

Even if you're the current number one, and even if you're the most edited, you can't easily erase the memories of your last teammate.

'Even if the public didn't see anything wrong with him, I think he's a bit mentally unhinged.

When I stood next to him, Song Hyeong-bin finally let out a sigh of relief.

"I was a little nervous. I thought you would be on team."

"That song is good too, but I came to because the song was a little more familiar."

"Ah."

Song Hyeong-bin nodded at the comment that the song was more familiar.

Although he didn't show it, his eyes looked somewhat regretful.

I deliberately paused for a moment before adding my words.

"I also wanted to share the stage with Mr. Hyeong-bin. Since he was so good during the level test, I thought I had a lot to learn."

"Really? I was also thinking that it would be nice if Mr. Karis was assigned to 2010!"

My thoughts were exactly right.

'Did you want to be on the same team as me that much? '

I watched him closely to see if he was just talking nonsense in front of me, but he seemed sincere.

"Oh, by the way, Mr. Karis, how old are you? "

"I'm twenty this year."

"You're one year younger than me. I'm 21."

I almost instinctively said I was 28 years old.

"Please feel free to speak comfortably."

"Is that okay? "

"It doesn't matter."

While Song Hyeong-bin and I were talking at a fast pace, the runners who were running behind us were quickly positioned.

In the next room 2000, cheers erupted for a moment.

'It looks like the trainees they wanted have formed a team.'

In terms of time, I think it's probably the trainees' turn in the mid to late 10th place right now.

Just then, a familiar voice was heard.

"Karis nim! Karis nim!"

A strangely awkward shout with a slightly awkward accent.

Ken Hashimoto, who entered the room slowly in the 2010s, was deeply moved and covered his mouth with both hands.

"I'm so happy! "

"It's okay if you take your time―."

As if he hadn't heard these warnings, Ken Hashimoto ran towards the sign of at full speed.

It was very impressive that he didn't even bother to look at the other mission songs.

"I had a good feeling about it when it came out in 2010, but it's really gotten better!"

"That went well."

"It went really well! Ah―."

Ken, who was just waving his arm, belatedly caught sight of Song Hyeong-bin, who was holding back laughter right next to him.

Although Ken Hashimoto is quite sociable, he seems to have felt a bit burdened by being on the same team as the trainee who took first place at the last ranking announcement ceremony.

"Oh, hello! I'm Ken Hashimoto from Japan. Nice to meet you."

"Hello, I'm Song Hyeong-bin. Hey, don't bow too much."

"No, no! I said something so strange when I first saw you! "

A showdown ensued between those who wanted to continue the 90-degree bow and those who tried to stop it.

In the meantime, I was stuck and kept an indifferent expression while waiting for the next trainee to come in.

Gradually, both rooms began to get noisy.

After about 5 minutes, the greeting battle between Song Hyeong-bin and Ken Hashimoto finally ended.

"...Can I cry? "

It was expected to get even louder.

Heo Yu-bin ran towards the team with both hands stretched out in front of him.

And then he gave me a very authentic body slam into my stomach.

"Ugh."

"It's just like you said, hyung! If you really want something, it will come true! "

"Okay, I think it would be good if you let go of my stomach for a moment."

"No, I do not want!"

The normally frail guy is now showing off strength comparable to that of an elite monster.

After exchanging awkward greetings with Song Hyeong-bin, Heo Yu-bin, and Ken Hashimoto, shared my arms amicably.

Like koalas hanging from trees.

Following Heo Yu-bin, a slightly familiar name joined .

"Hello, this is Park Jae-hoon. Please take care of me! "

"Nice to meet you!"

"Please take care of me! "

I thought for a moment about why it felt familiar.

Oh yeah. He was the first trainee I knocked down at the name tag removal contest.

Park Jae-hoon looked at me nervously as he shook my hand, perhaps because the memory of that time was still vivid.

"I hope we can create a good stage."

"Me, me too."

The personnel composition of was completed like this:.

I looked around at the noisy surroundings.

'Even if Song Hyeong-bin, who is ranked first in the group, is there, it doesn't really give off an Avengers vibe.'

The so-called Avengers group refers to a group comprised of high-ranking trainees.

But in our group, except for Song Hyeong-bin and me, all the other team members have double-digit rankings.

The next group, , was in a similar situation, and also had no trainees who made it into the top 10 except for Ji Yoon-cheol.

'In other years, the room would have had the atmosphere of a portrait studio.'

The format or method of the competition has not been announced yet, but there is a high probability that it will be a format where all groups compete. It was the same in the last round.

But if there is a group with a very high ranking in the same space, you will naturally feel intimidated.

"Team assignments and selections have been completed. Trainees, please come forward again while holding the placards with your chosen mission songs! "

We emerged from the structure and returned to a wide open space.

Everyone was looking around to see who was in the same group.

"Hey, I, are you crazy? "

"How many people are in the TOP 10? "

"I suddenly feel like I'm losing motivation."

As I expected, the Avengers group came out in a different year.

, the mission song of the 2020s, is truly a powerful piece of work.

'Chae Eun-gyu, Baek Si-hwa, Yoo Min-ha, and the guy who came in 9th place are also included.'

4 out of 6 are in the TOP 10, and 3 of them are in the TOP 7, which is the debut spot.

My eyes briefly met with Yoo Min-ha's, who was smiling brightly.

Then Yoo Min-ha gave me a thumbs up.

'Come to think of it, Yoo Min-ha and Baek Si-hwa are on the same team again.'

The subtle tension between Baek Si-hwa and Yoo Min-ha that we saw on TV.

It felt like it was buried under the influence of other trolls, but I have a feeling that something more will be revealed in this second round.

"Karis! Why are you there? "

"If you say so, Siyoon, you left us and went over there alone."

"That's right, hyung! You were wrong! "

Kang Si-yoon, who was in the 2000s, was reaching out his hand pitifully. It looked like he wanted to film a skit scene.

Heo Yu-bin made a playful expression, sticking out his tongue slightly.

"Kyah."

"Yu, Yubin has fallen! "

Choi Sia tapped the microphone twice and then smiled.

" 2nd round team selection is complete. Now, after 8 days of practice, the real competition will begin. Each of you, please hold a sign with the mission song you chose and head to the practice room."

"Yes!"

Everyone answered in a lively tone.

We moved to the practice building opposite the auditorium building and entered a large practice room with the words written on it.

"Wow, it's so spacious! "

"Fortunately, it seems like we'll be the only ones using it this time."

"We don't have to worry about what others think...."

It seems that the memory of using the same practice room as the opposing team during the first round was vivid.

Song Hyeong-bin, who was smiling faintly, walked towards the table set in the center of the practice room.

The smile disappeared from his face.

"Let's start with the part distribution."

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