Chapter 126

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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‘…So he’s planning to do it properly centered on dancing.’

First, I understood the idea.

Since this concert unit stage was going to be promoted with Wetube’s own content and even a public video was scheduled to pop up, the fans’ attention was certain.

If he really does better than Cha Yujin here? Probably there would never be back talk related to his position again.

But is that possible, is what I’m saying.

“…What if you receive the dance break in this album instead?”

“Haha. Even if I do reasonably well… words like it would have been better if Ahyun or Yujin did it will come out, right?”

Big Sejin replied immediately. It seemed he had ruminated on this situation for quite a long time.

‘…Still, a real match with Cha Yujin is a bit…’

It didn’t mean Big Sejin’s ability was bad.

‘…Status Window.’

I checked Big Sejin’s status window after a long time.

[Name: Lee Sejin]

Vocal : C+ (B+)
Dance : A (S)
Appearance : A- (A+)
Talent : A- (A+)
Trait : Please Be Quiet (B)

! Status Abnormality :

The status window was very decent. Growth was more noticeable as the ‘Talent’ category entered Grade A in this awards ceremony season.

‘It’s an ability that would stand out anywhere.’

…The problem was that comprehensively it was a bit of a lower-compatible version of Cha Yujin’s ability.

Except for Vocal which was the same grade, all stats were slightly below Cha Yujin’s.

It would be better if there was at least one category that was higher even if one or two grades were apart, but this was… ambiguous.

‘Under normal circumstances, he’ll be eaten by Cha Yujin.’

That guy now had Talent S-. On top of that, he was even equipped with ‘Black Hole’, a crazy cheat trait.

Moreover, he wasn’t the type to give synergy effects to others. He was just a guy who stood out insanely by himself.

Honestly, even for me whose position was completely different, a stage with just me and Cha Yujin was not very appealing.

‘…It’s perfect for hearing “Park Moondae that b*stard is still stiff”.’

I could already hear the sound of the worth of raising the dance stat by pouring all the points disappearing.

I suppressed a sigh and looked at Big Sejin.

“…Filtering everything out, I’m telling you honestly.”

“Sure.”

“Whether it’s you, or Seon Ahyun, no, whoever you put together, if it’s one-on-one, it seems almost impossible to stand out more than Cha Yujin.”

“……”

“Probably you thought about it too.”

It would have been better to come to number 3 and somehow pull out a part worth getting attention for himself.

Despite that, the fact that he chose Cha Yujin was… that his greed and fear for self-certification were reasonably large, it seemed.

Big Sejin looked at the floor and asked hollowly.

“…Does it seem completely impossible?”

“In my opinion… instead of winning over Cha Yujin, you should approach from another direction.”

There was a situation that seemed the most possible.

“Just, pull out the stage itself well. To the point where the intention to seriously compare who is better between you and Cha Yujin doesn’t even arise.”

It meant only stories like ‘that dance unit stage is really good’ should pop out insanely.

“If you are not pushed back in your part in that state, the dance position impression will be certain.”

It would be a difficult job, but it would be more doable than winning over Cha Yujin in a duo stage.

“You have to make Cha Yujin cooperate on stage.”

“……Sure.”

Big Sejin nodded his head reasonably calmly. But his interlocked hands were white from how much strength he put in.

‘…Even his hands are trembling.’

This guy being this nervous and concerned was a sight I hadn’t seen even right before the final.

‘It’s almost the level of when the school violence rumors broke out.’

Isn’t it a bit excessive.

“Is there anything else with you?”

“What?”

“The words coming out now are not even the general public opinion of the fans. It’s just some chatter under the surface. You should know too, but you seem excessively anxious.”

“……”

Big Sejin was silent for a long time.

And laughed hollowly.

“I guess I’m ending up saying even things like this…… Hey, do you know what the reason was for me getting cut from the debut group before? It was because my position was ambiguous.”

“……! ”

“Just before the launch, a kid whose parents are both actors came in as a new member, you see? Because he had recognition, they had to put him in the team… and the person above insisted on coming out with 7 members. What could they do? One person gets cut.”

“……”

“But in the team, there was one guy each who danced better than me, was younger, was handsome, sang better, and rapped. The leader couldn’t be removed because he was the leader, and eventually ambiguous me was the right person, is what I’m saying.”

Big Sejin slapped his thighs with his hands tap-tap.

“So I was cut. Well, what choice did I have…… anyway, that’s why I’m saying I can’t stay still with my hands off. If this becomes a big deal and the atmosphere becomes one where it’s not a pity even if I’m gone, it’s too… funny. Or if only my deal is bad during renewal… ha, I’m saying all sorts of things really……”

Big Sejin clicked his tongue and bowed his head. He seemed to have talked even about things he wouldn’t normally say.

‘…This is really a story that needs alcohol to go in.’

It was a bit dizzying for me to listen to it sober too.

‘Anyway, I understood the situation.’

It seemed the shock of being cut from the team right before debut for the first time was quite large.

Probably I think even the fact that he was concerned about the ‘leader’ or ‘main dancer’ position throughout had a meaning more than taking screen time for the broadcast.

‘But how should I react.’

I also felt a bit flustered because I heard too much.

I’m not going to suggest some solution to this kind of past history, right. And it’s not like I’m overflowing with talent in comfort.

…I had no choice. Let’s just list positive facts as I usually do.

I suppressed a sigh and opened my mouth.

“First… regardless of position, or whatever… the team simply needs you.”

“What, for entertainment use?”

“No, for the purpose of cutting off rumors.”

“……! ”

It was sad but true.

“As you know, half of our team has no tact, and more than half are soft-hearted. Think about it, if it wasn’t for you, what kind of situation would this team… have been in.”

“……”

As if looking back from the one-month rush before debut to the recent Onyx incident, Big Sejin was silent for a moment.

But soon he shook his head.

“You gave almost all the opinions alone. There wouldn’t have been a big change.”

“Um, about that, actually I threw them while believing in you a bit.”

“What?”

“No… I knew for sure you would drive the atmosphere if it was a usable opinion.”

“……”

It was a bit embarrassing. I cleared my throat and continued.

“Chungwoo-hyung is the leader, indeed. But if I have to pick the person most suitable for team play, I think it’s you. Because people who do their part in all situations… whether on stage, in broadcast, inside the team, or outside… are really rare.”

I finished my words.

“A member with such a good hexagon balance is also a position definitely needed in an idol group. Well… that’s what I’m saying.”

“……”

Big Sejin, who listened to my words until the end, shut his mouth and turned his head in the opposite direction.

‘Is he crying?’

I hope he doesn’t cry. Because the atmosphere will become really strange.

And a moment later, Big Sejin really couldn’t bear it and burst out.

Not crying, but laughing.

“Hahaha! You feel like you’re going to die from the cringe right now, don’t you!”

“……You’re laughing?”

“Pfft, hey, wouldn’t you laugh in this situation?! A guy like Park Moondae is saying all sorts of things to try and comfort me!”

This b*stard, after I gave him praise for once, he’s doing sh*t.

Before I could strike him down with the neck pillow, Big Sejin stopped laughing.

“Hahaha, really……. Whew, anyway I understand. It’s funny but… it’s a comfort to my heart. Hey, you’re great?”

Big Sejin was grinning, then suddenly crossed his arms and muttered with an intentionally exaggerated voice.

“But isn’t it no use if the fans don’t know Sejin-ie is such a great idol? Should I even receive Chungwoo-hyung’s leader position?”

Don’t say your sincere feelings while pretending to be a joke, you b*stard.

I replied as calmly as possible.

“Most of them probably already know. You worry that the opinions you saw will spread to other fans but… actually I think on the contrary, the longer the game goes, the more advantageous it is for you.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah. The fact that you have no weaknesses shows better as the years of experience pile up.”

It was also a tendency I confirmed in the actual data market.

When the time comes where demand for each member plummets in turn, the type that was exceptionally good at defense was that side.

Big Sejin looked like he couldn’t completely trust these words. But he nodded with a smile.

“…Sure. I’ll do well on stage while thinking like that~”

Still, that seemed sincere.

Anyway, since it seemed a conclusion had been reached in his heart, he would probably receive the trait effect.

[Please Be Quiet (B)]
: Let’s not add comments!
-Driving force +100%

When I only saw the name, I wondered if it was a trait related to public opinion given Big Sejin’s tendency, but I was a bit surprised when I opened it and it was like that.

‘Well, that also suits him.’

Probably I thought ‘not adding comments’ referred to both himself and everyone around him.

He would probably have a similar stance toward Cha Yujin while preparing for this unit stage.

‘…He’ll probably pull out and eat only the elements he wants by gently coaxing and soothing him.’

I was curious about how far it would work.

“Then I’m going up now. Come up when you’re organized.”

“He says while he organized everything. Hey, let’s go up together!”

“……”

Big Sejin prepared to go out of the car while stretching forward.

While watching that hand, the sight of him manipulating the cards suddenly came to mind.

“…Come to think of it, how did you mark the cards?”

“Uh?”

“Those cards for deciding the unit. The ones you manipulated.”

“Ah~ Heol? Wait.”

Big Sejin snickered.

“Hey, I didn’t manipulate them!”

“…! ”

“What can I do if I memorized the scratch patterns on the back while touching the cards~ It’s because I’m smart… oh my, my brain did wrong!”

“……”

It was a relief that it didn’t go as far as manipulation but… somehow it’s annoying.

While walking to the waiting room after coming out of the car, Big Sejin chuckled a few more times.

And said a bit seriously in front of the waiting room.

“Anyway… then I’m more thankful. It means you were trying to listen to my situation even while thinking I manipulated them.”

“…Buy me beef when the concert ends well.”

Big Sejin burst into laughter.

“Sure. Then what is just beef? I’ll buy Hanwoo.”

“Do that.”

“…You also tell me if you have worries.”

“……”

My worries?

I briefly imagined explaining my situation to these guys.

…Um, I guess from that day on I’d be forced to suspend activities and have to make a psychiatric consultation reservation.

As expected, I should just treat this as non-existent.

“Yeah. If I have any.”

“Oh~ The confidence that he doesn’t have any yet!”

Big Sejin went into the waiting room with a smile.

The manager had grasped the situation in the meantime, and after checking Big Sejin whose condition had returned, he gave me a small thumbs-up.

‘It will be visible to Big Sejin too though.’

Anyway, the waiting time afterward was peaceful without anything happening. Because all members except Kim Raebin did not even meet eyes with Gyrop.

And Teastar took the 4th quarter album Bonsang and the Rookie of the Year award on this day.

“Really thank you very much! We celebrated our 200th day since debut last week….”

While waiting for my next turn after Big Sejin who was speaking fluently while holding the microphone, I finally received the news I had been waiting for.

[Successful Award!]

You have successfully won the Rookie of the Year award amidst public recognition, ‘the most prestigious domestic awards ceremony’!

! Time Limit : Satisfied (Great Success)
! Status Abnormality : ‘Death if not an Award’ removed!

: Check Truth ☜ Click!