Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 303

303. Ready, Aim, Fire (2)

August 30, 2022

How should I explain the current atmosphere?

‘Where did it all go wrong?’

I remember watching the first broadcast of the competition.

I also remember winning first place, but after watching the edited version, I saw the basic and trivial mistakes and decided I needed to train them harder.

‘Could they be anticipating what kind of training I’m going to put them through?’

Are they trying to avoid the amount of training?

No.

How could UTT know about the training in my dreams and try to play tricks?

I just can’t get used to this cringy, embarrassing, awkward, mortifying, shy, shameful, and sheepish atmosphere.

I tried to escape reality because the atmosphere was so unfamiliar, but I stopped myself.

“I should have said something sooner.”

Even with all the fuss, Yeonwoo is the best at figuring out the other person’s true feelings.

So, it wasn’t hard to tell that the words he was offering, unlike the timid leader he usually is, were sincere.

“I’m sorry for telling you so late. I should have thanked you sooner. I’m really sorry we didn’t trust you at first. And thank you. Sincerely.”

They managed to grab first place in the first competition, but.

UTT wasn’t just soaking in the sweetness of first place.

-UTT? What’s with this no-name group acting up?

-Seriously, the level is so low……. Our X is coming out, why is the program like this? Some unknown *mangdol* [failed idol] is showing off;;

-Is it a PD pick? Is that why they got the first spot on the cue sheet because of PD’s pick?

ㄴ22 Fly high, fabrication

Even though the first place hadn’t been announced yet, bad reactions were already popping up.

Of course, there were more people who reacted positively to UTT, who showed a groundbreaking performance as a new rookie.

I didn’t think everyone would like them, who suddenly popped out of nowhere.

If I hadn’t met Yeonwoo,

‘Could there really be some manipulation? There’s no way they would have picked us for first place…….’

That’s what I might have thought.

But not now.

“Who decides the qualifications for being able to get first place? Isn’t it obvious that skills are the standard? Why can’t you guys get first place?”

The first competition where groups with and without recognition stand on the same starting line.

Of course, skills and performance are the focus when deciding first place.

Yeonwoo’s words instilled strong confidence.

“I think it’s a good thing that Yeonwoo *hyung* [older brother/male friend] came.”

While Yeonwoo was rejecting leader Lee Seungmin’s mint chocolate truck, *maknae* [youngest member] Raon opened his mouth.

I do like mint chocolate, but I don’t like it enough to eat it by the truckload. I don’t know where he heard such strange information.

Anyway, Raon scratched his cheek and rolled his eyes.

“Suddenly?”

“It’s not sudden. I’ve been thinking about it. If another producer had come, we probably would have just followed them.”

Wasn’t that what I wanted?

“Ah, I think I know what Yeonwoo *hyung* [older brother/male friend] is thinking, but that’s, well……. That’s when we were ignorant. We thought that was the best at the time.”

Raon made excuses, saying it was when they were shaking with anxiety, not knowing what they had in their hands.

“Then our technical skills might have improved. Seungmin *hyung* [older brother/male friend] might have stopped composing altogether, and Chan *hyung* [older brother/male friend] or Daniel *hyung* [older brother/male friend] might have just danced. Actually, I thought that was right at first.”

But a lot has changed since working with Yeonwoo.

The biggest change was their perception.

“If we walk the same path as everyone else, we’ll end up being the same as everyone else. Right? I started to think that way. If we just follow what the producer tells us to do, all we’ll have left is……. Just following along.”

They might have been too busy following orders to make any progress.

“We might have wanted to pass the responsibility on to someone else. Because we were just……. It was like we were thrown away. So we might have wanted someone to take responsibility for us. But that’s very irresponsible, isn’t it? No. This is our life, who’s going to take responsibility for us? If we fail, we’ll just blame the producer. Then we’ll find a new producer. And blame them again. A life of blaming others……. Ugh. That’s not right, is it?”

Yeonwoo taught them responsibility.

Instead of handing them a way to succeed, he helped them find it themselves.

I didn’t know it at first, but now I know.

How big of a gift that is.

“Anyway……. Yeah. Even if this program ends, we can now find our own way to make a living. Um……. I think things would have been very different if someone other than Yeonwoo *hyung* [older brother/male friend] had come.”

Raon rubbed his nose.

The tips of his ears, which were barely visible, were bright red.

Following him, Minchan threw out a word.

“I’m sorry for being rude to you at first. It’s a very late apology, but……. You might think I’m only realizing my gratitude now that we got first place……. But I would have said this even if we had come in last place in this competition.”

Roughly!

Minchan scratched his head roughly.

“So…….”

“…….”

The atmosphere is strange.

It feels like I’m getting a confession……. No. That’s a crazy thought.

‘I shouldn’t have dangerous thoughts.’

Yeonwoo quickly shook off the ominous thoughts that came to mind.

“Anyway, I’m sorry.”

Following Raon, Minchan also quickly left the practice room.

Anyone who saw it might think Yeonwoo was threatening to kill them if they didn’t leave right away.

“…….”

What am I going to do about this atmosphere?

‘This atmosphere suddenly turned chilly while monitoring…….’

Three out of five members left.

It was clear that they avoided this place because their limbs were curling up [feeling extremely embarrassed].

I understand that they wanted to express their gratitude, but…….

‘It’s harsh.’

It was too harsh to be left alone to clean up this ambiguous atmosphere.

I guess they’re really grateful, right?

Yeonwoo glanced to one side.

I could see the cameras attached here and there.

‘This is broadcast material.’

Yeonwoo sensed it.

This will definitely be broadcast.

The effort to deliberately turn off the camera during the first meeting disappeared.

The production team who checked the contents will definitely come to ask.

They’ll be burning with curiosity about what kind of conversation we had then…….

“Hey.”

The only one left was Daniel.

I don’t know when the second oldest, Doyul, ran away.

Daniel doesn’t understand the members’ words because his Korean is lacking…….

“Love and peace.”

He makes a peace sign with his fingers and nods his head alone with a satisfied expression, as if he likes something.

“I’ll bring the other members. Wait.”

Then he left the practice room feeling relieved, leaving Yeonwoo speechless.

“…….”

Come to think of it, he wasn’t in his right mind either.

I guess this is why he’s called the craziest guy in UTT.

‘Ah……. Why is it my job to clean up the remaining atmosphere?’

In fact, I helped them because a sudden quest popped up at that time.

I was also interested in the rewards I would get when I completed the sudden mission.

It’s not because I’m a saint, as they say.

‘This is a very big misunderstanding, how should I solve this?’

The *gomin* [worry/trouble] was short.

‘Let’s just let them misunderstand.’

Well.

Do we really need to know all the truths in the world?

There’s a saying that knowing is power, but there’s also a saying that not knowing is medicine.

‘Considering the self-esteem, confidence, and trust levels that I’ve raised……. Yeah. It’s right to leave it alone. Um.’

There’s no need to tell these guys, who have only won first place once, about the harshness of reality.

I’ve grown fond of them after spending time together.

I know UTT’s situation, and as I got closer, I decided to just let things go, thinking it’s better to be good.

This is also thanks to the fact that UTT are better people than I thought.

There are many different kinds of people in the world.

Among them,

-I’m the one who made the choice in the end, right? You just gave me advice. I’m grateful, but it’s difficult if you talk like it’s all thanks to you.

There are more than a few people who think it’s all thanks to them when they do well.

It’s rare to find people who sincerely appreciate the help of others.

‘They could have been ungrateful and said they were doing well, but they didn’t. Instead, there was an embarrassing confession time.’

In that sense, UTT are really good people.

Yeonwoo was thinking that.

-Ting!

An unexpected notification sounded.

[Achieved 100 percent trust!]

[Congratulations! Your efforts are bearing fruit!]

“……?”

What is this sound?

The only thing I understood was the phrase that I had achieved 100 percent trust.

-Ting!

As if that wasn’t the end, another notification sounded.

[Harvest the wonderful fruits of your efforts.]

[Currently harvestable target: UTT]

[Harvest will be determined randomly!]

“What?”

-Ting!

[Would you like to harvest now?]

[Yes/No]

Yeonwoo blinked.

‘What is this absurd…….’

This is a completely unexpected situation.

I wondered why the trust score was created…….

I guess there’s something when you hit 100 percent trust.

The only thing that comes to mind is one thing.

[A wonderful gardener who bears fruit abundantly]

A+ grade stat.

It seemed like if you worked hard to raise someone, you would get something from that person.

I heard it applies regardless of whether it’s tangible or intangible…….

‘To actually make it possible to harvest like a gardener does.’

It’s absurd.

But well. Is this system absurd only once or twice?

‘It’s random…….’

The target is UTT, so does that mean they’re randomly drawing all of the UTT members’ stats?

‘It’s like encouraging gambling…….’

Yeonwoo’s prediction was correct.

As soon as Yeonwoo pressed ‘Yes’, the scene in front of him changed again.

-Pababam!

[Proceeding with random harvest!]

[The randomly harvested stat is in a ‘fruit’ state.]

[Try to grow the harvested harvest well!]

“What?”

A round roulette appeared in front of me.

Mini light bulbs twinkle along the edge.

I’ve seen it a lot of places…….

‘It’s really gambling?’

Are you really crazy?

Yeonwoo looked up at somewhere in the sky with quite an impudent look.

I couldn’t see anything because it was blocked by the ceiling.

The roulette was flashing its lights as if waiting for Yeonwoo’s choice.

‘A graceful dance line that catches the eye, a groove that perfectly digests any music, a swamp in the name of music that you can’t escape from, a knife-like dance that never goes wrong……’

Splendid stats of at least B grade were engraved in each slot.

‘Maximizing physical efficiency with minimal food, peeling *samgak gimbap* [triangular seaweed rice ball] wrappers, boiling 5 servings with one pack of ramen, French embroidery, weaving, taciturn seamstress, dancing without tearing the soles of shoes, surviving for 3 days with 5 people with 1 liter of water, squeezing out any liquid sauce without leaving even 0.1 grams……’

Those stingy stats in the middle are stealing my attention.

Is it just my imagination that there are more stingy stats than professional stats…….

‘It must be my imagination.’

Yeonwoo decided not to count the number as a courtesy to UTT.

But I couldn’t help but feel strange.

They’re all B-grade or higher stats, but why do I feel like they’re all duds?

‘How on earth have they lived…….’

Anyway, that’s proof that UTT has done its best even in the worst situations.

[Yes/No]

A virtual button floated in the air.

As soon as Yeonwoo raised his hand, the surroundings flashed wildly.

And finally, when I pressed that button.

[Ready!]

[Aim!]

[Fire!]

With a splendid firing sound, the roulette began to spin vigorously.

And soon, it stopped at one place.

Yeonwoo’s eyes widened.