'I still don't know why the system wants to stop Cheon Se-rim's withdrawal.'
Either way, Cheon Se-rim dropping out was something I didn't particularly want, either.
He was a trainee who worked well with me on team stages, and more importantly, he and I already had an established dynamic.
From the early broadcasts we'd already been grouped together as the "Roommates," the "Night-Study Buddies," and had approached the public as a pair. So any crash in Cheon Se-rim's image—and his withdrawal—would inevitably affect me as well.
— I'm someone who firmly believes that people flock to their own kind^^ There must be a reason Cheon Se-rim hangs around with Won Yu-haㅋㅋ Guess the laid-back rich boys get along well.
— Yu-ha, you're gonna act vague around the finals and then get eliminated so you can go back to KARMA, right?ㅠ Or if you debut, are you planning to focus only on solo promotions?ㅠ You're already practically a Two-Ring Marble destined for fame…
I had already been branded by the public as that "not-so-desperate, big-agency trainee."
So to avoid worsening the situation, preventing Cheon Se-rim's withdrawal—if possible—was in my interest as well.
But I still didn't know the true reason behind Cheon Se-rim's actions. And since the Truth Generator required the user to "clearly know the truth," I needed more information.
'A clear truth, huh.'
What I currently had was nothing but suspicion, though I was nearly certain Cheon Se-rim would not have run away without reason.
Because Cheon Se-rim wasn't the type to treat things that carelessly.
— Hyung, how should I handle the ending note in this section?
— If I lower my voice more for this part, will that work? Or does it sound like I'm forcing it too much? Can you explain this part?
I understood that he had a comfortable family background. But that didn't mean he lacked desperation.
From the very first level re-evaluation until now, I had never once seen Cheon Se-rim skip extra practice. He was the definition of a hard worker.
He might be someone who measures people, calculates social dynamics, and adjusts relationships strategically—but when it came to practicing and wanting to become an idol, he was earnest. Not once had I felt "ease" from him on stage.
'If anything, he was always restless about wanting to do better.'
So if the scandal were about something else, I might have considered the possibility.
But Cheon Se-rim giving up debut for no reason and leaving his agency? That didn't fit him at all—not with what I knew about the kind of people the Snatch members were.
In other words, when I added up all the conditions, it was clear that Cheon Se-rim knew something only he knew.
"…We'll be arriving soon, so please get ready!"
The moment I turned off the Truth Generator, frozen time resumed. At the
After finishing the 'Music A' shoot, we had subway certification filming to record promotional footage for
And while everyone bustled to get off the bus, I stared quietly at Cheon Se-rim. The Insight Eye triggered, and a status window appeared above his head.
『Cheon Se-rim』
Detailed Traits
Specialty (Vocals): B–
Specialty (Dance): A–
Charm (Looks): B+
Charm (Aura): B+
Talent (Expression): S–
Talent (Focus): A
Stamina (Physical): B+
Stamina (Mental): B
Buff: (Locked)
Current State: Self-reproach (Viewable)
'…This guy isn't trainee-level at all.'
His lowest stat was a B–. His stats might actually be better than some debuted idols.
But more striking than his near-debut-level stats was his current state.
'Self-reproach?'
Not confusion?
Without hesitation, before getting off the bus, I chose to check it. As with Yoo Chan-hee's, I focused on the "Viewable" button—and soon, his inner thoughts spilled out.
[I won't last more than a few days. A week at most.]
"..."
As expected from someone sharp, Cheon Se-rim understood the situation better than anyone. He knew there was no "pushing through" this.
[Was there something else I could've done…? No. It wouldn't have changed anything. I never could've debuted with those guys. And there was nothing I could've stopped. That was the best choice I had.]
His unstable thoughts continued. Going back and forth between emotion and cold logic—it was clear he himself struggled to control them.
[Even if I debuted, what would've happened? The group had no future. Eventually I would've been lumped in with all of them. Those guys were bound to cause some scandal eventually. But… but now I won't even debut?]
"We'll get off here!"
[Hyung must be enjoying this…]
His train of thought, which had flowed on and on, was abruptly cut off at the staff member's announcement.
Cheon Se-rim straightened his shirt with a neutral expression and got off the bus first.
Following behind him, I thought:
'So… it's not about Snatch.'
If it wasn't the Snatch members themselves, it meant there were other people entangled between Cheon Se-rim and Snatch. And that was likely the reason he stomped on his own debut path and left Eight Entertainment.
But Insight Eye couldn't reveal internal organizational details. And even if I asked Cheon Se-rim directly, he would never obediently tell me the truth.
"…Excuse me, can I go to the restroom for a moment?"
Which meant I needed yet another "upgrade."
And I was confident things would play out exactly as I wanted. This too was likely part of the system's plan.
***
"Thank you for your hard work!"
"Great job, everyone~!"
After completing all the subway certification filming, we returned to the A-Net broadcasting station. As the trainees dispersed, I stopped Cheon Se-rim.
"Cheon Se-rim, come here for a moment."
"…Why?"
"I have something to say."
"…I'm tired. I want to go home."
"It won't take long."
Cheon Se-rim let out a heavy sigh, then finally nodded. With his face hidden under a mask and cap, he followed me as we headed toward the rear side of the broadcasting station.
After confirming there was no one nearby, I asked directly:
"Kim Young-shin, right? Your trainee peer."
"...!"
Cheon Se-rim flinched the moment that name left my mouth. After a brief silence, he asked sharply:
"How do you know that name?"
"Don't think you're the only one who knows what happens among trainees. You know how small this industry is. I was in LON's debut lineup too."
"...."
At that, Cheon Se-rim exhaled a long, deep sigh. Watching his unsettled expression, I recalled the result I'd just obtained from the Lucky Roulette.
『Insight Eye – "Partial Omniscience" Upgrade Complete!』
Update:
— Past events of specific individuals now viewable
— Best method for their growth viewable (Limit: Others)
The Insight Eye now had a strange new description, its abilities changed from before. Beneath the stats, a new detail appeared: "Trigger."
And through that Trigger, I learned why Cheon Se-rim had abandoned a guaranteed debut and returned to being a trainee.
— Se-rim, help me.
When I pressed the updated Trigger button, what appeared was the interior of a practice room I had never seen before.
A younger-looking Cheon Se-rim stared at his reflection in the mirror of an empty practice room. And in front of him stood a boy.
A boy whose neck and collarbone were mottled with bruises.
— Just help me once. Just stand next to me in front of the others. And tell Kim Min-ho to stop. Just once. Just one sentence.
— …
— He listens to you, doesn't he? He'd never touch you. Then he might stop.
— It'll be useless even if I say something. He won't stop until you leave.
— Se-rim.
— Can't you just quit?
Cheon Se-rim let out a deep sigh. As if even speaking was tiring, he continued with a weary, frustrated face.
— What do you want me to do here? If I help you, all the debut members will turn against me. I'm about to debut. If nothing goes wrong, I'll be with these members for ten years. And you want me to antagonize them from the start?
— …
— Hyung, I really hate saying this… I'm really sorry… but I can't help you. If it's too much, there is a solution. It's simple. Hyung, you can just give up and leave.
— …You want me to walk out of the company and give up debuting on my own?
— …It's not giving up. You won't debut anyway. You know that.
Cheon Se-rim had already been confirmed as a debut member alongside the members who became Snatch. And Kim Young-shin, who started his trainee life at the same time as Se-rim, was also listed as a candidate for debut.
But unlike Cheon Se-rim—whose debut was practically guaranteed—Kim Young-shin's situation was different. He was competing for the same position as another trainee.
And that trainee competing directly with him was none other than the current Snatch leader, Kim Min-ho.
— Min-ho hyung's family put money into the company. They promised full financial support during debut. The answer's obvious if you look at the situation. He's beating you to a pulp and the company still stays silent—doesn't that tell you everything? They want you to leave. If you quit on your own, things become clean.
Unlike Kim Young-shin, who came from a normal family, Kim Min-ho was apparently the eldest son of a family running a major business tied to entertainment.
Eight Entertainment had placed both Kim Min-ho and Kim Young-shin as final candidates for the same position, but after receiving pressure and money, they decided to choose Kim Min-ho.
However, since both had already been presented as candidates, dropping one without justification would leave a bad aftertaste.
So Eight Entertainment wanted Kim Young-shin to withdraw voluntarily—but a company couldn't directly coerce a trainee.
Which meant Kim Min-ho was the one who moved.
"Internal trainee conflict."
If they framed it like that, it would neatly justify pushing Young-shin out. If he left on his own because he "couldn't handle the pressure," no further explanation would be needed.
Because of this, Kim Young-shin was subjected to severe verbal abuse and even physical violence from Kim Min-ho and the other Snatch members.
— I don't want to give up debut.
— …Who told you to give up? You can go to another company. You're good enough. Why are you clinging to this one?
— …Don't you want to debut with me? Do you really want to debut with them? You know they're all bastards. Do you actually want to spend years living with those guys?
— …Ha. Then is there a solution?
Cheon Se-rim rubbed his face in irritation, then roughly shoved away the hand holding onto him.
— Who doesn't know they're bastards? But it doesn't matter. As long as I can debut. I practiced until I thought I'd die, I went through hell, and now you want me to give up?
— Then what about me?
— …What?
Cheon Se-rim fell silent at Kim Young-shin's gaze—full of resentment and exhaustion. Young-shin dropped the hand Se-rim had shaken off and looked straight at him with a blank expression.
— You and I entered at the same time. Trained at the same time. And now we finally have a chance to debut. You can't give up, but I'm supposed to?
As Cheon Se-rim failed to answer a single word, Young-shin delivered the final, flat verdict:
— You cowardly bastard.
And the very next day, Kim Young-shin resigned from Eight Entertainment.
The vision of Cheon Se-rim's past ended with that line.
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