I Was Trying To Debut My Baby, But I Ended Up Debuting Instead

Chapter 9

“Uh… first of all, I listened well. Yoon Hyesung, you’re… how old this year…?”

The vocal trainer, Yoo Jung-ah, asked as she rifled through the application form.

“Nineteen years old? How did you choose this song?”

‘Oh my, I thought my real age had been revealed.’

“Ah, it’s a song my mother likes.”

In fact, it was a song Hyesung enjoyed listening to when she was in elementary school.

“Your voice is husky, but you chose this song? The song feels so clear and poignant.”

‘That’s because my throat got a bit hoarse from the quest…’

She couldn’t say that.

“Originally, my voice was clear as a glass bead, but I practiced a lot…”

Hyesung pretended to be a diligent and hardworking person. She did put in the effort, so it wasn’t entirely a lie.

“I see. Do you think you did well considering the amount of practice?”

The male R&B vocal trainer, S-One, interjected. He implied that even with practice, she didn’t perform well.

“…I believe I did my best.”

She expected it, but hearing such words face-to-face made her feel slightly deflated.

“You’re not terrible, but your vocal technique and singing skills still need a lot of work.”

“Yes…”

While receiving this semi-harsh criticism from S-One, Hyesung noticed Seol Hanna whispering something into Minty’s ear.

‘Our stats are probably similar, but she’s asking her not to criticize me too much.’

At that moment, Hyesung made eye contact with Minty.

‘Eek.’

“It seems your trainee period was very short, right? It says here you had six months of individual practice. But it seems like you barely learned anything from the company for even three months.”

Minty tapped the application form.

‘…This is the first time I’m hearing about a six-month individual practice period. I guess the six months were just spent goofing off.’

“Yes… it’s been one month.”

“One month? What about academy training?”

“I didn’t attend any.”

“Hmm, one month at the company…”

‘Please don’t be too harsh. I sold 198 copies of your solo debut album.’

“For one month, it’s not bad. You showed some emotional expression and rhythm sense, and I see potential. Your voice… well, voice care is a skill too, but this time I’ll consider it as passion.”

Minty smiled slightly as she spoke.

“For just one month, your basics are decent? Usually, you wouldn’t learn anything in a month.”

Yoo Jung-ah agreed with Minty.

‘As expected of Ha Hyun unnie. She didn’t throw me under the bus. I don’t regret buying 198 copies of her album.’

“But you hardly danced.”

Unexpectedly, Minty, who had been kind so far, made a critical remark.

‘…Unnie, come on.’

“Do you have a prepared dance?”

Dance trainer Jade asked.

“…Yes.”

Hyesung had prepared a dance because she knew saying no would give the impression of being unprepared. However, she was sure she would be cut off after a second or two of showing it.

‘It would be nice if the status window could help out at times like this.’

Ding.

[You have successfully completed your first stage! A special reward will be given.]

[Do you accept the reward?]

‘The status window is surprisingly perceptive? Of course, yes!’

[You have accepted the reward. You can randomly acquire one trait from common to rare grades.]

[Random trait acquired!]

[Trait ]

[You will be filled with baseless confidence and feel as if you are something special. However, since this confidence is groundless, there will be no change in your abilities, and you will simply exude confidence!]

[Random traits will activate 100% upon first acquisition.]

‘Wh-what kind of reward is this!’

[Trait activated!]

‘No…!’

Before she had a chance to do anything, swagger took over Hyesung’s entire body.

“I have a prepared dance. But I will freestyle.”

Snap.

Hyesung tilted her head up. To anyone watching, she looked as confident as a well-known dancer in the street scene.

‘Am I crazy? Why did I say freestyle? How can I freestyle!’

“Oh? You seem confident.”

Dance trainer Jade’s eyes gleamed.

‘…I’m doomed. Jade is going to scrutinize me.’

“Then, play music number 17.”

Tap tap! Wooong-stab! Thud-. Tatatatat. Doo-woong.

A heavy bass line and a strong, fast beat filled the air. As soon as Hyesung heard the intro, she knew she was not just doomed but utterly ruined.

[The sky has fallen

Even the sun abandoned me

In endless darkness, I am

Abandoned.]

The lyrics, full of teenage angst and an unnaturally artificial singing style like AI dubbing, felt somewhat eerie.

‘Why this song… No, this was deliberate. Even if I had asked for number 258, this song would have played.’

As Hyesung expected, Jade would have played this song regardless of the number she chose.

The song, titled “I Killed God,” had caused a stir, receiving protests from religious circles because of its title. It was the debut song of Strawberry Killa, a rookie girl group under the highly regarded D&F label.

At first, people thought the concept was too bizarre for a major label, and the song would be buried. But it became a meme on social media, spreading like wildfire and gaining considerable popularity from late last year to early this year.

Although the song was entirely unsuitable for freestyle dancing, the producer didn’t care. They planned to use the footage of Hyesung, who had the D&F label attached, alongside the currently trending Strawberry Killa in the teaser.

‘If I say I will, then I will. Let’s go!’

Completely taken over by swagger, Hyesung mistook herself for a badass and started moving to the beat with awkward, stiff movements.

‘Huh. This beat awakens the dark dragon within me.’

She untied the scarf she wore for a retro look in line with the song’s vibe and wrapped it around her right arm like a bandage. It was an expensive Hermes product she had secretly taken from her mother.

[The world has abandoned me

Faith has abandoned me

Now I abandon the world too.]

Although the lyrics were so bewildering that they almost drove her crazy, Hyesung gritted her teeth and twisted her body, jerking her joints.

“Pfft.”

“Huh.”

The trainees watching were either covering their mouths in shock or trying to hold back laughter, while the trainers at the evaluation table stared at Hyesung on stage with puzzled expressions.

“What the… she’s scary…”

As she neared the end of the first verse, Hyesung moved like a possessed wooden doll.

[Torn wings drip red tears

Digging into the wounds

No one can

Heal it.]

As the beat, which had been hitting like a downpour, subsided, Hyesung slowly came to a stop, contorting her body like it was about to dislocate. She took a step forward.

And then came the narration.

[That day… I killed God.]

Following the narration, Hyesung muttered and covered half her face with one hand.

Her one eye, which shone menacingly as if she had killed something, and the scarf wrapped around her right arm as if sealing something, stood out.

[I’m a god slayer… Deicide.]

With that, the music stopped, and Hyesung was released from her swagger. Realizing the situation, her face turned bright red with embarrassment, and she wished she could crawl into a hole.

‘What have I done!’

“Uh… Yoon Hyesung, trainee?”

Jade called Hyesung with a troubled expression.

“Yes? Yes!”

“What was that dance just now…?”

“Th-that…”

She had nothing to say. She had confidently declared she would freestyle but ended up moving like a possessed exorcist.

“I understand the song is difficult, but it was quite shocking. And a bit… scary.”

“Well, I found it amusing. It felt like performance art.”

Vocal trainer Yoo Jung-ah interjected. Since it wasn’t her area of evaluation, she just found it funny.

“Your face is cute, but there’s a madness in you. Can you show us that last move again? The one with the black dragon on your right arm, snap!”

“Ah, Jung-ah, please stop. I was scared!”

Minty and the dance trainers put down their microphones and exchanged a few words, then Minty picked up the mic again and spoke.

“Yoon Hyesung, trainee.”

“Yes…”

“Why did you decide to freestyle?”

“…”

Hyesung couldn’t say anything and lowered her head.

“You seemed to be doing popping, but none of your movements were correct. You didn’t even match the beat.”

Minty shook her head as she continued.

“When you sang earlier, you showed sincerity and passion. I saw potential…”

“So I wasn’t going to put you in F-class even if your dancing was a bit weak, but after watching you dance, it’s a no-go.”

Jade interrupted.

“That jerking movement you did, that’s a bad habit. It needs to be completely fixed if you want to be an idol.”

“Jade, let’s use kinder words. It’s not a habit, it’s a mannerism.”

“That mannerism, I’ll completely rework it. Anyway, Yoon Hyesung, trainee, you’re in F-class.”

“…Thank you.”

Feeling dejected after the evaluation, Hyesung trudged off the stage.

“Unnie…”

Na Yeonwoo approached Hyesung with a worried expression.

“Yeonwoo, I… Ha, I’m so embarrassed.”

As Hyesung sat down, covering her face with her hands, Na Yeonwoo and her fellow trainees began to console her in their own way.

“It’s okay. You tried your best… You can still improve from here!”

“Yeah! Unnie, you might still get some screen time!”

“Why did I do that? Why freestyle…”

Hyesung stared at the air with a resentful look.

‘Should I really kill them? I can’t, but still…’

“You guys, don’t do anything unexpected and just stick to what you’ve prepared… and do well.”

Hyesung returned to her seat, and next up were Gil Ahyeon and Namgoong Seol from 2M Entertainment, both of whom received A-class ratings.

‘Two of them came up consecutively and received A-classes, so Yeonwoo must be really nervous. She needs to do well…’

Na Yeonwoo, looking visibly nervous, stepped onto the stage.

“Oh my, look at her eyes. So bright.”

“She looks great on camera, too.”

“Doesn’t she have a vibe like a Hong Kong actress?”

“Indeed. Her visuals are top-notch, just like her company name suggests.”

As Na Yeonwoo and her fellow trainee appeared, the trainers were full of admiration for their visuals. Such reactions had been rare until now.

‘Come to think of it, the influencer paired with Yeonwoo isn’t here.’

It seemed like the enzymes sold well even without appearing on shows like this. Hyesung felt somewhat relieved at the absence of the influencer she thought was holding her back.

‘My girl is the best. She’ll do well.’

Seemingly forgetting that she currently held the title of the clumsiest, Hyesung prayed with her hands clasped for Na Yeonwoo’s success.

“Management A’s Cha Joo Yeon and Na Yeonwoo. Please take good care of us!”

“Then shall we watch their stage?”

Hyesung listened nervously to see which song would come up.