Team Leader, You're an Idol Now - Chapter 29
“…Who could it be?”
The tension deflated all at once.
“Ahhh, what is this?”
“Wow, this is seriously nerve-wracking.”
The camera captured the judges’ reactions. They looked surprised, then exhaled and slumped back.
Meanwhile, the trainees couldn’t even breathe. Since first place hadn’t been revealed, they couldn’t move a single step from their ranked positions.
‘Still… thank god this isn’t one of those “revealed after 60 seconds” things.’
Woo-Gyeom recalled future survival shows that dragged out time just to tease viewers.
A deep thump, thump, thump sound echoed on stage. The lights flickered, then came back on, and a spotlight dropped from above.
“First place trainee, Baek Woo-Gyeom. Congratulations.”
Applause erupted everywhere. Woo-Gyeom quickly composed his surprised expression and stepped forward.
“You’ve taken first place in your very first evaluation. Please share your thoughts.”
Woo-Gyeom tucked his lips in, awkwardly curling his hand that had almost risen to adjust a nonexistent tie. When all eyes were on him, he spoke.
“First of all, thank you so much. I said I wanted to achieve a good rank so I wouldn’t be ashamed of all the praise I’ve received… but I never expected to actually take first place.”
Looking around, he saw Hae-Rang smiling at him, the choreographers and judges looking proud, PD Mu who had first noticed him, and even the manager he had met again after returning—almost everyone connected to his second life was there.
“I’ll work even harder from now on. No… rather than just working hard, I’ll do better so I can show you an even better version of myself. Thank you very much.”
“Once again, congratulations. Please move to the first-place position.”
Aon gave a small clapping gesture.
‘…I thought I wouldn’t be nervous.’
Woo-Gyeom maintained his poker face as he thought.
‘Aiming to be a controversy-free top star… and yet getting first among trainees feels this overwhelming.’
He was surprised by how much his emotions were fluctuating. Being acknowledged made him genuinely happy.
‘This is just the beginning. Baek Woo-Gyeom, get it together.’
He steadied himself. By the time he snapped out of it, Hae-Rang was already giving his second-place speech.
“Um… thank you. Second place… I can’t believe it.”
He started in Korean—much improved from before. But then he switched to English, more comfortable.
[“It’s an honor to reach second place. But I won’t stop here—I’ll work even harder. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”]
He looked far more relaxed in English. Woo-Gyeom clapped lightly.
“Yes, thank you for your thoughts. I may not understand it, but your attitude is elegant.”
Aon joked, and everyone laughed, easing the mood—almost making them forget about the trainees in 11th and 12th place.
‘This really is being run as a brutal survival show.’
Woo-Gyeom glanced at them—they looked like they were about to cry—then smiled at the camera.
‘They’ve probably realized now. If you’re not good enough, you don’t even get a chance… you won’t even get a moment under the spotlight.’
Just like his past self before Enbeat rose.
As trainees stood in ranking order, the camera took individual shots. Woo-Gyeom subtly tilted his head and smiled.
‘Time to start thinking ahead again.’
He memorized the order and thought about the team battle.
“Now, we’ll reveal the next mission.”
[Team Battle]
Aon continued, and the screen displayed “Team Battle.”
“The next round is a team competition. The 12 trainees will be divided into two teams.”
Woo-Gyeom already knew this—it was in the proposal he had shared.
“The bottom two will be eliminated.”
He knew that too—because he had suggested it.
“However, where there’s punishment, there must be reward. One member from the winning team will receive immunity.”
The trainees murmured. For those not ranking high individually, team victory was their only survival path.
“And the results will reflect both viewer votes and judges’ evaluations.”
Aon paused for effect before continuing.
“We’ll now form teams.”
Woo-Gyeom started calculating the best lineup.
‘First place picks first…’
That was the original plan.
‘If I build the best team, this might be easy.’
His ideal team: Dan-Woo, Raul, and Hae-Rang.
‘Dan-Woo especially… I need him.’
Not just for survival—but to train together and help him shine.
He prepared to step forward—
But something felt off.
Aon called two people.
“First and second place, please come forward.”
Woo-Gyeom tilted his head slightly—caught off guard.
‘This wasn’t in the plan.’
Aon continued.
“You will now choose teams alternately. Second place goes first.”
Woo-Gyeom’s eyes widened.
“Hae-Rang, please choose.”
‘…Then I’ll just adapt.’
“I choose Moon Raul.”
Just like that—his plan shattered.
***
Later…
Woo-Gyeom collapsed onto his bed.
“Ah…”
His mind was blank.
Beside him, Raul was in worse shape—face buried in a pillow, screaming.
“Ahhh, ah—!”
‘…I shouldn’t have said anything.’
Woo-Gyeom recalled earlier—
“I hope we end up on the same team.”
Raul had been excited, even planning ahead.
But—
“Hae-Rang: Moon Raul.”
Raul froze.
Woo-Gyeom shut his eyes.
‘I messed up.’
***
During selection—
“Baek Woo-Gyeom, choose.”
“I choose Seo Dan-Woo.”
Dan-Woo lowered his head and stepped behind him.
Then—
“Next, Hae-Rang.”
He chose Min-Jae.
Woo-Gyeom picked Yu-Chan.
The rest followed.
‘This is going way off plan.’
Then—
Hae-Rang approached him.
Smiling.
‘…What is that look?’
Aon noticed.
“Any words for your opponent?”
Hae-Rang grinned.
“Woo-Gyeom… Bet your all.”
The room exploded.
“Whoa!”
“Damn…”
Woo-Gyeom smiled, flustered.
‘…This is going to turn into a rivalry edit.’
Aon looked pleased.
Woo-Gyeom responded—
“I’ve already bet everything.”
Then—
“You better be ready.”
Hae-Rang laughed.
“Ha.”
“See you next week.”
***
‘He was so confident…’
Now—
Woo-Gyeom stood outside the practice room.
Empty-eyed.
“Woo-Gyeom! Come—”
Dan-Woo ran over, then stopped.
Woo-Gyeom was staring blankly at—
Yu-Chan.
Who was currently fighting with another trainee.
‘…This is going to be exhausting.’