The Goal is the Ending Fairy

At the president’s words, five trainees stepped to the center stage.

These were the top-ranking members from the first mission.

5th place Kim Se-i,

4th place Park Sojung,

3rd place Chae Seonha,

2nd place Yoon Hee-jo.

And 1st place Won Chaeseo.

Solid positions.

As you can see, while the rankings within the top spots might shuffle slightly, the members remained almost constant.

That was inevitable, since the maximum points you could earn from the self-PR video was 10 points.

Sure, 10 points was significant, but its impact only led to back-and-forth changes with nearby ranks.

In other words, unless you earned more than 5 bonus points, it barely mattered.

Because of this, there were naturally no dramatic reversals where lower ranks completely overtook middle-upper ranks.

The well-known trainees were also skilled, so they’d all earned bonus points in their self-PR videos too.

By the way, this president sure knows how to drag things out. Why did he call these top 5 forward anyway?

I ever so slightly… very slightly wiggled my middle finger in my clenched fist. Perhaps that worked, because the president, who had been standing like a statue, finally opened his mouth.

“These five will be the leaders guiding their teams in the next mission.”

Ah, of course.

Forming teams around the top-ranked members. No need to look far – it’s a commonly used method in debut survival shows.

This also meant the second mission would be team-based.

“Let me explain how teams will be formed. First, the leaders will play rock-paper-scissors to determine picking order.

Then leaders will take turns choosing trainees they want, forming teams of five members each.”

At the president’s words, five pairs of eyes on stage lit up.

A golden opportunity to form a team with members they wanted. Their eyes revealed their undisguised desire not to miss this chance.

“I want to be on the same team as unnie.”

Lee Jinyu stuck close to my side after hearing the president’s words.

Jinyu, ranked 6th in total points, hadn’t made it to that stage, so she must feel especially disappointed.

For my part, I’d prefer being on Jinyu’s team rather than with trainees I didn’t know at all. We at least had some rapport.

I casually agreed with her sentiment.

‘But…’

Something felt off. With five members per team and six teams, wouldn’t there be too few leaders?

Just as trainees were starting to wonder about this, the president smoothly added an explanation.

“For reference, the remaining five trainees who aren’t chosen by leaders will automatically form their own team.

In other words, they’ll become the ‘leftover team.'”

“!!!”

Only then did the trainees start buzzing loudly. Even I, listening to the explanation, felt the same way.

The middle-upper ranks were probably thinking ‘I’ll get picked anyway,’ while the lower ranks must have felt increasingly anxious.

I was probably in the former category.

‘They’ll pick me… right?’

Either way, I ranked high in individual evaluations and had settled quite high in the recommendation mission too. Though I still didn’t know why for the latter…

Ahem, at this level, I should be somewhat… desirable, right?

While I’m not expecting anything from Chae Seonha, second-place Yoon Hee-jo might pick me. If push comes to shove, Kim Se-i might be possible too.

“The leftover team…”

“That’s so cruel…”

“It’s a survival show.”

The trainees whispered to each other, some emotional, others rational.

They were probably trying to maintain their composure in their own ways.

Meanwhile, the leaders were very enthusiastically playing rock-paper-scissors.

“Ah…”

“Hmm.”

“So Chaeseo goes first.”

Hearing the results, it seemed Won Chaeseo got first pick.

First in total ranking, first in member selection.

Not just lucky… isn’t she just an overpowered character?

Anyway, as soon as the order was decided, the MC approached them and asked about the sequence.

“Alright then, trainee Won Chaeseo will start choosing team members.”

As the trainees pointed to each other indicating the order, the MC approached Won Chaeseo and handed her the microphone.

Won Chaeseo received the microphone respectfully with both hands and stepped forward to begin.

“The first trainee I’ll recruit for our team is…”

Without even checking the rankings and names on the display board, Won Chaeseo immediately called out the trainee’s name.

“9th place trainee Seo Dan-ah.”

“…?”

…Me?

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

‘Really me?’

I hadn’t had any interaction with Won Chaeseo these past few days?

Did she like my performance that much…?

Naturally, I thought the first pick would be 6th place Lee Jinyu, or at least someone ranked 7th or 8th.

But suddenly picking me at 9th place as her first choice.

This moment felt like the most unexpected since my possession. Even more than during the ranking announcement earlier.

That’s how little I’d expected to be on Won Chaeseo’s team.

I wondered if I’d misheard, but Won Chaeseo had turned to make direct eye contact with me.

“Selected trainees should stand behind the leader who chose them.”

When the MC smiled and directed me to my position, I barely concealed my bewilderment as I walked to center stage.

“Looking forward to working with you, unnie.”

“Oh… yeah.”

So I was her unnie.

We had so little interaction I hadn’t even known that.

I grabbed Won Chaeseo’s extended hand and gave her back a light pat.

Though Won Chaeseo’s face remained stoic, her gesture clearly welcomed me.

After taking my place behind her, I calmed down and let out a small sigh.

I was just surprised because I hadn’t expected it, but this was incredibly advantageous for me.

On a team with the trainee who currently had the best skills and highest recognition?

No trainee would turn that down. Naturally, I felt the same.

Though the chance was low, I’d been prepared to end up on the leftover team. Thankfully, that worry had been unnecessary.

As I was feeling relieved and lightening my mental burden, I felt some sharp gazes.

I slowly rolled my eyes to look and…

“……”

…The piercing glares I felt weren’t my imagination.

The moment I turned my eyes, I immediately spotted the culprits.

First, two leaders nearby. They kept sending subtle glances my way.

From the side, Yoon Hee-jo with a wistful gaze, and next to her, Kim Se-i with an almost murderous look.

That wasn’t all.

When I shifted my gaze to avoid those two and looked at the yet-unchosen trainees, this time I found Lee Jinyu and Cha Sihyun staring intently at me.

I’m not exaggerating – their stares were so intense they could burn holes.

What is this? Were they having some unspoken competition to see who could make me more uncomfortable?

Unable to meet any of the gazes from either side, I ended up lowering my head.

Still feeling their persistent stares, I could only try to make myself smaller behind the person in front of me.

After some time passed.

Finally, all six teams were decided.

As expected, the so-called ‘leftover team’ consisted of the bottom five ranked trainees.

But encouraged by the president and MC’s support, they declared their intention to show a rebellion of the lowest-ranked team and received applause from the participants.

At the same time, I glanced back to check the members behind me.

1st, 9th, 11th, 15th, and 18th place.

Including me, five members formed a team centered around Won Chaeseo.

For reference, they played rock-paper-scissors each round, and Won Chaeseo got first pick most times.

I found myself wondering if even rock-paper-scissors required talent.

Anyway, thanks to that, we gathered quite good rankings compared to other teams.

By the way, Lee Jinyu and Cha Sihyun didn’t make it to our team.

Right after I was picked, Jinyu was called by Yoon Hee-jo, and Sihyun was picked by Chae Seonha.

Honestly, they’re both skilled so it would have been fine to have them on the team.

But sometimes it’s better to compete and cheer each other on from afar.

Especially with someone unpredictable like Cha Sihyun.

“Everyone, teams are all set now, right?”

“Yes!”

“Then let me explain the second mission in detail.”

The MC smiled while flipping through cue cards.

The trainees standing in formation turned their attention to the MC.

“The grand second mission will be a team ‘Live Mission.’ The competition will use free choice songs, and each team’s leader has ‘song selection rights!'”

So the leader gets their preferred team and can choose whatever song they want for the performance…

They’re really giving the top ranks sweet benefits.

As the MC kept repeating similar explanations, I glanced at our team leader in front of me.

Judging from her stage earlier, she seemed to prefer fresh but powerful songs.

I wonder what kind of vision she had in mind when she picked me… That’s what I’m curious about.

* * *

Alone in the dorm room.

I clicked on the message window floating in front of me.

—– —–

>>You have succeeded in the main mission ‘Make your self-PR video reach over 100,000 views’!

>>As a reward, your ‘Charm’ stat experience increases by +10! [Collect]

—– —–

I’d guessed from my PR ranking, but it seemed my video had indeed passed 100,000 views.

With one main mission successful, I could now increase my much-needed charm stat.

—– —–

>>You have failed the main mission ‘Achieve a total score within the top 7 in individual missions’…

>>Reward ‘+5 Free Stat Increase’ will not be granted…

—– —–

Second main mission failed, as expected.

Placing 9th was a bit disappointing… but at least I didn’t get a debut failure notice, so that alone was a relief.

Then a small window popped up over the screen.

>>You have failed one main mission…

>>As penalty, Life Force will be reduced by -20%…

Either way, I hadn’t succeeded in all main missions. Now I had to face the predicted penalty.

Though taking away 20 life force for failing just one mission seemed quite thuggish…

But as a mere game user, there was nothing I could do about it.

After dismissing the message windows, I mentally called up a new screen.

‘Life Force’.

A bar gradually appeared at my call. The remaining red indicator now pointed to ‘79%’.

By the way, where did that other ‘1%’ go?

Racking my brain for that memory, I recalled the day I practiced with Yoon Hee-jo. I shook my head repeatedly at the absurdity.

Anyway, ‘79%’.

Definitely not a comfortable number.

To maintain even this, I’ll have to succeed in almost all upcoming main missions.

The reason being that failing even once or twice would drastically lower that number, only making me more anxious.

It absolutely can’t go below ‘70%’, right?

Given this game’s nature, they wouldn’t have included a ‘Life Force’ system for nothing.

With a name that literally means ‘Life Force,’ there’s probably a high chance they’ve set up some nasty tricks…

Like giving additional penalties if it falls below a certain threshold.

‘New main missions will arrive soon… I’m worried.’

I just hope they don’t require excessive effort.

After accepting the results, I quickly picked up my phone.

Now it was time to check what I’d been curious about.

The production team had said they’d return our confiscated phones after the first mission ended.

They really did return the phones they’d taken before we arrived at the dorms.

Surely they won’t take our phones again for this mission too?

I’d heard they confiscated everything from tablets to laptops – they were really serious about it.

While I didn’t understand their seemingly ineffective actions, I just had to go along with it.

Meanwhile, my fingers were busy moving.

What I’d been most curious about was people’s reactions to my video.

First, I diligently searched my name on MeTube to see that.

– Hi.Light | Ep.0 [ENG sub] Seo Dan-ah Trainee Self-PR Video | HON’s Own Debut Survival @First Broadcast October 13th

It was a thumbnail I hadn’t seen in a week. I hadn’t looked since the first day it was posted.

But…

‘The view count is higher than I expected…?’